THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE POST OFFICE 5304 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33310
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PERMIT NO. 1179
Black Attorneys Battle Inside A Criminally Unjust Court System
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Former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll To Be Recognized As Trailblazer In Florida Politics
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Apaches Refuse To Relinquish Sacred Land PAGE 7
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper VOL. 44 NO. 26 50¢ A Pr oud PPaper aper ffor or a Pr oud PPeople...Sinc eople...Sinc Proud Proud eople...Sincee 1971 THURSDA THURSDAYY, AUGUST 6 - WEDNESDA WEDNESDAYY, AUGUST 12 12,, 2015
NULholds 2015 Conference in Fort Lauderdale Who is this ‘Scrap Man’? By Charles Moseley Thousands of Urban League members from across the country representing some of the best and brightest minds in America, gathered in Fort Lauderdale along with local citizenry from South Florida to participate in the Urban League’s National Conference. The conference was held July 29 -Aug. 1, at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center and hosted by the Urban League of Broward County (ULBC), the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, and TD Bank. The Urban League of Broward County (ULBC) served as the affiliate host and was very clear about attaining positive results for its surrounding community, “We knew the conference would be a great success,” said Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh, president and CEO. “We also knew that our attention should be focused on what would be left behind on Aug. 2 for our City, its residents, and our affiliate.” This year’s conference theme was titled, “Save Our Cities: Education, Jobs, & Justice” and featured several presidential
Former Secretary of State and Democratic Presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, addresses National Urban League (NUL) plenary session, which featured candidates from both the Democratic and Republican Parties. candidates representing both the Democratic and Republican Parties. The candidates included; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL), retired neurosurgeon Dr.Ben Carson, former Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD), and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
National Urban League (NUL) CEO Marc Morial kicked off the presidential candidate forum by outlining the significance of the event, before a packed auditorium on July 31. The plenary session was also simulcast worldwide on CSpan.
“This is a very special event because it is the first time in this election cycle that candidates from both the Democratic and Republican Party have come together on one stage. The presence here today of these candidates represents an outreached hand, an important signal that they take our issues, that they take our communities and they take each and every one of you very seriously,” said Morial. Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton wasted no time in an apparent jab at her Republican opponents, inferring that they were less than generous when it came to addressing the needs and concerns of the African American community. “The real test of a candidate’s commitment is not whether we come to speak at your national conference, as important as that is; it’s whether we’re still around after the cameras are gone and the votes are counted. It’s whether our positions live up to our rhetoric. And too often we see a mismatch between what some candidates say in venues like this and what they actually do afterward.”
“And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.” Acts 10:28 (NASB) By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. It’s not difficult to see messages from scriptures throughout our daily walk in life. As I was driving to church on Sunday morning, two things popped out at me as teaching moments from lessons learned from my daily Bible reading. Sunday mornings have always been regarded in my home as a day of reverence and personal introspections. More than other days I am searching for those exquisite nuggets of profound knowledge that leaves the undeniable truth in God’s Word open for those with “eyes to see it.” (Cont'd on Page 3)
Senate appropriations bill cuts housing vouchers for poor families
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Thousands march nearly 900 miles in Journey for Justice “It’s OK that we’re angry and fed up,” Brooks told UNS. “It’s OK that we respond with emotion. But this is more than an emotional trip. This is a reform movement. And we believe putting the emotion with education makes a difference.” “We’ve seen more civil rights challenges in the last year than in decades,” Brooks added. “That’s why we believe we have to inundate the halls of Congress. Across the country, people have been asking, ‘Why is this happening?’ The problem is that the people asking the questions are not in the room with the people who can do something to change it. We intend to change that.” (Cont'd on Page 5)
A coalition of organizations, led by the NAACP, embarked recently on an 860-mile, 40day, 40-night march from Selma, Ala. to Washington, D.C. By Curtis Bunn, Urban News Service SELMA, AL -The movement that began in a bungalow is traveling nearly 900 miles to the home of Dr. King’s “Dream.” A coalition of organizations, led by the NAACP, embarked recently on an 860mile, 40-day, 40-night march from Selma, Ala. to Washington, D.C. This initiative recalls the original Civil Rights Movement. America’s Journey for Justice began Aug. 1 with a prayer at the historic Boynton House, a modest home in Selma that witnessed much of the fight for integration, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1965 march across the noto-rious Edmund Pettus Bridge. Fifty years later, activists will caravan some 860 miles through Alabama,
Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and conclude Sept. 16 in Washington. “Why march?” NAACP President Cornell William Brooks asked. “We march because our lives matter, our votes matter, our jobs matter, our schools matter.” The organizers of America’s Journey for Justice stress four issues: the vitality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, criminaljustice reform, job growth and higher wages, and better public education. “This march is not merely about putting boots on the ground,” Brooks told Urban News Service. “It’s about putting laws on the books. . . This has been a history-laden year, with the anniversaries of the Voting Rights Act, ‘Bloody Sunday’ and so forth. But it’s a good opportunity to make history, too.”
Pleading Our Own Cause
Jamiah Adams of the NAACP said the organizers expect thousands of people to join the marchers at every stop, with a “core group” of more than 100 making the trek from Selma to D.C. “I’m looking forward to marching,” said Damon Younger, 32. The Atlantan plans to join the group when it reaches Georgia’s capital on Aug. 10. After four days of “teachins” on legislation, health, education, and criminal justice, Younger expects to march north. “I’m inspired,” Younger said. “Obviously, I wasn’t born when they marched for our rights in the ’60s. To have a chance to do that now, with all that is going on in the United States, I have to take the time off from work to go. And I go with pride and hope for change.”
WWW.
Homeless families that received vouchers were nearly 60 percent less likely to become homeless again. (Stock Photo) By Freddie Allen, Senior Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – For many Americans living in poverty, housing vouchers mean the difference between having a home of your own or living in a homeless shelter. As many as 85,000 low-
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Fifth Annual Walker Family Appreciation Day continues family tradition By Charles Moseley
L to r: Son, Willie A. Walker, with wife Verdelle and sons Ryan and Terrance Walker.
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income families could lose access to those vouchers under policies crafted in a new funding bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC), according to a recent report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
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There are not many businesses along the Sistrunk Corridor of Fort Lauderdale which can claim the distinction of being in business for 77 years but that’s just how long Walker’s Grocery has been around, serving customers for four generations. The Fifth Annual Walker Family Appreciation Day is planned for Saturday, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., at the store located at 1217 N.W. Sistrunk Blvd. Refreshments will be served free of charge. Willie Walker and his wife Beatrice began operating Walker’s Grocery in 1938, making it one of Fort Lauderdale’s oldest family-owned businesses. The Walkers had five children, including Willie Alfred and Eardean (now deceased), Ronnie, Tonita and Carolyn. (Cont'd on Page 11) MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association ( NNPA), and Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)
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Black attorneys battle inside a criminally unjust court system Broken promises, bias, brutality and bail By Charlene Muhammad Special to the NNPA from The Final Call LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (FinalCall.com) – The National Bar Association’s (NBA) 90th annual convention’s message of fighting police brutality mirrored the fight Black Americans face every day. The convention, with its theme “A Legacy of Service. A Promise of Justice,” centered on police brutality and highlighted problems and solutions to why Blacks continuously suffer injustice. Members of the nation’s largest and oldest organization of Black lawyers met at the downtown Westin Bonaventure Hotel July 19-23. “A number one issue this year was police brutality, and although I did not think that it would be the centerpiece of my administration, that’s exactly what it was,” said Pamela Meanes, outgoing president of the NBA. During her president’s reception, a video showcased the year-long efforts of the organization’s Police Misconduct Task Force and Criminal Law Section. During her tenure, members worked to back a movement against police brutality by hosting forums and discussions, proposing federal laws, educating Blacks about their rights when encountering law enforcement, and demanding Justice Department intervention in excessive force cases. The organization’s fight against police brutality will continue, she said. Federal legislation The NBA is advocating for four federal laws tied to police reform: One mandates officers wear federally funded body video cameras on duty; a second establishes federal standards
Attorney Barbara R. Arnwine, executive director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
Attorney Nana Gyamfi, professor, Human Rights Activist and Host of Inner Light Radio’s Conversations on the Way.
for use-of-force training and tactics; a third requires police departments to conduct annual training in deescalations, and a fourth would require police departments to enact a policy requiring officers observing other cops using excessive force step in. Justice or Else! The suspicious July 13 jail house death of Sandra Bland in Prairie View, Tex. occurred one week before the Black lawyers gathered. Her death underscored one of many reasons why police brutality was prominently featured during their annual meeting, noted Attorney Benjamin Crump, whose firm, Parks and Crump, represents the Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Jr., Chavis Carter, Victor White, and families in other high profile cases involving police shootings or suspicious Black injuries or deaths. “It’s unfortunate that we see these tragedies happening almost weekly now. It says a lot to the police culture as it relates to their interaction with people of color, in many instances as we see from video, unarmed people of color,” Attorney Crump said. Even before he was sworn in as its 73rd president on July
Attorney Nicole C. Lee, cofounder of the Black Movement-Law Project. 23, Attorney Crump had endorsed “Justice or Else,” the 20th anniversary gathering of the Million Man March. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan issued the clarion call for the gathering on October 10, 2015 to answer a critical cry for justice. Atty. Crump said he recently had the honor and privilege of meeting with Minister Farrakhan about the challenges facing the Black community and preventing what appears to be the sanctioned killing of unarmed people of color. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
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Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
2020 Vision: Our updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy By Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls. On Thursday, the Obama Administration released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Updated to 2020 (“Updated Strategy”). Since we released the nation’s first comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy in 2010, we’ve made tremendous progress in the fight against HIV/ AIDS. More people living with HIV know their status and are linked to care. We have better medications to treat the disease and better tools to prevent its transmission, like pre-exposure prophylaxis (“PrEP”) —a daily pill that can reduce a person’s
risk of acquiring HIV by more than 90 percent when taken consistently. Yet, despite this progress, there is still an HIV epidemic in the U.S. Not only has there been a recent HIV outbreak among injection drug users in Indiana, there has also been a national increase in the number of diagnoses of HIV infection among young gay and bisexual men. This disease is preventable and if a person is infected, there are ways to drastically minimize transmission to others. Too many people living with HIV are unaware of their status or are diagnosed late. Many people may not realize that while being HIV-positive may once have been a death sentence, they can now live
Who is this ‘Scrap Man’? (Cont'd from FP) “For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me.” — Matthew 26:11 Even though this scripture was referring to Jesus’ departing earth, it came to mind when I saw several people who had made the city bus benches their bedrooms. What has happened to us that we are allowing bus benches to become the homes of our poor people? When the sanctity of a bus bench is equated to a loving home, something is drastically wrong. The cart has just begun to pull the horse, or better yet the tail is wagging the dogwhich-in-ever way it goes, it’s dead wrong! Which of these two contributing factors makes the bed of a bus bench more appealing than a Tempur-Pedic TEMPURCloud Supreme mattress? Is it the people who claim squatter’s rights to the bus bench or is it a system made up of people who have turned their backs on the challenged ones that have succumbed to the inability to differentiate between giving up or being satisfied with nothing? Bus benches have become bedrooms of the homeless. “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me’.” Matthew 25:40(NASB) Continuing on my way to church, in contrast to me being allowed to peep into the privacy of the homeless in their “room with a view” I now witnessed the scrap man at work. Throughout the areas there are men and women who spend their hours of daylight riding through neighborhoods collecting discarded metal-consequently called scrap metal. Here to applies: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” The applicable scripture lesson does not stop with the scrap man gathering his metals of scrap but into how the discarded materials are repurposed for use. Some materials are melted down and used in a myriad of things to benefit others, even as lifesaving instruments and some are refurbished made stronger to be used over and over again. Nevertheless, the immediate outcome for the scrap man is the financial reward which is his first and most sought after reward, so he can supply his needs. However, the real Scrap Man has another plan for the discarded, unwanted, broken down junk that others have abused, misused, neglected and abandoned. So, as I watched the scrap man collect his scrap and placed it on his truck that I considered to be overweighed with displaced individual pieces of junk and a wreck on wheels waiting for an accident, I thought, “my, my, my so this is how God collects us, the broken and contrite.” To some we appear to be accidents waiting to happen, but to God he sees His ‘purer’ people, those who have come in contact with the real Scrap Man. “Dear God, please teach me how to love those before You take us to your scrap metal yard and refurbish us into what you want us to be. Amen” WITH GOD, SCRAP METAL IS PURE GOLD THAT HAS BEEN TRIED IN THE FURNACE
long, healthy lives with HIV if they are diagnosed and treated. There is a great discrepancy between the number of people who are diagnosed with HIV and those who are in care. Of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S., 87 percent (or about one million) of them know they have HIV, yet only 39 percent are engaged in care. This means that the majority of folks with HIV are not consistently getting the care they need to stay healthy and decrease their chances of transmitting HIV to others. Groundbreaking research is unlocking new tools and methods to help keep people in care, prevent and treat the disease, and find a cure. A critical part of making the best use of current investments and maximizing impact is to focus attention and resources on persons living with HIV infection and those who are at greatest risk for ac-
The cuts would come through an expansion of the Moving to Work (MTW) deregulation program that, “allows participating state and local housing agencies to obtain broad waivers of federal statutes and rules governing the public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs, shift funds from those programs to other purposes, and receive funding under special block grant formulas,” the report said. The SAC, led by Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), the chairman, and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), the vice chairwoman, also approved policies that would seek to prevent the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from reforming current MTW programs, while mandating that the department expand MTW to more than onethird of all voucher and public housing units. That’s despite research that showed that vouchers “sharply reduce homelessness, crowding, and housing instability, prob-
lems that have been linked to long-term, harmful effects on children’s health and development,” the report said. The CBPP report cited a recent study that found homeless families that received vouchers were nearly 60 percent less likely, “to become homeless again, 55 percent less likely to report incidents of domestic violence, and 42 percent less likely to have their children placed in foster care or temporarily housed with other family members.” In 2014 alone, agencies that implemented MTW diverted nearly $600 million allocated for housing vouchers to cover administrative costs, public housing repairs and affordable housing construction, the report said. Some of the voucher funding was even held in reserves. “About 63,000 families who could have been assisted with available funds were left without vouchers as a result,” according to the report. “These activities often have benefits, but they do little or nothing to offset the loss of vouchers by extending assistance to addition
In 2015, we know what works, and to make a significant impact on the epidemic, the Updated Strategy calls for a focus on the following actions that will move us toward the 2020 goals: • Widespread testing and linkage to care, enabling people living with HIV to access treatment early. • Broad support (from housing and transportation to treatment adherence) for people living with HIV to remain engaged in comprehensive care. • Universal viral suppression among people living with HIV. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
Cincinnati police officer charged with murder of Black man
FAMU research momentum increases awards TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida A & M University began the new fiscal year with a marked increase in research awards. Vice President for Research, Timothy Moore, Ph.D. attributes the 10 percent surge to an energized faculty that has resulted in the receipt of over $47 million, a 10 percent increase over 2014. “FAMU researchers are among the best in the nation. Despite their heavy instructional commitments, our faculty continue to generate innovative research concepts in an extremely competitive arena. Our clients deem this important and have determined that these research concepts are important enough to fund,” Moore said Most recently Principal Investigator Kalayu Belay, Ph.D. of the College of Science & Technology received a $388,000 grant from the US Department of Defense. Belay’s research will result in an entirely new class of embedded sensors and diagnostic processes specifically designed for highly prized and affordable light weight composite structures like aircraft wings. These unique sensors will alert engineers to cracks or a pending component failure before the flight begins thus improving safety and reliability. Researchers like Belay are ensuring that clients see FAMU as the research organization of choice to meet their innovation needs. It is also one of the reasons for the $2 million increase in the university’s research proposal dollars which brings the total to $104 million this fiscal year.
FAMU professor nominated to American Kinesiology Association Board The American Kinesiology Association has nominated Sarah Price, Ph.D. of the Florida A&M University Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation to its Board of Directors. Kinesiology is the field of study that examines the human movement, performance and includes physiology, biomechanics, and pedagogy. Kinesiology graduates are accounting for increasing numbers of medical school applicants, as well as other professional programs like physical and occupational therapy. Association Executive Director Amelia Lee, Ph.D. said Price showed leadership in the field and signifies that the American Kinesiology Association recognizes the emerging FAMU program, specifically Dr. Price’s leadership. Price will begin her three year term in January of 2016.
Senate appropriations bill cuts housing vouchers for poor families (Cont'd from FP)
President Barack Obama addresses the nation on the release of the revised and updated “National HIV/ AIDS Strategy for the United States: Updated to 2020.”
quisition. That’s why the Updated Strategy’s update calls for a focus on the right people, the right places, and the right practices...right now. Our efforts under the Updated Strategy will prioritize the groups most affected by HIV: gay and bisexual men of all races/ethnicities (especially young Black gay and bisexual men), Black women and men, Latinos and Latinas, people who inject drugs, youth aged 13 to 24 years, and transgender women (particularly Black transgender women). We will also focus on the areas with the highest burden of disease, such as the Southern United States.
al families.” The report warned that deeper cuts could be on the horizon if more funds designated to housing vouchers are shifted to block grants and more agencies apply MTW policies to current and new housing programs. The Senate appropriations bill proposes greater latitude in how MTW policies are implemented, even as findings suggest that the effective housing voucher program is underutilized. “Fewer than one in four lowincome families eligible for vouchers receive any federal rental assistance, and there are long (often multi-year) waiting lists for assistance in most of the country,” the report said. “HUD estimates that in 2013, some 7.7 million renter households that had incomes below half of the median income in their area and did not receive any rental assistance either lived in substandard housing or paid more than half their income for housing.” (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
The family of Samuel DuBose speaks during a July 29 press conference after it was announced the Cincinnati police officer who shot and killed DuBose will be charged with murder. Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer The white University of Cincinnati police officer who fatally shot an unarmed Black man during a traffic stop has been charged with murder, prosecutors announced recently. Officer Ray Tensing, 25, was indicted in the July 19 shooting death of Samuel DuBose, whom he’d pulled over for not having a front license tag on his vehicle. If convicted, Tensing could be sentenced to life in prison, Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters said. “I’ve been doing this for over 30 years. This is the most asinine act I’ve ever seen a police officer make — totally unwarranted,” Deters told reporters after meeting with DuBose’s family. “It’s an absolute tragedy in the year 2015 that anyone would behave in this manner. It was senseless.”
Deters, who was adamant that DuBose, 43, did not act aggressively during the time he was held over by Tensing, played body-camera footage of the shooting, which appeared to contradict Tensing’s version of the events. “People want to believe that Mr. DuBose had done something violent towards the officer — he did not,” Deters said. “He did not at all. I feel so sorry for his family and what they lost, and I feel sorry for the community, too.” Asked if he thought Tensing had tried to mislead investigators, Deters responded, “Yeah, yes, I think he was making an excuse for the purposeful killing of another person.” In a statement issued by the university, President Santa J. Ono said the school would “take necessary steps to address any training, staffing and hiring policy issues that may be indicated by this tragic event.”
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Page 4 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • August 6 - August 12, 2015
Community Digest
Publix is Proud to Support Community News WHERE SHOPPING IS A PLEASURE
Showcase
Second Annual J’Mari & Friends Water Smart Showcase, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015 from 1 to 5 p.m., at Joseph C. Carter Park (Sunland), 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Our mission is to educate and provide important Water Safety information that helps keep kids safe in and around the water. For more info call Tangeria Miller: tangerialm@gmail.com Shirley Harold: Shhourofpower@yahoo.com
Tournament
Meeting
Miami Northwestern Senior High School is planning a Sunday Service on Aug. 9, 2015. Planning meetings are weekly; Tuesdays at 6:30 at New Birth members are invited to participate. Contact Laura Gallon Jones at (305) 8364829 for more info.
Fair Expo
Join New Birth Employment Ministry, in partnership with Sullivan and Cogliano Training Center, for Job Resource Fair Expo, 2015, Friday, Aug. 7, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at New Birth Baptist Church Cathedral of Faith International, 2300 N.W. 135 St., Miami, Fla. Bishop Victor Curry, pastor. For more info including a complete list of employers and service providers, at (305) 691-3464.
Fair Bethel A.M.E. Church “Connecting Ordinary People To An EXTRAordinary God”, Rev. Eddy Moise Jr., pastor, Eighth Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, shotgun at 8:30 a.m., at Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course, 1101 N. Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach, Fla. 18Hole Championship Von Hagge & Delvin Designed Course.
The City of Lauderdale Lakes will host a free, two-day Community Resources Fair, servicing senior citizens, Friday, Aug. 7, 2015 and children and families, Saturday Aug. 8, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Lauderdale Lakes Multipurpose Center, 4340 N.W. 36 St., Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. For more info call (954) 535-2804.
Give-A-Way
Book bags will be given to elementary and middle school students Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Spoon’s grill, 3987 N.W. 19 St., Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. There is a limit of four (4) book bags per family. Parents/Guardians are to bring children with them to receive free book bags. For additional info call (954) 7311044. This book bag give-away is sponsored by Spoon’s Grill in partnership with the Central Broward Kiwanis Foundation.
Festival
The Second Annual Peace & Feast in the Neighborhood Festival, originally scheduled to take place this Saturday, July 25, 2015 has been postponed because of the forecast for inclement weather. The event will now be held on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 from 3 p.m., to midnight at Dan Calloway Complex, 1420 W. 10 St., Riviera Beach, Fla. Admission and parking free in designated lots. For more info call (561) 983-1710 or visit www.youthrecreationassociation.org
Worship
An evening of Worship and “Praise and Songs”, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 at 6 p.m., at Mount Hermon AME Church, 401 N.W. Seventh Terr., Fort Lauderdale. Fla., featuring international gospel recording artist Francine Ealey Murphy and the Voices of Praise of Mount Hermon AME Church. Rev. Henry E. Green, Jr.,pastor For contact info call (954) 3830780.
EDUCATION MATTERS Every Child Deserves a Chance to Succeed.
Meeting
Event
The South Florida Tuskegee Alumni Club meeting, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., ER Bradley Saloon, 104 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, Fla. For more info call (561) 833-3520.
Chi Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Connection and Target IV: Environmental Ownership Committees are teaming up and hosting their third quarterly street cleanup, 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015; located at the intersection of Sample and Rock Island Road. Community participants are asked to come and join in this effort to rid the two-mile street of liter. Contact us at chipsiomega@info.org or call (954) 410-6673 to volunteer.
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Oral Presentation Trailblazers of Broward County is seeking help from Broward County residents of 60 to 70 years. Please write at least two to three pages about your family, including the following information: Name and phone number of person preparing information; The names of your parents and grandparents; the year you arrived in Broward County; your first address in Broward County; All Siblings (along with date of birth and home going date (if applicable); Where family migrated from; Schools attended by all; Family’s Christian affiliation/involvement; Family Contribution(s) to the County; Family Property owned in Broward County (where and date purchased); Business(es) owned by family in Broward County; Husbands/Wives in Family. Submit all information to: Ms. Mary B. Rizor, 2780 N.W. 25 Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. For further info regarding this project, contact Ms. Rizor at (954) 733-6536.
West Regional Library August Programs & Exhibits
Broward Ebony Golf Tournament Raffle For Tickets Sale: *4-40" INCH TV's *$200 GIFT CARD *GALAXY NOTE PAD *50-50 RAFFLE TICKETS
Children’s Programs, at 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation, Fla. For additional info call (954) 765-1560. · Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. – Bedtime Stories: Stories & crafts, all ages. · Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. – Wiggleworm Wednesdays: Stories, finger play & songs, ages 24-40 months, with caregiver. Preregistration required for each monthly series. August registration begins Aug. 3, at noon. · Thursday at 11 a.m. – Storytime Fun: Stories & crafts ages 3-5. Caregivers may enter during the craft portion. · Thursday at 4 p.m. – Kids Corner: Stories, songs, & crafts, ages 3-6. Caregiver may enter during the craft portions. · Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015 at 10:15 a.m. – SCORE Small Business Workshop. · Monday, Aug. 10, at 6 p.m. – El Club, Citizenship Class, Microsoft Word II. · Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 12:30 p.m. – English Café. · Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 10:30 a.m. – Computer Literacy II at 12 p.m. – Resume Assistance/Mock Interviews. · Thursday, Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. – South Florida Career Fair. For more info call (954) 334-0772. · Saturday, Aug. 8 & 22 at 11 a.m. – Chess Club. You are welcome to bring your chess board if you like. Raffle prize awarded at 12 noon, ages 5-18. · Monday, Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. – Hot Food Hot Topics: Prizes, fun activities for parents and children, sample healthy crock-pot meals and a free book for participating families. · Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m. – Teen Book Chat: Read & discuss for ages 14-18 or entering High School *preregistration required.
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
A circle of cooks and a taste of comfort! South Florida Chef Smackdown at AARLCC By Steve Vinik BROWARD COUNTY, FL – On the evening of July 18, 2015, the South Florida Chef Smackdown was the delicious finale for the South Florida Book Festival at the African-
American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). Top chefs from the tri-city area were invited to compete in a comfort food cook-off. The chefs competed in four categories of foods: fried chicken, mac & cheese, collard greens, and dessert. As
the steel drum played brightly in the background, nearly 300 guests milled around the library lobby, tasting the samples at each chef’s station and enjoying a glass of wine. Towards the end of the evening, votes were cast by members of the “studio
August 6 - August 12, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 5 audience” and by three expert judges, Bobby Henry, Starex Smith and C. Ron Allen. Here are the winners: Judges’ choices: Fried Chicken—Cordon Bleu Mac & Cheese—Betty’s Soul Food Collard Greens—Ivory’s Dessert—Lykeisha the Baker (cupcakes) Studio choices (public opinion):
STAR 94.5, church leaders, social justice organizations, and minority media form a united front
Rev. Larry Mills speaks to audience. On July 25, 2015, Michael Saunders, WCFB director of Branding and Program, and Monica May, STAR 94.5 News/ Community Affairs director, organized and spearheaded a group of community representatives at a historical Orlando Leadership luncheon. The purpose of the luncheon was to
stand together and encourage positive change as a united front. Located in the room were powerful church leaders, historical social justice organizational leaders, and minority media leaders with a goal to speak as a united body. In times such as these where there is an attack not only on
our religious values, but our family, and our youth, many believe that Black leaders cannot work together for a common goal and a common purpose. But at this meeting, we all agreed that Black Lives Matter, and we all are willing to utilize our different skills and expertise to build a movement whose purpose is unity and justice. Inside the room, the gathering was electric and powerful, because everyone who attended was there to make a difference in our community. Some of the community leaders attending this luncheon/meeting were Rev. Larry Mills, President of AACCC, Pastor Riva Tims, Majestic Life Ministries & gospel host of STAR 94.5, Rev Derrick McRea, The Experience Christian Center, Shellie Minnnis, Senior Director of Central Florida Urban League, Minister James Muhammad, the Nation of Islam in Orlando, Kran Riley,
NULholds 2015 Conference in Fort Lauderdale
NUL President Marc Morial expresses the significance of hosting the first event of the election season featuring presidential candidates from leading political parties on one stage.
Exhibitors representing Fortune 500 companies as well as small businesses were in attendance at the 2015 NUL National Conference held in Fort Lauderdale, on July 29Aug. 1. (Photos by David Muir) (Cont'd from FP) “So, yes, what people say matters but, what they do matters more,” Clinton added. Republican Presidential hopeful, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s speech lacked the punch than that of Clinton’s before a mostly partisan crowd, which obviously favored her more liberal approach to governing. Bush still however tried to persuade the audience by calling upon the African American community to be more socially responsible, and less reliant on the federal government. “When all these issues I’ve discussed make it harder and harder for people to imagine
their future, then it’s easy to see why there’s anger and disillusionment.” “One of the best anti-poverty programs is a strong family, led by two committed parents. As the family breaks down, so does opportunity,” added Bush. There were a plethora of events during the four-day NUL Conference, which focused on the entire needs of the African American and other minority communities, including college, career, and health fairs. In addition, there were seminars on Women, Wealth, & Relationships, Black Lives Matter, 123s of Entrepreneurship, Breaking Through the Tech Ceiling, and a host of entertainment offerings such as a Devine Nine mixer and other events
featuring the likes of MC Lyte, Bevy Smith. Albert Tucker, vice president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB) has been instrumental in attracting major national conventions featuring African American organizations for a number of years including this year’s NUL Conference. He stressed the importance of promoting Greater Fort Lauderdale as a travel destination point and emphasized Black economic empowerment. “For me it’s been nothing but a prideful moment to see the level of what’s happening here in our city; to see the agenda from the National Urban League we’re dealing with. These are all important
President of the Orange County NAACP, Lawanna Gelzer, President of NAN-Central Florida, G-Money Community Activist, Roderick Love, Community Synergy Group, Inc., other minority business owners, and other church pastors and community leaders. The STAR 94.5 team, Michael Saunders, and Monica May would like to thank everyone for their participation and attendance at the first organizational meeting. Next there will be a panel discussion Live on STAR 94.5 to discuss some of the critical issues impacting the Black community. As the organization continues to build a united front, STAR Cares (the community arm of STAR 94.5) is preparing for the 20th anniversary of the historic Million Man March on Oct. 10 in Washington D.C. For comments or more information, contact Dawn Campbell, assistant director of Branding and Programming STAR 94.5, at Dawn.Campbell@coxinc.com. elements we are struggling with now right here in Broward County. So, the world right now is our stage here in South Florida and Fort Lauderdale and about everything that’s happening in and around our country-specifically what is called “The Black Agenda.” “I’m praying that our leadership comes out to see these important issues like Voting Rights Issues. Our local leaders need to understand the ills that are happening on a national scale, so that they can take away some new ideas so our community can continue to flourish, and deal with some of the issues we’re struggling with right now,” added Tucker. Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness (District 9) was one of the leaders who attended the NUL Conference and praised the organizers for their efforts and spoke about the significance of hosting such a national event here in Broward County. “It’s extremely significant that the Urban League is here in Broward County from many angles. One is that their bringing information that will be helpful to communities to help save our cities. The theme, ‘Education, Justice, & Jobs’, those are critical for the Black community. “I’m hopeful that some of our local folks adapt some of the strategies that their employing to save our cities. Especially those parts of our cities that are left behind. There are many areas that we need to look at to insure that they are not left behind any longer,” added Commissioner Holness. Local Broward County resident Ernestine Thomas is an independent agent for the debt consolidation company called Work Unlimited. She attended many of the business-related sessions and came away impressed by what she witnessed. “I am enjoying this conference. There have been a lot of people here conducting business. And I have made some tremendous contacts.”
IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE CALL (954) 525-1489 FOR MORE INFO
Studio choice: Bare Bones for Mac & Cheese
Dessert winner Lykeisha the Baker (cheesecake). Fried Chicken—Chef Chad Mac & Cheese—Bare Bones Collard Greens—Ivory’s Dessert—Lykeisha the Baker (cheesecake)
The event was a big success and the library customers enjoyed a sociable evening and some tasty sensations for their $10 admission.
Thousands march nearly 900 miles in Journey for Justice yellow bungalow — was the (Cont' d from FP) As the marchers head north, satellite events across America will echo their voices. These activities will share the social media hash tag #JusticeSummer. The march is expected to pick up supporters along the way and reach Washington, D.C., on or around Sept. 16, 2015. The campaign concludes with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial, site of Dr. King’s legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. Today’s Journey For Justice is rooted in the history of the struggle for racial equality. The film Selma brought into focus the brutality of 1965’s “Bloody Sunday.” Civil rights marchers who attempted to cross the Alabama River into Montgomery over the Edmund Pettus Bridge were pummeled by racist local cops. In June, the Alabama Senate voted to rename the bridge from Edmund Pettus, a Confederate general, to the Journey to Freedom Bridge. Alabama’s House of Representatives has yet to address this measure. Before setting off, the marchers gathered at the Boynton home in Selma. Brooks called it “the literal birthplace of the Civil Rights Act.” The home of Sam and Amelia Boynton — a non-descript,
civil-rights movement’s unlikely epicenter. Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference strategized the Selma-to-Montgomery marches at the Boyntons’ home, and some of the ’65 Voting Rights Act was signed there. Fifty years after that momentous occasion, the Boyntons’ abode has become dilapidated. Aside from a plaque that sits outside the house, nothing signifies the importance of the events and people associated with this abandoned structure. The Gateway Educational Foundation acquired the home and plans to transform it into a museum. Aug. 18 will be Amelia Boynton’s 104th birthday. So there is understandable concern whether Sam Boynton’s widow ever will see her old home rebuilt. “It’s somewhat ironic that you come to Selma to commemorate the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, but not protect the place where it was given birth,” Brooks said. “That certainly is a point of importance and interest to all of us who care about history.” To follow the march, text 6227 visit www.naacp.org or to help restore this historic place go to www.boyntonhouseselma.com/ donate.
Missing endangered female The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is requesting assistance from the public in locating a missing endangered adult female. Mary Horne was last seen on Aug. 2 at approximately 9:45 a.m. at her home in the 1400 block of Northwest Eighth Avenue in the City of Fort Lauderdale. Family members went to check on Horne who was sitting on the front porch of the residence, and discovered that she was gone. Law enforcement officials conducted a canvass of the area and have been unable to locate her. Horne is described as a 66year-old, Black female, 5’8”, approximately 320 lbs., with a heavy build. She was last seen wearing a grey t-shirt and dark
HORNE sweat pants. Horne suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, and is considered endangered. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of this missing endangered female is encouraged to contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at (954) 764-HELP (4357).
Page 6 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • August 6 - August 12, 2015
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
Former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll to be recognized as trailblazer in Florida politics at 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Trash to treasure By Ciera Campbell Having attended different universities, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Bethune Cookman University (BCU), rival universities at that, young, motivated and married couple Marcus and Stacy Powell developed a business that renovates foreclosed and rental properties here in South Florida. Both individuals are under the age of 30. Marcus Powell started his dream of a demolition company from humble beginnings. In 2007 the market crashed and Powell lost his housing property and his vehicle. However, Powell learned from the market crash and, although his business hit the ground, his desire was to rebuild again. He was inspired to create trash to treasure. He now owns and operates a demolition company. While having a private real estate license and moving to South Florida, the amount of properties needing to be renovated was excellent and the opportunity presented itself. “I contacted banks, real estate owned departments and began contracting for boarded up homes and homes that needed the services of a handyman. This was my new beginning,” states Powell. “My husband always said he wanted to be in business for himself, he knew the benefits of painting, he noticed all the vacant properties in South Florida and realized the market was in a need of a renovation com-
pany,” states co-owner Stacy Powell. Graduating from FAMU in 2011, Stacy studied healthcare management. Having graduated four years ago, Stacy had trouble finding a career designated to the healthcare management field. Mrs. Powell states, “My biggest setback was experience; having been in college for the past four years, companies were looking for experience, and companies did not want to take a risk on me. However, my husband presented the idea of being a business owner and I jumped on board.” Although, majoring in healthcare management and transitioning into entrepreneurship after graduating; Powell acknowledges FAMU for giving her the tools that have helped shape her business today. “My studies in business administration, strengths in networking and my knowledge of accounting are the perfect equation to assist my husband as a business partner in the demolishing company,” states Mrs. Powell Having gone through many trials and tribulations to now owning his own business with his wife, Powell wants to inform young entrepreneurs that when times are tough it is best to stick out the situation. “I would advise young business owners to first look within yourself, because sometimes the solution to your problem is one thought away. Then seek advice from elders who are doing what you’re inspiring to do,” states Mr. Powell.
The Powell family. With ongoing racial injustices in America, it is imperative that as a community we support businesses that hire within our community. In order for our community to continue to build areas which will serve their children, family and friends we have to lift one and teach one. According to the Census Bureau, taken from the most recent data there were nearly 1.9 million Black-owned businesses in 2007. The business owners have contributed to paying nearly 100,000 employees. The Powell’s inspire to assist with boosting the community and the employee rate in the U.S. by hiring employees and training individuals the trade of plumbing, carpentry and electrical trades. “We are looking for people who have knowledge of handyman skills; however we are willing to train interested candidates. I have my young nep-
hews who are not in school for the summer working with my husband and me currently.” In order to hire employees who are searching for careers in South Florida the Powell’s plan to attend job careers. Mrs. Powell continues, “My husband and I had an idea to partner up with local vendors and job training centers and hire the young men and women who attend these job fairs and are interested in a new and positive experience.” Currently, in the South Florida area The Powell’s have replenished over 300 properties. As for the future, the Powells are really pushing for their business to expand across the United States. If you are interested in finding out more about this dynamic business please contact the Powells at marcus.powell12@yahoo.com.
Former Lieutenant Governor Carroll JACKSONVILLE, FL — Former Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll will be recognized at the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 for her significant accomplishments in state legislator and as the first Black and woman elected lieutenant governor in the state of Florida. The event will be held on Aug. 6, 2015 at 4 p.m. at the Main Library 303 N. Laura Street, Jacksonville, Fla. “Without the passage of both the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, a Black person and a Caribbean descent of color would not have been able to break barriers to become the first elected Black Republican female in the Florida House of Representatives, the first female and Black elected as Lieutenant Governor and first Black elected statewide. It’s an honor to be recognized for the work I have done that benefits the Black population in Florida,” said Carroll. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which banned the use of literacy tests and poll taxes in elections. This Act further supported the anti-discrimination measures passed under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and prevented Black Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. “It’s important for Black Americans to not simply vote for a party, but to vote for the person that will have the best vision, heart and commitment to doing what’s right to help the Black community propel to higher heights. No longer should low expectations be accepted, while other communities are prospering,” said Carroll.
During the seven and a half years Carroll served in the Florida legislature she passed meaningful legislation to: increase Black business growth, increase higher education opportunities for Black males, revise the student discipline and school safety zero tolerance to reduce the penal impact on Black youths, and she sponsored legislation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. license tag which provides funding to the March of Dimes to combat infant mortality, birth defects, sickle cell disease and homelessness. Many of these issues disproportionately impact the Black communities in Florida. As Lieutenant Governor, Carroll prevented budget cuts to Florida Historical Black Colleges and their advancement programs that provide an avenue for many disad-vantaged Blacks to attend higher educational institutions. Carroll previously and currently represents other disadvantaged group, as she has fought to expand benefits to veterans, economic development, youth education, and international trade. Carroll will be speaking at the Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association later this month in Miami. To learn more about Carroll’s contribution to the state of Florida, visit http:// www.jennifercarroll.com/.
FAMU’s Reams wins NIH spot in health disparity exploration
REAMS Florida A&M University Pharmacy Professor Romonia “Renee” Reams, Ph.D. will join a select group of research scientists who will participate National Institutes of Health (NIH) Translational Health Disparities Course to be held in Bethesda Maryland. Participants will work closely with NIH and other key researchers to gain insight in Integrating Principles of Science, Practice, and Policy in Health Disparities Research. The intense two week session will be held in early August and it will enable participants to advance the scientific theories that will be used to resolve the health disparities that are plaguing minority communities. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
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Opinion
The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this newspaper.
In 1939, The 15th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was passed. The 15th Amendment guaranteed the right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. On Aug. 6, 1965, The Voting Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. The legislation aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment of the Constitution.
The Voting Rights Act significantly widened the franchise and is considered among the most far-reaching pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history. The Voting Rights Act also prohibits voter dilution by the drawing of election districts in ways that improperly dilutes minority’s voting powers. 1966: The Supreme Court ends the poll tax. 1970: Renewal of the Voting Rights Act bans literacy tests for five years. 1971: The 26th Amendment sets the minimum voting age at 18. 1972: The Supreme Court rules lengthy residency requirements for voting unconstitutional.
When are you going to join the Nation of Islam? By Gregory Abdur Rahman Mr. Henry, I know you are a busy man, but somehow I feel compelled to thank you. You are a gatekeeper for Blacks left out of mainstream America. I have spent much of my life thinking about integration and nationalism and it all amounts to us deciding what is out of bounds in our American discourse. We talk to get an idea of the direction we need to work in, in order to
solve our American problems. Our Constitution gives us freedom to choose any religion that does not inherently violate our laws. For me, our big problem is, when we entertain discourse we know is wrong (Paul Krugman calls them zombies). In Islam, Judaism and Christianity there are clear mainstream interpretations that order us to love our fellow man and the downtrodden. As a 13-year-old welfare boy, I spent three weeks getting free medical treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital. They saved my foot and saved me from a life of limping. We all like to defend those who appear as if they are with us and that is how we go wrong. The one that really looks like me loves his fellow man, regardless of color or faith and wants the best for every single person. There is no curse of Hamm. That’s evil Christianity. A Muslim who tries to teach me about Jewish inferiority is a bigot and a racist and I do my best to openly speak against such people. If a drug addict can only get off drugs through hate, that is a person who has merely traded one disease for another. Nazi-KKK thinking is wrong and out of bounds in 2015. It’s not okay because this one particular set of KKK happens to be Black. Thank you for reading my e-mail and responding to it. I feel sorry for the young Ms. Adams. I am a Muslim, God willing, but it’s not about our labels, but what we think our labels call us to and in most faiths there are a few on the fringe who say their label orders them to hate. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
1990: The federal Motor Voter law makes it easier to vote. 2003: Federal law streamlines registration, voting and election procedures. African-Americans shifted from being forced to wait for the “magical” Election Day to cast their vote. Voters in Florida seized the benefits of utilizing absentee ballots, voting by mail and the convenience of 14 day early voting. African Americans captured the opportunity to elect the Representative of choice. Freely exercising their “Right”, African American voters were free to choose who they want to represent them. On Aug. 6, we will acknowledge the success of 14 distinguished women who are beneficiaries of this most important legislation. The free event will be held at the Downtown Public Li-
Thursday, Aug. 6, marks the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the 1965 Voting Rights Act into law. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the organization co-founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will hold a Call to Action Rally at 9 a.m. on Thursday at the Martin Luther King Memorial on the National Mall. The NAACP hopes to cap its Selma, Ala. to Washington, D.C. relay march, called America’s Journey for Justice, in the nation’s capital on Sept. 16. Other celebratory activities are planned for different times. Considered among the most farreaching legislation in history, the 1965 Voting Rights Act removed many of the impediments to voting created by cities, counties and states that prevented many African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment to the Constitution. Dallas County, Ala., which includes the city of Selma, was typical. As the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, observed, in 1965, more than half of Dallas County was Black. However, of the county’s 15,000 voting-age African Americans,
America is still a lie By Oscar Blayton, NNPA Guest Columnist In the depths of the Cold War that raged in the early 1960s, the USSR
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR GUIDELINES The Westside Gazette welcomes your letters. Letters must be signed with name clearly legible along with a phone number and complete address. No unsigned or anonymous letters will be considered for publication. The Westside Gazette reserves the right to edit letters. The letters should be 500 words or less.
brary from 4 to 7 p.m. We'll celebrate the accomplishments of: 1967 - Mary L. Singleton, elected to Jacksonville City Council; 1967 – 1982 - Sally B. Mathis, elected to Jacksonville City Council; 1990 – 2002 - Gwendolyn Gibson - Duval County School Board. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
Donald Trump for President? By Don Valentine There is an adage that says all publicity is good publicity. Donald Trump is creatively amplifying that concept to a new level. As he approaches 70 years old he can invest in a bid to be President of the United States. This will revive his resume with the power players of the 35 - 55 year old buyer age group. Assume he spends a few million dollars of his own money to get the billboard headlines on the Republican ticket. Then combine that with the matching funds of double his initial investment and he has a juggernaut of an advertising tool. Trump has no disposition to deal with the rigors that are required of the leader of the “Free World”. He has interests that have generated him billions of dollars in profits. The President of the U.S. for a number of reasons would have to separate ties from those enterprises. Check the annual salary of the President and then add that to what you can earn after you leave office. Trump has surpassed that several times over.
Carnival “Huckster” P.T. Barnum is famous for saying that VALENTINE an “A Sucker is born every day.” That definition would apply to any person that subscribes to the notion that Trump will have the stamina to make the final vote for President. In a very “Shrewd” incarnation he figured out how to expose his product to a market that was dormant for him. His charade to become President is a marketing opportunity to expose his brand to the 35 55 year old buyer group. What is concerning to me is that we have co-workers, neighbors and people in our daily life that support his bumptious propaganda. In the latest “Rand” poll he ranks at 19 percent in popularity over the rest of the Republican field. That is a stark statement about some of our neighbor’s opinion. There are people out in the U.S. that endorse his view about Senator John McCain. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
in the It’s like 1955 with Wi-Fi ing streets of the By Rika Tyler and T-Dubb-O TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM Some may say much has changed since our grandparents were boycott-
Voter suppression overshadows Voting Rights Act celebration By George E. Curry, NNPA Columnist
Controlling relationships By Lucius Gantt
The 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act 1965-2015 From Tony Hill
The Gantt Report
only 156 were registered to vote. By contrast, two-thirds of voting-age whites were registered. It took the savage beating of 600 protesters, including future U.S. Congressman CURRY John Lewis, by white law enforcement officials on April 7, 1965, known as “Bloody Sunday,” to stir the nation’s conscience against ballot box indignities. That provided the momentum for passage of the bill. “Only in the wake of the Voting Rights Act did Black voter registration in the South begin to approach that of whites,” the Joint Center said in a report titled, “50 Years of The Voting Rights Act: The State of Race in Politics.” It continued, “Five years after the passage of the Act, the racial gap in voter registration in the former Confederate states had closed to single digits. By the start of the 1970s, the Black/white registration gap across the Southern states was little more than eight age points.” In four of the 12 presidential elections since 1964, Black voters have turned out at higher rates that their white counterparts, according to the Joint Center. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com) was scoring points against the United States in the court of world opinion because the world could witness how hollow and hypocritical was the pronouncement that in America, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” Black folk in the South were being beaten publicly and lynched in the shadows for demanding that America live up to its promise. And throughout the entire country, Black folk were being treated unfairly and routinely denied justice. The Russians only had to point to the news stories coming out of Alabama, Mississippi and Washington, D.C. and say: “This is what American justice looks like – ‘America’ is a lie.” The Russians knew that “America” as a projection on the world stage was not a true image of the country that
U.S. during the Civil Rights era. Some new laws and policies did in fact Rika Tyler and R-Dubb-O give Black people some of the same civil liberties as other citizens in this country. However, we are still being mentally enslaved, figuratively lynched, and discriminated against as if Malcolm, Martin, Fannie Lou, Rosa, and others never left their homes. The Charleston church shooting was another reminder that laws cannot change the hearts of men. Similar to the infamous church bombing that left four Black girls slain, a young racist white male decided to go into a church during Bible study with the intent to kill Black people. Dylan Roof murdered nine Black people while having Bible study. His reasoning was he wanted to start a race war. This showed the African-American clergy that are still on the fence during this critical time in America that even in your place of worship you are not safe from racism. Racism cannot be abolished by a document. Murder is already illegal, but it seems to be totally moral and legal in some circumstances for law enforcement and others who murder, rob, and extort Black people at their will. Pictures from St. Louis during the Ferguson uprising were placed side by side with pictures from the ‘50s and ‘60s and you could not tell the difference between time frames in most pictures. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com) lynched and brutalized Black folk. The motives of the Russians may have been purely political, but their facts were correct. And partially because the Soviet Union shamed the Unit- BLAYTON ed States before the world, many politicians, including, John F. Kennedy, felt compelled to do something about it. A half a century later, “America” is still a lie. The truth of the equality of all men [and now, women, as well] is a thin veneer of a sham that cannot hide the ugly truth that, in America, Black folk are routinely subjected to fundamental injustices. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
Sometimes I consider myself a relatively smart guy. At least I’m smart enough to know that no one is perfect and no relation between two people is ever going to be GANTT totally perfect. In order to have and enjoy a good marriage, committed relationship or a friendship, occasionally both parties oftentimes have to take the bitter with the sweet as long as there is far more sweet than sour! Control by one person is never good in any relation. If you have been injured or victimized by a bad someone that didn’t love you, didn’t want you, didn’t respect you, didn’t let you be you, didn’t care about your emotional, spiritual, physical or other needs and didn’t value your opinions, I’m sure that sucked at one time or another. When you are blessed to get out of or escape from that kind of relation, be thankful. The stress that can come from insensitivity, no consideration, loss of love, loss of money, wasted time, broken vows, broken promises and various forms of relationship abandonment could send you to an early grave! We all have to protect ourselves in all ways and at all times. But a bad relation situation is bad if bad things are done to you or if you do bad things to others. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
I am Sandra Bland By Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Columnist Had I ever met Sandra Bland, I am sure I would have liked MALVEAUX her. She is described as an advocate for justice who had embraced her purpose to fight racism. She is described as a sister who knew her rights. She was well-educated, assertive, and a resource for her people. She was dragged out of her car for failing to signal a traffic lane change because Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Brian Encinia chose to abuse his power and violate her rights. Because he could. Three days later, Bland was dead. The police call her death a suicide. Her family is disputing the autopsy. Encinia is responsible for what happened, since there was no reason to arrest Bland and put her in jail. Bland was an “uppity” Black woman from suburban Chicago who would not kowtow to Trooper Encinia. Perhaps he preferred a woman who said “yes, sir,” who humbly accepted her ticket. Certainly, while it was not against the law to take a smoke, he preferred that Sandra put her cigarette out. Why? Because he needed to order a woman around who asserted her rights. Because she knew what her rights were. Bland, the Prairie View A&M University graduate, was stopped in Waller County, Tex. for failing to signal at a lane change. She was ordered to put out her cigarette, and she refused. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
Child Watch Hanging on to hope to keep Black men and boys alive By Marian Wright Edelman, NNPA Columnist South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the world’s leading peace and justice advocates, has called EDELMAN Bryan Stevenson “America’s Nelson Mandela.” He has gotten innocent men off death row, successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court multiple times, including to ban “death sentences” – capital punishment and life imprisonment without parole for offenses committed by juveniles. In June, he spoke about “How to Keep Black Boys Alive” to 2,000 collegeage Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® servant leaders at CDF-Haley Farm. “We’re living at a time when there is an incredible crisis that young men of color are facing. There is a challenge that is unique in our history,” he said. “We’ve always had challenges but this is a different kind of challenge because it is structural, it is systemic, and it is institutional.” Stevenson put it in perspective for the young college audience. In 1972 – 300,000 people were in jails and prisons in America compared to today with 2.5 million people behind bars. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
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Bethel Missionary Baptist Church 2211 N.W. 7th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33061 Church: (954) 583-9368 Email: bethelmbchurchfl@att.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"
Faith United Church of Christ 6201 NW 57 Street Tamarac, FL 33319 954-721-1232 uccfaith@bellsouth.net faithbroward.org "Historically the First Church in the City of Tamarac!”
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Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1161 NW 29th Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311 (954) 581-0455 ● Fax: (954) 581-4350 www.mtzionmissionarybapt.com
WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship Service .............................................................................. 8:00 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School ............................................................................................................... 10:00 a.m. Communion Service (1st Sunday) ......................................................................... 11:00 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”
St Paul United Methodist Church 244 S.E. Second Avenue Deerfield Beach, Florida 33341 (954) 427-9407 EMAIL EMAIL:: Stpaulmeth@bellsouth.net WEBSITE WEBSITE:: saintpauldeerfield.com
Rev. Dr. Jimmie L. Brown Senior Pastor
SERVICES
Sunday School .................................................................................... 10 a.m. Sunday Worship ................................................................................ 11 a.m. Bible Study (Tuesday) ....................................................... 11 a.m. & 7.p.m.
St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church
WEEKLY SERVICES & EVENTS
145 NW 5th Ave., Dania Beach, FL 33004 (954) 922-2529
rd
Worship Service (Communion 1 & 3 Sunday) ........................................................... 10 a.m. F.A.I.T.H. Academy for Children (Spiritual Formation) K-12 ................................ 10 a.m.
TUESDAY F.A.I.T.H. Academy for Adults (Spiritual Formation) - Office Complex ...... 10:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY Worship & Arts Ministry Rehearsals (Open Auditions) - Sanctuary .............................. 7 p.m.
First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc. 4699 West Oakland Park Blvd. Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313 Office: (954) 735-1500 Fax: (954) 735-1939 fbcpg@bellsouth.net
Rev. Dr. Derrick J. Hughes, Pastor SUNDAY SERVICES Worship Services .......................................................... 7:30 & 10:45 a.m. Children's Church ........................................................ 7:30 & 10:45 a.m. Communion (First Sunday) ......................................... 7:30 & 10:45 a.m. New Members' Class .................................................................... 9:30 a.m. Church School .............................................................................. 9:30 a.m. Baptist Training Union (BTU) .................................................... 1:00 p.m. Wednesday (Bible Study) ...................................... 11:15 a.m.. & 7:00 p.m.
Harris Chapel United Methodist Church Rev. Juana Jordan, M.Div E-MAIL:juana.jordan@flumc.org 2351 N.W. 26th Street Oakland Park, Florida 33311 Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520 Church Fax: (954) 731-6290
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.
Mount Calvary Baptist Church
800 N.W. 8th Avenue Pompano Beach, Florida 33060 Church Telephone: (954) 943-2422 Church Fax: (954) 943-2186 E-mail Address: Mtcalvarypompano@bellsouth.net
Reverend Anthony Burrell, Pastor SCHEDULE OF SERVICES New Member Orientation ........................... 9:30 a.m. Sunday School ................................................ 9:30 a.m. Worship Service ........................................ 11:00 a.m. WEDNESDAY Prayer Meeting ............................................... 6:00 p.m. Bible Study ..................................................... 7:00 p.m.
WORSHIP SERVICES Wednesday (NOON DAY PRAYER) ............................................. 12 -1 p.m. Wednesday (PRAYER MEETING & BIBLE STUDY) .................... 645 p.m. Sunday Worship Service ................................................................. 10 a.m. Fifth Sunday Worhip Service ............................................................ 8 a.m.
Obituaries James C. Boyd Funeral Home
ship Center with Dr. Rosalind Osgood officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.
HAYDEN Funeral services for the late Baby Juliette Hayden.
JONES Funeral services for the late Melvin Jones, Jr. - 50 were held Aug. 1 at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Worship Center with Pastor James B. Darling, Jr. officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. SCOTT Funeral services for the late Jerome Scott 1 – 64 were held July 31 at Roy Mizell &
RICHARDSON Funeral services for the late Leslie Richardson – 87 were held at Lauderhill Seventh-Day Adventist Church with Pastor Leroy Liburd officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. ROUNDTREE Funeral services for the late Robert H a y n e s Roundtree 72 were held Aug. 1 at First Baptist Church Piney Grove with Rev. Charles Jackson officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens
SUNDAY
"Doing God's Business God's Way, With a Spirit of Excellence"
New Birth Baptist Church The Cathedral of Faith International Bishop Victor T. Curry, M.Min., D.Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher 2300 N.W. 135th Street Miami, Florida 33167
ORDER OF SERVICES Sunday Worship ........................................................ 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. Sunday School ....................................................................................................... 9:30 a.m. Tuesday (Bible Study) ......................................................................................... 6:45 p.m. Wednesday (Bible Study) ............................................................................... 10:45 a.m.
1-800-254-NBBC * (305) 685-3700 (o) *(305) 685-0705 (f) www.newbirthbaptistmiami.org
New Mount Olive Baptist Church 400 N.W. 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale 33311 (954) 463-5126 ● Fax: (954) 525-9454 CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 p.m.
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!
WORSHIP THIS AND EVER Y SUNDA Y EVERY SUNDAY AT THE CHURCH OF OUR CHOICE
“PRAYER IS THE ANSWER” 644-646 NW 13th Terrace Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 (954) 462-5711(Ministry Office Line) (954) 462-8222(Pastor’s Direct Line) Email: wm_cme@bellsouth.net (Church} pastorCal50@yahoo.com (Pastor)
Rev. Cal Hopkins. M.Div) Senior Pastor/Teacher
Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher
SUNDAY st
Williams Memorial CME
McWhite's Funeral Home GIBBONS Funeral services for the late Edward W. Gibbons 66 were held July 31 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. James L. Warren, Sr. officiating. PACHECO Funeral services for the late Roberto Jimenez-Pacheco.
Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home CLARK Funeral services for the late Pauline Eunice Clark – 79 were held Aug. 1 at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Worship center with Pastor Larry Pettit officiating. GARYE Funeral services for the late Lucille Garye – 104 were held Aug. 4 at Roy Mizell & Kurtz Wor-
Kurtz Worship Center. SMALL Funeral services for the late Arnold Smalls - 75 were held Aug. 1 at Mount Bethel Baptist Church with Bishop C. E. Glover officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens. WIGGAN Funeral services for the late Cereta Agatha Wiggan – 85 were held Aug. 1 at Lauderhill Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Lincoln Bowen officiating. Interment: Lauderdale Memorial Park.
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!”
Debra Snipes and the Angels ‘Live in concert’ and DVD recording Saturday, Sept. 12 By JEBA Media, Inc. MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL — Get ready Miami to witness one of the greatest gospel productions starring Debra Snipes. She’s a gifted singer who brings a style of her own to the national gospel recording world! Accompanied by an eight-piece Band of Angels, Debra Snipes’ show is not an ordinary gospel concert where you sit and clap your hands. Her style will keep you on your feet. Debra Snipes and the Angels are returning to Miami live in concert Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, with two big shows 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the 48th Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church,8100 N.W. 17 Ave., Miami, Fla. Tickets $30/adult; $10/children. You can purchase online www.christianfellowshipmbc.org. For additional information contact Anna Jackson at (305) 626-8189 and JEBA Media at (305) 835-0321.Click the link to check out a video of Debra Snipes performing! https:// youtube or WWW.JPlatinumRecords.com As the 48th Christian Fellowship Anniversary contin-
Snipes ues, the community is cordially invited to join us from start to finish. Sunday, Aug. 9, 10 a.m. — Worship, Family, Friends & Feast Sunday, Oct. 25 — Calendar Tea – Non-members are invited to participate. Call Anna Jackson for details (305) 626-8189 to learn more. Sunday, Nov. 8 — Morning services a guest minister with his congregation; 4 p.m. is culminating with guest minister and his congregation. (TBA) Members are asked to pledge $48to commemorate the 48th Church Anniversary 2015.
KIDS TALK ABOUT GOD How was doing the will Of God like food to Jesus? By Carey Kinsolving and friends “We get bigger by eating healthy stuff and obeying God’s word helps us grow,” says Marina, 5. Serious athletes know that disciplined eating will enhance their performance on the field. Serious Christians know that they must feed on the Bible to win spiritual battles. When God’s word is embedded in your mind through memorization, you’re ready for action. Every Christian faces a daily battle between old patterns of self reliance and the new patterns of depending on God. “One thing I enjoy doing is pleasing my family, especially my parents,” says Theresa, 11. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
L.C. POITIER Funeral Services POITIER Funeral services for the late Hobbie Sule Johnson – 65 were held Aug. 1 at Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church with Deacon Windell Paige officiating.
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
Page 10 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • August 6 - August 12, 2015
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Blackonomics Blacks also failed Sandra Bland By James Clingman, NNPA Columnist
Freeman - R.L. Macon Funeral Home "AN INSTITUTION WITH A SOUL"
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Sandra Bland is dead. While many are concentrating on “how” she died, we must also face the reality of “why” she Clingman died. All of the circumstances surrounding her death not-withstanding, Bland is still dead. I cannot help but think that along the three-day period from her arrest to her final moments in that lonely and frightening jail cell, there were opportunities to rescue her from such a horrible experience and tragic end. This is not a rehash of all the conversations, utterances, conjecture, and theories put forth after Bland died. Rather, this is a simple critique of what we all saw on video and heard from Bland herself when she called someone to let them know her status, having received a $5,000 bond. To say the least, she was totally frustrated by the entire situation. Why Sandra Bland died is also obviously connected to who played a role in her death, whether directly or indirectly. Where were the intervention points by which Bland’s three-days of horror could have been stopped? Was there any way, leading up to her demise, for her to have survived? She should have never been arrested in the first place, but after she was, what could have been done? My initial inquiry would be directed toward the person who shot the cellphone video, the one to whom the cop said, “You need to leave.” The bystander replied, “Is this public property?” That person obviously had enough backbone to refuse to leave and even question the officer’s order; but did he make any attempt to see what happened to Bland after she was taken away while thanking him for recording the incident? (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
FUNdraising Good Times
What is a worthy cause? By Pearl and Mel Shaw We noticed that people – including ourselves – talk about “worthy” causes. In many ways the phrase is a “seal of approval.” Yet what’s “worthy” to one person or group, isn’t necessarily “worthy” to another. The phrase assumes shared values, but Pearl and Mel Shaw doesn’t always make clear what those values are, or why the cause is worthy. Does helping one person make a cause a worthy? We’ve heard people say, “if we help just one person, it’s worth it.” We tend to question that logic: is it really “worth it” – for example – to have an organization with a $300,000 annual operating budget that “helps just one person?” We know that’s an exaggeration, but on a feeling level, many people feel that way about organizations they are passionate about. They are saying “our work is priceless.” That may be true, and there is a price attached to the work of nonprofits. In most communities – and in most households – there are limited funds and resources to be allocated. The issue of worthiness arises in the creation of criteria by which we make decisions. Some of these are spoken, and some of these are unspoken and often unconscious. Other people believe an organization is worthy if it reaches a large number of people, has economies of scale, talented leadership, effective programs, consistent evaluation, and highly qualified staff. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
Beyond the Rhetoric
American veterans deserve better treatment By Harry C. Alford, NNPA Columnist
Consider local business with whatever you'r you'ree looking for for.. Call to have your Ad placed on this page. (954) 525-1489 or E-mail wgaztte@thewestsidegazette.com
Let me start with a quote from my mentor, the late Arthur A. Fletcher: “If your life becomes so miserable that you want to commit suicide, just check into a VA hospital. It won’t take long.” Art told me that 15 years ago and today the status of Veterans Administration hospitals has gotten even worse. No matter how many news articles detailing the bevy of scandals; Con-
gressional hearings and Inspector General Reports, it just keeps getting worse. Veterans are the jewel of our population. They put their lives on the line with far too many giving up their lives in defense of our great nation. There has been no great civilization that did not hold its soldiers in high esteem. The direction we are headed in will make our civilization less than great. We must address this urgent and dire situation.
World War II was the biggest threat ever faced by our nation. Japan attacked our Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, which started a war with their imperial government while Germany immediately declared war against us at the same time. Thus, started what would be called America’s greatest generation – our citizens joined the military in historic and robust fashion. We implemented a military machine never before realized
by any nation. In the end, 407,000 American soldiers gave their lives to save our nation. Meanwhile, Japan lost 2.6 million military personnel and GerAlford many spent 5.3 million military lives in its losing effort. From that point on, the United States has led the world in democracy, freedom and quality of life. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
Artist(s) bright touch By Ciera Campbell, FAMU Intern The Urban League of Broward County (ULBC) held an art gallery exhibition July 28, entitled “Save Our Cities”, the artwork was masterminded by nationally known artist Cey Adams, founding Creative Director of Russell Simmons Def Jam Rec. Additionally, Ed King, award winning neo-pop artist, presented his artwork. National Urban League (NUL) President, Marc Morial, welcomed the audience to the art gallery and encouraged the importance of human creativity. “Let me say how important
it is to empower communities and Save our Cities through art. This is a gallery opening and my dream is that every child is exposed to art,” states NUL President Marc Morial. Ed King has won awards since 2003 for his dynamic display of neo-pop artistry. King embraced the motto of the Urban League, which is to empower the community. His works reaches out to clients all over the world. He uses vivid color and lines his work in black, which catches the eyes of onlookers. His well- known stitching has won over people all of the country. “I like to see smiles upon peo-
ple’s faces and to see joy, pure joy, coming from people. There is a thrill from working on a body of art for years and years, exploring imagination and just to arrive to a movement and someone sees your work and says, ‘I have to have it.’ The Urban League turned art gallery, also displayed conjoined work from Adams, King and the selected young local emerging artists Vanessa Philpot, 16 and Margeaux Philpot, 15. “Working with Ed and Cey was amazing if I could do it all over again, I would. We contributed to the mural of the Urban League symbol, it was awesome,” states Marceau Philpot. Philpot continues, “The mural represented a feeling or emotion. (Cey) He states when peo-
August 6 - August 12, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 11 ple are happy they do movements. So in this painting we used many movements. I love painting and for me I use art as an outlet.” Germaine Smith-Baugh, Ed.D., ULBC president and CEO, expressed how critical it is to have an artistic touch on the ULBC building. “When we built the center we had a desire to make art a part of the center, we wanted art to be seen as an aspect as Saving our Cities. “ The Urban League mural crafted by Adams, King and local emerging artists is now on exposition at the ULBC.
Read Our History in the pages of the Westside Gazette
Meet Murendwa: At 25 she is a multimillionaire By Isabella Carson Murendwa Mmabasotho Mukwevho, a Johannesburg resident, has had great success and she is only 25 years old. She owns businesses that range in services from printing to logistics. She is now listed as a multimillionaire. Her mother passed away giving birth to her and her twin brother but her family was a great influence in her life. Her brother went on to become a doctor in London. She stayed in Johannesburg and thought about a career in nursing. She stated that she had always wanted to help people. But as she grew up she watched the success of all of the entrepreneurs in her family and decided that she wanted to be as successful as they were. Her first company is called Mukwevho Enterprises. The services offered are transporation services. She stated that she has a fleet of trucks that will go to furniture dealers and transport the furniture to cus-
MUKWEVHO tomers. She took over the business fully in 2011 when she was just 21-years-old. Her father helped her to get the company started. He owns a fleet of taxis as well as a few other businesses and so he had a lot of knowledge to bring to the table. Mukwevho said that one of her father’s friends runs her business franchise which is located in Chicago, Ill. In 2013 Mukwevho bought a company called Phomolong Guest House which is located
in Maseru, Lesotho. She also owns PMN Properties. This is a company that buys land and then develops properties that are sold and rented to residents. Mukwevho owns a printing service and internet café that helps teach students to read. This company is called Morenda Printing Services. MNM Events is another company that is owned by Mukwevho and does party planning and event planning. Even though she owns and runs all of these businesses she still finds time to work as an editor for SABC (South African Broadcasting Company). She enjoys the work that she does there and says that she does not want to leave it. So how did this amazing young woman find all of her success? She attributes it all to being lucky with the circumstances that she was given in life. Her father is a multi-millionaire as well but always told his children that his money was his and they would have to earn their own if they wanted to become rich. Both of them did just that.
Fifth Annual Walker Family Appreciation Day continues family tradition
Willie Walker, Sr. (Continue from FP) Times certainly have changed since the days of the “Jim Crow” South. Blacks relied solely on businesses which were in their community. Back then virtually all type of goods and services were right in the heart of the community. Some of those businesses included Provident Hospital, Hankerson’s Hardware, along with Burrow’s Electric and Mizell’s Funeral Home, the latter of which are still in business today. One of Walker’s Grocery’s customers, who can remember back when the majority of the neighborhood relied on the store for all of their grocery items, is Attorney Raleigh Rawls. He grew up in the neighborhood and began practicing law in the same community, during the 1950’s. “I remember when I returned from the military Mr. Walker and all of his brothers were involved in building the family business. After the store opened, I used to stop by there because they had the freshest meats in town.” The Walkers weren’t only known for having the freshest meat in town; they also developed a reputation for their generosity. Verdelle Thorpe Walker was married to the late Willie Alfred Walker. She recalled that the Walker family always looked out for people, even when they didn’t have money pay for the food that they needed. “One thing I would like people to know about the Walker family is that they were giving people. I ran into a woman who
said the Walkers would allow people to buy groceries when they didn’t have the money. The would simply put their names in the book. They always helped people who needed help.” She also noted that for the past three years, the family has donated scholarship money to graduating seniors from Dillard High School here in Fort Lauderdale, who plan to attend college to pursue business degrees. The benevolence that the Walker family has shown to the neighboring community has not gone unrecognized from local elected officials. Former State Representative Perry Thurston bestowed a legislative proclamation on behalf of the Walker’s in 2007, acknowledging the deaths of family matriarch Beatrice Pridgen Walker and son Willie Alfred Walker on July 31, 2007. Part of the state proclamation reads as follows: “Wherefore, I, Representative Perry Thurston, Jr. do proclaim Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007 to be The Walker Family Day in District 93 of the Florida House of Representatives extending to the Walker Family on behalf of the State of Florida our Deepest Sympathy.” Ronnie Walker, the second eldest son in the family, grew up working in the family business. He took over the store operation full time when his father passed away in 1995.
Beatrice P. Walker He said he remembered when customers would come from all over to shop at the store. Now he says customers usually come from nearby and either walk or ride their bikes to shop there. He said he planned on giving it a go for a few more years, in hopes that someone in the family will take over. “I’ve stayed here over the years because I guess it’s just in my blood. The thing I enjoy most about coming to work every day is the people I’ve met over the years. We always find something to talk about. I really like having conversations with my customers.” Walker’s dream of keeping the business in the family might just be realized by the third Walker generation comprised of Ryan, Stephon, and Todd, who currently run a Bar B Q stand on weekends in the store’s parking lot.
Walker's Grocery
NINA MAE MCKINNEY WAS LABELED “THE FIRST BLACK & BEAUTIFUL MOVIE STAR" -- Born in 1912, McKinney was one of the first Black women to work internationally in film and television during the 1930’s. She was described as strikingly beautiful, and her face has graced television and movie sets in the United States and Great Britain.
Page 12 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • August 6 - August 12, 2015
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
Congratulations to the inductees of the Coconut Grove Sports Hall of Fame Under the guidance of the Leadership Prep Foundation Inc., as well as Ike Fullard, Craig Curry and Anthony Witherspoon, residents of the area can now say hello to the Coconut Grove Sports Hall of Fame. In South Florida there’s no sport that’s more popular than football. It’s deeper than a sport in South Florida; football is a
Colzie
Fullard
By D’Joumbarey A. Moreau
night is a local athlete’s homecoming so to speak. Additionally, even a selective few who have become professionals in their respective sports have even been gracefully selected to enter into their respective sport’s hall of fame. The major North American sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) all have hall of fames for their players. Even colleges have hall of fames for their former athletes. But what if someone decided to create a hall of fame for the local and talented athletes in South Florida?
To find the most talented premier athletes in the country, look no place further than South Florida. It’s not a secret to the rest of the country anymore because when it comes to athletics South Florida is king. There are so many talented athletes from the Tri-County area (Dade, Broward & Palm Beach) that have gone on to have professional careers that it’s commonplace. Each draft
LEGAL NOTICES PUBLICATION OF BID SOLICITATIONS Broward County Board of County Commissioners is soliciting bids for a variety of goods and services, construction and architectural/engineering services. Interested bidders are requested to view and download the notifications of bid documents via the Broward County Purchasing website at: www.broward.org/ purchasing. August 6, 13, 20, 27, 2015
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religion in the area. It’s not a surprise that the headliner of the first annual class is none other than the renowned Nathaniel “Traz” Powell. “He is the architect of all of those legendary teams and we’re going to focus our efforts with his accomplishments with this first class of inductees,” said Ike Fullard. If you’re under the age of 30
you’re most likely familiar with the Powell’s name because of Miami Dade College’s football stadium which is named after him. The stadium hosts the biggest high school games weekly and is also one of the most hallowed places to play for athletes in South Florida. Before Powell’s name was attached to the stadium, he created one of the greatest high
school football dynasties that the country has ever seen. Powell was the head coach at George Washington Carver Senior High School who won nine state championships under his leadership. Because of the way that his teams competed and won, Powell went on to become one of the most well respected coaches in the pre-integration Florida Interscholastic Athletic Association (FIAA). (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
August 6- August 12, 2015 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • Page 13
Page 14 • www.thewestsidegazette.com • August 6 - August 12, 2015
Broward County's Oldest and Largest African American Owned and Operated Newspaper
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. elects new national president CHICAGO, IL - Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. (TLOD), a professional humanitarian community service organization organized in Tyler, Tex. in 1964, recently held its 39th National Convention D.C., June 25-28, 2015. During this bi-annual event, a new administration was elected. Elected as National President was Mrs. Drema Lee Woldman, a resident of Lynwood, lll. Woldman is the 13th national president of Top Ladies of Dis-
tinction, lnc. She has been a TLOD since 1997 and has served on the executive board for the last four administrations. She has served nationally as Area lll director, first vice president, and second vice president. As president, she will provide leadership and program direction for the 100+ chapters across the United States, including their signature program, Top Teens of America. Along with Woldman, the fol-
lowing Top Ladies were elected to national office: National First Vice President - Sharon Beard (Dallas); National Second Vice President - Oteal W. Gilmore (Chicago); National Recording Secretary - Cheryl Williams (Houston); National Financial Secretary - Sandra Jennings (Queens); National Treasurer Vynessa Alexander (Chicago); National TTA Director - Janice Scimmons (Houston); National Editor-of-the-Crown - Loris Anderson (Houston); National
Area I Director - Harnell Williams (Dallas); National Area ll Director - Helena Dodson (Hampton Rds.); National Area lll Director - Mary L. Davis (East); National Area lV Director - Crystal Pittman (Miami); National Area V Director - Sybil McDowell (Cincinnati) and National Area Vl Director - Brenda Dodd (Carson, Calif.) ln its 5lst year of service, TLOD made history when three former Top Teens were elected
office - Oteal W. Gilmore, Harnell Williams, and Crystal Pittman. In addition, this was the largest attendance of Ladies, Teens and Lords (husbands of Ladies) who attended this. To find out more about TLOD, Inc., visit www.tlodinc.org. Congratulations to the newly elected Miami Chapter officers of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.: *President - Betty B. Bridges, *First Vice President Gwendolyn W. Pittman, *Second Vice President - Crystal C.
WOLDMAN Pittman, *Recording Secretary - Janice Dixon, * Financial Secretary - Karen Love, *Treasurer - Annette Brantley and *Top Teens of America Advisor - Sharon Heath.
We love you and miss you, your children and grandchildren
Yvonne Henry August 9, 2015