Chicago Crusader 06/01/13 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 6—SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE 1940

25 Cents and worth more

Parents divided on expanded sex ed in schools

By Wendell Hutson Lasanya Holmes said there are some things that should only be taught to children by their parents and sex education is one of them.

“I don’t think it is a stranger’s place to tell my 12-year-old daughter about sex. That is something a parent should do,” said Holmes, a 37-year-old accountant. “The government is always thinking it knows best for other people’s kids and don’t know a darn thing.”

The state Senate recently passed House Bill 2675, which would mandate public schools that teach sex education to also include information on contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS, gonorrhea, chlamydia and herpes.

Currently sex education classes only need to include information about abstinence and not STDs. But talking about STDs would entail graphic conversations and photos, which Mavis Smith said is not the school’s place to do.

“I don’t want another woman or man for that matter showing my (10-year-old) son pictures of what a d*** looks like when it is infected with a STD,” explained Smith, a

STUDENTS SUCH AS these will have expanded sex education classes under a proposed new state law that would require teachers to add information about contraception and STDs in addition to the traditional information about abstinence. (Photo by Anthony Kaminju)

39-year-old shipping clerk for a south suburban manufacturer. “There is a lot of perverts and sexual predators working at schools and who knows, one of them could be teaching my son about sex. I don’t think so.”

Schools currently have the option not to teach sex education and parents maintain the right to exclude their children from sex education classes, but Jerry Walls, 43, said he is not taking any chances.

“I may transfer my daughter to a private school if this (sex education bill) becomes a law. No one is going to teach my baby about sex but her mother and I,” contends Walls, a taxi cab driver. “Instead of worrying about how much sex our children know about perhaps state lawmakers should concentrate on finding a better way to fund schools to avoid future school closures.”

Not all parents are against the changes though. Some parents said STDs should be taught at schools with sex education because too many youth are having unprotected sex.

“We have babies having baby after baby and we, the taxpayers, are stuck paying the bill,” said Rochelle Hamilton, 46. “I (Continued on page 3)

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA signs H.R. 360, which provides for the presentation of a congressional gold medal to commemorate the lives of the four young African American victims of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, in September 1963, in the Oval Office, May 24, 2013. Attendees are from left: Dr. Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General; Mayor William Bell; Dr. Sharon Malone, Sister of Vivian Malone Jones; Attorney General Eric Holder; Representative Terri Sewell, Bill sponsor; President Obama; Thelma Maxine Pippen McNair, Mother of Denise McNair (in the wheelchair); Lisa McNair, Sister of Denise McNair; Dianne Braddock, Sister of Carole Robertson; Reverend Arthur Price, Jr., Pastor of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church; Gordon Douglas Jones, Former U.S. Attorney. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Rev. Anthony Williams’ Open Letter to the American Church (See page 16)

Chicago Heights nursing student feels at home in Kenya (See story on page 10)

NEWS

The Chicago Crusader

Ministers to create safe passageways this fall for CPS students

By J. Coyden Palmer With the decision last week by the Board of Education to close 50 schools across the city, local ministers are calling on faith-based organizations to help ensure students safety as they cross through neighborhood and gang boundaries in the fall. The call came from Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church from the Auburn/Gresham community and Pastor Phil Jackson, a West Side minister and founder of The Firehouse Community Arts Center.

Both men said the city has failed to use its most valuable resource in dealing with crime; local citizens, especially the men of the community. Their comments came during a press conference recently at Salaam Restaurant, 706 W. 79th St. where they were promoting a unity initiative involving hip-hop artists and

Jackson said his church currently has a system in place where they work with the Chicago Police Department and other community groups to create safe passageways.

He said it is comprised of parents and congregation members that come together and stand on the most heavily used routes kids take to and from school. Jackson said he has 50 men in his church who participate everyday in the program.

“We post up at different hot spots that have been identified by the police,” Jackson said. “We work closely with the district commander.”

Pfleger said he is not happy with the plan by the city to use firefighters in the role of watching over school children as they go to and from school. He said that is not why firefighters are paid and questions if the policy being considered would threaten public safety.

“The biggest resource we have

FATHER MICHAEL PFLEGER said the churches in Chicago must realize they are part of the community and as non-profit organizations they owe it to the neighborhoods they are in to help solve the social problems within the community. that I don’t think we have tapped dancers.

“On the West Side, in North into citywide are the people on the Lawndale alone, we have 187 block,” Pfleger said. “Because they churches. If just five of those don’t just come for eight hour shifts, churches stepped up we could make they live there. Why do we always a big impact,” Jackson said. “We think we have to bring everyone else have a lot of people who are not in for safety? Use the people in the working and as they are pursuing neighborhood. They are the most work, much of that search is done powerful resource.”

Pfleger said between now and the by 3 p.m. So after 3 o’clock, five next school year in September, he people at each of those churches can will be engaging with the commupost up at Collins or Farragut High nity.

He hopes to initiate a program School. It’s not rocket science. Peowhere the neighbors on the block ple who want to make things hapcame out from around the commupen will make them happen. If you nity and just applaud the students want peace, change and unity, you as they walk to school. will figure out how to make it hapOthers who spoke during the pen. And right now my concern is news conference said adults in genthat urgency is not there.” eral must play a bigger role in the Pfleger said churches have to uncommunity.

Enoch Muhammad, derstand the real congregation is co-founder of Hip-Hop DetoxX, a not the people who are in the pews public health organization, said on Sunday morning, but the peothere is no “silver bullet” that will ple in the community the church is solve all of the community’s woes. in. Pfleger said because churches are He said there are many people oftax exempt organizations, they owe fering parts of the solution.

He the communities they are in. He said if a church is not willing to give wants people of like will and mind back to that neighborhood then to continue to work together to sustain the efforts to quell violence. they need to move.

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Saturday, June 1, 2013

ENOCH MUHAMMAD, CO-FOUNDER of Hip-Hop DetoxX, is flanked by Father Michael Pfleger, Pastor Phil Jackson, an unidentified representative of Ceasefire Illinois and Ald. Latasha Thomas last week during a press conference on the South Side in which adults are being asked to take on a more prominent role in creating safer neighborhoods.

Photo by J. Coyden Palmer “We are asking all of the adults She said the mass closings of to the problems of the greater comhere in Chicago; all organizations to schools, primarily in the African munity as a whole, those who spoke collaborate in a strategic way so we American community, happened said. can deal with the issues that are because the community did not try “Adults we need to stand up. plaguing our neighborhoods,” to stop the process years ago when We’re not in the schools; we’re not Muhammad said. seen on the block, so what example the signs were there.

Ald. Latasha Thomas (17th) said Thomas was able to successfully do young people have if they don’t she is happy to see the community lobby for one school to be removed see us doing anything?” Jackson coming together. She said it is hard from the closing list and she said asked. “Our young people are dying to teach something to young people that was only possible because she for someone to care about them at when they do not see the adults do- had the support and backing of par- the adult level. Our young people ing something themselves. Thomas ents and residents of that neighbor- are just tender at heart and want an said the community must learn to hood. The lack of engagement of adult to care. They are hungry for become more active than reactive. adults in the schools is symptomatic that kind of care.”

Respondents say they will help quell violence As violence continues, 70% of survey respondents ready to take positive action Job training, sports and tutoring programs, as well as talent shows are some solutions to ending violence some Black Chicagoans proposed during a recent survey by the The All Stars Project of Chicago (ASP).

Approximately 1,000 residents of Englewood, Roseland, North Lawndale, Uptown, Hyde Park, Little Village and 15 other neighborhoods were polled in an effort to spark conversation and elicit candid feedback from neighborhood residents about what Chicago’s communities need, and to explore who and what activities can impact on violence, according to ASP spokesperson Bonnie Gildin. More than 700 of the respondents indicated they would be interested in working with others trying to make a difference in improving the community.

The surveys were conducted by 225 volunteers from across the city who teamed up on Chicago Community Action Day on May 4, fan-

ning out to street corners and transit stops in these communities.

“It’s very encouraging to see three out of four Chicagoans our volunteers spoke with are responsive to the call for positive community action,” said David Cherry, All Stars Project of Chicago director and Chicago Community Action Day lead organizer. “We intend to get back to every single person who wants to help heal our city and offer them meaningful ways to get involved in activities that support our young people to grow.”

The recently released survey re-

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

sults revealed the majority of the 1,000 respondents said they or someone they know had been a victim of violence. That total was 81 percent and 95 percent of those polled agreed violence is taking an emotional toll citywide.

Spearheaded by the All Stars Project, the community action campaign enlisted volunteers from a wide range of community-based organizations and religious groups including: 21st Century New Beginnings Foundation, After God’s Own Heart Ministries, Afterschool Matters, Broken Winggz Foundation, Ceasefire, I CAN Outreach, Imagine Englewood If, in2improv, JB Kids, Kids Off the Block, Love Teaching Youth, Loving Arms, Nazarene All Nations Church, Saint Sabina Church, TITO – The It’s Time Organization, True Star Foundation, TRU-SL. ENT, Visions Blu Institute, Young and Powerful Group, and the Youth Service Project.

The All Stars will present these findings to Mayor Emanuel. www.chicagocrusader.com

NEWS

The Chicago Crusader

Youth advocating for peace on streets

By Wendell Hutson Cara Williams lost three friends this year to gun violence and said she is tired of all the senseless shootings in Chicago.

“It makes no sense that teenagers cannot walk to the store at night or empty trash in the alley without being shot or worse yet murdered,” said Williams, 18. “I hope this is not what we (Blacks) have to get use to as summer approaches.”

So to protest violence especially in the Auburn Gresham community where Williams lives with her mother, she joined about 50 youth last week at a peace rally at the corner of 79th Street and Racine Avenue that was organized by local youth.

“Fight the power. Those are the words of the famous rap group Public Enemy and that phrase is what we still need today,” said Mario Alexander, 16. “The police roll through here (Auburn Gresham) almost every night because someone got shot. One of these days it will be me or someone else. Sooner or later, another innocent youth will be caught in the crossfire of gun shots aimed at someone else.”

The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization, often organizes

peace rallies for local residents and supports more peace rallies for youth.

“It [organizing peace rallies] is something they (youth) need to be doing since they are the ones being killed out here on the streets,” said Jimmy Prude, a community organizer for the organization. “The GAGDC provides youth programs to help engage them in issues affecting their lives.”

Hip Hop Detoxx, a community group, hosted a peace rally last week at Salaam restaurant, 700 W. 79th St., for the second time this year to bring awareness to youth violence in the community.

“Everything that we say is a problem in the city, it only exists because many times we refuse to sit down long enough to work out a strategy and actually be upfront and honest about where we are,” Enoch Muhammad, executive director of the group, said at the May 24 gathering at Salaam.

Still, with all the marches and all the speeches by community activists, politicians and others, Charmaine Parker, 17, said it won’t bring back her best friend, whom she said was gunned down last year while leaving the store.

“All she did was go to the store to

SOUTH SIDE YOUTH ORGANIZED a peace rally last week in the Auburn Gresham community to bring awareness to gun violence. get some milk like her mom told Alderman Latasha Thomas (17th) her way this will be the last summer her to and she lost her life because of also attended the community meet- she spends in Chicago.

“I am moving to Davenport, Iowa it,” recalled Parker. “I wonder if ing at Salaam along with the Rev. these knuckle heads running Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina in August to live with my dad. Finally, I can go to bed at night and around with guns shooting any- Church on the South Side. body in sight realizes the damage “If we’re not working together, not hear gunshots and police they leave behind when they kill then we will never solve anything,” sirens,” explained Norwood. “I’ll someone? I hate living in Chicago said Thomas. “We can’t wait for probably go to college there too and and I will be glad when I graduate someone else to do it. We have to only come back occasionally to visit my mom and attend funerals of from high school so I can go away do it ourselves.” to college far from Chicago.”

But if Alanna Norwood, 16, has friends.”

Dorothy Brown to hold “Second Chance” expungement summit

By Chinta Strausberg Saying this is an extension of her ministry, Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown is holding her ninth annual “Second Chance” expungement summit for adults and juveniles 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at the New Faith Baptist Church International, 25 S. Central Avenue, in Matteson.

Saying she has her expungement summits “down to a science,” Brown said they have become a national model and that she has been invited to Los Angeles and Detroit to talk about them.

Saying she brings together all of the players dealing with expungements including the state’s attorney, the (Cook County) public Defender and the Illinois State Police, Brown said she will have free legal advice from attorneys who will complete the expungement applications for the applicants. After they are completed, she has secured Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans to render that day an official court day and they will actually file on site.

To make the process more accommodating for the applicant, Brown will have the Illinois Prison Review Board present just in case the applicant does not quality for expungement through the courts, they can go to the governor through the Illinois Prison Review Board and ask for a pardon or an expungement. “I www.chicagocrusader.com

COOK COUNTY CLERK of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown appeared on "The Strausberg Report" where she announced her upcoming ninth expungement summit being held on June 8, 8:30 a.m. at the New Faith Baptist Church International, 25 S. Central Avenue, Matteson, and her first "State of Black Chicago Congress" being held 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, at the Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Dr. like to have all the options available will have a judge on site to declare them indigent which will enable for people.”

According to Brown, 85-90 per- them to file their expungement apcent of those who attend these events plication.

Beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturdon’t quality for expungements in the courts. “I don’t want to just turn day, June 1, Brown is holding “The them away,” said Brown during an State of Black Chicago Congress” at interview on “The Strausberg Re- Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Drive, where honorary chairs port.”

This year, Brown also will have a iconic businessman Ed Gardner, job information seminar thanks to rapper Lupe Fiasco and others will the Illinois Department of Employ- discuss the state of the Black comment Security and Eddie Read who munity including the violence and solutions. heads United Services.

To register for this event, click on: And, if a person cannot afford to pay for their expungement, Brown www.stateofblackchicago.org. Regis-

tration is 7:30 a.m. and the opening session begins at 8:30 a.m., and end at 5:30 p.m.

Brown said one of her employees, Antwone Price, 30, was murdered recently while sitting in his car. A new father, Brown said he promoted Hip Hop artists for his second job.

She said this Congress would give the public an opportunity to share their ideas about crime and other issues including the faith community, the youth and those who are older.

“It’s time for us to come together…time to make a change.”

Common, a Hip-Hop artist, will al-

so send a message at this event.

Brown, an attorney, CPA and an evangelist is serving her fourth term.

Referring to the Civil Division, which handles the largest number of civil cases in her office, Brown said she will be initiating electronic filing “so that both attorneys and individuals representing themselves, every day citizens can file over the Internet as opposed to coming to her office.

“They can be online and not in line.”

Brown said, adding that credit cards could be used to pay for the court fees.

Parents divided on . . . .

(Continued from page 1) should know because I have a 16- Black men think you are less than year-old granddaughter who is a a man if you use a condom durmother. Her mother did not do a ing sex,” added Rogers, who has good job teaching her about hav- two teenage sons ages 14 and 16. ing unprotected sex and the con- “I tell my sons that it’s cheaper sequences that come with it.” and less painful to have sex using According to the city’s Depart- a condom than to not use it.” ment of Health, last year there State Sen. Linda Holmes (Dwas a 3 percent increase in youth Chicago), who sponsored the bill; who were treated for a STD at said Gov. Pat Quinn is expected city clinics than in 2011. to sign the bill into law. The bill A spike in STDs is all the more was passed in the Senate by a vote reason why sex education classes of 37-21 and received support need to be upgraded to include from several Black, state Senators. more comprehensive informa- They are Democratic Senators tion, said Tony Rogers, a 40-year- Donne Trotter, Mattie Hunter, old carpenter.

Toi Hutchinson, Emil Jones III, “Sex is no joke but these young Kwame Raoul, and Kimberly folks think it is. Nowadays young, Lightford.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, JUNE 1, 2013

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OPINION

The Chicago Crusader

EDITORIAL MALIK SHABAZZ GONE TOO SOON Recently, Malcolm X’s (El Hajj Malik Shabazz) first born grandson was murdered while in Mexico. As the story goes, 28-year-old Malik Shabazz ran up a bar tab and was beaten to death because he owed about $1,200 or, according to another story, he was robbed. There are questions all around about what really happened. Two of the bar’s waiters are now in custody connected with the incident.

Malik Shabazz was the son of Qubilah, Malcolm X’s, second daughter. You may recall that she was the one accused of plotting to kill Minister Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, because she was convinced that he had something to do with the murder of her father. She was arrested, but the charges were dropped. She ended up spending time in a Texas rehabilitation center instead of prison. No doubt, all of Malcolm X’s progeny had a rough time growing up. Who wouldn’t after seeing their father shot down in cold blood right before their eyes? As it is, they could have turned out much worse.

Malik Shabazz had his share of troubles. In 1977 when he was just twelve years of age, he set a fire that killed his grandmother, Dr. Betty Shabazz, with whom he was living. This was a great shock to all who were concerned about this troubled family. Young Malcolm, as a result of this situation, spent 18 months in a juvenile detention center. Subsequent to this, he spent an additional four (4) years in and out of detention. He was said to be schizophrenic and paranoid, which is cited as a possible reason why he set the fire that burned the apartment.

It is reported that he heard voices telling him to set fire to things. According to a New York Times profile, he belonged to a gang, hung out with thugs, sold drugs, and was said to have skipped bail after an attempted robbery in Middletown, NY. He spent another three and a half years in the penal system, this time in Great Meadow Correctional Facility, a prison in Washington County New York, according to an online article by Maya Rhodan entitled “Malcolm X’s grandson slain in Mexico.”

Basically, like his grandfather, Malik was no stranger to the criminal justice system, but also, like his grandfather, he studied about the Nation of Islam while incarcerated. He was in the process of getting his life together at the time of his demise; he was writing two books, and was attending the Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

When looking at this young man’s life, it might be tempting for some people to talk about “chickens coming home to roost.” But the fact of the matter is that young Malik was a child of destiny. At the time of his murder, he was traveling to Mexico City with RUMEC, a Mexican labor organization based in California. It has also been said that he was sympathetic to the deposed and murdered Libyan dictator, Moammar Kaddafi. In short, it seems apparent that he was set to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps as an activist.

The Malcolm X legacy is a powerful one in the African American community, and young Malik was in a position to carry on where his grandfather left off. Unfortunately, he was cut down like his grandfather was, surrounded by mystery.

Was he killed because of a supposed “bar tab or robbery,” or for some other more insidious reason? Did we witness another assassination of a potentially great leader? Whatever the case, his grandparents will welcome him into the land beyond with sympathy and pride for a warrior cut down in his prime.

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Saturday, June 1, 2013

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR If I was Rahm, I would be worried Dear Editor: I sure hope a lot of people took notice of how quickly the Chicago Teachers Union re-grouped after the school board voted to close 50 Chicago Public Schools.

The teachers’ union wasted no time in announcing their organization would launch a voter registration drive. Considering how readily they came together to strike for seven days, and had the same resolve to demonstrate and picket by the thousands every time their leader – Karen Lewis –called on them. If CTU has had any false starts as an organization they don’t show.

So if I were Rahm Emanuel I would be worried – very worried.

It is no secret that Emanuel and Karen Lewis don’t get along.

They have been on opposite sides of every issue involving children.

Lewis is clearly not the kind of person one should try to push around, but the mayor doesn’t seem to get that. In a news conference after the closings were announced, Emanuel ignored Karen Lewis’ actions regarding the voter registration drive and tried to play it off like he was not interested in the political fight looming. When have we known him not to be interested in politics or getting in somebody’s face?

In my opinion given that we

have an appointed rather than elected school board, the union will go for the jugular of who was responsible initially for closing 50 schools – all fingers point to Emanuel. Granted all of the union members do not live in the city and are voters. But because they do or have worked in the city they have the attention of friends, parents and family members who are voters. They also are people who live in the city.

Those ties exponentially increase the voting clout CTU carries. And that is what should worry Rahm. The mayor, by pushing the school closings, has ticked off thousands, maybe tens of thousands of families around Chicago.

Of course the mayor has a boatload of campaign cash but that money will not buy enough votes to overcome the troops on the ground the union has. The union leadership is at least as equally savvy as Emanuel when it comes to engaging the media. They also are as strategic as the political minds working for Rahm. We should expect a heavy fight from him, but again, if I were him I would be very worried. Karen Lewis doesn’t seem to take hostages.

Milton Dixon

OUR CHILDREN CONTINUE TO LOSE Dear Editor: It is apparent that neither the Congress in Washington nor the

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

legislative body in Springfield care about the safety and future of our children. The failure of Congress to pass something as simple as background checks and the continued compromising of bills being floated around in Springfield are insulting! And it shows how indebted elected officials are to the N.R.A. I am tired of hearing, “Well this is the best bill we can get right now!” Tell that to the mother, father, sister, and brother of the last child killed, or the next one who will (Continued on page 16)

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COMMENTARY

The Chicago Crusader

BEYOND THE RHETORIC

Busted! EPA Evades Transparency

By Harry C. Alford NNPA Columnist These are very wild times here in Washington, DC. We have four big scandals going on that could threaten the entire Obama Administration. The biggest appears to be the IRS scandal. Next is the Benghazi cover up. The spying on the Associated Press and Fox News by the Department of Justice is a direct attack on the 1st Amendment. Lately, there is a report that John Brennan while he was at the White House (now Director of the CIA) ordered intelligence sources to dig up “dirt” on any news reporter who says anything unflattering about President Obama. It appears to be an administration drunk on power and going wild – Damn the Constitution.

Now comes the Environmental Protection Agency. When an agency makes a rule change it is supposed to first announce the proposed rule change in the Federal Register. They must allow at least 60 days for the public to make comments, for or against, the rule change. A rule change is an updated interpretation of a present law. If the comments are overwhelmingly against the change, Congress and the agency must consider retreating

Harry C. Alford or altering the change. The current administration at the EPA has gone buck wild on rule changes without going through the proper process.

Why and how are they doing this?

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce assembled a task force to find out what exactly was going on with this madness. What they uncovered was a conspiracy to avoid transparency obligations when performing rule changes. The EPA and a pack of extreme environmental organizations developed a “scam.” One of the or-

ganizations would file a lawsuit against the EPA demanding rule changes in current laws. Then the EPA would quickly settle the suit without a legal battle. They would comply with all of the demands.

Upon request, the court would enter the settlement as a consent decree and make it law. They started doing this in 2009 and have repeated the “scam” over 100 times. That is over 100 lawsuits the EPA has voluntarily lost. This practice has been given the name “Sue and Settle.” It has cost the US taxpayers billions of dollars. What is worse is that the EPA also volunteers to pay the legal fees and court costs of the suing environmental group. That’s your money! There was one lawsuit that was filed at 9:00AM and was settled by 11:00AM the very same day.

The Chamber has published a report (www.sueandsettle.com) on the above entitled “Sue and Settle – Regulating Behind Closed Doors.”

They define it: “The practice of agencies entering into voluntary agreements with private parties to issue specific rulemaking requirements also severely undercuts agency compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act. The Administrative Procedure Act is de-

signed to promote transparency and public participation in the rulemaking process. Because the substance of a sue and settle agreement has been fully negotiated between the agency and the advocacy group before the public has any opportunity to see it … the outcome of the rulemaking is set. Sue and settle allows EPA to avoid the normal protections built into the rulemaking process, such as review by OMB (Office of Management and Budget), reviews under several executive orders, and reviews by the public and the regulated community …

With no public input, EPA binds itself to the demands of a private entity with special interests that may be adverse to the public interest, especially in the areas of project development and job creation. Sue and settle activities deny the public its most basic of all rights in the regulatory process: the right to weigh in on a proposed regulatory decision before agency action occurs.”

This is tyranny!

The environmental groups that led the way in this process are Sierra Club, WildEarth Guardians, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund. These “lawsuits” have halted business expansion, investment, re-

search and many jobs. They, along with the EPA, have bludgeoned many corporations and workers by way of sue and settle. The biggest case involves the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Act Rules which will cost corporations and the states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia and the federal government up to $18 billion in compliance demands. Next is the Utility MACT Rule which will cost up to $9.6 billion and also will force up to 21 coal fired utility plants to close and raise electricity rates on millions of consumers and industries.

Congress is not pleased. The Bill, H.R. 1493, is working its way through the House of Representatives. Hopefully, it will pass and stop the above madness. How can a government that is supposed to be purely democratic act in such an abusive way. There is an atmosphere of tyranny when you put this practice in with the other four scandals.

How many more scandals will pop up under this atmosphere of “Damn the Constitution?”

Mr. Alford is the co-founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®.

Website: www.nationalbcc.org.

Email: halford@nationalbcc.org.

Take a Recess from Closing Public Schools

By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett has announced plans to close at least 50 schools as a cost-cutting measure.

But before any other urban school system follows suit, it should take an extended recess and reflect on what has happened in the past that makes this such a foolish idea.

We can start by looking at what has happened in Chicago. A volunteer group called CREATE –Chicagoland Researchers and Advocates for Transformative Education – has produced a briefing paper on past school closings that provides some interesting insight.

First, there is the issue of trust.

Based on its past performance, there is no reason to trust the Chicago Board of Education’s financial projections. The board approved a budget with a $245 million deficit for the 2010-2011 school year. But instead of a deficit, the board ended up with a $328 million surplus.

There was a similar pattern for the 2011-2012 school year. The board budgeted for a $214 million deficit. Instead, it had a surplus of $328 million. In each year, the board missed its target by $500 million.

And what about the students www.chicagocrusader.com

who had to enroll in new schools and students who had to receive them? Bad news on both counts.

“A 2009 study by the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research (CCSR) found that 82% of the students from 18 elementary schools closed in Chicago moved from one underperforming school to another underperforming school, including schools already on probation,” said CREATE. “In a follow up 2012 report, the CCSR determined that 94% of students from closed Chicago schools did not go to ‘academically strong’ new schools.”

It cited another study that found “students who transitioned into new schools following closure scored lower on tests one year after closure; they were at an increased risk of dropping out, as well as an increased risk of not graduating.”

The researcher stated, “School closings will also negatively affect the achievements for students in the receiving schools… For one thing, closings often lead to increased class sizes and overcrowding in receiving schools. As a result, the pace of instruction is slower and the test scores for both mobile students and nonmobile students tend to be lower in schools with high student mobility rates.”

When the Chicago School Board announced its previous closings, it

George E. Curry figured it would sell, lease or repurpose half of the schools. However, a Pew study found that of the buildings closed between 2005 and 2012, only 17 schools were either sold, leased or repurposed. Another 24 closed properties remain on the market.

Surprisingly, of the 77 public schools closed in the past decade, 80 percent now house other schools.

Everyone realizes that with a dwindling school-aged population, not as many schools will be needed in the future. And across the country, we have seen how former schools have been converted to community health centers, churches, community centers and other useful facilities.

But if they are simply becoming schools again, what’s the point in

closing them in the first place?

Chicago is not the only major city that has overpromised and under delivered in public education.

Administrators in Washington, D.C. boasted about how much money they would save by closing a group of schools.

Pointing to a report by the Office of the D.C. Auditor, CREATE noted, “The audit determined that instead of saving the district $30 million, as claimed by former schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, the closures actually cost the city $40 million after factoring in the expense of demolishing buildings, removing furnishings, and transporting students.

“Further, the district lost another $5 million in federal and state grants as students left the system, many to charter schools being built in tandem with the closings.”

With all the lip service paid to public education by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, he has not been willing to put his money where his mouth is. Instead of investing in a school system still reeling from a teachers’ strike last fall, he has announced plans for the city to fund a new 12,000-seat basketball arena for DePaul University – a private school.

Under the plan, the facility will be built with $125 million in public funds, including about $55 million

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

in tax-increment financing and $70 million in hotel and transportation taxes. The facility will be built near McCormick Place.

“Our biggest concern is killing the neighborhood with a venue that sits vacant for most of its useful life and, the only time it is used, it’ll be largely for an alcohol-focused sporting venue that will bring unwanted rowdiness, security and parking issues,” Tina Feldstein, president of the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “There are 18 DePaul home games. Let’s add in other convention events.

Add Rush Arena football. You could add and add and add and you’re still going to end up with a massive facility that will sit vacant for most of its useful life and not add any value economically.”

Or, educationally.

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 Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.

Saturday, JUNE 1, 2013

5

COMMENTARY

The Chicago Crusader

JITU K. WEUSI A GREAT ORGANIZER AND MASTER TEACHER (Dr. Conrad Worrill, National Chairman Emeritus of the National Black United Front (NBUF), located at 1809 East 71st Street, Suite 211, Chicago, Illinois, 60649, 773-493-0900, Fax# 773-493-9819, E-mail: nbufchic@sbcglobal.net, Web site: nbufront.org)

Dr. Conrad Worrill My long time friend for over forty years and comrade in the struggle for African Liberation worldwide, Jitu Weusi, made his transition into eternity on Wednesday, May 23, 2013 at his home in Brooklyn, New York on Fulton Street. Brother Jitu had been diagnosed with renal (kidney) cancer in January of this year and struggled

mightily as this cancer began to spread throughout his body. In vintage Jitu, master teacher style, he penned a composition chronicling his health struggles entitled “Cancer and the Biggest Fight of My Life.”

This article was a profound documentation of Jitu and his fight against cancer.

On Monday, May 21 Jitu Weusi’s extended family son from the East; Adeyemi Bandele telephoned me from Brother Jitu’s bedside. The spiritual energy of this call instructed me to say to my dear friend, “I love you.”

And I was able to hear Jitu, who had been in an unconscious state to that point, say to me, “I love you too!”

Jitu Weusi was one of the great, unsung activist, organizer, educator, and thinker that came out of our movement in the 1960s. Upon graduation in 1962 from Long Island University, Jitu earned his bachelor’s degree in history. He pursued his teaching passion and became a social studies teacher in Bedford-Stuyvesant at Junior High School (JHS) 35 where he found the white supremacy foundation of the curriculum stymying the growth and development of his African descended students. He felt these students needed an understanding of their heritage and a sense of their place in history and the

world.

As it has been written, Jitu “Weusi was not alone in his concerns. Other teachers at JHS 35 included Al Vann, Oliver Patterson, Leroy Lewis, Randy Tobias, Joan Eastman, and Ola Cherry. These were young Black teachers who were new to the public school system and who were speaking about the need for changes in the New York City public school system.

They joined with Black teachers in other schools to form the African American Teachers Association.”

Further, as Jitu wrote, “the African American Teachers Association joined with the Ocean Hill-Browns-ville Alliance around the concept of community control. With the teachers and community members standing side by side the Ocean Hill-Brownsville Movement unfolded.” During this period, 1968-1969, Jitu describes this movement as the “most underrepresented yet most impactful era of Brooklyn history.” Jitu went on to explain, “the teachers and the community battled the Board of Education and the predominatelywhite United Federation of Teachers in a struggle that they hoped would finally create a structure for the empowerment of local communities.

The result was the establishment of the Ocean Hill-Brownsville Govern-

ing Board, a community school board that served central Brooklyn’s Black Community.”

As a result of the controversy surrounding his great contributions in the leadership of the Ocean HillBrownsville battle, the white controlled media, the Board of Education, and the United Federation of Teachers attempted to mutilate Jitu’s reputation and his contributions to the movement. As a result, Jitu officially left the New York City Board of Education in April 1969.

The youth involved in the movement working with Jitu and community members began establishing The East “as a self-determining cultural-educational organization for African people in central Brooklyn, New York, and was armed with the theme ‘Freedom Now!’ and the philosophy of self-reliance under the leadership of Jitu K. Weusi and the East Family.”

As noted in Kwasi Konadu’s book, Truth Crushed to the Earth Will Rise Again!, “Jitu was/is a central figure in the design, expansion and governance of The East organization, in both concrete and ideational terms.

Conceptually, The East was a counter hegemonic act toward European cultural and political imperialism through its embodiment of

African cultural resistance and reconstruction in the American context.”

It was during this period that the organizing skills of Jitu emerged nationally and internationally as he participated in the Black Power conferences, the Congress of African People, and the African Liberation Support Committee that led to African Liberation Day (ALD) activities throughout the United States.

It was in 1972 that Jitu provided organizing leadership in establishing the Council of Independent Black Institutions (CIBI). CIBI was made up of other independent African centered educational, cultural, and community based institutions that were emerging, at that time, throughout the United States. Jitu helped shape the Black Liberation Movements organizing around the armed struggles in Mozambique, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Namibia, and South Africa. Jitu and The East family were on the cutting edge of linking these struggles to the Pan African context of our connections as an African people worldwide.

Jitu always used his understanding of culture and the arts in his organizing work in our movement and is best remembered in the East’s early weekly musical performances by (Continued on page 16)

FEDERAL CONTRACTING PROMOTES INEQUALITY!

By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist On May 21, I had the opportunity to testify before a Congressional Progressive Caucus, meeting on the fact that federal dollars drive inequality by paying contractors who pay too many of their workers very little. The hearing was driven by a study from Amy Traub and her colleagues at Demos, a New York based think tank, that issued a report exposing the many ways that federal contracting often adds to the burden of the low income, especially those who earn less than $12 an hour, or less than $25,000 a year.

If these workers have even one child, they are living at or below the poverty line. As summer looms, we know that children who are in summer programs will be better prepared when they return to school in the fall. Yet those with income limitations will find it difficult to pay fees that range from $50 to $125 a week for summer enrichment programs. This cycle of disadvantage means that low wages yield more limited opportunities for students who, but for 6

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Julianne Malveaux their parental situation, might be exposed to the kind of opportunities that would make them more competitive for college admissions. Their limited wages create a cycle of disadvantage for children.

The Obama Administration has supported a “Race to the Top” in education, yet job creation suggests that we are running a “Race to the Bottom.” We are underutilizing talent and expertise when we sideline so many Americans.

Those over 50 who have experienced downsizing have moved into lower paying retail jobs. New college graduates have been pushed back into their parents’ homes, and into low-wage jobs because there is little else available. Too many take unpaid internships to make them more competitive for future jobs, working at night or on weekends in the retail market because these are their scant possibilities.

Some economists suggest that we are in an economic expansion, not a recession, and the 2.5 percent GDP growth last quarter might support that. Still, there has been little trickle down from the top to the bottom. People take what is offered in salary because they have few choices. The federal government can help or hurt these workers depending on how they choose to protect them with minimum wage legislation, with regulation on federal contractors, with requirements to make health care and other social protections available.

Instead, according to Demos we have millions of workers who work full time, but are paid at low

wages, thanks to federal contracting policy. If government takes the lowest bid to provide services, workers will likely earn the lowest wage. If our government specified that a living wage and benefits are part of the contract we would reduce inequality. Today, too many contracting executives earn six or seven figure salaries, while workers earn poverty-level wages.

I am especially concerned about home health care workers, and others in the hospital services industry because these are predominately Black and brown women, taking care of our sick, infirm and elders. How can we expect these workers to offer the highest quality care, when we are not offering them the highest quality wages?

These are women who bring chips of ice to the dying, who hold a hand and say a prayer to someone who needs comfort. They rub the feet and massage the heads of those who are in pain. What if the low wages they are paid becomes a stressor, not allowing them to fully focus on their work for worries about their own economic survival?

Our economy has been bifurcat-

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

ed between those who have good jobs and bad jobs. Good jobs have decent pay and benefits, while bad jobs have hourly pay and none of the above. Increasingly, the Great Recession has pushed former good job workers into bad jobs, and bad jobs have become the norm for too many. We may be creating a permanent underclass by offering too little to too many, using federal funds to subsidize this inequality. When full-time workers need food stamps and federally subsidized health insurance, when full-time workers cannot afford apartments, when full-time workers give full effort and remain in poverty, then we have turned the American dream into a nightmare!

We cannot compete in this global economy if we cannot pay people wisely and well. Without regulation, the private sector may pay unequal wages, but there is no reason for the federal government to do the same thing.

Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C. www.chicagocrusader.com

GOSSIPTERY

The Chicago Crusader

SPEAKING OF TIGER AND OBAMMY

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!

AWRIGHT SERGIO KEEP ON TALKING Just about airybody know Eldrick Woods changed his name to Tiger, but it sho seem like he be a pussycat when it comes to white women pushing him around with a golf club or pouting when he drank too much Boone’s Farm. But Ima is thinking we gonna see Tiger’s urban side and slap the enchilada outta Sergio Garcia’s mouth if the loser keep talking about Tiger and fried chicken. Ya’ll aint heard from Fuzzy

Tiger Zoeller since that year Tiger won the Masters and Fuzzy cracked about he hoped Tiger be having a white man’s winner dinner and not collards and chicken. First Sergio lied about Tiger’s fans cheering to make him mess up and den the Spaniard went off and talked about the chicken again. Ima thanks word got back to Tiger pretty fast cause ‘fore Sergio could get his glove off he was apologizing about it and pretty much beggin Tiger not to whip him on the course no mo. Ima know too one of the losers sponsors got up before Sergio could and said ‘we don’t play dat.” Even TaylorMade don’t want to piss off Tiger.

A long time ago Ima’s mama told her cullid people is gonna do cullid thangs. Well Mama’s words sho is ringing true dese days. Do you think Ima got a phone call or Thank You note from Tiger or President Obammy after Ima went through all the trouble to pick out some nice $2 mirrors at the dollar store and mail dem to those two.

Ima figured de only way to get them to ‘member dey is Black men is to have em look in the mirror.

Folk been shucking and jiving dem and got dem forgetting that behind dey backs they probably being called the N-word and N don’t

President Barack Obama

stand for nice.

REV. COREY (MONEY BAGS) BROOKS IS AT IT AGAIN Some fool had da nerve to ask Ima if she be trying to be the publicist for Rev. Corey Brooks cause she be writing. Now anybody with a lick a sense and a dollar for some free coffee know Ima try hard but usually come up short with something nice to say about the rooftop-close-themotel preacher. Problem is Rev. Portly just keep getting in Ima’s line a vision and she don’t usually like what she see. Like da other day when Ima looked at da white newspaper and see Brooks standing behind the chief of the poo poo at a news conference. Ima called Lurene to see if she saw that picture and we shol agreed that preacher’s lifetime Vic Tanny’s membership is not letting him in da door. Won’t be no harm if the man decide he gonna walk across ‘Merica again, but dis time he need to get outta the RV and walk alongside it and not just in it while it is moving down the road.

Ima TRY not to be bothered with Rev. Round One so much but sometimes it is hard like when Ima was driving her new Studebaker wit da old radio and Steve Harvey come

Rev. Corey Brooks on the other station. Studebakers don’t pick up but two stations. Steve Harvey said Brooks is in the lead to get some kind of neighborhood leadership award. First thing Ima think is just like Fred Hampton Jr. she need to know what he leading.

Leading in collecting money from radio people? Tom Joyner got Tyler Perry to give rev $98,000 to bring his behind off the roof. He was sposed to be collecting money for a community center, and all we done seed so far is a Etch-A-Sketch drawing. Now if he get Steve’s neighborhood award, Brooks gets $30,000.

That sho remind Ima of Jeb Clampett’s saying “he got a handful of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged.”

MillerCoors awards more than $150,000 in Small Business Grants The 2012-2013 MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series winners announced New competition revealed The MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series (MUES) Business Plan competition comes to an end by honoring five exemplary small businesses owners. The final MUES business competition, which has granted more than $1.9 million dollars in its 13-year history, awarded the following businesses owners with $160,000 in business grants: • Lauren Miller and Jason Brein $50,000 Excelegrade – Atlanta, GA (www.excelegrade.com) Provides state-of-the art Webbased platform for standardized testing for K-12 classrooms with assessments on tablets, smartphones and laptops • Gabriel Munoz and Raul Duran - $35,000 Hispanic Employee Recruiting Online – Overland Park, KS (www.hirebilinguals.com) Website that will unite diversityfriendly companies with quality, bilingual candidates in the Midwest through an innovative platform.

Hispanic Employee Recruiting Online also won the Consumers Choice award receiving the most online votes for an additional grant of $10,000 www.chicagocrusader.com

• Tinia Pina - $25,000 Re-Nuble, Inc. – Lorton, VA (www.re-nuble.com) A social enterprise providing local, organic recycling services for major food waste generators • Ben Silbert and Mac Tichner $25,000 Bar & Club Stats – New York, NY (www.barandclubstats.com) App that provides real-time demographics about bars, nightclubs, arenas and events using a custom iPod or iPhone ID scanner • Santiago Halty - $25,000 Senda Athletics – Berkeley, CA (www.sendaathletics.com) Currently the only American company making fair-trade sports balls and equipment, with designs and styles inspired by athletes from around the world “We are extremely thankful to MillerCoors for caring about urban entrepreneurs enough to provide these meaningful grants,” says Lauren Miller, co-founder and CEO of Excelegrade. “We hope to build a successful business with the $50,000 grant that not only helps teachers and students but ultimately is able to pay it forward to other entrepreneurs in a similar way.”

The winners were presented with their respective business grants at a special reception on April 25 at MillerCoors corporate headquarters in Chicago, IL.

2012-2013 MUES grant recipients Raul Duran, Rashid Mayes, Lauren Miller, Tinia Pina, Santiago Halty, Mac Tichner, Gabriel Munoz and Ben Silbert with their awards.

The MUES business plan compe- MUES program has empowered Urban League, Milwaukee Urban tition was established in 1999 as a small businesses to create more jobs League, University of Wisconsinvaluable resource for entrepreneurs and boost the economy in their Milwaukee, Recycling Black Dolto grow their businesses, create jobs communities,” stated Larry Waters, lars, National Association for Asian and make a powerful impact in senior director, community com- American Professionals, Regional their communities. This year it will merce and partnerships for Miller- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, turn the page and evolve into “Tap Coors. “We simply can’t wait to see Greater Harlem Chamber of Comthe Future,” a Miller Lite-branded the larger impact this program will merce, Chicago Urban League, program that will bring great have as it evolves into its next stage Latin American Chamber of Comfriends and business partners to- as Tap the Future.” merce, Greater Dallas Hispanic gether to compete for a prize pool of Through Tap the Future, Miller- Chamber of Commerce, Urban $400,000. Tap the Future is slated Coors will continue to work with League of Greater Dallas and North to launch in the summer of 2013. key community partners including: (Continued on page 16) “For more than a decade the Atlanta Business League, Detroit BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, JUNE 1, 2013

7

OPINION

FREE MARQUETTE BANK EVENTS: Free Neighborhood Appreciation Party – On Saturday, June 1, Marquette Bank will host a free neighborhood appreciation party at the Marquette Bank located at 5400 S. Kedzie Avenue in Chicago.

Enjoy family fun, games, prizes and refreshments between noon and 2 p.m. Event is open to the public. For more information, call 773- 4765100 ext. 1476. Free Neighborhood Appreciation Party – On Saturday, June 1, Marquette Bank will host a free neighborhood appreciation party at the Marquette Bank located at 7447 W. 63rd Street in Summit. Enjoy family fun, games, prizes and refreshments between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The event is open to the public. For more information, call 708-563-4105. Free Senior Celebration Event – On Saturday, June 1, Marquette Bank will host a free senior celebration event at the Marquette Bank located at 9335 S. Kedzie Avenue in Evergreen Park.

Enjoy bingo, trivia, food and refreshments between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The event is open to the public. For more information, call 708-8571313. Free Homebuyer Education Class – On Saturday, June 1 & 8, Marquette Bank will host a free homebuyer education course at the Marquette Bank located at 6316 S. Western Avenue in Chicago. The two-day course will help attendees determine an affordable home price, understand financing options and anticipate what to expect when it’s time to close. After completing the course, participants will earn an eight-hour Homebuyer Education Certificate. The two-day course will be held on June 1 and June 8 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Seating is limited.

To register, call 773-918-4568. Free Business Networking Event – On Wednesday, June 5, Marquette Bank will host a business networking after-hours event at the Marquette Bank located at 6155 S. Pulaski Avenue in Chicago. Enjoy an evening of refreshments, door prizes and excellent networking opportunities.

Businesses are welcome to attend from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. To register, call 773- 476-5110 ext. 1220.

Free Meet and Greet Open House – On Friday, June 7, Marquette Bank will host a free meet and greet open house at the Marquette Bank located at 9533 W. 143rd Avenue in Orland Park from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to meet Pam Hollinger, Senior Financial Advisor for Marquette Wealth Management, to find out how she can help them achieve their financial goals, and Mark Majdecki, Vice President of Commercial Banking and Real Estate, will be available to answer commercial lending questions. The event is open to the public. To reg8

Saturday, June 1, 2013

ister, call 708-364-2505.

UNLEASHED SATURDAYS: The Way We Were & T.G.F.H. present Unleashed Saturdays. Unleash you Mind-Body & Soul on Saturday, June 1, 9 p.m. – 4 a.m. at The Garage. Join in the Birthday Celebration for Shasha LaFunk Collective Souls. Unleashed Sounds by Jamie 3:26 – BOXX. Free Food will be available (Beggars Pizza and Wings) compliments of T.G.F.H. and The Way We Were.

A CONCERT WITH FORMER MEMBERS OF THE BANDS CHICAGO AND THE BUCKINGHAMS WITH BILL CHAMPLIN, DANNY SERAPHINE, AND DENNIS TUFANO: A concert with former members of the bands Chicago & The Buckinghams with Bill Champlin, Danny Seraphine & Dennis Tufano will be held on Saturday, June 1, at the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence. The Heart and Soul of Chicago presents a concert benefiting Special Talents America (a non-profit, national performing arts organization for helping individuals with special needs) featuring nationally acclaimed tribute bands CTA (California Transit Authority) and 25 or 6 to 4 with special guests and former members Bill Champlin (former vocalist and songwriter of the band Chicago), Danny Seraphine (co-founder and former drummer of the band Chicago), and Dennis Tufano (original vocalist of The Buckinghams). Five decades of mega hits - "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," "After the Love Has Gone," "Kind of a Drag," “If You Leave Me Now,” “Saturday in the Park,” “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?,” and much more. A portion of the proceeds for this fundraiser goes to Special Talents America. The show starts at 8 p.m. and will run through 10:30 p.m. The cost is $59 $79.

LINCOLN AVENUE LIVE! Come out and play in Munchkinland! Emerald City hosts new street fest family section: On Saturday and Sunday, June 1 & 2, hours noon to 5 p.m. at 2200-2300 blocks on N. Lincoln Avenue (Webster to Belden) in Lincoln Park. Join in crafts, dance parties, your favorite characters, story times, and fun! Emerald City's Munchkinland is the destination for families at street festivals this summer.

Come play in Chicago's newest street fest in Lincoln Park. Munchkin- land will have a Wizard of Oz theme, featuring crafts, characters, and a field of poppies photo op.

THE PRESENCE OF ABSENCE: Northwestern University Department of Radio/TV/Film Professors Dave Tolchinsky and Debra Tolchinsky have curated the Con-

temporary Arts Council 13th annual exhibition, The Presence of Absence at the Hairpin Arts Center in Logan Square. The exhibit will be held at: Hairpin Arts Center, 2800 N. Milwaukee Ave., 2nd floor, Chicago 60618 runs through June 2. Participants include: Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, Christopher Baker, Melika Bass, Laurie Palmer, Paola Cabal, Katarina Weslien, Robert Chase Heishman, and Brendan Meara. Gallery hours are Wed. 12 - 3 p.m., Fri. 5 - 9:30 p.m., Sat. 2 - 9:30 p.m., and Sun. 2 - 5 p.m..

For more information, please visit www.hairpinartscenter.org; or contact Shari Schlachter at 312-502-7264 or send email to: shari@hairpinartscenter.org.

WAYNE SHORTER QUARTET AT CHICAGO SYMPHONY CENTER: The Wayne Shorter Quartet will appear at the Chicago Symphony on Friday, June 7, 8 p.m.

Chicago, IL. THE CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL: The largest free blues festival in the World, Blues Festival Chicago, will take place Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9 in Grant Park, 331 E. Randolph Street. The

The Chicago Crusader

COMMUTERS TRYING OUT Metra on the first workday of the Red Line construction project were greeted by Metra CEO Alex Clifford and a team of ambassadors who were on hand at several stations to ensure a smooth transition for new riders. Clifford worked the platform at the Gresham Station, located at 820 West 87th Street, shaking hands and greeting passengers. He chatted with new and regular riders about our service and listened to comments and suggestions from regular riders as well. “We want the public to know that we are doing all we can to assist in offering our trains as a safe and convenient travel alternative over the next few months. Our goal is to help make this transition as smooth as possible,” Clifford said. cost is Free. The Blues Festival Chicago has presented countless numbers of blues notes and moments to millions of blues fans from around the world on Chicago's lakefront Grant Park.

For three days the park turns into a haven for blues fanatics, or anyone looking for a good time. Food vendors

and legendary blues musicians come to share their passion with thousands of people at the Chicago Blues Fest.

Past performers include Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, the late Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and the late Koko Taylor. For more information, please call 312-744-3316.

Extended Coverage turned off. Let blades stop completely before adjusting.

Children and lawn mowers— especially power mowers—are a bad combination. Each year, some 80,000 Americans need emergency room visits for lawnmower injuries, and many are children. *** Many of the injuries require difficult reconstructive procedures.

The wounds are dirty, say doctors, they can require repeated operations, and they heal slowly. ***

Milton E. Moses

*** Brought to you as a public service by the safety people 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) 6516200. You can also reach us via email at: sales@communityinsurance.com or visit the website at www.communityins. com.

Lawn mower safety tips: Never let a child under 16 ride on a riding mower; never carry a child of any age as a passenger. Don’t let a child under 12 operate any mower. *** Wear sturdy shoes, not sandals, when mowing. Wear eye and ear protection. Before mowing, pick up stones, sticks and toys to prevent injuries from flying objects. *** Best choice: a mower with a control that stops it from moving if the handle is released. Start and refuel outdoors with the motor BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

www.chicagocrusader.com

COMMENTARY

The Chicago Crusader

Homeowner Bills of Rights emerge as remedies to foreclosure

By Charlene Crowell NNPA Columnist A few days ago, HUD released data showing that over 620,000 troubled homeowners received more than $50 billion in principal reductions and savings. These actions were the direct result of the National Mortgage Settlement, negotiated by America’s largest banks, state Attorneys General, and the Administration.

Despite this success, the Congressional Budget Office recently reported that 13.2 million mortgages remain underwater, owing more than the homes are now worth.

Earlier this year, the Center for Responsible Lending and its ally Consumers Union jointly offered state policy remedies known as Homeowner Bills of Rights (HBORs) that would protect homeowners, further reduce foreclosures and stabilize local housing markets. Key to these state initiatives is that homeowners gain a private right of action and the right to halt a foreclosure sale when a servicer breaks the law.

The foreclosure cannot proceed

until the servicer complies with the law. Other HBOR recommendations called for lawmakers to: • Ban ‘dual-tracking,’ the practice by mortgage servicers of pursuing foreclosures while at the same time processing a request for a loan modification; • Require lenders to establish straightforward timelines, clear procedures for homeowner outreach, detailed denial notices and an affidavit detailing the homeowner’s rights to appeal; and • Require lenders to engage in loss mitigation activities to prevent avoidable foreclosures.

For communities of color, where the economic recovery has yet to be felt, HBORs are particularly important due to well-documented disparities in foreclosures. For example, Black Floridians’ risk of imminent foreclosures is doubled that projected for the entire state.

Earlier research by the Center for Responsible Lending found that over half (52 percent) of the lost wealth resulting from living in close proximity to foreclosures was borne by minority census

Charlene Crowell tract homeowners. In the District of Columbia and seven states -California, Florida, Illinois, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey and New York – an even greater share of lost wealth occurred in minority communities.

Additionally, African-Americans

remain at a higher imminent risk of more foreclosures in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Illinois.

Several states have worked to advance HBOR reforms including California, Minnesota and Nevada.

California, the first state to enact an HBOR, took effect in January with a private right of action and rules for servicers foreclosing.

In cases where the homeowners prevailed in legal disputes, the lender may become responsible for attorney fees and court costs.

Already, a California court recently ruled in favor of a state homeowner. A preliminary injunction halted foreclosure proceedings in the case of Singh v.

Bank of America where the lender dual-tracked the homeowner.

In Minnesota, where there were three times more foreclosures in 2012 than in 2005, their HBOR gives borrowers a private right of action to stop a wrongful foreclosure sale. Through a bipartisan effort, the state’s House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill. With a companion ver-

sion having already passed in the state’s Senate, Governor Mark Dayton is expected to soon sign the measure into law.

In Nevada, a bill similar to that of California, aims to codify a single-point-of-contact with servicers, require civil penalties for banks that violate default procedures, and give borrowers a private right of action. The bill unanimously passed the state’s Senate and now awaits a vote in the Nevada Assembly.

Hopefully more states will embrace the emergence of HBORs. In a recent blog, Tracy Van Slyke, director of the New Bottom Line, summed up the status of economic recovery: “This work is not just about righting past wrongs. It’s also about the future of our retirement, our kids’ lives, and the kind of communities we want to live in and about our country’s economic future.”

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

Entertainment choices galore

By Cheryl Pearson-McNeil NNPA Columnist Remember back-in-the-day when you used to poke your mouth out, bug your parents (or whatever adult was in charge) about being bored? Well, today’s kids can’t use that tired, old excuse. Neither can we, as grown folks, for that matter.

We’ve been spoiled rotten and have access to endless entertainment options at our fingertips, 24/7. So, I’m excited to share with you insights from Nielsen’s first-ever Entertainment Consumer Report, which breaks down, in detail, the myriad of ways we are entertained – whether it’s game playing, watching movies or other video content, listening to music or reading a book. As entertainment consumers we fall into three categories: high, moderate and low entertainment spenders. Although just onethird of the population qualifies as high entertainment spenders, they account for more than 70 percent of entertainment spending. This segment of spenders are more likely to be ethnically diverse and women with young children than moderate and low entertainment spenders. Makes perfect sense to me since moms are usually the ones charged with www.chicagocrusader.com

keeping the kids occupied.

When it comes to how we listen to music, long gone are the days portrayed in the musicals “Cadillac Records” and “Dream Girls.”

But wait. Though digital music leads overall music sales with 118 million digital albums and 1.3 billion tracks purchased last year, the sale of old-school vinyl LPs jumped nearly 18 percent over the last year. As the saying goes, “everything old is new again.”

African-Americans index on the lower end of the demographic spectrum of digital music buyers.

We, however, index slightly higher than other consumer groups in purchasing physical CDs. We make up 12 percent of on-demand music streamers. And, although all age groups enjoy music across all platforms, young adults between 18 and 24 spend the most time listening to music, about six hours a week, which is an hour more than those 25 and up.

You know how big companies sponsor concert tours and pay big bucks for an artist to endorse their product? It’s good business.

Hitching to a star’s wagon has been shown to increase buy rates of a product by as much as 28 percent among the artists’ fans.

Switching gears to what and how we watch video content at

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil home, well, the sky is pretty much the limit with multiple devices to choose from. Some examples of those are: DVR/Blu-Ray, video-on-demand, plus subscriber services like Netfilx and/or Hulu. There are also video game consoles, computers, tablets and/or mobile devices. Here are some quick facts: • 25-34 year olds are the biggest buyers of movie/TV DVDs and streaming video.

• African-Americans index lower than other demographics in movie/TV DVD and streaming

video purchases.

• Females index higher than males in movie/TV DVD purchases, while men outrank women when it comes to buying streaming video.

What are some other forms of entertainment we have available to us? Well, I am glad you asked.

Some, like me, still love the feel of a good book in your hands.

But, I know some of you may also appreciate the convenience of e-readers. Turns out, there’s not much difference between print and eBook buyers. Among adults online surveyed in this report, both groups of readers are more likely females between the ages of 55 and 64. African-Americans index slightly higher with purchasing eBooks than print books.

Can you guess at our top three favorite books from last year? If you

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

guessed E.L. James’ Fifty Shades Trilogy, followed by Suzanne Collin’s Hunger Games series, you were correct. And, when we like something, we want to enjoy the experience in all ways possible. Case in point: “The Hunger Games,” which was also a box office success, was the fourth best selling print book of 2012, the top selling music soundtrack and the third most-purchased DVD. So now you see even how your various entertainment preferences matter. And even though there are many choices, each and every choice is important.

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Nielsen. For more information and studies go to www.nielsenwire.com

The Crusader Newspaper Group is interested in our readers’ ideas, thoughts and opinions, whether you’re in Chicago, Northwest Indiana or any part of the U.S. we encourage you to send a letter to the editor at crusaderil@aol.com. please limit your letters to 200 words.

Saturday, JUNE !, 2013

9

EDUCATION

The Chicago Crusader

Chicago Heights nursing student feels at home in Kenya

By Elaine Hegwood Bowen Education is a treasure that all youth should be able to experience, in whatever capacity that will help them edge closer to their dreams. One such youth, 20-yearold Paige Alston, a member of Generational Blessings Family Worship Center (GBM), recently spent valuable time in Nairobi, Kenya, as a nursing major.

“I recently spent five months in Nairobi, Kenya, at Daystar University participating in Trinity Christian College’s abroad studies program,” Paige said. She completed courses for her nursing major and sociology minor, as well as served in that country’s local children’s homes and hospitals.

This was a long way from Paige’s home in Chicago Heights, but the program is just another step that will bring her closer to her goal, which might seem ambitious, but actually is in reach for all students who put their noses to the grind.

“My academic dreams are to keep a GPA of 3.0 or higher and graduate Summa Cum Laude,” she said.

“After graduating with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing, I want to attend Rush Medical College to attain my PhD in pediatrics.”

Paige offers spiritual encouragement for other students who might not see the end of the rainbow just yet. “I encourage all youth to stay focused and listen to God to guide you in His will for your life. As long as you have faith and trust God, He will guide you to your destiny just as He has guided me,” she added. “School is so important to achieve your dreams in this society, and it affords you opportunities of a lifetime. Remember God first, then your studies second.”

Paige adjusted to Africa very well,

taking in all the differences and commonalities that the rich continent offered. “The first thing that I noticed was how big and plentiful the bugs were, and then it was how developed and Westernized Africa has become,” she said. “I went over thinking that the people would be singing mostly Swahili songs, but to my surprise they listen to lots of American music. Also in Nairobi there are many business owners, both male and female, fast food restaurants and political campaigning all around. It reminds me of a smaller Chicago.”

After getting over her initial surprises, Paige was excited to learn more.

“I was most excited to learn about the Kenyan culture and serve in the communities there.

The people were so nice and willing to teach me their language and customs.”

But the most important thing to Paige was the classes that she took while completing her fellowship.

“Classes here in Kenya are different from classes in the United States, since they use the British teaching system,” she said. “Our classes only ran for about 3 hours and you have one class once a week.

I am used to having the block schedule, where you attend a class two or three times a week.”

Paige was the only African American at Daystar University, and the community was fascinated with having her there. “For many people, I am the first African American they have ever seen, and I have made friends with people that I know I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life.”

It wasn’t a simple endeavor to earn the fellowship, as there were only a few slots, but Paige knows that it was worth it.

“I wrote an essay explaining why I

PAIGE POSES WITH the head nurse in the newborn unit of Kenyatta National Hospital where she was volunteering. was a good match, and even though and faith that I got to Kenya. God Kenya by more than 8,000 miles, it I was only a sophomore I perse- put so many people in my path was tough. Being away from home vered and had faith that I would be that were willing to help me and I has taught me to not take family for granted, especially after I met a chosen. After the chosen student am forever thankful.”

As part of her program, Paige’s teenaged boy who had lived at a dropped out of the program, I was program director arranged for her children’s home for nearly two in.”

With much excitement and wor- to shadow doctors and nurses at years.

He has four siblings and parents ry, Paige confided in GBM’s Nairobi’s Kenyatta National Hosfounder, Pastor Olivia Johnson. “I pital, one of the largest public hos- whom he only sees once a year.

Hearing his story warmed my was scared, but my Pastor would al- pitals in the area.

She also toured Kibera, one of heart, because you could see the ways tell me to have faith and fill out those scholarships. So I was the largest slums in Africa, where love that he has for his family, and it obedient and I followed her in- she was able to see first hand the made me appreciate having two medical services offered to the families who I can run to all the struction.”

In due time, the sky opened up community members. She also had time. I am blessed.”

Paige, who was raised on the East with blessings, the church present- an opportunity to serve children at Side of Chicago Heights and who ed Paige with a $5,000 scholarship New Life Trust Children’s Home.

The fellowship has proved a pro- is the youngest of nine children, has to take care of outstanding tuition, had a vision for building a chiland the membership contributed found experience for Paige.

“I am blessed to have both biolog- dren’shome, and God has shown to her well-being, and she received a $2,000 scholarship from the ical and spiritual families, whom I her that not only underprivileged Montgomery Ward Foundation. had been used to seeing any time. children need help but so do the “It was only through my obedience But when I became separated in privileged children.

A LONG WAY from home Paige Alston, a student at Daystar University, completes courses towards her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in Nairobi, Kenya as part of Trinity Christian College’s Abroad Studies Program.

VISITING THE GIRAFFE CENTRE is one of the treasured experiences Paige Alston will remember when she returns home from Kenya. The Giraffe Centre is Nairobi’s famous Nature Education Centre whose purpose is to educate Kenyan school children about their country’s wildlife and environment and to give visitors, both local and international, an opportunity to come into close contact with a wild animal by feeding the world’s tallest species, the giraffe!

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BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, June 1, 2013

www.chicagocrusader.com

The Chicago Crusader

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Nigeria and the Power Dreaming of Africa’s Garden of Eden

By Butch Wing, Rainbow PUSH Coalition Rev. Jesse Jackson says that despite a reputation for being drenched in oil-based wealth, Nigeria has an unacceptably high rate of poverty.

“People starving on an island of poverty amidst an ocean of prosperity is not inevitable. It’s not natural. It’s not the will of God. It is a sin, in this Garden of Eden, for such inequality and poverty to exist alongside of such riches and oil resources.”

Jackson visited Bayelsa State to keynote the annual Isaac Boro event in the country’s oil rich but impov-

Africa’s second largest economy behind South Africa (which it will soon overtake), and one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

The IMF reports seven of the world’s fastest growing economies are in Africa: Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and others will lead the charge; and analysts predict that the African continent as a whole will soon surpass China’s economy.

But a World Bank report laments “poverty reduction and job creation have not kept pace with population growth.” Over 50%, or nearly 70 million, of Nigeria’s youth face un-

THE REV. JESSE JACKSON immersed himself in the Nigerian culture during his stay, including a visit to a Bayelsa State church with President Goodluck Jonathan.

NIGERIAN PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN welcomed the Rev. Jesse Jackson to his home where the two discussed economic opportunities available in what Jackson referred to as “Africa’s Garden of Eden.” (Photos by Butch Wing) erished Niger Delta region, invited

by His Excellency, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in the oil-rich Niger Delta. The theme of “Oil and Peace: Compatibility for Sustainable Growth in Nigeria” captured the essence of Nigeria’s challenges in the 21st century.

He said Nigeria can do better, “Nigeria is Africa’s “Garden of Eden” with fertile soil and even richer oil beneath the soil, intelligent and industrious people, and enormous economic potential.”

Dream big, Africa Urging Nigerians to dream big, Jackson concluded his keynote address saying, “Dream, of a ONE Nigeria…Dream, of an environment not polluted by gas flames, of oil refineries directed by and operated by Nigerians, for the Nigerian people. Dream, of the day when we can wipe out malnutrition. Dream, of the day when we have clean, affordable drinkable water for our children.

Africa makes up one eighth of the world’s population, one quarter of them are Nigerian,” with a population of over 160 million. Nigeria is www.chicagocrusader.com

employment.

While oil has enriched many nations, some say it has become “Nigeria’s curse.” Shell Oil and other multi-nationals continue to control Nigeria’s oil resources. Corruption and bribery stain the industry and the distribution of its billions of dollars of revenue. Oil spills, gas flaring, leaking pipes and other neglectful practices is causing severe environmental devastation.

Experts predict that huge swaths of land in the Niger Delta will be submerged due to the exacerbated global warming caused by the oil barons.

The massive potholes and crevices on the Niger Delta roads leading out of Port Harcourt airport, much of which remain unpaved, symbolize the dismal infrastructure development.

Peace in the Garden of Eden Poverty has spurred violence and extremist terrorism. A state of emergency declared in three northern Nigerian states by President Goodluck Jonathan, and Nigeria’s military forces launched a massive assault on Boku Haram, an Islamic

extremist group conducting terrorist attacks in northern Nigeria and seeking secession from the federal government.

Rev. Jackson emphasized, “The conflict in Nigeria is not so much religious, regional or tribal, but by greed. Too few have too much, and too many have too little.”

Jackson passionately calls for all parties to engage in negotiation, not violent confrontation; to seek peaceful, non-violent resolution, not just temporary military outcomes, to the deep seeded conflicts.

Indeed, this week President Jonathan – with whom Jackson attended church service and held a private dialogue – announced the release of numerous prisoners captured in the recent violence, including all of the women, as a “peace gesture.”

“There must be no war in the Garden….God has given Nigeria these gifts, now we must give God a gift. PEACE. But the key to peace is the presence of JUSTICE.” “There is a new story emerging out of Africa — a story of growth, progress, potential, and profitability,” reports Ernst & Young. “Africa, Nigeria, are too central, too critical to the global politics and economics to be ignored or dismissed,” Rev Jackson emphasized.

“Nigeria won its freedom in 1960.

It’s an evolving democracy, moving beyond one man rule and dictatorships. But Nigeria confronts the common dilemma: “They are free, but not equal – they have not achieved economic justice. That’s the unfinished business of Nigeria, indeed, of all of Africa.” Governor Dickson of Bayelsa State said, “We need investment and support from the Diaspora to build up the Niger Delta. There is great opportunity for business development in our region and nation.” The Governor bestowed honorary Nigerian citizenship upon Rev. Jackson and gave

him a Nigerian name, “Izontariowei,” meaning “Love for the Ijaw People.”

Recent Successes in Africa The visit to Nigeria is Jackson’s latest foray into the struggles of today’s Africa, Gambia: Last September, meeting with Gambia President Jammeh in Banjul, successfully appealing to him to indefinitely stay the planned executions of 37 death row prisoners, and freeing from prison two Gambian-US citizens.

• South Africa: Receiving from the South Africa government the Companions of O.R. Tambo Award – the highest honor a noncitizen of the country can receive – for his historic role in helping to bring down apartheid.

• Kenya: Attending Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration in April, and bringing together Kenyatta and his defeated opponent, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, urging a peaceful transi-

tion and reconciliation to avoid the violence that marred the 2007 elections.

• Zimbabwe: In early May, meeting President Robert Mugabe and urging the withdrawal of economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the West.

Jackson is thus extending his resume, that included previous negotiations with President Assad in Syria, Saddam Hussein in Iraq, Milosevic in Yugoslavia, Fidel Castro in Cuba, Charles Taylor in Liberia to win the release Americans and other global citizens held captive in those countries.

Many pundits and foreign policy “experts” have understated and underestimated Jackson’s success as a skilled negotiator and people’s diplomat. Some dismiss his foreign policy acumen as “luck,” or they deride him for “meddling” in U.S. foreign policy.

(Continued on page 17)

DURING HIS KEYNOTE address the Rev. Jesse Jackson encouraged Nigerians to avoid violent conflicts in favor of negotiations.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, JUNE 1, 2013

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ENTERTAINMENT

The NEW Four-One-One

By Raymond Ward Entertainment Editor The DuSable Museum of African American History is pleased to present the 2013 edition of the Chicago Park District’s “Movies In The Parks.” Beginning Saturday, June 22, and ending on Saturday, August 17, The DuSable will provide screenings of beloved films in addition to Museum Tours & Performances, and an invitation to experience the DuSable Mobile Museum. Each event begins promptly at 6:30 PM on the grounds of the Museum which is located at 740 East 56th Place (57th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue) in Chicago. Pack your picnic baskets, lawn chairs and blankets. The admission and the popcorn is FREE….you bring the family and we’ll provide the stars!

The 2013 schedule of films is as follows: Saturday, June 22, “Daddy Day Care” starring Eddie Murphy and Regina King.

When Charlie Hinton (Eddie Murphy) loses his job, he must become a stay-at-home dad while his wife, Kim (Regina King), starts working again. While taking care of his young son, Ben, he comes up with the idea of starting Daddy Day Care, a daycare run by dads. It seems like a great idea at first, but Charlie soon finds himself in over his head. He faces hyperactive children, angry parents, government regulations, and competition from a rival upscale daycare. But despite all the obstacles, will Charlie finally be able to connect with his son?

Rated: PG Saturday, July 20, “Sparkle”starring Jordin Sparks, Mike Epps and Whitney Houston.

In Sparkle, three sisters form a successful singing group and must deal with the fallout of fame and drugs. This is a remake of the 1976 movie of the same name, which centered on three singing teen- age sisters from Har- lem who form a girl group in the late 1950s. In this new version of the iconic Jordin Sparks film, the story takes place in Detroit, Michigan in the 1960s during the Motown Era. The film stars Jordin Sparks, Derek Luke, Whitney Houston, Mike Epps, CeeLo Green and Omari Hardwick and features songs from the original film written by the legendary Curtis Mayfield as well as new compositions by R. Kelly.

Rated: PG13 Saturday, August 17, “Jumping The Broom” starring Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonzo and Loretta Devine.

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton) and Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso), who just might be the perfect couple. Unfortunately, their families are a perfect recipe for disaster.

Mrs. Watson (Angela Bassett) has an upper-crust sensibility that her family’s Martha Vineyard estate, where Jason’s straight-out-of-Brooklyn mom (Loretta Devine) seems utterly out of place. When the families gather for Jason and Sabrina’s wedding, it becomes clear that each side has its traditions…and its secrets. When uptown meets downtown, the truth comes out-and only one question remains. Will this couple endure the hysterical and harrowing trials of love and finally jump the broom?

Rated: PG 13

The Chicago Crusader

ENTERTAINMENT: CHICAGO STYLE

By Elaine Hegwood Bowen, MSJ

Janelle Monáe, her band and CSO – cool with a side of conservative What do you get when you mix the trendsetting funkstress Janelle Monáe singing “The Booty Don’t Lie,” along with her band and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Sean O’Loughlin? You have one fantastic night at the CSO’s recent 24th Annual Corporate Night.

It was a mix of cool meeting conservative, but in the end everyone rocked out. Monáe was not only talented, but she was serene, sexy, soulful and sensational, and the CSO proved once again why they are considered the best orchestra in the world.

Monáe, 27, is such a refreshing, delightful artist. She is her own woman who exhibits this by NOT bowing to convention and performing in scantily clad outfits. She wears a black tuxedo during performances as her “uniform”—a reminder, she says, of how far she has come from her days as working as a maid to pay her way through college. It is also a tribute to her mother who once worked as a domestic and her father who collected trash—and all the people who wear uniforms as part of their work attire.

I understand that she is committed to being a role model for young girls, encouraging them and letting them know that they can achieve greatness by remaining true to themselves.

Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, she made her way to college in New York in search of her dreams. A chance performance years later in Atlanta put Monáe on the map, and a star—albeit unlike any female artists we have seen in recent years—was born.

At the CSO, Monáe replaced whom she calls her “musical hero”

JANELLE MONÁE JOINS the crowd, as she keeps the groove going. (Photos by Todd Rosenberg) Aretha Franklin at the last minute, af- “Peachtree Blues” were done traditer Franklin was advised not to per- tionally but with an understated flair form for a week. After a guitar pre- that resulted in deliveries that seemed lude, Monáe sang the Nat King flawless. “Janelle Monáe gives me Cole-famous “Smile” and put her all hope for quirky, funky, genuine voicinto it. Other selections included “I es,” said Chicago-based Hip-Hop Want You Back” and her hit artist Psalm One. “This is deliberate, “Tightrope,” all the while with her soulful, cultured music. Monae's perdoing the moonwalk and joining the formance with the CSO made so audience to lend a hand with those much sense. The music is dense and people dancing to the beat. Could I beautiful. It was an excellent perforbe dreaming? Was this the CSO? mance.”

Monáe continued with a selection of And as much as it was excellent, it R&B, funk, Blues and classical, and she said she was “honored to honor was also quite a different feel at this man” before she sang “Take Me Chicago Symphony Orchestra. One With You” by Prince, whom she expertly led by O’Loughlin, with everyone keeping up with the funk of called a good friend.

Her renditions of “Goldfinger” and it all.

The Chicago Park District’s “Movies In the Parks” at The DuSable is made possible by: Charter One Bank in association with the South East Chicago Commission; Washington Park Consortium; Willie B. THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA led by conductor Sean O’Loughlin proves once Cochran, 20th Ward Alderman; The DuSable Museum of African again why they are considered the best orchestra in the world as they perform with trendsetting American History and United Airlines, the official airline of the Dufunkstress Janelle Monáe and her band for Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association's annual Sable Museum.

Corporate Night.

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Saturday, June 1, 2013

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

www.chicagocrusader.com

ENTERTAINMENT

The Chicago Crusader

TBS Just for Laughs showcases Black comedians TBS Just For Laughs Chicago will have among its talent Black comedians performing throughout the city and on the South Side. MADtv alum Anjelah Johnson performs at The Vic in Lakeview on June 12.

Also, local comic and Vocalo host Brian Babylon hosts an “Urban Comedy Hour” at Stage 773 on June 13.

Following is the Jokes and Notes (4641 South King Drive) schedule: Stage Time - Thursday, June 13, at 8:30 p.m.

New faces bringing the laughter in a wildcard mix of clean and edgy comedy. Host: Damon Williams.

Lineup: David Helem, EM Brown, Khaleel, Marc Henderson, Mike Bober and Schmitty B. Comics To Watch – Friday, June 14, at 8:30 p.m.

Get acquainted with this fresh, new talent on the rise! These comics have an approach to comedy that appeals to all walks of life. Host: Clark Jones. Lineup: Ben Bergman, Brandi Denise, Bryan Christopher, Cody Wilkins, Gia Claire, Lem Slaughter, Mark Gregory and Meechie Hall.

By Stuart Stotts c.2013, Wisconsin Historical Society Press $12.95 / $13.50 Canada 144 pages You’re a kid who knows right from wrong.

When you were little, your parents helped you understand what was good and what was not. Once you got bigger, you could see when something wasn’t fair and you remember how much you hated that.

These days, you’re old enough (and strong enough) to speak up when you see things that are wrong. In the new book “Father Groppi: Marching for Civil Rights” by Stuart Stotts, you’ll read about one peace-loving man who did, too.

James Groppi didn’t know much about civil rights when he was a kid, but he knew what discrimination felt like. Born in 1930, Groppi was the second-youngest child of parents who came from Italy – and in segregated Milwaukee, that meant a lot of teasing and prejudice.

But the Groppi family was close, the parents taught tolerance, and James was a good scholar. Teachers also noticed that he was a natural leader and he became captain of his basketball team. It was during a game that he had one of his most memorable moments: James blocked another player who happened to www.chicagocrusader.com

Funny, sassy girls with similar paths in life will take the stage and show you the funny from a woman’s perspective. Host: Vanessa Fraction. Lineup: Ali Clayton, Chastity Washington, Jesnaira Baez (Jari), Kellye Howard, Lindsay Adams, Reena Calm and Tara Terry.

Best of Chicago - Saturday, June 15, at 10:30 p.m. Some of ChiTown’s best urban talent: Host: B. Cole. Lineup: B. Phillips (Baldhead), Brandon (Hotsauce) Glover, Brian (Da Wildcat) Smith, Calvin Evans, Kevin (Dam Fool) Simpson, Vince Acevedo and Willie Lynch, Jr. The Lil Rel Show – Sunday, June 16, at 8:00 p.m. Lil Rel performs.

Anjelah Johnson Bad Boys Of Comedy – Friday, June 14, at 10:30 p.m.

Urban comedy gets real with this hilariously hardcore, uncensored show. Host: Marlon Mitchell. Lineup: Kendall Ferguson, M. Dubs, Mike Samp, Sean Monroe, Shawn Morgan and Roy. 5-Star Leading Ladies – Saturday, June 15, at 8:30 p.m.

TBS has also announced the addition of Russell Brand, Pete Holmes, Paul F. Tompkins, Brian Posehn, Doug Benson, Todd Glass, Scott Adsit, Kevin Dorff, Jon Glaser, TJ & Dave, Horatio Sanz, Matt Walsh, Brad Morris and Joe Nunez to its 5th anniversary festival line-up as well as a screening for the movie “The Heat,” at the Kerasotes ShowPlace ICON on June 11. Director

Brian Babylon Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) will make a special appearance to introduce an advance screening of his new movie, one of the summer’s most hotly anticipated blockbusters. The Heat stars Academy Award®-winner Sandra Bullock and Academy Award®-nominee Melissa McCar-

thy as a mismatched FBI agent and Boston police officer who join forces to take down a ruthless drug lord.

In 2009, Just For Laughs, the world’s biggest comedy brand, partnered with TBS, one of American television’s leading purveyors of comedy, to produce a comedy festival in Chicago, the nation’s cradle of comedy. Five years later, TBS Just For Laughs Chicago, which runs from June 11 to June 16, is America’s single largest comedy festival, showcasing the industry’s biggest stars and brightest emerging talents at some the city’s most iconic venues.

Presented in collaboration with Chicago-based JAM Productions and Outback Concerts, this year, State Farm will serve as the presenting sponsor.

Festival Venue and Ticket Information: Tickets for most festival events are available at respective venue box offices. Visit http://www.justforlaughschicago.com for more information.

THE BOOKWORM SEZ “Father Groppi: Marching for Civil Rights” be Black, and accidentally knocked him down. The boy kicked James and when they both apologized later, James understood that it was an example of respect.

In 1952, James went into the seminary to study for the Catholic priesthood. He worked at a Milwaukee youth center, where he got to know many African American children and he saw how much racism hurt them. When he graduated from seminary and was ordained in 1959, he preached against discrimination at an all-white church before he was sent to a parish in which the congregation was almost all Black.

That move gave him an early understanding of civil rights.

Starting in 1961, Father James Groppi got involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He made several trips to the South, where segregation was nearly everywhere. He worked to integrate restaurants, and he supported Dr. King’s third March on Selma. He was arrested for peaceful protests, and he kept supporters safe on many marches.

And then, in action that would put him in the national news, Father Groppi took on the entire City of Milwaukee over unfair housing practices.

I’m always a little surprised when the work of an influential person is lost to history. Why don’t more people know this story? Fortunately for

your child, “Father Groppi: Marching for Civil Rights” reverses that omission.

But author Stuart Stotts doesn’t just tell the tale of James Groppi, his work, and his disappointments.

Stotts also writes about how Catholic higher-ups viewed civil rights, where racism came from and what happened, and he tells the story of a city that he claims is still “deeply segregated.” This is a fascinating biography, made better for kids because of a glossary, index, and pronunciation guide.

If your child loves history, or if you want him to know more about the hard work done for equality, here’s a book to find. For your 7-to-12-yearold, reading “Father Groppi: Marching for Civil Rights” seems just right.

The Crusader Newspaper Group is interested in our readers’

ideas, thoughts and opinions, whether you’re in Chicago, Northwest Indiana or any part of the U.S. we encourage you to send a letter to the editor at crusaderil@aol.com. please limit your letters to 200 words.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, JUNE 1, 2013

13

WORLD OF MUSIC

The Chicago Crusader

The Ravinia Festival to pay tribute to Benny Goodman Jazzmaster’s groundbreaking performance shaped future programming On Friday, June 14 at 7:30 PM in the Pavilion, Ravinia will pay a bigband tribute to Benny Goodman in honor of the 75th anniversary of his history-changing Ravinia debut.

Artistic Director Jeff Lindberg’s Chicago Jazz Orchestra along with singers Sylvia McNair and Cyrille Aimée and clarinetists Anat Cohen, Larry Combs and Eric Schneider will honor the jazz legend who performed at Ravinia 12 times between 1938 and 1982.

In 1938, music lovers looked past the controversy of Benny Goodman’s integrated band because its brilliance could not be denied. The clarinetist opened doors at Ravinia (and around the country) shaping what the Festival is today, a mix of classical and non-classical programming.

A 40x60-foot dance floor will be constructed on the lawn so audiences can swing to the concert, and The Women’s Board of Ravinia Festival will host a dance contest with prizes in several categories. Tickets are $55$45 Pavilion; Lawn $22; Combined Pavilion Ticket & Dining Package $70. The Park opens at 3:00 PM. Saturday, June 15 at 8:00 PM The 360-voices of The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and The Orchestra at Temple Square return to the Pavilion for the first time since their sold-out performance in 2007.

The Ravinia stage will be expanded to accommodate the 360-voice ensemble—which Ronald Reagan once labeled “America’s choir”—and 70piece orchestra. A new video previewing the June 15 concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir accompanied by the Orchestra at Temple Square has just been released. Visit www.backstage.ravinia.org/blog/2013/-

The Benny Goodman Orchestra with Lionel Hampton at the drums.

4/1/mormon-tabernacle-choir-releaseslinist Daniel Hope+. This is a mustpreview-video.html see concert for classical and non-clasTickets are $95; Lawn $17; The sical fans.

Park opens at 5:00 PM. Note that artists and programs are Sunday, June 23 at 7:00 PM in subject to change. Opening acts for the Pavilion Vivaldi’s “The Four Sea- some concerts may be announced at a sons Recomposed” is Max Richter’s later date. Repertoire being performed take on Vivaldi’s beloved masterpiece. at Ravinia for the first time is marked Tito Muñoz, music director of New with an asterisk (*). Artists making York’s Le Poisson Rouge, conducts their Ravinia debut are marked with a the Chicago Philharmonic with vio- plus sign (+).

The Ravinia Festival opens the 2013 summer season Thursday, June 6 at 7:30 PM with Judy Collins and Don McLean in The Pavilion. Tickets: $55$45/Lawn $22**.

Thursday, June 6 at 7:30 PM and Friday, June 7 at 7: 30 PM “The Ruth Page Festival of Dance” opens with Concert Dance, Inc. in Bennett Gordon Hall. Tickets are $10.

Tickets for all Ravinia performances may be purchased online at ravinia.org or by phone at 847-2665100.

South Shore Opera Company presents works by Coleridge-Taylor and Dunbar Saturday, June 8 The South Shore Opera Company of Chicago located in South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive, will present music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 –1912), the revered Black British composer, conductor and professor of music as part of its 5th Anniversary Season, “Celebrating Black Composers.” Coleridge-Taylor’s works had important cultural and social connections in the United States and his collaboration with American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) on Seven African Romances (1897) and on the opera,

Dream Lovers (1898) was an extraordinary partnership of two nineteenth century artists of African ancestry.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor is best known for his Song of Hiawatha Trilogy based upon the poems of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast (1898), the first of these three works was seen as his crowning achievement, and only Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah equaled its popularity in England!

Guest artists are Dana Campbell and Kimberly Jones, sopranos; Beena David, mezzo-soprano; Jeffrey Bur-

South Shore Opera Company Performers

ish, tenor; and Antonio Watts, bass.

Tenor Cornelius Johnson is Artistic Director and Daniel Black is guest conductor.

Pre-opera dinner is available at the Parrot Cage on site for $17.00.

Reservations must be made by Tuesday, June 4. Call the Parrot Cage at 773-602-5333.

Admission is free. Secured parking is available in the South Shore Cultural Center parking lots for $1.00 per hour. Visit southshoreopera.org or email opera@south shoreopera.org for more information.

The Culinary Corner Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra performs “American Folk Music” at 7:30 PM, Thursday, June 6 in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Robert G. Hasty directs the Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra in a folk music inspired performance.

The concert will include Peter Schickele’s Concerto for Chamber Orchestra, Ives’ Symphony No. 3 and Florence B. Price’s Symphony No. 1. Tickets are $6 for the general public and $4 for students with IDs. Pick-Staiger Concert Hall is located at 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston.

Due to construction on the south end of campus, Arts Circle Drive is currently closed to traffic. Free parking is still available on weekends and after 4 PM weekdays in the two-level lakefront structure located on Campus Drive. After turning onto Campus Drive from Sheridan Road, enter the parking structure on the right by way of ramps leading to the upper and lower levels. For vehicles with handicap placards, reserved spaces are 14

Saturday, June 1, 2013

of Louis Hall. For more construction and parking information, visit pickstaiger.org/construction. ******** The Chicago Ensemble will present MUSIC OF THE WINDS Tuesday, June 4 at 7:30 PM at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St. and at 3:00 PM Sunday, June 9 at the University of Chicago’s International House, 1414 E. 59th Street.

Audra McDonald available on weekends and after 4 PM weekdays in the lot directly west

Experience Mozart’s masterpiece for winds and piano Quintet in Eb Major, K. 452; alongside Trio-sonata in C Major by J. J. Quantz, a considerably less well-known composer; and two contemporary works: Five Movements (2007) by American composer Clint Needham, and Sextet in Bb Major (1962) by the highly regarded British composer Gordon Jacob performed by Susan Levitin, flute; Ricardo Castaneda, oboe; Elizandro Garcia-Montoya, clarinet; John Gaudette, bassoon; Dan O’-

The Parrot Cage Restaurant, overlooking the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan and housed in the Chicago Park District’s South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive, has expanded its hours of service to include lunch weekly from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Tuesdays through Saturdays in addition to its already scheduled dinner service from

5:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Sunday Brunch hours remain the same: 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Connell, french horn; and TCE Artistic Director, Gerald Rizzer, piano.

Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, Anyone Can Whistle and Sunday in the Park with George, can add another accolade to her stunning resumé. She will be awarded the coveted Sarah Siddons Artist of the Year Award— made famous in the classic film All About Eve. Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman, who was the first person to cast McDonald in a Sondheim production (Sweeney Todd at the New York Philharmonic), will introduce McDonald at the June 17 luncheon ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.

For more information or tickets, visit thechicagoensemble.org or call 773-889-4206. ******** Five-time Tony winner Audra McDonald, who wowed Ravinia audiences in concert and starred in the festival’s acclaimed presentations of

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

The Parrot Cage Restaurant is sponsored and staffed by The Washburne Culinary Institute of City Colleges of Chicago. Reservations are highly recommended.

Call 773-602-5333.

www.chicagocrusader.com

SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING

The Chicago Crusader

A Moment to Super Size Your Thinking

By Effie Rolfe Prayer still works—in times of distress no one has to be reminded to cry out to God. Children and adults regardless of religious persuasions or lack thereof, inherently do whatever is necessary for survival. Recently while watching the news several elementary students and teachers stated they prayed aloud and were saved during the devastating tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.

Although prayer was taken out of the schools decades ago, during this catastrophe no one dared to be reminded that prayer was not permitted. Unfortunately, several students died, but the kids that prayed are convinced their

Effie Rolfe

lives were spared because of prayer. Additionally, teachers and staff went on record thanking God for the blessings and it was because they prayed. One teacher said a little boy called her name and said I love you and please don’t let me die…and she said she did the teacher thing and what she probably should not have done—she prayed.

Hundreds of homes, businesses and even schools were totally destroyed with damages over $2 billion. For many, to withstand 200 miles an hour winds covering a mile in diameter is unfathomable. Since most tornadoes approach within minutes, the average person only has a short window to react—but thank God

Helping Hand Missionary Baptist Church celebrates 57 years “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? How Beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things…”

Romans 10:15 Helping Hand Missionary Baptist Church announces a week of activities to celebrate the church’s 57th year and Pastor Tommy S. Woolridge, Sr.’s 28th year anniversary. Helping Hand Missionary Baptist Church has been in the Austin community for nearly six decades, and Pastor Woolridge has been its esteemed leader for nearly 30 years. The Church’s anniversary celebrations will consist of a number of services with guest speakers, and the theme is “Destined for Greatness.”

The hallmark event is the Annual Celebration Dinner that honors Pastor Tommy S. Woolridge, Sr. The dinner will be held on Friday, June 7, at 7:00 p.m., at the Hanging Garden Banquet Hall, 8301 W. Belmont Ave., River Grove, IL, 60170. The guest minister will be Dr. Virgil

Pastor Tommy S. Woolridge, Sr. C. Brackett, Senior Pastor, Rhema Word Church, located in Chicago and South Bend. The musical guest will be local recording artist EV3.

To purchase tickets, call 773315-0502 or stop by Helping

To accommodate an anticipated larger congregation coming out to celebrate Pastor Woolridge, there will be an additional service on Sunday, June 2 beginning at Noon. Mt. Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church’s Pastor Leon Miller will be the guest speaker.

Monday, June 3, at 7:00 p.m., Helping Hand Missionary Baptist Church will honor its beloved First Lady Kawana Woolridge.

The guest churches will be Pastor Billy Geanes of Renewance Worship Center, along with Pastor Ronald Wilkes and Soul Saving Missionary Baptist Church.

On Tuesday night, June 4, beginning at 7:00 p.m., the guest churches will be Pastor Floyd James of Greater Rock Missionary Baptist Church, along with Pastor John E. Collins and Great True Vine Missionary Baptist Church.

To culminate the celebration festivities, Sunday, June 9, morning services will begin at 12:00 p.m., and the guest speaker will be Pastor Terrance Keyes and St. Rest Missionary Baptist Church.

for those who cried out with their heart and voice believing that God answers and that prayer still

works.

Did you stop to pray this morning…?

10 new Catholic priests ordained Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago, recently ordained 10 new priests at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago. Later this month, Cardinal George will ordain a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago for service in the Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius. The men, ranging in age from 26 to 53, include six from the Chicago area and one each from Haiti, Mexico, Poland and Uganda.

In ceremonies held earlier this month at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, these seminary graduates received a Master of Divinity degree. After ordination, the new priests will serve in parishes in Chicago, Evergreen Park, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Niles, Orland Park, Round Lake and Tinley Park.

ORDINANDS Geofrey Andama, 31, born in Uganda, is assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish, 7211 West Talcott in Chicago. He celebrated his first Mass on May 18, at St. Christopher Parish, 4130 West 147th Street in Midlothian. Mark Augustine, 28, from Evergreen Park, is assigned to Our Lady of Ransom Parish, 8300 North Greenwood in Niles.

His first Mass was May 19, at St. Clement Parish, 642 West Deming Place in Chicago.

Matthew Bozovsky, 33, from Des Plaines, will have his first assignment at St. Joseph Parish, 121 East Maple Avenue in Libertyville. He celebrated his first Mass on May 19 at St. Joseph Parish, 1747 Lake Avenue in Wilmette.

Thomas Byrne, 29, from Chicago, is assigned to St. Michael Parish, 14327 Highland Avenue in Orland Park. His first Mass was also on May 19 at St. George Parish, 6707 West 175th Street in Tinley Park.

Brendan Guilfoil, 28, from Elk Grove, will have his first assignment at St. Mary Parish, 175 East Illinois Road in Lake Forest, and

he celebrated his first Mass on May 18, at St. Theresa Parish, 455 North Benton in Palatine.

Julio Jimenez, 26, born in Acambay, Mexico, is assigned to St. Joseph Parish, 114 North Lincoln Avenue in Round Lake, and he celebrated his first Mass on May 19 at St. Cletus Parish, 600 West 55th Street in La Grange.

Kevin McCray, 53, born in Marion, Indiana, will have his first assignment at Queen of Martyrs Parish, 10233 South Central Park in Evergreen Park.

His first Mass was celebrated May 26 at St. Clement Parish, 642 West Deming Place in Chicago.

Roberto Mercado, Jr., 32, from Arlington Heights, is assigned to St. George Parish, 6707 West 175th Street in Tinley Park, and he celebrated his first Mass on May 19 at St. Benedict Parish, 2215 West Irving Park Road in Chicago.

Rodlin Rodrigue, 38, from Cerca-Carvajal, Haiti, will have his first assignment at St. Benedict Parish, 2215 West Irving Park Road in Chicago. His first Mass was May 19 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 680 West Belmont Avenue in Chicago.

Rafal Stecz, 29, born in Myszkow, Poland, is assigned to St. Pascal Parish, 3935 North Melvina Avenue in Chicago, and he celebrated his first Mass May 19 (in English) and (in Polish) at St. Pascal Parish in two different services.

On Friday, May 31, at 7:30 p.m., Cardinal George was the main celebrant at a Mass at Saint John Cantius Parish, 825 North Carpenter Street in Chicago during which he will ordain Robin Kwan a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago for service in the Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius.

More information about the new priests can be found on the Catholic New World website, www.catholicnewworld.com.

The Crusader Newspaper Group Pastor John E. Collins

Dr. Virgil C. Brackett www.chicagocrusader.com

Hand M.B. Church located at 538 N. Lavergne Ave. Two services will be held Sunday, June 2. At 8:00 a.m. Pastor Johnny L. Miller, Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker.

Pastor Billy Geanes BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

is interested in our readers’ ideas, thoughts and opinions, whether you’re in Chicago, Northwest Indiana or any part of the U.S. we encourage you to send a letter to the editor at crusaderil@aol.com. please limit your letters to 200 words.

Saturday, JUNE 1, 2013

15

OPINION

The Chicago Crusader

Open Letter to the American Church As I write this letter to the American Church, I write in a spirit of love and not condemnation.

Today the American Church is silent, a deadly silence that is alarming. It is a historical reality that there have been periods in America and world history where the church has been silent before on the issues of its day.

Understanding the human paradox, I am reminded of the scripture that calls us to be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of our minds. Despite denominational differences, the church has one thing in common, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail.” These are the words of Jesus Christ. To all of my fellow clergy, we face a challenge unlike challenges of the past. Violence is overwhelming our nation. In the streets of Chicago, young people are being gunned down everyday. People have accepted it as the norm, and the church is silent. Economic disparities, and the church is silent - the closing of public schools and the church is silent - institutional meltdowns and the church is silent.

Perhaps many of us feel that these challenges will disappear.

Perhaps many of us think it’s okay to go along to get along.

Perhaps many of us think that we can avoid the issues at hand. God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. What if Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and theologian who stood against the de-

monic forces of Adolf Hitler would have remained silent?

What if Martin Luther King, Jr. would have remained silent?

What if Harriet Tubman would have remained silent? Silence has become the sin of the modern American Church. The early church mothers and fathers were fearless in their faith and convictions. Dr. King once said, “We must become dangerously unselfish.” The status quo is not concerned nor does it see the American Church as a force to be reckoned with anymore due to the fact that the American Church has accepted and adopted the ideologies of the system.The American church is conforming to the values and mores of ungodly behavior.

It is difficult for me as a Christian to idly sit by and watch the demonic grow stronger. Now let me be perfectly clear, I love America. This country has been a blessing of opportunities, but it makes perfect common sense to protect something one loves. We are losing our young people in this Hip Hop generation. What will future generations say about the church of the 21st century?

We failed them? We were cowards? We sold our souls for a mess of pottage? I am not incensed to other faith-based communities, and I am keenly aware that God is a God who loves the world. As we brag about the sizes of our churches and memberships, the communities in which our churches stand are crumbling.

Churches of entertainment and

churches of containment need to be aware that their days are short. The Church must blow the trumpet calling for atonement in the land before it’s too late. As stated by Dr. King, “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: “Too late.” There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect. “The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on...” We still have a

choice today: nonviolent coexistence or violent co-annihilation.

This may well be mankind’s last chance to choose between chaos and community.” We all bear responsibility whether we are religious or not. We must have the guts to confront the evil which seeks to destroy us and our institutions. Institutional racism and institutional violence go hand-inhand. Whatever you call your god, you bear responsibility to service. The question was asked of Jesus, “Who is the greatest?”

Jesus’ response was, “Whomever

wants to be the greatest must serve.” The American Church must serve, encourage, motivate, inspire and recapture its rightful place in this society, not just the black church or the white church, but the body of Christ. I call upon all Christians from every walk of life to hold up the bloodstained banner and serve in this present generation that the living, the unborn and the dead will say, “Well done.”

Love all of you, Pr. Anthony W. Williams

6TH BIENNIAL RHOMANIA TORCH AWARDS “The Essence of Sigma” On Saturday, June 1, 2013, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma - Chicago Alumnae chapter will honor actor Harry Lennix and 9 other distinguished professionals of various fields of vocation at the 6th Biennial RHOmania Torch Awards – “The Essence of Sigma” at the Harold Washington Cultural Center located at 4701 S. King Dr. Chicago, Ill. 60653. There will be a reception at 5 PM followed by the gala at 6 PM. Lennix is best known for his role as Terrence “Dresser” Williams in the Robert Townsend film, The Five Heartbeats.

RHOmania honors individuals in our communities that support and uplift the African-American community by presenting TORCH Awards. Recipients of the TORCH Awards, through their life experiences and commitment to humanity, display a proactive life dedicated to assisting, leading and encourag-

ing others to preserve and attain all goals. The members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.-Delta Sigma Chicago Alumnae Chapter view the nominees and recipients as beacons of light, offering their time and talents toward service to the community in their respective fields. In bestowing the Torch Award, the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority believes each recipient is an example of their motto, “Greater Service, Greater Progress.” This year Ms. Iona Calhoun will receive the TORCH Award for Youth; Mr. & Mrs. Carolyn & Melvin Hicks will receive the TORCH Award for Senior Health and Advocacy; Dr. Roslind Buford will receive the TORCH Award for Service; Mrs. Shirley Scott will receive the TORCH Award for Education; Mr. Harry Lennix will receive the TORCH Award for Fine Arts; Mrs.

Lynette Frazier will receive the TORCH Award for Sigma Legacy; Mr. David Robertson will receive the TORCH Award for Medicine and AIDS Advocacy; and Dr. Annie Lawrence Brown will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

For ticket information please contact Nadine Dillanado at (773) 407-0560 or visit the Delta Sigma Alumnae chapter website at www.sgrhochicago.com.

ABOUT SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated was organized on November 12, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Butler University by seven school teachers. The sorority was founded on and continues to be steadfastly committed to the tenets of excellence in Scholarship, Sisterhood and Service.

Millercoors awards more than $150,000 Central Texas and the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Overview of MillerCoors Built on a foundation of great beer brands and nearly 300 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers. MillerCoors is the secondlargest beer company in the United States, capturing nearly 30 percent of beer sales in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of brands across every major industry segment. The portfolio is led by the company’s premium light brands: Coors Light, Miller Lite and Miller64. Coors Light, the World’s Most Refreshing Beer, offers consumers refreshment as cold as the Rockies. Miller Lite established the American light beer category in 1975, offering beer drinkers a light beer that tastes like beer should.

Miller64 is 64 calories of crisp, light taste that complements a balanced lifestyle. MillerCoors brews premi16

Saturday, June 1, 2013

(Continued from page 7) um beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft, and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light. Tenth and Blake Beer Company, MillerCoors craft and import division, imports Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell and Grolsch and features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company. MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel’s craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisc. and two microbreweries, the Tenth Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver. MillerCoors vision is to create the best beer company in America through great people changing the way America enjoys beer. MillerCoors builds its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and sustainable environmental and community impact. MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Com-

pany. Learn more at MillerCoors.com, at facebook.com/MillerCoors or on Twitter through @MillerCoors.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (Continued from page 4) be killed.

I thought after Newtown, just maybe there would be a serious commitment to do something, but I guess too many feel what has become the norm in black and brown communities was just a freak exception in the white community. Does it have to become the norm in the families of elected officials for them to find the courage to do the right thing?

Rev. Michael L. Pfleger Faith Community of Saint Sabina Chicago, IL BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

www.chicagocrusader.com

Nigeria and the Power of Dreaming . . .

(Cont’d from page 11) Jackson no stranger to Africa In fact, Jackson’s connections with Nigeria and African has been cemented through a six decade-long track record of direct advocacy, dating to 1971 when he visited Lagos, Nigeria for the African American Institute with Leon Sullivan).

Serving as an “alternative” people’s voice, Jackson traveled to South Africa and seven frontline states, bringing him shoulder to shoulder with communities and leaders in the Congo, Angola, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia. When the U.S., Britain, and the Western powers buttressed the apartheid regime, Jackson stating simply, “I believe in human rights for all human beings. Human rights must be measured by one yardstick.”

As President Clinton’s Special Envoy for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa in 1997, Jackson engaged in direct peace and humanitarian missions throughout the continent. He met Mandela com-

(Cont’d from page 6) well known artists such as Freddie Hubbard, Betty Carter, McCoy Tyner, Max Roach, Sun Ray, Lee Morgan, Dewey Redmond, Roy Ayers, Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Leon Thomas. As the Black Power phase of our movement emerged and the evolution of Black consciousness and our reconnection with the struggles of African people worldwide, Jitu Weusi was at the forefront of this movement.

Because of the government, through their counterintelligence programs’ disruption of our movement in the late 1970s, Jitu was able to forge a series of meetings in an effort to evaluate and analyze the period of the 1960s and ‘70s. Out of these discussions and the rampant cases of police brutality and the increase in deaths of youth at the hands of the New York Metropolitan Police Department, the Metropolitan Black United Front began to emerge under the leadership of Rev. Herbert Daughtry and the organizing genius of Jitu Weusi. The New York

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Nigeria celebrates fifty years of independence.

As the iconic human rights advocate will say, “God is not through with me yet.” There is more work to be done.

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A DIALOGUE WITH Bayelsa State Governor Dicksen. (Photos by Butch Wing) ing out of jail in Cape Town, and was a part of the official U.S. delegation to Mandela’s inauguration 1994, wherein Mandela singled out Jackson by name as helping to bring down apartheid.

Today Jackson continues to leverage the bonds and trust he has forged through the decades, to marshal meetings and negotiations with today’s African presidents and leaders.

But perhaps more importantly is the recognition and respect Rev. Jackson receives from Africa’s “everyday peo-

ple” – waiters and waitresses, street vendors, staff at U.S. embassies, airline employees and airport security, excitedly rush him to take photos.

“Rev. Jackson, thank you for all you do,” is a common refrain around the world.

People know and remember him, what he has done for their people and countries, and they show their love.

Next week Rev. Jackson will return to Nigeria for a series of business meetings and session with President Jonathan, set to coincide with Democracy Day celebrations as

Black United Front gave rise to the National Black United Front (NBUF) at its founding convention in Brooklyn, N.Y. at the Old Armory in June 1980 where 1,000 activists from 34 states and five foreign countries attended. The organizing work of Jitu Weusi in facilitating the establishment of NBUF was testament to his skill as “Master Organizer.” Thirty-four years and three chairmen later starting with Rev. Daughtry (198085), Dr. Conrad Worrill (1985-2009), and Kofi Taharka (2009 to present), NBUF is still standing.

the 1980s and ‘90s as a major participant in NBUF. Jitu helped organize the Brooklyn Central Jazz Consortium, which led to the Brooklyn South African Cultural Exchange Project. This project culminated in the formation of the Jazz African Heritage (JAH) Day that was held at Medgar Evers College on August 4, 2006. The result of this exchange led to a delegation of many of the musicians from the African community in the United States attending and participating in the Jazz African Heritage Concert in South Africa in 2007.

With the closing down of The East in the mid-1980s Jitu returned to the public school system, went back to earn his masters degree and continued his organizing work in numerous electoral campaigns including David Dinkins’ successful effort to become New York City’s first Black Mayor and Jesse Jackson’s two presidential election bids.

Jitu worked closely with all of the major leaders and organizers in this country in the Black Movement including the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Jitu’s work continued in

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The life of Jitu Weusi was so full of the African Spirit that his contributions cannot be summed up in an article of this nature. However, a glimpse of his life demonstrates his profound impact as he leaves his legacy to his wife Angela Weusi, eight children, twelve grandchildren, hundreds of young men and women that he has mentored, and a host of comrades, colleagues, and friends around the world.

Jitu K. Weusi has now become a Great African Ancestor whose spirit will live on forever. Jitu Weusi, Maa Kherew (True of Voice)!

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, JUNE 1, 2013

17

HOUSES FOR SALE

The Crusader Newspaper Group is interested in our readers’ ideas, thoughts and opinions, whether you’re in Chicago, Northwest Indiana or any part of the U.S. we encourage you to send a letter to the editor at crusaderil@aol.com.

Please limit your letters to 200 words.

18

Saturday, June 1, 2013

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

www.chicagocrusader.com

HEALTH

The Chicago Crusader

Celebrity “Chefs move to schools” and visits 12 CPS sites As part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” program, Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality, which provides meal service to 475 Chicago Public Schools, recently recruited more than 20 celebrity chefs from Chartwells Higher Education division to visit a number of Chicago Public Schools to engage students in healthy eating as part of the “Chefs Move to Schools” Chicago program.

Chef Michael Smith, is a Senior Executive Chef with Chartwells Higher Education at DePaul University, and is a committed advocate of child nutrition and healthy dining in the schools. He was selected

to be among a handful of the nation’s most accomplished chefs to go to the White House for the kickoff of Mrs. Obama’s “Let’s Move” Campaign. Smith recently visited Chicago Public Schools as part of the “Chefs Move to Schools” program and found that local students are very interested in a program that is directed at them: “They know the First Lady is interested in them and their health. They were anxious to learn and try new foods.”

Smith added, “The students at Brunson were great … I met with every class and found that students were very aware of food being healthy or unhealthy. They were

CHEF MIKE SMITH of Chartwells Thompson Hospitality chats about healthy eating with students at Brunson Elementary.

CHEF MIKE SMITH of Chartwells Thompson Hospitality has full attention of students as he demonstrates preparation of a healthy dish at Brunson Elementary. fascinated with carrots and where salad, just put in the 5 things you Chicago Public Schools, including they come from … they wanted to like to eat … and you have a great Senn, Amundsen, Prosser, Washington, Taft, Forman, Marsh, Murknow about salads and how to salad!”

For the “Chefs Move to Schools” ray, Little Village, Instituto and make them. I explained there is no magic formula to make food … program, Chartwells-Thompson Jahn. Chartwells-Thompson is a you can be a chef too! To make a chefs visited a diverse group of division of the Compass Group.

Zero Prostate Cancer Run comes to Chicago

CHEF MIKE SMITH of Chartwells Thompson Hospitality passes plates of healthy food to happy students at Brunson Elementary.

CHEF MIKE SMITH of Chartwells Thompson Hospitality discusses healthy and unhealthy foods with excited students at Brunson Elementary. www.chicagocrusader.com

Lace up your sneakers for the Second Annual ZERO Prostate Cancer Run – Chicago! Join Advanced Urology Associates and ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer on Saturday, June 1 at 8:30 a.m. for a 5K run/walk or 1-mile walk at Advanced Urology Associates in Joliet. The race, formerly known as DASH FOR DAD, is part of the ZERO Prostate Cancer Challenge, America’s premier men’s health event series, taking place in more than three-dozen cities in 2013.

More than 600 people participated in the 2012 event, raising more than $56,000.

“Nearly 240,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone, including more than 9,000 in Illinois,” said Jamie Bearse, CEO of ZERO — The End of Prostate Cancer. “ZERO Prostate Cancer Challenge raises funds that are critical for increasing awareness and fighting the disease.”

This family-friendly event features adult and youth 5K and 1-mile races, as well as a special 5K run for father/daughter or father/son teams.

Funds raised from the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run help protect and grow prostate cancer research funding, promote awareness and education efforts, and support free testing. ZERO provides comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk, and free

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

testing to at-risk men around the country. ZERO also works to increase research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and better diagnostic tests for prostate cancer.

Local funds will be used for free prostate cancer screenings in the community, as well as to support the Us TOO Joliet Prostate Cancer Support and Education Group.

For more information, visit http://chicago.zeroprostatecancerrun.org.

About Advanced Urology Associates Advanced Urology Associates is a team of renowned specialists that provide the most advanced, state-ofthe-art urological care in Will and Grundy Counties. 9 physicians have over 150 years of combined experience, allowing them to provide the best high-quality treatment for all urological conditions. By putting the patients’ needs first, they have become the top urological care provider in the area. Please visit www.advuro.com.

About ZERO — The End of ProstateCancer (www.zerocancer.org) Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer, it means a zero PSA. Our name conveys what we stand for – all action and zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

Saturday, JUNE 1, 2013

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Saturday, June 1, 2013

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

www.chicagocrusader.com