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IN EACH MONTHLY ISSUE

The monthly news beat and photo album of African-American Communities in Northern California’s Mid-Central Valley

INVR/HHEW, 6333 Pacific Ave, # 512, Stockton, CA 95207

The

US PostageGoes Here

DrumYour Monthly Collector’s Episode

www.thecvdrum.info

“CV Drum News: A fresh antidote to San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland”

Volume 5, Episode 1 For January/February AT 2009

...while honoring Dr. King in 2009Unveiling our newest publication...

The Journal’sEditorial & Judicial

Board Members:Keith Orlando Hilton, Ph.D. (Editor & Founder)

Carolyn Buck (Claremont Ph.D.)Sandra Davis, Ph.D. (UC-San Francisco Ph.D.)

Norma Francisco (Stanford Ph.D.)Melda Gaskins (LaVerne Ed.D)

David D. Hurst (Claremont Theology Ph.D.)Mary Jones (University of San Francisco Ed.D.)

Walter Lanier, Esq. (Michigan J.D.)Jamye Merritt (Tennessee State Ed.D.)

Uduak Oduok, Esq. (UC-Hastings Law J.D.)Gloria J. Willingham-Toure (Claremont Ph.D.)

Roy L. Williams, Esq. (Loyola University Chicago J.D.)Apryl Yarbor (Santa Clara J.D.)

Mignon Jacobs (Claremont Ph.D.)Tianna Terry, Esq. (Yale J.D.)

Gaye Walton-Price (Georgetown Ph.D.)Joan Ziglar, Esq. (William & Mary J.D.)

www.invrhhew.info

Roy L. Williams, Esq. (Loyola University Chicago J.D.)Roy L. Williams, Esq. (Loyola University Chicago J.D.)

...qualitativeVital Statistics

Contact Us:

Email: cvdrumnews@gmail.com

Phone: (209) 473-4687 (INVR)

CV Drum Newsc/o INVR Standards / HHEW6333 Pacific Ave, # 512Stockton, CA 95207

www.thecvdrum.infowww.invrhhew.info

The CV Drum is $7 per issue - newsstandOnly $5 per issue - 1-year subscription

Our Corrections Policy: Please contact us immediately if you

see any published inaccuracies.

...quantitative

“...quantitative” is researched and provided through The Civic Globe polling and news (a CV Drum sister service).

2

PublisherINVR Standards / HHEW

CV Drum Advisory Board/Focus Group/ContributorsNecola Adams - MercedShani Adams - StocktonMelyssa Barrett - TracyPeter Barrett - TracyWendy Byrd - ModestoRev. Willie Douglas - StocktonJacquelyn Forte - TurlockSylvia Fuller - AtwaterEbony Humphrey - ModestoDenise McCoy - Elk Grove/Sacramento

CV Drum Student AmbassadorsAshley Hampton (Fisk ‘10), Matthew Miller (Stanford ‘12), Jamari Perry (UC-Berkeley ‘11), Jamel Seagraves (Stanford ‘11), Summer Wimberly (Princeton ‘10), Lakea Youngblood (UCLA ‘11), Thurson Lopes (Morehouse ‘12), Ashley Gordon (UC-Merced ‘12), Arayle Freels (Howard ‘12), Ekeoma Nwadibia (UCLA ‘11), Kenitra Patrick (Sacramento State ‘10).

Editor in ChiefKeith Orlando Hilton, Ph.D.

The Journal of Unabridged

GeniusPurpose and Content of the eJournal

Unabridged means to be the most complete of its class. Genius means a strong leaning or

inclination; exceptional intellectual or creative power. Geniuses are not exclusively found in the classroom. Most are unlettered. The thematic “Journal of Unabridged Genius: JUG” is poised to be a source for dynamic, innovative, intellectual and cre-ative research on African-American and ALANA experiences. ALANA stands for African, Latino, Asian and Native American. Its primary contributors will be junior-level academics and senior-level pracademics (practitioners) of all ethnicities based within and beyond the traditional academy. The Journal is also international, and thus aims to present timely research as a media worthy body of literature that will also be examined at the annual HHEW Leaders Conference & Retreat. The main purpose of the Journal of Unabridged Genius is to report on original research and experimentation in order to make such information available to the rest of the scholarly world, and leaders and organiza-tions, nationally and internationally. Using the TALO Leadership Theory as its theoretical foundation, the Journal of Unabridged Genius is the official founding scholarly e-journal of INVR Standards / HHEW. It is a fully refereed, open access, electronic journal. It welcomes papers on theoretical and practical areas in a multitude of disciplines. Papers are refereed in the traditional way, with two or more referees per paper. The authors submit their papers to the editor, who has the option of assigning it to several other readers or ex-perts in their (sub)discipline, who review it more thoroughly to see that the research was done properly. The names of the additional experts may be listed (with their permission) as they play an important role in monitoring the knowledge processing system. The board may advise the author of changes which will improve the paper, and advise the editor whether the article is original and significant enough to war-rant publication. Copyright is shared by the Journal and the author. The research inside the Journal of Unabridged Genius will fit a wide range of subject categories including:

Photos, Commentary, Case studies, Book reviews, Historical research, Letters to the editor, Dissertation abstracts, and Transdisciplinary and/or African-centered research.

For more information, email: geniusjournal@gmail.com

3

It is now offi cial; each time you are featured or mentioned in the CV Drum News, over 1/2 million people have access to your story.

Q: Who are CV Drum Patrons and how can I become one?A: According to the TALO Leadership Theory©, from the moment Africans left Africa in mass during the Transatlantic slave trade (1520s - 1860s) and the earlier Arab slave trade (8th - 14th century), our leaders explicitly knew and consistently acted out the same leadership profi les that most of us today understand from the moment we leave our homes for work, worship, study or business. Today, patrons are individuals and organizations of all ethnicities who contribute $275 and more to the CV Drum’s leadership and journalism efforts during one fi scal year. Patrons receive a 14-month subscription and will be listed in the Drum and/or on our Web site. If you are interested in subscribing, being a patron or advertising in the Drum, please call, email, write or visit our Web site.

Featured Patrons

Name / Title ___________________________________Address ______________________________________Address ______________________________________E-Mail Address ________________________________

Please send to:

______ only $59 one-year individual subscription or ( ___ $69 bill me)______ only $99 two-year individual subscription or ( ___ $109 bill me)______ only $275 CV Drum Individual Patron*______ $350 Couples/Family Patron*______ $525 Non-Profi t Group Patron*______ $925 For-Profi t Group Patron*______ Well-wisher __________ ($ amount)

* Patron status includes 14-month subscription and featured in newsletter (and/or Website)

INVR / HHEW6333 Pacifi c Ave, # 512Stockton, CA 95207

Subscriptions Begin Within 3 Weeks

4

BIRTHDAY INFO (OPTIONAL)

Month ___________Day of Mth _______

A little philosophical humor:Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t

pet the sweaty things.

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, fl oor.

If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?

If a man is standing in the middle of the forest speaking and there is no woman around to hear him . . . is he

still wrong?

Other CV Drum Patrons featured this month: St. Matthew Baptist Church (Merced), Roland Hart, M.D. (Stockton physician), Manteca Unifi ed School District, Benjamin & Janie Reddish (Stockton educators), Col. (Ret.) Cleveland & Doris Edwards (Stockton), Barbara Lenoir (banking industry, Los Angeles), More patrons featured monthly.

Judge William Murray (San Joaquin County)

JUDGE WILLIAM J. MURRAY, JR. - Assistant Presiding Judge -

Juror Compliance & Education / Pre-trial conferences / Trials

J.D. - The George Washington University, Washington, DC

CV Celebrations in the African Tradition:Births, Birthdays, Engagements, Weddings, Graduations,

Anniversaries, Career Promotions, Retirements ... and more!Send us your announcements by the 2nd Wed. of the month - cvcelebrations@gmail.com

BIRTHDAYS

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January 15 - DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., January 16 - Marcus L. Bivens (Stockton), January 17 - Abu Bakr Salahuddin (Redding), January 18 - Tony White (Stockton), Janu-ary 19 - Mary Flenoy-Kelley (Stockton & Atlanta), January 20 - Wilhelmina Henry (Stockton),

January 20 - Ebony L. Humphrey (Modesto), January 21 - Mary Harris (Redding), Janu-ary 21 - Shani Adams (Stockton), Janu- ary 25 - Princess Fortier (Los

Angeles), January 27 - Apryl Yarbor (Tracy), January 30 - Rebecca Hill Long (Stockton), January 31 - Jimi Choice (Stockton), January 31 - Doris Edwards (Stockton), Febru- ary 2 - Keith Orlando Hilton (Stockton), Febru- ary 6 - David Muhammad (Stockton), February 6 - Nayana Wilson (Stockton), February 7 - Morris Woodards (Stockton), Feb-ruary 11 - Kenneth Roberts (Merced), FEB. 14th - Valen- tine’s Day, February 14 - Ralph White (Stockton), February 17 - Rosalyn Zeigler (Elk Grove), February 20 - Toni Beckham (Mountain House), February 21 - Tariq Muhammad (Stockton), February 23

- Celeste McAllister (Redding), February 24 - Mateenah Okanlawon (Stockton), February 25 - Charlene Leathers Sibblis (Stockton), February 25 - Paula Percy (Redding), February 26 - Nation of Islam’s Annual Saviour’s Day Celebration (Chicago and nationwide), February 27 - Janet Lilly (Stockton).

Mary HarrisRedding

For the 2nd time in since 2006, Stockton’s Rev. Willie A. Douglas,

Chair of Religious Affairs of the NAACP California State

Conference, was awarded the Lulla Sapp McGriff Award for

Civil Rights work in the planning and organizing of the California

Black-Brown Summit on Re-Entry and Recidivism.

The award was presented during the Labor Luncheon, October 24, at which Sen. Diane Feinstein was

the feature speaker.

Also, LaJuanna Bivens of the Stockton branch was presented the

Dorothy Revell Volunteer Award for works in Membership. with the

California NAACP.

But sorrow for the family of...

Paula PercyRedding

Celeste McAllisterRedding

...Oscar Grant of Hayward. This unarmed 22-year old man was shot and killed on New Year’s Day on an Oakland BART platform by BART offi cer Johannes Mehserle. The CV Drum News is asking its readers to celebrate Mr. Grant’s life and memory. Stay politically and culturally active.

...in advance to all the Central Valley organizations and individuals com-

mitting themselves to making 2009

another great year.

Stockton AreaWhat’s Good...

We list events that will happen for next two months in your area, so send information to us ASAP. Call, email or mail.

6

“Save the date” for the 2009 HHEW Leaders Conference

& RetreatJune 25 - June 28th

Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel -Las Vegas -- Theme:

“HHEW Group & President Barack Obama:

Less than six degrees of separation ”

BIG VALLEY BLACK EXPOwww.bigvalleyblackexpo.com“A New World of Opportunity”

Stockton San Joaquin County Fairgrounds Exhibit Halls

1658 S. Airport Way, StocktonFebruary 14-16, 2009

Please remember......20 years ago in Stockton (January 17, 1989), a young

disturbed drifter, named Patrick Purdy, dressed in military fatigues opened fi re with a semiautomatic rifl e at children playing outside and others inside Cleveland Elementary School. Five children between 6 and 9 years old, all of

them refugees from Southeast Asia, were killed and more than 30 people were wounded, about half of them criti-

cally, before the gunman shot himself to death.

The Unforgettable Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jamari Perry (UC-Berkeley ‘12)CV Drum News Student Ambassador

As we commemorate the birth of an unforgettable leader, the

youth of my generation are remem-bering Martin Luther King Jr. today more than ever before. The selection of Barack Obama as President has not caused our youth to forget Martin Luther King Jr. but it has prompted them to familiarize themselves with King even more. They have gotten the urge to study Dr. King’s methods of non-violence and his resilience to turn the other cheek. Barack Obama has in many ways been a realiza-tion of King’s dreams. Many youth have come to the understanding that through King Obama has created an even greater path and now they themselves have the courage and fortitude to step out on their paths with MLK and Obama along side them. Recently I made a trip to a black Christian con-ference for college students entitled “Atlanta 08’: Called Out to Call Out.” The conference charged us as student leaders to use the will of God to minister to those mar-ginalized and destitute communities. The young people proved to be excited and enthusiastic about their role as Christians and how their roles will alter the universe, just as King’s and Obama’s have done. Young people are fi red up more than ever to be-come leaders and to create change. The Lord has blessed us with outstanding leaders and is still continuing to pro-vide us with them. These leaders will not be forgotten as long as we continue to acknowledge them for what they have provided for us. Young people are forever inspired by the unforgettable leaders of our past and future.

50 new PIVs featured in next episode of the CV Drum News

Elk Grove AreaWhat’s Good...

We list events that will happen for next two months in your area, so send information to us ASAP. Call, email or mail.

7

The Sacramento Kings & Carol’s Bookstore, Ticket deadline; Feb. 2nd

(916) 565-3845 -- 916 565-3845

Elk Grove Unifi ed School District covers 320 square miles. It has 64 schools within the City of Elk Grove, the City of Sacramento, the City of Rancho Cordova and the unincor-porated area of Sacramento County. The district serves more than 62,000 students. Of those, more than 10,000 speak 72 different languages.

EGUSD1959-2009“Celebrating 50 years of educational excellence”

I would like to begin by ex-pressing my delight in being

given the opportunity to share my college experiences. I feel it is im-perative that I be completely open and honest with aspiring college students about how past question-able decisions have contributed to past and some current academic struggles. In the last four years, I

have experienced tremendous personal and academic growth. I can attribute much of this growth to the constant pushing of my parents and to my simple maturation over time. I can also attribute this growth to learning more about a disability that I now know had very much to do with the struggles I experienced in math and science. Throughout high school, I often masked these struggles under facades of nonchalance and disinterest. As a result, my math and science grade were very poor. Still, instead of receiving the extra assistance I needed I continued to ignore the problem. I continued this pattern through my fi rst year of community college and fi rst year at Bennett College. Luckily, I would visit a school coun-selor who would diagnose me with a math disability. I was able to get the assistance I needed. My weaknesses are no longer a determinant in my success. In fact, my initial fear of being labeled by others as incompetent was more of a limitation than the disability itself. I can now focus on my strengths. My parents have always stressed that my talents will outshine my weak-nesses. I am now a student at Sacramento State Univer-sity, which I absolutely love. With the size and the ever increasing availability of) resources, I can express myself creatively while pursuing my Psychology degree. I would suggest to any of you aspiring college students to seek help for your challenges and identify exactly what it is that you have to offer the world. Once you know your strengths, express them to your full extent. Then, what-ever weakness you may have can do very little in limiting your success.

Introducing our newest CV Drum News College Student Ambassador

Kenitra Patrick (Sacramento State ‘11)CV Drum News Student Ambassador

Seeking high school leaders for the CV Drum News...

The CV Drum News is seeking area high school

leaders like Brion-na Lewis, pictured

right with her mother, Michelle

Hamiel. Brionna is a junior at Sheldon High School, and

the CV Drum News’ second high school student ambassador.

CentralPage...

8

The CV Drum News’ 1st High School Student Ambassador:

Jewels Boone (Middle College High School - Lodi Unified)

“If my life were a mixtape, it would consist of Jimi Hendrix, Outkast, The Fugees, Bob Marley, and Cunninglynguists, with random Broadway

musicals making their appearances at the oddest of times. My name is Jewel, though most call me Jules. I am a full time student, part-time worker, and a whole bunch of other nouns and adjectives that I can’t think of at the moment. Currently, I attend Middle College High School at San Joaquin Delta College; it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m smart, just that I have no life. However there’s really nothing else I’d rather do than go to school, so my lifestyle (or lack of one) suits me quite well, I’d say. During my years on the campus, I’ve witnessed lots of things and done even more. My passions include politics, reading, writing, spoken word poetry, learning other languages, and Hip Hop. Stockton is where I was raised, but I’ve also spent time in other parts of the country (aka the Dirty South), consequently prompting me to run screaming back to California. If I had to be specific about my personal attributes, I’d have to say that I am the coolest un-cool person you will ever cross paths with. My friends refer to me as eccentric - I just refer to myself as the above. On a journalistic note, if I had to guess, my interest in journalism stems from two factors: 1) I am highly inquisitive (aka nosy) and 2) I love to write about the world and people around me. Peace & Balance!”

KOH, Ph.D., CV Drum News

Editor

Monthly Media Message

Keith Orlando Hilton, Ph.D.Merced was on the Mall in DC!

Pictured above right is Ida Johnson of Merced with her son, Linje Johnson, of North Hollywood, and “Abe Lincoln”. Ida Johnson was one of many from throughout the Central Valley who attended the inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington, DC. If anyone else has a photo or story from the historic event, please send it to us.

Elk Grove’s future... Left is Aundreua Chap-pelle and her children, Malcolm Chappelle-Al-len and Ariana Chap-pelle-Allen. Below is Xavier Nelson and his mom, Michelle Giles. They were in attendance at a high school information session at Toby Johnson Middle School. Thanks for being concerned parents.

Name this Modesto

NAACP officer (left) by Febru-

ary 28th and win a mystery prize!

...CentralValley

9

PR in the African-American Community

In my many years as a Public Relations (PR) professional,

I have come to learn that Blacks are among the groups that are least likely to engage PR services when establishing or promoting a business, prod-uct, service, program or event. This is likely due to their lack

of understanding of what PR is. Public Relations is not simply a matter of delivering a message, but delivering the right message, in the right format, to the right publics, at the right time. A trained and experienced PR practitioner will help you to identify your publics, and tailor your message specifically for each: stake holders (investors, suppliers, customers); constituents (donors, ticket buyers, product/ser-vice purchasers); and media (print, broadcast, Internet press). A publicist is an expert in media relations. He or she is familiar with the styles and formats in which media prefer to receive information. The PR practitioner possesses contact information to reach targeted media, and may have relation-ships with persons in the media, possibly enabling easier access. A publicist is adept at: writing press releases, media advisories and public service an-nouncements (PSA); media training and press kit development. Public Relations, like marketing and advertising, is not a discipline that can employed a single time and expect overwhelming results. Public Relations is a service that deserves to be included in your advertising/communications budget. If properly executed, the effective use of PR will certainly result in reaching your goals and objectives.MOUNTAIN HOUSE: Toni Beckham is president and CEO of PR, et Cetera, Inc., a public relations and marketing communications company that serves the communications needs of prominent individuals, companies and organiza-tions in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. She possesses more than 20 years experience in the Communications Industry - including 12 years as Investor Relations manager for a “Fortune 1000” Silicon Valley high-tech company; eight years as Director of Corporate Communications for City-Flight Media Network; and nine years as owner, and later CEO of her own company. PR, et Cetera, Inc. clients have appeared in Essence, Ebony and Black Enterprise magazines, The New York Times, and numerous national and local radio and television programs across the U.S. www.PRetCetera.com. (209) 832-8020.

Toni Beckham of PR, et Cetera, Inc.explains Public RelationsElk Grove/Sacramento honorees...

In South Stockton, the Asiatic Black P.O.E.T.S. “dropping knowledge.”

Ms. Tommie R. Whitlowe of Sac-ramento (left) receiving the Walter R. Bremond Memorial Commu-nity Service Award from the Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley.

The Sacramento County Office of Education’s (SCOE) 2009 Teacher of the Year Daniel Watts (r) was also honored by

the California Association for African American Educators in 2008.

S.C.O.A.C.H.E. continues to shape the racial and cultural landscapes in Shasta County. S.C.O.A.C.H.E. stands for Shasta Coalition of African Americans for Community Health and Empowerment. Left are two officers; Cleveland Percy and Eddie McAllister.

Tracy AreaWhat’s Good...

We list events that will happen for next two months in your area, so send information to us ASAP. Call, email or mail.

10

Dr. Clara Rouse (left) and Tracy mayor Brent H. Ives were among the guests and dignitaries at the breakfast.

Young people are not forget-ting Dr. King. It is simply

impossible. With holidays, school curriculum, etc., Martin Luther King Jr. can never be forgotten. What can be forgotten though is the practice of what Dr. King stood for. If you ask who Dr. King was, most might say he was a civil rights advocate for change and equality through a non-violent approach. But when you look around the world to see if this approach is being practiced, you might be dis-turbed. The numbers of those working diligently for change and equality have decreased while violence has soared. Instead of caring about the good of our neigh-bors, we only care about the wealth in our pockets. Instead of fi ghting against what we do not like with peace, we combat it with arms. There is always hope for change though. As long as we can recognize that we have strayed from the path of which Dr. King helped lay, we can rebound and honor him as he should be honored, with a continued peaceful fi ght for equality.

Are young people forget-ting Dr. King?

Lakea Youngblood (UCLA ‘11)CV Drum News Student Ambassador

CITY OF TRACY

EVELYN TOLBERTCouncil Member

Email: evelyntolbertfortracy@comcast.netWebsite: www:tolbertfortracy.com

Voice Mail: (209) 820-6213

Annual MLK Breakfast held at Tracy Community Center

Modesto AreaWhat’s Good...

We list events that will happen for next two months in your area, so send information to us ASAP. Call, email or mail.

11

Dr. Robert Moses, noted civil rights activist, teacher and founder of the Algebra Project was the keynote speaker at the 15th Annual MLK, Jr. Commemoration on Saturday, Janu-ary 17 at Modesto Junior College.

Central Valley Black Educators Association

P.O. Box 576714 Modesto, CA 95357

Current membership dues is $50 annually.

Are young people forget-ting Dr. King?

Summer Wimberly (Princeton ‘10)CV Drum News Student Ambassador

I think to question whether young people are forgetting Dr. King is

a very tricky question to pose and to answer. On the one hand the answer is a resounding no. It seems impos-sible to forget such a monumental and life-altering fi gure as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He has been the catalyst for so much positive change and growth, not just for the Black community, but for the American community as a whole, that without him we would be radically different, possibly inexistent. On the other hand, I believe that the belief in my prior state-ment does not hold the same value to a person of my generation as it would to a person of my parent’s gen-eration. Thus it is the result of this generational divide that makes it seem that my generation of young people are “forgetting” Dr. King; however, it is not that we are “forgetting” him, but that he has become “text book” important to us. By this I mean that we understand, and are for-ever grateful for the opportunities that he has provided, but at the same time this seems to be the extent our appreciation can reach. Overall, I think young people have more of a verbal and cognitive appreciation for Dr. King, rather than an emotional appreciation - which I believe prior generations experience. Therefore, though it may seem that young people are “forgetting” Dr. King, it is actually this lack of emotional connection between young people and Dr. King coming to light.

The fi rst issue/episode of the CV Drum News was July 2005

Wanda Pruitt - CVBEA President

Merced AreaWhat’s Good...

12

We list events that will happen for next two months in your area, so send information to us ASAP. Call, email or mail.

Merced Branch NAACP meets the 4th Monday of each month at 604 W. 8th Street, Merced, 6:30 p.m. For more infor-mation phone (209) 726-3236.

http://www.mcaac.org/The Merced County African-American Con-nection (MCAAC) is a collaborative effort among four Merced County African-American organizations, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Ebony Socialites, NAACP and NCNW. The collective goal is to help improve the community through their various efforts that include programs, schol-arships, and services that benefi t African-Ameri-cans and other underserved groups, as well as the community as a whole.

Cornerstone Lodge #11131st Annual Black Heritage Banquet

Date: Saturday, February 14thNo Host Social Hour 6:30 p.m. ~ Dinner 7 p.m.

Place: Masonic Temple - 1810 ‘M’ Street, MercedDonation: $30 Per Person

The purpose of this celebration is to honor and pay homage to African-Americans who have made many outstanding contributions to this nation. We recognize and show respect to those who have made a difference

and have been systematically denied their rightful place in history. The month of February is chosen for this

tribute because it is Black History Month.Our program will include a guest speaker, music, dinner,

and door prizes. For more information or tickets, please contact: Percy Hill (209) 384-1981, Stefon Gold

(209) 261-8588 or Darryl Davis (209) 769-5138.

“We have fl own the air like birds and swum the sea like fi shes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“There is not a liberal America and a conser-vative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America - there’s the United States of America,” President Barack Obama

There is a common thread between the two inspirational quotes written above, that connection is a call for unity.

On one hand, times have clearly changed since the days that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched and protested. Segrega-tion is gone, blacks have the right to vote and the United States as a whole has demonstrated the ability to elect a black person to the highest offi ce in this nation among other posi-tions. On the other hand, America still has its issues; the econ-omy is in obvious disarray, something is still going wrong with our education system and unity is still a cry that can be heard from activists and politicians. Dr. MLK was a man who fought on behalf of blacks in an even larger fi ght for American ideals. During the struggle, those who recognized he was fi ghting for everyone, not just for blacks, joined his cause. Today President Obama — a man who is viewed as a culmination of Dr. King as well as others’ efforts — does not rest on his laurels. He continues to call for unity, pushing for our country to “rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed.” President Obama has been very careful to show the nation that he represents America, not just blacks or whites. If Dr. King were still alive today I believe his message would continue to champion unity. I believe President Obama would retain his independence to demonstrate his commitment to all Americans while working with Dr. King to pass important legislation. Because Dr. King was not a polarizing fi gure, I believe it would be easier for President Obama to work with him.

Would President Obama work with Dr. King or distance himself?

Arayle Freels (Howard Univ ‘12)CV Drum News Student Ambassador

KOH, Ph.D. “It seems that the popular belief of Barack Obama’s rise to President of the United States is actually a little off the mark. It is not Dr. King who we should be drawing the connection with, but rather the Hon. Frederick Douglass and Mr. Obama.”

Bay Area | Sacramento | Northern California

Southern California | The Nation | The World

13

Keith Orlando Hilton, Ph.D. Available for eight lectures during 2009:(209) 473-4687 / cvdrumnews@gmail.com

1) The TALO Leadership Theory and cultural profi ciency training2) News and Newsmaking3) 5 reasons African-Americans needed Barack Obama to win4) The eight dominant black leadership profi les (from the playhouse to the White House)5) Why are Africa and Haiti hated by the West?6) Why civic journalism, citizen journalism and Russwurmian journalism are outperforming traditional journalism7) 7 ways businesses, organizations and individuals can increase their status, revenue and infl uence via the media8) Major higher education issues for the 21st Century

Six books written by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.The Trumpet of Conscience (1968). The Massey Lectures.

Broadcasting Corporation. (Posthumously).

Where Do We Go From Here? (1967). Refl ections of the problems of today’s world, the nuclear arms race, etc.

Strength to Love (1964). A selection of Sermons.

Why We Can’t Wait (1963). The story of the Birmingham Campaign.

The Measure of a Man (1959). A selection of sermons.

Strive Toward Freedom (1958). The story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Today many people ask the question, “What would Dr. King think of President Barack Obama?” However we think the bigger question is,

“Would Barack Obama work with or distance himself from Dr. King?”

Stoc

kton

, Nor

ther

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alifo

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- C

entra

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ley

Race & Racism Joining the Ancestors

14

The CV Drum News welcomes letters, pro and con, to essays and information in this, and every episode. CVDrumnews@gmail.com

The CV Drum is the only African-American owned (and the only) publication period that covers our communities from Merced south to Elk Grove north.

In the spirit of our Acknowledged African ancestors, each month we will honor community and family members who have recently passed in the Mid-Central Valley (and if space allows, relatives outside of the Valley). Space is limited. Send us your full announcements with photos by the second Wednesday of the month for publication consideration. This month’s page is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was struck down by an assassin on April 4, 1968.

“Hands to the Pillar”Poem by Michael Paul White

Tracy, California

Father!Let us touch to this pillar.

Streams of energy we send to him.Hear our whispers of the ages.

Our prayers, our offering. Feed him strength.Nourish him with wisdom.

In nights’ rest sing lullabies of hymnsto heal his wounds of the day past.Keep him steady in the turbulence

of the ever shifting sands.Continue his thirst for peace, prosperity and hope.In blinding doubtful light, keep his vision clear.

Stay by his side.Extend to him your hand from all directions.

Amen.

Got a photo, story idea or poem? To “Advertise” or

become a “Patron”

Call: (209) 473-4687

Email: cvdrumnews@gmail.com (subject line: “Advertise” or “Patron”)

INVR Standards/HHEW6333 Pacific Avenue, # 512

Stockton, CA 95207

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CV Community Conversation

15

THIS MONTH’S GUEST ESSAYIST

Ralph L. White, President, Black Leadership Council - Stockton

If you are interested in being a guest essayist for CV Community Conversation,

please submit your 300-400 word essay on any relevant community or Valley topic, along with your photo and brief bio.

“January 1, 2009: Celebrating 146 years of freedom”

More than 45 million Black Americans know about, acknowledge, and celebrate the struggles of many

other ethnic groups’ history, such as; St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo and the Passover. However, we have little or no knowledge of what God has done for us as Black people. God spoke to Abraham Lincoln and on January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States at that time, freed all Blacks from slavery.* President Abraham Lincoln signed what is known to us as the Emancipation Proclamation.

Although Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation on January 1, 1863, Texas was the last State of the Union to learn about the Emancipation Proclamation being signed. Therefore, Texas recognizes June 19, 1865, two and a half years later as [its] freedom date.

*KOH, PH.D. “BUT DESPITE ITS EXPANSIVE WORDING, THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS LIMITED IN MANY WAYS. IT APPLIED ONLY TO STATES THAT HAD SECEDED FROM THE UNION, LEAVING SLAVERY UNTOUCHED IN THE LOYAL BORDER STATES.”

Got a photo, story idea, letter or even a poem that you would like published? See page one or email us for general ideas and topics. Then send it to us for consideration. Remember, we run pho-tos and cover topics important to you. All items must be submitted by second Wednesdays to be considered for the upcoming issue. Please include names/information with photos. Materials will remain property of the CV Drum. Sub-mit via mail — 6333 Pacific Avenue, #512, Stockton, CA 95207 — or email — cvdrumnews@gmail.com (subject line: “CV Submission”). - KOH, Ph.D.

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The CV Photo Gallery

The Central Valley’s Restaurant Row; Pt. 2