Chicago Crusader 02/22/14 E-Edition

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Blacks Must Control Their Own Community

To The Unconquerable Host of Africans Who Are Laying Their Sacrifices Upon The Editorial Altar For Their Race AUDITED BY

•C•P•V•S•

VOLUME LXXIII NUMBER 44—SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2014

PUBLISHED SINCE 1940

25 Cents and worth more

King College Prep student honored

By Glenn Reedus The young people who were in Harsh Park when Hadiya Pendleton was shot to death in January 2013 have had to deal with that tragedy on varying level since then. One of them was Lawrence Sellers, who also was shot and is well on the road to recovery.

The 18-year-old King College Prep student was wounded in the leg while trying to protect another student when the shooting started. Sellers’ response didn’t surprise his mother, Tanya, who said “that is his nature.” The younger Sellers was stoic about his deed in an earlier interview saying, “I did what I needed to do.”

While he downplays his bravery, the Boy Scouts of America had other impressions and decided to award him the Medal of Honor. While the Eagle Scout will be present for the ceremony on February 23, he has deferred all media requests to his mother. She explained, “He is pretty tired of rehashing the incident.”

Lisa Sandoval, council commissioner of

Lawrence Sellers

the Boy Scouts of America said, “We are very proud of Lawrence. His actions represent one of the many ways that scouting impacts the many young men and women who participate: servant leadership.” His scouting acumen undoubtedly stems from the influence of his father, who was a Boy Scout leader, as well as his brothers, both of whom also were Eagle Scouts.

What the scouting community couldn’t know according to Mrs. Sellers is that Lawrence has always been “a protector.”

She said, “that is his nature. He wants to protect all of those who are around him. I was not surprised at all.”

Following her divorce, Lawrence became very protective of her, Mrs. Sellers noted.

“He felt he had to watch out for me.” His lifelong friend, Trinity is someone else Lawrence has been protective of. Mrs. Sellers laughingly said, “they have known each other since before they had teeth and still look out for one another.”

The physical healing is essentially complete, but the high school senior is still experiencing the emotional scars stemming

from witnessing the carnage that occurred in that North Kenwood park.

The day after the shooting Mrs. Sellers found a counselor for her son and said he continued seeing the therapist for six to eight months, “until he felt he had a grasp on it. I could see he was healing from it instantly.” She said she knew it was critical that Lawrence speak to someone outside of the family. It was important that he be able to express his feelings to someone who would be neutral,” she added.

While the professional help was important, the younger Sellers needs and has the support of family and friends.

“I knew the emotional healing would take longer than the physical healing,” his mother said, noting that the connection and support of Lawrence’s two brothers and sister, along with hers is “first and foremost.”

Thirteen months after the shooting Mrs. Sellers said, “I have to go along with the pace he is healing and whatever it takes to support him and do what I need to at that (Continued on page 3)

CTU pension protest leads to Springfield About 1,500 retired Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teachers, firefighters, police officers and nurses made sure Illinois legislators weren’t confused how the retirees felt about a proposed plan to overhaul public sector pensions.

About 25 busloads of opponents to Senate Bill 1 (SB1) showed up in Springfield Wednesday (Feb.18) to voice their opposition. This is the bill touted by legislators as the model for pension reform for teachers, police officers, firefighters, librarians, social workers, engineers, and other public sector employees in Chicago. The retired workers have described the proposed reform as “The Great Chicago Pension Caper.”

The protestors, organized by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) leadership, maintain that Illinois Senate leader John Cullerton’s plan for pension changes will decimate many of Chicago’s middle class neighborhoods, and have an extremely detrimental effect on Black and Hispanic retirees.

In referring to upcoming negotiations with the CTU, Cullerton said the city’s teachers would need to concede some benefit cuts. He promised there would be lay(Continued on page 2)

CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION members showed up en masse this week to protest possible cuts in pension benefits. CTU officials explained the city’s middle class Black and Hispanic neighborhoods would be hardest hit.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Justice Thurgood Marshall and Fannie Lou Hamer

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(See Black History features on page 12 and 14)

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NEWS

Ex-convicts rehired by CTA for janitorial support

By Wendell Hutson An apprenticeship program at the Chicago Transit Authority that provided 60 jobs for ex-offenders was recently restored after being halted in December.

The Amalgamated Transit Union had initially balked at restoring the program despite the CTA urging it to do so. However, after weeks of negotiations, it agreed to reinstate the job-making program where ex-offenders clean el trains and now buses.

The program, considered one of the largest ex-offender retraining efforts in the nation, has provided job opportunities to more than 800 ex-offenders convicted of non-violent crimes; individuals completing drug and alcohol - rehabilitation programs; and victims of domestic abuse and others.

Created to provide a pathway for ex-offenders to rehabilitate themselves, the program has also led to 76 apprentices being hired to full-time positions at the transit agency.

“We are pleased to work with ATU Local 308 to bring back a program that has helped literally hundreds of people in need,” said

CTA President Forrest Claypool.

He added that the program “provides benefits to our transit customers by supplementing the cleaning work of our permanent crews, but also provides a great benefit to our society.”

By getting ex-offenders into the workforce, he said, “the CTA is able to help Chicagoans increase self-sufficiency and reduce recidivism.”

For its part, union officials said they’re pleased to see the program restored.

“We were able to reach an agreement, one that benefits everyone involved, including the riding public,” said union local President Robert Kelly. “I believe this is a win-win situation, and we can now move forward.”

Claypool said that, “both sides agree that this program is valuable in many ways to both workers and customers and is worth continuing in 2014 and beyond.”

However, Kelly contends that the apprenticeship program is nothing but “an effort to get cheap labor,” because of the lower pay given to the apprentices: $9.50 an hour without benefits.

He demanded higher wages and benefits in order for the program

CTA OFFICIALS RECENTLY reversed a decision and re-instated a program that employs exconvicts in a variety of maintenance jobs on the organization’s buses and el trains. ting on with their lives,” Chase reincorporate them into the to continue. mainstream of society; give them But Tammy Chase, a CTA said.

Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. an opportunity to take care of spokeswoman, said the CTA simply wants to continue providing (27th) cited the program last year their families.”

This issue is personal to Burnett, employment opportunities for in urging the city to allow convicted felons to remain eligible for in part, because as a teenager he felons.

“We’re so relieved that Local positions, such as driving horse- participated in an armed robbery, 241—the bus operators—were drawn carriages. He cheered the yet, he served his time and eventually won a pardon after being willing to work with us to get recent reinstatement.

“They served their time,” he said elected alderman. “That’s the cure these folks back on track, working, learning job skills, and get- of the ex-offenders. “We need to for crime: jobs,” Burnett added.

CTU pension protest leads to Springfield (Continued from page 1) offs if the union chooses not to give up some benefits. He predicted layoffs would be in the thousands.

SB1 currently is being challenged in court by public sector unions affected by the cuts. Madigan has referred to the legislation as a “good framework” for teachers’ negotiations.

The retirees have countered that such reform will affect their livelihood as well as those who are still working. They said the impact will include an average of $700 per month cut in the average Chicago Teachers Pension Fund payment.

CTU also said the cuts will amount to about $270 million in cuts to retirement income over the next five

A HANDFUL OF concerned CTU retirees speak with an unidentified state legislator and explain the detrimental impact a cut to pensions will be for retirees and those who are still teaching.

STATE SENATOR KWAME RAOUL listens to some of the public sector workers who traveled to Springfield February 19 to ensure legislators are aware of their opposition to modeling pension reform after Senate Bill 1.

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Saturday, February 22, 2014

A RETIRED WORKER pleads the CTU case to state Representative Elgie Sims, Jr. About 1,500 retirees and workers from throughout Chicago were part of a caravan to Springfield.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

years.

The CPS CEO Barbara ByrdBennett apparently agreed with Madigan as she issued a statement February 16 and stated: “The solution to this must provide a secure retirement for our teachers and retired educators, protect our children from unconscionable cuts in the classroom and looks out for taxpayers and homeowners in every neighborhood who struggle to make ends meet. This is not the time for divisive or misleading tactics such as the ones being used here. Instead, we need a balanced approach to solve the biggest financial threat our city and school system have ever seen.”

CTU officials said they will return to Springfield when Governor Pat Quinn gives his state of the state address after the March 18 Illinois primary elections.

Scan this QR (quick response) code to be taken to the Chicago Crusader’s web site. www.chicagocrusader.com

NEWS

Renovations include name change for Chatham 14 Theaters

By Wendell Hutson By the end of the year, one of three South Side movie theaters is set to change its name.

Founded in 1997 by husband and wife entrepreneurs, Donzell and Alisa Starks, the Chatham 14 Theaters, 210 West 87th Street, will be renamed Studio Movie GrillChatham by the company who recently purchased it. Once renovations are complete the theater will no longer have 14 screens but 13, according to Venisha White-Johnson, director of operations and community relations for the theater.

The theater is no longer Blackowned, and there are plans to serve alcohol and remove the concession stands. Customers are weary about whether they would continue to patronize the theater.

“First, it was bought by a white company after being founded by a Black family, and now they want to do away with its name, which the community has come to love,” said Oscar Williams, a 67-year-old retired college professor. “I am all for changes, but this is a bit too much for me.”

The Starks founded Inner City Entertainment (ICE), which previ-

ously owned three theaters, including one in Englewood. The couple lost ownership of the Chatham Theaters in 2012, but still owns the ICE Lawndale 10 Theaters on the West Side.

Yolanda Brownfield, contends the name is being changed to erase the Black identity of the theater.

“I think the name is being changed because everyone knows the theater was once Black-owned, and some people still think it is Black-owned because it still has the same name,” said 42-year-old retail store manager. “It used to be named ICE Chatham 14 Theaters, and then it was renamed Chatham 14 Theaters when the Black owners left, and now in less than three years the name is being changed again.”

Until renovations are complete, the name will remain the same, said Johnson-White.

“By our schedule, we should have begun renovations last week, but we are still waiting on building permits from the city,” Johnson-White said. “The official name will be the Studio Movie Grill-Chatham, so the owners are still keeping a piece of the original name.”

Regardless, if a piece of the name remains or not, patrons said they

THE CHATHAM 14 THEATERS will change its name to the Studio Movie Grill-Chatham by year-end following renovations to the theater. doubt if they’ll support the ‘new move elsewhere where Black identi“People prefer to eat near the theand improved’ theater. ty is not so easily stolen like ater and without a sit-down restau“We can’t have nothing (sic) for Bronzeville.” rant nearby, it will be hard for any ourselves. Every time we get someAlderman Howard Brookins theater to be successful no matter thing good, the white man wants to (21st), whose ward includes the what the name is,” he said. take over,” said Reginald Dorsey, a theater, said he is just happy to see Currently, there are two other 24-year-old college student and that Chatham still has its own movie theaters on the South Side: Chatham resident. “I have lived in movie theater, and is now working the Harper Theater at 5238 S. Chatham my whole life, but now I to attract a sit-down restaurant near Harper St. and the AMC Ford City am thinking it might be time to the theater.

14 Theaters at 7601 S. Cicero Ave.

City offers tips to prevent flooding due to rising temperatures Boy Scouts, local church youth groups and just concerned citizens.

Despite the warmer temperatures on the surface, LaPorte recommended that people still maintain allowing a trickle of water to come from faucets inside their homes. He said the frost line underground is not getting warmer because air gets warmer much faster than the ground does and the underground pipes may still be frozen.

By J. Coyden Palmer With temperatures expected to rise into the 50s later this week, the city’s Water Department is asking for help from residents.

Based on the amount of snow the Chicago area has experienced this winter, sewer drains and manhole covers have become covered with garbage along with snow and ice. As long as this is the case, there is a potential for flooding as the snow melts this week, according to Water Department officials.

“We have more than 250,000 catch basins in the city,” explained Tom LaPorte, spokesperson for the city’s Water Department.

“These are the grated things on the side of the street that take the water from the street and direct it to the sewer, which is the pipe that runs down the middle of the street. So, what happens is as the snow melts and the water makes it way to the catch basin, the debris flows with the water and settles on top of the catch basin. That’s how you end up with a flooded street.”

On the inside of most catch basins are rain blockers, which are designed to reduce the diameter of the pipe that feeds the sewer.

They are useful during the rainy season to prevent too much water from going into the sewer at one www.chicagocrusader.com

King College Prep . . .

THE SNOW-PACKED catch basin on the left will cause a street to flood very quickly once the snow melts. the city’s Water Department said the drain covers on your block should look like the one of the right so water can flow through. (Photos by J. Coyden Palmer) time and stop streets from turning thing is blocking the rain block- ever, LaPorte cautioned about taking risk; for example, never reinto rivers, according to LaPorte. er,” LaPorte said.

“So, it will be normal to see He suggested keeping a rake move a grate or manhole cover as some water collecting onto the handy over the next couple of that will only make the situation street as all of this snow melts. You days and when debris, such as more dangerous.

Citizens can play a vital role in may see it for a few hours. But if it leaves, trash, plastic bottles, or is lasting for longer than that, you thick and heavy newspaper, starts keeping their blocks safe from wamight want to give us a call at to settle on top of the catch ter buildup, and LaPorte believes 311, and we will dispatch a crew basins, use the rake or a broom clearing clogged grates are a good because it is possible that some- handle to remove the items. How- project for civic groups, like the BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

(Continued from page 1) particular time.”

Now the focus is helping Lawrence catch up on the academics he missed while recovering.

She said she remains hopeful that he will graduate in June. They’re still deciding on whether he will stay in Chicago or attend college out of state. Lawrence does know he wants to major in education and become a math teacher. Mrs. Seller’s emotional healing coincides with her son’s as she said, “I am better because he is better. I am good, as long as he is well I am.”

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL BLACK HISTORY HEROES As we move toward the end of Black History Month, it is fitting and proper to highlight some Black History heroes that may not be as well known to the African American community as some others. The following profiles, taken from the South Holland Public Library website, highlight just a few of these.

B. K. Bruce 1841 - 1898 Blanche Kelso Bruce was the first African-American who served a full term in the U.S. Senate. Senator Bruce was born a slave on the Farmville Plantation in Virginia. He was educated by his owner’s son, and he later went to Oberlin College. Bruce was a Republican senator representing Mississippi; he served from March 5, 1875 until March 3, 1881. During his term, Bruce fought for the rights of minority groups, including African-Americans, Native Americans, and Asian immigrants. After his term as senator, Bruce was appointed registrar of the treasury.

Dr. Andrew J. Foster 1925 - 1987 Pioneer in education for deaf individuals, was instrumental in founding twenty-two schools and an equal number of religious programs for deaf children in more than twenty African countries. Foster was born in Birmingham, AL, and lost his hearing at age eleven after suffering from spinal meningitis. Drawn to a career in education, he attended the Alabama School for the Negro Deaf in Talladega and, in 1954, became the first African American to graduate from Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C. Sarah E. Goode 1850 - 1918 Businesswoman and inventor, Goode invented the folding cabinet bed - a space-saving design that folded up against the wall into a cabinet. When folded up, it could be used as a desk, complete with compartments for stationery and writing supplies. She owned a furniture store in Chicago, Illinois, and invented the bed for people living in small apartments. Her patent was the first obtained by an AfricanAmerican woman (patent #322,177, approved on July 14, 1885).

Ernst Just 1883 - 1941 Received numerous awards, grants, and fellowships during his prolific career—including, in 1915, the first-ever Spingarn Medal—for his groundbreaking research in biology and embryology. An outstanding student, Just completed his studies at a four-year preparatory school in three years. After receiving top honors in zoology and history at Dartmouth College, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa for outstanding academic performance.

Sam E. Langford 1886 - 1956 A well-known and respected boxer in the early 1900s, Langford was considered one of the most punishing punchers in boxing history.

Langford ran away from home at the age of 12, and worked his way to Boston. At the age of 16, he made his professional boxing debut and won his first fight. Eighteen months later, he fought and defeated Joe Gans, the world lightweight champion.

Nat Love 1856 - 1900 Bronco Buster - Famous cowboy from Tennessee who helped open up the Western frontier. He was called “Deadwood Dick” after winning several roping and shooting contests at an 1876 rodeo in the Dakota Territory. He wrote a full-length autobiography.

Robert C. Maynard 1937 - 1993 After completing his studies at Harvard University, he became the first Black national correspondent for the Washington Post. He stayed with the Post for eleven years, then established the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education in Berkeley, CA. By 1983, according to Maynard, it was “by far the single largest source of minorities entering the field of journalism.” Maynard then became editor of the floundering Oakland Tribune in Oakland, CA, and subsequently astonished readers by purchasing the newspaper from the Gannett Company.

These are mighty heroes. With that said, please remember to honor Black History throughout the year!

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Saturday, February 22, 2014

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The teachers union is right about pension reform Dear Editor: Sen. John Cullerton and Mayor Rahm Emanuel must think the citizens of Chicago, and especially the members of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), are just absolute fools. I guess we should throw Barbara Byrd-Bennett, public schools CEO, in there too as she is the mayor’s marionette.

All three of these people are trying to convince us that teachers and retired teachers are to blame for the state’s pension crisis.

Cullerton wants Chicago Public Schools teachers to give up some benefits or be prepared for layoffs. This is downright wrong.

Teachers have dutifully paid into their pension fund, as they do not receive Social Security benefits. They have every right to expect and believe the promises that were made upon their hiring would be kept.

The folks at the CTU said the local economy would be hit hard if the teachers’ pensions were cut as being proposed by Mr. Cullerton and Mr. Emanuel. It is obvious the economy would suffer because teachers and other CPS retirees would have a collective $270 million less to spend.

For decades, a teaching career meant a solid middle-class way of life. Cullerton and the rest are now trying to take that away.

This pension change they are

talking about would have a tremendous negative effect on communities such as Chatham, Morgan Park and Beverly-places where most of the retired teachers live.

The superintendent has taken sides against the teacher. That is tragic. It also sends a clear signal that she is controlled by the mayor. That makes two top officials in the city who are interested in decimating public education. Too bad Byrd-Bennett doesn’t recognize that the mayor will toss her away like an old sneaker with a hole in the sole as soon as she is finished doing his bidding.

Marvin Goodwin

Judges promote reading with visits to schools Dear Editor: Studies show that children learn to read up until the 3rd grade and read to learn thereafter. If they can’t read, they can’t learn. This reading deficiency affects student learning, contributes to a higher school dropout rate, and it ultimately will impact their own economic success as well as our country’s ability to compete in a global economy.

As educators and elected public officials grapple with this problem, there are many individuals who are taking a hands-on approach, right in their own back yard. This month, some 65 members of the Illinois Judges Association, are vis-

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

iting elementary school classrooms to share their love of reading and how it has impacted their lives.

Their calling card? “Abe Lincoln’s Hat,” by Martha Brenner, a delightful children’s book about our nation’s 16th President. The book portrays Lincoln as an absentminded frontier lawyer who nudged his memory by sticking letters, court notes, and contracts inside his black top hat. The volunteer judge reads the book aloud to students and engages them in a conversation about reading, history (Continued on page 5)

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COMMENTARY

Affordable Care Act – It’s Terminal Beyond The Rhetoric

By Harry C. Alford NNPA Columnist To overhaul and drastically change a major industry that accounts for one sixth of our economy is more than aggressive. It is revolutionary. There are 31 million Americans who do not have insurance. So, a need to change was quite obvious but how you do it remains a mystery. Yes, the attempt is being made but so far it is a comedy (or tragedy) of errors. Nancy Pelosi said, “We must first pass the bill then we can read it and find what it is all about.” We followed that logic and have gotten ourselves into a mess with historical proportions.

Obamacare is mired in confusion and the Department of Health and Human Services is truly going in circles at 100 miles per hour.

It is just too big. Insurance is an industry made up of many corporations with governance over their brand and delivery system. There is no way one entity can manage all of this but, for some reason, our government feels it can do it. No government can run a business and es-

Harry C. Alford pecially not a giant industry. The many thousands of pages written to implement this law remind me of a road map filled with many streets crossing each other. As the mistakes are being rolled out, excuses, accusations, spin and sometimes downright lies are being applied by those in charge of implementing this law.

History will show that this is perhaps one of the biggest blunders ever by this great nation.

An important piece of this operation is to be the website, www.health care.gov. HHS decided to give a no bid contract to a Canadian

company by the name of CGI for the construction of the site. CGI had just been fired by the province of Ontario for inferior work and this isn’t the only government to have trouble with this company.

Predictably, it was a nightmare. My sons could have put this website together far better than this scandalous company. Finally, amid all of the press exposing all of the mistakes being made by this contractor, HHS decided to cut their losses (approximately $100 million) and replace CGI. Did they go to Google, IBM, CSC, etc. for competitive proposals? No, they went the way of another no bid contract to the tune of $91 million given to Accenture. This company was once known as Arthur Anderson but they changed to Accenture after their involvement with the infamous Enron scandal.

Accenture has a reputation that is not too illustrious. Chances are not much improvement is going to be made. The headquarters of this company is Ireland – yes, another foreign firm. Why are they in Ireland? Ireland is tax free and has become a haven for businesses trying to avoid America’s tax system. It’s

like the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, etc. What really troubles me about the website is who is helping build it. It has been confirmed that programmers from the nation of Belarus are involved in the construction of this site. Belarus is known for one thing. They have the most vicious Internet hackers in the world located there. My Lord, what are we getting into? The “fox” is working in the “hen house.” The website is already a disaster and it looks like it is going further south real fast.

The program is based on a “bet.”

It assumes that young people under 30 years will heavily populate the enrollment. That way these healthy enrollees will have little claims and could offset the cost of older persons with illness history and those with pre-existing conditions. It is not working that way – so far, 50 percent of the enrollees are over the age of 40. Thus, the cost estimates are terribly miscalculated and this program is headed for bankruptcy.

Probably, the participating insurance companies will need a government bailout to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars.

This program is just out of con-

trol. There are too many variables and the management skill sets needed to pull this thing off are just not there. The law is being amended in an unconstitutional manner. Changes are to be made with Congress’ approval and they are not. In fact, there have been 27 delays as we roll the program out. Various groups are being waived and that is against the written law. It’s helter skelter.

The Congressional Budget Office has issued its comprehensive report about this Affordable Care Act/Obamacare. This nation will lose 2.3 million jobs over the next few years as a result of the program. Furthermore, 30 million Americans will remain uninsured. Wasn’t the goal of this monster to ensure the uninsured? My people, this is spelling FAILURE. Certainly, it is a great concept. The major problem is we have the wrong players in this game. Save our money, pull the plug and let’s return to our insurance system.

Mr. Alford is the co-founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®.Website: www.nationalbcc.org.

Email: halford@nationalbcc.org.

Another Florida Man Gets Away with Murder

By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist As we approach the second anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s murder on Sanford, Fla., justice again has been shortchanged in the Sunshine State.

It was incredulous that George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman and wannabe cop, was found not guilty of murder after killing the unarmed Black teenager who had visited a nearby convenience store to purchase a bag of Skittles and a can of Arizona Tea. Last Saturday, a hung jury could not decide whether Michael Dunn, a 47-year-old white computer programmer, was guilty of murdering Jordan Davis by fatally shooting him in the chest groin. According to court testimony, Dunn pulled into the parking lot of a Jacksonville convience store and became involved in an argument after he accused 17-year-old Jordan Davis and three of his teenage friends of playing their music too loudly.

Apparently, an argument erupted. Dunn’s lawyer claims that Davis used vulgarity-laden language to tell his client what to do to himself. Witnesses said Dunn shouted at Davis: “You can’t talk to me that way!”

Taken by themselves, the words have no special meaning. www.chicagocrusader.com

However, when uttered by a white man to a Black teen in a region that prided itself as this nation’s last bastion of white supremacy, they take on a separate life of their own. Remember, it wasn’t all that long ago when Blacks were expected to stare at the ground when speaking to white folks. They were expected to say “Yes, sir” and “Yes, Ma’am,” knowing that their parents, regardless of their age, would always be addressed by their first names, even by white children. Refusing to show what was considered proper respect to whites often had violent repercussions, even death.

I can almost hear the words: You can’t talk to me that way!

And to prove his point, Dunn opened fire on the Black teenagers, striking Jordan Davis twice. Even as the teens peeled rubber trying to get away, Dunn, 6’4” and 280 pounds, continued to shoot into the vehicle, firing 10 times in all.

He would later say that he thought he saw the barrel of a shotgun protruding from a window of the Dodge Durango SUV. But no such weapon was ever found and for good reason – it did not exist. Even Dunn’s girlfriend said he never told her about the teens having a shotgun.

And what did Dunn do after he killed the Black teenager? He returned to the hotel room where

George E. Curry he was staying after attending his only son’s wedding. He acted as if he had just finished a routine day at the office. He didn’t bother to notify police. Dunn acted as if nothing had happened.

But something did happen. Jordan Davis had his life cut short that day. The high school senior would never get the chance to make his parents proud by donning a cap and gown and walking across a stage to receive his high school diploma. He would not get a chance to attend college or pursue a career. He wouldn’t even get a chance to breathe again because he wasn’t supposed to talk to a white man that way.

According to Rolling Stone,

Dunn told detectives, “They did not follow my orders. What was I supposed to do if they wouldn’t listen?”

For starters, he wasn’t supposed to take the kid’s life. But he did.

His lawyer plans to argue that Dunn was Standing his Ground.

His lawyer, Corey Strolla, told Rolling Stone last year, “I don’t have to prove the threat, just that Mike Dunn believed it.”

Evidently, Strolla sold the jury on that belief. They couldn’t agree that his client murdered Jordan Davis, who was shot twice. But in their contorted reasoning, they found him guilty of three counts of attempted second degree murder. In other words, he was not guilty of murdering Davis, but was guilty of attempting to murder Davis’ three friends, neither of whom were struck by a bullet.

Florida State Attorney Angela Corey said she will retry Dunn on first-degree murder charges. But

this is the same State Attorney who unsuccessfully prosecuted George Zimmerman for firstdegree murder. If she puts on a case as poorly as she did against Zimmerman, Dunn won’t have anything additional to worry about.

Still, he’ll probably die in prison. And if some of the true thugs catch up with him in the slammer, he might like how they are going to talk to him.

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Website, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter. com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (Continued from page 4) and civics. The book is donated to tion to play a part, however small, the school’s library. This project in helping young students learn, won’t end in February: it is part of graduate and ultimately become the IJA’s ongoing reading and tu- productive citizens in society.

Mary S. Schostok toring program called “Page It ForJustice, Illinois ward.”

Appellate Court, Reading is so basic, so essential.

Second District We simply can’t afford to let our President, Illinois youth fail to master this crucial Judges Association skill. We owe it to the next genera-

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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COMMENTARY

BOBBY WRIGHT AND MENTACIDE

Dr. Conrad Worrill, Director/Professor, Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS) located at 700 East Oakwood Blvd, Chicago, Illinois, 60653, 773-268-7500, Fax: 773-268-3835 E-mail: c-worrill@neiu.edu, Website: www.ccicschicago.org, Twitter: @CCICS_ Chicago.

Dr. Conrad Worrill

So many of the problems that African people face in the world today are due to the assault on our minds by those who captured us and removed significant numbers of us to the western hemisphere.

This also included the mind damage caused by the tampering of African lands and culture on the continent of Africa.

Most African people in America are aware that our minds were tampered with as a result of our forced capture and enslavement in America. The impact of this process is central to the international component of the Reparations Movement that we must focus on, and that is the “Repair of Ourselves.” At the same time we must demand reparations from the government and private corporations who benefited from our enslavement and still benefit today.

Examining and reexamining the contributions of the late Dr. Bobby Wright provides a significant source we can utilize in addressing our “internal reparations” challenges.

The contributions of the late Dr. Bobby E. Wright in helping us assess this problem should be a continuous part of our study and reflection, as we struggle to break the psychological chains of white supremacy.

Four years before Dr. Wright’s untimely death, he wrote a profound article entitled, “Mentacide: The Ultimate Threat To The Black Race.” In defining “Mentacide,” Dr. Wright explains that it is “the deliberate and systematic destruction of a person’s or group’s mind [which] may give a clue to why the Black race, after developing such an advanced civilization, has for the last 400 years been assisting in it own destruction and the nearly total subjugation of Africa by foreign invaders.”

In an earlier work, written in 1975 by Dr. Wright, entitled “The Psychopathic Racial Personality,” he stated that in the relationships of whites with Blacks, “whites exhibit the behavior of psychopaths and their behavior reflects an underlying biologically transmitted proclivity that is rooted deep in their evolutionary history.” Dr. Wright says, “Mentacide is the ultimate goal of the behavior.”

Any cursory examination of history will bear out and support the following “incomparable traits” of the white race (Europeans) that Dr. Wright reveals in terms of: 1) Predatory behavior toward people and their land, 2) A predilection for senseless destruction of nature and people, and 3) The ability to

persuade Blacks to support and protect them against their own interest.”

These key points described by Dr. Wright concerning the continued oppressive psychological condition of African people in the world indicates to me that our biggest challenge as a people is that of Getting Our Minds Straight and Stopping Mentacide!

Getting Our Minds Straight requires that African people begin to relearn the African principle that renowned historian, Dr. Anderson Thompson, has been discussing for the last twenty plus years. According to Dr. Thompson, the “African Principle represents those standards, rules, laws, and customs which guide our behavior and which serve as the foundation for all of our action.”

Dr. Thompson continues by explaining that the African Principle “is the quality underlying the source of the African value system.

The gift from our Creator passes on to us through our ancestors.”

At this juncture in history, we as African people have the capacity to Straighten Our Own Minds Out without the help of anyone outside the African Community.

It must be understood that Africa and African people have

been under siege for more that 2,000 years by Europeans, Asians and Arabs. The invasions, intrusions, thefts, murders, pillaging, and the decimation and destruction of African lands, bodies, minds and spirits over these 2,000 years is the basis for our on-going struggle for African Liberation worldwide.

In our efforts to Straighten Out Our Minds, the following revelation by Dr. Wright should be understood, and internalized, by all African people. Dr. Wright reveals that, “It is very clear that the Europeans have developed a method whose basic purpose is to replace all indigenous cultures with their own… Therefore, the Europeans, without any historical precedent, went forth into the civilized world and began to impose their cultures on others, mainly through religion, literacy modalities and military force.”

All roads lead to our unity. We must work together in organizing and mobilizing African people in America. All of our organizing strategies must lead to Getting Our Minds Straight and Stopping Mentacide. Without this occurring, we will continue in our present state of mental stagnation and servitude to other people.

CLARENCE“MyTHOMAS LACKS INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY sadness is that we are probably nothing more than business as usu- dan Davis, who was leaning away

By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is at it again. Whenever he opens his mouth about race, he displays a surprising myopia for a 65year-old African American man who was raised in the Deep South during a segregated era. During his confirmation hearing and around it, Mr. Thomas excoriated his own family, speaking of his sister as someone (and I paraphrase) waiting around for her welfare check. He was equally contemptuous of other members of his family, even as they were loyal to him and attended some of his hearings. A notable point in his confirmation hearing was a moment when he said he experienced the pain of racism when his grandmother could not use a segregated bathroom. I’d remind him now, as I did then in a column, that it wasn’t personal, and it wasn’t just his grandmother, it was everybody’s grandmother. That’s the collective and institutional knowledge that Thomas lacks.

Thus, when he went to Atlantic University in West Palm Beach and said, according to Yahoo News, 6

today more race and differenceconscious than I was in the 1960s when I went to school. To my knowledge, I was the first Black kid in Savannah, Georgia, to go to a white school. Rarely did the issue of race come up. Now, name a day it doesn’t come up. Differences in race, differences in sex, somebody doesn’t look at you right, somebody says something. Everybody is sensitive. If I had been as sensitive as that in the 1960s, I’d still be in Savannah. Every person in this room has endured a slight. Every person.

Somebody has said something that has hurt their feelings or did something to them—left them out.”

People didn’t talk about race much until the 1950s and early 1960s, and when they did, then, they did them with a whisper.

When Emmitt Till was killed, there were few African Americans who took white folks to account for this, except for the large African American organizations, like the NAACP. Because of their very public stance on the issue, the organization was described as “subversive,” their members (and the members of other organizations) “outside agita-

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Dr. Julianne Malveaux tors.”

Before Till, there were thousands of incidents, few making headlines.

For African Americans, acts that left African Americans lynched and killed, run off their property, and just plain disappear were not much discussed. It was understood that those harassed are those who "stood up to the white man.” For whites, this fatal harassment of people of African descent, the outright theft of property, rape of women, and a litany of other oppressions, was

al. White men could rape Black women, beat up or kill Black men, and do whatever they wanted without fearing reprisals. Some of these oppressions are only now being uncovered. Of course people are talking about race.

Furthermore, things like employment discrimination are not simple “slights” that result in hurt feelings.

Instead, they are institutional attacks on a community’s economic well being. Differences in the welldocumented ways that interest rates are offered for homes and automobiles are not slights but pernicious economic discrimination. Thomas willfully reduces institutional racism to oversensitivity, when one more cognizant of history might acknowledge that both micro and macro inequities impact economic advancement, and quality of life.

Thomas is joined by George Zimmerman, who says his massacre of Trayvon Martin has nothing to do with race, and has cast himself as the victim in a tragedy he perpetuated. Thus Michael Dunn, objecting to loud music, aimed multiple bullets at a vehicle holding four young Black men, killing one, Jor-

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

from the window of the vehicle, weaponless. Hiding behind the Stand Your Ground law, he says he felt threatened. Others posit (more correctly) that he objected to a young man mouthing off at him when he asked them to turn down their music. If he felt so “threatened” why did he even bother to approach the car of young men minding their business?

What has race got to do with it? In the time when people didn’t talk about race, this question might not be asked. Today, because people perceive “slights,” (like the murder of young Black men), the question of race inevitably and appropriately comes up. Thomas dissented in the Hudson case, which awarded an inmate $800 after he claimed cruel and unusual punishment when he was beaten so badly that his dental plate was broken in his mouth. I guess he regarded police brutality as a simple “slight.”

People talk about race (and gender) more because they are not muzzled by an institutional racism that made it impossible to have these conversations without conse(Continued on page 21)

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GOSSIPTARY

By Ima Gontellit EDITOR'S NOTE: This column is published as political satire, street gossip and humor, and therefore should not be considered as fact but rather as matter of opinion. None of the items therein are collected by the news gathering staff of the Crusader Newspaper Group. Items forwarded to The Chatterbox are kept confidential unless otherwise requested by the author in writing. For submissions please forward to: AChicagoCrusader@aol.com. Original photography and artwork are permitted.

Thank you for reading!

STALKING FOR THE TOP The coalition of rabble rousers who are looking for somebody to run against the tiny Emperor on the fifth floor of city hall must be one fry short of a Happy Meal. This group of rag tag angry muffins are so dumb they couldn’t pour water out a boot if the instructions were written on de heel. We done heard that they have near bout given up

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non-tricking colored person to take on de Emperor. So dey is saving as much of dey social security as dey can to buy some plots of land where they will build a Utopia someplace far away from here. Unfortunately, since most of ‘em ain’t never had no good paying jobs, all dey earnings together will only get them as far as Gary.

-ImaToni Preckwinkle

FLY ROBIN FLY

on begging the Toni “The Colossal Woman” Preckwinkle to run for mayor and have lowered their sights to the Cook County Clerk’s office.

Their new logic seems to be, “People be so mad at de mayor dat even Dorothy Brown could win.” Now dat ain’t no way to court no lady like Sister Brown, whom we hear is a mighty fine shouter on Sunday morning. Dis group also say even if Brown be de stalking horse for de current mayor, de colored population in dis town so angry that she gonna wind up winning –much to her own surprise.

In de meantime, folks at the Great Bye-and-Goodbye Convalescent Home ain’t takin’ no chances on Negroes finding a credible, positive,

time showing white folks that she is a loyal, compliant, non-threatening Negro. You could not pay this woman to put a dashiki on. One young fellow said Sister Robin has graduated to the same class of light-skin, disconnected, highly contented Super Negroes as Corey Booker, President Obammy, Will Burns and Christian Mitchell. The dark-skinned versions include Kwame Raoul, Ken Bennett and the alderman of the 47th Ward.

Dismissing rumors that she will have a limited time as the congresswoman of the 2nd Congressional District, Robin Kelley is wasting no

Robin Kelly

-Ima-

Howard Brookins

ALVAREZ AGAIN

a bigger pair. Alvarez is at the center of a whole bunch of scandals, including how DUH Mayor Daley’s nephew almost got away with killing a man after a night out of carousing and drinking. Since de kilt man was not Black, the Cloudy Times took up his mama’s cause and kept on top of Alvarez and anybody who had any remote connection to the case, until justice was served.

Left looking for tacos in a Chinese restaurant, Alvarez got egg on her face again. We hear somebody connected to a former city corporation counsel is gunning for her—but he

Since little Howie Brookins ain’t gone take on Anita Alvarez, the deeply disturbed state’s attorney who has now wound up pissing off good white folk, it looks like this woman may wind up in a job for life. Although there are 18 Black lawyers and 2 Black judges who are said to be eyeballing de office, they keeps remembering how a certain Cook County Commissioner jumped in the race and pulled critical votes away from little Brookins, who would be the state’s attorney right now, if he had paid his bills and grew

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

(Continued on page 18)

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

22ND ANNUAL ASHAKI BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION:The Chicago Park District invites you to the 22nd Annual ASHAKI Black History Month Celebration, an authentic cultural experience.

This memorable event will take place at Washington Park Field House, 5531 South King Drive, on Saturday, February 22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The Washington Park field house will be transformed into the countries of Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Nigeria, and Somalia. Eye-catching live musical performances, amazing cultural exhibits, vendors and great culinary delights will immerse your imagination into the vivid cultures of these countries. Don’t miss this wonderful family event for all ages. Free Admission.

NAVY PIER CORNHOLE CLASSIC: On Saturday, February 22, see if you have what it takes to out-toss the competition at the first ever Navy Pier Cornhole Classic! This roundrobin style bags tournament, produced in partnership with Adrenaline Sports Management, will have two divisions of registration: novice (backyard baggers) and experienced (pro throwers) with singles and doubles in each division. Players are guaranteed at least two rounds of play. All participants will receive a Navy Pier Cornhole Classic long sleeve Dri-Fit T-shirt and the top three in each division will be awarded a trophy and Navy Pier prize package. Visit www.chicagocornholeclassic.com for more details and to register.

SPECIAL EXHIBITION RUTHE GRUBER EXHIBIT OPENS FEBRUARY 23 AT THE ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM: Ruth Gruber: Photojournalist celebrates the remarkable life, vision, and heroic tenacity of a 20th century pioneer and trailblazing photojournalist. The exhibit will be housed at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Main Special Exhibition Gallery, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie.

Now 102 years old, Gruber’s work spans more than five decades, from her groundbreaking work in the Soviet Arctic in the 1930s and her iconic images of Jewish refugees on the ship Exodus 1947, to her later work in the 1980s documenting Ethiopian Jews in the midst of a civil war. A selection of vintage prints are presented alongside contemporary prints made from original negatives, early film footage, and ephemera from her personal archive. The exhibit will run from February 23 – June 1, 2014. Tickets are Free with Museum admission. For information on hours and admission prices, please call 847-967-4800, or visit www.ilholocaustmuseum.org.

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY’S LAW AT THE LIBRARY OFFERS ADVICE ON CHANGES 8

IN TAX LAW IN FEBRUARY: The Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Bar Association partner to present Law at the Library, a free monthly lecture series focusing on today’s hot and timely legal issues. Law at the Library invites participants to talk with a licensed and experienced legal professional, ask general questions, and check out materials on a variety of legal topics – at no charge! As we maneuver through income tax season, the February Law at the Library seminar focuses on Changes in Tax Law. Discussion includes the legal aspects regarding several key tax changes in 2014 including health care, higher education and home improvements. A question and answer session follows the discussion. The seminar takes place on Monday, February 24 at 12:15 p.m. in the Chicago Authors Room, 7th Floor at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street. Law at the Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. In addition, all Chicago Public Library locations serve as community centers, which provide access to books, databases, and journals that can help Chicagoans learn more about legal issues. Law at the Libraryprograms will be recorded for later pod casting by Illinois Legal Aid Online. For more information, visit chicagopubliclibrary.org, the Chicago Bar Association at chicagobar.org or call 312-747-4300.

LINCOLN PARK ZOO EVENTS: Thursday, February 27-Wine & Wildlife: The Science Behind Zoo Sex: A small handful of population biologists in Chicago help with the family planning for thousands of animals in zoos and aquariums across North America. The Population Management Center (PMC), headquartered at Lincoln Park Zoo and in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), considers how many births and hatches for hundreds of different species living at hundreds of institutions around the nation are needed in order to keep populations viable, the best genetic matches, individual animal needs, and space constraints in order to provide animal breeding recommendations to AZAaccredited zoos and aquariums. Friday, February 28 - Sleep Under the Skyscrapers: Indoor Overnight - Interested in sleeping among Lincoln Park Zoo’s amazing animals? Grab that nighttime gear and join the zoo for an indoor overnight adventure!

The evening begins with dinner, followed by opportunities to explore the nightlife of the zoo’s residents. Slide your hands over the scales of a bluetongued skink at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House or see the chimpanzees settle into their nests at Regenstein Center for African Apes.

Hear stories from zoo experts and wind down with quiet games and a

Saturday, February 22, 2014

THE ILLINOIS FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE hosted a Community Leaders Briefing on Fatherhood recently at the Union League Club of Chicago where inspirational messages were given from guest speakers and new initiatives were announced. Attendees included from l to r: Phil Hampton, Paul Vallas, Sister Mary Paul, Harold Davis, Eric Snow and David Hirsch. bedtime snack before you—and the rest of the zoo—turn in for the night.

Families can choose to attend just the evening activities OR they can stay for the entire program and sleep over at the zoo. For more information, call 312-742-2056, or to register, visit: http://www.lpzoo.org/education/programs CHICAGO’S GOT SOUL SECOND TO NONE: This exhibit is ONGOING at the Harold Washing-

ton Library Center, 400 S. State Street.

It highlights the history of soul music, with a spotlight on the Chicago scene and such soul and R&B favorites as Jerry Butler, Lou Rawls, Sam Cooke, Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones and The Staple Singers. The biographical information, personal quotations, photographs, record album covers and advertisements show that our city has enjoyed soul music second to none.

The Chicago Public Library continues to encourage lifelong learning by wel-

coming all people and offering equal access to information, entertainment and knowledge through materials, programs and cutting-edge technology.

Through its 80 locations, the Library provides free access to a rich collection of materials, both physical and digital, and presents the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults. For more information, visit chicagopubliclibrary.org or call the Chicago Public Library at 312-747-4050.

Extended Coverage What do you own? Could you remember everything you had if your possessions were lost in a burglary, perhaps, or a fire? Could you document the facts? *** It’s easier than ever to create a complete inventory. It requires only a digital camera—even a smartphone—a computer and a USB flash memory drive. *** Take pictures, plenty of them, of the significant items in your home. Open drawers and cabinets to display contents and take more pictures. Don’t forget the boxes stored away in closets.

Milton E. Moses

*** More good ideas from the good-idea insurance people you know at Community Insurance Center, Inc., 526 E. 87th Street, your insurance headquarters. We have been serving the community since 1962. For more information about the services we provide, call (773) 651-6200. You can also reach us via email at: sales@communityinsurance.com or visit the website at www.communityins.com.

*** Download the pictures to the flash drive or upload to the web and—most important—store them someplace safe off site. *** That’s the start. Then comes the important part, a written inventory itemizing your belongings, with details like purchase prices and/or appraisals. Update periodically and store with the pictures, in a safe deposit vault, perhaps.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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POLITICS

County Commissioner candidate racks up endorsements Former Englewood resident Richard R. Boykin recently was joined by a host of elected officials and local ministers all of whom endorsed his campaign for Cook County Commission District One at a prayer breakfast at Rock of Ages Church in Maywood.

Boykin, an attorney, is a first time candidate and is a partner in the Chicago and Washington, D.C., offices of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, where he advises clients on government relations and legal matters. The Oak Park resident al-

Richard R. Boykin so is the former chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D7th), a job he held for nine years.

He also served as Davis’ liaison to federal, state, county and city officials. Before working as Davis’ chief of staff, he worked as the congressman’s legislative director.

The first commission district runs across a swath of Chicago’s West Side and into suburbs such as Oak Park, Maywood and Bellwood. Boykin is in a crowded race against four other candidates who are vying to replace retiring first district commissioner Earlean Collins. Boykin, who also served as a Congressional Black Caucus fellow for Carol Moseley Braun, former Illinois U.S. Senator, faces Blake Searcy, who is backed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, former 29th Ward Alderman Ike Carothers, Brenda Smith and Ronald Lawless.

Boykin explained his focus will be criminal justice reform, economic development and expanding medical health care services.

The 1994 University of Dayton Law School graduate also hosts a weekly radio show on WCGO 1590AM. He described the show as one that “aims to empower, educate, and enlighten the public about government and politics that impact their daily lives.”

Boykin also serves on several boards including the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, the Dr. Martin Luther King Dream Classic, the Illinois Group, The University of Dayton Law School Advisory Council and StreetWise.

INDEPENDENT VOTERS BACK Richard Boykin, candidate for the First District Cook County Commissioners’ seat. The endorsement from the Independent Voters of IllinoisIndependent Precinct Organization said Boykin’s candidacy is in line with the organization’s mission achieving social justice through good government and eliminating the influence of special interests.

Sheriff’s candidate says Black community not being served by Dart Sylvester Baker wants to put more deputies in high-crime areas

By J. Coyden Palmer Saying the African American community has been underserved by current Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Sylvester Baker is running in the March 18 primary election in hopes of becoming the first Black sheriff in Cook County when the general election takes place Nov. 4.

Baker believes Dart has ignored the crime issue in Black neighborhoods and said currently there are no rehabilitation programs that effectively address the high recidivism rate.

Baker wants to change the negative image of the office in the African American community, while also unifying deputies in the office, which is comprised of three separate branches: court deputies, sheriff’s police and correctional officers.

During a 30 minute interview on Feb. 18, Baker said one of the first things he would do is change the image of the sheriff’s department of which he was a part for over 20 years. He said within the law enforcement community the agency is seen as “a joke.” He added the African American community, does not reap the benefits of all potential assistance the agency could give and that the Black community connects www.chicagocrusader.com

the sheriff’s office with evictions, warrants and child support enforcement.

“The Sheriff’s department is a very powerful office,” Baker said. “We have been overlooking this office.

This office has over 6,000 jobs and awards over $40 million in contracts. So there is another side to this office that the African American community has not seen. I want to make our community aware of this.

The department is job rich and contract rich.”

Baker said the entire department needs an overhaul in terms of its philosophy and image. He said many African Americans do not realize the local county sheriff is the only elected law enforcement official in the country. With that being the case, he said a sheriff has a duty to work for the people who elected him or her. He also said as an elected official, the sheriff is on par with the mayor and does not need the permission of Mayor Rahm Emanuel or Supt. Gary McCarthy to do things in Chicago. He said when you look at a metropolitan area like Miami, Florida, the area is patrolled

by Dade County deputies in addition to city of Miami police.

Broward County deputies patrol Fort Lauderdale in addition to their own city agency. Baker said it is a practice he would bring to Chicago.

“I’ve always wondered why the

Sylvester Baker county has stayed out of the city when it is where a lot of the serious crime is happening,” Baker began.

“I would implement a county-wide policing strategy that would include patrol, investigators, a gangs unit and a county-wide telephone number where anyone in the county can call the sheriff’s office and report crime and get a response. There is so much crime county-wide it’s a shame that we don’t have a sheriff with the guts to actually come into the city. It’s an unwritten rule in the law enforcement community for the sheriff’s department to stay out of Chicago. And that is why the department is not respected in the law enforcement community. There were over 500 murders in Chicago in 2012 and Sheriff Dart didn’t do a thing about it. Some politicians

wanted the National Guard to come in, but none of them asked the elected sheriff, Tom Dart to do his job.”

Baker said supplementing Chicago police officers on the South and West Sides, especially when it is well known that Chicago is operating under a tight budget and skeleton patrol units on night shifts is just common sense. He questioned if Dart even cares about the Black community or is he incompetent because he was never a police officer before he was elected sheriff in 2006. Dart is a former prosecutor and state legislator. Baker also said there should be a city-county task force that works hand in hand to solve crimes.

But Baker said none of this can happen until the sheriff’s department undergoes reorganization, where every member is a certified law enforcement officer. Baker explained that those who work in the county’s corrections and courts are sworn officers, not sworn and certified by the state. He said this leads to a lot of problems with respect to the law enforcement community. He said it is also why corrections and court deputies wear blue uniform shirts and sheriff’s police wear a brown one and why there are three different badges within the department. Baker said he will change all of that by finding out how many additional hours sworn deputies need

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

to become certified and work with the county board and police union.

Once they are certified as law enforcement officers, he can then make one uniform, one badge and have more manpower to cover a county-wide policing strategy.

“It’s sad that our sheriff’s department is divided up like this because the people of Cook County are the real losers . . . ,” Baker said.

Baker also spoke about the situation in the south suburbs where Robbins, Dolton and Ford Heights are patrolled by sheriff’s police due to budget issues in those towns. He said that is cutting into the sheriff department’s budget, but he believes the department is also very top heavy. He explained there are currently over a dozen lawyers working in the Office of Professional Review and he does not believe they are all needed.

Baker added that he would also like to create programs that involve addressing youth most at risk or those who are already in the system. He said more computer education is needed in the jail along with social services. He believes mentoring and leadership programs are also desperately needed but there is one program he believes that is more critical than all the others.

“We need conflict resolution skills programs. You can resolve a conflict without killing someone,” Baker said.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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BUSINESS

Civil Rights and Consumer Advocates Strategize for Fair Lending

By Charlene Crowell February, Black History Month, is usually a time when communities and organizations honor the achievements of our forefathers. But this year, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and key allies chose February to convene a symposium that addressed communities of color and consumer financial services.

Co-convening organizations with CRL were the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and the National Consumers League.

Held Feb. 6 at the Washington, DC offices of the Joint Center, the day-long event brought together policymakers, lawmakers, civil rights leaders and consumer advocates to address predatory lending practices in mortgages, auto finance and more. Participants included U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, Edith Ramirez, Chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission, and Mignon Clyburn, a Commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission.

“The wealth losses caused by the Great Recession will likely persist for years if not decades for many families,” observed Julia Gordon, a symposium presenter and Director of Housing Finance and Policy with

10

the Center for American Progress.

“For consumers of color, the road to recovery will be even steeper and harder due to a range of bad practices that targeted these consumers and continued discrimination in the lending context,” continued Gordon. “To enable families and communities of color to rebuild wealth, it’s essential to offer equitable access to safe and sustainable credit, while also remaining vigilant against any form of predatory lending.”

Another symposium speaker, Dedrick Muhammad, Senior Director of the NAACP Economic Department recently wrote about the civil rights organization’s concerns on wealth inequality in its January newsletter.

“Closing this wealth and income gap is as much a practical issue as it is a moral one: the U.S. economy can’t thrive when it lacks a solid middle class,” wrote Muhammad in the January 2014 edition of The Angle, the NAACP newsletter. “Americans have begun engaging in economic justice fights at both state and local levels, some which successfully lead to 13 states raising their minimum wage this year.”

Independent research by CRL determined that the typical household has just $100 left each month after paying for basic expenses and debt

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Charlene Crowell payments. After controlling for inflation, the typical household had less annual income at the end of 2010 than it did at the beginning of the decade, 2000. Moreover, as worker productivity increased, the workplace has seldom rewarded them with higher pay.

More recently, new research from the Standard Center on Poverty and Inequality similarly found that between 1982 and 2006, the average

real income for Black households rose by only 28 percent, while the same measure for white households grew 42 percent. Additional findings revealed that: • The Great Recession hit Black households more severely because a higher share of assets were invested in their homes; and • The nation’s middle class of all races lost more net worth from the decline in home prices than the top

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

20 percent of income earners lost from the stock market plunge.

The mortgage panel discussion included the National Council of La Raza, the National Urban League, National Community Reinvestment Coalition and the Center for American Progress. A second panel, dedicated to auto finances abuses, added voices from the League of United Latin American Citizens and a discussion of a new CRL report that found consumers of color still report paying higher interest rates on dealer-financed car loans than other consumers.

“Considering growing racial disparities in employment, homeownership and wealth, CRL and its partners strongly believed the event was necessary to draw attention to the disturbing economic trends that are causing harm in communities,” said Ken Edwards, CRL’s Vice-President for Federal Affairs. “We convened the symposium; now we must utilize that insightful dialogue to push for progressive changes going forward.”

Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.

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BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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BLACK HISTORY

The ‘little man’s lawyer: Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall

By Charlene M. Crowell Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993), the nation’s first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, led a life dedicated to justice. In a life 84 years long, his tenacious resolve, bold leadership and observations were as candid as they were insightful. Before his service to the nation’s highest court, he held positions with the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund, as U.S. Solicitor General, and as a federal appellate judge.

Through all of these endeavors, his greatest accomplishments were on behalf of the disenfranchised and dispossessed. As a champion for individual freedoms, he believed and valiantly fought for each individual’s right to the full citizenship detailed in our country’s Constitution. And like many of those who are most deserving of Black History recognition, found his voice and calling through early personal experiences.

Born in Baltimore on July 2, 1908, Thurgood Marshall was the greatgrandson of a slave from Sierra Leone. His namesake was his paternal grandfather, a freedman who enlisted in the Union Army. Following the Civil War, Marshall’s grandfather worked in the merchant marine before marrying his grandmother, Annie, and opening a grocery store in Baltimore. Marshall’s mother, ele-

mentary schoolteacher Norma Williams, married a Baltimore & Ohio Railroad dining car waiter, Will Marshall. Thurgood was the second child born to that union.

Reminiscing about his years growing up in segregated Baltimore, Justice Marshall once recalled, “We lived on a respectable street, but behind us there were back alleys where roughnecks and the tough kids hung out. When it was time for dinner, my mother used to go to the front door and call my older brother.

Then she’d go to the back door and call me.”

In school, Marshall’s rowdy tendencies often led to punishment. In grade school, that punishment was memorizing passages from the United States Constitution while in the school’s basement. Justice Marshall recalled those days saying, “Before I left that school, I knew the whole thing by heart.”

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Those basement readings eventually led to a series of discussions with his father as to what the Constitution really meant. For his father, Will Marshall, the running discussions enabled him to share with his

Thurgood Marshall son his own interest in courtroom trials. Will Marshall’s interest in the law evolved without the benefit of formal education. Yet he enjoyed debating and occasionally, father and son visited local trials in session.

Remembering his father’s influence, Justice Marshall once said, “He never told me to become a lawyer, but he turned me into one.

statement I made.”

Mentally proving himself was not the only challenge young Thurgood faced. The segregated times in which he was born forced other challenges on the talented youth. Recalling his first openly racist encounter, Justice Marshall related the incident as follows: “I heard a kid call a Jewish boy I knew a “kike” to his face. I was about seven. I asked him why he didn’t fight the kid. He asked me what would I do if somebody called me “nigger” — would I fight? That was a new one on me. I knew kike was a dirty word, but I hadn’t known about nigger. I went home and wanted to know right that minute what all this meant.”

In reply to his son, Will Marshall said, “Anyone who calls you a nigger, you not only got my permission to fight him — you got my orders to fight him.”

Several years later when Thurgood was in high school, Will Marshall helped his son to get a summer job as a waiter with B&O. On his first day of work, he was given a pair of waiter’s pants that were too short for his tall frame. When Thurgood spoke to the chief dining steward about the pants, he requested a pair that fit his frame.

Instead, the steward advised him, “Boy, we can get a man to fit the

THURGOOD MARSHALL ON the steps of the Supreme Court.

Because he needed to earn money became his first wife. One semester for his education, Marshall accepted before his Lincoln graduation, Marthe advice. At the time, a B&O Rail- shall married a University of Pennroad waiter’s job was far better than sylvania coed, Vivian Burey. The the menial labor often offered to two 21-year olds were wed on SepBlacks. tember 4, 1929.

Following his 1925 graduation Following his June 1930 graduafrom high school, Thurgood en- tion, the young couple moved to rolled in then all Black and all-male Baltimore and lived with ThurLincoln University in Pennsylvania. good’s parents. By this time, ThurTwo of his classmates in later years good’s interest in becoming a lawbecame renowned in different en- yer was encouraged by both Vivian deavors: Kwame Nkrumah became and his mother. To help finance his president of Ghana and Cab Cal- continued education, Thurgood’s loway became a renowned band- mother sold her engagement ring. leader.

Finding a way to finance a college It was during his years at Lincoln education proved easier than enthat he became intrigued with the rolling in law school. Despite gradHarlem Renaissance’s creative forces uating with honors from Lincoln, He did it by teaching me to argue, pants a lot easier than we can get as well as Dr. W. E. B. DuBois. It the University of Maryland’s law by challenging my logic on every pants to fit the man. Why don’t you was also while enrolled at Lincoln school refused to accept Thurgood point, by making me prove every ‘scroonch’ down a little more?” that he met the woman who later as its first Black student. Instead, Marshall applied and was admitted to Howard University.

In his freshman year of law school, he rode the train from Baltimore to Washington to attend classes. The daily train ride back to Baltimore took him to a part-time job before he could return home to study.

Most days, Thurgood awoke at 5:30 a.m. and studied until midnight.

By his second year at Howard, he had become the top student in his class. For that academic honor, he was offered a campus job at the law school’s library. He also earned the respect and was mentored by the law school’s vice dean, Attorney Charles Hamilton Houston. HousAUTHERINE LUCY, who along with Pollie Anne Myers, fought for enrollment in the University of ton taught his Howard students to Alabama through the court system for three years. In this historic 1954 photo, Lucy is accompanied by use their legal skills as ‘social engiThurgood Marshall and Arthur Shores—her legal team from the NAACP—as they travel to the Federal neers.’

Court in Birmingham, AL. (Continued on page 20)

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, February 22, 2014

13

BLACK HISTORY

Fannie Lou Hamer emerged as a Civil Rights Leader

By Charlene M. Crowell Fifty years ago, a self-educated, grass roots activist from Mississippi challenged the Democratic National Convention to seat Black delegates for the first time in the party’s history. It was also one of a very few times that a Black woman was recognized as a civil rights leader before a national televised audience. As vicechair of the Freedom Democratic Party, Fannie Lou Townsend Hamer changed the way Blacks would influence the quadrennial event and became an enduring leader over the next several decades.

As the twentieth child born to a Mississippi sharecropper, her early life lacked a long list of what many Americans take for granted. Born on October 6, 1917 in Montgomery County, Mississippi, she was raised in rural Sunflower County. For

of abuse, pain and suffering.

A 1962 encounter with the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) permanently changed the course of her life.

At a rally in Ruleville, Mississippi, SCLC's Reverend James Bevel and SNCC's James Foreman spoke on voter registration plans. The two speakers related how registering to vote could change local political leadership and in time, bring positive changes in their lives.

When the audience was challenged to action, Fannie Lou Hamer answered.

According to Hamer, "When they asked for those to raise their hands who'd go down to the courthouse the next day, I raised mine. Had it up as high as I could get. The only thing they could do to me was kill

FANNIE LOU HAMER with Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Members.

Black sharecroppers, education was me, and it seemed like they'd been almost always relegated to the needs trying to do that a little bit at a time of the plantation. At age six, she be- ever since I could remember."

The literacy test that had traditiongan picking cotton. Young Fannie was allowed to attend school only ally denied many Blacks the right to during the months of December to vote only delayed Fannie's determiMarch. Yet during these months, nation to register. After failing twice, the lack of adequate winter clothing she passed on her third attempt. further reduced her school atten- Then she immediately began teaching other Blacks how she passed so dance.

By the time she was 13, she was that they too could register.

Following her first attempt at voter forced to abandon school to work full-time in the fields. With her fam- registration, Fannie was fired from ily working together in the fields, her job. As a reaction to her leading enough money was earned to pur- 26 Blacks in an unsuccessful atchase their own mules and cows. tempt to vote in the county seat, Shortly thereafter, an envious white Fannie was jailed and beaten. Later neighbor poisoned the livestock. her family was evicted from the The livestock was dead; but not farmland they had worked for 18 years.

Fannie's dreams.

Still undaunted, Fannie began In 1942, Fannie married Perry "Pap" Hamer, a tractor driver from working full-time with SNCC to another plantation; but her work in continue registering Blacks in Misthe fields continued. Due to her rep- sissippi, despite recurring beatings utation as a hard worker, she was for her field work.

On one occasion, Hamer and a promoted from picking cotton to timekeeper. As timekeeper, the work group of 19 workers stopped for a was less strenuous; but the pay was meal at a bus terminal in Winona, still low. Her life remained largely Mississippi. Because their presence the same as other sharecroppers - full challenged the 'white only' policy, 14

Saturday, February 22, 2014

HAMER SPEAKING WITH Members of the Mississippi Freedom Democrat delegation. party membership led to another bold decision. By challenging the seating of the regular Mississippi Democrats at the 1964 national convention, Hamer would take the progressive group's concerns to the Democratic National Committee while an entire nation would be watching. Elected vice-chair by some 2,500 Freedom Democrats, Fannie Lou Hamer addressed the convention's credentials committee, asking for the Freedom Democrats to be seated. The televised proceedings and Hamer's chilling accounts shocked America.

Before the convention committee, Hamer recounted the jailings, beatings, and loss of employment. Challenging the credentials committee, Hamer said, "If the Freedom Democratic Party is not seated now, I

phone calls and telegrams supporting Hamer and her delegation. On the other hand, Texas' Lyndon Johnson had not yet received the support of the regular Mississippi Democrats. The Freedom Democrats had endorsed him.

Minnesota's Senator Hubert Humphrey, often termed the "happy warrior," was given the task of developing a compromise. Humphrey wanted to be Johnson's vice-presidential pick and his stance on civil rights had been one of the most progressive.

For Fannie Lou Hamer, however, there could be no compromise on freedom, justice or equality. She asked the veep hopeful, "Mr. Humphrey, do you mean to tell me that your position is more important to you than 400,000 Black folks lives?"

The compromise eventually of-

MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC Party Convention the Mississippi Freedom Democrat- question America." Continuing she ic Party. Denied participation in added, "Is this America, the land of Mississippi's Democratic Party, the the free and home of the brave, new organization opened member- where we have to sleep with our teleship to all races. Two months later in phones off the hook because our June, approximately 1,000 volun- lives be threatened daily, because we teers arrived in Mississippi as part of want to live as decent human beings SNCC's Freedom Summer project. in America?"

The direct challenge confounded As Mississippi gained newly registered voters, many joined the Free- convention officials. An outraged dom Democratic Party. Swelling nation barraged them with tele-

fered to seat the regular Mississippi Democrats, and offer two at-large seats to the Freedom Democrats.

Hamer's reply left no doubt as to where she stood, "We didn't come all this way for no two seats when all of us is tired."

Using borrowed convention hall passes, the entire delegation of Freedom Democrats marched onto the (Continued on page 18)

the group was attacked by state troopers and arrested for disorderly conduct. While in jail, two other Black male prisoners were ordered to beat Fannie or suffer consequences for refusing to obey white prison guards. Prison guards provided the two Black prisoners with a Black leather clutch loaded with metal.

Through the intervention of James Bevel and Andrew Young, Hamer was later returned to her jail cell. By the time she and the other civil rights workers were released, the brutal beating left her permanently injured. Fannie left that jail more determined than ever to continue active opposition to Mississippi's racist system.

These and other incidents triggered the April 1964 formation of

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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ENTERTAINMENT

By Raymond Ward

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!

“SOMETHING ABOUT OSCAR” One Man Show by Morris Gearring, Directed by Chuck Smith March 4th at the Jazz Showcase (806 South Plymouth Ct.) “As a child growing up in Gary, I became exposed to poetry in 4th grade when my teacher became bored with Dick & Jane and decided she could best get the interest of her students by featuring the works of Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Paul Lawrence Dunbar and other poets of the Harlem Renaissance. As a young man, I was fortunate to have performed with William Warfield in the opera “Elijah” as a part of the Morehouse College Glee Club and to have worked on stage with Oscar Brown, Jr. - I am hooked on Black History as it is presented in poetry and music.”

Morris Gearring On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, the audience will witness the music, poetry and social commentary of Oscar Brown, Jr. through the eyes of his friend and protégée, Morris Gearring. “Something About Oscar” showcases the personal insights and stories of Morris as he performs a series of Oscar’s most famous songs, with muMorris Gearring

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(Continued on page 18)

By Elaine Hegwood Bowen, MSJ

Race dominant theme in Goodman play “Buzzer” 50 years after Poitier Oscar More than 50 years ago, the esteemed actor Sidney Poitier made history when in 1963 he became the first Black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie “Lilies of the Field.” Now, before Poitier’s win, Hattie McDaniel had won in 1939 for Best Supporting Actress in “Gone With the Wind” and James Baskett won an honorary Oscar in 1948 for his performance as Uncle Remus in “Song of the South.”

However, Poitier’s was the first win in his category.

Race played a major theme in Poitier’s earlier roles, where in “Lilies of the Field” he played a handyman who—in short—is eventually persuaded to work with a group of white nuns who are attempting to build a new chapel.

In 1967, Poitier starred in “To Sir, With Love,” which was set in Lon-

SHANE KENYON (Don), Lee Stark (Suzy) and Eric Lynch (Jackson) in Buzzer by Tracey Scott Wilson. don and told the story of a new Also in 1967, Poitier starred in the teacher at a school that flowed with movie “In The Heat of the Night,” British high schoolers who are in- as a detective who has to travel to a corrigible, insolent and filled with racist Southern town to help solve a raging hormones. Poitier perseveres murder. Of course, he is met with in teaching them about respect for resentment by all involved. The last those who were different and re- film during that year, “Guess Who’s (Continued on page 18) spect for themselves and each other.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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Saturday, February 22, 2014

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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ARTS AND CULTURE

COT presents Chicago premiere of Duke Ellington’s ‘Queenie Pie’ (1867-1919), born Sarah Breedlove and a descendant of slaves, who became America’s first Black female self-made millionaire who developed a highly successful line of hair and beauty products.

Therein, the similarity ends as “Queenie Pie” is NOT a biography of Mme. Walker.

By Barbara Wright-Pryor Chicago Opera Theater’s current production of Duke Ellington’s street opera “Queenie Pie,” presented in collaboration with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO), opened Saturday, February 15th with performances continuing through March 5th at The Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph. Originally commissioned by New York PBS affiliate WNET as a television piece for Lena Horne and featuring a libretto by Betty McGettigan, “Queenie Pie” was unfinished at the time of Ellington’s death in 1974. Set during the Harlem Renaissance, the story has been refocused for COT’s production and incorporates additional songs from Ellington’s oeuvre to complete the score and features a new adaptation of the libretto by Ken Roht as well as new orchestrations by CJO’s artistic director/conductor Jeff Lindberg. The production team includes Danila Korogodsky (set designs), Dabney Ross Jones (costumes) and Brandon Baruch (lighting designer).

Ellington’s characterization of Queenie Pie as a highly successful cosmetics mogul was inspired by the success of Madam CJ Walker

Karen Marie Richardson as Queenie. Photo/ Liz Lauren

The singing/dancing cast headed by Karen Marie Richardson (Queenie), Keithon Gipson, Anna Bowen, Jeffrey Polk and several rising stars from Chicago’s eclectic music community delivers a powerful two-and-a-half hour performance, one NOT TO BE MISS-

Three choral groups, two vocal soloists and a solo violist will perform works by African-American composers, from spirituals and gospel songs to contemporary compositions, on the R. Nathaniel Dett Club of Music and the Allied Arts’ annual Black History Concert Sunday, February 23 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 3801 S. Wabash Ave. The Very Rev. Fulton Porter, M.D., M. Div., is the Rector.

Performing in the concert are Gwendolyn Brown, contralto;

Brandon Brown, baritone; thirteen-year-old violist Michelle Manson; The Keith Hampton Singers, Keith Hampton, Founder/Director; The Classic Act Choral Ensemble, Fabienne C. Christian, Founder/Director; and the Columbia College Chicago Gospel Choir directed by Walter Owens Jr. Accompanying the performers are pianists Thomas W. Jefferson and Yvonne Lindsey.

Paul-Martin Bender is President of the R. Nathaniel Dett Club.

The concert is free and a free-will

ED. Special guests attending the opening night performance of “Queenie Pie” were A’Lelia Bundles, great-great-granddaughter of Madam Walker and president of the Madam Walker/A’Lelia Walker Family Archives; Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of Duke Ellington, choreographer and founder/artistic director of The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts; and Marilyn Lester, Executive Director of the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts. Ms. Bundles and Ms. Ellington were participants on the Sunday afternoon COT Viewpoint panel dis-

cussion with Northwestern University professor and historian Harvey Young and moderated by COT Artistic Director Andreas Mitisek at The Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St.

donation will be received to benefit the Dett Club’s Scholarship Fund.

For additional information, call 773-907-8522

floor.

The program, the third in a fiverecital series of the complete solo piano works of Rachmaninoff, includes the Three Nocturnes, Five Fantasy Pieces, Op. 3, and Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor.

All CCPA performances are free and open to the public. For more information on CCPA’s Spring 2014 Performance season, call 312-341-2352 or visit roosevelt./ccpa

******** Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) of Roosevelt University presents piano faculty member Wael Farouk in “A Tribute to Rachmaninoff in Honor of Solomon Mikowski” Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Ganz Hall, 430 S. Michigan Avenue, 7th

“Queenie Pie” is the second coproduction shared between Chicago Opera Theater and Long Beach Opera, both of which are under the direction of Andreas Mitisek. For more information or tickets, go to chicagooperatheater.org or call 312.704.8414. Tickets may also be purchased at the Harris Theater box office, 205 E. Randolph Drive.

********

Fifth Third Bank recognizes Black History Month to vote for their favorite of the two.

In recognition of Black History Month, Fifth Third Bank Chicago will honor several distinguished African-Americans for their countless contributions that have impacted the lives of many in the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland community.

Among the honorees is Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. The other honorees are listed below: • Robin Robinson, Emmy Award-winning TV Journalist • Jimmy Akintonde, President & CEO, Ujamaa Construction The honorees will be saluted at a special event on Feb. 25 at the South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago.

Each honoree will receive a crystal award and a namesake $5,300 scholarship that will be awarded to a local high school student to be applied to his/her first year of college.

The scholarships are intended to “pay it forward” in spirit of the honoree.

“I am extremely humbled to be receiving this award in the company of such accomplished individuals,” said Freeman-Wilson. “I applaud Fifth Third for including a scholarship component so that our youth may benefit.”

“We take tremendous pride in recognizing the many achievements of African-Americans to our nation, www.chicagocrusader.com

Karen Freeman-Wilson our city, and society during the month,” said Nicole JohnsonScales, senior vice president, community development, Fifth Third Bank Chicago. “Through our Black History Month tribute, we hope to bring individuals, families, business and civic leaders and Fifth Third employees together in celebration.”

To help promote the upcoming Fifth Third event, Freeman-Wilson will appear on Chicago’s V-103 Radio Sunday, Feb. 23 at 5:00 p.m. with long-time radio personality Herb Kent. Freeman-Wilson will participate in the “Battle of the Best” with Kent where she will select her favorite R&B group to “battle” against his. Listeners will then call in

About Karen FreemanWilson In November 2011, Karen Freeman-Wilson was elected the first woman to lead the city of Gary, IN. She also is the first AfricanAmerican female mayor in the state of Indiana. Freeman-Wilson is the immediate past CEO of The National Association of Drug Court Professionals and executive director of The National Drug Court Institute based in Washington, D.C. She consulted with the Office of White House Drug Control Policy, the Department of Justice and other agencies in the creation and implementation of drug

Robin Robinson

Jimmy Akintonde policy. As the twice-elected Gary City Judge, she helped pioneer the drug court movement in Indiana.

About Robin Robinson Robin Robinson is an awardwinning journalist and well-respected Chicago broadcaster who has covered everything from Super Bowls to Presidential Inaugurations. Her passion is exploring the significant issues, events, people and communities that can enlighten her audience and bring new perspectives to media conversation and public awareness. Today, she is a contributor at WFLD-TV, the FOX-owned station in Chicago, since departing

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

the anchor desk in 2013.

About Jimmy Akintonde As President and CEO, Jimmy Akintonde leads the team of construction professionals, consultants and business partners that successfully operate Ujamaa Construction Inc., a fast-growing general contracting and construction management firm. Since the firm’s inception in 2002, he has diversified the business operations to serve the healthcare, institutional, retail, commercial and multi-family construction markets. He grew Ujamaa from a single employee to more than 40 people with over $40 million in collective revenue in 2013.

City of Gary’s Mission To serve the current and future citizens of Gary by providing a safe, clean and working city that continuously improves the quality of life of its residents and establishes Gary as a national model for urban revitalization.

City of Gary’s Vision The City of Gary will be safe, smart, accessible, prosperous and green. City Hall will provide the citizens of Gary with effective and responsive service while maintaining high ethical standards and fiscal discipline.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

17

NEWS (Continued from page 7) ain’t Black.

-ImaHOLED UP Old Leroy down south done called somebody and told them dat de people had better be checkin’ up on they imprisoned congressman named Junior because he is not adjusting to prison life too well. Dey say dem crackas are harassing Jesse Jackson’s son, and having a good time talkin’ ‘bout how dey “finally got a Jesse Jackson,” and all de while they are making JUNIOR real angry. Now you won’t ON AUGUST 22, 1964, Fannie Lou Hamer testified before the cre- like JUNIOR when he’s angry ‘cause dentials committee of the Democratic National Convention. he libel to turn into the Incredible Hulk and go all Bruce Lee on yo’ ass.

Dis is why we done heard that he may be in some sort of protective cus(Continued from page 14) tody—called “the hole,” which Old Atlantic City floor. Prayer followed a from Shaw, Howard University, and Leroy say “is de best place for him,” demonstration of songs and slogans. both Tougaloo and Morehouse Col- cause “dem crackas like Jon Burge Four years later, the convention leges. can’t get to him down there.” Some that denied the Freedom Democrats old lady near Drexel went snoopin’ gave the fiery rural Mississippi lady a Before her death on March 15, round Dr. King’s Workshop and restanding ovation in 1968.

1977, she was a frequent lecturer.

Following that recognition, a re- One of her most famous and often porter asked Hamer if she wanted to repeated statements was, "Whether be equal to white men. Her reply you have a Ph.D. or no D, we're in (Continued from page 15) was as quick as it was clear, "What this bag together. And whether would I look like fighting for equali- you're from Morehouse or No Coming to Dinner,” further made ty with the white man? I don't want House, we're still in this bag togeth- him a star. In this film, Poitier to go down that low. I want the true er. Not to fight to try to liberate our- played a doctor who was commitdemocracy that'll raise the white selves from the men - this is a trick to ted to marrying a white woman, man up - raise America up." get us fighting among ourselves - against his and her family’s wishes In 1969, Hamer founded Free- but to work together with the Black and blessings. Again in classic Poitidom Farm in Sunflower County, man. Then we will have a better er fashion, he delivered a searing Mississippi. Food grown on that chance to just act as human beings, speech to his father that attempted farm fed 1,500 people. She also be- and to be treated as human beings in to stress what he felt was his generagan an involvement with Young our sick society." tion’s liberty: World Developers, an organization “You don’t know how I feel, what that built homes for poor people of Charlene Crowell is a freelance I think. And if I tried to explain it all colors. When Shaw University journalist based in Durham, NC. the rest of your life, you will never asked her to teach a course in Black She is also a two-time honoree of understand. You are 30 years older contemporary history, she agreed. the National Newspaper Publish- than I am. You and your whole She later received honorary degrees ers Association. lousy generation believes the way it was; for you is the way it’s got to be.

And not until your whole generation has lain down and died will the dead weight of you be off our backs!

You understand, you’ve got to get off my back! Dad...Dad, you’re my father. I’m your son. I love you. I always have and I always will. But you (Continued from page 15) think of yourself as a colored man. I sical backing by the respected Calvin “Koco” Brunson and his band. think of myself as a man.”

The production is directed by the highly respected and award winning And with those words, Poitier Chuck Smith, an artistic director with the Goodman Theatre. leaves town to marry the white For those not familiar, Oscar Brown, Jr. (1926-2005) was a writer, po- woman of his dreams. He leaves this et, commentator on life and civil rights activist. His unique music is a film but goes on to mark his legacy blend of soul, jazz and musical theatre that deals with the joy, anger, throughout Hollywood as well as love, frustration and humor of Black life. At the time of his death, Mor- throughout the nation in the area of ris Gearring made a commitment to keep the vision of Oscar Brown, Jr. civil rights. alive and to continue to introduce his wonderful words to new audiNow, in 2014, after being tested ences. In “Something About Oscar,” Gearring bridges the divide be- on audience members last year, tween the past and the now…his repertoire includes the highly popular “Buzzer,” a new play by Tracey “Mr. Kicks,” “Signifyin’ Monkey,” “Hazel’s Hips,” “I Was Cool,” “Afro Scott Wilson, comes to the GoodBlue,” “Work Song,” “The Snake,” “Women’s Way” and “Call of the man Theatre. This play features ErCity.” ic Lynch who plays Jackson, a Musical director Calvin “Koco” Brunson worked with Oscar Brown, young, successful Black attorney reJr. and also as pianist and/or musical director for stage productions turning to the rapidly gentrifying across the United States and Europe. neighborhood of his youth with his “Something About Oscar” - Tuesday, March 4 at the Jazz Showcase, white girlfriend named Suzy, who 806 South Plymouth Court. Admission is $30 and seating is limited. teaches at a troubled inner city For reservations, visit www.somethingaboutoscar.com or you can pay at school, and his troubled white male the door. friend named Don. It has been de-

Fannie Lou Hamer emerged. . .

ported back dat “they quitter than a church mouse pissin’ on cotton” over there. She say, “I turned my hearing aid all de way up and I couldn’t catch nothing ‘bout no Jesse Jr.” De good news is Jesse’s boy only got about 18 more months to go and he’s free to return and resume his otherwise pretty good life.

-ImaCOUNCIL WARS Oh de games has begun. Keep your eye on Wards 7, 4, 17 and 16 right after folks get through voting for Pat “The Bald Eagle” and Toni “The Collosal Woman” Preckwinkle and a few other political types in this first round of elections. The city’s races will start quickly and quietly and right when nobody’s looking it’ll be time to vote for yo’ alderman and mayor once again. Well some folk ain’t takin’ no chances and have already started meeting every Thursday and every Saturday to

“come up with a plan to get rid of Will Burns, Latasha Thomas, Joanne Thompson and whomever dat lady is that replaced Sandi Jackson.”

The 7th Ward already got 13 people who are vowing to run—and 12 of them were put there by de mayor’s political machine. The 4th ward is being more strategic and folks there are being led by a pretty scary fireman who says he “ain’t playing around” as his group plots against Burns-with his odd shaped head.

David Moore has already started campaigning against Thomas and said he don’t care if she get the Pope to knock on doors, he’s gone beat her like she stole something when that election come around. The people in Englewood been actin’ like those natives in Indonesia shooting arrows at helicopters for a long time. They say dis time they is gone get rid of the former cop with the silver hair even if they have to find someone who this time AIN’T affiliated with a local, notorious street organization.

ENTERTAINMENT CHICAGOSTYLE

18

Saturday, February 22, 2014

SIDNEY POITIER IN a scene from Lilies of the Field and Poitier with Oscar. scribed as a play where three people man debut, has also played in “Broencounter “the complexities of hu- ken Fences,” “Blacktop Sky,” man relationships in a world where among other live theater perforrace doesn’t mean what it used to mances, as well as in NBC’s “Chicabut where it’s still enormously rele- go Fire.” He says that he isn’t trying vant.” to deliver a message within In an interview with the Crusad- “Buzzer,” but he does admit that his er, Lynch gave his perspective about upbringing sort of compels him to the play and broached the subject of want to show young Black men “double consciousness,” a term first who may feel they have no hope coined by Black historian and civil that they can succeed even in the rights activist W.E.B. DuBois, midst of adversity. which briefly states that Blacks have “I come from a family with very to deal with two cultures—one strong ties to community organizaBlack and one white. tion and community development, “Many aspects of Jackson’s charac- especially as it pertains to the type of ter echo with my personal life. We men you are describing,” Lynch both have, at various points in our said. “So the culture surrounding lives, been affected by double con- these young, Black men and how to sciousness,” Lynch said. “Jackson is improve it is never very far from my a man who has grown up in a pre- mind. I am still trying to find my dominantly Black neighborhood personal footing regarding how I but also went on to attend an elite can best contribute to changing the prep school, Harvard College and nihilistic culture affecting some of Harvard Law. So he had to also our Black youth. As of now, I just adapt the mannerisms and ideals of try to bring a sense of dignity and those worlds. The ability to navigate pride to the roles I play, particularly back and forth between those plays that deal with race as ‘Buzzer’ worlds and the friction that that can does.” create is something that I, as well as “Buzzer” is playing through many other African Americans re- March 9 at the Goodman Theatre, late to,” he added.

170 N. Dearborn St. For informaLynch, who is making his Good- tion, call 312.443.3800.

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SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING

A Moment to Super Size Your Thinking

By Effie Rolfe Writing your history — this month we continue to celebrate the achievements of Black history. The world has forever changed because of the heartfelt work that many African Americans selflessly gave including Dr. Martin Luther King, Carter G. Woodson, Harriett Tubman and Sojourner Truth. Although, seldom mentioned, the works from countless other African Americans made contributions that also changed the landscape of American history with inventions that are now commonplace. Garret A. Morgan invented the traffic light or traffic signal after witnessing a collision between an automobile and a horse-drawn carriage. Additionally, many were on the cutting edge and leaders in their field such as Bessie Coleman, who was the first African American woman to receive her pilot’s license to fly over the United States. Dr. Susan Smith

Effie Rolfe

The Crusader Gospel Corner Heaven is My Goal—On February 12, the gospel community lost a giant and one of their gospel legends—Dr. Charles G. Hayes. For nearly three decades, he lead and directed the renown Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir telling the

Dr. Charles G. Hayes world that Jesus Can Work It Out—if you let Him. Affectionately known as Father Hayes and the Warriors, the choir sold over 1 million copies of the song that gave hope to the body of Christ and those in the struggle.

The Alabama native moved to Chicago in the late 50s and founded Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer in 1961 that became famous for their late night musicals. Hayes joined the ranks of Albertina Walker and the Caravans, Rev. James Cleveland and traveled worldwide as their traditional sounds filled gospel radio with music that inspired the soul.

Nobody Can Turn Me Around, Every Time I feel the Spirit, Everyday is a Day of Thanksgiving, Step Back and Let God Do it, Heaven is My Goal, Before I Take it Back (I’ll Add More to www.chicagocrusader.com

It), Make Me Better Lord are songs recorded by the choir. In 2005, the choir recorded Jesus Can Work it Out (Remix) on Icee Records, which introduced the classic to younger demographic as well as secular radio. The CD garnered two Stellar Awards in 2006 for Best Choir and Video of the year.

In addition to a popular Sunday church broadcast, the singing pastor was a pioneer in Chicago radio as weekly host of Gospel Calvacades on WXFM, which was the first gospel music show on FM radio in the early 70s. Hayes will be remembered for favorite quotes he shared each week including “Your attitude affects your altitude” and “Spirit was never born and spirit will never die.” He continued to host the popular radio show on various radio stations until a few years ago. The 76year old, Stellar Award winner and pioneer made his transition and joined the heavenly choir of the ages. A musical tribute is scheduled at Sweet Holy Spirit, 8621 S. South Chicago Avenue on Friday, February 21 at 8 p.m. To date, the homegoing services to be held at Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer, 842 E. 65th Street in Chicago this weekend. The visitation on Saturday morning is from 8 to 10 a.m. and the homegoing services following at 10 a.m.; and on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Lastly the church will stream the services at cosmopolitancop.com.

Our prayers continue for the Hayes family, Allen Cathey, the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer congregation and choir members— keep on singing….

McKinney Stewart received a medical degree in 1870. Did you know that Booker T. Washington was the first African American to have his face on a half dollar (50 cent) coin in 1946? Hyram S. Thomas invented the potato chip...reports are that he couldn’t satisfy one of the customers and kept re-cooking to get the chip the right size. He finally cut the potato as thin as possible and the customer loved it...hence, the potato chip was born. Inventions continue such as the cell phone, the light bulb, the computer, the elevator and more. Research shows that President Obama was not the first African American President of the United States of America and there were at least five before him beginning as early as 1781. Moving forward, some of the baby boomers and even the younger generation doesn’t know that New York State Senator Shirley Chisholm ran for U.S. President in 1972. Chicago’s Rev. Jesse Jackson was the second to

mount a nationwide campaign in 1984 for President of the United States and ran again in 1988. By the way, he received 311 death threats during his campaign and many even now.

Dr. Martin Luther King reminds us “Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”

Your work is not a job but rather your life’s mission and what you were created to do on earth. Often your job will prepare you for your work. God gave you life because he had work for you to do. What does this mean in regards to writing your history? Well—so glad you asked. I believe we look at the historical figures in Black history as if there is nothing more to be achieved, however, I believe since the world continues to evolve a tremendous amount of work is yet to be done.

But it will take you to know your purpose and be about the work be-

Education Management Corporation, a leading provider of post-secondary education, announced a commitment of $500,000 in scholarships for at-need students in a partnership with the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., Int’l, one of the oldest AfricanAmerican organizations in the nation.

“We are honored to work with an organization as revered as the National Baptist Convention to provide these important scholarships to students across the country,” said Edward H. West, EDMC president and CEO. “These scholarships continue EDMC’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for students who need them, and demonstrate our dedication to improving access and affordability for students who wish to pursue a postsecondary education.”

“On behalf of the National Baptist Convention of America, I want to thank Education Management for this $500,000 scholarship commitment for students who attend our churches across the country,” said Rev. Dr. Stephen J. Thurston, president of the National Baptist Convention of America. “This scholarship commitment will allow many students in urban and rural America to achieve their dream of a college education. Because we live in a global society, a college education is a necessity in order to be able to compete for good paying jobs or to expand the middle class. The axiom is still true — education is the key and ladder to success. I applaud and thank EDMC for their commitment to the African American community and education.”

Thurston is pastor of New Cove-

NATIONAL BAPTIST CONFERENCE President the Rev. Stephen Thurston (center) accepts a $500,000 check from Ed West, president and CEO of Education Management Corp. (left) and David Ray, president of the Illinois Institute of Art. (Photo by Illinois Institute of Art) nant Missionary Baptist Church, than 125,000 students (as of Octoand has been president of the Na- ber 2013) at its 110 locations in the tional Baptist Convention since U.S. and Canada, is among the 2003. largest providers of post-secondary The scholarship would apply to all education in North America, based four EDMC education systems: on student enrollment and revenue The Art Institutes, Argosy Univer- at its campuses. Offering academic sity, Brown-Mackie College and programs through both campusSouth University. based and online instruction, the This initiative adds to EDMC’s company provides quality academic growing commitment to provide programs and is committed to iman affordable, high-quality learn- proving access, affordability and ing experience to traditional and achievement for students. The comnon-traditional students who ser- pany’s education systems – Argosy ve an increasingly important role University, The Art Institutes, in America’s workforce. EDMC Brown Mackie Colleges and South expects to award $140 million in University – offer students the opscholarships during fiscal year 2014, portunity to earn undergraduate a 45 percent increase from the previ- and graduate degrees and certain ous fiscal year. specialized non-degree diplomas in a broad range of disciplines including About Education culinary, business, education, fashManagement Corporation ion, graphic design, health sciences, information technology, legal, meEducation Management Corpora- dia arts, and psychology and behavtion (www.edmc.edu), with more ioral sciences.

cause it will make a difference in the world. Your life is bigger than your job, your family, your house, your degree, your bank account, etc…it is about impacting the world. Just do it—it will make a lasting impression in the scheme of things. How will you be remembered by your family, neighborhood—what legacy will you leave? It’s never too late to start, as long as you have a pulse you have a purpose.

Everyday you live, you are writing your obituary as well as a part of history. After all is said and done, the contributions that you have given will determine what will be read and said regarding your life.

What history are you writing…? ©Effie Rolfe is the author of “Supersize Your Thinking,” a Media Personality and Motivational Speaker. You can visit my website: effierolfe.com or follow me at twitter.com/effiedrolfe.

National Baptist gets $500,000 scholarship donation

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BLACK HISTORY

The ‘little man’s lawyer: Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (Continued from page 12) In recalling Houston’s instruction, Justice Marshall said, “What Charlie beat into our heads was excellence…When you get into a courtroom, you can’t just say, ‘Please, Mr. Court, have mercy on me because I’m a Negro.’ You are in competition with a well-trained white lawyer and you better be at least as good as he is; and if you expect to win, you better be better… You go that step further; and you might make it.”

Following his 1933 graduation from Howard, Marshall passed the Maryland bar examination and began a practice in Baltimore. But in the years of the Great Depression, there were few Black attorneys and fewer clients. Despite a substantial Black population, there were only 12 Black attorneys in Baltimore. In many instances, Black clients could not afford to pay their attorneys.

During Thurgood’s first year as a practicing attorney, he lost money but also earned a reputation as being ‘the little man’s lawyer.’

It was his growing reputation as a champion of the ‘little man’ that led to Marshall becoming the lawyer for Baltimore’s NAACP chapter. When Marshall and the local NAACP launched a boycott of Baltimore stores that refused to hire Black workers, the retailers sued. Marshall and his mentor, Charles Houston, were the legal team that argued before a white judge and won the case.

Another local NAACP case challenged the disparities in pay for Black and white schoolteachers. It took several year of raising funds to support teachers who might be fired due to the lawsuit. Even so, several years of litigation ensued and the case was eventually won.

Although the historic 1954 decision of Brown v. Board of Education established that racially separate schools were not equal, an earlier case Marshall argued fought for the same principal. In 1935s Murray v.

Pearson, a Black student, Donald Murray was denied admission to the University of Maryland’s law school by its president, Raymond Pearson.

By gaining the courtroom admission that the all-Black Princess Anne Academy lacked the facilities and resources of the University of Maryland, Marshall’s persuasive arguments in part said, “What’s at stake here is more than the rights of my client. It’s the moral commitment stated in our country’s creed.”

On June 25, 1935, Baltimore’s city court ordered that Donald Murray be admitted immediately to the University of Maryland’s law school.

Although the university appealed the decision, its effort failed. Once Murray graduated from the Maryland’s law school, he opened his practice in Baltimore.

A few months later, Charles Houston offered his former pupil a job as 20

his assistant. At the time, Houston was the NAACP’s special counsel. In accepting the offer, Thurgood’s 1936 salary was $2,400 and an increase in compensation for his work in Baltimore.

His first NAACP case involved another graduate student. In rejecting the admission of a Black student, Lloyd Gaines, the University of Missouri’s law school offered to pay law school tuition at an alternative and out-of-state school. Working with Houston, Marshall wrote the brief that claimed a violation of the 14th Amendment. By 1938, the case went before the U.S. Supreme Court. On a 6-2 vote, the high court agreed with the NAACP position.

The University of Missouri was obliged to admit Gaines because it was the state’s only law school.

Shortly thereafter, poor health forced Charles Houston’s resigna-

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Thurgood Marshall

tion from the NAACP. At the age of 30, Thurgood Marshall became the NAACP’s Special Counsel. In 1939, NAACP Executive Director Walter White reorganized the civil rights group. In so doing, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund became an affiliated entity with Thurgood Marshall serving as director-counsel. Black voting rights and racial inequalities were the focal points of the newly created fund.

From 1940 until his 1961 nomination by President John F. Kennedy to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Thurgood Marshall successfully argued 29 of 32 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

As a federal judge, 1961-1965, he wrote decisions affecting immigration rights, as well as individual rights to privacy, and protection (Continued on page 21)

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The ‘little man’s lawyer: . . .

(Cont’d from page 20) from illegal search and seizure. None of his 112 rulings were ever overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

When President Lyndon Baines Johnson named him U.S. Solicitor General, from 1965-1967, Thurgood Marshall won 14 of the 19 cases for the government. In this capacity, Marshall was a key official of the Justice Department, deciding positions that the U.S. government would argue before the Supreme Court.

Of these cases, it was Marshall’s legal leadership that led to reinstatement of criminal charges against the men charged with the murder of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. In arguing that Mississippi Klansman and law enforcement violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Supreme Court agreed with Marshall and ordered that all of the accused would go to trial. At the conclusion of that trial, seven of the defendants were found guilty. Their sentences ranged from three to ten years. Most importantly, however, it was the first time a white southern jury convicted white defendants in a civil rights case.

On June 13, 1967, President Lyndon Johnson nominated

Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court. In commenting on his nomination that required consent of the U.S. Senate, President Johnson said, “I believe it is the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place. I believe he has already earned his place in history, but I think it will be greatly enhanced by his service on the Court.”

Chief Justice Earl Warren agreed, “All of us know Thurgood, and will welcome him to the Court in the belief that he will make a real contribution.”

Yet the U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee stalled Marshall’s nomination for three months. South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond and North Carolina’s Sam Ervin were among his most vocal opponents. Thurmond queried Marshall with a list of more than 60 questions about Congress during its Reconstruction years, and concluded that the nominee had failed a ‘history test.’ Ervin questioned Marshall’s ability to exercise ‘judicial restraint.’

When the nomination was allowed a full Senate vote, Marshall was approved on a 69-11 vote. One month later, on October 2, 1967, Thurgood Marshall became the 69th Justice of the U.S.

CLARENCE THOMAS . . .

(Cont’d from page 6) quence, because “race champions” were beaten, firebombed, and killed because they dared seek social and economic justice. Thomas may lack institutional memory but he, frankly, makes a fool

of himself when openly displays his ignorance.

Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women.

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Supreme Court and its first African-American.

From 1967 until his 1991 retirement, Thurgood Marshall sat on the nation’s highest court for 24 years, continuing to fight for ‘the little man.’

From the bench he was a staunch defender of equal access to education and legal rights, affirmative action and an opponent of the death penalty.

As an Associate Justice, he made clear what he stood for and also what he opposed.

Among his more eloquent dissenting opinions were written against the Court’s majority in University of California v. Bakke and Milliken v. Bradley.

At the heart of the Bakke case was affirmative action and the use of racial goals. The Milliken case focused on public education’s re-segregation in Detroit. In his dissenting opinion, the former lead counsel for Brown v. Board eloquently wrote, “America will be illserved by the Court’s refusal to remedy separate and unequal education, for unless our children begin to learn together, there is little hope that our people will ever learn to live together. After 20 years of small, often difficult steps, the Court today takes a giant step backward.”

The Reagan White House years also irritated Justice Marshall. When asked in a 1987 interview about civil rights strides with President Reagan, Justice Marshall replied, “[H]e has done zero for civil rights.”

Failing health forced Marshall’s retirement from the Supreme Court. On June 27, 1991 he retired.

When Thurgood Marshall died of heart failure on January 24, 1993, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, himself a Reagan nominee, delivered a eulogy to his former colleague.

“Inscribed above the front entrance to the Supreme Court building are the words ‘Equal justice under the law.’

Surely no one individual did more to make these words a reality than Thurgood Marshall.”

Charlene Crowell is a freelance journalist based in Durham, NC. She is also a two-time honoree of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

HELP WANTED National Business League is looking for a Part Time Teacher to teach Youth Entrepreneurship to Urban Youth. You can call us at 773-304-5005 or mail Resume to National Business League of Chicago, P.O. Box 19388, Chicago, IL 60619

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BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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Saturday, February 22, 2014

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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SPORTS

Black Chicagoans trying to make their mark in Sochi

By J. Coyden Palmer Chicagoans Aja Evans and Shani Davis have begun their quest for medals at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Davis, who has won Gold in two previous Olympic Games, has not had the same success this time around. In the meantime, Evans will be returning to the Chicago area with a bronze medal after she and Jamie Greubel finished third in the women’s bobsledding competition.

Davis and Evans are both South Side natives. Davis is one of the most popular athletes in the United States delegation, but his time in Sochi has not gone as planned. He did not finish close to the medal winners in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meter individual races. His performance was so poor, he could not come up with answers.

“I’m not going to even think about what I would have done differently,” said Davis via his Twitter account that he is using to keep in contact with Chicago journalists. “I’m just going to circle the wagons with the fellas and prepare for the team pursuit event. I cast no blame and put all responsibility where it lays; on me.”

The U.S. team debuted in differ-

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ent racing suits at the Olympics.

Many said they blamed the suits made by Under Armor for the delegation’s poor performance. It became such a distraction when the team switched to the suits they wore in the World Cup season. But the results were the same for Davis and the rest of the team.

Davis said he couldn’t have felt better before his 1,000 meter race. It is an event he has owned over the past decade. But in Sochi, Davis finished a disappointing eighth. Davis is the world record holder in 1,000 meters. Days earlier he finished a disappointing 24th place in the 500 meters. He concluded his individual events by finishing 11th in the 1,500 race.

Despite his disappointment, Davis said he is focusing on helping the team win a medal in the pursuit competition that begins later this week. He also thanked all of his supporters at the Evanston Speedskating Club. At the age of 31, this could be Davis’ last chance at Olympic gold, but he said at this point he has not even begun to think about his future in the sport.

“I’m just trying to focus on the races coming up,” Davis said. “I still have a chance to help this team medal so that is what I’m focusing on.”

down the track Wednesday morning in 58.16 seconds for a total time of 3:51.61, earning them a Bronze medal. They were a full second behind the winners from Canada and .90 behind the Silver medal winners also from the United States Lauryn Williams and Elana Meyers. Evans and Greubel posted times of 57.45 seconds and a 58 flat in their first two heats. A graduate of Morgan Park High School and the University of Illinois, Evans ran track in high school and competed in the shot put in college.

Evans’ former track coach at Morgan Park Derrick Calhoun is elated with her finishing third. He said he never imagined her going into bobsledding but said her accomplishment is something he will never forget.

“I hope she inspires other little Black girls to spread their wings in non-traditional sports. We’re all so very proud and happy for her,” he said.

For Williams, who is also African American, she was hoping to beCHICAGOANS AND NATIVE South Sider’s Shani Davis and come the first woman in history to Aja Evans sent this photo to the Crusader from Russia last win a Gold medal in both the sumweek to say thank you to all of their supporters back home. mer and winter Olympics. She will As for Evans, the first-time Olym- Serving as the brakeman for USA end up with a Silver to go alongside pian has been excited since finding #2, Evans and her driver Greubel her Gold from the 2012 games in out she made the team last month. finished their fourth and final run London.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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