Bowie State Holds Spring 2023 Graduation

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

On the beautiful, sunny morning of Friday, May 26, Bowie State University held their spring commencement

Following a wonderful rendition of the national anthem, Bowie State University President Aminta H. Breaux, the first woman to serve in that role, and academic leadership took the stage.

Under Breaux’s tenure, Bowie State’s reputation has grown considerably and new improvements such as the Bowie Business Innovation Center and the All-Steinway Fine and Performing Arts Center have been added to the campus.

Kenneth C. Frazier, the former Chairman and CEO of Merck, served as the commencement speaker, and was awarded an honorary doctorate. Frazier’s speech was aimed at ensuring that graduates recognize their potential, regardless of their starting circumstances.

Other speakers also worked to exhort the crowd, full of support- ive family, friends and alumni.

“We are the new leaders when it comes to so many areas,” said Michael L. McGee, the outgoing president of the Graduate Student Association during his time on the stage. “We have been trained to be bold. To be the leaders that they know we are. This is just a stepping stone to our greatness. What are we prepared to do with it? We are not done yet!”

"Founded in 1865, not only is Bowie State University the oldest Historically Black College in the State of Maryland with the most beautiful campus,” said David Grogan, historian for the BSU Alumni Association’s executive board. “BSU is also located less than 20 miles from the White House, many of the 438 federal government agencies, NASA, and the State Capitol in Annapolis. This gives students the opportunity to participate in exclusive internship and cooperative education programs to help prepare them for great careers and/or entrepreneurship interests, an opportunity I used as an undergrad."

Several doctorates were awarded to graduating students, including seven to longtime Prince George’s residents.

Thirty-six undergraduate students graduated with grade point averages (GPAs) above 3.84, 56 graduated with GPAs between 3.65-3.84 and 48 students graduated with GPAs between 3.53.64. The majors with the most graduates were Psychology, Business Administration, Elementary Education, Biology and Criminal jJustice. One student’s diploma was unfortunately stolen shortly after graduation, although he will still receive an official diploma in the mail.

Bowie State is the oldest HBCU in Maryland and one of the oldest in the nation, as it was originally founded as the Baltimore Normal School for Colored Teachers in 1865, before being relocated to Bowie’s 187 acre Jericho Farm in 1810. Officially becoming Bowie State College in 1963, the university now ranks as one of the nation’s top 20 HBCUs, with strong ratings in their cybersecurity and education programs.

Why Black Music Month is Worth Major Celebration

Happy National Black Music Appreciation Month! It’s no secret that African American music exhibits the immense talent, creativity and trend-setting nature of Black people and culture; but, across genres, it’s also a symbol of power and perseverance.

Let’s really get right to the point– it takes enormous will and audacity, for a people whose cultures and traditions were robbed, to maintain the legacy of the original sounds, and, in turn, reimagine, innovate and elevate entirely new musical genres. That’s pure genius.

From the sacred music of “spirituals,’ and gospel— the former of which is often credited with beginning in slave fields— to jazz, blues, soul, rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, funk, pop, hip hop, rap and trap, Black musicians have created these genres as a means of resistance, often to racist and unjust societal structures.

“For generations, Black music has conveyed the hopes and struggles of a resilient people — spirituals mourning the original sin of slavery and later heralding freedom from bondage, hard truths told through jazz and the sounds of Motown during the Civil Rights movement, and hip-hop and rhythm and blues that remind us of the work that still lies ahead,” said President Joe Biden in his 2022 proclamation for National Black Music Appreciation Month. “ The music created by Black artists continues to influence musicians of all persuasions, entertain people of all backgrounds, and shape the story of our Nation.”

As injustices and inequities continue to face the Black community, it’s also important to note the artists remain in the fight for justice by raising awareness through their music, and inspiring conversations and action.

“We celebrate Black artists who have used their songs to stand up to injustice, fight for equality, and reflect a mirror on society — reminding us all of our enduring obligation to deliver the promise of America for all Americans,” Biden declared as last year’s celebration neared.

So this music month, turn up your radios and blast your favorite jams by your favorite Black artists, while checking out new musicians and old musical gems.

This June, unapologetically appreciate African American music– sing it to the mountaintops . Then continue to celebrate and spread the joy, sound and variety that Black music brings, not only in June, but year round. WI

Tina Turner: A Symbol of Resilience

On May 24, one of the greatest female singers the U.S. ever produced passed away. Anne Mae Bullock, popularly known as Tina Turner, emerged throughout her 83 years of life as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

She was the real force behind the musical husband-wife duo Ike and Tina Turner in the 1960s and 70s. After she departed from the marriage and musical group in 1976, her ex husband fell into obscurity while she soared.

In the 1980s, Turner launched a revival that has been described by music industry experts as “one of the comebacks in history.” Her 1984 multi-platinum album “Private Dancer” contained the hit song “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” which went on to become the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and became her first and only number one song on the Billboard Hot 100. At aged 44, she was the oldest female solo artist to top the Hot 100.

In sum, Turner sold over 100 million records globally and received 12 Grammys, three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was the first Black artist and first woman to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. During her Break Every Rule World Tour in 1988, Turner set a then-Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience (180,000) for a solo performer.

Turner’s road to phenomenal success was not easy. Her saga of a rough early life, particularly with Ike Turner, including verbal, physical and emotional abuse ,has been written about extensively. Given the level of abuse she endured for years, many have marveled at her resilience for getting back to work and making money and history.

The star’s story should be an inspiration for anyone who encounters a setback. One should not let hurdles deter them from reaching their goals. WI

Editorial To The Editor

Congratulations to the Rolark/ Barnes family for the naming of Calvin and Wilhelmina Rolark Way in Ward 8. It’s a long overdue honor for the family’s contribution to Washington, D.C., and its citizens. What a legacy to have and to cherish!

Irene Howie Washington, DC

Turner’s road to phenomenal success was not easy. Her saga of a rough early life, particularly with Ike Turner, including verbal, physical and emotional abuse ,has been written about extensively.

I really enjoyed the latest issue of the Washington Informer. From the feature on Black Americans’ role in Memorial Day to the WI Bridge, I enjoyed it immensely and received some great information.

Todd Philbin Largo, Md.

Readers' Mailbox The Washington Informer welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to: lsaxton@washingtoninformer. com or send to: 3117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032. Please note that we are unable to publish letters that do not include a full name, address and phone number. We look forward to hearing from you.

Guest Columnist

What is Tim Scott Running For?

from my vantage point he has about as much chance becoming president as I do. So why is he really in this race?

Julianne Malveaux

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has joined the throng of Republicans seeking to unseat the former president as the front-runner of that party.. So far, he is polling in the single digits, but he has $22 million left from his last senatorial race that he can use for his presidential race. Other than the historically myopic Florida governor, Scott has scant competition to date, and

The siren call of the presidency beckons many who are long on ambition and short on possibility. But sometimes long shots can make a difference and a statement. Think Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, whose historic 1984 and 1988 campaigns opened doors for hundreds of African American and progressive politicians, and whose footprints are so deep that they are still impactful. Or think Arizona

Guest Columnist

Amanda Gorman, the eloquent 25-year-old Harvard graduate who was our nation's first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate, recently became one of the latest authors to have her work banned after a Florida parent petitioned to have "The Hill We Climb," the book version of the poem Gorman read at President Biden's inauguration, removed from the elementary school section of a Miami-Dade County public school library. The parent, who incorrectly attributed the book to Oprah Winfrey, said in her complaint the poem "is not educational and have indirectly [sic] hate messages." The parent also wrote she believed its function was to "cause confusion and indoctrinate students."

In response, Gorman posted a statement saying she was "gutted" by the book's removal: "Book bans aren't new. But

Guest Columnist

Sen. John McCain, whose populist Straight Talk Express was a feature of his failed 2008 presidential bid. There was Shirley Chisholm, whose presidential bid was a landmark for Black folks and for women, and Colorado's Pat Schroeder, who considered a presidential run. All these folks, and most of the others, ran to make a point and make a difference.

What is Tim Scott's point? In his opening rally on May 22, mostly more diversely attended than usual Republican rallies, he spoke repeatedly of his faith. Punctuating his talk with fre- quent cries of "Amen," faith was part of his theme. His talk was also replete with American exceptionalism, describing this nation as "the greatest nation on God's green earth. Those who have experienced American oppression might argue the "great nation" point, but those who oppose truth-teaching claim that children are being taught to "hate" our country, when all Black Studies and Ethnic Studies want to teach is the truth.

What I find fascinating about Tim Scott's cherry=picking the Bible, with his constant scripture quoting, is that

Marian Wright Edelman

they have been on the rise — according to the [American Library Association], 40% more books were challenged in 2022 compared to 2021. What's more, often all it takes to remove these works from our libraries and schools is a single objection. And let's be clear: most of the forbidden works are by authors who have struggled for generations to get on bookshelves. The majority of these censored works are by queer and non-white voices." She continued: "I wrote 'The

Ben Jealous

Hill We Climb' so that all young people could see themselves in a historical moment. Ever since, I've received countless letters and videos from children inspired by 'The Hill We Climb' to write their own poems. Robbing children of the chance to find their voices in literature is a violation of their right to free thought and free speech."

Gorman noted that her own publisher, Penguin Random House, has already joined PEN America and others in a lawsuit he cannot seem to find his way to the scriptures that address the way our Bible treats the poor. In Luke 6:20-21, the Bible reads, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh." Or, in Matthew 25:35-40, where the Lord says, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat … whatever you did for one of the least of these you do for me" Scott criticized people dropping

MALVEAUX Page 53 in Escambia County, Florida, challenging book restrictions like these, and urged her readers to visit PEN America to learn more and support their challenge. Florida has made many recent headlines for these kinds of bans, and the current climate of hostility towards diversity and inclusion under Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has just led the NAACP to warn against travel to the state. But none of

Under Controlled Coal-Fired Power Plants Still Threaten Americans' Health

Tatum is an East Texas town of about 1,300 people, closer to Shreveport than Dallas. It's on the north shore of Martin Lake. Across the water sits a coal-fired power plant named after the lake that happens to be the single largest sulfur dioxide polluter in the United States.

Paulette Goree, who has lived in the area her entire life, gets a daily reminder of the Martin Lake Power Plant. "I use a personal air monitor every day to figure out if I should spend much time outdoors."

She thinks the air pollution contributed to the deaths of family members and the respiratory problems she and her husband have. A Sierra Club report estimated that, in the two counties surrounding Tatum, coal plant pollution contributes to two premature deaths every year. That's a fraction of the 154 people who die annually in part due to what's spewed out of Martin Lake's smokestacks, according to Clean Air Task Force.

It's why Paulette and other volunteers across the United States are fighting for the federal government to enforce clean air standards already on the books and to strengthen those requirements to reflect what technology can do now to make the air breathable again.

"It just isn't right, and the EPA needs to do better," she said. "It's too late for me and my generation, but we need to improve the air for our younger generations."

It's a fight I've been part of for more than a decade, one that led me to launch the Climate Justice Program at the NAACP. It's still true that these coal powered killers and other industrial polluters more often than not sit in communities of color and where residents have the least economic power. Thankfully, we've been able to get hundreds of those power plants retired.

The unmistakable injustice is that nearly two thirds of the remaining coal-fired power plants in this country could and would have to address their deadly pollution if we were enforcing and strengthening the Clean Air Act, as the Sierra Club's report showed.

Effective pollution control technology exists. But instead of taking on the expense of con-