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FEBRUARY 27, 2010 - MARCH 5, 2010

The Denzel
BEYA Awards 2010 B1
From the Editor’s Desk
Sitting Ducks A10 Principle A13B4
State of the City
NAACP Ushers in New Era of Leadership
Baltimore Buried in Md. Woman Elected as New Chair
$120 Million Deficit By Zenitha Prince
Washington Bureau Chief

By Melanie R. Holmes NEW YORK – With the Feb. 20 election of new NAACP
AFRO Staff Writer Chairman Roslyn Brock, the 100-year-old civil rights
organization seems to be embracing a new, more youthful
The mayor saved the leadership.
worst for last at the 11th Brock, 44, of Elkridge, Md., became the fourth woman and
annual State of the City the youngest person to assume the helm the organization.
Address on Monday. After “It is a very humbling moment for me. Sixty-three civil
the touting the improvements, rights giants [NAACP board members] from across this nation
accomplishments and points voted to entrust into our hands the civil rights movement into
of pride within Baltimore the next generation,” Brock said of her unanimous election.
in assurance that the city Brock will be the face of the NAACP along with President/
is “strong” despite its CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous, who at 35 became the youngest Photo by Zenitha Prince for the AFRO
challenges, the meat of to hold his position. The pair represent a welcome infusion of
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s young leaders and signals a bright hope for the future of the New NAACP Chairman Roslyn Brock, 44, and President/
speech supported her CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous represent a new generation
declaration that, “This $120 Continued on A5 of leadership in the 100-year-old organization.
million deficit is brutal and
will hit all of our citizens
hard.”
Baltimore is digging itself AFRO File Photo
City Council to Vote on New Member
out of a massive monetary Baltimore Mayor Stephanie By Melanie R. Holmes minutes, Stokes doubled that time frame as he
hole created after the city’s Rawlings-Blake has AFRO Staff Writer expressed his ideas for legislation, suggested
resources had been spread too inherited a “brutal” $120
how the city could save money, shared his
thin due to the recession, she million deficit resulting City Hall completed its power shift on community outreach efforts and joked briefly
said. The deficit equals 2,200 from effects of the Thursday when the City Council voted on with some of the Council members.
city employees, or 55 percent economic recession. a new District 12 representative. Seven Stokes served as a Baltimore City councilor
of the civilian workforce; candidates – Frank W. Richardson, Arron from 1987-1995 and was a member of the city
1,700 police officer positions, Parks, Housing and Libraries Keith Wilkes, Rev. Rasheed Q. Ray, Charles school board from 1997-1998. After losing
or half of our police force; departments. U. Smith, Ertha Harris, Carl Stokes and Mike the 1999 mayoral race against former mayor
100 percent of the firefighting But the mayor repeatedly Schaefer– were interviewed during a public and current Gov. Martin O’Malley, Stokes
force and the combined emphasized that through hearing Tuesday evening so Council members chaired the Maryland Education Commission
general budget funds of collaboration Baltimore can can fill the seat President Bernard Young and joined the Dunbar Advisory Board. As
the Health, Recreation and emerge successfully from this vacated upon his recent ascension. a member of the Board, he accused the city
difficult time. “The most qualified one will get the job,” school district of racism for failing to follow
INSERT “Together, we can Young told the AFRO. through on a $48 million renovation of the
• Character Ed/Black History transform our government But Carl Stokes, a former councilman and 99 percent Black Paul Laurence Dunbar High
to be smaller, more nimble friend of some current Council members, Courtesy Photo School while spending $42 million to build
stole the show. While most of the candidates Car Stokes is a favorite to fill
Listen to “First Edition” Continued on A5 interacted with the Council for 10 to 15 the Council’s vacant seat.
Continued on A5

Black Churches Unite in Historic Partnership

The Great Gathering

Join this Week’s Guest

Bills Would Make

John Oliver and Host Sean Yoes
 Sunday @ 8 p.m. on
88.9 WEAA FM, the
Voice of the Community. By George Barnette
AFRO Staff Writer
facing Black males and their roles in Black
families and communities.
On Feb. 19, representatives from the
Divorce Easier, as Long
The three major Black Methodist
denominations are coming together in
African Methodist Episcopal, the African
Methodist Episcopal Zion, and the Christian as There’s No Sex
Your History • Your Community • Your News
afro.com

Columbia, S.C., March 1-3 to discuss issues Methodist Episcopal held a press conference
By Jennifer Hlad
Continued on A3
Capital News Service
ANNAPOLIS - To get a
marriage license in Maryland,
a potential bride or groom
must show identification and
provide basic information
such as name, birth date and
address. Two or more days
later, they can marry.
Getting a divorce is a bit
more complicated. But Sen.
Bobby Zirkin, D-Baltimore
County, is trying to
make it easier.
Zirkin is a lawyer
who works with
divorcing couples.
He said the three
bills he presented
Photo by Jason Miccolo Johnson Wednesday to the
Representatives of all three Black Methodist faiths convene after a press Senate Judicial
conference announcing joint meeting. Shown are Bishop Warren M. Brown (AME Proceedings Committee
Zion), left, Bishop George Walker (AME Zion), Bishop John R. Bryant (AME), Rev. are an effort to “modernize
Paul L. Brown Sr. (CME) and Rev. Staccato Powell (AME Zion). (Maryland’s) laws of
divorce.”
One way he hopes to
Healthy Start Stimulus Having change the law: redefining
what it means for people to
Creates Hope Disparate Impact live “separate and apart.”
Currently, couples must
Join the AFRO on
Twitter and Facebook for Infants A6 A3 live apart for one or two
years, depending on the
circumstances, before they
can be divorced. But he has
seen an increasing number
of couples who cannot afford
two households, which
effectively means “people
who don’t have money are
therefore not able to get a
divorce,” Zirkin said.
His solution? Don’t move
out of the house, just move
out of the bedroom.
Zirkin’s bill – cross-filed
in the House of Delegates –
would allow parties to live
in the same home, as long
as they maintained separate
bedrooms. And, like current
law, both parties must swear
in court they did not have sex
with each other during the
allotted time period.
Continued on A5

Copyright © 2010 by the Afro-American Company

A2 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010

AFRO National Briefs

California Admissions
Ruling Challenged
A coalition of civil rights
groups is bringing a new
challenge to a California law
that prohibits the state from
considering race in state
university admissions.
The lawsuit was filed in
Oakland on Feb. 16 by the
Michigan based Coalition to
Defend Affirmative Action,
Integration, and Immigrant
Rights and Fight for Equality
By Any Means Necessary.
The suit challenges the
constitutionality of the law,
which was approved by
California voters in 1996 and
circumvent the law, but did
praise it for attempting to
work within it.
“The UC has, to its
credit, attempted to mitigate
the effects of Proposition
209-such as considering
socioeconomic class, using
comprehensive file review,
admitting the top 4 percent
of every high school, varying
the weight of tests and
is known as Proposition 209. other admissions criteria,
A similar measure was passed considering the opportunities
in Michigan in 2006. available at one’s high school,
“The plaintiff Latina/o etc.-but in report after report,
and black students now ask the UC has shown that none
this Court to strike down of these measures can halt
Proposition 209’s ban on the fundamental trend toward
affirmative action at the re-segregation if Proposition
University of California 209 remains in effect and
because Proposition 209 affirmative action remains
has been the sentry at the banned,” the lawsuit says.
gate, denying the plaintiffs
the chance for an equal Rapping Soldier to Face
and integrated education as Court Martial in Iraq
promised by the Fourteenth A soldier facing a court-
Amendment, Brown v. martial for allegedly making
Board of Education, and the threats in a rap video he sent
proudest legal traditions of to the Pentagon can be sent
California and of the nation,” overseas to go on trial in Iraq, Fan Sentenced for Sending
the suit reads in part. a federal judge ruled on Feb.
Proposition 209 has 17.
drawn many lawsuits in Lawyers for U.S. Army
California state courts Spc. Marc Hall requested that given two years jail time after
since its enactment on the the soldier’s trial take place
grounds that it has curbed in the United States and not
minority enrollment at state Iraq, as the Army sought,
universities. according to New America
In the meantime, the Media. But U.S. District
University of California Judge William Moore ruled
system schools said there’s that he would not intervene
little they can do to alleviate in a case being tried under
the problem. military law, according to The
“If this opens up another Associated Press.
discussion, that’s well Hall, 27, was jailed after
and good, but, as long as mailing a malevolent rap
Proposition 209 is the law, song to the Pentagon. In the
we’re obliged to follow it,” song, “Stop Loss,” which was
University of California also posted on his personal
spokesman Steve Montiel Web site, Hall spoke about
told the Oakland Tribune. his anger over being deployed
The lawsuit acknowledges and raps about going on a
8281-13_MEA_MDEE-Print_4C_9.14x10:8281-13_MEA_MDEE-Print_4C_9.14x10
the schools’ inability to
shooting spree.
According to the
Savannah Morning News,
Hall wrote the song in July
after learning he would be
“stop-lossed”, a military
practice under which a
soldier’s service is extended
beyond their contractual
agreement date.
Hall’s lawyers said
holding the trial in Iraq will
“violate [Hall’s] right to
due process of law and will
significantly compromise his
ability to defend himself.”
Lt. Col. Eric Bloom, who
works at the Pentagon, told
New America Media that
sending a soldier to Iraq
for a court martial is not
unusual, and said Hall’s unit
has already been deployed
overseas.
“His unit moved so he has
to follow his unit,” Bloom
said. “His command is there,
and the majority of witnesses
are there.”
Harassing Text Messages
to Ashanti’s Mother
A delusional fan was
sending strange and explicit
text messages to R&B singer
Times Questions CBC
Foundation Fundraising
Courtesy Photo
2/22/10 1:58 Black
PM Page
Ashanti
Ashanti’s other, theGrio.com
reported.
Devar Hurd, 31, expressed
sorrow as he claimed he
didn’t mean to annoy or
upset the award-winning
singer and her family when
he sent the messages, some
of which contained pictures
of his genitalia as well as
pictures of the family house
that included comments of
stopping by to visit.
“My intent was not to
harm,” he told the judge.
“I always wish the best for
[Ashanti].”
Hurd was convicted
in December on charges
of stalking aggravated
harassment. A spokeswoman
for Tina Douglass, Ashanti’s
mother and manager, said
she was glad to see the
case finally closed with his
sentencing.
Douglass said the text
messages forced her to hire
extra security personnel,
as one of the messages
from Hurd envisioned him
living with the songstress.
Douglass said Hurd viewed
the text messages as
simply “friendly” and “sex
messages” and didn’t think he
was doing any harm.
“Even if he believes
that Ashanti was in love
with him, his conduct was
not that of a man wooing a
woman. He was not sending
her flowers, but rather
barraging her mother with
messages any parent would
find objectionable,” Assistant
District Attorney Carolina
Holdemess told reporters.
While the Congressional
Caucus
1 Foundation
raised more than $55 million
between 2004 and 2008,
only $1 million went to the
caucus’s political action
committee, according to an
article published Feb. 13 in
The New York Times.
The remainder of the
funds was used for the
caucus’s unregulated non-
profit dealings, according
to the Times, which also
questioned companies that
donated money to the caucus
and their influence on the
group’s membership.
The article claims that
“…lobbyists and executives
from coal, nuclear and power
giants like Peabody Energy
and Entergy helped draft a
report in the caucus’s name
that includes their positions
on controversial issues.”
The report detailed the
foundation’s acceptance
of money from liquor and
tobacco companies. However,
Elsie L. Scott, chief executive
of the foundation, claimed
that the money is only for
philanthropic purposes.
“Black people gamble.
Black people smoke. Black
people drink,” Scott told
the Times. “And so if these
companies want to take some
of the money they’ve earned
off of our people and give it
to us to support good causes,
then we take it.”
The foundation has
defended its actions and
called the article “tasteless”
on its Web site.

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In top-loading washing
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Detergents formulated for cold
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When not in use, unplug your TV.
A plasma TV left plugged in costs
an estimated $159.76 annually.
Install a low-flow showerhead to
achieve savings of 25%-60%. Showers
use less hot water than baths.
When not in use, unplug your
laptop. Left plugged in, it costs an
estimated $15.90 annually.
Turn down the temperature of
your water heater to the warm
setting (120 degrees). You’ll save
energy and reduce the risk of scalding.
When not in use, unplug your
gaming system. A game console
left plugged in costs an estimated
$25.73 annually.
Wash only full loads of dishes,
air dry and use cold water if possible.
If washing dishes by hand, do not
leave water running in between piles.
Windows account for 10%-25% of
your energy bill. During the summer,
your air conditioner must work
harder to cool hot air from sunny
windows. Use curtains or shades
to give your air conditioner and
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Ceiling and other fans
provide additional cooling and
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Pump up your tires; properly inflated
tires improves gas mileage by 3%.
You can save up to $115 per year
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Turning your thermostat back
10%-15% for 8 hours can save as
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Using a programmable thermostat
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The average household dedicates
11% of its energy budget to lighting.
Turn off lights when not in use.
Wasted energy is wasted money.
Save money by setting your
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To find out more visit ENERGY.MARYLAND.GOV

Martin O’Malley, Governor

Anthony G. Brown, Lt. Governor
Malcolm Woolf, Director, MEA
 November 1, 2008 - November 7, 2008, The Washington Afro-American A3

Jennifer Hudson and Relatives Identify Body of Her Slain NephewA3 February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American

One Year Later: Stimulus Having Unequal Impact

By Alan King sport-utility vehicle sought in from a neighbor about a suspi- posted fliers bearing his photo-
AFRO Staff Writer connection with the murder of cious vehicle. The man noticed graph around the city. On
Hudson’s mother and brother. the vehicle while walking his Sunday, Jennifer Hudson asked
Jennifer Hudson and other The white, 1994 Chevrolet dog. According to the Chicago for the public’s help in finding
relatives positively identified Suburban with Illinois license Tribune, the boy had been shot her nephew. In her MySpace
By Zenitha Prince multiple times in the back seat stated, while the national and she
blog, more with the
thanked fanspublic’s
and sup-
Washington Bureau Chief of the vehicle. The SUV, regis- jobless rates fell in January reaction
porters for to anyprayers
their perceivedand
tered to Hudson’s murdered from 10 percent to 9.7 racial abias
offered from the
$100,000 president,
reward to
At 1 year old, President brother, was towed with the percent, among Blacks it anyone
Powellwho returned the boy
added.
Obama’s signature cure for boy’s body inside and is being actually increased from 16.2 alive.“We’re not asking for
the ailing economy has not processed by evidence techni- percent to 16.5 percent. Since the investigation,
something just for Latino or
cians and workers. The body Hudson – who gained stardom
yet gained even footing— Part of the problem is Black or Native American
was later removed and taken to after appearing on “American
especially within communities that in promising emerging community, we’re saying
the Cook County Medical Idol,” and then won an
of color, advocates say. Examiner’s office. industries such as the “green recognize
Academy that every
Award for her role in
However, contrary to mostly Hudson and other family economy,” ARRA funds have community
the movie Dreamgirlsis situated – has
Republican criticisms, the members arrived at the Medical been concentrated on training differently,”
stayed out of the hepublic
said. “[Race
eye.
$800 billion stimulus has had Examiner’s office mid-after- rather than job creation, said doesn’t have toTribune
The Chicago be a deterrent]
report-
some positive impact. noon to identify the body. Julian King, Jennnifer Hudson’s Dominique
nephew.Apollon, research edifthat
the apublic
paradeunderstands
of cars moved that
“It’s working pretty much Given the choice between look- director of the Applied dealing with these
slowly past her family’s home issues
exactly as advertized,” said ing directly at the body or A spokesman for the office Research
the murdersCenter.
but is being held in fairly does
Monday not make
morning, them a
past the
Josh Bivens, an economist viewing it on a wall-mounted told the newspaper that Hudson jail for parole
“And the violation
training after Black
news issue
vans, or a Latino
reporters issue,
and curi-
with the Washington, D.C.- Courtesy Photos
programs have not been it makes them ousanonlookers.
American
based Economic Policy coordinated to link with actual issue.”
Jennifer
Institute.
Hudson and her mom, Darnell Donerson who
was killed, as well as her brother, Jason.
“She held hands with her family. It was obviously a very emotional moment.” jobs,” he added, then said, Even with
Neighbors stood
the racial
quietly and
According to a report “remained strong for her fami- “If we
being focus onofjust
convicted training
attempted overtones and the threat
reflected on the
released this week by the video screen, the family chose rather than job creation we violence.
of possible public fallout,
the body of her 7-year-old plate X584859 was found on the latter. According to the ly” and was clearly its leader. murder and vehicular hijack- In front ofObama
the Hudson’s
nonpartisan Congressional “She held hands with her APfami- feed into the myth that
ing. Cook County records show people President and his
nephew Monday, just hours
Budget Office, which assessed Chicago’s West Side after Tribune, Hudson said, “Yes, Photo of color lack the skills, that home, men
administrationin heavystilljackets
owe
after his body was found in a police received a 7 a.m. call that’s ly,” the spokesman said.
him.”Office, after one year, the American Recovery “It that he pleaded guilty to both and hooded sweatshirts came to
the impact of the American According to the Congressional Budget it’s their own fault [they don’t the nation’s most fragile
was obviously a very emotional charges in 1999. He was also kiss the twin white crosses bar-
and Reinvestment Act has boosted employment by 1 millionmoment.” to 2.1 million jobs. have jobs] as opposed to an communities—many of

ACORN Fights Back

Recovery and Reinvestment convicted in 1998 for posses- ing the names of Donerson and
Act, ARRA increased The boy – the son of Julia actual epidemic lack of
sion of a stolen motor vehicle. access which just happen to be of
Jason.
employment by 1 million the American people have program, he added. more and
Hudson, recovering
Jennifer’s less,”
sister – had to was
He jobs.”released from prison in color—equitable
“Everybody is sick access to
of going
to 2.1 million and boosted seen behind the curtain of “I am a little dismayed said missing
been John Powell, executive
since Friday, 2006Many of the seven years
after serving the potential healing pool of
Leader Calls Voter Registration Fraud Charges ‘Bogus’
through stuff like this,” Artisha
the economy by 1.5 percent rhetoric and watched as by how generally apathetic director
when of Ohio
a relative StateJulian’s
found contributors
for the attempted agreed,
murdertoo,and the Recovery Act,
West, a former resident of theadvocates
to 3.5 percent more than it millions of jobs were lost and the wider public is about the University’s Kirwan Institute
grandmother, Darnell that
car the administration’s
hijacking charges. concluded.
area told the Tribune. “We all
By Alan
would haveKing
been without and Dallas Cowboys
unemployment roseplayers
into the No wonder Act.
Recovery Obama’sTo an campaign
extent, is Donerson, 57, and
for the Study his uncle,
of Race and unwillingness
The boy remained to take a
missing have “There
to stick is a little All
together. bit of a
these
AFRO
the Staff package.
recovery Writer In the Tony Romo and Terrell Owens,
double digits.”
trying to distance him from the
I understand why because Jason Hudson,
Ethnicity. 29, shot to death tailored,
through moreweekend
a long targetedin failure of bold leadership,”
young children are dying, and
among the names submitted to group, saying, “Barack Obama in hisPowell
grandmother’s
months before the stimulus, Steele’s
election position reflects
officials. we’reOrganized
Never still losing withjobs. But
ACORN.” was one home in
of several which
approach policetoand volunteers
economic forcriticized
what?” Juhu Thukral,
Presidential candidate John the 7000 block of South Yale
the economy was shedding the Hurd
GOP’s seemingly recovery—in favor of a “lift- director of law and advocacy
McCain’s attack on ACORN – said those workers, who But Obama’s ties to ACORNberun
you can argue that we’d community advocates who
Avenue.
about 700,000
Associated jobs a month.
Community implacable
were doing those decision thingstowithout
oppose losing
long andmany deep.moreHe taught jobs classes
if spoke at a teleconference all-boats” approach—was of The Opportunity Agenda.
An Amber Alert – a desig-
But,
Organization for 2010
in January Reform those
Now – ACORN’s knowledge or permis- for ACORN. They even endorsed also hampering growth within “They’re very concerned with
nation for high-risk missing
numbers
confirms the success of20,000.
dwindled to the “...dealing with these issues fairly does not make
sion, were fired. childrenthem a Black
him for President.
– was issued Friday communities of color. accountability but they’re not
Even in the theface
headofofsuch Powell said the president’s necessarily making the link
organization,
reports,
group says. Republican
the
leaders in issue or a Latino issue, it makes them an American
“The evidence that has sur-
faced so far shows they faked issue.”
But now ACORN is in trouble.
after Julian was discovered
Reporter: There are at least
missing after the murders. race has been a major factor that accountability is critical
Washington continuetotothe
“This is testimony carp
work forms to get paid for work they 11 investigations across the Police arrested William in that decision to not tackle relative to greater and more
about the program’s
we’ve done and success we’ve alleged the president’s
didn’t do, not to policies.
stuff ballot we didn’t
country pass the
involving recovery
thousands of announcing
Balfour, the release
the missing boy’sofstep- head on the disparities in equal opportunity.
ineffectualness.
had,” Maude Hurd, president of “The stance of
boxes.” ACORN, shethesaid, is the package; it’s made the
potentially fraudulent ACORN a report,
father and “ARRA
estrangedand the
husband employment, education, “They’re looking for
“Todaysaid
ACORN, marks
in anthe one-
interview Republicans in Congress
victim of fraud, not the perpetra- recession less brutal,” the
forms. ofEconomic Crisis:
Julia, at his One Year
girlfriend’s housing and other social ways to make the ways
year
withanniversary
the AFRO. of this tor of it.
was to be opposed to this. Announcer:
economist said.Massive voter Later,” which
Southside concluded
apartment several barometers. in which these funds are
failed “Whenstimulus package,
this attack started, we AndHurdonce said the only
they’re gonethings
on fraud.That’s alsoObama
And the true campaign among
hours other
after the things
murders.that “The mistake people being spent transparent, and
something the president
had just announced that westill had bogus are the charges
record as being opposed to
them- paid more than
within Black and Brown
$800,000 to an the stimulus
Balfour’s did not
mother, go has
Michele, make is [in believing] that [ensure] that it’s going to
registered
claims 1.3 million
as one new vot-
of his signature selves. And factcheck. org ACORN front for get out the vote because we have an African make an impact but they’re
this they can’t turn around communities, where far enough in bolstering
told reporters that her son had
ers,” she said. “That’s just to agrees. efforts.
achievements and which hesay andItsay this is working nothing to do with the slayings. American in the White House not always taking that
that someone’s running scared concluded, “Neither pretty jobless rates
Pressuring bankshave risenrisky
to issue employment in marginalized
proclaimed would ‘create or well,” said Bivens.
ACORN nor its employees And that have to 50 percent and
loans. Nationwide voter fraud. above communities and was not in
Balfour remains a suspect the race
Jason issue is off the table,”
Hudson extra step to ensure they’re
because of ACORN’s success.”
save’ 3.5 million
McCain, who isjobs and for
running campaign—which
been found guilty of, or even has also within,Obama.
Barack for example, Native
Bad judgment. transparent in regard to racial but it’s not, he said. The including opportunities for
keep unemployment below
president on the Republican tick- 8 incorrectly
charged with,melded casting the Bush
fraudulent American
Blind ambition. enclaves
Too risky andfor urban equity. “race” problem, though, lies all Americans as part of their
percent,” wrote Republican
et, lashed out at ACORN in the administration’s
votes.” bank bailouts neighborhoods. However,
America. For example, the report less with the administration equation.”
Party leaderagainst
final debate Michael Steele
Barack with Thetheproblem
stimulus—hascame about pri- neither have things improved.
inObama,
a Feb.contending
17 statement. “Since
the group “is played upon the
marily because of disillusions
the way “In this
Since economy,
McCain’s comments, SQUARE HIGH
those early heady days
on the verge of maybe perpetrat- of of an already
ACORN soured
operates. Rather public,
than everybody’s
ACORN’s hurting.
87 offices Butbeen
have
the
ingObama administration skewing perceptions of the people of color are hurting
Join Verizon and partners for a
one of the greatest frauds in rely on volunteers, it pays peo- bombarded with threats and
voter history in this country, ple, many of them poor or unem- racist mail.

The Great Gathering

maybe destroying the fabric of ployed, to sign up new voters. The day after the presidential
democracy.”
Factcheck.org, a non-partisan
The idea was to help both those
being registered and those doing
debate, vandals broke into the
organization’s Boston and Seattle free Open House celebrating
Continued
Web site, found fromthose
A1 claims to the registration. offices and stole computers.
be “exaggerated,” with “no evi-
atdence
the National
of any such Press Club
democracy- we
Maud explained, “We have a
zerofind ourselves.”
tolerance policy for deliber-
After a Cleveland representative
speakersonwill
appeared TV,be anPrinceton
e-mail was
Black History Month
BREAD NOT ON THE LIST

in downtown Washington, Bishop John

Saturday, February 27th,
destroying fraud.” ate falsification of R. Bryant,
registration.” professor
sent to the local CornelofficeWest andshe
saying
D.C., Hurd to preview
believes thethatMcCain
“Great senior
Mostbishop for the neglect
news account A.M.E.to Marian
“is goingWrightto have her Edelman,
life ended.”
Gathering.”
charges were politically motivat- point out went
Church, that ACORNfurtherissaying Aadvocate
worker infor Providence,
AmericanR.I.,
ed.“We will come out of that
She said,
meeting with“Because it’s low-
an initiative
required
that it’s byalsolaw thetocommonality
turn in all reg-
istration forms. And they also fail
of the three denominations
received a threatening
children and families.
ing, “We know you get off work
President Obama and Rep.
call say-
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the LEFT RIGHT

and moderate-income people, to note that it was the organiza- at 9” and uttered racial epithets.
focused on African-American
and people of color, I believe the
males and confronting some
McCain campaign thinks those
that also contributed to the
tion, in many instances, that first
creation
brought the of phony
the summit.registrations
James Clyburn (D-S.C.) have
A caller to one office left a
been invited
message on thetoanswering
speak. Reginald F. Lewis Museum
of the challenges
are going to that
vote they to the attentionthat
“We felt since these There is also an Ieffort
in Baltimore.
voters of authorities. machine, saying: “Hi, was just
face
Democratic, which is notsaid
on a daily basis,” neces- threeThedenominations
McCain camp apparently have being made to include
calling to let you know that
the
sarilyRev. Staccato Powell
true.” so
isn’t interested in those fineit’s
much in common… HBCUs
Barack Obamain theneeds
event, to as
getmany
pastorACORN of Grace
is noAME
stranger Zionto [a] verypreferring
points, natural to thing for
air mislead- of them were founded
hung. He’s a (expletive deleted) by the
Church
controversy. in Raleigh, N.C., and us to come together,
ing ads that seek to link Obama reflect churches.
nigger, and he’s a piece of
chairman
For 38 of thethe
years, summit.
non-partisan together
to ACORN, andthereby
studyundercutting
together,” “We’re
(expletive going You
deleted). to linkguys are
Bishop George
organization has foughtW.C. for social said Bryant.support.
his political “The key issue young boys
fraudulent, andupyou with need HBCUs
to go to Learn more. Visit
Walker
and economic Sr., senior
justicebishop
for low- willMcCain:
be for us I’mtoJohnlookMcCain
at the in their
hell. All the communities,
niggers on oak trees.
for
andthe AME Zion Church,
moderate-income landscape
and I approve of this
the country
message. particularly
They’re gonnawith get allthehung
sciencehon-
1 BANANA www.verizon.com/md.
believes
Americans. that the400,000
With three mem- today and see what
Announcer: Who isit Barack
is we faculty
eys, they’re of those
going to schools,”
get assassi-
denominations
ber families organized have always
into more Obama?
can A mancollectively,
do better, with “a political nated, they’re gonna
said Powell. “We get want killed.”
to
thana1,200
had strongneighborhood
presence inchap- baptism
than weperformed
have doneat warp see if we can somehow“You
Another message said, lift
tersAfrican-American
in 110 cities nationwide, speed.” Vast ambition. After col- liberal idiots. Dumb (expletive
the separately.” the science literacy among
ACORN has over the years seen lege, he moved to Chicago. deleted). Welfare bums. You
community, so involvement The conference is being African-American males as
its share of criticism while advo- Became a community organizer. guys just (expletive deleted)
of the three
cating in this gathering
for affordable housing, held
There,inObama
conjunction with
met Madeleine well.”to our country, consume
come
isliving
natural.
wages, healthcare for the aTalbot,
meeting of the
part of the Chicagoof CME every Organizers
natural resource are hopingthere is,
“These three
underserved— and while organ- missionaries.
branch of ACORN. He was so and make a lot of babies. with
to leave the gathering That’s
denominations have always
izing voter registration drives. Organizers
impressive that he expect
was askedover to mandates
all you guysand do. initiatives,
And then suck in
been
But none has been the
sensitive to plight
as withering 6,000 people
train the ACORN staff. to attend. which they will implement
up the welfare and expect every-
of
andallbaseless
people,asparticularly
this one. the Activities
What didwill ACORN include in Chicago in various
one else to pay cities
for around
your hospital
African-American
With the presidential people and
election panel
engagediscussions,
in? Bullying banks. seminars, the country.
bills for your kids. TheI three
jus’ say let
the
lessAfrican-American
than two weeks away, male,” worship
Intimidation services
tactics.and gospel
Disruption denominations
your kids die. That’s willthe initiate
best the Before age five, every room is a classroom.
said
ACORN’s Walker. “We believe
detractors allege the performances
of business. ACORN givenforced by transition,
move. Just letbut yourthey hope to
children die. Fun learning opportunities are everywhere. Simple things like
itorganization
is time forhas theengaged
church in to mas- Hezekiah
banks to issue Walker,
risky homeByronloans. involve
Forget aboutthe paying
larger for community
hospital counting and identifying shapes activate a child’s learning ability,
once againregistration
sive voter come together and
fraud after Cage,
The same andtypesMarvin of loansSapp. that including
bills for them. politicians,
I’m not gonna non-do and help them enter school more prepared. That’s why PNC
the reported
address discoveryinofwhich
the atrocity bogus caused
Amongthe financial
the confirmed crisis we’re it. You guys
profits, andare lowlifes.
public And I
school founded Grow Up Great and its Spanish-language equivalent Crezca
names, such as Mickey Mouse in today. hope you
systems. all die.”
con Éxito, a 10-year, $100 million program to help prepare young
Hurd thinks the hate calls will
That being said, the children for school and life. Pick up a free bilingual Sesame Street™
cease soon.
organizers
“In two weeks, are still confident
I think these “Happy, Healthy, Ready for School” kit at a PNC branch. It’s filled
that the three denominations
attacks will be over. But I think it with all kinds of simple, everyday things you can do to help a child
canbeeffect
will harderchange
for us to themselves.
get our learn. Together, we can work with our communities so an entire
“We have
name back on good graces the collective generation won’t just grow up... but grow up great.
Identification Statements
Baltimore Afro-American — (USPS 040-800) is published weekly by The Afro-American
resources
because theywithin our own
really trashed us in
Newspapers, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. Subscription Rate: the last few weeks.” address
denominations to
To find out more, go to pncgrowupgreat.com
Baltimore - 1 Year - $30.00 (Price includes tax.) Checks for subscriptions should be made the
But problems
ACORN in willour not be or call 1-877-PNC-GROW.
payable to: The Afro-American Newspaper Company, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD
21218-4602. Periodicals postage paid at Baltimore, MD. communities,” said Bishop
deterred.
POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to: The Afro-American Newspaper Company, 2519 William
“We’ve H. beenGraves,
fightingsenior
for a
N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. bishop
long time,for forthe
overCME Church,
30 years, for
The Washington Afro-American & Washington Tribune — (0276-6523) is published in rights
the a statement.
of low- and “We can’t
moderate-
weekly by the Afro-American Newspapers at 1917 Benning Road, N.E., Washington, D.C. income
look for people all across the or
the government
20002-4723. Subscription Rate: Washington - 1 Year - $30.00. Periodical Postage paid country,”
other agenciesHurd said.
to “We’re
do this for
at Washington, D.C.
going to continue to fight for
us. We can do it ourselves.”
POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to: The Washington Afro-American economic justice in our commu-
& Washington Tribune, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602.
nities.” TM /©2008 Sesame Workshop. All rights reserved. ©2008 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
A4 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010
The Growth of Black Businesses
By Gregory Dale businesses between that latter period
AFRO Staff Writer
Throughout hardships, Black
entrepreneurs continue to thrive,
providing products and services to
all races, but still understanding the
specific and special needs of African
Americans.
According to the U.S. Census
Bureau, Black-owned businesses
are the largest growing segment
of new businesses. The number
of African-American owned
businesses increased 46 percent,
from 424,165 to 620,912 between
1987 and 1992. Minority-owned
businesses continued to grow after
this time period but experienced
another noteworthy jump in 1997 to
2003. The number of Black-owned
Local Carver
Creating a Legacy
By Stephen D. Riley
AFRO Staff Writer
Canes, trains and automobiles—
an unlikely combination but
67-year-old Fred Dorsey hopes his
hand-crafted walking canes can
take him just as far as any form
of public transportation can. The
retired merchant seaman has been
an artist all his life and creating
wood crafts is just something that
comes naturally to the talented
entrepreneur.
The self-made “Wood Doctor”
has been honing his craft for years
without any formal teaching or
training. Just over six months ago,
Dorsey began creating his wooden
canes to alleviate his own walking
condition. Shortly after, he started
advertising his work in barbershops
and other local retailers. Due to
the variety and distinct creativity
of Dorsey’s work, his canes caught
on quickly in the hearts of locals
and he began selling them at
the Sankofa African and World
Bazaar on North Charles Street in
Baltimore.
Dorsey’s work has been
featured at Sankofa for several
months, but it was his resourceful
childhood that led him there.
Dorsey grew up one of 10 siblings
in Howard County without
his father present. So when
Christmases and birthdays would
come around he was often left
empty-handed. Rather than
complain, Dorsey took to the
woods. It was there he found the
resources to create his own toys
such as bicycles, trucks and other
playthings.
Whether it’s drawings,
paintings or handcrafts, Dorsey
does it all. He’s created everything
from his own toys to a hand-
crafted resemblance of Fiddler
from the movie Roots
made out of burnt
matchsticks.
His unique
imagination
has led to stylish,
innovative walking
canes that feature
novel items
such as ash
trays and
wallet
Fred Dorsey,
67, turned a
“crutch” into
a business
enterprise.
grew 45 percent, while revenues
generated from the businesses grew
25 percent. An estimated 94,862
Black-owned businesses had paid
employees and their receipts totaled
$92.7 billion, increasing 30 percent
from 1997. Also during that time
frame, it was discovered that roughly
38 percent of Black businesses were
owned by women.
Entrepreneur.com also reported
that the type of businesses owned by
African Americans have significantly
changed over the past 20 to 25 years.
In the past, Black businesses were
mostly small-scale service and retail
establishments. Today, Blacks own
more diversified businesses in such
areas as construction, health services
and technology.
holders. Since his retirement,
Dorsey’s been residing in
Baltimore City for over 20 years.
Some of his artwork has been
sold to John Hopkins Hospital
but his walking canes have been
generating rave reviews at Sankofa.
For a man with no form of
artistic teaching or training, only
Dorsey knows where his talent
comes from. “The lord gives me
the vision and wherever he places
me, that’s where I put my work
at,” Dorsey said. “One day I got a
vision and I just went with it and
I’ve been going with it ever since.”
Dorsey’s walking canes cost
$40, but the amount of time
he spends creating artwork is
priceless. Dorsey drives his jeep
to open wooded areas and chops
down different pieces of wood.
He then carves them to the ideal
size of a cane in the confines of his
apartment or the openness of any
park. Then he lets them age for a
couple of weeks before he adds his
designs and finishing touches to
them.
“Carving is a process, it’s a time
thing,” Dorsey added. “To perfect
good work, you got to take your
time and do it.”
And Dorsey’s been doing just
that– and quite well, he would say.
After years of crafting everyday
pieces from wood, the “Wood
Doctor” would appear to be
the perfect title for Dorsey. His
creativity still impresses those
close to him today and for a man
who hails from an artistic family,
carving is just something that runs
through his blood.
“Most of his creativity comes
from inside his heart,” said Desiree
Dorsey, Fred’s wife of 18 years.
“He didn’t have professional
training. All his brothers are
creative like that, they build things.
I think it just came from necessity,
when you don’t have you make
due. [Have] you heard
of generational curses,
[well] this is a generational
blessing. It just runs in
the family.” commercial banking,
Photo by Greg Dale
In their annual list of Top
Grossing Black-Owned Firms
in America, Black Enterprise
Magazine included many Black-
owned businesses that are in more
diversified fields. Included was
Telcobuy.com, which is a technical
and e-business consulting service
company; The Bing Group of
Detroit, which is a steel processing
and steel stamping firm; and Camac,
which is a Houston-based oil
refinery.
Despite the growth and
prevalence of Black businesses, a
recurring complaint is that Blacks
have to endure too many hardships
when trying to get their businesses
off the ground.
One of the primary concerns
many Blacks have is the question
of whether they have the personal
financial capacity to execute
their business, which leads to
inadequate access to startup
capital. Entrepreneur.com stated
that nearly half of Black families
possess combined assets of less
than $6,200, which is roughly one- Getty Images
eleventh the median for Whites.
And, banks thus are less willing to after Black businesses begin, the expected to continue to increase over
extend the credit needed to launch owners still face discrimination. time. Also In 2006, the “commercial
their enterprises. It was found that minorities have nondiscrimination” legislation
Even those that have the problems selling certain products was signed into law in the state of
necessary collateral are sometimes and services to non-minority Maryland that prevents the state
denied loans due to racial customers. As a result, these from entering into a procurement
discrimination. The Survey businesses garner a smaller market, contract with a company that has
of Small Business Finances leading to limited success. been accused of discrimination in the
revealed that minority businesses Fortunately, there is hope for the commercial treatment of vendors,
experience higher loan denial future. Federal spending on minority suppliers, and subcontractors. This
probabilities and pay higher business contracts has increased law may serve as a blueprint for
interest rates than their White from $12.8 billion in 1978 to $531.8 other states looking to diminish
counterparts. In addition, even billion in 2008, and this number is discrimination amongst minorities.
A Commitment to Responsibility
Fuels Industrial Bank
By George Barnette do to improve themselves financially.
AFRO Staff Writer “People have to understand the word ‘no’ is the first
part of ‘not yet,’ meaning you’re not ready yet,” said
From the date it was founded in 1934 by Jesse Palmer. “The difference is our customer service. We
H. Mitchell, Industrial Bank has been serving the will take the time to show them where they’re falling
African-American community in the Washington, D.C. short or where they’re lacking. We don’t want to just
metropolitan area. Over 75 years of service has made it do the deal. We want to put you in a position to be
a staple in local financial markets. successful in the long term.”
“The whole reason why Industrial Bank was founded Throughout the years, Industrial Bank has managed
was because in 1934, people of color, specifically to stay healthy financially, but present times are proving
African Americans, couldn’t get access to credit,” said to be a challenge.
Ramone Palmer, marketing director for Industrial Bank. “Banks lend not only to individual consumers and
“Mr. Jesse Mitchell, along with nine other individuals, businesses, but they lend to each other,” said Palmer.
saw that as a tremendous gap and it compromised our “When the credit markets dry up, what that does is start
ability to have financial
empowerment and build
wealth.”
On Aug. 20, 1934,
Industrial bank had just
$192,000 in assets when
it was founded, but it
has grown mightily over
the years. It now has
over 130 employees
and over $334 million
in assets making it
the largest African-
American owned bank
in the District and sixth
largest in the country.
It now has eight
locations in the
District metropolitan
area and provides a
Courtesy Photos
Industrial Bank representatives and
variety of services Councilmember Marion Barry celebrate the
including personal and opening of the Anacostia Banking Center.
Left: Industrial Bank founder Jesse Mitchell
cash management, real
estate loans, and online to limit the cash flow and it has a trickle down
banking. effect.”
Having that kind Perhaps the reason Industrial has survived the
of success and growth tough economic situation is because it serves a
over 75 years is an community of intelligent consumers.
accomplishment that “As an officer at Industrial Bank, you are
makes Industrial Bank required to go out and participate in promoting
proud. Industrial financial literacy,” said Palmer. “That goes from
Bank believes in fiscal older folks, to the young students, and kids in
responsibility and thinks elementary school. We want to make sure that our
that has been the one community is vibrant, it thrives and is educated
of the primary reason such that it can realize its dreams.”
it’s enjoyed long-term Having seen its first 75 years, Bank is showing
success. no signs of slowing down – it plans on lasting another
“We did not participate in the subprime market,” 75.
Palmer said. “We made sure we supported those “Industrial Bank is here for the long haul,” Palmer
enterprises that were sound.” said. “We’re not looking to be front and center on
In addition to that, the bank touts its ability to help everything. It is more that we fuel ourselves and our
consumers and businesses understand what they need to community so that we grow smartly.”
 February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American A5

NAACP Ushers in New Era

Continued from A1
Funds Provide More ‘COPS’
Continued from A1

association, several board

members said.
“It’s a proud moment
for us,” said Hazel Duke,
New York State Conference
president. “Today we are
changing the guard. We’re
going into the second
century.”
Outgoing Chairman
Julian Bond told the AFRO
the fact of Brock’s age was
serendipitous but did not
factor into the choice of
the mostly senior Board of
Directors.
“It’s worked out
perfectly,” he said; “it’s great;
it’s as if it was meant to be.”
Bond was joined by fellow
Chairman Emeritus Myrlie
Evers-Williams
in saying the
old guard of
“The future is calling us and the NAACP will answer.”
the Civil Rights Movement
were looking to Brock and
Jealous to uphold the mission
of the organization and to
make it increasingly relevant
to the times.
Jealous said they are equal
to the task.
“This is a moment for the
history books,” he said. “We
stand here at the beginning of
our second century. And the
children of the dream – those
who were born as and after
the great civil rights victories
were won – are taking over
the reins of this association so
that our children...can again
have hope that the country
that they will inherit in 10
to 20 years will be better
off than this country is right
now.”
Brock said she is prepared
to tailor the mission of the
NAACP to the needs of
today and to bring in a new
generation of young activists.
“ We find ourselves in a
period of political and social
change, a period of change
that presents both a host of
challenges and opportunities,”
she said. “[And] this rapidly
changing social and political
landscape requires that the
nation’s oldest and largest
civil rights organization both
re-examine, re-evaluate and
renew.
“As we embark on
this second century,” she
continued, “the NAACP
is older, yet wiser; we’re
embattled but proven; we’re
experienced and still ready.
The future is calling us and
the NAACP will answer.”
Health care reform may
be a chief concern for the
new chairwoman, who is a
vice president at Bon Secours
Health Care in Marriotsville,
Md., and its chief
spokeswoman on government
relations, advocacy and public
policy.
Brock earned a master’s
degree in health services
administration from George
Washington University, an
MBA from Northwestern
University and a master’s of
divinity degree from Virginia
Union University.
She began her stint
with the NAACP 25 years
ago, serving as a youth
board member and Youth
and College Division state
conference president, among
other roles.
Brock entered the contest
for chairmanship last year,
when 12-term Chairman
Julian Bond announced
his decision to not seek re-
election.
“I just celebrated my 70th
birthday and I’m tired; I want
to take it easy,” Bond told
the AFRO of his decision. “I
hope to devote most of my
energies to raising money for
the NAACP as opposed to
serving as an officer, which
really—before I did it—I had
no idea how time-consuming
and engaging it can be. It is
the hardest non-paying thing
I’ve ever done in my life.”
That Brock, Bond’s
mentor and longtime board
vice chairman, is taking over
makes his decision much
easier, he said.
“I leave this position with
both regret and relief. Regret
because it’s a great honor
to serve in this position-I
think of all the things I’ve
done in life this is the one
of which I am most proud,”
Bond said. “And relief
because I can hand the reins
of the organization over to a
dynamic young woman who
is NAACP-born and bred.”
for Baltimore
By Melanie R. Holmes
AFRO Staff Writer
The Baltimore City Police
Department (BCPD) received
funding last week for 150
new police officers over the
next three years. Awarded
over $10 million by the U.S.
Dept. of Justice Community
Oriented Policing Services
(COPS) Office, the money
will send 50 citizens through
the BCPD police academy
each year until 2013.
Currently, 25 people are
Baltimore Buried in Deficit
Continued from A1
and responsive to the needs of our citizens,
even in the face of budgetary misfortune,” she
said. “Understand that division and discord
are friends with failure and will only invite
calamity. Yes, we can disagree on the specifics.
But if we fail to cooperate, we will collapse
into dysfunction.”
Only if the city stays focused in its shared
priorities can schools be improved, streets
be made safer and neighborhoods become
stronger, Rawlings-Blake said. Despite
a deficit of more than 60 percent of the
Baltimore’s obligation to its schools, she
said she plans to make good on the city’s
responsibility to public education. She also
suggested increased investment into crime
camera technology to further reduce acts
of violence, which are at a 20-year low in
Baltimore. And despite a deficit that equals a
36 cent increase on property taxes, the mayor
in the six-month training that the size of the police
to become police officers; force has diminished over
another 25 will begin training the years and is now down
in July. All officers will be on to slightly more than 3,000
foot patrol. officers.
“They’re not going to “If we’re going to
be targeted in one district,” be more effective with
police spokesman Anthony our policing, we can
Guglielmi said. “Part always use more [police
of the police strategy is officers],”Guglielmi said.
to get police out of cars The COPS Office
and engaging with the awarded $1 billion to police
community.” departments throughout
While he said the the country. In the state of
BCPD is not strapped for Maryland, Prince George’s
manpower, Guglielmi noted County was also awarded.
said property tax is the lowest it has been since
1972 and she intends for it to remain that way.
“But, before we share hope, we must make
hard choices,” she said. “I will begin these
tough choices by slashing costs within the
mayor’s office.”
Doing more with less, Rawlings-Blake
cut 10 percent of the overall budget for
the mayor’s office; abolished the mayor’s
Office of International Affairs and cancelled
international trips for her employees; cut
general funding of the mayor’s Office of Cable
and Communication and reduced the executive
passenger vehicle fleet by 37 percent and
reassigned the cars to other agencies.
“We did not choose these tough times,”
Rawlings-Blake said. “But, we do choose, as
a strong city, to take action, move forward
and recover quickly so that we are better and
stronger because of this time and endurance.”

City Council to Vote on New Member Support Our Advertisers

Continued from A1

Digital Harbor High School with a 24 percent White student
body.
Whoever is selected for the job should be prepared to work
tirelessly for Baltimore City and its citizens, said Council Dean
Rochelle Spector, representative of District 5.
“It takes a person that is used to doing women’s work,
which means the work is never done,” she said.
The day before the Council conducted interviews, Edward
Reisinger, Council vice president, said he had only received one
qualifying applicant – someone at least 21 years old who is a
registered voter and has lived in the 12th District for at least one
year – but accurately assumed more people would show up for
the interview.
“I’ve been through this before and usually the day of the
interview you have people come in,” Reisinger said. “I’m
looking for someone [who is] active in the community, if
they advocate to any issues, if they’re holding any office of a
community association.”
Young’s former District has been without representation
since his colleagues voted him in as the new Council president
FOSTER PARENTS NEEDED!!!
earlier this month. However, Reisinger said personnel have Hearts & Homes For Youth
been available to take phone calls and complaints from is looking for caring adults to
residents of the 12th district and the new councilperson will be
appointed “ASAP.”
provide foster homes to youth
The nominating committee reconvened to vote on the new in need, and teen moms and
councilor Thursday evening and will present their selection to their babies. Training and
the entire Council at the next full body meeting on March 8. At
that time, a final decision will be made.
stipend provided.
Call 301-589-8444 ext 220

Divorce Easier
Continued from A1
F A FREE BROCHURE CALL TODAY
FOR
1-800-7459773
1-800-827-0764

Sen. Larry Haines, on couples who reconciled

R-Carroll, said he had mixed
emotions about the bill. “How
can a couple live under the
same roof and not have sex
for 12 months?” he asked.
Laure Ruth, representing
the Women’s Law Center of
Maryland, said it shouldn’t
matter. “I don’t actually think
it’s the state’s business,” she
said. “If my husband and
I want to get divorced and
continue to have sex, or stay
married and stop having sex,
which I fear happens much
more often than we would
like to think, it’s not the
state’s business.”
Ruth supports the bill and
Zirkin’s two others, which
would reduce the amount
of time couples must be
separated before they are
eligible for a divorce hearing.
The bills would change the
time to six months in some
cases and a year in others.
The length of time depends
on factors such as whether
both people agree to the
divorce.
Zirkin said the current
time periods – one or two
years – are longer than
nearly every other state.
He did not have statistics
during the separation period,
but said he has never seen a
reconciliation happen after
Mesothelioma:
six months. Asbestos Related Cancer
Hadrian Hatfield, a family
law attorney, said he has
been working with divorcing
couples for 20 years, and has
never seen one come to him
on a whim.
“People come to the
decision to divorce with much
more gravity, many times,
than they do to marry,” he
said. Ruth agreed.
“I think after six months,
they know,” she said. “The This cancer of the membrane that surrounds the lung and/or
abdomen can occur 15 to 60 or more years after exposure to
reality is, many, many asbestos. People who worked in steel plants, shipyards, power
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A6 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010
Healthy Start Creates Hope for Infants
By Melanie R. Holmes
AFRO Staff Writer
Actors Nicole Ari Parker
and Boris Kodjoe were
applauded for sharing the
story of their daughter’s battle
with spina bifida, a birth
defect, at the third annual
Cradle of Hope luncheon on
Friday. But the real star of the
show was infant mortality,
which has not received
enough credit for the leading
role it plays in the Black
community. By informing the
public of just how prevalent
the problem is, Baltimore City
Healthy Start hopes to change
that.
As Maryland’s only
federally funded infant
mortality reduction program,
Baltimore City Healthy Start
has been leading the fight to
prevent infant death and has
served over 12,000 pregnant
and postpartum women in
the city’s most economically
depressed communities since
1991. The Cradle of Hope
campaign is Healthy Start’s
public awareness initiative
that educates and engages
NAACP Census Recruit
The Baltimore Branch
of the NAACP will be
recruiting volunteers to
work with the 2010 Census
at Baltimore NAACP
Office, 8 W. 26th St., 11
a.m. Members will be
passing out pamphlets, hats
and a host of other Census
paraphernalia. Contact
NAACP Census Count
Coordinator Rev. C.D.
Witherspoon for further information: 410-366-3300.
Baltimore residents about
issues surrounding infant
mortality.
Baltimore native Nicole
Ari Parker and her husband
Boris Kodjoe were the event’s
keynote speakers this year.
“They’re going to talk
about their journey and how
they became advocates of
Spina Bifida,” Alma Roberts,
Baltimore City Healthy
Start president and CEO,
said of the Brown Sugar
pair on Monday. “They’re
a wonderful couple and we
want to put those kinds of
images out there. It’s going to
be a nice event.”
Infant mortality, which
is defined the death of a
baby before the age of one,
is often used to indicate the
general health of a nation.
In 2008, Baltimore City’s
infant mortality rate (IMR)
was higher than that of Hong
Kong and Malaysia with 12.1
per 1,000 births, up from 11.3
the preceding year. Among
African Americans in 2008,
14.3 infants in Baltimore City
died per every 1,000, versus
7.3 deaths among White
infants.
“The big issue is that
infant mortality in this nation
is at an abysmal level,”
Roberts said. “We have had
significant impact in reducing
infant death and reducing
the low birth weight, which
is where most of the death
occurs.”
In order to prevent
infant deaths, Baltimore
City Healthy Start works
to eliminate very low birth
weight (VLBW), low birth
weight (LBW) and pre-term
births. African-American
infants are two to three times
more likely to die because
of unhealthy birth weights
than White infants. However
Roberts said her organization
has been very successful at
reducing VLBW infants, or
infants born at 3.3 pounds or
less, in Baltimore City. “We
have just virtually been able
to eliminate that,” she said.
With Black women
accounting for 60 percent of
people living in poverty in
the United States, Roberts
said not only is IMR is a
national trend that the Black
community should fear,
but Black women die from
pregnancy complications four
and a half times more than
White women. Through the
Cradle of Hope luncheon,
leaders pushing to end the
health disparity among Black
women and babies spread
awareness of IMR and
methods of prevention.
“Everybody needs to
hear the message and they
need to hear it from multiple
perspectives,” Roberts said.
“It’s very much a message
that Black folks need to be
tuned in to and take hold of.”
Actress Nicole Ari Parker shared the story of their daughter’s battle with spina bifida at
the Cradle of Hope luncheon.
State Plans For Girls in Detention
Flawed, Advocates Say
By Shauna Miller
Capital News Service
ANNAPOLIS - Across the
country, girls are a minority in
the juvenile justice system.
In Maryland, there are just
42 girls in the system, with 27
currently housed at Laurel’s
Thomas J.S. Waxter Center
for female juvenile offenders,
said Jay Cleary, director
of communications for the
Department of Juvenile
Services.
Advocates say the small
size of this population should
allow for more flexibility in
treatment options. Instead,
they say, the needs of girls
are being systematically
overlooked in long-term plans
by the state’s Department of
Juvenile Services.
Delegate Kathleen
Dumais, D-Montgomery,
introduced legislation last
month requiring parity in
treatment for girls in the
juvenile system. The House
Judiciary Committee will hear
testimony next week. Dumais
also introduced legislation
Wednesday that would
shut down Waxter, a step
advocates have been pushing
for years.
“Everyone has bright
ideas” about overhauling the
juvenile system, she said in an
interview. “But nothing really
seems to change.”
Since girls are such a small
part of the juvenile-justice
population, parity in services
means strategically addressing
the special needs of girls in
the system rather than simply
building larger facilities to
house them, advocates say.
This more holistic
approach to girls in the
juvenile system includes
“gender-responsive”
programming that addresses
issues like sexual trauma or
domestic abuse.
Though DJS worked with
a consultant for more than two
years on a gender-responsive
treatment model for Waxter
called Growing Great Girls,
the state’s independent
monitor found in a recent
report that “girls complain
that they don’t understand
what they are supposed to be
doing or what is expected of
them to successfully complete
the program.”
The monitor found
that staff was similarly
unclear on the program’s
implementation. “Most of the
material was common sense,
and that they did not learn
many new approaches for
working with girls,” the report
said.
“With anything that has to
do with girls, we tend to just
call it ‘gender responsive,’
and that’s not really accurate,”
said Sonia Kumar, a fellow at
the American Civil Liberties
Union of Maryland who
works with girls at Waxter.
“Gender-responsive
programs take into account
how gender has affected girls’
pathways into the system and
the experiences they’ve had
and will have,” Kumar said.
Also at issue are
vocational opportunities for
girls. There is currently no
vocational programming at
Waxter, according to a report
by the monitor.
DJS has committed $10
million over three years
to Silver Oak Academy, a
residential center for boys
with a thriving vocational-
education program. The
independent monitor’s most
recent annual report suggested
that adequate vocational-
education funds also be
marked for girls.
But advocates say the most
pressing need is moving girls
in the committed program out
of Waxter and into alternative
programs -- a change that
Dumais’ closure bill is meant
to force.
The state’s independent
monitor recommended in
2007 that Waxter be shuttered
and the girls moved “at
the earliest possible date.”
Four special reports on the
facility by the monitoring
unit detailed overcrowding
and understaffing, allegations
of physical abuse by staff
members and commingling
of girls convicted of serious
crimes with those detained for
minor offenses.
The death of a teacher
at the Cheltenham Youth
Facility in Prince George’s
County Thursday has put DJS
practices under additional
scrutiny. Cheltenham houses
youth under court-ordered
supervision who have
not been deemed a risk to
themselves and others.
Only four girls are
currently in court-mandated
commitment at Waxter, the
state’s only high-security
facility for female offenders.
Twenty-three other girls at
Waxter are in a lower-security
detention wing, or are there
awaiting placement in other
programs. Outside of Waxter,
about a dozen girls are in
private facilities or have been
sent out of state for treatment.
The DJS long-term
strategic plan includes
funding for a new girls’
facility in Carroll County with
room for 30 girls in detention
and 12 committed girls. But
construction may not begin
for up to 10 years, according
to a report by the monitor.
Kumar said more creative,
inexpensive solutions could
immediately reduce harm to
the handful of girls committed
to state custody.
Courtesy Photo
“It’s hard to imagine that
we can’t find an adequate
space for five girls, and it’s
not something that needs to
take us 10 years to do,” said
Kumar.
DJS Secretary Donald
DeVore said last month that
closing Waxter would leave
girls with nowhere to go.
Despite several attempts,
Capital News Service
was unable to get further
comments from DeVore or
Sheri Meisel, DJS’ deputy
secretary of operations.
But Kumar stressed that
better options for committed
and detained girls do exist,
whether or not Waxter
remains open.
“DJS’ position ... assumes
there’s only one type of
secure placement: A big,
prison-like facility with a lot
of beds,” said Kumar. “Which
is what we have already,
and which we know doesn’t
work.”
Kumar pointed to the
successful PACT evening
reporting center for male
juvenile offenders in
Baltimore. Boys check into
the center after school and
are returned to their homes
in the evening by staff. The
center was recognized last
year as a Model for Change
program by the MacArthur
Foundation.
Statewide, “detention
alternative” programs serve
about 750 juveniles of both
genders, said Cleary, the DJS
spokesman.
No girls are currently
served at the Baltimore
reporting center, though
Kumar said many of the girls
in detention at Waxter are
from Baltimore. She said
extending evening reporting
to girls would also be a more
cost-efficient long-term
strategy than housing lower-
risk girls at the proposed new
facility.
Reports by the
independent monitor have
also repeatedly suggested
that committed girls could
be moved to small sites on
other DJS properties, such
as The Way Home, outside
of Baltimore. The office
also continues to advocate
shifting funding from “bricks
and mortar” to cheaper and
more flexible community-
based programs.
Kumar said constructing
a new facility would actually
limit options for girls in
treatment and detention.
“You’re stuck with what
you build and all the costs
of operating it,” she said.
“Money can’t follow the
need, and instead just sticks
with the status quo, whether
it makes sense or not. That’s
not a smart way to spend on
such a small population.”
 February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American A7

Secrets Exposed, Myths Vanquished at Minority

Business Summit Luncheon
By Stephen D. Riley Summit and in its 11th annual of things,” said 17-year-old BPI

AFRO Staff Writer
There were no tennis shoes,
jeans or sweatshirts present at the
Minority Business Summit’s Men of
Influence luncheon on Feb. 20, just
neatly creased slacks, fashionable
ties and double-breasted suits.
Maybe the only thing sharper than
the dress code was the entertaining
and piquant dialogue among its
guests. At the Billie Holiday
ballroom inside the Baltimore Hilton
Hotel, some of the most prominent
figures in minority business gathered
at a career conference for the ages.
Moderated by BET journalist and
author Jeff Johnson, a panel board of
Michael Eric Dyson, Earl G. Graves
Jr., Daniel Meachum and Patrick
Turner put their impressive résumés
aside and shared their thoughts on
the state of the Black economy,
ways to improve business and ideas
on dispelling some of the failing
mindsets that exists in today’s
minority business owners.
Hard-hitting messages from
Dyson, Graves and Meachum awoke
Courtesy Photos
Michael Eric Dyson, commentator
and “hip hop intellectual”
the mixed crowd of both young
and experienced entrepreneurs but
their opinions converged on the
admonition that “you don’t have to
sacrifice the bottom line to be able
to do what’s right,” as Johnson so
eloquently stated.
The panelists avoided many of
Baltimore Raven and
entrepreneur Ray Lewis
the political answers that tend to
saturate most monetary and business
discussions and helped to removed
the veil from the ugly picture that is
today’s economy. Detailing insider
tips, business secrets and providing
a forum for open networking is a
large focus of the Minority Business
presentation, the summit didn’t drop
the ball.
“It just gives folks an
opportunity to hear what the
resources are, what the new areas
of opportunities are and how
they can get the deal done,” said
LaRian Finney, CEO of Visionary
Marketing Group, which hosts the
summit. “We just try to put folks in
a place where they can be successful
and see what they need to do to
move their companies forward.”
After 11 years in Baltimore,
the summit will relocate to
Washington, D.C., next year. And
although members of the crowd
expressed their displeasure at the
summit’s move down the beltway,
that didn’t stop local residents
from bringing their business cards,
recording cameras and notebooks.
The appropriately titled, Men
of Influence Luncheon, served
as a foreseeable blueprint for
many of the attendees, including
visiting scholars of the Baltimore
Polytechnic Institute (BPI).
“It opened my eyes to a lot
student Justin Carpenter. “It really
allowed me to keep an open mind
for doing business. I learned that it’s
all about cultivating the next person,
to make them better and help them
prosper and the only way you can
prosper is by helping someone else.”
Carpenter merely recited the
words that the four distinguished
panelists made sure to hammer
home to the audience on the
afternoon. Broadcasting the idea that
partnering is the best way to reach
success. And if it was one thing
besides emails and contact numbers
that trying tycoons made sure to
bring home, it was that message
alone.
“The impact is on business
owners and people looking to be
business owners who want to find
potential opportunities to partner
and practical solutions to be able
to take their business to the next
level,” Johnson said. “LaRian and
Visionary Marketing Group have
done just more than anybody else
in this community has to take that
discussion to the next level.”

Foreclosure Rates Concern Census Officials

By George Barnette
AFRO Staff Writer
The record number of
home foreclosures in the
Washington, D.C. metro area
has local Census officials
worried about the 2010 count.
It’s a concern that was
nonexistent in previous counts
in 2000 and 1990, but now
Census officials are concerned
that home foreclosures, even
That hypothetical situation people live in the house back take in family members, to
is one that’ll be faced to the agency that’s in charge understand that receiving
everywhere in the country of your housing. an accurate count is all the
where the foreclosure rate “That’s the story that Census Bureau is concerned
may be high, but what Census needs to be told to those folks with.
officials want citizens to know because otherwise, they will “The Census Bureau does
is that information will not be not be counted in the Census not care who’s there or their
made available to authorities. unless they take a proactive legal status,” he said. “The
“All we want to know step of going out and filling Bureau doesn’t care if the
is how many people live in out a form independent of room is supposed to have six
the house,” said Henderson. their address.” people and it has 20. It just
“We’re not going to report Henderson says the onus needs to know how many
©Dreamstime
the information of how many is now on homeowners, who people reside in that space.”
AfroAmerican ROP 022610 2/18/10 9:39 AM Page 1

more than the migration of

people across the Prince
George’s County-Washington,
D.C. line, is the major issue
this year.
“People move, that’s just
a fact of life,” said Maurice
Henderson, director of DC
Counts. “There’s constant
introducing
data collection so we get a
fairly accurate snapshot of
how many people are in the
The Salvation Army, Greater
Baltimore Area Command Lefty’s Spices
ebbs and flows in growth and
decrease in population. A
better question is how does Baltimore City | Baltimore County | Carroll County
the foreclosure rate affect the
count nationally and here in
Howard County | North Anne Arundel County
Lefty’s Spices
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That question may Fries up to 4 lbs of Fish or Chicken.
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the statistics. According
compassion in $
Acti n
to RealtyTrac, Maryland
was 12th nationally in the
number of foreclosures, and for
Washington, D.C., as a city,
had more foreclosed homes
than 10 states.
The people in those homes luncheon
have to go somewhere and
Census officials are concerned
about where they are going.
“A person might’ve lived
1880 | CELEBRATING 130 YEARS | 2010
at the 1400 block of U St. and
they lost their home. Where
do they live now?” Henderson
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en
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er
Chicken mix

of residence and moved in Baltimore, MD 21244 Preparation:

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For sponsorship packages, 1 cup of wat
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A8 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 6, 2010

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 February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American A9

Community Calendar
Feb. 27
Family Festival
The Walters Art Museum,
600 North Charles St.,
Baltimore. 10 a.m. -5 p.m.
Explore all corners of Africa
through a celebration of
African heritage. Work
together on collaborative
art projects and create
your own African-inspired
masterpieces. Also, listen to
stories told by West and East
African storytellers and get
volunteers from AARP will
be available to help seniors
and low and middle income
individuals with income tax
preparation. Assistance by
appointment only. For more
Information: 410-396-1120.
March 2
Found Poetry
Enoch Pratt Free Library,
Light Street Branch. 1251
Light St., Baltimore. 4 p.m.
Find and create unique poetry.
For more information: 410-
396-1096.
Get Fit At Your Library
Enoch Pratt Free Library,
Waverly Branch. 400 E. 33rd
St., Baltimore. 12- 2 p.m. Pennsylvania Avenue Flashback Skate Reunion 2
Get your weekly workout Branch. 1531 W. North Ave., Skate Land Towson, 8856
to popular line dances, Baltimore. 3-5 p.m. Chess Orchard Tree Lane, Towson,
Caribbean, hip-hop, and beginners and experts alike Md. Flashback Reunion 2
African rhythms. For more are welcome to join to learn returns as special guests DJs
Information: 410-396-6053. the game and develop skill. spin present and old school
For more information: 410- skate jams. $7 in advance.
March 3 396-0399. More at the door. $2 skate
Chess Kings rental. For more information:
Enoch Pratt Free Library, March 4 410-825-3013.

ONE
swept away in a grand finale
presentation of the Pulse of
Africa. Free admission. For
more information: 410-547-
9000, ext. 300.

Art Workshop
Reginald F. Lewis

DAY
Museum of Maryland AA
History & Culture, 830 E.
Pratt St., Baltimore. Gina
Lewis, a Maryland artist,
will guide youth through the
process of storytelling and
illustrating their stories using
a collage. Recommended for
ages 6-8. $2 activity fee with

SALE
family membership. Non-
members: $6.00. For More
information: 443-263-1800.

Black History Showcase:

‘Heads Talks’
New Covenant Worship
Center, 700 Wildwood
Parkway, Baltimore. Peep
inside the chaotic lives
of the Herndons, who are
battling many setbacks in this
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Medical System offers fun,
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STOREWIDE
The event features free
health screenings, cooking
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more information: 443-263- MORNING SPECIALS
1800
9AM-1PM BOTH DAYS!
Author Jerald Walker
Speaks
Enoch Pratt Free Library,
Central Branch. 400 Cathedral
St., Baltimore. 2 p.m. Jerald
Walker will speak to the
community about his new
Book, Street Shadows: A
Memoir of Race, Rebellion
and Redemption. Free. For
more information: 410-396-
5430.

March 1
Income Tax Assistance
Enoch Pratt Free Library,
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A10 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010

“From the editor’s desk”

Sitting Ducks
When I heard, shortly after Thanksgiving 2006, about the
shooting of Sean Bell by five New York City police officers,
that he was killed with four bullets from a torrent of 50 shots,
my thoughts were not only of him—they were also of Amadou
Diallo.
Diallo was killed in February 1999 when 19 of 41 shots from
four New York City police officers pierced his body, mere feet
away from the safety of his front door, after one of the officers
identified his wallet – reached for to provide identification – as a
gun.
These men, now dead, had some interesting things in common.
Both were 23, both were headed home after participating in legal
early-morning activities, both were unarmed, both were shot at by
multiple officers at the same time and those responsible for both
Talibah Chikwendu their deaths were found not guilty and set free. Oh, and both were
Black.
But why in 2010, you ask, am I talking about this old news?
This week federal prosecutors announced they would not charge the officers involved in
the Sean Bell shooting with civil rights violations and closed the case, ending any chance
of a successful criminal prosecution against those officers. When announcing the decision,
prosecutors indicated, according to a report from The Huffington Post, there wasn’t enough

“Is this what it felt like in the early 1920s or ‘30s, knowing your
son or father, simply because he was Black, might not make
it home alive because he could be snatched off the road and
lynched?”
evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers acted willfully – meaning, they
couldn’t prove Bell was shot because he was Black.
Another thing Bell and Diallo have in common.
I wonder how you can, as a single officer shooting at Sean Bell and crew did, fire 31 shots –
emptying the loaded chamber and a 15-bullet magazine, reloading, and then emptying a second
15-bullet magazine – without willfulness? How can you do that and not know, sometime before
you run out of projectiles, who you are shooting? One shot, even four shots, perhaps not willful.
But 31? Fifty?
And if it wasn’t willful, perhaps in New York there are more insidious police problems
like poor marksmanship and an over-enthusiasm for random, excessive gun play. If they
weren’t shooting a Black man for being Black, then both these instances feel like spontaneous,
coordinated bursting into a surreal re-enactment of the shootout at the O.K. Corral, not unlike the
transition in a musical.
The danger of this scenario – a group of cops shoot and kill an unarmed Black man and walk
away unpunished – is that each time it goes down like this, it gets easier to do again. It seems
to make Black men sitting ducks. If you can’t make a case against officers firing in excess of
40 bullets into an unarmed man that isn’t even a suspect, it must be open season. Otherwise the
sheer idiocy of it all should bring about some sort of punishment.
If it’s this easy for the police to pump 40-50 bullets into a Black person on the street, what
would keep renegade officers from using just one or two whenever they feel like it? Is this what
it felt like in the early 1920s or ‘30s, knowing your son or father, simply because he was Black,
might not make it home alive because he could be snatched off the road and lynched? Have we
come full circle, except now the people we fear are the police? And how else should we see it
when there seems to be no justice, even in the face of such clear excess?
To all the law abiding, quality police officers, who often at great personal risk do their jobs
with integrity daily, I apologize that you are getting viewed through this lens. But the community
shouldn’t move on from this, as suggested by James Culleton, an attorney for one of the officers
in the Bell case. Justice was not done and the people, Black men especially, are not safe. We
should not rest until we can, at least, believe we are.
Complete your 2010 Census form when it comes to your home in March. Be counted to
increase funding for needed community initiatives. A luta continua ...
Talibah Chikwendu is the executive editor for the AFRO-American Newspapers and a former
columnist for the newspaper.

Letters to the Editor

An Open Letter to the Citizens of Maryland
As Maryland’s adjutant general and the senior leader of
the Maryland National Guard, I would like to express my
thanks to the local and state officials, first responders and
the citizens of Maryland for their outpouring of appreciation
for the Maryland National Guard during the recent record-
breaking back-to-back snowstorms. Approximately 700 men
and women of the Maryland Army and Air National Guard
were activated for state active duty by Gov. O’Malley and
deployed to assist state and local authorities by rescuing
stranded motorists, transporting firemen and equipment to fight
fires, transferring severely injured and sick patients to medical
treatment facilities, and transporting first responder personnel
and critical supplies, such as road salt, to emergency sites
around the state. One of our teams even assisted in the delivery
of a baby.
These citizen soldiers have stepped up to answer the call
from our state and our nation since 1634. They have fought in
our wars and responded to emergencies and disasters across
our country. These men and women are well trained and well
motivated to assist their neighbors in times of distress. They
are your fathers and mothers; sons and daughters; brothers and
sisters. They represent the best of Maryland, and I am proud
of their accomplishments during this crisis as they left their
own homes and families to serve their neighbors and fellow
citizens.
Time after time, we have heard the stories from every
corner of our state of the tremendous efforts of the men and
women of the Maryland National Guard. The expressions
of gratitude by state and local officials, first responders and
Marylanders have made the whole effort worthwhile. Thanks
for your support.
James A. Adkins
Brigadier general, MDARNG
The Adjutant General
We Need to Solve the Problems
As dangerous situations continue to develop and unfold
we recognize African Americans remain victims of racial
discrimination. Having a Black president has not decreased
racism. We must realize there are two major problems Blacks
must deal with in order to overcome this conditional constraint.
These two problems are deep rooted and seriously
significant in preventing Blacks from reaching their goal, of
becoming a free and independent people. The two problems
are White racism and corrupt Black leaders.
It is going to take a plan that will inspire African Americans
to unite and form a power base to find solutions for these two
gigantic problems. Until then I encourage all Blacks to read
the Five Phase Plan and the Reparations Proclamation. Both
docs will motivate us to unite, with the intent of working on
finding solutions for these two problems and other critical
issues. We should not leave solving our problems to others.
Brotha Pruitt
Reparations Leader and Chairman
Committee for African-American Reparations (CAAR) CA
Reparations Union Lobbying Association (RULA) NC
A Critical Look at Black History Month
What do we think of when we hear of Black History Month
today?
For many, I suspect it means little more than a quick glance
back on the life or legacy of some historical figures that have
but one thing in common: they were born Black.
But wait. Aren’t we supposed to be trying to usher in
a post-racial age? In that light, ‘Black’ history month has
outlived its usefulness. By segregating great Americans in
print, we patronize and diminish their legacies. It’s like giving
an honorable mention for making the American History semi-
finals while implying “they” are not qualified to enter the
Super Bowl of all Americans.
One hundred years ago, Dr. Booker T. Washington said,
“In the sight of God there is no color line, and we want to
cultivate a spirit that will make us forget that there is such a
line anyway.”
Dr. King echoed those words 60 years later when he told
us of his dream that his children would live in a nation where
they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the
content of their character.
Yet ‘Black’ history month highlights color, not character.
An unintended consequence may be that it disrespects the
vision and dream of both Drs. King and Washington.
Don’t get me wrong, February is a good month to celebrate
these and other greats of American History, like Presidents
Washington and Lincoln. But so are the months of March
through December… January too!
Take my favorite, Booker T. Washington. His life and
legacy inspired and motivated millions of his generation and
beyond. His record of achievement on behalf of his fellow
man is comparable to – and deserves to be measured against –
any and all Americans.
His priorities and values were not only right for his time,
but for today also. He championed individual character,
personal responsibility and economic independence. As a
practical visionary, he saw these conservative values as critical
first steps towards developing an American culture of equality
that could – given time to heal – eventually reside in the hearts
and minds of all Americans.
But don’t take my word for it. Download his famous
quotations from our website at BTWsociety.org. Or research
his many books, speeches and articles posted there.
You may discover that Booker T. Washington’s legacy is far
richer than simply one of an ex-slave who founded Tuskegee
University.
You may even come to see him – as I do – as a great
American and worthy role-model for all Americans today,
regardless of color.
Ronald Court
President, Booker T. Washington Society
www.BTWsociety.org

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Yes We Can
Marvin L. Cheatham
An accurate census
count is a vital national
imperative. It not only
means critical resources to
underserved communities, but
political representation, an
underpinning of our precious
democracy.
Today African Americans
face great challenges.
Our communities are
disproportionately impacted
by a host of social and
economic issues, and a
correct census profile can
help address these issues
by ensuring the appropriate
Educating And Preparing Our Youth
Sheldon K. Caplis
We wish Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake all the best
as she begins her new role
as mayor and welcome
her commitment to move
Baltimore forward.
A key community issue
to address is the academic
achievement gap. At the
recent College Summit
sponsored by Citi and
Associated Black Charities
(ABC), 300 educators, service
providers and funders worked
on the development of policy
changes to improve college
access and completion.
Keynote speaker Dr.
Freeman A. Hrabowski III,
president of the University of
Maryland-Baltimore County,
noted that this is a national
problem and that Baltimore is
not immune. Only 50 percent
of students entering Baltimore
high schools graduate. The
average SAT score is 1,200
out of a possible 2,400,
I’ve Got Your Deficit Commission Right Here!
Joseph C. Phillips
Even as a bloodbath
looms in the November
distance, the Obama
administration continues
to push healthcare because
they know that Americans
love their entitlements like
winos love wine. They are
betting the farm that once that
fiery warmth begins running
through the national body we
will not only love national
health care, but will fight to
defend it. We will also be too
glassy eyed to notice that we
have suddenly signed away
our liberty, becoming slaves
to those that serve us. But I
digress.
Like wine, entitlements
cost money. Sadly the more
addicted we become the less
funding for government
services, strong political
representation and civil rights
enforcement. Examples of
social and economic struggles
faced by African-American
communities include the
following statistics:
A quarter of all Blacks
live below the federal poverty
level – a poverty rate about
twice the national rate. And
more than a third of all Black
children live in poverty.
The unemployment rate
runs twice that of Whites.
Studies show that employers
would rather hire a White
male applicant with a criminal
record than an African-
American man without one.
Half of all Black men in their
20s are jobless.
In many cities, more
than half of young African-
American men do not finish
high school; by the time they
20 percent below the state
average. And of those who
enter college, less than 40
percent graduate within six
years.
A college degree is one
of the single most important
tools for providing young
people a measure of economic
resilience. The Commerce
Department’s Census Bureau
reports those with a college
degree a person will earn
$1 million more during
their careers than those who
only complete high school.
If we want Baltimore’s
disadvantaged youth to stay
and succeed in this city and
the economic renaissance
that would result from a
more stable and sizeable
middle class, than we need
a comprehensive strategy to
better prepare pre-college
youth and to constructively
intervene with young people
already in the college and
career pipeline.
We know that a competent
principal along with a team of
money we have to spend on
more important and often
essential things. The wino
lacks food, housing and
clothing; the entitlement
addict lacks employment,
savings and luxury.
Consider that today
our national debt stands
at roughly $12 trillion or
roughly 70 percent of our
gross domestic product or
GDP. But wait. We have
promised today’s workers
Social Security and Medicare
benefits totaling another
$41 trillion. Toss in another
trillion for miscellaneous
expenses, and suddenly
our debt skyrockets to $54
trillion. In layman’s terms
it means in order to pay our
future obligations we would
need $54 trillion invested
today. How much of that
money does this nation have
sitting around? Zip! Zero!
Zilch!
The next politician that
proposes to solve this problem
by cutting waste should be
laughed out of office. The
truth is that the result of our
addiction is so severe that we
could end ear marks, allow
the Bush tax-cuts to expire
and end the war in Iraq and
still be some distance from
solving this nation’s fiscal
Opinion
are in their 30s, six in 10
Black males who drop out
of high school are likely to
spend time in prison.
Thirty-eight percent of
AIDS deaths in the United
“An accurate census count is imperative for our communities
to receive the federal funding necessary to address the difficult
challenges that plague us.”
States have been among
African Americans and of the
more than 1 million people
living with HIV in the United
States of America today,
nearly half are Black.
In the face of these
real life obstacles, Black
communities cannot afford to
be inaccurately counted in the
2010 census. Unfortunately,
previous census counts have
worsened these challenges
well-trained teachers is at the
core of future success. New
Leaders for New Schools, an
organization that recruits and
trains candidates to become
principals, has demonstrated
through rising student test
scores in schools led by its
graduates, the difference
an excellent principal can
“In addition to well prepared principals and teachers, we must
develop a culture that recognizes and reinforces the importance
of obtaining a college degree.”
make. We also know the
state can take major steps
in guaranteeing a highly-
qualified teacher in every
classroom by strengthening
tenure requirements, allowing
merit pay, and recognizing
creative alternatives to teacher
training and certification.
Also, the state can support
differential pay for high
demand STEM (science,
technology, engineering and
math) areas as these skills are
crisis.
How serious is it? At
the rate we are spending
entitlement expenditures will
represent a full 3/4 of our
federal budget by the year
2030. A decade later – when
today’s college students begin
to retire – our debt will have
risen to 244 percent of GDP.
This nation will be so broke
that we will only be able to
service our public debt and
pay out some social security
and Medicare benefits. All
other parts of the government
will be shut down.
“Commissions made up of Democratic fools and Republican
lackeys do not automatically make for good policy prescriptions.”
What does the wino do
when he has consumed all
his wine? He begs others for
theirs. Rather than a world
leader-- we will be a nation at
the behest of others. Rather
than a strong and secure
people – we will be a nation,
to paraphrase the bard, whose
hearts will shake at every
feeble rumor and whose
enemies, with the nodding of
their plumes will fan us into
despair.
Clearly something must
be done. I mean besides
February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American
by undercounting Blacks and
other minorities, children
and the poor. According
to one estimate, the 2000
census missed nearly 1
million people of color and
actually double counted
some members of the non-
Hispanic White population,
overestimating their size by
approximately 2.2 million
people, a number equal to
the total White population of
Kansas.
In addition, together, the
District of Columbia and
the 31 states affected by
undercounting, lost more than
$4.1 billion dollars. California
linked to vocational career
options as well as numerous
careers requiring a college
degree. All of these initiatives
suggest a higher degree of
accountability than ever
before and a mandate for
data that tracks performance
at all levels. In addition to
well prepared principals and
teachers, we must develop a
culture that recognizes and
reinforces the importance of
obtaining a college degree.
Organizations such as College
Summit and College Bound
have proven effective at the
high school level, but we
must start the process earlier
to link financial and career
aspirations with academic
attainment.
And right now proven
programs in Baltimore
immediately instituting
government health care.
On Feb. 18 President
Obama announced the
creation of a deficit
commission charged
with rooting out ways to
restore fiscal discipline
to Washington. This
announcement came on
the heels of the president’s
announcement of a $3.8
trillion budget, which
anticipates – by their own
accounting – a $1.6 trillion
deficit. It has been reported
that in certain parts of
Brooklyn and in a particular
household in Los Angeles it
was shouted, “I’ve got your
deficit commission right
here!”
Chairing the bi-partisan
commission will be former
Senate Republican leader
Alan Simpson and former
Clinton advisor Erskine
Bowles. The president
betrayed his lack of
seriousness when he let
slip that he expects the
commission to find a way
to “pay for ALL FEDERAL
alone lost $1.5 billion and
Texas lost $1 billion due
to the under count. Many
states also lost federal funds:
Louisiana lost $68.8 million
in federal funds, Arkansas lost
$17.1 million, Mississippi
lost $12.5 million and South
Carolina lost $9.2 million.
An inaccurate census
count can result in the social,
educational, healthcare,
and transportation services
that are so important to the
African-American community
being reduced or removed all
together. An accurate census
count is imperative for our
communities to receive the
such as AVID and Higher
Achievement, and Posse
Foundation in Washington,
D.C., must be brought to scale
to strengthen academic skills
and uncover and expand the
number of students prepared
to succeed in college.
At the college level we
can learn a great deal about
persistence and retention
from successful programs at
our community colleges and
the University of Maryland
Baltimore County’s nationally
recognized Meyerhoff
Scholars program. Several
four-year institutions have
adopted some of these
strategies, but we need to do
more and do it now. There
is evidence of what works
and we ought to fund these
programs just as we support
PROGRAMS” (Emphasis
mine).
In bringing down the
deficit and reducing our
national debt there are truly
only two choices: either we
stop spending or we raise
taxes (there is also the option
of both raising taxes and
increasing spending favored
by many on the new left or
that favored by the GOP:
cutting taxes while raising
spending). Our addiction
makes it unlikely that we
will do away with federal
programs and entitlements;
recent attempts to reform
Social Security, for example,
were met with a stone wall.
And because cutting spending
often means offending
constituents, the solution most
favored by politicians on both
the left and right is that of
raising taxes.
In order to keep up with
our addiction we will have
to double our federal tax rate
across the board. It won’t be
as easy as laying the burden
at the feet of “the wealthy” or
those making over $250,000
A11
federal funding necessary
to address the difficult
challenges that plague us.
Last year, record numbers
of Black people registered to
vote and voted for the first
time to help elect the first
African-American president
of the United States. They
were educated and engaged in
the process and saw results.
We urge all Americans,
African Americans in
particular, to take the next
step in participating in the
democratic process and let
their voice be heard again in
2010. We must do everything
we can to ensure there is an
accurate and complete count
of all communities. We cannot
afford to be undercounted
again in 2010.
Dr. Marvin L. Cheatham
Sr. is the president of the
NAACP Baltimore City
Branch.
teaching and research. It is
that important.
We learned a great deal
at the College Summit.
Baltimore has an outstanding
superintendent who is
dedicated to utilizing data
and taking action. We have
leaders in many of our post-
secondary institutions who
are committed to supporting
students of all backgrounds.
And we have students
who despite the odds are
persevering and succeeding.
Let us all, government,
service providers, and
funders alike, come together
now to close the academic
achievement gap so vital
to our city’s and children’s
future.
Sheldon K. Caplis is
regional director, South
Atlantic Region, Community
Relations, Citi and a member
of the Steering Committee of
ABC’s MiTM (More in The
Middle).
per year. There simply aren’t
enough people making that
much money to pay for all
the spending. The burden will
be borne by everyone. On
the bright side the increase
in taxes will mean that
businesses will stop hiring so
a lot of folks will not have to
pay the higher taxes because
they will not have earned any
income.
Commissions made up
of Democratic fools and
Republican lackeys do not
automatically make for
good policy prescriptions.
I dare say it was some
brilliant commission that
is responsible for creating
the mess we currently find
ourselves in. The truth is that
we do not yet know which
congressmen will make up
the body of this commission;
no doubt they are all grand
fellows. However, unless
they begin their task with a
discussion on taming the $54
trillion dollar beast that awaits
the next generation – none of
them is serious. They are, as
Curtis Mayfield sang, simply
“your pusher man.”
Joseph C. Phillips is the
author of “He Talk Like a
White Boy” available where
ever books are sold.
B10 The Baltimore Afro-American, May 16, 2009 - May 22, 2009

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Retired Vice Admiral
Walter Davis
Tyrone D. Taborn, president
and CEO of Career
Communications Group
General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of
Staff of the United States Air Force, and
his wife greet Admiral Michelle Howard
Lt. General Dennis L. Via
receives The Stars & Stripes
Award presented by Lt. General
Joe Ballard (Ret)
Dr. Randal Pinkett, president
and CEO, BCT Partners, presents
the “Most Promising Engineer or
Scientist in Government Award”
to Shakti Davis
Admiral Gary Roughead, chief of Naval Operations,
presents The “Professional Achievement in
Government” award to Steffanie B. Easter
February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American
Vice Admiral Walter Davis
(Ret), makes presentation
of Stars & Stripes Award to
Rear Admiral Earl L. Gay
Admiral Michelle
Howard
General William “Kip” Ward,
Commander, U.S. Africa Command,
receives the BEYA “Lifetime
Achievement” award from Admiral Mike
Mullen, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Kareem Ibn-Abdullah
Muhammad receivedthe
“Most Promising Engineer
or Scientist in Industry”
award.
B1
In a landmark weekend that
paid tribute to African Ameri-
cans in science, engineering
and technology, Black Engineer
Magazine presented the 24th an-
nual Black Engineer of the Year
Awards (BEYA) STEM Global
Competitiveness Conference
ceremony drew thousands to
the Baltimore Convention Center
Photos by Anderson Ward
Feb. 18-20.
Among the weekend’s events
was the Stars and Stripes Dinner
and the BEYA Gala, which hon-
ored leading African Americans
in the sciences and engineering.
Granville C.
Coggs, an original
Tuskegee Airman
The Frederick Douglass High School Color Guard
Susan Cote’, Vice President, Northrop
Grumman Corporation, presents The
Supplier Diversity Award to Gloria Pulan
William H. Swanson, chairman and chief
executive officer of Raytheon Company,
presents the 2010 “Black Engineer Of
the Year” award to John D. Harris II, vice
president, Contracts and Supply Chain
Raytheon Company
B2 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010
Hit-And-Run Collisions on the Rise in Maryland Area
By Stephen D. Riley
AFRO Staff Writer
You’ve washed, waxed
and gassed up your new car.
A quick trip to the store is all
that’s left before you finally
head out for a night on the
town. But be careful where
you park. A study done by
Allstate recently revealed that
over 70 percent of 2009’s
hit-and-run collisions in the
Baltimore/Washington, D.C.
metro area involved a parked
vehicle.
Last year alone, 79
percent of Baltimore’s hit-
and-run collisions involved
a parked vehicle compared
to 71 percent in the District.
Northern Virginia residents
took home the trophy for
most phone calls made to
The
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their car insurance provider
as Arlington churned out
an astonishing 83 percent
of hit-and-run collisions
involving a parked vehicle
and Alexandria backed that
number with 79 percent.
Considering the
same study revealed that
nationally, only 69 percent
of the country’s hit-and-run
collisions involved a parked
vehicle, it’s safe to say this
area is a hotbed for hit-and-
runs.
There’s nothing more
frightening for a car owner
to arrive outside only to
discover his or her vehicle
has been side-swiped or
damaged due to someone
else’s negligence. The
absence of any notification
only adds to the frustration
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considering that most states
require a driver responsible
for an accident with an
unattended vehicle to inform
the owner. Leaving a note on
the car or inside the mailbox
is a direct requirement but
often goes unfulfilled. As
stated in a press release,
Allstate recommends
drivers always leave a note,
including an explanation of
what happened no matter how
visible the damage.
“Leaving a note after
hitting someone’s vehicle is
simply the right thing to do,
even if it was just a scrape,”
said Dave Prendergast, field
vice president for Allstate’s
Capital Region in a statement.
“If you caused damage to a
vehicle, you are liable and
can be held responsible.
Having the proper insurance
coverage will help protect
you from the cost of these Photo courtesy Bamagirl/Morguefile.com
damages.” Checking your mirrors isn’t all you should worry about before you leave your car
City parking is always unattended.
the most hazardous due to
heavy volumes in population.
Couple that with the common are distractions and make it driver, Allstate suggests the information.
problem of distracted drivers more difficult to maneuver following tips:
and leaving your car parked your vehicle. Distractions • Call the police – Call the
on a city street can be flat also increase your chances • Survey your immediate police immediately to
out dicey. The urge to talk of becoming involved in a surroundings – If the file an accident report.
or text on one’s cell phone, crash,” Prendergast said. other vehicle’s driver
loud music and urban scenery There isn’t much that can isn’t easily spotted • Get the facts at the scene
can easily take a driver’s prevent a car from a possible in your immediate – Ask people nearby the
mind elsewhere. Regardless hit-and-run unless the owner surroundings, do not scene if they witnessed
if it’s the suburbs or a busy has their own personal car try and go after the the accident. Take down
metropolis, distracted drivers garage. However, if you driver yourself. Check their reports and contact
can be a parked car’s worse arrived outside to your your windshield to see information.
enemy. vehicle only to find your car if they may have left a
“Turning on the radio or victimized by a hit-and-run note with their contact • Check for surveillance
checking for missed calls cameras – If the accident
occurred in a parking
lot, check to see if a
surveillance camera
If you’re HIV+ and think you can’t afford the medication you caught the incident on
need, there’s something you should know. tape.
• Take pictures – If you
MADAP CAN HELP. don’t have a camera in
your phone, Allstate
recommends that drivers
The Maryland AIDS Drug Assistance Program (MADAP) helps cover the keep a disposable camera
cost of many medications for low to moderate income people in Maryland in the glove box. Snap
shots of the damage to
who are living with HIV/AIDS. your vehicle and of your
surroundings.
There are exciting, new drugs in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Don’t miss out
• Contact your insurance
because you can’t afford them.
company - Report even
a minor accident to your
Call MADAP today. insurance company
immediately.
410-767-6535 Baltimore Area
1-800-205-6308 Toll Free in Maryland For more information
410-333-4800 tdd about the hit-and-run
report, log onto www.
MADAP is a program of the AIDS Administration allstatenewsroom.com.
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
 February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American B3

Young Publisher Farrah Gray in Hot Dispute with Marley’s

Son Over 1st Book
By Pharoh Martin
NNPA National Correspondent
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Ky-Mani Marley, a son of the
legendary Jamaican music artist Bob Marley, regrets ever
putting his life on paper. His recently released memoir has
become a brewing source of an increasingly ugly controversy
between himself, his famous family and the book’s publisher,
pioneering entrepreneur Farrah Gray.
Gray contends that the estate of the late Bob Marley is
not happy about the “family secrets” that Ky-Mani revealed
in his very telling book Dear Dad: “Where’s The Family In
Our Family, Today? It was released on Feb. 6 to coincide with
the elder Marley’s 65th birthday. Ky-Mani alleges that the
publisher misrepresented and sensationalized his life story in
order to push more units.
“There are secrets in the book that they didn’t want out
that Ky-Mani didn’t have a problem putting out. But now that
the book is published he’s now stating that he’s distancing
himself and denouncing the book,” Gray said in an exclusive
interview with the NNPA News Service. “Those are his words.
I didn’t write it. I published it. He wrote it with the assistance
of another writer and had the final edit on it. And [he] was very
happy with the book.”
NNPA was not able to get comments from the Marley
family nor Ky-mani Marley but in an online statement posted
to his Facebook page, Ky-Mani shared his side of the story.
“I did not expect that Dr. Gray would have been
unprofessional and malicious in twisting my words or using
things that were discussed in confidence to create controversy
in an attempt to sell a book,” Ky-Mani wrote in his statement.
Of course, the Marleys have every right to protect the
public brand of the family’s very lucrative estate, which,
according to Fortune Magazine is expected to generate
worldwide annual sales in excess of $1 billion by 2012. But,
Gray contends that they have no legal right to interfere with
this book as the memoir is Ky-Mani’s alone.
And so is the signed contract that exists between him and
Gray’s company Farrah Gray Publishing. Dear Dad is Gray’s
first project under his new publishing firm. The accomplished
24-year-old Gray is an author, columnist, entrepreneur, speaker
and philanthropist. At 14, he became the world’s youngest self-
made Black millionaire and, recently, became the youngest
recipient to ever receive a
prestigious Trumpet Award
for his entrepreneurial
success.
Gray said that after the
book went out to media
outlets and was getting ready
for the final print stages he
got e-mails and calls from
Ky-Mani and executives of
the Marley estate demanding
that changes be made to the
book immediately. According
to Gray, the family was
threatening to cut Ky-Mani
off if the book made it to
press.
“Ky-mani approved the
book,” Gray said. “Every step
of the way I worked with him
so, I’m not really sure what
he’s not approving of.”
Gray said that the book
was transcribed entirely from
Ky-mani’s taped interviews.
He charges the sudden change
of heart to “family politics.”
“During the final edit of
the book, I spoke with my
sister, Cedella [Marley], and
I advised Dr. Farrah Gray
that some changes had to be
made and until the changes
were made, I was not willing
to do any promotion for
the book,” Ky-Mani stated.
“I could not support and
promote something that is
not 100 percent mine and
that I believe in. Dr. Gray
apparently thought that
by turning something that was written from the heart into
something seemingly malicious was going to benefit him in
some way.”
Ky-Mani also alleges that Gray made changes to the book’s
cover without his consent.
The book’s original title was changed from Dear Dad: The
Marley Son Who Persevered From the Streets To Prominence.
The title was changed to its current name, “Dear Dad: Where’s
The Family In Our Family, Today?
A caption, “The Story The Marley Family Apparently
Doesn’t Want You To Know” was also added at the bottom of
the cover to double as both a marketing draw and as a direct
jab at his adversaries in the matter.  
The title change was made because of the Marley family’s
attempt to stop the book, Gray contends. He insists that
nothing was taken that wasn’t a direct quote from Ky-Mani.
In fact, the change in the book’s subtitle is a direct quote from
inside of the book, he said.
“The name of the book is still Dear Dad,” Gray explained.
“The quote, taken from the inside of the book, is his question
to them. And the statement on the book came about since the
family tried to stop the book from coming out.”
Ky-Mani, on the other hand, stated that while the book
was meant to tell his story from his point of view it was never
intended to be used as an attack on his family.
“I’m not happy about it, I’m very hurt,” Marley told The
Jamaica Gleaner in an interview published the day the book
was released. “All I wanted to do was tell my story, not cause
any conflict.”
As Bob Marley’s 10th child, the 33-year-old Grammy-
nominated musician enjoys a musical namesake that is
beloved the world over. But, as a son born outside of Marley’s
marriage, Ky-Mani was also mostly exiled from the silver
spoon upbringing that many of his more privileged siblings
enjoyed following their father’s untimely death in 1981.
“This cold war that gets waged on the inside of our family
between the so-called legitimate and the somehow perceived
illegitimate sibling is madness,” he wrote, according to an
excerpt from the book. “It’s ignorance. And it is so not our
father. That is someone else.”  
Instead of growing up in the grandiose Marley’s hilltop
family estate in Jamaica, the autobiography details Ky-Mani’s
impoverished beginnings from the island to his life as a petty
drug peddler in the seedy streets of Miami to a successful
music career as an internationally-recognized reggae artist.
The book also recounts how the deceased icon’s second
youngest son was estranged from the family fortune by Bob
Marley’s widow Rita Marley for much of his life because,
according to the book, she refused to financially support any
children her late-husband fathered outside of their marriage.
“Ky-Mani Marley grew up with the last name but not the
guarantee,” Gray said.  “Ky-mani’s been hanged over the fact
that he’s been ostracized. He’s the only one in music that is not
on the family’s record label. If Bob Marley was here he would
not be happy with the mistreatment of his son and them trying
to squash his story. The Marley estate should be ashamed. It’s
all very sad.”
The two parties are threatening legal action against each
other. The publisher may seek to have the Marley estate
executives held legally liable for “intentionally damaging” the
contractual relationship between his publishing company and
Ky-Mani Marley, which may have cost him book sales due to
Ky-mani’s refusal to promote the book.
As an even more defining gesture, if the controversy
continues, Gray is threatening to release the actual audio
recordings of Ky-Mani’s taped interviews with even more
damaging things about the Ky-mani’s relationship with his
father’s family, according to Gray.
“I’m getting caught in the crossfire of family politics,
which is the worst kind of politics because it’s based on pure
emotion,” Gray said. ”He’s my author. I had a contract with
him and he was happy with his book before the intimidation
started, before the campaign that they launched to scare him
from coming out with the book and the frantic e-mails and
calls that I’ve received regarding them not liking the book
because it is the story the Marley family doesn’t want you to
know between those pages.”
Gray concludes: “He has regrets about writing the book but
I didn’t put a gun to his head … He wanted to write the book.”

Entertainment Briefs
Parents Angry at ‘American
Idol’ Contestant
“American Idol”
contestant Todrick Hall is
receiving much backlash from
parents who are claiming
to never have been given
performance fees from a
failed musical production he
wrote and directed.
OZ, The Musical was
created by Hall, an “American
Idol” contestant who reached
the top 24. On his Facebook
page, he deemed the play “a
contemporary twist on the
classic story, with all new
music.”
Using local, novice
actors, the play had been
in production for several
years and cast children
as munchkins and flying
monkeys.
“They were fabulous,
just wonderful productions,
and the kids just really
loved them,” Dallas
businessman Greg Money
told BlackAmericaweb.com.
Money had three daughters in
the show.
Money agreed to finance
a production of Oz in August
2008 in Lubbock, Texas, that
casted professional actors
for the lead roles. This venue
eventually led to a small tour
of Texas cities in early 2009
that Money deemed as a
“financial disaster.”
Continued on B4
B4 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010

Book Review

‘The Denzel Principle: Why Black Women Can’t Find Good

Black Men’
By Kam Williams
Special to the AFRO
“What do black women
want? The truth? They
are looking for Denzel
Washington. They have been
so thoroughly brainwashed,
that black women don’t know
what a good black man even
looks like… The brothers out
there know exactly [what]
I’m talking about.
Every time you turn
around sisters say they just
want a good black man, but
being good is never enough.
If it was, there would be
no complaining, because
there are good black men
everywhere… We can’t all
be in jail, on crack, trudging
through natural disaster
areas with plasma TVs
strapped to our backs, raping
newborns two at a time, sick
with the DL, Jungle Fever, or
otherwise afflicted.
This book is all about
my life, sifting through
unreasonable expectations
from certain kinds of
women… This is a personal
journey I’m putting out
there in hopes that women
will read my experience and
maybe it will help them find
themselves, wake up, and find
one of the good brothers who
are far less the exception than
the rule.”
– Excerpt from The
Denzel Principle: Why Black
Women Can’t Find Good Men
Seems like Black folks
must be craving relationship
advice, based on the number
of self-appointed love
gurus publishing how-to
books aimed at the African-
American community.
This latest one, The Denzel
Principle: Why Black Women
Can’t Find Good Black Men,
was written by a brother
who seems like more of an
embittered casualty of the
battle-of-the-sexes suffering on a variety of national cable them as responsible for the brothers. So, it is no surprise
from post-traumatic street news networks, at least when failure of their marriages. that he would also blame
syndrome, than a leading he isn’t busy lecturing as And jilted Jimi goes on the fact that two-thirds of all
authority in the field a lecturer at at length to describe how the African-American marriages
with Case Western first, “rolled me for tuition end in divorce “less on black
legitimate Reserve money and bounced “ a men and more on black
credentials. or other couple weeks after she got
women and their inability to
A colleges in her college degree, while
make good choices.”
bachelor’s the Cleveland the second left him after
degree from area. nearly 10 years, moving I doubt that this is the
Cleveland That fair with the kids into a “nearly definitive primer on how
State and a warning out condemned house” with an to find a good Black man,
master’s in of the way, unemployed slacker with unless you’re inclined to take
fine arts from you might be dreadlocks who wasn’t “well- advice from a guy who, for
Spalding surprised to educated or particularly instance, would discourage
University hear me say handsome.” you from falling for an
doesn’t that I found At first, I thought this ex-con by simply saying
sound like the professor book was just Jimi’s way of “That’s [bleep]-ing stupid!
appropriate Izrael’s getting even and settling a Holy [bleep]!” However, as
background, expletive- score in a very public fashion the colorful, comical and
but that hasn’t laced tome with ex-wives Frances and relentlessly-raw reflections
discouraged thoroughly
Leslie. But no, he sees their of a miserable two-time loser
Jimi Izrael entertaining, if not
discontent and behavior as with some serious unresolved
from passing himself off exactly politically-correct
as a cultural critic. And or ready for prime time. For par for the course, since, in anger issues, this memoir
he’s apparently met with this twice-divorced father is his eyes, Black females in rates an A-plus. But when
considerable success, given obviously still angry at his general set their standards too it comes to dating do’s and
his numerous TV appearances two exes (“Both of them were high and exchange vows with don’ts, you might want to get
as a pundit around the dial crazy [b-words]!” and he sees unrealistic expectations of a second opinion.

Entertainment Briefs
Continued from B3
Money thereafter
wanted to pursue a national
tour, however, several
commitments fell through and
the show abruptly ended.
At the very same time,
several cities were already
hosting auditions, and
children hoping to appear in
the musical had high hopes.
Many parents had paid a $50
performance fee that was
never returned.
Jennifer Davis, who
resides in Lakeland, Fla.,
claims she was not even
Coppin State University
informed that the show was
canceled. She eventually
found out when she opened a
rehearsal for the show and no
one showed up.
“I don’t believe (Hall)
came to my studio knowing
that the musical was going
to go down and they would
steal everyone’s money, but
it never happened,” Hall told
BlackAmericaweb.com. “He
could have at least called-
explained what was going on.
Money claims
responsibility for the finances
of the production. He said
Hall attempted to make
amends to the children by
putting on a smaller show, but
it ultimately lost money also.
Hall sent a concerned
parent an e-mail in which he
worried the project would
jeopardize his reputation.
“I will assure you though
that I’m doing everything
in my power3to
#(return the
//
,
money myself,
,
$
even though
/
5
as director it is not my direct
responsibility to pay back this
debt,” Hall wrote.
Magic Johnson No
Longer Buying Famed
Publishing Company
Affiliates of Earvin
“Magic” Johnson and Johnson
Publishing Company “were
unable to reach a definitive
agreement” in a business
deal that would have allowed
the former basketball star to
own a controlling stake in
the family-owned company,
Journal-isms.com reported.
Talks of the HIV-
activist’s interest in buying
the publishing company,
which owns Ebony and Jet
magazines, came from a
statement released by Eric
homes for many years.”
Holomon, president Of
Johnson’s Los Angeles-based
company.
Johnson Publishing Co.
later released a statement
saying that Linda Johnson
Rice, chairman and chief
executive officer of Johnson
Publishing, “has never
talked to Magic Johnson
with respect to his interest in
buying” the company.
“I would like to salute
Linda Johnson Rice and
the Johnson family for
pioneering the iconic brand
of the Johnson Publication
Company, which we have all
come to love and respect,”
Magic said in a statement.
“Ebony and Jet have been
permanent fixtures on coffee
tables in African-American
Magic later added that
partners.”
although affiliates of his
Magic Johnson Enterprises
and Johnson Publishing
Company could not come
to a definitive agreement,
“we will continue to look
for opportunities to invest in
African-American media.”
“Our team of advisers
have continued to explore
a wide range of options to
leverage our iconic Ebony
and Jet brands and sustain
our leadership position in
the marketplace as the No.
1 African-American owned
publishing company in the
world,” Johnson Publishing
spokeswoman, Wendy E.
Parks said in a statement
to Journal-isms.com. “As
a privately held company,
we are unable to discuss our
discussions with potential

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 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010 B5

“You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your
face; and show the world all the love in your heart. The
people gonna treat you better, you’re gonna find, yes you will,
that you’re beautiful as you feel.” - Carole King
The members of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity hosted their
20th International Grand Polaris swearing in for newly
elected Grand Polaris Karl Price Esq. at the breathtaking
downtown Hilton. Iota founders Frank Coakley, John Slade
and Lonnie Spruill Jr., past international grand polaris, stood
proudly as more than 300 brothers and their guests entered
the magnificently decorated ballroom. Charles Dozier,
banquet chair of the Hilton, and his superb staff decorated the
ballroom in Iota colors casting a warm glow over the room.
Among the distinguished guests witnessing this historic
occasion were Past International Grand Polaris Thomas “Tex”
Dean, Alpha Kappa Alpha International President Barbara
A. McKinzie, Iota Phi Theta Director of Regional Affairs
Dominique Green, Regional Polaris’ Karl Roberts, Leon
Coleman III, Marcus Gaut, Kevin Bennett, Myron Covington,
Sean Housen, Debra Slade, Ed Jackson, Andre Manson, Tony
Hill, John Quincy and Stan Chambers, international director
of communications.
The oath of office was administered by Iota’s 19th
International Grand Polaris Larry Frasier. National and
regional representatives from Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi
Beta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma
greeted the new grand polaris with plaques and gifts from
their Greek organizations.
“Give that lady a standing ovation.” An emotional
moment when the newly sworn in grand polaris praised his
mother who raised him and 15 siblings as a single parent. The
applause was deafening as this petite woman rose to receive
her well deserved accolades.
The merriment continued as guests adjourned to the
penthouse suites overlooking the baseball diamonds at
Camden Yard, still reflecting on the momentous evening.
“There is a destiny that makes us brothers, no one goes
his way alone; all that we send into the lives of others, comes
back into our own.”- Edwin Markham
Founded on Morgan’s campus in 1963 by Albert Hicks,
Lonnie Spruill Jr., Charles Briscoe, Frank Coakley, John
Slade, Barron Willis, Webster Lewis, Charles Brown, Louis
Hudnell, Charles Gregory, Elias Dorsey Jr. and Michael
Williams, Iota will soon celebrate 50 years of brotherhood.
“I remember it well.”The joy of visiting neighborhood
taverns or barbershops is sitting down with the elders in the
village and learning things you never knew or remembering
things you had forgotten. One thing is certain, two things are
sure, you will leave with more knowledge than you came
with. That’s what happened recently when I was lamenting
about the lack of good soul food restaurants other than
Roots and Maceo’s. And that’s how the conversation started
between George White, Bubby Carter and Reggie Gee about
the good old days when African Americans had great eating
establishments flourishing around Pennsylvania Avenue.
“Gimme a pig foot and a bottle of beer.” They talked
about Diane’s, The Draft Board, White Rice’s Inn,
McCullough Delicatessen, Mom’s, Theresa’s, The Penny
Arcade, Arundel’s, The Hideaway serving pig feet and
beans, Jimmy’s Restaurant that cooked hamburgers and hot
dogs in the window, or the barbecue spot at Mosher and
Pennsylvania.
“I wish those days would come back again.”Some places
the names they had forgotten, but they told me who owned
it, what they served and who went there. Now I know you all
never heard of those places. Oh no, “who dat” holla, oh yeah!
“Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious
summer by this son of York”- William Shakespeare
“Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting. Little
darling, it seems like years since it’s been clear. Here comes
the sun, here comes the sun, and I say it’s alright.”- George
Harrison
Want to forget about the beautiful snow that blanketed
our city and head “South of the Border” with “All for Fun’s”
getaway to Myrtle Beach, S.C. Call Reggie Gee at 410-383-
2431 for details. Or plan a “so long it’s been good to know
you” end of snow party catered by Butler’s BBQ. Call Darryl
Butler at 410-789-4045, he has a mobile pit or visit the
restaurant for ribs, minced BBQ, fish, chicken and more.
“True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is
seldom known until it be lost.”- Charles Caleb Colton
Happy birthday to Carolyn Stepney, Joan Bennett,
Virginia Moore, Jenny Hawkins, John Gilliam, Jai Matthews,
Doreyce Keston-Greene, Sharena Toyer, Terrence Shields,
Joe McDowell, Joyce Agero, Vanessa Cassidy, Diane
Woodward, Carl Pendleton, Lydia McCargo Redd, Marcita
Eaton, Mance Wells of Wells Lounge and my baby boy,
Michael Gregory Lee.
It was great seeing Selena Redd, Dr. Jerrelle Francois,
Dr. Marie Washington with Zoe and Jackie, John Howard,
Sen. Nathaniel McFadden, Lafayette Armstrong and Osborne
Dixon at the Forum Caterers honoring African-American
patriots; Technical Sergeant Elbert Armstrong of the 183rd
Engineering Battalion, Lee Douglass of the Montford
Point Marines and Gerald Eldridge and other distinguished
honorees. The event hosted by Del. Clarence Tiger Davis had
a standing room only crowd honoring those who have given
so much for their country. Tiger was especially proud of the
work the students did in preparing the beautiful souvenir
journal highlighting the accomplishments of the honorees,
including a letter dated march 1945 to Elbert Armstrong for
his commendable service, signed after the battle of the Bulge
by LTC Lawrence J. Fuller, Commanding Officer of the
Battalion.
“Make my funk the P funk.” George Clinton and The
Mother Ship will be at Ram’s Head Friday night, on Saturday
at Coppin’s homecoming and on Sunday at Dee’s Cocktail
Sip at Tequila Sunset.
Whew, what a weekend, but “I’ll be there.”
-Valerie & the Friday Night Bunch

2007_BGE_gasleak_afro1.qxp:afroam 9/28/07 12:11 PM Page 1

Your nose
knows when gas
is leaking.
One sniff of natural gas, either inside or outside of
your home and you’ll know there’s a leak somewhere.
Even homes that don’t use gas could experience
gas leaks coming through walls from the outside.

When you smell gas, leave your home immediately

and call BGE from the nearest telephone. Call 24 hours
a day, seven days a week for emergency gas service. A
service person will come to your home free of charge.
Advertiser: BGE

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or
Publication:

Insertion Date:
Baltimore Afro American

10/6/2006

1-800-685-0123 Ad Size:

Title:
2c x 7, 1/C

Your nose knows

(outside the Baltimore area)
If you have received this publication material in
TTY/TDD users 1-800-735-2258 error, or have any questions about it please
contact the traffic dept. at Weber Shandwick
(Maryland Relay Service) at (410) 558 2100.
B6 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010

Obituary
Dr. J.L. Nickens, 91
Prominent Baltimore Dentist
Dr. J. Laws Nickens, fifth child of the late
Caroll J. Nickens and Estelle Laws Nickens,
was born on June 7, 1918, in Northumberland
County, Va. He departed this life on Feb. 21,
2010.
As a boy, Nickens moved to Baltimore
with his family. He received his early
education in the Baltimore’s public schools
and graduated from Douglass High School
in 1938. He attended Morgan State College
(now Morgan State University). During
his tenure at Morgan, he was captain of
the football team, a role he also served in
DR. J.L. NICKENS
Douglass High School. While at Morgan, he
was initiated in the Alpha Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity. During this time he also met his future
wife, Bernice. World War II intervened and he was
drafted into the army in 1941 at the end of his junior
year.
Bernice and Nickens were married just before he
left for military service. In fact, right after the Union
Baptist Church marriage ceremony she drove her
brand new husband to the railway station where he
embarked for what turned out to be the duration of
the war. He went to Officer Candidate School and
graduated as a second lieutenant. He was then shipped
to Hawaii with the Coast Artillery Corps to protect
Pearl Harbor in case the Japanese should attack again.
They did not, of course.
He returned home briefly, on leave after his Hawaii
assignment, and he and Bernice had a short “honeymoon.”
The following year, he returned to the United States, took
fighter pilot training at Tuskegee, Ala., and was assigned to
the Air Force. However, he decided that being a pilot was
not his calling and requested a transfer. This resulted in his
becoming a member in the 92nd Division, Army Combat
Engineers in Italy. Here he remained until his honorable
discharge after D-Day.
On his return stateside, he went back to Morgan State to
finish earning his degree. He then matriculated to Meharry
Medical College, School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tenn.,
and graduated in 1950. Dr. Nickens established his practice
in Baltimore. He retired 30 years later leaving his practice in
good hands, those of his son, Dr. J. Laws Nickens Jr.
Dr. Nickens was appointed by the governor to the North
East Regional Board of Dental Examiners, as an examiner
and then a consultant, positions he held from 1982 until
2003. He was a member of the Maryland State of Board of
Dental Examiners and its vice president in 1986. He was
also a life member of the Maryland State Dental Society.
Dr. Nickens was a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, where he was known as a quiet but pillar of the
organization. He was an avid bridge enthusiast, golfer,
and swimmer. No history of the Baltimore Congress of
Bridge Clubs (BCBC) would be possible without J. Laws
Nickens Sr. He was one of the staunchest and most dedicated
members as well as founder of many duplicate bridge clubs
in Baltimore. As a longtime member of the Monumental Golf
Club, he participated in many golf matches tournaments.
His membership at the Druid Hill Y.M.C.A. afforded him
the opportunity to swim almost daily. He and his wife were
seasoned ticket holders with the Colts and later the Ravens.
He was a sportsman and a sports fan.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Bernice Y.
Nickens; son, J. Laws Nickens Jr.; sister, Etna N. Blackwell;
a devoted cousin, Jean Powell; sister-in-law, Elaine Bland;
nephew, Russell H. Jones; niece, Elaine Parker and a host of
family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at Union Baptist Church on

Saturday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m., preceded by a wake at 9:30
a.m.

Elevate America: Building Skills and

Creating Jobs to Grow the Economy

Equipping workers with technology skills is critical to our nation’s economy and global
competitiveness. In five years, it is estimated that more than 75 percent of all U.S. jobs will
require at least basic computing knowledge.
1988
Microsoft is working with federal, state, and local governments to answer this call through Moved In.
Elevate America, which offers free and low-cost resources to help workers acquire technology
skills and certifications needed in today’s changing economy. Our goal is to help train 2 million
1990
people over the next three years. Anthony is born.
To meet specific community needs, governments can choose from a range of Elevate America
resources: 1994
Anthony tests positive for elevated lead levels.
• Access to basic technology literacy and training

• Intermediate technology training courses—instructor-led and online—plus selected 1998

Anthony has difficulty learning.
certification exams

• Access to a Web portal that points people toward training resources that can help 2007
position them for success in the economy, today and tomorrow Doctor confirms Anthony suffers from lead poisoning.

We are honored to play a role in expanding training opportunities and strengthening technol-
ogy skills to help put millions of people back to work.

SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
Learn more www.microsoft.com/elevateamerica

PTN000209_Afro American Meso Ads.indd 3 1/6/09 3:58 PM

 February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American B7

Faith In Action
Faithbytes
The album 105 Voices Representing
the Nation’s Official HBCU’s is
available for purchase online at www.
hbcuchoirs-105.org. The CDs from
2008 and 2009 feature jazz and
gospel, European classical, spiritual
and African-American composers.
Proceeds support student preparation
for the 2010 Kennedy Center Concert.

Feb. 26
Join family and friends for food
and fun at Family Game Nite, 7
p.m., at Greater Paradise, 2900 E. Oliver St.,
where Elder Shawn Bell is pastor.

March 6
If the snow put a damper on your Valentine’s Day
celebration, you’ll want to attend an evening of elegance,
a black tie event sponsored by Straight Road of Pentecost
Church, 7-11 p.m., at the College of Notre Dame, 4701 N.
Charles St. There will be a buffet dinner, a fashion show
and play. For more information call 410-354-7226. The Rev.
Hercules Johnson is pastor of the church which is located at
2101 N. Ellamont St.

March 7
Worship with Saint Abraham Baptist Church, 1124 W. North
Ave., 3 p.m., as they celebrate the 38th anniversary of their
pastor, the Rev. Dr. Clarence R. Yerby Sr. Services continue
nightly, 7:30 p.m., March 10-12. For more information, call the
church at 410-383-6919.

March 13
“It’s a Man Thing,” a men’s health event sponsored by the
Baltimore City Cancer Plan at Johns Hopkins, will be held
12-3 p.m., at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 4502 Park Heights
Ave. This event, the third stop on the Each One Reach One
Tour, offers health screenings of all kinds, including those
for blood pressure, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and prostate and
colorectal cancer. Additionally, participants will be treated
to a heart healthy lunch and free haircuts. Watson Fitness
will demonstrate ways to keep the pounds off and music will
be rendered by the Divine Trinity Praise Team. For more
information, call 410-955-0147.


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
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
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   

   
   
   
   


  

  

  

  

  


   

   
   
   
   
FREE
H1N1 SHOTS
TRANSPORTATION
   
    GIVEAWAYS
   
   
   

 
 
 

 
 
B8 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010

www.afro.com

Black Figure Skating Duo First in Olympic History

By AFRO Staff in Indianapolis. They earned their way to the Olympics by
winning the French nationals.
Many from the African- They went on to place 14th in the pair’s free skating event
American community began with a total score of 145.10. But even if they didn’t win a
to take interest in the Winter medal, they feel they’ve succeeded in leaving a mark on
Olympics after Shani Davis international sports history.
became the first Black to “This is just the beginning. We want to make a name
capture a gold medal by for ourselves so that they’ll remember us for next season,”
winning the 1000-meter speed Bonhuer told reporters. “We want to climb the ladder to show
skating race in both 2008 and that Black skaters can stand on the podium.”
2010.
Now Blacks have another
reason to tune into the Winter
Games when they come back
Don’t be Angry with
around in 2012.
French pair skaters Yannick Ernie Grunfield,
Thank Him
Bonheur and Vanessa James
made history on Feb. 15 as
they became the first Black
couple to participate in an By Stephen D. Riley
Olympic figure skating AFRO Staff Writer
competition.
The pair teamed up two It hasn’t been too
years ago after Bonheur split often lately that you get to
up with his former skating commend the Washington
partner, Marylin Pla. The Wizards for smart
27-year-old athlete then placed basketball decisions.
But by trading away the
an ad online, and according to million to a guy with no
remaining core of their
the Canadian-born/England- agent and one good knee.
best players, sabotaging
raised James, her aunt saw it I didn’t agree when they
their immediate future and
and convinced the 22-year-old Courtesy Photo
traded last year’s top five
French couple Yannick Bonheur and Vanessa James is the first Black pair to compete in helping their biggest rival
British skate champ to team up draft pick for a pair of
Olympic Figure Skating. become championship
with Bonheur. The rest is history. reserves, and I hated it when
eligible, call me crazy, but
“It’s destiny and I’m very we’re both black brings a pleasing visual harmony.” they fired former coach
I kind of like it. I didn’t
happy about it,” Bonheur told the media. “There’s the grace and The pair took their visual harmony to the United States in agree when they gave $111 Continued on B9
beauty of Vanessa and then my athleticism. And the fact that August 2009 to train with famous Russian coach Sergei Zaitsev

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 February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American B9
MSU Basketball

Bears Gear Up for MEAC

By AFRO Staff
Bears Claim Third 21-
win Season
It’s official. The Bears
have now earned at least 21
wins in three straight seasons
after surviving its latest Mid-
Eastern Athletic Conference
foe.
“Everyone brings their
‘A-game’ against us,” said
Bears coach Todd Bozeman
in a recently aired interview.
“But that’s the way it goes
when you’re in the No. 1
position.”
Morgan State has earned
the top ranked seed in the
MEAC every year since 2007,
and kept the streak alive
by stamping this season’s
conference title with a 65-61
win against the University
of Maryland-Eastern Shore
Hawks on Feb. 22 in Princess
Anne County, Md.
Courtesy Photo/MSU
Bears forward Kevin
Thompson scores 21 points
in Morgan State’s 21st win
of the season.
Bears star Reggie Holmes,
one of the nation’s top ranked
scorers, was held below his
average of 22 points per
game, scoring only eight
points on 0 for 7 shooting
behind the arc.
But MSU still managed to
win thanks to a dominating
night by sophomore forward
Kevin Thompson, who
recorded his 17th double-
double of the season with 21
points and 10 rebounds in the
game. Thompson currently
ranks among the top five
rebounders in the nation with
an average of 12 boards a
game. He was followed in the
stats line by teammate Ameer
Ali, who added 10 points to
help the Bears pull out the
come-from-behind victory
over UMES.
UMES’ Tim Burns
recorded a game-high 23
points on 7-of-10 shooting
from the field, followed by
Kevin White, who scored 16
points with seven assists and
Neal Pitt, who added 14 more
off the bench.
The Hawks outperformed
the Bears in the first half,
shooting 48 percent from the
field to go into halftime with a
34-27 lead.
But the Bears kept the
score close by attacking the
basket and converting 7-of-12
free throws.
Morgan State will try to
take one step closer to setting
a new school record in single-
season wins when they host
Norfolk State on Saturday,
Feb. 27 at Hill Field House.
With three more games left,
the Bears (21-9 overall,
12-1 MEAC) can head into
the MEAC Championship
Tournament with 24 wins, the
most in MSU history.
Lady Bears Fall to
Third Place in MEAC
Meanwhile, MSU
women’s squad’s visit to
Prince Anne didn’t go as
planned. Just a couple days
removed from advancing into
Courtesy Photo/MSU
MSU’s Corin “Tiny” Adams
will try to push her team
back into second place in
the MEAC.
second-place in the MEAC
standings, the Lady Bears fell
to the Lady Hawks, 66-64,
Monday night at the Hytche
Center.
Lady Hawks’ Latoya
Buckner scored a team-high
15 points off the bench and
Casey Morton followed with
14 points (April McBride
added 11 points) to help their
team claim a win on UMES
Senior Night, while snapping
MSU’s three-game winning
streak.
Lady Bears’ Corin Adams
scored a game-high 18 points,
along with a game-high six of
the team’s 16 steals. Theresa
Davis followed with 13 points
and Kristina Rosario snatched
a game-high 14 rebounds,
along with eight points.
But they simply didnt score
enough to avoid the loss and
fall to third place in MEAC
standings.
Morgan State (14-12
overall, 9-4 MEAC) will
attempt to retake second place
when they return host the
Lady Spartans on Saturday,
Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.

Tomlinson Released by Chargers

Longtime NFL star LaDainian Tomlinson was recently
released by the San Diego Chargers, a team he helped
revitalize after serving nine years as its best player.
But Tomlinson has been slowing down in production
throughout the past few years because of injuries and age.
At age 30, he no longer carried the role as the face of the
franchise, which prompted his release on Feb. 22.
“It was a long time coming, but I knew it was coming,”
Tomlinson told reporters.”Now that it’s official I can kind of
look to the next step in my career and playing football for
someone else.”
Tomlinson will have the entire spring and summer to
figure out exactly what his next move will be. Chargers team
president Dean Spanos told The Associated Press that he
wanted to release LaDainian early so that he could have more
time to make his decision.
“I told him that in the 26 years that I’ve been in this
business, it was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do,”
Spanos told the AP. “I’m not close to a lot of the players, but
there’s a handful that I’ve been close with, and he’s probably
the closest. It was really difficult to tell him. But out of
respect, I wanted to tell him earlier rather than later.”
As the star of the Chargers since 2001, Tomlinson carried
the team on his back for most of his tenure there. He rose to
the eighth spot on the NFL’s eight all-time rushing leaders
list with 12,490 yards, and ranks second with 138 career
rushing touchdowns. He’s also third all-time with 153 total
touchdowns, and was named league MVP in 2006 when he
set the single-season record for most touchdowns scored (31).
Bowl quarterback Phillip Rivers, who will now replace
Tomlinson as the Charger’s new franchise star. But even
Rivers knows that won’t be easy.
“What L.T. has meant to this town and to this team, in
nine years, the impact he’s had both on and off the field, we
may never see that again,” Rivers said before accepting an
award at a sports banquet Feb. 22. “You’re not just going to
replace L.T. himself. He was more than a running back.”
Chargers’ Jackson Pleads Guilty to DUI
San Diego Chargers just lost one of its best players with
the release of LaDainian Tomlinson. But they’ll be without
another star player for at least for one game, thanks to a
couple of off the field transgressions.
San Diego television station KGTV-10 reported that
Chargers star receiver Vincent Jackson recently pleaded
guilty to a 2009 DUI charge and was sentenced to four days
in jail, along with five years probation. The sentence is
standard for offenders with prior DUI convictions.
Jackson has been arrested twice on the suspicion of DUI
since he first signed with the team in 2005. He pleaded guilty
in 2006 to driving under the influence and was still serving a
probation sentence for that case when he was arrested again
on the same charge last January.
He was also arrested in January 2010 just hours before a
playoffs game against the New York Jets. He was charged for
driving with a suspended license and expired tags.
By pleading guilty, Jackson may have violated the NFL’s Photo courtesy of LaDainianTomlinson.com

But during the past couple of seasons, San Diego has personal conduct policy, which could lead to at least a one LaDainian Tomlinson
opened up their passing game with the emergence of Pro- game suspension during the 2010 season.

Don’t be Angry
Continued from B8
Eddie Jordan after 11 games
to start last season.
I could always throw in the
Kwame Brown thing, but that
would be just going for the
jugular there. However, I do
like what Washington did in
last week’s fire sale. It’s going
to be hard seeing ex-Wizards’
Caron Butler and Antawn
Jamison in opposing colors.
And somewhere in some local
barbershop right now, there’s
still an angry mob spewing
verbal shots at Wizards
president Ernie Grunfield.
But you have to
understand the courtesy of
the Wizards moves, not the
“...you have to understand the courtesy of
the Wizards moves, not the lunacy.”
players remained positive
contributors. They were the
unvarying factors you knew
you could count on nightly.
You knew Jamison and
Haywood would churn out
double-doubles game in and
game out. You knew Butler
would find a straw to chew
on and leave his heart out on
the floor in the process. And
you knew Stevenson would
miss about six threes before
fanning his face when the
seventh dropped in. You knew
this!
fans will now look towards Nick Young and JaVale hates any of the guys that just
newcomers Al Thornton and McGee. left town last week. We’ll just
Josh Howard for inspiration. They’ll do all these follow Grunfield’s gesture
Arenas tied his hands behind They’ll cheer for holdovers things while wishing Arenas and pay homage to those
his back. But Arenas isn’t Andray Blatche, Randy would get his life together men who produced some fine
the sole one to blame here. Foye and Mike Miller, and and wishing nothing but the years of service during their
His penchant to emulate they’ll pray the light comes best for their parted players, time in Washington. Thanks,
Rambo wasn’t the deciding on for young players like because no one around here gentlemen.
factor that ruined the Wizards
season (they were 10-20 and
in last place in the Southeast
Division at the time). Things
were never all that great when
Washington’s “big three”
were in their heyday, and it
CHARACTER COMMITMENT CONNECTION
was foolish to expect things to
get better after three surgeries
to Arenas’ knee and another
three years on Jamison’s

lunacy. Grunfield didn’t just
close the latest chapter of the
Wizards’ franchise story, but
he also paid salute to the long
serving members of a steadily
sinking ship by offering them
first class life preservers out
of town. Jamison, Butler,
Brendan Haywood and to
a lesser extent, DeShawn
Stevenson, have been
depositing their services to a
bank that’s been closing for
years now and it’s time for
them to cash out.
Through all the
disappointing losses,
questionable decisions and
lackluster attitudes from their
teammates, these particular
You respected it, you
appreciated it and you still
wondered why Washington
couldn’t beat the Indiana’s,
Milwaukee’s and Minnesota’s
of the league, Gilbert Arenas
or no Gilbert Arenas. By
shipping Haywood, Butler
and Stevenson to Dallas
and Jamison to Cleveland,
Grunfield basically said:
“Thanks for everything
guys, sorry it didn’t work
out here, now go enjoy the
remaining years of your prime
playing for championship
contenders.”
It was a classy move by
Grunfield and probably the
only thing he could do after
NIGHT
driver license since Arenas
was initially injured.
WIZARDS
DATE
Washington’s “big three”
were never going to outlast
Boston’s version. Haywood
was never going to be able
to handle Orlando’s Dwight
Looking for a great way to impress your next date?
Howard and Washington
was never going to trump Come see the Washington Wizards take on the
the “King” in Cleveland. So Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, Mar. 5th @ 7PM.
Grunfield blew it up. And Date Night package includes:
although he’s gone on record 2 tickets, 2 drinks and a picture with the Wizards mascot
and committed to Arenas $40 VW Penthaus - Upper Level package
returning next year (hold the $90 Lower Level package
phones before you invest
your 401 into that), with $80 Be one of the 1st 100 individuals to order and receive
million remaining on Arenas’ a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant.
contract, he might not have a
Call 202.661.5050 or visit: WWW.WASHINGTONWIZARDS.COM
choice.
The Wizards and their
Wiz Date Night (5.68x5) BW.indd 1 2/22/10 9:38 AM
B10 The Baltimore Afro-American, February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010
CLASSIFIED
THE BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS’ CLASSIFIED SECTION IS THE PERFECT VEHI-
CLE TO THOSE PEOPLE IN THE MARKET TO BUY, RENT, SELL, SEEK EMPLOYMENT AND MUCH
MUCH MORE!
TO ADVERTISE IN THE BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS, DEADLINES ARE:
CLASSIFIED DISPLAY
FRIDAY -- 2 PM Preceding Tuesday
APT. FOR RENT
SECTION 8 BUILDING
in Havre de Grace
accepting applications.
Must be 62 or older
or disabled. Client based
on income.
No phone calls.
Pick up application at
100 Revolution St.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
AD NETWORK
Ad Network
Classifieds
are published in
65
newspapers.
25 words $175
(For more than
25 words there
is an additional
charge of
$7 per word.)
Call
(410) 554-8200
All ads must
be prepaid
AUCTIONS
OCEAN CITY CONDO
AUCTION.
Bayfront/Bayview. NO
Minimum Price on 4
Units! 11 Luxury 4BR &
3BR units. Boat Slips
available. 888-986-SOLD.
OcCondoAuctions.com
MarshallAuctions.com
AUTOMOBILE
DONATION
DONATE VEHICLE:
Receive $1000 GRO-
CERY COUPONS, Your
Choice. NOAH'S ARC,
NO KILL Animal Shelters.
Advanced Veterinary
Treatments. Free Towing,
IRS TAX DEDUCTION.
Non-runners 1-866-912-
GIVE
DONATE YOUR VEHI-
CLE RECEIVE FREE
VACATION VOUCHER
UNITED
BREAST CANCER
FOUNDATION Free
Mammograms, Breast
Cancer Info www.ubcf.info
FREE Towing, Tax
Deductible, Non-Runners
Accepted, 1-888-468-
5964
EDUCATIONAL/
TRAINING
Free Paramedic training
for those that qualify.
Must be a DC resident and
meet DOES eligibility. 202
552-7385 near Metro
Center
email:thewestlinkci@live.
com
EMPLOYMENT
Sales Professionals
Wanted Recession proof
industry, prequalified leads
helping Seniors. Positive
attitude and communica-
tion skills required.
Excellent Benefits, Growth
Potential. $75,000plus.
Call Mr.Holland toll-free 1-
866-229-8447
MASSAGE THERAPY –
FURNITURE Learn fast, earn fast.
Financial aid if qualified. A
Cherry Bedroom Set. new career is at your
Solid Wood, never used, fingertips. Call Centura
brand new in factory College 877-206-3353
boxes. English Dovetail.
Original cost $4500. Sell ATTEND
for $795. Can deliver. 240- ONLINE from Home.
482-8721 *Medical,
*Paralegal,
*Computers,
HELP WANTED Justice. Job placement
assistance.
HAVE STRONG COMMU- available.
NITY TIES? EF Financial Aid if qualified.
Foundation seeks coordi- Call 888-216-1791
s
l ad 410-554-8200
l
Sma
Buy it • Sell it
Swap it • Lease it
Rent it • Hire it
results
SAMPLE
AFRO Classified minimum ad rate is $26.54 per
1 Col. col. inch (an inch consists of up to 20 words).
Inch Mail in your ad on form below along with
Up to CHECK or MONEY ORDER to: AFRO-AMERI-
CAN CO., 2519 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD
RATES: 20 Words
21218, Attn: Clsf. Adv. Dept.
FRIDAY ONLY -- $26.54 Per Column Inch
-- CONTRACT RATES AVAILABLE --
1 2 3 4 5
AD NETWORK AD NETWORK EMPLOYMENT
6 7 8 9 10
nators to find families for www.CenturaOnline.com
A fast growing textile company urgently require
International exchange stu-
the services of part time Account/Payroll Of-
dents. 20 hrs/mo. Cash & fice. Interested persons should contact us imme- 11 12 13 14 15
travel rewards. Must be TAX SERVICES diately via email. Please note that Phone inquir-
25+. #877-216-1293 ies will not be accepted. Forward your resume
IRS TAX DEBT KEEP- to Sophia Taylor @ sophia137@rocketmail.com. 16 17 18 19 20
ING YOU AWAKE? Local Do include your phone number when forwarding
HELP WANTED - CPA firm resolves all the resume.
MISC. Federal and State tax
problems for individuals
Over 18? Between High and businesses. US Tax LEGAL NOTICES
School and College? Resolutions, P.A. 877- NAME_________________________________________________
CITY OF BALTIMORE
Travel and Have Fun 477-1108.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ADDRESS_____________________________________________
w/Young Successful
DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION PHONE NO.___________________________________________
Business Group. No
AND PARKS
Experience Necessary. VACATION NOTICE OF LETTING CLASSIFICATION_______________________________________
2wks Paid Training. RENTALS
Lodging. Transportation (Room, Apt.,House, etc.) INSERTION DATE:_____________
Come Dunk & Ski!
Sealed Bids or Proposals, in duplicate ad-
dressed to the Board of Estimates of the
Provided. 1-877-646-5050
Deep Creek Lake, MD. - Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and
Long & Foster Resort marked for 10806-Wyman Park Dell Stone
HOME Rentals Special Olympics Wall will be received at the Office of the LEGAL NOTICES
MD -dunk in Deep Creek Comptroller, Room 204, City Hall, Baltimore,
IMPROVEMENT Lake at 11th Annual Deep
WET BASEMENTS & Creek Dunk, Feb. 27th!
Maryland until 11:00 A.M. on April 21, 2010.
Positively no bids will be received after 11:00
bers). Strictly Personal
CRAWL SPACES SMELL! Ask about our Ski
A.M. Bids will be publicly opened by the
Board of Estimates in Room 215, City Hall
If you require special accommodations to
Pen Pals
MARYLAND WATER- Free/Stay Free (restric- attend or participate in the meeting, please
at Noon. provide information about your requirements
PROOFING CAN HELP tions apply)!
The Contract Documents may be examined,
FREE Written Estimates 800.336.7303 www. without charge, at the Department of Public
to Robert B. MacLeod at (410) 396-6883, five I’m involving God’s help to write the per-
(5) business days in advance of the meeting.
Available DeepCreekResort.com Works Service Center located on the first The following projects will be considered for fect ad! Psst...Psst..., I’m seeking a Ms./Miss
LICENSED, BONDED & floor of the Abel Wolman Municipal Building, award during the meeting: or Mrs. who’s middle aged, receptive, bub-
INSURED 200 N. Holliday Street, Baltimore, Maryland
CALL NOW 1-800-773-
NORTH MYRTLE 21202 as of February 26, 2010 and copies bly, charming, bright, petite-to-full figured
BEACH, SC.- Warm 1. PROJECT#1117 - BAYVIEW MUL-
may be purchased for a non-refundable cost woman to correspond/be pen pals with...I’m
8373
Sunshine! Oceanfront of $50.00. TIMODAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER
MD LIC.#42912* AND JOINT DEVELOPMENT PLANNING - 52, 6ft., 225 lbs., w/green eyes who’s hon-
www.mdwaterproofinginc.c
Luxury Beach Homes and Conditions and requirements of the Bid
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION est, sincere, thoughtful, optimistic, articulate
om
Condos. Best Selection, are found in the bid package.
Service and Rates All contractors bidding on this Contract must
2 . P R O J E C T # 111 9 - O N - C A L L and very devoted gentleman! Please write
HAS YOUR BUILDING Guaranteed! FREE
first be prequalified by the City of Baltimore
Contractors Qualification Committee. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SER- to: Leonard Hawkins, #1144730, 12352
SHIFTED OR SETTLED? BROCHURE. 866-878- Interested parties should call 410-396-6883 VICES - CONDUIT DIVISION, DEPART- Coffeewood Drive, Mitchells, VA 22729-
Contact Woodford 2754 or www.northmyrtle- or contact the Committee at Room 634, MENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Brothers Inc, for straighten- Charles L. Benton Building, 417 E. Fayette
2046.
beachtravel.com
ing, leveling, foundation Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. If a bid 3 . P R O J E C T # 11 2 0 - O N - C A L L ---
is submitted by a joint venture (”JV”), CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION & EN- Lonely Texas widower, 6” tall, 200 lbs.
and wood frame repairs at
1-800-OLD-BARN. VACATION then in that event, the document that GINEERING SERVICES - BUREAU OF
established the JV shall be submitted with WATER AND WASTEWATER, DEPART- MBA graduate. Texas license auto dealer
www.woodfordbros.com,Li RENTALS the bid for verification purposes. The MENT OF PUBLIC WORKS seeks sincere marriage-minded lady. Age,
c # 121861
OCEAN CITY, MARY- Prequalification Category required for bidding race, unimportant. Please send photos.
LAND. Best selection of on this project is G90127-Dry Stone Ma- 4. PROJECT#1121 - ON-CALL ENVI-
INSTRUCTION sonry Construction RONMENTAL SERVICES FOR HAZ- Gerald J. Mose, MBA, 1697 FM 980 Road
affordable rentals. Full/
(SCHOOLS) partial weeks. Call for
Cost Qualification Range for this work shall ARDOUS WASTE HANDLING - DEPART- Huntsville, Texas 77343-0001
be $500,000.01 to $1,000,000.00 MENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
Delta Career Academy
FREE brochure. Open A ”Pre-Bidding Information” session will be DEVELOPMENT
daily. Holiday Real conducted at 2600 Madison Avenue, Bal-
Training Drivers Class-A Lonesome Hearts - Pen Pals
Estate. 1-800-638-2102. timore, Maryland 21217 on Tuesday, 5. PROJECT #1122 - ASHBURTON RESER-
CDL. Job placement assis- To have a notice published in the Strictly
Online reservations: March 9, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. VOIR UV DISINFECTION - BUREAU OF
tance. Regional or Long www.holidayoc.com Principal Items of work for this project are: Personal Section, write the message you
Haul. Call Mon thru Fri 7-5 WATER AND WASTEWATER, DEPART-
Dry Stone Masonry Wall
(800) 883-0171. Member
MENT OF PUBLIC WORKS want printed in the space below. Enclose
The MBE goal is 1%
BBB. Classes Start The WBE goal is 0% ten dollars ($10.00), check or money
Robert B. MacLeod
Monday. Chief order for 25 words. NO CASH PLEASE.
CONTRACT NO. RP 10806
Additional words will cost 50 cents each.
LAND FOR APPROVED:
SALE Bernice H. Taylor PUBLIC NOTICE
Closeout Sale- Coastal
Clerk, Board of Estimates
Bids Request
North Carolina gated APPROVED:
waterfront community with David E. Scott P.E. Gateway Housing Development
marina. Lots as low as Director of Public Works
$39,900; easy access Druid Heights Community Development Cor- To answer a Lonesome Heart notice,
Pamilco Sound, ICWW, poration is requesting bids for the rehabilita- enclose a check or money order for
tion of ten (10) historical designated vacant
afro.com Your History • Your Community • Your News
Atlantic Ocean. Purchase DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING &
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR UPLANDS buildings located in the 2000 - 2100 blocks of $2.00 for each letter you wish to have for-
by 4/1/10, save 10%.
Financing available. 1-800- FORMER RESIDENTS McCulloh Street and 1800 - 2100 Druid Hill warded. NO CASH PLEASE. Be sure to
566-5263 ncwaterfront-
Avenue. MBE and WBE contractors are include the box number of the person you
Baltimore City´s Department of Housing and encouraged to submit bids.
properties.com Community Development (HCD)is seeking a wish to contact.
consultant to provide technical assistance to the BID FORM AND DESIGN PLANS CAN BE
formerresidents of the Uplands Apartments who
LOTS & resided at Uplands betweenJanuary 1, 2001 and
DOWNLOADED FROM DHCDC WEB SITE:
All letters, queries and notices
ACREAGE March 31, 2004 (”Former Residents”). Theconsul-
tant´s primary responsibility will be advising the DRUIDHEIGHTS.COM should be sent to:
James River Tributary! representativesof the Former Residents how to
STRICTLY PERSONAL
make their participation in theredevelopment pro- REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT -
168’ Waterfront, 2.4
cess informed, meaningful and effective. GATEWAY 2519 N. Charles Street,
Acres- $103,920. was
$229,900. Incredible Copies of this RFP are available on Baltimore Pre -Bid Meeting Monday March 8, 2010 Baltimore, MD 21218
waterfront parcel w/ H o u s i n g ´ s w e b s i t e a t h t t p : / / w w w.
4:00pm at DHCDC. Call 410-532-1350 to
unspoiled shoreline & gor- baltimorehousing.org/ps_procurement.asp or register for bid meeting.
geous, wide creek views! may be picked up,at no cost, at: Baltimore
Located right off of James Housing-Department of Planning and-
All bids must be submitted by Monday March
To advertise in the
Development, 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 301,
River! Paved rds, under- 15, 2010 by 5:00pm to:
Baltimore, MD 21202,weekdays between the
ground utilities, sewer/
hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
AFRO
water. Excellent financing. Roscoe Johnson, III
Must see. Call now 866- Issuance Date: Monday, March 1, 2010 Director Real Estate Development
764-5238, x 1918 Pre-proposal Conference: Friday, March 5, 2010, Druid Heights Community
10 a.m. Development Corporation
www.variver.com
ALL RESPONSES ARE DUE TO THE BAL-
2140 McCulloh Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21217 call
MISC. TIMORE CITY BOARD OF ESTIMATES, ROOM
410-554-8200
204, BALTIMORE CITY HALL, 100 N. HOLLIDAY
ADVERTISING BUDGET ST., BALTIMORE, MD, 21202, NOTLATER THAN
TIGHT!!! GROW YOUR 11 AM, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2009. NO
LATE RESPONSES WILLBE ACCEPTED.
BUSINESS WITH US IN
2010. Advertise in 116 Paul T. Graziano, Commissioner
newspapers across The Department of Housing Notice
Maryland, Delaware and and Community Development Holders of Alcoholic Beverage Licenses in Baltimore City
DC. Reach over 5.2 million 417 East Fayette Street, Suite 301 and Community Residents
Baltimore, MD 21202
households for only $495.
All holders of alcoholic beverage licenses in Baltimore City must file their
Let us help you GROWN
Questions Concerning This Request For Propos- renewal application between March 1 and March 31, 2010 at the Board´s
YOUR BUSINESS and als Should Be Directed To:
MAKE 2010 your best year office at 231 E. Baltimore Street, 6th Floor. There is a $50 processing
fee that must be submitted with the renewal application and applications
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
yet. For more information Nicole Earle, Project Manager
contact us at 410-721- Phone: 410-396-4455 filed after March 31st will be subject to a $50 per day penalty. Even if
4000 x19 or visit our web- Fax: 410-545-6737 a licensee has been notified of a hold on his or her renewal
site:www.mddcpress.com nicole.earle@HABC.org license, the renewal application must still be filed by March 31,
2010.
MISC./ Modernization of the Harry S Truman By law, a protest against the renewal of a license must be filed at least
30 days before the license expires on April 30th. All protests must,
Building Keating Building Company is solic-
TRAINING iting bids from Small Businesses, Small Dis- therefore, be received at the Board´s office by March 31, 2010
advantaged Businesses, Women-Owned and must be signed by not less than ten residents, commercial tenants
(who are not holders or applicants for any liquor license), or real estate
Small Businesses, HUBZone Small
owners in the immediate vicinity where the licensed place of business is
B u s i n e s s e s , Ve t e r a n - O w n e d S m a l l
located. Protests must be based on specific complaints as to the operation
Businesses and Service Disabled Veteran-
Owned Small Businesses. Bids should be of the establishment.
submitted to Rick Platas by 2 pm on Monday
March 1st. Board of Liquor License Commissioners for Baltimore City
231 E. Baltimore Street 6th floor
COLLEGE Baltimore, Maryland 21202
PUBLIC NOTICE
*Business, OFFICE OF BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Stephan W. Fogleman, Chairman
ARCHITECTURAL & ENGINEERING AWARDS Elizabeth C. Smith and Harvey E. Jones, Commissioners
*Criminal COMMISSION MEETING Samuel T. Daniels, Jr., Executive Secretary
MARCH 10, 2010 - 2:45 P.M.
SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
Computer
A meeting of the Architectural & Engineering
Awards Commission will be held on Wednes-
day, March 10, 2010 at 2:45 P.M. in Room
215 City Hall (Board of Estimates Cham-
b
 February 27, 2010 - March 5, 2010, The Baltimore Afro-American B11
LEGAL NOTICES

Community News
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BALTIMORE CITY
THE FY 2011 ANNUAL PLAN MEETING

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (”HABC”) will hold a public

meeting on Monday, March 29th 2010 in the Auditorium at Pleasant View
Gardens, 201 N. Aisquith Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 at 6:00 pm.
This address is handicapped-accessible and American Sign Language
interpreters will be present.

The purpose of the meeting is to receive comments from HABC

residents, community leaders, government officials, and interested mem-
bers of the public on HABC´s proposed Annual Plan for fiscal year 2011.
The proposed 2011 Annual Plan is available for review and inspection
by the public at HABC´s Main Office located at 417 E. Fayette Street,
Suite 1301, Baltimore, MD 21202. Please call Ms. Joyce Stewart at
410-396-1810 to make arrangements to review the proposed plan.
Copies of the proposed 2011 Annual Plan are also available for review
on the HABC website at
www.baltimorehousing.org and at the following locations:

HABC Rental & Assisted Housing Office

1225 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21223

The Enoch Pratt Free Public Library

Main Branch,
The Maryland Room
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

All HABC Public Housing Development Management Offices

Teacher and students of Success Academy, a
CAREER CORNER partnership with the Druid Hill Family Center
Y and Baltimore City Public School System-
Registered Nurse
alternative education program for troubled
youth. Appifany Young, (Appifany Young, sec-
Unique position available for versatile Registered Nurse to
Mel Brenan, Y of Central MD, Harry &
Jeanette Weinberg Family Center, director;
Marian Daniel and Vanessa Purnell, Y of
Central Maryland Baltimore City Community
Advisory Board members.

ond from right, sang at the MLK breakfast.)

provide nursing assessments, medication adherence,
health education and advocacy to homeless clients in a
multi-disciplinary setting. Required licensed in the State of

The Druid Hill Family Center YMCA recently hosted a breakfast joining alumni, community lead-
MD. Minimum of two years recent hospital-based or
community health experience; well developed interpersonal
ers and friends to kick of the center’s revitalization. The breakfast was one of three activities in the
skills. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not re-

Druid Hill YMCA’s annual tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The speakers of
quired. Send resume by 03/05/10 to C. Berry, HCH, 421
Fallsway, Baltimore, MD 21202. E-mail: hrresumes@

the event included Congressman Elijah Cummings, Jim McGill of The Johns Hopkins Institutions,
hchmd.org. Fax: 410-837-8020. No phone calls. EOE

Bill Toomey of BB&T Bank, Dwight Taylor of COPT, John Hoey of the Y of Central Maryland,
Vanessa Purnell of Medstar and Greg Phillips, center director of the Druid Hill Y. The event drew
over 200 attendees.

Baltimore County Public Schools

Seniors Excel in National AP
Program
Recently, the College
Board released its annual
report on the Advanced
Placement (AP) program,
acknowledging for the
second consecutive year
Maryland ranks No. 1 in
the nation in high school
seniors AP achievement.
According to the report,
the percentage of
Maryland seniors who
earned a score of three or
higher on one or more
AP exams reached 24.8
percent in 2009. Students
who have a score of three
or better on the AP
exams are considered at
the “college mastery
level” and they receive
college credit.
More seniors in
Baltimore County Public
Schools (BCPS) continue
to participate and achieve
high AP scores that are
directly attributed to the
success of the school
system’s Blue Print for
Progress plan created by
Dr. Joe A. Hairston and
implemented at the
beginning of his 10-year
tenure as superintendent.
The pass rate for
African-American males
also continues to increase
over past years.
The plan’s goals
ensure all students
achieve to their potential.
Rigorous, stringent and
comprehensive standards
were put in place that
surpass many standards
mandated by state and
federal governments. Dr.
Hairston created a part-
nership with the College
Board to set standards to
prepare students for col- tions at individualized decisions to enhance stu-
lege and the work force. learning levels. dent learning
He believes the AP pro- BCPS uses a comput- “Parents have a criti-
gram and other assess- erized suite to assure cal responsibility to
ments are an important curriculum alignment. encourage their children
part of the education According to Dr. to achieve.”
process, providing con- Hairston, “It is critical to The AP program is a
firmation that learning is make data available at rigorous academic pro-
taking place. BCPS the individual school gram with more than 30
attributes student success level to assist principals varied courses that high
to: and teachers in making school students can
The use of data that effective instructional choose to study and learn
provides a means for
administrators, teachers
and parents to monitor
the quality of education
students receive.
The entire school sys-
tem’s commitment to the
Blue Print for Progress
plan, along with, parental
support and an expecta-
tion for high student
achievement.
With the investment of
extensive technology,
students are engaged in
relevant curricula while
gaining an understanding
of their need to prepare
for global competition.
Throughout its cur-
riculum from K through
12, BCPS engages its
students in early learning
readiness with varied
global experiences
including, elementary
schools’ introduction to
foreign languages, a high
school Student Exchange
program with China and
a rigorous Financial
Management curriculum.
Students who have not
adjusted well to the tra-
ditional education setting
are given the option to
enroll in the AVID pro-
gram, a program with the
same standards; but func-

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B10 The Baltimore Afro-American, May 16, 2009 - May 22, 2009