The Westside Gazette

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PERMIT NO. 1179

Congress Revamps Housing Pr ogram TTo o Addiciton Shouldn't Program Benefit Areas Where Mean Losing The Right TTo oV ote Vote HIV Is Spreading

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Civil Rights Groups Urge Black Parents To Lead On ESSA State Plans

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Westside Gazette Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper VOL. 46 NO. 28

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Couple opens first Black-owned gas station in this town, local resident are inspired

A Pr oud PPaper aper ffor or a Pr oud PPeople...Sinc eople...Sinc Proud Proud eople...Sincee 1971

THURSDA Y, AUGUST 17 - WEDNESDA Y, AUGUST 23, 2017 HURSDAY WEDNESDAY

White Supremacists’ rally turns violent: 19 injured, one dead White Supremacist murder suspect jailed after Charlottesville attack

Jonesboro, Georgia may be a small town, but they have a lot to celebrate. The town has welcomed it's first ever Black-owned gas station under the proprietorship of locoal entrepreneurs Colisha Hicks and her fiance' Fatz.

White TTulsa ulsa Cop who fatally shot Terence Crutcher gets a new gig

Mother seeking justice for son who was handcuffed, dragged after being shot 76 times by cops

The white Tulsa police officer, who had resigned after being acquitted in the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black man, has just found herself a new job.

USDA Loan Pr ogram Program helping low income families who need flood rrepairs epairs

Around the country, flooding has affected homeowners in states across the South, Midwest and others.

Master P named president of Global Mixed Gender Basketball (GMGM) League Music and television mogul, entrepreneur, philanthropist, author and motivational speaker Percy “Master P” Miller, named President of the Global Mixed Gender Basket ball (GMGB) League, announces the league’s CEO James Scott.

Meet the Black AIDS Institute’ Institute’ss Justin Woods: I felt responsible to decrease the HIV burden on people like me

ROBINSON Jamarion Robinson’s mother, Monteria Robinson, is seeking justice for the horrific murder of her son. If you haven’t heard about his death, it could be considered the epitome of

excessive. Aug. 5, 2017, marks the one-year anniversary of Jamarion’s gruesome death. Last year on this day, Jamarion was shot a total of 76 times. Then to make matters worse, he wasn’t killed as a result of his own wrongdoing. Unfortunately, he was murdered by members of law enforcement – U.S. Marshals. Then, to make matters worse, the U.S. Marshals shot and killed the wrong man. Although the case is currently under investigation, his mother cannot understand why more progress has not been made. Now, she wants real answers.

The Investigation: According to Rolling Out, Jamarion’s death is currently being investigated by both the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. Although the district attorney’s office has demanded statements from the officers who were (Cont'd on Page 9)

Black men who were used as modern day slaves, abused and raped at Arthur G. Dozier reform school want compensations and reparations

By Freddie Allen (Managing Editor, NNPA Newswire) James Alex Fields Jr., a 20 year-old from Ohio, who drove his dark gray Dodge Challenger into a crowd of people protesting a White nationalist march in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday, August 12 showed a deep

KENTWOOD, LA (BlackNews.com) — Peonage Researcher and Peonage Detective Antoinette Harrell has spent the past five years researching peonage that took place at the infamous Arthur G. Dozier Reform School in Marianna, searching for a lead that could confirm that peonage practices took place in the state operated school campus.

The Florida School for Boys, also known as the Arthur G. Dozier for Boys was a reform school operated by the state of Florida in the panhandle town of Marianna, from January 1, 1900, to June 30, 2011. According the Harrell’s peonage research, the aver(Cont'd on Page 9)

interest in Nazism and Adolph Hitler in high school. Fields is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder, malicious wounding and failure to stop in an accident that resulted in death, according to CNN. ABC News reported that Derek Weimer, Fields’ former world history teacher at Randall K. Cooper High School in Union, Kentucky, said that Fields was “fairly quiet,” “smart,” and also an open admirer of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

(Cont'd on Page 9)

It’s Sistrunk now; your neighborhood might be next! #SistrunkStrong The King will answer and say to them: ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:40 (NASB) Peonage Researchers Antoinette Harrell and Johnny Lee Gaddy perusing the Florida State Archives.

(Photo Credit: Walter Black, Sr.)

Procter & Gamble’s ‘The Talk’ ad stirs race debate Justin Woods, Program Coordinator, Black AIDS Institute-- After volunteering in Rwanda, the 26year-old recently started his professional career with the Black AIDS Institute, working with the Black Treatment Advocate Network (BTAN) in Chicago, Detroit and Louisiana.

(Read full stories at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor)

“The Talk” television commercial features featuring African American women discussing the realities of being Black in America and warning their children about racism.

(Screenshot/YouTube.com)

Pleading Our Own Cause

WWW.

Procter & Gamble kicked off the 10th anniversary celebration of the “My Black is Beautiful” campaign by releasing a commercial titled “The Talk,” featuring African American women discussing the realities of being Black in America and warning their children about the perils of racism.

“The Talk” sparked fierce reaction across the nation; ironi(Cont'd on Page 9)

The Westside Gazette Newspaper

As we continue to struggle with stopping the eradication of a part of our history, the Mizell Center and all that it encompasses- the land, the blood, sweat and tearsfrom those who want to allow some (Cont'd on Page 5)

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Congr ess Revamps Housing Pr ogram to benefit ar eas Wher e HIV is spr eading Congress Program areas Where spreading

By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez

Shyronn Jones, 39, and her children, Shyloh, 5, and Shymere, 14, live in Atlanta. The federal program called Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS helps Jones afford an apartment near a park where her daughter can safely play.

In a bipartisan push, Congress has restructured a federal program that provides housing assistance for people living with HIV to funnel more money into areas struggling to control the outbreak.

While legislators and housing advocates say the adjustments will better target regions with high rates of the virus, these changes are likely to mean less money for some of the large cities that confronted the early effects of the epidemic.

To help with the transition, Congress increased funding for the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program about 6 percent this year. In the past, this money was distributed across the

Betsy DeVos tries to apologize for her HBCU comments Betsy DeVos, the top education administrator in the country, is still trying to figure out what the word “choice” means.

The Secretary of Education spoke to the Associated Press on Wednesday about her “controversial” (read: incredibly a historical and dumb) comments about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which she called “pioneers of school choice,” as if they weren’t products of total educational racism.

Back then, the only logical thing to conclude was that DeVos had profoundly misunderstood (or maybe, had conveniently forgotten) how segregation was enforced in our nation’s school systems. Surely, if she had, “choice” is not a word that she would have applied.

Well, logic ain’t Betsy’s thing.

“When I talked about it being a pioneer in choice it was because I acknowledge that racism was rampant and there were no choices,” DeVos told the AP. “These HBCUs provided choices for black students that they didn’t have.”

Hmm, seems like she’s still not getting how the concept of “choice” works. But hey, maybe DeVos just needs to unpack her thoughts a bit more! Let’s give her one more try.

DEVOS “My intention was to say they were pioneering on behalf of students that didn’t have another choice. This was their only choice,” said the woman who was heckled and protested by an entire auditorium full of Black graduates and their parents this past spring. “At the same time I should have decried much more forcefully the ravages of racism in this country.”

Ahem.

You think???

Without racism, you don’t have segregation—whether legalized or in the de facto form which extended well beyond the Jim Crow South. Without segregated schools, you don’t have HBCUs, which still managed to flourish and produce generations of Black graduates. So

to laud them as being pioneers of a non-existent choice without acknowledging the racism that made them necessary is as insulting as it is ignorant.

But what’s worse than what DeVos is saying about school choice is what she may do about it. As an advocate for vouchers and charter schools, her policies at the Department of Education will have a real impact on millions of our nation’s public schoolchildren, a great portion of whom are nonwhite. And recent studies have shown that these programs can have disparate effects on public schools that serve majority Latino and Black students.

In fact, the effect that “school choice” could have on students of color is of such concern that the NAACP and the Movement for Black Lives recently called for a moratorium on these schools.

So not only has Betsy DeVos shown that she’s the last person who should be talking about the challenges students of color have faced in the past, she’s also showing that she’s the last person who should be handling the challenges they face now.

This was originally published on Splinter News by Anne Branigin

HBCUConnect.com partners with NextEra Energy to build pipeline of African American talent for nuclear engineering and operations careers COLUMBUS, OH (BlackNews.com) — HBCUConnect.com recently announced a new partnership with NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) to leverage HBCUConnect’s reach and penetration in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and the African American professional community to help NextEra Energy recruit the best talent for its current and future nuclear engineering and operations career opportunities.

“This is a very unique opportunity for African American engineers, especially those with an educational or professional background related to nuclear

energy”, said Will Moss, founder of HBCUConnect.com.

“We plan to build a talent pool of nuclear engineers with varying experience levels and connect them with hiring managers at NextEra Energy. The relationships that are formed may result in rewarding careers for more African Ameri-cans and promising talent for an employer of choice, NextEra Energy.”

While the partnership with NextEra Energy, offers hundreds of opportunities that can-

didates can apply for on HBCUConnect.com this specific initiative targets African American professionals who have a background in nuclear engineering or operations.

“Our partnership with HBCUConnect is yet another affirmation of our commitment to attract, hire and retain top talent”, said Melissa Miller, senior director of human resources operations and talent acquisition for NextEra Energy.

How to Submit Your Resume: Interested nuclear engineers and nuclear operations professionals should submit their resume to HBCUConnect.com using the following link: www.hbcuconnect.com/nextera

Virginia Union University appoints Dr. Hakim J. Lucas as the 13th president

By Virginia Union University Public Relations Virginia Union University’s (VUU) Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, has announced that Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D. has been named the 13th President of the University.

“Throughout the search process, Dr. Lucas impressed the committee with his clear vision for liberal arts education and creating an enhanced student experience,” said Richardson.

“He is an energetic and wise leader and we believe that he will serve Virginia Union University well.”

Dr. Lucas brings nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience in higher education. His career successes include fundraising, strategic planning, and the engagement and retention of students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Dr. Lucas has served as the

Vice President for Institutional Advancement at BethuneCookman University (B-CU) in Daytona Beach, Fla. since 2012. Under his leadership, unrestricted and restricted giving rose by 30-percent and the endowment increased by 53-percent. He developed a strategic government relations plan that resulted in millions of dollars in appropriations from the state of Florida. These funds aided in the development of new academic programs and a Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. His responsibilities also included chairing the Strategic Growth and Sustainability Taskforceas well as leading the sponsored research team that secured more than $45 million in research grants.

Prior to his accomplishments at B-CU, Dr. Lucas served as Director of Development at State University of New York at Old Westbury and the Dean of Institutional Advancement

country based on a jurisdiction’s cumulative number of cases (including people who had died).

Now under the 2017 funding, finalized by Congress in May, HOPWA has awarded $320.4 million to qualifying states and local jurisdictions to be apportioned primarily based on their share of the total number of people living with the virus. The number of cases required to qualify for funding also changed from 1,500 cumulative AIDS cases to 2,000 living cases of HIV/AIDS. No jurisdiction will receive less HOPWA money than in 2016, but about 25 cities and counties are getting a smaller piece of the pie than before.

The top five seeing their percentage of funding drop are, in order, New York City, Atlanta, Miami, Washington, D.C., and Houston.

“As the formula is fully im-

plemented, without additional funds those jurisdictions will lose out,” said Opal Jones, vice president of the National AIDS Housing Coalition, a housing advocacy group in favor of the formula change. “It’s a great start. It’s just not enough.”

The program, which began in 1992, provides financial assistance to help participants pay for rent, mortgage and utility costs. HOPWA also offers competitive grants to jurisdictions and organizations, but that allotment accounts for only about 10 percent of its budget and is not included in the $320.4 million.

Shelter represents one of the most important factors in determining an individual’s success in HIV treatment. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which administers the HOPWA program, housing instability is linked to delayed testing and gaps

in care. The department estimates roughly half of the individuals living with HIV in the U.S. will experience a housing crisis in their lifetime.

“I think we can’t underestimate the power that home has in improving the health in somebody with a chronic condition,” said Russell Bennett, executive director of the National AIDS Housing Coalition.

Shyronn Jones, 39, has struggled financially since she was diagnosed with HIV. She was once a homeowner in New York, but when she moved to Atlanta several years ago, the only housing she could afford was an apartment in a crimeridden pocket of the city. She was having trouble getting medical care, her white blood cell count dipped to dangerously low levels, and her mental health deteriorated.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

THE FAMU BROWARD ALUMNI CHAPTER AWARDS $11,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS -Congratulations to the following recipients who will receive the FAMU Broward Alumni Chapter Scholarship Award for 2017. They are as follows : (l-r) Stephanie Alcy, Marissa Mitchell, David Watkins, Jr., Shianna Peterson, Bakyanna Antenor and Kenderia Moore. Not pictured: Tracey Belizaire, Dominique Buchanan, Emmanuel Damas, Theresa Jean Louis, and Jelani Williams.

Engineer ing pr of essor s rreceiv eceiv e ffir ir st Engineering prof ofessor essors eceive irs CRES T-RISE A war d CREST Aw ard Courtesy of FAMU-FSU College of Engineering FAMU-FSU College of Engineering professors, Tarik Dickens and Hui Wang, with the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and Carl Moore, with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, have been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE) award to develop research in advanced manufacturing utilizing biomimetic robotics.

The HBCU-RISE activity within the major Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program supports the development of research capabilities at HBCU’s that offer doctoral degrees in science and engineering.

This competitive national grant, worth more than $958,673 is the first one awarded to FAMU, and one of only two ever awarded in the entire state of Florida.

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering professors, Tarik Dickens and Hui Wang, with the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and Carl Moore, with the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Their research involves high performance additive manufacturing of composite structures via reconfigurable cyberphysical robotic systems.

“The question we are trying to answer is ‘what will 21 st century manufacturing look like’? We are especially exploring biomimetic and high-

throughput prototypes for additive manufacturing systems.

Our cutting-edge research will help our students gain the skills needed for commercial and defense careers of the future,” Dickens said.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Eta Phi Beta Sorority gives back LUCAS and Development at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY. He was also a tenured lecturer and Deputy Chair of the Philosophy and Religion department at Medgar Evers College.

“Virginia Union University has a rich history of academic excellence and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this distinguished university,” said Dr. Lucas.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

For 75 years, Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., has provided services to improve the quality of life for individuals in many communities throughout the United States of America and the U.S. Virgin Islands. One of our signature initiatives is to assist with programs designated for improving the well being of the “Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled Citizens.”

During the 25th Biennial Southeastern Regional Conference, hosted by Alpha Omicron Chapter, Delray Beach, Fla., (July 27-30, 2017) at the Boca Marriott at Boca Center, Shani Simpson, Advancement Asso-

L to r: Southeastern Regional Director Deborah Cartwright-Clough, Daniel Kristen, daughter Joy, National President, Lillie A. Robinson, EDd., back row: Shani Simpson, Advancement Associate, The ARC of Palm Beach County.

(Photo by Essie Knowles) ciate with “The Arc of Palm Beach County” was presented with a monetary donation to assist them in improving the lives of children and adults with disa-

bilties. #Not For Ourselves, But For Others (Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

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AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017 • PAGE 3

Official statement from theVirginia State Conference of the NAACP Submitted by NAACP The presidents of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP, and the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP have issued the following joint statement regarding the senseless racist hate rally, violence and loss of life in Charlottesville, Virginia: “As people can see now very clearly, not voting has consequences,” stated Janette Martin, president of the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP. “On numerous occasions the city of Charlottesville has spent thousands of dollars to support KKK rallies - and city merchants have expressed their dissatisfaction with the loss of revenue that occurs during these rallies.” Martin added. “Violence did not have to be demonstrated in order to express freedom of speech. It appears that free speech was secondary to their main purpose which was to wreak havoc and violence in the community. They have been emboldened by the words and vocabulary of elected officials at the highest levels. “Martin concluded, “we commend the people of faith here in Charlottesville for working hard to set a moral tone, and sacrificing themselves and their safety to drown out the message of hate especially as we have students and parents returning to the UVA campus for the start of the school year.”

“The terrible incidence of violence in Charlottesville is a painful reminder of the blatant racism, unbridled lynching and other violence against citizens of African descent that permeated the history of this country,” said Linda Thomas, president of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP. “This goes to the very core of the existence of the NAACP and our continuing struggle against forces of hate.” ”White supremacists and today’s purveyors of hate should find no shadows in which to hide.

Our forefathers shed blood so that in 2017, this type of violence would be a footnote of the past.” Added Thomas, “We applaud our governor Terry McAuliffe, whose statement today is in alignment with the NAACP mission. And we encourage the Governor to use the full force of his executive powers to eradicate race- based barriers in all areas of life within the state. The Virginia State Conference will remain steadfast in our advocacy and activism as we push forward in our fight for legislative changes, expansion of voting rights and sound public policies that equally serve and protect all citizens within the commonwealth. And we will persist until we drive racism and racist behavior from our midst.”

“We call on President Trump to denounce this act as an act of terrorism and condemn the repeated rhetoric which has helped to fuel this climate of division and derision,” said Derrick Johnson, interim president and CEO of the NAACP. “Our hearts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives in Charlottesville. We stand firm with our commitment to acknowledge our differences, to embrace them as the richness of the American mosaic and we’ll continue to lead the fight for the right to peaceably assemble.”

La wy ers’ Committee for Civil Rights under la w rresponds esponds to Pr esident Lawy wyers’ law President Trump’s latest statement follo wing Charlottesville attack following In the aftermath of Charlottesville, concerned citizens are encouraged to call 844-9-NO-HATE to report bias-based incidents.

Submitted by Derrick Robinson WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law,issued the following statement Monday after President Trump met with Attorney General Sessions and FBI Director Wray to discuss the mass violence that broke out in Charlottesville this weekend after thousands of KKK and white supremacist-inspired marchers staged a “Unite the Right” rally: “The President’s statement is two days late and a dollar short. It should not take two days and a national tragedy for the president to take action and disavow white supremacists. When it comes to the safe-

ty and the security of our communities, too many of which now feel targeted by hate-fueled protestors, two days is too late.

“Despite his statement today, President Trump has pursued the advancement of policies that promote the marginalization of minority communities which emboldens the very white nationalists who descended on Charlottesville this weekend. And he continues to seek the counsel of Steve Bannon, who once bragged that the Trump administration is ‘the platform for the alt-right.’ It is no wonder that former Ku Klux Klan president David Duke said this weekend’s rally was to ‘fulfill the promises of Donald Trump.’

“Our country is stronger when people of all backgrounds are welcome in their own communities and treated with respect and dignity. As one of the oldest and largest racial justice organizations in our country, the Lawyers’ Committee understands the human devastation discrimination brings, and the urgency of acting now to combat discrimination and hate.

We will continue to press the U.S. Department of Justice to fully investigate the individuals and hate organizations tied to this weekend’s Charlottesville rally and expect Attorney General Jeff Sessions to aggressively pursue any and all federal civil rights charges or domestic terrorism charges that may be warranted.”

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a Communities Against Hate partner, leads the Stop Hate Project. The Stop Hate Project works to strengthen the capacity of community leaders, local government, law enforcement, and organizations around the country to combat hate by connecting these groups with legal and social services resources and creating new ones in response to identified needs.

The Project’s resource and reporting hotline for hate incidents, 1-844-9-NO-HATE (1844-966-4283), connects people and organizations combating hate with the resources and support they need.

“If a man say, “I love God,” and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” — 1 John 4:20

Black church leaders condemn KKK terror in Charlottesville

Go vernor McAulif ement on next sstteps af vents in Charlott esville Governor McAulifffe ssttat atement aftter eevents Charlottesville

Submitted by Charlottee Gomer RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe released the statement below regarding the next steps he and his administration will take following the events this past weekend in Charlottesville, VA:

“Today, I convened an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the next steps we, as a commonwealth, must take in order to begin the arduous process of healing our community and confronting the racism that stubbornly remains in our nation. The events of this weekend have only strengthened our resolve to combat hatred and bigotry, and I want Virginia to be a leader in the national conversation about how we move forward. I have directed my team to impanel a commission with representatives from community organizations, faith

leaders, and law enforcement to make actionable recommendations for executive and legislative solutions to advance our mission of reconciliation, unity, and public safety.

“Also, while we continue to grieve and support the families of those who lost their lives, we must learn from this tragic event to prevent a recurrence in our community or elsewhere.

In that spirit, I also directed my team to conduct an extensive review that will include how we issue rally permits, law enforcement preparation and response, and coordination at the local,

state, and federal level. In addition, the federal government must focus on the threat of domestic terrorism especially when it comes from beyond state lines.

“Finally, I commend our Virginia State Police and National Guard personnel, who worked in support of the City of Charlottesville, for their tireless work this weekend under very challenging and volatile circumstances. Without their extensive preparations and measured actions, we would be facing a far more grave situation today.”

In response to the deadly white supremacist attack in Charlottesville, VA, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) issued the following statement: Submitted Congresswoman Gwen Moore “As we mourn for Heather Heyer and her family, we are reminded that we cannot fight for justice alone. We are all in this together, regardless of our ethnicity or political philosophy.

Now is the time for those who have yet to feel the sting of oppression and intolerance to unite with us in amplifying our collective voices against those who proudly brandish the hateful symbolism embraced by the likes of David Duke and Dylan Roof. Our coalition against hate is strong, but only when those who experience and benefit from privilege join us can we truly be an unstoppable force.

“White supremacy, our nation’s original sin, has always held a prominent role in the African American experience.

However, we aren’t alone in our endeavor to combat domestic terrorism. Jews, Muslims, LGBTQ individuals, and other marginalized groups have a long and rich history of standing shoulder to shoulder with us as part of our shared efforts to extinguish the flames of racism and extremist views of white nationalism. Their partnership echoes the words of Elie Wiesel who urged us to take sides and reminded us that, ‘Neutrality

One Hundred Black Men, Inc. of N ew Y ork on Charlo ttesville Ne York Charlottesville and K en razier Ken entt F Fr Submitted by One Hundred Black Men, Inc. of New York NEW YORK CITY -- One Hundred Black Men, Inc. of New York (OHBM), the founding chapter of the nationwide organization, 100 Black Men of America, strongly condemns the horrific violence that took place in Charlottesville, Va. and denounces all overt and covert forms of white supremacy that lead to ongoing displays of bigotry and racism in this country. OHBM passionately supports the removal of the statue of General Robert E. Lee as it stands as an affront to the progress of civil rights and race relations in the state of Virginia and our country.

OHBM strongly affirms the courageous choice of Kent Frazier, CEO of Merck, to step down from President Trump’s American Manufacturing Council, and firmly believes that America’s leaders must openly and actively reject hatred and bigotry that runs counter to character to the founding ideals of America.

helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.’

“The vile expressions of hate that occurred in Charlottesville, while surprising to some, evoked all too familiar feelings of vulnerability and anger for my constituents and communities of color. Such vitriol demanded nothing less than our country’s strongest and immediate condemnation, starting with the president. But when initially presented with the opportunity to reject white supremacy and address the ongoing scourge of hate aimed at intimidating and terrorizing us, we were offered vague objections and unattributed press statements.

“In the face of days of public admonishment by leaders on both sides of the aisle, the President of the United States finally condemned those whose actions led to the death of Heather Heyer. Although, I am relieved that President Trump eventually issued an explicit denouncement of these hate groups, he must understand actions speak louder than words. If the president is sincere in his rebuke of white supremacy, I call on him to remove those in his inner circle who embrace such hateful ideals, starting with Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, and Sebastian Gorka

Submitted by Jennifer Farmer OAKLAND, CALIF. — Following a white nationalist, Ku Klux Klan-sponsored “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Black church faith leaders and denominations, today joined other clergy in announcing a “Weeks of Righteous Resistance” initiative to push back on hate and racism. Prompted by the hostile treatment of fellow faith leaders — Rev. Traci Blackmon, Rev. Osagyefo Sekou, Dr. Cornell West, Lisa Sharon Harper and others — who were locked inside a local Charlottesville church and terrorized by the KKK, the clergy leaders released the following statement: “While the world looks at North Korea, Black Americans are looking at Virginia,” said the Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church. War is being declared on the Black church and we refuse to be held hostage to fear and terrorized by the alt-right. God is on our side and we will rise.”

“The legacy of racial terror in the south is well documented,” said Dr. Iva Carruthers, general secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference. “Our conference, The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, is named after one of the black church champions for justice. In this spirit and legacy, we condemn the public terror being unleashed on our loved ones in the South and across the country. This wickedness must be met with a united and faithful response. We are here to stand together and help lead this response.”

“Does it bother you that unmasked members of the Ku Klux Klan will likely be in someone’s church singing worship songs, praying, attending a church plant conference, or worse, policing our neighborhoods, teaching our children?” said the Rev. Michael McBride, director of Urban Strategies for PICO National Network’s LIVE FREE program. “Is there not an outrage from white-led churches and organizations to identify these people and warn people of color? Does not the Holy Spirit compel you to preach a message this weekend to convict their hearts and transform their minds? Or are you still silent and complicit as the white nationalist power publicly terrorizes the rest of us?”

The Charlottesville KKK riot comes on the heels of city officials’ decision to remove monuments to Robert E. Lee, a symbolic marker that celebrated slavery and the oppression of African Americans.

“We stand with communities like Charlottesville that are doing the correct and necessary thing to eliminate symbols of white supremacy and racial oppression from public places,” said PICO National Network Executive Director Scott Reed. “Communities that decide to take down statues that venerate racial oppressors and slave owners and rename institutions should not be inti, we strongly support efforts by communities in Virginia and across the country to reckon with their racist past and reject racial intimidation in all its forms.”

“The legacy of the AME church against white supremacy and the KKK is a hallmark of the Black church,” said Bishop Frank Reid, African Methodist Episcopal Church. “We condemn the evil in display in Virginia and we are hearing this is spreading across the country. We call on true followers of Jesus and all children of God to resist this evil now.”

“Nothing about white nationalism flows from the heart of God,” said Mark Labberton, president of Fuller Theological Seminary. “May white, and all, followers of Jesus say and live a resounding NO to any form of white nationalism.”

For more information on the Weeks of Righteous Resistance, visit www.thisisworr.org.

PAGE 4 • AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017

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Community Digest

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Fundraiser

Eta Nu Education Foundation presents Eta Nu Benefit Fundraiser honoring founder James L. Jones on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Parkland Golf & Country Club, 10001 Old Club Rd., Parkland Fla. Open bar, dinner, entertainment, live auction. For cost and and additional info call Harry Harrell at (954) 4451515 or visit www.etanu.org

Miss FAMU

The FAMU Broward Alumni Chapter would like to invite all FAMU Alumna residing in Broward County who have held the title of MISS FAMU to please contact the chapter for an opportunity to be featured in the 2018 upcoming FAMU Broward Chapter Distinguished Alumni Calendar. For more info please call (954) 4393864.

Tournament

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Zeta Rho Omega Chapter and the AKAdemic Foundation are hosting the Seventh Annual Strike For A Cure Bowling Tournament, on Friday, Aug. 25, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at SpareZ, 5325 S. Univ. Dr., Davie, Fla. There are costs for adults and children which include two hours of bowling, bowling shoes, food/soft drinks and a charitable contribution to Women In Distress of Broward County Inc. For additional info contacthealth@zetarhoomega.org or pay at www.AKA2017Strike.eventbrite.com.

Showcase Pompano Beach Cultural Center announces Summer Season Alyona Ushe to showcase Cultural Alliance Members and Community Spirit. All events will be held at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 S.W. First Ave., Pompano Beach, Fla. · Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 10 a.m. -National Endowment of th Arts $100,000 "Our Town" Grant announcement Pompano Beach Crossroads. · Sunday, Aug. 27 ay 7 p.m.

- American Roots of Jamaican Music: The Legacy presented

by Rootz of Music.

For cost and additional info call Kay Renz at (561) 6548151.

Town Hall

Florida Senator Bobby Po well and Representative Matt Willhite are together hosting a post-Legislative Session Town Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m., at Royal Palm Beach Commons Sports Center, 11600 Poinciana Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, Fla. This event is free and open to the community.

They will also answer questions related to the upcoming 2018 Legislative Session which is scheduled to convene January 9, 2018 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Aging & Disability Resource Center for Broward County, Inc., Events

* Aging & Disabiltiy Resource Center of Broward County presents The 25th Annual Minority Elderly Conference on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 in the Conference Center at Broward Health North, 201 E. Sample Rd., Deerfield Beach, Fla. Preregistration is required. Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, and Creole. For time and cost and additional info call (954) 745-9567, Ext. 10247. * The Aging and Disability Resource Center will hold its 28th Annual Swing for Seniors Golf Tournament on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 at 9 a.m., at the Inverrary Country Club in Lauderhill.

For cost and additional info contact Denise Jones at (954) 745-9567 x10216. email: jonesd@adrcbroward.org or visit the ADRC website at www.adrcbroward.org.

Meeting Greater Faith CCHTL Inc., host pastor Elder Randy Robertson, coordinators-Elder Wayne & Evang. Barbara HardenEvangelism Camp Meeting Outreach Day on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 2301 N.W. 22 St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Free food, giveaways, clothes and school supplies. For additional info call Barbara Harden at (954) 2549648

Westside Gazette Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper

Touch Weekly Events

· Back 2 School Bash - Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 from 6 to 9 p.m., at 609 N.W. Sixth Ave., Hallandale, Beach, Fla. Students, bring your friends and family to the City of Hallandale Beach's Free Back 2 School Bash! Games, free haircuts and more, school supplies and backpack giveaways. · 13th Annual Back to School Event on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Washington Park Community Center. Join us for this family event with free book bags, school supplies & refreshments.

The first 40 boys receive a free haircut! · Back 2 School Event at The PATCH - Saturday, Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Dania Beach PATCH, 1201 W. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach, Fla. Free backpack giveaways, free haircuts, receive 50% of Florida Grown Produce. · Collins Elementary School - Supply List - This summer we will be collecting school supplies for Collins Elementary students at The Dania Beach PATCH. Please drop off supplies through Aug. 19. Thank you for your support! Donations will be accepted at: Dania Beach PATCH 1201 W. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach, Fla · Labor of Love Day - Save the date for a neighborhood revitalization event on Monday, Sept. 4, 2017 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at NW Ninth Ct., Fort Lauderdale, Fla (Between NW 27th Ave. & NW 28 Terr. · Back 2 School Event at The PATCH - Saturday, Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Dania Beach PATCH, 1201 W. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach, Fla. Free backpack giveaways, free haircuts, receive 50% of Florida Grown Produce. · Community Resource Fair on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Franklin Park 2501 Franklin Dr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Broward County School’s Haitian Families Support Services presents a Community Resource Fair. There will be health information, school resources, face painting, giveaways, food, games and much more! For additional info contact Tina Hudson, Navigator Program Coordinatior at (954) 5619681 x 1226 or THudson@BRHPC.org. · Become an Enrollment Site!

Help make access to free inperson and impartial assistance easy for your community by becoming an enrollment site.

For contact info call Tina Hudson (954) 561-9681 x 1226.

Songfest

Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church, and our Pastor, Reverend Henry E. Green, Jr., cordially invite the public to our 2017 Songfest on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 6 pm., at 401 N.W. Seventh Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The renowned and anointed Reverend Kevin Desire will be the Featured Musician/ Artist at the Voices of Praise Choir 2017 Songfest. The theme for this year’s Songfest production is: “Sing Praise To God, Sing Praises To Our King, Sing Praises.” Psalms 47:6 NIV. Reverend Kevin Desire, a Miami-Dade native, is a Composer/Arranger of over 477 songs. Rev. Desire currently serves as the 11th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church Director of Music & Christian Arts. For more info contact Barbara Scruggs at (954) 257-8019.

Registration Register your Black Owned Business online by visiting sflbbd.com. We also have premium listing options listed online. The deadline to register to be included in the second edition of sflbbd is Saturday, Sept. 30. Email us right away at info@sflbbd.com if youhave questions that cannot be answered by visiting our website.

Competition

The City of Pembroke Pines Recreation & Cultural Arts Department and the Arts & Culture Advisory Board is proud to announce the Third Annual Art Competition. Applications are currently being accepted at Studio 18 in the Pines. Accepted artwork will be exhibited at Studio 18 in the Pines from Sept.

25 to Nov. 9, 2017. The winners of the competition will be announced at the Art Competition Reception on Friday, Oct. 6.

2017. Application deadline is Friday, September 15, 2017 at 5 p.m. For more info at (954) 961-6067.

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Westside Gazette

AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017 • PAGE 5

National Network of State Teachers take on the 'Every Student Succeeds Act' The National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY) recently held their annual five-day conference in Washington, D.C. to discuss the group’s “collective vision” for the future of education in the United States.

NNSTOY is a non-profit organization serving as a professional home to State Teachers of the Year (STOYs) and State Teacher of the Year Finalists during their years of service, according to the group’s website.

During the conference, more than 200 educators from around the country discussed various elements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Conference participants also visited the Russell Senate Office Building to raise their collective voice and present a collective vision for the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Teachers reiterated the importance of collaboration with educators “on the front line” in creating language in reference to ESSA. Policy recommendations included appropriations that would continue funding for federal education programs in the FY 2017 budget and the federal government’s continued oversight of ESSA to ensure the law is implemented with the same intention of equity as it was written. Educators were also particularly adamant about the inclusion of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) as an indicator of student success, as well as access to appropriate teacher training to handle situations where students are not demonstrating expected behaviors.

Another priority for NNSTOY was a discussion on school choice. Attendees expressed their concern for the adequate funding of public edu-

cation in the midst of public support for school choice by Secretary Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration.

In addition, NNSTOY’s legislative platform states that: “any school choice option should require the same accountability measures as those required for traditional public schools.”

Educators at the NNSTOY conference also raised awareness about the responsibility of the United States to educate all children, despite class, color, or immigration status.

NNSTOY members recognized the importance of teacherparent collaboration in education. The importance of the teacher-parent partnership is highlighted in several bipartisan acts supported by NNSTOY that would ensure that the voices of teachers and parents are heard and represented in the decision-making processes.

L to r: Dr. Melissa Collins, Dr. Elizabeth Primas, Dr. LeAnn Stephens and Josh Parker at the NNSTOY conference in Washington, D.C. (Travis Riddick/NNPA)

By Elizabeth Primas (NNPA/ESSA Program Manager) As a result, NNSTOY representatives spent the majority of their time on Capitol Hill advocating for the following legislation: money helps someone who’s liv- single mom with $700 in her — H.R. 3246, known as The ing with HIV and AIDS have a pocket, people told her she Teachers and Parents at the couldn’t succeed as an actress, better life,” Henson says.

Table Act, amends ESSA to Henson has also been vocal because she was too old. Luckicreate a voluntary “teacher about homophobia in the Black ly, she tuned them out. “If you community, which contributes listen to people and you let peoadvisory committee, half of to stigma and is a major deter- ple project their fears onto you, which must be state teachers of rent to HIV testing and treat- you won’t live,” she says. the year or finalists.” A comparAn Authentic Journey to ment. When “Empire” received able parent advisory committee criticism for daring to showcase Stardom would be established to work in It’s that take-no-prisoners a gay character, Jamal Lyon, conjunction with teams on deplayed by Jussie Smollett, in attitude that fueled Henson’s cision-making. This act is coone of the lead roles, Henson success when she left behind came to the show’s defense. She her native Washington, D.C., sponsored by Rep. Kathleen told “People” magazine: “Peo- to become one of the most celeActress Taraji P. Henson Rice (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Elise ple are dealing with this, it’s brated actresses in Hollywood.

Stefanik (R-N.Y.). not a joke; that’s why it’s in the She’s received a Golden Globe became an ambassador for —S. 1413, or “The Teachers Alicia Keys’ charity Keep a script. It’s not for show, it’s not Award and three BET Awards Child Alive, which also as Leaders Act,” authorizes the for sensationalism. It’s because for best actress for her work on people are struggling with this. “Empire.” She also received an raises awareness about HIV. Teacher Quality Partnership (Black AIDS Institute) Grant program in Title II of the And that’s why we shed light NAACP Image Award for outon it. You can’t make everybody standing actress for her por- es with her honesty and inten- Higher Education Act to create happy; we don’t try to. We just trayal of mathematician Kathe- sity.” She is also the author of teacher leader development try to touch and affect lives, rine Johnson in the film “Hid- an autobiography, “Around the programs. This would help to and I think we have. We’re al- den Figures.” Other movies Way Girl,” in which she details ways going to have haters, so Henson is known for include how she has managed to stay address recruitment and retenhere’s to all my haters! I’ll send “The Curious Case of Benjamin true to herself throughout her tion, which is an ongoing problem in most school districts. It Button,” “Hustle & Flow” and rise in Hollywood. you cookies, thanks.”

Henson’s collaboration with also addressed the need for exShrugging off haters is no- “No Good Deed.”

As impressive as she is in her MAC for the Viva Glam cam- tending the continuum of teathing new for Henson. When she became pregnant in college field, Henson is just as respected paign is not the first time she cher preparation and developat Howard University, people for the moves she is making has lent her voice to the fight ment into differentiated career told her she wouldn’t graduate, when she is not on camera. In against HIV/AIDS. In 2015, but she proved them wrong and 2016 Henson was named one she became an ambassador for paths. The bill is co-sponsored Alicia Keys’ charity Keep a walked across the stage to collect of the most influential people in Child Alive, which also raises by Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Sen. her diploma with her son on the world by Time magazine. awareness about HIV. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Empire co-creator Lee Daniels her hip.

(Read full story at: Later, when she moved to has called her “the modern-day Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.).

California at the age of 26 as a Bette Davis, touching audiencwww.thewestsidegazette.com) —H.R. 2544, also known as the “Teacher Health and Wellness Act,” creates a pilot study at the National Institutes of Health aimed at reducing teacher stress and increasing teaMitchell said that, with the cher retention and well-being right policy, when a family by implementing and analyzimember passes away and leaves ng results of a range of pro$100,000 or $250,000 or grams, including: workplace $1,000,000 that money can be wellness programs; social emoused as an investment to help tional learning programs that purchase a house, to fund col- help teachers improve student lege education, for start-up capi- engagement; teacher stress matal to start a business or even nagement programs; mentoring charitable giving “The understanding and and induction programs; organiconversations in the past have zational interventions such as only been around burial policies teacher leadership, regarding and not tied to your value and school management; teacher residency programs with mental worth,” said Mitchell.

Coates said that now that health and psychological supNew York Life has reached the port; and complimentary health $50 billion-dollar goal, the Black strategies, such as mindfulness community desperately needs meditation and school reorgania macroeconomic strategy that zation. This act is co-sponsored will help to preserve the value

by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio); of that investment.

“We would be remiss if 20 Reps. Susan Davis (D-Calif.), Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. (l), the president and CEO of years from now the value of Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and the NNPA, talks about bridging the racial wealth gap that $50 billion is $5 billion,” Darren Soto (D-Fla.). during panel discussion hosted by the New York Life said Coates. “If we’re going to —H.R. 1864 – “the Chronic insurance company as Rev. Delman Coates, the senior address the racial wealth gap, Absenteeism and Reduction we must address the macroeco- Act” acknowledges the signifipastor of Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, looks on.

(Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA) nomic mechanisms that causes cant impact of chronic student money to be controlled by people absenteeism on school success

By Freddie Allen (Managing sity; Eugene Mitchell, the Afri- who don’t look like us, by instican American Market Manager tutions that don’t represent us and well-being. It amends ESSA Editor, NNPA Newswire) for New York Life; and Jeff and that ultimately issue money to authorize funds to be used for interventions for students The New York Life insur- Pegues, the justice and home- as a debt in society.”

Chavis said that if we want who miss 10% or more of school ance company recently hosted land security correspondent for to bridge the wealth gap, if we a panel discussion on bridging CBS News. want to replace poverty with days including data collection, Mitchell said that he wanted the racial wealth gap in Washpeople to know that New York wealth, it first starts in the mind; partnering with community orington, D.C. it first starts in the conscious- ganizations, mentoring, school New York Life agents were Life and its agents take econo- ness. reorganization, extended pain town for the company’s mic empowerment in the Black “The problem is we don’t adecommunity very seriously, beempowerment plan summit and quately utilize the blessings rent engagement, home visits, to celebrate achieving their goal cause economic disparities that all of us have,” said Chavis. evidence based restorative of reaching $50 billion in life breed lack of opportunities. justice strategies and per“The root problem in our com- “The truth of the matter is, our insurance plans in the Black children are not born hopeless, sonnel training to build positive munity is not crime, it’s not community. they become that way.

It does school climates and promote soThe panel featured Dr. Ben- drugs, it’s not non-nuclear take a village to raise a child, cial-emotional learning. The bill jamin F. Chavis, Jr., the presi- households, it’s the economy,” but the problem is not the child, is currently sponsored by Rep. said Mitchell. “Wealth equals dent and CEO of the National opportunity and the lack of it’s the village.”

Tim Ryan (D-Ohio).

Newspaper Publishers Associa- wealth creates hard times.”

Chavis said that with the NNSTOY committed to advotion; Reverend Delman Coates, Mitchell continued: “We’re $50 billion dollar economic em- cating for the sufficient funding the senior pastor of Mt. Ennon bringing this tool of life in- powerment campaign, Eugene Baptist Church in Clinton, Md.; surance into the Black commu- Mitchell and New York Life of ESSA. Education advocates Darryl De Sousa, the deputy nity so that we can use it like have shown that the Black fa- recommend that all parents commissioner of the Baltimore other [communities] have used milies can instill wealth building must reach out to their local and federal representatives to Police Department; Dr. Bahiy- it for hundreds of years and to into our mindset. yah Muhammad, an assistant create an inheritance and gelet them know how important (Read full story at: professor of sociology and an- nerational wealth beyond coeducation is to the successful www.thewestsidegazette.com) future of this nation. thropology at Howard Univer- vering the cost of the funeral.”

Taraji P. Henson: Fighting the good fight for what is right

By Tamara E. Holmes (Black AIDS Contributor) Actress Taraji P. Henson has never shied away from a worthy cause, and she has always been ready to fight for what she believes is right. Not only has that worked out well for her, but it is also paying off for those living with HIV/AIDS. Vocal on such varied topics as equal pay for women, police brutality and animal cruelty, the critically acclaimed actress is also lending her voice and her star power to efforts to raise awareness about HIV and to help those affected by it.

Best known for the largerthan-life character of Cookie Lyon that she plays on the Fox television series “Empire,” Henson strikes just as powerful a figure when she is off screen.

Like Cookie, Henson is passionate about what she believes in. This year she proudly unveiled her line of fuchsia lipsticks as part of cosmetic giant MAC’s Viva Glam campaign, which has raised money for HIV/AIDS awareness since 1994. One hundred percent of the proceeds from Henson’s line of lipsticks will go to the cause.

“The best part of the Viva Glam campaign for me is that all the

It’s Sistrunk now; your neighborhood might be next! #SistrunkStrong (Cont'd from FP) not too pleasant history to replace ours, I’m reminded of a movie I saw once at an early age called’ ’The Boy with The Green Hair’.

To my recollection, the movie’s central point was how sometimes we find the differences in people are used not in a positive, productive way to help them, but rather to destroy them because of their differences, completely erasing them from any parts that can be taken away.

Somewhere in our lives we have been in positions to help someone but have chosen not to whether we want to admit it or not. To say that it was a bad thing or good thing doesn’t matter. The simple fact is that we chose to do it. And I’m willing to bet you $10 to a doughnut that we did it because they were different. Different in appearance, different in the way they talk, different in their sexuality, different in their political mind sets, different in their age, different in their geographical location, different in their economic status, different to what we want. They were just different.

The boy with the green hair had no choice in his situation, he woke up one morning and it was just that way. He was changed – just different- and it was a visual difference that he could not hide. Now those who condemned him and wanted to replace him because of his difference they were the ones at fault.

We can’t change who we are, we can’t run from it, and we sure can’t allow others to try to make it appear that we never existed in an area that is too close to the epic of what they consider to be their downtown, their beaches and their land.

A young war orphan boy(Peter) was found in the woods with his head completely shaved. He moves in with an old man and begins to live a normal life. One of his class assignments was to help war orphans from other countries after seeing orphans on a poster.

One day after Peter had taken a bath and was drying his hair, he noticed that his hair had turned green. The children’s faces on the poster really bothered Peter, causing him to realize that he was an orphan himself.

Peter, while in the woods, was assured by the surreal visitation of the orphans who told him that because of his green hair, all the sufferings that came with it was his armor and fortitude to fight against those who believed in the wars that had caused the conditions of orphanage and other maladies that came with war.

Once Peter understood his plight he began to fight for the issues that concerned his previous condition. Because of his convictions and his differences, he was ridiculed and victimized to the point of having his head shaved and those who perpetrated the crime hoped that he would become normal and stop his mission.

In the end, he agreed to get his head shaved by the town’s barber. It took all of this for some of the town’s people to realize and agree with him and wanted him to keep on fighting for his cause because it was the right thing to do.

Peter never changed even though the powers/leaders of the town tried to force him to, running him out of town and even altering his appearance. However, they couldn’t do it.

Others began to realize that if they could do that to Peter they could eventually do it to them.

This story to me is another allegorical depiction of what is transpiring with the Mizell Center and the LA Lee YMCA and NO! I’m not reaching for stars. I’m trying to make it as simple as I can to show how people who can make a difference hide behind those who have to be on the opposing side of what the community and studies have shown and said what they “the community” needs and wants and not those who are using tactics from “The Boy With The Green Hair” movie i.e. beat them up, tear them down, give them a new appearance and make them look like they belong; however, the same conditions exists-NO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY - only social services that lead to a “missionary mindset” for life.

“Dear God, in the name of Jesus, teach me how not to overlook the needs of others for my own prosperity and selfishness. In Jesus name, Amen.

New York Life reaches $50 billion empowerment goal in the Black community

PAGE 6 • AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017

Opinion

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Westside Gazette

The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.

Addiction shouldn’t mean losing the right to vote In 2010, the state of Florida began a serious crackdown on pill mills in our state. Due to the laws passed by our legislature and the work of local law enforcement and health care workers, deaths due to opioid overdoses fell significantly.

Unfortunately, the crackdown on pill mills has led to the rise of a new, equally heinous opioid epidemic in our state fueled by heroin. For many Floridians, addiction to this drug, or others, has touched your life in some way through friends, family members, loved ones, or an issue you may have overcome yourself.

Now imagine this: after being arrested for heroin possession, working through the legal system, successfully completing treatment, and rebuilding

your life, you come to find out that one of your most sacred rights has been stripped away forever.

Why? In Florida, possession of heroin is a Third Degree felony and felons permanently lose their right to vote.

By criminalizing addiction, we are putting up unnecessary barriers for Floridians looking to fully reintegrate into our communities. When you take away someone’s ability to fulfill their greatest civic duty because of an addiction, you are in effect singling them out for their entire life based off a chapter in their life they undoubtedly would like to turn the page on.

That’s why we must pass the ballot initiative being proposed by the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition in 2018.

This initiative would make the restoration of voting rights for non-violent felons automatic in Florida.

Currently, Florida is one of just three states nationwide that does not have automatic restoration of voting rights. Our current system of appearing before the clemency board can take years and there’s no guarantee that your petition will ever even be heard. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated in his letter from the Birmingham jail, “Justice too long delayed is justice denied.”

The time to pass this amendment is now. Too many Floridians, not just those who may have overcome addiction issues but others who may have made mistakes, are being denied the ability to exercise their right to vote.

‘T he m eaning o arl ottesv ill e’ Building a political ‘Th meaning off Ch Charl arlo ttesvill ille’

By Pastor Rasheed Z. Baaith

In the way of righteousness there is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.”

(Proverbs 12:28) There are many things lamentable about last weekend’s violent events in Charlottesville, Va. Foremost among them was the murder of Heather Heyer by an avowed white supremacist, mowing her down with his car.

Then there was the deliberate refusal by President Trump to mention neo-Nazis, the alt right and white supremacists as the cause of the violence that happened. Not that any of us should have been surprised at his refusal to do so. He has been a passive aggressive racist all of his adult life.

For the past eight years Donald Trump has energized the white racists in this country with his leading the “birther movement,” his castigation of immigrants, his accusing black youth of a crime they did not commit and his stigmatizing of Muslims. As a candidate he sought and received the support of white extremist groups. As the President he installed leaders of the alt right in White House positions, namely Steve Bannon and Sabastian Gorka, Both are alumni of Brietbart News, which Bannon calls “the platform for the alt right.” Bannon is Trump’s Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor while Gorka is a Deputy Assistant to Trump. We all know that birds of a feather flock together.

They are part of Trump’s extremist base that he plays to consistently. What he did not say about Charlottesville is an example of his not wanting to lose that base. Trump did not want to call out what occurred Friday night and Saturday for what it truly was: white extremists celebrating their love for Nazism with all its horrors.

It began Friday night with a torch march through the campus of Virginia University. Singing Nazi songs, yelling racist epithets, hundreds of these Nazi wannabes used the night as a platform for their sick display.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

consensus with a Black united front

By Roger Caldwell

“What we are much more likely seeing is a deepening disappointment with the Democratic Party among Blacks,” according to the Black Commentator, an analysis from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

With the election of President Donald Trump, Blacks in America have become invisible, and there are 34 Republican governors, 15 Democratic governors, and 1 independent governor. The majority of legislators in these red states are primarily Republican, and Democrats are disorganized and dysfunctional.

There are many questions in 2017, if Donald Trump is a true Republican.

But the Republicans carry on in the tradition of the Ku Klux Klan, and their Southern political ancestors who suppressed the Black vote, and kept Blacks from registering to vote.

As voter polls shrink for many Republicans in key states, the GOP will be forced to use many different shenanigans to remain in power. Trump won the election in 2016 with the Electoral College, but loss the popular vote by about 3 million. In 2018, there will be no tactic too low for Republicans to use to win in local, state, and federal elections.

“Still there is no tactic too extreme or too low for the Republican Party to try if they can get away with it. These extend beyond the already unacceptable restrictions on voter and registration ID, shorter voting hours, eliminated weekend voting, reduced or eliminated early voting, reduced or eliminated absentee voting, and eliminated same day registration,” says Adalia Woodbury from Politicus USA. In the upcoming 2018 election, Republicans are again serious about winning, and voter fraud will be at the top of their list.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Last spring, the FRRC was able to gather the 71,000 petition signatures necessary for the amendment’s language to be reviewed by the Supreme Court and it was approved.

Now, they are in the process of completing the even more Herculean task of getting the 753,000 plus signatures in order for it to appear on the ballot in 2018.

You can sign a petition by visiting the FRRC’s website at https:// floridarrc.com/volunteer#petition and then get out in your community to spread the word about passing the amendment next year.

All of us should be together in this fight to provide justice to those who have served their debt to society and are yearning to regain their full rights as a member of our society.

It’s not just the right thing to do; it’s a reaffirmation of our fellow Floridians’ humanity.

The Gantt Report Who taught haters to hate

By Lucius Gantt The last time I was in Europe I was is Den Haag, Holland, also known as The Hague.

I was there to attend The North Sea Jazz Festival, one of the largest music festivals in the world.

More than 150 artists were scheduled to play at a variety of concert halls and other venues, and it seemed like music was being played from early mornings to around dawn of the next day.

Covering the jazz festival for media companies in the United States, I would pick some high profile artists to see and interview, but it was impossible to see every act. After seeing some shows, doing some interviews and taking some photos, I would get tired and find my way back to my hotel.

One day I finished work early and decided to return downtown to take an early evening walk. As I was strolling, I heard some incredible jazz that seemed to be coming from a sort of dive bar, a small European hole in the wall, so to speak.

When I walked into the place I noticed that I was the only Black person in there. I looked on the stage, and there was a Nazi band playing songs

by John Coltrane, Miles Davis and other greats.

Opposition to white (Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com) supremacy breeds It’s time to show “middle hostility neighborhoods” love, Kevin Palmer, Martinez

before it’s too late

The white supremacists who protested in Charlottesville, Virginia have kindred spirits in each state of the union, especially Georgia. In Augusta, they include many who defend the John C. Calhoun Expressway, the Confederate Memorial on Broad Street, and those who are associated with the Masters Golf tournament.

On April 11, 2013, Salon.com posted an article captioned: The Masters presents a phony, sanitized South, which covered some history of the Masters Golf Tournament. The article stated, “The vaunted prestige of the Masters began with Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., one of the founders. After Babe Ruth, Bobby Jones was the brightest light in the Golden Age of American sports.

What fans and sportswriters have always most loved about Jones was his insistence on remaining an amateur throughout a brief but brilliant career in which he would win a total of “13” majors”, including four in one calendar year, a feat that has never been duplicated. Yet, there’s just no getting around it; Jones presided over a racist golf club.” Indeed, the club’s cofounder, Clifford Roberts, was an outspoken racist who once said, “As long as I live, there will be nothing at the Masters besides Black caddies and white players.”

The article goes on to say, “In 1932, Jones and Roberts quietly tapped their wealthy friends to buy a 365-acre indigo plantation on the outside of Augusta for a mere $70,000. As if to make up for lost time, Jones and course designer Dr. Alister Mackenzie managed to have the 18 holes built in 76 days.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Congressman Dwight Evans says that our Middle Neighborhoods are being squeezed, because they aren’t poor enough or wealthy enough.

(Official Photo)

The NOKOA Newspaper Is in Trouble.

Here’s How You Can Help. Akwasi Evans says that NOKOA’s struggle for survival is tied directly to the intent of the oligarchs to silent dissent.

By Harry C. Alford

By Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) What do countries, states and neighborhoods have in common? People. They all compete for people.

Through people, you get innovators, investors, builders, developers, thinkers. Through people, you have the building blocks of your workforce.

Our neighborhoods rely on anchors like great schools, bustling shops and small businesses, and a competitive housing stock in order to attract homebuyers and increase long-term homeownership.

In my District, the Second District of Pennsylvania, I am fortunate to represent top of the line research institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel, Temple, Saint Joseph’s, LaSalle and many more, that continue to lead the way in innovation and development, driving new residents to our neighborhoods across the city of Philadelphia and into the surrounding suburbs like Lower Merion and Narberth, that call the 2nd District home.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Beyond the Rhetoric

Obama Presidential Why standards are important under the every Don’t let the oligarchs center – how Black student succeeds act silence the Black Press will it be?

Dr. Elizabeth Primas says that parents should be involved in setting educational standards for their children.

By Dr. Elizabeth Primas (Program Manager, NNPA/ESSA Public Awareness Campaign)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR GUIDELINES The Westside Gazette welcomes your letters. Letters must be signed with name clearly legible along with a phone number and complete address. No unsigned or anonymous letters will be considered for publication. The Westside Gazette reserves the right to edit letters. The letters should be 500 words or less.

Standards have always been a part of society. From standards of measurement and time to driver’s licenses, food preparation in restaurants and language, standards keep us healthy and safe and help us communicate with each other.

In the 1980s, the United States began to expand and formalize public education standards. This process was the driving force behind the education reform movement. Standards in education were supposed to set clear guidelines for what all students were expected to learn and be able to do. The curriculum and assessments were supposed to be aligned with established standards.

In 2001, with the signing of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) by President W. Bush, a significant emphasis on standards took on a life of its own.

Under NCLB, all states were required to develop standards and assessments to measure student achievement. Problems occurred when states developed

individual standards that measured knowledge and skill levels.

There was no way to determine if a student passing one state’s standards was equivalent to a student’s level of accomplishment in another state. Test that were national, like the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and the National Educational Assessment of Progress (NAEP), all indicated that students with passing grades in high school, that met state standards, were not necessarily prepared to be successful in college and career.

In 2009, there was a state-led effort to develop the Common Core State Standards (CCSS); the effort was launched by state leaders, including governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, two territories and the District of Columbia; CCSS was supposed to remedy the differentiation in state standards under NCLB. The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) worked with educational agencies to create one set of standards that would be uniform for the country.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

By Akwasi Evans (NOKOA The Observer/NNPA Member) Have you missed us, lately? We had a lot of news we wanted to share with you, but we couldn’t afford to print it. Each week it gets harder both mentally and physically. This job used to be fun. I still enjoy the service and I love being a crime fighter, but with dwindling resources and unpredictable support, my ability is waning. We can and do speak truth to power. Power can and does shut us up. The corrupt, destructive powers that prevail can squash a small, semi-weekly, pipsqueak paper like NOKOA without staining the soles of their shoes. Human exploitation is a crime and we fight it with our words.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Part 1 So far, the Obama Legacy is surprisingly lacking in Black participation. During his two presidential administrations, Black business participation was on a continuous downward slide. At the end of the George W. Bush’s two administrations, SBA lending to Blacks was approaching 8 percent and Black business participation was similar.

When the Obama presidency succeeded George W. Bush, the numbers in both categories started to fall from the beginning. Both categories were cruising at the 2 percent level. It was so bad that the SBA and MBDA would lie to the press by claiming they didn’t keep numbers on Black lending and procurement. The truth is that for at least the last 40 years the Federal Procurement Data Systems office tracks all numbers in terms of procurement with detailed demographics. The SBA itself reports its own lending by race. I will never figure out why they were so disingenuous and insincere about improving Black business development.

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

www.thewestsidegazette.com

BUSINESS

Westside Gazette

AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017 • PAGE 7

UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

OFFICE: (954) 733-7700 ext. 111 CELL: (754) 234-4485 4360 W. Oakland Park Boulevard Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 33313 ken@acclaimcares.com

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(954) 587-7075

FRED LOVELL, Lic. Opt. (Over 30 Years in Optics)

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Call FORD (954) 557-1203 Jessie Trice Community Health Center Launches second annual #iChooseHealth4 campaign in recognition of National Health Center Week

DO YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW HAVE LESS THAN PERFECT CREDIT?

FINANCIAL FREEDOM JUST AHEAD CREDIT SPECIALISTS Lola W alker Walker Direct: (954) 588-3864 Marisa Andrews: (470) 535-4600 Email:quickactioncredit@gmail.com Web: QuickActionCredit.com

PROTECT YOUR: *IDENTITY *CREDIT *FAMILY *FINANCES *LIFESTYLE & FUTURE

Freeman - R.L. Macon Funeral Home "AN INSTITUTION

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STS TAX SERVICES INC. in association with

In recognition of National Health Center Week, planned for August 13 – 19, 2017, the Jessie Trice Community Health Center has kicked off its second annual #iChooseHealth4 campaign. National Health Center Week provides an opportunity for Health Centers to showcase the incredible services they provide to their communities, while advocating for the resources necessary to expand their programming. This year’s theme is Celebrating America’s Health Centers: The Key to Healthier Communities.

“The key to a healthier community starts with each of us,” says Annie Neasman, President & CEO of JTCHC. “Through the iChooseHealth4 campaign, we continue to remind residents about the importance of choosing health – whether it’s for yourself, your friends and family or your community.”

The #iChooseHealth4 campaign invites participants to write down what they choose health for then share a photo of their message on social media using the hashtags #iChooseHealth4, #NHCW17 and #ValueCHCs. In addition to the campaign, JTCHC will also host a series of events and activities at its centers throughout the week.

National Health Center Week has been celebrated for more than 30 years to recognize the services and contributions of Community, Migrant, Homeless and Public Housing Health Centers. While there are countless reasons to celebrate America’s Health Centers, among the most important and unique is their long success in providing access to affordable, high quality, cost effective health care to medically vul-

nerable and underserved people throughout the United States.

The Jessie Trice Community Health Center, Inc. is a Florida 501(c)3, not-for-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center, which has been serving MiamiDade County since 1967. A community mainstay, JTCHC owns and/or operates fifty-four (54) facilities, which includes eleven (11) Comprehensive Primary Care centers, including a women’s substance use residential program, forty (40) schoolbased locations and two (2) university centers. JTCHC’s multicultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary staff serves a diverse population of over 47,000 patients who make more than 187,000 visits annually. We Know how to satisfy our patients and have been doing so for decades. For more information, contact (305) 805-1700 or visit jtchc.org.

PAGE 8 • AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017

AF amily T hat Prays T ogether, Stays T ogether Family That Together, Together

Church Directory

Worship T his and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choice This

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 2211 N.W. 7th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33061 Church: (954) 583-9368 Email: bethelmbchurchfl@att.net

New Birth Baptist Church The Cathedral of Faith International Bishop Victor T. Curry, M.Min., D.Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher 2300 N.W. 135th Street Miami, Florida 33167

ORDER OF SERVICES Sunday Worship ........................................................ 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Sunday School ....................................................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday (Bible Study) ......................................................................................... 6:45 p.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ............................................................................... 10:45 a.m.

1-800-254-NBBC * (305) 685-3700 (o) *(305) 685-0705 (f) www.newbirthbaptistmiami.org

New Mount Olive Baptist Church 400 N.W. 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale 33311 (954) 463-5126 ● Fax: (954) 525-9454 CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Reverend Jimmy L. English PASTOR WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship ............................................................. 8 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Sunday School ........................................................................... 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday (Prayer Service & Bible Study) ............................... 7:30 a.m.

Saturday (Women Bible Study) ............................................................ 8 a.m.

"Baptized Believers working together to do the will of God"

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Westside Gazette

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson,

Williams Memorial CME “PRAYER IS THE ANSWER” 644-646 NW 13th Terrace Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 (954) 462-5711(Ministry Office Line) (954) 462-8222(Pastor’s Direct Line) Email: wm_cme@bellsouth.net (Church} pastorCal50@yahoo.com (Pastor)

Rev. Cal Hopkins.

M.Div) Senior Pastor/Teacher

Senior Pastor WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY Sunday .................................................... 7:15 a.m. 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ............................................................................ 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday Noonday Service .................................. 12:00-12:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ............................................ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................... 7:00 p.m.

Where the kingdom of God is increased through Fellowship.

Leadership, Ownership and Worship F.L.O.W. To Greatness!

The WITNESS of “The WILL” Sunday Worship Experiences ................................................................ 7:45 and 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................................................................................. 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday Night Triumph {Prayer, Praise and Power} Prayer Meeting ................................................................................................................ 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study ........................................................................................................................ 7:30 p.m.

We STRIVE to PROVIDE Ministries that matter TODAY to Whole Body of Christ, not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”!

“Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR! Come to the WILL ... We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ!”

Honor your loved ones in the Westside Gazette Newspaper Call -- (954) 525-1489 * In Memoriam * Happy Birthday Remembrance * Death Notice * Obituaires * Cards Of Thanks

Obituaries Harris Chapel United Methodist Church Rev. Stanley Melek, M.Div E-MAIL:stanley.melek@flumc.org 2351 N.W. 26th Street Oakland Park, Florida 33311 Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520

SERVICES Sunday Worship ................................................. 7:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School .............................................................................. 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday (Bible Study) ........................................... 11a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

James C. Boyd Funeral Home WILLIAMS Funeral services for the late Ciara Nicole Williams - 27 were held August 12 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Elder Frank Jennings officiating. Sunset Memorial Gardens.

McWhite's Funeral Home

Mount Calvary Baptist Church 800 N.W. 8th Avenue Pompano Beach, Florida 33060 Church Telephone: (954) 943-2422 Church Fax: (954) 943-2186 E-mail Address: Mtcalvarypompano@bellsouth.net SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY

New Member Orientation ........................... 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................ 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service ........................................ 11:00 a.m.

WEDNESDAY Prayer Meeting ............................................... 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study ..................................................... 7:00 p.m.

EDWARD Funeral services for the late Joe Louis Edwards, Sr - 81 held August 12 at Berean Church Of God with Pastor Jr. Thompson officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Cemetery.

HUNTER Funeral services for the late Sylvan FrazierHunter - 81were held August12 at Friendship Baptist Church with Rev. Ingraham Sr officiating.

WHITE Funeral services for the late Sheila Denise White - 54 were held August 12 at Mount Zion A.M.E. Church with Rev. George Hardy officiating. Interment: South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Fla.

Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home MORGAN Funeral services for the late Johnnie Lee Morgan, Jr. - 48 were held August 12 at Immanuel Church of God In Christ Pastor Londell White officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Rev Henry E. Green, Jr. PASTOR

SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES Worship Service ................................................................................... 10 a.m.

Church School ..................................................................................... 9:15 a.m.

BIBLE STUDY: Wednesday ................................................................... 10 a.m.

Gems & Jewels Ministry Senior Wednesday Wednesday (Bible Study) ............................................... 12 Noon & 7- 8 p.m.

Daily Prayer Line ...................................................................................... 6 a.m.

(712) 432-1500- Access Code296233#

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1161 NW 29th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311 (954) 581-0455 ● Fax: (954) 581-4350 www.mtzionmbc1161.com

Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher WORSHIP SERVICES Worship Service ............................................................................................................ 10:15 a.m.

Sunday School ................................................................................................................ 9:00 a.m.

Communion Service (1st Sunday) ........................................................................... 10:15 a.m.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting ........................................................................... 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study ................................................................................... 7:00 p.m.

Saturday (2nd & 4th) Christian Growth & Orientation ................................... 8:30 a.m.

But be doers of the Word - James 1:22 nkjv - “A Safe Haven, and you can get to Heaven from here”

Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, Oakland Park "The Miracle On 33rd Street" 420 N.E. 33rd Street Oakland Park, Florida 33334 Church: (954) 563-3060 Email: mtzion420@gmail.com

Rev. George A. Hardy, Pastor SERVICES Sunday Church School ................................................................... 8:45 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship ........................................................... 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday Night (Family Prayer & Bible Study) ........................... 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday (Prayer Conference Line) ................................................ 8:00 p.m.

(Dail (786) 233-6715 - Acess Code 703513) Oakland Park CDC (Senior Activity Center) Daily ............10 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.

BONNER Amos Stephen Bonner was born June 8, 1935 in Beaufort County, Carolina. He was one of eight children born to the late Zebedee and Della Bonner. He was baptisted and received confirmation at Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Washington, North Carolina, and later graduated from Mother of Mercy High School. Drafted into the U.S. Army, he served two years in Austria and Germany. After his discharge, he attended North Carolina Central University on the G.I. bill, graduating in 1959.

Question: Are there any instances in the Bible where children were used

by God to benefit his purpose?

Answer: The Bible teaches us that everything was created

by God. Through God’s omniscience (all-knowing) and His omnipotence (all-powerful) humans were created in God’s image. That gives God the right to use and do anything He pleases. God used a raven to feed one of His prophets (1st Kings 17:6), and God utilized an animal to speak His word (Numbers 22:28). So, it is quite natural that God does and still uses children to articulate His word. Jesus said in Matthew 18:6 that if one would offend a little one that believes in Him, the offender should be drowned in the depths of the sea. Isaiah 11:6-9 reflects the fact that little children will play unharmed while receiving knowledge from the Lord. This is a time when the Messiah is to rule.

God allowed two youths to run the kingdom of Judah.

King Joash was seven-yearsold when he became the king and ruled for 40 years. King Josiah was 8 Years old when

God allowed the kingdom in his hands.

He ruled for 31 years.

King David was about 16years-old when he killed Goliath the giant. Joseph was 17-years-old when he was sold into slavery. Prophet Samuel was about 11-years-old when he heard the voice of God. Jesus was 12-years-old when he amazed the elders with His learning skills while in the temple. To God ‘age ain’t nothing but a number’.

According to the Bible it is the solemn duty of a Christian to raise a child in a Christian atmosphere (Proverbs 22:6).

Ephesians 6:4 gives instruction on how to raise your children. Your child might be the next instrument that God utilizes in impacting His kingdom.

Reverend David Deal is the senior pastor at Every Christian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Rev Deal can be reached at the Westside Gazette, 545 NW Seventh Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Fla 33311, or by email a t David.deal55@gmail.com.

-- Psalm 66:9 Band Director Samuel Griffin passes

Amos Stephen Bonner Succumbs: He was employed by the Life’s Reflections Broward School Board in 1961

401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 Phone: (954) 463-6309 - FAX 954 522-4113 Office Hours: Tues. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Email: infor@mthermonftl.com

‘And a little child shall lead them’

Our live are in His hands and He keeps our feet from stumbling Former Alcorn Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite

"Doing God's Business God's Way, With a Spirit of Excellence"

Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church

Q & A: What does Reverend Deal say this week!

and began a distinguished 36 year career as an educator at Lanier Jr. High School in Hallandale, Florida. There he met his love, Bessie Allen. They were married and were blessed with two wonderful children, daughters Irma Denise Roberts and Kimberly Marie Bonner. He served as principal of Dillard High School and served district level administrative positions until his retirement in 1997.

Amos was involved in many community programs throughout his career. He was appointed by Governor Bob Graham to two-four year terms as a commissioner of the North Broward Hospital District; he also served on the Code Enforcement Board for the City of Coral Springs.

After his retirement, he continued to serve his community as a volunteer for the Guardian Litem program, Coral Spring Medical Center as a Detention Minister and Lector for Saint Andrew Catholic Church.

Amos is survived by his wife Bessie, daughters Denise and Kimberly, granddaughter Danielle Roberts; sisters Loretta Patton and Carolina Grayson, both of Baltimore.

Maryland and a host of nieces and nephews.

The man behind what we know today as the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite has passed.

Samuel Griffin aka Griff passed away Friday Aug. 4, 2017 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Griffin is credited with forming Alcorn State’s Sounds of Dyn-OMite, Golden Girls dance line and the Purple Flashers Flag Corp.

Under the direction of Samuel Griffin, the band began to venture into a world that could only be dreamed of.

Upon his arrival in 1969, the band only had 35-40 members.

With the transition of a new style of marching known as “show-style,” many bands throughout the south began to make their mark with the use of unique techniques unfamiliar to non-HBCU marching bands.

In 1975 “The Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite” became the first band to perform in the New Orleans Superdome. The Band has performed before crowds at Soldier Field in Chicago, the Los Angeles Coliseum, Texas Stadium in Dallas, and many more high-profile venues throughout Georgia, Indiana, New York and Washington, D.C. The band participated in the inaugural parade of President Jimmy Carter in 1977 and many inaugural parades for governors of the state of Mississippi.

President Alfred Rankins Jr. took time to reflect on the out-

GRIFFIN standing legacy that Griffin left behind.

“Alcorn lost one of its most beloved figures,” said Rankins.

Griffin was the epitome of Alcorn excellence. He loved this University, and he dedicated his time to instilling key values of hard work into generations of Alcornites. Our condolences go out to the Griffin family and all of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

Current Alcorn Director of Bands Dr. Renardo Murray remembers Griffin as a strong man who groomed his students to be great performers and even greater people.

Griffin was an Alcorn State University icon,” said Murray.

“He touched the lives of so many young people. He not only taught us how to be musicians, but he also taught us how to be strong men and women.”

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Westside Gazette

AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017 • PAGE 9

White Supremacists’ rally turns violent: 19 injured, one dead (Cont'd from FP) and the Nazis.

Weimer also told ABC News that Fields thought the Nazis “were pretty cool guys.”

According to ABC News, “Some of Fields’ classmates at the school recalled a trip to Europe a group of students took after graduation in 2015, when they visited the Dachau concentration camp. Two of the students on the trip said when they arrived at the concentration camp, Fields said, ‘This is where the magic happened.’”

The ABC News report continued: “Weimer noted that Randall K. Cooper High School is not particularly diverse, and said that as a result, he didn’t have many opportunities to see Fields interact with many nonwhites or Jewish people.”

Weimer told ABC News that the student body at Randall K. Cooper High School was about four percent Black.

Last weekend, White nationalists descended on the college town to protest the removal of a statute of Robert E. Lee, the infamous general of the Confederacy.

“A career army officer, Lee didn’t have much wealth, but he inherited a few slaves from his mother. Still, Lee married into one of the wealthiest slaveholding families in Virginia— the Custis family of Arlington and descendants of Martha

Washington,” the Chicago Tribune reported. “When Lee’s father-in-law died, he took leave from the U.S. Army to run the struggling estate and met resistance from slaves expecting to be freed.”

According to the Tribune, “Documents show Lee was a cruel figure with his slaves and encouraged his overseers to severely beat slaves captured after trying to escape. One slave said Lee was one of the meanest men she had ever met.”

Fields’ mother, Samantha Bloom, told the Associated Press, that she thought her son was attending a political rally, “that had something to do with Trump” and that she tried to stay out of her son’s political views.

Media reports have described, Heather Heyer, 32, the lone fatality in Saturday’s tragedy, as a paralegal from Greene County, Va, and a supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.). Heyer was in Charlottesville to protest against the White nationalist rally in Charlottesville.

Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer called Heyer’s killing and the injury of others by a vehicle at a rally in the city a “terrorist attack with a car used as a weapon,” according to ABC News.

In a statement about the violence and the White nationalist march in Charlottesville, Neera Tanden, the president and CEO

of the Center for American Progress, said that events over the weekend are another stark and disturbing reminder that violent extremism continues to exist in our neighborhoods and communities.

“All of us at the Center for American Progress condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist and derogatory rhetoric and behavior on display,” said Tanden.

In a statement from his New Jersey golf club, President Donald Trump said that he condemned the “egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.”

Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke said that the White nationalists’ protest represented a turning point for this country.

We are determined to take this country back. We’re gonna fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That’s what we believed in,” Duke said in a video posted to Twitter. “That’s why we voted for Donald Trump because he said he’s going to take our country back.”

Facing sharp criticism for the president’s initial response to the tragedy, the White House issued a follow-up statement that included a stronger rebuke of “White supremacists, KKK Neo-Nazi and all extremist groups.”

Tanden said that throughout the campaign and in his brief presidency, Trump has had

Procter & Gamble’s ‘The Talk’ ad stirs race debate (Cont'd from FP) cally, conservative media outlets attacked the campaign, calling it divisive and racist.

Kristine Decker, Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) North American Media and Brand Operations Director, said that the company wasn’t trying to alienate anyone with “The Talk.”

“We felt like it was an opportunity to start a dialogue about bias,” said Decker. “We’ve been on a mission to talk about bias in many forms and we decided, as part of our ‘My Black is Beautiful’ campaign, to take on the topic of bias from a racial bias perspective.”

The online campaign celebrates the diverse collective beauty of Black women and encourages them to define and promote their own beauty standard—one that’s an authentic reflection of the indomitable spirit of African Americans, Decker said.

Decker continued: “We went back to the 1950s and we felt that this is something that we

Mother seeking justice (Cont'd from FP) involved, none of them have complied with the request. To most people, the slow-moving investigation seems like a lack of regard for Jamarion’s death.

In many cases, the slow progress seems like a chilling foreboding of yet another unnecessary murder where justice will not be served despite the heinous way Jamarion died.

Back in 2016, Monteria Robinson and community activist Nicole Borden visited the apartment where the shooting took place shortly after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation processed the murder scene. The chilling recount of the shooting is enough to make the hairs on your neck stand. “His head, hands shot off, arms, entire upper and lower torso area, down his thighs, his shins, his feet,” Monteria recalled.

At the time of the shooting, U.S. Marshalls were aware of the fact that Jamarion had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia but failed to arrive with a mental health professional. They also claim he had a gun, but Borden questions whether or not the allegations are true. Since Jamarion was shot six times in the palm of his hand, Borden is wondering how he would have managed to hold gun at all. “As you’re going up the stairs the numbers keep getting larger—15, 20… and you start to think like, when are you going to stop counting?

I mean, No. 68. Can you imagine going to a crime scene and you see No. 68 bullet,” Borden asked as she counted the policemarked bullet holes in the a-

have to talk about and we listened to our consumers and we spent time trying to understand what other stories needed to be told.”

In the short video, a young, African American girl tells her mother that someone said that she’s, “pretty for a Black girl.”

Another scene, set in the present, shows a mother sitting in the passenger seat of a car, preparing to give her daughter a driving lesson. The mother begins to tell her daughter what partment’s walls.

Monteria Robinson admitted her son had a wrap sheet that consisted of charges related to a series of traffic violations, misdemeanors, and possession of a controlled substance. But she still wants to know why they didn’t take the time to arrest him without such excessive force. “These officers, they are not the judge, jury and the executioners. If my son was a suspect in a case, why didn’t they arrest him the right way?”

Handcuffing A Corpse: Even after being shot 76 times, U.S. Marshalls reportedly took things a step further and handcuffed Jamarion’s lifeless body as if he had the ability to harm anyone at that point.

Then, his body was dragged down flights of stairs while handcuffed. His mother wants to know why. “His arms are mangled. He had six bullets in the palm of his right hand. In his palm. In his left hand, he had five bullets so you tell me how someone could be holding a gun,” she pleaded. “His arms are blown to pieces. Why? “I want to know why. Why was his body riddled with bullets?

Why?” Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Although we all know how slow the justice system can be, Monteria Robinson has vowed to continue to honor her slain son by fighting for justice.

She’s made it clear she will be his voice. “I have to be his voice because my son is not here to tell his story,” she said. “I can’t rest until my son’s story is told.

I want the world to know what happened to my son.”

A GoFundMe account has been established in Jamarion’s honor.

she should do when she’s pulled over by the police.

“This is not about you getting a ticket,” the mother says. “This is about you not coming home.”

At the end of the video, viewers are urged to “talk about ‘the talk,’ so we can end the need to have it.”

Decker said that many parents have the ‘birds and the bees’ talk, but Black parents have a very different conversation they need to have with their children.

“It’s about race and what it’s like growing up Black,” said Decker.

While some condemned the ad, others expressed support.

“I think it is horrible that we live in this reality where this ad is even needed,” said Rafael Navar, an advisory board member for the Dream Defenders, a civil rights group that launched in Florida in the wake of the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

“The realities depicted in the ad are all too real for too many young people living in the United States and it’s a travesty that this is the case,” Navar said.

Even though Navar recognized that the conversations depicted in the video are all too real for many people, he was concerned with the P&G using a highly sensitive, real and hurtful subject to promote their brand.

Black Lives Matter officials called the ad encouraging and an example of how other multibillion-dollar companies can begin supporting conversations around race and police violence.

“The conversations featured in the ad illustrate some of the ways Black parents have attempted to protect Black children for generations in a country that does not value our lives or the lives of our children,” said Miski Noor, the communications strategist for Black Lives Matter. “However, it cannot stop with one ad. The work of undoing racism in this country must go beyond words and result in action that changes the material conditions of Black people.”

Noor continued: “Companies such as Procter & Gamble should continue to work not only via garnering publicity for themselves, but also in their offices, factories and in homes.”

(Read full story at: www.thewestsidegazette.com)

many opportunities to not just fully distance his administration from those allied with Nazi sympathizers and the KKK but also to denounce them.

“To be clear, there is only one side that wishes to provoke hate and violence, and there is only one side that committed an apparent act of terrorism [in Charlottesville,” said Tanden.

“Nazis and White nationalists showed up to cause harm and unrest in Charlottesville. Their racism, hatred, and bigotry have no place in our society.”

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) tweeted that the Black Press condemned the racial hatred and violence in Charlottesville.

“Love presupposes justice, equality, freedom, and empowerment. Hate renders only more hatred,” Chavis tweeted.

Echoing Tanden’s concerns about the president’s dithering remarks about the White nationalist movement, Congressman Cedric Richmond, (D-La.) said that since the campaign,

James Alex Fields Jr., a 20 year-old from Ohio, is accused of second-degree murder, malicious wounding and failure to stop in an accident that resulted in death. (Albemarle Regional Jail) President Trump his encouraged and emboldened the type of racism and violence that occurred in Charlottesville.

“This is a president after all who has two White supremacists working for him in the White House—Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller,” said Richmond. “For these reasons, we weren’t surprised President

Trump couldn’t bring himself to say the words ‘White supremacy,’ ‘White supremacists,’ and ‘domestic terrorism’ when he addressed the nation’ on Saturday. He instead chose to use racially coded dog whistles like ‘law and order’ and false equivalencies like ‘many sides.’

Richmond continued:“Where is Attorney General Sessions?

Instead of suppressing votes and dismantling affirmative action, he should be working with the Department of Homeland Security to investigate today’s crimes. Where is the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security?”

Richmond noted that the CBC urged Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, to investigate this sort of domestic terrorism, months ago.

“As 49 members who represent and are part of a community who has for centuries been victimized by White supremacists, we strongly condemn what happened in Charlottesville,” said Richmond in the statement. “We also condemn the Administration’s poor response to it.”

Black men who were used as modern day slaves (Cont'd from FP) age daily population by month showed that there were more Black boys at the school than white boys. The school remained segregated until 1967.

Between the years 1903 and 1913, six legislative investigative committees were formed to investigate the school and found that children as young as five years were shackled with irons and chains, children were hired out for labor and unjustly beatings. In the early years of the school the boys were hired out to work along with the State of Florida convicts and forced to work with hardened criminals.

They were hired out to pick cotton on surrounding farms.

In 1906, the school built a brickmaking machine, which could produce 20,000 bricks per day.

The students made enough bricks to sell to the residents of Marianna. Other produce and lumber was sold to people throughout the Marianna community.

In the year of 1966, the school made $127,030.30, from the boys’ labor. The general farm produce report can be found in the Florida State Archives. Every division was reported monthly; dairy, poultry, produce, livestock, lumber and, swine can be found in these monthly reports. This is just two items pulled from the Farm Transfer and Sales Reports on February 1963; 10,300 feet of lumber sold for $669.50. From the poultry report, 3,180 dozen of eggs valued at $1,304.12 was sold. In 1966, the school made a total of $127,030.30.

The school’s sawmill was

capable of turning out 5,000 feet of lumber a day. The lumber will be used in minor construction and repairs at the school, as quoted by Mr. Mitchell in the 1957 Yellow Jacket newspaper. “I saw the trucks coming in and out to pick the lumber. We stacked the lumber on the trucks and they left, said Gaddy. Harrell asked Johnny Lee Gaddy a former student at the school in 1957, if he knew the names of the trucking companies; he told Harrell that he did not know the names.

At the age of 12, Gaddy was driving a tractor with logs to the sawmill. He stated that Black boys as young as six and seven years old were cutting heavy lumber such as 2x4 and so forth. Once the boys cut the logs, Gaddy would haul the log to the sawmill for the Black boys to cut into lumber. Gaddy saw the trucks and trailers coming in to pick up the lumber once it was processed.

Harrell interviewed Robert Straley, a 70 year old white male who was sent to the reform school in 1963 at the age of thirteen, he was released in 1964. Straley informed Harrell that he worked in the hospital as a hospital boy. He said he considers himself lucky to get the job considering he wasn’t working in the sun doing all labor work with concrete, brick and mortar work, and carpentry. I helped the doctor with take stool and urine samples, the nurse would give me the needle over the counter and I would give the white boys shots, said Straley.

The Black boys did the most of the farm work, said Straley.

Most of the white boys had access to hospital jobs, carpentry, auto repair, paint shops, and electronic.

Harrell hopes that Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg and Rep. Tracy Davis, DJacksonville reviews the records that indicate the amount of money that was made off the sweat and labor of the boys.

During the operation of the reform school millions of dollars were made from the livestock that the boys raised and slaughtered, sugar cane cut and process to make cane syrup, timber they cut and processed into lumber, agricultural they planted and harvest.

Harrell will write a letter to Sen. Darryl Rouson and Rep Tracy Davis asking them to review the annual financial records of the produce, livestock, timber, and poultry, dairy of the school before any compensation agreement is made.

Rouson will sponsor a bill to give money to more than 400 Black and white men who are now seniors, who said they were beaten and sexually abused.

Several Black men had stated that were used as modern day slaves at the infamous Arthur G. Dozier for boys. Rep Tracy Davis, D-Jacksonville, will be the House sponsor.

All annual financial reports and statements should be analyzed and taken into consideration before a settlement decision can be reached, said Harrell.

Harrell can be reached at (504) 858-4658 or by email at peonagedetective@gmail.com

PAGE 10 • AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Westside Gazette

Brandon Doughty leads the way for the Miami Dolphins preseason!

By D’Joumbarey A. Moreau It’s been a very peculiar offseason for the Miami Dolphins.

After losing their franchise starting quarterback, the Dolphins had to reshuffle the deck.

Ryan Tannehill, who’s in the prime of his career, might be gone for the season so Miami had to go back to the drawing board.

Then came the news of the organization signing a former quarterback who oozed with potential in Jay Cutler. However, for as much as people anticipate Cutler’s first appearance in a Dolphins jersey, we all will have to wait until at least next preseason game to see him play.

The beauty of the preseason though, for a single game, it has nothing to do with the stars of the team. Instead all of our focus shifts to the other mem-

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES PUBLICATION OF BID SOLICITATIONS Broward County Board of County Commissioners is soliciting bids for a variety of goods and services, construction and architectural/engineering services. Interested bidders are requested to view and download the notifications of bid documents via the Broward County Purchasing website at: www.broward.org/purchasing.

August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2017

IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE 17TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO: 17-10235 (40-90) DIVISION: SANDRA ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, Petitioner and ROBERT EARL WILLILAMS, Respondent

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (NO CHILD OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT) TO: ROBERT EARL WILLIAMS Address/Residence Unknown YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a action for dissolution of marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defense, if any, to it on Sandra Elizabeth Williams, address is 1406 Northwest 11 Place, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33311 on or before September 25, 2017, and file the original with the clerk of this Court at 201 Southeast Sixth Street, Room 4130 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. You may review these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office notified of your current address: (You may file Notice of Current Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed to the address on record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or Dated August 11, 2017 Brenda D. Forman, Clerk of the Circuit Court Corinne Wilson, Deputy Clerk August 17, 24, 31, Sept. 7, 2017

bers of the roster. This preseason game was no different.

In spite of their terrible noncontact injury to Tannehill, the Miami Dolphins rallied in the preseason opener and played well against the NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons. The fish won 23-20 inside of Sun Life Stadium.

For as much talk has surrounded the Dolphins quarterback situation, the team still has a lot of optimism.

Third-string quarterback Brandon Doughty continued to add fuel to the fire. Although it is high and very most unlikely that Doughty will take any snaps during the regular season, what Doughty did tonight was advertise that he might be able to fight for that backup quarterback position. “{There was} a lot of energy {from} a lot of the guys...We have a lot of talent and a lot of jobs are up for grabs. Guys are out there competition� said Cameron Wake.

In the intermediate future when beloved Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore eventually has to leave, Doughty looks like he could be well capable of holding the down the backup quarterback spot.

Doughty in his limited time had a bit of uneven play but still performed well going 7-for12 for 69 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. It was his first career touchdown.

In spite of his one gaffe where he threw a haphazard interception, Doughty played decently. Not too much longer, Doughty threw a strike in the end zone to wide receiver Leonte Carroo. Earlier in the week leading up to the game Dolphins head coach, Adam Gase had high praise for his secondyear receiver, and Carroo delivered. “His game speed, or practice speed, in this case, has been light-years from last year. He’s very comfortable.

You can see why we drafted him because he has strong hands, [he’s a] big guy, physical at the line of scrimmage. His quickness has gotten better. His releases have gotten better this year. He has a better feel of what defenses are trying to do and why they do it, and I think that that has helped him.�

The true calling that Miami should be feeling pretty iffy about their defense. They say that a chain is only as strong as their weakest link and Miami wasn’t too strong. The Falcons played efficiently on offense including a 1st quarter conversion that eventually turned into a later first quarter touchdown.

On another note, the night capped off a great day for a for-

mer Miami Central running back, DeVonta Freeman. Once

again back in the city of Miami, Freeman is will be able to cele-

brate the night in style. Freeman started the game off. He caught a 15-yard touch-down pass from quarterback Matt Ryan.

Reported today, Freeman signed a contract extension with the Falcons. The new contract which cashes out to a fiveyear $41.25 million dollar extension to keep Freeman in Atlanta.

The extension makes him the highest-paid running back in the NFL. The total stats for his 2016 season were 1,541 total yards and 13 total touchdowns.

Ironically enough, he’s back in the city which he first fell in love with the game.

If the Falcons are to return to Super Bowl contention status, they will have to direly depend on their elusive and shifty thirdyear running back.

The good news is Miami, will not have to play them against Atlanta until mid October.

MIAMI RED 17

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It’s a great week for fun! Give in to it. Flow. Give in to the party mood but don’t forget school or work. Remembering to forgive and forget is especially important this week. Moving slowly might be the fastest way for me to get there. 5, 46, 49 SAGITTARIUS-There is a lot on your plate. Be methodical about taking care of it. Get kids involved in something fun and educational. It’s a good time for it. Save time for romance. Visit a favorite restaurant. Appetites must be fed in a healthy way.

I seek the lighthearted flavor of love.-14, 52, 53

CANCER-In our society looks sometimes matter more than they should, but that is not to say looks don’t matter at all.

Presentation is important, keep that in mind as you walk through life. This week take a few extra moments to make sure that your physical self is as attractive as it can be. You will see a bigger than usual change not only in the way others feel about you but in the way you feel about yourself. When things get strange I find peace in the ordinary. 1, 3, 45

CAPRICORN-Make some plans regarding long-range financial security. Your present frame of mind is good for that.

Someone you flirted with wants to be your companion. Give the universe a chance to bring love into your life by being a welcoming soul. I give and the universe gives back to me.

23, 41, 49

LEO-A family treat is in store for you if you play your cards right. Family members are ready to praise you for your accomplishments if you approach them with modesty. Give yourself time for romantic encounters. The romantic vibe is high. I keep my true purpose ever before my eyes.-23, 46, 51

AQUARIUS-A practical solution is at hand to one of your inventions. Give yourself some space to allow the answer to come to you. Any repetitive task, such as weeding the garden or washing the dishes or car, will be conducive to your receiving the solution. Things are working together for my good.16, 32, 35

VIRGO Ask the friend who comes calling to tell you about the moneymaking idea that is on his or her mind. The two of you would be good together. Have a private chat with a family member. Make keeping secrets your specialty. Events bring stress but you’re cool. I find joy in the simple pleasures of the week. 21, 39, 55

WHA T'S HOT? 81-54-48-27-04 WHAT'S MIAMI RED SEZ --- 812

ARIES-Allow yourself to live your dream this week. Don’t second guess your instincts or desires and you will find you are already the person who you always knew you could be. Be courageous as you set forth to fulfill your goals. If doubt knocks, lock the doors and windows of your heart.-I make sure people understand that I am on their side this week. 2, 12, 14 TAURUS-Trust your special knowledge of yourself and the universe and use that knowledge as a guide this week. Not everyone will trust in you know to be true. Do not let their lack of faith shake your belief in yourself. Knowledge of external processes is not nearly so important as knowledge of yourself this week. Doing good this week is the key to feeling good. 9, 19, 20

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AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017 • PAGE 11 Westside Gazette Pompano Beach Cultural Center presents Class Clowns Comedy Competition winner to open concert for R&B Legends Tony! Toni! Toné!

FEFE The Pompano Beach Cultural Center is looking to discover the next Class Clown! If your comments get lots of LMAO’s and you always leave a room smiling, then you just might have what it takes to open the Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 concert featuring Tony!

Toni! Toné! with Dru Hill and Sisqo at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater. Those interested in participating must submit a

three-minute YouTube video showcasing their comedy skills with an arts related theme.

Submission details at www.ccpompano.org. The first Class Clowns showcase will take place Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, followed by Thursday, Sept. 21, Thursday, Oct. 5 and the final round on Thursday, Oct. 26. Tickets for the show are $15. The shows will be hosted by Fefe, the Comedian.

“One of the missions we have set forth at the Cultural Center is to nurture and showcase the best regional talent,” said Alyona Ushe, President and CEO of The Creatives. “Today, comedy is one of the most competitive entertainment fields; Class Clowns will provide a tremendous opportunity for an emerging artist to bring their act to the big stage.”

The competition will be conducted in a similar format to Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre, with monthly showcases being held at the Cultural Center leading up to the Friday, Nov. 25 concert.

“A committee will review the

submitted videos, and the top contenders will be invited to perform at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center,” explained Sarahca Peterson, Creative Liaison. Audience reaction will be a strong component in judging the contestants. The winner will be invited to compete at the next month’s showcase leading to the final showdown where the winner will be selected.”

At each competition, those placing first, second and third will move to the next round of competition leading to the finals. In addition to the Grand Prize, there will be other prizes awarded including passes to shows and opportunities to host future Class Clown comedy nights and other special events.

The Grand Prize winner will open for Tony! Toni! Toné, whose contribution to music is most certainly legendary: regarded the world over as a talented, authentic group of musicians who made some of the best R&B music of the 80’s and 90’s. From fun, upbeat, smash hits like “Feels Good,” to bluesleaning classics like “The Blues” to their signature love ballads like “Anniversary,” the sound

Tony! Toni! Toné

DJ Big Man K elly’s Mature Juan De Mar Kelly’s co González shar es Cuba’ s Marco shares Cuba’s Life Radio app launches vibr an age vibran antt Musical Herit Heritage

Big Man Kelly

By Crystal Chanel Mathis CEO of Press Release Marketing Thursday, Aug. 18, 2107 disc jockey/radio personality, Kelly Davis aka Big Man Kelly is hosting a launch party to introduce the Mature Life Radio app. Mature Life Radio is Big Man Kelly’s new music app that will bring our signature South Florida sound to the entire world. Specifically, the local celebration will take place on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017 at Joy’s Roti Shop, 1205 N. St. Rd. 7, Lauderhill, Fla. from 7 to 10 p.m.

The guest list includes celebrities, city officials, media, family and friends. There will be a cocktail reception perfect for networking, local DJs spinning to entertain guests, exclusive Mature Life Radio announcements and picture opportunities to make for an unforgettable affair.

Guests are encouraged to dress business casual for this Thursday’s soft launch, so they can attend the three hour affair right after their work day ends.

The Mature Life Radio App launch event is highly anticipated by Big Man Kelly’s family, friends and longtime supporters.

At the launch, DJ Big Man Kelly will explain sponsorship opportunities and announce a ten-

tative Mature Life Radio programming schedule. Mature Life Radio will be the voice of urban South Florida bringing not only music and lifestyle to electronic devices worldwide but also highlighting local businesses and global brands while broadcasting the South Florida culture, its entertainment scene and news updates.

In the late 1980s, while working at WRBD, Big Man Kelly noticed that South Florida was developing a signature sound.

His passion for music led him to contribute to and help pioneer that sound over the next 30 years of his disc jockey career. In fact, while dj’ing at ‘the hottest places to be’ like Uncle Lukes’ Miami Beach, Brick House, Troy’s, 112, celebrity concerts, Jazz in the Gardens, and so much more, Big Man Kelly would consistently spins records that represented a bass prominent grove that highlighted South Florida’s unique sound. This, of course, makes the Mature Life Radio app and launch event a culmination of 30 years of music discovery that ultimately leads to a global platform to showcase and promote that signature South Florida lifestyle and sound.

With over 5,000 downloads already, the future of Mature Life radio looks bright! Listeners can tune in 24/7 to hear urban classics inclusive of R & B and Hip Hop. However, the radio app is already looking at expansion and plans to debut three other Mature Life Radio channels including Caribbean Vibz; Inspire Urban Gospel and Jazz on the Go. Finally, music lovers across the nation can take a piece of DJ Big Man Kelly and the South Florida sound with them everywhere they go by down-loading the free Mature Life Radio app today through their app store on both for Android and Apple devices.

For advertising opportunities and more, please email matureliferadio@gmail.com.

Maestro continues to share Cuba’s vibrant musical heritage

Juan De Marco González and the Afro-Cuban All Stars. (Afro-Cuban All Stars)

By Barrington M. Salmon (NNPA Newswire Contributor) For Juan De Marco González, there are three pillars that are constants in his life: family, spirituality and music.

From his days as a relative unknown paying his dues, to the enviable position he now occupies, each of these elements have always been intertwined in ways that have informed his circumstances. For example, when he lived and worked in London, the revered founder and bandleader of the AfroCuban All Stars recalls hard times, writing songs for musicians in London and netting barely enough to take care of himself and his family.

“I spent a couple of years in London. I lived in London, Stockwell and Brixton,” said González. “I enjoyed it there, but they were tough times. I wrote music for local bands and made £150 a week. I sent home £130 and lived on £20. I was providing food for all the family: my family and my wife’s family.”

In 1996, González’s fortunes also took an upward turn when he met Nick Gold, founder of World Circuit Records. González told Gold he wanted to bring together legendary, but neglected, Cuban musicians from the 1950s to produce a “Big Band” album. González carried with him a long-held desire to honor his father, who sang and played with the great Arsenio Rodriguez, and to also pay tribute to his father’s contemporaries and share the

richness of Cuban music with the world.

“Buena Vista’ was on my mind for years. Nick Gold wanted to do a jam session so I went to Havana and started looking for musicians. I wrote them and found all the old guys,” González said with a chuckle. “It was music of the past with a more sophisticated sound.”

González said that some of the players were his father’s friends.

“Daddy was a special guy.

He never had the chance to go to university. He was Black and poor, had no money at all, but he was the most intelligent man I’ve ever met,” González said, his voice taking a reflective tone.

“He had about a 152 IQ; he was a genius. He was a musician, a huge personality who played popular music in the ‘30s and ‘40s. He didn’t consider music a proper profession and insisted that I go to college.”

The Buena Vista Social Club brought together greats like Omara Portuondo, Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, who was a next-door neighbor and a family friend, Pio Leiva, Rubén Gonzalez and others.

González shook his head and laughed as he spoke of the creation and subsequent public and critical reaction to the Buena Vista Social Club.

“We had the budget to record only two albums. At the end we had £4,000 left and recorded in a couple of live sessions and a third album, “Introducing Ruben González.” So, the sessions brought three albums in total,” González explained. “It was great to have all of them

and be in front of them. We invited Ry Cooder and he was contracted to work with us. Ry convinced Wim Wenders to produce the documentary.”

González said that he thought that the “Buena Vista Social Club” album would produce some good reviews, but it became a hit.

“It was the touch of God, definitely the touch of God,” said González. “The guys died happy, onstage and loved. I enjoyed conducting these guys.”

At last count, about 12 million copies of the album had been sold, making it the bestselling album in Cuban history.

Music has always been a family affair. As a young man, González studied at the Havana Conservatory, studying classical guitar, but said he was kicked out for bad behavior “because I was a really bad kid,” he said.

Later, as a professional musician, he studied contemporary harmony and orchestral conducting.

“My daddy didn’t mind (me being kicked out) and bought a guitar from Compay Segundo and said I could play at university.” He honored his father Marcos’ wishes and went to Universidad Agraria de La Habana where he graduated as an Agronomic Engineer and traveled to the Soviet Union to study Engineering, Russian and English Languages and earned a doctorate in Agronomy in 1989, the first in his family to go to university.

“My daddy didn’t consider music a real profession,” González said with a hearty laugh. “He wanted me to be in

a ‘real’ profession like an engineer, a doctor or a lawyer.

I wanted to please him.”

Soon after his father died, González became a full-time musician.

González considers the musicians he travels and plays with as family and the AfroCuban All Stars is very much a family affair with his wife Gliceria Abreu serving as tour manager and Afro-Cuban percussionist, daughters Laura Lydia on saxophone and Gliceria, a classical pianist and orchestra conductor.

González spoke lovingly and reverently about the music, and was self-deprecating but firm as he shared his mission: to reveal the breadth, beauty, vitality and diversity of Cuban music. His contributions and participation with Sierra Maestra, Buena Vista Social Club and the Afro-Cuban All Stars has helped raise Cuban music to heights not reached before.

The music, he said, is deeply rooted in Africa.

“Cuba is perhaps one of the most musical places in the Hemisphere. Cuba is a very important country in this Hemisphere,” he asserted. “The Spanish were in touch with Africa. They didn’t mind Africans playing the drums.

Cuban music is happy. You can dance to the gods. The music is infused with African Spirit with a Spanish flavor. We are a spiritual people. We are Africa.”

González said reggae legend Bob Marley is his idol, as is Wailers bandmate Peter Tosh.

The three-time Grammynominated musician said he also loves the music of Ivorian reggae phenom Alpha Blondy.

The Afro-Cuban All Stars tours widely playing between 60 and 70 concerts a year, he said.

“We’re touring here, going to Europe, Colombia and Latin America,” said González. “We leave for Europe on January 18 and we have some private concerts. It’s been like this for 21 years. It’s the Afro-Cuban All Stars, my wife and my two daughters. I bring excellent musicians together. They have to be great [people] and they have to have good spiritual energy. It’s difficult to find nice people. I picked the proper people who range in age from 23 to 63 years-old.”

PAGE 12 • AUGUST 17 - AUGUST 23, 2017

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Westside Gazette

Civil Rights g ge Blac k par ents tto o lead on ESS A ssttat e plans grroups ur urg Black parents ESSA ate

Sirraya Gant offers advice to other parents during a national town hall for Black parents hosted by the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

(Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA Newswire)

By Shayla Simmons (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Sirraya Gant, the mother of two sons who graduated from high schools in Washington, D.C. said that getting involved in her older son’s academic career definitely helped their relationship.

“Not only did it help him, but it also helped his friends' level of respect for me, some of them even called me, ‘Mom,” said Gant. “My son played football too, so there were times when [the team] gave me awards and said, ‘I was their biggest fan.’”

Gant continued: “My house was the place to be after school, because they felt comfortable.

[My son] knew my expectations of him and he knew that his teachers would call me,” if there were every any problems.

Gant said that she was happy to learn that the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

encouraged greater parental engagement and open communication between parents and administrators.

Gant added that she was very impressed by a recent National Black Parent Town Hall Meeting on ESSA hosted by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

“The new Every Student Succeeds Act, signed into law Dec. 10, 2015, rolls back much of the federal government’s big footprint in education policy, on everything from testing and teacher quality to low-performing schools. And it gives new leeway to states in calling the shots,” according to an article on EdWeek.org.

Some of the major components of ESSA include statelevel accountability plans, evidence-based plans to address challenges of low-performing schools and subgroups, and resources to help train teachers.

During the town hall, education policy experts and community stakeholders offered the parents advice on engaging with their schools to ensure equitable access to a high-quality educational experience for their children.

“I wish I had known about ESSA, when I was a PTA president, because I definitely would have had [Education Department] officials come in and speak to parents,” said Gant. “I think that outreach is something that the [NNPA] can do with the PTA and the schools to have workshops, so that they can speak to parents.”

Even though ESSA wasn’t implemented before her sons graduated from high school, Gant is still a staunch supporter of parental engagement and the mission of ESSA. Liz King, a senior policy analyst and director of education policy for The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said that the civil rights community is hoping that Black parents will drive the conversation around the implementation of ESSA to benefit Black children.

King added that she hoped that ESSA would bring new attention to data that could reveal, which opportunities are available to Black children— and which ones were not. King also said that new policy changes should “ensure that African American children get the quality of education that they are entitled to and that they need to grow and learn and thrive.”

King said that parents have to get involved and stay involved in their children’s schools.

“The school has to see consistency on the parent’s part,” said King. “Educators have to take parents seriously. It takes

a lot of work; you can’t get tired of advocating for your child.”

States must submit their ESSA plans to the Education Department by September 18, 2017.

When it comes to ESSA, education advocates say that parents and community leaders should voice their concerns and expectations for their local school districts.

“One really important way for parents to have their voice heard is during the public comment process, in which a state releases its draft plan for what it’s going to do to create change in its schools and to make sure schools are working well,” said King. “During those public comment periods everyone has the opportunity to communicate

with [his or her] state school board and say what their priorities are for their community and their child.”

King added: “We also need to make sure parents are communicating with the press and that the media is reflecting interest in the attitudes and beliefs of communities of color… we encourage parents to reach out and to let the media know what their priorities are.”

King said that, the truth is, there are strength in numbers.

“We encourage parents to work with one another to come together with community organizations to really advocate for the priorities and changes that they want to see in their state, in their school district and their school,” said King.

Kwesi Rollins, the leadership programs director for the Institute for Educational Leadership said that the most important thing is awareness about the new law.

“We want parents, families, and community based organizations, grassroots leaders, and teachers, as well, to be aware of what’s required of them, in terms of support, in their communities, and to be in a better position to hold their school district and their state accountable for what’s required in the law,” said Rollins.

Even though the road may be tough, education experts agree that investing in a child’s education is worth the sacrifice.

“The rewards are so fruitful in the end,” said Gant.

Countdown to the first day of school: New back to school online resource available for families

To help families prepare for the 2017/18 school year, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Back to School online resource is now available on the District’s website at browardschools.com/ backtoschool.

The Back to School online resource links families to information about the school calendar; school opening/closing

and multilingual families, and stay informed about What’s New this school year.

As a reminder, the first day of school for BCPS students is Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

Four District schools that follow a yearround calendar – Colbert Museum Magnet, Lake Forest Elementary School, Watkins Elementary School and McNicol Middle School – begin on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017.

BCPS is proud to be a national leader in providing innovative, high-quality learning experiences for all students – and schools are excited to get the 2017/18 school year started! times; the Code Book for StuFamilies, community members, dent Conduct; before and after business partners and BCPS school child care; breakfast and employees are encouraged to lunch menus; transportation share their Back to School phoservices; back to school immu- tos and message via social menizations; and much more. dia using #BCPSFirst. Follow There are also resources to help parents and guardians get the countdown to the first day school on Twitter involved in their child’s educa- of @browardschools and on tion, monitor academic proFacebook at facebook.com/ gress, learn about services for English Language Learners browardschools.