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LIBRARY OF FLA. HISTORY
205 SMA UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
PO BOX 117007
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-7007
VOLUME 8 .5MBER 29


pora Mutantur Et Nos Mutaur In lis
reutpora Mutantur Et Nos Mutamur In Illis


2012


I


50 cents


'OOR BLACK Fair blasts Urban


SIMENII League's new report
Says State of Black America is "intellectual rhetoric"


By D. Kevin McNeir

Since 1973. the National Ur-
ban Lea-ue has released it.; an-
nual State of Black Ame-rica that
anal-, zes conditions in the Black
comrinunit', and includes a sta-
tilStical measurement of many
of the equality gaps that exists
beV.'een Blacks and whites. Dis-
parities contnLue
to exist in :catego-
ri: that include -
econmrnics. edu- F
cation, health.
criic engagement
and social lustlice.
This year's report
places spec ial
Please turn to
REPORT 10A
MORIA


all PSTATE OF SALK AMERMA
S* ** it* r iti *-

OCaUPY
T- ? -4 e


VOTE
---70'


EDUCATE.

SEMPL OY,

& EM POWER.


Lawmakers return to capital for redistricting session


Florida Supreme Court: "Maps violate Fair District standards"
By Bill Kaczor Friday's 5-2 ruling upheld the tive -pod+r*r+in arnd svngested w,-w
Associated Press 120-district House map but invalidat- to bring the map into compliance.
ed eight of the 40 Senate districts,. "I believe that guidance 6s specific
TALLAHASSEE The Florida Su- also struck down the Senate's district and helpful," said Senate Reappor-
preme Court has given the Legisla- renumbering scheme that increased tionment Committee Chairman Don
ture very specific guidelines for re- the chances of incumbents to serve 10 Gaetz. "It is incumbent upon the Sen-
drawing state Senate districts when years instead of just eight before being ate now to follow the direction that the
the Republican-controlled Legislature term-limited out of office. The justices court has provided us."
convenes a 15-day special session on cited various violations of the new The Supreme Court ruled the Sen-
Wednesday, March 14th. Fair Districts amendment on legisla- ate map violated the amendment by


intentionally favoring incumbents and
the Republican Party, drawing dis-
trirts that were not compact and fa'l-
ing to follow political and geographic
boundaries whenever feasible. The
ruling also faulted the Senate for re-
lying solely on voting age population
in attempting to comply with another
provision that protects the ability of
racial and language minorities to elect
legislators of their choice.
The justices noted other states and


the U.S. Justice Department, which
must review Florida's maps for com-
pliance with the federal Voting Rights
Act, use registration numbers and
analyses of performance in past elec-
tions. Meanwhile, a congressional re-
districting map is being challenged in
state Circuit Court. Senate lawyers on
Monday asked a Tallahassee judge to
delay it until after this year's elections,
arguing there's not enough time.
Please turn to REDISTRICTING 10A


STATE REP SAYS MENTORS
HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE

Stafford aims to

improve community


By D. Kevin McNeir
hinteie'r'_'iallnatime[nit',witiliie c,2HI


Liberty City has always been Cyn-
thia Stafford's home, from childhood
to high school and even today as she
completes her first term as state repre-
sentative and she says she's proud
to "represent."
"I was born and raised right here
and graduated from Nliami Northwest-


ern High," said Stafford. 44. "As long
as I can remember. I''e wanted to be a
lawyer and find ways to help the Black
community reach its full potential "
She recalls being a little girl and
watching her parents work to improve
ife at home and in their neighborhood.
They were. she says, her biggest inspi-
ration.
"I was attracted to law after watching
Please turn to STAFFORD 10A


OF BLACK MIAMI
GIRL SCOUTS


I" i.- ..- ; J ..'*' "-
.. ~~" K1 ,

A 4.4
-.i ; .. .-





,- ",.

The first Girl Scouts of America troop was formed in Savannah,
Ga. on May 12, 1912 but the first troop of Black Girl Scouts wasn't
admitted until 1917. Miami's first Black Girl Scouts were organized
at Booker T. Washington [BTWI Junior-Senior High School in 1942.
Members of Troop 52 pictured in the courtyard at BTW in 1942 in-
clude: Marian Ross (1-r), Francina Lewis, Helen Dorsett, Eleanor
Knowles, Althea Myrie, Audrey Bethel, Arvolene Ayers, Alice Dean,
Kitty Guions, Beverly Pedican, Willie Evelyn Gibson and Eudora Mar-
quess. Troop leader Hazel R. Grant is standing in the rear.


e...........................................................................


Kony video inspires, but misses larger point
By DeWayne Wickham Kony infamous in cyberspace. beled his group a ter- In October, the Obama admin-
Kony has long been a pretty no- rorist organization. istration ordered 100 U.S. mili-


Filmmaker Jason Russell says
the goal of his searing video about
Joseph Kony, which got more than
70 million YouTube hits within
a week, is to make the guerrilla
leader famous. By that, I think he
really means he wants to use the
30-minute documentary to make


torious guy. Over the past two de-
cades, he has kidnapped tens of
thousands of children. The boys
are forced to fight in his army. The
girls become sex slaves. In 2005,
the International Criminal Court
issued an arrest warrant for Kony.
Last year, the African Union la-


S Shortly before leav-
'A i ing office, President
SGeorge W. Bush sent
S17 counterterrorism
WICKHAM advisers to help cap-
ture Kony, who was
hiding in a Congo national park.
He got away.


tary advisers into central Africa to
train the military forces trying to
track down Kony. But so far, he
remains elusive.
Russell hopes that his docu-
mentary, "Kony 2012," will help
bring the international fugitive
Please turn to KONY 10A


I


Kony: Th e rebel leader in 2006


1140


..................................................


.... ................................. .. ....******************************************* *... .. .. ....











.5,
*... A; t


A 2 THE MIAMI TIMES MA 2


OPINION


BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY


Is Jackson being fair to

workers or simply creating

a better hospital?

It's no secret that Jackson Memorial Health Systems has
been walking the tightrope to bankruptcy for a number
of years. But as the only public hospital that uninsured
or critically-wounded Blacks can turn to in Miami-Dade
County, the majority of citizens have tended to ignore reality,
hoping that a miraculous turnaround was just around the
corner.
But let's get real when you don't have enough money to
pay the bills, you have to cut your cuts. It doesn't matter if
you are a family of four, a struggling single parent or a billion
dollar corporation. When all is said and done, each of us must
find a way to balance the books. Perhaps officials at Jackson
forgot about that in recent years; maybe they just weren't
sure how to proceed. To keep their doors open, it's now come
down to layoffs something that none of us wants to hear,
particularly in these trying economic times. And these aren't
just numbers that Jackson is talking about, as recent pro-
tests by employees have reminded us. We are talking about
the heads of families, mothers and fathers, workers whose
careers have been forged in emergency rooms or in the ser-
vice of recovering patients.
However, before we yield to romanticizing the situation,
let's consider one possibility: maybe Jackson is doing what
should have been done years ago trimming excess fat from
its employee rosters and getting in step with the ways other
urban hospitals have survived and improved services over
the last decade. It may hurt their pockets, but workers seem
to have one choice: either forgo padded salaries and impres-
sive fringe benefits or face massive layoffs. Meanwhile, some
execs may have to add more mundane activities to their list
of daily to-dos.

We need better teachers,

not newly-revised

testing procedures
Once again parents, teachers and community- activ-
ists took that long ride to Tallahassee to tell mem-
bers of'the Staie'Board of Education that the latest
proposal for how state schools would be graded was unsat-
isfactory. After speakers pointed out how the change would
have resulted in a significant increase in unnecessary fail-
ures and more inner city schools being converted into for-
profit charter schools, Education Commissioner Robinson
and his crew agreed to revise the plan.
Everyone seems to have an opinion, including our own Gov-
ernor Rick Scott, as to how schools should be graded. But
how much do we really help students, np matter what their
color, by using seemingly arbitrary formulas that send a mes-
sage to already disadvantaged schools and students that they
are perennial failures? Should we have standardized tests?
Yes, in fact they have been part of the public education pro-
cess for generations. The tragic change in recent education-
al philosophy has been to insert tests that take the place of
year-long evaluations and to rely on the former as a means of
assessing the proficiency of students.
Why don't we allow those who are trained and certified to
educate our youth and spend an entire year with them in
the classroom, serve as the final arbiter on whether students
are ready to move on or not? Teachers. Our focus should be
on ensuring that we have competent teachers in every class-
room and then allow them to do their job. Those who don't
measure up should be sent packing. That way, educators can
help students learn how to think critically rather than how
to pass a test.


Women still "rock" in the

Black community
From filling the pews in our churches, leading the way
in protests for civil rights and demanding their political
voice, to bandaging wounded knees and packing a lunch
filled with love, Black women have been at the forefront often
serving without recognition but still making a difference. That's
why we pause today to honor mothers, grandmothers, sisters,
aunts and even "adopted" mothers that are the real backbone of
the Black community.
Unlike during Black History Month, when we invoke the mem-
ories of the more-familiar like Coretta Scott King, Harriet Tub-
man or Mary McLeod Bethune, Women's History NM.n-itl tends
to be that time when we recognize the contributions of ordinary,
relatively-unknown women. That is how it should be.
The truth is, while Black men, from the corporate world to
the hood, tend to perpetuate notions of male dominance, we all
know that it's the sacrifices of women that really matter. Some
may treat women as if they were second-class citizens, born to
serve meals, bare children and take care of our homes. But in
today's world, more sisters are rightfully finding their way into
boardrooms, pulpits and political offices of leadership. Some
doors stayed tightly shut until women like Gwen Cherry or Car-
rie Meek knocked them down.
These women and many more like them, were determined to
find a way to use their gifts, to raise their voices and to show
other women that gender should never be condoned as an ex-
cuse for denying anyone the chance to fulfill their dreams.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Black women everywhere -
women who often come to the battle with little more than sheer
determination and yet somehow find the way to tip the scales
for the betterment of the entire community. Indeed, Black wom-
en still "rock."


Im be oiami Qimeli

iIS3 N 0739-0319,
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CREDO OF THE BLACK PRESS
Tnr. Ea,_':k Pres- Deiie.-e'i nrat America can tbes liea.3 lhe
',ari I'ro r'i:rili and nailional anriagijniirn wren iI aCcords to
eerrv p.eron regardl-ess oll race, .reed or color rus or her
human and legal rign-h Haling rin person tearing no person.
Ihe Blad Preiss i1riets to, help e'.ery person in the firm neliet
ihai all persons are hurt a long as anyone is neid back


Ap

-


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yiB:^^' `


BY EUGENE ROBINSONJ. eugenerobinson@iwashing[onposr cor


GOP candidates: A field full of war hawks


Unless Ron Paul somehow
wins the nomination, it looks
as if a vote for the Republican
presidential candidate this fall
will be a vote for war with Iran.
No other conclusion can be
drawn from parsing the can-
didates' public remarks. Paul,
of course, is basically an isola-
tionist who believes it is none
of our business if Iran wants
to build nuclear weapons.
He questions even the use of
sanctions, such as those now
in force. But Paul has about as
much chance of winning the
GOP nomination as I do.
Mitt Romney, Rick Santo-
rum and Newt Gingrich have
all sought to portray President
Obama as weak on national
security a traditional Re-
publican line of attack. They
have tried to accuse Obama of
being insufficiently committed
to Israel's defense. In the pro-
cess, they've made bellicose
pledges about Iran that almost
surely would lead straight to
conflict. Santorum's apocalyp-
tic rhetoric about Iran practi-


cally takes for granted an im-
minent clash. Gingrich would
essentially abdicate the deci-
sion to Israeli leaders, giving
them the green light for an
attack whenever they choose.
Romney, the likely nominee,


able" for Iran to have nuclear
weapons. The clear implica-
tion is that while military force
is an option that could be em-
ployed at any time, including
the present, force will be em-
ployed if Iran tries to make a


Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have
all sought to portray President Obama as weak on na-
tional security a traditional Republican line of at-
tack.


has been somewhat more cir-
cumspect and less forth-
right. He recently published
an op-ed in The Washington
Post blasting Obama's foreign
policy and promising that un-
der a Romney administration,
things would be different. He
then went on to outline the
steps he would take in deal-
ing with Iran most of which
turn out to be steps Obama
has already taken.
U.S. policy under Obama,
and previous administrations,
has been that it is "unaccept-


bomb. To say that Iran must
never have "the capacity to
make a bomb," as Romney
does, is to draw a line that has
already been crossed. Does
capacity mean having the fuel
for a bomb? Iran knows how
to produce the enriched ura-
nium that would be used in
a bomb, and while U.S. air
power alone unsupported
by ground troops could de-
stroy or damage most of the
enrichment facilities we know
about, the Iranians could have
the program back up and run-


ning within a few ea.rrs. Tlie
truth is that every nation with
sufficient wealth and scientific
infrastructure has the capac-
ity to build a bomb if it really
wants to. An attack is likely to
increase the Iranian regime's
resolve, not lessen it. Bomb-
ing Iran every few years is not
a realistic option and in any
event would not be effective
in the long run; when the Ira-
nians rebuild their facilities,
they will surely do a better job
of hiding and bunkering them.
I hope Romney realizes that
while sanctions and diplo-
macy may not be working as
well as we'd like, they're the
best tools we have -and that
an attack at this point gets us
nowhere. But if he believes his
own rhetoric, this election may
be about more than the econ-
omy. It may be about war and
peace.
Eugene Robinson is a Pulit-
zer Prize-winning newspaper
columnist and the former as-
sistant managing editor of The
Washington Post.


B' DR BOYCE- WATKINS NrlPA


Black lives without value in post-racial U.S.


Last month George
Zimmerman, a white
neighborhood watch captain
murdered a 17-year-old
Black boy named Trayvon
Martin. He was a quiet boy
from Miami who was visiting
his stepmother and father for
the weekend in their gated
Central Florida community
of Sanford.
Having black or brown skin
in America is still enough
to make paranoid racists
suspicious these days. After
all, Blacks aren't allowed to
conduct business as regular
citizens without some
ignorant racist fearing for
their safety. Who knew that
a simple trip to the store for


a pack of Skittles would end
in his death? At this time
George Zimmerman, 26,
has not been arrested nor
charged with murder..
A Black person living in
America should never get too
comfortable and forget what
type of society we live in.


in the minds of racists who
believe that people of color
are inferior and unworthy of
life.
President Obama in the
White House has exposed
the true feelings of many
whites in this country who
believe that immigrants


ABlack person living in America should never get too
comfortable and forget what type of society we live in.
Racism is deeply imbedded in America and often leads
to violent confrontations.


Racism is deeply imbedded
in America and often leads
to violent confrontations.
A Black President in office
means absolutely nothing


and minorities are a threat
to their privileged status.
The poor economic climate
and lack of job security has
fueled racist ideologies.


S BY' MYCHAL DENZEL SMITH


Fifteen years later: What if Biggie had


It's difficult to imagine
what hip-hop might look
like, had The Notorious
B.I.G. lived. We know what
it looks like now, in the
wake of his tragic and un-
timely death at the hands
of a still-unknown gun-
man, but his was such a
presence that it completely
altered the time he lived
in and undoubtedly would
have had a huge impact for
many more years. Rappers
have imitated his style, ad-
opted his flow, borrowed
his lyrics and rocked puffy
Gucci links, attempting to
fill the void the overweight
wordsmith left. But, ain't
no other kings in this rap
thing; Biggie Smalls reigns
supreme.
On the 15th anniversary
of his passing, it's futile to
ask "what if?" We're long
past the time of wondering
and must accept the fact
that hc"s truly gone. It is,
however, an opportunity
to take a look at his legacy


and remember just what
he meant to hip-hop cul-
ture and the legions of fans
that adored him.
Biggie's legacy is inex-
tricably linked to Tupac
Shakur. The infamous
"East coast/West coast"
beef started and, sadly,


be the last.
He wouldn't get to see
the fruits of his labor. On
March 9th, 1997, he him-
self would be shot and
killed in Los Angeles, at the
age of 24.
Biggie seemed to enjoy
being a young Black su-


On the 15th anniversary of his passing, it's futile to ask
"what if?" We're long past the time of wondering and
must accept the fact that he's truly gone. It is, however,
an opportunity to take a look at his legacy and remember just
what he meant to hip-hop culture


ended with these two. But
unlike Tupac, Biggie re-
mained mostly on the de-
fensive, trying to defuse
the situation. He knew the
whole idea of an "East/
West" beef was silly. He re-
corded an ode to Califor-
nia, and worked with Oak-
land native Too Short on
his next album. He knew
if he didn't work to stop it,
Tupac's murder wouldn't


perstar that turned sto-
ries of his neighborhood
and the people he knew
into songs that moved mil-
lions. From what you saw,
you couldn't help but like
him. Of course, there are
the messier parts of his life
that must be dealt with,
namely the physical abuse
of his wife, singer Faith Ev-
ans. It's still unclear just
how often, and how violent,


When people are -.i.iffering
they look for a scapegoat
on which to target their
aggression. The same
occurrence happened in Nazi
Germany. After World War I,
Germany's economy tanked
while some Jewish citizens
flourished. Politicians
used that opportunity to
spread propaganda about
the Jewish population
of Germany which led to
the mass extermination
of millions of people in
Europe. The same mentality
is spreading through the
U.S. with the Tea Party
movement and poisonous
rhetoric targeting minorities
and immigrants.






lived?
he was toward her, but it
puts him in a long line of
supremely talented, yet
troubled Black male art-
ists that are known to have
put their hands on women
in ways we all regret (David
Ruffin, Miles Davis, James
Brown, etc.).
But what the world knew
most of him was a gentle
giant that let his Brooklyn
flow and hardcore poet-
ics talk for him. There are
still very few rappers that
have been able to master
multiple styles as effort-
lessly as Biggie, pleasing
the hip-hop purists, the
hustlers upstate, the suits
in the high rises, and the
Billboard pop charts. He
had something for every-
one, and on the anniver-
sary of his death we will
all remember what that
thing was and cherish it.
We may dust off the Super
Nintendo, or Sega Genesis,
and for a moment just let
everything be all good.


LA i nE ivimv ,i I II VIIJn lMv U 17 -u l I )I
















OPINION


BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY


3A THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012


CORNER


BY QUEEN BROWN. COMMUNITY ACTIVIST. Queenb2020@bellsouth net


We will never give up our vote without


If you are planning to vote in
the November 2012 presiden-
tial elections be sure to check
out Florida's new voter identifi-
cation requirements. Florida is
among seven states that have
a new voter identification law
that can prevent you from vot-
ing. The new rules require get-
ting a passport or a state ID
which is not only inconvenient
for citizens but expensive for
the elderly, the poor, African
Americans and Hispanics from
voting. Nevertheless we have to
find ways not to let the Flori-
da government decides who
should vote.
Presidential candidates have
been known to go to great
length to get your votes. Some
will flip flop on the issues and
tell you what you want to hear
while others will tell lies and
deceive you for your vote. For-
mer President Ronald Reagan
often told a story that he knew


was false just to get votes. As
a GOP candidate he would tell
the story of a Southside Chica-
go woman he called the "Wel-
fare Queen." According to Rea-
gan, she used 80 aliases, 30
addresses and 12 social securi-


small compared with corporate
fraud.
The twisted sentiments of
Reagan towards the poor con-
tinue among today's GOP candi-
dates. Newt Gingrich says poor
people don't work. Rick San-


Presidential candidates have been known to go to great
length to get your votes. Some will flip flop on the issues
and tell you what you want to hear while others will tell
lies and deceive you for your vote.


ty cards in order to receive over
$150,000 in cash, food stamps
and Medicaid.
When Reagan was confronted
with this inaccurate story, in-
stead of stopping the propagan-
da, he continued to deceive the
public with a fabricated story
that helped him win the GOP
nomination. There are some
welfare recipients who com-
mit fraud but the numbers are


torum says the system takes
money and gives it to Black peo-
ple and Mitt Romney flat out
says he doesn't care about the
poor. Many of today's poor are
in that predicament because
they lost their jobs under GOP-
supported policies. Still you
will not hear GOP candidates
admit that their policies con-
tributed to the collapse of the
U.S. economy putting millions


a fight 74
of Americans out of work
President Barack Obama
recently stood firm against
GOP lawmakers who wanted
to raise taxes on the poor and
middle class workers while
multi-billion corporations got
hefty breaks. Now the Repub-
licans want to make sure that
the working class and poor
have problems voting.
With the economy showing
steady signs of improvement,
we must be prepared to vote for
candidates that represent the
best interest of ordinary Amer-
icans. We must educate our-
selves about changes in voter
laws here in Florida that seem
intended to prevent minorities
and the poor from voting. We
must be prepared for the bat-
tles that lie ahead.
Queen Brown is a freelance
writer, a motivational speaker
and a trained crime victim's ad-
vocate.


BY HENRY CRESPO SR., MIAMI TIMES CONTRIBUTOR, hcresposr@gmail.com


r F i-w P? w#,,n IT- ,, k. f. )Aw-- t WANT ITr '-T A '

s V OFFICIAL... EqM
rS FRONTCRAWLER!

- --.I- d


Do you think there are too many people at

Jackson doing the job that fewer could do?


Is government responsible for the
Does government have the So, yes, we are talking about the cycle of urban instability,
responsibility to protect those all of those that don't live in the low-performing schools and
that are the most vulnerable suburbs. And to the extent that bleak economic opportunities.
those who have fallen through our local government is made If we were to judge our soci-
the cracks of our society? They aware of their existence, the ety by the manner in which we
are the ones that command the
least of our attention and ef-
forts and are seemingly those
to whom we should endear our- believe that future generations will evaluate us not on how
selves. They vote only occasion- e responded to those that already have but how we re-

S ally if at all and by and large, sponded to those who have not.
they don't contribute to politi-
S cal campaigns. They rent rath-
er than own a home and they
do not own a business. And if response is only to ameliorate treat those that are the most
they are employed they work a their hardships. For example, susceptible to life's unexpected
nine-to-five or midnight shift. A government will help to fund events without providing real
large percentage of them make a food bank here or a shelter solutions, we would surely have
up the ranks of the underem- there. But we forget the systems cause to be ashamed.
played, that are in place that maintain I believe that future genera-


poor? I
tions will evaluate us not on
how we responded to those
that already have but how we
responded to those who have
not. There has to be another
approach to the telling of this
story a way in which the re-
sults showcase what has been
provided to the weakest and
most vulnerable members of
our society and lack the where-
withal to actively participate in
politics.
Should government be held
accountable for those that can't
do for themselves, and if so how
much? That is the test.
Henry Crespo, Sr., is vice
chairman of outreach for the
Miami-Dade Democratic Party.


BY RON BUSBY, Special to the NNPA


MICHELLE MCCLARY, 44
Miami, unemployed

No, it
wouldn't be
the same kind
of care. I was
at Jackson a
few months
ago and the
service was
excellent at
the time. Jackson is going to
need more employees to offer
that kind of quality care.

VERNA DEAN, 58
Miami, unemployed


No, I don't
think the care
will be same
after the lay-
offs. I mean,
it was hard
enough to pro-
vide good ser-
vice with the


people they had. If they fire all
of those people, somebody's go-
ing to go without receiving any
health care. And Jackson is the
place that Black people depend
on for care.

KENNETH LAIRD, 57
Arcola Lakes, unemployed

No. They
were clearly
slacking off
before they
decided to lay
those people
off. I was in
Jackson when
my left ankle
was nearly ripped off. They got it
back on but the quality of care
was totally different than when I


had gone to Mt. Sinai. So, I don't
think the care will be the same at
Jackson. It won't even be close.


ARDENIA MONTGOMERY, 50
Miami, retired nurse

I don't think the care will be
the same be-
cause I used
to work in
nursing. All of
those workers
are needed to
offer the prop-
er amount of
employees and
caretakers for the patients.

JACKIE AFFORD, 58
Allapattah, mason

Yes, I think
they can man-
age without
those em-
ployees. The
hospital has
a plan; they
know what
they're doing.
But the people
they lay off will struggle. The
workers were probably work-
ing at Jackson for years and it
will probably take them awhile
to find more work. Jobs are so
hard to come by right now.

JAMES MARSHALL, 72
Miami, retired bus driver

No. How can
you have the
same qual-
ity of service
if you're lay-
ing off nearly /
2,000 people? .


Moving from the racial to digital
In a recent article that assess- controlled by those of us willing derstanding the need for digital
es the National Urban League's to work hard to ensure there is equality. Those who were born
recent report, The State of Black equality in education and resourc- when cell phones were the excep-
America, one writer comments es. The third item lack of desire, tion rather than the rule, and
that our culture "is the golden could even be controlled to some when spectrum was only talked
thread that meshes together the
exceptional quality, ingenuity, cre- t is mostly those born before 1977 who have difficulty un-
ativity and value of these products,
(Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola, and Jay- derstanding the need for digital equality. Those who were
Z's music) that makes the Ameri- Aborn when cell phones were the exception rather than the
can Dream accessible all across rule and when spectrum was only talked about when referring to
the globe. He speaks about the
phenomenon of "tanning" or "the the colors of the rainbow ...
mental complexion" of America.
In essence, the writer is talking degree if we can ensure that the about when referring to the colors
about the common experiences other two items are in place. There of the rainbow, don't quite "get it"
and values that go beyond race are many who may have the desire when it comes to understanding
or even socio-economic lines. It is to learn, or build, or do ... if they the importance of having access
a good metaphor and one which knew what they were missing. to the Internet.
explains almost simplistically the Broadband and technology could The question of whether or not
idea that though there may be actually help those who lack the broadband is necessary in today's
real differences in skin tone, our desire to be more interested in ed- marketplace, education system,
desires and our abilities are only ucation, technology, innovation, or job market, has long since been
limited to lack of education, lack or entrepreneurship. answered. Opportunities abound
of resources, or lack of desire. It is mostly those born before on the Internet and innovation
Two of these three things can be 1977 who have difficulty un- is sparked. Creativity is sprout-


event years of EdGir

Seventy years of Girl Scouts


Dear Editor,

The Miami Times's Feb. 1,
1990 edition carried the photo
of Miami's first Black Girl Scout
Troop, in the Black History sec-
tion. This photo is interesting
to me because years ago (when
pupils respected their parents
and their teachers), I had the
privilege and pleasure of teach-
ing nine of the 12 members
of Troop 52. They were fifth
graders at Dunbar Elementary
School.
I remember the girls as quiet,
studious young ladies. Since
history is people, I could not
pass up the opportunity to
check on my former pupils after
so many years.
Marian Ross lives in New York
City. She works for the New York


Stock Exchange.
Francine Lewis Robinson is
a graduate of Glynnedd Mercy
Hospital in Philadelphia and
also a graduate of FIU. She is a
retired nurse, but is now a sub-
stitute teacher at Van E. Blan-
ton Elementary School.
Althea Myril lives and teach-
es in Philadelphia, Pa. She is
a graduate of the University of
Pittsburgh.
Audrey Bethel Williams is a
graduate of Florida A&M Uni-
versity and is a teacher of busi-
ness education at Miami Senior
High School.
Arvolene Ayers died some
years ago.
Alice Dean Harrison received
her degrees from Dillard Uni-
versity and New York Universi-
ty. She is the efficient principal


of Van E. Blanton Elementary
School.
Kathryn (Kitty) Guions Don-
aldson is a graduate of Tennes-
see State. She taught Social
Studies at Allapattah Jr. High
School and retired from Dade
County Public School system,
shortly before her death in Jan-
uary 1987.
Willie Evelyn Gibson Griglen
is a graduate of Morris Brown.
She lives in Brecksville, Ohio,
and is a retired Special Educa-
tion school teacher.
Eudora Marquess Straughter,
a graduate of Fisk University,
also earned a degree in Nursing
from Meharry Medical College.
She works in Geriatrics and
Psychiatry at Cedars Medical
Center.
I did not teach Helen Dorsett,


divide


ing from elementary schools at
startling rates and young entre-
preneurs are getting younger and
younger. Those who are techno-
logically curious today are be-
coming the inventors of tomorrow.
Those who have access to broad-
band and the Internet can forge
ahead uninhibited by fears of the
unknown.
We must continue to encour-
age innovation and creativity. We
must provide our schools and
our communities with the re-
sources they need to spur curios-
ity. We must continue to support
these programs and learn more
about them in order to provide
our children more opportunities
to become the entrepreneurs, the
scientists or the teachers of to-
morrow. But we must encourage
them today. And we must provide
them the resources today.
Ron Busby is the president of the
U.S. Black Chamber.






but she has been a librarian in
the Miami Public Library sys-
tem ever since her graduation
from Spelman College.
I hope that present and future
Girl Scouts will be inspired by
the scholastic achievements of
these former scouts.
Troop Leader Mrs. Hazel R.
Grant worked with the youth of
the community all of her adult
life. She died in June 1987. Mrs.
Grant is fondly remembered by
the Girl Scout Troop 52.

Roberta C. Thompson
Miami

Editor's note: The only living
members of the group shown in
1942 are: Marian Ross, Francine
Lewis Robinson and Eudora
Marquess Straughter.


Mt RMiami Mimnt
The Miami Times welcomes and encourages letters on its editorial commentaries as well as
all other material in the newspaper. Such feedback makes for a healthy dialogue among our
readership and the community. Letters must, however, be 150 words or less, brief and to the
point, and may be edited for grammar, style and clarity. All letters must be signed and must
include the name, address and telephone number of the writer for purposes of confirming
authorship. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Miami Times, 900 N.W. 54th Street,
Miami, FL 33127, or fax them to 305-757-5770; Email: kmcneir@miamitimesonline.com.


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*I~ 6'School shootings
fib V


Northwestern basketball coaches, Principal Aristide with NW students, Tolbert Bain III, Marcus Ghent, Edward Haynes and Eric
Haynes with Cleveland Morley, NW Alumni vice president and Carol Whitehead, Jackson Alumni president.



Alumni salute top student athletes

Miami Jackson and Miami -.
Northwestern Alumni Asso-
ciations awarded six laptops .'-
to the seniors on the schools'
boys basketball teams. The
presentations were part of
the third annual basketball
scholarship fundraiser held at
Jackson's gymnasium on Fri-
day, March 2nd. .


Cleveland Morley, NW
Alumni vice president, Jack-
son's Anttwan Jenkins, Coach
Larry Hugue, Carl Simpson
and Carol Whitehead, Jackson
Alumni president.


Edmonson


celebrates at


Haitian Heritage


Museum's gala


HHM Vice President Serge Rodrigue (1-r), HHM President
Eveline Pierre and Vice Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson.


Vice Chairwoman Audrey M.
Edmonson attended the Haitian
Heritage Museum's (HHM) 8th
Annual Visionary Cocktail Gala
on Saturday, February 25, 2012
at the Museum, 4141 NE 2nd
Avenue. Edmonson presented a
proclamation to Museum direc-
tors and board members honor-
ing the Haitian Heritage Museum
for promoting cultural diversity
and awareness.


-Photos courtesy Audrey Edmonson
Beatrice Cazeau (l-r), Vice Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson and Cyncia Weber.


Lesesne receives BRAVO Award for diversity


Woodie Lesesne, IN FO-
CUS Magazine co-founder
and Lesesne Media Group
CEO received the BRAVO
Award for DIVERSITY by
the National Association of
Women Business Owners
(NAWBO) of Ft. Lauderdale.
The March 5th event was
held at the Westin Hotel in
Ft. Lauderdale. The BRAVO
award recognizes women
that are pioneers, leaders
and who radiate the success
factor both personally and
professionally. Lesesne was
among several other women
who are making an impact


WOODIE LESESNE


in their respective commu-
nities.
"I am humbled," said Le-
sesne "NAWBO is a powerful
organization locally and na-
tionally and this award rec-
ognizes our efforts."
Lesesne is the founder of
the annual Women's Power
Caucus, a leadership con-
ference aimed at helping
women impact in their ca-
reers and communities.
"There are many other de-
serving women out there do-
ing great things," she said.
"I accept this award in their
honor."


Hundreds of activists
march along the streets
of Sao Paulo, Brazil, celebrating
the International Women's
Day on March 8.


As a FREE Community Service Program by North Shore Medical
offer the follor..'.ino :nforrrimaiti event:


are gun
Sharon Broussard, in The Plain
Dealer (Cleveland): "A teen gun-
man opened fire in the school caf-
eteria of bucolic, rural Chardon
High School Monday morning,
fatally shooting three young men
and wounding two ol her students.
... It was a reminder that no place
is sacrosanct in a society where
guns are far too common and
available to %engeful,- emotionally
unstable or just plain cruel peo-
ple. That painful reality is obvl-
ous to those \who live in Cleveland
neighborhoods where a string of
residents have fallen pre', to gun
violence in the last few weeks, in-
cluding a 1-year-old baby. None
of those incidents happened in
a school, but street killings have
a powerful ripple effect across
the city, particularly among the
young, fueling a culture of shoot
first, ask questions later."
Akron Beacon Journal.
in an editorial: "The seeming
randomness stuns, and sets
in motion a natural search
for answers, for an explana-
tion and understanding. For
the moment, all of that seems
elusive, even with a suspect in
custody, the speculation be-
ginning. What does seem clear
from the earl,, reporting is that
the episode could have been
much worse. The school and
its students benefited from the
steps they had taken to prepare
for such an incident. ... More.
a school teacher proved brave
chasing the shooter from the
school, leading shortly to an ar-
rest. What led a young man to
gather a gun and fire at class-
mates will come later, if at all.
First, there is the fate of the
victims, hoping for recoveries,
mourning the loss. Then, there
is Chardon. looking to restore
that precious feeling of secu-
rity."
Frank Ochberg, on CNN's
Global Public Square- "If kids
could not and did not bring
guns to school, we wouldn't
have Columbine, Virginia Tech
or Chardon, Ohio There ha\e


Center, we are pleased to


-
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BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY


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A 4 THE MIAMI TIMES MARC 2


crimes
been crimes with knives and
bats and fists. But school shoot-
ings are gun crimes. Kids with
guns kill kids at school. I do not
think America is an extremist
nation, compared to other na-
tions with bloody histories and
despotic leaders. True, we have
polarized political speech, and
some of that speech is about ac-
cess to guns. But the reason we
have an American school shoot-
ing problem that exceeds other
nations has to do with access
to loaded weapons by kids who
should not have that access."
The Blade, in an editorial:
"Students, parents, school of-
ficials, and community lead-
ers are asking whether they
could have prevented the trag-
edy. Their counterparts in Ohio
and throughout the nation
ask whether enough has been,
done, and can be done, to make
schools safe. The answer: Yes
and no. School lockdown drills
a re a necessary response to po-
tential violence, but they don't
prevent violence. No-tolerance
policies often are aimed more at
protecting schools from liability
than changing student behav-
ior. Students and adults grow
complacent in the absence of
an immediate threat. ... But do-
ing all the right things won't get
rid of all bullies. And as long as
there are bullies and victims,
tragedy can result."
Gabriel Lerner in The Huff
ington Post: 'There is a problem
with the research. analysis and
commentary on these school
shootings: It only focuses on the
terrible tragedies where one or
more students suddenly begins
killing others at random. The
cases of chronic violence, which
occurs repeatedly and is ongo-
ing, are never explored and
these comprise the vast major-
ity, causing untold devastation
and grief... Chronic violence in
school tends to be concentrated
in lower income areas, where
the majority of students are
usually Latino or Black.









5A THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012


BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OwN D Y


Lagos Fashii
LAGOS (AFP) Nigeria's big-
gest city is hosting the second
Lagos Fashion Week, which or-
ganisers say will showcase local
design talent and add a splash
of colour in a region often seen
as troubled.
"There's a lot of negativity
about Africa in general and Ni-
geria in particular," Penny Mc-
Donald, managing director of
Arise Media, which is organis-
ing the event, told AFP ahead of
Wednesday's start.
"Everything in the news is
doom and gloom, from famine
to bombings, to petrol (price
crisis), most recently in Nigeria.
Hopefully this will redress the
imbalance... that is to say Afri-
ca and Nigeria are not broken."
Although the country does


not boast any high-class shop-
ping malls, Nigerians are well
known for their flair and love of
fashion.
Africa's most populous coun-
try has produced some of the
continent's best known de-
signers, such as Frank Osodi
and Bridget Awosika, who will
showcase their work Wednes-
day along with Britain-based
Jamaican Romero Bryan.


McDonald said the number
of designers shot up to 77 from
50 in 2011, a rise she attributes
to the success of the inaugural
show.
Two huge tents have been
erected on the grounds of a five-
star hotel to host the shows,
and specialist decorators have
been flown in from Europe.
Other top African names
showing off their collections


during the week include Brit-
ish-Ghanaian Oswald Boateng
and the internationally re-
nowned South African duo Kluk
CGDT. The show runs through
Sunday.
"The world needs to see Africa
showcase its own fashion," said
McDonald.


British-Ghanaian
Oswald Boateng


FRANK OSODI


More Blacks,

Latinos at

NYC's elite

schools
NEW YORK (AP) The num-
ber of blacks and Latinos ad-
mitted to New York City's highly
selective high schools increased
from last year.
According to Department of
Education admissions statis-
tics, about 730 black and La-
tino students qualified for en-
trance to one of eight of the elite
schools.
Acceptance is based on a sin-
gle test.
The New Yorkr'imes reports
that-the increase in acceptance
of the two groups reverses a
years-long decline in admis-
sions to the schools.
The numbers were 14 percent
higher than last year's. Blacks
accounted for 6 percent of the
offers, Latinos 8 percent.
The schools range from large
institutions like Stuyvesant
High School in Manhattan to
small one like the High School
of American Studies at Lehman
College in the Bronx.


Historically

Black college

marks 125

years
WILBERFORCE, Ohio (AP)
- Central State University in
southwestern Ohio is mark-
ing its 125th anniversary as it
looks for a new president.
The historically Black school
in Wilberforce plans to cel-
ebrate the anniversary with a
ceremonial gathering Tuesday.
The Dayton Daily News reports
the school of more than 2,500
students is the only predomi-
nantly black public institution
in Ohio.
It's looking for new leadership
because alumnus and school
President John Garland plans
to retire in June. He has led the
school since 1997.
His replacement will be ex-
pected to help the university
carry out a plan to boost its
graduation and retention rates.
Compared with other Ohio
universities, Central State
enrolls a high percentage of
students from urban public
schools with high poverty rates.


the magic of




rnic


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Week showcases Oswald Boateng


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DI-At N3 WLK)


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6A THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012


BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY


lIPRISO )N


Forget the odds root for the
By Arthur Lee Hall, Jr. take a chance that an According to the


In 2008 and 2012, Eli Man-
ning and the New York Giants
were considered underdogs
in two electrifying SuperBowl
match-ups against Tom Brady
and his New England Patriots.
Although the Patriots were fa-
vored to win by at least three
points in both meetings, the
Giants were able to defeat the
odds and ultimately walk away
with championship rings. With
any sport, a shrewd gambler
never pays much attention to
the estimates of an oddsmaker.
The same rings true with horse
racing or even when consulting
one's crystal ball one must


upset will occur based
upon some great poten-
tial that most others do
not see. Instead of going
along with the so-called
experts who are often
wrong in forecasting
what the outcome of a H1
competition will be, one would
probably come out better rely-
ing on a personal gut feeling
when placing a bet. After all, in
the course of any sports event,
anything is liable to happen.
Winning is never impossible
for the underdog. Indeed, big
plays are created when the un-
derdog is hungry and the will to
win is strong.


spread on inmates get-
ting out and going back
to prison, the percent-
ages of returning within
three years are on the
side of the Department
of Corrections. By keep-
ALL ing over 100,000 bunks
filled with convicted felons,
staff members are guaranteed
steady employment. To give
prisoners a slight advantage
before they are released back
into the community, a small
number of mediocre programs
are made available to them
while incarcerated. Only those
inmates who are self-motivated
and driven by a feverish desire


underdog
to win are able to do so without
the help of an oddsmaker. With
tenacity, optimism and a do-or-
die attitude towards achieving
victory, the underprivileged in
this country can also become
winners, winning the war
against poverty head-up and
without being handicapped by
the inclusion of government as-
sistance, even if one must nick-
el-and-dime their way to the
top. As twice proven by Man-
ning and company, there is no
guarantee that the favorite will
always win sometimes you
have to know when to roll with
the underdog, particularly one
that is fiercely determined to be
the "big dog."


Case of slain teenager heads to state attorney's office


By Rene Stutzman

While an angry crowd of
critics stood by; sometimes
shouting at him, Sanford Po-
lice Chief Bill Lee on Monday
admitted that his detectives
do not have enough evidence
to arrest a white neighborhood
crime-watch volunteer who
shot and killed an unarmed
Black 17-year-old from Miami.
George Zimmerman told po-
lice he acted in self defense
when he fatally shot Trayvon
Martin Feb. 26 in a gated com-
munity.
"Until we can establish prob-
able cause to dispute that, we
don't have the grounds to ar-
rest him," the chief said.
Sanford police detectives
were expected to finish their
work on the case Monday, the
chief said, and would forward
the matter to the state attor-


TRAYVON MARTIN

ney's office Tuesday, which
would make a charging deci-


sion.
But that did not satisfy the
small crowd that had gathered
outside Sanford's City Hall.
More than a dozen members
of Sanford's Black community
joined a group of reporters to
hear what city officials had to
say about the case.
"The Black community sees
your department protect-
ing the shooter," shouted one
man. "A little Black boy is
dead."
The chief tried to reassure
the crowd that his agency
was investigating the shoot-
ing "thoroughly and complete-
ly and fairly. ... There are no
winners in this event," he said.
According to an incident re-
port, Zimmerman, 28, called
police that night, reporting
that he saw a suspicious per-
son. Sanford police dispatched
a patrol car, but before that of-


ficer arrived, other 911 callers
began to phone the agency,
complaining of a fight.
Zimmerman was taken into
custody but was released. His
nose was bloody, and officers
spotted blood on the back of
his head as well as grass on
the back of his shirt, accord-
ing to the incident report.
The Martin family's lawyers,
Benjamin Crump and Nata-
lie Jackson, have filed suit in
Sanford, asking a judge to or-
der the police department to
release its 911 recordings.
Trayvon was walking from
a 7-Eleven to the apartment
of his father's fiance, a home
he had visited before, with a
package of Skittles in his pock-
et when Zimmerman spotted
him. The teenager was slain
about 70 feet from the apart-
ment where he was headed,
both sides agree.


treat 9/11 remains?


e


By Carie Lemack

It was five-and-a-half
years after my mother's
murder when we first re-
ceived a call that her foot
had been found. It was
unburned. Considering that
it must have fallen from a
burning aircraft, only to
spend weeks in a smolder-
ing pile of remains of the
World Trade Center, I find
that remarkable. Mom was
a passenger on American
Airlines 11, the first plane
to be, hijacked almost
10-and-a-half years ago.
My sister and I had held
out hope we would be able
to bring her home at some
point, and now we had
that chance. Growing up,
Mom used to joke about
her webbed toes. For three
beautiful hours, those ador-
able toes were on my lap for
the train ride back home to
Boston. We are the lucky
ones. To date, more than
1,100 families have never
received the call. We have
received many, as pieces
of Mom, some as tiny as a
fingernail, are slowly identi-
fied.
Our country prides itself
on taking care of its dead
in a humane manner. This
week, however, we learned
that some remains of Pen-
tagon and possibly Shanks-
ville 9/11 victims were im-
properly disposed of, treated
like trash, by the mortuary


Jury convicts Texas financier, R. Allen


Stanford in $7 billion Ponzi scheme


HOUSTON (AP) Texas ty-
coon R. Allen Stanford, whose
financial empire once spanned
the Americas, was convicted
Tuesday on all but one of the
14 counts he faced for allegedly
bilking investors out of more
than $7 billion in massive Ponzi
scheme he operated for 20 years.
Jurors reached their verdicts
against Stanford during their
fourth day of deliberation, find-
ing him guilty on all charges ex-
cept a single count of wire fraud.
Stanford, who was once con-
sidered one of the wealthiest
people in the U.S., looked down
when the verdict was read. His
mother and daughters, who
were in the federal courtroom in
Houston, hugged one another,
and one of the daughters started
crying.
"We are disappointed in the
outcome. We expect to appeal,"
Ali Fazel, one of Stanford's at-
torneys, said after the hearing.
He said the judge's gag order
on attorneys from both sides
prevented him from comment-
ing further, and prosecutors
declined to comment after the
hearing.
Prosecutors called Stanford a
con artist who lined his pockets
with investors' money to fund a
string of failed businesses, pay
for a lavish lifestyle that includ-
ed yachts and private jets, and
bribe regulators to help him
hide his scheme. Stanford's at-
torneys told jurors the financier
was a visionary entrepreneur
who made money for investors


and conducted legitimate busi-
ness deals.
Stanford, 61, who's been
jailed since his indictment in
2009, will remain incarcerated
until he is sen-
tenced. -
He faces up to 20
years for the most
serious charges
against him, but
the once high-fly-
ing businessman
could spend longer ..
than that. behind
bars if U.S. Dis-
trict Judge David
Hittner orders the L
sentences to be
served consecu-
tively instead of concurrently.
With Stanford's conviction, a
shorter, civil trial will be held
with the same jury on prosecu-
tors' efforts to seize funds from
more than 30 bank accounts
held by the financier or his
companies around the world,
including in Switzerland, the
United Kingdom and Canada.
The civil trial could take as little
as a day.
Stanford was once considered
one of the wealthiest people in
the U.S. with an estimated net
worth of more than $2 billion.
But he had court-appointed at-
torneys after his assets were
seized.
During the more than six-
week trial, prosecutors me-
thodically presented evidence,
including testimony from ex-
employees as well as emails and


financial statements, they said
showed Stanford orchestrated
a 20-year scheme that bilked
billions from investors through
the sale of certificates of depos-
it, or CDs, from his
S- bank on the Carib-
bean island nation
of Antigua.
They said Stan-
ford, whose finan-
cial empire was
headquartered in
Houston, lied to
depositors from
more than 100
countries by tell-
ing them their
TANFORD funds were being
safely invested in
stocks, bonds and other secu-
rities instead of being funneled
into his businesses and person-
al accounts.
The prosecution's star wit-
ness -James M. Davis, the
former chief financial officer for
Stanford's various companies
told jurors he and Stanford
worked together to falsify bank
records, annual reports and
other documents in order to
conceal the fraud.
Stanford had wanted to tes-
tify and jurors were told he
would do so, but his attorneys
apparently convinced him not
to take the witness stand.
Stanford's attorneys told ju-
rors the financier was trying to
consolidate his businesses to
pay back investors when au-
thorities seized his companies.
Stanford's attorneys highlight-


Theft didn't imperil space station


By Ledyard King

NASA is taking steps to prevent
another security lapse like the one
that left unencrypted space station
algorithms at risk when a NASA lap-
top computer was stolen, the space
agency's chief Charles Bolden says.
The March 2011 theft of the unen-
crypted computer was one of more
than 5,000 cybersecurity incidents
reported over the past two years.
Last year's theft of a laptop Rel-
evant Products/Services contain-
ing algorithms used to command
and control the International Space
Station never put the orbiting labo-
ratory at risk, NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden, told a Senate panel


Wednesday.
Under pointed questioning from
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Bolden
said he doubts the stolen computer
held actual commands.
Even if it had, he said, it would be
almost impossible to hack into the
space station's computer system,
given its sophisticated safeguards.
"They would still have to get
through another set of firewalls at
the Johnson Space Center because
everything that goes to the Interna-
tional Space Station, as it did with
the shuttle, is encrypted prior to
transmission," Bolden told Nelson,
who chaired the Commerce, Sci-
ence and Transportation Commit-
tee hearing.


NASA officials say the stolen lap-
top contained software Relevant
Products/Services related to the
space station but no command ca-
pability. They said that capability
is confined to mission control in
Houston.
All data connected to the space
station is encrypted and transmit-
ted from Johnson Space Center
in Houston to White Sands, N.M.,
through the Tracking and Data Re-
lay Satellite System.
Agency officials said no one has
ever gained unauthorized access to
the space station. Some computer
viruses have been discovered on
board the station, but none were
considered dangerous, they said.


ed his work to build up Anti-
gua's economy as well as his
philanthropic efforts on the is-
land. Stanford, the largest pri-
vate employer on the island na- 7 .
tion, was widely known as "Sir
Allen" after being knighted by
Antigua's government.
The financier's attorneys ac-
cused Davis of being behind the
fraud and of lying so he could
get a reduced sentence. Davis
pleaded guilty to three fraud
and conspiracy charges in 2009
as part of a deal he made with
prosecutors.
Three other indicted former '
executives of Stanford's com-
panies are to be tried in Sep-
tember. A former Antiguan fi-
nancial regulator accused of
accepting bribes from Stanford
was also indicted and he awaits
extradition to the U.S. r
oi


1RA IP Is this any way to


at Dover Air Force base. For
many of us, this is not new
news. Sadly, New York City
has done the same, consid-
ering 9/11 victims' remains
'undifferentiated dirt." The
difference between what
happened at Dover and in
New York is the Pentagon
agrees dumping human re-
mains in a landfill is wrong.
When news broke about
the mistreatment of our war
dead, the Pentagon called
for an investigation. In New
York, when outraged fami-
lies asked for their loved
ones' remains to be prop-
erly treated, the city went
to court to fight to keep the
remains in a landfill. I do
not know whether Mom's
right foot (or any other piece
of her) is in a landfill, and
may never find out. We have
no choice but to trust those
charged with collecting and
identifying the remains with
doing the right thing.
I can only hope New York
City and the Pentagon learn
the lessons of 9/11 and the
mismanagement at Dover
Air Base, and ensure that
future grieving families do
not suffer any more than
they have to. We owe it to
them, and to those whose
lives are lost to get it right,
and make it clear that the
bodies of our brave soldiers
and innocent civilians are
not trash. What an incred-
ible legacy to be left by
Mom's webbed toes.


1










7A THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012


BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OH N D Y


*1nap Eln;'~ [LJ ri xL
UU;r ira


MIAMI'S COLORED WEEKLY







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: A MCA


AWARDED FELLOWS


HIP BY


NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ART


By Douglas Martin

"I got the name of being a
pretty good fiddle player," Joe
Thompson once said. "I even
been to Carnegie Hall playing
fiddle."
He also played at the Ken-
nedy Center in Washington
and at folk festivals from
coast to coast, including one
at the Smithsonian. The Na-
tional Endowment for the
Arts awarded him a National
Heritage Fellowship. And he is
credited with helping to keep
alive a Black musical tradi-
tion the Black string band
- that predates the blues and
influenced country music and
bluegrass.
Yet until 1973, when he
was in his mid 50s, not many
people outside North Carolina
had ever heard him play.
Thompson -always. said.
death would come when."the
good Lord sends the morning
train," and the train arrived
on Feb. 20. He died at 93 in
a nursing home in Burlington,
N.C., said Larry Vellani, a mu-
sician and a friend of Thomp-
son's.

SON OF A SLAVE
He was born not far from
there, in north-central North
Carolina, and one of his earli-
est memories was of squirm-
ing on the floor as his father
played the fiddle, according
to an account given to the
North Carolina Folk Heritage
Award Program. His father
had learned the instrument
from his own father, a slave,
and taught him in turn. Joe
Thompson made the strings
for his first fiddle from screen-
door wires, and by the time he
was 7, he was playing a real
fiddle at dances while propped
on a wooden chair, his feet not
yet reaching the floor.
Later on he and his brother
Nate and a first cousin, Odell
Thompson, formed a string
band, with Nate and Odell
on banjos, and well into their
teens they played their mu-
sic something like square
dance music, only more rhyth-
mic all over North Carolina.
"People loved to see us
come," Thompson said in an
interview with American Leg-
acy magazine in 2008. "Every
year we would shuck corn and
strip tobacco, then hoop it up
with a big dance."

WORLD WAR II VETERAN
Then came World War II, and
Thompson, entered the Army,
serving in a segregated unit
in Europe driving a bulldozer.
After the war, fiddling became
less and less a part of his life.
By the postwar years, Black
string bands were, at most,
a local hobby. Thompson
bought a four-room house on
an unpaved country road and
began a 38-year stint working
in a furniture factory.
That was where he was in
1973, Mr. Vellani said, run-
ning a rip saw, when Kip Lor-
nell, then a graduate student
in ethnomusicology, decided
to check out rumors that some
masters of the old-time string-


--Jack Vartoogian/FrontRowPhotos
Joe Thompson, a fiddle player, is credited with preserving the black string band.


band music were still around.
Stopping by Thompson's
house, he heard him and his
cousin play his brother had
moved to Philadelphia by then
- and urged them to look into
performing at folk music fes-
tivals that were springing up.
They did, and soon they
were invited to perform across
the country, from Massachu-
setts to Washington State.
They played in Australia. In
1989, they recorded "Old-
Time Music from the North
Carolina Piedmont" for the
Global Village label. The mu-
sical folklorist Alan Lomax in-
cluded the three Thompsons
in his American Patchwork
documentary film series. And
in 1990 Joe and Odell Thomp-
son were onstage at Carnegie
Hall as part of its Folk Masters
program.

ENDOWMENT FELLOWSHIP
Thompson was in fine fet-
tle. "Holding his bow about
five inches from the end, Joe
Thompson draws a scratchy,
rakish tone from his fiddle,


full of higher overtones," Jon
Pareles wrote of the perfor-
mance in The New York Times.
"He breaks melodies into short
phrases and .often adds dou-
ble-stops that suggest modal
harmonies."
After Odell Thompson died
in a car accident in 1994, Joe
almost quit. But he went on
to record a solo album, "Fam-
ily Tradition," on the Rounder
label in 1999. He received the
National Endowment for the
Arts fellowship in 2007 and
performed that year at the
Kennedy Center for the Per-
forming Arts in Washington.
String-band music, which
combines fiddle, banjo and


sometimes other instruments,
owes much to Black tradi-
tions. Banjos originally came
from Africa, and though vio-
lins are European in origin,
slaves were taught to play
them for their masters as ear-
ly as the 17th century.

SQUARE DANCES
AND "FROLICS"
Paul F. Wells a former presi-
dent of the Society for Ameri-
can Music, wrote in the Black
Music Research Journal that
slaves were most likely the
earliest musicians to combine
violin and banjo.
In the 19th century, both
whites and Blacks some-


times separately, sometimes
together, as in Thompson's
Piedmont region created
the exuberant music that
both Black and white string
bands played, the white
bands at square dances and
the Black bands at their own
dances, called "frolics."
But there were differences.
Black fiddlers played in a
style that was more rhyth-
mic, syncopated and African
in character, and called the
tunes "Negro jigs." As mu-
sic became more commonly
recorded in the 1920s, the
Black string-band tradition
receded. Black music was
veering toward the blues,
while white string bands
were categorized as "hill-
billy," playing music that is
acknowledged to be the pre-
cursor of today's bluegrass
and country music. The in-
fluence of Black string bands
on white country musicians
slipped from memory.
As if this slight wasn't
enough, Thompson com-
plained in a 2004 interview
with a North Carolina news-
paper that when Elvis Pres-
ley started singing the blues,
"people thought that was
white people's music, too."
"That messes Black people
up," he said.

"HILLBILLY" AND BLUES
Joseph Aquilla Thompson
was born on Dec. 9, 1918,
on a farm near Mebane, N.C.,
where he lived most of his
life. Mr. Vellani said in an in-
terview that a stroke Thomp-
son had in 2001 had hurt his
fiddling but not his strong
singing voice.
Thompson's first wife, the
former Hallie Evans, died in
1987. He is survived by his
wife, the former Pauline McA-
doo Mebane; his sons Arthur
James Snead and Hassel
McCoy Evans; four stepchil-
dren; eight grandchildren; 14
great-grandchildren and five
great-great-grandchildren.
The Thompsons may have
been the last Black string
band still active, said Wayne
Martin, folklife director for
the North Carolina Arts
Council. But Mr. Thompson
planted a seed for the fu-
ture. In 2005, three young
musicians started coming
to his house every Thursday
to learn the old ways. They
formed a band, the Carolina
Chocolate Drops, "mostly as
a tribute to Joe," they said.
Their 2010 album, "Genuine
Negro Jig," won a Grammy
for best traditional folk al-
bum.
"He lived long enough for
people to get what it was he
had to share," Vellani said.


Maysville historian to receive national award


MAYSVILLE, Ky. (AP) A
Maysville historian will be
honored this summer as the
recipient of an award from
the National Education Asso-
ciation.
Jerry Gore will receive the
Carter G. Woodson Memorial


Award during the NEA Hu-
man and Civil Rights Awards
Dinner in July, The Ledger
Independent reported.
Gore has provided histori-
cal information, research
assistance, Underground
Railroad information and


educational activities. He op-
erated his own Black history
museum until December,
when the landlord needed
the space the museum used.
Gore said he hopes another
location will be found for the
museum.










OUA TUii MIAIMI Ill M ,f IVlARI l 1fL BKUIVlI I


Chevron







faces firOi


WASHINGTON At a time when
states are struggling to reduce
bloated prison populations and
tight budgets, a private prison man-
agement company is offering to buy
prisons in exchange for various con-
siderations, including a controver-
sial guarantee that the governments
maintain a 90 percent occupancy
rate for at least 20 years.
The $250 million proposal, circu-
lated by the Nashville, Tenn.-based
Corrections Corporation of America
to prison officials in 48 states, has
been blasted by some state officials
who suggest such a program could
pressure criminal justice officials to
seek harsher sentences to maintain
the contractually required occupan-


cy rates.
"You don't want a prison system
operating with the goal of maximiz-
ing profits," says Texas state Sen.
John Whitmire, a Houston Demo-
crat and advocate for reducing pris-
on populations through less costly
diversion programs. "The only thing
worse is that this seeks to take ad-
vantage of some states' troubled fi-
nancial position."
Corrections Corporation spokes-
man Steve Owen defended the
company's "investment initiative,"
describing it as "an additional op-
tion" for cash-strapped states to
consider.
The proposal seeks to build upon
a deal reached last fall in which the


S. .
, ::': .: ... :,"


Nigeria


EVEN AS BLAZE FROM OFFSHORE

GAS RIG GOES OUT, CRITICS RAIL AGAINST SPILLS


By Drew Hinshaw

Chevron Corp. said a fire at a
natural-gas rig off Nigeria's coast
had stopped burning after 46
days.
But criticism from environ-
mental groups and residents of a
nearby seaside village highlight-
ed grievances over frequent spills
in Africa's top oil producer.
The Chevron rig exploded Jan.
16, killing two people before it
collapsed into the sea. The explo-
sion started a fire on the ocean
surface that the San Ramon, Ca-
lif., company and Nigeria's gov-
ernment failed to extinguish. The
company is trying to finish con-
struction of the relief well that
would have siphoned the gas.
Chevron said it is analyzing the
cause of the fire and that equip-
ment on the surface may have
failed. The company suspects
that undersea rocks subsequent-
ly fell into the gas well, smother-
ing the blaze,-'Chevron spokes-
man Russell Johnson said from
Nigeria on Tuesday.
Though the rig sat within sight
of shore in about 40 feet of water,
the fire and the well's condition
prevented the company from ex-
tinguishing the blaze more rap-
idly, he said. "We cannot predict
how long it will take to complete
the relief well, but will do so as
quickly as possible while main-
taining safe operations," Mr.
Johnson said.

'YOU FEEL DIZZY'
The accident has ignited criti-
cism of Chevron from a village
that is about six miles away.
Fishermen in Koluama, com-
plained of fumes, dead dolphins
on their white-sand shore and
drinking water and fish that tast-
ed like fuel.
"The gas is inside the fish," said
Bravely Salvage, the youth chair-
man for the village. "After eating
the fish you feel like somebody
who drunk diesel, you feel dizzy."
Friends of the Earth Interna-
tional called the fire the worst in
African history in terms of gas
burned. "There are very clear
ecological impacts, that are not
hidden, that are very visible,"
said Nnimmo Bassey, who is
chairman of the environmental
advocacy group. He cited dead
fish and a beached whale. "If
one whale dies, it means sever-
al thousands of smaller species


-Associated Press photo
Ioluama, Nigeria, villagers complained that the spill has taint-
ed fish.


have been impacted."
Chevron said it had detected
no natural gas flowing from the
well since it ceased burning on
Friday. Chevron said its tests
hadn't found pollution in the air
or water but that it would hire in-
vestigators from a nearby Nigeri-
an university to conduct further
studies.
The latest accident in Nige-
ria's oil-rich delta highlighted the
struggles of the country to im-
prove its environmental and safe-
ty record. The fire began just 24
days after Royal Dutch Shell said
it had contained a 40,000-bar-
rel oil spill that was 75 miles off-
shore, in Nigeria's worst oil spill
in 13 years.
The United Nations Environ-
ment Program in August esti-
mated it would take 30 years


and cost $1 billion to clean up
oil spilled over decades into Nige-
ria's river deltas. Oil companies
and Nigeria's government should
share the cost, the U.N. group
said.
Nigerian policy makers are con-
sidering legislation that would
to make it easier to bring court
cases against oil companies for
such spills, said Oronto Doug-
las, a senior adviser to President
Goodluck Jonathan. "Except
when the government is able to
show clearly, and show through
analysis of an independent party
that the recklessness of [an oil
company] is responsible, then
and only then are we able to hold
them accountable," Mr. Douglas
said.
Oil accounts for 40 percent of
Nigeria's total economy and 80


occupancy
company purchased the 1,798-bed
Lake Erie Correctional Institution
from the state of Ohio for $72.7
million. Ohio officials lauded the
September transaction, saying that
private management of the facility
would save a projected $3 million
annually.
Linda Janes, chief of staff for the
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation
and Correction, said the purchase
came at time when the state was
facing a $8 billion shortfall. The
$72.7 million prison purchase was
aimed at helping to fill a $188 mil-
lion deficit within the corrections
agency.
Ohio's deal requires the state to
maintain a 90 percent occupancy
rate, but Janes said that provision
remains in effect for 18 months -
not 20 years before it can be re-
negotiated. As part of the deal, Ohio
pays the company a monthly fee.


percent of the country's revenue.
In Koluama, neither promises
of relief from Nigeria's govern-
ment nor a Feb. 27 visit from
President Jonathan have quelled
frustrations.
The village chief has asked
Chevron to relocate the approxi-
mately 10,000 people in the com-
munity.The request came despite
long-standing religious ties to Ni-
geria's oil-rich delta, said Patrick
Naagbanton, coordinator for Ni-
geria's Centre for Environment,
Human Rights and Development,
an advocacy group.
The Chevron explosion was the
sort of incident that local mili-
tants have used to justify their
decadeslong conflict with the
government and oil companies.
That conflict quieted in 2009, af-
ter Nigeria's government offered
money and amnesty to top mili-
tants.
But some people in the coun-
try worry that continued envi-
ronmental damage will further
radicalize an already frustrated
population, encouraging a return
to arms in the oil-rich wetlands.
"Nothing has changed in the
Niger Delta," said Annkio Briggs,
an environmental activist and
former liaison for the Movement
for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta, a collection of oil militants.


Study: Racial divide runs

deep in U.S. public schools

By Stephanie Simon

Black and Latino students across the U S. are far more
likely to be suspended than white students and far less
likely to have access to rigorous college-prep courses, ac-
cording to a sweeping study released on Tuesday by the U.S
Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.
The trove of data. collected from 72,000 schools serving
85 percent of the nation's students, revealed tremendous
disparities in the public school experiences of minority and
white students.
Some of the most striking findings involved discipline: one
in five Black boys and one in
10 Black girls was suspended
from school during the study
period, the 2009-10 school
year. t. 'I
Overall. Black students are |
3-1/2 times more likely to be J
suspended or expelled than
their white peers. And 70
percent of students arrested
or referred to law enforcement
for disciplinary infractions
are Black or Latino, the study
found. Other researchers have
found that students %ho are '
repeatedly punished by being
barred from campus are far
more likely to drop out.
Academic opportunities also .
vary widely by race. Among
high schools that senre pre-
dominately Latino and Black
students. just 29 percent offer
a calculus class and only 40
percent offer physics. In some
school districts, those num- t
bers are even more glaring. In
New York Cit,, for instance,
just 10 percent of the high
schools with the highest Black
and Latino enrollment offer
Algebra II.
U.S. Education Secretary
Arne Duncan was careful to
say that his department is "not
alleging overt discrimination in
some or all of these cases."
But he said he hoped the
data would prompt soul-
searchine as educators across
the nation confront inequities.
"In the big picture, this is
really about self-analysis." Duncan said. He urged teachers
and administrators to "look in the mirror, at the good, the
bad and the ugly and figure out what's going on."
That may be easier said than done, said Kevin Welner. di-
rector of the Natrinal Education Poliy Center at the Lniver-
siLt, of CoL.radcO ati Boulder
The data hint uncomfortably at crude assumptions and
enduring stereotypes about "who should be in school, who
should be preparing to go to college, who can learn" and
"many of those beliefs stem back from before you or I were
born," Welner said. "That's hard to change."
Other studies over the decades have found similar racial
disparities in student discipline and academic opportunity.


Prison buyers lock in


Private purchases bring in cash

but could mean harsh sentences


BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY


A 8 THE MIAMI TIMES MARCH 14-20 20 2









9A THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20,2012


BLACKS MUSTI CONTROL. IHEIR O)\N i i


Black Lawyers rally around



Judge Teretha Lundy Thomas

By Reginald Clyne o ielrc!ii l, ltuilac.ll oppornents Ri of LBlack attorneys. The event was for Congressl. Marn Jo Toussaint
Mi i i. man , o/ .on.' o driac .r', ilk.igedli-. Iis.:,tLd tlihct le co-sponsored in part by H.T. Smith IPresident of Haitian Latwers As-


The Black legal cormmunilt\ re-
centrlv rallied around J.udg Terrth:,
Lundy Thomas. thr nril Bloack If-
make judge in the l th Judicidl
Circuit for Miamin-Dadr County
Black lawyers were outraged that
John Rndnrguez, a Cuban lawyer,
at the urging of prominent Cuban
Attorney) Hectur Lombana and his
political consultants, targeted well-
rtspected Judge Teretha Lundy
Thomas because she is a Black fe-
male and therefore deemed an easy
foe in a county-wide elecuon.
Thomas is the only Black female
judge of the 120 judges who serve
in the 11th Judicial Circuit She is
widely respected by the legal com-
munity and her fellow judges and
serves as an administrative judge
Roland Sanchez-Medina. past
president of the Cuban Amencan
Bar Association, spoke to Rodri-
guez to urge that he reconsider his


Arrefull'y s cicr lefd Judge Lhoriais.
htrdllsr .hr bi Bla cIrk f.ireall and
0not rai \wel ki' onii to the legil cuim-
munitrv bcor~llts -,lhe does not o'l-
tend the nlinlrouri;.ls bnl association
receptions
Hector Lombana, ar- alleged pro-
ponernt of diversity, stated thdt he
advised Rodriguez to drop out of
the race against Tanya Brinkley,
a Black female, and run against
Judge Thomas. Several promi-
nent Black attorneys requested
that Lombana urge his candidate
to choose another race because
Thomas has served with distinc-
tion on the bench and should not
be targeted because of her race
ard gender. Rodriguez has refused
to switch races.
In response to this clear attack
on diversity in the bench, Cheryl
Linton Robinson organized a fun-
draiser for Thomas that included a
who's who


Past President of National Bar As-
souiation), Marion Hill (Past Presi-
dent of Caribbean Bar Associa-
ion)], Bill Rulbiison IPast President
of Wilkie Ferguson Bar Associa-
tion). Kertch Konze (Past President
Haitian Lawyers Ashociation, Neil
DeLeon (Past President of Canb-
bean Bar Association), Christina
McKinnon (Past President of Wilk-
iel, Kisasha Sharp IGeneral Coun-
sel NAACPI, Markenzy LaPointe
(Partner Boies Schillerl, Reginald
Clyne (Past President of Wilkie
Ferguson), Damian Thomas and
Lynn Washington.
The Black political leader-
ship and bar leaders came to
the event to show their support -
led by Former Commissioner
Betty Ferguson, City Commis-
sioner Michelle Spence-Jones,
Mayor Andre Pierre, Congres-
sional Candidate Rudy Mloise,
Rod Vereen IFormer Candidate


sociation), Schulyer Smith (n-
coming President Caribbean Bar
Associationl and Ronda Vangates
(former candidate lor School
Board. Commissioner Fergu-
son addressed the attendees and
urged everyone to fight against '
this clear attack on a well-respect-
ed member of the judiciary. Ver-
een, who is being urged by many
to run for State Attorney, spoke
about his experience before Thom-
as who "put him in his place when
he tried to act up" and ran a fair
trial.






4-4


"I -m
sonmud


What do Rush and Roland


have in common? Bigotry


By David Person

In his apology to Sandra Fluke for calling the
Georgetown University law student a "slut" for her
comments about contraception, Rush Limbaugh
described what he does as illustratingn) the ab-
surd with absurdity." I find that description ab-
surd. What Limbaugh has been doing for years is
using bigotry in this case, sex-
ism to make his political and
ideological points.
Unfortunately, he's only the most
recent media star to be lambasted
for bigotry. Just last month, it was
CNN's Roland Martin. .
In both cases, the outrage was
fast and furious. And both men-
doubled-down before apologizing.
And there the similarity ends, at
least regarding what we can learn
from this. Limbaugh's critics, and
more than a dozen of his advertis-
ers, are fed up. We expect no bet- RUSH LI
ter from him because he set the
pattern long ago.
The suspended Martin does not have Limbaugh's
long track record. While the Gay and Lesbian Alli-
ance Against Defamation indicated Martin's Super
Bowl tweets weren't the first comments he made
that offended gays, his admitted faux pas proved
more enlightening than Limbaugh's. Martin's
tweet, followed not long afterward
by an equally offensive one from
Black Fox Sports columnist Jason
Whitlock, about New York Knicks'
sensation Jeremy Lin, pushed
Black bigotry out of the shadows
and into the spotlight.
Though various Supreme Court
rulings broke down the legal struc-
ture of white-on-Black racism,
subtle forms such as redlining,
hiring bias and police practices re-
main, along with the achievement
gap, wage gap and other residual
discrepancies. However, none of
this justifies the bigotry that some- ROLAND
times comes from us Black folks.

WE, OF ALL PEOPLE
With our history, we should know better.
Film director Spike Lee once argued that Blacks
can't be racists because racism is an institution
and few, if any of us, had the power and resources
to exploit whites or people of,other races. Besides
the facts that racism and bigotry are synonyms,
and that bigotry doesn't need institutional sup-
port to display itself, the ascension of powerbro-
kers such as President Obama, former secretaries
of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice and


media moguls such as Oprah Winfrey disproves
Lee's point. Whether they use them or not, today's
Black and powerful definitely have both the influ-
ence and the resources to discriminate.
"God made us to live together as brothers," Mar-
tin Luther King Jr. preached in a 1965 sermon.
And it was King who let openly gay Bayard Rustin
into his inner circle. Rustin sold King on the merits
of non-violence before the Mont-
gomery bus boycott. Years later,
he organized the 1963 March On
Washington. Yet history hasn't
-celebrated him the way it has
other civil rights leaders because
he chose to live out of the closet.
Black bigotry toward any group is
an affront to the legacies of King
and Rustin, but this is especially
true for anti-gay bigotry. Violence
directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgendered people is on
Sthe rise, according to the National
%BAUGH Coalition of Anti-Violence Pro-
grams. In 2010, 27 LGBT people
were killed, 70 percent of whom
were people of color.

BLACK CHURCH AND HOMOSEXUALITY
The Black church is particularly challenged
on the issue, as columnist Keith Boykin pointed
out after the Rev. Benjamin Reynolds came out
to his Colorado Springs church
in 2006. "Gays and lesbians
are everywhere in the church,"
Boykin wrote. "Many of our Black
churches would stop running
if the gay, lesbian and bisexual
members dropped out." Many of
us who attend Black churches
regularly know Boykin is right.
We've seen gays in the pews,
choir lofts and, yes, occasionally
even the pulpits. Of course, mov-
ing this from the anecdotal to the
quantifiable is next to impossible
because, as Boykin pointed out,
MARTIN most church-going gays remain
closeted.
Now that Marin has met with GLAAD, hopeful-
ly CNN will reinstate him soon. Then he could use
all of his news media platforms CNN, TV One,
Tom Joyner's syndicated radio show and Martin's
own syndicated column to help create a new
dialogue in the Black community about our own
bigotry, especially toward gays.
The entire Black community should join him.
The just, love-based society that King and Rustin
advocated should be open to all, no exceptions.
And regardless of what Limbaugh might say,
there's nothing absurd about that.


4


*


*


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-...-,. In memory ol Jim Moran


Wednesday, April 11,2012 6:15 p.m.
Broward County Convention Center

Hosted by Calvin Hughes, Evening News Anchor, WPLG-TV Local 10

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through their hard work, commitment and compassion.
Established in 1992 by automotive legend Jim Moran, the African-American Achievers awards program
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A ntMIAMIRIIME MAPi I II B K M C T T RO D N I


One-in-32 Black women will


HIV/AIDS
continued from 1A

higher than the CDC believed.
That rate is comparable to
numbers in several countries
in sub-Saharan Africa includ-
ing the Congo and Kenya. The
disturbing news comes on the
heels of National Women and
Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day, celebrated every year in
the U.S. on March 10th.
"Women are 50 percent of the
U.S. population and 23 percent
of the new HIV infections of
those newly-infected, Black
women account for 57 percent
of all cases," said Vanessa Mills,
executive director, Empower
"U", Inc., the only HIV/AIDS
organization in Miami's Liberty
City founded and managed by
Blacks who are themselves liv-
ing with HIV/AIDS. "Our com-
munity has the largest viral
load of any ethnic group and
because we tend to date within
our own race, it makes sense
that our numbers are rising
faster than any other group."
Mills, 56, who has lived with
HIV/AIDS since 1991, says


HIV AMONG WOMEN IN THE U.S.

* In 2009, there were 11,200 new HIV infections among women
They represent 51 percent of population, 23 percent
of new HIV cases
SOf the new infections, 57 percent were Black
SRate of new infections for Black women, 15 limes
that ot whites
SOne-in-139 women will be diagnosed with
HIV in her lifetime
i One-in-32 Black women will be diagnosed with HIV
a One in 526 white women will be diagnosed with HIV


WHAT WOMEN CAN
STO REDUCE HIV RISK


1. Don't
S 2. Be fa
3. Use a
4. Don't
5. Get ti

that women must take greater
responsibility for their own
health and lives.
"Black women must orga-
nize if we want to survive," she
said. "Black women have to
collectively decide that we are
not going to get infected and


Shave sex
ithful and active with only one person
Slatex condom every time
Suse drugs or alcohol with sex
tested regularly for STDs and HIV
bring other women along with
us. Education is key but after
we inform our sisters, daugh-
ters and mothers, we have to
educate our sons, brothers
and husbands. If we want to
stop the spread of HIV/AIDS,
we have to begin to talk about


this disease as a matter of fact
around the dinner table and
everywhere else. And we have
to include everyone in that
conversation women, men,
straight and gay."

CDC LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN
TO STEM HIV CRISIS
The CDC recently unveiled
a new initiative, Take Charge,
Take the Test, aimed at increas-
ing HIV testing and aware-
ness among Black women. The
campaign features a website
and community outreach. So
far, 10 cities are included in
the program but more will be
added soon, says Dr. Kevin
Fenton, M.D., director, CDC
National Center for HIV/AIDS.
"If things remain unchanged,
nearly 1-in-30 Black women
will be diagnosed with HIV in
their lifetime. We must remind
Black women that they have
the power to learn their HIV
status, protect themselves and
take charge of their health," he
said.
Fort Lauderdale is the closest
target city to Miami; other cit-
ies in the campaign include At-


get HIV

lanta, Chicago, Houston, Mem-
phis and Detroit.
"One-fourth of those who
are HIV-positive in the U.S.
don't even know it," said Da-
zon Dixon Diallo, founder and
president of SisterLove, Inc.,
a community-based preven-
tion/intervention organization
in Atlanta that targets Black
women. "Women must begin
to talk to their sexual partners
so they know their status and
must practice safer behaviors
or not have sex at all. These
are the only options if we want
to protect ourselves. This new
CDC campaign is a bold re-
sponse to the critical epidemic
of HIV/AIDS that will not only
raise awareness but point the
way to available resources in
our communities."

DENIAL IS NO
LONGER AN OPTION
Phill Wilson, 55, is the presi-
dent and CEO of the country's
largest Black think tank on
AIDS the Black AIDS Insti-
tute. He has been HIV-positive
for 31 years.
"People are using spin to cre-


r/AIDS

ate destructive distraction -
the truth is Black women are
impacted disproportionately
due to the relationship between
race and poverty in the U.S.,"
he said. "When we talk about
the AIDS epidemic, we have
to recognize that there are a
number of social determinants
that manifest themselves in a
broader sense than HIV/AIDS
education, income, access to
health care. Beyond that, our
greatest problem is denial. Too
often Black women obsess with
how their partners became in-
fected in the first place. That's
irrelevant and misses the point.
Whether it comes through a
needle, a vagina or a penis, it's
happening the virus does not
care. The conversation that we
must have and which is not go-
ing on is how and why women
should protect themselves, rec-
ognizing that they are worthy
of being protected. To end this
epidemic we must diagnose the
undiagnosed cases. Then we
have to employ a strategy that
focuses on reducing the risk of
acquisition, transition and ex-
posure."


NAACP to challenge voting laws


By William Douglas

Taking a page from its past.
the NAACP will go before a
United Nations [UNj panel next
week to argue that new voting
laws approved by some U.S.
states violate civil and human
rights by suppressing the votes
of minorties and others.
A delegation from the civil
rights organization will present
its case on Wednesday, March
21st in Geneva before the
United Nations Human Rights
Council a body that normal-
ly addresses troubles in places
such as Libya, Syria and the
Ivory Coast.
The Geneva appearance is
part of a strate-g rooted in the
1940s and 1950s. when the
group looked to the UN and the
international community for
support in its domestic battle
for civil rghts for Blacks and
against lynching.
"It was in 1947 that W.E.B.
DuBois dehvered his speech


and appealed to the world at
the U.N.," said NAACP presi-
dent Benjamin Todd Jealous.
"Now, like then, the principal
concern is voting rights. In
the past year, more states in
this country have passed
more laws pushing V
more voters out of
the ballot box than _
any point since i
Jim Crow." I NAI
Supporters of m \ ,
the new laws say 1.1
the action by the
National Associa-
tion for the Advance-
ment of Colored People
is a curious move. but one
that isn t likely to produce tan-
gible results.
"The NAACP can appeal to
whatever body it chooses to -
the UN doesn't run our elec-
tions." said Catherine Engel-
brecht. president of True the
Vote, a Tea Party-founded
anti-voter fraud group that's
seeking to mobilize thousands


of volunteers to work as poll
watchers and to validate exist-
ing voter-registraton lists.
Jealous acknowledged that
the Human Rights Council
has no direct authority over
U.S. states but he hopes
that it can exert influ-
ence through public
pressure.
SSince last year,
Sp 15 states have
~ passed new vot-
Ising laws; cur-
rently 38 states,
including some of
those 15, are weigh-
ing legislation to require
people to show government-
approved photo identification
or provide proof of citizenship
before casting their ballots.
Other changes adopted or un-
der consideration by states
include restricting voter reg-
istration drives by third-party
groups such as the League of
Women Voters and the NAACP;
curtailing or eliminating early


voting; doing away nith same-
day voter registration: and
rescinding the rght to vote
of convicted felons who have
served their time
A study last year b'y New York
University's Brennan Center
for Justice said the new laws
"may sharply tilt the political
terrain for the 2012 election"
by restricting voting access
to 5 million people most of
them minority, elderly, young
or lo\-income earners.
According to the report,
states that have adopted new
laws account for 171 electoral
votes in 2012 or 63 percent
of the 270 electoral votes need -
ed to win tle presidrnc', Th,-
study also found that more
than 21 million Americans
don t possess government-is-
sued photo identification. The
NAACP estimates that about
25 percent of Blacks nation-
wide don't possess the proper
documentation to meet ID re-
quirements.


Stafford is proud Liberty City product


STAFFORD
continued from 1A

my father, a police officer, who
would take me to work with
him," she said. "I would go
with him to court and watch
the lawyers doing their craft.
My mom was a secretary at
Matthew, Brannon and Mapp
- one of Miami's first Black
law firms. It didn't take me
long to decide what I wanted to
do when I grew up."

LET THE RECORD SHOW
Stafford represents Florida's
District 109 and has an im-
pressive and often-cited list of
credentials. But some say it's
the little things she does, like
mentoring former foster care
girls or assisting Haitians to
acquire temporary protected
status.
"We grew up together and
what continues to impress me
most is that [Cynthia] has nev-
er forgotten where she came
from or about the people who
put her in office," said Tangela
Sears, 46, a political consul-
tant. "A lot of our Black lead-
ers have gone off to Tallahas-
see and only returned when it
was time for reelection. That's


"*"^ ^ -' t y ~ ~ ~ .. ^B iH

MENTORING TOMORROW'S LEADERS: State Representative
Cynthia Stafford (far right) talks with young adults in her office
in Tallahassee. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Stafford.


not Cynthia. She may be part
of the minority party now, but
that has not deterred her from
keeping the Black press and
her constituency informed on
the key issues. She has stood
firm on every issue that could
impact the Black communi-
ty."
SBernadette Morris, CEO,
Sunshine Communications,
has known Stafford for over
20 years and says her friend
has always been about "em-
powering others."
"She has led an exemplary
life and that is clearly seen in


her most recent role as our
state representative," Mor-
ris said. "I think it has a lot
to do with the people who
have mentored her like Car-
rie Meek and of course her
parents. Cynthia is simply re-
turning the favor and blessing
all of us in the process."
Stafford got her start in pol-
itics as an aide for Congress-
woman Meek who says that
when they first met she saw
something different in her.
"She's a dutiful old woman
in a young woman's body,"
said Meek, 85. "Cynthia had


this light in her eyes 'and a
maturity that is rarely seen in
a young person. She wanted
to be the best that she could
and I did everything I could to
help her achieve that goal. If
we want to improve life for our
race, we have to reach back,
set a good example for our
youth and try to help them
flourish."

STAFFORD THANKS
HER SISTERS IN POLITICS
"Making a lot of money was
never the reason I became a
lawyer," she said. "For me,
it's all about helping peo-
ple. I think about women
who served before me: Beryl
Burke, Yolly Roberson, Gwen
Cherry, Carrie Meek, Dorothy
Bendross-Mindingall, Fred-
erica Wilson, Larcenia Bul-
lard I hope I haven't left
anyone off the list. We've all
had our various professions
but we also had something in
common as Black women: we
remained focused and part of
a common cause to uplift peo-
ple and to make sure Blacks
got their fair share. They,
along with my mother and
grandmothers, are the reason
that I am who I am today."


FL Supreme Court says maps violate Fair District standards


REDISTRICTING
continued from 1A

The Florida Democratic Party
will oppose the delay, said its
chairman, Rod Smith. He said
on Tuesday it's a stalling tactic
because the congressional map
has some of the same problems
the Supreme Court found in the
Senate plan. The Democrats
and three nonpartisan groups
that backed the Fair Districts


amendments, one each for
legislative and congressional
redistricting, are challenging
congressional plan. Smith said
no decision has been made on
whether to also challenge de-
tails of the state House map
in trial court although the Su-
preme Court has given it gen-
eral approval.
The high court also rejected
the Senate's use of minor roads
and streams as boundaries but


endorsed the House's approach
-f only using "easily ascertain-
able and commonly under-
stood" geographic boundaries.
District maps under con-
tention include Senator Chris
Smith, a Black Democrat from
Fort Lauderdale, whose district
has a 60.7 percent Black vot-
ing age population but would
drop to 55.8 percent under
the Senate's proposed replace-
ment; and Senator Gary Siplin,


a Black Democrat from Orlan-
do who cannot seek re-election
due to term limits.
In Siplin's case the court
concluded that the Senate
used minority protection as an
excuse to create a safe adjoin-
ing district for Senator Andy
Gardiner, R-Orlando, by draw-
ing an odd appendage that
takes in his home. The court
says that violates the compact-
ness standard.


Will Blacks ever 'overcome?'


REPORT
continued from 1A

emphasis on voting rights for
Blacks, pointing to unfair voters'
rights and restrictions that have
been adopted by 31 states.
But according to T. Willard Fair,
73, longtime president of the Ur-
ban League of Greater Miami, the
report is "nothing more than an
academic presentation written by
Black intellectuals."
"If you want to talk about the
state of Black America, you need to
talk about Blacks in relationship
to the rest of the country," he said.
"You need to talk about where we
fit, where we don't fit and our lack
of progress in comparison to how
whites continue to progress."
Few would dispute that rceentlhy-
adopted voters laws in mran; parts
of the country, including Florida,
have made it more difficult for
students, senior citizens in par-
ticular and and people of color in
general to exercise their right to
vote. That's why the League's CEO
and former mayor of New Orleans,
Marc Morial, says he defends the
report and its findings.
"Voting rights remain the key
to jobs, housing and education,"
Morial said. "Our bread and but-
ter in Black America hinges on
who gets elected and what posi-
tions they take. I agree that the
report, to some extent, is written
in a more intellectual context and
may be more appealing to those


with higher education. But I con-
tend that our audience is much
broader and that this 2012 report
is a must-read for everyone."

DEBUNKING THE MYTH
OF WHITE VS. BLACK
Fair says to truly assess the
state of Blacks today, there is one
ethnic group that must also be in-
cluded in the data Hispanics.
"Hispanics are the dominant
group in the U.S. today," he said.
"If we were being honest about
things, they would be factored into
the report Blacks would then
see that our 'state' is not only bad
but downright dismal. The Urban
League has offices in 96.cities in
the U.S. we are represented in
all of the major urban areas across
this country. We are at the bottom
of the rung in each of those 96 cit-
ies without exception. In Miami,
just like in Atlanta or Chicago, our
mostly-Black schools are turning
out students that are failing. If we
want to bring about real change
in the categories on which the re-
port focuses, we must be willing
to do what some say is not politi-
cally correct we have to put a
face on those who are most im-
pacted by the lack of education,
record unemployment and those
who are incarcerated the most -
in all cases those who make up
the numbers are Black."
The full report can be viewed
by going to www.iamempowered.
com.


Film focuses on African flaws


KONY
continued from 1A

to justice. "Its only purpose is to
stop the rebel group, the LRA,
and their leader, Joseph Kony,"
Russell says in the video's open-
ing sequence.
His plan to do this is simplis-
tic, if not naive. Russell encour-
aged the video's millions of In-
ternet viewers to send messages
via Twitter to 20 "culturemakers"
and 12 "policymakers" people
he believes can pressure the
Obama administration to keep
the U.S. military advisers in cen-
tral Africa until Kony is appre-
hended.
His list of policymakers in-
cludes two people who need no
introduction former presi-
dents Bush and Bill Clinton-
and at least two others Rep.
Kay Granger, R-Texas, and Rep.
Ileana Ros Lehtinen, R-Fla. -
who are far from household
names and pack little clout with
the Democrat in the Oval Office.
Among the "culturemakers"
Russell wants people to inun-
date with tweets calling for sus-
tained U.S. military support of
the search for Kony until he is
captured is Oprah Winfrey, Bill
O'Reilly, Taylor Swift and Rush
Limbaugh. That's right, Lim-
baugh.

SEEKS LIMBAUGH SUPPORT
Back in October, the conserva-
tive talk show host berated Presi-
dent Obama for sending the mili-
tary advisers to central Africa.
The "Lord's Resistance Army are


Christians," Limbaugh said at
the time. "They are fighting the
Muslims in Sudan. And Obama
has sent troops, United States
troops to ... kill them."
All right, so maybe Russell's
plan is even more naive than
simplistic. Even so, that's not
likely to stop large numbers of
people from taking up his cause.
Sure, the world will be a far
better place without Kony troll-
ing about central Africa unleash-
ing his violence on defenseless
people. But the commitment
from this country to bring him
to justice, despite the message
of the video, is both longstand-
ing and surprisingly bipartisan.
So there's no need to cajole the
president and congressional
leaders.
"The documentary is guilty
of promoting the sins of the old
media," Charles Stith, a former
U.S. ambassador to Tanzania,
said. His point is that like main-
stream media organizations, the
video focuses too much on what
is wrong with Africa and not
enough on the changes taking
place in Africa that have helped
make Kony a pariah.
"Ten years ago, there were only
11 democratically elected lead-
ers of African countries," said
Stith, who now heads the Afri-
can Presidential Archives and
Research Center at Boston Uni-
versity. "Today there are 33." It's
this change that is "tightening
the noose around Kony's neck,"
he said.
And it is the story of Africa that
continues to be largely ignored.


BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY


hnA TUL4 MIAMI TIMNC MAR1AU 1A-.0 0'n1


i a'i





i"dP:







11A THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20,2012


BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY


BankofAmerica i





HOW A FAMILY-OWNED MARKET FEEDS THE



SOUTH FLORIDA ECONOMY.


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of the community.

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The Miami Times





7_ Fai th__


SECTION B


MIAMI, FLORIDA, MARCH 14-20, 2012


MIAMI TIMES


Mentoring program teaches youth


Are teens meaner online? A

By Kaila Heard
kheard@miamitimesonline.com

The wonders of the Internet are allowing
individuals separated by thousands of miles
to connect and share their interests, their
views and apparently their hate.
Last month, a video recently posted on Youtube n
and WorldStarHipHop.com, showed three men kick- .
ing and punching a gay man, Brandon White, without
provocation only because of his sexuality after he exited a con -
venience store in Atlanta. After White fell to the ground, one of his
assailants even grabbed a car tire and hit him with it. Near the end of Feb-
ruary, his three attackers were eventually arrested and charged with assault.
The suspects were caught using good old-fashioned police work, utilizing in-
formants and using police officers to investigate the case, according to Sgt.
Please turn to ONLINE 14B


Why aren't there


more Black men


attending church?


By Kaila Heard
kheard@miamitimesonline.com

According to many Christians,
everyone regardless of age, sex,
race or economic background
should attend church. And it's
true many people across a wide
array of ages, races and eco-
nomic backgrounds heed that
advice. However, it is also true
that in many churches, more
women are likely to attend ser-
vices than men.
According to the Pew Forum
Religion and Public Life's U.S.
Religious Landscape Survey,
60 percent of the members of
historically Black churches are
women compared to just 40
percent male members.
Why exactly more women at-
tend church than men is hard
to say for certain, explains Rev.
Jeffrey Mack.
"People attend church for dif-
ferent reasons, some people
attend because of their faith
in God, some attend because
it's tradition, some attend


church because they're seek-
ing answers," Mack said. "But
throughout history women
have always gone to church
more than men."
At Second Canaan Mission-
ary Baptist Church where Mack
is senior pastor, weekly services
often bring in an average of 200
congregants he estimates
that 60 percent are women.
In some ways, this disparity
is natural, according to Pastor
Avery Jones of Holy Spirit Min-
istries.
"Women tend to be more emo-
tional and through that emotion
it gives them more hunger and
desire for God," he explained.
He surmises that men may
have a more difficult time ac-
cepting the purpose of church
and religion.
"The whole point of serving
God is to be a servant," Mack
said. "Sometimes men have
a hard time surrendering be-
cause they look at church as
servitude."
Please turn to MEN 14B


Will meditation help


your spiritual life grow?


By Kaila Heard
kheard@miamitimesonline.com

SMany people are on a quest to deep-
en their spiritual life. For Christians,
the prevailing logic recommends at-
- tending church service, participating
in Bible study, fellowshipping with
others and praying. But is there any-
thing more that can be done to deepen
your relationship with God? Medita-
tion might be the answer and the right
fit for your spiritual life, if you are
looking.
;... While it was once largely associated
with New Age and Eastern religions,
meditation is increasingly becoming


\'
S I


SI

. ,


popular among Christians. However,
many individuals interpret the term
differently.
The Reverend Howard Siplin of Beu-
lah Missionary Baptist Church likens
meditation to listening to God while he
sees prayer as a way of talking to God.
"Meditation is when you're more or
less dealing with the way you feel and
the way you want to feel about God,"
explained Siplin. "You're focusing on
self and trying to get self in line with
the Holy Spirit."
By its very nature, Siplin believes
that meditation can be a positive prac-
tice for Christians to adopt.
Please turn to MEDITATION 14B


Local Links chapter donates playground equipment


Tofight obesity, community service organization
donated $15,000 of equipment to youth services
In an effort to address childhood obe- vices organization.
sity and promote physical activity among The installation of the new playground
Black children, members of Greater Mi- which includes playsets, canopies and
ami Chapter of The Links, Incorporated surfacing represented the second phase
installed a new playground at Family of Greater Miami Chapter's goal to in-
Christian Association of America (FCAA) crease physical activity and promote
Inc., a youth development and family ser- healthy food choices among children.


During the past year, Greater Miami
Chapter has donated approximately
$15,000 worth of exercise and play-
ground equipment to FCAA to support
health initiatives for children. In June
2011, the Greater Miami Chapter Links
Teen Fitness Room at FCAA was dedi-
cated. This state-of-the art fitness room
is equipped with treadmills, elliptical ma-
chines, exercise bikes, weights, literature
Please turn to LINKS 14B














Celebrating the union of raunch and religion


By Larry Blumenfeld

At Columbia University's
Miller Theater on Feb. 25th,
Don Byron gripped his clarinet
in between songs. "We need to
talk about Thomas Dorsey," he
said, referring to the pianist
and composer acknowledged
as the father of Black gos-
pel music. "Dorsey is literally
the guy who took the nasti-
est blues you could play and
put it together with religious
music," he told the audience.
"The dominance of gospel blues
in African-American tradition
was not a given back then. One
person had that idea."
Leading his New Gospel
Quintet, Mr. Byron celebrates
the enduring power and
surprising range of Dorsey's
idea. As on his new CD, "Love,
Peace, and Soul", in concert
his group also occasionally
imbued that idea with the ele-
ments and feel of modern jazz.
Drummer Pheeroan akLaffs
rhythmic innovations were
decidedly subtle and spare,
the tambourine affixed to his
drum kit's hi-hat occasionally
invoking a tent revival. Pianist
Xavier Davis delved deeply into
stride piano during "It's My


Desire," elsewhere moving in
complex lockstep with bassist
Brad Jones. Guitarist Bran-
don Ross, a special guest on
both the concert program and
the recording, turned Eddie
Harris's "Sham Time"-which
isn't gospel but fit the mood-
into something explosive and
abstract. Carla Cook's vocals
moved from churchlike rever-
ence to fevered blues (on the
CD, DK Dyson veers more
toward rock inflection). Dean
Bowman, another guest, sang
the personalized pleas of
Dorsey's "Consideration" with
plain-spoken directness.
Dorsey's songs are meant
for singers, yet Byron carried
the music's message with the
greatest force. Sometimes it
came via his tenor saxophone,
as through his knowing coun-
terpoint on "Take My Hand,
Precious Lord." But it arrived
mostly and best via his clari-
net, as in wonderfully biting
dissonance on the refrain of
"Hide Me in Thy Bosom" and
with disarming tenderness and
stunning technique on "When
I've Done My Best." Byron
made his point as composer
too, with one stately original,
"Himmm."


w *

f \
u



ii


The New Gospel Quintet celebrates the music of Thomas A. Dorsey, who first combined blues and
gospel music. From left: Xavier Davis, Don Byron, Brad Jones, DK Dyson and Pheeroan akLaff.


Byron's music often comes
with a lesson, typically fo-
cused on subversive elements,
forgotten heroes and subtexts
of social commentary. His
brilliant 1996 album, "Bug
Music," enlivened the notion
of repertory jazz while exalting


the music of Raymond Scott
and John Kirby, two bandlead-
ers who straddled the worlds
of jazz and classical music in
the 1930s. In the liner notes to
his 1993 CD dedicated to the
klezmer music of Mickey Katz,
Byron argued for Katz as "one


of the most important artists
America has produced." His
record debut, 1992's "Tuskegee
Experiments," featured compo-
sitions by both Duke Ellington
and Robert Schumann, along
with original pieces that defied
genre classification. If there is


one through-line to his career
thus far, it is confounded ex-
pectations.
"People are always trying to
figure out what I really am,"
Byron said in an interview.
"What I am is someone who
can do anything he puts his
mind to. I believe in that. I pre-
pared for that."
Byron is a clarinetist of
uncommon range and skill,
a self-confessed "music nerd"
whose rigor is often concealed
by his easeful swing. While
growing up in the Bronx, N.Y.,
he was exposed to a variety of
music by his father, a postal
worker who played bass in
calypso bands, and his mother,
a phone-company employee
who played classical piano.
He studied classical music in
high school and attended the
New England Conservatory,
where he apprenticed with
Third-Stream originator George
Russell and played a promi-
nent role in Hankus Netsky's
Klezmer Conservatory Band.
On a 2004 CD, "Ivey-Divey,"
Byron found inspiration in
saxophonist Lester Young's
1946 recording with a bass-
free trio of pianist Nat Cole and
Please turn to RELIGION 14B


Faith in speech


Three most religious quotes by Obama


By Daniel Burke

In recent days, GOP presiden-
tial candidate Rick Santorum
has criticized President Obama
for having a "phony theology"
not based on the Bible, and
prominent evangelist Franklin
Graham has said he does not
know if Obama is a Christian.
"You have to ask him. I can-
not answer that question for
anybody," Graham said Tues-
day, Feb. 21st on the MSNBC
program "Morning Joe." On
"j other han.d,..Gr.aham said
that he believes Santournm is a
Christian because "his values
are so clear on moral issues
Even as a significant percent-
age of Americans falsely believe
Obama is Muslim, the presi-
dent has spoken of his Chris-
tian faith with increasing fervor
during his three years in the
White House.
Here's a sample, in reverse
chronological order, of five of
Obama's most personal state-
ments on Christianity:
From the Christmas tree
lighting ceremony in Wash-
ington on Dec. 2, 2011
"More than 2,000 years ago,
a child was born to two faith-
ful travelers who could find rest
only in a stable, among the cat-
tle and the sheep. But this was
not just any child. Christ's birth
made the angels rejoice and at-
tracted shepherds and kings
from afar. He was a manifesta-
tion of God's love for us.


"And he grew up to become
a leader with a servant's heart
who taught us a message as
simple as it is powerful: that
we should love God, and love
our neighbor as ourselves. That
teaching has come to encircle
the globe. No matter who we
are, or where we come from, or
how we worship, it's a message
that can unite all of us on this
holiday season."
From the National Prayer
Breakfast on Feb. 3, 2011
"And like all of us, my faith
journey has had its twists and
turns. It hasn't always been a
straight line. I have thanked
God for the joys of parenthood
and Michelle's willingness to


put up with me. In the wake of
failures and disappointments
I've questioned what God had in
store for me and been reminded
that God's plans for us may not
always match our own short-
sighted desires.
"And let me tell you, these
past two years, they have deep-
ened my faith. The presidency
has a funny way of making a
person feel the need to pray.
Abe Lincoln said, as many of
you know, 'I have been driven
to my knees many times by the
overwhelming conviction that I
had no place else to go.'"
From the National Prayer
Breakfast on Feb. 6, 2009
"I was not raised in a par-


ticularly religious household
.... I didn't become a Christian
until many years later, when
I moved to the South Side of
Chicago after college. It hap-
pened not because of indoctri-
nation or a sudden revelation,
but because I spent month af-
ter month working with church
folks who simply wanted to
help neighbors who were down
on their luck no matter what
they looked like, or where they
came from, or who they prayed
to. It was on those streets, in
those neighborhoods, that I
first heard God's spirit beck-
on me. It was there that I felt
called to a higher purpose --
His purpose."


Camping announces end of prophecies


Harold: No more

Doomsday

predictions?
By Lillian Kwon

After numerous failed
doomsday predictions, Family
Radio founder Harold Camp-
ing announced recently that
he has no plans to predict
ever again the day of God's
Judgment. He also issued an
apology to listeners, admitting
that he was wrong.
"We have learned the very
painful lesson that all of cre-
ation is in God's hands and
He will end time in His time,
not ours!" a statement on
Family Radio's website reads.
"We humbly recognize that
God may not tell His people
the date when Christ will
return, any more than He tells
anyone the date they will die
physically."
Camping, 90, has made
predictions about Judgment
Day, Christ's return and the
end of the world for the past
few decades with the May
21, 2011, forecast receiving
the most media attention.


Family Radio founder Harold Camping.


Each time the date passed, he
did not admit to mistaking the
timing but instead reasoned
that the events happened
"spiritually" rather than physi-
cally.
But once Oct. 21, 2011 the
day Camping said the world
would be destroyed physically
- came and went, the Chris-
tian broadcaster began to re-
evaluate his views about being
able to calculate and know the
exact date of the apocalypse.


Camping and Family Radio
staff stated in a March letter,
"We now realize that those
people who were calling our
attention to the Bible's state-
ment that 'of that day and
hour knoweth no man' (Mat-
thew 24:36 & Mark 13:32),
were right in their under-
standing of those verses and
Family Radio was wrong.
Whether God will ever give us
any indication of the date of
His return is hidden in God's


divine plan."
They went further to say
that their "bold" insistence
that the Bible guaranteed
Christ's return on May 21 was
both "incorrect" and "sinful."
At the same time, they
pointed to the good that came
out of all their failed forecasts,
which were condemned by
evangelical pastors.
"Even as God used sinful
Balaam to accomplish His
purposes, so He used our sin
to accomplish His purpose
of making the whole world
acquainted with the Bible," the
Family Radio letter says.
Though they were wrong,
their doomsday predictions
directed the world's attention
to the Bible and spurred dis-
cussions about the Scriptures
among people who might have
never heard about Christ, they
noted.
Still, that does not excuse
them, Family Radio acknowl-
edged.
"We tremble before God
as we humbly ask Him for
forgiveness for making that
sinful statement. We are so
thankful that God is so loving
that He will forgive even this
sin."


Church still supports


sex-offender preacher


By Bob Allen

A Florida Baptist church that
recently opened its pulpit to
a registered sex offender has
been asked to withdraw from
its local association of South-
ern Baptist churches.
Jacksonville Baptist Associa-
tion leaders said March 2nd
that conversations with lead-
ership of Christ Tabernacle
Missionary Baptist Church
produced a "mutual under-
standing that it is necessary"
for the church to withdraw
from membership.
The small congregation made
international headlines recent-
ly after barring children from
worship in order to accom-
modate terms of probation for
Darrell Gilyard. Gilyard began
preaching there at the end of
January, one month after he
completed a three-year prison
term for sex crimes with two
underage girls committed while
he was pastor of a different
church.
Gilyard, 50, pleaded guilty
in 2009 to lewd or lascivious
conduct and molestation in-
volving two girls younger than
16. He remains on a three-year
supervised probation that bars
him from having unsupervised
contact with minors.
David Tarkington, moderator
of Jacksonville Baptist As-
sociation, and Lead Missions
Strategist Rick Wheeler, said
in a statement that they were
"broken and saddened" by in-
formation being reported about
the church.
While "affirming the au-
tonomy of member churches,"
the leaders said, "the circum-


REV. DARRELL GILYARD
stances of CTMBC do concern
us." The association contacted.
Christ Tabernacle Missionary
Baptist Church to communi-
cate those concerns, leading
to an understanding that the
congregation would "leave the
fellowship of the Jackson-
ville Baptist Association." The
church intends to confirm
that understanding in writing,
according to the associational
leaders.
Christ Tabernacle Mission-
ary Baptist Church is listed
in membership rolls of Jack-
sonville Baptist Association,
the Florida Baptist Conven-
tion and the Southern Baptist
Convention. Tarkington and
Wheeler said the church has
not contributed financially to
the association since 2003 and
does not provide statistical
information.
The Florida Baptist Con-
vention released a statement
affirming "the role of the local
association as the theological
Please turn to GILYARD 14B


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THE NATION'S #1 BLACK NEWSPAPER


13B THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012










THE NATION'S #1 BLACK NEWSPAPER


BI41 THE MIAMI TIMFS MAC1-9 201


[La. Ca d


* The Opa-locka UM
Church is hosting a yard sale
on March 17 beginning at 7
a.m. 786-343-2693 or 305-
621-1513.

The Women In The
Ministry Network is host-
ing a Fellowship Meeting on
March 24 at 7:30 p.m.

New Life Family Wor-
ship Center's Women's
Ministry is hosting a meeting
on March 17 at 1 p.m. about
"the know-it-all Woman" and
the church also hosts Bible
study every Wednesday at 7
p.m.

New Providence Mis-
sionary Baptist Church is
hosting a an anniversary ser-
vice for Nobel Lady Zethel
#220, OES on March 18 at 4
p.m.

Mt. Vernon Mission-
ary Baptist Church is host-
ing pre-appreciation services


for their pastor on March 14
March 16 at 7:30 p.m. nightly
and on March 18 at 11 a.m.
305-846-3782.

First Thessalonians
Missionary Baptist Church
invites everyone to their pas-
tor's ninth anniversary on
March 18 at 3:30 p.m. 305-
758-0405.

Join the "Wholeness
Movement" at the G.L. Gas-
kin Center to take healthy
cooking classes, personal
trainer consultations and BMI
Testings, Monday Saturday,
7 a.m. 2 p.m. 305-607-
4153.

Jordan Grove Mission-
ary Baptist Church is host-
ing "An Evening with the Pas-
tor" on March 24 at 6 p.m.

Running for Jesus
Youth Ministry invites all
youth and praise dancers to
a Spoken Word Tent Crusade


on March 18 at 4 p.m. 954-
213-4332 or 305-696-6545.

Bethany Seventh Day
Adventist Church is hosting
a Juvenile Law Day to show-
case how law and juvenile
agencies work on March 17, 3
p.m. 6 p.m. 786-704-9785.

New Mount Moriah Mis-
sionary Baptist Church will
host the Habitat for Humanity
of Greater Miami's Homeown-
ership Application Meeting on
the second Saturday of every
month at 9:30 a.m. No RSVP
necessary. 305-634-3628.

Mt. Claire Holiness
Church welcomes every-
one to their Sunday Worship
Services at 12 p.m. and to
Praise and Worship Services
on Thursday at 8 p.m. 305-
633-2683.

Emmanuel Missionary
Baptist Church is hosting a
Family and Friends Day wor-
ship service every Sunday
at 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
305-696-6545.

Women in Transi-


tion of South Florida will
have its Annual Spring Tea
on March 17. Call 786-704-
6817 to RSVP.

Christ's Kingdom Life
Center International wel-
comes the community to
their Sunday worship ser-
vice at 10:30 a.m. and
their Bible study and Prayer
sessions on Tuesdays at 7
p.m.954-963-1355.

The Women Transi-
tioning Program is host-
ing another computer train-
ing session for women and
men. 786-343-0314.

New Beginning
Church of Deliverance in-
vites everyone to their free
weight loss classes Satur-
days at 10 a.m., but en-
rollment is necessary. 786-
499-2896.

Memorial Temple
Baptist Church holds wor-
ship services nightly at 7:30
p.m. 786-873-5992.

Redemption Mission-
ary Baptist Church wel-


Jimenez: Submission lets blessings into your life


JIMENEZ
continued from 12B

by the earthquake in 2010.
Even among the pain and
devastation, she witnessed
people that somehow still
found joy and peace.
"I asked how can these peo-
ple be so happy and they said
it's God," she said. "It's be-
cause they know who God is.
They are resilient and strong


because of their faith."
It's a lesson that many peo-
ple in America can stand to
learn, Jimenez adds.
"We're too comfortable and
when you get too comfort-
able you get too complacent
and you forget to acknowl-
edge who gave you all this,"
she said. "And when we don't
acknowledge Him in our lives,
acknowledge the power of
Him in us, that's why we walk


around complaining."

LESSONS FROM
THE PULPIT
Wactor Temple AMEZ
Church in Brownsville is a
small church with approxi-
mately 50 active members.
Jimenez says she is commit-
ted to seeing the church flour-
ish and hopes to attract more
members from senior citi-
zens to youth. She says she


also want to see a more cul-
turally diverse congregation
and wants to reach out to the
neighborhood's growing La-
tino population. It helps that
both she and- her husband
speak Spanish.
"I believe in diversity in ev-
ery aspect of life- from age
to ethnicity and that's what
we're going to work on at Wac-
tor Temple," she said. "We
want a mix of everything."


Ministers: Churches must offer more men's activities


MEN
continue from 12B

Jones has also seen this same
negative perception of church
among males.
"A lot of [men] would rather
deal with denial than actually
admit that we need a pidwer
stronger than us," Jones said,
But it may be the culture in
many churches that are keep-
ing some men away, according
to Reverend Norman Freeman
of St. Paul Missionary Baptist


Church in Homestead.
"The church is sometimes
more geared toward the fe-
male than the male," he said.
"Sometimes because of our
ways of preaching, the way
that we do ministries and even
in our decor, men don't feel
masculine enough,"' Norman
said. "Especially when we're
talking about brothers that we
want to take out of the streets.
If a brother does not see his re-
flection in the church, then he
has nobody to connect with."


To attract a higher male
presence in the pews, many
ministers believe that chang-
es in the sanctuary as well as
among the mind set of poten-
tial worshippers must change.
For churches, more empha-
sis should be placed on hav-
ing activities whether it be
sporting events, mentoring
programs, or even creating a
neighborhood security squad,
suggested Freeman.
"Men in our church like to
get out and feel like they're do-


ing something in the commu-
nity," he said.
In the meantime, men should
also reconsider their relation-
ship with God, including com-
ing to a deeper understanding
of what it means to serve Him,
according to Mack.
"Men should learn that
Christ wants us to serve Him
but he still wants us to lead
our family," Mack said. "He
just wants to be able to guide
us to the right ways of doing
that."


Preacher teaches how to meditate using scripture verses


MEDITATION
continue from 12B

"I would say it's better to lis-
ten because if you listen you
will learn more than just talk-
ing all the time," he said.
Pastor Felicia Hamilton of
Kingdom Agenda Ministries
also endorses meditation -
with a caveat.


"Meditation is good as long
as you meditate on the Word of
God, on truth," she explained.
"[Meditation] brings tranquil-
ity to you, it brings peace."
Meanwhile, Reverend Cecil
Lamb of Spirit of Christ Minis-
tries believes both prayer and
meditation equally play an im-
portant role in one's life.
"The purpose of meditation


is to impact our belief system,
but prayer is when you're pe-
titioning God for something,"
Lamb said. "Both of them are
important because prayer in-
volves spending time with God
and meditation involves doing
the will of God."
Although Lamb gives in-
struction on how to pray, he
also believes that there is a


correct way to meditate.
To meditate, first read a
verse from Scripture, quote it
aloud and then reflect upon it
constantly, he suggested.
"What you want to do with
the word of God is learn it so
well that you get it into your
subconscious mind so that
you will automatically do His
will," Lamb said.


Does anonymity of 'net encourage youths' bad behavior?


ONLINE
continued from 12B

Curtis Davenport of the Atlanta
Police Department's Public Af-
fairs Unit.
People displaying cruel and
even criminal behavior is not
new. However, the rise of so-
cial media has allowed more
people to broadcast their ac-
tions to larger audiences,
faster than ever before.
For example, another pair of
youth attending a Gainesville
high school posted a racist
rant on YouTube in February.
Perhaps the teens did not re-
ceive the exposure for which


they had hoped. They have
since issued public apologies
for their behavior, but they
are reportedly suffering from
depression because of death
threats they say they have
received. As outrageous as it
seems to document criminal
behavior by using new media
technology, the truth is that it
is unknown how many people
choose to do so, according to
Davenport.
What is known is that social
media continues to explode in
popularity. Among seven in
10 Black Internet users, also
use social networking sites,
such as Twitter, Facebook


and YouTube. Among teens
who are using the Internet
across all ethnic lines, 73
percent use social networking
sites.
And while Velma Lawrence,
the president of the local girls
mentoring program, Embrace
Girls Foundation, Inc., prais-
es the Internet and social me-
dia usage, she teaches her
students to use caution when
going online.
"They don't understand the
consequences. I tell them if
you put it out there in the
space for everyone to see and
you can never take that down
and they don't understand


that it will follow them for the
rest of their lives," she said.
Throughout the year, the
foundation hosts seminars
teaching girls, from ages 4 to
13, how to navigate the sites
as well as the consequences
and benefits of using the in-
ternet.
However, ultimately, it is up
to every individual to choose
how they will use the Inter-
net, according to Lawrence.
"Kids are going to do what
they want to do no matter
what." she said. "But I can
give them the tools and the
information so they can make
[smart] decisions."


Byron: Gospel music allows me to feel the greatness of God


RELIGION
continued from 13B

drummer Buddy Rich. It's not
Young's most celebrated work,
but for Byron it showcased
Young's ability to create coher-
ent structure from improvi-
sation that sounded offhand.
With "Love, Peace, and Soul,"
Byron considers the deeper di-
chotomy embodied in the life
and work of Dorsey, who is best
known for "Take My Hand, Pre-
cious Lord" but also composed
the raunchy blues number "It's
Tight Like That." Before devot-


ing his energies to religious
music and prior to his work
with Mahalia Jackson, Dorsey
was known as "Georgia Tom,"
performing with Ma Rainey and
her Wild Cats.
"Not only was he a great
songwriter," Byron said, "but
his incorporation of blues into
20th-century worship mu-
sic was revolutionary. A lot of
things in American culture flow
from that move." Byron found
a rewarding trove from which
to work. "The sheet music is
impressive in the way that old
Gershwin sheet music is im-


pressive," he said. "You could
actually learn the style from
reading it. All the harmonic
moves that we know as gospel
are in there, everything James
Cleveland and Aretha Franklin
played on piano."
For Byron, who is 53, this
gospel project isn't just his lat-
est musical investigation. More
than a decade ago, when his
mother was dying and he was
facing middle age, he found
himself hanging on the words
of ministers, hearing the mu-
sic in their delivery. "I needed
something," he said. He began


listening to gospel music, and
especially to Kirk Franklin.
"I could look at the elements,
figure out all the fancy chords
that Franklin used that made
me respect him as a musi-
cian, but there was something
beyond that. That I could feel
the greatness of God through
a piece of music-that's really
personal. It just hit me like a
ton of bricks."
So is this new project a direct
offering of faith? Byron closed
his eyes, thought for a moment.
"Yeah, sure. There's some Je-
sus up in there."


comes everyone to their
'Introduction to the Com-
puter' classes on Tuesdays,
11 a.m. 12:30 p.m. and
Thursday, 4 p.m. 5:30
p.m. 305-770-7064, 786-
312-4260.

New Canaan Mission-
ary Baptist Church wel-
comes the community to
Sunday Bible School at
9:30 a.m. followed by Wor-
ship Services at 11 a.m. 954
981-1832.

New Beginning
Church of Deliverance
hosts a Marriage Counseling
Workshop every Wednesday
at 5 p.m. Appointment nec-
essary. 786-597-1515.

Mt. Claire Holiness
Church invites the com-
munity to Sunday School at
10 a.m. and worship service
every week at noon and
praise service on Thursdays
at 8 p.m.

Christ's Kingdom Life
Center International in-
vites the community to their
Sunday Praise and Worship
Service at 10:30 a.m.

Glendale Baptist
Church of Brownsville in-
vites everyone to morning
worship every Sunday at 11
a.m. and Bible Study every
Wednesday at 7 p.m. 305-
638-0857

Set Free Ministries
through Jesus Christ
of the Apostolic Faith
Church, Inc. will be start-


ing a New Bereavement
Support Group beginning on
the 2nd and 4th Wednes-
days of each month from 7
p.m.- 9 p.m. 786-488-2108.

Lifeline Outreach Min-
istries invites everyone to
their roundtable to discuss
the Bible every Saturday, 6
p.m. 305-345-8146.

Join Believers Faith
Breakthrough Ministries
Int'l every Friday at 7:30
p.m. for Prophetic Break-
through Services. 561-929-
1518, 954-237-8196.

The Women's Depart-
ment of A Mission With
A New Beginning Church
sponsors a Community
Feeding every second Sat-
urday of the month, from 10
a.m. until all the food has
been given out. For location
and additional details, call
786-371-3779.

New Mt. Sinai Mis-
sionary Baptist Church
welcomes the community
to their Sunday Bible School
classes at 9:30 a.m. and 11
a.m. Worship Service. 305-
635-4100, 786-552-2528.

The Heart of the City
Ministries invites everyone
to morning worship every
Sunday at 9 a.m. 305-754-
1462.

SNew Life Family Wor-
ship Center welcomes ev-
eryone to their Wednesday
Bible Study at 7 p.m. 305-
623-0054.


Church leaves association


GILYARD
continue from 13B

guardian of theology, faith,
practice and polity.".The state
convention defines coopera-
tion by giving to the Coopera-
tive Program unified budget
and reporting statistical infor-
mation. While listed as a Flor-
ida Baptist church since 1998,
Christ Tabernacle has done
neither for the last six years.
The statement said conven-
tion staff were already trying to
contact leaders of the church
prior to Gilyard's appointment
to discuss the congregation's
non-participation.
"Since the current situation
developed, we have made ad-


ditional attempts to contact
church leaders," the conven-
tion said in a separate state-
ment also released Friday.
"Yesterday we were able to con-
tact the chairman of the dea-
cons and express our concern
about the on-going relationship
with the congregation."
The association's statement
asked members to "continue
to pray earnestly for the unity
throughout the entire body of
Christ in our region and for
the purity of our faith and
practice."
"We seek to honor the name
of Jesus in all we do and in
how we conduct ourselves in
these matters," the leaders
said.


Gym draws more teens


LINKS
continued from 12B

and a volunteer personal train-
er.
To the delight of The Links
and FCAA. staff, the estab-
lishment of the fitness room
has also resulted in increased
physical activity among senior


citizens in the surrounding
community who can be found
working out in the mornings.
Chapter President Ren6e S.
Jones stated "I am so pleased
to see that the donation of the
fitness room and playground
equipment has resulted in in-
creased physical activity among
children, teens and seniors."


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Send to: The Miami Times, 900 NW 54 St. Miami, FL 33127-1818 or
Subscribe online at www.MiamiTimesonline.com
*Includes Florida sales tax
_


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Happy 108th Birthday, Dr. S



Local coalition celebrates author


Read Across
America Day
The Early Learning Coalition
of Miami-Dade/Monroe cele-
brated both the birthday of cel-
ebrated children's book author,
Dr. Seuss, and Read Across
America Day with county-wide
storybook readings with spe-
cial guest storytellers, a "Green
Eggs and Ham" breakfast, Dr.
Seuss birthday cake cutting,
and book drop-offs on Friday,
March 2nd.
The Coalition hosted the
storybook reading events to
spread the word about the
importance of reading. Book
drop offs included sets of six of
Dr. Seuss' most popular titles
distributed to child learning
centers throughout the coun-
ties.
The Early Learning Coalition
kicked off Read Across Amer-
ica Day at Sierra Norwood
Calvary Child Development
Center with a classic "Green
Eggs and Ham" breakfast, do-
nated by Denny's on NW 27th
Avenue. Following breakfast,
dozens of four- and five-
year-old children gathered as
WPLG-TV anchor Jen Herrera
read "Green Eggs and Ham,"
and City of Miami Gardens
Councilman David Williams
read "The Cat In The Hat." The
children also enjoyed a reading
of "Hop On Pop" by 11-year-


euss!



s birth


City of Miami Gardens Councilman David Williams; former
NFL player and current ESPN announcer, Desmond Howard
participates in the Read Across America Day.


WPLG-TV Anchor Jen Herrera reads Dr. Suess storybook to students as part of Read Across announcer Desmond Howard
America Day. conducted a tag-team read-
ing of "Green Eggs and Ham"
old reporter Sara Cross of The Sr. Vice President and Chief and support." to the school's VPK students,
Circle Gazette. Programs Officer for the Early The Early Learning Coali- who'wore Dr. Seuss hats they
"We are really excited about Learning Coalition. "And hav- tion hosted a second Read made earlier in the day as
participating in Read Across ing the community's support Across America event at part of their daily arts and
America Day in celebration to encourage children to start Liberty Academy Daycare and craft project. President and
of Dr. Seuss' birthday while reading early is essential Preschool the same afternoon. CEO of The Children's Trust,
stressing the importance of we thank our partners, early Professional lacrosse player Modesto Abety-Gutierrez,
early literacy among our chil- learning centers and special Chazz Woodson and former wrapped up the afternoon
dren," said Blythe Robinson, guest storytellers for their time NFL player and current ESPN event with a reading of "The


Cat In The Hat."
The National Education
Association launched Read
Across America Day in 1998
to call on children to celebrate
reading, as research shows
that children who are moti-
vated to read, and read with
greater frequency, do better
in school. To date it is consid-
ered one of the largest reading
events in the United States.


Broward County students inr

state business competition


Students who attend Bro-
ward County Public Schools
netted a large number of
the awards presented at the
2012 Florida State Leader-
ship Conference held re-
cently in Orlando. Business
Professionals of America is
a national career/technical
student organization for stu-
dents preparing for careers in
the business world.
The event brought about
400 students together from
across the state to compete
in a variety of categories.
Two hundred forty-nine stu-
dents from 13 Broward high
schools took part in the com-
petition the largest delega-
tion from any school district.


Thirty-five individual Bro-
ward students or teams fin-
ished first in their categories.
Coral Springs High School
claimed 22 of those first place
finishes. The team's advisor,
Catherine Farina, said, "The
students prepared for and
competed in contests under
the four broad topics of fi-
nance, information technol-
ogy, administrative support
and management/market-
ing/human resources. Coral
Springs High School had a
fantastic showing."
Advisor Marcia Notkin,
whose Hallandale High
School Business Profession-
als team has 11 members
who qualified to compete at


the national level, said, "The
2012 State Leadership Con-
ference is a tremendous op-
portunity to expose students
to the world of business. Hal-
landale High School Busi-
ness Professionals of America
wants local businesses and
Hallandale Beach to know
that Business Professionals
of America and career/tech-
nical education are prepar-
ing students as today's lead-
ers and tomorrow's business
professionals."
In all, 135 Broward stu-
dents qualified to participate
in the national competition at
the 2012 National Leadership
Conference to be held in Chi-
cago next month.


More parents homeschool kids


By Unda Perlstein
In the beginning, your kids
need you-a lot. They're at-
tached to your hip, all the time.
It might be a month. It might
be five years. Then suddenly
you are expected to send them
off to school for seven hours a
day, where they'll have to cope
with life in ways they never had
to before. You no longer control
what they learn, or how, or
with whom.
We think of homeschool-
ers as evangelicals or off-the-
gridders who spend a lot of
time at kitchen tables in the
countryside. And it's true that
most homeschooling parents
do so for moral or religious rea-
sons. But education observers
believe that is changing. You
only have to go to a downtown
Starbucks or art museum in
the middle of a weekday to see
that a once-unconventional
choice "has become newly fash-
ionable," says Mitchell Stevens,
a Stanford professor who wrote
Kingdom of Children, a history
of homeschooling. There are
an estimated 300,000 home-
schooled children in America's
cities, many of them children


As home schooling
becomes more accept-
able, more parents are
turning into amateur
teachers for their
children.


of secular, highly educated
professionals who always
figured they'd send their kids
to school-until they came to
think, Hey, maybe we could do
better.
Many of these parents feel
that city schools--or any
schools-don't provide the kind
of education they want for their
kids. Just as much, though,
their choice to homeschool is
a more extreme example of a
larger modern parenting ethos:


that children are individu-
als, each deserving a uniquely
curated upbringing. That peer
influence can be noxious. (Bul-
lying is no longer seen as a
harmless rite of passage.) That
DIY-be it gardening, knit-
ting, or raising chickens-is
something educated urban-
ites should embrace. That we
might create a sense of secu-
rity in our kids by practicing
"attachment parenting," an
Please turn to KIDS 18B


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Classes teach 'first aid' for mental health crises

Classes teach 'first aid' for mental health crises


By Kim Painter

"Are you thinking of killing
yourself?"
"Have you made a plan?"
"Have you thought about how
you would do it?"
Esther Amagoh had just fin-
ished asking a classmate sev-
eral questions like those when
she raised a hand to ask one of
her own: "If they answer yes to
all of the questions, what do we
do next?"
Amagoh, 24, was in the right
place to find out: She was
among 22 physical therapy
doctoral students at Howard
University in Washington, D.C.,
who devoted a recent afternoon
to an abbreviated version of a
course that prepares people to
respond to others in a mental
health crisis.
It's called mental health first
aid. And while the classes are
not yet nearly as common as
traditional first aid courses -
the kind you take to learn how
to help a choking victim or car-
diac arrest victim they are
catching on.
Since 2008, 50,000 people in
47 states have taken the course,
and 1,850 have been trained as
instructors, says Bryan Gibb,
director of public education at
the National Council for Com-
munity Behavioral Healthcare,
based in Washington. The non-
profit runs the effort, using
a curriculum developed and
tested in Australia. Anyone can
take the 12-hour classes, which


:,-- -".


-Wi.







,








Bryan Gibb, of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, teaches a men-
tal health first aid course at Howard University in Washington, D.C.


are sometimes offered in.work-
places.
In April, Gibb's group will roll
out a new version of the class
designed for parents, teach-
ers, counselors and others who
work with people in the 10-to-
20 age range.
In the past year, the course
gained particular ground in Ari-
zona: The state started offering
the class to residents after a
mentally ill man shot U.S. Rep.


Gabrielle Giffords and 18 other
people in Tucson in early 2011.
"It took place right at our
Safeway, less than a mile from
my church," says Mike Lange,
58, a retired lawyer who took
the course and became an in-
structor shortly after the shoot-
ing, in which six people were
killed. One of the victims was a
judge whom Lange knew well.
If more people knew how to
help people with mental illness-


es, fewer such tragedies might
occur, Lange says.
But, he says, he mostly
teaches the class in hopes of
spreading "more information,
less stigma, more vigilance and
more caring."

LEARNING HOW
TO RESPOND
Attend a traditional first aid
class, and you will learn check-
lists for assessing and respond-


ing to cuts, burns and strokes.
But at the recent class at
Howard, Gibb asked the stu-
dents to consider how they
would "respond to someone
who is apparently having a
discussion with someone who
is not there," a stranger hav-
ing a panic attack, a friend ex-
pressing hopelessness or a cli-
ent distressed over an illness.
He offered a checklist for
dealing with such situations.
It goes by the acronym ALGEE
and has these steps:
Assess for risk of suicide


or harm.
Listen non-judgmentally.
Give reassurance and in-
formation.
Encourage appropriate pro-
fessional help.
Encourage self-help and
other support strategies.
The students learned that
when someone might be sui-
cidal, it's best to ask direct
questions and that using
the word "suicide" won't make
things worse.
"I had that misconception,"
Please turn to MENTAL 18B


Prescription meds can add


Health Roundup


Hot flashes, prostate cancer

risk, and a sleepy Monday


Drugs can heal

and add weight
Medications taken by mil-
lions of Americans for mood
disorders, high blood pressure,
diabetes and other chronic
conditions can have an un-
healthy side effect: weight gain.'
While other choices exist for
some types of drugs, adjust-
ing medications is not simply a
matter of switching, according
to Ryan Roux, chief pharmacy
officer with the Harris County
Hospital District, in Houston.
In the late 1990s, Dr. Lawrence
Cheskin conducted early re-
search on prescription medi-
cines and obesity.
"Some medicines make an


early, noticeable difference,
causing patients to become
ravenously hungry, while
changes are subtle for others,"
said Cheskin, now director
of the Johns Hopkins Weight
Management Center, in Bal-
timore. "A few months taking
them and you've gained 10
pounds."
To help,increase aware- j
ness, Roux and his pharma-
cist group have compiled a
list of "weight-promoting" and
"weight-neutral or weight-loss"
drugs.
Anti-depressants that pro-
mote weight gain include Paxil
(paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline),
amitriptyline (Elavil) and Rem-
eron (mirtazapine). Wellbutrin
(bupropion) and Prozac (fluox-


etine) are considered weight-
neutral or weight-loss drugs.
"Generally, older antidepres-
sants are typically more prone
to cause weight gain than the
newer SSRIs [selective sero-
tonin reuptake inhibitors],"
Cheskin said.
Mood-disorder drugs that
can add weight include the
antipsychotics Clozaril (clo-
zapine), Zyprexa (olanzapine),
Risperdal (risperidone) and
Seroquel (quetiapine). Lithium,
valproic acid (Depakote) and
carbamazepine (Tegretol) can
also put on the pounds.
"Drugs with hormonal ef-
fects, such as antipsychotics
and steroids, are among the
biggest culprits in weight gain,
Cheskin said. "They work on


I pounds
the brain and appetite control
is largely a brain function.
They make you more hungry."
Both experts agreed that
less-than-perfect adherence
to prescribed medications is
common, regardless of whether
they affect a patient's weight.
With anti-psychotic meds,
Roux says, a challenge is that
^once.people feel.better they
may stop taking them. When
drugs like Zyprexa used in
schizophrenia ard bipolar dis-
order cause weight gain of
20 pounds and upward, that's
another barrier to treatment
adherence. '
Blood pressure medicines
that can cause weight gain in-
clude Lopressor (metoprolol),
Please turn to MEDS 18B


Take steps to make stairs safer for kids


By Kim Painter

Hot flash treatment: A
few sessions of behavioral
therapy helped menopausal
women cope with hot flashes
in a new study. The women
did not necessarily overheat
less, but felt better after us-
ing breathing exercises and
learning what one researcher
called "helpful, accepting ap-
proaches to hot ashess"
Circumcision and pros-
tate cancer: Men who are
circumcised have a lower
risk of prostate cancer, a
study suggests. It's possible
that circumcision lowers the
risk of sexually transmitted
infections and that infections
raise cancer risk.
HIV progress: Science
is making progress toward
a cure for HiV infection,
but still faces obstacles,
researchers reported at
a conference in Seattle.
Meanwhile, patients are liv-
ing longer. Longtime survi-
vors include about a dozen
men and women infected
as infants in a Los Angeles


hospital in the early 1980s.
"Life is pretty good right
now," one of those survivors,
now 29, tells the Los Angeles
Times.
Fat and spide: A spicy
meal might lower certain fats
in the blood - even when
the meal itself is high in fat,
a study finds. Researchers
have not proven any lasting
heart benefits, but will con-
tinue their tasty studies with
blends that include turmeric.
rosemary, ginger and garlic.
Today's talker: Feeling a
bit groggy today? You've got
plenty of company. It may
well be the sleepiest Monday
of the year, as we adjust to
the first weekday of daylight
saving time and our lost
hour of weekend sleep. If this
is a typical year, today will
see rises in heart attacks.
car accidents and workplace
accidents. Most people will
adjust to this mass case of
jet lag in a few days. One
way to speed it up: Get some
early morning sun this week.
Light helps reset the body
clock, experts say.


By Michelle Healy

When little ones are
around, stair safety can never
be minimized, even when
children are in the arms of an
adult, a new national study
suggests.
Although the number of
stair-related injuries to chil-
dren declined 11.6 percent
from 1999 to 2008, about
93,000 children younger than
five were treated in hospi-
tal emergency departments
each year, an analysis re-
ported in the journal Pediat-
rics finds. That equates to a
child younger than five being
rushed to the hospital once
every six minutes for a stair-
related injury, the study says.
Among children under age
one, 25 percent of the injuries
occurred while the child was
being carried on the stairs by
an adult. Those children were
more than three times more
likely to be hospitalized.
Researchers believe the
total number of stair-related
injuries is actually higher,
because in many instances,


....


The most common body regions injured were the head and
neck (76 percent), followed by the upper extremities (11 per-
cent).


treatment is provided by
urgent care centers or private
doctors or not at all.
When that happens, it is
not included in the National
Electronic Injury Surveillance
System database, which is
operated by the Consumer
Product Safety Commission
and was used for the study.
"We know it's an underes-
timation because were not
catching all of the cases"
says the study's senior au-
thor, Gary Smith, director of
the Center for Injur\ Re-
search and Policy at Nation-
wide Children's Hospital in
Columbus, Ohio.
This very common source
of injuries "demands much
more attention than it's
given," he says.

STAIR SAFETY
Keep stairs free of clutter
and in good repair.
Install handrails if not
already in place.
Use stair gates at both the
top and the bottom of stairs.
When carrying a child,
avoid carrying other items.


Daylight
By Sarah Meehan

Sunday's start of daylight
saving time will throw off the
clock only by an hour, but
that's enough to leave people
feeling groggy for a day or two,
sleep experts say.
By setting clocks ahead an
hour, daylight saving time al-
lows us more light through the
spring, summer and fall. But
when the time changes at 2
a.m. Sunday (except in Arizona


saving time can be a problem
and Hawaii), it will cost one nologist and sleep specialist eight hours each night.
hour of sleep. We'll regain that Nicholas Rummo of Northern "Millions of Americans can
when the clocks fall back on Westchester Hospital's Center ill afford to lose one more hour
Nov. 4. for Sleep Medicine. "The day of sleep given that so many of
"Losing an hour is harder or two after people aren't quite them are so sleep-deprived,"
than gaining an hour," says alert," he says. "Most people says Russell Rosenberg, board
Steven Feinsilver, director of might feel it Monday into Tues- chairman for the National
the Center for Sleep Medicine day." Sleep Foundation.
at Mount Sinai Medical Center Some people will be more Sleep directly affects health
in New York. "It's sort of like a sluggish than others Monday and safety, Rosenberg says,
mini jet lag." morning particularly those and the sleep loss associated
It takes no more than 48 without regular sleep habits, with daylight saving time has
hours to adjust to a one-hour such as waking up at a consis- been linked to increases in
loss, says New York pulmo- tent time or snoozing seven to traffic and on-the-job accidents


for sleep-deprived
the Monday following the time to bed 10 to 15 minutes earlier
change. every night.
Specialists encourage people Take a nap Sunday to
to use this, the National Sleep "build up a little sleep in your
Foundation's National Sleep sleep bank," says Russell
Awareness week, to adopt good Rosenberg, board chairman for
habits so that next year, it the National Sleep Foundation,
won't be quite so tiring to make noting that siestas should be
the leap forward. Sleep doctors less than an hour.
offer a few tips for making up Every minute counts, so
for lost z's: set the alarm clock for the last
Start early. Move your possible minute Monday morn-
schedule up a few minutes ing.
each day eat dinner and go Please turn to DAYLIGHT 18B


Suicide warning signs

Most mental health problems are "low-intensity" events
that don't require an emergency response, says Bryan Gibb
of the National Council for Community Behavioral Health-
care. But a person making plans for suicide needs immedi-
ate help. Some possible warning signs:

Threatening to injure or kill oneself.
Seeking access to means to injure or kill oneself.
Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide.
Feeling hopeless.
Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities.
Increased use of alcohol or drugs.
Withdrawing from friends, family or society.
Appearing agitated or angry.
Having a dramatic change in mood.

If you think someone is actively suicidal,
call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-
TALK (8255).














Ieath


reness

Sponsored by North Shore Medical Center
"Once You Know, It's Where To Go"


MIAMI, FLORIDA, MARCH 14-20, 2012


c..'. Y .i" f: : "". :.-.;," "-'


THE RIGHT DIET
CAN BOOST
ATHLETIC
PERFORMANCE

Eating the right balance of
nutritious foods can improve
athletic performance, whether
you're an elite athlete or just
enjoy sports and exercise on a
regular basis.
The Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics lists these benefits of a
healthy diet for athletes:
Improved cardiovascular
health, including better blood
flow, delivery of oxygen and blood
pressure.
Improved respiratory func-
tion.
A stronger immune system.
Stronger bones and muscles.
Improved metabolism to keep
your body burning calories.

CARING FOR
BABY AFTER
CIRCUMCISION

Circumcision is a procedure
sometimes performed on new-
born boys to remove the foreskin
of the penis. After the procedure,
it's important for new parents
to take proper care to prevent
infection and speed healing.
The American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists
lists these suggestions to help
care for your baby after circum-
cision:
Make sure that baby's diaper
area stays very clean.
Change diapers frequently
throughout the day.
Carefully and thoroughly
wash the penis each day with
gentle soap and water.
The penis should be healed
within about a week to 10 days.

MIINIlIIZE
BREASTFEEDING
PAIN

Breast-feeding can be painful
or uncomfortable, but there are
things moms can do to make it a
more pleasant experience.
The Nemours Foundation
mentions these suggestions to
help make breast-feeding more
comfortable:
Ensure baby is properly
latched to the breast.
Apply a special over-the-
counter lotion between feedings
to prevent dryness.
When you've finished feeding,
take a little bit of breast milk
and massage the nipples, allow-
ing them to air dry.
Nurse more frequently, but
for shorter feedings. Nurse on
the breast that is less sore.
Use your finger to gently
break baby's suction at the end
of a feeding.
Use different feeding posi-
tions.
Gently massage the breast
or apply gentle heat before a
feeding.
Apply a cold compress or ice
pack after a feeding.
Feed with stored milk for
a few days, allowing cracked
nipples to heal.
Drink plenty of fluids, and get
as much rest as possible.


NSMC



1-", 4 _
2 -1,-F.


North Shore Medical Center is
proud to announce its 2012 Leap
Day Baby. With the odds of being
born on Leap Day 1 in 1,461, baby
Aniyah McCray has leaped into life
with good luck and good health at
,North Shore Medical Center. This
was a special event for the new par-
ents and medical staff, as Leap Day
babies only come along once every
four years.
"Every baby that is born at North
Shore Medical Center is special;
however, the arrival of our Leap Day
Baby is an especially neat event that
we can only celebrate once every sev-
eral years," said Manny Linares. "We
congratulate Marandall Lashondra
McCray for the birth of her beautiful


A



baby girl and wish her family con-
tinued luck, health and happiness."
North. Shore Medical Center rec-
ognizes that welcoming a baby into
the world is one of the most joyous,
meaningful times of life. That's why
the hospital does everything pos-
sible to make the experience special.
The hospital offers advanced medi-
cal care delivered by skilled profes-
sionals who have the experience to
handle routine deliveries as well as
those more complicated and high-
risk.
For more information about ma-
ternity services at North Shore Medi-
cal Center, or to take a tour, please
call 1-800-984-34343 or visit www.
northshoremedical.com.


Study: Circumcision


linked to lower risk


of prostate cancer


By Randy Dotinga

Men who have prostate cancer are
less likely to be circumcised, accord-
ing to new research.
TIh: researchers suggest a possible
reason is that circumcision reduces
the risk of sexually transmitted dis-
eases that may contribute to pros-
tate tumors.
The study doesn't confirm that cir-
cumcision directly lowers the risk of
prostate cancer, and the study lead
author cautioned that the findings
shouldn't play a role in the decisions
of parents about the sometimes-con-
troversial procedure.
Still, the results fit in with existing
knowledge about how cancer devel-
ops, said study author Dr. Jonathan
Wright, a urologic oncologist at the
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center at the University of Washing-
ton in Seattle.
"It helps us to understand how
cancers develop and ultimately learn
how to combat the disease," he said.
Circumcision is the removal of the
foreskin that covers the penis tip,
and it is usually done shortly after
birth. Opponents say the procedure
is unnecessary, painful and a dis-
figurement that robs men of sexual
sensation. But research in recent
years has suggested that circumci-
sion reduces the risk of sexually
transmitted diseases like HIV, the
virus that causes AIDS. Scientists
think circumcision does that by
eliminating the ability of germs to
lurk under the foreskin.
Previous research by the study
authors found no link between cir-
cumcision and lower risk of prostate
cancer. But the new study is larger,
Wright explained.
The researchers examined medical
records and surveys of 1,754 men
who were diagnosed with prostate
cancer in the Seattle area and 1,645
similar men who were healthy.


Of those with prostate cancer,
about 65 percent had been circum-
cised before the first time they had
intercourse, compared with 69 per-
cent of the healthy men.
Those with prostate cancer were
still less likely to have been circum-
cised after the researchers adjusted
their statistics so they wouldn't be
thrown off by factors like high or low
numbers of men of certain incomes,
education levels or race.
However, the study doesn't prove
that circumcision has anything to
do with prostate cancer. Some other
factor could explain this difference
between the men with prostate can-
cer and the healthy ones, or it could
be a statistical fluke.
But it makes sense that germs
from sexually transmitted diseases
would find it easier to get into the
body, and then into the prostate, in
the uncircumcised men, Wright said.
It's possible that "they set up shop in
Please turn to CIRCUMCISION 19B


Doctors worried about vaccine backlash


By Tom Wilemon

Dr. Lori Breaux knows
firsthand why an unvaccinat-
ed child is a health risk. Her
2-week-old infant ended up
in an intensive care unit with
whooping cough after she
had treated a patient with
the disease while pregnant.
She's one of many pediatri-
cians who are taking tougher
stands with parents who
refuse vaccinations. Breaux
this year began making par-
ents sign a waiver every time
they bring an unvaccinated
child in for treatment. Other
practices won't even accept
children as patients who
haven't had their shots.
Doctors are growing in-
creasingly frustrated with


what they characterize as
misinformation linking
childhood immunizations to
autism, but many parents
continue to be wary of vac-
cines. While parents research
vaccine risks, their sources
usually aren't the medical
journals that doctors read.
"My response usually is
for them to look at credible,
researched information and
data and really make an
informed decision for them-
selves versus what someone
told them," said Breaux, a
doctor at Brentwood (Tenn.)
Pediatrics.
Dr. Robert Lillard of Jr.
of The Children's Clinic of
Nashville refers parents to
websites for respected hospi-
tals. Doctors have a respon-


If

wi`


Lauren Fant, left, 18, winces as she has her third and final
application of the H PV vaccine administered by nurse Steph-
anie Pearson.


sibility to make their clinics
as safe as possible, he said.
"We want you to feel if
you're in our waiting room
that you are safe," Lillard
said. "By that I mean if you
have to come in for a sick
visit and you are sitting in
the waiting room next to a
child that has a rash, we
want you to feel pretty com-
fortable knowing that's prob-
ably not measles. If you are
in our practice, you've been
vaccinated against measles
and you're not going to be
exposed to that."
Breaux's daughter recov-
ered from whooping cough.
"That was before it was
routinely recommended that
adults receive a booster dose
Please turn to PARENTS 18B


Survey shows many don't make health a prriority
Lack of time seems to be the and vegetables a day, and about 60 survey showed that 90 percent of healthier lifestyle," AHA spokesper-
key reason why only 12 percent of percent said it was difficult to get respondents said they did want to son Dr. Tracy Stevens. a professor
American adults regularly prac- the recommended levels of exer- improve their health. of medicine and cardiologist with
tice such healthy habits as eating cise -- at least 150 minutes a week "Whether it is simply adding a Saint Luke's Cardiovascular Con-
right, exercising, and brushing and of moderate activity such as brisk 30-minute brisk walk to your day, sultants in Kansas City, Mo.. said in
flossing their teeth, according to an walking. eating a few more fruits and veg- an AHA news release.
American Heart Association (AHAI The survey also found that 25 per- tables with your meals, balancing The AHA has a healthy-living
survey cent of respondents don't brush and your calories and physical activity initiative called "My Heart, My Life,"
The survey found that 80 percent nnse twice a day or floss at least to achieve a healthy body weight which provides simple ideas for im-
of respondents said they struggled once a day, as recommended, or creating routine oral-care hab- proving nutrition, physical activity
to eat at least nine servings of fruit On the positive side, however, the its -- it all contributes to an overall and children's health.


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B 81 THE MIAMI TIMES MAR 2


Some drugs may cause patient's weight gain


MEDS
continued from 16B

Tenormin (atenolol), Inderal
propranololl), Norvasc (amlo-
dipine) and clonidine (Cata-
pres). Cheskin said dietary
changes can help counterbal-
ance the effects of these medi-
cations.
"I recommend increas-


ing fiber content and water,
and lowering calorie density.
Spread out calories over sev-
eral meals, five or six a day,
instead of saving it all for din-
ner."
Diabetes drugs, includ-
ing oral medications like Ac-
tos (pioglitazone) and Amaryl
(glimepiride), promote weight
gain, as does insulin.


"With insulin, a lot of it is the
chicken and the egg," Cheskin
said. "People who are obese
become diabetic and people
who are diabetic have mecha-
nisms that make them less re-
sponsive to dietary changes."
"People should talk to their
health care providers if they're
troubled by weight gain," Roux
said. "I advocate patients talk-


ing with the pharmacist first,
so they don't just arbitrarily
stop their medication before
their next [medical] appoint-
ment. With all the attention
on the environmental factors
causing obesity, people may
not be aware that what we're
prescribing for you may not
help and may push someone
in the wrong direction."


Vaccine fears cause more parents to delay shot


PARENTS
continued for 17B

of the vaccine that protects
against whooping cough," she
said. "The presumption is that
I was an adult carrier."
Tammy Vice of Henderson-
ville, the mother of an 18-year-
old daughter with autism, be-
lieves there's some gray area.
The daughter had a more
compressed, heavier vaccine
schedule than her sibling who
is 6 years old, Vice said.
"Some kids do have a weaker
immune system," she said. "In
Morgan's case, her immune
system was compromised. I
don't know why. She wasn't
able to handle the load. As a
parent, I believe there are sev-
eral factors in autism -- differ-


ent cases. But in our case, I
still strongly believe that was a
factor in her autism."
However, Vice had her
daughter vaccinated for men-
ingitis when she was a teen-
ager.
"I'm not saying not to do it,"
she said. "I'm just saying be
careful how you do it. I don't
want to say vaccines cause all
autism, but I do believe there
are several factors, whether it
be genetics or environmental.
And I believe in a safe vac-
cine schedule where a parent
is educated and takes the time
and works with a doctor who
respects that."
Vice cites Dr. Robert Sears,
a California pediatrician who
advocates an "alternative vac-
cine schedule" that spaces out


and staggers childhood immu-
nizations. Most pediatricians
follow the more compressed
schedule recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and the Ameri-
can Academy of Pediatrics.
The CDC says there is no cor-
relation between vaccines and
autism. Even so, many physi-
cians will try to accommodate
parents' wishes. The Children's
Clinic of Nashville will spread
the schedule out to a point, as
long as required vaccinations
are competed by 18 months.
"We're not hard line to the
point of saying, 'If you don't
want a vaccine, don't. even
darken our door,'" Lillard said.
"We always welcome people in
to discuss it."
Breaux encounters parents


who object to vaccines for reli-
gious reasons but she has her
doubts, since this excuse can
be used to get around required
school immunizations.
Breaux spends as much time
as she can educating parents
about the safety of vaccines,
even when she has to repeat
herself. Every time a parent
signs a waiver, she starts a dis-
cussion.
Dr. Eddie Hamilton of Cen-
tennial Pediatrics in Brent-
wood said he also often has to
persuade parents to vaccinate
their children.
"Until recent years, we
weren't put into this dilemma
of having such a large number
of families who were choosing
not to," Hamilton said. "It has
really made it hard."


More knowledge of mental health lowers stigma


MENTAL
continued from 16B

said Amber Stewart, 27. "You
want to be sure you are doing
the right thing."
Students also learned to
never leave a suicidal person
alone and to get that person
professional help as soon as
possible.
In one exercise, they got a
taste of what it's like to have
a real conversation while
hearing unreal voices: The


students took turns whisper-
ing into the ears of chatting.
classmates. It's tough to con-
centrate, the students agreed,
when a voice is saying "Don't
trust him" or "Why are you
talking to her?"
Those are the sorts of things
that someone suffering from
auditory hallucinations might
endure, Gibb told them.

KNOWLEDGE
REDUCES STIGMA
He also covered problems


that are more common, in-
cluding anxiety and substance
abuse. He said mentally ill
people were much more likely
to be victims than perpetrators
of violence, but he also showed
the students how to stay safe
in uncertain situations.
A brief class .can't turn lay-
people into psychiatrists, Gibb
says. "But there's not a psy-
chiatrist on every street cor-
ner," he adds, and with one
in four people showing symp-
toms of a mental illness in any


year, the need is great.
"In many of the cases where
a tragedy happens, there were
a lot of early warning signs,"
says Darcy Gruttadaro, who
works on child and adolescent
issues for the National Alliance
on Mental Illness. "Programs
like mental health first aid can
help more people know how to
approach those situations."
Knowledge also reduces the
stigma, she says: "That is ex-
tremely important and im-
pacts a lot of people."


Newtech aids students


KIDS
continued from 15B
increasingly popular approach
that involves round-the-clock
physical contact with children
and immediate responses to all
their cues.
Laws, and home-crafted cur-
ricula, vary widely. Home-
schoolers in Philadelphia, for
instance, must submit a plan
of study and test scores, while
parents in Detroit need not
even let officials know they're
homeschooling. Some families
seek out a more classical cur-


riculum, others a more uncon-
ventional one, and "unschool-
ers" eschew formal academics
altogether. There are parents
who take on every bit of teach-
ing themselves, and those who
outsource subjects to other
parents, tutors, or online pro-
viders. Advances in digital
learning have facilitated home-
schooling-you can take an AP
math class from a tutor in Isra-
el-and there's a booming mar-
ket in curriculum materials, the
most scripted of which enable
parents to teach subjects they
haven't studied before.


Plan ahead for longer days


DAYLIGHT
continued from 16B
Soak up the sun. Sunlight
jump-starts our bodies and sets
our internal clocks forward, so
sip your coffee in front of a win-
dow for an extra jolt. "Light in
the morning makes us want


to go to bed earlier," says New
York pulmonologist and sleep
specialist Nicholas Rummo.
*Avoid alcohol and caffeine,
which interfere with the hor-
mones and chemistry that reg-
ulate our bodies and make it
more difficult to fall asleep and
wake up, Rummo says.


Our website is back new and
improved. If you are looking
for top-notch local news
stories that feature
Miami's Black
community, look no
further.


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19B THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012


THE NATION 5 #1 BLACK NEWSPA R


IH 1-\X I N fI-N1 1


Is living longer always better?


'Best care possible'


may be dying

well, docs say
By Janice Lloyd

Medical advances help peo-
ple live longer and longer, but
too few physicians help people
understand that longer is not
always better, according to two
new books.
Ira Byock says he wants "to
raise people's expectations"
about the end of life and to
change the conversation about
dying.
"It's not easy to die well in
modern times," says Byock, di-
rector of palliative medicine at
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical
Center in Lebanon, N.H., and
author of "The Best Care Pos-
sible: A Physician's Quest to
Transform Care Through the


End of Life."
Karen Wyatt, physician and
author of "What Really Mat-
ters, 7 Lessons for Living from
the Stories of the Dying," de-
scribes a "horrifying night" she
experienced as a resident at a
hospital.
"A man came into the hos-
pital and his heart arrested
fives times in the course of the
night," she says. "We resusci-
tated him four times before he
finally died with us pounding
on his chest. It was so sad, and
what makes me so passionate
about hospice care, where peo-
ple can die very comfortably
at home with their loved ones
around them."
Byock says the needless suf-
fering at the end of life is partly
a result of a political climate
that accuses palliative care
doctors and hospice physi-
cians of promoting a "culture
of death" or "death panels."


Grandparents paying for family vacations


Tough economy

might otherwise

limit get-togeth-

By Charisse Jones

Grandparents are picking
up the tab more during these
tough economic times, treat-
ing the whole family to a vaca-
tion or just flying the grand- ,
kids in for a visit, some hotels'
and travel agents say.
More than ever, the Best
Western Plus North Shore
Inn in Portland, Texas, says
it's seeing three generations
of a family check in, with the
grandparents usually footing
the bill.
The Best Western Plus Long-


branch hotel in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, has also seen an in-
creasing number of weekend
visits by people with grand-
children in tow.
Travel professionals say the
trend largely results from the
turbulent economy.
Some grandparents want
to treat family members to
vacations they may otherwise
struggle to afford, or they sim-
ply want to spend more time
with loved ones in the midst of
so much uncertainty.
In the past four years,
Ginger Mittelstaedt, owner of
the Free Spirit Travel agency
in Portage, Wis., has been
booking a growing number of
multi-generational excursions
on cruises or at all-inclusive
resorts. "The grandparents
are taking the whole family,"


she says.
St6phane Trycionka, direc-
tor of North America sales
for the Oetker Collection of
luxury hotels, has seen more
grandparents traveling with,
and paying for, their offspring
and grandkids. "In times of
economic and geopolitical ten-
sions, people seem to want to
enjoy being together with their
family and friends 'before (it's)
too late,' he says.
Colby Reeves, a construc-
tion company executive who
lives part of the year in Myrtle
Beach, S.C., is flying in his
17-year-old granddaughter,
Bailey, for a visit over her up-
coming spring break.
"Everything costs more, and
it's not that they couldn't or
wouldn't (pay), but I'm able
to help out, and I do," says


Reeves, who often uses his
frequent-flier miles to treat his
family. "I think there would be
less traveling if I weren't using
my mileage to help them out."
David Campbell says he's
often paid for his two daugh-
ters and granddaughter to
travel from New York to visit
him and his wife, Toni, in Yor-
ktown, Va.
In December, he took
the entire family to see his
94-year-old grandmother,
Connie, in Fort Lauderdale.
He says he's mostly moti-
vated by a desire to make his
children's lives a little easier.
"It's getting to a point I'd
like them to enjoy life," says
Campbell, a regional sales
manager. "And if they're going
to enjoy it, they might as well
enjoy it with me."


Apostolic Revival Center

42nd anniversary


Rather, he writes, he is one
of the compassionate experts
who are "pro-life" and insist
people get the best care possi-
ble -- basically what they want
for themselves -- and no extra
care.
"Most doctors have been
trained to treat diseases and
not deal with end-of-life is-
sues," Byock says. "American
medical prowess is wonderful,
but we have yet to make a per-
son immortal. At some point,
more disease treatment is not
better care."
People have to think about
quality of life but also quality
of death, he says. He adds that
it's important doctors don't
give up too soon on someone
while also knowing the limita-
tions of treatment.
"I think physicians have re-
ally fallen short on that obliga-
tion," Wyatt says. "They haven't
been as helpful to patients as


CIRCUMCISION
continued from 17B

the prostate and turn on in-
flammation, and then the in-
flammation leads to cancer de-
velopment," he said.
Research has linked infec-
tions to some kinds of cancer,
he explained.
Brian Morris, a professor of
molecular medical sciences at
Australia's University of Syd-
ney who studies circumcision,
praised the study's design and
said it "provides even more rea-
son for parents to opt for this
'surgical vaccine.'" Circumcision
protects baby boys from urinary
infections that can damage their
kidneys as well as other diseas-
es over their lifetimes, he said.


Natasha Larke, a lecturer in
epidemiology and medical sta-
tistics at the London School of
Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
who has studied circumcision,
said the study was well done,
although there were limitations.
For one, the study didn't include
all prostate cancer patients in
the Seattle region, she said.
And even if a possible effect of
circumcision is confirmed, it
appears to be "modest," Larke
added.
The study was published
March 12th in the journal Can-
cer.
While the study found an as-
sociation between circumcision
and lower risk of prostate can-
cer, it did not prove a cause-
and-effect relationship.


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6702 N.W. 15th Avenue 1140 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

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1470 N.W. 87th Street

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Liberty City Church
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1263 N.W. 67th Street

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15250 N.W. 22nd Avenue


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New Vision For Christ
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13650 N.E. 10th Avenue

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Zion Hope
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5129 N.W. 17th Avenue
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Antioch Missionary Baptist
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2799 N.W. 46th Street

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4561 N.W. 33rd Court
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St. John Baptist Church
1328 N.W. 3rd Avenue

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S.. Sunday SLhool 30 a m
I Morning Worship 11 a n i
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New Birth Baptist Church, The Cathedral of Faith International
2300 N.W. 135th Street


Order of Services
Sunday Worship 7a m
11 m /pm
Sunday Sdhool 9 30 a m
Tuesday (Bible Slud)) 6 45p m
Wednesday Bible Study
10'45 a m


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Pembroke Park Church of Christ
3707 S.W. 56th Avenue Hollywood, FL 33023
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Wednesday General Bible Siudy 7 30 p m.
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First Baptist Missionary The Celes
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4600 N.W. 23rd Avenue (Hebrew Isro
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740 N.W. 58th Street
305-759-887,5


Hosanna Community
Baptist Church
2171 N.W. 56th Slreet

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{i MIn Wed 6 p m

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93rd Street Community
Missionary Baptist Church
2330 N.W. 93rd Street

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they could have been."
Byock writes that through-
out the ages people have held
common fundamental values:
to live as long and as well as
possible, and eventually, to die
gently. In his book, he shares
poignant, complex conversa-
tions he has had with fami-
lies and patients about know-
ing when to say "enough is
enough," and letting health
care professionals help keep a
dying person comfortable with
medications.
Additionally, he calls for
changes in how doctors are ed-
ucated (most medical schools
do not require hospice or pal-
liative care rotations, he notes)
and changes in letting patients
guide their own care at the end
of life -- Medicare and Medic-
aid, for instance, don't allow
older people to have hospice
care until they drop medical
treatments.


Pastor Dr. Gilbert S. Smith
and First Lady Geneva O. Smith
are celebrating their 42nd
Church Anniversary beginning
March 20th through March
25th. Pastor Smith has been
ministering the word of God for
58 years and has been pastor
of the Apostolic Revival Center
for 42 years. He and First Lady
Geneva Smith's ministry has
become a world renown min-
istry. Their spiritual footprints
extend from the exotic Isles of
the Caribbean to the shores of
South America and across the
Atlantic Ocean to Africa and Is-
rael.
On Tuesday night, March 20
at 7:30 p.m., a documentary
will be shown to commemorate
the accomplishments of this


Circumcision study inconclusive


PASTOR AND FIRST LADY
GILBERT S. SMITH
God-spirited couple. Join in the
celebration of two great leaders
and be the first to witness doc-
umentation of the accomplish-
ments of this vibrant couple
and continue to be a part of this
great ministry that has been
made possible through your
participation, your acknowl-
edgments and your giving.


~3~~5~1~"1'5
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20B THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012


NO. n.US
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THE NATION'S #1 BLACK NEWSPAPER


n,.


Hadley Davis
PEARLIE CLARK, 70, laborer,
died March 5 at
Jackson North
Hospital. Ser-
vices were held.


THERESEA LODICO GREEN,
56, housewife,
died March 6
Aventura Hos-
pital. Services
were held.





JESSE DIXON, 28, artist, died
March 10 at Me-
morial Regional.
Service 11 a.m.,
Saturday in the
chapel.


Gregg L. Mason
OSCAR LEE UNDERWOOD,
85, retired
longshoreman
Local #1416,
died March
8. Survivors .
include; a
de voted
wife, Rena;
daughters,
Renita Carter (Lucius) and
Regina Delancy; grandchildren,
Lakisha (Tyrone) and Don;
great grandchildren, Antonio
and Quin'naria; brother, Pinky
Underwood (Barbara); sister, Mary
Whitehead; and a host of other
relatives and friends. Visitation
Friday, from 2-9 p.m., Family hour,
5-7 p.m. Service 10 a.m., Saturday
in the chapel. Interment: Dade
Memorial Park.

JOHN HOLMES, 86, retired
plaster, died
March 7. g i
Survivors
i n cI u d e :
dau g h ters ,
Lenora Holmes
and Kecia
Bynum; sons,
John Jr.,
(Natara), and Charles Holmes,
Bobby (Rashon), Michael and
Demetrius Holmes; grandchildren,
sisters, Annie Lemon and Ruth
Holmes, and a host of other
relatives and friends. Visitation,
Friday 5-9 p.m. Service 1 p.m.,
Saturday at Mt Tabor Missionary
Baptist Church. Entombment:
Dade Memorial Park


Paradise
JAMES NAPIER, 64, died March
12 at Memorial v-
Healthcare ,
Sy s t e m.
Service 11
a.m., Saturday
at Mount Olive .-
M.B. Church in
South Miami M....-


SUSAN M. McLEOD
teacher, died March
Miami Hospital. Servi
Saturday at St. Pau
Coconut Grove.


Carey Royal I


Wright and Young
VINETTA DAVIS, 85, caretaker,
died March 10 at
Jackson North
Medical Center.
Service 11
a.m., Saturday
at Mt. Olivette
Missionary
Baptist Church.


), 84, retired
8 at South ROOSEVELT
ice 1 p.m., BRISTER aka
I A.M.E. in 'BRISTCO',
52, mechanic,
died March 9
Sat University of
Ram'n Miami Hospital.
Service 11


BURNICE MIKELL, JR., 33,
mental health
tech, died March A a
7 at Jackson
Hospital North. ,
Service 9
a.m., Saturday
at Mt. Tabor -
Missionary
Baptist Church.


BARBARA
70, retired
purchasing
director, died
March 6 in
Summerville
South Carolina.
Service 11 a.m.,
Friday, March
16 at Mt. Tabor
Baptist Church.


Card of Thanks

The family of the late,
-. -T -


In Memoriam

In loving memory of,


ALONZO


a.m., Friday at Fpi
Friendship M.B.
Church.


Marcel's Cremation
MARGARITA G. NOGALES,
95, housewife, died February 16 at
Garden of Hope. Private service.


ELREKA TILLMAN


We love you! Your family.


Happy Birthday


ESTIVENE RALPH B. FERGUSON, III, 54,
pipe fitter, died February 23 at
, Jackson Memorial Hospital. Private
service.


MANUEL A. CASANOLA, 65,
security guard, died February 26 at
Hialeah Hospital. Private service.


1 KEITH EDWARD SCHNECK,
52, printer, died March 8 at Hope
Hospice. Arrangements are
S incomplete.


JAMES E. HADLEY


LATOYA JACKSON,
cashier,died
February 29 at
Jackson Memo-
rial Hospital.
Services 2 p.m.,
Saturday in the
chapel. .C4


MARY MOUNTAIN, 58, mail car-
rier, died March
7 at Jackson
Memorial Hos-
pital. Service
11:30 a.m., Sat-
urday at 59th
Street Pente-
costal Church of
God.

PAUL PINCKNEY, 83, retired
cook died
March 10 at
home. Service
4 p.m., Wednes-
day in the cha-
pel.


30, OZZIE
truck
died Marc
S Jackson
Medical
Survi
include:
Flagg D
.Cnlette


Miller,,
Harvey


Del Lago
D. FLAGG, 82, retired JEROME GRIFFIN, 57, retired
driver ...-- forklift driver,
ch 8 at died March 10
North in West Palm
Center. Beach, FL.
vors Service 11 a.m.,
Elena at Del Lago
ezmal, Funeral Home
Flagg Chapel, 131 S. I
Anthoy Lakeside Drive,
Hazel, Floretta and Lake Worth, FL 33460.


Douglas Flagg; 29 grandchildren,
two sisters and a host of relatives
and friends. Service 3:30 p.m.,
Saturday at Mt. Calvary Missionary
Baptist Church, 1140 NW 62 St.


Richardso
DEBORAH DEAN,
died March 9
at Miami FL.
Service 1:30 4
p.m., Saturday
at New Bethany
Baptist Church.


Mitchell
MRS. bUVVNIE MAE McGHi t,


78, retired head


chef, died March :
8 at Jackson
M e m o r i a I .
Hospital. The

Heaven were
blown for an
angel to come
home. The viewing, Friday at
Mitchell Funeral Services, 8050
NW 22 Ave. Service 12 p.m.,
Saturday at Greater New
Macedonia Missionary Baptist
Church.


Nakia Ingraham
WILLIE BELL ALLEN, 76,
retired, died March 8 at Memorial
Hospital. Service 11 a.m., Saturday
at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

JAMES ROBERT, 76, retired,
died March 5 at home. Service 1
p.m., Saturday in Cincinnati, Ohio.

CAROLYN SAPP, retired, died
<... -.. "T? 'Or :-w r ,ene- i!
Hospital. Service 2 p.m., oaiurday
in Sylvania, Georgia.



Happy Birthday


In loving memory of,


,


LAWRENCE RAHMING

thank you for thb-' s;t:, r

tended to us during our hours
of bereavement.
Your abundant expressions
of sympathy, love, sharing
and caring helped us to bear
the burden of our loss.
The Family


Happy Birthday


ALVILDA MARIE FERGUSON
FLOYD GREENE
03/19/1936 06/28/2011

Thank you for being the
epitome of a caring and loving
mother and grandmother.
We miss you dearly. Love
you always! Apryl, Trenae,
Wandanne, Lauren and
Madison.


Happn loving m ory o,

In loving memory of,


In loving memory of,


KEITH PARKER, 56,
investor, died
March 4. Ser- _
vices 2 p.m.,
Saturday in the
chapel.





TIFFINEY LEE RA
hairstylist, died
March 10 at
home. Services
1 p.m., Monday
in the chapel.






Grace
CARRIE COOLE
housewife,
died March 9.
Service 12 p.m.,
Saturday in the
chapel.





MARIE YOLANDE
KINS, 64, hoi
supervisor, died Mai
Jackson North Hospital.
a.m., Saturday at Frater
Church.


Eric S. Geoi
COREY O'NEAL K
39, died March 7 in
Pines. Service 1 p.m.
March 17 at Calvary
Hallandale Beach.


real estate










MOS, 29,


MACK SAMMIE BUTLER, 63,
died March
7 at Jackson -
Memorial i a I
Ho s p i t al .
Survivors
inclIude:
daughter, Linnie
Grier, son in law,
Charles Grier:
three grandchildren; one brother,
Arthur Lee Kennedy and one sister,
Jenine Kennedy. Service 12 p.m.,
at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist
Church.


THELMA SLOANE HOLMES,
84, retired
S'Miami Dade
County Public
School Teacher,
.. died March 4 at
home. Survivors
include; brother, .".-A
Spencer
Jenkins; sister,
Y 101, Agnes Jenkins; aunt, Gwendolyn
R. Waters; niece, Susan Oliver;
cousins; Jacqueline Robinson,
Calvin Culmer, Catherine Mathias,
Joane Christmas, Dr. Oristine
Walker, Cameia Collier, Tiffany
Lanier, Melody Miller, Guy
Miller, Stewart, Karen and Linda
Robinson, Cynthia Thomas,
Kristen Randle, Samuel Jones
and a host of other relatives and
GERMAIN friends. Service 11 a.m., March 15
usekeeping at Liberty City Church of Christ.
rch 9 at Burial at Dade Memorial.
Service 10
nity Baptist
Manker
STERESA BARRETT, 51, health
counselor, died March 9 at Jackson
rge Memorial Hospital. Service 11 a.m.,
ENDRICK, Thursday at New Vision For Christ.


Pembroke
,Saturday
Chapel in


DIANNE CHAMBER, 54, house-
keeper, died March 10 at home.
Services were held.


Hall


AUSTIN
aka "RED",
73, retired
independent
salesman, died
February 19
in Georgiana,
Alabama.
Service was
held.


STALLWORTH


Royal
JOSEPH MARSHALL,
retired, died --
February at
hampton court
rehabilitation
center. He
leaves to
celebrate his life
daughter, ,
Diann; son-in-
law, Lenell; granddaught
Theresa, Angela, Melissa,
Kimberly; great grandchild
Jordy, Jared, Justin, Jazi
Joshua, and Jeremy; six gr
great grandchildren and o
relatives and friends. We love
miss you so much. Services v
held.


Eric L. Wilson


NOLITA A. MANS aka
"NANCY"
03/15/1969- 01/14/2012


MIQUELLE WHISBY
03/18/1983 08/30/2011


I 6
86 , , "l r



MICHAEL L.
BRADSHAW, JR.
03/16/1987- 06/17/2007

You are not forgotten, Mike,
nor will you ever be.
ers, As long as life and memory
en last; I will remember you.
ren, I miss you now, my heart is
eat-, sore; and as time goes by, I
eat-
ther will miss you more.
their
Your loving smile, your gen-
tie face.
iere tNo one can ever fill your
special place here in my heart.
From your loving mother,
Diane.


Love you and miss you from
mom; Loretta Crews; step fa-
ther, Curtis Crews; father,
Micahel A. Whisby; daughter,
Kierra Whisby; sisters, Ayee-
sha Mack, Mikesha Whisby,
and Shawana Whisby; broth-
er, Michael A. Whisby; and
nieces and nephews.




HONOR YOUR LOVED

ONE WITH AN

IN MEMORIAL

IN THE MIAMI TIMES


We think of you always, but
especially; today.
You will never be forgotten,
although you are gone away.
Your memory is a keepsake
with which we never part.
God has you in his keeping,
we have you in our heart
Love always, your kids and
the family.


PUBLIC NOTICE
As a public service to our
community, The Miami Times
prints weekly obituary notic-
es submitted by area funeral
homes at no charge.
These notices include:
name of the deceased, age,
place of death, employment,
and date, location, and time
of service.
Additional information and
photo may be included for a
nominal charge. The dead-
line is Monday, 2:30 p.m. For
families the deadline is Tues-
day, 5 p.m.


JOSEPH S. BLAIZE, died March
6 in Hollywood. Service 10 a.m.,
Saturday March 17 at Church of
the Visitation Catholic Church.

MRS. JOAN S. FARR, died
March 11 in Ft. Lauderdale. Ser-
vice 1 p.m., Saturday March 17 in
the chapel.

AMELIA DURANT, died March
10 in Hollywood. Service 3 p.m.,
Friday March 16 in the chapel.


I --~


'' i
'" ;'rC:r~. ~.


-


! -- .










The Miami Times




Lifesty l


SECTION C


0


Entert
FASHION HIP HoP Music F

MIAMI, FLORIDA, MARCH 14-20, 2012 '




'ro k

WW
I 'jj k --


lit
PEOPLE

.' ' i. "E


4. -I


Sl


oI


One of the President's

favorite vocalists'

By D. Kevin McNeir


It may take a few'. tries to correctly
pronounce her name which means "to
bring forth" in Yoruba, but after hearing
her sing it's a sure bet that you ill never
forget 'Ledisi.' This writer was introduced
to the music of Ledisi after a relative
brought back a recording they had picked
up during their travels to Europe That
was almost five years ago right about
the tire that the singer/'songwi writer
signed her first major record deal \vith


Verve Forecast and released her third
album. "Lost & Found.
She has since proven that she can sing
with the best of them performing jazz,
neo-soul. R&B and gospel with ease. She
has recently been on tour with the incom-
parable Kem and celebrates the fact that
she just garnered several Grammyr nomi-
nations for her sixth recording, "Pieces of
Me." But not so long ago, she almost gave
up on her dream.
"People wanted me to fit a certain wa\
but in both my imagery and my stage
presence I like to be natural when it is
forced it just won't happen." she said
"M, mother is one of the major in-
fluences in my life and she told me
not to quit
Please turn to LEDISI 2C


Whitney Houston's daughter: 'She's always with me'


By Nekesa Mumbi Moody

NEW YORK (AP) In her
first interview since Whitney
Houston's death, daughter
Bobbi Kristina Brown said
she's "doing as good as I pos-
sibly can" and recalled the ten-
der last moments she shared
with her superstar mother
before her sudden death last
month.
"She's always with me," said
the 19-year-old, Houston's only
child and sole heir. "Her spirit
is strong, it's a strong spirit.
I feel her pass through me all
the time."
Brown made the comments
in a Sunday interview with
Oprah Winfrey on Winfrey's


network, OWN, that also fea-
tured Pat Houston, the singer's
manager and sister-in-law, and
Gary Houston, the brother of
Whitney Houston.
Brown credited her family
and God for helping her cope
since her mother's death on
Feb. 11 at the age of 48.
"It comes in waves. One
moment I can be happy and
laughing, but then it comes
over me. It's my mom," she
said.
Houston, who had struggled
with drugs and alcohol in the
past but according to family
had been apparently clean,
was found in a bathtub at the
Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly
Please turn to HOUSTON 2C


... busy moms Eri-
ca and Tina Camp-
bell balance family
life with stardom. '


Mary Mary's new set to

premiere reality show


Gospel duo set to
conquer reality TV
Gospel music sensation
Mary Mary's new self-titled
reality show is coming to a
television near you.
Mary Mary will give view-
ers and fans an inside look
at how busy moms Erica and
Tina Campbell balance fami-
ly life with stardom. The cam-
eras will follow the sisters as
they prepare to travel cross-
country to promote their
sixth studio album, "Some-
thing Big."
"This show will capture the
entertaining ups and downs


of life that they face on a dai-
ly basis,"said Kim Martin, the
president & general manager
of WE TV, to The Hollywood
Reporter when the show was
announced last fall.
There's definitely plenty to
catch up on. Erica and her
husband Warryn welcomed
their third child, baby girl
Zaya Monique, to the world
in January, and in Febru-
ary, Tina announced that she
and her husband Teddy are
expecting their fifth child,
which they called "an unex-
pected blessing."
Will you tune in to find out
what life off-stage is like for
Mary Mary?


Bouquets, bravas for the Met's sudden Aida

LATONIA MOORE STEPS IN TO 'AIDA' AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA


By Anthony Tommasini

As often happens with cover
singers at the Metropolitan Op-
era the soprano Latonia Moore
had less than a day's notice to
take over a major part, in her
case the title role of Verdi's
"Aida" on Saturday afternoon.
Violeta Urmana, scheduled
to sing, was ill. (Sondra Rad-
vanovsky had filled in for her
on Tuesday.) So with just some
studio coaching sessions and
no rehearsal onstage, Moore,
a 33-year-old Houston native,
made her Met debut in the last
performance of the revival of
the company's 1988 produc-
tion this season, with Marco
Armiliato conducting. The au-


"American soprano Latonia Moore made her Met debut as
the title character in Verdi's Aida in the March 3 matinee per-
formance.


dience loved her. When Moore
took her solo curtain call at
the end, she received an ec-
static ovation.
She also has appealing stage
presence, and brought palpa-
ble emotion to her portrayal of
the tormented Aida, an Ethio-
pian princess held captive in
Egypt, torn between love of
her homeland and passion for
Radames, the leader of the
Egyptian forces. That Moore
is a young Black artist sing-
ing the most famous African
heroine in opera lent an extra
dimension to her affecting por-
trayal.
Moore has enormous po-
tential. Yet her singing was
Please turn to MOORE 2C


Keri Hilson heads back to the studio


It's been over a year
since Keri Hilson released
her second album No Boys
Allowed, and the pop-gem
is recording new music, ac-
cording to The Boombox.
"I've just been in the
studio," said Hilson. "I'm
working on a new sound. I
just love to challenge my-
self. My first two albums to
me were incredible. They
were a moment in time. In
A Perfect World was very
emotional and tapped into


how I was feeling at the
time. And my last album,
No Boys Allowed, that's
how I was feeling at the
time as well [laughs]. I was
being very territorial, very
instructional on how to
become a man and what
we deserved and demanded
as women.
As far as her third album
is concerned the singer
says it's going to touch on
a sad side. "The new music
has kind of both sides- very


emotional, but I've also .;' v
gone through some hurt in.
the past couple ofyears 'I
be explaining some things 'd"_,I
Unfortunately, Hdlson
has no release date in
mind, just yet. But, she
says she's rather she didn't
know. "I just write about
my experiences and keep
the release dates far, far
from me. When I feel -hat "
I have [good material] is
when I will give it to :e
label."


I i4


i"
,^r?











THE NATION'S #1 BLACK NEWSPAPER


7? THF MIAMI TIMES. MARCH 14-20. 2012


I UU...t
By D.,Rihar Strcha


A special salute goes out to
Agnes. Mrs. Dennis, Daryl
Dennis and the hard-working
committee for putting the
pieces together for the Miami
Gardens Seniors Black History
Program. last Tuesday
at the Betty Ferguson
Recreational Plaza.
Dignitaries who attended
included Commissioner
Betty T. Ferguson.
Miami Gardens Mayor
Shirley Gibson and i
Lily Queen Oden, a
candidate for one of the SIm
upcoming seats. Kevin
Yearby had the honor of being
emcee for the program and he
began by banging on Pastor
Timothy Williams for prayer:
Jimmy Knowles spoke
about a moment of Black
history: and the singing
of "Lift Every Voice and
Sing" by the audience.
followed by Bertha
Tisdale. They presented
me with County and
City proclamations.
resolutions and
certificates in honor H
of my late wife, Dr.
Lorraine Farrington.
The Arcola Lakes Park
Singing Angels marched out
singing -We've Come This Far
By Faith" and went into the


theme: From
Africa to America
Thru Music. M
The narration
included Joe
Lang Kershaw
and Gwen Cherry,
the first Blacks state
representatives to
open the door in
Tallahassee.
Congratulations go
out to Ms. Binyard,
Henry Goa, Jessie
Sandilands (emceel.
IMONS Mary Dingle and
Martha Brown for
collaboraung with The Singing
Angels to present them at
Charles Hadley Park Senior
Program Black Hentage
Celebration on Feb.
24th in the Carrie
Meek Theatre.
Kudos go out to
the Angels' soloists:
S Ruby Allen, Lonnie
SI. McCartney, Mamie
Williams, Samuel
"Chase" Williams,
Carolyn Franklin; and
INTER dancers Willie "Slim"
Jackson, Henry
Williams, Mary Simmons
directresss). Daphne Johnson,
Ramona Varner; and Teddy
Abraham, Nancy Jackson,
Antamius Howell, PK


Manager, Juanita Kelly and
Betty Mackey, chairperson.
Hats off to Booker T.
Washington Alumnii
Association, Inc.'s Orange,
Black and White Committee
which consists of the talents
of Cecilia L. Hunter,
chairperson. Paulette M.
Martin. Madeline Atwell,
Barbara Burrows, Johnnie
Fields, Elestine Allen, Phyllis
Myers, Maude Newbold,
Mary Simmons, Shirley
Walton, Willie Warren
and Martha S. Wilson for
providing the community ,
,nth representation from
"Unsung Heroes" of BTW.
Dorsey High. George
W. Carver. Nla\s High.
Miami Northwestern and
North Dade, last Sunda, D
in BTW's auditorium to a
filled-to-capacity room
Dr. John D. Glover, former
FBI chief, Atlanta and Class of
'57 was the emcee and did a
commendable job introducing
Paulette Martin, William
Aristide, principal, BTVW.
Maude Newbold, "Unsung
Heroes," Rev. Franklin Clark,
Sr. pastor of the Mt. Olivette
Missionary Baptist Church.
Cecilia Hunter and A. Wesley
Hermmans director. BTW Jazz
Band and Nikki Floyd, director,
BTW Chorus and yours truly
providing the accompaniment.
Newbold was given the honor
of presenting the "Unsung
Heroes"- Angelean Clark
Glass, '55. Gerda Graham


(Posthumously),'61,
Vernon Gray,'42,
Peggy Gabriel
Green.'54. Beatrice
Hudnell, '56. Dr.
Mona B. Jackson.'65.
Moses Jones, Jr.,'49.
Herman McBurrows.
'66. Bernard C. Poitier.
'55. Miltoria Rivers. GILBERT
'63, Elry Taylor Sands,
'42, Mary M. Simmons, '51. Phoen
William Simmons, The
'46, Dr.Willie Sims, left t
Jr., '66, Almena Goberl
Sumner, '67, Anna \ith
Grace Sweeting, '48, (grand
Herbert Thompson. Williar
'66, and Willie Idaugh
Ferguson Williams, DeSim
'46. Gloria


SThe meat of the
ANIELS program came from
local dignitaries
such as Dr. Dorothy
J. Fields, Class of '60.
BTW., Dorothy Lee,
Class of '55, Carver
High, Hon. Wilbert T.
Holloway, Class of '66.
Miami Northwestern, Dr.
Gwendolyn Robinson,
Class of '50. Dorsey
High. Cecelia Jones, G,
Class of '65, Mays High,
and Stella Johnson. Class of
'63. North Dade High Roberta
C. Daniels. Class of '63.
summarized the program as a
perception to bring all groups
closer together and educate
the children on the legacy of
each school. Jim Hunt passed
out information on a plan trip


to Tallahassee to speak
to the legislatures.
William Evans,
retired track coach at
Hialeah Miami Lakes,
shared a family picture
with the gang at
Michael's Diner when
his daughter. Keisha
Person. graduated
from University of
L\.
photo shows from
o right: Erinn


t daughterl
Gabrielle Gobert
daughter),
n Evans, Keisha
iterl, Erica
one Idaughterl.


Evans Iwife) and
Keisha's son. Alexander
Harris Igrandsonl.
The gang
included W
Snell,
Williams, J(
Davis, Ri
Smith, W
Reese, F
Walker, Mc,
Mack. and Sad
ATSON Teresa


r





POI

William
David
ohnny
ichard
rilliam
Robert
Arthur
ie.
Eileen


Martin and Gregory
Robinson. t\\o ministers at
Ebenezer United Methodist
Church, created the wedding
of the century last Saturday,
when they were united in
holy matrimony before a filled
church of family members.
AKA's. BCU Alumni, Egelloc
Civic & Social Club and


friends. The part-, included
Bertha T. Martin, mother
of honor, Berthena Bullard,
Stephenia Willis, and Laurita
Robinson, sisters of honor;
and Terry Wilcox, Bruce
Martin, and David Robinson.
brothers of honor. The bride
was escorted by brother. Bruce
Martin. "Security" was the
chosen music and the lighting
of the family candles was
done by Barbara Robinson.
sister of the groom
and Tia Major.
S daughter of the bride.
Rev. Dr. Joreatha
Capers performed
a declaration of
intention to the bnde
and groom. A stnng
quartet with Charlene
Curry singing "The
TIER Lord's Prayer" added
to the pomp and
circumstance, along with
jumping the broom and leading
the entourage to the Omega
Center for the celebration and
feasting. Fredrick Ingram,
emcee, introduced the bridal
party with the newl'.-wed
couple coming in last and
dancing to "Flesh Of lMy
Flesh." Rochelle Lightfoot
filled the room with her unique
voice singing "I Beheve In You."
followed by performances by
MASK, Michael Emanuel
and Lamar Johnson with
the Psi Phi Band. DJ Chud
took over and the party really
wound up until the wee hours
of the night.


KONY 2012 viral video raises questions about charity's motives


African documentary raises questions

about dictator andfilmmakers


By Nick Thompson

A controversial film about an
African warlord and his army
has spread to the far corners
of the internet, racking up
more than 70 million YouTube
views and prompting a heated
debate about the filmmakers
and the effectiveness of their
advocacy.
While its supporters say
"KONY 2012' has raised
much-needed awareness
about Ugandan warlord
Joseph Kony, critics say the
film is inaccurate, oversim-
plified, and distracting from
more effective charity work in
Uganda.
Questions have also been
raised about the intentions
and transparency of Invisible
Children, the group behind
the film, and its founders say
they are releasing a new film
to respond to the criticism.

WHAT IS "KONY 2012"?


"KONY 2012" is a half-hour
video campaign about Ugan-
dan warlord Joseph Kony,
the leader of the rebel Lord's
Resistance Army, and al-
leged atrocities his army has
committed since the 1980s,
including the killing and
disfiguring of villagers, forcing
children to become soldiers.
and forcing girls into sexual
slavery.
The film features a former
Ugandan child soldier and
highlights the plight of chil-
dren there, contrasting their
lives with the director's own
young child in America and
pushing the notion that the
Western world can stop Kony's
reign of terror. Its makers say
the film "aims to make Joseph
Kony famous, not to celebrate
him, but to raise support for
his arrest and set a precedent
for international justice."

WHO MADE "KONY 2012"?
The film was produced by


with the LRA. A 2011 Foreign
Affairs story accused Invisible
Children of "exaggerating the
scale of LRA abductions and
murders and emphasizing the
LRA's use of innocent children
as soldiers.'
And in a Foreign Policy
blog post. journalist Michael
Wilkerson wrote: 'But let's get
two things straight. 11 Joseph


Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, the leader of the rebel Lord's
Resistance Army, allegedly forced children to become soldiers
and forced girls into sexual slavery.


Invisible Children, a San
Diego-based nonprofit activ-
ist group founded by three
filmmakers whose goal is to
raise awareness about Kony's
LRA and stop %what it calls the
longest-running armed con-
flict in Africa.
The group also made a film
in 2005 about the LRA called
"Invisible Children: Rough
Cut." and has put pressure


on both the George W. Bush
and Obama administrations to
take a side in the fight be-
tween the LRA and the Ugan-
dan government, according to
a 2011 story in Foreign Affairs.

IS THE FILM ACCURATE?
Critics say "KONY 2012"
manipulates the facts and ig-
nores the Ugandan military's
own rights abuses in its war


Show reveals different side of Whitney Houston


HOUSTON
continued from 1C

Hills. Calif.. on the eve of the
Grammys. She was to attend
a pre-Grammy party the night
she died.
Brown said the night before
her mother's death, she asked
Houston to spend the night
with her.
"I slept in her arms all day,
all night long." said Brown,
whose father is singer Bobby
Brown.
Pat Houston said in the
days before Houston died. the
singer had not been abusing
drugs, despite reports that
she had been acting errati-
cally. She said an event she
attended two days before her
death where Houston looked
disheveled was particularly
difficult because the legend-
ary performer got into a verbal
spat with a former contestant
on the "X Factor.' Pat Houston
would not name the woman,


but Stacy Francis has said
that she and Whitney Houston
had words that night.
According to Pat Houston,
Francis "made herself present
everywhere we were," unnerv-
ing Houston and leading to an
argument
The day of her death had
been uneventful, according
to her manager. Houston had
lunch in her hotel and was
preparing for her mentor Clive
Davis' annual party. Houston
was scheduled to tape an in-
fomercial and other interviews
that day. Pat Houston went
out to run errands for about a
half hour and when she came
back, Whitney Houston's as-
sistant went to check on the
singer.
"When I headed down the
hallway (to her room), I heard
screaming," she said.
When Pat Houston arrived in
the room, she saw the singer's
security guard frantically try-
ing to revive her ahead of the


paramedics He told her: 'I
tried."
Pat Houston said the singer
had 'a peaceful look on her
face." The cause of Houston's
death has not yet been re-
vealed.
The 90-minute television
special also touched on the
singer's ex-husband. Bobby
Brown, who had a tumultuous
marriage with Houston. While
some have accused Brown of
introducing Houston to drugs,
leading to the once pristine
singer's downfall, Pat Hous-
ton said that was untrue, and
both Pat and Gary Houston
had warm words for Brown.
"I loved Bobby Brown. Bob-
by was a good guy.' said Gar\
Houston, her older brother "I
don't know how good they \were
for each other.'
They also denied that the
Houston familN had asked
Brown to leave her funeral
service or didn't want him to
come. Brown showed up brief-


ly but left after a dispute over
seating.
"Bobby was supposed to be
there.' said Gary Houston.
Pat Houston said Bobby
Brown and his daughter have
a relationship, but indicated
they hadn't spoken since at
least Houston s funeral.
Bobbi Kristina Brown said
she planned to carry on her
mother's legacy and become
a singer, as well as act and
dance. She expressed frustra-
tion over the negativity" sur-
rounding her mother's image:
"That's not my mother."
Instead. she described her
as her confidant, a sister, her
best friend 'my everything'
She still spends time in the
house she and her mother
shared together, and at times
said it's hard to believe she's
not there
"Sometimes. it s so surreal. I
still walk into the house like,
'Morm?' she said. "But I ve ac-
cepted it'


Ledisi: I seek to share truth through my songs


LEDISI
continued from 1C

Ledisi will soon release a
book, 'Better Than Alright,"
that chronicles her amazing
ride.
"1 can't identify any one
breakthrough moment, but
this has been a wonderful
journey. One of the greatest
moments has been complet-
ing every one of my goals and


acknowledging them. When-
ever I sing, I employ the ele-
ment of surprise and I give my
very best. More than anything
I want to uplift people and get
them involved. If I only reach
two people, then I am happy. If
I reach a lot more, that's fan-
tastic.

SINGING AT THE
WHITE HOUSE
President Barack Obama


and the first lady have invited
Ledisi to the White House to
perform three times and she
says they share a mutual ad-
miration for one another.
"I love how they treat peo-
ple and their taste of music
is truly eclectic," she said. "I
was amazed that they even
know who I am and that they
were able to offer their advice
on music. It's been an honor
to part of their journey and to


have them join me on mine."
Ledisi has scaled many
mountains since entering the
industry in 1995 and certain-
ly deserves all of the attention
and accolades that have come
her way. But she says one
thing will never change about
her: "I use my voice to uplift
people and I seek to share
truth through rm songs.
That's all I've ever wanted to
do."


Kony is not in Uganda and
hasn't been for 6 years. 21 the
LRA no\w numbers at most in
the hundreds."

IS INVISIBLE CHILDREN
WASTING DONORS' MONEY?
While critics say that far too
little of Invisible Children's
money actually makes it to
Please turn to KONY 4C


Replacement singer has talent


lMOORE
continued from 1C

far from flawless. Midrange
phrases, especially at soft-
er volumes, tended to turn
patchy and tremulous. Now
and then her pitch lacked
focus. She may have some
technical issues to work out
Still, this was a notable de-
but of a richly talented singer.
That even major artists have
vocal imperfections was dem-
onstrated by Marcello Gior-
dan's performance as Rad-


ames. His big top notes rang
out excitingly. But his lower
range was sometimes weak
and leathery. And he resorted
to falsetto singing, it seemed,
in high pianissimo phrases.
On the other hand. the
force-of-nature mezzo-so-
prano Stephanie Blythe, as
Amneris. was as amazing as
ever.
In the end this was Moore's
day. Bouquets were tossed,
cheers rang out, and she
looked overcome with excite-
ment.


i .


STARTS FRIDAY, MARGHI 10 T TRuSOwnY
HH^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^HQWI


__ I_ _____ __ _~~ ___~ I





,-.._. v, i -. q .. .

:' -S : - *
.- -, .


_,. :. .


TH NATION'S #1 BLACK NEWSPAPER 3C THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012
S$ Th yme-Basted Ham
%with Roasted Grapes
SerIes- 15 to 20 -1-ounce ser. tnglt
Prep Time 21) minutes
Cook Time. 2to_2 1 2 Ib:iLrs
6 to 8 pound cooked bone-in
ham, trimmed
Pepper
1/2 cup grape jelly
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1'2
stick), cut into 4 to 6 pieces
2 tablespoons chopped fresh
thyme
3 cups whole grapes, red, green,
or a combination
4 shallots, halted lengthwise and
cut into 1/4-inch slices
Preheat o\en to 325:'F Posititon rack in
lo%%er third of oen
Place ham t11t 'ide do'wn in large
shallo roasting pan and c.core a diamond
pattern about I 8-inch deep into an fat
Season \'ith pepper and bake for I I 2
hours.
SMeanhileien small saucepan oer
S... medium heat, combine jell;, buner and
thyme., hikingg occasionally until lelli
and butter melt together and mixture
comess to a gentle boil. I to 2 minutes
. Co% er and set a tde
'. In medium bov.l. combine the grapes
,,,', and shallots Set aside
't,. Baste ham \\ith tells mniture Continue
.- bakLng, basting the jell% mI\rure and
.. oi pan juices about eer. 15 minutes.
\\hen ham temperature reaches 1201F.
add grapes and shallots to roasting pan.
stirring. t, coat v.ith pan juice'. Continue
baking and basting until internal ham
temperature reaches 140:F. 15 to 18
minutes per pound total cooking time
Remove ham from oetn. transfer to
0 cutting board, and let rest I 5 to 30
minutes. (If grapes and shallots aren't
tender yet, return roasting pan to oen i
Slice enough ham to ser'e and arrange
on plates ,or a platter Season roasted
grape. shallot. and pan juice miwrure
ith pepper and spoon some on top o1
ham Ser\e remaining grape mnu\nre Ln
the side
Serving Suggestions: Sert.e .ith roast
potatoes, fresh peas or ,:teamed asparagus
If you're cooking for a smaller cron\d. use
ham steaks instead, basted il;th a smaller
amount of the jell; mi\rure.
Nutrition per searing: Calories. 28';
Fat'I lg: Saturated Fat. 4.5g. Cholesterol
105mg: Sodium 20410mg: Carbohodrate-
14g: Protein. 33g. Fiber- Og







.. .x ".











4C THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012


4 I is",I4- ,2


Booker T. Washington
Class of 1964 is meeting
March 16th at the African
Heritage Center, 6161 NW 22nd
Avenue at 6:30 p.m. For more
information, contact Gladstone
Hunter at 305-632-6506.

Miami Dade College's
Kendall Campus is celebrating
a Spring Fling Carnival at 10
a.m. -'4 p.m. on Saturday,
March 17th. The community
is invited to enjoy the full day
of festivities. An Easter egg
hunt will take place at 10:30
a.m. Kids can attend for free,
while adults are asked for a
$1 admission contribution
that will benefit the MDC
scholarship fund. For more
information, please contact
Student Life at 305-237-2321.

SThe Beautiful Gate
is. hosting free cancer
educational workshops at the
Austin Hepburn Community
Center, 750 NW 8"h Avenue
in Hallandale. Each Sessions
will be dedicated to a different
form of cancer. A colon cancer
workshop will be held on March
17"'; breast cancer workshop
at May 19"t; cervical cancer
workshop on July 21"; and a
lung cancer workshop on Sept.
15". For more information,
please call 305-758-3412
Or e-mail thebeautifulgate'Ji
bellsouth.net.

Booker T. Washington
Class of 1960 meets the 3-'
Saturday of each month at the
African Heritage Cultural Arts
center at 4:00 p.m. For more
information contact Cornelia
Sands at 305-308-0176

Booker T. Washington
1962 Alumni Class is planning
their 50" Class Reunion
on June 24 July 1, 2012
and invites all members to
upcoming meetings which are
held the first Saturday of every
month, at 4 p.m. at the African
Heritage Cultural Center,
6161 NW 22nd Avenue. For
additional information, contact
Helen Tharpes Boneparte 305-


691-1333 or Lonzie Nichols
305-835-6588.

0 Miami Jackson and
Miami Northwestern Alumni
Associations are asking all
former basketball players that
played during Jackson coach,
Jake Caldwells' tenure 1970-
1988, and Northwestern coach,
Fred Jones' tenure 1982-1996
who would like to participate
in the special tribute on March
2nd. Generals call 305-655-
1435 or Bulls call 305-218-
6171.

Booker T. Washington
Class of 1965, Inc. will meet
on Saturday, March 24th at
the African Heritage Cultural
Arts center at 4:30 p.m. For
more information contact
Lebbie Lee at 305-213-0188.

Urban Partnership Drug-
Free Community Coalition
will hold their monthly meeting
on Thursday, March 15th at
the City of Miami North District
Police Sub-Station, 1000 NW
62"~' St Miami, Fl. 33142.
The Coalition is an urban
partnership dedicated to the
reduction / prevention of youth
substance abuse including
the use/abuse of drugs/
underage drinking in the
greater Liberty City and Little
Haiti communities of Miami
Dade County. Contact Vivilora
D. Perkins Smith at 305-
218-0783 or vperkinssmithi'i
mygangalternative.org.

SBTW Alumni Athlete Club
will hold a fundraiser to benefit
BTW programs on Saturday,
March 17th at Church of the
Open Door- Long Hall; 6001
N.W. 8th Avenue, 8p.m.- 1
a.m. Donation is $15. Contact
Kathryn Hepburn at 786-443-
8221 for more information.

Xcel Family Enrichment
Center, Inc. a not for-
profit community based
charitable organization will
be celebrating it's 2nd Annual
Black Marriage Day Walk on
March 24th at Miami Carol


City Park 3201N.W.185th
St. Registration/walk begins
and ends 8-9:30 a.m.
Entertainment, speeches and
testimonials 10 a.m.- 2p.m.
For information contact Ms.
Gilbert at 786-267-4544.

Washingtonians Class of
6T5 will worship together on
Sunday, March 25th, 11a.m.
at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church.
For more information contact
Barbara Graham at 305-634-
3887.

N The Miami Northwestern
Class of 1967 meets on the
2nd Wednesday of the month
at 7 p.m. at the home of Queen
Hall 870 NW 168th Drive. We
are in the process of planning
bur 45th Reunion. For more
information contact Elaine
at 786 227-7397 or www.
north westernclassof67.com
The Miami

Northwestern Class
of 1962 meets on the 2nd
Saturday of each month at 4'
p.m. at the African Hentage
Cultural Arts Center We are
beginning to make plans
for our 50th Reunion. For
information contact Evelyn at
305-621-8431.

Booker T. Washington
Class of 1967 meets the 3rd
Saturday of each month at
Sthe African Heritage Cultural
Arts Center. For information
contact Lucius King at 305-
333-7128.

I*The National Coalition of
100 Black Women- Greater
Miami Chapter is accepting
applications for girls ages 12-18
to participate in Just Us Girls
Mentonng Program. Monthly
sessions .will be held every
3rd Saturday 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Jan. June at the Carrie Meek
Center at Hadley Park, 1350
N.W: 50th Street. Call 1-800-
658-1292 for information.

Liberty City Farmers'
Market will be open each
Thursday, 12-5 p.m. and
Saturday, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
at TACOLCY Park until May
2012. For information call
954-235-2601 or 305-751-
1295 ext. 107.


0 New Beginning Baptist
Church of Deliverance of All
Nations invites you to weight
loss classes the 1st and 3rd
Saturday of every month. Lose
sins while you lose weight.
Contact Sister McDonald. at
786-499-2896.

Range Park is offering
free self-defense/karate
classes for children and adults
each Monday and Wednesday
from 6 8 p.m. The location
is 525 N W.62nd Street. For
more information call 305-
757=7961 or contact Clayton
Powell at 786-306-6442.

Chai Community
Services food program is
taking applications from
grandparents raising their
grandchildren. All sen-ices are
free. For applications call 786-
273-0294.

[ Dads for Justice.
a program under Chai
Community Services assists
non-custodial parents through
Nliami-Dade State Attorney's
Office with child support
modifications and \isitation
rights. For information or to
schedule an appointment call
786-273-0294.

Jewels Baton Twirling
Academy is now accepting
registration for the 2012
season. Open to those who
attend any elementary schools
within the 33147, 33142.
33150 zip codes and actively
attend church. Contact Elder
Tanya Jackson at 786-357-
4939 to sign up.

Resources for Veterans
Sacred Trust offers affordable
and supporting housing
assistance, family resiliency
training and other resources
for low-income veteran
families facing homelessness
or challenges maintaining
housing stability in Broward
and Dade counties. Call
855-778-3411 or visit
www.411Veterans.com for
more information.

Solid Rock Enterprise,
Inc. Restorative Justice
Academy offers free


THE

consultation if your child is
experiencing problems with
bullies, fighting, disruptive
school behaviors sibling
conflicts and/or poor academic
performance. For information
call 786-488-4792 or visit
www.solidrockent.org

U Miami-Dade County
Community Action &
Human Services Head Start/
Early Head Start Open
Enrollment Campaign for free
comprehensive child care is
underway for pregnant women
and children ages 2 months to
5 years of age residing in Miami
Dade County. Applications and
a list of Head Start Centers are
available at www.miamidade.
gov/cahs or call 786 469-4622
for additional informauon.

[ Looking for all Evans
County High School Alumni
to create a South Florida
Alumni Contact Roster. If you
attended or graduated frbm
Evans County High School in
Claxton, Georgia, contact 305-
829-1345 or 786-514-4912

[ S.A.V. (Survivors Against
Violence) is a bible-based
program for young people and
meets at Betty T. Ferguson
Center in Miami Gardens
each week. For information
contact Minister Eric Robinson
at 954-548-4323 or www.
savingfamilies. webs.com.

Empowerment Tutoring
in Miami Gardens offers free
tutoring with trained teachers.
For information call 305-654-
7251.

Merry Poppins Daycare/
Kindergarten in Miami has
free open enrollment for
VPK, all day program. For
information contact Lakeysha
Anderson at 305-693-1008.

This is it! A local softball
team for healthy ladies who
are 50+ years old is ready
to start and only needs 15
more players! Many different
experience levels are welcome!.
So come on and join to have
fun, get a good workout and
fellowship with other women
in "the community. For
information, call Coach Rozier


NATION'S #1 BLACK NEWSPAPER

at 305-389-0288 or Gloria at
305-688-3322.

Looking for all former
Montanari employees to get
reacquainted. Meetings are
held on the last Saturday of
each month at 9 a.m. For
information contact Loletta
Forbes at 786-593-9687 or
Elijah Lewis at 305-469-7735.

0 Miami Jackson and
Miami Northwestern Alumni
Associations are calling all
former basketball players
and cheerleaders for the
upcoming 2012 umru Charity
Basketball game. Generals call
786-419-5805, Bulls call 786-
873-5992, for information.

Miami Jackson Senior
High class of 92 is currently
planning a 20th year reunion.
If you are a 92 graduate,
please contact the con-mittee
president Herbert Roach at
hollivx.-ud3.'ihotmail.com.

[ Great Crowd Ministries
presents South Florida Gospel
Festival at Amelia Earhart Park
on Saturday, June 30th from
11 a.m.-6 p.m For information
contact Constance Koon-
Johnson at 786-290-3258

Chai Community
Services will host a job fair
on March 24"' from 10 a.m.
to2 p.m. for administrative,
professional medical,
educational, social service.
cuhnary and housekeeping
positions. For more info call
786-657-2072

[ The Miami Northwestern
class of 1959 is sponsoring
a six day five night trip to
the Biltmore Estate, Asheville,
N.C., May 27- June 1st. For
information call Barbara. 305-
688-209; Joyce, 305-836-0057
or Pat, 305-758-7968.

Miami Union Academy is
hosting a fundraising concert
at the Joseph Caleb Center,
5400 NW 22nd Ave. Miami,
Fl. on Sunday, March 18h at
6 p.m. to benefit the Miami .
Union Academy. Committed,
the winner of NBC's the sing-
off, will be featured in the
concert.


LeBron James''man purse' sparks criticism


By Alexis Garrett Stodghill

LeBron James' "man purse"
is sparking commentary and
criticism, as sports fans and
celebrity style watchers weigh
in on what exactly the NBA
star was carrying in that little
leather satchel he carried
to last Sunday's game. As
James and other Heat players
walked into the Staples Cen-
ter to play the Lakers, James
wore a quirky purple shirt
and distinctive backpack. But
his decision to round out that
bold L.A. ensemble in with a
minuscule "murse" has set
the media world agog.
Leading business blog'
Businesslnsider.com mused
that LeBron's "Appletini


shaker" was in the bag, as
the aesthetically-mined ath-
lete is known to like the sweet
drink. Was the cubic carry-
all with dimensions perfect
for conveying a stack of cash
stuffed with thousand dollar
bills for a post-game shopping
spree? Maybe. Yahoo! Sports
writer Kelly Dwyer took a
decidedly positive position
on the LeBron James Purse
controversy.
"I don't care what you think,
that thing is dope. I'd carry
two, if I could pull it off," Dw-
yer wrote in his sports blog.
"With the leather and the
handle, it looks like it's going
to be full of straight razors,
scotch whiskey, and creamed
spinach in anticipation for


LeBron JAMES
that night's massive slab of
prime rib. If that's a man-
purse, it's something that Er-


rol Flynn would have boarded
a swanky dirigible with."
Well, all right! It's clear
James' murse has at least one
fan, but most takes on his
man bag are more pointedly
humorous. "Nice purse, LeB-
ron," one derisive fan opined.
Rather than making fun
of the man, perhaps James
should be applauded for tak-
ing an old trend into a new
realms. Murses, man purses,
or man bags have been car-
ried by many well-loved Black
music stars such as Pharrell
Williams and Kanye West for
years. James can't be ap-
plauded for trailblazing, but
he deserves points for bring-
ing more fashion freedom into
the world of men's sports.


By Mike Snider

Diehard fans of the late reg-
gae superstar Bob Marley are
certain to learn something
from the new documentary,
"Marley", which debuted last
Sunday at South By South-
west.
Even Marley's children
discovered new aspects of
their father's life in the poi-
gnant film, directed by Kevin
Macdonald (The Last King of
Scotland). "Especially the last
half (of his life), when he was
taken ill and not around us,"
said son Ziggy Marley at a
red carpet event for the film's
U.S. premiere.
"We learned a lot about
that and some of the earlier
stuff when he was coming up
through Trenchtown and the
Wailers," he said. "There was
a lot of stuff we didn't know
about that we know now."
The Marley family had
been looking for a filmmaker
to collaborate with on a


New documentary, "Marley",
By Southwest.
documentary. With Macdon-
ald, "we fell in love with his
concept for it," said daughter
Karen Marley. "He really got
the essence of dad not as the
superstar but just as him as
a person."
The film, which comes to


which debuted Sunday at South

theaters and on demand/digi-
tal outlets April 20th, takes
viewers to Marley's Jamai-
can birthplace and resting
place. He passed away May
11, 1981 at the age of 36. "He
was a young man," said Ziggy
Marley. "A lot of people know


about the singing star and
the legend. This is all of Bob
not just a part of him. They
are going to feel an emotional
connection to Bob that has
never been documented be-
fore."
In addition to wife Rita and
family members, former Mar-
ley bandmates Bunny Wailer
and Junior Marvin shed
light on the singer's life. Rare
footage and photos enhance
the film. "The aim for me in
making the film was twofold,"
Macdonald says. "One was
simply to understand the
man behind the legend, who
really was this guy whose
music continues to be played
everywhere you go in the
world. And, secondly, like any
art film and documentary
about an artist, you want
to go back and listen to the
music afresh. I hope that has
been achieved. We discovered
so much about Bob that isn't
even in the books. It was a
voyage of discovery."


BBW star files for divorce


The newest edi-
tion to the Basket-
ball Wives, Kenya
Bell, can't seem to
catch a break. After
being blasted by the
ladies of the show ..
last week for her be-
ing unprepared for
her career in the mu-
sic industry, Kenya's
husband, former
NBA baller Charlie B
Bell, has filed for di-
vorce.
TMZ reports the couple has
been. separated for a while.
During their separation, Ke-
nya was arrested in May of
last year for allegedly break-
ing into the couple's home and
charging at Charlie Bell with a


box cutter in front
of their children.
Kenya was charged
with assault with a
deadly weapon and
domestic violence.
The aspiring singer
took a plea deal in
order to avoid jail
time. She plead to
misdemeanor do-
mestic violence.
ELL After seemingly
putting that alter-
cation behind them, Charlie
Bell filed for divorce in a Michi-
gan court citing a breakdown
in the marriage. At this time,
Kenya Bell's camp have not re-
leased any statement regarding
the divorce. We'll update you as
details are made available.


Dionne Warwick thinks Whitney

Houston had a 'heart attack'


By Ann Oldenburg

Dionne Warwick has
her own theory about
what killed Whitney
Houston.
"You know, in all
honesty, I think she
had a heart attack,"
she tells Entertain- w
ment Tonight in an
interview recent.
"That's what I think
happened to her." When asked
about possible drug use play-
ing a role, Warwick added, "I
don't know if it's that or not. I


RW


think her heart just gave out."
Warwick also said she
S had mixed feelings
when she accompa-
nied Houston's body
S from Los Angeles to
New Jersey. "It was a
combination of things,
stories, laughter, tears.
All the emotions that
you feel when some-
CK body very near to you
passes."
Meanwhile, accord-
ing to CNN, Houston's toxicol-
ogy report should be "complete
on or around March 23."


Critics scrutinize charity


KONY
continued from 2C

the Ugandans who need it the
most, the group claims its mis-
sion is misunderstood.
Only 32 percent of the money
Invisible Children spent last year
went to direct services, accord-
ing to the group's financial state-
ment, with much of the rest go-
ing toward the production of film,


travel costs and staff salaries.
Co-founder and film narrator
Jason Russell told CNN's Piers
Morgan that the group is not a
traditional on-the-ground devel-
opment charity.
"We are not an organization
that does amazing work on the
ground if you want to fund a
cow or help someone in a village
.. that's only a third of what
we do," said Russell.


SXSW 2012:


'Marley' documentary details singer's life


rLO e r










MIAMI TIMES




.' l( &,'- I


T E C H NEWS FROM ARO UND TI l E


GLOBE


M-40 20







T.k*-- -













The new iPad unveiled last week
comes with improvements that may
not be readily apparent to the casu-
al observer. It has a sharper screen,
driven by a faster processing chip
that acts as the "brains"
of the device.




Apple unveils'new iPad'with sharper screen


By Michael Liedtke
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO- Apple gave the new iPad a
bunch of new features but no new name.
When it goes on sale next week in the U.S. and
several other countries, it will be "the iPad" or
perhaps "the iew iPad" not "iPad 3" or "iPad
HD," as some had speculated.
The new iPad unveiled Wednesday comes with
improvements that may not be readily appar-
ent to the casual observer. It has, as expected, a
sharper screen, driven by a faster processing chip
that acts as the "brains" of the device. What was
more surprising was that the new features mean
the tablet computer will be slightly thicker and
heavier than the iPad 2, because it needs a larger
battery to power the high-resolution screen.
Prices aren't changing from the previous mod-
els. They will start at $499. Versions capable
of accessing cellular networks will cost $629 to
$829.


Apple is keeping the basic model of the iPad 2
in production and dropping the price to $399.
That could help Apple regain some market share
from cheaper tablets like Amazon.com Inc.'s
$199 Kindle Fire. Samsung Electronics and other
makers of full-size tablets have cut their prices to
below $500.
The battery life of the new model remains the
same: about 10 hours of use. Apple says the bat-
tery capacity is 70 percent higher than for the
old model, which suggests that it could have kept
the old screen and extended the battery life to 17
hours instead of upgrading the screen resolution.
Apple said the new display will be sharper than
the average high-definition television set. In a
hands-on demonstration for an Associated Press
reporter, text shown on the screen was notice-
ably crisper. The higher resolution won't make a
difference, however, for most Web images, which
are of low resolution. The new screen should be
able to show all the detail in high-definition mov-
ies, which the iPad 2 does not.


The new screen can also show deeper and more
vibrant colors than previous models, Apple said.
"We are taking it to a whole new level and are
redefining the category that Apple created with
the original iPad," said Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook
at the launch event in San Francisco.
Cook spoke of a "post-PC" era dominated by
the iPad and other Apple products.
The new iPad will go on sale March 16 in the
U.S., Canada and 10 other countries. A week lat-
er, it will go on sale in 25 more countries.
The lack of a new name could cause confusion
for buyers, particularly since the older model, the
"iPad 2," will still be sold. But the naming prac-
tice is consistent with Apple's practices for the
iPod. New models have been simply called "iPod."
Consumers are left to figure out which genera-
tion of the product they are looking for.
Compared with the iPad 2, the new model fea-
tures a higher-resolution camera on the back,
similar to the one in the iPhone 4S.
The new iPad will be 9.4 millimeters thick, or


0.37 inches. That compares with 8.8 millimeters,
or 0.34 inches, for the iPad 2. The weight is go-
ing up from 1.33 pounds to 1.44 pounds for the
Wi-Fi-only model. The original iPad weighed 1.5
pounds.
Apple also confirmed that the new model will
come in a version that can use Verizon Wireless'
and AT&T Inc.'s "LTE" wireless broadband net-
works. They offer speeds that are faster than the
"3G" networks used by previous iPads, and cur-
rent iPhones.
Apple is updating some of the software on the
tablet to take advantage of the new features. For
example, it's introducing a version of the Mac's
iPhoto photo organization and manipulation pro-
gram for the iPad.
The company also said it would start letting
users store movies in its iCloud remote storage
service, so they can be accessed through the In-
ternet by PCs and Apple devices. It already lets
users store photos, music and documents in the
service.


Apple brings io8op high


Definition to new Apple TV


Apple last week announced a
the new Apple TV featuring 1080p
ming including iTunes movies and
Netflix, Vimeo, photos and more in
iTunes in the Cloud, customers car
and play their favorite movies and
from the iTunes Store and watch
stantly on their HD TV. The new
features a simpler, refined user
making it easier than ever to ac
purchased movies, TV shows and r
iTunes Match right from iCloud. Wi
users can stream or mirror their fai
tent from their iPad or iPhone 4S to
"People are going to love stream
and TV shows in 1080p with the
TV, and photos look beautiful diE
the maximum resolution of your
Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice
of Worldwide Marketing. "Apple T


Jt Am
announced than ever to use with its new icon-based in-
program- terface and the ability to access your pur-
TV shows, chased movies, TV shows and music right
SHD. With from iCloud."
Purchase Apple TV users can choose from an incred-
TV shows ible selection of programming including over
them in- 15,000 movies and over 90,000 TV episodes
Apple TV on the iTunes Store. Apple TV also offers great
interface content from Netflix's streaming catalog, live
cesss your sports from MLB, NBA and NHL as well as
nusic with Internet content from Vimeo, YouTube and
th AirPlay, Flickr.
vorite con- With iCloud, you can buy movies and TV
Apple TV. shows on Apple TV and watch them on your
.ng movies iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC. iCloud
new Apple also stores photos and pushes them wirelessly
splayed at to all your devices including your HD TV via
TV," said Apple TV. iCloud provides an incredibly easy
president way to get instant access to all of your con-
V is easier tent, no matter which device is being used.











UThe Mni T-;es




Business


SECTIONg adults see their pay delin;



Young adults see their pay decline


By James R. Hagerty

Young people entering
the job market are taking
the brunt of the downward
pressure on wages caused by
high unemployment, accord-
ing to a new analysis of pay
trends.
In data compiled for a
coming report, the Economic
Policy Institute, a center-left
think tank in Washing-
ton, found that the average
inflation-adjusted hourly
wage for male college gradu-
ates aged 23 to 29 dropped
11.percent over the past
decade to $21.68 in 2011.
For female college graduates
of the same age, the average
wage is down 7.6 percent to
$18.80.
"New college graduates
have been losing ground for
10 years," said Lawrence
Mishel, president of the
institute, which derived the
figures from regular govern-
ment wage surveys. The drop
in average wages for young.
adults is in contrast to U.S.
government figures show-
ing that average inflation-
adjusted hourly wages for
production and nonsupervi-
sory workers of all ages and
education levels are up three
percent from a decade ago.
The EPI data are another
sobering sign for college
students and have implica-
tions for the economy. With
wages falling for many young
people and about flat for the
nation as a whole, consum-
ers have limited ability to
pay down debts and revive


Pay for young people has fallen. At Home Depot in Miami, a recent hire, left, and a
clerk ring up a customer.


Domwnard Grade
Average hourly wages in 2011 dlars for recent coege and
high-school gaduates


as MEN


College


21


15

0
5
*


WOMEN
College


High school


High school


.i r ''i i; .- .i -;-,, .i '0. i i,-. ,-' ii .; ,
'80 90 *0 "80 '9W 1 o00


Imw.: MeaonoiP nasinaty d 19 S25; cerfaE vsaduan ipsd 2
Swfrt ErEoaMniM Ptyl hslRute


Te Wal Street Jurmdl


Photos courtesy George Ray III
Commissioner Audrey Edmonson (I-r) is joined by Dr. Ana Cruz, Dean Brian Sepe and
George Ray III.


Edmonson issues proclamation


at Miami Dade business program

Vice Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson presented several certificates of appreciation and a
County proclamation to Miami Dade College at the Small Business Education Program last week.
She also talked about the importance of small businesses and the County's commitment to help-
ing them grow one way is through Mom and Pop grants. Certificates were presented to Dr. Ana
Cruz, Dean Brian Sepe and Amar Ali from Citi Foundation. George Ray III accepted the proclama-
tion on behalf of the College.


the economy with more
spending.
The job market has im-
proved in recent months. The

Downward pressure on
wages is likely to persist
as long as unemploy-
ment remains high.

seasonally adjusted unem-"
ployment rate has fallen to
8.3 percent from a peak of
10 percent in October 2009.
But there are still nearly four
unemployed people for every
job opening, Mishel said.


Young people are hav-
ing to be more flexible. Eric
Probola, who got a bachelor's
degree in global cultural
studies from Point Park Uni-
versity in Pittsburgh in 2010,
accepted an administrative
assistant's job at a nonprofit
there for less than $30,000
a year. He aims to build up
savings and gain experience
before seeking a higher-level
job, perhaps in Washington.
"Students are realizing
that they might need to take
a stepping-stone job as op-
posed to that dream job,"
said Amy Bittner, a career
counselor at Point Park who
advised Probola.
Downward pressure on
wages is likely to persist
as long as unemployment
remains high. At the current
rate of job growth, the U.S. is
still at least four years away
from "a normally functioning
labor market" with a rough
balance between supply
and demand for labor, said
Lawrence Katz, an econom-
ics professor at Harvard
University.
For the entire working
population, average hourly
wages have risen modestly
over the past 10 years..But
that is partly because many
of the lowest-paid workers
have lost their jobs and are
no longer included in the av-
erage. "People who normally
make below-average wages
are not working," said Bart
Hobijn, an economist at the
Federal Reserve Bank of San
Francisco. "That raises the
average wage."


Younger workers


now finding jobs

But will boost be large enough

for home purchases?
By Paul Davidson

The job outlook is brightening for younger work-
ers, who were hit hard in the recession and play a
vital role in the economy.
Jobs for 25-to-34-year-olds increased by 116,000
to 30.5 million in February Their unemployment
rate fell from nine percent in January to 8.7 percent,
the lowest since January 2009, according to the
Labor Department.
Just as important, the portion of Americans in
that age bracket who were employed known as
the employment-to-population ratio rose to 74.7
percent from 74.5 percent and is up from a 29-year
low of 73.2 percent in July. In a normal economy,
about 80 percent of 25-to-34-year-olds have jobs.
For workers overall, the jobless rate was un-
changed at 8.3 percent in February.
Young workers were hurt more than most in the
recession and its aftermath. Many employers laid
off entry-level employees first and limited the hiring
of new college graduates with no experience. Faced
with an unwelcoming job market, many college
grads decided to hunker down and attend graduate
school instead.
In May 2010, the jobless rate for the 25-to-34
group was 10.5%, nearly a percentage point higher
than the U.S. average.
In recent months, with consumer and businesses
confidence improving, employers have grown more
Please turn to JOBS 8D


JEAN MONESTIME
Miami-Dade County Commissioner

Monestime

pushes small

business bill
Miami-Dade County (M-DC) Com-
missioner Jean Monestime advo-
cated for local small businesses
during last week's County Com-
mission meeting by sponsoring an
ordinance, adopted unanimously by
the Board of County Commission-
ers that sets aside County contracts
for goods and services valued up to
$100,000 exclusively for small busi-
nesses in Miami-Dade.
The Ordinance significantly in-
creases the County's investment in
local small businesses by requiring
County Departments to use com-
panies registered with the County's
"Small Business Enterprise" (SBE)
Program. The SBE Program is a
gender/race neutral program for
procurement contracts designed to
provide opportunities for certified
small businesses. According to the
Sustainability, Planning and
Please turn to BILL 8D


Gas prices

help drive up

transit use

Fare hikes, service

cuts not factors

By Larry Copeland

Fueled partly by rising gas prices,
public transportation ridership
across the USA increased by 2.31
percent in 2011 over the previous
year, the American Public Transpor-
tation Association reports.
Americans last year took 235 mil-
lion more trips on buses, trains and
subways than in 2010. That's the
most ridership since 2008, when gas
prices soared to a national average
of $4.11 a gallon in July.
Also driving ridership: an improv-
ing economy. Greater use came
despite more than eight out of
10 transit systems either cutting
service, increasing fares or both in
recent years, says Michael Melani-
phy, the association's president and
CEO. "Can you imagine what rider-
ship growth would have been like
if they hadn't had to do those fare
increases and service cuts?"
Ridership grew in 2011 as the year
Please turn to GAS 8D


More families carrying heavy housing burdens, even to rent


By Charlene Crowell
NNPA columnist

Despite continued reduc-
tions in home prices and mort-
gage interest rates, housing af-
fordability remains a growing
problem for many Americans.
That was the key finding in a
new study from the Center for
Housing Policy. After analyz-
ing Census data on housing
costs and incomes the orga-
nization found that both hom-
eowners and renters are strug-
gling to pay for housing. Since
2008, affordability has eroded


for working households in 24
states. Moreover, nearly one-
in-four working households in
the country spent more than
half of their total income on
housing.
In the aftermath of millions
of foreclosures, landlords faced
a higher market demand. With
more people searching for
rental units, many landlords
began charging higher prices.
Even for homeowners who were
able to keep up with mortgag-
es, weak employment figures
that translated into either
unemployment or fewer work-


ing hours reduced .Nationally, the me-
available monies for Ih dian income for work-
living costs. : ing household owners
The report defined in 2010 was slightly
'working house- %'WI -', higher than $41,000
holds' as those with ,,,i or about 80 percent
members working of the median income
at least 20 hours : for all American ho-
per week on aver- meowners. Families
age and a house- are considered hous-
hold income of no ing cost burdened if
more than 120. their costs exceed 30
percent of their CROWELL percent of monthly in-
area median income. In 2010, come. Severely cost burdened
nearly one-third of all own- households spend 50 percent
er-occupied families met the or more of their income on
definition of working families, housing.


The Miami-Fort Lauder- home from work. It's also where
dale- Pompano Beach market birthdays, anniversaries and
proved to be the hardest hit other activities provide a sense
local area in the country with of place and belonging.
more than four of every ten In the film classic, It's a Won-
families with a severe housing derful Life, George Bailey un-
burden. Among the 50 metro derstood the importance of a
areas with the highest housing home. In a memorable scene,
burdens, 13 were in the South. George, played by actor Jimmy
These disturbing statistics Stewart, pleaded with a lo-
tell us that while every family cal banker to understand how
needs a home, it is increasingly the people who did most of the
difficult for parents to provide working, living and dying in
for their loved ones. Homes, their town deserved a decent
whether rented or owned, are place to live. In 2012, this na-
where children come home tion needs a real life George
from school and parents come Bailey.


B


' .f' ,



yade

D; fade:


'5,


I~

1











THE NATION'S #1 BLACK NEWSPAPER


Economy adds 227Kjobs


Jobless rate

unchanged

By Christopher S. Rugaber
Associated Press

WASHINGTON U.S. em-
ployers added 227,000 jobs
in February to complete three
of the best months of hiring
since the recession ended. The
unemployment rate was un-
changed, largely because more
people streamed into the work
force. The Labor Department
said Friday that the unemploy-
ment rate stayed at 8.3 percent
last month, the lowest in three
years. And hiring in January
and December was better than
first thought. The government
revised those figures to show
61,000 an additional jobs. The
economy has now generated
an average of 245,000 jobs in
the past three months. The
only stretch better since the
recession began was in early
2010.
That bodes well for President
Barack Obama's re-election
chances, although he's still
likely to face the highest un-
employment rate of any post-
war president.
"Overall, another very strong


payroll report and there's
every chance that March will
bring more of the same," said
Paul Ashworth, chief U.S.
economist with Capital Eco-
nomics.
Stocks rose after the report
was released. The Dow Jones
industrial average added 30
points in early-morning trad-
ing. Broader indexes also in-
creased. Another strong month
of hiring makes it less likely
that the Federal Reserve will
take additional steps to boost
the economy at its meeting
next week. Last month's hiring
was broad-based and in both
high-paying and lower-paying
industries. Manufacturing,
mining, and professional
services, such as accounting,
all added jobs. Still, wages are
rising only modestly. Aver-
age hourly pay increased by 3
cents, to $23.31. In the past
year, it has gone up only 1.9
percent trailing the rate of
inflation.

MORE PEOPLE LOOKING
FOR JOBS AGAIN
Nearly a half-million people
began looking for work last
month, and most found jobs,
the report said. That's a sign
of growing optimism in the
job market, as many people


who had given up on looking
for work came off the sidelines
to search for jobs. That also
counters a troubling trend: a
key reason why the unemploy-
ment rate has dropped since
last year is that many out-
of-work people have stopped
looking for work. Only people
without jobs who are actively
seeking one are counted as
unemployed.
A sustained rise in the num-
ber of people looking for jobs is
a good sign, even if the unem-
ployment rate doesn't change.
"The unemployment rate
is holding steady even as the
labor force grows that is
a good outcome," said Dan
Greenhaus, an analyst with
BTIG, a brokerage firm in New
York.
The report was filled with
other promising details. The
so-called "underemployment"
rate which includes those
who've given up looking for
work and those with part-time
jobs who want full-time work
- fell to 14.9 percent. That's
the lowest in three years.
The number of people em-
ployed in February 142.1
million was the highest
since January 2009. Manufac-
turing payrolls were at their
highest point since April 2009.


7D THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012



LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
FOR
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AT-RISK FIRM

The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida (Board), intends to select one Construction Management
at-Risk (CMR) firm for the following project:

CLASSROOM ADDITION
at
NORMAN S. EDELCUP I SUNNY ISLES BEACH K-8
201 182nd Drive, Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160
Project No. 01138400
Construction Budget:.$2.78 Million

MANDATORY PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. local time,
in the first floor Conference Room, WLRN, Channel 17 Building, (a.k.a. Anna Brenner Meyers Educational
Telecommunications Center) located at 172 NE 15th Street, Miami, Florida.

RESPONSES DUE: RFQ responses must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. local time, Monday, April 9,
2012 at:

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Department of A/E Selection, Negotiations & Contractor Prequalification
Ms. Nazira Abdo-Decoster, Executive Director
1450 NE 2nd Avenue, Room 305
Miami, Florida 33132

REQUIREMENTS: This is an abbreviated ad; the complete legal ad with instructions for this solicitation
including Board-approved selection procedures and required forms are available at the above address, or
at: http://ae-solicitations.dadeschools.net

In accordance with Board Policies, a Cone of Silence, lobbyist requirements and protest procedures are
hereby activated. Failure to comply with requirements of this legal ad and Board Policies shall be grounds
for disqualification. These, and all related Board Policies, can be accessed and downloaded at: http://www.
neola.com/miamidade-fl/


IRS gives a break to jobless


consumers behind on taxes


By Sandra Block

The IRS is providing
additional relief for
unemployed Ameri-
cans who can't afford
to pay their taxes.
SThe IRS said the
provisions expand its
2008 "Fresh Start"
program, which was
designed to help fi-
nancially distressed
Americans who were
behind on their taxes.
Under the provisions:
*Unemployed tax-
payers who are un-
able to pay their taxes
by the April 17 dead-
line will be eligible
for a six-month grace
period before the IRS
imposes a failure-to
pay-penalty.
In general, taxpay-
ers who fail to pay by
the deadline are sub-
ject to a failure-to-pay
penalty of one-half
of lone percent per
month, up to a maxi-
mum of 25 percent of
the amount owed.
Taxpayers will still
be charged interest on
the amount owed, the
IRS said. The current
interest rate on un-
paid taxes is 3 on an
annual basis.
Taxpayers who
can't pay their taxes
should still file a tax
return by April 17, the
IRS said. Otherwise,
they'll be subject to
a failure-to-file pen-
alty of five percent a
month, up to 25 per-
cent.
The relief is avail-
able to wage earners
who were unemployed
for at least 30 consec-
utive days in 2011 or
2012 or self-employed
taxpayers who expe-
rienced a reduction
in business income of
25 percent or more in
2011.
To apply for the
grace period on fail-
ure-to-pay penalties,
taxpayers should file
Form 1127-A, avail-
able at irs.gov.
*Taxpayers who
owe up to $50,000 in
back taxes are eligi-
ble for a streamlined
installment agree-
ment. Previously, the
cutoff for the stream-
lined agreement was
$25,000.
In addition, the
maximum repayment
term for streamlined
installment agree-


A woman receives
ployee.


help from an IRS em-


the longer version, the
IRS said.
"We have an obliga-
tion to work with tax-
payers who are strug-
gling to make ends
meet," IRS Commis-
sioner Doug Shulman
said. "This new ap-
proach makes sense
for taxpayers and for
the nation's tax sys-
tem, and it's part of
a wider effort we ha\ e
underway to help
struggling taxpayers."


ments has been in-
creased to 72 from 60
months, the IRS said.
Taxpayers who en-
ter into an install-
ment plan are eligible
for reduced penalties, ,..
although interest con-
tinues to accrue on
the unpaid balance.
The streamlined" H
agreement is signifi- a-3p
cantly easier for tax-I:
payers to fill out than

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
REGARDING
RATIFICATION, APPROVAL, AND CONFIRMATION OF
CITY MANAGER'S FINDINGS FOR WAIVER OF COMPET-
ITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES TO APPROVE A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PUBLIC
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC. FOR THE PROVISION
OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, Florida






The Miami City Commission will hold a Public Hearing on March 22, 2012,
beginning at 9:00am, or thereafter, to consider whether it is in the best inter-
est that the City Commission ratify, approve and confirm the Findings of the
City Manager justifying the waiver of competitive sealed bidding procedures,
and authorize the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Pub-
lic Financial Management, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $110,144, for the
provision of quantitative and analytical financial services to the City of Miami in
support of collective bargaining, labor negotiations, and related budget issues.

The Public Hearing will be held in conjunction with the regularly scheduled City
Commission meeting of March 22, 2012 at:
MIAMI CITY HALL
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, Florida

All interested persons may appear at the meeting and may be heard with re-
spect to the proposed issue. Should any person desire to appeal any decision
of the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at this hearing,
that person shall ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made,
including all testimony and evidence upon which any appeal may be based
(F.S. 286.0105).

In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing
special accommodations to participate in this proceeding may contact the Of-
fice of the City Clerk at (305) 250-5361 (Voice) no later than two (2) business
days prior to the proceeding, or at (305) 250-5472 (TTY) no later than three (3)
business days prior to the proceeding.

Priscilla A. Thompson, CMC
(#15541) City Clerk


.:'


~'1

~i


4eV_ Jf
.'^HJ~l ^P










THE NATION'S #1 BLACK NEWSPAPER


D S THE MIAMI TIMES 2


SIProtectM 1s11e IaIII Il, ss sprig up durig tx


Protect yourself as seams spring up during tax season


By Sandra Block

Even if your tax re-
turn has fewer zeros
than Mitt Romney's, it
contains a cornucopia
of information prized
by identity thieves.
And as consumers
have become more sav-
vy about identity theft,
criminals have come
up with increasingly
ingenious ways to hi-
jack tax returns for
nefarious purposes.
Here's a look at this
year's most popular
scams, and how to
avoid them:
*Fake e-mails from
tax preparation soft-
ware providers. Con-
sumers have been
inundated with bo-
gus e-mails claiming
to contain important


news from their tax
software providers.
TurboTax has seen a
marked increase in
reports of fraudulent
e-mails, according to
spokeswoman Julie
Miller.
These so-called
"phishing" e-mails are
designed to steal fi-
nancial information or
infect recipients' com-
puters with harmful
viruses.
The increase in these
e-mails illustrates how
easily crooks adapt to
changing times. In the
past, crooks often used
fake e-mails from the
IRS to lure taxpayers
into sharing personal
information. The IRS
responded by repeat-
edly reminding taxpay-
ers that it never sends


e-mails to individuals
seeking personal in-
formation about their
tax returns or refunds.
Tax software provid-
ers, on the other hand,
routinely send e-mails
to customers about the
status of their refunds.


As a result, even tech-
savvy consumers may
open an e-mail dis-
guised to resemble an
alert from TurboTax or
H&R Block.
"If you've never used
TurboTax, you can
safely ignore" such


e-mails, says Chris-
tine Frietchen editor
of ConsumerSearch.
com. "It's more confus-
ing when you do have
some kind of a rela-
tionship with the com-
pany."
There are, however,


As gas prices rise more take buses, trains


GAS
continued from 6D

progressed, gas prices rose
and the economy improved.
Passenger trips rose by 1.6
percent in the first half of
the year, by two percent in
the third quarter and by
3.7 percent in the last three
months.
In Boston, where unem-
ployment was down two
percentage points since the
beginning of 2010 and the
economy added 64,000 jobs,
ridership was up four per-
cent last year to an average
of 1.3 million passenger trips
a day on weekdays, says Joe
Pesaturo, of the Massachu-


setts Bay Transportation
Authority.
Other factors driving Bos-
ton's rise: improved vehicle
maintenance and better on-
time performance on some
routes. As in many cities,
transit riders last year also
had broader access to arrival
and departure times via new
smartphone applications.
"That people can look in
the palm of their hand to see
when the next bus or train is
going to be arriving makes it
a more attractive option," Pe-
saturo says.
An upside to recession-
ary times is transit agencies
were forced to operate more
efficiently and better care for


existing systems and equip-
ment, says Robert Puentes,
senior fellow in the Metro-
politan Policy Program at
the Brookings Institution, a
think tank. That, he says,
has resulted in better service.
Having arrival information
available on smartphones
also helps. "One of the big
problems with transit, espe-
cially buses, has been the
lack of reliability," Puentes
says. "No one wants to be
standing waiting on a bus
with no idea when it's com-
ing."
Increased ridership was
seen across the USA, the
transportation association
found.


"It's not just an urban
thing," Puentes says. "When
you look at small, rural parts
of the country, cities under
100,000, the ridership in-
crease was 5.4 percent, basi-
cally double the national av-
erage."
Intercity Transit in Olym-
pia, Wash., for instance, saw
its highest use in its 31-year
history. Last year, there were
17,000 passenger trips a day,
spokeswoman Meg Kester
says. "More and more people
are turning to transit as a
transportation solution, not
only in terms of travel to
school and jobs, but also a
solution for people's pocket-
books," Kester says.


More jobs are opening up for young workers


JOBS
continued from 6D

comfortable hiring
younger workers, es-
pecially those who
have advanced de-
grees, says Al Clark,
president of Manage-
ment Recruiters of
Chattanooga, Tenn.
"During the down-
turn, they depended
on more tenured work-
ers," he says.
Workers ages 25 to
34 are crucial to the
economy because they
represent the prime
age group for house-
hold formation and
for transitioning from


renting to homeowner-
ship, says Jed Kolko,
chief economist at
Trulia, an online real
estate service. They
can help spark a hous-
ing market that's still
feeble, but has shown
signs of picking up re-
cently.
Also, studies show
that workers who start
their careers in a se-
vere recession typi-
cally endure reduced
earnings for 10 to 15
years. "It has a resid-
ual effect through life,"
says Diane, Swonk,
chief economist of Me-
sirow Financial.
In 2009, Christian


Rogers, 34, quit his job
as an account man-
ager for an advertising
firm that specialized
in residential real es-
tate and enrolled in a
two-year school to pur-
sue his dream of be-
coming an advertising
copywriter. He sold his
four-bedroom house in
Atlanta, moved in with
his parents' and took
out a $70,000 loan to
pay for tuition and liv-
ing expenses.
A job as a junior
copywriter in San Di-
ego lasted just six
months, but on Friday,
Rogers got an offer for
a copywriting job in


Commissioner Jean Monestime

crusades for small businesses


BILL
conitnued from 6D
Economic Enhance-
ment Department
which oversees the
County's small busi-
ness development pro-
grams, M-DC spent
$19.7 million last year
on goods and ser-
vices valued under
$100,000. However,
SBE's current share


of those funds only ac-
count for about 10 per-
cent of that total. Per
Monestime's adopted
ordinance, depart-
ments must purchase
goods and services
under this threshold
from SBE firms unless
the Small Business
Development director
determines that there
is not enough capac-
ity, or the contracts)


can only be handled by
non-SBE firms.
"Using our certi-
fied small businesses
means we're guaran-
teeing that local com-
panies get the work,"
Monestime said. "Our
SBE Program employs
people in our neigh-
borhoods and keep s
taxpayer dollars circu-
lating in our commu-
nities."


Detroit that he plans
to accept.
He says he'll rent
at first, but expects
to buy a house in the
Detroit area in about
six months. His salary
will be substantially


less than his account-
manager pay, but he
expects eventually to
earn much more.
His objective, Rogers
says, is to ride out the
economy and chase
his dream.


The Public is advised that the NW 7th Avenue
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will
be holding its general meeting on Monday, March
19, 2012 at 6:00 P.M. at the Arcola Lakes Library
located at 8240 NW.7th Avenue Miami, Fl. 33150 at
which time the CRA will be discussing future plans for
the development of the NW 7th Avenue Corridor.
All interested parties may appear and be heard at
the time and place specified above. Copies of the
ordinance and resolution may be obtained from the
Clerk, Board of County Commissioners, 17th Floor of
the Miami-Dade County Stephen P. Clark Center.
A person who decides to appeal any decision made
by the Board, Agency or Commission with respect to
any matter considered at this meeting or. hearing will
need a record of the proceedings. Such person may
need to ensure a verbatim record of the proceedings
is made, including the testimony and evidence upon
which appeal is to be based. Miami-Dade County
provides equal access and equal opportunity in the
employment and services and does not discriminate
on the basis of handicap. Sign Language Interpreters
are available upon request.

iMU *, *III I Ls.6n


lots of warning signs.
An attachment is a big
tip-off that the e-mail
is phony. Legitimate
tax software compa-
nies will never ask
you to open an attach-
ment, even if you've
started your tax re-
turn, Frietchen says.
A generic or overly
familiar salutation
is another sign that
the e-mail is fake,
Frietchen says. (She
recalls receiving an
e-mail purportedly
from the IRS that ad-
dressed her as "Hello,
dear.") Another warn-
ing sign: e-mails that
contain grammatical


errors or awkward
language that sounds
like "translated in-
structions for flat-pack
furniture," Frietchen
says.
Still not sure? In-
stead of opening the
e-mail, go to the tax
software company's
Website and log in,
Frietchen says. If the
company sent you a
legitimate alert, you
should be able to find
it there. You can also
look for examples of
fraudulent e-mails
in the website's anti-
fraud section.
*Fraudulent tax re-
turns. Armed with


stolen Social Secu-
rity numbers, iden-
tity thieves have filed
thousands of fraudu-
lent tax returns and
collected billions of
dollars in tax refunds.
Victims usually don't
know a tax return was
filed in their name
until their actual tax
return is rejected by
the IRS, says Lu-Ann
Dominguez, a tax at-
torney with Gunster,
a law firm based in
Fort Lauderdale. Some
taxpayers have had to
wait up to a year for
their refunds while the
IRS investigated, she
says.


You Can Own this Beautiful

Townhome


So why rent!


For Only

1%
Down!


Special Financing available


City Grant Available!


Closing Cost Assistance


.7.-
r," -' E




bt :.- - "~--




,.; .. ._I^ .

ar '' iii ax


For more information please call


305-688-1600


C. BRIAN HART

INSURANCE CORP.

We do Auto, Homeowners
S'S U6s"J*v-. z pft~i e- # T &- r-. ^ a --e


BUY THIS SPOT
M WE HAVE THE EYE

L m INTO THE FUTURE CALL 305-694-6225

OF PLUMBING


Lall: JU3-O3-AUW- .. ---
Fax: 305-696-8634 -. ..
email: info@cbrianhat tcoip
9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Mon-Fri' :
7954 NW 22ND AVE., MIAMI FL, 33147
111 111111 1111111 w a ll~


CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

A public hearing will be held by the City Commission of the City of Miami,
Florida on March 22, 2012, at 9:00 AM at Miami City Hall, located at 3500 Pan
American Drive, Miami, Florida, for the purpose of granting the following:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, AUTHO-
RIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A QUITCLAIM
DEED, CONVEYING AT NO COST TO THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY, THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA-OWNED PROPER-
TY LOCATED AT 1490 NORTHWEST THIRD AVENUE, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE OVERTOWN SHOPPING
CENTER; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND
RECORDATION OF A COVENANT OF USE IN FAVOR OF THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION.
All interested persons are invited to appear and may be heard concerning this
item. Should any person desire to appeal any decision of the City Commission
with respect to any matter considered at this hearing, that person shall ensure
that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including all testimony and
evidence upon any appeal may be based (F.S. 286.0105).

In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing
special accommodations to participate in this proceeding may contact the Of-
fice of the City Clerk at (305) 250-5361 (Voice) no later than two (2) business
days prior to the proceeding, or at (305) 250-5472 (TTY) no later than three (3)
business days prior to the proceeding.

Priscilla A. Thompson, CMC
(#15542) City Clerk















* No Lona Term


I


Apartments
1 NORTHEAST AREA
Section 8 special. One and
two bedrooms. Furnished
units available. $199. Total
move in. 786-488-5225
1150 NW 1 Place
One bedroom, one bath,
$425. Mr. Willie #6

1210 NW 2 Avenue
One bdrm., one bath, $400.
Appliances. 305-642-7080.
1215 NW 103 Lane
Two bdrms, gated security,
tile, $700 mthly, $1000 to
move in. 305-696-7667
12400 NE 11 Court
Three bedrooms, one bath,
$1000, appliances, free
water, 305-642-7080.

1261 NW 59 Street
One bedroom, one bath.
$550. 305-642-7080

1317 NW 2 Avenue
One bedroom, one bath,
$425. Ms. Shorty in #1.

1348 NW 1 Avenue
One bdrm., one bath $375
Two bdrms., one bath $495
305-642-7080

140 NW 13 Street
Two bedrooms, one bath
$500, 786-236-1144 or
305-642-7080

14370 NW 22 Avenue
One bdrm, one bath $425.
Ms. Jackson 786-267-1646.

1450 NW 1 Avenue
Efficiency. one bath $395
one bdrm one Datn $425
305-642-7080

1525 NW 1 Place
MOVE IN SPECIAL
One bdrm, one bath, $350
monthly. $575 move in.
Three bdrms. two bath
$550 monthly $850 move
in All appliances included
Free 19 inch LCD TV Call
Joel
786-355-7578

1540 NW 1 Court
Studio $425, one bdrm
$525, twc bedrm $625 free
water. call 786-506-3067

1541 NW 1 Place
One bedroom i400. Studio
$390. Very Oueri
Call 786-506-3067

1545 NW 8 Avenue
One bedroom $675. two
bedrooms $900, tree
atier, no credit check
Call 786-506-3067

1600 NW 59 Street
Two barms one batn. $575
Appliances 305-642-7080

1600 NW 7 Court
One bedroom $650. two
bedrooms $850, tree
water, no credit check.
Call 786-506-3067

1718 NW 2 Court
One bdrm, one bath, $425
Mr. Gaiter in #1


1744 NW 1 Court
One bedroom, one bath
$450 Two bedrooms one
bath $550 Appliances
305-642-7080

1801 NW 2 Court
MOVE IN SPECIAL!
Two bedrooms one bath
$550 monthly $850 to
move in All appliances
included. Free 19 inch LCD
TV. Call:
Joel 786-355-7578

1943 NW 2 Court
One bedroom $500, two
bedrooms $650 Very qu;el
Call 786-506-3067.

1955 NW 2 Court
One bedroom, one bath.
$450. 305-642-7080

1969 NW 2 Court
One bedroom, one bath'
$425. Appliances, free gas.
786-236-1144

200 NW 13 Street
One bdrm, one bath $425.
Ms. Shorty 786-290-1438


210 NW 17 Street
One bdrm, one bath $450,
appliances. 305-642-7080

2416 NW 22 Court
Two bedroom one
bath $725, free water.
305-642-7080
3119 NW 133 STREET
Large, one bedroom, newly
remodeled. Section 8 OK!.
786-374-6658
411 NW 37 Street


Studios $395 monthly.
All appliances included. Call
Joel 786-355-7578


415 NW 9 Street
One bdrm., one bath, $495.
Appliances. 305-642-7080
48 NW 77 Street
Beautiful one bedroom, $585
monthly. Call after 6 p.m.
305-753-7738
50 Street Heights
Walking distance from
Brownsville Metrorail. Free
water, gas, window bars,
iron gate doors. One and two
bdrms from $490-$580 mthly!
Apply at 2651 NW 50 Street,
call 305-638-3699.
5130 NW 8 Avenue
SECTION 8 WELCOME
Three bedrooms, one bath,
$900 per month, all appli-
ances included. Call Joel
786-355-7578.

5200 NW 26 Avenue
Two bdrms, one bath. Free
gift for Section 8 tenants.
$675 moves you in.
Jenny 786-663-8862

5238 NW 24 Court
Two bedrooms, one bath,
near school and bus trans-
portation. $550 a month. Call
after 12 p.m., 954-485-1065.
5545 North Miami Avenue
One bdrm, one bath. $550
monthly, $1100 to move in.
305-962-1814, 305-758-6133
584 NW 65 Street # 5
One bdrm. Section 8 wel-
comed. $850 monthly. Call
786-514-2532.
815 NW 58 Street
Studio $550 monthly. All ap-
pliances included. Call Joel
786-355-7578.
8475 NE 2 Avenue
One and two bdrms. Section
8 OK, 305-754-7776
ARENA GARDEN
Move in with first month rent
FREE BASIC CABLE
Remodeled efficiency, one,
two, three bdrms, air, appli-
ances, laundry, gate. From
$400. 100 NW 11 St.
305-374-4412.
CAPITAL RENTAL
AGENCY
305-642-7080
Overtown Liberty City.
Opa-Locka, Brownsville
Apartments. Duplexes.
Houses One Two and
Three Bedrooms. Same day
approval. Call for specials.
Free water. 305-642-7080
www capilairenlalagency
com
GRAND OPENING
NEW ARENA SQUARE
!Walking distance to school
from $400. Remodeled
efficiencies, one, two, three
bdrms; two baths. Central air,
laundry, gated. Office 1023
NW 3 Ave. 305-372-1383
LIBERTY CITY
MOVE IN SPECIAL
No security deposit re-
quired. One bedroom, water
included, qualify the same
day. 305-603-9592, 305-
600-7280, 305-458-1791 or
visit our office at 1250 NW
62 Street.

LIBERTY SQUARE AREA
One and two bedrooms.
786-267-3199
OPA LOCKA AREA
One bdrm, one bath. Special
$450.305-717-6084
OPA LOCKA AREA
Two bedrooms, one bath.
$825 monthly. Section 8 wel-
come.
305-717-6084
OVERTOWN
Qualify the same day. Lim-
ited time move in special!
Gated and secure building.
One bedroom, $400 and
two bedrooms $550 only!
Water included. No security
deposit required. 55 and
older get additional dis-
count. Call 305-603-9592,
305-600-7280 and
305-458-1791

Condos/Townhouses
2906 NW 195 Lane
Three bdrms., one bath.
Voucher. 786-457-3287.
8323 NW 5 Avenue
Two bedrooms, one bath,
central air, appliances and
water included. Section 8 or
similar program preferred.
305-345-7833
SECTION 8 WELCOME!
Three bedrooms units. Rudy
786-367-6268.
17942 NW 40 Court

Duplexes

1347 NW 44 Street
Two bdrms., one bath, air,
heat, stove and refrigera-
tor, washer and dryer. $935
monthly. 305-609-4250.
135 NE 80 Terrace
Newly remodeled, huge one
bedroom, one bath, central
air, $750 monthly. Section 8
welcome. 954-818-9112.
1401 NW 60 Street
Two bdrms, one bath, $640
monthly, 305-720-4933.
142 NW 71 Street


Two bdrms, one bath, yard,
tiled, washer/dryer hookup,
bars, air, $950 mthly. Section
8 ok!. 305-389-4011 or


305-632-3387
1461 NW 59 STREET
Three bdrms, two baths. Sec-
tion 8 OK. $1325 mthly. 954-
668-3997
16159 NW 39 Court
Two bdrms, one bath, $1000
monthly. 305-751-3381
1877 NW 43 Street
Two bedrooms, one bath.
Central air, $900 monthly.
Section 8 Welcome. 305-331-
2431 or 786-419-0438.
1880 NW 73rd Street
Two bedrooms, one bath,
tiled, central air, $725. Sec-
tion 8 accepted,
305-720-4933
1946 NW 93 Terr
Three bdrms, one bath, cen-
tral a/c, $1150 monthly. Sec-
tion 8 welcomed.
305-389-9470
2125 B NW 60 Street
One bdrm, one bath, refrig-
erator, stove, air condition,
$475 monthly. 786-290-4625.
21301 NW 37 Avenue
Two bedrooms, large new
paint $895 monthly..
786-306-4839
2464 NW 44th Street
Two bedrooms, one bath,
central air, $850 per month.
786-877-5358
2907 NW 106 Street
Two bdrms one bath. Section
8 only. 305-796-5252.
330 NW 82 Terrace Rear
One bedroom, one bath cot-
tage, all new, $625 monthly,
305-793-0002
414 NW 53 Street
BEST VALUE, gorgeous
remodeled two bdrms, spa-
cious, large totally fenced
yard, available now, $875.
305-772-8257
5140 NW 12 Avenue
Two bedroom, one bath
$1000 monthly. First, last and
security. 954-668-3997
6800 NW 6 Court
Three bedrooms, one bath,
$1100 Free waterleleciric
305-642-7080

6803 NW 6 Court
Two bedrooms, one bath, air..
stove and refrigerator.
305-968-6218
7985 NW 12 Court
Unit, small family preferred.
Section 8 Welcome.
Call 786-768-5855
LIBERTY CITY AREA
Two bdrms, one bath, first,
and security. 305-244-6845
Efficiencies
1756 NW 85 Street
$475 move in 786-389-1686.
467 NW 8 Street
Efficiency one bath. $425.
Appliances, tree water.
305-642-7080

5422 NW 7' Court
$600 monthly includes elec-
tric and water. No Section
8. Call
305-267-9449
MIAMI SHORES AREA
Air, utilities, cable. $550,
$1100 move in,
305-751-7536

Furnished Rooms

1010 NW 180 Terrace
Free cable, air, appliances
'and use of kitchen.
305-835-2728
13377 NW 30 Avenue
Extra large, $95 weekly, free
utilities, one person.
305-474-8186, 305-987-9710
1500 NW 183 Street
Cable, air, $140 weekly. $285
to move in. 786-457-2998.
15810 NW 38 Place
$85 weekly. Free utilities,
bath, kitchen, one person.
305-474-8186, 305-987-9710
1775 NW 151 Street
New management. Micro-
wave, refrigerator, color TV,
free cable, air, and use of
kitchen. Call 305-835-2728.
1887 NW 44 Street
$450 monthly. $650 moves
you in. 305-303-0156.
2168 NW 98 Street
$85 weekly, free utilities,
kitchen, bath, one person.
305-474-8186, 305-987-9710
2957 NW 44 Street
Furnished, 305-693-1017,
305-298-0388
6601 NW 24 Court
Microwave, refrigerator, color
TV, free cable, air, and use of
kitchen. Call 305-835-2728
6816 NW 15 Avenue
Cable, refrigerator, air, $100
wkly, 305-627-3457.
83 Street NW 18 Avenue
AREA
305-754-7776
MIAMI AREA
Cable TV,. utilities included,
$550 monthly. 305-687-1110
Miami Gardens Area
$120 wkly, $240 to move
in, air, cable. Call 786-597-
4489.
NORTHWEST AREA
Clean, nice, and air. $400
monthly. Call 786-426-6263.
NW 24 Avenue and 52 St.
FURNISHED ROOMS
305-409-0348
OPA LOCKA AREA
2170 Washington Avenue
Clean rooms, $90-110
weekly, $476 monthly.


786-277-3434,786-298-4383


Houses

10201 NW 8 AVENUE
Three bedrooms, two baths.
$1195. Stove, refrigerator,
A/C.
305-642-7080
133 Street and NW 18 Ave.
Three bedrooms, two baths.
Call 305-754-7776
1417 NE 152 Street
Section 8 welcome. Three
bdrm. One bath. $1000
monthly. All appliances
included. Free 19 inch LCD
TV. Call Joel 786-355-7578.
1450 NW 194 Street
Four bedrooms, two baths,
$1,400 monthly. A. Berger
Realty, Inc. 954-805-7612.
1505 NW 68 Street
Three bdrms., one bath, $800
monthly, 305-627-3457.
1514 NW 74 Street
Section 8 Preferred, three
bedrooms, one bath, fenced
yard, central air, ceiling fans,
refrigerator, stove. Washer,
dryer, security bars, awnings.
$1,240 mthly. $500 security.
Call 786-218-4646
15930 NW 17 Place
Three bedrooms, one bath,
central air, washer/dryer con-
nection. $1200 monthly.
954-818-9112
1611 NW 52 Street
Three bdrms., one bath, $950
mthly, no Section 8 call:
305-267-9449
1776 NW 53 Street
Move in special, two bed-
rooms, one bath. $795
monthly. Call 954-558-8330.
1782 NW 63 Street
Newly remodeled, wood
floors, two bedrms, one
bath $895. 305-642-7080.
1856 NW 51 Street
Nice three bdrm, central
a/c, big yard. Section 8 wel-
comed. 305-986-2408
2049 NW 68 Terrace
Three bedrooms, one and
half bath, $1025, stove,
refrigerator, air, 305-642-
7080.
2115 NW 56 Street
Four bedrooms, two bath.
Renovated. Section 8 Ok.
Call 305-575-1987.
3261 NW 132 Terr
Three bdrms, two bath, cen-
tral air. $1100 monthly. 954-
558-8330
52 NW 166 Street
N. Miami Beach twnshe, new
four bedrooms, two baths.
$1600. Section 8 Preferred.
305-528-9964
5246 NW 8 Avenue
Nice clean house, three
bedrooms, one bath. $1000
monthly. Call 786-355-8598.
Cozy, Roomy Bugalow
Miami Gardens, has every-
thing! Three bdrms., two
bath. $1300 plus deposit.
305-407-5327
EL PORTAL AREA
'Three bedrooms, one bath,
$1250 monthly, $2500 to
move in. Call 305-219-6130.
MIAMI GARDENS AREA
Spacious four bdrms, two
baths, plasma ,TV included.
No credit check, Section 8
Welcome! Others available.
305-834-4440
MIAMI GARDENS AREA
Three bdrms, two baths,
Section 8 welcomed! 786-
287-0864 or 786-306-4519.
MIAMI GARDENS AREA
Three bdrms., two baths, re-
modeled, Section 8 welcome,
$1500 a month, call:
305-216-2724
MIAMI GARDENS AREA
Three bedrooms, two baths,
central air, appliances, tile,
Section 8 Welcomed! Near
schools and shopping center.
Appointment Only!
Call Arnold 404-769-4290
"' .",! .1 ,


4101 NW 187 Street
Five bedrooms, three baths,
everything new, owner will
paint in and out. $1,795.
786-306-4839.

Ir, .

342 NW 11 Street.
Weekly $125, monthly
$400. Call 786-506-3067.
MIAMI GARDENS AREA.
UNFURNISHED
305-300-7783 786-277-9369




Commercial PropertyI
405 NW 62 Street
3200 square ft building for
lease or sale. Retail, restau-
rant or daycare use.
305-785-8489



PLACE YOUR

CLASSIFIED

HERE

305-694-6225


Houses

*ATTENTION*
Now You Can own Your
Own Home Today
***WITH***
FREE CASH GRANTS
UP TO $65,000
On Any Home/Any Area
FIRST TIME BUYERS
Need HELP???
305-892-8315
House of Homes Realty
MIAMI GARDENS
19710 NW 6 Circle
Five bdrms three baths, ev-
erything new. Try $4900
down and $699 monthly P&l-
FHA financing. NDI realtors.
We have others.
Call 305-655-1700
MIAMI GARDENS
Newly remodeled, three
bedrooms, one bath, central
air and heat, stainless steel
appliances. 305-439-2683



Re-roofing and Repairs
32 years of experience, all
types of roofs. Roof repairs
starting at $75. Call Thomas
786-499-8708.
Lic#CCC056999
TONY ROOFING
45 Years Experience!
Inside and outside work.
Call 305-491-4515



Freelance Writers
Wanted
The Miami Times is looking
for seasoned writers to
cover several beats in a
freelance capacity. Aggres-
sive reporters with a solid
background in news and
feature writing should send
in a resume, cover letter
and three recent samples of
your writing. Send inquires
to D. Kevin McNeir
kmcneir@miamitimeson-
line.com Include a daytime
and evening telephone
number.


Outside Advertising
Sales
Great opportunity for
three personable and
driven individuals. The
ideal candidate has an
aggressive approach to
sales with an emphasis on
follow-through. Excellent
one-on-one training, end-
less earnings opportunities,
great employee benefits.
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Short

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prominent

By Robert Lyle

Sales of homes that are
or have been in some stage
of foreclosure accounted
for over 26 percent of all
2011 home sales in South
Florida, according to a re-
port released Thursday by
Irvine, Calif.-based real es-
tate monitoring firm Real-
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That's a higher percent-
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state or the nation.
Nearly 43,000 homes in
South Florida Broward,
Miami-Dade and Palm
Beach counties were sold
at some point in the fore-
closure process, mostly
after the banks had taken
possession.
For the first time, says
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Daren Blomquist, short
sales in South Florida out-
numbered bank owned
sales in the final months
of 2011. Short sales are
deals to sell property for
less than what is owed on
its mortgage.
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and just approve a short
sale and cut our losses
early' on rather than going
through the whole foreclo-
sure process and then try-
ing to sell the property,"
Blomquist said.
Even more significant
in South Florida, said
Blomquist, is that the
prices for short sales are _O
now averaging 10 percent
higher than sales of homes
owned by the mortgage-
holder.
"They're seeing that the
average price of a short
sale is actually higher
than the average price
of a bank-owned sale, so
they can possibly get more
back out of the property
than they would if they
foreclosed and sold it that
way," Blomquist said.
This is good news for
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Public Notice Announcement

Empower U, a nonprofit organization, announces
the availability of 7 one bed/bath units at 1525 NW
60th St, Miami, funded in part the US Department
of Housing ahd Urban Development & City of Mi-
ami.

Rent: One Disability Restricted Unit will be 30%
household income and 6 units from $660 to $883
(based on household income).

Eligibility: Household income not to exceed $36,750
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Heat seem poised to win it all
As the Miami Heat begin bling aspects of their game -
that critical stretch toward the late game situations being one
playoffs. Heat fans are hope- example. Who takes the last
ful that they may have finally shot Wade or LeBron? Sure-
figured out some of the trou- ly somebody has to be Robin


ember it wasn't that The trust of his teammates this team, despite having two


long ago when the constant
questioning of LeBron's men-
tal toughness or willingness to
take over at crucial stretches of
a game was a hot topic. Some
fans are still waiting to see that
"Jordan" moment from LeBron.
Maybe a buzzer beating jump-
er to win a championship -a la
Jordan over Russell. James,
however, has his own ideas
on how to finish games which
is to make the best basketball
play whether we like it or not.


and he in them to convert op-
portunities are what matter
most to the King. Consider last
week's win over the Atlanta
Hawks when it was big shots
by Chris Bosh and the previ-
ously slumping Udonis Haslem
that sealed the deal for Miami.
The team followed this up with
another big-time performance
from its superstars Wade
and LeBron against the Indi-
ana Pacers. Head coach Erik
Spoelstra loves the fact that


of the premier perimeter play-
ers in the league, does not rely
solely on these guys to take big
shots down the stretch. This is
good for the psyche of the team
and we really like what we're
seeing. Remember the great
Bulls team did not only win
when Jordan or Pippen came
up big. It was BJ Armstrong,
Steve Kerr and John Paxson
that contributed when called
upon. Similarly with the LA
Laker dynasties of Shaq and


Kobe you had guys like Robert
Horry, Rick Fox, Brian Shaw
or Derek Fisher. Those guys
were not afraid of the moment
and their superstar teammates
were not afraid to give them the
ball. This is not a bad blueprint
to follow when you are building
a championship team. The Mi-
ami Heat are still a ways from
that parade down Biscayne
Boulevard. But if they continue
to gel as a team, you may want
to put any.June vacation plans
on hold.


ISIAH THOMAS


FIU season ends in




disappointing loss


Coach Isiah

Thomas proud of

graduating

seniors
By D. Kevin McNeir
kmcneir@miamitimesonline.com

Talented seniors DeJuan
Wright and Jeremy Allen,
both guards, led the Florida
International University (FIU)
Panthers men's basketball
team last weekend in a tight
tournament battle against
Western Kentucky. But de-
spite 24 points from Wright
and several exciting three-
point conversions made in the
closing moments of the game,
FIU (8-21) failed to repeat last
season's surprising conclusion
that saw them one game away
from earning an NCAA playoff
bid. Still, Coach Isiah "Zeke"
Thomas says he's proud of his
team, especially his seniors.
"Both young men are from
Detroit and have had great ca-
reers here they've laid a good
foundation and I've watched
them grow from boys to men,"
he said. "But what makes me


proudest is that they will both
graduate on time with their
degrees. I couldn't be happier
for them."
Thomas's arrival in South
Florida came with great fan-
fare in the spring of 2009 and
while most are aware of his
accomplishments as a college
and. NBA standout, he has had
less success as a coach [26-
65 in three seasons as head
coach]. Now that the season is
over, he says he's already gear-
ing up for next year.
"Winning in college and the
NBA are two of the hardest
things to do in sports," he said.
"Having won championships as
a player at both levels, I now
recognize the difficulty of those
processes and the time it went
into winning. College basket-
ball is big business and the,
bigger, more traditional pro-
grams tend to get the attention
and the money. That's some-
thing that I don't see chang-
ing. When I talk to potential
players, I promise them three
things: I will teach them all I
know about basketball, I will
make sure they get a good edu-
cation including a degree and
I will make them gentlemen.
That's all you can expect and I


keep it simple and specific. It's
all about helping every player
max out in his athletic and
scholastic abilities."
Thomas uses his "star
power" to talk to young people
about the importance of educa-
tion and the dangers of gangs
and violence.
"FIU is working with Miami
Northwestern High in our ef-
forts to shine the light on the
problems that urban students
more often face: poverty and
violence in their communities,"
he said. "That's why I spend so
much time on doorsteps and
porches. I have been on both
sides of the fence and I think
I have both a sympathetic ear
and a motivational voice. We
use the All-star classic at FIU
and the Mary's Court Founda-
tion back in Chicago [named
after his mother] to help par-
ents in poverty navigate the
educational system. My mom
was the biggest baller of them
all."
Is the best yet to come for
the FIU Panthers? That infec-
tious smile for which he has
become so well-known ap-
peared on his face before he
replied with a resounding,
"Yes."


Ely boys win Class 7A



state basketball title


TIGERS ROLL


OVER OAK RIDGE


FOR SCHOOL'S


By Dave Brousseau

LAKELAND No doubt
about it, the Blanche Ely
boys basketball team is good,
real good.
The nationally ranked
Tigers dominated all phases
of their Class 7A state cham-


78-46


3RD TITLE


Ely senior forward Clide
Geffrard scored 33-points
and had 14 rebounds to lead
the Tigers. Kahlil Thomas
added 13 points and Benji
Bell had 11 points.
"The young men played
very well," Ely coach Melvin
Randall said.


championships games, win-
ning twice at Deerfield Beach
and two more with Ely.
With the 7A championship
Randall said his team has
accepted an invitation to
participate in the ESPNHS
National High School Invita-
tional at Georgetown Prep in


T .-. ., .. .'- .. .

-Photo credit: Joshua C. Cruey
Blanche Ely players, including Matthew Jackson (13), Roshane Smith (15), Dallas Cameron
(12), James Labadl (11), Ashton Bristol (20), Krishaun Myers (23) and Anterio Smith (10),
celebrate after defeating Oak Ridge 78-46 last week in the Class 7A state championship game
in Lakeland. It is the third title in school history for Ely High.


pionship game against Oak
Ridge, winning 78-46 Satur-
day at the Lakeland Center.
It was the first state cham-
pionship for Ely (30-2) since
winning the Class 6A title
in 2007. They finished the
season with 18-consecutive
victories.


"Not taking anything away
from Oak Ridge, but these
young men did a very, very
good job. For the seniors to
go out in style like this is a
plus ... they deserve it be-
cause I know how hard we
worked."
Randall improved to 4-0 in


Bethesda, Md. March 29-31.
Ely's national ranking, No.
20 by ESPNHS Fab. 50 and
No. 24 by USA Today was key
to the invite.
"There was a question
on Saturday who was my
best team, you're looking at
them," Randall said.


'.1 *


Wilt Chamberlain, left, and Bill Russell share a laugh during a tribute to
Russell in May 1999.

Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell

will be linked in history forever

You can't talk about Bill Russell, who owns 11 NBA championships, without
talking about Wilt Chamberlain. They played against each other 142 times.
You can't talk abut Chamberlain career averages of 30.1 points and 22.9
rebounds without talking Russell. They were adversaries on the court and
later friends off it.
"We played the same position in entirely different ways," Russell ways. "He
believed he was the greatest basketball player ever. I never disagreed. People
forget how hard he worked."
You can't talk about the emergence of dominant, modern-day big men with-
out linking both. They knew it then. Russell knows it today.
"The way we played, nobody played that way before," he says. "You can't say,
'He played like him or He played like him.' You can't say that about either Wilt
or myself."


Sports Highlights

Florida State's Hamilton

ACC Coach of the Year
Florida State s coach Leonard Hamilton recently was
named the ACC's Coach of the Year
It was the second time he earned the
honors. He also received them in 2009. -qwt
Hamilton's No. 22 Seminoles enter .
this week's ACC Tournament in Atlanta
with a 21-9 overall record and a 12-4
tally in conference games.
Hamilton is the only coach to have
been named an ACC and Big East
Coach of the Year. While coaching at
Miami in the 1990s, he claimed the
Big East coaching crown twice.


SBig East honors

USF's Stan Heath
Coach Stan Heath might have been
S busy getting ready for the Big
SEast Tournament opener re-
/ ently, but he did take a mo-
Sment to reflect on an honor.
Heath, whose USF men's bas-
ketball team went 12-6 and
tied for fourth in the league
standings, was rewarded
Tuesday as he was selected
Sby his peers as the Big
East's Coach of the Year.


Injured Tiger leaves

Doral onl2th tee
By Brian Murphy

Ifyou're going to,,vin a World Golf Championship
CVC11t 211d Would like sonic media love, try doing it on
a Sunday \%,here Tiger Woods doesn'twalk off the golf'
course 01i the 12th tee in.jured. You can almost hear
Rose as fie reads I lie headlines: "Tiger this! Tiger that!
What about in.\- cool Grecian urn?"
Sorrv. Justin. You have a Nvell-earned
reputa tion as one of golf's classiest acts
and this is vour second PGA Tour win
in six months vour fourth overall V
and VOU're a gLIVNve should think about
in three weeks at Augusta. That's fine.
Enjoy the $1.4 million. And the urn. WOODS
The facts of the case are simple: Ti-
ger started Sunda v with an Outside chance at his first
win since 2009, but also with a real chance to keep
Building positive momenturn heading into April. But
t wo ca rl v boge.vs on his front nine showed lie was off,
and TV cameras caught him ,xincing and flexing his
knee after hitting into the water on No. 10 at Doral. By
the 1201 lec,, despite smashing an excellent drive, he
shook Webb Simpson's hand and headed to the park-
inglot.
Later, his publicist released a statement identifving
I lie iqjury as a tight Achilles tcndon and that Tiger will
get it checked early this week. Simpson's caddie, Paul
Tesori, told reporters that Woodscaddie, Joe LaCava,
indicated Tiger's Achilles was "puffed up" and sore.
I i in in m.


THE NATION'S #1 BLACK NEWSPAPER


10D THE MIAMI TIMES, MARCH 14-20, 2012


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