Washington D.C. Afro-American Newspaper, August 28, 2010

8/9/2019 Washington D.C. Afro-American Newspaper, August 28, 2010

1/24

Volume 119 No. 3 www.afro.com 75 CENTS

Copyright 2010 by the Afro-American Company

afro.c

om

YourHistoryYourCommunityYou

rNews

7 47105 21847 2

1 8

AUGUST 28, 2010 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

Join theAFROonTwitter and Facebook

D.C. to Get $75Mfor Educationafro.com

Back to School:College EditionB1

Flag of Hypocrisy A7

Opinion

Continued on A3

Continued on A5

Buffalo Soldiers144th Anniversary

Continued on A4

Tommy Davidson: Lifeafter In Living Color

C3C1

By Jamaal Abdul-AlimSpecial to the AFRO

The box next to the

question on job applications

that asks whether a person

has ever been convicted of

a felony could soon become

a thing of the past under

a measure proposed by a

Washington, D.C. councilman

and supported by advocates

for ex-offenders.

With few exceptions, the

billintroduced by D.C.

Councilman Harry Thomas

Jr.would preclude the

city from asking about or

considering the criminal

record of an applicant for

a D.C. city job until the

applicant has been selected

for an interview.

The local effort is part

of a broader initiative to

ban the box that is gaining

acceptance in a growing

number of municipalities

and states, according to

the National Employment

Law Project, one of several

organizations pushing for

an end to the use of criminal

records in the initial stage of

the hiring process.

Ban the box doesnt

say background checks arent

going to be performed,

said Madeline Neighly, staff

attorney at the Oakland ofce

By Mitch WeissAssociated Press Writer

CHALMETTE, La. (AP) Five years after

Hurricane Katrina, Jay Young is still haunted

by the desperate voices on the other end of thetelephone crying and begging for help.

As a loan ofcer for a federal agency that was

supposed to help homeowners and businesses get

back on their feet, he had high expectations he

could make a difference. But he recalls how he

was forced to turn away many qualied applicants

because of what he says was pressure from his

supervisors to close les quickly.

Karen Bazile remembers having high hopes, too,

when she applied for a loan from the same agency,

the Small Business Administration, to rebuild her

home in the New Orleans suburb of Chalmette.

While she ultimately got the money, she quickly

lost faith as she struggled with different loan

ofcers who misplaced her paperwork and told her

Katrina: Five Years Later

SBA Mismanagement o KatrinaLargely Undocumented

Photo by Rob Roberts

Thousands of students in Washington, D.C. and Prince

Georges County returned to school this week. Thoughconcerns remain about the impact of the economy on

services and class sizes, the new school term beganwithout much of the glitches that marred last yearsannual inux.

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

James Jackson reacts after looking around his house in the lowerNinth Ward, Dec. 4, 2005, in New Orleans, La.

Schools In

Ex-Ofenders Seek Clean Employment Slateof the National Employment

Law Project. It merely

means were taking away

the chilling effect of asking

the question about a persons

criminal record up front.

Neighly said the initiative

is important so that ex-

offenders who are returning

from prison can take care of

their families and contribute

to society.

Criminal background

checks are used as an unfair

barrier to employment when

not related to the job, she

said.

By Dorothy RowleyAFRO Staf Writer

According to two noted

political observers, the

Washington rally planned

for this weekend by the

often-raucous cable TV

commentator Glenn Beck has

nothing to do with restoring

honor to the nations capital.

Its taking a slap at

the movement in a way

consistent with what the tea

party has done, said Ron

Walters, retired University of

Maryland political analyst.

They really want to

dishonor the legacy of Dr.

Martin Luther Kings March

on Washington in 1963 to

give it a conservative spin,

he continued, describing

Becks effort as a White

Nationalist Movement.

Michael Fauntroy, public

policy professor at George

Mason University, agreed,

adding that Becks Aug. 28

march is a disgrace to Kings

memory.

Thats a date that should

be held sacred in the Civil

Rights Movement, Fauntroy

said. Glenn Beck is not about

bringing the country together,

and hes way out of line trying

to take over and reshape the

way we talk about Blacks.

However, Glenns event,

which includes a book

launch, is being countered

by a commemoration set at

the Districts Dunbar Senior

High School, marking the

47th anniversary of Kings

legendary march on the

National Mall where more

than 250,000 people heard

his historic I Have a Dream

AFRO File Photo

In this Aug. 28, 1963, AFROle photo, protestors carry signs as part of Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr.s March on Washington. Black leaders today are decrying conservatives plans

to march in Washington on the anniversary of Kings history-making event.

Black Leaders Claim Beck March Tarnishes Kings LegacyOpponents Contend,

Thomas Needs Morethan Name RecognitionBy Dorothy Rowley

AFRO Staf Writer

While the races for

mayor and D.C. City

Council chairperson have

heated up several degrees

in anticipation of the Sept.

14 primary, the contest in

Northeast Washingtons

Ward 5 has also begun to

simmer.

Incumbent Councilman

Harry Thomas Jr. is faced

with ve contenders, three

of whom told theAFRO in

interviews this week that

based on the returns hes

brought to the ward over

the past four years, Thomas

will need more than name

recognition to net him a win.

Since Harry Thomas

has been in ofce, weve

lost Safeways, librariesand the only DMV we had

in the ward, said Kathy

Henderson, one of his

opponents. Mr. Thomas

has not delivered at all. The

only one consistent was his

father [Harry Thomas Sr.,

who served three full terms

representing the ward], while

he gives the impression that

he is the heir apparent to the

[Ward 5] dynasty.

Henderson continued,

Im running because quite

frankly, I believe I can do a

better job.

Thomas, 49, did not

Continued on A5


2/24

A2 The Afro-American, August 28, 2010 - September 3, 2010

Your History Your Community Your News

The Afro-American NewspapersBaltimore Ofce Corporate Headquarters

2519 N. Charles StreetBaltimore, Maryland 21218-4602

410-554-8200 Fax: 1-877-570-9297

www.afro.com

Founded by John Henry Murphy Sr., August 13, 1892

Washington Publisher Emerita -Frances L. Murphy II

Chairman of the Board/Publisher -John J. Oliver, Jr.Executive Assistant - Takiea Hinton - 410-554-8222

Receptionist - Wanda Pearson - 410-554-8200

Director of Advertising/Sponsorship Development & Sales

Susan Gould - 410-554-8289

[email protected]

Advertising Manager - Robert Blount - 410-554-8246

Sr. Advertising Account Executive - Annie Russ - 410-554-8235

Advertising Account Executive

Marquise Goodwin - 410-554-8274

Director of Finance - Jack Leister - 410-554-8242

Archivist - John Gartrell - 410-554-8265

Community & Public Relations Manager

Diane W. Hocker - 410-554-8243

Editorial

Executive Editor - Talibah Chikwendu

E-mail: [email protected]

Managing Editor - Kristin Gray - 410-554-8277

Washington Bureau Chief - Zenitha Prince - 202-332-0080, ext. 119

E-mail: [email protected]

Global Markets

Director - Benjamin M. Phillips IV - 410-554-8220

[email protected]

Washington Circulation/Distribution Manager

Edgar Brookins - 202-332-0080, ext. 116

Baltimore Circulation/Distribution Manager

Sammy Graham - 410-554-8266

Production Department - 410-554-8288

Washington Ofce1917 Benning Road, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002-4723

202-332-0080 Fax: 1-877-570-9297

General Manager

Edgar Brookins - ext. 116

Ofce Administrator - Mia Hayes-Hawkins - ext. 112

Customer Service, Home Delivery and Subscriptions:

410-554-8234

Customer [email protected]

Billing Inquiries: 410-554-8226

Nights and Weekends: 410-554-8282

AFRO National BriefsWyclef Jeans Political

Venture Takes Dramatic

TurnsAfter Haitis Provisional

Electoral Council (CEP)

deemed rapper Wyclef Jean

ineligible to run for the

nations presidency, it seemed

his political ambitions had

been thwarted. Furthermore,Jean released a statement

on his blog saying, I

respectfully accept the

committees nal decision,

and I urge my supporters to

do the same.

But only days later, Jean told The Associated Press his

lawyers would appeal the councils ruling. The married father

of one also told the the AP he has a document which shows

everything is correct and pointed to Haitis political cronyism

as reason for his rejection.

Shawnta Watson Walcott, a pollster and pundit who

conducted the 2005 presidential election poll in Haiti on behalf

of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians

(NOAH), said Jean is simply unprepared to lead a nation. The

CEPs decision to exclude Jean was unfortunate but accurate.

Wyclef simply didnt meet the residency requirement as

stipulated in the Haitian Constitution, said Walcott. Perhaps

he and his legal advisors assumed there would be certain

considerations made that would have allowed him to participate

and that just didnt happen.

Veteran CBS NewsCorrespondent Harold

Dow DiesEmmy Award-winning

CBS News correspondent

Harold Dow, recognized for

his Sept. 11 and O.J. Simpson

murder trial coverage, died

Aug. 21 in New Jersey. He

was 62.

According to CBS

network spokeswoman

Louise Bashi, Dow, a Saddle

River, N.J., resident, died

suddenly but it is not clear

if hed been at home. CBS News is deeply saddened by this

sudden loss, said Sean McManus, president of CBS News and

Sports, in a statement. The CBS News family has lost one of

its oldest and most talented members, whose absence will be

felt by many and whose on-air presence and reporting skills

touched nearly all of our broadcasts. We extend our deepest

condolences to his wife Kathy and their children Joelle, Danica

and David.

Dow had worked as a correspondent for news series 48

Hours since 1990, but had a 40-year career with the network.

Hed previously reported for CBS Evening News with Dan

Rather and CBS News Sunday Morning.

The Hackensack, N.J., native was previously a co-anchor

and talk show host in Omaha, Neb., where he was the rst

African-American TV reporter in that city.

National Black Pro-Life Union Prez to Attend Restoring

Honor RallyOn the 47th anniversary

of Martin Luther King

Jr.s historic March onWashington, incendiary radio

host Glenn Beck plans to lead

the Restoring Honor rally

at the same site where King

gave the landmark I Have

a Dream speech. Joining

him will be Day Gardner,

president of the National

Black Pro-Life Union,

which seeks to coordinate

communication between all Black pro-life groups. I wouldnt

miss [the rally] for the world, said Gardner in a statement.

America is spiraling down into an abyss of debt, joblessness

and economic turmoil. We are seeinga great push to

continue the brutal killing of unborn children--even as modern

technology proves the humanity of the child.

Gardner, who publicly slammed then-Sen. Barack Obama

for his pro-abortion stance, said Americans have beenencouraged to respect Muslims while Christianity and the

name of Jesus is scourged.

Across town, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action

Network have planned Reclaim the Dream, a mass rally. In

a statement posted on the National Action Networks website,

Sharpton said Beck and tea party members will attempt to

hijack the dream while he and other Black civic leaders will

shed light on issues that have diminished Kings vision.

Tainted Eggs Cast Fear in U.S. Grocery StoresTypically a staple food

in many Americans diets,

eggs have come under re

after the U.S. Food and

Drug Administration (FDA)

pointed to two Iowa-based

producers as the root of

a nationwide salmonellaoutbreak. On Aug. 18,

Wright County Eggs recalled

products from all ve of its

farms and 380 million eggs.

Recently, Hillandale Farms

was also cited in the outbreak

and has recalled 170 million eggs.

Thousands of Americans have reportedly become ill after

consuming eggs from these companies and some are ling

lawsuits, theAtlanta Business Journalsaid.

A CAR AND DRIVER 10BESTFOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW

SEE YOUR CADILL AC DEALER TODAY.0 72%APR FOR MONTHS1for qualified buyers.

c a d i l l a c . c o m

1 Monthly payment is $13.89 for every $1,000 you nance. Example down payment is 21.7%. Not available with some other offers. Take delivery by 9/7/10. See dealer for details. 2Example based on survey. Each dealer sets its own price. Your payments may vary.Paymentsare for a 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Sedan with an MSRP of $37,290. 27 monthly payments total $9,423. Option to purchase at lease end for an amount to be determined at lease signing. GMAC must approve lease. Take delivery by 9/7/10. Lessee pays for excess wear. Payments maybe higher in some states. Not available with some other offers. Residency restrictions apply. 3Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. 2010 General Motors. Cadillac CTS

SUMMERS BESTS A L E S E V E N T

s p o r t

s e d a n2010 CTS

27 months $1,999 due at signing after all offersIncludes security deposit. Tax, title, license and dealer feesextra. Mileage charge of $.25/mile over 22,500 miles.

At participating dealers only.

WELL EqU IPPED WITH:

Direct injection V6 engineTrack tuned sport suspension

All speed stability system

Bose premium 8 speaker audio system

OnStar3 Turn-by-turn Navigation standard for one year

$349

pe r m onth 2

ultra low-mileage leasefor qualified lessees

o r l e a s e f o r

P U R C H A S E W I T H

t . :

Photo by Ali Dan-Bouzoua

Wyclef Jean

Courtesy PhotoHarold Dow

Courtesy Photo

Day Gardner

Morguefle.com


3/24

Identification StatementsBaltimore Afro-American (USPS 040-800) is published weekly by TheAfro-AmericanNewspapers, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602. Subscription Rate:Baltimore - 1 Year - $30.00 (Price includes tax.) Checks for subscriptions should be madepayable to: TheAfro-American Newspaper Company, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD21218-4602. Periodicals postage paid at Baltimore, MD.

POSTMASTER:Send addresses changes to: TheAfro-American Newspaper Company, 2519N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602.

The Washington Afro-American & Washington Tribune (0276-6523) is publishedweekly by theAfro-American Newspapers at 1917 Benning Road, N.E., Washington, D.C.20002-4723. Subscription Rate: Washington - 1 Year - $30.00. Periodical Postage paidat Washington, D.C.

POSTMASTER: Send addresses changes to: The Washington Afro-American& Washington Tribune, 2519 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4602.

August 28, 2010 - September 3, 2010, The Afro-American A3

Continued from A1

Black Leaders

Our apartment homes arent the only things that look good from every angle.

Meet Leroy Jenkins.Camera Man. Producer. Really Living since 2005.

For Leroy, really living means embracing the day while

keeping his plans or the uture frmly in ocus. His

Erickson Living community provides security and peace o

mind rom the what-is in lie. And his worry-ree apartment

home lets him devote more time to new interests, like the

campus TV station. So even as Leroy works his camera

behind the scenes, hes taking the leading role in planning

ahead or a bright uture.

Start enjoying the vibrant retirement lifestyle you

deserve. Call 1-800-792-1851today for your freeGuide to Erickson Living at Riderwoodand discover how

beautiful and affordable your retirement can be.

6792427

By Dorothy Rowley

AFRO Staf Writer

During opening ceremonies last week, ofcials at the newly

established Bertha B. Williams Academy (BBWA) in Southeast

Washington, D.C., said they look forward to the facility

eventually becoming a model for similar efforts across the

country. Until then, It will be an exemplary model academy

for poor students like those who live east of the river, saidfounder and board member Lois Williams.

BBAW, which is located in the educational building at

Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church on Minnesota Avenue,

is tuition-free and caters to underprivileged children from

pre-kindergarten through second grade living in the Anacostia

community. The school is named after Williams, an educator

who dedicated much of her career to training disadvantaged

students, and is solely supported by private donations,

fundraisers and grants.

When classes start Sept. 26, each of the 80 students will be

provided a personal education plan that, aside from offering

a curriculum, fosters communication, critical thinking and

problem-solving skills.

However, plans call for increasing enrollment to 200 and

adding classes for students up to sixth grade over the next three

years. While ofcials will focus on providing individualized

attention with low teacher-to-student ratios, theyre poised toeventually evolve the school into a charter facility.

Williams, who is married to the school namesakes oldest

son, Anderson Williams, said the facility spawned out of

concern for problems that often plague children in Ward 8,

including a gaping disparity in achievement between African-

American and White children attending District of Columbia

public schools.

Anacostias majority Black community, represented by

Councilman Marion Barry, is often described as the citys

poorest neighborhood. With the poverty rate exceeding 36

percent, at least half of its children have been classied

disadvantaged, and last year, according to a recent city

demographics prole, more than 31,000 residences received

food stamps.

We plan to address these problems by providing excellence

in education to inner-city youth, Williams said. We believe

in providing every student access in learning with a strong

commitment to educating children from all walks of life.

BBWA board chairwoman Leah Humphrey added that

ofcials also intend to provide a high-quality school that will

serve as a model of success for students throughout the United

States in communities like Anacostia. We have an excellent

board and were totally committed to serving the needs of the

children, Humphrey said. We want the absolute best for them[and] we want to provide the resources, intellect and the spirit

thats necessary to lead them.

Other than a simple application form theres no long, drawn

out enrollment process.

Scott Pearson, director of Public Charter Schools for the

U.S. Department of Education, expressed sentiments on behalf

of President Barack Obama.

We should treasure, support and embrace [BBWA] as [an

important] fabric of your lives and the president supports that,

Pearson said. He said formation of the school has challenged

the status quo. In the best way possible by [adhering] to

high standards that its ofcials are willing to be judged by,

said Pearson. The school is part of a strong and growing

movement. Its different and thats the whole point, because we

want choice and diversity.

Tuition-Free Private School Debuts in Ward 8

speech.

The commemoration is

being organized by the Rev.

Al Sharpton and his National

Action Network, and has

mobilized a contingent of

progressive leaders, clergy

and nationally syndicated

Black radio talk show hosts

and other activists from across

the country to reclaim

Kings dream.

Though Beck admitted

he had no idea Aug. 28 was

the same date as the famousMarch on Washington, he said

in an interview with another

news outlet that it wouldnt

stop him from proclaiming

the coincidence as divine

providence.

Beck, who touts himself

as a conservative American

thinker, began plans for his

rally late last year, scheduling

it to coincide with the fth

anniversary of Hurricane

Katrinas devastation and the

horric murder 55 years ago

of 14-year-old Emmet Till for

whistling at a White woman.

According to his website,

while the gathering issupposed to be a nonpolitical

celebration of America, it has

the backing of the National

Rie Association and lists

Sarah Palin among its primary

speakers.

Beck plans to follow up

the rally with an event at the

Kennedy Center that will

reportedly include uplifting

music and messages of

hope, healing and faith from

nationally-known religious

gures, reminiscent of

speeches conveyed during

civil rights struggles.

While leaders such as

activist Dick Gregory and the

Rev. Timothy Mc Donald of

the Concerned Black Clergy

of Atlanta contend Beck lacks

the fortitude to engage in civil

rights for Blacks, Walters

pointedly said Beck is not

worthy of the date he chose

to reach out to the masses. I

think thats what people ought

to understand, said Walters.

Sharpton pointed out in

a commentary circulated by

the NNPA that in studying

the intense struggle for civil

rights in this nation, people

quickly and rightfully

nd themselves analyzing thelife and legacy of King.

We learn of his tireless

efforts to achieve equality and

justice for all of humanity, as

we pass on legends of sit-ins,

marches and boycotts to our

children, Sharpton said. But

what we as a collective [body]

sometimes forget to impress

upon the next generation is

the depth to which Dr. King

was an advocate [and that] the

position as he knew it, was the

only effective tool to ensure a

unied system of equality in

every state.

Echoing Walters

sentiments, Sharpton whoreferred to Beck gathering

as a mere disturbance said

that the show host and the tea

party are attempting to tarnish

the legacy of the 1963 march.

But he said that in light of

the Dunbar rally, Kings loyal

legion of supporters wont

allow that to happen.

We will not give credence

to this distraction, said

Sharpton, for thats all it is.

AFRO File Photo

Civil rights leaders are marching Aug. 28 in Washington

to reclaim Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s dream, which he

shared in his I Have a Dream speech 47 years ago.

The school is part o a strong andgrowing movement. Its diferent andthats the whole point, because we wantchoice and diversity.


4/24


Continued from A1

SBA Mismanagement

WASHINGTON (AP) The University of the District of Columbia will have about 1,500extra students at its northwest Washington campus this year.

Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C. school ofcials announced last week that Wilson High

School students will study this school year at UDCs Building 52. The high school building inTenleytown will undergo a $100 million renovation.

While the plan was only announced the Friday before the start of classes, ofcials say the

UDC building will be ready. It includes 65 classrooms, four computer labs and faculty ofce

space. Wilson students will use UDCs gym and library.Some merchants near the Van Ness campus are concerned about the inux of students.

But Council member Mary Cheh says no businesses asked to be placed off limits to Wilson

students.

Pentagon Centre, 1201 South Hayes St., Arlington | 703.399.3222 nordstromrack.com Fair Lakes Promenade, 12199 Fair Lakes Promenade Dr., Fairfax | 703.563.2540 connect with us:

Nowope

nat

Pentagon

Centre,

Arlington

FairLake

sPromen

ade,Fair

fax

_

Wilson High Moves to UDC CampusDuring Renovationshe had only 48 hours to nd

and fax critical documentsor her application would be

canceled.

Some 160 miles to the east,in Alabama, Erik Schmitz,

former commodore of the

Fairhope Yacht Club, takes

in a breathtaking view ofMobile Bay from a posh newclubhouse rebuilt in part with

a $1.5 million disaster loan,

the maximum from the SBA.For Schmitz, the entire loan

process was smooth sailing.

While stories of theFederal Emergency

Management Agencys

contaminated trailers and theArmy Corps of Engineers

inability to shore up the

levees captured the headlinesin the aftermath of the deadly

storms of 2005, the bunglingof the SBA, the lead federal

agency helping people rebuild

their homes and businesses,has largely been untold.

The sagas of Schmitz,

Bazile and the SBAsYoung, who worked out of

the agencys massive loan

processing center in FortWorth, Texas, collectively

reveal how the SBA failed inso many ways, an ominous

experience as the agency

prepares to play a similarrole in the aftermath of the

massive BP PLC oil spill.

These are stories of amismanaged bureaucracy

that still hurt half a decade

later: tales of applications

for low-interest disasterloans that should have beenapproved but were not, of

applications deleted from the

SBA computer system for novalid reason, of impossible-to-

meet deadlines manufactured

to clear backlogs, and of a

process so chaotic and painfulthat thousands simply gave up.

AnAssociated Press

investigation based onmore than 200 interviews,

thousands of pages of

public documents obtainedunder the federal Freedom

of Information Actand a

rst-ever detailed computeranalysis of SBA data from

hurricanes Katrina and Ritafound that:

Despite the obvious need,

55 percent of homeownersand businesses that applied for

help after the hurricanes were

turned away. According to dataprovided by SBA, of 318,953

applications processed,

175,463 were rejected and143,490 were approved.

Only 60 percent of the

loan money approved by SBA

ultimately reached applicants.Over the years, SBA ofcials

have told congressionalcommittees that the agencyhad approved more than $10

billion in loans, touting it

as an example of how SBAhad helped those on the Gulf

Coast. However, accordingto the data, only $6.1 billion

of the approved loan moneyhas been dispensed. SBA

ofcials say many applicants

never accepted the loansbecause they found other

ways to rebuild, including

using insurance money. Butmany former applicants said

in interviews that they just

walked away because theentire process took too long

and was too complicated.

Of the money SBA

did distribute, $357 million

nearly 6 percent hasnever been repaid. More

than a dozen people whose

loans were charged offtold the AP that the agency

hasnt contacted them about

repayment.

Country clubs, yachtclubs, exclusive private

schools and megachurches

received millions in loansfrom the agency founded in

1953 with a mission to aid,counsel, assist and protect theinterests of small business

concerns. Some of the more

substantial operations rebuiltbigger and better, often

contradicting SBA rules thatsay damaged buildings should

be repaired only to theiroriginal state.

Homeowners and

businesses in higher-incomeareas were more likely to get

a loan than those in lower-

income areas, according toAPs analysis of SBA data

by ZIP code. The truth is

that only the wealthy movedthrough the system easily,

said Gale Martin, anotherformer SBA loan ofcer. If

you were of a certain income,we funded you rst, whichis not the way the system is

supposed to work. Martin

contended that contrary to theSBA mission to especially

help people who didnt always

have the means to rebuild,applicants with higher credit

scores and bigger incomeswere cherry-picked for

processing rst because those

les could be closed quicker.

A disparity also existed

along racial lines. Forexample, the predominantly

White, wealthier Lakeview

section of New Orleans hadthe citys highest ratio of

approvals to rejections, whilethe lowest approval rates

were in poorer, mostly Black

areas like the Lower NinthWard. But a racial disparity

was clear even among

economically similar areas.SBA approved nearly 66

percent of loan applications

in a predominantly whitepart of suburban St. Bernard

Parish but approved only 42.1percent in a predominantly

black, adjacent section of

eastern New Orleans withcomparable median household

income. SBA ofcials

said they dont collectinformation about race on

loan applications, but try toreach out to applicants in poorneighborhoods. Civil rights

leaders say the agency hasnt

done enough to help.

SBA ofcials insistthe agency today is better

prepared to handle a major

disaster. Were not proudof what happened during the

2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes,

said James Rivera, deputyassociate administrator of

SBAs ofce of disaster

assistance. Our response wasslow, but weve learned from

our mistakes. Weve had ve

years to reect on this.During that period, agency

ofcials say, they have addedstaff, improved technology

and simplied the loan

process to push money outquickly to disaster victims.

But recent reports by

government watchdoggroups and some critics have

slammed SBA for being too

slow to implement measuresthat could improve an agency

with a troubled past.Congressional

investigators and SBA

whistleblowers questionwhether the agency is any

better equipped for a major

disaster today, as the regiongrapples with the oil-spill

related assault on three pillarsof its economy seafood,tourism and offshore drilling.

The SBA is once again

setting up disaster recoverycenters along the Gulf Coast,

although the oil spill effort willlikely be overshadowed by

the hurricanes economic toll.

While BP is responsible forthe nancial impact caused by

the spill, the SBA is helping

people while they wait for thecorporate assistance.

This is going to happen

again tomorrow if theresanother Katrina, Martin said.

They didnt x enough for it

not to happen.

Look for parts two, three andfour of this story online at www.afro.com. Associated Press writersBrian Skoloff, Becky Bohrer,Carrie Osgood, Peter Prengamanand the AP News Research Centercontributed to this story.

AFRO File Photo

The Small Business Administration was responsible for

issuing loans to help people rebuild their homes and

businesses after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.


5/24


Continued from A1

Opponents Contend

Nominations are now being acceptedfor the following WTU positions:

President

General Vice President

Treasurer

Vice-President* (6 positions)

Recording Secretary

Trustees (3 positions)

Executive Board member** (11 positions)

Delegates to the Metropolitan Washington Council,AFL-CIO (9 positions)

Delegates to the Convention of theMaryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO (9 positions)

*There is one Vice President from each of the following divisions

for a total of six (6) positions: elementary school, junior high

school, senior high school, career development, special education,

and specialized services.

** There are eleven (11) Executive Board positions with four (4)

from elementary school, two (2) from junior high school, two (2)

from senior high school, and three (3) from specialized services.

Washington Teachers Union, Local 6

Nominations and Elections NoticeTerm o Ofce: The term of ofce for the President, GeneralVice President, Treasurer, Vice Presidents, Recording Secretary,Trustees, Executive Board members and Delegates to the Metro-politan Washington Council, AFL-CIO runs until July 1, 2013. Theterm of ofce for Delegates to the Convention of the MarylandState and D.C. AFL-CIO runs through the Convention of Fall 2011.All elected persons will serve each term or the balance of eachterm beginning October 5, 2010.

Eligibility or President, General Vice President, Trea-surer, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Trusteeand Executive Board member: Candidates must be current,full dues paying members and must submit a nominations peti-

tion signed by a minimum of 20 full dues paying members to beeligible.

Eligibility or Delegate to the Metropolitan WashingtonCouncil, AFL-CIO and Delegate to the Convention o theMD State and District o Columbia AFL-CIO: Candidatesmust be current employees and full dues paying members. Amember may self nominate or be nominated by a WTU member ingood standing by submitting her/his name on a nominating peti-tion by the deadline. Signatures from additional WTU membersare not required.

Deadline or Nominations:Nomination Petitions must besigned by the candidate and submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. onSeptember 3, 2010 to the American Federation of Teachers, c/o AlSquire, Regional Director, 555 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington,DC 20001. Nomination Petitions are available online.

Election: The election of the WTU Union Ofcers, Trustees,Executive Board and Delegates will be conducted by mail ballot.The mail ballots will be mailed on September 18, 2010. Ballots willbe opened and counted by the American Arbitration Association,an independent agency, on October 4, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. at theAmerican Federation of Teachers.

To download a petition and for more information, please visitwww.at.org/wtuelection.

Attention Members of the Washington Teachers Union

By Nafeesa SyeedAssociated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP)

The U.S. Marshals Service

says its cracking down onsome of the most dangerous

sex offenders in the nations

capital.Deputy U.S. Marshal

David Neumann, aspokesman for the U.S.

Marshals for D.C. Superior

Court, says the agencyis targeting the ve most

wanted sex offenders who

have failed to register with authorities.Its part of Project Sentinel/Operation Guardian thats under way throughout the country,

with each Marshals district searching for the worst convicted, noncompliant sex offenders.

Neumann says there are about 750,000 convicted sex offenders in the United States, butabout 125,000 have not registered. He says its important to catch them to put victims at ease

and protect families.Those who are caught face more prosecution because of their failure to register.

For more information: www.usmarshals.gov/district/dc-sc/

U.S. Marshals Target 5 MostWanted Sex Ofenders

Continued from A1

Ex-Ofenders

Councilman Thomas, whointroduced the Ban the Box

measure after meeting with

ex-offender advocates andconstituents who reported

trouble getting interviewed

due to their criminal records,agrees.

It is the councilmembersbelief that increasing apersons ability to interview

for a position would give theemployer a better opportunity

to judge that person on their

abilities to perform the workrather than an employer

having a preconceived idea

of that persons characterbased on a past mistake,

said James Pittman, Thomas

legislative counsel.Pittman said the goal

behind Thomas proposedmeasure is to build a positive

track record with Ban the

Box in D.C. government

in order to build a case toeventually expand similar

measures in the private sector.Eliminating the box at the

outset of the hiring process

could not come soon enoughfor ex-offenders such as

30-year-old Akil, a certied

food handler and formerprison cook who recently

settled on an $8-an-hourjob as a dishwasher in a

restaurant in Bethesda.

Akil, who spent half adecade in federal prison

for a drug conviction, says

he lled out hundreds ofjob applications since his

release from prison in 2008but seldom heard back fromemployers. He suspects the

reason is because of hiscriminal record.

Even if they dont know

what you were locked upfor, it puts in their head like,

What could he have done?

Akil explained.

Such experiences are byno means uncommon in the

city, where on any given daythere are 16,000 ex-offenders

under the supervision of the

Court Services and OffenderSupervision Agency for

the District of Columbia,

and more than half areunemployed, several times

the District unemployment

rate of roughly 10 percent.We have a real problem

with employment in theDistrict and a real problem

with folks on supervision,

said Leonard Sipes,spokesman for CSOSA.

Courtney Stewart, co-

founder of the D.C.-basedRe-Entry Network for

Returning Citizens, says the

unemployment rates amongex-offenders or returning

citizens, his favoredterminology concern society

in general, not just those with

criminal records.Its a public safety issue,

Stewart said. If you dont

give a man a job, it becomesa public safety issue, because

hes already committed

a crime before, and the

likelihood of doing it again isvery high.

Stewart doesnt harborany notions that eliminating

the box will make a dramaticchange in employment for ex-

offenders. [But] it evens the

playing eld a little more,he said.

If the D.C. council

return theAFROs inquiry for comment. However, he has beenon the Council since 2006, having won the General Election

with 85 percent of the votes. Currently, the ward ranks third

for the highest rate of unemployment and HIV/AIDS, andaccording to Henderson, has the dirtiest streets and alleys

in the city as well all other kinds of negative indicators including incidences of breast cancer and asthma.

I feel we deserve better, Henderson said. I dont

understand why he cant deliver and why he cant make us apriority.

According to a spring 2010 prole provided by the UrbanInstitute and the Washington, D.C., Local Initiatives SupportCorporation, teen birth rates are prevalent in Ward 5, and

last year more than 6,000 of its households received TANF

(Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) benets.Meanwhile, Thomas has been banking on his earmarks to

win favor with voters. Nevertheless, his Council record has alsospawned the chagrin of Delano Hunter and Kenyan McDufe.

Over the past four years, Harry Thomas has been reactive

to issues of concern to the residents of Ward 5, whereas we

need someone whos going to be stronger and more proactive,

said McDufe. Hes the chair of the committee on parks,

recreation and libraries on the Council, and yet he hasntdelivered in terms of resources being allocated to Ward 5s

parks, recreation and libraries. McDufe added that of the

billions allocated in the City Council budget from Fiscal Year2007 to Fiscal Year 2010 that a mere pittance has been spent on

Ward 5. And thats ridiculous, McDufe said.

Hunter added that lack of vision has caused Thomasleadership to falter.

He has failed to address some of the key issues that areholding Ward 5 back, Hunter said, noting the areas high

truancy and dropout rates among them. He has failed to put

forth the proactive vision and leadership this community needs,[although] he has been very reactive to the mayor.

ultimately decides to banthe box, it would be one

of roughly two dozenmunicipalities to do so. Others

include Baltimore, Boston,

Chicago, Minneapolis, SanFrancisco and Seattle, to name

a few.

The proposed Ban theBox measure in the District

has been referred to the

Councils Committee onGovernment Operations and

the Environment for a hearingwith comments from the

Committee on Public Safety

and the Judiciary. A hearingdate on the matter has not yet

been scheduled.

MorgueFile

Courtesy Photo

I feel we deserve better, Henderson said.I dont understand why he cant deliverand why he cant make us a priority.


6/24


Aug. 26

RE-New OrleansRecess Lounge, 727 15th

St., N.W. D.C. 6-10 p.m. Join

the community in this socialnetworking and fundraiser

event in commemorationof the fth anniversary of

Hurricane Katrina. For more

information: www.gnof.org.

Aug. 27

D.C. Poetry in the Park2010

Carter BarronAmphitheatre, 4850 Colorado

Ave., N.W. D.C. 7:30 p.m.

Join the annual D.C. Poetry inthe Park festival with special

guests the Last Poets. For

more information: 202-426-0486.

Live on the Woodrow

Wilson Plaza

Woodrow Wilson Plaza,Ronald Reagan International

Trade Center, 1300

Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. D.C.12-1:30 p.m. In this weekly

event, enjoy some of the bestfree musical performances

in the area. For more

information: 202-312-1300.

Aug. 28

Spirit of Love FestGranville Gude Park

(Laurel Lakes), 7901 CypressSt., Laurel, Md. 12-5 p.m.

Christian World Links will

host the rst Spirit of LoveFest featuring giveaways,

music, vendors, food and

more. For more information:spiritoovefest.com.

Smoky Eye Workshop

Largo-Kettering LibraryConference Room, 9601Capital Lane, Largo, Md.

1:30-3 p.m. Learn how to

create the perfect smokyeye makeup effect with

professional makeup guru

Tasha (Taz) Robinson ofPlaying in Paint Makeup

Artistry. $25 admits

one, $40 admits two.For more information:

playinginpaint.com.

FCAC Community Day

TheARC, 1901Mississippi Ave., S.E. D.C.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Federal

City Alumnae Chapterof Delta Sigma Theta

Sorority will be hosting

its annual communityday to foster community,

health, educational andpolitical awareness. The

fair will include children

and adult activities, healthscreenings, free food,

tness demos and live

entertainment. For moreinformation: thecacdst.org.

Who Let the Dogs In?Marian Koshland

Science Museum, Sixthand E streets, N.W. D.C.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Join theKoshland for a museumfestival for dogs and their

owners. Your pet will

enjoy complementarygourmet treats, water and

shade as you get useful

information for your pet.For more information: 202-

334-1201.

Aug. 28-29

Linganore Wine Cellars

Vintage Jazz FestivalLinganore Winecellars,

13601 Glissans Mill Road,Mt. Airy, Md. 6 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon of

warm summer breeze andsunshine and enjoy great

food and music. $10-$15.

410-795-6432.

Aug. 29

Dr. Evelyn BethuneJohn Wesley United

Methodist Church, 6922North Ritchie Hwy. Glen

Burnie, Md. Come and

hear the message fromDr. Evelyn Bethune,

granddaughter of Dr.

Mary McLeod Bethune.Following the service,

there will be a receptionin which Dr. Bethune

will autograph copiesof her book. For moreinformation: 410-766-

6981.

Sept. 2Empower Happy Hour

Tabaq Bistro, 1336 USt., N.W. D.C. 5-8 p.m.

JoinEmpower Magazine

as they host their monthlyhappy hour to discuss

social issues and challengereaders to take action in

their communities. For

more information: 202-709-9392.

Sept. 3-5Kankouran: AfricanDance & Drum

ConferenceWashington Plaza

Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle,N.W. D.C. 1 p.m. Join in

the 27th annual African

dance and drum festival.$15-$220. For more

information: kankouran.

org.

Community Calendar

Open a Macys Account for

extra 15% savingsthe first 2 days with more rewards to come.

Exclusions and limitations apply; see left.

NOW THROUGH SUNDAY, AUG. 29

SAVEON FAVES

OUR CUSTOMERS 5-STAR

FAVORITES25% - 5O% OFF STOREWIDEPLUS, TAKE ANEXTRA 15% OR 1O% OFF

WHEN YOU USE YOUR MACYS CARD OR PASS EXCLUSIONS APPLY; SEE PASS.

EXTRA 15%OFF

WOW!PASSEXTRA SAVINGS ON ALL

SALE & CLEARANCE APPAREL!(EXCEPT SPECIALS & SUPER BUYS)

SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE APPARELFOR HIM, HER & KIDS

EXTRA 1O% OFFALL SALE & CLEARANCESHOES, COATS, SUITS, DRESSES, INTIMATES;

MENS SUIT SEPARATES & SPORTCOATSAND SELECT HOME ITEMS

Excludes: specials, super buys, fine and fashion jewelry, watches, furniture,mattresses, floor coverings, rugs, electrics/electronics, cosmetics/fragrances, giftcards, jewelry trunk shows, previous purchases, special orders, selected licenseddepts., special purchases, services, macys.com. Cannot be combined with anysavings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macysaccount. EXTRA SAVINGS % APPLIED TO REDUCED PRICES.

VALID NOW-8/29/2010

For store locations & hours, log on to macys.com

Macys credit card is available subject to credit approval; new account savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludesservices, select licensed departments, gift cards, restaurants, gourmet food and wine. On furniture, mattresses and rugs/floor coverings, the newaccount savings is limited to $100; application must qualify for immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible.

. : :


7/24


(NNPA) - On Aug. 29, we

will commemorate ve years

since Hurricane Katrina hit

New Orleans, broke its levees

and drowned the city in feet

of water. Five years ago our

nation exhibited some of the

most profound indifference

to human beings as thousands

of New Orleaneans were

stuck without food, water, or

sanitation in the Super Dome.

In the aftermath of those ve years, those divisions of race

and class have determined which individuals have recovered

from Katrina and who have not. Five years after the levees

broke, the city of New Orleans is still bruised from the tragedy

of a natural disaster, a man-made disaster, and an indifferent

government.

Bill Quigley, legal director of the Center for Constitutional

Rights, Loyola University law professors Bill and Davida

Finger, and Tulane University researcher Lance Hill have

compiled a Pain Index for New Orleans in 2010. They

make the case that too many people have been permanently

displaced, the infrastructure remains badly frayed, and that

there is insufcient affordable housing. They note that while

some say the median income in New Orleans has risen since

Katrina, that income has only risen because so many poor

people cant come back.

There are at least 100,000 fewer persons in New Orleans

today than ve years ago. One in four residential addresses is

vacant or blighted. Nearly 20,000 people are still waiting for

money from the Road Home program to rebuild their homes.

Meanwhile, rents have spiraled, and 5,000 people are waiting

for public housing; another 28,000 or so are waiting for housing

vouchers. The public school system has been decimated, and it

is unclear whether charter education has been an improvement.

In 2005, a New Orleans businessman promised the Wall

Street Journalthat the business community would use Katrina

to recongure New Orleans politically, demographically

and economically. With the city now being represented

by a Vietnamese-American Republican, and with a major

demographic shift in the City

Council, one might say that

the businessman kept his

promise. Whether benignly or

deliberately, poor people have

gotten the word they are

unwelcome in New Orleans.

Data tell one story, but it

is souls and spirits that tell

another. Ive been to New

Orleans twice this year,

rst for the Essence Music

Festival, then for Delta

Sigma Theta Sororitys 50th

Convention. The events were

great, as events go, with

highlights, challenges, and

plenty of crowds. The best

part of going to New Orleans

these days, though, is talking to

the people who live there about

their thoughts and feelings

about recovery.

I wouldnt live anywhere else, my driver said. His voice

has the thickness of gumbo, the jazzed nuance of many New

Orleanean voices. The second time he picks me up to take me

from one place to another, we get to talking and he tells me

his story. He is 68, former military, and a retiree when Katrina

hit. But he and his wife had to start all over because they lost

everything. So instead of enjoying retirement, he drives three

days a week, and does odd jobs to make ends meet. When

I ask about federal government help, he grunts, utters an

expletive, and then says, I told you we had to start over.

The housekeeper at the Hilton is a sweet chatterbox. When

she brings extra tea bags, she natters on about why she prefers

coffee to tea. When I ask her how she managed after Katrina,

though, she grows silent and her countenance takes on sadness.

I lost my mother two years ago. I really think that storm killed

her. She tells me a harrowing evacuation story that landed part

of her family in Atlanta and part in Houston. Three of her ve

children chose to stay in Atlanta, feeling that starting over was

too much.

I miss them and I miss my grands, but I have two others

here, she said. She speaks of Sunday dinners past with

a wistfulness in her voice. It is as if our family has been

broken in half. People visit, she allowed. But its just not the

same. And, she says she is grateful for what she does have,

including her health, her home, and good relationships.

Langston Hughes called stories like these the sweet ypaper

of life. Not enough to write a research paper on, just enough to

get some avor for. That ypaper isnt as sweet for many New

Orleaneans as it was ve years ago, and material conditions

have worsened as well. When we turn the lens on New Orleans

this week to commemorate the ve years since Katrina, what

can we say about the possibility that this city and its residents

will ever be made whole?

Julianne Malveaux is president of Bennett College for

Women in Greensboro, N.C.

Opinion

Julianne

Malveaux

Five Years After theLevees Broke

I am amazed that the

controversy surrounding the

proposed Muslim mosque

and community center in

New York City at ground zero

is still going strong. America

has turned into a country

where if you dont agree with

someone, you are painted as

a bad person. This is exactly

what is going on in New York

City.

Those who oppose the

project have lost the legal

battle, but now they are

attempting to turn it into a

political battle. I nd those in opposition full of hypocrisy,

especially those in the Republican Party.

When President Obama used the word empathy to

describe one of the qualities he looked for in a Supreme Court

nominee, Republicans ripped into him (and rightfully so). Our

legal system is based on the law, not how one feels about a

given case or person involved in a case.

Now, when it comes to the proposed mosque at ground

zero, these same people want the Muslim community to be

sensitive (i.e. empathetic) toward the family members of

those killed and others impacted my 9/11. Mind you, everyone

agrees that the Muslims have the legal right to move forward

with the projectnot even the most vocal opponent argues this

point.

Their whole argument is about sensitivity. How ironic

that when Obama suggested empathy in a Supreme Court

nominee, he was excoriated. Now, these very same people are

encouraging the same thing, albeit in a different circumstance.

As a longtime Republican, I have had many conversations

with White folks in the party regarding the confederate ag

and its place in our society. These people see absolutely no

problem with the ag ying on the dome of state capitals

around the country, even though they know its very offensive

to the Black community.

I have been told on many occasions that I (and the

Black community) was being overly sensitive and that

those who support the ying of the ag are within their

rights. Additionally, I was told, you cant expect people to

forget their heritage because of the sensitivities of the Black

community. After all, me nor my parents or grandparents were

part of the Confederacy. But, it is party of our familys history;

therefore, we celebrate it. We had nothing to do with slavery,

nor do we support any type of discrimination.

Isnt this the same argument the Muslims are using in New

York? They had nothing to do with 9/11. But, they want to be

able to celebrate their religion, despite the bad feelings that

others may experience.

Once again, these same Republicans who oppose the

Muslims in New York on grounds of sensitivity, will not take

the same stand on the Confederate ag when it comes to the

Black community.

Principles are guides to ones life that are not relative or

situational. Principles have to be consistently applied for one

to be credible and maintain the moral high ground. You cant

pick and choose when to apply ones principles.

Through whats going on

in New York, maybe, just

maybe, Republicans will

better understand how Blacks

feel about the Confederate

ag. And maybe, just maybe,

the next time Blacks express their feelings about having the

confederate ag ying atop government buildings, Republicans

wont just blow us off. But, maybe they will be sensitive to

the pain the ag evokes within our community.

Can you honor the Confederate ag without being a racist?

Without a doubt. Can you support the Muslim project in New

York without being insensitive? Without a question.

To believe one without the other is to y the ag of

hypocrisy.

Raynard Jackson is president and CEO of Raynard Jackson

& Associates, LLC., a Washngton, D.C.-based public relations/

government affairs rm. He is also a contributing editor for

ExcellStyle Magazine (www.excellstyle.com).

The Flag of Hypocrisy

maybe, just maybe, the nex t time Blacks express their eel-ings about having the conederate ag ying atop governmentbuildings, Republicans wont just blow us of.

Raynard Jackson

Goodbye Dr. LauraYou mean to tell me theres a word White folks cant

use under any circumstances? What word is that? Because itcertainly isnt n-gg-r. White folks use the word n-gg-r allthe timethey just dont use it around Black folks.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger used the word n-gg-r 11 times theother day during an argument with a Black woman becausethats what was in her heart. She was bold, angry and for atime, unapologetic. She wanted her White listeners to hearher and become bold enough to sing along. Every time a highprole White person comes out of their mouth wrong, Blackfolks should hold them accountable. No excuses! I bet shewouldnt have been calling Jews anything other than sir andmaam.

Black guys use it all the time, she said. Turn on HBO,listen to a Black comic and all you hear is nigger. I guessher mama never told her not to do everything she sees ontelevision. Women call each other bitches all the time. Thatdoesnt mean I should do it. Besides, quite a few Black folksdont want comedians to use it anymore either. White folksinvented the word n-gg-r as a derogatory, hate lled insultmeant to psychologically do damage. Dr. Quack knew thatbut her arrogance was too blinding. And shed been dyingto say it on the air anyway. She saw her chance and took it.Although Dr. Laura was using the N word to make a point toa listener, her rationalization that Black folks use it all the timeshows intent. Did Dr. Laura called it quits or was she forced toquit? Who cares, she was obnoxious anyway.

Xavier JamesYahoo e-mail user

Drunken Illegals Major Maryland ConcernThe silence was deafening from Marylands political

leadership when the news broke of Carlos Montano, an illegalalien, being arrested in Virginia for crashing into and killingan innocent Catholic nun while driving under the inuence(DUI). Politicians in Montgomery and Prince Georgescounties, known sanctuaries for illegal aliens, are quite awareof the dangerous arrest and release policies used for DUI andrelated cases involving illegal aliens like Montano in theirjurisdictions.

For counties that pride themselves on public health

and safety issues such as cigarette smoking bans, transfat

elimination, reworks restrictions, motorcycle and bicycle

helmet requirements, CO2 cutbacks and yes, severe drunken

driving regulations, this revolving door policy for thosewithout legal presence in our state stands out like a sore

thumb.

A careful review of Montgomery Countys outstanding

criminal and trafc warrants posted on-line highlights

hundreds and hundreds of Montano-type alcohol related arrests

from the many thousands of outstanding warrants listed. In

Prince Georges County the problem is even more pronounced

with outstanding warrants number in the tens of thousands.

Why does the solid block of Democratic politicians in both

counties assume that illegal aliens cited for DUI and related

automotive violations, such as driving without a license or

insurance (truly undocumented!), would actually show up in

court for their crimes?

These fugitives already broke the law getting to Maryland

and have no respect for our system of justice. We all know

too well that automobiles can be killing machines. For the

safety of Marylands citizens, its time to tighten immigration

enforcement restrictions to include all motor vehicle DUI and

related driving violations.

Brad Botwin, Director

Help Save Maryland.com

Rockville, Md.

Americas Oil Dependency

While running for ofce, President Obama promised that if

elected, he would get us off OPEC oil within 10 years.

Two years are gone and we still dont have a plan. In fact,

there is some evidence that were going in the wrong direction.

In July 2010, we imported 388 million barrels of oil. Thats

the single largest import month since President Obama was

inaugurated.

TheNAT GAS Actwill create jobs, clean up the

environment and improve our national security by providing

tax incentives to organizations which operate eets of vehicles

that are fueled with imported oil to be replaced with vehicles

that run on domestic natural gas.

Election Day will soon be here. Those who are running for

ofcebe it open seats, incumbents or challengersneed to

take a look at this legislation and make promising to reduce

our need for OPEC oil a central part of their campaigns.

Henry Toney

Olney, Md.

Letters to the Editor


8/24


2010 BP, E&P

No oil has lowed into the Gul or weeks. But we know this is just the

beginning o our work. BP has taken ull responsibility or the cleanup

in the Gul and that includes keeping you inormed.

Restoring Gulf Communities

We cant undo this tragedy. But we can help people get back on their eet.

We have been working with impacted communities since day one.

Partnering with local governments and community organizations, my job is

to listen to peoples needs and rustrations and fnd ways to help. We have

19 community centers and teams in our states, listening and helping.

Restoring The Economy

BP is here in Gul communities with shrimpers, ishermen, hotel and

restaurant owners, helping to make them whole.

More than 120,000 claim payments totaling over $375 million have

already gone to people aected by the spill. We have committed a

$20 billion independent und to pay all legitimate claims, including lost

incomes until people impacted can go back to work. And none o this

will be paid by taxpayers.

BP has also given grants o $87 million to the states to help tourism

recover and bring people back to the Gul beaches.

Restoring The Environment

Were going to keep looking or oil and cleaning it up i we fnd it. Teams

will remain in place or as long as it takes to restore the Gul Coast.

And weve dedicated $500 million to work with local and national scientifc

experts on the impact o the spill and to restore environmental damage.

Thousands o BP employees have their roots in the Gul. We support

over 10,000 jobs in the region and people here are our neighbors. We

know we havent always been perect, but we will be here until the oil

is gone and the people and businesses are back to normal. We will do

everything we can to make this right.

I was born in New Orleans. My amily still lives here. We have

to restore the Gul communities or the shrimpers, fshermen,

hotel and restaurant owners who live and work here.

- Iris Cross, BP Community Outreach

Making This RightBeaches

Claims

Cleanup

Economic Investment

EnvironmentalRestorationHealth and Saety

Wildlie

For general inormation visit: bp.com

For help or inormation: (866) 448-5816

restorethegul.gov

Facebook: BP America

Twitter: @BP_America

YouTube: BP

For claims inormation visit: bp.com/claims

:


9/24

Barnes & Noble, is the latest offering, designed not only to

provide a cost effective way to acquire the needed books, but tocreate an integrated study experience.

Through the 637 Barnes & Noble college bookstores orat BN.com, students are able to rent or purchase e-textbooks,

usually at a savings. NOOKStudy then provides a study

experience, permitting highlighting of passages, attaching notes

to pages and allowing students to organize their own course

notes and other information related to the class, along with thebook. It becomes a computerized study cubicle. This is the

rst one [electronic reader] that was built for students, said

Tracey Weber, executive vice president of digitaleducation and textbooks for Barnes & Noble,

and it reects the fact that reading for study

is different than reading for pleasure.According to Weber, the

company has agreements with

the ve largest higher educationpublishers and has the majority

of textbooks available. Studentsare able to rent textbooks for a

variety of periods of time and

can upgrade from rental to

purchase before the period is up.The online options dont

stop there. Amazon and eBay,good sources for a variety of goods,

are also good sources for used textbooks.

Bookholders, a brick n mortar andonline company, is another regional

source for used textbooks. Also, in

areas like Baltimore and Washington, with a large number ofcolleges, dont hesitate to check out the bookstores of other

schools, especially for used books. And dont overlook an

older version of the book, says Melissa Jones, Morgan StateUniversity graduate. Most times there are only minor changes

between editions and you can ll in updated information usingthe web, professors and friendly classmates, she said.

The good news for students is there are so many ways to

save, said Weber. For students who take the time,they can save quite a bit.

August 28, 2010 - September 3, 2010, The Afro-American B1

By Talibah Chikwendu

AFRO Executive Editor

Textbooksnecessary for educational experience, right?Well, they can also be very costly.

According to a 2005 report on college textbooks from the

Government Accounting Ofce, in the 2003-2004 academic

year, in-state, rst-time, full-time students at a four-year publiccollege or university spent 26 percent of the cost of tuition

and fees on books and supplies. During that same time period,students at two-year community colleges, where tuitions are

lower, fared worse, spending 72 percent of the cost on book

and supplies.The situation has not improved since then. The cost of

books has continued to keep pace with the rise in tuition costs,

and students are being called on to spend a signicant amountof money on what turns out to, be in many instances, a limited-

use resource.But challenge breeds innovation, and government, schools

and businesses have stepped up with new ways to reduce the

costs. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, according to theNational Association of College Stores, provides for textbooks

and other course material expenses incurred in 2009 and 2010

that are not covered by a grant or scholarship to be claimed, upto $2,500 per student. This represents signicant savings.

Not to be outdone in this ght to control costs, schools areinvestigating incorporating the cost of textbooks into the tuition

costs. This inclusion rolls the costs into the total normallycovered by grants, loans and scholarships, eliminating it as aprohibitive upfront cost of education.

Many colleges have moved the bookstores online, givingstudents access to the needed books, both new and used, in

advance of the start of the semester. This makes it possible to

stretch out the purchase of needed materials and to nd usedbook bargains. It also makes it possible to compare and price

shop using other venues. Some are also investigating textbook

rental.A variety of booksellers now offer textbooks for rent, and

buy and sell used books. These services are where veteran

students suggest looking for the books you need. Jamie Stanley,University of Phoenix graduate, said, Use book rental sites to

get books versus buying them. One of my favorites is Cheggbecause you can rent per semester, longer or shorter periods of

time. The price to rent is a fraction of the cost associated with

purchasing and they supply the box to return the books and a

return shipping label at no cost.This site has saved me a lot of money because I didnt

purchase books that I knew I would never use again.The long -term need for a book is an important

consideration. Some books are keepers, useful later as

references in other courses or in employment situations. Thisshould be a factor in determining whether to rent, buy used or

purchase new. If the class is not for your major, then dont

buy it [the book], said Morgan Harris, a junior at WashingtonCollege. See if a friend has the right edition and you can

borrow it. It will save you hundreds ... literally.Online offers a variety of options to meet textbook

needs, including the newest wave in reading electronic

textbooks. While electronic versions of textbooks are not new,NOOKStudy, the free e-textbook reader application from

By Shernay Williams

Special to the AFRO

With a brand new scienceinstitute, new programs

in energy and technology

and 100 fully paid sciencescholarships, Baltimore City

Community College (BCCC) isencouraging students to explore

the STEM elds in this new

economy.Dr. Carolane Williams,

BCCC president, says students

should meet with academicadvisors early to learn about

the multitude of opportunities

in the sciences and alliedhealth elds. (Students)

may not have been exposed to careers in biotechnology and

allied health, but its not just nursing where there are criticalshortages, there is a whole gamut of careers respiratory

health, surgery technicians, said Williams.Those are the types of areas that are in the pipeline as

critical shortage areas in the state and anytime there is acritical shortage, you can get a job and demand higher wages.

Beginning this year, BCCC will train students in energy

auditing and insulation technology, making the school one of

ve weatherization hubs in the state, Williams said. The schoolis also launching new biotechnology and bioscience programs

and will soon offer curricula in forensic science and solar

paneling.All science students have access to the schools Life

Sciences Institute, which opened last year at the University ofMaryland BioPark.

The multi-campused college is making such a push to

prepare their students for high-demand STEM careers thatthey are offering full scholarships in science, health and

engineering.

School ofcials alsopromote participation

in career-based clubs

and organizations. Theknowledge you learn from

textbooks comes alive when

you start practicing it, saidWilliams. Activities that are

outside of the classroom arelearning experiences for our

students, as well. If you are an

accounting student, you wantto join the accounting club.

Thats where you are going

to meet the employers andthats where you are going to

get the opportunity to intern

and put those skills to workorganizationally.

BCCCs newest student

organization the StudentAmbassadors Group

convenes this fall. Selectedstudents are trained to give

tours, answer questions,share school history anddiscuss their experiences with

potential students and visitors.

We are going to utilizestudents as recruiters because

the population we deal with

is sometimes rst generationcollege students, which means

that they may not have parentsor a support system to help

them navigate through college.

We feel the best people to helpthem are students from the

same environment.

Courtesy photo

Dr. Carolane Williams,president of Baltimore City

Community College

Photo by Webster Phillips III

Baltimore City Community Colleges main campus is onLiberty Heights Avenue.

BCCC: Providing Opportunities

Getting the Best Value for Your Textbook Dollar

Bookholders has physical locations in Maryland for

people interested in seeing the used textbooks available

before purchasing.

NOOKStudy provides electronic textbooks geared to

enhance the study-reading experience.

Courtesy photos

Chegg is a popular site for renting college textbooks andselling used books.


10/24

B2 The Afro-American, August 28, 2010 - September 3, 2010

On September 14th, lets get back to work. We need a change.Vote for Character, Integrity and Leadership.

Vince Gray understands there are too many people in the District wondering

where their next paycheck will come from. We need Vince Gray.I Improve job training programs

I Expand vocational education programs

I Strictly enforce the First Source law requiring city contractors to give DC

jobs to DC residents

I Ensure access to public transportation to residents who are out of work to

get to places of employment

IMake it easier for locally owned small businesses to grow and be successful

I Revitalize the Summer Youth Employment Program

Find out more about Vince Grays Jobs and EconomicDevelopment plan at www.vincegrayformayor.com

Vince Grays plan to putDC back to work

As Mayor, Vince Gray will makejob creation a top priority.

Paid for by Gray for Mayor, 1004 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Betty Brown, Treasurer. A copy of our report is filed with the Director of Campaign Finance.

UNDER MAYOR FENTY: City-wide unemployment at a record high

30% unemployment in Ward 8

19% unemployment in Ward 7

30% of DCS Children live below the

poverty line The homeless rate has risen dramatically

east of the Anacostia River

By Talibah ChikwenduAFRO Executive Editor

Nestled in the heart of

West Baltimore, Coppin State

University has been growing

and expanding for students

and the community. We want

to be that beacon of light in

West Baltimore, said Dr.

Franklin Chambers, Coppins

vice president of Student

Affairs for the campus.

That starts with the

students, and when they

come or return to campus this

semester they will nd new

and exciting things.

There are new facilities:

the new physical education

building, with its full workout

facility, basketball and

volleyball courts and more;

and the community pool, that

during the summer was used

for swimming lessons and an

aquatic camp for youth.

Theres also the BTOPgrant that facilitated bringing

broadband to the school and

surrounding community.

So now, the entire campus

is wirelesswhich goes

perfectly with the new quad

area with green space being

opened. Students will have

opportunities to lounge on the

lawn ... all the while surng

the Internet, Dr. Chambers

said.

But those changes are

just the framework for the

centerpiece initiatives.

Programs like Coppin

CARE Coppin Achievers

Regaining Enthusiasm

and the Summer Success

Academy were started

this year to help incoming

students keep up with the

rigors of college academics.From providing assistance up

front, to ensuring incoming

students have access to

the resources they need

mentors, both peerand staff; proper

advisement and

tutoring these

initiatives are

designed to improve student

retention. Dr. Chambers said

if a student can be retainedfrom the rst to the second

year, they are more likely to

graduate.

And for those ready to

graduate, beginning this year

they wont have

to wait. Coppin

is offering a fall

graduation this

semester for the rst

time.

To get ready

for that day, Dr.

Chambers offered

tips he believes will

lead all students to

success at Coppin.

The best advice

for any student is to

read your student

handbook, he said.

The handbook is

provided to students yearly

and lists all the campus

resources. If students use theresources, he said, they can

graduate in four years.

He suggested students

access the appropriate

assistance before there is

trouble and added that by the

second semester, there will be

a One-Stop-Shop Center on

campus. This will provide a

central location for students

to get answers to questions

through text, e-mail, the

Blackboard system or walking

up. He added that the only

dumb questions are the ones

not asked.

Coppin is a place where

we nurture potential and

expand the horizons of our

students so they are better

citizens, Dr. Chambers said.

Coppin: Expanding the Campus Experience

Courtesy photo

Dr. FranklinChambers, vice

president ofStudent Aairs


As Coppins West Baltimore campus grows, so

does its positive impact on the surrounding

community.

By Talibah ChikwenduAFRO Executive Editor

Students arriving or returning to Prince Georges

Community College will be greeted with construction.

The construction, the new Center for Health Studies which

paves the way for adding surgical technician, physicians

assistant, nursing, nuclear medicine, allied health and

respiratory therapy programs shows, according to college

President Charlene M. Dukes, were planning for the future, tobe the communitys rst choice for quality education.

Its not just buildings that are going up on the campus. Dr.

Dukes said that by the end of the semester, the three or four

wireless hotspots at PGCC will be expanded so the campus is

completely wireless. Our students deserve it, she said.

The work being done to make physical room for new

programs and to expand the existing offerings is reinforced by

efforts to support all students so they complete their degrees

and can, if they choose, successfully move to a four-year

institution. Among the programs to accomplish this is the

OWL Success Track. This brings freshman students in as a

cohort group, allowing them to provide

support, assistance and encouragement to

each other. PGCC is also having a New

Student Convocation, to help reinforce

the decision to attend and provide an

opportunity to acquaint new students with

the available resources through a resource

fair. We are going to help students be

successful, if successful is what they want

to be, Dr. Dukes said.To facilitate success, Dr. Dukes

suggests taking advantage of the tutoring

services on campus. She said there is

no charge for the service and tutoring

is available for all academic subjects. She also recommends

students nd and stay in touch with their academic advisors.

They will help students stay on track and answer any questions,

and will be instrumental in helping them transition to a four-

year college when the time comes. Finally she said students

should remember that when they come to college, collegiate

behavior is expected. Students are responsible for their actions

and the consequences of them.

Students need to understand, Dr. Dukes said, that college

is about ... leaving here, not just with an associates degree or

certicate, but an experience that will make you a well-rounded

person.

PGCC: Progress and Growth

Courtesy photos

Dr. Charlene

M. Dukes,Prince Georges

Community

College presidentPrince Georges Community College (PGCC) continues to

grow and expand the programs and services it can oerto the community.


11/24

August 28, 2010 - September 3, 2010, The Afro-American B3

S p e n d $ 3 o n M e g a M i l l i o n sa n d g e t a F R E E $1

Pow e rb a l l Quick Pick

Promotion valid 8/1/10-8/28/10

Visit DCLottery.com forcomplete rules and other promotions

2010 D.C. Lottery

By Shernay Williams

Special to the AFRO

Continuing its mission to empower and equip the adultstudent, Sojourner-Douglass College is offering new

initiatives, events and career paths this year.Political campaign management and urban planning and

community development are new academic programs available

in the Fall semester, which began July 26. The school is also

redeveloping eight Allied Health certicate programs intoassociate degree programs. These two-year health programs

will train SDC students to be radiology technicians, pharmacy

technicians, surgical technicians and more.This year, the private colleges campus-wide initiative is to

create more online classes. They already offer some, especiallyin their premier nursing program. Sojourner-Douglass

nursing students can take many of the theory classes online

via Blackboard or interactive television, called ITV, in whichprofessors stream lectures live to multiple Sojourner-Douglass

class sites simultaneously.

In light of their mature student base with an averageage of 36 Sojourner-Douglass hosts events and seminars

aimed at improving quality of life. Roundtable

discussions on stress management, test anxiety,health education and parenting are promoted

through SDCs Wellness Center. We try ourbest to expose students to those services that aid

them in supporting their family and their overall

academic pursuits, said Richard Rowe, SDCWellness Center director.

Efforts to nurture students academically

and as a whole person span all departments.This semester, the nancial aid ofce will offer

information sessions on how to obtain student

loans and scholarships and how to managebudgets, maximize credit and handle mortgages.

The college also recognizes nine sororities,

fraternities and social organizations whosemembers plan a host of academic and communal

events such as cultural balls, Constitution

Appreciation Day and donation drives. School ofcials say

all social events reect the mission of the college revivingand giving back to the community. Its not just having social

events for the fun of it, said Provost Marian

Stanton, but having social activities with amission and purpose.

Dr. Stanton encourages students to

relearn effective study habits and reachout to administrators when they need help.

Coming into an adult setting is recognizingthat everyone in the setting is an adult

including the student, she said. So, effective

communication is essential. Talk with youradministrators, talk with the faculty and take

advantage of all the resources around you so

we can understand what your needs are.Students get a sense of family here, a

sense of caring, a sense that they can use what

they already know and incorporate it intowhat they are going to know. We are here to

support that growth.

Sojourner-Douglass: Nurturing andDeveloping the Adult Learner


Sojourner-Douglass College oers a variety of services

to meet the needs of the adult learner.

Courtesy photo/Sojourner-Douglass

College

Dr. Marian Stanton, provost

By Gregory DaleAFRO Staf Writer

There are a lot of things

that should be different this

fall, that should be excitingfor students, Dr. Mickey L.

Burnim, Bowie State president

told the AFRO.Among the new academic

initiatives is a bachelors degreeprogram in bioinformatics.

This multidisciplinary program

fuses computational scienceand other various biological

processes and is designed for

students interested in pursuingcareers in science, technology,

engineering and mathematics.

Also, Bowie has introducednew book purchasing options

to help students grapple with high prices. This year for the

rst time, there will be options for students to rent textbooks,Burnim said. In other classes, there will be an option for

students to purchase electronic books.Through funds provided by the Maryland General

Assembly, Bowie State has resurfaced the eld a t their footballstadium with $1 million worth of synthetic turf. The newsurface, comprised of 70 percent silica sand and 30 percent

cryogenic rubber, can be used for football, soccer, lacrosse,

intramural games, band performances and commencementexercises. The university also refurbished its swimming pool

and it will be open to students in the fall.

Bowie State senior Maurice Berry praised the universitys

Courtesy photo

Dr. Mickey L. Burnim,

president of Bowie StateUniversity

Bowie Ofers New Degreesand Facilities Upgrades

president for the changes. Bowie State has made many leaps

and bounds since President Burnim has been there, Berry said.Hes done a lot of the things he promised he would do and Im

excited about coming back to Bowie after I graduate.

Amid the new changes, Burnim ultimately wants to makesure all students have a positive and productive experience

at the university. While the initial days of college may beoverwhelming for incoming students, Burnim stressed they

should never hesitate to pursue the help and information they

need.There are a lot of people on the campus who want to see

them succeed and [there are many people] who are very willing

to do anything reasonable to help them, Burnim said. Theyshould not be shy about asking questions ... there are many

ways and many sources for this information, they should justbe aggressive and persistent enough to ask.

Courtesy photo/Bowie State University

Bowie State University is upgrading and expanding its

programs and facilities.


12/24

learning cohorts for freshmen. Ribeau said these

mentors will work with students on a variety

of topics from scal literacy to preparing for

and getting internships, as well as mentoring

and coordinating learning activities outside of

the classroom. One thing that we know is that

students spend 80 percent of their time outside

of the classroom. So if you can take advantage

of that time and structure learning opportunities,

you can really help the learning process becomemore integrated, he said.

Some social areas on campus have been

redesigned to create more i

Washington D.C. Afro-American Newspaper, August 28, 2010

Documents

Transcript of Washington D.C. Afro-American Newspaper, August 28, 2010