baltimore afro-american newspaper, july 10, 2010
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www.afro.comVolume 118 No. 48 75 CENTS
JULY 10, 2010 - JULY 16, 2010
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Former Secretary of State,Aretha Franklin in Concert
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AP Photo
From Boston to Washington, D.C., the Northeast has experienced scorching
temperatures nearing 100 degrees and even topping 103 degrees in certain
areas. The Baltimore-Washington metro area saw temperatures surpassing the100-degree mark and BWI Thurgood Marshall broke its previous heat record,
101 degrees, with a boiling 105-degree peak. In this photo, 7-year-old Ashawnti
Smith, of Cincinnati, Ohio, plays in a welcome spray of cool water as she tries tobeat the heat.
Northeast Swelters with Record Temperatures
By Rev. Dorothy BoulwareSpecial to the AFRO
The beverage tax that everyone thoughtwas down for the count rebounded at half
the assessment, 2 cents instead of 4, but with
long reaching effects for
Baltimore City residents
and businesses. Soda, water,
beer and other alcoholic
drinks are taxable, while
milk, juice and 2-liter
containers are exempt.
That part is clear,
but the next step awaits
explanation.
The tax becomes
effective with July 24
beverage deliveries.
According to the ofcial
city Web site, distributors
are responsible for seeingthat the taxes exacted from
their retail customers are
paid to the city coffers. The
site further instructs retailers
to require the appropriate
certication from their
distributors, because
retailers are liable if those taxes arent paid.
Initial contact with a few retailers revealed
many of them either didnt know how
they would be affected by the tax or were
noncommittal about the whole thing.
I think someone from the city is coming
to talk to us this week,
said Kevin Brown, owner
of Station North Arts Caf,
located on the 1800 block of North Charles
St. We actually serve between 75-100 drinks
per day so were denitely affected. Brown
said they make their own purchases at thewholesalers rather than having a regular
delivery to his establishment that serves an
average of 130 customers
per day.
New Haven Lounge
owner, Steve Covington,
sees the new tax as a
necessary evil and is
happy to help in providing
support for schools, jobs
and whatever other services
are preserved through
the additional revenue.
Personally, well probably
absorb the additional cost
and not pass it on to our
customers, Covington said.
But he nds the processsomewhat confusing.
I havent received
information as to how it
all works, but how can the
retailers be responsible if
the distributors dont pay?
Covington said hes
condent, however, it will all be worked
out and hes sure it wont in any way hurt
business at the New Haven in Northwood
Shopping Center.
Although the expected income is only half
Retailers Have MixedFeelings on Beverage Tax
Steele Talks Himself
into IrrelevanceBy Zenitha Prince
Washington Bureau Chief
Michael Steele has
maintained a Teon-like
resistance to criticism since
he became the Republican
National Committee chairman
in 2008. And it appears he
again will brush off calls for
his resignation in the wake of
his biggest gaffe to date, his
criticism of the Afghanistan
war, which he called a war
of Obamas choosing.
But political observers say he
just may have talked himself
into a political graveyard.
I think this is downhill
all the way, said political
analyst Ron Walters of
Steeles political future. Its
probably over because this
was probably the best he was
going to get in terms of a
public position and he messed
it up.
In his most recent
blunder, the former Maryland
lieutenant governor criticized
and misrepresented the nine-
year military incursion in
Afghanistan.
This is not something the
United States had actively
By Rev. Dorothy BoulwareSpecial to the AFRO
The man called Doc by his friends, who has come to
embody the local branch of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, is ready to begin a new
phase in his career.
Marvin Cheatham, who Pinder Group CEO Sharon Pinder
says has restored the NAACP brand, is stepping down as the
18th president and is pursuing election to the Democratic
State Central Committee for the 44th Legislative District.
In his real-time work, Cheatham has served for morethan 38 years as an election specialist for the National Labor
Relations Board and found that the service hes provided
gratis to the NAACP, that brought with it personal attacks
and death threats, paid daily with God giving me the
opportunity to help others.
He accounts a signicantly improved level of activism
as the strength of his leadership. He says service is the true
measure of success.
Doc is a servant leader whose best leadership gift is
his passion, vision and willingness to make the sacrice,
Pinder said, adding that his tenure brought revitalization to
Doc Set for Next Level Leadership
Marvin Doc Cheathamis founder of Blue
Suit Sunday to raiseawareness of mens
health.
Courtesyphoto
Courtesy photo/W@H Creative+
Merchants arewondering
how the
additional 2cent tax for
beverages
will impacttheir overall
sales and
bottom line.
July 6, the ling deadline
for the 2010 elections across
the state, came and went with
few surprises.
Maryland Attorney
General Doug Gansler
sparked a restorm and riled
up a lot of Republicans and
probably some Democratsback in February (when we
were buried in snow!), over
his support of gay marriage.
But, it seems nobody was
offended sufciently to
run against him, because
the states AG is running
unopposed.
But, unlike Gansler,
four-term U.S. Sen. Barbara
Mikulski attracted a legion of
challengers although none
have any real state-wide name
recognition hoping to stop
her from being seated for a
fth term.
In Baltimore County,
current County ExecutiveJim Smith is unable to run
again due to term limits and
Baltimore County Council
members Kevin Kamenetz
and Joe Bartenfelder have
emerged to contend for the
Democratic nomination for
that seat.
Also in Baltimore County,
Councilman Ken Oliver,
D-Dist. 4, is carrying some
extra legal baggage because
of a felony indictment for
theft connected to campaign
funds.
And perhaps sensing
vulnerability, Leronia Josey,
a lawyer and management
consultant, is vying to become
Baltimore Countys rst Black
woman councilperson byreplacing Oliver, the countys
rst Black councilperson.
All 188 House seats
and 47 Senate seats are up
for grabs in the General
Assembly and the vast
majority of incumbents are
seeking re-election.
In Baltimore City, Sens.
Lisa Gladden, who represents
the 41st district in West
Baltimore, and Catherine
Pugh, who represents the 40th
district also on the west side,
are both running unopposed.
However, as I drove
through Southwest Baltimore
on a sweltering day earlierthis week, I saw the familiar
orange and blackno, not
the lame (N)Orioles!of the
Mitchell political dynasty
posted on several small,
browning lawns in front of
row houses.
Keiffer Mitchell, who
was a member of the
Baltimore City Council for
12 years before mounting
an unsuccessful run for
Let the Games BeginBaltimore mayor in 2007, is
making a bid for one of the
House of Delegates seats in
the 44th district. All three
delegates from the 44th
Ruth Kirk, Keith Haynes and
Melvin Stukes are running
for re-election.
Perhaps, the most volatile
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Queen of Soul and Condoleeza Rice Team for Performance
According to Philadelphias Mann Center for Performing
Arts, celebrated soul singer Aretha Franklin and former
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will unite for a concert on
July 27.
Rice, a classically trained pianist, will perform selections
from Mozart and will accompany Franklin on several songs
from her latest album,A Woman Falling Out of Love.
After serving under President George W. Bushs
administration, Rice has worked as a professor at Stanford
University. The pianist has previously performed with
celebrated cellist Yo Yo Ma and entertained Queen Elizabeth II.
According to the site, the performance will benet programs
for inner-city children and the Mann Centers educational
programs.
R&B Star Headed to Howard University, Earns GED
Mary J. Blige, the golden-
haired vocalist known for
her hits No More Drama
and Real Love, recently
announced her decision to
earn a bachelors degree
at famed historically
Black university Howard
University.
Blige, 39, dropped out
of high school in 11th grade
and has spoken publiclyabout a number of personal
issues, including drug abuse,
illiteracy and domestic abuse.
The nine-time Grammy winner
announced her latest plans during a performance on Good
Morning America.
While she pursues a college degree, Blige is also preparing
to release a new fragrance, My Life, and a line of eyewear,
Melodies, according to her Web site.
Gulf Spill Impacts Texas
Tar balls from the Gulf
oil spill in May have now
reached Texas, according to
The Associated Press. The
tars unwelcome arrival raises
questions about the oil spills
reach and how many states
will be affected by the disaster.
However, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson saidhe believes the state is prepared to handle the spills residual
effects.
As a steward of the Texas coast, I am condent that
we have the resources and plans in place with our Oil Spill
Prevention and Response Program to address any potential
impact this oil spill may have on the Texas coast, Patterson
said in a statement.
While the tar balls were small in number compared to the
oil slicks that have inundated parts of the Gulf in Florida,
Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, Patterson said BP will
compensate Texas for the damage.
Any Texas shores impacted by the Deepwater spill will
be cleaned up quickly and BP will be picking up the tab,
Patterson added.
McDonalds Threatened with Suit Over Happy Meal ToysA consumer watchdog group is threatening to sue
McDonalds fast-food chain, claiming the toys included in
Happy Meal deceptively lure children into consuming the food
and contribute to childhood obesity.
According to CNN, the Center for Science in the Public
Interest announced the potential suit in a letter to McDonalds
and said the fast food companys toy related promotions violate
consumer protection laws in four states and the District of
Columbia. The Washington-based consumer advocacy group
gave McDonalds 30 days to comply with a series of requests,
including removal of the toys from Happy Meals, before they
le the suit.
McDonalds is the stranger in the playground handing out
candy to children, the centers litigation director, Stephen
Gardner, said in a statement. McDonalds use of toys
undercuts parental authority and exploits young childrens
developmental immaturityall this to induce children to prefer
foods that may harm their health. Its a creepy and predatory
practice that warrants an injunction.
But McDonald Vice President of Communications William
Whitman said the company has not violated any laws and the
restaurant offers more variety than ever in their Happy Meals.
We are proud of our Happy Meal, which gives our
customers wholesome food and toys of the highest quality and
safety, Whitman said in a statement, according to CBS News.
Getting a toy is just one part of a fun, family experience at
McDonalds.
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or conTacT
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Aretha Franklin, Condoleezza Rice
Courtesy Photo
Mary J. Blige
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michael eric dysonTHE
SHOW
intelligenttalk
Weekdays 9:00 am - 10:00 am on WEaa 88.9 fm
insightful
By David Rushing
Special to the AFRO
The Department of
Justice this week led a
lawsuit against the state of
Arizona, claiming that its
immigration law, S.B. 1070,unconstitutionally interferes
with the federal governments
authority to set and enforce
immigration policy.
S.B. 1070, which made
failure to carry immigration
documents a crime and allows
police the discretionary power
to detain anyone suspected of
being in the country illegally,
has been knocked by critics
as the broadest and strictest
immigration measure in
generations.
The departments brief
said that S.B. 1070 will place
signicant burdens on federal
agencies, diverting theirresources away from high-
priority targets, such as aliens
implicated in terrorism, drug
smuggling, and gang activity,
and those with criminal
records.
For 75 days, weve
been praying for this law
to be struck down, said
Petra Falcon, executive
director of the non-prot
organization Promise Arizona,
in a statement. She added,
We applaud the Obama
Administration for standing
up to this misguided law
and reestablishing that
immigration enforcement is a
federal matter.
In a brief submitted by the
Justice Department, Arizona
law enforcement ofcials said
that S.B. 1070 has hampered
their ability to effectively
police their communities.
Ofcials have also said that
victims or witnesses to crimes
would be less likely to come
forth or be cooperative with
investigations for fear of a
potential arrest.
The main argument
made by the department is
that Arizona has proceeded
to create a state-specic
immigration law that
intentionally supplants that of
the federal government.
Arizonians are
understandably frustrated
with illegal immigration,
and the federal government
has a responsibility to
comprehensively address
those concerns, said Attorney
General Eric Holder in a press
release from the Department
of Justice.
But, he continued,
diverting federal resources
away from dangerous aliens
such as terrorism suspects
and aliens with criminal
records will impact the entire
countrys safety.The department has also
requested a preliminary
injunction which would
prevent Arizona from
enforcing the law until the
case is heard to enjoin
enforcement of the law,
arguing that the law willcause irreparable harm.
S.B. 1070 does not
simply seek to provide
legitimate support to the
federal governments
immigration policy,
but instead creates an
unprecedented independent
immigration scheme that
exceeds constitutional
boundaries, the department
said in its brief.
Republican National
Committee (RNC) Chairman
Michael Steele denounced the
move on Tuesday, however,
saying Arizona was just doing
what was necessary to protect
its borders.
It is unfortunate that
President Obama and his
administration would rather
wage a costly legal battle
with Arizona than allow the
state to take the concretesteps necessary to secure
its border, Steele said in a
statement. Arizonans are
fed up with waiting for the
help promised by Washington
that never seems to come.
The state of Arizona has the
right and the responsibility toprovide security and stability
for its citizens when the
federal government fails to
do so.
Steele further claimed
that the White House was
again avoiding taking on
immigration reform.
Not only will a lawsuit
not solve the problem,
he said, it is just another
instance of hollow, political
gamesmanship from a White
House unwilling to take the
bold action necessary to solve
one of the countrys most
pressing issues.
Department of Justice Files Suit Against Arizona
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
Juan Pena, o Las Vegas, Nev., holds up a sign in protest o the new Arizona immigrationlaw, at the Arizona Capitol in April. Since Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the
controversial law, the state has aced a backlash rom advocacy groups and rom local,
state and ederal governments.
Arizonians are understandably frustratedwith illegal immigration, and the federalgovernment has a responsibility tocomprehensively address those concerns.
prosecuted or wanted to
engage in, Steele said
during a July 1 speech in
Connecticut. It was the
president who was trying to
be cuteipping a script
demonizing Iraq, while
saying the battle really should
be Afghanistan. Well, if hes
such a student of history, has
he not understood that you
know thats the one thing you
dont do, is engage in a land
war in Afghanistan?
The comments spawned a
clamor of calls for his ouster
from the usual suspects and
less common sources.
Steeles remarks were
wildly inaccurate, and
theres no excuse for them,
said Sen. John McCain
(R-Ariz.), on ABCs This
Week. The former GOP
presidential nominee added,
I think that Mr. Steele is
going to have to assess as to
whether he can still lead the
Republican Party as chairman
of the Republican National
Committee and make an
appropriate decision.
Sen. Lindsey Graham
(R-S.C.) added his own
censure, calling the
chairmans remarks an
uninformed, unnecessary,
unwise, untimely comment.
William Kristol, editor of
the conservative publication
The Weekly Standardcame
right out and asked Steele
to leave after a tenure
marked by gaffes and
embarrassments.
[Do] an act of service for the
country you love: Resign as
chairman of the Republican
Party, Kristol wrote in his
July 2 column. He added,
Your comment is more
than an embarrassment.
Its an affront, both to the
honor of the Republican
Party and to the commitment
of the soldiers ghting to
accomplish the mission
theyve been asked to take on
by our elected leaders.
Since Steele issued a
statement backpedaling
from his remarks, and after
a weekend spent reaching
out to GOP leaders, hes said
little about his plans.
The chairman has so far
survived the criticism heaped
on him throughout a tenure
fraught with allegations
of anemic fundraising,
questionable spending,
staff shake-ups and cringe-
inducing comments. And,
politicos say, hell likely
survive his latest lapse.
Ousting the partys rst
African-American chief
would provide an unwanted
spectacle heading into
this years congressional
racessomething the GOP is
unlikely to chance. Instead,
the party is taking him out of
the equation.
Everyone is basically
working around him, said
former GOP Rep. Vin Weber
of Minnesota, who added
that Steele has marginalized
himself further with every
gaffe.
Republicans have sort
of put together a mode of
operation for this election
cycle that does not put the
RNC chairman in a central
role, Weber said. Thats not
the optimal way of handling
things. But in a very strange
way that gives him some
protection because theres no
urgency to replace himno
matter how grave of a misstep
he made.
But when Steeles term
ends in the next six months,
he will nd it almost
impossible to win a re-
election to his ofce, Walters,
the political analyst, said.
I doubt his Republican
friends will be willing
to support him again,
the former University of
Maryland professor of
politics told theAFRO. Hes
proven hes a liability in the
public arena.
Associated Press writer
Liz Sidoti contributed to this
story.
Continued from A1
Steele Talks Himself into Irrelevance
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
In this July 15, 2008, fle photo Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., then a Republican presidential
candidate, laughs with Michael Steele, who now heads the Republican NationalCommittee. Steele has been chastised by McCain and other GOP leaders or hiscomments on the war in Aghanistan.
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By Melanie R. Holmes
AFRO Staf Writer
The mayor, city
organizations and state
ofcials are closing in on a
serial killer in Baltimore Cityresponsible for a growing
death toll among its youngest
residents.
Infant mortality is dened
as the death of a baby before
age 1. In 2008 Baltimore
Citys infant mortality rate
(IMR) was higher than thatof Hong Kong and Malaysia
with 12.1 per 1,000 births, up
from 11.3 the preceding year.
With the launch of BMore
for Healthy Babies, a four-
level public health initiativedesigned to reduce the citys
IMR and promote healthy
families, more mothers shouldbe able to see their children
grow. Immediately reducing
the number of infants dyingfrom preventable deaths
in Baltimore is a critical
goal, said Rafael Lopez,president and chief executive
of the Family League. Butwere also trying to build
community awareness of
the issue and, ultimately,strengthen policies and public
systems that will help educate
families and protect infantsfor years to come.
BMore for Healthy
Babies is a three-yearinitiative with a mission to
ensure all babies born in
Baltimore have a healthy birthweight, are carried through a
full-term pregnancy, and are
ready to thrive in families thatcan make healthy decisions
for the child. The city has a
high rate of babies born pre-term and underweight, key
factors in infant mortality.
Last year, more than 120infants in Baltimore under
age 1 died, with many of thedeaths being preventable.
Losing even one infant
to a preventable death is atragedy, Mayor Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake said in a
statement. Last year, 27babies in Baltimore died
while sleeping. Twenty-six
of them were not put to sleepsafely. These babies might
still be living if they had been
put to sleep alone, on theirbacks and in a crib. With the
BMore for Healthy Babies
initiative, we will be doingeverything we can to educate
families and the communityabout how to prevent these
kinds of infant deaths.
The initiative operateson four levels improving
policies and public systems,enhancing services for
expecting mothers and
families, building community
involvement and engagingfamilies and individuals
in healthier practices.Although it is citywide, the
Patterson Park North and
East, Upton/Druid Heightsand Greenmount East
communities will be primarytargets.
The U.S. ranks 39th in theworld for infant mortality,
with Black babies accounting
for 13.7 percent of infantdeaths double the rate
of infant mortality amongWhite babies according
to Hugh Mighty, chief of
obstetrics and gynecology at
the University of MarylandMedical Center. Among
African Americans in 2008,
14.3 infants in Baltimore
City died per every 1,000
Black babies born. CareFirsthas already committed $3
million to support BMore forHealthy Babies.
Every infant death inBaltimore City is a harsh
reminder that we should be
doing more to help mothersreceive the care they need to
have healthy births and carefor the fragile lives they takehome, said Chet Burrell,
CareFirst president and CEO.
Our partnership is part of aconcerted effort to remove the
social and economic barriersnow preventing mothers
in need from the care and
support services that can savetheir babies lives.
A4 The Afro-American, July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010
Doc Set for Next LevelContinued from A1
Mixed Feelings on TaxContinued from A1
For more inormation and or programs and events listing, go to
www.AfricanAmericanCulture.org
Reginald F. Lewis Museum830 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 | (443) 263-1800(two blocks east of Inner Harbor)
Learn the stories o two disenranchised groups Jewish proessors who fed
Nazi Germany and Arican-American students at historically black colleges
where the reugee proessors taught.
April 23 toSeptember 26, 2010
Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges was created and is circulated by theMuseum o Jewish Heritage A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
the originally desired $11 million, theresno doubt many city employees are grateful
for the dollars that promise to save jobs and
preserve much needed services.With the June 24 passage of the highly
debated beverage tax, Mayor Stephanie
Rawlings Blake thanked the Council forapproving almost all of my Comprehensive
Plan to x the worst budget crisis in the Citysmodern history with more than $70 million
in tough spending cuts and $42.9 million innew revenue. Her statement said the plan
would fully fund the citys obligation to
public schools, maintain every single policeofcer, reduce rehouse closures, and keep all
community libraries open all without raising
property taxes.Consumers will not be taxed on beverage
purchases but in most cases will see an
increase in the prices.
the branch and reminded us of its continued
necessity.
Among the branchs most recentaccomplishments are its challenge to Wells
Fargos banking practices and obtaining a
settlement on questionable police arrests. Italso received the NAACPs 2009 National
Thalheimer Programmatic 1st Place 1-Abranch award and the publication award of the
same name.
His supporters agree, however, that theachievements are just too many to mention.
Bringing branch meetings back to the
original meeting place, Union Baptist Church,tops the list for the Rev. Dr. Al Hathway Sr.,
Unions pastor.
He has re-established the branch as aviable and integral part of the communitys
fabric, Rev. Hathaway said. Hes committed
to addressing the issues that most affect
people.
Taking on uncomfortable criminal justiceissues is what strikes Alfreda Robinson-
Dawkins, executive director of the National
Womens Prison Project. He unabashedlyholds onto the mission of the NAACP and
holds government ofcials accountable topeople of color and speaks out for folks caught
in the system, while also establishing help for
their return to the community.A life member of Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity, Cheathams hope for the future of
the branch is a stronger connection with thefaith-based community to engender increased
membership and involvement. For himself, he
hopes that his longstanding record of walkingthe walk as a freedom ghter will speak for
itself in his future endeavor.
Courtesy photo/W@H Creative+
BMore for Healthy Babies is working to reduce the infant mortality rate by bettereducating families and strengthening public policies.
City, State Seek End to Infant Mortality
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Community
July 9
Forever PhyllisBest Western Ballroom,
1800 Belmont Ave.,
Baltimore. 8 p.m. Experiencethis birthday tribute to Phyllis
Hyman and enjoy a light
buffet. For more information:410-265-1400.
Baltimore Caribbean
Carnival Festival 2010Druid Hill Park, 2600
Madison Ave., Baltimore.
5 p.m. Come and enjoy this
festival in the park featuringauthentic Caribbean cuisine,
dancing, and steel drum
bands. For more information:410-230-2969.
The Ivan Smart Mob
An Die Musik, 409 N.
Charles St., Baltimore. 8 p.m.Hear the funky sounds of this
jazz fusion band. $20. For
more information: 410-752-7121.
July 10Heaven 600 Gospel SeriesCruise
The Spirit of BaltimoreShip, Inner Harbor,
Baltimore. 12-2 p.m. Enjoylavish all-you-can-eat buffets
and live gospel entertainment.
$38.44-$51.74. For moreinformation: 866-312-2469.
The Project Mayhem All-
Star Comedy JamThe Hippodrome Theatre,
12 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore.
8 p.m. In this night of laughs,
hear the comedies of RedGrant, DeRay Davis and
Lil Duval, in support of
Project Mayhem, a non-proft
organization supporting
inner-city youth. $27-$57.
For more information: 410-837-7400.
July 11
Dark to Light: BeingHuman
The Living Well, 2443
N. Charles St., Baltimore.
3-7 p.m. In this photographyexhibit, check out the work
of Tya Anthony, a local
photographer that capturesthe life, style and love of
her subjects. $7. For more
information: 410-258-8773.
July 14
Warm WednesdaysFive Seasons, 830
Guilford Ave., Baltimore.
8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Experiencethe ultimate venue in spoken
word featuring talented artists
across the region. $5. Formore information: 410-207-
9832.
Harborplace Family FunDay
Harborplace, Light
Street Pavilion, 200 E. Pratt
Street, Baltimore. 10-11 a.m.Bring the family out to this
event featuring kid-friendly
entertainment as Harborplacecelebrates 30 years. For more
information: 410-243-1333.
July 15
Third Thursdays at the
LewisReginald F. Lewis
Museum, 830 E. Pratt St.,Baltimore. 5-8 p.m. Come
out for a night of fun and
delicious food. $5. For moreinformation: 443-263-1800.
July 16-18Artscape 2010
140 West Mount RoyalAve., Baltimore. Varioustimes. View the work ofover 150 artists, fashiondesigners and craftspeople atthis visual arts experience.The event also features liveperformances from MusiqSoulchild and Maysa. Formore information: www.artscape.org.
July 18Women 2 Women 4 Women
Oakland Manor, 5430Vantage Point Road,Columbia, Md. 7-11 p.m.Meet women from across theregion and receive guidanceand direction in all areas of
life. This event features food,a cash bar, live performancesand more. For moreinformation: 443-738-8350.
July 19Get Fit at Your Library!
Enoch Pratt Free Library,Waverly Branch, 400 E. 33rdSt., Baltimore. 12-2 p.m.Get your Monday workoutto popular line dances,
hip hop, Caribbean and
African rhythms. For moreinformation: 410-396-6053.
Calendar
By Stephen D. Riley
AFRO Staf Writer
David B. WrightMemorial Foundation(DBWMF) director andfounder Shawnte Wright stillremembers Feb. 4, 2009 adate shell never forget. Thatwas the day that her husband,David Bryan Wright, aMarine Corps veteran, was
fatally shot by three teenagemales in a botched robberyattempt.
Rather then blamethe youth that not onlydrastically altered her lifebut the lives of her threechildren, the longtime
Baltimorean established a
foundation in her husbandsmemory as a means ofsupport for troubled teens.
The foundation wasstarted as a result of myhusbands death and I justwanted to turn a negativeinto a positive, Wright said.
I was kind of tired of thecommunity and the studentsthat are struggling out herewith survival and stoppingthe violence. [I wanted]to give them an impact ofknowing that education is farmore important and we can
help them to prolong theirlife and do better things.
Only two years into itsexistence, the DBWMFcontinues to make strides inuplifting members aroundthe Baltimore communitythrough various avenues.The foundation helps
relatives of victims of
crime and bereaved familymembers while providingresources and educationalsupport services for drugrecovery and shelter homes.
Additionally, the foundationalso engages teens withhealthy development of lifeskills and provides severalafter-school services thathelp to educate both childrenand adults
The DBWMF will host
its second annual State ofRestoration and FamilyUnion Conference later thisyear in September aboardthe Spirit of Baltimore. Theconference will address theissues surrounding victims ofcrime that have impacted thelives of families and students.
In May, members of theDBWMF took a tour ofthe University of MarylandMedical Centers ShockTrauma Center to exposeteens to the positive and
negative consequencesassociated with decision-making. According to one
student, the visit was asuccess.
I think it went very wellbecause a lot of people sawhow violence can affecta person as well as otherpeople at the same time,said 17-year-old PattersonHigh School student and
program participant BrittanyPalmer. It just helped merealize that everything youdo has a consequence.
Although her foundationis still fairly new, Wrightadmits that her program has
made signifcant strides so
far and the plan is to keep the
ball rolling.So far weve been able
to partner with other outreachcommunity advocates andwere involved in tryingto help and get referralsto teenagers, students,possible students as well
as elementary and middleschool students. Wevebeen doing peer groupsupport in local libraries anddifferent community events.Were currently doing fundraisers [and] were inthe process of raising the
foundation money to actuallyaward scholarships for high
school students that want togo to college.
Local Woman Turns Miseryinto Mentoring
Courtesy Photodavidbwrightmemorialfoundation.com
Shawnte Wright hasstarted a oundation since
the death o her husband,
David B. Wright, a MarineCorps veteran, who was
tragically murdered by
three youths.
For more information on
the David B. Wright Memorial
Foundation, please visit:
www.davidbwrightmemorial
foundation.org
Dr. Ruthe T. Sheffey, aprofessor of English andlongstanding member ofthe Department of Englishand Language Arts atMorgan State University,was honored recently ina dedication ceremonyat the UniversitysCommunications Center.
Dr. Sheffey, a MorganState alumna, has been aprofessor at the celebratedinstitution for more than 60
years, and is internationallyrenowned for scholarshipand as an educator. She isalso the founding presidentof the Zora Neale HurstonSociety, and editor of theZora Neale Hurston Review.Her name is now a part ofMorgan State Universityhistory with the namingof The Ruthe T. SheffeyLecture Hall in the Schoolof Communications.
Dr. Sheffey has inspiredsuch students as PulitzerPrize winning writerJames Alan McPherson,presidential speechwriterTerry Edmonds (Clintonadministration) and singerToni Braxton.
Morgan Honors Esteemed Professor
Courtesy Photos
Dr. Ruthe T. Shefey and childhood riend Councilwoman Agnes
Welch.
Dr. Ruthe T. Shefey at the dedication o a lecture hall named in
her honor.
Maurice Ashley, the frst and
only African-American international
grandmaster of chess, visited Huber
Memorial Church in Baltimore June 21-25,leading a chess camp for local children.
The camp, open to 41 children in grades
K-eight, taught all levels of chess and
helped the students improve the skills. The
Huber Knights of Valor Chess Mentoring
Program hosted Ashleys Making Chess
Champions class.In addition to working with youth
around the country, Ashley has trainedcelebrities such as Will Smith, Jay-Z and
Wynton Marsalis.
Chess Trailblazer Teaches Camp forLocal Kids
Courtesy Photo
Maurice Ashley works with local youth as they learn more about chess.
By AFRO Staf
The Howard University Family MedicineResidency Program at Howard University
Hospital and the College of Medicine was
recently named the 2010 recipient of theAmerican Academy of Family Physicians
(AAPF) Foundation Pfzer Immunization
Award.According to a press release, the storied
Washington, D.C. university was one of 10
recipients of the award, which is given tofamily medicine residency programs that
have achieved excellence in clinical practiceby developing creative solutions that result
in increased immunization rates in their
community according to AAFP.Dr. Richard G. Roberts, J.D., president of
the AAFP Foundation, said he hoped other
institutions will follow the efforts of Howard
and the other schools recognized for their
contributions.Thanks to immunizations, deadly
diseases like small pox and polio no longerkill or disable millions, Roberts said in a
statement. Getting our children immunized
at the right time protects them and improvesthe health of our community.
Dr. Femi Adenuga, program director for
the Family Medicine Residency Program,interim director of the Department of
Community and Family Medicine at the
College of Medicine and the hospital, saidmembers of the program were thankful
for the award and see their work as acommunity effort.
We strive to give back to the
community, said Adenuga, also president-elect of the hospitals medical and dental
staff, in a press release. This is a way
that we can help prevent diseases among
children.
Howard Family MedicineResidency Wins National Award
Baltimore Youths Visit Atlanta with Mentoring Group
Photo by Bill Tabron
From June 24-27, Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood Kings traveled to Atlanta or a
three-day tour o CNN, The King Center, Coca Cola, Morehouse College and un. Thegroup, which aims to expose young Baltimore-area men to male role models and new
experiences, departed rom Coppin State.
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8/9/2019 Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, July 10, 2010
6/16
By Melanie R. Holmes
AFRO Staf Writer
After completing a 20-pageapplication, writing nine essays
and waiting for three weeks, Jerusa
Miller was elated when she received
notication that she was a nalist forthe Gates Millennium Scholarship.
Juggling the workload of threeadvanced placement courses, on
top of extracurricular activities as a
senior at Woodlawn High School, attimes discouraged her from nishing
the time consuming application.But her hard work paid off. Out of
20,000 applicants nationwide, Miller
was one of 1,000 winners to have allexpenses paid for their undergraduate
and graduate educational pursuits.
Im just an average girl thatworked for it and I got it, she said.
I feel honored.
Administered by the UnitedNegro College Fund, the scholarship
is awarded to minority high schoolstudents who have at least a 3.3
grade point average and have
demonstrated strong leadershipskills through community service or
extracurricular activities.Miller graduated with a 3.78,
was the vice president of her
class, manager of the girls varsity
basketball team and a mentorin the 100 Strong Female Role
Models program. But she benetted
most from the Advancement Via
Individual Determination program.
Ive been in the AVID programfor three years, Miller said. Its
basically a preparatory programfor college-bound students. Its for
students who just need the extra
motivation. I lled out a bunch of
little scholarship applications here
and there but there were two big ones
my teacher always talked about.One of those scholarships was
the Gates. Now, with her nancial
award, Miller will study atmosphericscience and meteorology at
Millersville University ofPennsylvania in the fall and plans
to earn her masters degree and
doctorate in similar areas of study bythe time she is 28 years old.
In eighth grade I did a unitin meteorology and I was really
intrigued by that, she said. I also
thought thats something there will
always be a demand for and theres ahigh demand for African-American
females.
The youngest of ve children,
Miller said her family does not have
a history of completing college,which is all the more reason they
are so proud of her. She preferred to
remain in Maryland for her studies,but could not nd a school that
offered the program she desires.
Nonetheless, she is pleased with herdecision to attend Millersville.
I went there and fell in love withit, she said. They have a lot to
offer.
Miller attended a predominatelyWhite middle school in Silver
Spring. At the beginning ofninth grade, her family moved to
Baltimore when her grandmother
became sick, so she completed
high school at Woodlawn, whichis predominately Black. Although
she said the drastic change inatmosphere caused
her to keep to
herself, her peerssoon began to
notice what type ofstudent she was.
People used to call me straight
A girl in the ninth grade, she said.But by the end of her senior year,
she became known as the Gates
Millennium Scholarship winner andhas received the praise of many of
her peers.
This is an opportunity thatminimal people receive, Miller said.
Its truly a blessing for me to haveit.
A6 The Afro-American, July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010
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Happy Place
Find your
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Find your
Find your
No matter what makes you happy youll find it in Baltimore.
Only Baltimore has this many unexpected things to see and do all in one place.
To find your happy place this summer visit BmoreHappy.com
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Courtesy Photo
Jerusa Miller is one of 19
Maryland students to win theGates Millennium Scholarship.
Average Girl Wins Major Educational Award
race in Baltimore City is
the one shaping up between
longtime Baltimore CityStates Attorney Patricia
Jessamy and defense attorneyGregg Bernstein.
Bernstein, a former
federal prosecutor, made asplashy announcement of his
candidacy earlier this weekwhen he was introduced bynone other than amboyant
Baltimore defense attorney
Warren Brown.Brown, who has irted
with the idea of running
for ofce, including states
attorney several times over
the years, proclaimed manyof the criminals he has
represented dont fear being
prosecuted in BaltimoreCity, presumably because
of Jessamys role as the
Baltimore states attorney.Bernstein made his
announcement with his
wife Sheryl Goldstein byhis side, which of course is
not unusual. However, whatis ironic is Goldstein is the
director of the Mayors Ofce
on Criminal Justice and oftenworks closely with the states
attorneys ofce.
As I said at the beginningof this column the ling
deadline for the 2010
Election passed with fewsurprises, including the much
anticipated rematch between
former Maryland Gov. Bob
Ehrlich and the man whodefeated him current Gov.
Martin OMalley.However, I would argue
what is surprising is the
results of a recent poll,which has Ehrlich ahead of
OMalley by about threepoints. Granted the poll wasconducted by right-wing
mouthpiece, The Washington
Times, so some OMalleysupporters are taking the
results with a grain of salt.But, in a state with one
of the lowest unemployment
rates in the nation andOMalley recently receiving
an award from the National
Education Association forbeing, Americas Greatest
Education Governor, it
seems like the Marylandgovernor should have fared
better in just about any poll.
The reality could be the sameanti-incumbency sentiment,
which may have adverselyimpacted Ehrlich when
George Bush was president,
may be resonating with manyin 2010 with Barack Obama
in the White House.
Stay tuned
Sean Yoes is a former staff
reporter and contributing
writer to the AFRO.
The Games BeginContinued from A1
Im just an average girl that workedfor it and I got it. I feel honored.
By Gregory DaleAFRO Staf Writer
Imagine waking up early
and taking three buses just
to get to work. For someBaltimore residents, this
is a reality. But a local
organization aims to changethe lives of these individuals
by providing them with keys
to their own car, thus settingthem on the road to nancial
independence.Vehicles for Change is an
organization that is committedto selling refurbished vehicles
to low-income families at
low costs. Once a vehicle isdonated to VFC, they repair
it and ensure that it passes
through state inspection.Then, by partnering with
various shelters, job
training and job readinessorganizations, the group
identies certain low-income
individuals in dire need of
reliable transportation to getthem to their jobs. The cars
are then sold to these people
for $700 and they receive a12-month loan.
Our goal is to get them a
car that theyre going to gettwo years or 24,000 miles out
of, VFC President Martin
Schwartz told the AFRO in arecent interview.
Since its inception in1999, VFC has impacted the
lives of over 9,000 individualsthroughout Virginia and
nine counties in Maryland.
The organization recentlypresented vehicles to two
Baltimore women whose
nancial income would have
been in limbo had it not had
been for the vehicles they
received.Were thrilled to continue
our mission of empoweringMaryland families to live
more independent livesby providing them with
the opportunity to seek
and maintain gainfulemployment, Schwartz said
in a statement.
VFC recently teamedwith Wal-Mart, as the mega-
corporation donated $35,000
to further assist in their effortsto provide reliable vehicles to
local residents. The only waywe can award cars for $700 to
families is if we can get some
subsidized foundation money,so Wal-Mart stepping up and
providing that [donation]
allowed us to award 15 morecars to families in the area
that we would have not been
able to do, Schwartz said.Its a great partnership and
Wal-Mart does a lot more
for the community than theyreally get credit for.
Wal-Mart RegionalSupervisor Rhoda Washington
believes the corporationsassistance to the VFCprogram provides her
with a once-in-a-lifetimeopportunity to touch the
lives of people right withinher community. Im from
Maryland and I was raised
[here], Washington said.It is a very humbling and
tremendous opportunity to be
a part of.For Schwartz, seeing
the families reactions after
receiving their cars is enoughsatisfaction for him. Its like
theyre 16 again, they get soexcited, he said.
At Baltimores recent VFC
event, Schwartz noticed thereaction a son had when his
mother received a vehicle.
With his mothers new car, heis now able to play basketball
at his local high school. To
see that young fellow beingreally excited to know that his
dream of being able to play
basketball was going to cometrue...theres no other feeling
like it, Schwartz said.
For more information onVehicles for Change, visit:
www.vehiclesforchange.org.
Local Nonproft Provides Vehicles or Families in Need
afro.com
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8/9/2019 Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, July 10, 2010
7/16
July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010, The Afro-American A7
I was honored whenSpeaker Nancy Pelosi namedme as a House negotiatorin our marathon effort toseek the Senates agreementon how best to make WallStreet and the big nancialinstitutions more accountable.I also knew that achievingtrue reform would be adifcult ght.
It took us days ofnegotiation capped by a20-hour bargaining session but, nally, we were ableto reconcile the House andSenate versions of the WallStreet Reform and ConsumerProtection Act[H.R. 4173].
As I write these words, the House has approved our bill[237-192], but Senate approval of our reconciled bill is still indoubt. With all due respect to our Senate colleagues, Americacan no longer afford to wait.
During our conference committees long hours of debate, Iknew that neither failure nor delay is an option.
For eight years, President Bush and congressionalRepublicans looked the other way as Wall Street and largenancial institutions exploited loopholes and gambled ourmoney on complex schemes.
Our communities and small businesses have paid the price.We have lost an additional 8 million jobs and as much as $17trillion in retirement savings and net worth while millions ofour neighbors are in danger of losing their homes.
The time for more oversight and restraint of large nancialinstitutions is at hand.
As a nation, we must put behind us the idea of too big tofail. We cannot afford any more taxpayer bailouts.
After the days that we spent in that very difcult series ofnegotiations, I knew that we could be proud of what we hadaccomplished. Consider just some of our more importantreforms.
Americans deserve an end to the predatory lending practices
of our recent past. We need theprotection that our new ConsumerFinancial Protection Bureau wouldprovide.
Federal regulators must havethe legal tools that would allowthe prudent restructuring of toobig to fail nancial organizationsbefore irresponsible behavior couldagain threaten our entire economy.Those tools should be paid for bythe nancial industry itselfnot byAmericas taxpayers.
Our economy can move forwardagain but only if we limit the typesof risky nancial practices that causedthe current nancial crash. Ourapproval of a strong Volcker Rulewill limit excessive speculation bylarge nancial rms.
Wall Street must learn to operatewithin strengthened oversight by theSecurities and Exchange Commission,hedge funds must operate in the lightof day, and credit rating agencies must operate under far more
penetrating oversight.Shareholders must have a say on pay about executivecompensation, and small businesses will have expandedprotection against unreasonable credit card fees.
Equally important, our legislation will help the millionsof Americans who now are in danger of losing their homesbecause their incomes have been slashed in a sluggisheconomy.
During the last 15 months, Ive sponsored four foreclosureprevention seminars, and thousands of distressed Baltimorehomeowners have attended. Black, White, and HispanicAmericans - they all were in tears.
As Americans, we must do better than this.I was gratied that the conference committee accepted my
proposal for the creation of a $1 billion fund - underwrittenwith remaining TARP funds - that would provide low-interestbridge loans to homeowners facing foreclosure.
Our committee also approved my provisions requiring
lenders to notify borrowers of all the consequences ofrenancing or accepting a home equity loan, to disclose their
policy regarding partial payments, and to inform borrowershow their escrow payments will be applied.We are witnessing the harsh economic consequences of
the ideologically-driven regulatory failure of our recent pastmillions of jobs lost, millions of homes lost, and a multi-trilliondollar decline in retirement savings.
Now, American nancial institutions must change.President Obama once reminded us that his election was the
opportunity to work for constructive change. The Congress hasbeen doing that work, and, now, the American people deservethe results of our labor.
Now is the time to enact Wall Street and consumerprotection reform.
Our nation has no more time for delay.
Congressman Elijah Cummings represents Marylands7th Congressional District in the United States House ofRepresentatives.
July 4 marked 234 yearsof U.S. independence. Andalthough Americas ongoing
melting pot experiment is theoretically unbiased to Blacks,Latinos and Muslims, the Southern Poverty Law Center reportsthat hate groups, like the well-armed Hutaree militia, haveincreased 200 percent since President Obamas 2008 election.
Texas, the former rebel republic and current headquarters ofthe Guardians of the Free Republic is now waging new ethnicand ideological battlefronts by arming schoolchildren withconservative-bent textbooks that re-sculpt some of Americasmost traditional outlooks. In Arizona, new immigrationlegislation now gives a tacit eyewink for police to round up andshakedown Latinos. And if you didnt know, the catchy sloganIf you see something, say something is a discreet way of
saying keep a close eye on all Muslim people.The resulting rifts over the civil liberties of U.S. citizens andObamas recent speech on immigration reform, offer a perfectplatform to dissect the denition and discrepancies of We thePeople as spoken of constitutionally and historically.
It was German cartographer Martin Waldseemller whonamed the Western Hemisphere America in tribute to Italiannavigator Amerigo Vespucci in 1507. As early as 1782 whencolonists were still blasting their British kinfolk with musketballs, J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur posed the question Whatis an American? in his famed book Letters from an AmericanFarmer. So who exactly are We the People in modern termsand times?
Certainly, when these three simple but signicant wordswere rst penned in the U.S. Constitution in 1787, the foundersdidnt envisage America becoming a vast multi-ethnic societyin a world of international laws, where state-sanctioned slavery
could have them prosecuted today for the likes of war crimesand crimes against humanity.
Certainly, when the ironsted but seldom-mentionedPresident James K. Polk swiped an unprecedented 1.2 millionsquare miles of territory from Mexico as spoils of war in 1846,it was never intended for millions of Mexicans to sneak acrossAmericas border with impunity today. But as the sayinggoes, Mexicans arent crossing the border, the border hascrossed them.
And certainly for Japanese-American citizens, We thePeople became constitutionally meaningless when FranklinD. Roosevelt decreed Executive Order 9066, which unleashedthe U.S. military to mass-incarcerate 120,000 men, women, andchildren of Japanese ancestry during World War II.
While the malice of the founders and ethnic crackdowns
of Polk and Roosevelt do not detract from their Americangreatness, theres comparative objection from Blacks andliberal Democrats because the new textbooks in Texas placepositive spotlights on people like Jefferson Davis and SamHouston. Based on the outcry, youd think Davis and Houstonwere more crippling to the cause of African Americans than,say, George Washington or Thomas Jefferson.
If youve noticed, however, theres an overall process atwork to politically repackage the image and ideals of Americasfounding history. As such, despite centuries of knownethnic mistreatment and Whites-Only privileges, Americaconversely portrays itself as being uniquely constituted withrights and freedoms that were always meant for everyone topartake ... as though We the People signied Blacks, NativeAmericans, Latinos, Asians and even Muslims all along.
Sure, this promotes feel-good nationalism, especially duringthese days of protracted warfare in Muslim countries. But the
unedited political truth as cited in Foreign Affairs magazine isthat: For substantial stretches of U.S. history, it was believedthat only the people of English origin, or those who wereProtestant, or white, or hailed from northern Europe were realAmericans.
Although the founders bequeathed a largely-Anglo nation,what they didnt politically calculate were a few societalprobabilities ... That demographic shifts could eventuate aNew We the People, causing Anglo people to teeter onthe brink of becoming a minority on American soil, whereone man, one vote would become an establishment threat.Moreover, that the New We the People could send a Blackman to the White House in the 21st century.
On the downside, along with secretive hate groups, theNew We the People has attracted mainstream opposition
from tea partiers who openly aim to take their country back,which among other things is a coded expression of ethnicdispleasure. The fact that a group like the tea party has almostinstantly become a fully-nanced movement of scale is anomen that the New We the People can expect continuedethnic resistance well into the future.
Celebratory reworks and barbeques on the Fourth ofJuly masks the nations racial complexities for 24 hours. Yet,the much-hailed ideals that the Declaration of Independenceproclaims are still nevertheless A Dream Deferred, given thatlingering ethnic prejudices and political contradictions remainendemic 234 years later ... and still counting.
Ezrah Aharone is the author of two political books. He is a
founding member of the Center for Sovereignty Advancement.
He can be reached at [email protected].
Although the NAACP andRev. Al Sharptons NationalAction Network haveenthusiastically endorsedSupreme Court nomineeElena Kagan, two key legalgroups have so far refrainedfrom endorsing the formerHarvard law dean amidquestions about whether shewould be a strong civil rightsadvocate on the court.
That split underscores thecomplexities of a civil rightscommunity eager some sayover eager to support the
nations rst African-American president, and the legitimateconcerns of some highly-respected legal organizations in a
much better position to evaluate Kagans suitability to ll theseat vacated by Justice John Paul Stevens, a reliable liberalvote on the sharply-divided Supreme Court.
Mavis T. Thompson, president of the National BarAssociation, the largest organization of Black lawyers andjudges, said the group gave Kagan only a lukewarm ratingbecause of concerns about her positions on crack-cocainesentencing disparities and her record on diversity at Harvard.
Although Kagan is clearly qualied to join the court,Thompson said, We hope Ms. Kagans views on civil rightsand equal justice will become apparent during the conrmationhearings. To date, the NBA has withheld its endorsement due toinsufcient information to ensure that Ms. Kagans views areconsistent with the core missions of the organization.
Barbara R. Arwine, executive director of the LawyersCommittee for Civil Rights Under the Law, said herorganization voted not to take a position on Kagan. There isnta judicial record to review, indicating her views on critical civilrights matters, she told the Washington Post. And otherwise,
the civil rights record that exists is thin and mixed.Despite that mixed record, Sharpton issued a statement
saying, President Obamas nomination of Ms. Kagan a NewYorker who was a clerk for the Honorable Thurgood Marshalland who has shown balance and fairness throughout her career is worthy of the support of the civil rights community.
It took the NAACP just ve days to endorse Kagan. After acareful and thorough review of Elena Kagans record, we haveunanimously voted to endorse her nomination, President andCEO Benjamin Jealous said in a statement. By contrast, theNAACP took nine times as long to research Clarence Thomasbefore opposing his nomination.
Jealous, like Sharpton, noted that Kagan once clerked forlegendary Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. But makeno mistake about it Kagan is no Thurgood Marshall. Noteven close. When Marshall joined the court, no one questionedhis commitment to civil rights.
As a recent story in theLos Angeles Times observed,
Though Marshall was an unwavering liberal, Kagan alreadyappeared less so. Memos on le in Marshalls papers at theLibrary of Congress show Kagan to be cautious, skeptical and,at times, scornful of those who would push the law too far tothe left.
Because Kagan has not served as a judge, has writtencuriously little about major civil rights issues, and has a recordof courting conservatives, many are looking at her time atHarvard, her service in the Clinton White House and her shorttenure as solicitor general for clues on what kind of judge shemight become.
Critics note that of the 43 full-time faculty members hiredduring her tenure at Harvard, only two were Black and one wasAsian. After studying her record, scholars found that of the 32tenured and tenure-track faculty appointments under Kagan,only one was a person of color (Asian) and seven were women.
Kagans defenders argue that the law school faculty, not thedean, makes the nal decision on hiring. But Kagan supporterscant have it both ways. They cant argue convincingly that she
represented only one vote, while taking credit for her bringingin more conservative faculty members.
For example, President Obama in his nomination speechsaid, At a time when many believed that the Harvard facultyhad gotten a little one-sided in its viewpoint, she sought torecruit prominent conservative scholars and spur a healthydebate on campus.
She was so successful in attracting conservative facultymembers that the right-wing Federalist Society gave her astanding ovation at one Harvard banquet. On its Web site, thegroup carries this quote from Kagan: I love the FederalistSociety ... They are highly committed, intelligent, hard-working active students who make the Harvard communitybetter.
Many prominent conservatives have endorsed Kagan,including Charles Fried, solicitor general in the Reaganadministration; Ken Starr, the person who prosecuted BillClinton; and Theodore Olson, who served as solicitor general
for George W. Bush. Those endorsements have raised theeyebrows of progressives.
With conservatives holding a 5-4 edge on the SupremeCourt, Obama cant afford to be wrong about Kagan.Other presidents have lived to regret their Supreme Courtappointments. President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointedEarl Warren as chief justice in 1953, feeling certain he wouldbe a reliable conservative vote. However, Warren moderatedhis views and became one the courts most consistent andinuential liberals.
Eisenhower would later say Warrens appointment was thebiggest damn-fool mistake I ever made. We can only hope thatObama wont have to say the same thing about Kagan.
George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emergemagazine and the NNPA News Service, is a keynote speaker,moderator, and media coach. He can be reached through hisWeb site, www.georgecurry.com You can also follow him atwww.twitter.com/currygeorge.
The New We the People
Rep. Elijah
Cummings
The Time for Financial Reform is Now
George E. Curry
Opinion
Two Lawyers Groups Have Reservations about Kagan
Ezrah Aharone
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8/9/2019 Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, July 10, 2010
8/16
A8 The Afro-American, July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010
By Stephen D. RileyAFRO Staf Writer
Dr. Tom Grace has been
performing plastic surgery
in Baltimore since 1990,
but his voice still becomes
animated when discussing
recent medical advances.
Most recently, the St. Agnes
Hospital surgeons excitement
was ignited by an evolving
technique that uses human
skin to aid the process of
breast reconstruction for
breast cancer survivors.
Contrary to belief, the road
to recovery doesnt end for
breast cancer patients once
their treatments are nished.
For many convalescents,
specically those that undergo
mastectomies, the next
phase to full recoveryboth
mentally and physically
is breast reconstruction.
Mastectomy typically
destroys everything inside the
breast including the nipple
and areola and a fair amount
of skin in some cases, leaving
the breast at after treatment.
Plastic surgeons then try
to rebuild the breast to its
regular appearance utilizing
breast implants and human
tissue. Applying human tissue
for surgery is a technique
thats been used by surgeons
for years via cadaver skin,
but recent developments have
allowed for the use of donated
skin, lending to improved
results while minimizing the
risk of complications.
Its a technique weve
been using a lot since the 70s
or the 80s. About ve years
ago somebody gured out if
we take human beings skin
or a product of the skinnow
its been extended that some
companies use pig material
we can sew it to the muscle
to cover the implant,
Grace said. Theres less
complications, a better
looking breast reconstruction
Human Skin Now Used forBreast Reconstruction
Courtesy Photo
The AlloDerm
Regenerative TissueMatrix is one of several
innovative techniques
that surgeons use toreconstruct the busts of
breast cancer survivors
utilizing human tissue.
Health
If youre HIV+ and think you cant afford the medication you
need, theres something you should know.
MADAP CAN HELP.
The Maryland AIDS Drug Assistance Program (MADAP) helps cover thecost of many medications for low to moderate income people in Maryland
who are living with HIV/AIDS.
There are exciting, new drugs in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Dont miss out
because you cant afford them.
Call MADAP today.
410-767-6535 Baltimore Area
1-800-205-6308 Toll Free in Maryland
410-333-4800 tdd
MADAP is a program of the AIDS Administration
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Feel Good Friday
Friday, July 23
9 to 11 a.m.
Includes continental breakfast
Harbor HospitalsWaterfront Baum Auditorium
3001 South Hanover Street
Baltimore, MD 21225
Knee Pain Seminar
Are you skipping out on activities because your knees ache? If so, it might be time to get help. JoinJames E. Wood Jr., M.D., Harbor Hospital chief of orthopaedics, for a free seminar on the commoncauses of knee pain and treatments that are available. Registration is required; a light breakfast will beserved. To register, visit harborhospital.org/classesor call 410-350-2563.
James E. Wood Jr., M.D., is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon. He is one of the leading kneereplacement surgeons in the region, and was a fellow in sports medicine, working with the teamphysicians for the Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, Angels, Rams and Kings.
Look, honey, only 1,567 steps left to go.
Harbor Hospital is part of MedStar Health , a not-or-proft, regional healthcare system with nine hospitals and
more than 20 other health-related services in the Maryland and Washington, D.C., region. More than a hal-million
patients trust their care to MedStar Health each year. medstarhealth.org
www .afro .com
By AFRO Sta
As part of their efforts to warn youth about extreme alcohol
consumption, Montgomery Countys Keeping It Safe (KIS)
coalition on Under 21 Alcohol Prevention has administered
educational posters to every school and liquor store in the
county that explain the dangers of binge drinking and alcohol
poisoning.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recently produced the Youth Risk Behavior Survey which
found that nearly one in four high school students across the
country have had ve or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting
over a 30-day period. The CDC estimates that extreme drinking
contributes to approximately 75,000 deaths a year.
Our youth need to hear a consistent message from all
corners of our community, said KIS Coordinator Meg Baker
in a statement. And, while our focus remains on preventing
under-21 consumption of alcohol, we understand that some
of our youth will continue to consume alcohol, and we want
them to be aware of the dangers of binge drinking and alcohol
poisoning.
Stephanie Quinn, a student intern in the Montgomery
County Police Department and a member of the Keeping It
SAFE Coalition, created the poster idea. Four posters were
selected from Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Richard Montgomery
and Walt Whitman high schools, and were reproduced and
delivered to every Montgomery County high school.
Even kids who dont drink alcohol sometimes come
across others who do, said Quinn in a press statement.
Reacting appropriately to a potential alcohol poisoning victim
could be life saving.
For more information, call 240-777-6652 or visit www.
montgomerycountymd.gov/kis.
Initiative Teaches MarylandStudents the Dangers of
Alcohol Poisoning
and the like. Its a technique
thats been around for a long
time [but] this newer materialhas really made the technique
a lot better.
While most people would
chafe at the idea of donating
their own skin, cosmetic
surgeries such as liposuction,
abdominoplasties and others
have allowed patients to
willfully provide excess
and unwanted skin without
hesitation. Because the top
layers of provided skin arent
used by surgeons in the breast
reconstruction procedure,
cross matching different races
of skin is acceptable.
The biological material
from the skin that we use
you can use anybodys on
anybody, its not rejected,
Grace said.
Perhaps the most
challenging part of the
reconstructive process for
patients is learning their
alternatives. A recent study
by the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons reveals that
seven of every 10 women
facing breast cancer do not
know their reconstructive
options. Although several
resources and outlets are
readily available, study
results suggest women are
not informed properly about
breast reconstruction options
post-mastectomy.
Despite the lengthy history
of breast reconstruction
procedures, awareness of
advancement in cancer
recovery is something that
still eludes most patients.
But its knowledge physicians
worldwide are trying
diligently to promote.
Whats exciting about
being a physician is that
youre always looking for
new and better things, Graceadded. So when we nd
things that are newer and
better its even more exciting
to people like me.
For more information
on breast reconstruction
and other related
matters, visit www.
breastreconstructionmatters.
com.
Courtesy Photo
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8/9/2019 Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, July 10, 2010
9/16
July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010, The Afro-American B1
Photos by Bill Tabron
On June 20, former radio host and Baltimore-based media personality
Marc Clarke hosted the Always Daddys Girl father-daughter dance,
featuring a JF, hors d oeuvres and more.
The event, held at t he Frederick Douglass Maritime Museum, was created
to highlight the special bond between girls and their fathers.
Marc Clarke
Kierra, Kevin
and KeyonneSimpson
Sydney and
Byron Cooper
Indira, Bryanand Sims Alston
line dance
Ahesahmahk
E. Dahn, CEO of
City Ranch
Akilah and
EdwardBazemore Bobby Marvin and
Raniya Holmes
Attendees enjoya father-daughter
dances
The Rev. MarlonTilghman, Edwin Avent,
co-founder; Marcus
Franklin and Rod Carter
Kalabe Haile, IsaacRichardson and
Girume Achenafe
Ellwood Lane and
Craig Menzel
Marvin Tilghman and
Carol Ford
Kyran Abraham Jr., Kendall Newman,
Dion Lawson and James Bennett
Vickie Ballou-Watts,
Claude and Vincent
Watts
Black Professional Men, a nonprot organization created to
address the economic, social and political concerns of African
Americans, recently held its 17th awards ceremony honoring
community leaders.According to the groups Web site, the Rays of Hope
Breakfast is an opportunity for Black Professional Men,
Inc. to showcase its mentoring program, and to oer
scholarships to deserving Black male students from the
Baltimore metropolitan area. In the past fourteen years, BlackProfessional Men Inc. has awarded scholarships to more than
90 deserving African-American male high school
graduates.
The program took place at the Sheraton Baltimore City
Center Hotel and aimed to raise $13,000 in scholarships for theyoung men aliated with the BPM.
Kalan McGee, Hailey
Boutte, Dynasty Covell andTiany McGee
Erica and WandaFreeland sell ne
jewelry and goods.
The Rev. Dr. Charles E. Coger,
pastor of Mt. Ararat Baptist
Church, and his granddaughterOleshia Vines
Daleiah Brown
enjoys a ponyride as Aaron
Wheeler of CityRanch guides
the horse.
Gloria Williams, Robinette White,
Cathy Blackwell, Aubrey Gordonand Bernice McNair
Lachrista Alsina andJimmy Wilkens
Darryl Stokes,Anita Jackson and
Craig Menzel
Baltimores Mt. Ararat
Baptist Church recentlyhosted a community
fair featuring pony
rides, giveaways, food,fellowship and fun.
Photos by Bill Tabron
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8/9/2019 Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, July 10, 2010
10/16
B2 The Afro-American, July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010
By Stephen D. Riley
AFRO Staf Writer
The New York Knicks
knocked down the rst major
domino in the NBAs free
agency period by coming toterms with former Phoenix
Suns forward Amare
Stoudemire, inking the ve-time NBA All-Star to a ve-
year, $99.7 million deal July 5.
Stoudemire represents therst name of a popular free
agent group to sign a deal this
offseason, and hopes to pavethe way for the Knicks to
possibly add another.I feel great, really,
about being a pioneer,
Stoudemire told reportersat his introductory press
conference. Its a situation
where no one wanted to makethat rst move and I felt
condent enough to take thatrst step, and hopefully now
we can bring in a few guys to
join us.Stoudemire admitted he
has spoken to LeBron James
and is actively
recruiting himto join him
in New York.Im denitely
going to reach
out to himagain and see
if we can get
him to come.I really have
no reading on
which wayhe is leaning
at all. But,
again, hestotally open
right now; hehasnt made a
decision yet,
and hopefully Ican get him to
choose us.
The
Knicks have
spent the lasttwo seasons
clearing cap
room to lure big time freeagents to the Big Apple
with the appeal of a major
market and millions ofdollars. Several sportsniks
have speculated that James
would head to New York
under the enticement of themedia spotlight that the city
would bring. Although Jameshas been heavily linked to
the Knicks, his leaving the
Cleveland Cavaliers woulddepend mightily on a strong
supporting cast, which the
Knicks have now upgradedwith Stoudemires signing.
Despite a rash of injuries
over the past few years,Stoudemire has averaged more
than 20 points per game in
four straight seasons. He willbe rejoining head coach Mike
DAntoni, whom he playedfor from 2003 to 2008 before
DAntoni left to become the
Knicks head coach.DAntoni made a pitch
himself to help land another
marquee free agent by tellingreporters, If somebody wants
a real good basketball playerto play with and win a title
... this could help get the
dominoes falling.Free agent deals cannot be
made ofcial until July 8.
More Sports on Afro.com
www.aro.com
By Bilal Salaam and Perry GreenAFRO Contributor and AFRO Sports
Editor
Coppin State Universitys new
Physical Education Complex has
become the hot spot for collegeathletes looking to stay in shape
during the summer. But during the
past week, the $136 million centerwas lled with a great amount of
not-quite college-aged kids.They were all participants of
the 2010 Charles Choo Smith
Summer Basketball Camp.One might assume a bull in a
china shop effect ensuing when
more than 100 youths, some as
young as 6 years old, are given freerein to such an open environment.
Not so.Grouped by age, each kid worked
on basic skills such as shooting,defense, free throws, rebounding,
posting and pivoting and off-hand
layups.Choo, a former Original Harlem
Globetrotter and native of Baltimore,
sees a lot of himself in the campparticipants. Thats why he puts so
much energy into molding each of
them individually.Nothing is too simple to me,
says Choo. Im never afraid to go
over the top and take risks, becausethats what I believe it takes to be on
the next level.Thats how he came up with the
Four Ls (Love it, Learn It, Live
It, Lead It), a motto that he uses toencourage the camp participants,
Choo added.Its so important to love and
be passionate about everything you
do, and then it becomes natural tolearn how to do it better, he added,
explaining the Four Ls. Once you
learn, you have to live what youlearn, and then nally you have to
lead by example.
The Four Ls are visible ineverybody who works with Choo,
including youths and adults.Jawuan Wilson, a 16-year-old
even-keeled teenager, has been with
the camp since its inception in 2006,when the camp was stationed at
New Town High School.
Wilsons mother, Vicki,
excited about the changeshe saw in Jawuan after
his rst year, decided tovolunteer her services.
Ive enjoyed watching howhes grown, and not just basketball-
wise, said Vickie Wilson, who
couldnt hold back a few emotionaltears when overhearing Choo
explain the Four Ls to theAFRO.
It really touched home becauseIve witnessed how my son has
progressed through each of the four
phases and now hes at the pointwhere hes evolving into a leader
both on and off the court.
Wilson cant imagine her sonworking with anyone else but Choo,
who considers Jawuan as one ofhis best pupils in the camps ve-
year history.
[Jawuan] was about 10 yearsold when he rst started the camp.
He was a pudgy, mild-mannered kid,but he was always excited about the
game. This year, hes dominated his
age group and now every school inthe area is after him.
The coaches (including Arthur
Lewis, Omar Smith, KevinEnglish and
Lamar Pennick) are also inspiredby Choos ability to mold youths
with sound fundamentals.
Arthur Lewis met Smith just afterplaying junior college basketball,
and instantly learned to exude
positive energy into every endeavorhe takes on.
We have fun here, said Lewis
after balancing a ball on the backof his hand and punch-passing it
to Choo. Just because you dothe right thing doesnt mean
you cant have fun. You just
have to love doing the rightthing.
Lamar Pennick, also
a coach and former
college basketball player,appreciates how the camp
narrows the gap betweenlife and basketball.
We try to keepthe game simple, but
we also teach the kids
how to play chess, readthe daily paper and keep up
on current events, Pennick
said. We emphasize thedevelopment of communication
skills.
In addition to talented ballplayers, Smith also has won the
support of business/marketing
tycoon Mel Butler, who personallyadmired Smiths commitment to
the youths of Baltimore.There are few who are
genuine about their passion
and vision for young people,said Butler, who now holds
the title of chief operations ofcerfor Smiths camp. I decided that
this was a worthy cause when I
found out that he was conductinga camp that he paid for out of his
pockets for four years.
While watching Choo and Arthurexchange Globetrotter-style basketball
tricks among one another, Butler
mentioned a few events scheduledto help support the camp, including
the rst annual Choo Smith CelebrityCharity Golf Tournament on July
26. Butlerwho has 40 years of
marketing experience both nationallyand internationally, including ties to
the founding of Baltimores rst ethnic
festival, Salute to Soul Festival,
precursor of the African AmericaHeritage Festivalwants to help
attract more positive attention to whathe considers as Baltimores best kept
secret.Its amazing that we have
an Original Harlem Globetrotter
running a youth camp right here inthe backyard of our own city and
almost no one knows about it,
Butler said.Choo said he hasnt done much
to promote the camp in the past
because he wanted to keep it on amore personal level, so that original
campers could return and continue to
grow and mature under his guidance.But were at the point where
were ready to evolve to the nextlevel, Choo said, one step at a time.
For more information, see www.
chooyouth.com.
AFRO Photo/Anderson R. Ward
Former Original Harlem Globetrotter Charles
Choo Smith has closely mentored 16-year-
old Jawuan Wilson, molding him into aleader both on and o t he basketball court.
Meet Choo Smith: Baltimores Best Kept Secret
By AFRO Sta
NFL quarterback Jamarcus Russell was recently arrestedand charged with possession of codeine syrup, according to
police reports.The 24-year-old former Oakland Raiders quarterback was
arrested from his home in Mobile, Ala., on July 5 during an
undercover narcotics investigation, Mobile County Sheriffs
spokeswoman Lori Myles told reporters. Myles did notspecify exactly what led to Russells arrest, but did mention
that while several people were present at the quarterbacks
home when poli