UPW
COMMENTARY by Ken Makin:
The Trump Effect on Education: Reading ‘Riting and Rhetoric
URBAN PRO WEEKLY MARCH 9 - 15, 2017 VOL. 6 NO. 10
so sick . . . bad . . . like Watergate
The New
wiretaps are so 1970s
American Exceptionalism hi-tech snooping
UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 9-15, 2017
2
THE Nation COMMENTARY
The new American Exceptionalism: Excellence in Surveillance Who needs wiretaps when there are so many potential listening devices around these days? Even the word “wiretap” is antiquated. By Ewen MacAskill One of the oddities in Donald Trump’s wiretapping claims is how antiquated is his view of how the security services work in the digital age. In tweets on Saturday, the president claimed that Barack Obama had ordered a wiretap of Trump Tower in October ahead of November’s election. “How low has President gone to tapp [sic] my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/ Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!” Trump’s tweets suggest he is stuck is a cold-war time warp, with spies still using the kind of techniques found in John le Carré novels rather than 21st-century surveillance. The US security agencies – whether the FBI, CIA or one of a dozen others – no longer have to engage in wiretapping of the kind that Trump hints at. Until a decade or so ago, a wiretap meant connecting to a target’s landline or placing bugs in a house. Security staff might have to break in during the night or turn up during the day pretending to be cleaners or phone engineers, placing bugs directly into phones or under tables or hiding miniature cameras in light fittings. For the security services, old-fashioned phone-tapping operations were risky. A bug might be found. A suspicious click might be heard during a phone conversation, alerting the target. And there was always the danger of being caught – as during the Watergate scandal, which Trump referred to in one of his tweets. In 1972 burglars working on behalf of president Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign broke into the Democratic party headquarters in Washington, and successfully installed a listening device on at least one phone. Things went wrong when they decided they had to break in a second time to carry out repairs and were caught. But there is no need for such risks these days. As this week’s Wikileaks CIA dump confirmed, the past two decades have been a golden age for the security services, courtesy of the digital revolution. There would have been no need to break into Trump Tower. The security agencies can access electronic devices across the planet with ease.
They can listen in to a target’s mobile, even if it is switched off. If the target is paranoid and stuffs the mobile into a microwave or fridge freezer to render it inert, the security services can pick up the target’s conversations by switching to the mobiles of others in the vicinity. The standout detail from the latest leak is that the CIA had a program called Weeping Angel which described how to attack a Samsung F8000 TV set so that it appears to be off but could still be used for monitoring. They can access just about anyone’s computer or laptop, again even those that are turned off. The same for cameras on computers and laptops, which can also be switched on remotely. The technology to turn on smart phones remotely has been around for at least a decade. A former CIA cyber-security specialist has explained how the security services can set up a cell network tower and, once a phone connects, they can take it over. They can mimic the process of the phone closing down and make it appear blank, whereas, in reality, a mic remains live. A former FBI specialist has said that the ability to use cameras on computers and laptops has also been available for at least a decade. The security services can use malware to take control of the camera, ensuring there is no light or any other indication that would allow a person to know they are being watched. Who needs wiretaps when there are so many potential listening devices around these days? Even the word “wiretap” is antiquated. The security services and privacy advocates are more likely now to talk about “interception”, a more accurate description of what they do. Trump has offered no evidence to back up his claim. The recently retired director of national intelligence James Clapper said the Obama-ordered wiretapping did not happen, though Clapper is an unreliable witness, having misled Congress in 2013 by stating there was no mass surveillance in the US. FBI director James Comey also denies the claim but Comey, too, is tainted, given his late intervention in the election race with damaging comments about Hillary Clinton’s emails. Denials from Obama’s own national security team are more credible, not
least because – though a president enjoys sweeping powers – he cannot order the security services to mount the kind of operation Trump has in mind. Wiretaps are as old as electronic communications. The telegraph began to come into use in the 1840s. Almost two decades later, during the American civil war, it became commonplace for both sides to climb telegraph poles and tap into communications. Abraham Lincoln, in spite of nods towards privacy, was an avid reader of intercepted communications. The arrival of the phone in the 1870s offered new opportunities. Throughout the 20th century, police regularly used wiretaps to trap criminals, while the intelligence services targeted those who were deemed to be threats to national security. During the cold war, diplomats as a matter of routine assumed their phones were tapped and their offices bugged, and not just Americans based in Moscow or Beijing, but all around the world. CIA officers based in embassies almost always had a safe room that had been swept for bugs and where sensitive conversations could be held in relative security. While the Watergate conspiracy is the most infamous US case involving wiretapping and politics, equally infamous is the list of operations conducted in the 1960s and 1970s by the CIA and FBI. The targets included prominent individuals seen as potentially undermining national security, including anti-Vietnam war protesters, trade unionists and journalists. Among those was Martin Luther King, who the head of the FBI, Edgar Hoover, suspected of being influenced by communists. Hoover asked the then attorney-general Robert Kennedy in 1963 to authorise surveillance requests to install bugs in his home, office and hotels where he stayed on trips. No evidence ever emerged linking King to communism, but they did record at least one sexual encounter. Throughout the 20th century there were intermittent challenges in Congress and the courts attempting to redress the balance between intrusive surveillance and the right to privacy. Amid the panic in the Bush admin-
istration in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the president secretly sanctioned “warrantless wiretapping” – surveillance of phones, the internet and any other electronic communications without the need for a warrant. When this was revealed in the New York Times in 2005, the Bush administration reversed the order and there was a return to warrants. This row was dwarfed in 2013 when t the National Security Agency whisg tleblower Edward Snowden revealed J the scale of mass surveillance – the d agencies prefer bulk data collection – e not only of foreigners but of US citizens, which the intelligence agencies had n publicly denied up until that point. A Among the many intercept proS grammes revealed by Snowden was Tempora, run by the NSA’s UK D counterpart GCHQ, and shared with r the Americans. This was a kind of o wiretap on a scale that would have s been beyond the imagination of a the American civil war soldiers who D climbed telegraph poles, or the FBI m agents breaking into King’s hotel room to plant a bug. f GCHQ placed intercepts on the netp work of fibre-optic cables that carry d much of the world’s internet traffic, s offering a window into the world of h an estimated two billion users of the e worldwide web. s The US intelligence agencies have so far made a distinction when denyA ing surveillance of Trump. There have i been no denials about surveillance of i those associates who might have been e in contact with Russians. Those kind h of contacts would be relatively easy a to establish, not through break-ins or even physical surveillance – which has not been made redundant by the digital age, with agencies running teams trained in following targets without, hopefully, being seen. With so much information hoovered up and available to the agencies, all they have to do is sift through those communications to establish the extent – if any – of links between Russia and Trump’s team.
Ewen MacAskill is a Scottish journalist. Working for The Guardian, he is their defence and intelligence correspondent.
3
eSC
School System rebounds from shooting
Superintendent focuses on discipline — with caring
AIKEN When a school shooting occurred in the aftermath of a high school basketball game at South Aiken High School in late January, it didn’t just turn into a referendum on school safety and discipline in education. In some ways, whether fairly or not, it turned into an indictment of Aiken County Public Schools (ACPS) Superintendent Dr. Sean Alford. In the weeks following the incident, Dr. Alford has led a charge to inform and reassure the community about the safety of schools in the district. And in an exclusive interview with Urban Pro Weekly and the “Makin’ A Difference” podcast, Dr. Alford spoke out against anyone who might think he is “soft” on discipline. “I have six kids, and they can vouch for me. I am firm when it comes to discipline, and I treat the students within our district like I treat my kids,” Dr. Alford said. “What we’re missing and what we have missed is an alignment of not only expectations, but also execution, in the systemic implementation across schools. Prior to the interview, he, along with ACPS, hosted a series of town hall meetings throughout the district. The superintendent explained that the meetings encouraged dialogue, and emphasized how the philosophy of disciplinary action in the district has not changed.
Dr. Sean Alford, Aiken County Public Schools Superintendent “Philosophically, the thing that chal- five expulsions. According to The Aiken Standard’s lenges me the most, in my communication with the public, I haven’t shared Larry Wood and ACPS school records, anything with the philosophy that has during the fall semester this school year, not been expressed in every communi- 113 fights were reported in the district. cation that our district has made over That’s down from last year, when 187 the last 34 years in terms of the student fights were reported during the fall semester, and the 2014-2015 school year, code of conduct,” he said. Statistically, ACPS is seeing either when 144 fights were reported in the steadiness or a decrease in fights and fall. expulsions. Dr. Alford expressed the need for According to a special report from training – not only for school officials, WJBF’s Stefany Bornman and ACPS but also in terms of dialogue with the school records, in the first semester community. of the 2016-2017 year, there was one “The training is multifaceted, and we expulsion. During the first semester of have to determine what the goals are,” the 2015-2016 school year, there were he said. “We have to make sure individu-
als are understanding of case law. There are pre-established legal precedence to determine what school officials can and cannot do.” The process of discipline within the framework of education requires efficiency – and empathy, he explained. That’s why the school system has changed its tribunal hearing process and separated the code of conduct among grade levels. “In the past, one of the limitations (of the tribunal process) is that if a kid went home, there was no one there to provide any support or any type of rehabilitative service to the child,” he said. “If the behaviors and the role models that you’re emulating in your current behavior exist in your home environment, for me to send you back there, with no sort of intervention at all, the only thing I could expect when you come back is for you to do the same thing or for it to be at an elevated level.” It’s that level of understanding which will help keep students in school and not only maintain the integrity of the learning experience, but keep young people from entering the school-to-prison pipeline. “The large percentage of those who are incarcerated are uneducated,” he said. “Our job, our core mission, is to educate. On this issue, again, (the focus is) education, to share the facts.” Ken J. Makin is the founder of “Makin’ A Difference,” a media conglomerate that incorporates podcasting/radio, social media and commentary. The podcast is available at soundcloud. com/makinadifference. Updates on the show are available at facebook.com/ makinadifferenceshow. Ken can be reached by email at makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com.
Lecture will discuss role of teachers during the civil rights movement University of Alabama-Birmingham’s Dr. Loder-Jackson to speak during the Dean’s Lecture Series The Augusta University College of Education (COE) will host a conversation with Dr. Tondra LoderJackson, director of the Center for Urban Education at the University of Alabama – Birmingham, on March 16 at 6 p.m. in the Jaguar Student Activities Center Ballroom. Presenting on behalf of the COE Dean’s Lecture Series, Loder-Jackson
will discuss the role of teachers during the Civil Rights Movement. A Birmingham native since 1974, Loder-Jackson graduated from Birmingham City Schools before attending Birmingham-Southern College for her bachelor’s degree. She completed her doctorate at Northwestern University and a post-doctoral fellowship in urban
education at the University of Pennsylvania. Loder-Jackson has published extensively on issues related to urban education, Birmingham’s civil rights and educational history and has served in both leadership and service roles for a number of professional and civic organizations. A panel discussion is set to follow Loder-Jackson’s talk, featuring:
•Christine Miller-Betts, executive director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum; •Dr. Judy Carter, former chair of teacher education at Augusta University and Fort Valley State University; •Dr. Mallory Millender, Paine College historian For information, contact Stacey Hudson at 706-667-4076
UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 9 - 15, 2017
Metro AUG EDUCATION
UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 9-15, 2017
4
Registration open for Georgia’s Pre-K Program AUGUSTA Richmond County residents with children who are 4 years old can register to enroll in Georgia’s PreKindergarten Program through March 10, 2017. Residents can register at the Richmond County School System’s Central Office at 864 Broad Street or at Tobacco Road Elementary School at 2397 Tobacco Road between the hours of 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. To qualify for the program, a child must be four-years-old on or before September 1, 2017. Acceptable proof of age and residency must be presented and must be on file the day the child begins the Pre-K program. Proof of age must be an original/ certified birth certificate, passport,
Doctors Hospital announces Colorectal Cancer Screenings AUGUSTA Doctors Hospital has announced the start of their 2nd Annual Colorectal Cancer Screening Event. The monthlong event coincides with the American Cancer Society designated Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March and provides an opportunity for area residents over 50 years old to pick up a free colorectal cancer screening kit from a convenient location and return it to the Doctors Hospital Laboratory at 3651 Wheeler Road, Augusta, GA. The kit contains detailed instructions for completing the test at home. Participants must complete an authorization form, a self-addressed envelope, and return the completed test to the Doctors Hospital lab for analysis. Doctors Hospital will conduct the laboratory testing at no cost to participants and provide the postage to mail results. Kits are available for pick up through March 31 at the following locations: Doctors Hospital Main Entrance, 3651 Wheeler Road, Augusta, GA WJBF, 1336 Augusta West Parkway, Augusta, GA Warren Family Life Center, 3203 Washington Road, Augusta, GA Tabernacle Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1223 Laney Walker Boulevard, Augusta, GA Warren Grovetown, 777 Horizon South Parkway, Grovetown, GA Tabernacle Baptist Church West, 702 N. Belair Road, Evans, GA
green card, pink card, or Federal I-94 card and official hospital record of live birth. forms and Medicaid cards are not acceptable documentation for proof of age. Children enrolled in the program will need a Certificate of Immunization (DHR Form 3231) within 30 days of enrollment, and a Certificate of Eye, Ear, Dental and nutrition Screen (DHR Form 3300 within 90 days of enrollment. Acceptable documentation for proof of residency is essential. Examples of proof of residency include: current lease, current vehicle registration form, letter from shelter, letter from employer if employer provides housing, any utility bill listing the residence as the service
address and current PeachCare ligibility documents for the child. A cell phone bill or a driver’s license are not acceptable proof of residency. Parents/guardians must bring proof of Georgia residency and age documentation to register for the drawing. Other required documents will be requested once your child is enrolled in a Georgia’s Pre-K Program. All applications will be accepted, but only 22 students per class will be selected using a lottery system as follows: 1. The names of children living in the school’s attendance area will be placed in an IN ZONE Lottery Box. 2. The names of children living outside of the attendance area will be
place in an OUT of ZONE Lottery Box. 3. The names of children placed in the IN ZONE Box will be pulled first. 4. The first 22 (20 for HeadStart Collaborations) names will constitute the class. Student placement is not guaranreed but contingent upon legislative Decisions regarding class funding. 5. If 22 slots are not filled from the IN ZONE Box, additional names will be pulled from the OUT of ZONE Box. 6. All remaining names of children will be placed on a waiting list for that school. 8. Pre-Kindergarten classes will begin - August, 2017. For additional information call: RCSS Pre-K Office - 706-826-1266
COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2017, for the following: 1. Athletic Field Turf Grass Management RFP#2017-013 2. Butler JROTC Rifle Range Replacement Roofing RFP#2017-007 3. Chemical and Food Safety Program RFP#17-772 4. Chillers, Boilers and Energy Recovery Units Service and Maintenance RFQ#2017-008 5. Elevator Service and Maintenance RFP#2017-010 6. Emergency Generator Load Bank Test Service RFP#2017-011 7. Fire Extinguisher Service and Maintenance RFP#2017-009 8. Fresh Produce and Eggs 2017 -2018 RFQ#17-17-775 9. Fuel Management Service 2017-2018 RFP#17-776 10. Grocery 2017-2018 RFQ#17-773 11. Musical Instruments for Davidson Fine Arts School RFQ#17-771 12. Paint RFQ#2017-012 13. Pine Straw and Mulch Refurbishment RFP#2017-006 14. School Nutrition Paper Products 2017-2018 RFQ#17-774 Bid specifications may be obtained by contacting Cecilia Perkins in the Business Office at perkice@ boe.richmond.k12.ga.us or 706-826-1298, on our web site at www.rcboe.org/bids, or at Richmond County School System, Central Office 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, GA 30901. The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities. COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY By: Dr. Angela D. Pringle, Secretary
CONGRATS TO THE NORTH AUGUSTA H.S. LADY YELLOW JACKETS • S.C. STATE CHAMPS
5 UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 9 - 15, 2017
NORTH AUGUSTA HIGH SCHOOL’S LADY JACKETS defeated Wilson High School 61-37 to win the South Carolina Class 4A State Championship. The Lady Jackets completed a perfect season at 28-0 on Saturday, March 4. Photo by Ken Makin
North Augusta’s Lady Jackets are tops in South Carolina NORTH AUGUSTA At the beginning of the season, North Augusta girls basketball coach Crystal Cummings and her team made a commitment to work toward an undefeated season. Well, this past Saturday, they won their 28th and final game to become South Carolina’s Class 4-A Champions. It was the school’s first title in girls basketball. It was the Yellow Jackets first state championship game appearance since 1958. Leading the way to the 61-38 rout of Wilson, was junior Amari Young, who scored 19 points with 13 rebounds and Kiara Jackson who added 10 points. The Lady Jackets won 18 of their 28 games by 20 points or more. The game played in Columbia on Saturday, March 4, 2017. North Augusta’s Amari Young is driving to the basket against a Wilson defender. Photo by Ken Makin
UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 9-15, 2017
6
(Above) CROSS CREEK’S KIERRA STEWART stays on the defensive during a Final Four AAAA basketball playoff game against Carver High School. The semi-final game, held at Christenberry Fieldhouse, culiminated with the Lady Razorbacks suffering a 56-60 defeat, ending a 20-game winning streak for Cross Creek. This season marked the first time in the school’s history that the team had advanced to the Final Four. March 4, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal
(At Right) T.W. JOSEY GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER TAMIA BIMG (center) and her teammates listen to their coach at a half-time break during a soccer match against Screven County, held at the Eagles stadium. The Gamecocks prevailed against the Eagles with a 8-0 win. March 7, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal
7 UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 2 - 8, 2017
AN A.R. JOHNSON HIGH JUMPER attempts to clear the bar during a track meet held at Laney stadium. March 1, 2017 Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal
SPORTS
Area High Schools
A.R. JOHNSON TENNIS PLAYER FRETA TROTTY returns the ball during a match against Westside’s Mary Lee Grey at Newman Tennis Center. Trotty won in three sets. March 7, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal
(Above) AN AQUINAS DISCUS THROWER takes position for the throw during a track meet held at Laney stadium. Participating schools included A.R. Johnson, Aquinas, and Butler. March 1, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal
(Below) T.W. JOSEY RUNNER GREGORY JACK crosses the finish line in first place during a track meet held at Laney stadium. Participating schools included A.R. Johnson, Aquinas, and Butler. March 1, 2017 - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal
UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 2 - 8, 2017
8
Meet sexy friends who really get your vibe...
Try FREE: 888-315-2549 18+
9
THE TRUMP EFFECT ON EDUCATION
Three R’s of dangerous revolution: Reading, ‘Riting and Rhetoric I f I mention “education” within the context of the Trump administration, you may think I’m talking about Betsy DeVos, the controversial choice for Secretary of Education. I’m not talking about DeVos, nor her pay-for-play rise to that particular office, though. The worst for DeVos is likely to come, but despite her views on HBCUs and free lunch, she’s got nothing on good ol’ American miseducation. When I think of education in the Trump administration, I draw on a familiar Trumpism – “fake news.” During Trump’s first address to Congress last month, he talked about violent crime, and provided slanted statistical data to support the need for a task force: “The murder rate in 2015 experienced its largest single increase in nearly half a century,” Trump said. “In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone, and the murder rate so far this year has even been higher.” Now, here are the facts in their entirety, according to the FBI: • The homicide rate in this country is trending along a 60-year low, ranging in the 4.0 to 5.0 region. Statistically, murder rates are as low as they’ve been since the 50s. • Over the last 60 years, the country saw an uptick in murders during periods of great social upheaval; specifically, the late ‘60s. As a matter of fact, those numbers remained above an 8.0 until the mid-90s and peaked to 10.0 in the early ‘80s. Those statistics will be lost, though. Why? Because CHICAGO! Chicago is
UPW Urban Pro Weekly Willis Foreman Road Hephzibah, GA 30815
a buzzword for the conservative right, and thanks to mass media, any time we hear the word “Chicago” in relationship to crime, we think of it as a lawless epicenter of Black on Black crime. Truth is, in terms of murder rate, Chicago doesn’t even crack the top five among big cities (St. Louis, Baltimore, Detroit, New Orleans, Cleveland). But, CHICAGO! People hear that name, and all of a sudden, facts don’t matter. It’s all about our emotions. And emotions can cause a dangerous revolution. ••• One late January evening, my wife and I were sitting down, enjoying each other’s company. She was checking one of her social media accounts when she learned of the worst – three people had been shot during a basketball game at South Aiken High School (Aiken, S.C.) The incident hit particularly close to home for me, especially since the basketball game was between Aiken High School, my alma mater, and South Aiken, our crosstown rival. Sadly, shootings at schools are no longer unfamiliar to me. After expressing great sadness, and subsequent hope for no serious injury, I shared a comparative analysis of how shootings are evaluated and reported in this country. “Baby, if a White person was responsible for the shooting, there will be talks about mental health and countless prayer rallies,” I said. “If a Black person did the shooting, we’ll hear about how we don’t need gun control, we need ‘thug control.’ “If a Muslim person did the shooting, people will throw around the word
‘terrorist,’” I continued. As it turned out, the shooters were Black. Thank goodness, no one was seriously injured. Yet invariably, the situation turned into a flashpoint for the Aiken County Public Schools (ACPS), and turned into a referendum on “discipline” for Dr. Sean Alford, the district’s Black superintendent. After ACPS conducted six town hall meetings, I had a chance to talk with Dr. Alford. Some of that commentary is within the text of a story in this publication, and the extent of that commentary is available on my “Makin’ A Difference” podcast via Facebook. The long and short of the conversation is this: statistically and philosophically, Aiken County Public Schools have maintained. Statistically, the rate of fights and violent incidents in Aiken County schools have held or trended downward. But, when fear hits, facts don’t matter. It’s all about our emotions. And emotions can cause a dangerous revolution. ••• The “Trump effect” on education is nothing more than allowing rhetoric to take the place of facts. That dynamic isn’t new to Trump. Yet my concern remains the same – any time there’s a “crackdown on crime” in our communities and schools, it always comes at the expense of Black people. Quite simply, the idea of “law and order” always includes locking people up and throwing away the key. There is no room for rehabilitation. It’s an ideology that lacks empathy, and ulti-
URBAN PRO WEEKLY Publisher URBAN PRO WEEKLY MEDIA 706-306-4647 urbanpromedia@yahoo.com
CEO / Sales FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com
mately, lacks efficiency. When we throw kids out of school, we essentially throw them into prison. If you don’t believe me, Google the term “school-to-prison pipeline.” The solution for this type of abnormal activity in our schools and in our communities is the same – perpetual training for administrators and law-keepers, as well as perpetual community engagement in our society. The primary goal of school should be to EDUCATE students, not police them. The primary goal of society should be to ECONOMICALLY EMPOWER people, not police them. When we allow fears to dictate our way of life, when we allow fears to dictate policy, we open up the door for legislation that gives big government more control. In other words, we open the door for controversial measures such as charter schools, which can be used as political mechanisms to destroy public education. We have to be aware of what’s going on in our schools, and yes, we have to be accountable for what’s going on in schools. We have to approach these dynamics with factual information. Why? Because emotions can cause a dangerous revolution. Ken J. Makin is the founder of “Makin’ A Difference,” a media conglomerate that incorporates podcasting/radio, social media and commentary. The podcast is available at soundcloud. com/makinadifference. Ken can be reached by email at makinadifferenceshow@gmail.com or by text at (803) 270-2331.
Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media KEN MAKIN contributing columnist
UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 9 - 15, 2017
MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE COMMENTARY by Ken Makin
UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 9-15, 2017
10
LETTERS:
In response to Sylvia Cooper, reader argues for name change Sunday, March 5, 2017, was Sylvia Cooper’s day to officially sympathize with the revered white supremacist and slavery defender John C. Calhoun. In her recent Augusta Chronicle City Ink column, she asks the question, “If Calhoun Expressway is renamed, what’s next?” Her question endeavored to belittle and marginalize Augusta Commissioner William Fennoy’s resolution to rename the John C. Calhoun Expressway. Cooper’s feeble effort to devalue a minority government official was unbecoming of a journalist who graduated Summa Cum Laude. In like manner, her egregious insensitivity is shared by those who oppose renaming the Calhoun Expressway. That is why Paine College professor and historian Mallory Millender was quoted as saying, “Not changing the name indicates city leaders agree with Calhoun’s proslavery values, don’t know what they were or don’t care.” White Americans like Sylvia Cooper, who are made in the image of the slave-owner, will never be able to understand the sentiments of black Americans who are made in the image of the African slave. Sylvia Cooper’s dismissive and insensitive attitude indicates she could care less about how slavery has deeply affected the psychology of the black race in America. It is the same demeaning and cavalier attitude which led slave-owners to
capture, rape, whip, mutilate, and lynch African slaves. That is why for America to publicly honor a racist and slave-owner in the 21st century cannot be tolerated and must be relentlessly challenged. No longer will historically conscious A frican-Americans keep silent when hypocrites point to past slave-owners for inspiration. Whites, especially, love to quote the words of the slave-owner Thomas Jefferson who wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” However, according to what Jefferson practiced, black people had no unalienable rights, and were endowed by their master with certain slave responsibilities. Indeed, his words were written to inspire the white race, but mock the black race. Just like the name John C. Calhoun when publicly suspended over an expressway. As for the question posed in the title of Sylvia Cooper’s column, If Calhoun Expressway is renamed, what’s next? What’s next will be to rename every road, highway, and building named in honor of any white supremacist or slave-owner. This effort will continue until justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. Kevin Palmer, Martinez, GA
MEDICAL VILLA PHARMACY WE TAKE
• Georgia medicaid • Insurance plans • Charge cards • WIC vouchers
Marshall Curtis, Pharmacist/Owner Baron Curtis, Pharmacist
FREE DELIVERY SERVICE
706-722-7355
NOTICE TO PUBLIC
CITY OF AUGUSTA AUGUSTA HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Housing Rehabilitation Program
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS The City of Augusta under the Housing Rehabilitation Program will be accepting applications for the Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program only. Applications will be available starting on Monday, March 13, 2017 through Friday, March 17, 2017. Applicants can pick up an application or complete it in office between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at 925 Laney Walker Blvd., 2nd Floor. PLEASE BE ADVISED: The Housing Rehabilitation Program is a first come first serve program and only completed applications along with requested documents will be accepted and processed. If you need further information or have questions, please call Sonya Johnson at 706-821-1797. Si necesita asistencia en Español por favor preguntar por Maria Young. Hawthorne Welcher Jr., Director Augusta HCD Dept. 925 Laney-Walker Blvd. Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 821-1797 – TDD (706) 821-1797 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT: AugustaRichmond County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or provision of services.
Augusta University PRESIDENT BROOKS KEEL, PHD (L), and Richmond County School System Superintendent ANGELA PRINGLE along with School board president MARION BARNES (R) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch the Lucy C. Laney Early College High School program. The program gives high schoolers the opportunity earn both a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit towards a bachelor’s degree.
11 UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 9 - 15, 2017
EDUCATION
UrbanProWeekly - MARCH 9-15, 2017
12
ARE YOU AT RISK?
Stress Physical Inactivity Family History of Cardiovascular disease Obesity Stress Physical Inactivity Diabetes Family History of Cardiovascular disease High Blood Pressure Obesity Diabetes High Cholesterol High Blood Pressure Cigarette Smoking High Cholesterol Cigarette Smoking
HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK East Central Health District HEART ATTACK • BRAIN ATTACK • PREVENT ATTACK Hypertension Management Outreach Program East Central Health District Hypertension Management Outreach Program
Richmond County Richmond County Health Department 706.721.5800 Richmond County 706.721.5800 706.721.5800 www.ecphd.com