The Westside Gazette

THE WESTSIDE GAZETTE POST OFFICE 5304 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

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PERMIT NO. 1179

VOL. 45 NO. 23 50¢

Buffalo Soldiers Celebrate 150th Anniversary

Demands For Criminal Justice Reform Permeate Broward County

The False Dictionary Between Supporting Police Or Legitimate Protest

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THURSDA Y, JUL Y 14 - WEDNESDA Y, JUL Y 20 THURSDAY JULY WEDNESDAY JULY 20,, 2016

NNPA calls for special federal prosecutor for racially-motivated police killings WASHINGTON, D.C. — Recently, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the nation’s largest trade association of African American-owned newspapers and media companies, issued an urgent call and demand that President Barack H. Obama and U.S Attorney General Loretta Lynch appoint a Special Federal Prosecutor in the wake of the police killings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La., and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minn. The NNPA also expresses sincere condolences to the families of the police

officers who were unjustly killed in Dallas, Tex. “The killings of African Americans in Louisiana and Minnesota during the past week represent an escalating national pattern of fatal police killings that appear to be racially motivated. These incidents are not isolated local tragedies, but are the terrible growing manifestations of a deadly national system of racism in the criminal justice system that needs to be effectively challenged and changed,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA. “There are, today, too many African American

DR. BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS, JR. families and communities that continue to endure police brutality and violence across the United States. This is a national crisis that demands immediate federal intervention to both investigate and to

NCBW National President E. Faye Williams congratulates Secretary Hillary Clinton WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of Black Women (NCBW) salutes Secretary Hillary Clinton on her historic accomplishment as the first woman Presidential nominee of a major US political party. “As the presumptive Democratic Party nominee, this is a major moment, not just in American history, but a point of reflection of just how far women have come and have to go” says, NCBW National President and CEO, Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. As I watched and listened to Secretary Clinton’s historic acceptance speech, I couldn’t help but think about the incomparable Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm who

was a co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the National Organization for Women (NOW) and our organization—NCBW. She was the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, and in 1972, she was the first woman ever to run for President of the United States on the Democratic Party’s ticket.

During her first term in Congress, she hired an allfemale staff and spoke out for civil rights, women’s rights, the poor and against the Vietnam War. She remarked that, “Women in this country must become revolutionaries. We must refuse to accept the old, the traditional roles and stereotypes.” In 1984, with Dr.

prosecute police officers, who continue to commit these wanton racially motivated killings.”

Chavis continued: “We, therefore, demand that a Special Federal Prosecutor be immediately appointed by the United States Department of Justice. To date, unfortunately, local investigations and prosecutions have been ineffective and have not insured equal justice. The Special Federal Prosecutor has to be independent and impartial. We have heard from many of our NNPA member publishers throughout the nation who all expressed profound disgust and moral outrage about these brutalities.

We will not be silent in the face of these continued injustices.

We demand action by the federal government now.”

(Cont'd on Page 5)

No one said that it would be easy!

Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.”

Exodus 3:19 (NASB)

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. The plans for our life are not always filled with easy roads to travel. If this were so, what need would there be for us to trust God? As arrogant as we are we would surely forget who He really is as soon as the bumps and pot holes in the road causes the travel to become difficult.

If for one second we consider that God is only present when things are going smoothly, we only need to remember our history here in America and the voyages of our ancestors through the Middle Passage. Packed like sardines in a can or cords of wood on a ship sailing seas rougher than any hurricane that you or I have lived through, they endured.

Not without sacrifice, lost lives, moments of cursing God they arrived to what seemed to them an adventure; lost in space on a planet with inhabitants that looked stranger than any platypus or rhino or hippopotamus. Even the people looked different - there were no Ashanti, Dogon, Pygmies, Tutsi, Zulu and San people. Instead there were red skinned people and the white people who stole them from their homelands.

(Cont'd on Page 9)

Fort Lauderdale Police Department partners with Boys and Girls Club of Broward County (Nan Knox Unit)

By Eric L Wright, Jr. DR. WILLIAMS C. DeLores Tucker, she founded the National Congress of Black Women because Black women were shut out of the Democratic Convention. I couldn’t help but wonder how proud they would be while cautiously imploring us not to rest and get to work as there is still much more work to do!

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is excited to mentor the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County’s teens at the Nan Knox Unit, located at 832 N.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Fort Lauderdale Black Police Officers Association partnered with the Nan Knox Unit after the directors reached out to law enforcements to help educate their teens on different challenges being faced

Passing of Educator, Author Evelyn J. Lewis Evelyn J. Lewis departed this life July 6, 2016; she was the wife of the late Rev. Horace W. (Bubba) Lewis. She is survived by her son, Richard K. McDonald, granddaughters, Richea and Ria, nine great-grandchildren, two nieces, Eleanor Butler and Alfreda Upshaw, two nephews, George E. Butler and Charles Jones, and beloved daughterin-law Cynthia McDonald.

Mrs. Lewis retired from the Broward County School system as Supervisor of Home Economics. She was active in her church, Harris Chapel United Methodist and her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta, prior to her retirement. She coauthored a food service text book which has been utilized nationwide and is in its seventh edition.

Funeral services will be held at Harris Chapel United Methodist Church on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 10

LEWIS a.m., 2351 N.W. 26 St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 33311.

In lieu of flowers please make your contributions to Richard Allen and Nora Lee Jones Endowed Scholarship Fund, Tuskegee University Office of Development, P.O. Box 36087, Tuskegee Institute, Ala. 36087.

Pleading Our Own Cause

Demands for criminal justice reform permeate Broward County.

(Read full story on Page 3)

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throughout the Black community.

A Teen Summit will be held at Stranahan High School on July 16 2016, 1800 S.W. Fifth Pl. in Fort Lauderdale, hosted by the Fort Lauderdale Black Police Officers Association.

Teenagers will be involved in seminars and workshops focused on life skills, social media, etiquette, and interaction with police. There will be breakfast and lunch served to all participants.

It is the hope of the Fort Lauderdale Black Police Officers Association that the youth who choose to take advantage of this marvelous opportunity will leave with valuable skills and information. I believe that the lessons learned during the Teen Summit will give participants the knowledge and confidence to make sound decisions throughout their lives and whenever confronted by law enforcement.

Sargent Nelson thought that this would be a marvelous opportunity for officers to volunteer their time to visit the Nan Knox Unit with the goal of developing relationships with the teenagers in the community.

(Cont'd on Page 5) MEMBER: National Newspaper Publishers Association ( NNPA), and Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)

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TODAY WE MARK THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA WITH THE CELEBRATION OF OUR 50TH CLASS REUNION — Recently the Blanche Ely High School Class of 1966, celebrated their 50th Class Reunion. It was within the walls of Blanche Ely High School that our characters were shaped as we entered into Manhood. It was in those walls we gained knowledge, strength and marketable skills that prepared us for life’s ups and downs. We are reunited again and it feels so good; 50 blessed years later and counting.

Top Row: Ida Heck-McKinney, Rosetta Fulmore-Bracy, Sylvia Shepherd-Lowe, Barbara Jackson-Robertson, Fredrekia Manuel-Forde, Cynthia Johnson-Roberson, Carolyn Hudson-Benefield, Sheryl McDonald-McCoy, Andre Armbrister-Mills, Beverly Simmons, Julia Howard-Knowles, JoAnn Gibbons-Smith, Marianne Johnson-Davis, Susie McCrone-Johnson, Melvin Brooks, Beverly Williams-Taylor, Joe & Gwen Farrow and Barbara Clark-Johnson. Bottom Row: Iry Herbert, Henry Robinson, Jimmy Harvard, Lenton Jenkins, James Benefield and Sylvester Davis.

The ‘Longest Day’ – Fight against Alzheimer’s

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — On June 20, the “Longest Day”, a nationally recognized day to raise awareness, funds, highlight and focus attention on individuals suffering with Alzheimer’s. The members of Zeta Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA), in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, embraced this Day of awareness by engaging in activities with the staff and senior citizens who attend the Northwest Federated Woman’s Club of Broward County, Inc. The chapter’s national initiatives, Target II, Health Promotions and Target III, Family Strengthening connected resources and hosted a funfilled morning of activities for senior citizens in support of the national mission of engaging people affected with the disease through performing physical and mental activities.

Twenty-eight members of the Sorority shared the morning with over 45 seniors and staff members during the visit. Activities consisted of bingo, singalongs and the seniors were serenaded by the Chapter’s famous and renowned singing sensation, the AKAettes.

Gift cards were given to the lucky game winners. The Program Director, Sandra Hunter and the Alzheimer’s Co-ordinator, Martha Aleide, were presented a $2050 check by the Chapter President, Annette Johnson-Hurry, Family Strengthening Committee Chairman, Barbara-Lumpkins and Health Promotions Committee Chairman, Gail Bouie.

The donation presented, were proceeds from the Sorority’s “Sixth Annual Strike for A Cure” event held on May 14 at Striker’s Family Sports-center, in support of the Alzhei-mer’s Program at the Northwest Federated Women’s Senior Program.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and African – Americans have a higher

incidence of the disease. There are 10 warning signs we should all know and recognize. Riunite Franks, event manager, Alzheimer’s Association, Southeast Florida Chapter, attended the Chapter’s Sorority meeting on June 19th and provided an informative overview of the 10

warning signs of Alzheimer’s.

In support of this national initiative, team-Zeta Rho Omega AKA was formed and funds donated supported the Alzheimer’s Longest Day Campaign.

For more details on the warning signs, please go to www.ALZ.org.

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Buffalo Soldiers celebrate 150th anniversary

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

By Marilyn Marshall (Houston Defender, NNPA Member) The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum has a reason to celebrate. A century and a half ago Black soldiers called “Buffalo Soldiers” first served in the American military.

Beginning Monday, July 25 through Saturday, July 30, the museum will be the site of activities celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers, as part of the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association Annual Reunion.

In addition, the Houston museum has been chosen as national headquarters of the association, the umbrella or-

ganization of more than 40 Buffalo Soldiers’ chapters across the country.

Founded in 2001 by Captain Paul J. Matthews, an Army Vietnam veteran and AfricanAmerican military historian, the museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Buffalo Soldiers. The exhibits cover seven wars, along with women in the military, chaplains in the military and astronauts.

For more than 35 years, Matthews has collected military artifacts and has the largest collection of African-American military memorabilia in the world. The museum offers programs and projects that reach out to community members of

all ages.

Matthews said the upcoming anniversary marks a milestone in American history.

“In 1866, the U.S. Army reorganized and established the first peacetime Army,” he said.

“As a part of the reorganization they created six Black units.

This July 28 will be the 150th anniversary of the formation of those segregated units. We’re very excited about that. We will have our headquarters at the Houston Marriott Westchase Hotel and related activities at the museum.”

In a one-on-one interview, Matthews discussed the reunion celebration, the museum and the Buffalo Soldiers, brave African-American men who served in a variety of posts in the 1800s.

Houston Defender: What sparked your interest in the Buffalo Soldiers?

Captain Paul J. Matthews: While I was an ROTC cadet at Prairie View A&M University I read two paragraphs in a military book about the Buffalo Soldiers and became intrigued by the Black men in blue uniforms… it was a story that needed to be told.

HD: Why is it important for African-Americans to learn about the Buffalo Soldiers and Blacks in the military?

CPM: I take them back to Frederick Douglass who said at the start of the Civil War, “Give the colored man a

Black treatment advocates travel to International AIDS Conference

Members of the Black Treatment Advocates Network.

This week Black Treatment Advocates sponsored by the Black AIDS Institute will travel to Durban, South Africa, where they will attend the International AIDS Conference, which is returning to South

Africa for the first time since 2000.

Delegates will attend a wide variety of conference sessions with the goal of transferring knowledge back to Blacks in the U.S.

Historically, community participation in the Basic Science, Clinical Science, and Epidemiology and Prevention Science Tracks has been relatively small. Many PLWHA and/or working with community-based organizations or non-governmental organizations have found the information presented to be unnecessarily inaccessible. The delegates will help maximize community participation in the core science tracks of the con-ference and broaden the dis-semination of treatment and prevention science research to underserved communities. Their work is being funded by Gilead, The Ford Foundation’s Institute of International Edu-cation, Merck and UNAIDS. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Sistrunk Comm unity Cir cle R all y Community Circle Rall ally

Large turnout of concerned citizens looking to make a difference through communication and actively getting involved.

(Photo by Lyndale V. Pettus, Sr.)

By Lyndale V. Pettus Sr. Local Sistrunk and Broward County residents at Sistrunk Community Circle Rally, 806808 N.W. 13 Terr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33311, came out Sunday with community organizers Adejare Abisogun from the Community Circle for Black Lives and Jesse Cosme of Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward pulled together with neighborhood activist, mental health professionals, young adults, child-

ren and elderly leaders to have a moment of reflection for the horrific violence that has our nation torn this past few weeks.

They pulled together to offer reflection, healing and new solutions to the violence that is gripping Florida and our communities nationwide.

The event had over 250 -300 people attend to give support and voice the anger felt by so many about the violence at the hands of police. The event also mourned the attack on Dallas

officers that lost their lives due to the lone gunman fed up with the repeated violence against Black men in communities across America.

Stay tuned and follow these community organizations for upcoming events this summer geared towards helping and developing positive opportunities and concepts that will lead to our communities living under better conditions as it relates to any and all violence in our neighborhoods.

Captain Matthews, an Army Vietnam veteran and African-American military historian, founded the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in 2001. uniform, a buckle with the U.S. on it, a button with the eagle on it and a musket and you’ll make him a citizen but you’ll also make him a man.” He wanted to make sure the Civil War was being fought for freedom and not just to save the Union.

The same thing occurred in World War I. W.E.B. DuBois said, “Put aside your differences, go overseas, come back and be first-class citizens.” The military has always been a very important component of the Black community. When I was growing up in La Marque, Texas, and we would go to church, World War II soldiers would come in and people would stand up. In the ‘60s when you graduated from high school it was either the Army or college.

That’s the way it was. The military, other than the Vietnam era, was always extremely popular in the Black community.

HD: How would you describe the museum’s success?

CPM: We started out in my garage and on Jan. 5, 2001 we moved to a building on South-

July 14 - July 20, 2016 • Page 3 more Blvd. In November of 2012 we moved to a 35,000 square foot historic building that goes back to 1925. That’s a tribute to the board of directors, volunteers and troopers who helped us become who we are. We are the mothership of Buffalo Soldier museums. I don’t know of any other military museum that can compare to us and what we do.

HD: What are some of the activities planned for the celebration?

CPM: One of the highlights will be a parade that’s going to start at Emancipation Park and end up at the museum [located at 3816 Caroline]. We have 150 riders on horses that are going

to come in. One group is coming from New Orleans, where the 9th Cavalry was formed. The other group is coming from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where the 10th Cavalry was formed.

Events include a ceremonial ride-in on that Thursday, a session on the history of the Buffalo Soldiers on Friday, and a parade on Saturday. We are expecting over 2,000 people from all over the U.S. The Houston chapter is the host chapter along with the museum and I am the national chair for the reunion.

V i s i t www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com or bsr150.com for more information.

Demands for criminal justice reform permeate Broward County FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – On the heels of the torturous death of two Black men in Minnesota and Louisiana at the hands of police, national outrage is once again demanding answers and justice.

Several hundred people from many different organizations across South Florida gathered at Stranahan Park, July 9, 2016, led by the Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward, demanding answers for the national issue of police violence, while highlighting the injustices that happen right here in Broward County.

“We have a culture of predatory policing that cannot be ignored. Cops kill Black people here, stay on administrative leave, and don’t see a grand jury for years. Families get no answers, no solace, and no justice. We will not be silent any longer. We are thrusting Broward and all of its injustices into the national spotlight, where politicians and officials cannot hide from the truth,” said Jasmen Rogers, 27 year old member of Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward.

Protesters called for criminal justice reform throughout the

county, from local police departments, to the sheriff and to the State’s Attorney, both of whom are up for re-election this year.

Tifanny Burks, 23 year old resident of Miramar, told reporters, “This is not temporary.

We are tired of validating our humanity to the police state. So we say ‘no more!’ And we will continue to educate, mobilize, and resist until we see change in this country.”

Group members chanted “When Black and brown bodies are under attack, what do we do, stand up, and fight back” and “love is the answer” while marching together hand in hand.

“We are here to build community, to love each other through this pain, knowing that when the people stand united, we can never be defeated,” said Burks.

The rally is the beginning of a month long call for criminal justice reform in Broward County. The Black Lives Matter Alliance will host community debates, candidate forums, and a movie night aimed at educating and galvanizing the community.

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Community Digest

Publix is Proud to Support Community News WHERE SHOPPING IS A PLEASURE

Forums

Exhibition

The Greater Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce (GCACC) will be hosting a Candidates Forum on Thursday, July 14, 2016 from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Merrell United Methodist Church, 3900 N. State Rd. 7, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. The second Forum will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2016 from 6 to 9 p.m., at Holy Family Church, 18501 N.W. Seventh Ave., Miami, Fla. Bothe events are free and open to the public.

For additional info call (954) 634-2472 Broward or MiamiDade at (786) 286-6166.

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale’s permanent collection of African art will be featured in a new exhibition on view Sunday July 24 through Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. Opening preview and reception, Saturday, July 23, 2016 from 5-7 p.m., at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, One E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. African Art: Highlights of the Permanent Collection explores the diverse highlights of NSU Art Museum’s collection of traditional art from Sub-Saharan Africa, with an emphasis on the art of West Africa. For additional info call (954) 525-5500.

Health Fair

Casting Call

Join a Free event with health and wellness resources for the entire family, Saturday, July 16, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Atlantic Technical College – Arthur Ashe, Jr. Campus, 1701 N.W. 23 Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The following will be Free services offered at this event: *Health Screenings * School immunization * Schools physicals * Wellness checks * produce. For additional info call (754) 322-2818.

Ceremony/ Luncheon

Greetings NCNW Members, Affiliates and Associates, come join NCNW’s National Membership Committee Chair, A. Lois Keith and National Membership Director, David Glenn, Jr., for the Broward County, FL Section Charter and Installation of Officers Ceremony/ Luncheon, Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 11 a.m., at Inverrary Country Club, 3840 Inverrary Blvd.Lauderhill, Fla. For more info and price contact Deborah Allen at (954) 5156020 or Laura Richardson at (954) 822-0749.

Edge of Seat Productions presents Cynthia Bell Casting Call: Upcoming Stage Plays, submit resume, references and company affiliations. Please email your headshots, resume and/or demo reel to cynthiabellproductions@gmail.com.

Contact (954) 540-2368.

1st Casting Date: Thursday, June 30, 2016, at 526 N. State Rd. 7, (Dunkin Donuts) shoot locations: TBA/released to those with appointments only 1st Shoot Dates: July 13, 19, 26, August 3, 18, 23, 2016.

Shoot location, South Florida: Non-Union: Type of Compensation: (Details discussed at casting) Synopsis: There will be an array of production and tour dates for 2017. **All Character Breakdown (discussed at casting and other DETAILS): Female/18-60 yrs. Male / 21-60 yrs. Children/10-17 yrs. **Only actors and actresses who are serious about their talents and skills. Must be punctual, dramatic and comedic personality is important.

Yard Sale

“Back to School Yard Sale”, Saturday, July 16, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., clothes, furniture, etc., 1795 S. W. Fourth St., Fort Lauderdale on the (corner of 18 Ave & Fourth St.) Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Program

CONGRESSWOMAN WILSON Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) and MiamiDade County Commissioner Barbara Jordan will host a sealing and expungement program, Thursday, 21, 2016 at 4 p.m., at Miami Dade College North Campus, 11380 N.W. 27 Ave., Miami Fla., Conference Center, Building 3000, Second Floor, Room 3249. The program is designed to have a single record sealed or expunged for individuals who were charged with a crime in Miami-Dade County that did not resulted in a conviction.

Fair

Voter Registration Drive

The ladies of Chi Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, will host a Voter Registration Drive, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, July 16, 2016, at Walmart, 3001 North St. Rd. 7, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. Community participants in need of a new registration, record update, address, party affiliation, name, signature change or a request to replace voter card are to attend this event. For additional information, visit us at www.chipsiomega.org.

Celebration

Judah Worship Word Ministries, International Church, celebrate and show appreciation to Senior Pastor and God’s anointed vessel, Apostle Willett L. Mitchell, Friday, July 15, 2016 at 7:30 p.m., at 4441 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation, Fla. Guest speaker Pastor/Prophet Anthony Lott of Venus, TX, Sunday, July 17, at 8:15 a.m., Pastor/Prophetess Erika Toney of Jacksonville, Fla. Dr. W.L. Mitchell, Senior pastor. For more info call (954) 791-2999.

Event Broward County’s Family Success Administration and community partners will host a Community Resource Fair on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Edgar P. Mills Center at 900 NW 31 Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Broward County’s 17th Circuit Faith Based Network “2016 Family Conference” on Saturday, July 23, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Church of God Christian Center, 600 S.W. 27 Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., hosted by Pastor Daniels N. Boyd.

Happenings at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center

Event

JACKSON

African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderale, Fla. For more info call (954) 357-6210.

July 2016 Program Highlights “Celebrating the South Florida Book Festival” Prearranged Group Tours Available during library hours.

Call (954) 357-6224. On Display starting Friday, July 15 Discover Space: A Cosmic Journey * Wednesday, July 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. Reggae Fitness for Seniors using Afro-American and Caribbean music and dances. Learn while having fun. * Thursday, July 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., National Summer Learning Day, learn a new language using Rosetta Stone. * Saturday, July 16 from 2:45 to 5:30 p.m. African Holistic Health and Wellness Seminar. * Monday, July 18 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Adult Coloring Program. * Wednesday, July 20 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Discover Space: A Cosmic Journey Exhibit Open House for educators. * Friday, July 22 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. “Evening with the Stars,” glamorous South Florida Book Festival event, age 21up, $25 advance, $30 at door. * Saturday, July 23 from 10:15 to 5:45 p.m. South Florida Book Festival, day of free book talks and seminars, all ages. * Monday, July 25 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. “So You Want to Start a Business.” * Monday, July 25 from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Discover Space: 16 new planet stamps presented

by Fort Lauderdale postmaster. * Wednesday, July 27 from 5 to 7:45 p.m. U.S. Peace Corps recruiter visit.

Youth Services (954) 357-6209 For more infor on children and teen programming, call the Youth Services desk at (954) 357-6209. * Monday - Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. Only homework and educational games are allowed on Children’s and Teens’ computers during homework hours. * Saturdays, July 16, 23, 30 from 11 am to 1 p.m. * Saturday Morning Matinee, ages up to 12. Enjoy a family movie with popcorn! Call Youth Services for a listing of movies, (954) 357-6209. * Saturdays, July 16, 23, 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday Afternoon Animania! Teen program, ages 12-18. Come eat popcorn and watch an anime movie! Call Youth Services for a listing of movies, (954) 357-6209. * Tuesdays, 19, 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sidewalk Chalk Art Tuesday. Beautify the library by creating chalk art outside in the fresh air, all ages. * Fridays, July 15, 22, 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday Family Fun Day. Chess and games for all ages. * Saturdays, July 16, and 30 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. A Knight with the Queen, free chess lessons, ages 7-80. * Mondays and Tuesdays, July 18, 19, 25, 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. Code Fever Boot Camp for teens, ages 12-19. Basic coding and how to convert your ideas into a business. Pre-register at (954) 357-6209. * Monday, Wednesday, Friday, July 13, 15 from 1 to 3pm A.C.E. Academy: a 3-day program to empower young ladies, 12-18. Includes personal hygiene, etiquette, and vision board project. Pre-register at (954) 357-6209. * Mondays, July 18, 25 from 3 to 5 p.m. STEAM Monday, DIY Nail Art. Use newsprint to transfer images to your fingernails, ages 10 and up, preregister at (954) 357-6209. * Thursdays, July 14, 28 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Summer Story time Fun for toddlers 3 to 5-years-old. Pre-register at (954) 357-6209. * Tuesday, July 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. Colgate Bright Smiles Futures Bus with free dental screening, face painting, tooth care kit.

Meet Brenda Jackson: Romance Author, Friday, July 22, 2016 from 2 to 4 p.m., at Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library, 2800 N.W. Ninth Ct., Pompano Beach, Fla. For more info call (954) 3577670.

Forum

A Community Candidates Forum will be held July 25, 2016 from 5 to 8:30 p.m., reception starts at 5 p.m. at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.

Giveaway Wayne Barton Study Center’s Good News of Christ Ministries, “Free Grocery Giveaway Food Distribution”, Saturday, July 23, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Redeeming Word Christian Center, 2800 W. Prospect Rd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For additional info call (954) 485-1435.

Senior Prom

The Broward Citizens for Seniors (BCFS) citizens in Broward County, presents their signature event, “The Seniors Prom” on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at the Bahia Mar Hotel, 801 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. from 5 to 11 p.m. Tickets are on sale now, there are a limited number of tickets available and will be available at Mount Olive Development Corporation (MODCO), 1530 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; visit us on website at BCFSINC.org for updates

Classes GrandOverall Design, Free Meditation Classes, Every Second and Fourth Sunday of the month at 2 p.m., at Homestead YMCA, 1034N.E. Eight St., Homestead, Fla. To register at RyseLargent.com/ FMC

NOTARY PUBLIC ON PREMISES 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Monday Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more info call (954) 525-1489

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July 14 - July 20, 2016 • Page 5

Westside Gazette

Humble start, early tragedy turn Latina immigrant into law partner

By Luis Vasquez-Ajmac Urban News Service

The Plazas in 1974: (l to r) Tina, Eva, Mom, Angelo and Sergio in El Paso, Tex. (Photo courtesy of Eva Plaza)

Eva Plaza never dreamed of becoming a lawyer or owning a business. But the sudden loss of her father when she was just eight dramatically changed her life.

Born in Torreon, Mexico, Plaza and her three young siblings were reared by a single mom in El Paso, Tex. Her father died tragically at 33, without seeing a doctor, from a ruptured peptic ulcer. Without role models, Plaza overcame long odds, paved her own way, and became a partner in a top Los Angeles law firm.

“When my father passed away, we lost our home, and we had to move into public housing,” Plaza said. “Security, or lack of security, colored what

I was going to do.”

As the eldest child, she felt responsible for supporting her working-class family. “The usual answers were doctor or lawyer,” she said. “I thought I would be a better lawyer.”

But becoming a lawyer — let alone a partner — in a predominantly white, male-dominated industry was no easy feat for a female Mexican immigrant. “Nobody took me under their wings,” said Plaza. “I learned by doing and not being afraid. And not accepting ‘no’ for an answer.”

Plaza’s accomplishments are rare. Fewer than 35 percent of all American attorneys are women, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. “The legal industry is nearly dead last in hiring and retaining women and minority lawyers,” said Joel Stern,

PLAZA CEO of the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms. “Less than 2 percent are partners.”

These disparities help ex-

plain why minority lawyers increasingly launch their own firms. “There are a lot of barriers, images and stereotypes that women have to push through, like women are not aggressive enough nor strong litigators and/or too combative and will not be good managers,” Stern said.

Despite these obstacles, Plaza graduated from U.C. Berkeley Law School in 1984. She served the U.S. Justice Department as a trial counselor and later oversaw enforcement of the Fair Housing Act as an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. (Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

An ticipa ting th e futur e ‘Black Lives Ma tter tional Par k Anticipa ticipating the future Matter tter’’ Na National Park

These young Junior Rangers are all smiles, having just earned the badges that they’re proudly wearing. Pastor Harold Wallace brought them and other members of Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Kansas City to Carver Day in the park. What obligation do we have to create a more harmonious future for them?

By Audrey Peterman Speaking at “Carver Day” last Saturday on the tranquil, pastoral grounds of George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, Mo., I told the audience that I’m very much looking forward to the day when a unit is added to the National Park System com-

memorating the success of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.

Never having been perfect, our country has come through many tumultuous times on the way toward “liberty and justice for all.” The places and events that have had the most pivotal effect in our evolution are protected in our National Park System to show us from whence

we have come, and what we must do to continue to honor our debt to our ancestors and our responsibility to our descendants.

It is no more optimistic to envision a ‘Black Lives Matter’ National Monument in our future than it would have been to imagine the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail on “Bloody Sunday” 1965. That day when the hounds of hell were loosed upon Dr. Martin Luther King and the peaceful marchers for voting rights, when young John Lewis (today’s longtime Congressman) was beaten within an inch of his life and many others were critically wounded by law enforcement, who would have thought that it would become enshrined as part of the most pivotal events in our history?

Yet indeed the horror experienced by Americans and President Lyndon Johnson at seeing the pictures coming out of the event forced him to declare before Congress: “The cause of the marchers must be our cause too...” and “really it is all of us who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. And we shall overcome.” The Voting Rights Act followed shortly

“I’ll take it easy on you,” my new friend Josiah assured me when I invited him to race through the meadows where George Washington Carver walked as a boy. He’s planning to be a wildlife biologist and was happy to meet Ranger Randall Becker (l) and Superintendent James Heaney in front of a bust of the great man. thereafter with the park being established in 1996 to protect that historical legacy.

Similarly Alcatraz Island commemorates the Indians of

All Tribes Occupation, (1964, 1969-71) and the newlyminted Stonewall Inn National Monument marks the place where members of the LGBT

community rose up in 1969 to force recognition of their unequal treatment at the hands of the law.

My week at Florida American Legion Boys State

time in my life, my leadership skills were actually on full display. One hundred and fifty boys in the House of Representatives were depending on our leadership. I learned three things those two days- First, you have to drop the pride; second, you can’t procrastinate on projects; and third- you have to have both self-control and respect for everyone. Number three was the most important.

It taught me to never forget the people who elected me as Speaker pro tempore.

After we adjourned the house sine die, the Dean of the HouseAndrew Saterlee, told us that we were the most productive and best functioned house of reps he had ever seen. We worked together, and that’s what made us successful. On awards night, I was surprised to received two awards. One for being elected as Speaker Pro Tempore, and the other for having the Best House Bill.

At awards night, right after graduation, I hugged all my friends, acquaintances, and challengers, and told them that they were the best thing that had ever happened to me. The last night, we had a private meeting to talk about ourselves within our city. It was very emotional and tearful. I began to really understand that this was a brotherhood. On Day 7, I didn’t really want to leave. I wish I could have stayed. I just reflect back to Day One, wanting to leave, until that very last day. I probably will never see some of them again. Some of them, I may find sitting next to me in the actual legislature in 10 years. I learned so much in a single week, not expecting to actually learn. I really do thank my post for sponsoring me, and Mr. Richard Maggiore for sending me. It has for sure changed my life for the better. I learned how to be a leader, and learned that boring lectures are all for the better.

By Elijah Manley President John F. Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” From June 19-25, 2016, that is exactly what I learned. Boy’s State is a political

NNPA calls (Cont'd From FP) The reform of the criminal justice system in America requires more intellectual honesty in the national dialogue about race, inequality and injustice.

The NNPA will engage and participate in this dialogue as the movement for reform and social change unfolds.

The NNPA represents 209 African American owned newspapers based in 32 states and known as the “Voice of Black America” that reaches 20.l million readers per week with national offices located in Washington, D.C. Please visit www.NNPA.org to learn more about the NNPA and go to www.BlackPressUSA.com to check out news and commentary about the Black community.

MANLEY leadership program sponsored by the Florida American Legion.

It was created by our fantastic veterans who have put their lives on the line for us, to teach us about patriotism and leadership. Five hundred thirty of the best and brightest young minds are selected from across the state and sent to the campus of FSU in Tallahassee for a week. The young minds are from many different backgrounds, demographics, political beliefs, and

walks of life. They create this mythical 51st state in which they run for office in and get elected to. Once elections are complete, adults step back, and let the delegates run the entire state government. I was amongst the 530 that were sent to Tallahassee.

It was the morning of June 19th, and I had been up the entire night long on the bus ride to Tallahassee. I was curious to see the Florida grassy plains, and to meet everyone that got on the bus from the various stops. As the bus pulled up at our dorm in Tallahassee, I couldn’t help but swallow my spit. It looked like a boot camp at first; Florida Highway Patrol officers rushing us into the dorm, one by one. At one point, I thought I was tricked into a military school.

The first day was the absolute longest day. I had to write an Americanism speech, and run for a city office. I didn’t know what either was. I immediately began to campaign for governor. I was first elected as a city councilman, and helped create laws for the dorm I was staying in. Finally, at the end

Fort Lauderdale Police Department partners with Boys and Girls Club of Broward County (Nan Knox Unit) (Cont'd from FP) The Nan Knox Unit felt that the outreach of our local police department will give our teens the chance to take part in open and honest conversations about topics such as: substance abuse, girls growing into women, boys growing into men, and police interaction.

Relationships with club members have been developed with the help from Sargent I. Nelson along with supporting

officers: N. Justice, J. Brown, P. Brown, C. Livingston, T. Stevens, F. Gordon, R. Motos, and J. Alexander.

The Fort Lauderdale Black Police Officers Association conducts weekly visits at the Nan Knox Unit every Wednesday and Friday. With each visit the officers host two sessions that generally last an hour with both teenage girls and boys.

The teenagers are separated from the other club members where they can have a quite

informative discussion on simple topics like hygiene, bullying, drug awareness, violence, and interaction with law enforcement, life lessons, and the Bill of Right. The officers answer questions but most importantly they are there to educate our teens. The sessions have helped teens at the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, Nan Knox Unit, develop their own perception of law enforcement here in the City of Fort Lauderdale.

of the first day—I was absolutely exhausted. I felt like I had been there for four days already. I didn’t know anyone there except my own crowd from Broward. I have to say—I was kind of anti-social.

Day two was party nomination day. Both the nationalists and federalists were to hold state party conventions. I was a federalist, and almost everyone in my party was supporting me for Governor. Our counselors told us that we were going to lose a lot of elections, and that popularity was only going to get you so far. I didn’t understand that until I lost the nomination. I let pride get the best of me. Once I lost, I filled my heart with so much anger. It was the first time I lost anything political. I wanted to go home. I was so embarrassed. All my friends were asking me ‘why did you lose?’, and I was the breakfast story the next day. I

swallowed my anger, and hid it.

I ran for the House of Representatives from my city, and I won a seat. I didn’t lose my anger until Day 6. My friends came up to me and told me that if I ever wanted to be taken seriously in life, I would have to learn to accept loss. ‘You can’t win everything.’ I ignored him obviously. After the Governor’s election, we had to elect a Speaker of the House. I was amongst the six boys who were qualified to run for the speakership. After giving the best speech I ever gave, and swallowing my pride—again, I lost. I lost Speaker. But I won Speaker pro tempore, the most powerful house position. That day, I lost my anger. I learned that pride is what causes you to lose.

The last two days, I, along with my friend Stuart Thomas, ran the House of Representatives, wrote and read laws, and met politicians. For the first

Page 6 • July 14 - July 20, 2016

Opinion

www.thewestsidegazette.com

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

T. J. Reddick Bar Association supports equal rights among lawyers and citizens in the Black community Submitted by George Odom Esq. The TJ Reddick Bar Association will continue to fight for equal rights and fair treatment among lawyers and citizens in the Black community. Too often the Black community is reminded of the harsh realities of living life as a Black person in America. This was evident after the unjustified deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

The doctrine of “separate but equal” ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson was ultimately overturned in Brown v. Board of Education. Thurgood Marshall, chief counsel for the NAACP, argued the case in front of the U.S. Supreme

A nation falling apart?

By Dr. P.L. Wright Ph.D In reference to the recent gun violence in Minnesota, Louisiana, and Dallas, Tex., I have discussed an inexplicable understanding of how can killing make a difference for things to

Court. However, many white Americans continued to use clever methods to discriminate against Black Americans during the Jim Crow era restricting the civil rights and liberties of Black Americans.

We cannot be afraid to say Black Lives Matter at the risk of insulting others. Yes, all lives matter but not all lives are treated equal in the justice system. It is a sad day, but a reality, when a parent has to advise their son that when stopped by the police you are automatically perceived as a threat; hence, do not talk or make any sudden movements because you may get shot. We as Americans must remind

society that Black lives are as valuable as any other life. The true value of life must be determined by the character of a person and not their skin color.

The unjustified killing of Black men is no more acceptable than the merciless killing of sworn law enforcement officers. With emotions running high we encourage everyone to follow the law. We must fight for injustice everywhere and anywhere. On August 30th get out and vote. If you want police to be held accountable, then vote for a State Attorney that will protect your community as well as they protect their own. There are numerous judicial races on the ballot. There are a few

get better? That is not the way. We must develop a system on how to weed out those oppressive legal officials and hold them accountable for their criminal activity.

We must learn to tolerate our differences and use constraint against harboring any nefarious thoughts that you may eventually feel you wish to act on against another human being for how you have been treated by them. As an African American, Irish, and Cherokee, I was fortunate enough to have the type of mother who taught me and my siblings to love and respect and tolerate the difference of another human being. My mother also instilled in us to learn about other cultures in order to understand and tolerate more about another person.

The United States was established onChristian principles that are in the Holy Bible. No matter what other cultures think about American laws and culture when they migrate to America, they must respect our laws and culture, and learn to assimilate themselves into their new culture by the letter of the law in America.

They should be permitted to open businesses that cater to their culture, but hire someone who speaks the English language for those patrons who do business with them who speak English only. There has been much hate, discrimination, bigotry, and racism used domestically without constraint and without legal accountability.

America has also purposely developed a double standard to use against specific cultural groups who are being oppressed in order to control them. As a democratic nation, America has had the respect of many other nations for decades, but it seems to be changing now in 2016.

We must live up to our United States Constitution and our Bill of Rights for all people in America. This can only be done by holding those persons and groups accountable for violating our United States laws and policies, and to respect each other.

We already worship together in our churches, so why can’t we believe and follow the principles in the Holy Bible that gives us instructions on how to treat each other with tolerance, respect, and compassion without killing each other?

Blacks cannot bring about justice with violence

By Roger Caldwell

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.

The Gantt Report extends both sympathy and condolences to the civilians and policemen that were recent victims of murder in Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas. It doesn’t matter how you were killed or who killed you, murder is murder and murder is wrong!

When situations arise that involve race related killings, do not believe what you read in some newspapers, what you hear on some radio shows or what you see on social media sites.

The media is going to quote law enforcers and they are going to hand pick puppets or pundits to discuss what went down.

You will never see a major media company print or broadcast a response to community events from community groups or individuals that Black community residents believe, support or appreciate.

For instance, you will never get a major media to give you a response from the Nation of Islam, the New Black Panther Party or a similar group.

I have been victimized by law enforcers multiple times. I wasn’t killed but I was handcuffed to cell bars, torture-style inside of a jail cell, when I was falsely accused of felony assault on a police officer. So don’t even dream about CNN or MSNBC asking me for a comment.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Blackonomics: The difference between JesseWilliams’ BET speech and what comes next

the Country during the tribulations of the last weeks' racially motivated killings is another sterling example of his mantel.

It has been disconcerting to witness the disrespect the President has had to endure in a humble stance. It was written that “It takes a man to suffer ignorance with a smile.”

When the Governor of Arizona wagged her finger in the face of the Government’s Commander in Chief, I personally would have lost my composure.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

The false dichotomy between supporting police Enemies of the people

By Lee A. Daniels, or legitimate protest lyst for the public disGeorge Curry Media Columnist If Micah Xavier Johnson’s goal was to support people in Dallas who were protesting the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La. and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minn., he failed miserably.

Not only did he not advance the cause by killing five law enforcement officers, his deadly action was the cata-

By Lucius Gantt

James Clingman says that fiery rhetoric, overwhelming applause, and two million “hits” and “tweets” are not enough to get the job done.

We must have action.

By Don Valentine

By George E. Curry, George Curry Media Columnist

Murder in Black and blue

Last week was a violent and sad period in the American psychosis, when five policemen are ambushed and killed, seven are shot and injured, and two Black men are senselessly killed by the police.

My heart and prayers go out to the families that are impacted by this senseless violence and tragedy. It is time for America to look in the mirror and establish, “Where is Justice?” No one is all right and no one is all wrong.

Police in America must be accountable, responsible, and transparent.

Everyone knows that a police officer’s job is dangerous, but a cold despicable act with a gun may become the norm with so many individuals with legal permits, and mental health problems.

The five police officers killed in Dallas were Lorne Ahreno, 48, Michael Krol, 40, Michael Smith, 55, Brent Thompson, 43, and Patrick Zamarippa, 32.

These five courageous officers will not be home to share time with their families, as a result of the pervasive violence in our society.

Michael Xavier Johnson, 25, a Black man, is the shooter in Dallas, who decided that violence and killing was the only way he could make a difference in America. This is a sick commentary on America, but many think violence is the answer.

Jim Pasco, the executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents 330,000 officers said, “We’d like to see the President make one speech that speaks to everyone instead of one speech that speaks to Black people as they grieve and one speech that speaks to police officers as they grieve.

"We don’t need two Presidents, we only need one. We need one who works to unify the United States.

Hind sight is 20/20 Mr. Obama The nation’s first African American President over the last seven years has been lambasted by a large margin of the population. Historically, most presidents get a more judicious review of their performance after an absence from office. This can be reflective of a better review of their actions than when they where in office. Time does not guarantee a halo assessment in retrospect for all Presidents. Let me cite George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter to name a few.

In the case of our current President, the review of time from office has not been needed to cement his performance rating. This is a result of the dubious roster of Presidential candidates. President Obama’s approval ratings have soared. This is a reflection of the stark contrast of leadership content that the President has compared to the future candidates. In a newly released Washington Post/ABC News poll, President Obama’s approval rating hit 56 percent — his highest level since 2011, after the killing of Osama bin Laden. His stewardship of

judicial candidates of color you need to research: Judge Evans, Alfreda Coward, Haccord Curry, Ian Richards and Florence Barner. Vote for whomever you choose but vote.

Our Bar Association will continue to focus on the needs of our immediate community; however, we would be derelict in our responsibilities if we don’t acknowledge our broad community during these times. We all mourn for the friends and families of the police officers whose lives were lost. We mourn for the veteran who may have suffered from PTSD. Those who choose to pick up this cross must be ready to bear it in good and bad times. Thus don’t do it for show or self-gain but do it because it is the right thing to do.

Get out in the community, take action and be the change we seek.

The Gantt Report

cussion to dramatically shift from videotaped police misconduct to the dangers of policing in America.

The news media, which had been giving extensive coverage to the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, quickly shifted gears and focused almost exclusively on the police attacks in Dallas, filling the airways with touching individual profiles and extolling the virtues of police officers who ran toward danger to protect the public instead of retreating to safety.

The stories of heroism deserved to be told. But so did the unfolding stories behind the deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. The media coverage mirrored a larger dilemma: American’s were being told in no uncertain terms that they had to pick sides - they were either on the side of police officers or the side of protesters.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

In the hours before the 25-year-old Army veteran Micah Johnson launched his, in the words of President Obama, “vicious, calculated and despicable” attack on white officers of the Dallas police force, something simultaneously remarkable and ordinary occurred.

Department officials took advantage of the peacefulness of the earlyevening demonstration there - organized to protest the killings of two Black men by non-Black police officers in Louisiana and Minnesota - to post pictures of it.

“Men, women, boys & girls gathered @BeloGarden Park for the demonstration re: recent police involved shootings” read the caption to one photo that in other circumstances might have suggested a crowd gathered for an evening outdoor music concert.

Who could have imagined those photos would within hours become part of the evidence of what Johnson sought to destroy - the attempt in

By James Clingman (NNPA News Wire Columnist) More than a couple of million folks have responded to the words spoken by Jesse Williams, which points out the fact that many Black people are mesmerized by words that excite us and stimulate our emotions. Rather than initiating practical and appropriate actions as a result of words that make us feel good, we usually end up celebrating, espousing, regurgitating, and discussing, ad nauseam, those words instead of implementing strategies that make us “do good.”

The speech by Williams was important and relevant, especially to Black people. I appreciate his words and his willingness to make his statements on such a widely viewed stage. He used his fame and the very popular BET Awards Show to put forth a message that has been spoken and written by others before him, but also one that we need to hear over and over. Seems to me that when someone famous says the same things other non-famous folks have said, it takes hold quicker and our light bulbs come on faster. Questions: “How long will the message last, and will we act upon it?

Jesse Williams’ background, political affiliations and motivations notwithstanding, his message was more important than the messenger. But since we are so attuned with what our celebrities say, he had instant credibility with many young and older folks alike.

Dallas to find a pathway out of a troubled past and a difficult present to mutual trust and cooperation.

Johnson’s murderous rampage that took the lives of five white officers was the work of an enemy of the people. He wasn’t acting “on behalf of” Black Americans in any way. Instead, he was acting out the demons within him he could no longer even partially control. It is striking and revealing that he acted amid a demonstration that had shown police, whose task was to keep order, and a multiracial throng protesting instances of police wrongdoing could occupy the same space respectfully.

Just 12 months ago, much of America was horrified by another murderous rampage, committed by Dylann Roof, Micah Johnson’s mirror image across the color line.

Johnson apparently held some mumbo-jumbo Black separatist notions and declared he wanted to kill white people, especially white cops.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

www.thewestsidegazette.com

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

Church Directory

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

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

Reverend Jimmy L. English

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

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"

Elevating Word Church 911 N.W. 209 Ave., Suite 122 PEMBROKE PINES, FL 33029 (954) 297-9530 ewc@elevatingwordchurch.org www.elevatingwordchurch.org Sunday Prayer -- 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship -- 10:45 a.m.

Wednesday Adult & Youth Bible Study -- 7:30 p.m.

MONTHLY EVENTS *Men’s and Women’s Ministry, *Villa Maria Nursing Home *Food Distribution

Pastor McQuaise & Antoinette Hepburn

“Renewing minds, transforming lives, and impacting the world for Christ.”

July 14 - July 20, 2016 • Page 7

Westside Gazette

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!

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

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

Rev. Cal Hopkins.

M.Div) Senior Pastor/Teacher

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!”

Progressive National Baptist Convention to focus on voting rights during 55th Annual Session in New Orleans

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.

Obituaries 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.

James C. Boyd Funeral Home NELSON Funeral services for the late Rev. Joe Nelson, Jr. - 82 were held July 9 at James C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel with Pastor Joseph Harley, officiating. Interment: South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Fl. SMITH Funeral services for the late Harvey Smith - 67.

McWhite's Funeral Home

Mount Calvary Baptist Church

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

Reverend Anthony Burrell, Pastor SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church Reverend Henry E. Green, Jr., Pastor 401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 Phone: (954) 463-6309 FAX 954 522-4113 Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Email infor@mthermonftl.com

SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES Worship Service ..................................................................... 7:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Fifth Sunday ONLY .................................................................................... 10 a.m.

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

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

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

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

(712)432-1500 Access Code296233#

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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ALEXANDRE Funeral services for the late Yvro R. Alexandre - 24 were held July 9 at Berean Baptist Church with Rev. Kepler Joseph officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens.

DAVIS Funeral services for the late Tony Devan Davis - 57 were held July 7 at McWhite’s Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. George Derico officiating. Interment: South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Fl.

JOSEPH Funeral services for the late Ivona Sybil Joseph - 76 were held July 9 at Village United Methodist Church with Rev. Andrea Byer officiating. Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home HANKERSON Funeral services for the James Hankerson, Jr. - 88 were held July 9 at Roy Mizell and Kurtz Worship Center with Dr. James B. Darling, Jr. officiating.

WALKER Funeral services for the late Rosadell Munroe Walker - 84 were held July 9 at Church Of God Prophecy with Bishop Arthur Wilson, Jr. officiating. Interment: Dania Westlawn Memorial Cemetery.

Pray for Peace

Kids Talk About God How does God guide you in making hard decisions?

By Carey Kinsolving and friends (Part One of Part Three) “I talk to him and ask him what to do and what college to go to,” says Abraham, 8. “God helps me make a decision like if I should hit my brother.”

Decisions, decisions. If you’d like to enter college in one piece, you would be wise to refrain from hitting your brother. Hit mine instead. Just kidding.

“One day I wanted to beat up my sister, but God told me not to do it,” says Jonathan, 8.

I’m glad you listened, Jonathan. Never, ever hit a girl.

Don’t even think about it.

Some boys who hit girls grow into men who hit women. I

hesitate to use the word “men” because real men don’t hit women. Only cowards resort to this kind of violence.

If you want to make life easier for yourself, decide in advance to follow God’s standards. Then when occasions arise, there will be fewer things to decide. You can act without hesitation upon your convictions. In a culture where morality is relative, you’ll have to swim against the stream. Just make sure your convictions are biblically based.

“When I had a new dog, I had to choose if I wanted to keep him or give him away,” says Ambee, 11. “I had a pool in the back yard, so he didn’t have any room to play. So that

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. (PNBC) will celebrate its 55th Annual Session in New Orleans from Aug 7-14, 2016. Considered the Emerald Anniversary, PNBC President Dr. James C. Perkins will lead the denomination that represents over 2,000 churches with weeklong events. With the upcoming presidential election, a focus of the Annual Session will include the importance of the vote. PNBC is expected to host one or more of the presidential candidates during the convention.

The denomination was founded out of the Civil Rights Movement and their fight for human and civil rights remains a key mandate. While in New Orleans, the group will focus on informational and education campaigns with an aim of assuring that people of color across the country are registered to vote. PNBC will work with various local and national civic and faith-based organizations to help undergird their message.

Dr. Perkins’ views on voter registration was the basis of a recent Op-Ed article for BlackAmericaWeb.com, “The resurgence of racism, the future of the Supreme Court, the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, the future of the Affordable Health Care Act, police brutality, and a biased criminal justice system, all make it imperative that we wake up and sound the alarm to stir our people to participate in this year’s election.” Dr. Perkins has called on PNBC churches to hold voter registration drives in their congregations. The denomination is providing the Freedom Sunday Coalition’s Faith Leader’s Toolkit for Civil Engagement as a guide for hosting voter renight, God told me to give him to Mr. Carol. He had three acres. I did, and the dog is still alive and running happily.”

Ambee’s story is a great example of discovering God’s will.

Nothing in the Bible says that if you have a dog in a small back yard, you should give it to someone with three acres. However, promises abound for those who depend on God for guidance.

One of my favorites is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

gistration drives. PNBC is compiling their churches’ campaign results through posts provided at voterregistration@pnbc.org, which will be announced during the Annual Session.

In addition to the voting registration agenda, the Annual Session will provide the expected 5,000 attendees with ministry workshops, Christian Education classes, a pastoral division, and preaching. The Women in Ministry track will feature daily sessions created to encourage and support women ministers and pastors. The Congress of Christian Education features nearly thirty classes with topics from Bible studies to church ministries.

One of the most popular components of the Annual Session is the Pastors Division. This year, clergy will choose from learning tracks that enable churches to reach a yearning community. Sessions include Building a Men’s Ministry by Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, Using Social Media to Grow Your Church by Dr. Sir Walter Mack, Jr., and Wedding, The Bible and Social Justice by Bishop John R. Bryant. A highlight of the Annual Session is the passionate preaching, and the scheduled pastors should continue the tradition. The following celebrated pastors are featured speakers: Bishop J. D. Wiley Taylor (Missions); Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III (Opening Night); Dr. Kevin Cosby (Education Night); Dr. Charles E. Booth (Dr. Gardner C. Taylor Hour); and Dr. Ralph W. West (Closing Session).

Dr. Perkins will provide a highly anticipated sermon address during the President’s Night event. Adding to the illustrious roster of pastors are Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, Dr. Robert C. Scott, Dr. Jacqueline Thompson, Dr. Michael T. Scott, Dr. James Victor, and Dr. Howard-John Wesley who will offer stirring morning and afternoon messages. On Thursday, August 11, 2016, PNBC will host the Emerald Gala, which is in recognition of the contributions of pastors’ spouses.

The Annual Session is expected to map the goals and objections for the upcoming year that will lead member churches to live out the mission of equipping pastors and churches to be effective in ministry and lifting their voices on behalf of the voiceless.

A Family That Prays, Together Stay Together

Page 8 • July 14 - July 20, 2016

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It’s that time of year again when days are longer, temperatures are higher and auto dealers advertise some of the most tempting deals. And while there’s nothing new about new car fever or the annual ad blitz, there’s a good deal of news on how consumers are choosing and paying for their cars.

For example, new car sales increased more than 5 percent from a year ago. At the same time, the average credit score for a new car loan dropped to 710 and even lower to 645 for a used vehicle.

These data points provided

by Experian, a major market intelligence firm, also recently reported that today the average monthly car payments are also at an all-time high: $503 for a new car and $376 for a used one. Car loan terms are also longer and the amounts financed are both larger too. On average, both new and used car loans are respectively 68 and 66 months. The average new car loan is now an all-time high at $30,032.

“The continued rise in new vehicle costs have kept many consumers exploring options to keep their monthly payments affordable,” said Melinda Zabritski, Experian’s senior director of automotive finance. “As long as vehicle prices continue to rise, we can expect leasing rates to grow along with them…

The record highs we have seen in vehicle prices also have had a significant impact on the loan market.”

Consumers short on savings for a down payment, but anxious for a new or nearly-new car may opt for a lease rather than a purchase – a very complex transaction with pitfalls of its own. During the first quarter of 2016, nearly a third of all new car transactions were leases.

For consumers, the really ‘good deal’ is tied not only to the cost of the car, but also to the terms of the sale as well. Sale or lease prices, interest rates, length and other items are also important to the art of ‘the deal’.

Unfortunately, all too often consumers of color - especially Blacks and Latinos – consistently try to negotiate a ‘good car deal,’ but often wind up paying more than others. The practice of car dealers adding extra interest to a car loan has a long history of discrimination that has led to a series of multimillion dollar settlements with finance arms of major auto manufacturers and other ones with banks.

Fortunately, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently developed a

series of consumer resources that can better inform those making decisions. Topics included in the series cover: how to plan for a purchase; loan options and how to better negotiate a car loan. A consumer guide available for download can also serve as a handy reference, providing greater detail on the process from determining how much to borrow to closing the sale.

Most importantly, CFPB provides specific steps to take before going to dealers. The CFPB strongly encourages consumers to get an offer from a bank, credit union or other finance source before setting foot in the dealership.

The Bureau also urges caution when striking agreements with dealers. Consumers should carefully review loan paperwork to catch differences between what was verbally promised against what the paperwork requires borrowers to do.

Consumers should never sign any loan with unclear terms, blank spaces or language they do not completely understand.

According to the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL): · 80 percent of car loans are financed through dealers; · At more than one trillion dollars, outstanding car loans are the third highest amount of consumer debt, surpassed only by mortgages and student loans; and · Although borrowers of color report trying to negotiate loan terms more than other consumers, they wind up paying more for financing.

A fact sheet on how to avoid a predatory car loan is available on CRL’s web.

“Car prices are rising faster than incomes, so consumers are faced with taking on longer loans,” said Chris Kukla, CRL executive vice president. “The CFPB’s new guide rightly puts the focus on the overall cost of the car. Lenders are taking big chances when making loans for seven or eight years – borrowers should think long and hard before taking one.”

Pray for Peace

www.thewestsidegazette.com

July 14 - July 20, 2016 • Page 9

Westside Gazette

Goldman Sachs '10,000 Small Business' Program spurs economic growth ness owners who are facing similar challenges including growth opportunities, access to capital and [hiring practices].”

Moin said that the program curriculum, designed by Babson College, one of the top entrepreneurship colleges in the country, enables participants to immediately apply the lessons they’ve learned that day in a real world business environment.

The “10,000 Small Businesses” program is currently operating in Cleveland, Chicago, Dallas, /Detroit, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Rhode Island, and Salt Lake City.

GS1Alumni from the Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses” gather at a recent program in Philadelphia with city officials and a top Goldman Sachs executive.

(Goldman Sachs)

By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Wire Contribution) In 2010, Goldman Sachs launched the “10,000 Small Businesses” program to help business owners unlock their potential for growth and job creation by providing greater access to business education, financial capital and support services.

Six years later, the $500 million initiative continues to empower small business owners – from startups to seasoned companies – with the tools they need to achieve higher levels of success.

In December, NAACP National President and CEO Cornell William Brooks announced that his organization would join the initiative and utilize the NAACP’s network of 2,200 local chapters and state conferences to help inform and recruit small business owners to join the program, which provides intensive specialized business management courses for applicants and opportunities to access capital.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of every neighborhood and community,” Brooks said in a news release. “Supporting their growth and ability to thrive will only strengthen the communities in which those businesses call home and provide much-needed economic opportunity to the existing and future employees of those businesses.”

In getting the word out about the program to local communities, Moin said they always partner with local and national entities like the NAACP and the

National Urban League, particularly where the membership is primarily African-American.

“It’s important to partner with these organizations… they are the community ambassadors,” she said. “I can show up in a market and the small business owners are not going to know me, but they may know someone from the NAACP or the Urban League.”

The program is based on the broadly held view of leading experts that greater access to

this combination of education, capital and support services is the best way to address barriers to growth.

“The easiest way to describe the program is that it’s a practical hands-on business education on your business,” said Sonia Moin, program manager at Boston-based Initiative for a Competitive Inner City – or ICIC, which has partnered with Goldman Sachs on the “10,000 Small Businesses” program. “In the room, the small business owners learn from other busi-

Five facts you need to know about the Buffalo Soldiers 1. In 1866, through an act of Congress, legislation was adopted to create six all African-American Army units. The units were identified as the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry regiments. The four infantry regiments were later reorganized to form the 24th and 25th Infantry regiments.

2. These fighting men re-presented the first Black professional soldiers in a peacetime army. The recruits came from varied backgrounds including former slaves and veterans from

Black AIDS Institute to host Pre-Conference Updates at AIDS 2016

Graduates of the 2016 class of the African American HIV University Science and Treatment College.

As part of its Community Science Empowerment Project and the UNAIDS/PEPFAR Fast Track Faith-Based Initiative, The Black AIDS Institute (BAI)

No one said that it would be easy!

(Cont'd from FP) Difficult times produce stronger people like the Zande Warrior - Central African tribal killers that disrupted the old slave trade and spread their empire through the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

Unlike the biblical stories of the Jews in the Bible, when they were given freedom from the Egyptians after hundreds of years of bondage, they left for the Promised Land. However, God didn’t send them an easier way; even though it was longer it wasn’t a course that they would venture into Philistine country where they would have to fight tooth and nail to survive the wars.

In God’s plans there is always something more profound in store.

God uses our periods in the deserts and valleys situations to teach and develop His people who He has called to be His soldiers.

Our desert experiences may be the slaughtering of innocent lives, even the killing of those who are supposed to be protecting us through the implementation of “policing”.

We may want to choose the easy road of going out and reacting with violence; yes for a moment it may feel good to retaliate violence with violence but that easy road would lead us to disaster.

The endearing road of heart aches and pain from all sides should make and mold us into a nation for our successful passage into the place of understanding and accepting one’s difference.

Our God is exact, and we can have faith in Him to direct us and love us no matter what we are confronted with. We may not comprehend the motive for the route we are on, but we can have confidence in Him to help us grow in belief and be developed into His perfect plan for us as we go through deserts and valleys.

“Lord, our way seems to be dark and dreary right now and there appears to be no way out except through death and destruction. We cannot see the path ahead, so we are depending on You to put us on the right path. Please Lord, reassure us, and communicate to us as we look to You to direct our path.

Amen.”

GOD’S TECHNIQUE IS ALWAYS CORRECT— POSTPONEMENT FROM FLESHLY DESIRES WITH LONG-SUFFERING FOR HIM.

will host a one-and-one-halfday pre-conference designed to prepare delegates for specific sessions being presented at the International AIDS Conference.

The pre-conference will follow the conference tracks: Clinical Research, Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Basic Science Research, Implementation Research, Social and Political Research, Policy and Human Rights. Workshop objectives include: • Increasing dispro-portionately affected communities’ understanding of AIDS 2016 basic science, clinical science, epidemiology and prevention science concepts • Providing an orientation to the basic science, clinical science, epidemiology and prevention science tracks for CBO/ NGO HIV/AIDS workers.

• Expanding treatment advocacy among people of color, low-income countries, and women.

• Strengthening connections among treatment activists from around the world.

• Strengthening working relationships between activists in the developed world and activists in the developing world.

• Providing support in the development and execution of Post conference updates Free and open to the public, the preconference takes place at the Olwandle Suite Hotel, Stalwart Simelane Street, Durban, 4001, on July 17, 2016 from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and July 18, 2016 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The sessions are funded by Gilead, The Ford Foundation’s

Approximately 62 percent of small businesses in the United States have four or fewer employees and the Goldman Sachs initiative offers enormous and largely untapped potential in creating new jobs and generating economic development, according to a recent report titled “The State of Small Business in America” by Babson College.

“We all benefit if we are able to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that best supports ongoing small business growth and job creation in America,” Babson College President Kerry Healey said in a statement. “Public and private sectors must work together to

support small businesses, which comprise 99 percent of all U.S. employer firms and which account for more than half of the private sector’s net new jobs over the past two decades.”

More than 1,800 businesses across the United States were surveyed for the report. Most were “10,000 Small Businesses” participants, who reported that obtaining capital remains a big hurdle.

The study also found that small businesses are four times more likely to go to a bank for capital needs. Looking across all sources of capital, survey respondents apply for a median amount of $100,000, but receive only 40 percent of what they seek. Business owners say that they need more flexible loan terms.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

Institute of International Education, Merck and UNAIDS.

Black History, Buffalo Soldiers service in the Civil War. 3. The nickname Buffalo Soldiers began with Cheyenne warriors in 1867. The actual Cheyenne translation was Wild Buffalo. The nickname was given out of respect for the fierce fighting ability of the 10th U.S. Cavalry.

4. Over time, Buffalo Soldiers became a generic term for all African-American soldiers serving in the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry and the 24th and 25th U.S. Infantry Regiments.

5. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Buffalo Soldiers were assigned to the harshest and most desolate posts.

Specific duties included subduing Mexican revolutionaries, outlaws, rustlers and warring Native Americans. Additional administrative duties included exploring and mapping the Southwest and establishing outposts for future towns.

The Buffalos Soldiers National Museum will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers in Houston, Tex. from July 28 – July 30. For more infor-

The “Br ownsville Af “Bro Afffair”: The Injus tice That Led T o 1 67 Blac k Injustice To 16 Black Soldiers Being Dishonorably Discharged; The Largest U.S. Ar my Dismissal In His y Arm Histtor ory

Between August 13th and 14th 1906, in the city of Brownsville, Texas a shooting took place which left one white man dead and another white man injured. The shooting happened around midnight. The blame for the shooting was laid at the doorstep of Black soldiers who were based at Fort Brown. The commanders that were […]

mation, visit www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com.

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum relies on supporters to keep its doors open. Two ways the community can help include: 1. Become a member.

Museum membership ranges from $35 for students and seniors to $50,000 for its highest level of corporate membership.

The most popular membership is $45 for individuals, which includes unlimited free museum admission for one year, discounts on gift store merchandise and museum rentals, invitations to special events and a quarterly newsletter subscription.

2.

Buy a brick. The museum’s “Leave-A-Legacy…Buy-A-Brick” Paver Program allows donors to create a lasting memory by purchasing a one-of-a-kind engraved brick permanently displayed on the museum’s Soldiers Plaza. Bricks start at $175 and can honor a veteran, promote a business, surprise a friend, cheer an alma mater or commemorate a special date or event. For information, call 713-942-8920.

Page 10 • July 14 - July 20, 2016

Changed… an excerpt

By Katrina Jo Writing instrument in hand, journal opened, I had stared out the window at the front lawn for about half an hour before any clear thoughts emerged that warranted preservation in script. The last few days of this process had revealed the fact that my truths were buried so deep beneath my false reality that I could barely remember what the truth was.

Here I sat in a world of piety that neither accepted nor understood me.

I’m not sure I should’ve complained because I married into this life willingly; bringing with me my socially acceptable appearance and intelligence, when desired by my husband and his family, to sweeten the deal.

Somewhere in my soul I believed that even if my husband couldn’t see me or hear me, he would at least take good care of me. That’s what you do with pretty things you collect. Polish them. Clean them. Make sure they’re ready for presentation at a moment’s notice. But he ... he never even checked my batteries to see if my heart was still pumping.

My mother said he was the perfect man for me. She said I should be grateful to be married to a man who takes care of the bills. I was kinda hoping for a man that would love me as well. Guess that was too much to ask.

“Did you hear what I said?”

Sue Ann, a young girl from the church, had a tight clasp on my shoulders and was shaking me with the force of a woman and I can’t understand what she’s saying. All I know is that somehow I opened the front door and now had a tight grip on the doorknob.

“Come quick! Blood is everywhere!” I hear her now, so I stand up grabbing for a sweater to cover my shoulders. No selfrespecting first lady is going out into the streets with her bare shoulders. A preacher’s wife should always look like a preacher’s wife, my mother’s words echo in my mind.

“Whatchu doin’?” Sue Ann, her southern drawl is hollering from the drive way. “Come on.

I think he’s dyin’!” She grabbed me by the hand and we run down the back alley from the parsonage to the church.

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.

July 7, 14, 21, 28, 2016

“OH God.” My wobbly legs are useless as I crawl the last 10 feet over to Dixon’s body. “Help!

Somebody help us please!” It’s just after dusk and the dimly lit passageway behind the church was deserted. “Honey, can you hear me?” I’m shaking him, needing him to respond. “Run to Mama Ruth’s house and get some help.” My eyes are glued to my husband as Sue Ann runs down the street.

“Oh Dixon… honey.” I cradle his head and shoulders in my lap. His blood is still warm on his beige Travel Knit suit.

Blood-choked sounds escape as he attempts to speak. Coughing, he clears his throat while splattering blood in my face.

“She-.” His eyes were wild.

“Don’t try to talk. Save your strength honey.”

“She…” “Please honey, you need your strength.”

“Woman-,” his eyes flash with familiar anger and my concern turns to fear. “You –” I’m sure the blood is choking his curses into silent submission. More coughing and we’re covered in more blood. Bright lights blind my vision. An ambulance with red lights blinking, sirens wailing, turns off the main road, Sixth street, and into the alleyway.

“Ma’am let me get a look at him,” a male voice says. I stare blindly into the headlights.

“Ma’am, you need to let him go so I can look at him.” The voice speaks again. I hear his words and will my limbs to move.

“Ma’am?”

I gaze into the headlights searching for clarity until my arms were lifted from around Dixon and he is taken from my lap. Realizing that I’m disheveled, I try to spread out the drying bloody wrinkles of my frock as I rise to my feet. I hear the shouting, and screaming, and people pressing in on us from all sides. Ironically, I’m able to fade backwards against the crowd, unnoticed.

My internal compass steers me back to the house without so much as a “are you okay Mrs. Pratt?” from the concerned citizens of my community or my doting in-laws. Their demigod, the right Reverend Dixon Pratt, is dead. My husband has never cared much for me in life. Why should I expect his worshippers to care about me now that he was dead?

Pray for Peace

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Westside Gazette

The Ugly Cousin comes to us full of challenges faced by families MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL — It’s exciting to meet a new up and coming playwright.

Kartika King’s play The Ugly Cousin comes to us full of challenges faced by families. Young women are searching for selfapproval and love.

“Charity Ann Vixen is her name, and it is a Cinderella story with a big twist,” King says. She spent years writing it, suffering writer’s block. She rewrote until she was satisfied with the work. She is ready to present it to the public.

“The Ugly Cousin shows regardless of how beautiful you are on the outside, there is nothing worse than being ugly on the inside,” said King.

In the play, with her mother having died of cancer, Charity

goes to live with her uncle and mother’s former business partner. He is very sweet to her and tries to bolster her self-esteem

by telling her she is beautiful and talented, yet somehow Charity has self-esteem issues which became worse after losing her mother.

Charity is a singer like her mother. It is through her singing that she tries to lift her spirit and increase her self-esteem.

Charity’s uncle marries and in comes the aunt who wants no part of Charity. The aunt lets Charity know she is not welcome. “Who is this homeless girl, darling? Where did you pick her up? She can’t stay here.

Remember I have a daughter and although this is a five-bedroom mansion you know my clothing will take up three of them. You never told me you had a living relative.”

The aunt’s daughter Star is beautiful, greedy and a master forger. She is interested only in money and recognizes Charity’s vulnerability and need for companionship and acceptance.

She takes advantage of Charity’s insecurity and neediness.

There is also a handsome, talented prince charming in The Ugly Cousin.

King has written accompanying songs for The Ugly Cousin and is on point to put to music and hear them on the stage. “I began my writing by writing poems and sometimes selling them to other students when I was in school,” she says.

(Read full story on www.thewestsidegazette.com)

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July 14 - July 20, 2016 • Page 11

Westside Gazette

Author Barbar a Solomon aims to empo wer Blac k y outh and Barbara empow Black youth bring balance to Blac y with anima ted book series Black History animated k Histor FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Over the past few weeks, there has been a rash of commentary surrounding the resurgence of “slave stories” in the mainstream media, from the WGN America series Underground to the remake of Roots, which airs on the History Channel. Public figures, including

rapper Snoop Dogg and others have openly expressed their frustration with the constant depiction of Black people as slaves, with Snoop even calling for a boycott. They believe it is time for more positive images.

Echoing those sentiments is children’s author Barbara Solomon. Known for her animated,

educational Princess Kamala book series, Solomon is on a mission to educate, empower and instill a sense of pride in Black youth by exposing them to a well-rounded view of Black history, including from the perspective of warriors, kings and queens. She will host a book signing, reading and

presentation at the AfricanAmerican Research Library and Cultural Center on July 30th at 1 p.m.

While exposing children to Roots is important, to her, balance is key to the discussion of the Black experience.

“The history we are learning about is a history of victimi-

zation,” Solomon said. “It is based on us being victimized by a stronger culture, pulled out of our homeland and being brought in as slaves. We know nothing about ourselves before that. While slavery is true, there is a culture and a development of culture and a history of civilization. We can’t just go back

Solomon to host Book Event and Presentation at Ft. Lauderdale’s AfricanAmerican Research Library and Cultural Center

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to Egypt, but go back to Kush, go back to Mali and the Sudanese state.”

Solomon, who is based in Palm Coast, Fla., is the founder of Adzua Arts and for many years has dedicated her life to studying African history and educating people on everything from the etwie drum of Ghana to the Baobab tree. She travels the country to do book signings, readings and to present before various audiences.

Stories like The Frog Who Could Not Jump center on the importance of meeting challenges head-on and believing in one’s self to achieve goals.

Another, Princess Kamala – The Lost Boy, is dedicated to Trayvon Martin and explores human emotions such as frustration, depression, anger, disappointment and also the importance of sharing. One book is dedicated to President Barack Obama. Each of them has important messages and reveals information about African culture that is typically omitted from the history books and television screens.

“I have to write something for my children, OUR children, so they can understand who they are,” she said. “They must know where they came from to know where they are going.”

Solomon emphasizes that while her books offer historical context, the actual stories are fictional. Still, it is important to show examples of Black power, brilliance and positivity, similar to how whites are portrayed and promoted in mainstream books and films. Both she and Snoop Dogg can agree on that.

“Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel weren’t real, but they were taken from the culture at that time,” Solomon said. “We have to start talking to our kids about our history. I would really like to see a movie about that period where Africans were in control. A movie with a story of what the people did, how they solved their problems. Never mind Game of Thrones. Give me King of Thrones.”

Solomon will present and share her books at 1 p.m., at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. To learn more about her work, visit www.adzuaarts.com. Barbara’s books are available on Xulonpress.com and Amazon.com.

To schedule an interview with Barbara Solomon, contact Ivan Thomas at (202) 904-4790 or intriguemg@gmail.com.

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Page 12 • July 14 - July 20, 2016

Westside Gazette

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