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THURSDAY, MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019
WHAT’S
INSIDE Florida Education Plan Lacking in Both Promise and Practice How is Florida addressing the needs of its lowest-performing schools under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)? Last year, an independent non-profit education advocacy organization called the Collaborative for Student Success set out to find out. They did so by convening a group of education experts from around the country to take an indepth look at the way 17 states were supporting and encouraging local school improvement efforts (which can be found at http:// promisetopractice.org). The experts, both from the federal and district level, provided education officials, and state lawmakers with independent information on how each state could improve their plans, as well as their plans’ implementation. What they found, however, was not encouraging when it comes to Florida’s ESSA plan and implementation. Florida’s ESSA Saga In September 2018, Florida received final approval from the U.S. Department of Education for its plan for tracking student progress and measuring school performance, as required by federal law. Florida was the last state in the nation to receive such approval, as the state and federal education officials wrangled for months over the state’s proposed plan. Originally, the state’s plan was submitted to the U.S. Department of Education in September 2017, but failed to include specific waiver requests to portions of the law to which it objected. Federal officials sent it back to Florida’s Department of Education saying they couldn’t pick and choose what aspects of the law to follow, and that they needed to submit waivers for portions of the law to which they would like an exception. The state submitted a revised ESSA plan to federal officials in April 2018 to try and comply with federal officials’ requests and included a separate federal school rating system—one that factors in English-language
Linkage Between Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and Ovarian Cancer a Civil Rights, Public Health Crisis
‘Leaving Neverland’
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A M E S S A GE F ROM OU R PU BL IS H E R
is Michael Jackson’s Pandora’s Box
Broward County School Board decides:
Runcie stays
Should Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie be fired? That’s a question the nine-member Broward County school board answered with a NO vote 6-3. Lori Alhadeff, the newest Board member -- and parent whose child was killed in the mass shooting, was adamant about sending Runcie packing. Based upon the input from the majority of those in attendance, including the Board members, the opinion of the job that Runcie has done warrants that he remain
as the Superintendent of Broward County Schools. Runcie has been scraped over with coarse sandpaper and pushed into a pool of alcohol and yet he survived battered, torn, and emotionally scarred but still willing to serve. A simple majority was needed to vote out Runcie, but there wasn’t enough votes to make the firing possible. Runcie has been able to build public trust and confidence in this school board and administration despite
BARRY JENKINS
Church out!
the negative reputation the district garnered years before his arrival.
The Battle for Mayor in One of America’s
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
Proudest Black
Cities is Underway By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
MIFF and the Knight Hero Series The Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) brought filmmakers from across the country to South Florida. The first week of March was full of screenings and panels with aspiring and professional talent. One session, in particular, The Knight Hero series, brought three major filmmakers to talk about their careers along with other parts of who they are. “I want people to get a clearer idea of what’s inside of them. Everyone who is making a film starts with something inside of them and they are alone. To hear how someone else turned that little kernel of truth into a film may be what they need to take the next step” said Jaie Laplante, executive director of MIFF. The inaugural class of the Knight Hero series features Aaron Stewart-Ahn, Boots Riley and Barry Jenkins. The Knight Hero Series session took place on
Ernest D. Davis served four of the five allowed terms as the Ernest D. Davis mayor of Mount Vernon, N.Y. firmly believes that With 70,000 mostly African his successor, the American residents, Mount city’s current mayor, Vernon sits north just of the Richard Thomas, is in Bronx and in the same county it for himself and has done much more harm as Westchester’s wealthy elite. For Davis, an architect by to Mount Vernon than perhaps anyone whose trade, the idea of Mount Vernon held that office. taking a backseat to any city or town is quite insulting. For the 80-year-old Davis, the only thing worse than a negative perception of his beloved city, is a constituent believing that anyone sitting in the city mayor’s seat is there simply for political and personal gain and not for the people. Davis firmly believes that his successor, the city’s current mayor, Richard Thomas, is in it for himself and has done much more harm to Mount Vernon than perhaps anyone whose held that office. So, after reading an NNPA Newswire article that featured Thomas in December, Davis said he began to contemplate a strategy to help unseat the young mayor.
(Cont’d on page 5)
Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
By Clayton Gutzmore
Rest in Peace: Local Leaders Step Up to Protect the Sacred Remains of the
‘Sugar Land 95’
(Cont’d on page 15)
The discovery of the remains of the ‘Sugar Land 95’ victims, the majority of whom are believed to be former slaves who were a part of the state of Texas’ controversial and inhumane convict-leasing system, could have been unearthed well before the contractor found the remains if people chose to listen to community activist and historian Reginald Moore from the beginning. (Photo: DefenderNetwork.com) (Cont’d on page 14)
The Westside Gazette Newspaper
@_WestsideGazett
I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there - all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb Revelation 7:9 (The Message)
TheWestsideGazetteNewspaper
Church out is an old slang expression that we use to use when things got rough and it was about to go down (stuff was about to hit the fan). In an attempt at removing another Black leader the school board of Broward County Florida felt the compassion of a community that has been looked over for some time and misunderstood. When people have been labeled or should I say mislabeled due to neglect or “planned ignoring” which is a therapeutic technique and all of a sudden the client is speaking up for him/herself, immediately the opposition says that there is something wrong with this picture. In a show of solidarity from the diverse communities across Broward County in general, the Black community came out once again in numbers to speak from the other side of the coin. Speaker after speaker gave their support for superintendent Robert (Cont’d on page 15)
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WESTSIDE GAZETTE IS A MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)
Deeply Rooted
PAGE 2 • MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019
Growing the Voices of
Our Future
My mom , Carolyn Murray-Williams
www.thewestsidegazette.com In a joint effort to get students involved with the Children Services Council’s 2019 Broward AWARE! Protecting OUR Children campaign: Growing the Voices of Our Future, the Westside Gazette will engage youth in a photovoice (photojournalism) project. The youth will tell their stories through the written word and through the lens of cameras they will operate as photojournalists focusing on but not limited to the Broward AWARE campaign.
My mom, Arri Henry
Brielle Henry, 9 Me: What have you overcome in life? Mommy: Not having my father in my life (he passed away in 1985) has been my greatest challenge. As a child it affected me in very sad ways, but I learned to let that pain fuel my purpose to help others.
Leja Williams, 14 I am interviewing Carolyn MurrayWilliams, my mother, and I am going to be asking her 3 questions about what it’s like being a woman in America. How has the development of women having power changed over the years? ⁃ Women have become much more powerful and are looked at much more favorably in supervisory positions. In today’s time, do you feel there is still discrimination against women? ⁃ Definitely. Most definitely.
Me: What have you accomplished? Mommy: Graduating college (Florida State University) with you as a baby feels like a big win! I was a full time student, worked full time at the school’s newspaper and did my best to take care of you and see you smile everyday.
Do you feel like women and men have switched roles when it pertains to jobs? ⁃ No, not at all. There are more women in the workplace now, but men and women have not changed roles. Listen to audio of the interview at: www.thewestsidegazette.com
Continued online at: thewestsidegazette.com
Oratorical Contest
Layla Davidson, 13 To start off National Women’s Month, I would like to recognize Yvokia Davidson. Yvokia Davidson is a graduate from Liberty University with her Masters in Human Services Counseling and Life Coaching. She is also a fitness coach who helps the New Mount Olive Baptist Church and the community live healthier lives by eating healthy and exercising. Fun Fact: she’s my mom!
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chapter of Jack and Jill hosted the annual Oratorical Contest on March 2nd, 2019. This year there were 18 competitors that competed for the chance to be Cosey Proctor, III - 14 selected to go to Tallahassee for the state competition. Of the 18 competitors only 10 places or spots would be claimed. The parents must have their child registered by February 16 in order to participate. Each student or child would recite a 3-5-minute speech that had to do with either the topic “they hate to see us at our best, which is why we can never rest” or “Using my voice to change the world.” For this event there were five well-qualified judges whose occupation had something to do with public speaking, which is what the event was about. To top it all off, this event is open to the public! For each age group the prize is up to 125 dollars! Lock these dates in because it will be held next year as well as every other year going forward. Hope to see you there next year!
“ O u r ch i l d r e n a r e o u r g r e a t e s t t r e a s u r e . T h e y a r e o u r f u t u r e . ” - N E L S O N M A N D E L A
A Daughter’s Discovery Meet the First Black woman to Earn a PhD in Aerospace Engineering
Faye Richards of Tamarac began to slowly notice that something was happening with her mother, Ruth. The 83-year-old was starting to ask where the kitchen was. However, she was standing in the kitchen inside the home she had lived in for 30 years. The home where she had raised her family, and in the kitchen where she made breakfast, lunch and dinner for her five children for years. As her mother’s condition continued to worsen, Faye found herself being fearful of leaving her mother home alone. The 53-year-old even started calling off of work. She was having anxiety and starting to feel what she now knows is called “caregiver burnout.” She didn’t know what to do or where to turn. She had the sneaking suspicion her mother was starting to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Ruth seemed to have many of the signs, like asking the same question and forgetting Faye had just given her the answer, and having a difficult time remembering things. “I found the number to the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 helpline,” she says, after using the internet to search for “Help For Families With Alzheimer’s.” Faye says when she called the helpline, she was amazed to find out how much information that she could get, and for free. She eventually joined a support group, too, for herself, that the hotline recommended and was able to talk to other people who were experiencing similar situations with
spouses and parents. “I had no idea there were all these resources available to me. And, all I had to do was call an 800 number.” Whether you provide daily care, participate in decision-making or simply care about someone with the disease, help and support are available. The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. * Here are some of the resources available: -1-800-272-3900 Helpline Staffed 24/7 -Caregiver Support Groups -Care Consultations -Early Stage Education Series -Free Educational Workshops -Online Community Message Boards -Trial Match Community Resource Finder: www.communityresourcefinder.org/ Find out more at www.alz.org
An African lady has become the first Black woman to get a doctorate degree in aerospace engineering. The talented lady is said to be a national aeronautics and space administration whiz. 30-year-old Wendy Okolo has achieved a lot in her career. African is slowly becoming known for producing geniuses who almost always break barriers in their several industries. Born to a family of six, her career took off at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a United States agency responsible for the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. According to her biography on NASA, she achieved both her bachelor’s degree and doctorate degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2010 and 2015 respectively. Okolo was only 26 years old when she became the first Black woman to get a doctorate degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. But, Okolo had been making waves even before then. During her undergraduate years, she was in the African Student Society at the University of Texas at Arlington.
She was also the president of the Society of Women Engineers at the university. According to her Linkedin account, she also interned at Lockheed Martin working on NASA’s Orion spacecraft. She first worked in the requirements management office in systems engineering and then with the Hatch Mechanisms team in mechanical engineering. After graduating, Okolo accepted a job as a summer researcher from 2010 to 2012 in the Control Design & Analysis Branch at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base. According to The Cabel, Okolo talked about her experience piloting the world’s fastest manned aircraft which flies from coast to coast in 67 minutes. “I was like I’m sure these
guys are so smart, what am I going to bring to the table. I was given an assignment to correct an error in a code system which I did and that momentarily ended the impostor syndrome.” Now she’s an Aerospace Research Engineer at the Ames Research Center, a major research centre for National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Silicon Valley. We are only in the second month of the year, and the lady has won the BEYA Global Competitiveness Conference award for the most promising engineer in the United States. Okolo lists her sisters, Jennifer and Phyllis, as her heroes. She revealed that they taught her biology and other sciences.
MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019 • PAGE 3 Deeply Rooted County’s youth talent contest holds auditions NBALegendAbdul-JabbarTalksAuction to Help Kids in STEM
www.thewestsidegazette.com
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
Talent competition showcases youth performing arts in all of Miami-Dade Young Talent Big Dreams, a free countywide competition will feature a total of six individual categories including pop/rock/rap vocals, musical theatre/jazz standards/classical vocals, dance, musical instrument, original spoken word and original vocal and/ or instrumental composition. Categories for groups of six or fewer members include dance, musical instrument/bands and vocal groups. Participation in the competition is free of charge and limited to residents of Miami-Dade County. Youth between the ages of 8-17 are invited to showcase their talents and compete for prizes including performing arts scholarships and cash awards, plus tickets to local cultural attractions and theaters. For the fourth consecutive year, the grand prize winner will receive a free trip – airfare, hotel and passes for two – to attend the live Teen Choice Awards, courtesy of WSVN 7News, along with $500 in cash. Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, together with presenting sponsor The Children’s Trust, is hosting the ninth edition of Young Talent Big Dreams. “This competition provides so many wonderful opportunities for kids in Miami-Dade who are interested in the performing arts,” says James R. Haj, Children’s Trust president and CEO. “The boost in confidence, the measurable difference made by professional mentoring – it’s amazing to see, and The
Trust is very happy to support and promote such a unique initiative.” The competition begins on March 10, with preliminary auditions taking place through April 20 at four local theater. It concludes with semifinals on April 27 and April 28, and finals on May 4 at the Miracle Theatre. A total of seven preliminary auditions will take place in locations throughout MiamiDade, including The Miracle Theatre, South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, Miami Arts Studio and the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. Participants may compete in one individual and one group category only, and those who preregister will be given priority audition times. Each act will be allotted up to one minute during their preliminary audition performance and two minutes for the semifinal and finalround performance. There will be a maximum of nine winners and one grand prize winner chosen during the finals. “Actors’ Playhouse considers the YTBD competition to be amongst its most important programs for young people,” says Barbara S. Stein, executive producing director of Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. “The program gives talented individuals a chance to explore their artistic skills, as well as develop selfconfidence in themselves and the presentation of their work. Many of our alumni, like Angelina Green, who received the Golden Buzzer on America’s Got Talent, enhance their performance experiences in many important ways, including furthering their education in arts programs in colleges and universities. We are extremely appreciative of our longterm relationship with The
Children’s Trust in celebrating the ninth annual Young Talent Big Dreams countywide youth talent contest.” For detailed information please visit www.actorsplayhouse.org. YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS Sunday, March 10; Sunday, March 17, 3-6 p.m. Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Sunday, March 31, 1-5 p.m. South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211th St., Cutler Bay Saturday, April 6, 2-7 p.m. Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Sunday, April 7, 1-6 p.m. Miami Arts Studio, 15015 SW 24th St., Miami Sat., April 13, 1-6 p.m. Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 59th Terrace, Miami Saturday, April 20, 2019, 2-7 p.m. Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS SEMIFINALS Saturday, April 27, 7 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 3 p.m. Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS FINALS Saturday, May 4, 7 p.m. Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
BCPS Athletic Director recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Congratulations to Roderick “Rocky” Gillis, athletic director at Broward County Public Schools (BCPS), for being recognized as a Certified Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). He is now one of a very elite group of interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of professionalism. Gillis earned this distinction by demonstrating the highest level of knowledge, expertise and on-going professional development in the field of interscholastic athletic administration. The NIAAA certification process included a thorough evaluation of the candidate’s educational background, experience and professional contributions, as well as a rigorous, comprehensive written examination. The NIAAA is a national professional organization consisting of all 50-state athletic administrator associations and more than 10,000 individual members. It is dedicated to promoting the professional growth of high
RODERICK “ROCKY” GILLIS school athletic administrators and preserving the educational nature of interscholastic athletics and the place of these programs in the secondary school curriculum.
When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar left the NBA in 1989 at age 42, no NBA player had ever scored more points, blocked more shots, won more Most Valuable Player Awards, played in more All-Star Games or logged more seasons. NBA.com reported that Jabbar’s list of personal and team accomplishments is perhaps the most awesome in league history: Rookie of the Year, member of six NBA championship teams, six-time NBA MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP, 19-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, and a member of the NBA 35th and 50th Anniversary AllTime Teams. He also owned eight playoff records and seven All-Star records. No player achieved as much individual and team success as did Abdul-Jabbar. Recently Jabbar auctioned off his championship rings, MVP and All-Star trophies and other rare items to benefit Jabbar’s Skyhook Foundation, whose mission per Jabbar, is to “give kids a shot that can’t be blocked.” “We do this by sending children from economically challenged schools to five days in the Angeles National Forest to experience the wonders of nature and learn the basics about science, technology and engineering, Jabbar told NNPA Newswire in an exclusive interview. He said the children participate in an “immersive hands-on experience that takes kids out of school for five days and four nights.” They go from auditory learning to utilizing all their senses in the great outdoors. “Our hope is not just to get them out of the city to commune with the outdoors, but to stimulate an interest in the sciences that might lead them to fulfilling careers,” Jabbar said. He said he decided to sell the items because his foundation has struggled for several years and can use the funds. “I need to keep it working and I have these
Kareem Abdul Jabbar Courtesy KareemAbdulJabbar.com wonderful mementos of my career and they take up space, need to be insured and you have to take care of them,” Jabbar said. “I’d rather use these to make sure the foundation gets the funding,” he said. At auction, Jabbar’s 1971-72 NBA MVP Trophy sold for more than $76,000 while his 1987 NBA Championship ring fetched more than $260,000. When final accounting is performed, the auction should easily net more than $1 million for the foundation. The funds will keep the foundation afloat, allowing underprivileged children a chance at an education in the STEM field. “So many young people think they must be extremely talented like a LeBron James, Stevie Wonder, or Beyoncé. They don’t have realistic ideas on what their potential is and giving them this opportunity is showing them where the best jobs will be in the 21st century,” Jabbar said. “It gives them a leg up and hopefully [helps them] make connections,” he said. Foundation officials have discovered recent research that shows that 97 percent of girls and 92 percent of boys give up on science because of peer pressure and what’s hot in popular culture, Jabbar said. Continue reading online at:
thewestsidegazette.com
PAGE 4 • MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019
EVENTS The Westside Gazette Celebration Women History Month
Events Lauderhill Living The Source: News from the City of Lauderhill * Lauderhill Talent Show calling all Lauderhill Residents at Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC). For registration information call (945) 7303000 * Code Red Emergency Notifications. For more info contact the Fire Dept. at (954) 730-2950 if you have questions about CodeRed. * 11th Annual S.A.K.E. Awards, Thursday, Mar. 7 at 6 p.m., at Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 N.W. 11 Pl., Lauderhill, Fla. * My One and Only - The Gershwin Musical, Friday, Mar. 8 and Saturday, Mar. 24 at 8 p.m., at the Stage Door Theatre at the LPAC. * Jazz Under the Stars on 38th, Friday, Mar. 29, from 6 to 10 p.m. 3800 N.W. 11 Pl., Lau-
Reunion The Communtiy is invited to the Second Annual Larry Little Gold Coast Campers Reunion Outing, Saturday, Mar. 9, at 11 a.m., at Amelia Earhart Park, 401 E. 65 St., Hialeah, Fla. Pavilion #7. Any and all donations will be accpeted and appreciated. For more info contact DeeDee Sears at (954) 479-6643 or Curtis Burns at (305) 7489390.
Breakfast
The 6th Annual Lauderhill Regional Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction Awards Breakfast, Friday, March 8 at 7:30 a.m., at the BB&T Center, 1 Panther Pkwy, Sunrise, Fla.
Yard Sale Yard Sale, Saturday, March 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Northwest Federated Woman’s Club, 2161 N.W. 19 St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Rain or shine $10 to rent a space, $15 if you’ll need a table. (Secure your space by Saturday, March 16, contact Latoya or Towanna at (954) 730-3442 for inquires. * Renter is responsible for providing own tent. The NWFWC will not be responsible for damaged/lost items.
“The important thing is to realize that no matter what people’s opinions may be, they’re only just that – people’s opinions. You have to believe in your heart what you know to be true about yourself. And let that be that.” – Mary J. Blige
Deeply Rooted LOCAL HAPPENINGS IN BROWARD - MIAMI-DADE AND PALM BEACH COUNITIES Events Broward County Library eNews -#DestinationFridays South: Experience the Renaissance with Society for Creative Anachronism, Friday, March 29, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at South Regional/Broward College Library, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, Fla. -March/April Title - The Rooster Bar by John Grisham, dates: Tuesday, March 5 at 1 p.m. at North Regional/ Broward College Library Tuesday, March 26 at 10:30 a.m. at Riverland Library. Tell Your Story. It’s Your Write: * Free Literary Expo, Saturday, March 9 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at North Regional/ Broward College Library MERGE Goggle Headsets now aviliable for check out at Broward County Libarys Friday Night at the Library - DestinationFridays - South Experience in Renaissance with the Society for Creative Anachronism, Friday, March 29 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at South Regional/Broward College Library. Adult + only. For tickets Fridays.Broward. org
Conference S.P.E.A.K. Women’s Empowerment Conferene 2019, Saturday, March 16 at 9 a.m., at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Fla.
Program
The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Chi Chapter, Fort Lauderdale, Florida will host its annual Talent Hunt Program on Saturday, April 6, from 12 noon to 3 p.m., at Joseph C. Carter Park (formerly Sunland Park), in the Kathleen C. Wright Multipurpose Center, 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The event will feature local middle and high school students from the surrounding communities. For additional info please call (954)809-8844.
What’s Happening in Dania Beach
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Happening at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center
AARLCC, 2650 Historic Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
* Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional info call (954) 9246801 Register at https:// www.ApprovedByHUD.org/ upcoming-events - Flea Market, Saturday, March 9 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Forst Park, 300 N.E. Second St., Dania Beach, Fla. For more info call (954) 9243690 - 17th Annual Broward Water Matters Day Conservation - A Winning Strategy, Saturday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tree Tops Park, 3900 S.W. 100 Ave., Davie, Fla. - Career Opportunities Now hiring. How to apply for a position: The City Dania Beach encourages online application.daniabeach.fl.gov/ jobs
Events
World AIDS Museum and Educational Center upcoming events and support opportunities. All event will be held at World AIDS Museum, 1201 N.E. 26 St., Suite 111, Wilton Manors, Fla. - “HIV and the Woman” Community Dialogue with Care Resource and IMAGES, Tuesday, March 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. - Art Auction Fundraiser/ Cocktail Party, Thursday, March 14 from 6 to 8 p.m., supporting our Florida AIDS Walk Team - BINGO Fundraiser, Friday, March 15 from 6 to 9 p.m., at 3635 N. Andrews Ave., Oakland Park, Fla. - Florida AIDS Walk, Saturday, March 23 on Fort Lauderdale Beach. - WAM Movie Night – Life
-AARLCC Movie Matinee Black History Month: Black Hollywood: - Free Wellness Workshop for Seniors/Caregivers through May 2019 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more info call (954) 357-6282. - Thursday, March 7, 14, 21, 28; Thursday, April 4, 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Destination Friday; Seminole Indians, Friday, March 8 from 7 to 9 p.m., Adults 21+ only. For tickets info Fridays. Broward.org - AARLCC’s Social Dance Club, Monday thru Thursday, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. - Getting My Groove Back, Learning my self: health adn wealth, Saturday, March 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. WIN prizes including beauty treatment and more. - A Peer Into the AARLCC Vault -Dorothy Porter Wesley Collection’s Afro- Brazilian Culture now thru March 31. - AARLCC Gallery Display, Saint’s and Orisha’s by Myron Ferguson aka Linx now thru March 30. Meet the Artist Friday, March 8 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at #DestinationFridays Seminoles & Saturday, March 23 from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at Getting My Groove Back. - On Display in Special Collections - Moorish Spain:al Andalusian Afrikan Aesthetics. * Adult Programs - Monday & Wednesday in March Adult Literacy Class from 5 to 8 p.m. -Thursday, March 7 - Living My Best Life in 2019 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Adulting 101: Mock Interviews from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Computer Training Center - Tuesday, March 12 - Coffee & Conversation with a Librarian, from 2 to 3 p.m. - Wednesday, March 13 Star Gazing: “The Spring, from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Front NE parking lot equinox” - Friday, March 15 - 100th birthday commemoration of Nat King Cole, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., refreshment will be served. - Saturday, March 16 - Dr. Mary Howery leads us in Wellness Talk, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. * Youth Programs - Free homework help, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. - Tuesday, March 19 -Women’s History Month Stort time from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. -Thursday, March 7 - Women’s History Month Mult-Media Trivia Contest from 4:430 to 5:30 p.m., for ages 10 and up. - Saturday, March 9 - Wags and Tales from 1 to 3 p.m.
“One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.” – Michelle Obama
Miramar Today Events
• Witness the top youth poets in the state, Monday, March 11 -Saturday, April 13 •Your Vote, Your Voice - elect your City Mayor and City Commissioner, Tuesday, Mar. 12 at 7 p.m. •Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers hosts Game Night Party & Play on the Plaza, Friday, March 15 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Miramar Town Center Plaza, 2300 Civic Center Pl. •Miramar Library Local Crafy Vendors Sale, Saturday, March 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Let Food Be Thy Medicine, Saturday, Mar. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Florida Grand Opera presents, Frida at MCC, Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. •It’s A Grand Slam for Miramar Residents. Resident receive special tickets at Hard Rock Stadium. Wednesday, Mar. 20; Sunday, Mar. 24 •Kids Play, Teacher Plan. Register Now!, Friday, March 22 and Wednesday, June 5 • Miramar Library hosts: Local Author Forum with an female panel, Saturday, March 23 from 12 to 2 p.m. •MCC presents, Maxi Priest, Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. •Commissione Maxwell B. Chambers hosts Puppy Palooze, Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Miramar Town Center, 2300 Civic Center Pl. For more info call (954) 602-3178. • I Love Freestyle Music Tour, Saturday, Mar. 23 at Miramar Regional Park, Amphitheater. • MCC Spring Camp registration is open, Sunday, March 25-29. • City of Miramar Spring Camp, space is still available,Saturday, March 23-29. •Fire Station 100 Open House, Wednesday, March 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. • Movie Night at Shirley Branca Park, Saturday, March 30 from 7 to 10 p.m. •iEN Concierto! El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico,Saturday, Mar. 30, at Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater. • Dance Yourself Into Shape at Miramar Free Zumba Classes, Thursdays, at 6 p.m. • Historical Miramar Infrastructure Improvements Phase 3, stay informed on the City of Miramar Capital Improvement Projects. • The City of Miramar presents Game Night Party & Play on the Plaza, Friday, March 15 from 7 to 11 p.m., at Miramar Town Center Plaza, 2300 Civic Center Pl., Miramar, Fla. For more info call (954) 602-3178 • Attention Miramar Residents – are you a furloughed federal employee? We’re Here to Help! For more info call (954) 602-HELP (4357). • It’s a Grand Slam for Miramar residents! City of Miramar residents night, Wednesday, Mar. 20, Sunday, Mar. 24. For more info call (954) 602-4357 •Money Management & Homeowner’s Symposium, Sunday, March 31, at 2:30 p.m., at 2300 Civic Center Pl. Miramar, Fla. Miramar City Hall. (Workshop is Free, but you Must register: eventbrite: tinyurl.com/miramarhomeworkshop For more info call (954) 602-3154 or (954) 998-7500. • Register Now! City of Miramar Spring Camp, from 7a.m. to 6 p.m., at: Vernon E. Hargray Youth Enrichment Center, 7000 Miramar Pkwy. (954) 602-4780 - Regional Park Aquatics Complex, 16801 MiramarPkwy. (954) 883-6955 - Viz-
“Don’t sabotage your own greatness by succumbing to failure.” – Terri McMillan
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MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019 • PAGE 5
Attorneys Ben Crump and R. Allen Smith Call Linkage
Wilson Slams Proposal to Offer
Federal Tax Credit for Contributions to Private Schools WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement in response to a proposal to offer federal tax credits for contributions to private schools: “When announcing her support for a federal tax credit for contributions to private-school scholarships, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said, ‘A great education shouldn’t be determined by luck or by address or by family income.’ That may be the first thing she’s said that I agree with, but the reality is that the quality of education received by most children in our nation is based on those very factors. “DeVos’s latest attack on public schools came
a day after the New York Times published a report that found an eye-popping $23 billion disparity between white and nonwhite school districts. Although the tax credit proposal authored by Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Bradley Byrne would not directly take money from public schools, it is a backdoor voucher program that would lower the federal tax base and thus inadvertently harm low-income urban and rural school districts. “As Education secretary, DeVos’s job is to support the nation’s public-school systems and steer resources toward, not away from, them. Thankfully the House is now controlled by Democrats, which ensures that her anti-public schools’ agenda will not succeed.”
Memphis-area student to school district:
Students need representation on school board By Ortavia Easly, Special to The New Tri-State Defender Students in Shelby County Schools feel like they do not have a voice when it comes to issues that affect them. Many students feel unmotivated to attend school because issues like school cleanliness, lunch food and other complaints are left seemingly unheard. Students don’t see the point in attending a school where their voices don’t matter. Schools are essentially second homes to students and should be a place where they want to spend their time. Currently, there is no student representative for the Shelby County Schools Board of Education. This means students have no one to represent their voice. For real change to happen, students need a representative who truly understands their struggles. A student representative would be an ideal solution to this problem. As a student, the representative would truly understand what students go through, and why their concerns should be voiced and addressed. Teachers and administrators do not use the same restrooms, eat the same
Between Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and Ovarian Cancer
a Civil Rights, Public Health Crisis The High-Profile Attorneys Joined Forces with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) to Urge Minority Women to Stop Using Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and to Reach Out Immediately for Legal Assistance, if Symptoms Arise ATLANTA — Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump hosted a press conference in Atlanta on Monday, February 25, 2019, in partnership with Attorney R. Allen Smith and Janice L. Mathis, Esq., executive director of National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the oldest advocacy group for minority women, to alert women of color about evidence that shows a direct correlation between ovarian cancer and the use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder. Attorneys Crump and Smith are joining forces nationally to represent women harmed by their unsuspecting use of the product and urge women that believe they may have been negatively impacted by the product to contact them immediately. A Business Insider story published January 21, 2019, reported that Johnson & Johnson is currently under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission following concerns about the safety of the brand’s baby powder. Subpoenas were issued following a Reuters report published on December 14, 2018, that noted Johnson & Johnson had been aware of traces of asbestos, a human carcinogen, located in the ingredient talc, which is often mined near dangerous
asbestos. At the conference, Crump encouraged women of color to stop using Johnson & Johnson baby powder and to seek medical attention immediately, if symptoms are present. “We have to protect our women of color,” Crump said. “There is evidence that Johnson & Johnson preyed on women of color while possessing scientific reports that showed a linkage between talcum powder and ovarian cancer.” In July 2018, a Missouri jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to issue a payment of up to $4.7 billion to 22 women that claimed their ovarian cancer diagnoses were directly related to the company’s baby powder. Smith, who is based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has established himself as the preeminent plaintiffs’ attorney in talc cases. He recently was retained to represent his home state in seeking civil fines against Johnson & Johnson. “Johnson & Johnson baby powder is just like a cigarette, as it contains multiple cancer-causing substances,” Smith said. “The Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
Ortavia Easly is one of the students that the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center staff has been working with during weekly workshop sessions at Kingsbury High School in Memphis, Tenn. foods or have the same experiences; therefore, they can’t be a complete voice for the students. According to the Shelby County Schools’ Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
MIFF and the Knight Hero Series from Front Page Sunday, March 3 at the Olympia Theater in Downtown Miami. This session allowed the three filmmakers to speak followed by a group discussion in front of a live audience, “We have worked with a lot of Miami filmmakers. We have listened to whom they talk about and who inspires them. From there we got the idea to invite these people just to talk and interact with the Miami creatives,” said Laplante. All three Knight Heroes had an amazing year in 2018. Aaron Stewart-Ahn is the co-writer of the film Mandy, This film was critics favorite at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Boots Riley is the director of the 2018 Summer comedy Sorry to Bother You. Barry Jenkins is South Florida native and the Oscar-winning director of Moonlight and if Beale Street Could Talk, “I never think of myself as a symbol. To be designated as a Knight Hero by being from here and making movies about here, I need to take responsibility as a symbol, said Barry Jenkins. The session started with Stewart-Ahn and his speech about borderless cinema, “Right now we are having a conversation about what constitutes as a movie based off whether it was digital or if it was shown in a theater. I am interested in us reaching a point where movies from around the world will be accessible to everyone,” said Stewart-Ahn. Riley’s speech was about there is no direct pathway to success in the film industry, “None of us really know what we are doing,” said Riley. The Sorry to Bother You director explained that we are entrenched on how things are particularly done. He elaborates by saying that producers and directors we know followed advice told to them because it feels safe but really none of them know what they are doing. Riley’s speech then went on the topic of activism, “I want people to learn how can they make their work be a part of the world and help movements that are happening,” said Riley. Riley explains that most of our view of the world is someone’s art. According to Riley, we need a back and
LAPLANTE
“You must give your own story to the world.” —Carter G. Woodson, US Historian
RILEY forth between art and movement for art to stay relevant. At the end of his speech, Riley encouraged all the filmmakers in the room to join a movement. Jenkins was the last speech of the event. The center of his speech revolved around embracing your voice, “The biggest messages I want people to grasp is to be proud of where you are from and understand that your voice is an asset. That was a lesson I had to learn the hard way but thankfully when I learned it, It yielded some really great work,” said Jenkins. The Oscar-winning director also discussed paths and how key people in his life post-film school helped him on his path that led him back home to make Moonlight, “Every feature except Beale Street I had a friend say you need to write this story. The only reason why I am even on this stage is that I came back home to make a movie about Miami,” said Jenkins.
Each Woman Is a Story Waiting to Be Told Carter G. Woodson, American educator and historian, knew that no history is complete without the stories of marginalized individuals. During Women’s History Month, VITAS® Healthcare encourages every woman—young, old, black, white, patient, caregiver—to give her own story to the world.
SINCE 1980
For more information on VITAS, please contact VITAS Representative, Chely Thimothee-Paul at 954.486.4085. VITAS.com
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The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-AD’s, Inc., reserves the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers thay 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.
The Gantt Report
Stop the Props By Lucius Gantt Your coworkers truly believe that all African Americans know each other. When a Black man or woman walks into the office, non-Blacks are quick to ask you, “Who is that?” Well, all Black people don’t know each other and all Black women don’t have to, or want to, be a political prop for conservative Congressmen that suggest that they aren’t racist because an Aunt Jemima stands behind them at a Congressional committee meeting!
Black women, men and people of all other races and groups can support the politicians and political parties of their choice but no Black woman should lower herself by agreeing to buck dance through the halls of the US Congress for Congressional closet klansmen, white nationalists or neo-nazis! It is no secret that the President and his supporters are pandering to their redneck base. They can’t be neutral. They can’t be fair. They can’t support a righteous inquiry
Abortions are Equal to Dental Fillings By Nicole Nutting and Don Valentine
Blacks Owed More Than Reparations By Kevin Palmer In his book, A Black History Reader, Dr. Claud Anderson reported the United States owes the American descendants of slaves more than reparations. “In 1865, after the end of the Civil War, the U.S. Congress chartered Freedman’s Bank as a depository for money saved by newly-freed Black slaves and Black ex-Union soldiers.” The bank was for Blacks, not LGBTQ members, feminist white women, Mexicans, Asians, or illegal immigrants. Anderson continues, “Congress appointed Whites to operate the banks for Blacks. The temptation proved too great and within 10 years, the Freedman’s Bank closed. White administrators had stolen all the deposits of the Black freedman, misused
She Said: I can’t believe how backwards your Florida legislators are! It makes those of us from California wonder?? Abortion is a hot button topic, but when the incoming Speaker of your State House Jose Oliva refers to a pregnant woman as the “host body” it’s clear the Neanderthals are in charge of the cave. The word you’re looking for, Senor, is MOTHER. You know, the person whose body nourished yours before and after your first breath of air. Or were you raised by an incubator? He Said: Nicole, let me stick up for the “Great State of Florida”. Your utility company (P.G.E) created the largest wildfire in modern history. Seriously, I agree with you that Mr. Olivia’s comments where arcane. You realize he is making those remarks for a particular audience. Bet, if you had a couple of private “Cervezas” with him he would say “...No that was b.s. “I just need more votes so I can get to Congress.” She Said: Let’s spin this the other direction. What would it be like if women took control of men’s health with the same cavalier attitude? No, prostate exams aren’t necessary, no steroids for your gym workout, no Viagra…! bank funds and rendered the banks insolvent. Approximately 70,000 Blacks deposited $57 million (adjusted for inflation) from wages, military cashing-out pay, bounty and freedom monies into Freedman’s Bank. The federal government did not prosecute the thieves or even attempt to make restitution for the losses.” Sadly, “the Congressional Black Caucus, other elected officials, civil rights organizations, religious leaders or other prominent Black organizations have not bothered to take up the fight by assisting the descendants of the Black depositors to demand restitution for the value of their ancestor’s losses which could add up to billions.” These sellouts talk Black while marrying White and are only focused on earning their Meritorious Manumission perks. The Black masses should expect even less from presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Cory Booker who prefer to kiss the backside of influential Whites and the LGBTQ crowd.
Florida State Rep. Jose Oliva
“Too bad, so sad!” Men need to start taking some responsibility for unwanted pregnancies, instead of just legislating after the fact. Those fetuses didn’t get there by themselves! He Said: Yes it takes two to Tango! However, since my chromosome make up is not (X-Y) My elocution would be this: “Abortions are legally under the Supreme Court doctrine, equal to a dental filling. The court, in it’s historic 1973 case Roe vs Wade, ruled that a woman has a right to “choice”! Similarly you have a choice to get a dental filling. In both examples there are health paradigms. Should abortions go too long into gestation then it becomes life threatening. The cavity evolves too far; the tooth has to be removed. Buddy, you have written many times how some aspects evangelicals principals are inconsistent !
The Tax Surprise
By Bill Fletcher, Jr., NNPA Newswire Contributor The mainstream news has been covering an interesting story. People who were expecting significant tax refunds are, in very large numbers, either getting a minimal refund, no refund or having to pay the IRS. This, after the man Spike Lee has named “Agent Orange”—Donald Trump—promised a massive tax benefit for middle-income people. When I first starting reading and seeing these stories I wondered why anyone was surprised. After all, in the Continue reading online at: www.thewestsidegzette.com
when they are on the side of evil, wickedness and deceit! Way back during slavery days, slave holders loved to use Black women as belly warmers, baby mamas and midnight booty calls. But today is not a slavery day! Now is the time for Black women, and men, to just say no. No, I won’t be a political prop. No, I won’t be a political puppet and no, I won’t be a political punk! If Black men will ever get anywhere in America, and in the world, they will get there with Black women, side by side, hand in hand and arm in arm! We need modern day Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubmans, Ida B Wells and Angela Davis type women. We need 2019 Fannie Lou Hammers and Winnie Mandelas! Just because the devil gives you a government job it doesn’t mean you’re on the pedestal reserved for white women. You and Kathleen Cleaver and Assata Shakur and other conscious Black women aren’t mistreated, exploited and victimized because you are a Democrat or a Republican, African American women are used as political props because they are BLACK!
Michael Cohen told a Degree of Truth to Acknowledge Trump’s Corruption
By Roger Caldwell Can anyone tell why President Trump’s “Fix it Man” Michael Cohen decided to spill the beans on his boss after ten years of dedication? Last week was a time of truth-telling, and Cohen’s testimony will uncover some of the president’s dirty deeds and criminal activity. As Americans who believe in the rule of law, but the system is broken, when over 34 of the president’s senior advisors and directors are charged with breaking the law. Something is fundamentally wrong with the system, and many of the leaders are walking around with blinders on their eyes. “I am ashamed that I choose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump illicit acts, rather than listening to my own conscience. I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is. He is a Racist. He is a con man. He is a cheat,” says Michael Cohen, President Trump former personal lawyer. The president should be an individual with the highest level of moral character, but President Trump is an international criminal, and operates as an organized crime boss. Michael Cohen Continue reading online at: www.thewestsidegzette.com
Beyond the Rhetoric Bernie Sanders – Mysterious and maybe dangerous By Harry C. Alford & Kay DeBow, NNPA Newswire Contributors Bernie Sanders just won’t go away. He stays in the political limelight no matter who wins the presidency or which party, Democrat or Republican, controls Congress. He is a declared Independent, yet he caucuses with the Democrats. Confusing? Yes, indeed it is, and it is a contradiction. In 2016, he became very close to winning the Democratic nomination for President. Perhaps he would have won it if the tricks of the Hillary Clinton campaign had overtaken his momentum. Wikipedia provides a brilliant nugget on his political career: “Sanders was born and raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, and attended Brooklyn College before graduating from the University of Chicago in 1964. While a student he was an active protest organizer
for the Congress of Racial Equality (Roy Innis was National Chairman of CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (Stokely Carmichael & Rap Brown were the leaders) during the civil rights movement. After settling in Vermont in 1968, Sanders ran unsuccessful third-party political campaigns in the early to mid-1970’s. As an independent, he was elected mayor of Burlington – the state’s most populous city – in Continue reading online at: www.thewestsidegzette.com
Protecting and saving our children By Melissa Martin, Ph. D. The world is an inviting and exciting roller-coaster ride for our children—the world is a hazardous and unsafe place for our children. Life is a two-sided coin for our children. Disney World, Cedar Point, Sea World. Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland. America. It is the best of times—it is the worst of times. What is the cost of living in a democratic nation where freedom rings? What is the price of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution? How do our children achieve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in lieu of school shootings? Are School Shootings Rare? According to a 2013 article in the academic journal, Disaster Health, “School massacres, such as Sandy Hook, occur periodically, galvanizing public reaction and bringing forth a collective call for intervention. Epidemiological analyses position these rare, but uniquely compelling, incidents within the broader national patterns of gun violence.” Visit www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/. Nonetheless, all hands on deck are needed to find ways to prevent school shootings and make schools a safe place. Our children are depending on us. Homicide is the third leading cause of death among young people aged 10–24 years, according to the publication, “Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action” by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The website everytownresearch.org has attempted to draw conclusions from data on both school and other mass shootings. Once again, the topic of bullying is in the forefront for victims and perpetrators. The authors state, “If a child brings a weapon to school, this should be investigated and a risk assessment and treatment planning process begun. Suspension or expulsion is never sufficient in cases such as this and an assessment should be required before the young person returns to school.” Continue reading online at: www.thewestsidegazette.com
Trump’s
maritime fuel policy will sink energy markets By George Landrith The Trump administration is working to slow down the implementation of a major international environmental regulation that’s set to take effect in 2020. The administration hopes that the effort will ease the compliance burden on businesses by phasing in the rules gradually, rather than all at once. Counterintuitively, phasing in the regulation could raise costs on American consumers, rather than reduce costs as the administration intends. It’s smarter to let the rules go into effect as scheduled. The regulation was issued years ago by the International Maritime Organization, which regulates global shipping. The rules will require ships to use fuel containing no more than 0.5 percent sulfur -- a compound which causes acid rain and exacerbates people’s breathing problems. That’s a steep drop from the current global limit of 3.5 percent sulfur. The Trump administration fears the regulation will cause demand for diesel, heating oil, and other low-sulfur fuels to surge, resulting in “precipitous fuel cost increases on consumers.” It also worries that shipping companies will Continue reading online at: www.thewestsidegazette.com
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BUSINESS
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South Carolina mom outraged after kids told
to pick cotton, sing slave song as “game” By Matthew Grant, Fox 46 Charlotte ROCK HILL, S.C. --A South Carolina mother is outraged after her 10-year-old son, and his classmates, were told to pick cotton and sing a slave song with words like, “I like it when you don’t talk back, make money for me,” as part of a class field trip during Black History Month. “I’m livid right now,” said Jessica Blanchard, before wiping away tears. “I’m African American and my ancestors picked cotton. Why would I want my son to pick cotton and think it’s fun?” Cell phone video taken by a teacher and sent to parents show fifth graders from Ebenezer Avenue Elementary in Rock Hill, picking cotton. Another video shows kids hurrying to fill their sacks. In each video, the kids are being instructed to sing: “I like it when you fill the sack. I like it when you don’t talk back. Make money for me.” “I think it’s making a mockery,” said Blanchard. “A mockery of slavery. A mockery of what our people went through.” Blanchard’s son, Jamari, says he didn’t understand what he was singing. He said the instructors did not explain how cotton fields were harvested by African American slaves. Did they talk about how salves used to pick cotton?” FOX 46 investigative reporter Matt Grant asked. A permission slip, which parents had to sign, does mention “cotton picking” as part of a history lesson. Not on slavery, but on the Great Depression. For 15 years, Rock Hill fifth graders have been coming to the Carroll School, which was built in 1929 by and for African Americans. The school, part of the Rosenwald Initiative, was the product of grant money donated by Julius Rosenwald, the president of Sears. More than 5,000 schools were created in 15 states. The Carroll School closed in 1954 and was later restored by Rock Hill Schools, which took over the building in 2004. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places
and serves as a teaching center for African-American history during the Great Depression, when the school was built. The district calls the field trip a “unique learning opportunity” that promotes “understanding about our past” and “helps students make reallife connections.” “What did your other classmates think about all this?” asked Grant On a foggy morning, FOX 46 visited the Carroll School and met with Wali Cathcart, 81, an instructor and former student. He attended the school in 1943. The son of sharecroppers, this former cotton farmer now shows kids firsthand what he and his parents had to do to survive. “We need innovation in the education system,” said Cathcart. “Not just lecturing children in a classroom telling them something. There’s nothing better than hands on.” Cathcart denies turning cotton picking into a “race” issue. He says the ‘Big Mama’ sack “is just humor.”
“What do you say to people who find this offensive and say this trivializes slavery?” asked Grant, on behalf of Blanchard. “I’d certainly love to answer that question because I deal with this issue all the time,” said Cathcart. “One of the problems when it comes to African American people is that they fail to understand history in its proper context, and, because of that, we are at a disadvantage today.” Cathcart said the kids need to know what their parents went through. The lessons of slavery are taught in third grade, and elsewhere, he said. “This program is not about that [slavery],” he said. “This program here is centered around the Great De-pression of the 1930s, so slavery is not the predominent issue.” Growing up on a farm, cotton “provided the living for us,” said Cathcart. “That was money that we got to survive and live on.” Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
The 2018 Empowering women in Media, a networking and panel event that presented women of color in media sharing their stories with other women who are looking to break into the world of media/En la Escena/Kizzy Cox.
Newsrooms Still Lack Women and Individuals of Color By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent With observances planned throughout March to commemorate Women’s History Month, a new report revealed that women are still mostly absent from newsrooms. The Women’s Media Center’s 2019 report on the status of women in U.S. media shows that despite some gains, men still dominate in every part of news, entertainment and digital media. “The media is in a state of great disruption, but despite all of the change, one thing remains the same: the role of women is significantly smaller than that of men in every part of news, entertainment and digital media,” Julie Burton, president of the Women’s Media Center (WMC), said in a news release. Burton said the data in the report paints a stark picture. “It is clear that a cultural, systemic shift is necessary if all parts of the U.S media are to achieve gender and racial parity and move toward a world where stories fully represent the voices and perspectives of diverse women,” she said. “Research spotlighted in this report shows that diversity boosts corporate profits. When boardrooms, newsrooms, studios and tech companies fully reflect the faces, genders and myriad talents of our society, we’re all exceedingly better served,” Burton said. The report titled, “The Status of Women in the U.S. Media 2019,” is comprised of 94 studies, including original research by WMC and aggregated research from academia, industry and professional groups, labor unions, media watchdogs, newsrooms and other sources. It includes several original WMC studies, including “Divided 2019: The Media Gender Gap,” an assessment of where women stand as media writers, reporters, correspondents and anchors in the major news media platforms, including the prime-time broadcast news programs, print publications, wire services and online news sites. The report noted that across all media platforms, men receive 63 percent of bylines and credits; women receive only 37 percent. “Women have been fighting for greater parity and equality in the news media for decades,” said one of WMC’s co-chairs
Maya Harris. “This report shows that more work needs to be done to level the playing field. Women and our male allies will not rest until we see wholesale change,” Harris said. Further, “when we watch the evening news, we’re not seeing an America that truly reflects all voices,” said Pat Mitchell, also a WMC co-chair. “Too often, the voices we hear and the images we see are men. Men largely are reporting and telling the story even though women represent more than half the U.S. population,” Mitchell said. The report is inclusive and also features WMC’s “The Status of Women of Color in the U.S. News Media 2019,” which offers a rare look at where women journalists of color are – and aren’t – in legacy print, radio, TV, and digital news. That report revealed that women of color represent just 7.95 percent of U.S. print newsroom staff, 12.6 percent of local TV news staff, and 6.2 percent of local radio staff. “Missing women of color in the newsrooms of this country is an injustice in itself, and an injustice to every American reader and viewer who is deprived of great stories and a full range of facts,” said WMC co-founder Gloria Steinem. “Inclusiveness in the newsroom means inclusiveness in the news. Racism and sexism put blinders on everyone,” Steinem said. In an expanded section on tech, social media, gaming and engineering, “Status 2019” also spotlighted the growing threat online to women in media and the perils of failing to protect free and safe speech. “As part of their day-to-day work, women journalists often face a torrent of harassment, denigration, and threats … and the point of this hostility is to silence women, most frequently women of color,” said Soraya Chemaly, director of WMC’s Speech Project. “The onus continues to fall on women’s shoulders as individuals. Media companies have to develop institutional responses to these threats if they are serious about building inclusive organizations,” Chemaly said. Some of the findings in the report include: • The American Society of News Editors’ latest Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
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Family That Together, Together AF amily T hat Prays T ogether, Stays T ogether
Church Directory This Worship T his and Every Sunday at the Church of Your Choice
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 2211 N.W. 7th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33061 Church: (954) 583-9368 Email: bethelmbchurchfl@att.net
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.
Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, 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!
MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019 • PAGE 11
Williams Memorial CME “PRAYER IS THE ANSWER” Rev. Cal Hopkins (M.Div) Senior Pastor/Teacher 644-646 NW 13th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311 (954) 462-5711(Ministry Office Line) (954) 462-8222(Pastor’s Direct Line) Email: wm_cme@bellsouth.net ( Church} pastorCal50@yahoo.com (Pastor)
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!”
Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church 2251 N.W. 22nd St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 P.O. BOX 122256, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 (954) 733-3285 * Fax: (954) 733-9231 Email: mountnebobaptist@bellsouth.net
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"
Rev. Danny L. McKenzie, Sr. Senior Pastor WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY
Sunday .............................................................................. 7:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday School .................................................................................... 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Night Bible Study .............................................................. 7:00 p.m. Fifth Sunday ..................................................................................... 10:00 a.m.
"Reaching Our World One Person At A Time"
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1161 NW 29th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311 (954) 581-0455 ● Fax: (954) 581-4350 www.mtzionmbc1161.com
Rev. Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday School ............................................................................................................... 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service ............................................................................................. 10:15 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”
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.
Living Waters Christian Fellowship Meeting at Central Charter School Building #5 4515 N. St. Rd. 7 (US 441) Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319 (954) 295-6894
SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 a.m. Rev. Anthony & Virginia Burrell
lwcf2019@gmail.com (Church) llerrub13@gmail.com (Pastor)
“Jesus said, let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)
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
Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church 522 N.W. Ninth Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Church: (954) 462-1413 or (954) 647-8254 Email: AMEZ522@yahoo.com
Rev. Dr. William Calvin Haralson, Pastor SERVICES
Sunday School .................................................................................. 10:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship ............................................................ 11:00 a.m. Bible Study (Wednesday) ............................................................... 7:30 p.m.
"Reaching beyond the four walls touching lives, touching communities".
Obituaries James C. Boyd Funeral Home
McWhite's Funeral Home
ALEXANDER Funeral services for the late Min. Claude Donald Alexander - 65 were held March 2 at Mount Bethel Baptist Church with Pastor Frankie Walls officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens (Central).
BEACON Funeral services for the late Catherine Smith Bacon - 86 were held March 2 at Mount Zion AME Church with Rev. George A. hardy officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.
EALY Funeral services for the late Edward Lamar Ealy - 74 were held February 28 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Dr. Renee Pinder officiating.
MCKINNON Funeral services for the late Shatori Lashae McKinnon - 22 were held March 2 at McWhite’ s Funeral Home Chapel.
PALARCHIE Funeral services for the late Roy Noley Palarchie 27 were held March 2 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Pastor Maretha Johnican officiating. Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens (Central). RUTLEDGE Funeral service for the late Daisy Bell Ruthledge 93 held March 2 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Min Clarence Ruthledge, Jr. officiating. Interment: Sunset memorial Gardens.
Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church Reverend Henry E. Green, Jr., Pastor 401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 Phone: (954) 463-6309 FAX 954 522-4113 Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Email infor@mthermonftl.com
SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES Worship Service ..................................................................... 7:30 & 10:30 a.m. Fifth Sunday ONLY .................................................................................... 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#
Henry L. Scurry, Sr. Sunrise: July 18, 1941 Sunset: Feb. 28, 2018
SMITH Funeral services for the late Cyril B. Smith – 25 were held March 2 at Community Church of God with Apostle Amos Benefield, Jr. officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. THOMAS Funeral services for the late Robert Eugene Thomas were held February 21 at James C. Boyd’s Me morial Chapel. Interment: Southside Cemetery, Tallahassee, Fla.
It is difficult to believe that it has been a year since you unexpectedly left us. Countless times we have had questions about all range of topics and, because you knew so much about so many things, we reminded ourselves that you would have known the answer and (the professor that you were) could have very easily explained it all. You are so deeply missed. Forever in our hearts, Your Family
“Keep working hard and you can get anything that you want. If God gave you the talent, you should go for it. But don’t think it’s going to be easy. It’s hard!” – Aaliyah
Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home BUTLER Funeral services for the late James Butler – 83 were held March 1 at First Baptist Church Piney Grove with Rev. Dr. Derrick J. Hughes officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. DUKES Funeral services for the late Ms. Betty Jean Dukes – 69 were held March 2 at First Baptist Church Piney Grove with Rev. Dr. Derrick J. Hughes officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. HANKERSON Funeral services for the late Carolyn Johnson Hankerson – 67 were held March 2 at Full Gospel Church Of The Living God with Min. Dr. T. Wayne Parks officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.
“I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations…I have built my own factory on my own ground.” – Madam C.J. Walker
Deeply Rooted
PAGE 12 • MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019
www.thewestsidegazette.com
‘Leaving Neverland’is Michael Jackson’s Pandora’s Box [Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.]
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent “Leaving Neverland and the Twisted Cult of Michael Jackson Truthers.”— The Daily Beast “The Music Stops: Leaving Neverland and the awful truth about Michael Jackson.” — NY Daily News “Leaving Neverland Reveals The Monster We Didn’t Want to See in Michael Jackson” — BuzzFeed Stacy M. Brown is a journalist and former family friend of the Jacksons. He’s the author of the forthcoming biography, “Aftermath: Michael Jackson’s Dysfunctional Family and the Legacy of the King of Pop.” Stacy M. Brown is a journalist and former family friend of the Jacksons. He’s the author of the forthcoming biography, “Aftermath: Michael Jackson’s Dysfunctional Family and the Legacy of the King of Pop.” Those are just three of what’s become a cavalcade of headlines about the gutwrenching and disturbing documentary, “Leaving Neverland,” that finally aired on HBO Sunday night with part two and
Michael Jackson and a young Wade Robson. (Courtesy “Leaving Neverland”/Sundance Institute) a post-film interview by Oprah Winfrey on Monday night. It’s the story of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two men who describe in the most heart-breaking and wrenching ways the abuse they say they suffered at the hands of the late Michael Jackson when they were little boys. While Michael’s family, fans and the executors of his multi-billion-dollar estate, have blasted everyone involved in the film, this fact remains indisputable: Only the young men know what really happened between the sheets at Neverland, the King of Pop’s sprawling 2,700-acre estate in the Santa Ynez Valley of California. And, while it’s noble that Tito, Jackie,
Marlon, Jermaine and the lawyers who represent Michael’s estate have pushed back against the film, one thing director Dan Reed’s documentary does make clear: Michael and his family really were strangers over the last 25 years of his life. They didn’t know him, and he really didn’t care to know them. His interactions with his brothers, whom he once led as the Jackson 5 and later as The Jacksons, were mere token visits on “Family Day” once a year. During the 1993 investigation into Michael’s alleged pedophilia, his sister Latoya created a firestorm by saying that she “would not be a silent collaborator in my brother’s
crimes against little children.” Latoya claimed that she and her mother had seen checks written out for “lots of money” to the families of her brother’s alleged child victims. Her mother, Katherine, “was so disgusted that she wrote a letter in which she used [a homophobic slur] to describe Michael,” Latoya alleged. Katherine vehemently denied “every word Latoya had to say.” She’d been brainwashed, the Jacksons said. For this reporter and one-time close family friend, their denials were shattered years later when the Jackson family forfeited possession of a storage unit upon being sued in 2002. That storage unit, Jermaine and Katherine would admit to me, contained “those checks and that letter” Latoya had spoken of. Several Jacksons, including Jermaine, Rebbie, Katherine and even Joseph often confided in me and much of those discussions have remained confidential despite the sour ending to the friendship. Jermaine and Rebbie both poured out their souls for book proposals. Others including Tito, Jackie and Randy also often spoke openly. “Michael is messed up,” Randy has said. One family member expressed his fear that “Michael may have touched [his son].” My response at the time: Ridiculous. His take: “I hope not,” and “How would you know?” Like him, I didn’t really know. At the time, I had my doubts. Michael’s family often fumed about his “Carrying on with little white boys,” though they never said he Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
Heritage Tours told to vacate ‘Handy House’ after 24 years By Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell, Special to the New Tri-State Defender Heritage Tours, which principal operator Elaine Turner describes as the state’s
first African-American-owned tour company, no longer is overseeing the blue-and-white shotgun house that reflects the meager beginnings of W.C. Handy, renowned as the “Father of the Blues.”
Situated on the east end of the Beale Street Entertainment District, the house is where a young William Christopher Handy lived at the turn of the century. A letter from the Downtown Memphis
Commission (DMC) informed Turner that the operating services of Heritage Tours would not be part of the Handy home’s future. Heritage had been the operator for 24 years. The letter – forwarded to Turner on January 2 – floored her. She had until February 2 to completely vacate the property,
write them a letter,” said Brown. Why, and why now? It’s the same way sharecropping is done. Black people are used like animals to work the land, but they get no reward from it. Mrs. Turner initiated that whole project, and now, it’s just being taken away. Just, ‘get out and we’ll take it from
LET S PLAY. '
For many, the W.C. Handy Home & Museum had become synonymous with Elaine Turner and Heritage Tours, the operators since 1995. Now that tie has been severed. (Photo: Karanja A. Ajanaku)
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as possession was being taken by the DMC. The DMC letter simply stated: “After much discussion, we’d like to inform you that we will no longer require the services of Heritage Tours, Inc., as operator of the W.C. Handy Home & Museum as of February 2, 2019.” Jennifer Oswalt, president and CEO of DMC, told The New Tri-State on Tuesday that the changeover move was a matter of economics from Beale Street Management’s standpoint. “For the significant capital investment we are making in repairs of the house and courtyard, we felt that it was the best decision going forward as we work on devising plans to increase awareness of the house and visitors,” said Oswalt. “Also, we are responsible for reporting on the condition of the property to Mr. Handy’s grandson, and we felt we could best do that if we were in possession of the property.” Jon Shivers, who sent the letter to Turner, also informed her that DMC was in compliance with the 30-day notice for terminating the agreement with Beale Street Management. The letter advised Turner to acknowledge receipt. Turner said she made numerous calls to Shivers and left messages, with no indication of a response. Turner also was instructed to make an inventory of everything inside the museum, determining what belonged to Heritage, what the Handy family owned, and which items belonged to Beale Street Management. Turner reached out for two Memphis City Council members: Martavius Jones and Joe Brown. “When Mrs. Turner called me, I told her to
here.’ It’s just not right. Turner wrote Shivers on January 29. “I have made several attempts to reach you by phone after the receipt of your letter,” her letter read. “This letter (to vacate) comes as a total shock since we have been in frequent communication with you, and there was no indication that you had other plans that did not include Heritage Tours.” She ended her letter with a request for a meeting that she never got. For Councilman Jones, the issue of respect – and the manner in which Turner and Heritage were dealt with – matters. “I don’t know how or why the Downtown Memphis Commission feels they can run Handy House better than Elaine Turner and Heritage House,” said Jones. “I was talking about Beale Street Management from the first day I got here (on the council). They have no experience whatsoever in running an entertainment district. “They are learning on the job just like anybody else. And then, was it done in a respectful way? I think that’s a very good question to ask the Downtown Memphis Commission. Do they feel this process was done in a respectful manner?” In a timeline detailed in her letter to Shivers, Turner asserted that in 2017, DMC reached out to offer assistance with upkeep. In November 2018, DMC informed her that they had received money from the city and would send a contractor to begin work on repair of a busted water pipe behind a wall and the resulting water damage, Turner wrote in her Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
Deeply Rooted
www.thewestsidegazette.com
MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019 • PAGE 13
New Interactive Website Featuring Henry Louis Gates,
Tracks Slave Voyages
“The site now offers access to details of more than 36,000 slave trading voyages between Africa and the New World; 11,000 voyages from one part of the Americas to another part; and 92,000 Africans who were forced to take the voyage,” said Henry Louis Gates Jr., the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent In his PBS series, “Finding Your Roots …” Henry Louis Gates Jr. presents guests whose roots cover the globe – from Samoa, Nigeria, Taiwan and Sicily to Iran, Ireland, India and Cuba – and almost everywhere in between. Each episode weaves together their stories, gleaned from cutting-edge DNA analysis and old school genealogical detective work. And, at the center of it all and guiding every discovery is Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. Gates is also now featured on a newly updated website, slavevoyages.org, which contains databases of the TransAtlantic and Intra-American slave trade. The databases are the culmination of several decades of independent and collaborative research by scholars who draw upon information in libraries and archives around the world, according to a news release. The new slave voyages website counts as the product of three years of development by a multi-disciplinary team of historians, librarians, curriculum specialists, cartographers, computer programmers, and web designers, in consultation with scholars of the slave trade from universities in Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. Among the many unique features are an African names database. The producers of the site note that during the last 60 years of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, courts around the Atlantic basins condemned over 2,000 vessels for engaging in slave trafficking and recorded the details of captives found on board those ships, including African names. Links are provided to the ships in the Voyages Database from which the liberated Africans were rescued, as well as to the African Origins site where users can hear the names pronounced and help us identify the languages, they think the names originated from or are used. The site also takes a deep look at the slave trade within the Americas, which, after the initial disembarkation of African captives in the New World, has received scant attention from historians, especially for the period prior to the abolition of transatlantic slave traffic. An article on the site examines similar types of intraAmerican trafficking as an introduction to the launching
of the Intra-American Slave Trade Database, which aims to document evidence of slave voyages throughout the New World. “The site now offers access to details of more than 36,000 slave trading voyages between Africa and the New World; 11,000 voyages from
one part of the Americas to another part; and 92,000 Africans who were forced to take the voyage,” Gates said. “Users can analyze data and view video and they can contribute corrections and add information on voyages the editors don’t even know
about,” he said. The website allows viewers to explore the dispersal of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic world. According to the website, the digital memorial raises questions about the largest slave trades in history and offers access to the
documentation available to answer them. It recounts how European colonizers turned to Africa for enslaved laborers to build the cities and extract the resources of the Americas. Also, how those colonizers forced millions of mostly unnamed Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas, and from one part of the Americas to Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
Deeply Rooted
PAGE 14 • MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019
www.thewestsidegazette.com construction plans and were completely disregarding the requests of many in the community. Newly elected Fort Bend County Judge KP George (D-TX) stated that from his very first day in office, he encouraged Fort Bend County to pursue justice for the ‘Sugar Land 95’ victims. “I am enthusiastic about the school board’s decision to focus on negotiation as opposed to legal action or construction on the grave sites,” said George. “The community should know that there is still considerable work to be done, and I look forward to making sure that all parties keep justice for the ‘Sugar Land 95’ as their guiding principle.” U.S. Congressman Al Green (D-TX), who represents constituents in Fort Bend County, joined in with fellow elected officials and community activists to advocate for the ‘Sugar Land 95’ and believes the decision to halt construction was simply the right thing to do. “I must express my gratitude for the righteous community activists tirelessly working to ensure these 95 bodies are properly memorialized,” said Congressman Green. “It is my honor to advocate for this cause. We have an opportunity
Rest in Peace: Local Leaders Step Up to Protect the Sacred Remains of the
‘Sugar Land 95’
This past week, the Fort Bend ISD (FBISD) Board of Trustees unanimously voted to no longer move forward with any legal actions related to the historic cemetery where the 95 individuals, commonly known as the ‘Sugar Land 95’, were discovered by a contractor back in February of 2018 while working on the initial phase of FBISD’s planned site of the James Reese Career and Technical Center.
By Jeffrey L. Boney, NNPA Newswire Contributor
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.
cont’d from Front Page
The arc of the moral universe is bending towards justice for the 95 victims of the unjust and inhumane convict-leasing system in Texas, who were previously lost to history. This past week, the Fort Bend ISD (FBISD) Board of Trustees unanimously voted to no longer move forward with any legal actions related to the historic cemetery where the 95 individuals, commonly known as the ‘Sugar Land 95’, were discovered by a contractor back in February of 2018 while working on the initial phase of FBISD’s planned site of the James Reese Career and Technical Center. The game changing decision by FBISD came a week after the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court led the way by unanimously
voting to work with FBISD to come up with an interlocal agreement to best handle the sacred site where the remains were found. In a statement released by FBISD Board President Jason Burdine regarding the decision, he states: “Fort Bend ISD agrees that the ‘Sugar Land 95’ need to be memorialized at the site of discovery. We have embraced the offer made by Fort Bend County to work with us to create an appropriate memorial for the victims of the convict leasing system. We are hopeful and optimistic that by working together with the County these bodies can be reinterred so they can rest in peace. Should we encounter any obstacles to this solution, we will look to the State of Texas, other elected officials, as well as lawmakers, to assist us in finding a solution. “We appreciate and welcome the County’s recent commitment to work with the District toward a solution that preserves the story and memory of those buried on this historic site. In order to show our good faith and commitment to working toward a comprehensive solution, the
District will halt all further court action while we explore all available options with the County. “The District’s plan to build the portion of the building that is within the cemetery area has been cancelled. We are confident that our partnership with the County will result in a solution that allows the historic cemetery to operate by a legally authorized entity. We look forward to working with local elected officials and community leaders to implement this solution as quickly as possible and keep our promise to honor and educate the public and future generations about the 95 souls who were previously lost to history.” FBISD had been under serious pressure to halt the construction on the site and work with community leaders to best address the situation. Prior to a coalition of community activists, elected officials and major stakeholders coming together to advocate on behalf of the ‘Sugar Land 95’, all indications were that FBISD was committed to moving forward with their
to right a wrong. This is an opportunity for us that we will respect the remains of people and treat them with dignity. This is what a great country does. Let’s bring justice to this circumstance.” The discovery of the remains of the ‘Sugar Land 95’ victims, the majority of who are believed to be former slaves who were a part of the state of Texas’ controversial and inhumane convict-leasing system, could have been unearthed well before the contractor found the remains if people chose to listen to community activist and historian Reginald Moore from the beginning. Moore, who has served as the caretaker of the Imperial Farm Cemetery in Fort Bend County, constantly tried to inform elected officials, state employees, community leaders and FBISD that those bodies were more than likely buried on the land where they eventually were found. Moore had always believed the bodies of those former convict-leasing system workers were there, especially because of his experience as a caretaker at historical cemeteries and his work as a correctional officer in the Texas Department of
Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2019
NOTICE UNDER FICTITIOUS NAME LAW NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to enage in business under the fictitious name of SPRUCE MAIDS intend(s) to register said name with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Tallahassee, Florida and/or Clerk of the Circuit Court of Broward County, Florida. Merline Powell 8068 S.E. State Road 100 Starke, Florida 32091 March 7, 2019
VOL. 46 NO. 22
MARCH 7, 2019
15
NUMEROLOGY - DOG
65
89
HOROSCOPE/NNPA
12
march 7 - march 13, 2019 ARIES-This week you need to balance keeping your 35 eyes on the heavens and your head here on earth. Much work needs to be done before you can accomplish the task before you. If you let yourself, you can get a lot done this week. 18, 21, 30
PROFILES
TAURUS-Details might trouble you early in the week, but you don’t have to go with that flow of energy. You can choose to focus your attention on the now and work through each task patiently. Things will clear up quickly if you forego idle dreams. I search for ways to improve the way I see life. 3, 17, 30 GEMINI-A slight adjustment in your attitude could create a whole new vista for your outlook. What you think is not in conflict with what you do; it simply describes it. Look for a new way to describe your ideas and thoughts. Happiness rules my week this week. 36, 39, 53 CANCER-A spirit of rivalry may have you envious this week. Forget about competition. Celebrate your uniqueness and know that no one ever competes with you in the matter most essential -your good feelings about yourself. A good friend is waiting with a great surprise. 1, 23, 41
3
6
MARCH
07
08 09 11 12
FEB.
818
MAR. APRIL
IS A HOT LEAD NUMBER
4
237
MAY
NUMBERS (2-DAY RESULTS Send Self Addressed Envelope and $10:00 to: C.L.HENRY OR S.H. ROBINSON P.O.BOX 5304 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33310 For Entertainment purpose Only!
AUG
19 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
SEPT.
29 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 44 45
OCT.
46 47 48 49 55 56 57 58 59 66 67 68
NOV.
69 69 77 78 79 88 89 99 02 03 04 05 06
DEC.
JUNE
CAPRICORN
45-43-41
AQUARIUS
26-56-
PISCES
48-39-62
306
13
JULY
13 14 15 16 17 18
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
45-26-32
25-84-14
07-65-22
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
45-26-27
26-38-11
45-32-4
34-36-15
28-32-2
23-45-19
52
14
66
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CAPRICORN-Avoid getting involved in any office politics or family feuds this week. The week’s energy is excitable, but not necessarily exciting. Do your own thing and be proud of what you do. Let others do their own thing, so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. A week of rejoicing is upon me. I celebrate. 2, 40, 45
PISCES-Any nervous energy you may be feeling can be dispelled with some physical activity. You are doing just fine, so take long walks or try a yoga class and leave your worries behind you. Everything is working out in a perfect way. The grandeur of my presence reflects the sunshine of my soul. 4, 37, 53
34
15 36
MIAMI RED SEZ --- 362
LIBRA-You start the week feeling peaceful and wise. Discussions with a close friend may reveal the source of your inner freedom in a very tangible way. So, talk about Pick 2 it.You’ve got everything good to gain. 16, 28, 29 46/66
AQUARIUS-Do you realize that you are the only one who can tell you what to think and how to feel? Let go of any behaviors that are keeping you from achieving the things you want to achieve. Be creative and positive this week. 20, 34, 45
17 28
61
8
VIRGO-Remember that you are an intensely physical sign, and you need to move your body in order to relax. Take a walk, go for a swim, play tennis, or scrub that kitchen floor. However, you choose to move, you’ll liberate your spirit and relax at the same time. Get going! 32, 47, 54
SAGITTARIUS-Accomplishment gives you a feeling of personal satisfaction this week, and you’ll feel very happy with your abilities.Take care not to quarrel with a friend; be tactful when asked for your “honest” opinion! Let minor irritations pass you by, and you’ll find your way into a very romantic mood. 3, 46, 55
13
37
82
LEO-It’s a week tailor-made for your energies, so get out there and let every perfect moment flow toward you. You’ve got an abundance of pleasant feelings why not spread them around? This week I forgive myself for everything that has happened. 23, 34, 52
SCORPIO-A message this week may necessitate travel on your part, and you may feel obligated to do something you don’t want to. Let the energy flow past you and do what you think is best. Who you are is who you are—be glad about it! Time is the greatest peacemaker of them all. 12, 17, 22
54
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The Westside Gazette Celebrates
Deeply Rooted
www.thewestsidegazette.com
MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019 • PAGE 15
CVS Officials Talk Project Health, Black Press at Rainbow Push Wall Street
David Casey, the vice president of Workforce Strategies and Chief Diversity Officer at CVS Health, joined other CVS Health representatives at Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Push 22nd Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit in New York where, among other things, care providers demonstrated the company’s pop-up health screenings – known as Project Health.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent When Cornelius Raven visited his nearby CVS Pharmacy for free health screenings, he didn’t realize that he was having a stroke. His blood pressure was so high — 200/190 — that he was sent to the hospital for immediate care. Unfortunately, when it comes to health care, Cornelius is the exception when monitoring our health should be the rule. At a time when health care costs are mounting, CVS officials say it’s smart to take advantage of free health screenings. “It saved his life and that’s the message CVS wants to get out to everyone,” said David Casey, the vice president of Workforce Strategies and Chief Diversity Officer at CVS Health. Casey joined other CVS Health representatives at
Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Push 22nd Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit in New York where, among other things, care providers demonstrated the company’s pop-up health screenings – known as Project Health. Offering care that is quick and convenient with no appointment needed, Project Health offers free biometric screenings for individuals to help identify chronic conditions before they become life-threatening illnesses. Such screenings are valued at $100, but CVS offers them for free. It includes screenings and offerings like body mass index; blood pressure; glucose; total cholesterol; individual health plan access plan; professional consultations; smoking cessation counseling; and diabetes resources. In November, CVS Health closed on its
A MESSA GE F ROM OUR PUB L ISHER Runcie for the collective work that he has done with the Broward County School System. The sentiments stated clearly that Superintendent Runcie’s ability to raise the level of decency in the school system in terms of equity for all students permeated the meeting room. Passion abounded concerning the loss of life, the racial overtones that were used to describe a community-wide town hall meeting and the need to bring this district together. It was reminiscent of a time not too far in our distant past where civil rights were in question and our great leaders met the force head on. If there is a need for history to repeat itself as it pertains to the uplifting of this community, let it be of such relievers like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, and Herriot Chi and others who stirred up for the cause of the people to be equal. And to receive equal education, not to relive the tragedy of Brown versus the Board of Education and that old stagnate phrase of, “with all deliberate speed.” It’s not that time anymore. It’s obvious that there is a need to speak truth to power once again, and it was great
to see it. To see Black preachers and their congregation fill community meetings and articulate their position with emotions and the sound constructive criticism that commands the need for attention and that need is meet. We can’t stop the momentum now; our communities need our leaders more than ever and our leaders need to stand up for our communities. For such a time as this. It’s great to see that right draws right to it and it doesn’t matter the color of person. It’s the cause that brings us together. And we need to unite in the calls to have moral convictions to move us to where we need to be. Congratulations Mr. Runcie for bringing the communities together for a job well done! Stay the course, keeping your head up. Congratulations community of a diverse nature that came out to speak the truth. Let’s keep moving forward together. “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 1 Corinthians 12:21 (NIV) “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. I don’t know about you, but I’m no fool!
acquisition of Aetna, which created what CNBC called a new health-care powerhouse. The merger combined CVS’ pharmacies with Aetna’s insurance business and the final deal was valued at about $70 billion. While the merger counts as critical to CVS Health’s mission of providing access to care to often overlooked communities, it does present some challenges in getting the
word out about the importance of the CVS/Aetna marriage and Project Health. “One of the value propositions of doing the deal with Aetna is how can we make healthcare local because there’s a lot of folks who can’t get to healthcare,” said Casey. “About 80 percent of Americans live within a couple of miles of a CVS so the question becomes what can we do more? You can’t
do anything without [good] health. You can’t learn without health, you can’t walk without health, so we have to figure out how we can deliver more healthcare in the [underserved] community,” Casey said. The CVS-Aetna merger has the potential to create an integrated model for Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com
Florida Education Plan Lacking from Front Page performance—which would work alongside the state’s existing A-F grading methodology to target struggling schools. ESSA, Equity, EnglishLanguage Learners, and Subgroups The primary areas of divergence between Florida and federal education officials had to do with the state’s proposed approach to provisions regarding English-language learners and demographic-based subgroups. But federal officials weren’t the only ones saying that Florida’s plan left a lot to be desired. Civil rights groups repeatedly raised the alarm as well, asking Secretary DeVos to reject Florida’s ESSA plan. In a November 2017 letter to DeVos, more than a dozen civil rights groups said they had “significant concerns” regarding the plan, which they believed failed “to serve the interests of marginalized students in the state” and “to comply with the requirements of the law.” According to Dr. Rosa Castro Feinberg, who ser-
ves on the committee for LULAC Florida, an advocacy group serving all Hispanic nationality groups, Florida’s “current plan includes features that contradict common sense, expert opinion, popular will, and the intent of the ESSA. Contrary to the purposes of the ESSA, the Florida plan denies attention to struggling subgroups of students. Without attention, there can be no correction.” A year later, with Florida now implementing a revised state accountability plan, the peer reviewers convened by the Collaborative had similar (and additional) concerns. While noting that “empowering local leaders is a core component of successful school turnaround,” the peer reviewers worried that “too much autonomy, without sufficient state supports, may not help the students and schools in most need.” This, the peer reviewers believe, reflects a “lack of commitment to closing achievement gaps by not addressing subgroup performance or English learner proficiency in the
state’s accountability system,” meaning “districts and schools are less likely to focus on these populations as they plan and implement school improvement strategies.” The exact concern and fear raised by civil rights groups a year earlier. The peer reviewers did applaud Florida for its “overall clear, student-focused vision around high standards, college and career readiness, and rigorous accountability and improvement,” and “clearly defined and easyto-understand A-F grading system, which places a strong emphasis on academic growth and accelerated coursework.” However, the peer reviewers recommend that the state rework its accountability system to incorporate student subgroups and English-language learner proficiency. They also note that Florida’s use of dual accountability systems “raises issues with school improvement implementation as it can cause confusion about which schools are being identified and how to prioritize efforts.”
PAGE 16 • MARCH 7 - MARCH 13, 2019
Deeply Rooted
www.thewestsidegazette.com
FTC Adds More Than Twenty Business and Tech Certification Programs, New HVAC Program in Spanish The school’s sustained growth solidifies its position as a premier post-secondary education provider in the state.
ORLANDO -- Florida Technical College is reaching new milestones in 2019 with its recently launched Continuing Education division, which expands its offerings in Florida and solidifies its position as a premier post-
secondary education provider in the Sunshine State. The school also added a new program to its Spanish language lineup to help newly arrived Puerto Ricans and other Hispanic Floridians make an effective transition
into the state’s labor market as they work on improving their English. The FTC Continuing Education division, with three campuses in Tampa, Kissimmee and Orlando, is comprised of more than 20 business and tech certification programs. The three locations bring up to seven the number of strategically located Florida Technical College campuses in the state. Some of the continuing education courses offered are exam preparations for Ethical Hacker (CEH), Comp TIA A+, Internet Marketing Strategies, Agile Project Management, Microsoft Business Analyst Professional, Microsoft System Administration, Cisco Wireless specialist, and Human Resources Professional. For graduation rates, median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit www. ftccollege.edu/disclosures. html. “The addition of these programs to our offerings solidifies Florida Technical College as a well-rounded institution that meets the needs of many different kinds of adult learners”, said FTC president, Dr. James Burkett. The school was accredited last year by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as an academic unit of National University College, its Puerto Rico-based parent school. Accreditation ensures that institutions of higher education comply with
DR. BURKETT rigorous quality standards, one of the key oversight elements governing the Higher Education Act’s federal student aid programs. The sustained growth of Florida Technical College academic offerings includes a new HVAC/R with PLC diploma program taught fully in Spanish that launched earlier this year. Other programs taught in Spanish are Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastelería, and Electrical. A Cosmetology program in Spanish is set to launch in April 2019. All of them are taught at the Kissimmee campus. The HVAC/R with PLC diploma program is 17 months long. It includes classroom instruction and handson training in specialized labs, which enable students to gain practical skills to perform installations, as well as service and repairs in Continue reading online at:
$65.3 MILLION TO UNITED WAY! A special thank you to Publix associates and Publix Super Markets Charities for helping our communities by generously supporting United Way in 2018. Publix associates pledged $38.7 million, and Publix Charities donated $26.6 million. Learn more at publix.com/community.
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