insight news ::: 4.9.12

Suluki FardanTurning Point employees wear hoodies to work in solidarity for Trayvon Martin. Front row left-right: Cletus Smith, Dr. Peter Hayden, Lee Wright, Leo Johnson, Liz Reed,

Gail Costa, Angela Reed, Doris Johnson and June Dean. Back row left-right: Cedric Williams, Howard Ellis, Greg Jones, Larry Scott, Roblee Perkins and Jeff Cayo.

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PoliticsHouse passes $3.5 trillion 2013 budget

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EducationCostain: Some parents don’t care about integration

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PollObama leads Republican rivals

BusinessWorld bank likely to tap Nigerian Okonjo-Iweala for top job

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DFL endorses Champion in District 59 convention59B faceoff: Cole, Dehn, Alexander My heart goes out to Trayvon

Martin’s family and to everyone in Sanford, Fla., who is calling for justice and accountability. But also I hope the political activity around his murder ripens into something truly sustainable: an advocacy movement for African-American crime victims. African Americans in the criminal justice system are usually stereotyped as defendants. But the truth is they also represent a disproportionate percentage of victims. Survivors and their families often cannot get adequate police attention, just

like Trayvon’s family, and sadly perpetrators go unaccountable as George Zimmerman has so far. However, it’s not just the operators of the system who need to have more empathy for black crime victims. The larger

community sometimes views the violent deaths of young black men and women as typical and expected. Too often we view black murder victims similar to how society views female rape victims. We wonder what the victim did to bring it on – hence the whole business about whether Trayvon should have been wearing a hoodie. It’s outrageous that the police didn’t arrest Zimmerman for shooting Trayvon Martin. They also didn’t confi scate Zimmerman’s gun, test him for mood altering substances, or begin a murder investigation. Zimmerman would have the right to argue self-defense,

For DFL delegates of Sen. Dist. 59B (formerly 58B), convention day began at 8 a.m. and 11 hours later, they were still unable to endorse a candidate for the soon-to-be vacant house seat. The seat, currently held by Rep. Bobby Joe Champion is up for grabs as Champion is running to become the district’s state senator.

A movement for justice and accountabilityBy U.S. Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN)

By Harry Colbert, Jr.Contributing Writer

U.S. Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN)

Representative Bobby Joe Champion 59B TURN TO 7 JUSTICE TURN TO 3

Hip hop artist, Brother Ali tells the crowd that he “has the complexion for protection” when it comes to being racially

profi led by society.

Photos: Harry Colbert, Jr.Izaak Raspberry, 10, Cydne Washington, Larry Wright, 10 and Thomas Washington, 12, hold a banner with a picture

of Trayvon Martin. The banner reads. “TRAYVON: AMERICA’S SON”

Th ousands of Minnesotans rally for justice; call for arrest in Trayvon Martin case

Nearly 5,500 Minnesotans – most in hooded sweatshirts – gathered outside of Northrop Auditorium on

the University of Minnesota campus demanding justice for Trayvon Martin.

Martin, a 17-year-old high school student, was shot and killed in Sanford, FL on Feb. 26 by self-appointed neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman. Martin, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, commonly known as a “hoodie,” was unarmed and was walking home from a nearby convenience store when he was approached by Zimmerman, who had been following

Martin and called police to alert them of a “suspicious” individual in the gated community. According to Zimmerman, Martin assaulted him (a claim in which much of the evidence that has come to light seems not to support) and he shot and killed Martin in an act of self-defense, he said.


MARTIN TURN TO 7

Terra Cole

MORE ON PAGE 5

HARMONICA MASTER JAMES COTTON

Sunday, April 29, 2012 at Famous Dave’s BBQ & Blues, 3001 Hennepin Ave in Minneapolis, MN.

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April 9 - April 15, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 38 No. 15 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.comApril 9 - April 15, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 38 No. 15 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

INSIGHT NEWS

• April 9 - April 15, 2012April 9 - April 15, 2012 • Insight News insightnews.com

Obama’s Feed the Future initiative supports food securityWASHINGTON -The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Monday, April 2nd, that international food assistance in fi scal year 2012 will benefi t more than 9.7 million people worldwide under USDA’s Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition programs. “These two international food assistance programs are important tools in the U.S. effort to support global food security and sustainable agriculture production through President Obama’s Feed the Future Initiative,” said Michael Scuse, Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. “With the world’s

population expected to top 9.3 billion by 2050, these programs lay the foundation on which food-insecure nations can meet the needs of their citizens and build more vibrant economies.” Under the programs, USDA purchases U.S. commodities and donates them to government agencies and private-voluntary organizations in targeted countries. Food for Progress recipients in developing countries and emerging democracies sell the commodities and use the funds to introduce and expand free enterprise in the agricultural sector. For example, a past Food for Progress program in Bangladesh trained farmers to develop prawn nurseries,

which generated more than $1 million in farmer income over two years. The McGovern-Dole Program focuses on low-income, food-defi cit countries that are committed to universal education. Participants either use or sell the donated U.S. commodities to support education, child development, and food security. For example, in Mali, more than 45,000 children and adults in 120 schools have been fed by Catholic Relief Services with help from the program. The commodities USDA is donating include U.S.-produced corn-soy blend, cornmeal, dehydrated potato fl akes, dried beans, lentils, rice, sorghum, soy oil, soybeans, soybean meal,

vegetable oil and wheat. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service administers both the Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole programs. More information can be found at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/food-aid.asp.

USDA’s food aid programs contribute to the goals of President Obama’s global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future. Feed the Future is part of a multilateral effort launched at the L’Aquila World Summit on Food Security in 2009 to

accelerate progress toward the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty and suffering from hunger by 2015. More information on Feed the Future can be found at: http://www.feedthefuture.gov.

A Republican-proposed federal budget for the 2013 fi scal year that would cut taxes for the wealthy, restructure Medicare and slash federal spending cleared the House of Representatives March 28 with no support from Democrats,

and opposition from ten GOP members. The legislation passed on a vote of 228-191. The $3.53 trillion proposed budget is not expected to pass the Senate, which is currently controlled by Democrats, due in large part to continuing confl icts over spending and tax breaks. “Empty promises from Washington won’t pay our bills, strengthen our health and retirement programs, fi x our economy or create jobs. Such

irresponsibility will, however, lead to a debt crisis that will fundamentally change America for the worse,” said House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) immediately after passing the measure. “The Path to Prosperity budget tackles our generation’s greatest domestic challenge: reforming and modernizing government to prevent an

By Alexis TaylorSpecial to the NNPA from the Afro-American Newspaper

AP Photo/Manuel Balce CenetaRepublican Conference Chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, right, and House Majority Whip

Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, leave a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thurs-day, March 29, 2012, after Republicans pushed an election-year, $3.5 trillion budget through the

House on Thursday that relies on biting spending cuts and a revamping of Medicare to curb massive federal defi cits.

BUDGET TURN TO 5

House passes $3.5 trillion 2013 budget

Dawn E. Campbell, Minneapolis, Dr. Chia-Yin Lo, Golden Valley, and Joseph Neuberger, Saint Paul, were recently elected trustees to the Metropolitan State University Foundation. Campbell, vice president–fi nancial advisor for Bernstein Global Wealth Management, has been in the fi nancial services industry for 19 years. She holds a B.A. in journalism and economics from the University of Minnesota. Lo is a staff dentist at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis. She holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities and a D.D.S. from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. She is pursuing board certifi cation from the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. Neuberger is a 32-year veteran with the Saint Paul Police Department and is senior commander for the Eastern Patrol District. He is a U.S. Army Military Police veteran, served with the U.S. Army National Guard, completed the Saint Paul Police Academy and the University of Louisville–Southern Police Institute, and holds a B.S. in police science from St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis. The Metropolitan State University Foundation generates private and public support for Metropolitan State University and assists the university in accomplishing its mission and maintaining its leadership role as an innovator in higher education.

Metropolitan State welcomes three new trustees to foundation board

Dr. Chia-Yin LoDawn CampbellPhotos courtesy of Metropolitan State

Joe Neuberger

insightnews.com Insight News • April 9 - April 15, 2012April 9 - April 15, 2012 •

The 2012 David Dinkins Leadership and Public Policy Forum: Voting Rights v. Voter Suppression focused on a recent wave of legal measures which threatens voter participation. NAACP president Ben Jealous

delivered the keynote address. The Forum took place on March 26 at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs. Pictured left to right: Ester Fuchs, professor of international and public affairs and political science; Fred Harris, director of Columbia’s Institute for Research in African American Studies and professor of political science; Elinor Tatum, publisher and editor-in-chief of the New York Amsterdam News; Benjamin Jealous, president of the NAACP; Ted Shaw, professor of professional practice, Columbia Law School and Rodolfo de la Garza, professor of political science.

Poll: Obama leads Republican rivals

President Barack Obama holds a slim lead in Pennsylvania, according to a new poll, which also gave the president a bigger edge in two other important swing states, Florida and Ohio. “Obama is on a roll in the key swing states. If the election were today, he would carry at least two states. And if history repeats itself, that means he would be re-elected,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, which released the poll this week. If Pennsylvania voters had to choose today between Obama and Republican Mitt Romney, Obama would edge out Romney by a razor thin margin

of 45 percent to 42 percent. The president would more easily win re-election over former Sen. Rick

Santorum. Quinnipiac showed Obama winning a hypothetical contest with Santorum by 48 to

41 percent. The poll makes it clear that, of the two present Republican contenders, Pennsylvania voters prefer Romney. “He remains the stronger of the two major GOP contenders. Voters in Pennsylvania still see Romney as better able than the president to fi x the economy,” Brown said. Pennsylvania voters turned Santorum out of offi ce in 2006, and the poll suggests they still distrust him. “Although he is a native son, Rick Santorum runs worse against Obama in Pennsylvania than does Mitt Romney,” Brown said. “The former U.S. senator also is liked the least.” Results were similar in Florida and Ohio. In Florida, the poll showed Obama winning over Romney 49 to 42 percent. Santorum again

fared worse than Romney in a potential vote, garnering support from just 37 percent of Florida voters, compared to 50 percent for Obama. Quinnipiac also showed Ohio voters choosing Obama 47 percent to Romney’s 41 percent. The president would also beat Santorum in Ohio with 47 percent to 40 percent for Santorum. While Obama held a lead in each of the three states, Brown noted that most polls have a margin of error of roughly three points, which means that Obama faces his greatest challenge in Pennsylvania. Obama’s lead in Ohio and Florida has widened over the last two months. “Two months ago, President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney were in a statistical tie in Ohio and Florida,” Brown added.

“The biggest reason for the president’s improving prospects probably is the economy.” About 57 percent of respondents said they felt the economy was beginning to recover. The poll did not break down support for each candidate by race, but did report that women in all three states prefer Obama by six to 19 percentage points. It also found that for voters the biggest issues were, in descending order: the economy, unemployment and health care reform. Social issues like abortion and gay marriage, which have been at the core of Santorum’s campaign, ranked ninth on the list of concerns. Contact staff writer Eric Mayes at (215) 893-5742 or [email protected].

By Eric Mayes, Special to the NNPA from the Philadelphia Tribune

President Barack Obama

2012 Dinkins Forum examines voter supression

but in front of a jury during a trial and not during a short arrest. This movement to gain justice for Trayvon could potentially change the way society treats all black homicide victims. The marches, speeches, and hearings occurring nationwide really represent a cry for society to recognize Trayvon’s dignity and his inherent value. He’s a young, black victim who was gunned down and –here’s the kicker—the authorities have mishandled every stage of this tragedy. The reason this tragedy has ignited a passionate outcry stems from the total lack of respect for the victims, the deceased as well as the living. The challenge is whether demonstrators’ legitimate cries can cause sustainable change. The need is awesome. In 2010, 1.4 million Americans were victims of serious violent crimes including rape or sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault. Government reports found blacks were also disproportionately represented among homicide victims. Blacks were six times more likely than whites to be homicide victims. Minnesota statistics are very similar in our community and these crimes have exorbitant societal costs. How do you start calculating the value of a life? Begin by acknowledging individuals are irreplaceable. Consider the costs to birth, feed, educate, house and raise a child into adulthood. Can you estimate the loss of human potential including earning potential? What about the cost to prosecute and incarcerate perpetrators? And what are the emotional, healthcare, and other costs for the survivors who must rebuild their shattered lives? We must begin to consider these matters and organize ourselves because today’s crime victim—especially a young victim— is often tomorrow’s criminal defendant. One of the books on this subject that truly impacted my thinking is Murder is No Accident, by Deborah Prothrow-Stith and Howard R. Spivak. The authors analyze murder as a public health problem, not simply a random sad event or an individual’s moral failure. This issue deserves more consistent study so we can better insulate our communities from this behavior and its damaging effects. Help is available but there is evidence that more people need access to the system. For example, between 1993 and 2009 only nine percent of serious violent crime victims received direct assistance from a victim service agency. But victims who received such assistance were more likely to see an arrest made in the case or to have contact with

a non-law enforcement criminal justice offi cial, such as a judge or prosecutor. At the very least these agencies should become a bigger part of the social service net. In a few months, Trayvon Martin’s name will fall out of the news cycle, and folks will move on. But there won’t be

any “moving on” for the people who knew and loved him. I can’t imagine the loss of one of my children and every parent knows they could never be the same after such tragedy. But instead of letting Trayvon’s life fade from view we should honor him by building a

lasting system to advocate for the overwhelming number of African-American crime victims and our communities.

Keith Ellison has represented the Fifth Congressional District of Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives since taking

offi ce on January 4, 2007. The Fifth Congressional District is the most vibrant and ethnically diverse district in Minnesota with a rich history and traditions. The Fifth District includes the City of Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs.

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Insight News is publishedweekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

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EDUCATIONCostain: Some parents don’t care about integration

A group of about 50 citizens – many education professionals – gathered to discuss integration in the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) and hear what is being done to improve academic achievement. Pam Costain, president and CEO of AchieveMpls, expressed that Minneapolis has unique challenges when attempting to achieve school diversity. She said though the city is increasingly more diverse in its population, the housing trends tend to be very segregated, making school integration more challenging. Unlike some other cities

that have faced court mandated school desegregation, students and parents in Minneapolis can choose from schools within the district, or schools in the western suburbs. And though area schools have a more diverse student population, the achievement gap for students of color versus their white counterparts is one of the largest in the nation. Costain said many parents of color are less concerned with how diverse a school is, but how well their children are learning. “Some parents say, ‘I don’t care about integration anymore; just educate my child successfully,’” said Costain. Helen Bassett, a member of the Minnesota State Task Force on Integration, disagrees

with the sentiment that we are beyond the need for school integration. “Some of the things we see in the news today show us that integration does not happen naturally,” said Bassett. “The students’ well-being is at the center. We all have a story to tell and these stories are vital to the overall narrative of society.” Bassett said school integration is as much a benefi t

for the white students as it is for students of other ethnicities. “I feel some (whites) are at a disadvantage when they get out into the broader world if they haven’t been exposed to other ethnic groups and cultures.” James Burroughs, executive director of the Offi ce of Equality and Diversity for MSP said achievement for students of color is a new priority when discussing issues of diversity.

“When the original court ruling came down, it stated schools must integrate, it didn’t deal with achievement,” said Burroughs. “Now we’re tying the dollars we spend to student achievement. If a program isn’t working (to better student achievement), we’ ll discontinue funding.” Minnesota currently receives $108 million in funding for its integration and

diversity initiatives. The meeting was a part of the AchieveMpls “Our City, Our Schools” monthly series, which is designed to help educate the community on a variety of public education issues. The next AchieveMpls forum takes place on April 26 at Anwatin Middle School, 256 Upton Ave. S in Minneapolis. The forum begins at 6 p.m.


Harry Colbert, Jr.James Burroughs,executive director of the Offi ce of Equality and Diversity for Minneapolis Public Schools

listens to a group of citizens discussing school integration.


AESTHETICSHarmonica master James Cotton

Grammy Award-winning harmonica master James “Mr. Superharp” Cotton and his band will perform at Famous Dave’s BBQ & Blues in Minneapolis on Sunday, April 29, 2012. Cotton’s latest CD, the Grammy-nominated Giant, is his long-awaited return to Alligator Records. Cotton, who in 2012 is celebrating his 68th year as a professional musician (starting at the age of nine), has recorded almost 30 solo albums, including two highly-regarded releases for Alligator in the 1980s and the famed Harp Attack! with Junior Wells, Carey Bell and Billy Branch in 1990. In 2011, Cotton won three Living Blues awards: Male Blues Artist Of The Year, Most Outstanding Musician--Harmonica and Best Blues Album for Giant. Over the course of his storied career, Cotton has seemingly done it all. As a small boy he learned harmonica directly from Sonny Boy Williamson. He toured with Howlin’ Wolf, recorded for Sun Records, and spent twelve years with Muddy Waters before stepping out on his own. Leading his own band, he rose to the very top of blues and rock scenes, touring the world non-stop and earning his reputation as one of the most powerful live blues performers in the world. Giant is a ferocious blast of brash boogie blues. Produced by Cotton, Jacklyn Hairston and Derek O’Brien and recorded by Stuart Sullivan at Wire Recording in Austin, Texas, Giant features twelve tracks, including four new

Cotton originals and co-writes, alongside songs made famous by Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Ivory Joe Hunter and others. Throughout his career, Cotton has always led great bands, and the players on Giant are no exception. With guitarists/vocalists Slam Allen and Tom Holland, bassist Noel Neal and drummer Kenny Neal, Jr., Giant

is not just a reminder of Cotton’s legendary status, it is a vibrant, hard-hitting album made by one of the true blues masters. Giant reaffi rms James Cotton’s high-compression blues harmonica playing is a true force of nature. As The San Francisco Examiner says, “James Cotton is an inimitable blues legend. His wailing harmonica blows them

away. His improvisations on the blues are full of fun and good humor. The blues don’t get much better.” In June 2010, Cotton was honored at New York’s Lincoln Center, where his friends Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Taj Mahal, Shemekia Copeland and

others paid tribute in an all-star concert. There James Cotton played to yet another sold-out venue, with fans cheering the man known worldwide as “Mr.Superharp,” an undisputed giant of the blues. Performance date: Sunday, April 29, 2012 at Famous Dave’s

BBQ & Blues, 3001 Hennepin Ave in Minneapolis, MN. Call for more information: 612-822-9900. Showtime: 9:00pm. Ticket price: $15 advance / $20 day of show. Website: www.famousdavesbluesclub.com

Paul NatkinJames Cotton

explosion of debt from crippling our nation and robbing our children of their future,” he said. The House-passed budget would restructure Medicare to give future seniors a fi xed stipend to buy health insurance and shrink Medicaid spending by limiting the federal contribution to a federal-state sharing arrangement. It would also eliminate $105.8 billion in federal student aid over the next ten years, bar Pell Grants for part-time college students, according to an analysis by the Association of Community College Trustees and cut the number of Head Start students by 200,000 according to a statement by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. The budget will also decrease individual tax rates and reform the current tax system. Currently, there are six tax brackets that call for individuals to pay taxes up to 35 percent, depending on income. The proposed legislation would set up just two brackets, one charging 10 percent, and the other a maximum of 25 percent. The proposed budget provoked heated responses almost immediately, even though the prospects for enactment are dim. “House Republicans today banded together to shower millionaires and billionaires with a massive tax cut paid for by ending Medicare as we know it and making extremely deep cuts to critical programs needed to create jobs and strengthen the middle class,” said Carney. Prior to the passing the budget bill proposed by Ryan, both a Democratic version and a conservative option were ruled out. President Obama’s 2013 FY budget proposal was also nixed late Wednesday in a House vote. Read more: http://w w w . n n p a . o r g / n e w s /house-passes-3-5- t r i l l ion-2 0 1 3 - b u d g e t - m e d i c a i d -s t u d e n t - a i d - h e a d - s t a r t -slashed/#ixzz1qzA12iVw

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HEALTHChantel SinGs: Spreading awareness through music

Black women have twice the odds of infertility

A mother, singer/songwriter, actress, and radio show host, Chantel SinGs is a woman of many talents.

She is also a survivor of ovarian cancer. Born in Chicago, SinGs used music as a tool to endure hardship. “I’ve always been a singing bird since a little girl.” she said. “We didn’t grow up with much,” SinGs recalls. “Sometimes the lights were cut

off and all we had was a radio, batteries and cassette tapes. I would rock in the dark and I would sing and dance front and center.” Similar to her life experience, SinGs musical infl uences vary. Her father favored alternative rock music such as Jimi Hendrix and Grand Funk, while her mother favored artists such as Michael Jackson, Anita Baker, The O’Jays, and Phil Collins. “I like music that uplifts, or speaks the truth about issues and problems we all go through,” SinGs said. SinGs hosted “We Fight Against Cancer” earlier this year at the Imperial Room in downtown Minneapolis. The event promoted the awareness of ovarian cancer and acknowledged survivors of other types of cancer. The event celebrated SinGs as a six-year survivor of ovarian cancer. “I was diagnosed around December of 2005. It was something I didn’t expect. One day I’m feeling perfectly fi ne,

then literally the next day I was down to 95lbs,” SinGs said. “I was sick in the house for two weeks straight before I actually called an ambulance for myself. I didn’t believe my illness was that severe.”

The doctors told SinGs she had a tumor the size of a grapefruit. “It was kind of like the sitcom House, where three

PRNewswire/ -- Infertility affects one in eight couples or 7.3 million people in the U.S. 12% of women of reproductive age experience diffi culty having a baby and Black women have twice the odds of infertility compared to white women. 11.5% of Black women report infertility compared to 7% of white women but yet studies indicate that Black women use infertility services less often. Why? “In the past, there was a lack of attention toward the problem of infertility in minority

women, and most marketing campaigns of infertility awareness and treatment were not directed towards us. This resulted in a lack of awareness about infertility as a disease and about avenues for seeking evaluation and treatment,” says Dr. Desiree McCarthy-Keith, the newest reproductive endocrinologist to join Georgia Reproductive Specialists. “Cost of infertility services can be prohibitive to couples from all ethnic backgrounds and cost may be a factor for some Black women as well,” she continues. “I believe lack of access to infertility care and limited awareness about evaluation and treatment options can also be substantial obstacles that keep many women from receiving the care that they need.” A leading cause of infertility among Black

women is uterine fi broids. Black women develop uterine fi broids at a younger age than white women and the incidence of fi broids is higher in Black women at every age, compared to white women. By the end of the reproductive years, the incidence of uterine fi broids in Black women is 80%. As a result, Black women have hysterectomies for treatments of fi broids more often than women from any other ethnic group. Dr. McCarthy-Keith, whose medical research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of uterine fi broid regulation, states that “Black women are disproportionately affected by uterine fi broids and uterine fi broids are a common diagnosis among Black women undergoing infertility treatment.” Dr. McCarthy-Keith looks forward to educating

and promoting infertility awareness within the Black community. The low incidence of public awareness in some minority communities is something Dr. McCarthy-Keith hopes to improve. “I am very passionate about increasing awareness of causes of infertility, its evaluation and available treatment options in these underserved areas,” she says. “My goal is to empower women with information which will allow them to seek infertility care when necessary and to take advantage of the infertility services that we have to offer,” she adds. Dr. McCarthy-Keith earned her medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and also a Master of Public Health in maternal and child health from the University of North Carolina. She completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency training at Duke University Medical Center and a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. She has special interests in fertility evaluation, uterine fi broids and reproductive health disparities. Dr. McCarthy-Keith was a lieutenant commander in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and held the position of assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. She is board certifi ed in obstetrics and gynecology. “This is an exciting time to practice reproductive medicine and nothing makes me happier than to help couples reach their goal of building a family,” says Dr. McCarthy-Keith.

By Ivan B. PhiferStaff Writer

Alaina LewisChantel SinGs

SINGS TURN TO 8

According to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, while the ninth most common cancer among women, ovarian cancer is the fi fth leading cause of cancer-related death among women, and is the deadliest of gynecologic cancers. Mortality rates are slightly higher for Caucasian women than for African-American women. Approximately 1.2 percent of all women were diagnosed under age 20, 3.5 percent between 20 and 34, 7.3 percent between 35 and 44, 19.1 percent between 45 and 54, 23.1 percent between 55 and 64, 19.7 percent between 65 and 74, 18.2 percent between 75 and 84, and 8.0 percent 85+ years of age. There were 15,460 deaths for 21,090 cases of ovarian cancer in 2011. For more information visit http://www.ovariancancer.org/about-ovarian-cancer/statistics/


“It wasn’t a hooded sweatshirt that killed Trayvon; it was a gun,” said Jacob Frey, an attorney and community activist. Frey warned that the “Stand Your Ground” law that is believed to be hindering an arrest in the Martin case is being proposed in Minnesota. “How many victims must be shot before we stand up to the NRA (Nation Rifl e Assoc.)?” Nekima Levy-Pounds had a much more personal message. “Pres. Obama said, ‘If he had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.’ Well I have a son and his name is Trevon (pronounced the same). I fear for his safety daily,” said Levy-Pounds, whose son is 9-years-old. “It’s about justice for every young Black male.”

The hoodie clad crowd – many of them who carried signs of protest – was particularly moved by white hip hop artist, Brother Ali. “Truth is, I have the look where I can put on my hood and feel safe because I have the complexion for protection,” said Ali. “We have to do some soul searching. We’ve got to fi nd out what happened to our soul.” The nearly two-hour rally mirrored rallies in other cities across the nation as a part of the Million Hoodies for Trayvon Martin movement. Following the rally thousands took to the nearby streets in a peaceful, but spirited march. Traffi c was briefl y snarled due to the impromptu march. A grand jury is set to convene Apr. 10 to decide whether or not cha rges will be brought against Zimmerman.

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Photos: Suluki Fardan

He received the party’s endorsement for senate in overwhelming fashion, gaining 81-percent of the delegate votes versus his rival, Troy Parker. However, in a crowded field of seven, none were able to garner the needed 60-percent of delegate votes to secure the party endorsement for the house seat in 59B. In what essentially was a three-person race, just over 20 votes separated front-runners Raymond Dehn, Ian Alexander and Terra Cole. Four votes

were taken before delegates agreed to not offer an official endorsement for the seat. Without a DFL endorsement, the candidates will head into the primary without much-desired DFL funding. The DFL will however fully back the winner of the open primary in his or her bid against any challenger in the November, general election. In addition, because the party could not agree upon an endorsed candidate, currently elected DFL officials are barred by party rules from endorsing a candidate in the primary as well. Dist. 59B encompasses much of North Minneapolis including the Broadway corridor and extends to

downtown. The district was recently redrawn to include formerly south, Bryn Mawr. Insight News has endorsed Cole. The party delegates in 59A

voted to endorse incumbent, Joe Mullery. Dist. 59A extents throughout northwest Minneapolis towards Brooklyn Center.

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LIFESTYLETips to get your kids gardening this spring

Bike Walk Twin Cities trains area law enforcement agencies on pedestrian and bicycle safety

(StatePoint) Spring is here and it’s time to think about your garden again. This year, as you cultivate your thriving plot, think about ways to get your whole family involved in gardening -- which makes for a great fresh air activity. Not only is gardening a terrifi c way to spend time with your kids, but it also regularly gets them outside and away from their TVs and computers. Here are some tips to get your little couch potatoes growing

potatoes instead:

Teach Kids are never too young to learn how plants grow and where their food comes from. In fact, growing a garden is an ideal hands-on lesson in life science, ecology and nutrition, and is a lot more fun than simply hitting the books. However, some of the concepts of gardening may be diffi cult for younger kids to grasp. Fun age-appropriate learning activities

and ideas can be found online, at such websites as MiracleGro.com/kids .

Grow Giving your kids their very own gardening projects will help motivate them to cultivate their green thumbs. A gardening set designed with kids in mind is a great way to get them started. For example, Miracle-Gro Kids offers a variety of fl ower and vegetable gardening sets that

provide an optimal environment for growth, and an opportunity to watch plants progress both indoors and outdoors. Be sure to invest in age-appropriate tools for your children to use, so they can dig in the soil and water the plants right alongside you.

Harvest Now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, literally. Once your plants are ready for harvest, work with your kids to fi nd great-tasting recipes

they will love, incorporating the foods grown by you. From vegetable pizza to salad to fruit smoothies, the nutritious meals you plan and make together will be extra satisfying when you know the ingredients came from your own backyard.

Enjoy You’ve worked hard pruning, weeding and watering your plants, and now, you have a blooming garden to show for it. Don’t forget to teach

your children the importance of appreciating the beauty of nature. Take a break to sit back, relax and enjoy your garden, as you contemplate what crops and fl owers to include the following year. Cultivating your garden and watching it grow need not be a solitary activity this spring. By getting your children involved in the process, you will teach them valuable skills they can use for the rest of their lives.

Bike Walk Twin Cities is providing essential educational materials and training in April and May to help Twin Cities-area law enforcement agencies with enforcement efforts related to pedestrian and bicycle safety. The Bike Walk Twin Cities Toolbox of Enforcement Resources for Safe Walking and Bicycling is part of a federal pilot program to increase

bicycling and walking as forms of transportation. Since 2007, Twin Cities bicycling increased by 52 percent and walking by 18 percent, according to data from Bike Walk Twin Cities, a program of Transit for Livable Communities. “Enforcement is an important aspect of creating safer streets and more vibrant walking and bicycling communities, but most

public safety offi cers have not received specifi c pedestrian or bicycle enforcement training,” said Joan Pasiuk, program director of Bike Walk Twin Cities. “We are glad to focus on enforcement training and encourage local police departments to take advantage of the opportunity so offi cers can better enforce the rules of the road for all users.” Offi cers from the Saint Paul Police Department will be participating in the training. “While Saint Paul Police Department trains offi cers on issues that guide pedestrian, bicycle and motorist traffi c, we support education efforts that supplement our training and reinforce the importance of everyone understanding the laws that guide our community members’ travels,” said Saint Paul Police Senior Commander David Mathison. “Offi cers don’t enforce

laws that they do not know and they don’t enforce laws that they cannot defend,” says Peter Flucke of WE BIKE, LLC, who developed the training materials. Flucke, a former Minnesota law enforcement offi cer, has trained offi cers around the country in predicting and preventing pedestrian and bicycle crashes. The instructor-led sessions

will be held on April 18-19, and again on May 3-4, at the MnDOT transportation offi ce in Saint Paul. Twin Cities-area law enforcement departments interested in any of the Bike Walk Twin Cites Toolbox components listed should contact Roz Barker of We Bike, Inc ([email protected]). The deadline for signing up for the training sessions is April 13. The training sessions are targeted to communities involved in the federal nonmotorized transportation pilot program administered by Bike Walk Twin Cities, including Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Roseville, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Saint Anthony, Columbia Heights, Fridley, Brooklyn Center, Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, Saint Louis Park, Edina, Richfi eld, and Fort Snelling. Additional information is available at www.bikewalktwincities.org/news-events/news/public-safety.

Training available for local law enforcement agenciesMost law enforcement offi cers have received no specialized training to enforce laws protecting pedestrians and bicyclists Since 2007, Twin Cities bicycling is up 52 percent; walking up 18 percent Resources provided in the training package include statutory reference guide, materials for safety outreach, roll call videos, computer-based trainings and workshops (April 18-19, May 3-4)

or four doctors were trying to fi gure out my situation. The doctors couldn’t even fi gure it out.” “We prayed in the hospital and that’s what gave me strength. I really thought it was the end for me at that time,” she said. “It is a traumatic experience, mentally and damaging emotionally,” SinGs said. “Anybody who is a survivor defi nitely needs faith to pray about it. When you make it through and see others around you passing away, it hurts, but it makes you feel like you do have a purpose to be here,” she said. This reality helped shape

and create passion musically for SinGs. “I just like to get down to the real. When the party is over, the lights go out and the drinking is done, you are back to the reality and responsibilities of being an adult,” SinGs said. SinGs has produced and released her album Beautiful Dream available on Itunes, released November of 2011, serves as a co-host for Ray Richardson’s Back In The Day Sunday evenings 6-10pm on KMOJ 89.9FM, and is involved in play writing. “When nothing else works, when people let you down, and nothing else can get you through the day, all you can do is pray,” SinGs said. “At the end of the day, nothing got me through but God and my family. I could have never gotten through that by myself,” SinGs said.

SinGsFrom 6

Risk FactorsAccording to the National Cancer Institute, Women who have a mother, daughter, or sister with ovarian cancer have an increased risk of the disease. Also, women with a family history of cancer of the breast, uterus, colon, or rectum may also have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Older women who have never been pregnant have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Some studies have suggested that women who take estrogen by itself, or estrogen without progesterone for ten or more

years may have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.For more information visit h t t p : / / w w w. c a n c e r. g o v /cancertopics/types/ovarian

Symptoms may include:Pressure or pain in the abdomen, pelvis, back, or legs, a swollen or bloated abdomen, nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation, or diarrhea, feeling very tired all the time. Less common symptoms include: Shortness of breath, feeling the need to urinate often or unusual vaginal bleeding (heavy periods, or bleeding after menopause).


Nobody asked me, but the Florida Zimmermans must

be Republicans. They, like the Grand Old Party, seem committed to telling one lie after another until somebody believes two in a row. And the offi cial legal minds of Sanford, FL ought to be indicted as accessories after the fact, as well. As the TV sports jocks would say “Come on, Man”. If the police fi nd me, with a smoking gun, standing over

the lifeless body of a gunshot victim; my description of events better be consistent with the available physical evidence AND with their taped record of recent conversations with me. For example, if I say the victim pinned me down and beat my head against the pavement; I should have a bruised and bloody head OR the pavement, at the scene, should be pretty well beaten

up. If I say, I managed to free an arm, reach my gun and shoot my “assailant”; the wound track should support my story that I narrowly escaped being “Skittled” to death. “Come on, Man. Whatever you think about “Stand Your Ground” laws; if I arm myself, leave the relative comfort and safety of my home and follow a citizen, against the stated wishes of police,

with whom I’m in telephone contact; I am not standing MY ground, I’m standing HIS ground. No current law, even in Florida and throughout the Old South, sanctions using deadly force when standing anybody’s ground you’d like to, even Black folk. Of course, unwritten laws are a completely different story. This account of events that is coming out, piecemeal, is clearly NOT an account of actual events; but an agreed upon account they want us to swallow whole. This is not just a fl awed investigation by inept, country cops. We have

been treated to a cover-up. The police, having told Zimmerman not to follow Treyvon, should have said those three little words when they arrived at the scene, “Come on, Man”. Now, we learn that the investigating Detective recommended charging Zimmerman, but was over ruled by the attorneys. Attorneys, who, I’m guessing, were on a fi rst name basis with his Father, da judge. This scenario is the poster child for “Accessory, after the fact. Come on, Man.

COMMENTARYCome on, man

How to make reparations happen

Refl ections on Trayvon Martin’s death

Black Church demands justice

So, how have you fared economically since President Obama took offi ce and the Senate voted to endorse a national apology for slavery? The Obama presidency is one thing, and the Senate apology is another; but neither has accrued a whit for the majority of Black Americans. Reparations compensation is a subject that is never discussed in America. To the Senate measure, author Randall Robinson insists that “an apology to African Americans is meaningless without reparations payments.” In contrast with African-Americans’ political leadership, Robinson is primarily concerned with speaking out on behalf of African Americans and makes a grand case in his 2001

book, “The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks.” A lack of Black leadership on the issue has allowed reparations for slavery to linger on the fringe of American political thought. The legacy of slavery, segregation, and racial violence against African Americans continues to be a divisive issue in America. Whether or not descendants of Black slaves are entitled to reparations is an American debate that not only divides Whites from Blacks, but many Blacks from one another. The money Black Americans are owed could cure a lot of our ills. According to Harper’s Magazine, America owes African Americans more than $100 trillion in reparations, based on 222,505,049 hours of forced labor between 1619 and 1865, with a compounded interest of 6

percent. Mainstream American thought is that “a $100 trillion payoff to Blacks is inconceivable” therefore, no real thought or discussion is given it. Whites have a 400-year head-start on Blacks in America and want the status quo to remain. Mainstream thinking makes Americans of all races ill-at-ease on the subject of reparations and causes them to amble into “non-racial discussions” on more acceptable themes of national unity, and adherence to particular political philosophies. A multitude of Blacks subscribe to Mainstream thought and thinking to our own detriment. We accept our conditions at the bottom of the rung in America and make no concerted effort to collect the debt. Though Obama rejected

the concept of reparations long before his election, surely a substantial debt is owed Black Americans. The legacy of slavery has hindered the economic progress of Blacks in America; and reparations would rectify a historical wrong, would give poor Blacks more disposable income which would increase their living standards and lift entire communities. We sure could use a few trillion dollars. Who among us wants our just inheritance, the trillions of dollars due us for the labor of our ancestors? The more Mainstream thinking among African Americans the more we neuter ourselves. Since so many Black have ascended into very high places in American politics, church realms, businesses, sports and entertainment, more and more of the Black population

have become confused in exercising our priorities. Whites continue to support and advocate a system that’s been very good for them these last 500 years. How to make justice happen for us and get our needed amends in America will require Black Americans to reject Mainstream programming and agree that present-day racism stems from 246 years of slavery and Jim Crow laws and practices. We should be looking for advocates who agree that American slavery was “one of history’s most brutal genocides.” While President Obama is on record in his opposition to reparations to Blacks, supporters should be looking to the two dozen members of Congress who are co-sponsors of current legislation to create a commission that would study reparations –

that is, payments and programs to compensate Blacks for the damage done by slavery. Advocates who say Black Americans should be compensated for slavery and its Jim Crow aftermath are chalking up victories and could gain national momentum. Civic governments in Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, and a half-dozen other cities have all endorsed “restitution” payments to Black Americans. Following Black leadership such as that of Randall Robinson and joining and supporting local groups dedicated to reparations is a way to make it all happen.

William Reed is head of the Business Exchange Network and available for speaking/seminar projects via the BaileyGroup.org

The death of Trayvon Martin, a seventeen year old African American student of Sanford, Florida, has triggered a massive outpouring

of concern, conversation, and demonstrations across America, and rightly so. Many of us, Black, white, brown, red and yellow, are

appalled that nothing has been done to Mr. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, who shot and killed Trayvon Martin on the evening of February 26, 2012. I will be the fi rst to admit that we don’t know all the fats, but we do know enough to know that justice has not been executed. Based on the tapes from the 911 dispatcher, we are aware of these facts. Mr. Zimmerman called 911 to report “a real suspicious guy” in his neighborhood. According to the tapes, Mr. Zimmerman, gave the following statements: “This guy (speaking of Trayvon) looks like he is up to no good or he’s on drugs or something… now he is coming towards me. He’s got his hand in his waistband. And he is Black male… something’s wrong with him. Yup, he is coming to check me out. He’s got something in his hands. I don’t know what the deal is… these assholes, they always get away.” The recording suggests that Zimmerman left his vehicle to run after Trayvon. The dispatcher advised Zimmerman

NOT to follow Trayvon, but he did anyway. Several minutes later, according to the other 911 callers, Zimmerman and Trayvon got into a wrestling match. One of the pair could be heard screaming for help. Then a single shot was fi red, and Trayvon lay dead. The fact that Mr. Zimmerman referred to Trayvon as an “asshole” and that he was a Black male, and that “he looks like he is up to no good or he is on drugs or something” leads me to believe that he had formed a prejudicial attitude toward Trayvon even before they approached each other. If I am correct, then he shot this young man with a heart that was already fi lled with prejudice. Even if you say that he was not prejudiced, he still had no right to shoot Trayvon and kill him. He has no right to take life, because he is not able to give life. From a Christian perspective, only God is able to give life and take life. Mr. Zimmerman, as many have indicated, needs to be jailed, and tried in a court of law for Trayvon Martin’s death.

I am so pleased that the NAACP’s National and local offi ces have been at the forefront of this case. As a member of the Religious Affairs Committee of the National NAACP Board, I have been on several conference calls as we discussed how this incident should be addressed. I am pleased that CEO and President Benjamin Jealous and others have been in Sanford, Florida to address this issue. Let each one of us pray that justice will be done in Trayvon Martin’s death. America and the global community need to be made more aware that the life of a Black male American is as important as any other person’s life. We also can pray that ethnic bigotry would be eliminated in our nation and in the world. We need to hear afresh Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words that “We will either learn to live together as brothers (and sisters) or we will all perish as fools.” “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” May God help us.

Washington, DC – The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a faith-based coalition of 34,000 churches comprised of 15 denominations and 15.7 million African Americans morally pleads with Attorney General Eric Holder to bring justice to this egregious, racially motivated crime. The Black Church calls on those in power to recognize that a threat to American democracy is at hand unless George Zimmerman is arrested and prosecuted for murder. To not arrest George Zimmerman is to undermine the rule of law and to call Lady Justice a moral liar. Is justice blind or not? “America has to make a decision here – whether it is going to embrace justice and fi ght to erase the racial tensions that continue to divide our nation.” says Rev Anthony Evans, President of NBCI. “The government must decide or whether it will idly stand by while African Americans continue to be the targets of unjustifi ed violence and profi ling. Bring justice to Trayvon and his family.” The Black community has risen up in outrage over the killing of Trayvon Martin, an innocent child who was shot down because he was simply a

young black man in a hooded sweatshirt. Trayvon Martin was racially profi led, but no one saw or understood the righteousness of his soul. Trayvon Martin has exposed the dirty secret that we are not in a post racial America simply because we have elected Barack Obama to the presidency. Trayvon Martin is all of our 17 year old boys, whether black, white, Latino or other. The legal community has not moved with alacrity to fi nd justice for Trayvon Martin. George Zimmerman represents the worst of the American soul because he arbitrarily took a life when he had no authority

to do so, thus undermining God’s intention for Trayvon Martin’s life, and lighting a powder keg of racial division not seen since the ‘60’s. He thought that he would be hailed as a hero for killing a young black thug, thus realizing his wicked and a sick notion of himself. There has never been a time in recent American history where our cities can go up in fl ames so easily because of the evil actions of one man where there is no presence of justice. The Black church condemns all violence to all people at any time, but we may be helpless if racial tensions all in this country erupt. As one of the greatest Black preachers - Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King said “Justice delayed is justice denied.” George Zimmerman is lying. The law eloquently talks about getting down to the truth and honoring the rule of law. In this case and many others, the truth is obvious, but the will of those in power to pursue it is not. Holder claims that swift action will be taken. NBCI hopes that this is the truth, and will react with the full moral force of its 34,000 member churches if justice is not brought to Trayvon and his family soon.

By Reverend Julius R. Scruggs, President, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

Nobody Asked Me

By Fred Easter

By William Reed

Reverend Anthony Evans


FULL CIRCLESocial media impacts relationships

The New World Order began 2000 years ago

There is no doubt that social media has change the way we relate to each other. In many instances, it has positively impacted our lives. We have more friends now than ever, and most of us have reconnected with love ones from our past. I have also witnessed the negative side of this new phenomenal. Some without regard have posted any and all information.

The misuse of this medium has ended relationships, friendship, and careers. There is a right and wrong way to use social media. I am so proud of my daughter for choosing the right way. She has started a question and answer facebook relationship column titled “Ask Nicole.” The mechanics of this process is simple. People inbox her questions in private, and she responds to the anonymous questions publicly for all to see. I am amazed by her creativity as well as the wisdom in which she answers the questions. Here are a couple questions and answers that I would like to share. Q: I was in a relationship with someone and they told me that they love me, but don’t

trust me. Is that possible? A: Yes, love doesn’t equate to trust. SHOULD this be possible, is really the question. There are certain components that are necessary to have a success relationship and trust is number one. For women, love is second. A woman can learn to love a man that she respects, but she can’t learn to trust him, that has to be earned. Trust is black and white, you can’t “kind of” trust someone, either you do or you don’t. Unfortunately, trust can be altered by experiences, perception, infl uences, and environment; so it may not be you directly. Example-You may live in an area highly populated with women with your mate and her recently divorced sister. The affects of the environment,

infl uences, and perception could cause a very big trust issue, whether you have done something to cause it or not. In the future, pay attention to those early signs of distrust (checking your phone, constantly asking who you’re hanging out with) and address them immediately to prevent irreparable damage later on. Good luck! Q: My ex sent me a friend request and I accepted. He likes and comments on a lot of my photos. He has a girlfriend, but I know he’s going through my albums and such. Am I reading too much into this or is this normal? A: I don’t think you are reading too much into this, there is reason to be cautious. Allowing an ex back into your

personal life can be a little risky, it really depends on what type of relationship you maintained post break-up. If you are on good terms, then I think it is fi ne as long as you set BOUNDARIES. This is a must. Facebook is an outlet for a lot of people and you do not want him to be too involved to where he feels like you HAVE to consider his feelings in every post and status update. You are no longer together and you should never let that fact slip your mind. Additionally, he is with someone else. So if you sense it may be an issue, it’s better to delete now then to deal with unnecessary drama later. At the end of the day, you are exes for a reason, and you do not owe him the benefi t of

keeping tabs on what’s going on in your life, and vice versa. But if you both feel like you can be adults about the situation, then I think facebook friends will work out. Just know when to hit delete :) Good luck! Social media can have a positive or negative impact on relationships. As we learn to use this new phenomenal, I offer the following advice, watch what you say, and keep your personal life personal. With 55% of communication being non verbal, it is almost a given that social comments will be misinterpreted. With that said, positive comments are always welcome. Thanks to Nicole for sharing her gift with us all.

Something is happening in this world that has got many, even amongst the most learned, thoroughly confused. On the one hand Capitalist America is seeing socialist type revolts (like the Occupy Wall Street) as a result of a long drawn recession, largely attributed to the failure of the capitalist system itself. And on the other hand a Communist country,

China, is making hay with a capitalist form of economy. Then there are people in the Arabic belt, historically averse to democracy, and who submitted themselves to dictatorships and theocracies, now desperately attempting to establish democracies (aka Arab Spring). Everywhere, from the street corners, to the corridors of power, to media rooms, to academic closets, and civil society chatterboxes, people are to some extent or the other engaged in fi guring out the

nature and outcomes of the events unfolding worldwide. Conclusions are being drawn according to ones foundational views. So here I am putting my own assessment. Recently I had the opportunity to listen to a series of lectures on democracy, by academic scholars, specifi cally addressing the emergence of democracy in the newly ‘liberated’ Muslim countries. While speaker after speaker defi ned the political elements of democracy namely, the electoral process, the horizontal

checks and balances (executive, legislature and judiciary) and the vertical balance (the right to information, free media and the civil society) and the rule of law, they also introduced a very signifi cant dimension, new to a political science discourse. It was observed that just because a country is constitutionally democratic does not necessarily make it a good democracy. A good democracy can only exist where there is a culture of respect of the rights of others. When every individual respects

and supports the rights of other individuals, only then a truly good democracy can be established. In short they said: “Love thy neighbour”. That sentence sounds familiar? The seed of what is happening in the world today was sown over 2000 years ago. However, over the centuries people, with good intentions I am sure, have taken bits and pieces of the message of Jesus and made their own extrapolation and established systems that we now, by

hindsight, know were fl awed. Familiar political systems that came into existence after the fall of the Roman Empire, like monarchy, feudalism, capitalism and socialism emerged out of Jesus’ message, but were extracted from it in a manner that the real message was always left blurred, in fact distorted and even abandoned. In the functioning of these systems, ‘collapse’ is indeed their common outcome, and my contention is, because the

ManTalk

By Timothy Houston

By Samuel BastianMcFarlane MediaMumbai, India

WORLD TURN TO 13


Book review: Perfect Combination

“Jamillah and David Lamb are the dynamic couple behind the successful Off-Broadway play ‘Platanos Y Collard Greens’ which is enjoying its 9th year-running. For years, they have worked side by side, 24/7, to create and build their business. And, not only have they not killed each other, their love has grown stronger. This insightful r e l a t i o n s h i p guidebook is part love manual and part diary, as the couple explores important and intimate topics. Honest and… hilarious, Perfect Combination offers seven key ingredients for anyone to create their own recipe for Love and Happiness and to achieve the perfect balance of love, hard work, friendship and respect.”-- Excerpted from the book jacket.

Jamillah and David Lamb’s love story is a rarity, a real-life fairytale. They’ve pretty much remained inseparable since falling in love at fi rst sight, and God has recently blessed their union with a delightful daughter, Kaira. And to think that heir paths could just as easily never crossed. After all, he was born and raised in New York City and she in Chicago, and they attended college in different cities.

But fate came into play after graduation, when they both were hired by the same investment fi rm, even though Jamillah was stationed on the West Coast, while David was on the East Coast. One day, his head was turned by the picture of an attractive colleague in a staff photo on the offi ce wall, and he said to himself, “I’m going to marry that girl.” So, he made it his business to meet Jamillah, and when the two were fi nally introduced at the company’s California headquarters, they instantly fell head-over-heels for each other. The couple’s feelings only

intensifi ed during their whirlwind courtship and continued to be nourished by their marriage, partnering as entrepreneurs, and starting a family. G i v e n how Jamillah and David had fl ourished seeming so effortlessly, it was only natural that, over the

years, friends would frequently urge them to share the secrets of their success with the world. The upshot of that suggestion is Perfect Combination: Seven Key Ingredients to Happily Living & Loving Together, a book that is as much an introspective memoir as it is an instructional how-to tome. As producers of the hit Off-Broadway play ‘Platanos Y Collard Greens’ it makes sense that they chose to publish their sage insights in recipe form. Thus, each chapter ends with a summary of “Key Ingredients,” under headings like “Lighten up!” and “It’s about balance,” followed by sensible tips for “Cooking with Love,” such as “Plan a surprise

date for your partner” and “Write a love letter to each other describing your fi rst date.” The precious pearls of wisdom are served up gourmet chef-style. Consider this cute recipe for fi nding balance in a relationship which calls for: “2 Heaping Cups of Appreciation, 1 Cup of Self-

Knowledge, 1 Cup of Modesty and 1 Cup of Trust.” Betwixt and between delineating their seven steps to maintaining marital bliss, the authors treat us to a cornucopia of family photos from their childhoods, their romance, their work, their wedding, and the birth

of their baby. Pictures must still speak a thousand words, because again and again the Lambs’ love for each other just jumps off every page. An ongoing, Off-Broadway tale of black-on-black love and devotion overdue for the limelight!

Perfect Combination:Seven Key Ingredients to Happily Living & Loving Togetherby Jamillah and David LambBetween the Lines ProductionsPaperback, $16.99180 pages, IllustratedISBN: 978-0-9849250-0-1

By Kam [email protected]

Book Review


BUSINESSThe tragic travesty in trade and transactions

World Bank likely to tap Nigerian Okonjo-Iweala for top job

The positive demonstrations of support for the family of Trayvon Martin following his tragic death, and the nationwide evidence of unifi ed response (hoodies everywhere!) in the call for justice are inspiring signs of a renewed spirit among

African Americans and others committed to correcting the obvious inequities exposed in the wake of this travesty. Clearly, nothing we encounter in the world of business can be equated to the senseless slaying of this young man, but as Dr. King taught us in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, “... injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere...” We are clear that there is no way the shock, hurt and grief Trayvon’s family endures because of the absolutely inhuman conduct of one misguided individual can be compared to the struggles of businessmen and women. We

can’t help, however, but draw parallels to the inequity Black business owners must contend with each and every day. When the deck is stacked against you... when the courts rule against you... when fi nancial institutions refuse to extend credit to you... when even the governments you support through your tax dollars can’t bring themselves to provide equitable access to opportunity... well, you get the picture. As a class, the businesses we work hard to represent face odds NO other group faces in this country. And just as there are - incredibly - voices that somehow defend the series of

bad decisions that resulted in the senseless snuffi ng out of a young life, there are those who believe there is nothing wrong with a marketplace that delivers fractional percentage points of opportunity to Black-owned businesses. You’ve seen the numbers in this space before. According to the Census Bureau, there are 1.9 million privately held Black-owned businesses across every industry sector in the United States. We employ over 921,000 persons, and generate $137.5 billion in annual revenue. Per the Nielsen Company, African Americans spend over a TRILLION hard-earned

dollars in the U.S. economy. Tragically, even this record spending does not translate to reciprocity in the form of contracting/vendor relationships from the corporations that benefi t from our spending. Tragically, the giant loopholes in regulations guiding federal, state and local utilization of ethnic minority suppliers allow for interpretations that boggle the mind - and devastate our businesses and their hope for a brighter future. It is beyond unfortunate that it takes the senseless slaying of a future businessman, a future lawyer, a future elected offi cial, a future husband and father to

cause us to take stock of all the inequity around us, but it is the re-awakened sense of outrage that will fuel our commitment to correct the wrongs we see around us. And though our commitment to improving opportunities for Black-owned businesses across this country is solid and sincere, the outpouring of support for justice in Florida fortifi es us and strengthens our resolve to “... stay on the battlefi eld...” There is no doubt that the same energy that awakened so many of us to Trayvon’s murder is the same energy that will drive our achieving economic parity in America’s marketplace.

Apr. 3 (GIN) – Western media pundits have all but crowned Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria

for the position of World Bank president. If selected, she would be the fi rst African to hold the position

traditionally held by a U.S. citizen. Nearly buried among the encomiums, are the views of skeptics that doubt that Okonjo-Iweala would bring enlightenment to an institution more known for saddling developing countries with debt and structural adjustment plans that put millions of public service employees out of work. “Not only has the World Bank failed poor countries, with structural adjustment and other genteel forms of developmental quackery, but those countries have not enjoyed equal voting power around the very policies that affect them most,” noted Desné Masie, writing in the blog African Argument. “There is no guarantee that

with Okonjo-Iweala as fi gurehead, reform and fairness in the Bank’s policies would be substantive. To clamor for a World Bank president from an emerging market is a hollow exercise altogether,” Masie asserts. U.S. based educator Ikhide R. Ikheloa adds: “As an institution, the World Bank is an ancient bureaucratic relic whose time has come and gone. Now it is mostly a mean cudgel for meeting the West’s imperial needs in developing countries, aided by many of Africa’s intellectual and political elite.” Okonjo-Iweala also faces questions over a Wikileaks cable by the U.S. Ambassador on the

matter of corruption. According to the cable, the World Bank nominee steered public contracts to her brother worth up to $50 million. She denies the charge. Finally, as Minister of Finance she supported the disastrous lifting of subsidies on Jan. 1. This sparked the nation’s largest mass movement when 5 million Nigerians rallied and marched to oppose the move. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is scheduled to be interviewed fi rst for the job on April 9, followed by Colombia’s Jose Antonio Ocampo and America’s Jim Yong Kim. A formal announcement is expected almost immediately, according to an inside source at the Bank.

International Monetary FundNgozi Okonjo-Iweala

Business

By Ron Busby, President U.S. Black Chamber, Inc.


Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, [email protected], by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Natalie Benz. Free or low cost events preferred.

EventsStudent Salon 2012 – Mar. 22 – Apr. 13Student Salon 2012 features multimedia works produced by Metropolitan State undergraduate students. The exhibit opens with

a reception on Thur., Mar. 22, 5–8pm and continues through April 13. Gallery hours are Mon.–Thur., 11am–7pm, and Fri.–Sat., 11am–4pm. Located in the Library and Learning Center, 645 E. 7th St., St. Paul

Summer Seasonal Job Fair – Mar. 28 and Apr. 12The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will hold job application fairs for summer seasonal positions including include Park Keepers, Mobile Equipment Operators and Park Patrol Agents. 10am – 6pm., Thur. Mar. 28 and Thur, Apr.

12 at the Minneapolis Urban League, 2000 Plymouth Ave. N., Mpls. Information sessions about seasonal jobs and working for the Park Board at noon and 5 pm. More info: Minneapolis Urban League (612-302-3100 / www.mul.org) or the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (612-230-6429 / www.minneapolisparks.org).

Create A Band Auditions Mar. 26 – Apr. 25Auditions for solo musicians and singers performing all types of music. Pre-registration is $25.00. To schedule an appointment by/before Apr. 4 and/or Apr 25 contact Penny Wallace 612.333.6618.

High School Career Fairs March through MayAchieveMpls Career Fair. Connect with Minneapolis High School students and represent your career or industry. Professionals from all sectors are welcome to participate. Contact Rebecca Noecker at 612.455.1571 or [email protected]

Red Balloon Bookshop Events Apr. 7 – Apr. 30 April at The Red Balloon Bookshop is fi lled with story times, celebrations, and parties. Events include National Poetry Month with MN poet Joyce Sidman- Apr.13, 7pm, Giggle, Giggle, Giggle, Quack story time with actress/ playwright Jennifer Kirkeby-Apr.14, 10:30am, A Secret Keeps publication party with author Marsha Wilson Chall- Apr. 21, 10:30am, and much, much more. For more info contact

Holly Weinkauf 651.224.8320 or [email protected]. For a list of events visit www.redballoonbookshop.com

MACY’S Twin Cities Events Apr. 10 – May 17A variety of events including Star Spangled Sing-Off, Oval Room Event, Designer Capsule Collection Launch featuring Alberta Ferretti for Impulse, CosmoBella Bridal Trunk Show, Find your Magic Event, Thank-A-Mom Movement, Francisco Costa For Calvin Klein Collection Launch, Brasil: A Magical Journey Launch Party, and much more. Please visit www.macys.com/events for all event details or visit your Downtown Minneapolis or Southdale Macy’s for more info.

Jamaican Activist to discuss LGBTI issues and homophobia in Jamaica Tue Apr. 10Maurice Tomlinson, David Kato Vision and Voice Award Recipient, will talk about issues facing the LGBTI community in Jamaica. Maurice Tomlinson is an attorney-at-law and has been involved in LGBTI and HIV and AIDS activism in Jamaica and the Caribbean for over 12 years. The presentation, followed by a question-and-answer segment, is free and open to the public, but reservations are recommended. A brief reception starts at 7pm Discussion starts at 7:30pm, in John B. Davis Auditorium at Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue. For more information or reservations call 305.299.5722 or visit www.jaminnlink.org.

Teatro del Pueblo and Pangea World Theater present The House on Mango Street, Apr. 13 – Apr. 28A story based on the young adult novel by Sandra Cisneros, chronicling the challenges of a young woman coming-of-age in “El Barrio.” For tickets and more info call 1-800-838-3006 or purchase online at brownpapertickets.com For group sales, please call 651-224-8806. The Southern Theater is located at 1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55454.

65th Annual Celebration of Jackie Robinson - Apr. 14The North Side Committee and Mn Twins Members from the Minnesota Twins are holding their 65th annual celebration of Jackie Robinson. Members from the Minnesota Twins, RBI, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Hospitality House, PAL, North YMCA and Gerry Gambles Boys and Girls Club will be there to promote baseball and softball on the North Side. Sat. Apr. 14 at North High Community School. For more info, contact 612-282-3018 or [email protected]

Urban Roots Screening at Intermedia Arts - Apr. 14From the creator of The 11th Hour with Leonardo DiCaprio comes Urban Roots, the next documentary from Tree Media. Film screenings on Saturday, Apr. 14 at 3pm and 7pm. An expo of local groups that advocate for urban farming, local food, and food politics awareness precedes both screenings with

a panel discussion following the 7:00 pm screening. Tickets $6 advance/$8 door. Intermedia Arts - 2822 Lyndale Ave. South Minneapolis, MN 55408.Tickets are available on-line at: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/238028

Calendar • Classifi eds Phone: 612.588.1313 Fax: 612.588.2031 Email: [email protected]

COMMUNITYNorthside neighborhood beat

What it takes to succeed

ClevelandThe Cleveland Neighborhood Association board meeting, 7-9pm Monday April 16 at Lucey Craft Laney 3333 Penn Av. N. For more information contact Debbie Nelson 612-588-1155 or [email protected]

West Broadway CoalitionJoin WBC for their Annual

Meeting from 6-8pm Thursday, April 26 at the Capri Theater 2929 Logan Av. N. All are welcome to attend this event free of cost. Hor d’oeuvres provided and cash bar available. RSVP today!

Heritage ParkAnnual Meeting The Heritage Park Neighborhood Association

has set the date for the Annual Meeting to be held on Monday, April 23rd from 6:00-8:00pm. The purpose of this meeting is to; report to the neighborhood on what the board has been working on during the past year, hear from the neighborhood what priorities people have for the coming year and elect new board members to represent

the various areas of the neighborhood.

Book SaleSumner Library will hold a sale of hundreds of adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction books in hardcover and paperback Saturday, April 28, 10a.m - 4 p.m. Most books, withdrawn from the Hennepin County Library system or

donated by the public, will be priced $1 or less. Funds raised will benefit the library. Book donations accepted at the library until the day of sale.

Heritage Park Teen Leadership Group Heritage Park Teen Leadership Group provides a means for the teens of Heritage Park to come together, build

community, and have fun! This group is currently meeting every Thursday from 6:00-8:00pm in the Heritage Park Community Room. The group is open to teens age 13 to 18. Contact Kristy, HPNA Community Organizer at 612-767-1061. All meetings and events for HPNA are held at 1000 Olson Memorial Highway.

Sweat? Sacrifi ce? Compromise? What is the real secret to success? Theories abound, but the answer is probably all of the above. According to those who know, success seems to be a combination of many factors, with sweat, sacrifi ce and

compromise heading up the list. Success requires sweat. Two kinds: the perspiration of day after day of hard work and the sweaty palms of fear, anxiety and worry. Thanks to air conditioned offi ces and good morning hygiene, most people don’t leave their work stations literally sweating at the end of the day. However, the satisfi ed feeling of having invested a whole day’s time and attention and energy to a project or assignment has the same effect as a long run or heavy lifting; there is pain and relief at the same time, a sort of natural high because you’ve

accomplished something. Those sweaty palms are actually another sign of success. Anxiety is a healthy emotion that leads people to double check their work, think carefully through plans and ask better questions. Total confi dence is totally useless. The only certainties in life are supposed to be death and taxes, and these days even death is something that can be reversed. Assuming you know less than you should, that nervous feeling can lead you to discover new, better information. Anxiety channeled into motivation separates those who want to

succeed from those who do. Sacrifi ce is another secret to many people’s success. The word confl agration comes to mind. It refers to a large fi re that causes extensive damage. To succeed in one area, you might have to burn down some other parts of your life. The people who hold you back, for example, or the way that you live might have to change. If you enjoy late nights at the club, a hangover might keep you from accomplishing much in the morning. Cutting back your social life to weekends only will feel like a sacrifi ce, like you’re burning down your social network and destroying

the potential for fun in your life. However, the sacrifi ce pays off as you reach your goals and see a more positive end result. Compromise? Yes and no. Compromising values or integrity makes no sense to those who are successful. Every white lie, every greedy transaction requires a cover story which can quickly become so complicated that it stands in the way of achievement. Long term success requires compromising for a cause; fl exibility, accommodation, assuming reasonable risk… these are all effective ways to fi nd middle ground with others

and with yourself so that you can continue to move toward your goals. Research shows that it takes ten thousand hours of practice to become an expert at anything. Ten thousand sweaty hours, sacrifi cing other activities and compromising to keep moving forward. The road to success is not easy, but after ten thousand hours, you will be glad you took the trip.

Julie Desmond is a Certifi ed Staffi ng Professional and Talent Manager for Lake Region Staffi ng. Send your career planning questions to julie@lakeregionstaffi ng.com.

By Julie [email protected]

Plan Your Career

centrality of Jesus’ plan for a just, prosperous and equitable society was left on the wayside: “Love thy neighbour” (Matthew 22:39). The pursuit of narrow self-interest has dominated civic and political life. Despite this, the message is still alive, for Jesus himself had written this all important piece of legislation in the heart of his Church (Hebrew 10:16), which has kept it alive and available to the world when it is ready to accept it. From those lectures on democracy and the general trend of the discourse among the perceptive, it appears that the time has come for everyone to at least start taking the social, economic and political views of Jesus seriously. After the collapse of communism and the expected collapse of capitalism, pessimists are seeing anarchy lurking around the corner and others are touting some archaic utopian solutions (almost all which are regional, sectarian, undemocratic and potentially

dangerous). Some optimists, on the other hand, though not openly admitting it, are espousing Jesus’ pragmatic socio-economic plan. But how far will they go, how well will they be able to articulate, will depend on how willing they are to cast aside their prejudices (Matthew 18:3) and how much conviction they will muster to cast out greed (Matthew 5:3). The parable of the mustard seed is the shortest parable, but has far reaching implications. Let’s take a look at what it says: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his fi eld; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32, see also Mark 4:30-32 and Luke 13:18-19) The Roman philosopher, Pliny the Elder, in his Natural History writes that the “mustard… is extremely benefi cial for the health. It grows entirely wild, though it is improved by being transplanted: but on the other hand when it has once been

sown it is scarcely possible to get the place free of it, as the seed when it falls germinates at once.” This description troubled many ‘rationalists’ of the previous two centuries who considered the parable had ‘subversive’ potential, because the fast-growing nature of the mustard plant makes it a ‘malignant weed’ with ‘dangerous takeover properties’. The radical message of human equality that Jesus announced does indeed have the capacity to unnerve those who have institutionalized inequality and those who treat it like a natural phenomenon. They fear this parable has the potential to mobilize revolt against their comfortable status-quo. But in reality what was ‘subverted’ was Jesus’ declaration of dignity for all and compassion for the weak. What was ‘taken over’ was the rightful inheritance of the meek and the lowly (Matthew 5:5). Against this background I think that little seed that Jesus placed on this earth is possibly the only hope for the hopeless. For that time will certainly come, when the usurpers—isms, ideologies and political systems—

disguised as benefactors (Matthew 7:15), that have had nothing to offer, but death and destruction, exploitation and discrimination, hunger and deprivation, terror and bigotry, will be replaced by the ‘new world order’* that Jesus set in motion with the sowing of the mustard seed and which has the potential of heralding a universally just and peaceful society. *The recent downward trend of capitalism is the direct impact of what is called ‘crony capitalism’ which has seriously jeopardized the international fi nancial system. It is interesting to note that their formal groupings describe itself as the ‘new world order’; this is forgery. The original ‘new world order’ was announced by Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount where for the fi rst time in human history the spotlight was on the dignity of the poor and the depressed and the promise of hope. Since then, there have been many other declarations of the ‘new world order,’ but they are all self-serving, or lack the potential to turn the world upside down (Matthew 23:12) and look more like the ‘old world order’ that robbed the poor of their dignity.

WorldFrom 10

Insurance AgentLooking for people with a strong entre-preneurial mindset to own their own insurance agency. The average agent earns over $120,000 a year, with some earning over $500,000. If you desire fi nancial indepen-dence, call 651-204-3131 to set up an appointment.

Assumed Name1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Peace of Hope

2. State the address of the principal place of business: 6457 Zane Ave-nue North, APT. 301, Brooklyn Park, MN 55429

3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name OR if an entity, provide the le-gal corporate, LLC, or Limited Part-nership name and registered offi ce address. Attach additional sheet(s) if necessary: Sharon Brooks, 6457 Zane Avenue North, APT. 301, Brooklyn Park, MN 55429

4. I certify that I am authorized to sign this certifi cate and I further cer-tify that I understand that by signing this certifi cate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 as if I had signed this certifi cate un-der oath.

Signed by: Sharon BrooksDate Filed: 03/02/2012

Insight News 4/9/2012, 4/16/2012

insight news ::: 4.9.12

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