Chicago Crusader 12/21/13 E-Edition

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Blacks Must Control Their Own Community

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

•C•P•V•S•

VOLUME LXXIII NUMBER 35—SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE 1940

25 Cents and worth more

CTA cuts will impact Black ex-offenders

By Wendell Hutson After six years of employing ex-offenders as part-time janitors the Chicago Transit Authority decided to cut the apprenticeship program from its 2014 budget and that has Black leaders upset and disappointed. “There is, therefore, a straight line between gainful employment and reducing recidivism. (And) these jobs are critical to reducing violence, recidivism, and unemployment rates for hard to employ people,” said Alderman Howard Brookins (21st), who is also chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus.

The elimination of the program means 65 ex-offenders, who are paid $9.50 an hour to clean trains and buses, will be looking for new jobs after Dec. 31 when the program is set to end. Regular union employees, who earn between $13-$30 an hour, also will be pushed aside to save the agency $2.9 million a year, according to Robert Kelly, president of Local 308 of the

Amalgamated Transit Union. He added that passengers should expect to ride dirty trains and buses more often now that trains will be cleaned once a day instead of three times. “This could become a serious health matter for the public,’’ Kelly said.

However, CTA spokesman Brian Steele, said all current daytime crews would instead be assigned to work overnight hours to replace the apprentices, who work exclusively at night, and that trains and buses would maintain a high level of cleanliness.

CTA officials contend that Kelly pushed to end the apprenticeship program that employed the ex-offenders and that disappointed Brookins.

“This is a matter of justice and equity. We support this program and strongly encourage ATU Local 308 to end its opposition to it,” added Brookins. Other Black leaders, such as Andrea Zopp, president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, also support keeping the program active.

“We believe that the CTA apprenticeship

program for former offenders is a very important job opportunity vehicle and recognize that this program has been an economic and employment success for the

participants and the CTA,” Zopp said.

“This results in diminished hope and puts them at a greater risk of becoming a repeat (Continued on page 2)

CTA WORKERS SUCH as Venus Caston, who is an ex-offender will lose her job at the end of the year due to CTA budget cuts and what some call a lack of support from the union representing the workers.

Arshele Stevens is new Kennedy-King president A nationwide search for a new president for Kennedy-King College found that the school’s interim president – Arshele Stevens was the best fit. City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor recently announced the appointment of the 45-year-old Stevens who has served as interim president since July.

Kennedy-King, 6301 S. Halsted, was recently rated by Washington Monthly magazine among the top 50 community colleges in the country. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chancellor Hyman also named the college’s Washburne Culinary Institute a City Colleges’ College to Careers hub for Culinary and Hospitality programs.

“Arshele shares our commitment to ensuring that every student who comes to us reaches his or her potential and is fully prepared to hit the ground running in further college or a career,” said Hyman. “Her strong leadership skills and dedication to students, faculty, and staff will allow us to build on the successful reinvention of

Kennedy-King College.”

Since being interim president Stevens has implemented an embedded and mandatory tutoring program to tackle problems related to satisfactory academic progress and retention. Previously, she was Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer for City Colleges, leading initiatives to update technology systems serving 115,000 students and 5,800 faculty and staff. As CIO, Stevens led cross-functional teams in the implementation of Open Book, a Business Intelligence (BI) and Data Warehousing platform that enables data-driven decision making at all levels of the organization. She also worked to modernize campus technologies, including upgrading computers and other technology within classrooms, student labs and faculty systems, as well as student-focused tools including online regArshele Stevens

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Banker adopts Crane Students (See story on page16)

(Continued on page 3)

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NEWS

School is in for Magic Johnson High School

By Wendell Hutson After attending a recent open house for the Magic Johnson Bridgescape in Roseland, Alderman Latasha Thomas (17th), who chairs the City Council’s Education Committee, said she would like to see a campus open in her South Side ward.

“I would definitely welcome a campus in my ward,” Thomas, whose ward covers the Auburn Gresham community, told the Crusader.

“These types of schools are needed all over the city because not all kids do well in traditional schools. And because all kids learn differently there should be different schools available for them to attend.”

The Magic Johnson Bridgescape opened its first South Side campus in November at 10928 S. Halsted St. It is the second Chicago campus for the alternative high school, which has campuses nationally including one on the West Side at 3222 W. Roosevelt Road.

Currently the school is full to capacity with 150 students and a waiting list with an additional 150 prospects, said Brittany Bennett, a manager at the Roseland campus.

Students attend one of two sessions at Magic Johnson Bridgescape. The morning session is from 7:30-11:30 a.m. and the afternoon session is from noon-4 p.m.

MAGIC JOHNSON BRIDGESCAPE student Khalil Hodges thanked Secretary of State Jesse White, Alderman Carrie Austin and Alderman Lathasa Thomas for attending the open house for a new Roseland campus, which opened in November.

In a statement, Johnson said edAnd while students do not have to Learning Opportunity Program, wear uniforms, they must adhere to a which provides options for out-of- ucation has always been a priority school and off-track students seeking for him. strict attendance policy.

“My purpose for opening these “If a student misses three days with- to re-engage and graduate.

Parents, residents, prospective schools are to help youths in Black out notifying us that could lead to them being put on probation,” Ben- students, and even elected officials and brown communities who nett said. “We are here to help them attended the school’s open house want to learn,” Johnson said. complete their education, and in or- to learn more about the school op- “This is not a pilot program, eider for that to happen they must be erated by Ervin “Magic” Johnson. ther. Our schools offer hope for The NBA Hall of Famer had at- youths who may have experienced here every day.”

Chicago Public Schools officials tended a September open house hard times and need a helping said the Magic Johnson school is part for the West Side campus in the hand to get back in school and back on track.” of the school district’s new Alternative North Lawndale community.

Secretary of State Jesse White was the keynote speaker at the open house.

“When someone tells you that you cannot achieve, you tell them ‘watch me.’ And then make sure you soar even higher in life,” White told students. “You are our future so you must succeed by climbing up until you surpass the ‘glass ceiling’ that has been placed on you. The only time we (society) want you looking down is when you need to tie your shoe.”

White was introduced by student Khalil Hodges, 17, who had attended Oswego East High School for three years before moving to Roseland to live with his father. After he graduates next year Hodges said he plans to go to college to study engineering.

“I like it here a whole lot. Classes are smaller and the day goes by faster. Yes, I miss going to sporting events and stuff like that but I do not care,” Hodges said. “As long as I get a good education here at Magic Johnson I am fine with the transition.”

Alderman Carrie Austin (34th), whose ward includes the Roseland campus, said the campus is a good fit for her ward.

“I am glad that I got it. These kids are not bad. They chose to go back to school. This is not an alternative high school but an optional school,” Austin said.

Sexually abused Black man comes forward

By J. Coyden Palmer

A Chicago man who was sexually assaulted as a child by a Roman Catholic priest on the city’s South Side recently filed a lawsuit against the church and the priest. Darryl McArthur, 27, became the first victim of Daniel McCormack to go public. He did so after going through counseling and saying

he wanted to put a public face to the crime against him. McArthur told reporters last week he wanted to break down the stereotypes and connotation often given to male victims of sexual assault.

“Where I come from there’s a culture of ‘don’t tell,’” McArthur said. “That only leads to more problems as there is this veil of secrecy.”

DARRYL McARTHUR said he was sexually assaulted by former priest Daniel McCormack when he was a student at St. Ailbe School on the city’s South Side. McArthur is the first victim to go public when he filed a suit against the church last week in Chicago.

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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Speaking at the offices of his attorney, McArthur explained how he first met McCormack when McCormack was a young priest assigned to the St. Albie Parish in the Calumet Heights community. McCormack was McArthur’s basketball coach. He said the young priest was very good at “grooming” his victims and gaining their trust by the easy way he was able to talk with young people. He said McCormack started abusing him in 1994.

“He brought a sense of making you feel comfortable as a child,” McArthur said of his abuser. “He excelled in showing kids how to become good athletes.”

McArthur also said coming forward is a continual part of his own healing process. He said by publicly acknowledging what happened to him, he is taking the power away from his abuser. He said while he may not have been able to defend himself as a kid, he is now in control of his life. McArthur said he hopes to have a family one day and he wants to be able to share his experience with his kids in order to protect them. McArthur said all of McCormack’s victims were Black males and they will grow up and have kids of their own if they have not already started. He said by remaining reticent on the issue, the potential for future abuse will only continue.

“At some point we have to break this

cycle,” he said. “I’ve learned through my counseling that I was a victim. Victims cannot be blamed for what happened to them.”

As for the lawsuit itself, attorneys for the Archdiocese and McArthur are going to try to settle the matter through a commission that was created and has already settled other suits. All of the other victims of sexual abuse have filed under the name John Doe. McArthur is the first to go public. His suit is seeking an undisclosed amount. Mc-

Arthur told the Crusader he is planning on speaking about his experience more in detail in the near future. He said he wants to educate others within the African American community about child sexual abuse in terms of what to look for and what to do if a child becomes a victim. He also said the African American community has viewed psychological counseling as “taboo” but said the counseling gave him the courage to move forward in his life.

CTA cuts will impact . . .

(Continued from page 1) offender and returning to prison.” tionately represented in Illinois’ That fear is also shared by prison population. More often than Brookins, who said one of the worst not, these ex-offenders return to things that could happen to an ex- their home communities after servoffender is to be unemployed. ing their sentences in prison,” said “African Americans are dispropor- Brookins. “They return to communities that have higher than average rates of unemployment and underemployment caused by a chronic shortage of living wage jobs.”

While Illinois and Chicago reported slight declines in unemployment for the month of October, the last month data was available; Brookins and Zopp said unemployment in Black communities remained steady around 20 percent, Scan this QR (quick response) compared to a state unemployment code to read Crusader stories rate of 8.9 percent and a U.S. rate of 7.3 percent. on our website.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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NEWS

Dorothy Brown’s Office send 400+ gifts to children patients Recently, Honorable Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and her staff sent more than 400 gifts to children who are being treated at St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Approximately 300 children, who are too sick to be home, will reside in the hospital this holiday season. The presents were collected during the first “Clerk of the Circuit Court (CCC) Santa Drive for St. Jude.”

“It warms my heart to know that my staff members and I are able to provide some holiday cheer to these young patients at St. Jude,” said Clerk Brown. “I thank all of our employees for their generosity. All of these gifts represent the outpouring of care and compassion our employees have for these children.”

Calling the massive gift send-off “one of a kind,” Mr. Rodrigo Leanos, Regional Event Marketing Manager for St. Jude Research Hospital, joined Clerk Brown at the Santa Drive event.

“We’ve never had a donation this

large in terms of holiday gifts,” Mr. Leanos said, pointing out the large display of presents. He expressed appreciation on behalf of St. Jude, noting that the hospital treats children from around the world and the gifts will certainly lift their spirits at this time of year.

All My Sons Moving and Storage Company, Chicago, is donating its services to transport the gifts from the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic dis-

eases through research and treatment. At St. Jude, no child is de-

nied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.

“A huge thank you to All My Sons Moving and Storage for assisting Santa in delivering these gifts,” Clerk Brown said.

Clerk Brown’s Santa Drive program featured a photo poster of 10-year-old Angiel, a St. Jude cancer patient whose home is in Kenya. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers. Its mission is to

HONORABLE DOROTHY BROWN, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, is joined by Mr. Rodrigo Leanos, regional event marketing manager for St. Jude Research Hospital, at the send-off of more than 400 gifts contributed by Clerk’s Office employees to the children patients of St. Jude Research Hospital.

Get Covered Illinois helping fix Medicaid signup errors Get Covered Illinois (GCI) is advising people who have applied for coverage on the federal website, healthcare.gov, and who believe they may have been incorrectly referred to the state for Medicaid coverage, to restart the process by using the screening tool at Getcoveredillinois.gov.

State officials are offering this guidance because some of the people who have been flagged by the federal website as not eligible for private health plans through the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace believe they have been incorrectly

referred to the Medicaid program.

Federal officials have said they expect to transfer applications from more than 30,000 people to the state who are potentially eligible for Medicaid, although the final Medicaid determination rests with the state.

The GCI screening tool asks users several simple questions about their income, household size and if anyone in the family is currently on Medicaid. It uses this information to determine whether the applicant likely meets the income levels for Medicaid, or is eligible to purchase

coverage through the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace.

If the screening tool refers them back to the federal website, and they are unable to remove the application within their existing account, GCI recommends they create a new Marketplace account with a different email address and submit a new application to healthcare.gov.

If the screening tool refers them to the state’s Medicaid application site, ABE.illinois.gov, they can choose to submit an application there.

Applicants are also encouraged to call the GCI Help Desk at 866-311-

Arshele Stevens is new Kennedy-King (Continued from page 1) istration and a new CCC job board.

Stevens brings 20 years of experience to the position, working for seven years at the Chicago Public Schools before joining City Colleges of Chicago in 2011. As CIO for the Chicago Public Schools, Stevens oversaw the launch of IPads in the Classroom, an initiative that focused on improving student outcomes through access to the most current technologies.

During her tenure, she revamped critical data analysis and collection systems for the district including creating a Data Quality Index that was the first-of-its-kind in a K-12 organization.

Before transitioning to a career in education in 2004, Stevens worked in project management and information technology for Wachovia Bank and CNA. Over the www.chicagocrusader.com

course of her career, Stevens has served on numerous boards including the Mayor’s Technology Advisory Council, the HP Advisory Council and the Oracle CIO Advisory Council.

Stevens is a graduate of the MBA program at University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. She completed her undergraduate studies in economics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

To learn more about KennedyKing College visit www.ccc.edu.

About City Colleges of Chicago City Colleges of Chicago is the largest community college system in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation, with 5,800 faculty and staff serving 115,000 students annually at seven colleges and six satellite sites city-wide. City Col-

leges of Chicago is in the midst of a Reinvention, a collaborative effort to review and revise City Colleges programs and practices to ensure students leave City Colleges college-ready, career-ready and prepared to pursue their life’s goals.

City Colleges of Chicago includes seven colleges: Richard J. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harry S. Truman College, Harold Washington College and Wilbur Wright College. The system also oversees the Washburne Culinary Institute, the French Pastry School, two restaurants, five Child Development Centers, the Center for Distance Learning, the Workforce Institute, the public broadcast station WYCC-TV Channel 20 and radio station WKKC-FM 89.3. For more information about City Colleges of Chicago, call: (773) COLLEGE or visit www.ccc.edu.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

1119 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day to obtain additional assistance.

Under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), individuals and families with income from 138 percent up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($15,860 to $45,960 for individuals and from $32,500 up to $94,200 for a family of four) are eligible for subsidies on a sliding scale if they obtain coverage through the Marketplace and don’t have an alternative source of affordable, quality coverage. GCI is delivering this guidance through its statewide system of more than 1,500 Navigators and in-person counselors and is also contacting applicants directly via email and phone.

The state is offering the advice to applicants ahead of Dec. 23, the first of a series of key enrollment dates under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). Consumers must enroll in a health plan by Dec. 23, and have paid a premium by Dec. 31, in order to have coverage on Jan. 1 through the plans offered on the Marketplace, which is accessed through healthcare.gov. The full open enrollment period for the Marketplace runs through March 31, 2014.

There is no final date to apply for Medicaid eligibility for which applications are accepted throughout the year.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released numbers for the first two months of enrollment under the ACA that indicate 67,936 ap-

plications on behalf of 124,252 individual people were completed from Illinois and that 7,043 people have selected a private health care plan through the heatlthcare.gov website since Oct. 1.

The numbers released by HHS show that of the completed applications, 73,949 people are eligible to enroll in a Marketplace health plan; 28,689 of them qualify for federal financial subsidies. In addition, 30,446 people were going to be transferred to the state for potential eligibility for Medicaid, although the final Medicaid determination rests with the state.

Illinois officials said traffic on the Getcoveredillinois.gov website has remained steady, with more than 595,000 website visits since Oct. 1 and more than 270,000 users of the screening tool.

The ABE site has received more than 99,000 applications.

Anyone seeking assistance in applying for health coverage in Illinois is encouraged to do so through any of the following methods: Visit the website at www.Getcoveredillinois.gov (there is also a Spanish-language version of the website).

Sit with a specially trained Navigator at one of the hundreds of partner sites across the state; find a Navigator nearby through the website by entering a zip code. Bi-lingual Navigators are available.

Call the help desk at 866-3111119. Operators are available to help you each day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Spanish-language assistance is available on the phone.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

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EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND MERRY KWANZAA! That special holiday season is upon us once more. Christmas and Kwanzaa have become the dynamic duo that comes just before the advent of the new year. Christmas is celebrated to honor the birth of Christ on December 25. Actually, Jesus Christ was not born on this day, but the essence of the season recaps the virtues that he espoused. This is also a sacred time of year for a number of other celebrants, including winter solstice observers.

Christmas sentiments abound during this season wherein people are encouraged to focus on love, sharing, and giving. It also represents an economic bonanza for merchants and a time for all of us to indulge in those things that we were reluctant to splurge on during the rest of the year. Santa Claus, that legendary figure that is so magical in the lives of children, provides a foundation for many of them for being “good,” so that they will be rewarded on Christmas morning with the toys and other gifts that they wildly anticipate.

Kwanzaa, on the other hand, is a celebration of the “First Fruits,” and is a holiday that was introduced in the 1960s by Maulana Ron Karenga. It was partially created to offset the materialism of Christmas in the African American community and replace it with something meaningful. The foundation of Kwanzaa is the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles. These are precepts that, if observed all through the year, can help enhance the quality of life of Black people in America. Actually, all people can benefit from these ideas. The Nguzo Saba are as follows: Umoja - Unity; Kujichagulia - Self-Determination; Ujima Collective Work and Responsibility; Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics; Nia - Purpose; Kuumba - Creativity; and Imani Faith.

The Nguzo Saba spans seven days, each focusing on one of the principles. For example, the first day of Kwanzaa, which starts the day after Christmas on December 26, is Umoja. The idea of Unity is the hallmark of that day, and the tradition is that when you greet people you do so with the utterance of Umoja. On the second day of Kwanzaa, Kujichagulia, the focus is on self-determination, and you greet people with Kujichagulia when you come in contact with them. This is true for every subsequent day until the last day, Imani - Faith, is reached.

Moreover, a candle is lit on a Kinara for each day as well, with the first one lit on Umoja, and the second one on Kujichagulia until the seventh day when all of the candles have been lit.

These rituals can serve a valuable purpose, and are life enhancing if observed with the appropriate mindset. It is a joyous time like Christmas and, like Christmas; it is becoming a time when marketplaces, in particular, African oriented marketplaces, flourish. This is a tradition that is growing, and it would be prudent to avoid the pitfalls that have come to beset the Christmas holiday - i.e., Kwanzaa can also end up being commercialized. This would be unfortunate and counterproductive, but it could be fun, since people love to spend money during this season.

In some ways, Christmas and Kwanzaa are, indeed, similar, in that the original idea of both is to focus on the betterment of the human condition. They differ in one important regard one is connected to the Christian religion and the other is not.

Be that as it may, this is a special time for many, many people on the planet Earth, and the idea of goodwill can help us think about the things that count the most; our relationship to each other and to the Earth! With this said, the Crusader wishes for you and yours a very Happy Christmas and a Merry Kwanzaa!

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Saturday, December 21, 2013

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR “IT’S TIME TO STOP THE WAR ON THE POOR IN CHICAGO” Dear Editor: It’s time to stop the war on the poor in Chicago. We hear the talk all over the inner city. Poor people want to leave the city because they feel it is unsafe and unaffordable. It does not take sophisticated analysis to see the linkages between the poverty rate and violence in certain neighborhoods. Between 2000 and 2010, Chicago lost 200,000 residents.

One-hundred eighty thousand of those were African American.

Over that decade, we witnessed the dismantling of the histrionic public housing developments that rung around the Loop. These projects were named after great social reformers such as Jane Addams, Henry Horner, Harold Ickes, Robert Taylor, Ida B. Wells, and Saint Francis Cabrini.

They are all gone now. Seemingly, also gone is the great social vision of the city as a promised land for all of God’s children. We must include the poor in our vision of recovery from the “Great Recession” and urban renewal. The poor families and their children have a right to live in the city with its great treasures of culture and human achievement. We must speak out on how current public policies contribute driving the poor out the city.

Driving the poor from the city may not be the intent of certain policies, but these policies sure have that effect. There are at least six basic areas of city policies that constitute a war

on the poor: One, the proliferation of fines and fees. The city is becoming a tough place for poor people to hang on to their lives and their cars. Two parking tickets make a car eligible for the boot. If you don’t pay up quickly, your vehicle will be confiscated and your fine bill compounded. If parking tickets were not enough, now “speed traps” have been set up around schools and parks. Speed bumps would have effectively addressed a non-existent school and park safety crises. But, speed bumps don’t produce tickets.

Be clear, it is not about safety. It’s about revenue. The fee and fine policies really constitute a regressive tax on Chicagoans. Last week, hundreds of cars were towed for snow route parking “violations” on an unusually balmy December 1st in Chicago.

These policies do not affect all people the same. If you get a boot and have an American Express card in your wallet; you have had a bad day.

If you are single with children, and you make the minimum wage and function with a debit card; a boot means you have a family crisis!

Two, the home foreclosure crises in the inner city has created a glut of abandoned houses. The city’s solution (?), let’s put red X’s all over these communities and make the whole neighborhood look critical. How much do you want to pay for a house next to a big ole red X? Not much?

Me neither. These obvious abandoned properties scream “let’s get the heck out of here,” in big red letters.

Cheap land in a vibrant city like Chicago being abandoned by desperate people must be an investors dream.

Three, closing schools in struggling

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

neighborhoods help make a powerful point. This neighborhood is a “hood” made up of neighbors and political leaders too powerless to fight for its interest and remaining assets. This place has been written off. The real action and good schools for good children are somewhere else. Any good parent with any live options is seeking to vacate a neighborhood with boarded up schools. I might add, poor parents are good parents too.

Four, by not hiring police and having police work overtime to address (Continued on page 16)

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COMMENTARY

Nelson Mandela – He Accomplished his Noble Mission

By Harry C. Alford NNPA Columnist Where do you begin to talk about the greatness of Nelson Mandela? The world has been blessed with very few of his ilk.

You think of courage, defiance, principled and many other descriptions of strength and might.

Yet, it was Mr. Mandela’s strong faith that guided him through his journey. Many don’t reflect on this but it was his strong Christian faith that made him do what no other has done before – defeat Apartheid.

Apartheid wasn’t unique. In fact, the white power structure of South Africa – the Afrikaners, took many of the Jim Crow laws of the southern United States as their model when applying this form of segregation. They started this in a formal fashion right after World War II as they feared the overwhelming Black majority would rebel and take power at the expense of whites. They were as rough as American white southerners. Ironically, Blacks in both nations started to fight against this evil system in the 1950’s. While the Civil Rights Movement of the United States was based on nonviolence, in

Harry C. Alford South Africa it was “by any means necessary” – including violence. Nelson formed the “Umkhonto we Sizwe” faction of the ANC movement in 1961. It was responsible for a bombing campaign against government targets.

He was eventually captured and sentenced to five years in November 1962 which was converted to life imprisonment in 1964.

It was during the next 27 years of imprisonment that he returned to his Methodist roots. In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, he states “The Church was as concerned with this world as

the next: I saw that virtually all of the achievements of Africans seemed to have come about through the missionary work of the Church.” During his youth he was a member of the Students Christian Association and taught Bible classes on Sundays in nearby villages.

His return to his religious roots was profound. “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison….One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.” As he was preparing for his Inauguration as President he spoke at Zionist Christian Church, “The Good News borne by our risen Messiah who chose not one race, who chose not one country, who chose not one language, who chose not one tribe, who chose all of humankind! Each Easter marks the rebirth of our faith. It marks the victory of our risen Savior over the torture of the cross and the grave. Our Messiah, who came to us in the form of a mortal man, but who by his suffering and crucifixion attained immortality.”

In another Easter speech, Nelson really explained his resolve for peace and nonviolence, “We have joined you this Easter in an act of solidarity, and in an act of worship. We have come, like all the other pilgrims, to join in an act of renewal and rededication.

The festival of Easter, which is so closely linked with the festival of the Passover, marks the rebirth of the resurrected Messiah. Who without arms, without soldiers, without police and covert Special Forces, without hit squads or bands of vigilantes, overcame the mightiest state during his time.

This great festival of rejoicing marks the victory of the forces of life over death, of hope over despair. We pray with you for the blessings of peace! We pray with you for the blessings of love! We pray with you for the blessings of freedom.” My brothers and sisters, we should have our children recite this in school. It is powerful!

Nelson became a very great president. He truly united this nation. Forgiveness and reconciliation were his keys to a successful government. At his Inauguration he reserved the front row seats for his former jailers.

When the world championship

Rugby game was played in South Africa he wore the uniform of the South African Spring Bok team and was the lead cheerleader. For the first time both races united under one team and won the world championship (shocked the world). He could have stayed President forever but, like our own George Washington, he set the mold with just one term. The success of democracy was his greatest concern.

South Africa secretly became a nuclear power but Nelson had this dismantled after he came to power. The nation economically is now a 1st World nation. There is still much poverty but improvement is ongoing and without a doubt, South Africa is the economic power of the African continent. Nelson Mandela led them to the “promised land.”

For this he becomes a great leader in the minds of all rational people. I put him just a little under Jesus Christ. I end by saying rest in peace dear brother and thank you for coming through.

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

Email: halford@nationalbcc.org.

Jesse Jackson Almost Missed Mandela’s Funeral

By George E. Curry NNPA Columnist PRETORIA, South Africa – Jesse Jackson left the Southern Sun Hotel in downtown Pretoria shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday, expecting it would take less than two hours to fly 541 miles to Qunu, where funeral services were being held for former South African President Nelson Mandela.

The first indication that it would take longer came when Jackson and his delegation arrived at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.

“Are you sure we’re in the right place?” he asked his driver.

“This doesn’t look right.” It did not look right because Jackson had attended a ceremony at the air base on Saturday, just before Mandela’s remains were flow to Qunu for burial. But the previous ceremonies were in another section of this base, which accounted for Jackson’s unfamiliarity.

The group was greeted by Brig. Gen. Marthie Visser, a courtly white South African with a thick accent; she was eager to make sure Jackson got on the right plane.

The next plane out, she told him, would carry Deputy Presiwww.chicagocrusader.com

dent Kgakma Petrus Motlanthe, Constitutional Court [Supreme Court] Justice Mogoeng Kourakis and former President Thabo Mbeki. She walked Jackson over to a desk where the two quickly examined a printout of the manifest and Jackson’s name was nowhere in sight.

That set off a flurry of calls by Jackson; his youngest son Yusef; Monica Morgan, a Detroit photographer, and James Gomez, his Director of International Affairs, who was still in the hotel. Frantic calls were placed to the trip’s local organizer by the younger Jackson and Gomez. And the organizer made a round of calls to highranking African National Congress (ANC) officials.

After Visser escorted Jackson and his companions to Lounge #3, an area used by VIPs, it was learned that an ANC official had not confirmed with the military the landing of a private plane that was supposed to carry Jackson and his party to Qunu. Unable to land, the plane was parked at another airport.

Visser called her superiors to get permission for Jackson and his delegation to tag along with Deputy President Motlanthe’s party. By this time, Chief Justice Kourakis walked into the lounge.

He greeted Jackson warmly and

George E. Curry the two exchanged laughter for about 15 minutes. However, when it was time for Kourakis to leave, he waved good-bye to Jackson and boarded the aircraft.

After seeing the two interact, I was convinced that we would be boarding the plane shortly. It turned out that I was both right and wrong. Gen. Visser escorted us to steps at the back of the plane, where we waited on the ground for her to board and get permission for us to enter.

“I have some terrible news,” she told Jackson. “The security people say you were not cleared for this flight and you can’t board.”

Jackson asked her to speak directly to Deputy President Motlanthe and when she returned, the answer was the same – we couldn’t go.

“May I speak directly with the deputy president?” Jackson asked.

Jackson did and when Visser returned, she flashed a thumbs up signal, meaning we, too, could board. When we entered, Jackson was sitting near Justice Koudrakis.

His son, Yusef; Mogan and I quickly found seats. I had taken two sips of orange juice when the general reappeared.

“I am afraid I have more bad news,” she said, apologetically.

“My general said no one can travel on this plane who has not been cleared. I am so sorry.”

Tired and embarrassed, we all departed, feeling this might be our only chance to reach Qunu by 9 a.m. At 6:15 a.m., Yusef walked over to me and said, “It looks like the window of opportunity is closing.” I replied, “It’s not closing, it’s closed – and locked tight.”

Or, so I thought.

Amid all the frantic calls, Zweli Mkhize, the ANC Treasurer-General, whom we had met earlier in the week, called Minister of Defense Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngakula and told her to fix the problem.

“He said, ‘We don’t want all the bad press we would get if Rev.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Jackson isn’t able to get to the funeral,’” a person familiar with the conversation relayed to me.

About 6:30 a.m. – two and a half hours before the main segment of the funeral was scheduled to begin – we finally got some good news: The Air Force was dispatching an 8-seater Falcon 50 jet to take us to Qunu.

Gen. Visser was ordered to accompany us and there would be a military escort waiting for us on the other end of the flight.

At 7:08 a.m., it was wheels up.

We landed, were greeted by our military escort and had our own private police motorcade to the funeral. We entered the domelike structure at 9:05 a.m., just as funeral proceedings were getting underway.

All I could do was shake my head in disbelief. That’s yet another reason to keep hope alive.

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

Saturday, December 21, 2013

5

COMMENTARY

(Continued from page 1)

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

Dr. Conrad Worrill Our ancestor, Dr. Asa G. Hilliard’s book, The Maroon Within Us, once again reminds us of a major problem that we, as African people in America, are besieged by.

Dr. Hilliard described this problem

as cultural surrender. In explaining the problem, Dr. Hilliard wrote, “African Americans remain one of the very few groups in the United States who do not honor their own cultural traditions, sometimes even when they are honored by others.”

Continuing on this point, Dr. Hilliard states that, “If there is a major illness among African American people it is that we unceasingly honor and utilize our culture less.

All great nations and people do the opposite.”

As Dr. Hilliard further explains, “Cultural surrender is more than a matter of rejecting one’s father and mother culture. It means that one accepts a new definition as a person. The culturally dependent person is a mere spectator, a receptacle for the creativities of others. To demand freedom from slavery only to use that freedom to commit one’s self to a voluntary cultural servitude is to lose the chance to be human.”

The erosion of many of our African cultural traditions and foundations are most evidenced in our family and community life. Far too many African people in America are getting away from the essence of family life. The cultural tradition of African family life is that of the extended family that centers itself on the rearing of chil-

dren and caring for the elders.

Family life is the basis for which a people maintain their cultural traditions, traditions that are important to the survival of a people.

The way we raise our children in the context of extended family life for African people was always connected to the overall development of the larger community.

Dr. Hilliard writes, “There have always been Africans or Black people in America who have been both physically and mentally free.

We have also had far too many of those who have yielded their bodies— and worse, their souls— to people and systems whose purpose was to exploit to take all and give nothing.”

It is in this context that Dr. Hilliard provides several reasons why this devastating trend of cultural surrender is taking place. He says, “…we have tended to accept certain false dichotomies,” such as the following: “1. We have tended to equate sophisticated technology with culture, believing that such technology is exclusively European and that to affirm African culture is to reject technology.

2. We have tended to equate modern with technology, and to value modern as if it were cultural progress. At the same time, we

have seen the affirmation of African/African American culture as a matter of retrogression. Further, we have seen African/African American culture as static rather than dynamic and adaptive.

3. We have tended to equate European culture with wealth and African/African American culture with poverty.

4. We have tended to associate education with the acquisition of all the cultural forms of Europeans, and find it hard to conceive of educated persons who live the African/African American culture.

5. We have tended to equate selfaffirmation with the hatred of others.

6. We have tended to equate religion with particular forms of European interpretations of Christianity and have not seen our people as religious or spiritual.

7. Generally, we have failed to study ourselves and to know our culture.”

The challenges that African people face in America, and throughout the world, as we enter the twenty-first-century is to create programs, strategies, and institutions that will reclaim and preserve our rich culture.

One such program that has emerged as one approach to preserving our culture and traditions

aimed at our youth is the growing Rites of Passage Movement. This Movement seeks to place African and African people at the center of independently working with our young people.

Children in Rites of Passage Programs are generally taught aspects of our history that included our literary accomplishments, our accomplishments in music, science and technology, and the spiritual concepts of African people that direct our moral and ethical behavior and treatment of others.

As we look out and observe the African World Community, we can see a common set of problems that all African people face, as a result of hundred of years of exploitation by Europeans and others against African people. This exploitation has developed into a worldwide system of white supremacy and white domination aimed at wiping out African culture. We must resist and refuse any efforts to wipe out our culture.

Finally, Dr. Hilliard writes, “Cultural surrender or cultural destruction leads inevitably to the loss of any possibility for a group to mobilize on its behalf.

There can be no African/African American family in the absence of a cultural base.”

FROM BOB DOLE TO PAUL RYAN: THE DEVOLUTION OF BIPARTISANSHIP

By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist Former Kansas Senator and 1996 Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole was recently presented with an award that is named after him. The World Food Program USA’s first George McGovern and Bob Dole Leadership Award, is named after the Senator and his friend and colleague, Senator George McGovern. The two teamed up in the seventies to make food stamps easier to get and use. Today, Republicans in Congress have been adamant that food stamps should be cut.

Dole and McGovern were not always on the same page about poverty, government programs, and food stamps. Were they both in the Senate now, they would likely share the commitment to reduce or eliminate hunger and yet they might not agree on how much should be spent on the challenge. But surely, neither would be of the mind to cut the food stamps program as significantly as the Republicans of the 113th Congress would like to cut them, by at least $40 billion over 6

ten years, eliminating about four million families from the program. Bipartisan relationships like those that Senators Dole and McGovern shared are rare these days because party lines have been so tightly drawn.

Thus, while some will celebrate the Patti Murray (D-WA), Paul Ryan (R-WI) budget that will prevent future government shutdowns (that is, as long as there is agreement on debt ceiling), I am among those that decry the hollow victory in the passage of this budget. Human needs are still sidelined to budget cutting zeal. Needs including education, health, and other programs still experience cuts, reducing our investment in our nation’s future. The new budget deal is, perhaps, better than nothing, but it can barely be called bipartisan. It is better than nothing, but still quite disgraceful.

The cost of this bipartisan peace includes a $40 billion cut in the food stamps program, which will affect at least four million families. While the food stamp program was once paired with the farm bill in a way to create a “something for everyone” bipartisan approach, the uncoupled two

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Dr. Julianne Malveaux bills allow farmers to gain while hungry people don’t. Still, failure to adjust aspects of the farm bill may cause milk prices to rise before congress returns to work in January. No matter. Republicans in Congress seem to subscribe to the Marie Antoinette theory of food distribution. Let them eat cake. No worries for the hungry or the poor. There is cake

somewhere. They just, says Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) “have to get a job”.

While budget-lite passed, the unemployment insurance extension did not. On December 28, 1.3 million long term unemployed people will collect their last check, unless new legislation is passed in January. Congress says they “might” look at retroactive benefits. Get a job, Senator Paul? Really? Senator Paul apparently does not read the month- ly Employment Situation, released last week. While it indicated that the unemployment rate dropped to seven percent in November, it also reported that more than four million people have been unemployed for more than half a year.

Additionally, the alternative measures of unemployment, which include part time and discouraged workers, suggest that real unemployment is 13.2 percent (and 25 percent for African Americans). Where are these unemployed people supposed to find jobs, when the federal government has removed itself from the job creation business even as our infrastructure continues to fray?

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

The unemployment insurance extension would cost $26 billion for two years. Budget balancers say that’s too much and pushes the federal budget into further deficit. The economy is hurt, not helped, when the unemployed don’t have money. Their inability to spend will slow economic recovery and will further slow job creation. The unwillingness to assist those considered “collateral damage” in our broken economy has less to do with fiscal responsibility than with the “get a job, let them eat cake” mentality embraced by so many Tea Party republicans.

To fully applaud the Murray/Paul budget is like applauding people for saying hello. It is a tenuous bipartisanship, and it is a compromise achieved on the backs of the hungry and the unemployed. The Murray/Paul budget is an example of the devolution of bipartisanship from the days when two men reached across the aisle to figure out how to reduce the amount of food insecurity in our nation.

Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, DC based economist and author. www.chicagocrusader.com

www.chicagocrusader.com

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, December 21, 2013

7

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SWITCH TO NEIGHBORHOOD BANKING DAY: On Saturday, December 21, Marquette Bank will host a Switch to Neighborhood Banking Day on Saturday, December 21 at all bank locations. Neighbors are encouraged to join the movement and help strengthen the local economy by switching to a local bank. Stop by any Marquette Bank location for new customer specials and free credit history reports. For more information, visit www.emarquettebank.com or call 1-888-254-9500.

NUTCRACKER WITH THE JOFFREY BALLET: On Saturday, December 21, at 2 pm in the Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet will be featured in the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker offers traditional holiday ballet at its best!

Along with the world-famous score

by Russian composer Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker, a holiday favorite shared by fans of all ages, comes to life! Don’t miss your chance to see The Nutcracker! Call the Auditorium Theatre or the Joffrey Ballet for details.

LINCOLN PARK NATURE MUSEUM EVENTS: Winter HighlightFlying Fox Animal Show -This ‘zoo to you’ show brings some of the most unique creatures from around the world to our corner of Lincoln Park at the Nature Museum. Everything from mammals, reptiles and insects will on display Saturday, December 21, 11 am-12 pm. The cost is Free with Museum admission. Winter Holiday Highlight: Green Gifting – The Best of Creation Corner - On Saturday, December 21, 11 am-1 pm, create your own personalized gifts for friends and family at the Nature Museum’s “green gifting” workshop. All crafts will be environmentally friendly and nature-oriented. The cost is Free with Museum admission. Nature’s Creatures Animal Show On Thursday, December 26, 11 am-12 pm, join Erin and her amazing creatures during this actionpacked animal presentation. You’ll have the chance to interact with snakes, lizards, birds, and more as you learn about conservation and responsible pet ownership. A Nature Museum favorite! The cost is Free with Museum admission. Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: On Sunday, December 22, 2 pm, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” will be featured at the Goodman Theater. It has become a traditional holiday theater favorite for people of all ages. In Chicago, for example, “A Christmas Carol” has thrilled fans since 1978 with the magic and wonder of the tale of 8

Scrooge and the progression to Christmas past, present, and future!

Call the Goodman Theater for more information.

BLUE MAN GROUP: On Monday, December 23 at 8 pm, at the Briar Street Theater in Chicago, the Blue Man group will perform.

Bald-headed men in blue latex paint might sound like a reincarnation of the Smurfs, but the men of Blue Man Group are an international phenomenon! Come see the Blue Man Group converge lights, music, and props to create a must-see show!

Call the Briar Street Theater for more information.

“MERRY KWANZAA” ON STAGE DECEMBER 26: The Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center will present “Merry Kwanzaa,” award-winning playwright Gloria Bond Clunie’s play about four generations learning the meaning of love and unity and the power of faith. It will be performed at 3 pm on Thursday, December 26 at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, 1655 Foster Street, Evanston. Admission is free. “Merry Kwanzaa” features Sandra Chavis and a multi-generational and multi-racial cast of Evanston residents. Come early for the best seating, as the Center was filled to capacity the last three years of this annual production. For more information, please call 3-1-1 or 847-448-8254.

ADLER PLANETARIUM EXHIBITS: The Universe - A Walk through Space and Time - this exhibit is ONGOING in the Pritzker Hall of Cosmology at the Adler Planetarium. How large is the Universe? Where did it come from? Are we alone? Explore the answers to these big questions in The Universe - A Walk through Space and Time, an interactive exhibition. In The Universe, visitors will experience how the Universe evolved over 13.7 billion years – from the Big Bang to modern day. As they travel through time, immersive media shows visitors how galaxies, stars, planets – and even the very atoms in their bodies – were created as the Universe grew. A spectacular projection showcases the vast enormity of the Universe itself, traveling through regions farther than our Solar System–transporting visitors billions of light-years from Earth to the edge of the cosmos, while touch screen technology allows them to investigate the diverse and beautiful objects of deep space. Using interactive stations in the exhibition, visitors can send e-postcards to themselves from the Orion Nebula, Neptune, the Andromeda galaxy, and the Coma Cluster of galaxies.

The e-postcards will travel at the speed of light, so visitors will have to wait approximately 2.5 million years

Saturday, December 21, 2013

TAZIKI’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFÉ announced the winners of the company’s first Pay It Forward sweepstakes Friday at the restaurant on Chenal Parkway in Little Rock. Akissi Brooks-Hill, founder of ABH Projects, Inc., was presented $1,000 for her charity which focuses on empowering teenage girls through education based on her “BE Smart! BE Safe! BE Responsible!” platform. For making the winning nomination, Jennifer Black, a Little Rock-area actress and motivational speaker, was awarded a vacation package for four. From left to right: Terri Stephens, a senior sales executive for Coca-Cola, and Jim Keet, president of Taziki’s, prepare to present an Orlando vacation package and $1,000 donation to Jennifer Black and Akisi Brooks-Hill, respectively. Black won the vacation for nominating the winning charity, Brooks-Hill’s ABH Projects, in the restaurant’s first Pay It Forward Sweepstakes. More than 100 worthy charities were nominated from across the Southeast. for their postcard to arrive from the Deep Space Adventure takes you immersive, technologically enAndromeda galaxy but, only four aboard the observation deck of a fu- hanced theater experience ever dehours for a postcard from Neptune. turistic starship where you will be veloped – with space imagery in the Deep Space Adventure - this im- surrounded by the larger-than-life highest resolution and quality possimersive space exhibit is ONGOING phenomena of our dynamic Uni- ble. Audiences will encounter the in the Adler Planetarium’s Grainger verse. The centerpiece of Deep Space Universe at a level of realism that can Sky Theater, the most technological- Adventure is the Grainger Sky The(Continued on page 13) ly advanced theater in the world. ater, which offers audiences the most

Extended Coverage tion of the setting the stone is in.

Hurrah for the holiday season!

Hurrah for the wonderful gifts!

Many may be big ticket items, like cameras, stereos, a beautiful diamond bracelet or the guitar your teen’s been hinting about. *** These valuable gifts call for an extra level of insurance, beyond the limits of your homeowners or renters policy, which generally caps individual pieces at $1,000 or less.

Milton E. Moses

***

*** Because you care about your special things, we help you protect them 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.

Best bet is to add a rider, or floater, to that policy to insure the treasure for replacement value. It covers your jewelry, furs and other valuables even off-premises. *** For new items like a stereo or camera, a detailed sales receipt is usually adequate documentation of value.

But for jewelry and furs, a detailed appraisal is necessary. *** For diamonds and colored stones, an expert appraisal will note carat weight and dimensions, any flaws, its shape and cut, and a full descripBLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

www.chicagocrusader.com

GOSSIPTARY

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

Thank you for reading!

‘SEASON’S GREETINGS Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa to all of de Chatterbox readers and loyal fans. May you experience less gas and bloating in de coming new year.

-ImaINSIDE SANTA’S 2013 SATCHEL: LUMPS OF COAL & TEN-DAY OLD CHITLINS Every Negro politician in Illinoi—except Toni Preckwinkle, Monique Davis, Jackie Collins, Earlean Collins, and Jerry Butler—for being weak kneed and cowed and refusing to fight for the people who put them in office; the Emperor on the 5th Floor for all de evil he done done; the Governor because he seems lost in space; Tio Hardiman for not smacking/smacking his wife and then running for public office two days later; gang bangers and killers and thugs and pimps; Negro preachers for eating at Jezebel’s table and asking fo’ more crumbs; West Side resident Al Sharpton; Leon Finney, for reasons we shall not name; WFLD for firing Robin Robinson; Marv

Leon Finney www.chicagocrusader.com

yet not falling down and not shutting up about the ways of white folks; Mr. Lee, for showing me something last weekend when the lights went out at the old folks home; Urban League for having the good sense to take control of those state contracting dollars; Dr. Carol Adams, because she’s ‘bout the only leader left with good sense; and if you realize we is just funning then we hope YOU. -ImaTOLD YOU SO!!

Robin Robinson Dyson because of what happened at WKKC; Kanye West—because he’s Kanye West; the doctor who worked on Derrick Rose; and if you got mad at this silly column this year, then we hope YOU. -ImaBLING, TOYS & DAT GOOD LIQUOR

Didn’t we tell you folks dat them University of Chicago/Gay Mafia/Irish Mafia/Evil 5th Floor Cabal/Negropean Sellouts have cooked up a major scheme to wrestle free control of two more Black congressional districts from the hands of Negroes who may be slightly rooted in de struggle? They got the one away from Jesse JUNIOR now they want them all. Look how

Chicago Crusader family for keeping it going for some 73 years now; President Obammy for trying for five seconds to advance a Black agenda, well at least he tried; his wife Michelle, for never giving us an “oh no she didn’t” moment like Flavor Flav; Derrick Rose, for not listening to the haters and his

Cong. Bobby Rush

Father Pfleger cousins from Englewood about his legs, his NBA contract and what it all means to them; Elzie Higginbottom for being able to play both sides of the political fence and keep his millions; Anna Langford’s son; Chicago Defender for hiring someone with some news sense; WVON for keeping their doors open when everyone was betting otherwise; Mark Allen for reinventing himself as Leon Sullivan; Prince Asiel for escaping indictment; Father Pfleger, the only preacher in the town who actually read the bible; the Country Preacher for taking a big hit to his status when his son went to prison

the Cloudy Times, led by a sorry colored woman columnist, are attacking old Bobby Rush, who needs attacking from time to time but on legitimate stuff. Notice how the Tribunal is going after Danny “I Am Paul Robeson’s Twin Dammit” Davis with their repeated stories about his spending habits and how he is suddenly neglecting his duty by skipping out on votes?

Both newspapers are being encouraged to attack these long-time political figures and Harold Washington proteges by something called the Better Government Association (BGA).

The white-controlled BGA is supposed to be some sort of ethics group but everybody know they ain’t nothing but the attack dog of the political establishment. They always making noise about something or another, but if you notice, they usually attacking the folks on OUR side of issues. Now all of a sudden the BGA is upset about a $1 million donation that Rush got some 10 years ago done went “missing.” We know dat money

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

got spent. Hell it’s been ten damn years. What they think was gone happen with dat money? That’s what Black people do when we gets a lot of money all at one time—we spends it all at one time. One thang we know is Rush sho’ didn’t spend it on clothes, cars or food, because his clothes ain’t that expensive, the Congress pays for his car, and he is late on his house note. And, as thin as he is, we know he ain’t eatin’ it all up either. His political moves makes us sick sometime, but the good news is he done opened up a community clinic and Ima can go there and get her insulin any time she need.

We know when our gout act up we ain’t looking for no internet connection, is we? Bobby probably rethought his plans for that strange technology center and decided to seed 50 other social service projects he has going on in the poorest part of his 1st district.

As for Davis, he says he missed some critical votes because what had happened was he was booked to speak at his old college Down South and the Republicans had already rigged the voting anyway.

He said he wasn’t gone waste his constituents time by staying in D.C. to push that button, and instead he went back home to be with people that know how to cook cracklin’ bread and poke salad. Do we really care if Danny missed the vote on food stamps or the health care mess or any of that when we know these white folks got it in for all of us, including President Obammy and his wife?

What we should be looking at is who they got lined up to take the 1st and the 7th when they topple the last two Harold Washington allies. Will Burns and Kwame Raoul? Please, who are these people? What do they stand for?

Where’d they come from? And why they look like something’s wrong when you lookin’ ‘em straight in dey eyes?

-ImaHOW MUCH A GUBNOR SEAT? How tricky be de Democratic Party by tricking the Bald Eagle into putting someone smarter than him, taller than him, more educated than him, a better talker than him, more conservative than him, more slimier than him, to be his lt. governor running mate while at the same time promoting what some folks have called a billionaire bully that thinks he can buy his way into office? Nobody wants that Runner man—because nobody believe all he got in his closet is plaid shirts and an old watch. He

Pat Quinn would be more believable in a business suit, looking smart, and showing us how he gone turn dis state around. Instead he keeps running strange TV commercials with him standing in a barn, and telling us that he done raised $50 million for his strange campaign. This leaves voters with a damned if we do, and a damned if we don’t choice for who leading dis state.

What did Pat Quinn do to his own white folks to make them do this? Well, really he ain’t gots to do nothing—just ask Rod Blagojevich.

His own folk railroaded him out of office, caused him to lose his law license, restricted him from ever holding a single political office in the entire state, and then put him UP UNDER the jail for 14 years for just “talking” about some political mess that they didn’t like. These some of the same people who put another governor UP UNDER the jail for a crime one of his employees supposedly committed after he freed a whole bunch of brothers from Death Row, causing a serious dent in the pockets of prison-industrial complex profiteers. The Bald Eagle had better watch his steps—because if he wins a re-election he will not be there long. They will plant something on him, or blame him criminally for something one of his employees did, and he will be standing before that evil Judge Zagel in federal court facing life in prison. And all the while that’s happening, the newspapers and their Negro flunkies will write all kinds of stories about how Quinn ain’t worth two dead flies, how he’s always been corrupt, and how he needs to go to jail.

If he tries to defend himself, they will say he’s hiding. If someone says, this is unfair, they will say ain’t no conspiracy. Mary “I Will Write Whatever You Want Boss” Mitchell will use her column to draw strange parallels between Quinn, Al Capone, Clarence McClain and anybody else negative she can link him to. Then he’s toast, Paul Vallas is your new governor and then we’re all screwed. Oh well. That’s how white folks get down.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

9

EDUCATION

Banker adopts Crane high school students Investment banker Gary Hall says his goal is to ‘pay it forward’ in serving as a mentor to students at Chicago’s Richard T. Crane Technical Preparatory High School.

Hall, who grew up in the Cabrini Green housing project and attended Chicago public schools, met with students at Crane Tech in early December to talk about education and career opportunities.

Administrators at the school selected four students, two seniors and two juniors, to then be mentees of Hall, who serves as National Head of Investment Banking at Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., L.L.C. (SBSCO), the nation’s largest women and minority owned municipal underwriting firm.

SBSCO, which has offices in Chicago and 20 other cities, has financed over $1.2 trillion worth of critical infrastructure projects, including hospitals, universities, bridges, water systems, airports and more. The firm, co-founded by Wall Street legend Muriel Siebert, has a long history in opening career doors and mentoring young talent. It was Siebert who shattered the financial industry’s glass ceiling as the first woman to hold a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.

Early in his career, Gary Hall worked for the U.S. Department of Treasury as a White House Fellow,

focusing on fiscal policy for President Clinton’s domestic economic agenda. Along the way up this career ladder, he also practiced law and served in Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Administration. He recently joined SBSCO after working for J.P. Morgan, where he served as an executive director in the public finance investment banking group.

“Do not play the victim. There is no ‘can’t.’ Take that word out of your vocabulary,” Hall told the students. “Do not fear failure. Failure is success turned inside out. Failures are ripe with learning lessons and ‘not trying’ is the only true failure.”

Richard Smith, Crane Tech’s principal said, “We are honored to have Gary Hall, an accomplished Chicago native and product of our public school systems, to mentor our students. His life story and his commitment to hard work will inspire our students. If you have a can-do attitude and the right perspective you will go far in life.”

The mentees include Crane Tech seniors Yabreon Kight and Trey Roberts, and juniors Qu’main Calvin and Domonique Moses.

During the mentoring program, Hall will be guiding the students in their education and studies and advising them with their career choices.

RICHARD T. CRANE Technical Preparatory High School Principal Richard C. Smith along with Vice Principals Sydney Golliday and Christopher Robbins hosted Gary Hall, National Head of Investment Banking at Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., L.L.C., to speak with students about the importance of prioritizing education. Mr. Hall came to Crane Tech to take on the role of mentor to some four Crane Tech high school students. SBSCO is the nation’s largest minority- and womenowned municipal underwriting firm. (L-R) front row: Richard C. Smith, Principal; Sydney J. Golliday, Assistant Principal; Jadonna Anderson; Mentee - Yabreon Kight; Gary Hall; Ashaunti Robinson; Alveta Moore; Aniesha Boyd; Geraldine Pryor; Christopher Robbins, Assistant Principal (L-R) back row: Mentee – Domonique Moses; Mentee – Qu’Main Calvin; Mentee –Trey Roberts; Corey Haralson; Devon Dortch and Sharon Horner.

Among some of the planned activities will be trips to the Willis Tower for lunch and to a Chicago Bulls game. Other activities will

CRANE TECH JUNIOR and (Mentee) Qu’Main Calvin, presented career mentor Gary Hall, National Head of Investment Banking at Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., with a souvenir, a Crane Tech High School Shirt.

High school placement test date set for Saturday, January 11 Catholic high schools across the Archdiocese of Chicago will administer the annual placement tests for eighth grade students on Saturday, January 11, at 8 a.m.

Most of the 37 Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese administer the test; however, there are a few exceptions. It is important to check with the individual school to confirm when its test is being given. To find contact information for Catholic high schools, visit the High School Locator (http://schools.archchicago.org/schools/Highschool10

search.aspx) at http://schools.archchicago.org.

Catholic, public or private school students interested in attending Catholic high schools in Chicago, Cook County or Lake County in the fall of 2014, should report to the high school they wish to attend to take the test. It is not necessary to register for the test in advance.

Students are asked to bring two No. 2 pencils and cash or check made payable to the school for the $25 exam fee. Test results will be

Saturday, December 21, 2013

mailed to students on February 14, 2014.

Catholic high schools use a number of different standardized tests to provide a common measure of academic achievement. Some schools use different tests because they are designed to provide slightly different information for program and course placement decisions. Tests are selected that match the mission, educational philosophy and student body of a particular Catholic high school.

continue throughout the year. Hall stresses that he hopes working with these youngsters will reinforce that each student’s life path is entirely up to them.

Yabreon Kight, who intends on majoring in pre-law and is expected to be Crane Tech’s class of 2014 valedictorian, said that Hall’s visit taught her and her fellow students that “no matter where you come from, you can make something of yourself.”

Trey Roberts, who plans on majoring in business, said, “If you are dedicated and willing to put in the hard work to reach your goals, it will pay off in the end. We can be anything we want to be by making the right decisions.”

Qu’main Calvin, who wants to major in graphic arts and design, said that when he sees Hall again, he wants to share with him his

plans for the future. He realizes that “everyone ‘can’ if they put in hard work and dedication.”

Domonique Moses, who wants to become a surgeon, said, “It’s all about education. Slackers never win and my decision making now and the choices that I make, determine the situations that affect my future self.”

“I really hope that I reached a couple of students to ignite a passion for success and a greater appreciation for a strong work ethic despite their challenges,” said Hall.

Richard T. Crane Technical Preparatory High School was founded in 1922 and currently has a student population of 160, educating juniors and seniors. The City of Chicago has suggested it could be phased-out following the upcoming school year, once these students have graduated.

Hales Franciscan High School Entrance Exam Hales Franciscan High School will be hosting its entrance exam for 8th grade young men and women on Saturday, January 11, 2014 promptly at 8:00 a.m.

There is a $25 test fee. Please arrive 15-20 minutes early. Bring two #2 pencils and a basic calculator (one will be provided for those in need).

To view sample test questions, visit www.explorestudent.org.

For more information, call 773 285-8400 ext. 285 Hales Franciscan High School is located at 4930 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, December 21, 2013

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ENTERTAINMENT

By Raymond Ward MERRY CHRISTMAS TO: Natalie Cole, Jerome Simmons, Angela Thompson, Freddie Jackson, Geoffrey Holder, Jennifer Holliday, Carmen DeLavallade, Hazel Thomas, John Hall, Jr., Patti LaBelle, Carol Lynn Patterson, Valerie Norman-Gammon, Alana Singleton, Dorothy Leavell, Abe Thompson, Sherri Shepherd, Hosea Sanders, Roz Varron, Phyllis Stickney, Mariah Carey, Judge Greg Mathis, Debbie Davis, Jocelyn Brown, Mikki Taylor, Bernard Kinsey, Judith Yancy, Reverend Johnnie Colemon, Beverly Paige, Dr. Carol Adams, Keiana Barrett, Dale Cochran, Dennis Kimbro, Gloria Gilbert, Sandra Trim DaCosta, Donnie McClurkin, DeeDee Bridgewater, Shirley Kinsey, Melba Moore, Carl Perrin, Mary Ann Johnson, Jerry Butler, Young Hughley, Michael Jordan, Christina Ludgood, George Faison, Bonnie DeShong, Diane Narcisse West, Candace Jordan, Morris Smith, Sandi Jackson, Irene Gandy, Norman Bolden, Marvin Winans, Patti Caire, Patricia Jackson Duncan, Bryant Gumble, Kenneth Cole, Denzel Washington, Reuben Cannon, Colin Channer, Reverend Willie Taplin Barrow, Desmond Richardson, Felicia Blasingame, Merry Green, Judi Bradley, Marion Brooks, Antonio Mora, Rick Foxx, Matt Lauer, Barbra Streisand, Sasha Daltonn, Marcia Archbold, Tiki Barber, Reverend Helen Carry, Anika Noni Rose, President Bill Clinton, Rubye Wilson, Malrie Sonier, Val Warner, Charles Bethea, Annette Thompson, Earlene Gray, Simone Smalls, Amber King, Ellen DeGeneres, Jeremy Winters, Zuri Edwards, Jacqueline Williams, Bill Hageman, Sharon Morgan, Gemma Mulvihill, Derrick Rose, Katie Couric, and Delores Williams.

HAPPY KWANZAA TO: President Barack Obama, Damani Bolden, Jerry Bulger, Susan Taylor, Desiree Sanders, Stella Foster, Deitrick Haddon, Armstead Edwards, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Tracey Williams, Reverend Derrick Wells, Marion Brooks, Maudlyn Ihejirka, Carrie Walker, Patricia Edwards, Stephen Pottinger, Desiree Rogers, Kadeem Hardison, Brenda Edwards, Vickie Winans, Raymond Boyd, John Smith, Charles Gueno, Jr., Warren Lanier, Barbara Nunn, Dee Dee Sharp, Tyson Beckford, Nancy Wilson, Diana Ross, Conrad Worrill, Val Gray Ward, Jennifer Hudson, Dwayne Kyles, Deborah Reasno, Karen Thomas, Darryl Tookes, Heather Headley, Malik Yorba, Dori Wilson, Kirkland Burke, Spike Lee, Idris Elba, LaTanya Richardson, Samuel L. Jackson, Lee Ann Mueller Wharton, John Monds, Regina Belle, Rubye Wilson, Stephanie Hughley, Robert Hebert, Kevin Powell, Merri Dee, Father Charles G. Hayes, Cynthia Tyus, Jacqueline Jackson, Barbara Britton, Clarence Smith, Harry Porterfield, Kephra Burns, Patti Webster, Brian McKnight, Annette Butler, Dwayne Johnson, Alison Slon, Yusef Jackson, Adrianne Jones, Nia Augustine, Reverend Evelyn Boyd and Terrie Williams.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO: Janet Langhart-Cohen, Warner Sanders, Donna McGregor, Chris Brown, Kiplyn Primus, Willie Gault, Jonathan Jackson, NeNe Leakes, Khandi Burrus, Fran Allen, Paul David Wilson, Robin Robinson, Jamie Foxx, William Leftwich, Dr. Warren Furey, Martin Christopher, Aretha Franklin, Jasmine Guy, Jackee Harry, Vanessa Williams, Erma Byrd, Mike James, Charles Huggins, Fantasia Barino, Ben Vereen, Rhonda Ross, Edward Gardner, Gwen Lanier, John Iltis, John Moore, Deborah Burrell, Toni Braxton, David Justice, Anna Maria Horsford, LaVerne Butler, Walter Mosley, Eric Copage, Angela Faison, Shyvette Williams, Parker Gammon, D. L. Hughley, George Wilborn, Salli Richardson, Chris Chambers, Lucille Loman, Janette Wilson, Wanda Wells, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Leo Holder.

SEASONS GREETINGS TO: William Cohen, Paula Deen, Roz Ryan, James Fennerty, Willa Holden, Virginia Hopson, Mildred Harris, Eric Peterson, Yolanda Adams, Michael Winans, Terri Hinte, Jane Pauley, Steve Abrams, Tom Joyner, Marv Dyson, Gordon Henderson, Clinton Donaldson, Carol Hanks, Donna Karan, Joli Burrell, Norma Harris Gordon, Marcia Ludgood,Vanessa Bell Calloway, Naomi Campbell, Ann Yancy, Betty Magness, Glenn Jones, Terry Mason, Steve Manning, Larry Hanks, Angela Winbush, Montell Williams, Quincy Jones, Evelyn Holmes, Mario Van Peebles, Lillian Smith, Phil Donahue, Vicki Lynn Reynolds, Herb Kent, Richard Steele, Bettiann Gardner, Curtis Cooper, Tom Burrell, Gus Redmond, Carl Sissac, Carole Simpson, and Steve Harvey.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO: Flo Anthony, Jamie Foster Brown, Curtis Gadson, Rae Lewis, Wynton Marsalis, Leah Hope, Linda Murrain, Meryl Streep, Doris Zollar, Najee, Michael Elder, Jerry Cleveland, Jenifer Lewis, Courtney Vance, Louis Price, James Earl Jones, Darlene Hayes, Lynda Hall, Cheryl Burton, Maurice DuBois, Reggie Wells, Sandra Martin, Roberta Flack, Jackie Jackson, Lester Holt, Dr. Nancy Furey, Maurice Clayton, Susan Fales, Bill Cosby, Pauletta Washington, Angela Bassett, Carolina Her(Continued on page 14) 12

Saturday, December 21, 2013

By Elaine Hegwood Bowen, MSJ

Furious Beauty: A Hip Hop Love Story Furious Beauty is a documentary detailing the influence of Los Angeles dance troupe Versa-Style and its founders Jackie “Miss Funk” Lopez and Leigh “Breeze-Lee” Foaad, who inspire their underprivileged students to find value in their own lives by elevating hip hop dance into theatrical performances.

Within a few years, Versa-Style, a

formance art. More than a dance troupe, Versa-Style becomes a family and serves to upend prejudice about the hip hop lifestyle.

I enjoyed the narrative backgrounds of Lopez and Foaad, as they each shared how they came to dance and the trials they each had felt while trying to find themselves.

Dance was a way out of what they

Director Calvin Leung was a Yale graduate with a biology degree who found a second calling in dance that led him to connect with Lopez and Foaad at a dance competition. He found the troupe’s sense of family appeal—a group of men and women, bound by a shared passion and united in their desire to rise above their circumstances. His film

MEMBERS OF VERSA-Style pose for photo. dance program born from the felt were hopeless situations: Lopez demonstrates how finding one’s streets, has developed an award- having had a son out of wedlock community can make all the differwinning troupe that serves as a sur- and at a young age, and Foaad, ence in a life. rogate family, helping inner-city, whose mother exposed him to An official selection of the Downhigh-risk youth to achieve goals be- dance at an early age. He also ad- town Independent Film Festival, yond their dreams. The program’s mired a male role model, to whom Furious Beauty, distributed by Cinfounders, Lopez and Foaad, specifi- he says he owed his life and exis- emaLibre, follows the troupe as cally aim to instill a socio-cultural tence, because he had supported they gear up for a big show and is understanding of and appreciation Foaad through his artistic endeav- now available on DVD and Video for the dance styles that define this ors.

On Demand (VOD) platforms (ingeneration. With this educational Versa-Style is a group committed cluding Hulu and Amazon Insentiment at the heart of each per- to dance expression, even as they all stant). formance, Versa-Style tours L.A. feel the hurt when Lopez has a knee area schools, competes, and has injury while preparing for the grand Visit the movie’s website, furiousbeen invited to travel as cultural performance. beauty.com for more information. ambassadors to Israel and India to share their brand of infectious dance. The program, which serves lower-income youth, has helped several students earn acceptance to academically demanding colleges such as UCLA. Several students are currently working toward becoming dance educators themselves.

Lopez, a single Latina mother, and Foaad pull together a dance company with young people from the street scene and the yards of Los Angeles’ public schools, infusing in them a sense of discipline and commitment.

A community develops where people of all races and creeds are able to express themselves, turning FOUNDERS OF VERSA-STYLE, Jackie Lopez and Leigh their fears and desperation into per- Foaad, help youth achieve goals through their dance program.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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ENTERTAINMENT

The Bookworm Sez “American Adventures: Westward Journeys” father, she spotted a girl with red hair and in “Minnow and Rose: The Oregon Trail” by Judy Young, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth, she was surprised.

Rose saw the girl with the pitchblack hair by the river, and she was surprised, too. She wanted to meet the girl, though neither one’s father liked that idea. But when tragedy struck, there was no other choice…

Running a fish stall in Baltimore almost never paid the bills, which made Moses’ father very sad – but, in “Pappy’s Handkerchief” by Devin Scillian, illustrated by Chris Ellison, Moses and his father heard the other Negroes talking about opportunity, and they listened very closely.

Someone said that on April 22 of that year (1889), any American could stake a claim in the Oklahoma Territory - and that included Negroes! Owning a farm was a dream for Moses’ grandfather, who was once a slave. It wouldn’t be easy to get to Oklahoma; in fact, it would be one of the hardest things the family would do.

But they would do it. Moses would make sure.

When Mama died, Cora missed her mother but she was excited to have a new baby sister. She even got

By Judy Young and Devin Scillian, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth, Chris Ellison, and Doris Ettlinger c.2013, Sleeping Bear Press $6.99 U.S./$9.99 Canada 96 pages The last time your family moved, it was quite a big project.

All your belongings went into boxes, which were stacked on furniture on a truck and it took two weeks for you to unpack. It was a mess, that’s for sure.

Now imagine putting everything in a wagon about the size of a bathroom and giving away whatever didn’t fit. Imagine walking 1,500 miles to get to your new home, and you have an idea of what happened to the children in “American Adventures: Westward Journeys.”

On the day that Minnow saw the wagon trains, she knew what that meant: strangers were crossing the prairie again. As she went to tell her

“FIFTY YEARS FORWARD”

A traveling exhibit in America’s Civil Rights Movement The DuSable Museum of African American History is honored to present a new exhibit entitled, Fifty Years Forward: Birmingham to Atlanta to Selma. The exhibit is a traveling exhibit that marks the 50th anniversary of milestone events in America’s Civil Rights Movement which is now open through Tuesday, Janu-

ary 7, 2014. The DuSable Museum is located at 740 East 56th Place (57th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue) in Chicago.

In January of 2012, the Mayors of seven southern cities agreed to a joint initiative marking the 50th anniversary of 1963 –the height of the American Civil Rights Movement. These sister cities, which include Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery, Jackson, Memphis, Columbia and

(Continued from page 12) rera, Queen Latifah, Whoopi Goldberg, Chip Fields Hurd, Leigh Jones, Kathy Sudekis, Carl Lewis, Naurice Roberts, Eddie Murphy, Lewis Dix, Kim Fields, Dolly Parton, Judith Jamison, Genice Leavell, Millie Jackson, Will Smith, Antonio Banderas, Nelson George, Harry Lennix, Jeremy Winters, Matt Levy, Dwayne Jenkins, Peggy Montes, Stacy Leak, and Reggie Bush.

If I have forgotten anyone, charge it to my mind and not to my heart.

Blessings Raymond Ward Christmas 2013 www.chicagocrusader.com

to name the baby, but in “A Book for Black-Eyed Susan” by Judy Young, illustrated by Doris Ettlinger, Pa said that Aunt Alma and Uncle Lee were going to raise little Susan.

That made Cora unhappy. She might never see her sister again, so she made a special gift for Susan. It was a gift that Cora would remember forever, too…

Sometimes, it’s fun to imagine what life might’ve been like as a pioneer. “American Adventures: Westward Journeys” helps your child understand the hardships and joys of that time more than a century ago.

In each of three stories, young readers will see – from several vantage points – the bravery it took to travel cross-country before automobiles were invented. They’ll learn that it wasn’t always fun, that danger and death were constant companions.

And they’ll see that kids their age made a difference, even in the smallest ways.

What’s nice about a book like this is that the subjects of these stories are the same age as its intended readers.

So if your 7-to-9-year-old young Wild West fan is searching for the next good read, then finding “American Adventures: Westward Journeys” should be the next project.

Washington, D.C. have joined forces to create, Fifty Years Forward, an exhibit that commemorates the courage and sacrifice of the countless ordinary citizens who risked everything to march toward freedom and force the nation to live up to its democratic ideals. The exhibit presents a snapshot of the historical retrospectives, recognizing the individuals and iconic moments that moved our nation “Fifty Years Forward.”

An afternoon at a lunch counter.

A thousand arms linked at the elbows. A firing line of water hoses.

A pack of German Shepherds. A

letter from a Birmingham jail. A devastating explosion. A world that would never be the same. The year was 1963 and as the world watched, these events sparked an unstoppable surge toward equal rights for people of all races. By telling these stories in unison, “Fifty Years Forward” hopes to present a complete record of the movement that changed America.

An astonishing wealth of material has been assembled for this thought-provoking show, including rarely or never before seen photographs, artifacts, and interpretive information, devel-

oped with scholars, that tells not only the story of the Civil Rights Movement…but also our future.

For more information on the exhibition please call 773-9470600 or visit our website at www.dusablemuseum.org.

The DuSable Museum of African American History is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 AM until 5 PM and Sunday from NOON until 5 PM. Admission is as follows (Chicago discounts): adults, $10 ($8); students and senior citizens, $7 ($5); children ages 6 through 11, $3 ($2); and children 5 years of age and younger are admitted free.

(Continued from page 8) only be surpassed by actual space travel. Night Sky Live! This feature is ONGOING in the Adler Planetarium’s Definiti Space Theater. Take an in-depth journey through our Solar System, the constellations and more in Night Sky Live! With the help of modern exploration and observing techniques, this show gives the audience a deeper look at the sometimes strange, and often breathtakingly-beautiful, diversity of objects that make up our Universe. The

show was created by the Adler Planetarium to reflect our ever-changing understanding of the Universe and our place in it. Our Solar System This exhibit is ONGOING, visitors can experience the solar system in a whole new way. The gallery incorporates technology and interactive exhibits to bring to life the fascinating stories of the solar system. Visitors can touch actual pieces of the solar system—Mars, the Moon and the asteroids Ceres and Vesta. The Adler is the only place on the planet where

you can touch all four under one roof! An iPad controller allows guests to virtually explore the Sun and its surrounding eight planets.

Visitors can get an up-close look at a model of the “Opportunity” Mars Rover and check out updates on current NASA missions.

The Adler Planetarium is located at 1300 South Lake Shore Drive on Chicago’s beautiful Museum Campus. For more information, call 312922-7827 or visit www.adlerplanetarium.org.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Saturday, December 21, 2013

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ARTS AND CULTURE

Soprano Renée Fleming to be honored by Merit School of Music Soprano Renée Fleming - recent recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s firstever Creative Consultant, and known as “the people’s diva” - will be the special honoree at Merit School of Music’s 35th Anniversary Gala, May 8, 2014 at 6 p.m. at the Palmer House, 17 E. Monroe St., Chicago.

Tickets are $500. All proceeds benefit Merit School of Music and its mission is to give children - especially children living in economically disadvantaged communities - the opportunity to grow through music. To reserve tickets, call Merit School of Music, 312-267-4461.

“Merit School of Music is thrilled to salute four-time Grammy winner Renée Fleming for her outstanding leadership in supporting accessible, high-quality arts education in Chicago and nationwide,” said civic leader and Merit School of Music Life Trustee Judith A. Istock, who is co-chairing Merit’s Gala with

fellow Life Trustee Richard L. Thomas, Chairman (Retired), First Chicago NBD Corp. “Not only is she one of the most beloved and celebrated musical ambassadors of our time, Renée is making an incredibly significant contribution in Chicago partnering with Merit to mentor our most talented music students, and helping train our next generation of opera and musical theater stars.”

Since 2011, Fleming has spearheaded a collaboration between Lyric Opera of Chicago, where she is also a member of the Board and a Vice President, and Merit School of Music which has significantly expanded Merit’s vocal music curriculum. Due to Fleming’s efforts, 36 students in Merit’s Solo Voice Program, along with 332 other Merit students in the Tuition-free Conservatory, now have the opportunity to participate in a variety of Lyric Opera offerings, including attending performances, rehearsals, career

RENEE FLEMING WITH young artists from the Merit School. days and pre-curtain presentations. with Merit’s Alice S. Pfaelzer Award Fleming also conducts periodic for Distinguished Service to the master classes at Merit and works Arts, guests at Merit’s 35th Anniverwith voice students, listening to sary Gala will share in the success their singing and offering advice stories and be treated to live performances by Merit’s students. and encouragement.

Merit School of Music is devoted In addition to presenting Fleming

to providing accessible, high-quality music education to nearly 5,000 Chicago-area students children-especially children living in economically disadvantaged communitiesthe opportunity to grow through music. As part of Merit’s commitment to providing access to a high quality music education, substantial financial support is provided to young musicians through program subsidies, need-based tuition relief, low-cost instrument rental, and music supplies so that motivated students can participate in every program regardless of their economic circumstance. The goal is to ensure that children, regardless of their family income, have access to high quality music education and all of its benefits in developing personally as well as musically.

For more information about Merit’s music education programs, visit meritmusic.org or call 312786-9428.

23 Orchestras Receive Getty Grants from the League of American Orchestras Three-year, $1.5 million Getty Grants Program Now in Its Second Year Twenty-three orchestras from across the United States have been selected by the League of American Orchestras to receive Getty Education and Community Investment Grants.

The orchestras, encompassing a full range of budget sizes, will receive individual grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 for a variety of community-based programs taking place during the 2013-14 season. A total of $443,000 was awarded for the grants this year. Sixty-five percent of the grants were awarded to in-

school or after school educational programs, 17% to health and wellness programs, 9% to lifelong learning opportunities, and 9% to those serving other populations, including juveniles and adults in the criminal justice system. A prerequisite for qualifying orchestras was the existence of partnerships with local community or social service organizations.

“The long term health of orchestras will require creating more value for more members of orchestras’ communities. These important programs are addressing critical needs, often in underserved communities,” said League President and CEO Jesse

Rosen. “The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation’s support has enabled orchestras to offer their communities greater access to the extraordinary experience of orchestral music and musicians.”

The recipients for 2013-14 are: Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Central Ohio Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Kidznotes, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Music in the Mountains, New York Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Pacific Symphony, Portland Symphony

Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras, Stockton Symphony, and Yakima Symphony Orchestra.

The initial 144 applicants were narrowed by an independent advisory panel of experts to 48 semi-finalists; all were then judged on six criteria: the degree of innovation and relevance to community needs; the orchestra’s capacity to deliver; appropriateness to orchestra’s community; appropriateness and strength of partnership(s); extent and quality of pro-

fessional development for musicians and staff; and ability to assess and evaluate outcomes.

This year’s grants, part of the League’s three-year, $1.5 million re-granting program made possible by the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, will fund both new and established innovative programs including: long-term in-school partnerships and afterschool programs; life-long learning opportunities; health and wellness initiatives in hospitals; and programs for the underserved and underprivileged, including adults and adolescents in the criminal justice system and the special needs population.

JOHANN STRAUSS, JR’S delightful comic opera, “Die Flederamus,” opened at Lyric Opera of Chicago on December 10 for nine performances and continues through January 18, 2014.

With a cast including Juliane Banse, Bo Skovhus, Daniela Fally, Adrian Eröd, Michael Spyres, Emily Fons, Andrew Shore, David Cangelosi, E. Loren Meeker, director; Daniel Pelzig, choreographer; and the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Ward Stare, this new production with new sets designed by Wolfram Skalicki, and costumes by Thierry Bosquet is certain to be one of the highlights of Lyric’s 2013-14 season. Duane Schuler is the lighting designer and Lyric’s chorus master is Michael Black. Highly Recommended. For tickets or information, call (312) 827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org./Photo by Dan Rest.

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Saturday, December 21, 2013

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SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING

A Moment to Super Size Your Thinking

By Effie Rolfe When light enters the room— darkness has to flee. So it is when greatness is present, the world takes notice. Last week, nations paused to celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, an iconic leader who stood for justice and touched humanity.

Madiba—a title given out of respect to the former South African President who not only revolutionized their country, but ultimately the world. Ninety-one world leaders gathered to pay homage, along with people from every nation and walk of life. Unfortunately, the massive honor and respect so well deserved came much too late during the civil rights activist’s life. Mandela was without proper honor until the latter season of his life. Wrongly imprisoned 27 years for treason, he was not released until 1990 at the ripe age of 72 years old. Even the United States had him listed on terrorist watch until 2008. To

Effie Rolfe our chagrin, this country supported apartheid, which was akin to slavery. Also, it’s reported that the CIA helped the South African government imprison Mandela.

Isolated on Robben Island— where the ANC leader was told

by Afrikaan jailors, ‘This is the Island! Here you will die!” Of course, Mandela weathered the storm and stood the test of time coming out more mature.

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others,” shared Mandela. With the courage of a lion, he transcended from the pit to the palace—from the prison to the office of the President. One of the many inspirational quotes Madiba shared is, “I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair.

That way lays defeat and death.”

Thankfully, he persevered and

held steadfast to a greater calling and for this he is celebrated today.

People seldom know the glory behind the story. For years he endured an unfathomable hell in a jail cell approximately 6 square feet, accompanied with poor diet and constant degradation. But in the end, God avenged and gave him favor for his labor against the cruel injustice incarceration and apartheid. The world began to see that he was right—South Africa and any other country that looked down on God’s people as less than human are and have always been dead wrong.

The value of life is not in the duration but in the donation— your contributions to humanity.

When Nelson Mandela passed, my sister commented, “I’m so sad,” and I immediately asked why? I reminded her that there was no need to feel sorry for his death because his life was full of accomplishments that changed the world. The former South African President not only im-

pacted his country but the African continent and parts of the world abroad. It’s not about the year of your birth and death—but the most relevant period of your life is what happens between the dash. Like Martin Luther, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and so many others, Nelson Mandela unequivocally helped to change the course of history. He lived to be a ripe age of 95 but most importantly…he chose not to make a living but rather to live his making. So the question for us who remain is what can I do to make a difference and how will my life be remembered?

What can I do to make a donation to life…? ©Effie Rolfe is the author of “Supersize Your Thinking,” a Media Personality and Motivational Speaker. You can visit my website: effierolfe.com or follow me at twitter.com/effiedrolfe.

The Crusader Gospel Corner Rev. Dr. Alexis Felder, Founder and President of the Joseph Assignment Global Initiative, knows the power of giving and operates the global humanitarian organization locally at New Faith Baptist Church International in Matteson. The mission is a channel for people to be a blessing by giving to those less fortunate around the world. “The bible is clear— when you give to the poor, it’s like lending to the Lord and He

Rev. Dr. Alexis Felder will pay you,” said Rev. Felder.

Since 2003, she has led the Joseph Assignment to share the gift of love by serving over 242,000 men, women and children in Africa, India, Latin and South America. “We founded the ministry several years ago explained Rev. Alexis Felder, 1st Lady of New Faith Baptist, the viwww.chicagocrusader.com

sion was my husband’s (Pastor Trunell Felder) and I. We thought it was not enough to just provide someone with clean water and food—if there is no school, shelter and medical care. Everyone can’t go to Africa, but we can be their agents in Africa and Brazil.”

The organization started as a mission’s trip in 2003 and was incorporated in 2005. As co-founders, Felder and her husband, Senior Pastor Trunell Felder of New Faith Baptist Church International, saw the desperate need and decided to continue the mission.

Rev. Felder, the Minister of Ministry Operations of New Faith Baptist, is so passionate about this cause that she and her husband adopted two children—Nora Nichelle and Andrew Kofi from Ghana. “My daughter, when I went to pick her up, had to walk through the hotel barefoot because she didn’t own a pair of shoes. She had one dress.

My son was the same way. Kids don’t get shoes until they are 18 and the government doesn’t provide social programs like this county, if we don’t provide for them—they die,” said Dr. Felder.

“Domestic poverty and international poverty are two different things—it’s call- ed extreme poverty. If we don’t feed them at the orphanage there is no government stipend. They die!”

The volunteer emphasized that the monies are used entirely for the mission, “I do not get a penny—my husband doesn’t get a

penny. None of the U.S. staff gets paid, although we put in 20 to 30 hours a week, but only the staff in Africa gets a salary—100% of every dollar goes to impact lives.

There is no overhead...we have an administrative sponsor that covers all expenses,” Felder said. The Joseph Assignment is a 501c3 that allows contributions to be tax exempt. “We decided that we would take it to corporate America, everything is tax exempt, so we can continue the work. We have over 3,000 donors but we need more…there’s more work to be done,” shared Felder. “We host medical clinics annually— with 80 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical students who see up to 15,000 people a day providing medical care and surgery.

We measure their progress and conditions. We service people in schools, farms and orphanages— these are children we have relationships with—we watch them grow,” expressed Rev. Felder.

The Co-Pastor of New Faith Baptist continues to spread the word about the global initiative, “We have a responsibility and an assignment to impact the lives of those still on the continent of Africa and living in the Diaspora.

We believe it’s imperative that the body of Christ adhere to the things that make God’s heart smile. Jesus has a heart for those who are poor and marginalized and disenfranchised, so we are the body of Christ…we may not

have everything we want but we have more than what was planned for us—God has opened some major doors for us. We have something to give, even if its just $25 a month would help expand our schools,” pleaded Felder. “We go into places where no one can read and haven’t read for centuries…we educate the children by day and do adult literacy in the evening after the parents have worked their backs off as peasant farmers or in the market. We teach them how to read and write. We want to wipe out illiteracy and give them the opportunity to dream and have options for their lives,” shared Rev. Felder.

The former corporate executive is adamant that as long as there is poverty, there is much work to be done, “We want to hear—well done thy good and faithful servant and we need to be faithful over the service in order to hear it. That service is meeting the needs of the world’s poorest children and their families,” she said.

For more information visit josephassignment.org or call 815-8063591. *** This past Saturday, Feed-ANeighbor (FAN) Ministries, under the leadership of Pastor Mitty Collier, distributed “Bags of Blessings” consisting of brand new toys, games, soccer and footballs, coats, hats, socks, gloves, fruit, nuts, candy and toiletries.

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

Established in 1985, FAN has distributed food, clothing and toiletries to the less fortunate for over 28 years. Collier, Founder/President of FAN and Pastor of More Like Christ Christian Fellowship Church, recognizes the need to reach out to our ‘neighbors,’ who are those who have a need, regardless of race, color, creed, or religious affiliation, that may be less fortunate than us.

Pastor Collier, along with other concerned Christians, gather each second Saturday of the month at 10 a.m., on the lot across from the church at 8159 S. Dobson, but because of the inclement weather, the ministry will move inside the church. *** Condolences and prayers to Volunteer and former producer of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s “Keep Hope Alive” syndicated radio show, Marc Loveless in the loss of his son, Nathan Loveless, who died in a car accident on Monday, December 9. The wake will be from 4 to 7 p.m. followed by services this Friday, December 20th at Rainbow Push Headquarters on 50th and Drexel Blvd.

Call 773-752-2500 to place your Help Wanted Ad

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BUSINESS

Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights proposed Measure would protect 40 million federal and private student loan borrowers

By Charlene Crowell In the aftermath of a recent report that found the lack of student loan servicing standards and information on monies owed, two U.S. Senators will work as a team to create a Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights.

Sponsored by Illinois Senator Richard Durban and co-sponsored

by Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, the measure is intended to ensure that all student loan borrowers fully understand the range of repayment options and resources available to them. For service members and veterans, the measure would require loan servicers to provide each borrower with a liaison specifically trained in the benefits available to military borrowers.

Thirdly, the bill calls for fair treatment of borrowers by the financial institutions servicing their loans.

“With student loan debt far outpacing the rise in starting salaries, many of these borrowers find they

are unable to make their monthly payments,” said Sen. Durbin.

“When lenders refuse to work with them on a repayment plan, they begin a downward spiral that is difficult to turn around. That debt keeps them from being able to purchase homes, cars or other goods which fuel our economy . . . Every borrower should have basic protections when it comes to their student loans.”

The bill proposes six basic rights for borrowers of both federal and private student loans. Those rights are: 1. Options such as alternative payment plans to avoid default; 2. Information about key terms and conditions of the loan and any repayment options to ensure changing plans will not cost more; 3. Knowledge of who the loan servicer is and how to reach them; 4. Consistent practices on how monthly payments are applied— with a specific requirement for lenders and servicers to honor promotions and promises that are either advertised or offered; 5. Fairness, such as grace periods when loans are transferred, or debt cancellation when the borrower dies

Charlene Crowell or becomes disabled; and 6. Accountability accompanied by timely resolution of any errors and or certification of private loans.

This past October, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report revealing that a growing number of private student loan borrowers are burdened with debt that has no limits on interest rates and few, if any, options for alternative repayment plans.

CFPB’s analysis of 3,800 student loan complaints received from October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013 found that 87 percent were directed at one of eight companies. Sallie Mae, a financial services firm specializing in educational loans for more than 40 years, topped the complaint list with nearly half — 49 percent. In other cases, according to CFPB, federal student loan borrowers were unaware of their available repayment options such as incomebased repayment.

Both types of borrowers experienced problems with payment misallocation. This specific problem was a challenge to resolving account errors in a timely manner.

In a more recent and related report, the Institute for College Access and Success’ (TICAS) Project on Student Debt found that seven in 10 of 2012 college graduates had student loan debt. Additionally, the Class of 2012 had an average debt of $29,400.

Each year from 2008 to 2012, this report found that the average debt of federal and private loans combined increased six percent each year. These figures were drawn from data volun-

tarily provided by 1,075 public fouryear and four-year private nonprofit institutions.

Although TICAS contacted forprofit colleges which accounted for seven percent of 2012 bachelor’s recipients, none chose to share their data. The lack of this additional data may have contributed to understating the scope and volume of the nation’s student loan debt, now estimated to be $1.1 trillion.

“Borrowers are already struggling to make ends meet as they graduate with debt that surpasses their annual wages,” noted Sen. Durbin. “These borrowers and their families should not have to face additional costs because they cannot resolve errors quickly or gain access to programs meant to help them. My bill will ensure that all borrowers will have access to these basic rights and protections.”

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (Cont’d from page 4) the violence crises in certain neighborhoods, even poor people can figure out that any improved public safety is temporary. It’s a small bandaid on a big wound. Something else must need to happen before these neighborhoods are populated with citizens worthy of long term, permanent policing human resources.

With the temporary fixes, we use occupying police forces under war-like conditions to incarcerate more poor people. We could never get to healthy police-community relations under these conditions.

Five, the way Tax Incremental Finance supported initiatives are diverted away from neighborhoods of poor people to more substantial neighborhoods and downtown projects seems to counter the logic and progressive mission of a tax money diversion. We should be investing those dollars almost exclusively in the most fragile neighborhoods with the greatest need. Taking from poor communities to stimulate projects for the wealthy is not morally justifiable.

Six, reducing mental health services in communities of economically and socially desperate humanity is counterproductive and immoral as well. Shamefully, we now expect law enforcement and jails to warehouse distressed people under stresses that exacerbate mental health challenges.

We force poor people to live in neighborhoods with mentally ill people whose treatment is the revolving door of recycled criminal justice 16

cases. Is there any wonder that poor people are looking to leave the city under these conditions? And these are the conditions that current public policy is making worse. I don’t think people in power always see life from the lenses of these communities when they help make public policy priorities. Morally, the poor have a right to live in the city like everyone else. Poor children need to live in close proximity to the cultural and intellectual heritage of humankind that can only be found in cities. I grew up in the Jane Addams public housing development on the near West Side of Chicago through the 1960’s to mid-1970’s. Our family of ten lived in a three bedroom apartment. We were poor and Black, but in the shadow of the downtown and with access to the great museums and the culture of the city, we were not isolated. We were poor with direct access to the great cultural treasures of the city. My parents made sure we took advantage of the public school, and our educators made sure we took in the rich civic culture. The great social reformers of the previous century understood that all families had a right to the city, to the tree of life. That is why they fought for justice and inclusion, and a universal human right to life in the city. Someone in this city must speak for the poor, and for the vision that all the neighborhoods constitute one city.

Even in these tough times, we cannot balance budgets at the expense and exclusion of those with less resources and power. None of us will be morally comfortable with a pros-

Saturday, December 21, 2013

perous city with concentrated pockets of extreme poverty within the city or outside the city. It will be a horrible outcome to oversee the evolution of a rich city with geographically distant suburbs of extreme poverty segregated from opportunity, resources, and civic life. Shifting problems by driving the poor from the city means we have not solved problems. We should all commit ourselves to engaging in a war on poverty, and not a war against the poor.

Rev. Dr. Marshall E. Hatch New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, Senior Pastor The Leader’s Network, Chairman of the Board revmarshallhatch@newmtpilgrim.org

average rates of unemployment and underemployment caused by a chronic shortage of living wage jobs. Moreover, even non-violent ex-offenders face statutory bars to employment and government benefits that serve as perverse incentives for criminal behavior.

There is, therefore, a straight line between gainful employment and reducing recidivism. These jobs are critical to reducing violence, recidivism, and unemployment rates for hard to employ people.

It is our understanding that CTA’s management and board support continuing the ex-offender rail car employment pro-

gram and that the leadership of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308 has called for the program’s elimination. We believe that ATU Local 308’s opposition to this program is misguided and wrong, particularly because ATU Local 241 has supported a similar program for bus maintenance.

This is a matter of justice and equity. We support this program and strongly encourage ATU Local 308 to end its opposition to it.

- Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus - Alderman Howard B. Brookins (21), Chair

CTA makes wrong move Dear Editor: We are deeply disturbed about recent reports that suggest that the Chicago Transit Authority will end its ex-offender rail car employment program.

African Americans are disproportionately represented in Illinois’ prison population. More often than not, these ex-offenders return to their home communities after serving their sentences in prison. They return to communities that have higher than BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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HOUSES FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE OF THE HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE LOAN ASSETBACKED TRUST SERIES SPMD 2004-C, HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES SPMD 2004-C UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED DEC 1, 2004, ASSIGNEE OF INDYMAC BANK, FSB Plaintiff, -v.DUSAN SAVIC, MAYA SAVIC Defendants 10 CH 36761 6042 SOUTH GREEN STREET Chicago, IL 60621 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 10, 2013, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 15, 2014, at the The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 6042 SOUTH GREEN STREET, Chicago, IL 60621 Property Index No. 20-17-414039. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $178,338.17. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For information, contact Plaintiffʼs attorney: LAW OFFICES OF IRA T. NEVEL, LLC, 175 N. Franklin Street, Suite 201, CHICAGO, IL 60606, (312) 3571125 Please refer calls to the sales department. Please refer to file number 10-2800 N. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. LAW OFFICES OF IRA T. NEVEL, LLC 175 N. Franklin Street, Suite 201 CHICAGO, IL 60606 (312) 357-1125 Attorney File No. 102800 N Attorney Code. 18837 Case Number: 10 CH 36761 TJSC#: 33-24577 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiffʼs attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

I578010

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BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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HOUSES FOR SALE

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Saturday, December 21, 2013

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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SPORTS

U.S. Army All-American Bowl selects top ranked player Marist High School Standout Tight End Nic Weishar Earns Elite Status for 2014 Bowl Game Nic Weishar of Marist High School in Chicago has been selected to play in the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, joining an elite group of All-Americans. Those selected will play in the game on Saturday, January 4, 2014, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

The annual East vs. West match-up will be televised live on NBC at 1:00 p.m. EST and will feature the nation’s top 90 high school football players.

“Weishar is a talented athlete whose leadership and teamwork qualities have made him a standout at Marist High School,” said Mark Davis, deputy assistant Secretary of the Army for Marketing. “Only the strongest wear the Army colors and we are proud to welcome all of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl players and commend each of them on their selection.”

Weishar was selected by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee, which consists of All American Games and 247Sports.

U.S. Army All-Americans are eligible for the U.S. Army Player of the Year Award, the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year Award, the

MARIST HIGH SCHOOL Senior Nic Weishar (front row center) is shown with his high school football team and coaches. Head coach Pat Dunne will travel with Nic to San Antonio to play in the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl on January 4, 2014. (All-American Game photo) American Family Insurance Defensive Player of the Year Award, the Pete Dawkins Game MVP Award, and the Felix “Doc” Blanchard and Glenn Davis Awards.

As a result of Weishar being selected to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, his head coach Pat Dunne is invited to travel to San Antonio and attend the U.S. Army Coaches Academy, an elite threeday learning experience, including

CHICAGO NATIVE Terry Baggett, Army Black Knight running back breaks for a first down during the second quarter of the 114th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 14. (Department of Defense photo by EJ Hersom) www.chicagocrusader.com

Bowl Week activities.

For more than 13 years, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl has been the nation’s premier high school football game, serving as the preeminent launching pad for America’s future college and NFL stars.

Adrian Peterson and Andrew Luck made their national debuts as U.S. Army All-Americans. In the 2013 NFL Draft, there were a total of 8 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Alumni drafted in the first round.

The 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl drew a crowd of 40,133 to the Alamodome, and was the mostwatched sporting event on television over the weekend, excluding the

NFL playoffs.

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is owned and produced by All American Games, a New Jerseybased sports marketing and event management company. The U.S. Army is the title sponsor of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and American Family Insurance is the lead national sponsor and presenting sponsor of the telecast on NBC. Other national sponsors include adidas, 247Sports, San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, Gatorade, SKLZ, NCSA, School of the Legends, Lockheed Martin, Xenith, Battle Sports Science, Oakley, NewTek and Football Universi-

ty. National sponsors of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band include NAfME: The National Association for Music Education, Drum Corps International, Jupiter Wind Instruments, Mapex Marching Percussion, Majestic Concert Percussion, and DeMoulin Uniforms.

For more information on the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and its related events visit www.usarmyallamericanbowl.com and www.goarmy.com/events/aab or the official Facebook and Twitter pages located at http://www.facebook.com/USArmyAllAmericanBowl and www.twitter.com/armyallamerican.

TERRY BAGGETT RUSHES for a first down during the third quarter of the 114th Army-Navy game at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., December 14. The Navy won 34-7, extending their winning streak against the Army for the 12th straight year. Baggett, a graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, is a running back for the U.S. Military Academy Black Knights in West Point, N.Y. (Department of Defense photo by Marvin Lynchard)

BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN COMMUNITY

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