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Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper A Pr oud PPaper aper ffor or a Pr oud PPeople...Sinc eople...Sinc Proud Proud eople...Sincee 1971 VOL. 44 NO. 15 50¢ THURSDA THURSDAYY, MA MAYY 21 - WEDNESDA WEDNESDAYY, MA MAYY 27 27,, 2015
Myth of the ‘absent’ Black dad refuted
Black fathers. By Jazelle Hunt, NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – Contrary to the myth, though Black men are more likely to live apart from their children than whites, they are more involved in the lives of their children than whites and
Hispanics, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study reports. The report covers a sample of 10,403 men aged 15–44 years from 2006-2010. It is true that Black dads are more likely to live apart from their children; the Pew Research Center reports that 44
percent do. However, Pew also found that 67 percent of Black fathers who don’t live with their children see them at least once a month, compared to 69 percent of white dads and 32 percent of Latino dads who don’t live with their children. Among fathers who resided with their kids, African Ameri-
can dads were more involved in their children’s lives. In the survey, fathers rated how often they performed certain activities with any or all of their children over the previous four weeks. Black fathers were most likely to bathe, dress, diaper, or help their children use the toilet on a daily basis. This was true for 70 percent of Black dads who lived with their children, compared with 60 percent of white dads and 45 percent of Latino dads. Although few fathers outside the home could say they did this every day (across race), but Black dads were the top hygiene helpers (12 percent, compared to 6 percent for whites and 7 percent for Latinos). According to a similar report from the Pew Research Center, 62 percent of all Black fathers read to their children at least several times per week. Black dads in the CDC survey who didn’t live with their children were more than twice as likely as their white counterparts to host story time every day. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
Twenty-eight years of preparation pays off By C. Ron Allen As I prepared to leave the reception on the sixth floor at the Palm Beach County Governmental Center on Monday, I hugged Verdenia Baker and whispered, “Congratulations my Sister” in her ear. One may think that was a rather presumptuous prediction that she would be tapped to succeed her boss as the county’s next administrator when he retires in August. But after covering politics and government in this county for close to 30 years, I would want to think these elected officials were forward thinking to consider her hard work over the past 28 years and recognize she has prepared herself for this next chapter. I am not naive to know that we are still in the South and the United States of America, where many still would deprive you of that well-earned opportunity to
BAKER
advance in your career because of the pigmentation of your skin. I, like many people of color, am joyed knowing that finally, at least two people of color are given the opportunity to lead three top institutions in Palm Beach County. The third is already being led by a Black man. Exactly one month ago, Ava L. Parker was selected as Palm Beach State College’s fifth president, becoming the first female and Black woman to lead the institution in its 82 year history. She replaced Dennis Gallon, who was at the helm for the past 18 years. And two days later, the school district board members picked Robert Avossa, 43, currently the superintendent of Fulton County Schools in metro Atlanta, to be the next superintendent. Avosa is Hispanic and began his career in Orange County. (Cont'd on Page 9)
BALTIMORE, MD -- Out of Hattiesburg, Miss., has come disturbing and tragic news of two police officers killed in what was described as a traffic stop. One of the slain officers was 25year-old rookie Officer Liquori Tate. There are four people, all are Black, charged in the death of Officer Tate, a Black man, and Officer Benjamin Deen, who is Caucasian. Details of what happened are still emerging, but it has been reported that the shooting followed a stop for speeding. Unwarranted death and the
killing of someone with a commitment to honestly protect others is more than tragic, it is an affront to society and violation of divine law. The Bible says greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends. The Holy Qur’an, the book of scripture of the Muslims, says one who has saved a single life is regarded as if he has saved all lives and one who unjustly takes a life is regarded as if he killed all people. In these verses, we have the principle that all lives matter and that those who seek to sincerely protect life are engaged in a divine work. (Cont'd on Page 12)
Pleading Our Own Cause
L-r: Mayor Tim Ryan; Kathleen Cannon, United Way of Broward; Sheriff Scott Israel, BSO; Dr. El Sanadi, Broward Health; Jim Hall, NSU; David Scharf, BSO. From the Westside Gazette Editorial Board (WEB) Last week we attended a community press conference at the Urban League of Broward County (ULBC), along with partners from law enforcement, the medical community, public schools, faith-based community, and the United Way of Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse announced a collaborative initiative to take aim at the growing dangers of Flakka, a synthetic, highly addictive drug that is wreaking havoc throughout Broward County. (Cont'd on Page 11)
Carlton B. Moore Freedom Foundation, Inc. awards first scholarships to three high school seniors
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Shameful misuse of a tragic death By Richard B. Muhammad, The Final Call
What is missing from this picture is an intrical part to solving this problem?
Youlander Ross (r) mother of slain Hattiesburg Police Officer Liquori Tate (insert), is embraced by an officer after a vigil service, May 11, in Hattiesburg, Miss. Marvin Banks faces two counts of capital murder in the May 9 shootings of Officers Benjamin Deen and Tate following a traffic stop. (Photo Final Call)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Carlton B. Moore Freedom Foundation Inc. awarded three $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors in memory of the late Fort Lauderdale city commissioner and lifetime champion of AfricanAmerican rights who passed away last year. “Education is the pathway to success in our country and in our community – and this is especially important for people of color,” said Becky Jones, foundation chair. “We are delighted to offer this scholarship in memory of Commissioner Moore. I’m certain he would be pleased to know that we are paying tribute to him by helping deserving students in their quest to
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earn a college degree.” Moore was 60 years old when he died on April 2, 2014, from the complications of a stroke he suffered on Christmas Day, 2013. A native of Tampa, Fla., Moore attended Dillard High School and graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School. In addition to serving for more than 20 years on the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, he was president to the Fort Lauderdale Branch of the NAACP. This is the first year that the scholarships have been awarded, Jones said. Recipients, who were selected based on their grade point average, community service and writing skills, include: (Cont'd on Page 12) MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association ( NNPA), and Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)