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Blacks Must Control Their Own Community
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VOLUME LXXIII NUMBER 16—SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2013
PUBLISHED SINCE 1940
25 Cents and worth more
Black Unemployment rate lowest since 2009 By Freddie Allen NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – The unemployment rate for Blacks fell from 13.7 percent in June to 12.6 percent in July, the lowest jobless rate for Blacks since January 2009, according to the latest jobs report from the Labor Department. Although economists warn against being too optimistic about one month’s jobs numbers, some economists found it unusual for the Black unemployment rate to fall more than a percentage point from June to July, as the jobless rate for whites remained stagnant at 6.6 percent. The unemployment rate for Black men over 20 was 13 percent in June and 12.5 percent in July. The jobless rate for white men over 20 was 6.2 percent in June and rose slightly to 6.3 percent in July. The unemployment rate for Black women over 20 plummeted from 12 percent in June to 10.5 percent in July. The jobless rate for white women over 20 dipped from 6 percent to 5.8 percent over the same time period. The national unemployment rate fell from 7.6 percent in June to 7.4 percent in July and the economy added 162,000 jobs. Analysts at the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank focused on the needs of low- and middle-income workers, estimate that it will take at least six years to reach full employment at this rate of job creation.
Despite falling more than a percentage point, the jobless rate for Blacks is still nearly double the unemployment rate for whites, a troubling statistic that has persisted for 50 years. According to EPI, “The average unemployment rate for Blacks over the past 50 years, at 11.6 percent, is considerably higher than the average rate during recessions of 6.7 percent. In only one year (1969), did the Black unemployment rate dip slightly below the recession average to 6.4 percent. Thus, over the last 50 years, the Black unemployment rate has been at a level typical for a recession or higher.” William Darity, a professor of economics and African and African American studies at Duke University in Durham, N.C. said, “The racial unemployment gap is a direct index of discrimination.” In an effort to combat the inherent discrimination that exists in hiring and employment practices in the job market, Darity has long advocated for a federally-funded program called the “National Investment Employment Corps,” that guarantees a job for every American 18 years or older. Darity said that the federal job guarantee proposal doesn’t presume that the reason why so many Black people are out of work is because there is something wrong with them. “The major reason that people are out of work is because there is not enough jobs out there,” said Darity. “If one group has the capacity to get privileged access to the available
THE BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT rate, despite a drop in overall unemployment in the country, is still double that of whites out of work. jobs, they will do it and that’s what is happening.” Funding the job guarantee program would require shifting resources from other antipoverty programs, programs that Darity and others believe won’t be as necessary as people start earning living wages on jobs that would address the “nation’s physical and human infrastructure, from building roads, bridges,
dams and schools, to staffing high quality day care.” Darity said that supporters for the National Investment Employment Corps drawing inspiration from American history. The Works Progress Administration, introduced during the Great Depression, provided more than 8 (Continued on page 7)
Girls will be accepted at Hales High School vide academic excellence for the community.” The school’s longtime tradition of providing academic excellence (to boys) will not change once girls start attending, added Brownfield. Students at Hales wear uniforms and take religion as one of their courses. There is also an International Baccalaureate Diploma program at the school named after Alexander of Hales, a Franciscan scholar. The switch by Hales follows a similar one by De La Salle Institute, formerly an allboys Catholic high school, which in 2002 began admitting girls to its campus at 3434 S. Michigan Ave. But unlike De La Salle where girls attend classes in a separate building, Hales will incorporate girls into
By Wendell Hutson For the first time in 50 years Hales Franciscan High School, a private all-boys high school is allowing girls to enroll beginning Aug. 19. The school at 4930 S. Cottage Grove Ave. has a student population of nearly 200 and cost $7,500 a year to attend. The change comes after the school’s board of trustees voted to start accepting girls at a recent meeting. Erica Brownfield, principal of Hales, said the move is a great opportunity for the school to reach more youth in the community. Since its 1962 founding Hales has attracted a predominantly Black student body, Brownfield said. “Historically this has been a place of academic excellence for men. Why not provide that for young women?,” asked Brownfield. “Our goal should be to pro-
HALES FRANCISCAN HIGH SCHOOL at 4930 S. Cottage Grove Ave. for the first time in 50 years is now accepting applications from girls for admission.
(Continued on page 3)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Julius Chambers, Champion of the Courtroom, Dies at 76 (See story on page 3)
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NEWS
Izola White is now a ward of the court By Wendell Hutson After spending more than 40 years living in Chatham and running a famous soul food restaurant, Izola White has fallen on hard times and is now a ward of the court. In July the 90-year-old entrepreneur was ordered by a Cook County judge to be moved into a senior home due to her inability to secure a live-in caretaker, said DeWayne Mason, a Chicago police officer, who is also White’s legal guardian. "I did everything I could to keep her in her home and to resurrect her business, but in the end things did not work out as I had hoped," Mason said. "I hate to see her fall by the wayside like this after all those years of helping people and giving back to the community." White’s new home is the Victory Center at 3251 E. 92nd St. The one-bedroom and one bathroom unit is small in caparison to her spacious brick home in the 8700 bock of South Calumet Avenue she left behind, that is now up for sale. It is a transition not sitting well with White. "I want to go home. This is not where I want to spend my last years. I have a home to go to and that is where I am trying to get back to as soon as possible,"
White told the Crusader. "Don't get me wrong. The people here are real nice to me, and I have my own room, and bathroom but there is no place like home." As a last resort Mason said he has no choice but to sell her home. "Even though she is living in a senior home there are legal bills that still need to be satisfied and the only way I see that happening is to sell remaining assets, namely her home," explained Mason. "I am also trying to sell all the restaurant equipment she has stored away." According to Mason, attorneys’ fees for the handling of her case in probate court exceed $5,000, and because he was unable to secure a live-in caretaker for White, the court ordered she be placed in a senior home. "I did what I could to maintain her way of life but the reality is that she could no longer live on her own,” he added. He added that a live-in caretaker also cost money and that White's only income is a monthly $1,150 social security check now consumed by the senior home. "I have no money, no family and no bank account. I am all alone at this place (senior home)," White said. "God knows my heart and he knows I would do more to help myself if I could, but I can't and I
HAPPIER DAYS FOR ENTREPRENEUR Izola White was in 2011 when a fundraiser on her behalf was held at her South Side home and elected officials, such as state Sen. Donne Trotter attended. need help getting back on my Kelly, executive director of the caretaker, attorney fees and other expenses, according to Mason. feet." Chatham Business Association. In 1940 White opened the "Her presence along 79th Street “It saddens me that not one restaurant, which became the is missed greatly. I wish there was fourth Black-owned business to more the CBA could have done Black elected official stepped up open along 79th Street, according to help save her business," added for her. Many of them ate at her restaurant for free and now when to historian Timuel Black. The Kelly. restaurant closed March 2011 afA September 2011 fundraiser she needed help the most they let ter White fell ill and left manage- for White netted $12,000 but her down,” said Mason. “I am ment in the hands of "incompe- $35,000 was needed, said Mason, upset at how all this went down tent people," she said. who blames Black politicians for from the mismanagement of the During its heyday, White was an ducking out on White when she restaurant while Izola was away active member of the local busi- needed their help. The money sick, to the lack of leadership by ness community, said Melinda raised was used to pay for a live-in Black politicians.”
Dixmoor’s continued financial woes now affecting police and fire services By J. Coyden Palmer After years of financial and political turmoil, the tiny village of Dixmoor in the South Suburbs is hitting rock bottom. Earlier this week, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart announced his office will now be doing overnight patrols in the village. This after two of the village’s full-time police officers walked off of the job. The village only had nine sworn officers. A spokesperson for Dart said the situation shows just how dire police patrols are in many of the South Suburbs. Cara Smith, spokesperson for Dart, said the Sherriff’s office got a call earlier in the week from Dixmoor’s police chief requesting assistance. The Sherriff responded by sending two squad cars over that have already begun patrolling the village of 3,500 residents, that according to U.S.
Tom Dart Census data is the third poorest village in Illinois. Cook County deputies are already patrolling in Robbins and Dolton on a parttime basis and full time in Ford Heights, which eliminated its police department in 2008, as was
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Saturday, august 10, 2013
reported first by the Crusader. “They found themselves with no capacity to keep the village of Dixmoor safe so they called us in and we were happy to assist,” Smith said. “We will stay there for as long as we are needed to keep the residents safe.” Smith said at this time it is not important the reasons for the Sherriff ’s Office presence. She said it could be from mismanagement, financial woes or corruption. She said the only thing people need to know is that there will be a police presence, so criminals beware. “Our deputies will be out there not just to patrol but to build a relationship with the residents as well,” Smith said. The Dixmoor Village Board is not scheduled to meet again until Aug. 14. At that time they will decide whether or not to hire two additional officers or perhaps continue to be assisted by deputies from Dart’s office. Residents the Crusader spoke with are happy they will have police protection. They say despite Dixmoor’s money woes, they feel relatively safe in their village. Their main concern is that with all of the publicity surrounding the police department,
criminals may think it means they are easy pickings. “We’re going to need them because people are going to think it is open season out here,” said Krystal Taylor. “We all know Dixmoor is broke.” Taylor and other residents are also concerned about the fire department, which has also undergone cuts. Last month a resident died after suffering a heart attack on their front lawn just days after the decision to reduce the services on the village’s ambulance to Basic Life Support from Advanced Life Support. The difference being BSL units are designed for inter-facility transport- ation and pre-hospital response to ill or injured patients. Emergency Medical Technician’s can perform basic and intermediate airway procedures, and in general have all the tools to work many traumas. ALS units have a minimum of one paramedic and one EMT, can administer certain medications, and have advanced airway equipment, cardiac monitors, advanced cardiac life support equipment and blood glucose testing equipment. Paramedics usually have more hours of education and training and can start IVs, push medica-
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
tions, and perform more advanced procedures. Village Trustee Michael Smith said the village is working hard to try to get itself on solid financial ground. He was reluctant to talk about all of the village’s issues on record as it pertains to the police and fire department, but said more information could be forthcoming at the meeting next week. Smith however, was one of three trustees who voted against the downgrade in ambulance service. The result of the vote was a tie (3-3) with Mayor Dorothy Armstrong having the tiebreaking vote. She voted for the downgrade. Please visit www.chicagocrusader.com to read how local pastors are working to help five Oklahoma college students fight unjust criminal charges.
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NEWS
Member of iconic funeral home family passes By Chinta Strausberg Funeral services for third generation A. A. (Trey) Rayner, III, 60, the son of the late funeral owner A.A. “Sammy” Rayner, Jr., were held recently at St. Columbanus Church, 331 E. 71st St. Born in Chicago on July 24, 1953, Rayner died at home on his birthday, July 24, 2013, after just being released from the University of Chicago Hospital where he was being treated for a GI problem, according to his brother, Dr. Loris Rayner. “When he came home from the hospital, he was stable,” he said confirming that his brother
A. A. (Trey) Rayner, III
Girls will be accepted . . . (Continued from page 1) the classrooms. In 2007 Michael Jordan donated $5 million to Hales’ capital campaign to renovate the school, which included a new football stadium. “Success is not just being on TV doing commercials. It’s being able to do what your dreams have always been,” Jordan said during a Decem-
dents in order to stay open and by allowing females to attend, it could help boost enrollment,” explained Jernigan, who earned a bachelor’s in Communications from Ohio Northern University in May. “But then on the other hand, having girls in the classroom could be a distraction for boys and cause them to lose focus with their studies.” And fellow Hales alumnus Anto-
GIRLS WILL BE accepted at Hales Franciscan High School starting in the fall but Hales alumnus Sean Jernigan said he is unsure if allowing girls to attend the traditionally all-boys Catholic institution was the right thing to do. ber 2007 speech to Hales students. nio Solsberry, 22, said he embraces “Once you set those dreams, what- the change and would have loved ever that may be, when you strive to to attend high school with girls. reach those dreams, that to me is a “Women are healthy for men! It is successful person.” important for schools to have a reBut not everyone is embracing laxing atmosphere for its students, the admission change. Alumnus and interacting with the opposite Kenneth Johnson, 21, said he sex is as good as it gets,” Solsberry prefers his alma mater remain all- said. boys. The Rev. Phil Hogan, a priest at “Had it not been for Hales being Hales known simply as “Father an all-boys school I doubt if I Phil,” said an alumni meeting is would have done so well in school,” planned for Saturday following the said Johnson. “I don’t think the annual Bud Billiken Parade & Picmale teachers will talk to the girls nic, which ends around noon in the same way they talked to us Washington Park, to talk about the when we screwed up. My mother changes taking place at the private has always told me that a man institution. should not raise his voice at a woman.” “Alumni meet almost every year Sean Jernigan, 22, graduated in up here after the parade. They are 2009 from Hales and said he is un- going to be meeting inside the sure admitting girls will help or football stadium and you can bet hurt the school’s image. “In a way, I they will be talking about the girls can see where they (Hales) are go- that will soon occupy the building. The school needs more stu- ing,” Hogan said. www.chicagocrusader.com
died unexpectedly at his South Side home. “It is ironic, Dr. Rayner said, “because my brother died on his birthday and our mother, Alice Rayner, passed on July 30, 2012 almost a year to the day….” Rayner was the son of the late Ahmed (A.A.) “Sammy” Rayner, the founder of A.A. Rayner & Sons. His father was AA. Rayner, Sr., who founded the funeral home in 1947. Like the other Rayner children, Mr. Rayner attended Holy Angels School, but graduated from St. Columbanus School. He attended
Leo High School, Malcolm X College and he graduated from the Worsham School of Mortuary Science. Mr. Rayner was a mortician for more than 30-years and a man who loved his profession, according to Dr. Rayner. “Between the two funeral homes, my brother touched so many people whom he trained in the profession, touched so many people with jobs, touched so many people with his wonderful spirit. He touched a lot of people. He was always helping people just like his father,” said Dr. Loris Rayner.
“He always had a story. He was always talkative and always willing to give himself to others.” “He loved the funeral business and it showed in the work he did and the way he worked,” said Dr. Rayner. Mr. Rayner leaves to mourn, a wife, Jacqueline, a son, Rayner IV, a daughter Tracey Rayner, a brother, Dr. Loris Rayner (Cheryl), four sisters, Dr. Suzan, Donna Rayner, Pamela C. Rayner, Nancy Martin (Barry), nine grandchildren and host of friends and family. Burial was at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Evergreen, Illinois.
By Gloria J. Browne-Marshall Civil rights attorney Julius LeVonne Chambers died after a long illness. He was 76. Julius Chambers was a champion of the courtroom. A masterful attorney of great integrity, he was known for his smooth southern drawl and determined spirit. Julius Chambers argued eight cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning them all. Julius Chambers graduated summa cum laude in 1958 from present-day North Carolina Central University. After receiving his master’s degree in history from the University of Michigan, he attended the formerly segregated University of North Carolina Law School from which he graduated first in his class and became the first Black editorin-chief of their Law Review. He began his civil rights career as an intern for Thurgood Marshall, who would become the nation’s first Black U.S. Supreme Court justice. Julius Chambers opened the first racially integrated law firm in North Carolina. “His home and his car were firebombed on separate occasions in 1965, and his office was burned to the ground in 1971, during the height of some of his most contentious civil rights litigation,” the NAACP reported. His father’s auto repair shop was torched. However, Mr. Chambers was undeterred in his stance against racial
discrimination. In 1971, Mr. Chambers made legal history when he won the U.S. Supreme Court public school case Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education which upheld busing for racial integration. He served as DirectorCounsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., a civil rights organization, from 1984 to 1993. Geraldine Sumter, his law partner at Ferguson Chambers and Sumter, recalls days after filing the Swann public school law case that Chambers’ car was fire bombed. When asked what he was going to do Chambers calmly said, “We’re going to go back inside and finish the meeting.” Opposition did not make him bitter – only more determined. “He was the best of the best,” said Norma Lewis, former assistant to Mr. Chambers for many years. “There was no one like him.” That sentiment was held by colleagues as well as opponents. “He was a team player,” said Bill Aiken, a long-time associate. “Julius Chambers believed that the strength of the team lies in a mutual belief that all of us together are smarter than any single one of us.” Julius Chambers was born in segregated Mount Gilead, NC to William and Matilde Chambers, who owned a garage and general store. It is said Julius Chambers resolved to be an attorney
when his father, an auto mechanic, could not find a lawyer to sue a white customer who refused to pay a Black man $2,000 for repairs. The money from those repairs was intended for Julius’ college tuition. Julius refused to get angry about racism. “He was my personal hero,” said U.S. Rep. Mel Watt of NC and one of Chambers’ protégés. Mr. Chambers mentored many young attorneys. This writer was a recipient of his kindness and served as an NAACP LDF civil rights attorney on the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg case in the 1990s. By 1998 however, the Chambers busing victory was under attack as ‘reversed discrimination.’ But, “Chambers realized that his civil rights work couldn’t be completed in a lifetime, and new generations of lawyers had to take on that responsibility,” said UNC School of Law Dean Jack Boger. Mr. Chambers was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Julius Chambers served as chancellor of his alma mater North Carolina Central University from 1993 to 2001. That college’s Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute opened in 1999. Vivian Chambers, his wife, passed away last year. Julius Chambers is survived by two children Derrick and Judy, a brother, and three grandchildren.
Metra officials recently announced the launch of its new summer “Traincation” recreational campaign that is focused on encouraging families to ride Metra to enjoy thousands of vacation events, attractions and festivals in Chicago and suburban communities throughout the region. With gas prices limiting travel opportunities and families scrambling for what to do, Metra’s Traincation transforms families into tourists, in their own backyard, by providing fun and safe travels throughout the region, at a low cost. Leave the stress and hassle of driving to us. A weekend pass enables passengers to ride on Saturday and Sunday for $7, and weekend Family Fares allow up to three children 11
and younger to ride FREE with a fare paying adult. Special children fares are also available on weekdays. Children six and under ride free, and youth seven – 11 ride at approximately half-off a one-way fare. “We are excited to bring this opportunity to the community for families to enjoy many events and attractions throughout the Chicago and suburban areas,” said Alex Wiggins, deputy executive director administration. “With gas prices as they are, there is no better time to experience a hometown summer vacation.” Plan a Traincation on Metra by sending an email to funinthecity@metrarr.com with your name and mailing address to receive a Fun Kit that provides travel ideas and sug-
gestions including attraction coupons, event planner, travel guide and a schedule for the rail line nearest you. For a Metra schedule or complete fare information, visit metrarail.com, or for easy travel directions visit rtachicago.com, Chicago region's favorite trip planner.
Julius Chambers, Champion of the Courtroom, Dies at 76
Metra says Traincations are the way to go
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
About Metra Metra provides commuter rail service between the downtown Chicago business district and 240 stations in Northeastern Illinois over 11 routes totaling about 500 route miles. Metra operates about 700 weekday trains, providing more than 300,000 passenger trips a day. Saturday, august 10, 2013
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EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL THE PARADOX OF XKEYSCORE IN AMERICA The definition of a whistle-blower is someone who provides information about the wrongdoing activities of his or her employer. As insiders, they can exact serious harm to an employer by revealing practices that would remain unknown had the whistle-blower not blown the whistle. This information can be leaked internally in the organization, or externally to the press, government or other interested stakeholders. And depending upon these stakeholders, a whistle-blower may be lauded or lambasted. One of the more recent whistle-blowers in the news is Edward Snowden, an ex-National Security Agency (NSA) contractor who leaked details about top-secret U.S. surveillance programs to the press. Snowden’s case has created a fire-storm of controversy in America and has revealed a paradoxical dilemma. On the one hand, as a citizen of the United States, it is important for national security purposes to make sure that certain information remains secret. This notion is certainly highlighted during this age of heightened terrorism concerns. Since 9-11, most Americans can appreciate the fact that secrecy is often necessary. But what if the secret involves a citizen’s own well-being and personal security? This is the conundrum that swirls around the Snowden controversy. Snowden has revealed the existence of XKeyscore, an NSA tool that gathers up information about everything that everyone does on the Internet. It snoops on browsing history, emails and social media activities without a person’s knowledge or consent, and without prior authorization. Actually, this is not the first time that citizens have been spied upon, according to some pundits. For years, “conspiracy theorists” have discussed “Project Echelon,” a global surveillance system allegedly run by the NSA that collects information about everything that everyone does 24/7. The issue today is that Edward Snowden has blown the cover off of civilian surveillance in a manner that can’t be refuted or relegated to the dustbin of conspiracy theories. As a whistle-blower, we know that what he has revealed is factual. The controversy surrounding Snowden has reached into the halls of power in the U.S. and is having an adverse impact on President Barack Obama’s administration. Moreover, it has even caused a Wikipedia war over how Snowden should be identified in that free online encyclopedia. Wikipedia can be edited by just about anyone, and some readers have changed the Snowden entry several times to reflect differing opinions about whether or not Snowden is a traitor, dissident, whistle-blower or hero. Edward Snowden, who is, at press time, actually a refugee, has been offered asylum in Russia. This issue, therefore, has international ramifications and is impacting international relations. The U.S., for example, is not happy with Russia. So, the issue is that citizens are endangered if secrets are leaked to the enemies of our nation, but are also endangered if personal secrets are in the hands of our government. This actually puts Americans in jeopardy from two standpoints; from outside entities and from within. Neither of these positions can make Americans feel “safe and secure.” In particular, the African American community, which has historically had a strained relationship with its former slavemasters/oppressors, should be especially leery about the fact that the government can reach deeply into our personal lives. And we must not forget that if one person’s rights are not safe, everyone’s rights are endangered. As to where this might lead, the novelist-prophet George Orwell warned us of the possible scenario that can result from this type of invasive governmental activity in his “fictional” novel entitled 1984 about “Big Brother.” Apparently, Big Brother’s reality has been revealed by Edward Snowden. A luta continua. 4
Saturday, august 10, 2013
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Medical marijuana is finally here Dear Editor: I for one am glad the governor has signed the bill making medical marijuana legal in Illinois. Of course people who were opposing this legislation were not those who were suffering from the many conditions marijuana is believed to alleviate. The claims of an increase in teenaged marijuana peddlers, people smoking too much and driving, and other fears are simply unfounded. Cannabis has been used in other societies, ancient and contemporary, and successfully eased users’ pains and ailments. Why the U.S. health officials continue to lag in adopting treatments from other countries is mindboggling. We have become an extremely unhealthy nation with drug companies accruing record profits and society getting sicker and sicker. Does that make sense to you? I have to applaud Gov. Quinn for stepping up and agreeing we do need – possibly non-traditional – to bring some modicum of healing to the people in the state. Law enforcement officials and others who poo poo the law are simply being self-serving. None of the critics are proposing any options to treating some of the 30-odd conditions that potential users of medical marijuana will use the plant for. I am not calling Quinn compassionate, just saying it is refreshing that he has the
good sense to get on the right side of this issue. Hopefully, legislators will exercise the same level of common sense and not try to turn this issue into the proverbial political football as they do with so many matters. Lawrence Pauls
It was a valiant fight Dear Editor: With only about three weeks left before the start of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) classes, it looks like the battles to prevent the district from closing nearly 50 schools have been lost. I saw that recently a judge ruled against the Chicago Teachers Union’s efforts to get an injunction against the closing. I applaud the teachers union and the legions of parents who so adamantly and vigorously took to the streets and the schools to protest and try to reverse the plans to have those schools closed. Often, protesting causes some bruised feelings particularly, on the side that didn’t prevail. But in this instance, I have every confidence that the CTU – the teachers union members – will go about being the professionals they are and educate our children to the best of their abilities. Unfortunately, it seems that the mayor and Karen GJ Lewis, president of the CTU, have some unfinished business. The mayor,
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
and of course this is simply my opinion, was very disrespectful to Mrs. Lewis during the battle to stop the school closings. I am not sure if his behavior and words were meant to intimidate her or get her to get the membership to back off; but whatever it was it didn’t work. When we look back at all that transpired and look deeper than her rhetoric, we see that in most instances the problems Mrs. Lewis identified came to light. She in my opinion, provide that the mayor and CPS are (Continued on page 17)
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COMMENTARY
Just How Deep is Corruption? By Harry C. Alford NNPA Columnist I have seen examples of corruption throughout my whole life. Some are pretty much like the Coca-Cola driver peddling hot drinks throughout my old neighborhood. How about the time when one of my football coaches offered cash under the table for us if we made major hits, touchdowns, interceptions, etc.? I have seen it all. Some has been petty and some had the potential of serious implications and outcomes if I would have agreed to it. I have avoided or turned down 96 percent of the attempts made on me but I am sure there are many who haven’t had the will power to turn away. How do you usually avoid it? It is easy according to then Mozambique President Chissano: “Don’t pay any bribes; there won’t be any bribery.” In other words the offers will be made to us all and the key to avoiding it is to just turn them down and walk away. I have taken his advice to heart. A great spawning ground for corruption are the minority business programs throughout our nation. City, county, state, feder-
Harry C. Alford al and corporations have some form of outreach and technical assistance for businesses that come from racial/socio economic disadvantaged groups. Most require participants to be “certified” as a minority, female, etc. type of business ownership. There is so much fraud involved in many of these applications that we can’t count them all. Cheating applicant, cheating employee over seeing the program and usually a
cheating white-owned seasoned business conspiring with the others. Every one of these programs has some form of corruption in their daily process. Some do it for quick bucks and some do it to prolong their racist attitudes and/or greed. I have had experience with mayoral offices during my travels. The Thomas Barnes administration in Gary, Ind. was a trip! They would demand my members who had won contracts competitively to pay a “fee” before they received payment. One protesting member was told by an employee in the Deputy Mayor’s office, “What? Do you think we just give these contracts away?” He finally got his money after filing a claim in court. They gave him a check for the money due as he walked up the court house steps. My experience with Mayor Willie Brown’s office of San Francisco was quite interesting. We set up an introductory meeting with the Mayor. While I was waiting in the Mayor’s office, a unscrupulous guy comes up to me and said, “I’m Charlie, best friend and advisor of the Mayor, you need to meet with me outside before your meeting.” As we went outside the
building I stated, “I know what you are trying to do. So, just go to Hell and I am out of here.” There was a similar experience with Mayor Marc Morial’s office in New Orleans. We called for a meeting and they said to wait for a formal response. A couple of days later I received a phone call from this private attorney. He said that the mayor would like me to see him first. So, I went to his office and we had a discussion. What it amounted to was that the NBCC must hire him and use him as the communicator with the Mayor. Paying legal fees in order to speak to an elected official? I don’t think so! A few years later this attorney was indicted for his shenanigans and spent some good time in prison. There is much corruption going on with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This is similar to a free trade treaty. AGOA certified nations in Africa may export goods to America without paying any duties. There are two big abuses going on. 1. German auto manufacturer BMW has built a plant in South Africa for the sole purpose of shipping the product to the United States duty free. In
essence, a European firm is benefitting from a program meant for African firms. India has jumped into this AGOA action. The island nation of Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean and has been given “nominal status” as an African nation. India is shipping tons of raw products to this island of mainly Indian expatriates and then shipping the finished products to the Unites States under AGOA benefits. How many trillions of dollars are taken out of our general economy because of corruption? How many good decisions and acts of leadership are lost to bribery, kick-backs and many other forms of corruption? It is an attitude that focuses on greed, quick money and a lifestyle of cheating. You can’t get to Heaven living that way. Sooner or later most of the corrupt operators will get their justice. Too bad, most will be replaced with others of the same ilk. Just how deep is corruption? Too deep! Mr. Alford is the co-founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®. Website: www.nationalbcc.org. Email: halford@nationalbcc.org.
The Riches of International Travel By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist CASABLANCA, Morocco – When I left Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C. last Thursday afternoon on Air France Flight #39, changed planes at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, and arrived Friday morning in the capital city of Rabat aboard Air France Flight #1258, I knew I was in for an enriching experience that always accompanies international travel. Since last August, I have traveled to Brazil, China, South Africa, Zimbabwe and now Morocco. And the year isn’t over yet. Largely because of my career as a journalist, I have also traveled to Cairo, Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna, Bangkok, Accra, Paris, Rome, Kuala Lumpur, London, Havana, Dakar, Nuremburg, Montreal, Vancouver and Doha, Mexico City, among other places. Growing up in Tuscaloosa, Ala., my Uncle Buddy Harris, who was in the Navy, was the first person to whet my appetite for international travel. He would send cards and letters to Big Mama and for some reason, I remember him bringing back a colorful jacket from Okinawa, Japan. I couldn’t have been more than 7- or 8years-old at the time. As I grew www.chicagocrusader.com
older, Uncle Buddy would regale me with stories about his time in the Navy. And my stepfather, William H. Polk, introduced me to the wonders of Africa. On the domestic front, I was excited whenever my Uncle Percy Harris would let me tag along with him and Big Mama to Johnson City, Tenn. to visit his sister, my Aunt Julia Mae. Although in the state just north of Alabama, Johnson City had desegregated its schools in the early 1960s when Alabama was bringing up the rear, ranking ahead of only Mississippi in education. I knew that one day I wanted to travel like Uncle Buddy. Today, he marvels at all the places I visit, but refuses to accept the credit he deserves for stirring that interest in me. More than anything else, traveling abroad reminds me that we live in a global society and people elsewhere know a great deal about the U.S. while we are too ignorant and arrogant to study other societies. On a trip to China last December, first-grade students in Xi’an hurriedly ran to visit a group of Black journalists from the U.S. so that they could practice their English. Students around the globe also learn to speak English at an early age. And where does that leave Americans who stubbornly cling to
George E. Curry the misguided notion that others should learn our language but we shouldn’t learn other languages? Once on a trip to Paris, I overheard a huffy white American woman complain: “Why don’t they speak English here?” She was in France complaining about them speaking their native language. Whether seeing the pyramids in Egypt or visiting the Vatican in Italy, there is so much to learn about history and other cultures. Visiting the birthplace of civilization can’t help but instill pride, something that can benefit our Black youth in
particular. No trip has been more emotional than visiting Goree Island, on the edge of Dakar, Senegal. Standing in the “Door of No Return” is a chilling reminder of what our ancestors faced and, more important, survived. There is never enough time to fully experience any new destination. For example, on the trip to Morocco, I spent most of the time in the capital city of Rabat, only a few hours in Casablanca, and a day in Dakhla, a 3.5 hour flight to the South. As our traveling group learned, there are even surprises within surprises. About 30 minutes on the outskirts of Dakhla is Dakhla Attitude, an impressive resort snuggled in the middle of the desert. After turning off of the main road, visitors are surrounded by desert as far as the eye can see. Then, after a 10minute bumpy ride through the sand, this gorgeous resort suddenly comes into view. It features Dragon Camp, three bungalows, with a striking view of the ocean. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are popular sports in this hideaway. There is boating, sailing and an opportunity to eat with a perfect view of the pristine water. Even after visiting three cities in Morocco, my trip back home left me wanting more. I wanted to see
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
other cities as well. Marrakesh, the Holly city of Fez and Tangier, where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet, were high on my list. Just as my Uncle Buddy introduced me to a world that I could only imagine as a kid, I am eager to introduce my grandchildren – Neyah and Austin – and my nephews and nieces to the wonders of international travel. I want them to see everything from “The Door of No Return” in Senegal to Egypt, the cradle of democracy, to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Vatican in Rome. Uncle Buddy told me about so many interesting places. In my role as PaPa and Uncle George, I would enjoy taking the young ones on a live civics trip, knowing that once they have that experience, they will pass it down to the next generation. George E. Curry, former editorin-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, August 10, 2013
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COMMENTARY
MARCUS GARVEY AND EDUCATION
(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
It is quite clear that African people in America continue to be miseducated. This problem is discussed in a variety of ways in conversations everyday in our communities throughout America. From time to time we should consult the wisdom of those who have addressed this problem whom we may have forgotten. One such person who addressed this problem is the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, when he presented his formula for learning in his courses on African Philosophy in the 1930s. I think it is only appropriate to review Mr. Garvey’s formula for learning as we continue to build the Reparations Movement and seek specific guideposts to our development as a people. These lessons and guideposts in learning can be found in Marcus Garvey, Message to the People, The Course of African Philosophy, edited by Dr. Tony Martin.
Lesson 1: One must never stop reading. Read everything that you can read, that is of standard knowledge. Don’t waste time reading trashy literature. The idea
is that personal experience is not enough for a human to get all the useful knowledge of life, because the individual life is too short, so we must feed on the experience of others. Lesson 2: Read history incessantly until you master it. This means your own national history, the history of the world, social history, industrial history, and the history of the different sciences; but primarily, the history of man. If you do not know what went on before you came here and what is happening at the time you live, but away from you, you will not know the world and will be ignorant of the world and mankind. Lesson 3: To be able to read intelligently, you must first be able to master the language of your country. To do this, you must be well acquainted with its grammar and the science of it. People judge you by your writing and your speech. If you write badly and incorrectly they become prejudiced towards your intelligence, and if you speak badly and incorrectly, those who hear you become disgusted and will not pay much attention to you, but in their hearts
laugh after you. Lesson 4: A leader who is to teach men and present any fact of truth to man must first be taught in his subject. Lesson 5: Never write or speak on a subject you know nothing about, for there is always somebody who knows that particular subject to laugh at you or to ask you embarrassing questions that may make others laugh at you. Lesson 6: You should read four hours a day. The best time to read is in the evening after you have retired from your work and after you have rested and before sleeping hours, but do so before morning, so that during your sleeping hours what you read may become subconscious, that is to say, planted in your memory. Lesson 7: Never keep the constant company of anybody who doesn’t know as much as you or (is) as educated as you, and from whom you cannot learn something from or reciprocate your learning. Lesson 8: Continue always in the application of the things you desire educationally, culturally, or otherwise, and never give up un-
til you reach your objective. Lesson 9: Try never to repeat yourself in any one discourse in saying the same thing over and over again except when you are making new points, because repetition is tiresome and it annoys those who hear the repetition. Lesson 10: Knowledge is power. When you know a thing and can hold your ground on that thing and win over your opponents on that thing, those who hear you learn to have confidence in you and will trust your ability. Lesson 11: In reading books written by white authors, of whatever kind, be aware of the fact that they are not written for your particular benefit or your race. They always write from their own point of view and only in the interest of their own race. Garvey had many other lessons of learning, in his formula that journalistic constraints will not allow me to elaborate at this time. However, I encourage you to read Marcus Garvey, Message to the People, The Course of African Philosophy, and as we celebrate begin to internalize and incorporate these “Lessons In Learning.”
WHAT IS A LIVING WAGE? By Julianne Malveaux Last week workers at fast food restaurants demonstrated outside their places of work, highlighting the low wages they receive and demanding more. They say twice as much, or $15 an hour, will provide them with a living wage. In Washington, D.C., the City Council has sent legislation to Mayor Vincent Gray, requiring “big box” stores like WalMart and Best Buy to pay $12.50, more than the D.C. minimum wage of $8.25 an hour. In response, WalMart says it may not build all of the six stores they have slated for D.C. Responses depend on who you talk to, with some of the unemployed saying that an $8.25 job is better than no job, and with others saying that $8.25 is not a living wage. Someone who earns $8.25 an hour (which is a dollar more an hour than the federal minimum wage) earns $17,160 per year if they work fulltime (40 hours) all year (52 weeks). Although taxes for the low income are low, they are still deducted, especially the Social Security tax (about 7 percent). Too many minimum workers don’t work full-time, fullyear. Many have their hours cut so that companies can avoid paying benefits. This means full-time, fullyear work is the best-case scenario. 6
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Julianne Malveaux For many, it can be much worse. The poverty line for one adult and two children is $19,530, which puts the $8.25 worker below the poverty line. The parent who earns this scant wage struggles to make ends meet, and often cannot. Too often, this parent has to choose between transportation and shoes for their children, between children’s books and food. A two-parent family has a higher poverty threshold of $23,550, about 20 percent more than the minimum wage worker earns.
Federal and state supplements often make the difference between swimming and sinking. Many families who live below the poverty line use supplemental nutrition programs (that used to be called food stamps) to enhance their food budget. Congress is in the process of cutting SNAP so low that 5 million of the roughly 47 million people on the program will be cut. Some receive medical assistance through Medicaid. Some cities subsidize summer programs or other efforts, offering day care possibilities for those who struggle to afford it. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average cost of childcare in the District of Columbia is $1,300 a month, or $13,600 a year. Poverty line $23,550, childcare costs $13,600 per year. Go figure. In other parts of the country, fulltime, full-year workers earn less than DC workers. Those who earn the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour earn $15,160 per year, less than the poverty line for one parent and one child. Those who earn $12.50 per hour, the proposed wage for DC big box stores, will earn $26,000 a year. The $15 an hour that some fast food workers suggest would push their wages to $31,200 a year. Some feel these low wages are acceptable, especially some Tea Party
members of Congress, yet they earn at least $174,000 per year. Actually if fast food workers were as productive as this Congress (which has produced little of nothing so far this year), they wouldn’t earn a penny. Yet those who are well paid and well supported show little empathy for those whose lives and work are daily struggles. The issue of unemployment must be taken into account when we look at the matter of poverty lines and minimum wages. With an overall unemployment rate of well above 7 percent (unless a miracle occurs on August 2, after this column is filed), and a Black unemployment rate of more than 13 percent, too many households with two adults have only one earner in the household. Another concern is that the federal poverty line is published as a national rate, yet it’s much cheaper to live, for example, in rural Mississippi than it does in New York City. In many instances, the poverty line does not reflect differences in housing costs, health care costs, or even transportation costs. The Economic Policy Institute (epi.org) has developed budgets for “adequate” living in certain cities. (Full disclosure – I sit on the organization’s board). This tool shows the wide variety of realistic and adequate
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
living costs, which range from more than $90,000 in New York City, to around $40,000 in parts of Mississippi. These are adequate living standards, not extravagant ones, taking into account rent, transportation, and other costs. Many quibble about the level of the minimum wage, but the more relevant issue is the living wage. Millions are pushed below the poverty line because too many employers do not take the cost of living into consideration when they set wage levels. Paying workers less than they are worth drains our economy because these workers will not be spenders or “economic expanders.” Julianne Malveaux is a D.C. based economist and author.
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GOSSIPTARY
Hyde Park Academy turns 150 By Ima Gontellit
THANK YA MASSA RAHM
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!
Massa, er I mean Mayor Emanuel is done give his OK to Alderman Howard Broookins’ idea to fine airybody that litter from dey car. Now Ima can’t stand to see dees fools empty dey ashtray on the street while dey waiting for the light to change, or dey just dri-
SAY WHAT? Ima tries to be ‘spectful of colleagues in the newspaper business, specically if dey cullid, but she sure don’t know what to do when dey don’t respect deyself. A newspaper email Ima got to peep said dey is going out of business and offering a sake keep addition. Ima aint got no pofessional college newspaper education but I sho know addition got to do wif math and edition got to do wif newspapers and magazines; but Ima aint got a clue how anybody sposed to know the language can’t tell the difference in safe keep and keepsake. Bye bye Souf Street Journal somebody will miss you, Ima just don’t know who. -Ima-
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Howard Brookins ving along and throw something out da car window. But Massa, er mayor and Brookins need to understand this new law aint got no teef. And lawd knows da poo poo aint gonna be pulling people over for flicking a cigarette butt, specially since dey don’t care if folks blow a light or a stop sign. Massa, er mayor need to tell folk da troof. This just another way to profile negroes in da hood, and ticket em for anything.
hell broke loose this past week. Who’s on the board and who done take leave is most confusing to Ima. It seems Emperor Emanuel felt the kitchen was getting too hot and close to him so he told the one Black on the board to get out of the kitchen right-a-way. Den Ima saw Congressman Rush moufin off bout something on tv last night saying it was a lie ‘bout him putting pressure for folks to be hired. Now Ima remembers both our Congressmen threatening to shut things down if dey didn’t hire some folks that look like us a while back, which seemed right to Ima since we ride them trains, buses and thangs just like dey do. And Ima thought that everything wrong over dere at Metra was okay after the man took his life a while back. One thang is for sure they been trying to get Massa Madigan to show up, but he ain’t took the bait yet. I guess we need to get our popcorn and dranks together cause the show might just be gettig ready to start. See you at the show or will it be a show down???!!!
-ImaWHAT’S GOING ON? Just when I thought things were going to cool down at Metra all
Mayor Emmanuel
Claiming luminaries such as Herbie Hancock, Steve Allen, Dr Conrad Worrill, Minnie Ripperton, Mel Tourme, Donny Hathaway, and Carole Simpson as alumni; the Hyde Park High School Alumni Association (HPHSAA) is poised to celebrate its 150th birthday with graduates from across the country. The alumni group – Forever Aitchpe – are convening at the McCormick Place Ballroom Aug. 9-11 to reminisce, catch up with former friends, network and organizers said most importantly “to support the association’s annual student scholarship, engagement and supplies.” Organizers said alums go beyond the call of duty by mentoring, tutoring, and providing educational assistance. “The HPHSAA is determined to maximize every opportunity to connect the next generation of Aitchpe with influential alumni,” an organizer said, adding “we play a crucial role as alumni. We can choose to accept or refuse the responsibility, Brittney Gault class of 2003 said. Association President Marjorie Johnson, a 1957 Hyde Park High School grad, said “This will be an
event like no other. Alumni are reaching out to others from around the country to galvanize support for this spectacular occasion. We are excited to re-capture the unique experiences we had at Hyde Park.” The school, now known as Hyde Park Academy, was initially built when Hyde Park was a township, and before the City of Chicago annexed it in 1889. About 85,000 people were township residents at the time. Initially known as the Hyde Park High School, it has been at 62nd and Stony Island, its current location since 1914. The school’s focus changed in 1975 when then-principal Weldon Beveryly, Jr. changed the traditional curriculum to one that prepared students for life beyond college. In 1976, it became a magnet school and career academy. It has been known as Hyde Park Academy since 1996. The focus is college readiness and career preparedness. It became an international baccalaureate world school, which offers the most rigorous college preparatory curriculum through its middle years and diploma programs.
Black Unemployment. . . (Continued from page 1) According to Darity, the federally million jobs from 1935 to 1943, funded job guarantee program has building bridges, parks, and schools received support from both ends of across the nation. the political spectrum and Rep. “We know how to do this, we’ve John Conyers (D-Mich.) introdone it before in the U.S.,” said duced a bill that could jumpstart Darity. The WPA program even talks about the program in March funded jobs for music, media and 2013. literacy projects for artists. “Under Darity said: “There is a potential circumstances where people are disappeal of this kind of policy that turbed about the idea of paying bridges the political divide, but peopeople not to work, why don’t we ple simply are not talking about it introduce a program that pays peovery much.” ple to work?”
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
Saturday, August 10, 2013
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
BUD BILLIKEN PARADE: Don’t miss the Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic on Saturday, August 10 starting at 10 a.m. It will begin at 35th and King Drive, Chicago, IL 60653 and proceed south on King Drive. The Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic is the oldest and largest African American parade in the United States! The focus of the parade is getting kids ready for school. ART DI GRAS VIII AT GALLERY GUICHARD: On Saturday, August 10, from 2 p.m. to midnight, visit Gallery Guichard for their 8th annual celebration and exhibition, ART DI GRAS VIII, an All White Affair, 10 hours of art, live art demonstrations by Joe Nelson and James Nelson, food, fun and entertainment. It will also feature Gallery Guichard fine artists Shenna Vaughn, and Nancy Pirri. Other featured artists include Lobyn Hamilton, Jed Feronda, Andre Guichard, Pearlie Taylor, Danny Campbell, Bianca Pastel Griffin, Adam Guichard, Cheryl Toles, Joe Nelson, Al Burts, Marlene C, Darren Pollard, Martha Wade, James Nelson, Roger Carter, Dayo Laoye, Felicia Grant-Preston, Kudzai Mutasa, Dana Todd, Rhonda Gray, Patter Hellstrom, Raymond Thomas, and Bucci Upjohn. Gallery Guichard is located at 3521 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60653. For more information visit www.galleryguichard.com. MARQUETTE BANK EVENTS: On Saturday, August 10 & 17, Marquette Bank will host a two-part, free personal finance class at the Marquette Bank located at 6316 S. Western Avenue in Chicago. This course will cover the basics of budgeting monthly expenses, maintaining a checking account, paying bills on time, and understanding credit and banking. Session 1 will be held on August 10 from 9 a.m. until noon and Session 2 will be held on August 17 from 9 - 11 a.m. Seating is limited. To register, call 773-918-4624. Marquette Bank will launch its 5th annual Adopt-a-Classroom prize drawing from Monday, August 12, through Saturday, September 14. Marquette Bank customers, local teachers, parents and residents can enter at any Marquette Bank location for a chance to win a $200 gift card that can be used to purchase supplies for an elementary, junior high or high school classroom in Illinois of their choice. A total of 25 classrooms will be randomly selected to win. And on Thursday, August 15, Marquette Bank will co-host a business networking after-hours event along with the Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce at the Marquette Bank located at 7560 W. 159th Street in Orland Park. Enjoy an evening of refreshments provided by Gatto’s Restaurant & Bar, door 8
Saturday, August 10, 2013
prizes and excellent networking opportunities. Businesses are welcome to attend from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. To register, call 708-614-4721. JOAN COLLASO: On Saturday August 10, vocalist Joan Collaso will appear with Theodis Rogers & Bobby Lewis in the Jackson Park Yacht Club, 6400 S. Promontory Drive (near LaRabida Children’s Hospital) from 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. The performance, which will take place outside, is Free. On Sunday, August 11, Timeless Gifts– Youth Mentoring Program for the Performing Arts “End Of Summer” Concert will be held at Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church, 4100 South King Drive, from 5 - 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Adults $10; ages 16 and under $5. For Tickets call 312-808-0005. Tickets will also be available at the door. Your support is our youth’s encouragement! Joan Collaso is Executive & Artistic Director. And on Monday, August 12, check out Music Monday featuring Mike Logan with Chuck Webb & Khari Parker. Music Monday will be hosted by Cliff Kelley & Joan Collaso at eta Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 S. Chicago Avenue, from 7 - 10 p.m. Tickets are $10; for advance tickets call 773-7523955. AUGUST 16 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Come volunteer with Shedd Aquarium’s Great Lakes Actions Days program on Friday, August 16, at 63rd Street Beach from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As we move into the dog days of summer, there’s still plenty of time to take action to restore local habitats with Shedd Aquarium. This summer and fall, Shedd is inviting volunteers to adopt and restore local habitats with the return of its popular AdoptA-Beach series and the new Great Lakes Action Days program. Shedd volunteers are invited to soak in some fun in the sun, while doing something good for the environment by participating in beach cleanups, invasive plant removal, and more conservation-focused activities. During Great Lakes Action Days, volunteers will get their hands dirty, maintaining trails, planting native flora, and collecting important data through citizen science projects. Events are scheduled through October and held throughout the local Great Lakes area, including the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, 12th Street Beach, 63rd Street Beach, Openlands Lakeshore Preserve and Illinois Beach State Park. In addition to this new initiative, Shedd will continue with Adopt-A-Beach™, the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ beach stewardship program. Armed with tally sheets and bags, committed volunteers comb the beach for garbage and recyclables which are then disposed
of appropriately. The annual AdoptA-Beach™ season hosts cleanup events regularly through October to help keep the beaches clean and safe. For more information on Shedd Aquarium’s conservation efforts, please visit www.sheddaquarium.org/greatlakeshelp. To RSVP as a volunteer, please e-mail Reid Bogert at rbogert@sheddaquarium.org. ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO: No trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to the world-renowned Art Institute – now the nation’s second-largest museum, located at 111 South Michigan Avenue (at Adams Street), Chicago, IL 60603. Chicago residents should also take advantage of this fine cultural institution on an ONGOING basis. Walk across the Nichols Bridgeway from Millennium Park and experience Pritzker Prizewinning architect Renzo Piano’s Modern Wing, home to their celebrated collections of modern and contemporary art, architecture, design, and photography. Then stroll back in time and let your old favorites - iconic artists like Seurat, Hopper, Monet, and Rembrandt - guide you through the historical Michigan Avenue building and to treasured works from around the world. Bringing the
THE NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM (NVAM) will host an education open house on Saturday, August 17, 2013, from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., to introduce students, teachers, administrators and parents to a wide range of new educational offerings and new museum partnerships to enhance programming. The event will also mark the public debut of The Things They Carried Interactive, a new, interactive, student-facing website that uses art and artifacts to teach history and civics. whole family? Kids under 14 are free! Drop by the state-of-the-art Ryan Education Center for stories, games, and art activities for toddlers through teens. Or, travel to the Thorne
Miniature Rooms (68 model rooms created on a one-inch-to-one-foot scale) and achieve a “heightened” sense of self. For more information, call 312-443-3600.
Extended Coverage
Insurance is like a good suit: well designed and well made for general needs, then tailored specifically for you. A farmer or rancher can get just the right coverage.
***
*** A working farm can be insured whether it is operated by the owner or a tenant. Buildings are covered against general property damage, including household personal property, and may include flood and earthquake insurance where advisable.
Milton E. Moses
Whatever your special needs, we can custom-fit coverage for you at Community Insurance Center, Inc., 526 E. 87th Street, your insurance headquarters. We have been serving the community since 1962. For more information about the services we provide, call (773) 651-6200. You can also reach us via email at: sales@communityinsurance.com or visit the website at www.communityins. com.
*** For business operations, coverage gets more specific: beyond valuable papers insurance and coverage for agricultural equipment, there are floaters for livestock, winter range livestock and transportation coverage for property in transit. *** Farmers also cover their livestock: “life insurance” for horses and others plus poultry insurance. In addition, there’s hail insurance on growing crops and multiple peril crop insurance, even liability coverage for custom harvesters. BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
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BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
Saturday, August 10, 2013
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EDUCATION --
New program helps at risk-youth Four Hot Dog Wrapper carts and four Go Green Pedicabs, key components in The Green Light Movement’s Young Entrepreneurs Program, were recently unveiled during a press conference and celebration at Stephen Douglas Tomb, 636 E. 35th St. in Chicago. The event helped kick off Chicago Area Project’s Social, Educational Employment Development Services (SEEDS) Summer Youth Employment Program, which is funded by the State of Illinois. The event also helped spread the word about The Green Light Movement’s unique
learning. Customer service, teamwork and management skills were on display as the youth offered samples of expertly prepared hot dogs from their Hot Dog Wrapper carts and as they acted as tour guides giving eco-friendly tours of Bronzville on the pedicabs. Speakers at the news conference included Aldermen Roderick Sawyer (6), Ald. Pat Dowell (3), and State representative Ken Duncan (5). Other speakers include The Green Light Movement’s founder, rapper/songwriter JNan, Green Light Executive Director Roxanne Bur-
STATE REP. KEN DUNKIN (center) and Ald. Roderick Sawyer are pictured with (l-r) Angel Hatcher, Don Burnett, Roxanne Burnett and JNan from The Green Light Movement and Dominique Coker, 17, and Shaniqua Williams, 20, two of the Young Entrepreneurs during the unveiling ceremony for four Hot Dog Wrapper carts and four Go Green Pedicabs that are part of The Green Light Movement’s Young Entrepreneurs Program. self-esteem and pride and also found that this was a deterrent to at-risk behavior. This year, through grants from Chicago Area Project and MacArthur’s Restaurant we have been able to add three more Hot Dog Wrappers. In addition, we are launching our new Tourism Training segment with the four Go Green Pedicabs.” During the program youth participate in classroom training focusing on business skills including obtaining business licenses and Federal ID numbers, developing
math and literacy skills and obtaining sanitation and tour guide certifications. Youth involved in the Hot Dog Wrappers segment obtain their own sanitation licenses and those involved in the pedicabs go through tour docent training and obtain their own tour guide licenses. “These are skills they can take with them,” states Burnett. JNan, Founder of the Green Light Movement, adds: “They may not want to make hot dogs for the rest of their lives, but they can take these skills with them, change the product and
progress in their businesses and in their lives.” The youth are not paid for inclass training, but they are paid for their on-the-job training with the program. This summer, the youth will be paid through Chicago Area Project’s Social, Educational, Employment Development Services (SEEDS) Summer Youth Employment Program, which is funded by the State of Illinois. SEEDS is a youth employment and career development approach in partnership (Continued on page 16)
TIFFANY BROWN AND TYRONE RAYFORD started out last year learning how to work on the Hot Dog Wrapper carts. This year they are managers, training other young entrepreneurs. Young Entrepreneur Program—a program that uses hands on business training to provide non-violence alternatives to youth, 16-21. Thirty-five young people from The Green Light Movement’s Young Entrepreneurs Program displayed the business skills they are
nett, and Sherry Williams from the Bronzeville Historic Society. The program began as a pilot project last summer with one Hot Dog Wrapper cart. “We wanted proof of concept,” stated Burnett. “We evaluated and saw many benefits including added income, increased
LAYLA DELAWARE, 6, and Kvon Arnold, 10, take a ride in one of the new Go Green Pedicabs peddled by Young Entrepreneur Craig Henry, 18. . 10 Saturday, August 10, 2013
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
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COMMUNITY
Pullman Porter Museum celebrates March on Washington Two-day event will also commemorate founding of Black Labor Movement The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum will host a triple celebration August 24 and 25 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, pay tribute to A. Philip Randolph — the visionary who inspired the March — and to commemorate the founding anniversary of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first Black labor union in America to be chartered under the AFL. The two-day, triple celebration takes place at the Museum, 10406 S. Maryland in Chicago’s historic Pullman community. It begins on Saturday, August 24, when all of the events are free and open to the public and concludes Sunday, August 25, with a fundraising reception at the museum. Themed: “Honoring the Brotherhood,” the two days of festivities will provide a dynamic forum where the trio of historic events will come to life. On Saturday, August 24 from 1-5 p.m., renowned historian Dr. Christopher Reed and members of the Chicago Black History Forum will share nuggets about the Movement through lectures.
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One of the forums will chronicle the inspirational saga of the Pullman Porters. There also will be films, interactive sessions, music and vendors. On Sunday there will be a gala fundraiser reception from 5-9 p.m. at the museum where the legacy of Randolph, and the launch of the Black Labor Movement will be commemorated. Tickets for this tax-deductible celebration are $50. Proceeds go toward continuing the Museum’s mission to educate the public about the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and the contributions made by African Americans to America’s labor movement. Newly elected 2nd Congressional District Congressman Robin Kelly and Illinois State Representative Elgie Sims are among the dignitaries scheduled to attend. While the March on Washington is hailed as a pivotal point in civil rights history, what is little known is that the March on Washington was spawned by A. Philip Randolph who founded The March on Washington Movement (MOWM) in 1941, along with Bayard Rustin. According to Museum archives, the MOWM was formed to organize a mass march on Washington to pressure the U.S. government to desegregate the armed forces and provide fair working opportunities for African Americans.
THE PULLMAN PORTER’S MUSEUM is a treasure trove of historical information about the African American labor movement. Visitors to the museum will get to learn more about it, A Philip Randolph and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters during a celebration August 24 and 25. With the threat of thousands de- tices by Federal agencies, all unions Employment Act. With all descending on Washington to protest and companies contracted to per- mands met, Randolph and Rustin the government’s failures in these form war-related work. The order claimed victory and called off the areas, President Franklin D. Roo- also established the Fair Employ- March on Washington. ment Practices Commission to enYears later, Dr. Martin Luther sevelt issued Executive Order 8802. This historic legislation banned force the new policy. The Commis- King, Jr., was so moved by the acdiscriminatory employment prac- sion was the forerunner of the Fair (Continued on page 16)
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
Saturday, August 10, 2013
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ENTERTAINMENT
Students get free Jungle Book tickets On the heels of its successful July 23 “Community Day” event, Goodman Theatre adds a second dedicated “Community Day” performance of The Jungle Book on August 13 at 7:30 p.m., to which all guests are invited free of charge. Between the two performances, the Goodman makes more than 1,700 tickets valued at approximately $125,000 available to nearly 20 Chicago community partners. Guests were treated to festive preshow music and drumming from the Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts, followed by the performance, and left with a bag of The Jungle Book swag. Named the summer’s hot ticket by USA Today, The Jungle Book, adapted and directed by
copies of The Jungle Book in hand. “One young girl from the Lawndale community exclaimed to her librarian at the start of the production, ‘they’re real people!’; she had no idea that this form of magic could happen! One little boy from the Budlong Woods community told his mother that it was the best day of his life,” said McChesney. “The connection between the printed page and stage was meaningful and memorable for 348 very appreciative library summer learners—all of whom are excited to see their friends from the theater again at the STEAM program in branch libraries.” Mary Ellen Caron, Chief Executive Officer of After School Matters, noted, “Very few of our teens have at-
By Elaine Hegwood Bowen, MSJ
7th Annual Chicago Dancing Festival Free Annual Event Remains Nation’s Destination for Summer Dance The Chicago Dancing Festival is pleased to announce the programming schedule for its sev-
Wednesday, August 21, dance enthusiasts looking to celebrate while helping keep the Festival free-to-all are invited to attend the Chicago Dancing Festival’s Gala Benefit at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Reservations
CHILDREN FROM CHICAGO Park District at the July 23 “Community Day” event for The Jungle Book at Goodman Theatre. (Photo by John Reilly Photography) Mary Zimmerman, has been playing at 99 percent of capacity and is poised to become the best selling musical in Goodman Theatre history. “‘Community Day’ is a special way to share the joy and magic of live theater with many of Chicago’s family audiences,” said Ruth Ann Gillis, Goodman Theatre Chairman. “The Jungle Book is a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical event. We are thrilled to make more tickets available through these additional performances so that more Chicago viewers can experience this show.” The July 23 event marked many young attendees’ first visit to the Goodman—and their first live theater experience. Elizabeth McChesney, Director, Children and Young Adult Services for Chicago Public Library (which partners with the Goodman on “Jungle Book Days,” part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s STEAM “Summer of Learning”), noted that many children from the various branches arrived at the theater with library
tended a live production outside of school, and The Jungle Book—its performances, sets, lighting and costume design—was sophisticated yet accessible, and absolutely spectacular. The Goodman is a jewel in our city, and ‘Community Day’ was a great way to introduce the Goodman to our students.” Added Rebecca Chacon, Director of Youth Programs and Services for Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services, “When I asked our students what their favorite part of The Jungle Book was, they replied ‘the whole thing’! This was truly an amazing day for our students, who would not have had the opportunity to experience a show like this otherwise. It was a moment that they will not forget soon!” Visit the Goodman virtually: watch artist interviews, view production photos, catch the latest news and more at GoodmanTheatre.org and our blog. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, peek behind the scenes on YouTube.
The 411 By Raymond Ward is on vacation this week. 12
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Camille A. Brown (Photo by Matt Karas) enth season. Co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and native Chicagoan Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, this “Free-to-All” Festival is set to take place August 20 – 24, featuring top ballet, modern, ethnic and rhythmic dance companies from Chicago and across the country. Just as the Festival draws from top dance companies across the nation, this year’s program will once again be featured in top venues across Chicago’s downtown summer playground. Audience members looking to plan their Festival week have a number of outstanding opportunities to choose from, including: The Festival kicks off Tuesday, August 20, with a performance at the Harris Theater. The Harris Theater is proud to be the Opening Night Presenting Sponsor of the 2013 Chicago Dancing Festival in celebration of The Harris at 10! anniversary season.
for this intimate performance and benefit are limited and can be reserved today. The only paid ticket event during the festival, this program will be presented free to the public in two performances Friday, August 23. Thursday, August 22, the Festival travels to Chicago’s historic Auditorium Theatre. “As a critical tenet of our mission, the Auditorium Theatre is committed to providing the finest the artistic world has to offer to the people of our great city, and we are honored to partner with the Chicago Dancing Festival, whose dedication to this sublime art form is simply unparalleled—and truly inspiring,” said Brett Batterson, Executive Director of the Auditorium Theatre. Friday, August 23, sees the Museum of Contemporary Art host two performances of the program featured at the Festival’s Gala Benefit. Saturday, August 24, the Festival concludes with its signature Grand Finale on the stunning outdoor stage of the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Highlights this year include two Chicago Dancing Festival Commissions, the Chicago Premiere (Continued on page 16)
Philadanco (Photo by Lois Greenfield)
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
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ENTERTAINMENT STYLE
New Art Exhibition “Rinnio Della Vita” coming to South Suburban College’s The Art & Design Department of South Suburban College (SSC) is pleased to present an exhibition entitled Rinnio Della Vita from Monday, August 19th through Thursday, September 12th in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery. There will also be an Artist Reception for artists Anne Farley Gaines and Geoffrey Novelli on September 12th from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. According to artists Gaines and Novelli, the subject of “renewal” in this exhibit, or “rinnio della vita” in Italian, is expressed in multiple ways. Spiritual renewal is evidenced by Gaines in “The Form of the Fourth,” a very recent watercolor triptych. Another type of renewal is the re-use of materials, such as the yellow enamel pans that Novelli has used for the eyes of “Bumblebee” and the metal strips for wings. The two artists also are showing off a
few pieces of older works in the exhibit, thus infusing them with renewed life and exposure to a new audience. Renewal is a very positive concept, and Gaines and Novelli feel that the world needs as much positive energy brought into it as possible. The public is welcome to visit art exhibitions and receptions at no charge. The Thiel Gallery is on the fourth floor in the Art & Design hallway and is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and closed on weekends and holidays. The galleries are supported in part by the SSC Foundation. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois. Call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445 for more information.
Keshia Knight Pulliam and Romeo Miller discover their true feelings THE LOVE LETTER Premieres Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. EDT Ensemble cast includes Jackée Harry, Marques Houston, Erica Hubbard, Tequilla Whitfield, and Terrill Patterson UP, America’s favorite channel for uplifting family entertainment, presents the UP Original Movie The Love Letter (#TheLoveLetter), a romantic drama about the path from friendship to true love, starring Emmy® nominee Keshia Knight Pulliam (“House of Payne,” “The Cosby Show”), Romeo Miller (Madea’s Witness Protection, Jumping the Broom, Honey), Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe® nominee Jackée Harry (“The First Family,” “Sister, Sister,” “227”), Marques Houston (“Cuts,” “One on One”), Erica Hubbard (“Lincoln Heights,” “Let’s Stay Together”), Tequilla Whitfield (“A Cross to Bear,” Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming), and newcomer Terrill Patterson. Gary Wheeler (UP’s The Perfect Summer, Somebody’s Child) directs from a script by Chazitear Martin. The Love Letter will premiere exclusively on UP on Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11 at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. EDT. The Love Letter explores just how tricky things can get when your best friend is the opposite sex. Parker (Keshia Knight Pulliam), an established entertainment columnist, and her sportsfanatic best friend, Aaron (Romeo Miller), have been inseparable since childhood. They know everything about each other – from her dating mishaps to the fact that he doesn’t love his current girlfriend, which makes www.chicagocrusader.com
his sudden engagement all the more surprising and planning his wedding very difficult. Parker’s meddling mother, Josephine (Jackée Harry), is determined to get her mind off of Aaron’s wedding by introducing her to “nice guys,” including millionaire Wesley (Marques Houston). Still, Parker finds it impossible to focus on much besides Aaron and his relationship. She decides to explore her feelings in her magazine column, penning a letter from an “anonymous” reader looking for advice. Surprised by the overwhelming reader feedback and her feelings, Parker realizes some-
thing about herself and what she really wants out of life. “The Love Letter is a charming story about the search for happiness and putting friendship to the test for love – something everyone can identify with,” says Leslie Glenn Chesloff, executive vice president of programming, UP. “This film explores the adage that you can find love where you least expect it and that it might be right in front of you all along.” Keshia Knight Pulliam began her career when she was nine months old in a national print ad for Johnson & Johnson Baby Products. By age four, she had
appeared in several national commercials, in the feature film The Last Dragon and was a regular on “Sesame Street.” Best known as Rudy Huxtable, the youngest daughter of Clair and Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” (1984–92), she won several NAACP Image Awards, Young Artist Awards, a People’s Choice Award, a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award and a host of other honors for that role. Pulliam took several years away from acting to concentrate on school, graduating in 2001 with honors from Spelman College with a B.A. in Sociology and a concentration in film. Since then she has appeared in several films and currently stars in Perry’s “House of Payne,” for which she has won three NAACP Image Awards. She also appeared beside basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and comedian Louie Anderson in the reality television series “Splash” on ABC, and on “Guys with Kids” on NBC. Pulliam heads her own Atlanta-based production company, Kizzy Productions, and is the founder of Kamp Kizzy, a nonprofit organization for young girls. She also is the co-founder and member of The A-List Experience, which serves as a fundraising vehicle for celebrities. Romeo Miller found success in the entertainment industry early as a recording artist. At age 10, he became the youngest entertainer to top the Billboard charts. A multi-platinum recording artist, he has sold more than 10 million records worldwide and won both a Grammy® and an American Music Award. By the time he was a teenager, Miller starred in his own television show on Nickelodeon, “Romeo!” (2003–06), and began quickly began building his resume by appearing on TV
BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
and in feature films. He appeared in the film Honey (2003) with Jessica Alba, as well as on the TV series “The Defenders” and “The Cape” before starring in Jumping the Broom (2011) alongside Angela Bassett and Paula Patton. Fans also caught up with Miller in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection (2012). He is the CEO of the multimillion-dollar record company No Limit Forever and serves as the national spokesperson for Urban Born, a non-profit dedicated to changing the lives of at-risk youth. In that role, Miller travels the country visiting inner-city schools and community centers to teach young people the importance of staying in school, staying off drugs and staying out of gangs. Miller majored in business and film at the University of Southern California, where he and his teammates on the basketball team won the school’s first PAC 10 Championship. For photos and more information, please go to www.UPtv. com/ TheLoveLetterPressRoom. The Love Letter is written by Chazitear Martin and is directed by Gary Wheeler. The Love Letter is produced by Swirl Films. About UP UP, (www.UPtv.com) based in Atlanta, is America’s favorite network for uplifting family entertainment. The network presents original and acquired movies, series, stage plays and music specials along with gMovies, the first faith-friendly streaming movie service. The UP brand is reflected in “Uplift Someone,” the network’s successful pro-social initiative. UP can be seen in more than 61 million homes on major cable systems.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Lyric Opera of Chicago to present ‘The Family Barber’ A special performance for kids 5-10 and their grownups! Lyric Opera of Chicago will present “The Family Barber,” a special performance for youngsters ages 5-10 and their families, on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Civic Opera House in downtown Chicago. “The Family Barber,” a kidfriendly introduction to the joys of opera, is a project of Lyric Unlimited. It follows the resounding success of last season’s “Popcorn & Pasquale,” Lyric’s first-ever family opera adventure, which sold out. (As with last season’s presentation, popcorn will be available for purchase and will be allowed in the theater.) Lyric Unlimited is a multifaceted program of expanded community engagement and artistic initiatives that includes Lyric’s longstanding education programs. A special cast including members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center will perform “The Family Barber” with the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The performance will be fully staged and costumed, and will be entirely in English. As with regular performances, projected English texts will also be used. The cast features Ryan Opera Center members J’nai Bridges/-
Rosina, John Irvin/Almaviva, and Will Liverman/Figaro, with Lyric regular Philip Kraus/Bartolo. Elise Sandell will direct “The Family Barber,” which will be conducted by Emanuele Andrizzi. Set designer is Scott Pask and costume designer is Catherine Zuber. “The Family Barber” combines the familiar music and characters of Gioachino Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” (“Figaro! Figaro!”) with some captivating dialogue to reveal behind-the-scenes opera basics in a fun and engaging way. “Barber” is being written by David Kersnar (Lookingglass Theatre Company) and Jacqui
announced at a later date. The running time for performance is approximately 60 minutes with no intermission. Tickets for youngsters are $10, $15, and $20. For adults (18+) the prices are $20, $30, and $40. For families with children older than ten, or who are ready to ex-
COT presents annual cruise
J’nai Bridges
Will Liverman
Russell (Chicago Children’s Theatre), who created last year’s “Popcorn & Pasquale,” which combined spoken English and sung Italian. “Since this will be an introduction to the world of opera for many of our youngest audience members, we want to be sure there are as few barriers as possible to enjoyment of the story and the music,” says Cayenne Harris, director of Lyric Unlimited. “Presenting “The Family Barber” in English will make the experience even more accessible.” Preand post-performance activities are also being planned for March 22, Harris notes. Details will be
Cellist Gabriel Cabezas to perform at Merit School’s ‘Chicago’s Beethoven Festival LOVE 2013’ On September 8 and 9, 2013, 20year-old cellist Gabriel Cabezas will perform two separate concerts as part of the International Beethoven Project’s Beethoven Festival LOVE 2013
Gabriel Cabezas presented by the International Beethoven Project. A native Chicagoan, and recent graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Cabezas was the 2012 winner of the Sphinx Competition, Senior Division. On Sunday, September 8 at noon, Cabezas will give a recital alongside pianist Nicolas Roth, 14
Saturday, August 10, 2013
performing works by Jana- cek, Messiaen, Debussy, and Shost- akovich. Then, on September 9 at 6:00 p.m., he will perform in Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat major, Schnittke’s String Trio, and Beeth- oven’s Piano Trio Opus 70, No. 2. Both concerts will take place at Merit School of Music’s Joy Faith Knapp Music Center (38 S. Peoria Street, Chicago) dubbed “Ludwig’s Salon” during the course of this Festival, September 7-15. Ticket prices vary and students and children can receive free admission. For more information, please call (312) 772-5821 or email ibp@internationalbeeth ovenproject.com. Formerly a recipient of an Education Grant by the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation, Cabezas has supported music outreach and education programs including Midori’s Partners in Performance, the Sphinx Organization, Costa Rica’s national SINEM music education program, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Citizen Musician movement. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Carter Brey. Gabriel Cabezas appeared as soloist with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago at South Shore Cultural Center at the
perience a full-length performance of “The Barber of Seville” (in Italian with projected English texts), Lyric is offering special children’s pricing for the regular mainstage performances Feb. 328. Call 312-332-2244 or visit lyricopera.org for special pricing information.
Continuing its tradition of offering unique and adventurous operatic experiences throughout Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater (COT) presents its Auxiliary Council’s annual Opera Underground Cruise. This unique cruise will whisk guests down the Chicago River and onto Lake Michigan as they are serenaded by opera’s most beloved arias. The boat cruise takes place on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. (vessel boards at 5:30 p.m.) on Chicago Cruises’ “Summer of George” boat. This annual event growing in popularity is an opportunity for the Auxiliary Council to invite Opera Underground members and other young professionals who enjoy great music and theater to engage with COT and its upcoming season. Guests will mingle with like-minded individuals in a light, enjoyable and approachable atmosphere. Tickets for the cruise include two drink tickets for a wine and beer bar and light hors d’oeuvres. The evening’s
entertainment will be provided by Alumni of COT’s Young Artist Program. COT’s 2013 season closes next month with Verdi’s “Joan of Arc” on September 21, 25, 27 at 7:30 p.m. and September 29 at 3 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. The 2014 season recently announced, includes the Chicago premiere of Duke Ellington’s “Queenie Pie” (February 1523), a double-bill of Viktor Ullmann’s “The Emperor of Atlantis” and Carl Orff’s “The Clever One” (May 31-June 8) and the Chicago premiere of Ernest Bloch’s “Macbeth” (September 13-21). Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door. Space is limited. Tickets can be purchased at 312-7048414. The “Summer of George” is docked on the Chicago River at 800 S. Wells Street. For more information on Chicago Opera Theater, COT’s Auxiliary Council or Opera Underground Subscriptions, visit ChicagoOperaTheater.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chicagooperatheater.
age of 15. He has since performed as soloist with the New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony of Costa Rica, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New World Symphony, and the Nashville Symphony, among others. 2013-14 season highlights include a subscription debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as a return to Chicago’s International Beethoven Festival and the annual Sphinx Virtuosi national tour. Cabezas’ 2012-13 engagements included concerts with the Detroit Symphony, the Nashville Symphony and the National Symphony of Costa Rica, as well as appearances with Musicians from Marlboro, at the International Beethoven Festival, and ChamberFest Cleveland. The International Beethoven Project, led by President and Artistic Director George Lepauw, will present over 100 events spanning classical and new music, visual art, fashion, literature and education for Beethoven Festival: LOVE 2013 — the organization’s third annual multidisciplinary festival inspired by the creativity and genius of Ludwig van Beethoven, Sept. 7-15, 2013. BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
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SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING
A Moment to Supersize Your Thinking By Effie Rolfe
Listen—don’t miss your cue! Of course, the best way to not miss your cue is to make sure you listen. Tell me, have you ever set out to do something and was waiting for instructions but somehow missed your cue? I remember attending a play and one of the actors missed their cue. Although the show continued, for a moment, it appeared to be somewhat awkward to the lead actor on stage. It probably was a terrible feeling for the person that caused this very obvious mishap. Who knows what the reason was, but obviously that cue was missed? Thank goodness that was just a stage play—but what if you missed the cue concerning your life or destiny. Unlike a stage play, failing to execute the next step regarding your destiny could be critical and result in wasted time. It’s almost similar to when you drive on the highway and miss your exit. You may have to go 50
track. Again, a production and highway exit is nothing compared to your life. Since you’re only here for a moment and then gone—it’s imperative that you begin to pay attention and listen to directions. The best way to do this is to stop—look and listen to the voice of God. He generally speaks through a gentle nudging—tugging which is a still
Rev. Ira Acree
Effie Rolfe miles until you get to the next one. This could take at least 2 hours out of your day and cause your schedule to be totally off
church has given away more than $160,000 to local college students. The most recent scholarships were awarded to 25 students. Acree said he has been a longtime advocate for youth in Austin as well as beyond his own community. Recently, he co-hosted a Justice for Trayvon Martin Rally in Chicago, a site of Rev. Al Sharpton’s 100 city vigil. Recently he and the Rev. Marshall Hatch were in Durant, Okla. fighting for justice for five expelled student athletes at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, known as the Durant 5. “I’m very proud of the fact that our church members and partners have not allowed their financial challenges to stop them from investing in education. There is no better way of fighting violence than to invest in the futures of young college students,” stated Acree.
Sixth Grace hosts expo Youth of all ages will be treated to backpacks and school supplies during the Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church back-to-school fair and expo August 17 at 10 a.m. at the church, 600 E. 35th St. Besides refreshments, games, and music; participants will be able to meet with high school and college counselors, watch a youth concert and hear a forum “Stepping into a New Season…without violence.” For more information contact the church at 312-2255300. www.chicagocrusader.com
a cue because it is as close as your next breath—within.
Are you listening….? Effie Rolfe is the author of “Supersize Your Thinking,” a media personality and Motivational Speaker. You can contact her at effierolfe.com or on twitter.com/effiedrolfe.
The Crusader Gospel Corner
Austin church continues supporting college students For the 12th consecutive year, the Greater St. John Bible Church helped local students with their college education by providing scholarships ranging from $500$1,000. The Rev. Ira Acree, pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church said as of today, the
small voice, commonly referred to as your intuition. It’s crucial to have quiet time and then focus and wait to hear your next cue. The scripture says to ‘be still and hear the salvation of the Lord.’ God’s desire for everyone is to have salvation, which means preservation, deliverance and protection. Thank God we don’t have to wait for anyone to give us
Congrats to multi-talented publicist and marketing specialist, Randy Bonds, who recently wore the hat of musician and director of his group, The Messengers. The group shared an intimate evening during their 7th annual inspirational showcase, entitled “The Encounter.” The group ministered songs from their upcoming EP, “I Live for You” before a live audience at the Open Door Theater in Oak Park. They are currently working on the project to be released next year. The Tatisa Joiner Foundation presents Dana Divine and the cast of Every Day is October to
ing out their checks and making donations and I decided that I needed to start a foundation,” said Joiner. “That’s when the mission came in and I met with survivors and they saw the picture and they said it was inspiring and empowering.” Divine also shared, “Survivors will share testimonials, there will be performances by jazz saxophonist, Rico Maatre, Maggie Brown, hosted by Effie Rolfe. Also there will be an opportunity to raise money to support the mission—to empower, inspire and encourage survivors to celebrate life.” Rev. Steven and Lady Valecia
Tatisa Joiner launch the new original docu-se- Hunley of Complete in Christ ries. The pink carpet event pre- Ministries are extending invites to mier will be held August 9th from their Rhema Word Conference 6 - 9 p.m. at the Gallery Guichard, held August 9th to 11th at the 3521 S. King Drive in Chicago. Hilton Hotel in Lisle. Speakers for The radio personality, along with the event includes Pastors Willie other cancer survivors, will band James Campbell, Norma Cruz together as they celebrate and Hayes, Harold Thomas, Marqus showcase the new look of Breast Beaver and Chicago Crusader’s Cancer. “I started the foundation Effie Rolfe, who will speak during five years ago after being diag- the conference’s prayer breakfast nosed 10 years ago and I wanted on Saturday, August 10th at 9 a.m. to celebrate life,“ said Tatisa Join- The theme is “Recognition of the er, Founder and CEO. “I was Master.” The conference will conguest speaker at a breast cancer sist of workshops and musical show in 2008, and part of my pre- guests, Rene Weston and W.O.W. sentation was a topless albeit artis- For details call 630-677-0370. tic photograph of me and my husband. After unveiling it to an The annual Clay Evans Scholaraudience of 600, they were writ- ship Foundation is at Fellowship BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
Dana Divine Baptist Church this Friday and Sunday. “The scholarship foundation started in 1974 and has dispersed over $150,000 in Brownsville, Tenn. and Chicago to attend colleges,” shared Executive Board Member, Helen Warren. On Friday, August 9th, the 2nd Annual Dinner and Fashion Show entitled, Walking in Grace, Stepping in Style and Ripping the Runway will feature some of Chicago’s finest First Ladies. Ms. Trina Davis, Robyn Wilson, Tasha Thomas, Cynthia Steward and Rosanna Brown will be modeling fashions for Sunday morning service. This year the Foundation will honor his sister, Dr. LouDella Evans Reid, for her work with the choirs for the past 50 years. Fellowship Baptist Church, known as the ‘Ship,’ recorded classic hits— Room at the Cross, Bringing in the Sheaves, I’m Blessed, What He’s Done For Me, Have You Got Good Religions as well as their popular theme song heard on their TV and radio broadcast for nearly 47 years, What A Fellowship. “From 1971 to 2001, we recorded one to two albums every year,” said Royal Warren, former Assistant Minister of Music under Evans’ sister, LouDella Evans Reid. “Several musicians left because Rev. Evans allowed his sister to be the Minister of Music at his church.” The concert on Sunday, August 11th is free and open to the public, 4537 S. Princeton Ave. in Chicago.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
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New program helps at risk-youth
BRIANA SHEPARD, 10; Robert Nickson, 16; Craig Henry, 18; Jakevius Williams, 18; and Timayah Johnson, 16, are pictured with the new Go Green Pedicabs during the unveiling ceremony for four Hot Dog Wrapper carts and four Go Green Pedicabs that are part of The Green Light Movement’s Young Entrepreneurs Program. The pedicabs will each carry a plaque in memory of JNan’s grandmother Bernice Williams, who co-wrote the Duke of Earl and three other songs in Billboards Top 100.
ENTERTAINMENT: CHICAGO STYLE (Continued from page 12) of Swedish choreographer Alexan- credible sponsors, the dance artists der Ekman’s Episode 31 performed of Chicago and from across the by The Joffrey Ballet and the Pre- country, and most importantly, miere of Lane Alexander’s and Bril the fans, have all embraced the FesBarrett’s In the beginning… per- tival and return each year to ensure formed by Chicago Human its continued success,” said Franke. Rhythm Project. This year also sees “We’re grateful for this ongoing more live music throughout the support and look forward to preFestival, as the Lar Lubovitch senting a rich and varied proDance Company and festival new- gram.” comer Ensemble Español (contemTicket Information: porary Flamenco) both perform to All performance showcases are live accompaniment. Philadelphia- free, but tickets for indoor events based company Philadanco and must be reserved in advance. No Chicago-based Natya Dance The- tickets are needed for the outdoor atre (contemporary Bharata Nat- “Celebration of Dance” Grand Fiyam) will also be seen for the first nale performance at the Pritzker time in the 2013 Chicago Dancing Pavilion. Festival. For more information on the “This year the Festival turns lucky Chicago Dancing Festival, its hisnumber seven, and we’re indeed tory and 2013 offerings, check out lucky that the city of Chicago, our the newly redesigned www.chiamazing presenting venues and in- cagodancingfestival.com.
(Cont’d from page 10) with a statewide network of 58 community-based organizations located in forty-two (42) of Illinois’ most socio-economically distressed communities. Roxanne Burnett is proud of how the youth are running their Hot Dog Wrappers. “They run their carts like Chef Ramsay runs his kitchen,” she says. “They know what’s on a Chicago dog and what’s not. No ketchup—but if they want it, they get it.” Burnett points out that the youth also make an excellent Tamale Sundae: A tamale split down the center, sprinkled with onion and tomato, covered with chili and cheese and topped with jalapeño peppers. Two of the youth involved in the Hog Dog Wrappers segment of the Young Entrepreneurs Program are Tyrone Rayford, 21, and Tiffany Brown, 21. Tiffany found the program when she was searching for ways to help support her mother and father in their time of need. By getting paid while also receiving business skills training, she not only was able to help provide for her family, but also was inspired to enroll in the hospitality program at Harold Washington College. Tiffany dreams of opening her own restaurant or catering business. “Thanks to this program,” she says, “I’ll be able to work it properly from inventory to sanitation and also know how to gain clientele through excellent customer service.”
Tyrone, a student at Wright College, believes that the program is a great opportunity to learn how to establish his own videography studio and retail store. “It helps me financially,” he says, “and the work environment is all about team work and making yourself a better, stronger person.” During the week, the Hot Dog Wrapper carts are stationed at 35th & King Dr., 63rd & Drexel, 125 N. Hoyne at the Major Adams Community Committee, 75th & Indiana and 55th and the Green Line. On Saturdays the Hot Dog Wrappers can be found at Jackson Park near the fieldhouse at 64th and Stony Island, and on Sundays they are at Roosevelt and Halsted at the UIC Forum. The new pedicabs segment of the program is designed to help youth develop business skills by learning how Chicago’s tourism industry works. Pedicab tours will be sold out of the Bronzeville Visitors Center, 411 E. 35th St. On the Bronzeville Tour, the young tour guides will be able to tell their passengers about landmarks like the Supreme Life Building, home to the first African American Insurance Company, as well as the historic sites where famous people like Ida B. Wells, Nate King Cole, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, Louis Armstrong and Lorraine Hansbery lived. In addition, there will be downtown tours and there are plans to use the pedicabs to transport people going to and from
their cars at Sox Park and the United Center. The Green Light Movement was founded by rapper/songwriter JNan. JNan is the Clear Channel/WGCI 2004-2005 Chicago Idol and his voice has been featured in commercials for several regional businesses and national corporations. During his time in the recording industry, however, JNan became concerned with some of the negative messages and behaviors that he observed. This experience inspired him to use his influence as a bridge from the negative to the positive. He is doing this through his organization, The Green Light Movement and its programs that include Young Entrepreneurs, Leaders of Tomorrow, See The Light, HipHop Blocks, Youth Helping Youth, Community First, Real Music Group and Gift of Warmth. JNan is very proud of the progress that youth are making through the Young Entrepreneurs Program. “A lot of violence happens due to youth wanting money and popularity,” he points out. “It doesn’t make sense to adults, but that’s what’s happening. This program is very important. There are so many negative ways to make money. We’re emphasizing the positive ways to make money and also how to be positive in the community and how to give back. These young people are not contributing to violence, but to something positive.
Pullman Porter Museum celebrates (Continued from page 13) tivism, ideals, example and results achieved by Randolph and Rustin’s Movement, that he modeled the historic 1963 March after it. The museum also will use the occasion to pay tribute to the Black Labor Movement, which was conceived in August 1925 when Randolph founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. It was the first Black labor union in America to be chartered under the AFL and, the first to win a collective bargaining agreement, with a major U.S. corporation. “We are all very excited about the celebrations on August 24 and 25,” declared David A. Peterson Jr., president of the APRPP museum. “We look forward to providing a forum where the March can be remembered and where the Black Labor Movement can be celebrated. It is only fitting that these events take place at the only museum in the nation that 16
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bears the names of Mr. Randolph and the Pullman Porters.” The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum is the only cultural facility in the world devoted exclusively to highlighting the accomplishments of Randolph and the Black Labor movement. Founded in 1995 by historian Dr. Lyn Hughes, the Museum has emerged as the premiere Mecca for chronicling and showcasing those stories. Opened year-round, the Museum hosts exhibits, programs and has an array of resources on these subjects. Under its new president, David A. Peterson, Jr., Museum 44, the youth and young adult program division of APRPP Museum was launched. Museum 44 is planning another celebration to memorialize the March on Washington on August 28. For more information about the events and about the Museum, visit its website at www.aprpullmanportermuseum.org. BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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(Cont’d from page 4) conducting an experiment with out children and God only knows what the outcome will be. The mayor needs to immediately sit down with Mrs. Lewis without benefit of news conferences or media advisories and get Mrs. Lewis’ insights and expertise on how to minimize the damage(s) from this short-sighted closure plan that has been implemented. But the reality is his ego is probably too big to participate in such an exchange – so the CTU doesn’t lose, CPS doesn’t lose, but our young people certainly do. Homer Cunningham
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COMMERCIAL/ WHOLESALE SPACE Commercial/Wholesale space for rent in the Chatham area… 11,000 square feet. Contact Bob at 773-488-1411.
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COMMUNITY
James Hudson holds Annual Ice Cream Social MUSIC PRODUCER, soloist and community activist James Hudson hosted his annual Family & Friends Ice Cream Social recently with about 200 people, including business owners, elected officials, and community leaders. Hudson said the free social is one way he gives back to the community that has supported his work.
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