Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, July 10, 2010

8/9/2019 Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, July 10, 2010

1/16

www.afro.comVolume 118 No. 48 75 CENTS

JULY 10, 2010 - JULY 16, 2010

Copyright 2010 by the Afro-American Company

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Join Host Sean Yoes

Sunday @ 8 p.m. on

88.9 WEAA FM, the

Voice of the Community.

Former Secretary of State,Aretha Franklin in Concert

Continued on A4

Continued on A3

Continued on A4

A2

AP Photo

From Boston to Washington, D.C., the Northeast has experienced scorching

temperatures nearing 100 degrees and even topping 103 degrees in certain

areas. The Baltimore-Washington metro area saw temperatures surpassing the100-degree mark and BWI Thurgood Marshall broke its previous heat record,

101 degrees, with a boiling 105-degree peak. In this photo, 7-year-old Ashawnti

Smith, of Cincinnati, Ohio, plays in a welcome spray of cool water as she tries tobeat the heat.

Northeast Swelters with Record Temperatures

By Rev. Dorothy BoulwareSpecial to the AFRO

The beverage tax that everyone thoughtwas down for the count rebounded at half

the assessment, 2 cents instead of 4, but with

long reaching effects for

Baltimore City residents

and businesses. Soda, water,

beer and other alcoholic

drinks are taxable, while

milk, juice and 2-liter

containers are exempt.

That part is clear,

but the next step awaits

explanation.

The tax becomes

effective with July 24

beverage deliveries.

According to the ofcial

city Web site, distributors

are responsible for seeingthat the taxes exacted from

their retail customers are

paid to the city coffers. The

site further instructs retailers

to require the appropriate

certication from their

distributors, because

retailers are liable if those taxes arent paid.

Initial contact with a few retailers revealed

many of them either didnt know how

they would be affected by the tax or were

noncommittal about the whole thing.

I think someone from the city is coming

to talk to us this week,

said Kevin Brown, owner

of Station North Arts Caf,

located on the 1800 block of North Charles

St. We actually serve between 75-100 drinks

per day so were denitely affected. Brown

said they make their own purchases at thewholesalers rather than having a regular

delivery to his establishment that serves an

average of 130 customers

per day.

New Haven Lounge

owner, Steve Covington,

sees the new tax as a

necessary evil and is

happy to help in providing

support for schools, jobs

and whatever other services

are preserved through

the additional revenue.

Personally, well probably

absorb the additional cost

and not pass it on to our

customers, Covington said.

But he nds the processsomewhat confusing.

I havent received

information as to how it

all works, but how can the

retailers be responsible if

the distributors dont pay?

Covington said hes

condent, however, it will all be worked

out and hes sure it wont in any way hurt

business at the New Haven in Northwood

Shopping Center.

Although the expected income is only half

Retailers Have MixedFeelings on Beverage Tax

Steele Talks Himself

into IrrelevanceBy Zenitha Prince

Washington Bureau Chief

Michael Steele has

maintained a Teon-like

resistance to criticism since

he became the Republican

National Committee chairman

in 2008. And it appears he

again will brush off calls for

his resignation in the wake of

his biggest gaffe to date, his

criticism of the Afghanistan

war, which he called a war

of Obamas choosing.

But political observers say he

just may have talked himself

into a political graveyard.

I think this is downhill

all the way, said political

analyst Ron Walters of

Steeles political future. Its

probably over because this

was probably the best he was

going to get in terms of a

public position and he messed

it up.

In his most recent

blunder, the former Maryland

lieutenant governor criticized

and misrepresented the nine-

year military incursion in

Afghanistan.

This is not something the

United States had actively

By Rev. Dorothy BoulwareSpecial to the AFRO

The man called Doc by his friends, who has come to

embody the local branch of the National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People, is ready to begin a new

phase in his career.

Marvin Cheatham, who Pinder Group CEO Sharon Pinder

says has restored the NAACP brand, is stepping down as the

18th president and is pursuing election to the Democratic

State Central Committee for the 44th Legislative District.

In his real-time work, Cheatham has served for morethan 38 years as an election specialist for the National Labor

Relations Board and found that the service hes provided

gratis to the NAACP, that brought with it personal attacks

and death threats, paid daily with God giving me the

opportunity to help others.

He accounts a signicantly improved level of activism

as the strength of his leadership. He says service is the true

measure of success.

Doc is a servant leader whose best leadership gift is

his passion, vision and willingness to make the sacrice,

Pinder said, adding that his tenure brought revitalization to

Doc Set for Next Level Leadership

Marvin Doc Cheathamis founder of Blue

Suit Sunday to raiseawareness of mens

health.

Courtesyphoto

Courtesy photo/W@H Creative+

Merchants arewondering

how the

additional 2cent tax for

beverages

will impacttheir overall

sales and

bottom line.

July 6, the ling deadline

for the 2010 elections across

the state, came and went with

few surprises.

Maryland Attorney

General Doug Gansler

sparked a restorm and riled

up a lot of Republicans and

probably some Democratsback in February (when we

were buried in snow!), over

his support of gay marriage.

But, it seems nobody was

offended sufciently to

run against him, because

the states AG is running

unopposed.

But, unlike Gansler,

four-term U.S. Sen. Barbara

Mikulski attracted a legion of

challengers although none

have any real state-wide name

recognition hoping to stop

her from being seated for a

fth term.

In Baltimore County,

current County ExecutiveJim Smith is unable to run

again due to term limits and

Baltimore County Council

members Kevin Kamenetz

and Joe Bartenfelder have

emerged to contend for the

Democratic nomination for

that seat.

Also in Baltimore County,

Councilman Ken Oliver,

D-Dist. 4, is carrying some

extra legal baggage because

of a felony indictment for

theft connected to campaign

funds.

And perhaps sensing

vulnerability, Leronia Josey,

a lawyer and management

consultant, is vying to become

Baltimore Countys rst Black

woman councilperson byreplacing Oliver, the countys

rst Black councilperson.

All 188 House seats

and 47 Senate seats are up

for grabs in the General

Assembly and the vast

majority of incumbents are

seeking re-election.

In Baltimore City, Sens.

Lisa Gladden, who represents

the 41st district in West

Baltimore, and Catherine

Pugh, who represents the 40th

district also on the west side,

are both running unopposed.

However, as I drove

through Southwest Baltimore

on a sweltering day earlierthis week, I saw the familiar

orange and blackno, not

the lame (N)Orioles!of the

Mitchell political dynasty

posted on several small,

browning lawns in front of

row houses.

Keiffer Mitchell, who

was a member of the

Baltimore City Council for

12 years before mounting

an unsuccessful run for

Let the Games BeginBaltimore mayor in 2007, is

making a bid for one of the

House of Delegates seats in

the 44th district. All three

delegates from the 44th

Ruth Kirk, Keith Haynes and

Melvin Stukes are running

for re-election.

Perhaps, the most volatile

Continued on A6

Go Cook SomethingBook Review B3

Rays of Hope AwardsB1


2/16

A2The Afro-American, July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010

Queen of Soul and Condoleeza Rice Team for Performance

According to Philadelphias Mann Center for Performing

Arts, celebrated soul singer Aretha Franklin and former

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will unite for a concert on

July 27.

Rice, a classically trained pianist, will perform selections

from Mozart and will accompany Franklin on several songs

from her latest album,A Woman Falling Out of Love.

After serving under President George W. Bushs

administration, Rice has worked as a professor at Stanford

University. The pianist has previously performed with

celebrated cellist Yo Yo Ma and entertained Queen Elizabeth II.

According to the site, the performance will benet programs

for inner-city children and the Mann Centers educational

programs.

R&B Star Headed to Howard University, Earns GED

Mary J. Blige, the golden-

haired vocalist known for

her hits No More Drama

and Real Love, recently

announced her decision to

earn a bachelors degree

at famed historically

Black university Howard

University.

Blige, 39, dropped out

of high school in 11th grade

and has spoken publiclyabout a number of personal

issues, including drug abuse,

illiteracy and domestic abuse.

The nine-time Grammy winner

announced her latest plans during a performance on Good

Morning America.

While she pursues a college degree, Blige is also preparing

to release a new fragrance, My Life, and a line of eyewear,

Melodies, according to her Web site.

Gulf Spill Impacts Texas

Tar balls from the Gulf

oil spill in May have now

reached Texas, according to

The Associated Press. The

tars unwelcome arrival raises

questions about the oil spills

reach and how many states

will be affected by the disaster.

However, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson saidhe believes the state is prepared to handle the spills residual

effects.

As a steward of the Texas coast, I am condent that

we have the resources and plans in place with our Oil Spill

Prevention and Response Program to address any potential

impact this oil spill may have on the Texas coast, Patterson

said in a statement.

While the tar balls were small in number compared to the

oil slicks that have inundated parts of the Gulf in Florida,

Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, Patterson said BP will

compensate Texas for the damage.

Any Texas shores impacted by the Deepwater spill will

be cleaned up quickly and BP will be picking up the tab,

Patterson added.

McDonalds Threatened with Suit Over Happy Meal ToysA consumer watchdog group is threatening to sue

McDonalds fast-food chain, claiming the toys included in

Happy Meal deceptively lure children into consuming the food

and contribute to childhood obesity.

According to CNN, the Center for Science in the Public

Interest announced the potential suit in a letter to McDonalds

and said the fast food companys toy related promotions violate

consumer protection laws in four states and the District of

Columbia. The Washington-based consumer advocacy group

gave McDonalds 30 days to comply with a series of requests,

including removal of the toys from Happy Meals, before they

le the suit.

McDonalds is the stranger in the playground handing out

candy to children, the centers litigation director, Stephen

Gardner, said in a statement. McDonalds use of toys

undercuts parental authority and exploits young childrens

developmental immaturityall this to induce children to prefer

foods that may harm their health. Its a creepy and predatory

practice that warrants an injunction.

But McDonald Vice President of Communications William

Whitman said the company has not violated any laws and the

restaurant offers more variety than ever in their Happy Meals.

We are proud of our Happy Meal, which gives our

customers wholesome food and toys of the highest quality and

safety, Whitman said in a statement, according to CBS News.

Getting a toy is just one part of a fun, family experience at

McDonalds.

AFRO National BriefsYour History Your Community Your News

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AP Photo

Aretha Franklin, Condoleezza Rice

Courtesy Photo

Mary J. Blige

AP Photo


3/16

July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010, The Afro-American A3

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michael eric dysonTHE

SHOW

intelligenttalk

Weekdays 9:00 am - 10:00 am on WEaa 88.9 fm

insightful

By David Rushing

Special to the AFRO

The Department of

Justice this week led a

lawsuit against the state of

Arizona, claiming that its

immigration law, S.B. 1070,unconstitutionally interferes

with the federal governments

authority to set and enforce

immigration policy.

S.B. 1070, which made

failure to carry immigration

documents a crime and allows

police the discretionary power

to detain anyone suspected of

being in the country illegally,

has been knocked by critics

as the broadest and strictest

immigration measure in

generations.

The departments brief

said that S.B. 1070 will place

signicant burdens on federal

agencies, diverting theirresources away from high-

priority targets, such as aliens

implicated in terrorism, drug

smuggling, and gang activity,

and those with criminal

records.

For 75 days, weve

been praying for this law

to be struck down, said

Petra Falcon, executive

director of the non-prot

organization Promise Arizona,

in a statement. She added,

We applaud the Obama

Administration for standing

up to this misguided law

and reestablishing that

immigration enforcement is a

federal matter.

In a brief submitted by the

Justice Department, Arizona

law enforcement ofcials said

that S.B. 1070 has hampered

their ability to effectively

police their communities.

Ofcials have also said that

victims or witnesses to crimes

would be less likely to come

forth or be cooperative with

investigations for fear of a

potential arrest.

The main argument

made by the department is

that Arizona has proceeded

to create a state-specic

immigration law that

intentionally supplants that of

the federal government.

Arizonians are

understandably frustrated

with illegal immigration,

and the federal government

has a responsibility to

comprehensively address

those concerns, said Attorney

General Eric Holder in a press

release from the Department

of Justice.

But, he continued,

diverting federal resources

away from dangerous aliens

such as terrorism suspects

and aliens with criminal

records will impact the entire

countrys safety.The department has also

requested a preliminary

injunction which would

prevent Arizona from

enforcing the law until the

case is heard to enjoin

enforcement of the law,

arguing that the law willcause irreparable harm.

S.B. 1070 does not

simply seek to provide

legitimate support to the

federal governments

immigration policy,

but instead creates an

unprecedented independent

immigration scheme that

exceeds constitutional

boundaries, the department

said in its brief.

Republican National

Committee (RNC) Chairman

Michael Steele denounced the

move on Tuesday, however,

saying Arizona was just doing

what was necessary to protect

its borders.

It is unfortunate that

President Obama and his

administration would rather

wage a costly legal battle

with Arizona than allow the

state to take the concretesteps necessary to secure

its border, Steele said in a

statement. Arizonans are

fed up with waiting for the

help promised by Washington

that never seems to come.

The state of Arizona has the

right and the responsibility toprovide security and stability

for its citizens when the

federal government fails to

do so.

Steele further claimed

that the White House was

again avoiding taking on

immigration reform.

Not only will a lawsuit

not solve the problem,

he said, it is just another

instance of hollow, political

gamesmanship from a White

House unwilling to take the

bold action necessary to solve

one of the countrys most

pressing issues.

Department of Justice Files Suit Against Arizona

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Juan Pena, o Las Vegas, Nev., holds up a sign in protest o the new Arizona immigrationlaw, at the Arizona Capitol in April. Since Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the

controversial law, the state has aced a backlash rom advocacy groups and rom local,

state and ederal governments.

Arizonians are understandably frustratedwith illegal immigration, and the federalgovernment has a responsibility tocomprehensively address those concerns.

prosecuted or wanted to

engage in, Steele said

during a July 1 speech in

Connecticut. It was the

president who was trying to

be cuteipping a script

demonizing Iraq, while

saying the battle really should

be Afghanistan. Well, if hes

such a student of history, has

he not understood that you

know thats the one thing you

dont do, is engage in a land

war in Afghanistan?

The comments spawned a

clamor of calls for his ouster

from the usual suspects and

less common sources.

Steeles remarks were

wildly inaccurate, and

theres no excuse for them,

said Sen. John McCain

(R-Ariz.), on ABCs This

Week. The former GOP

presidential nominee added,

I think that Mr. Steele is

going to have to assess as to

whether he can still lead the

Republican Party as chairman

of the Republican National

Committee and make an

appropriate decision.

Sen. Lindsey Graham

(R-S.C.) added his own

censure, calling the

chairmans remarks an

uninformed, unnecessary,

unwise, untimely comment.

William Kristol, editor of

the conservative publication

The Weekly Standardcame

right out and asked Steele

to leave after a tenure

marked by gaffes and

embarrassments.

[Do] an act of service for the

country you love: Resign as

chairman of the Republican

Party, Kristol wrote in his

July 2 column. He added,

Your comment is more

than an embarrassment.

Its an affront, both to the

honor of the Republican

Party and to the commitment

of the soldiers ghting to

accomplish the mission

theyve been asked to take on

by our elected leaders.

Since Steele issued a

statement backpedaling

from his remarks, and after

a weekend spent reaching

out to GOP leaders, hes said

little about his plans.

The chairman has so far

survived the criticism heaped

on him throughout a tenure

fraught with allegations

of anemic fundraising,

questionable spending,

staff shake-ups and cringe-

inducing comments. And,

politicos say, hell likely

survive his latest lapse.

Ousting the partys rst

African-American chief

would provide an unwanted

spectacle heading into

this years congressional

racessomething the GOP is

unlikely to chance. Instead,

the party is taking him out of

the equation.

Everyone is basically

working around him, said

former GOP Rep. Vin Weber

of Minnesota, who added

that Steele has marginalized

himself further with every

gaffe.

Republicans have sort

of put together a mode of

operation for this election

cycle that does not put the

RNC chairman in a central

role, Weber said. Thats not

the optimal way of handling

things. But in a very strange

way that gives him some

protection because theres no

urgency to replace himno

matter how grave of a misstep

he made.

But when Steeles term

ends in the next six months,

he will nd it almost

impossible to win a re-

election to his ofce, Walters,

the political analyst, said.

I doubt his Republican

friends will be willing

to support him again,

the former University of

Maryland professor of

politics told theAFRO. Hes

proven hes a liability in the

public arena.

Associated Press writer

Liz Sidoti contributed to this

story.

Continued from A1

Steele Talks Himself into Irrelevance

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

In this July 15, 2008, fle photo Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., then a Republican presidential

candidate, laughs with Michael Steele, who now heads the Republican NationalCommittee. Steele has been chastised by McCain and other GOP leaders or hiscomments on the war in Aghanistan.


4/16

By Melanie R. Holmes

AFRO Staf Writer

The mayor, city

organizations and state

ofcials are closing in on a

serial killer in Baltimore Cityresponsible for a growing

death toll among its youngest

residents.

Infant mortality is dened

as the death of a baby before

age 1. In 2008 Baltimore

Citys infant mortality rate

(IMR) was higher than thatof Hong Kong and Malaysia

with 12.1 per 1,000 births, up

from 11.3 the preceding year.

With the launch of BMore

for Healthy Babies, a four-

level public health initiativedesigned to reduce the citys

IMR and promote healthy

families, more mothers shouldbe able to see their children

grow. Immediately reducing

the number of infants dyingfrom preventable deaths

in Baltimore is a critical

goal, said Rafael Lopez,president and chief executive

of the Family League. Butwere also trying to build

community awareness of

the issue and, ultimately,strengthen policies and public

systems that will help educate

families and protect infantsfor years to come.

BMore for Healthy

Babies is a three-yearinitiative with a mission to

ensure all babies born in

Baltimore have a healthy birthweight, are carried through a

full-term pregnancy, and are

ready to thrive in families thatcan make healthy decisions

for the child. The city has a

high rate of babies born pre-term and underweight, key

factors in infant mortality.

Last year, more than 120infants in Baltimore under

age 1 died, with many of thedeaths being preventable.

Losing even one infant

to a preventable death is atragedy, Mayor Stephanie

Rawlings-Blake said in a

statement. Last year, 27babies in Baltimore died

while sleeping. Twenty-six

of them were not put to sleepsafely. These babies might

still be living if they had been

put to sleep alone, on theirbacks and in a crib. With the

BMore for Healthy Babies

initiative, we will be doingeverything we can to educate

families and the communityabout how to prevent these

kinds of infant deaths.

The initiative operateson four levels improving

policies and public systems,enhancing services for

expecting mothers and

families, building community

involvement and engagingfamilies and individuals

in healthier practices.Although it is citywide, the

Patterson Park North and

East, Upton/Druid Heightsand Greenmount East

communities will be primarytargets.

The U.S. ranks 39th in theworld for infant mortality,

with Black babies accounting

for 13.7 percent of infantdeaths double the rate

of infant mortality amongWhite babies according

to Hugh Mighty, chief of

obstetrics and gynecology at

the University of MarylandMedical Center. Among

African Americans in 2008,

14.3 infants in Baltimore

City died per every 1,000

Black babies born. CareFirsthas already committed $3

million to support BMore forHealthy Babies.

Every infant death inBaltimore City is a harsh

reminder that we should be

doing more to help mothersreceive the care they need to

have healthy births and carefor the fragile lives they takehome, said Chet Burrell,

CareFirst president and CEO.

Our partnership is part of aconcerted effort to remove the

social and economic barriersnow preventing mothers

in need from the care and

support services that can savetheir babies lives.

A4 The Afro-American, July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010

Doc Set for Next LevelContinued from A1

Mixed Feelings on TaxContinued from A1

For more inormation and or programs and events listing, go to

www.AfricanAmericanCulture.org

Reginald F. Lewis Museum830 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 | (443) 263-1800(two blocks east of Inner Harbor)

Learn the stories o two disenranchised groups Jewish proessors who fed

Nazi Germany and Arican-American students at historically black colleges

where the reugee proessors taught.

April 23 toSeptember 26, 2010

Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges was created and is circulated by theMuseum o Jewish Heritage A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.

the originally desired $11 million, theresno doubt many city employees are grateful

for the dollars that promise to save jobs and

preserve much needed services.With the June 24 passage of the highly

debated beverage tax, Mayor Stephanie

Rawlings Blake thanked the Council forapproving almost all of my Comprehensive

Plan to x the worst budget crisis in the Citysmodern history with more than $70 million

in tough spending cuts and $42.9 million innew revenue. Her statement said the plan

would fully fund the citys obligation to

public schools, maintain every single policeofcer, reduce rehouse closures, and keep all

community libraries open all without raising

property taxes.Consumers will not be taxed on beverage

purchases but in most cases will see an

increase in the prices.

the branch and reminded us of its continued

necessity.

Among the branchs most recentaccomplishments are its challenge to Wells

Fargos banking practices and obtaining a

settlement on questionable police arrests. Italso received the NAACPs 2009 National

Thalheimer Programmatic 1st Place 1-Abranch award and the publication award of the

same name.

His supporters agree, however, that theachievements are just too many to mention.

Bringing branch meetings back to the

original meeting place, Union Baptist Church,tops the list for the Rev. Dr. Al Hathway Sr.,

Unions pastor.

He has re-established the branch as aviable and integral part of the communitys

fabric, Rev. Hathaway said. Hes committed

to addressing the issues that most affect

people.

Taking on uncomfortable criminal justiceissues is what strikes Alfreda Robinson-

Dawkins, executive director of the National

Womens Prison Project. He unabashedlyholds onto the mission of the NAACP and

holds government ofcials accountable topeople of color and speaks out for folks caught

in the system, while also establishing help for

their return to the community.A life member of Phi Beta Sigma

Fraternity, Cheathams hope for the future of

the branch is a stronger connection with thefaith-based community to engender increased

membership and involvement. For himself, he

hopes that his longstanding record of walkingthe walk as a freedom ghter will speak for

itself in his future endeavor.

Courtesy photo/W@H Creative+

BMore for Healthy Babies is working to reduce the infant mortality rate by bettereducating families and strengthening public policies.

City, State Seek End to Infant Mortality


5/16


Community

July 9

Forever PhyllisBest Western Ballroom,

1800 Belmont Ave.,

Baltimore. 8 p.m. Experiencethis birthday tribute to Phyllis

Hyman and enjoy a light

buffet. For more information:410-265-1400.

Baltimore Caribbean

Carnival Festival 2010Druid Hill Park, 2600

Madison Ave., Baltimore.

5 p.m. Come and enjoy this

festival in the park featuringauthentic Caribbean cuisine,

dancing, and steel drum

bands. For more information:410-230-2969.

The Ivan Smart Mob

An Die Musik, 409 N.

Charles St., Baltimore. 8 p.m.Hear the funky sounds of this

jazz fusion band. $20. For

more information: 410-752-7121.

July 10Heaven 600 Gospel SeriesCruise

The Spirit of BaltimoreShip, Inner Harbor,

Baltimore. 12-2 p.m. Enjoylavish all-you-can-eat buffets

and live gospel entertainment.

$38.44-$51.74. For moreinformation: 866-312-2469.

The Project Mayhem All-

Star Comedy JamThe Hippodrome Theatre,

12 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore.

8 p.m. In this night of laughs,

hear the comedies of RedGrant, DeRay Davis and

Lil Duval, in support of

Project Mayhem, a non-proft

organization supporting

inner-city youth. $27-$57.

For more information: 410-837-7400.

July 11

Dark to Light: BeingHuman

The Living Well, 2443

N. Charles St., Baltimore.

3-7 p.m. In this photographyexhibit, check out the work

of Tya Anthony, a local

photographer that capturesthe life, style and love of

her subjects. $7. For more

information: 410-258-8773.

July 14

Warm WednesdaysFive Seasons, 830

Guilford Ave., Baltimore.

8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Experiencethe ultimate venue in spoken

word featuring talented artists

across the region. $5. Formore information: 410-207-

9832.

Harborplace Family FunDay

Harborplace, Light

Street Pavilion, 200 E. Pratt

Street, Baltimore. 10-11 a.m.Bring the family out to this

event featuring kid-friendly

entertainment as Harborplacecelebrates 30 years. For more

information: 410-243-1333.

July 15

Third Thursdays at the

LewisReginald F. Lewis

Museum, 830 E. Pratt St.,Baltimore. 5-8 p.m. Come

out for a night of fun and

delicious food. $5. For moreinformation: 443-263-1800.

July 16-18Artscape 2010

140 West Mount RoyalAve., Baltimore. Varioustimes. View the work ofover 150 artists, fashiondesigners and craftspeople atthis visual arts experience.The event also features liveperformances from MusiqSoulchild and Maysa. Formore information: www.artscape.org.

July 18Women 2 Women 4 Women

Oakland Manor, 5430Vantage Point Road,Columbia, Md. 7-11 p.m.Meet women from across theregion and receive guidanceand direction in all areas of

life. This event features food,a cash bar, live performancesand more. For moreinformation: 443-738-8350.

July 19Get Fit at Your Library!

Enoch Pratt Free Library,Waverly Branch, 400 E. 33rdSt., Baltimore. 12-2 p.m.Get your Monday workoutto popular line dances,

hip hop, Caribbean and

African rhythms. For moreinformation: 410-396-6053.

Calendar

By Stephen D. Riley

AFRO Staf Writer

David B. WrightMemorial Foundation(DBWMF) director andfounder Shawnte Wright stillremembers Feb. 4, 2009 adate shell never forget. Thatwas the day that her husband,David Bryan Wright, aMarine Corps veteran, was

fatally shot by three teenagemales in a botched robberyattempt.

Rather then blamethe youth that not onlydrastically altered her lifebut the lives of her threechildren, the longtime

Baltimorean established a

foundation in her husbandsmemory as a means ofsupport for troubled teens.

The foundation wasstarted as a result of myhusbands death and I justwanted to turn a negativeinto a positive, Wright said.

I was kind of tired of thecommunity and the studentsthat are struggling out herewith survival and stoppingthe violence. [I wanted]to give them an impact ofknowing that education is farmore important and we can

help them to prolong theirlife and do better things.

Only two years into itsexistence, the DBWMFcontinues to make strides inuplifting members aroundthe Baltimore communitythrough various avenues.The foundation helps

relatives of victims of

crime and bereaved familymembers while providingresources and educationalsupport services for drugrecovery and shelter homes.

Additionally, the foundationalso engages teens withhealthy development of lifeskills and provides severalafter-school services thathelp to educate both childrenand adults

The DBWMF will host

its second annual State ofRestoration and FamilyUnion Conference later thisyear in September aboardthe Spirit of Baltimore. Theconference will address theissues surrounding victims ofcrime that have impacted thelives of families and students.

In May, members of theDBWMF took a tour ofthe University of MarylandMedical Centers ShockTrauma Center to exposeteens to the positive and

negative consequencesassociated with decision-making. According to one

student, the visit was asuccess.

I think it went very wellbecause a lot of people sawhow violence can affecta person as well as otherpeople at the same time,said 17-year-old PattersonHigh School student and

program participant BrittanyPalmer. It just helped merealize that everything youdo has a consequence.

Although her foundationis still fairly new, Wrightadmits that her program has

made signifcant strides so

far and the plan is to keep the

ball rolling.So far weve been able

to partner with other outreachcommunity advocates andwere involved in tryingto help and get referralsto teenagers, students,possible students as well

as elementary and middleschool students. Wevebeen doing peer groupsupport in local libraries anddifferent community events.Were currently doing fundraisers [and] were inthe process of raising the

foundation money to actuallyaward scholarships for high

school students that want togo to college.

Local Woman Turns Miseryinto Mentoring

Courtesy Photodavidbwrightmemorialfoundation.com

Shawnte Wright hasstarted a oundation since

the death o her husband,

David B. Wright, a MarineCorps veteran, who was

tragically murdered by

three youths.

For more information on

the David B. Wright Memorial

Foundation, please visit:

www.davidbwrightmemorial

foundation.org

Dr. Ruthe T. Sheffey, aprofessor of English andlongstanding member ofthe Department of Englishand Language Arts atMorgan State University,was honored recently ina dedication ceremonyat the UniversitysCommunications Center.

Dr. Sheffey, a MorganState alumna, has been aprofessor at the celebratedinstitution for more than 60

years, and is internationallyrenowned for scholarshipand as an educator. She isalso the founding presidentof the Zora Neale HurstonSociety, and editor of theZora Neale Hurston Review.Her name is now a part ofMorgan State Universityhistory with the namingof The Ruthe T. SheffeyLecture Hall in the Schoolof Communications.

Dr. Sheffey has inspiredsuch students as PulitzerPrize winning writerJames Alan McPherson,presidential speechwriterTerry Edmonds (Clintonadministration) and singerToni Braxton.

Morgan Honors Esteemed Professor

Courtesy Photos

Dr. Ruthe T. Shefey and childhood riend Councilwoman Agnes

Welch.

Dr. Ruthe T. Shefey at the dedication o a lecture hall named in

her honor.

Maurice Ashley, the frst and

only African-American international

grandmaster of chess, visited Huber

Memorial Church in Baltimore June 21-25,leading a chess camp for local children.

The camp, open to 41 children in grades

K-eight, taught all levels of chess and

helped the students improve the skills. The

Huber Knights of Valor Chess Mentoring

Program hosted Ashleys Making Chess

Champions class.In addition to working with youth

around the country, Ashley has trainedcelebrities such as Will Smith, Jay-Z and

Wynton Marsalis.

Chess Trailblazer Teaches Camp forLocal Kids

Courtesy Photo

Maurice Ashley works with local youth as they learn more about chess.

By AFRO Staf

The Howard University Family MedicineResidency Program at Howard University

Hospital and the College of Medicine was

recently named the 2010 recipient of theAmerican Academy of Family Physicians

(AAPF) Foundation Pfzer Immunization

Award.According to a press release, the storied

Washington, D.C. university was one of 10

recipients of the award, which is given tofamily medicine residency programs that

have achieved excellence in clinical practiceby developing creative solutions that result

in increased immunization rates in their

community according to AAFP.Dr. Richard G. Roberts, J.D., president of

the AAFP Foundation, said he hoped other

institutions will follow the efforts of Howard

and the other schools recognized for their

contributions.Thanks to immunizations, deadly

diseases like small pox and polio no longerkill or disable millions, Roberts said in a

statement. Getting our children immunized

at the right time protects them and improvesthe health of our community.

Dr. Femi Adenuga, program director for

the Family Medicine Residency Program,interim director of the Department of

Community and Family Medicine at the

College of Medicine and the hospital, saidmembers of the program were thankful

for the award and see their work as acommunity effort.

We strive to give back to the

community, said Adenuga, also president-elect of the hospitals medical and dental

staff, in a press release. This is a way

that we can help prevent diseases among

children.

Howard Family MedicineResidency Wins National Award

Baltimore Youths Visit Atlanta with Mentoring Group

Photo by Bill Tabron

From June 24-27, Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood Kings traveled to Atlanta or a

three-day tour o CNN, The King Center, Coca Cola, Morehouse College and un. Thegroup, which aims to expose young Baltimore-area men to male role models and new

experiences, departed rom Coppin State.


6/16

By Melanie R. Holmes

AFRO Staf Writer

After completing a 20-pageapplication, writing nine essays

and waiting for three weeks, Jerusa

Miller was elated when she received

notication that she was a nalist forthe Gates Millennium Scholarship.

Juggling the workload of threeadvanced placement courses, on

top of extracurricular activities as a

senior at Woodlawn High School, attimes discouraged her from nishing

the time consuming application.But her hard work paid off. Out of

20,000 applicants nationwide, Miller

was one of 1,000 winners to have allexpenses paid for their undergraduate

and graduate educational pursuits.

Im just an average girl thatworked for it and I got it, she said.

I feel honored.

Administered by the UnitedNegro College Fund, the scholarship

is awarded to minority high schoolstudents who have at least a 3.3

grade point average and have

demonstrated strong leadershipskills through community service or

extracurricular activities.Miller graduated with a 3.78,

was the vice president of her

class, manager of the girls varsity

basketball team and a mentorin the 100 Strong Female Role

Models program. But she benetted

most from the Advancement Via

Individual Determination program.

Ive been in the AVID programfor three years, Miller said. Its

basically a preparatory programfor college-bound students. Its for

students who just need the extra

motivation. I lled out a bunch of

little scholarship applications here

and there but there were two big ones

my teacher always talked about.One of those scholarships was

the Gates. Now, with her nancial

award, Miller will study atmosphericscience and meteorology at

Millersville University ofPennsylvania in the fall and plans

to earn her masters degree and

doctorate in similar areas of study bythe time she is 28 years old.

In eighth grade I did a unitin meteorology and I was really

intrigued by that, she said. I also

thought thats something there will

always be a demand for and theres ahigh demand for African-American

females.

The youngest of ve children,

Miller said her family does not have

a history of completing college,which is all the more reason they

are so proud of her. She preferred to

remain in Maryland for her studies,but could not nd a school that

offered the program she desires.

Nonetheless, she is pleased with herdecision to attend Millersville.

I went there and fell in love withit, she said. They have a lot to

offer.

Miller attended a predominatelyWhite middle school in Silver

Spring. At the beginning ofninth grade, her family moved to

Baltimore when her grandmother

became sick, so she completed

high school at Woodlawn, whichis predominately Black. Although

she said the drastic change inatmosphere caused

her to keep to

herself, her peerssoon began to

notice what type ofstudent she was.

People used to call me straight

A girl in the ninth grade, she said.But by the end of her senior year,

she became known as the Gates

Millennium Scholarship winner andhas received the praise of many of

her peers.

This is an opportunity thatminimal people receive, Miller said.

Its truly a blessing for me to haveit.


B

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Happy Place

Find your

Happy Place

Find your

Find your

No matter what makes you happy youll find it in Baltimore.

Only Baltimore has this many unexpected things to see and do all in one place.

To find your happy place this summer visit BmoreHappy.com

BmoreHappy.com

BmoreHappy.com

Courtesy Photo

Jerusa Miller is one of 19

Maryland students to win theGates Millennium Scholarship.

Average Girl Wins Major Educational Award

race in Baltimore City is

the one shaping up between

longtime Baltimore CityStates Attorney Patricia

Jessamy and defense attorneyGregg Bernstein.

Bernstein, a former

federal prosecutor, made asplashy announcement of his

candidacy earlier this weekwhen he was introduced bynone other than amboyant

Baltimore defense attorney

Warren Brown.Brown, who has irted

with the idea of running

for ofce, including states

attorney several times over

the years, proclaimed manyof the criminals he has

represented dont fear being

prosecuted in BaltimoreCity, presumably because

of Jessamys role as the

Baltimore states attorney.Bernstein made his

announcement with his

wife Sheryl Goldstein byhis side, which of course is

not unusual. However, whatis ironic is Goldstein is the

director of the Mayors Ofce

on Criminal Justice and oftenworks closely with the states

attorneys ofce.

As I said at the beginningof this column the ling

deadline for the 2010

Election passed with fewsurprises, including the much

anticipated rematch between

former Maryland Gov. Bob

Ehrlich and the man whodefeated him current Gov.

Martin OMalley.However, I would argue

what is surprising is the

results of a recent poll,which has Ehrlich ahead of

OMalley by about threepoints. Granted the poll wasconducted by right-wing

mouthpiece, The Washington

Times, so some OMalleysupporters are taking the

results with a grain of salt.But, in a state with one

of the lowest unemployment

rates in the nation andOMalley recently receiving

an award from the National

Education Association forbeing, Americas Greatest

Education Governor, it

seems like the Marylandgovernor should have fared

better in just about any poll.

The reality could be the sameanti-incumbency sentiment,

which may have adverselyimpacted Ehrlich when

George Bush was president,

may be resonating with manyin 2010 with Barack Obama

in the White House.

Stay tuned

Sean Yoes is a former staff

reporter and contributing

writer to the AFRO.

The Games BeginContinued from A1

Im just an average girl that workedfor it and I got it. I feel honored.

By Gregory DaleAFRO Staf Writer

Imagine waking up early

and taking three buses just

to get to work. For someBaltimore residents, this

is a reality. But a local

organization aims to changethe lives of these individuals

by providing them with keys

to their own car, thus settingthem on the road to nancial

independence.Vehicles for Change is an

organization that is committedto selling refurbished vehicles

to low-income families at

low costs. Once a vehicle isdonated to VFC, they repair

it and ensure that it passes

through state inspection.Then, by partnering with

various shelters, job

training and job readinessorganizations, the group

identies certain low-income

individuals in dire need of

reliable transportation to getthem to their jobs. The cars

are then sold to these people

for $700 and they receive a12-month loan.

Our goal is to get them a

car that theyre going to gettwo years or 24,000 miles out

of, VFC President Martin

Schwartz told the AFRO in arecent interview.

Since its inception in1999, VFC has impacted the

lives of over 9,000 individualsthroughout Virginia and

nine counties in Maryland.

The organization recentlypresented vehicles to two

Baltimore women whose

nancial income would have

been in limbo had it not had

been for the vehicles they

received.Were thrilled to continue

our mission of empoweringMaryland families to live

more independent livesby providing them with

the opportunity to seek

and maintain gainfulemployment, Schwartz said

in a statement.

VFC recently teamedwith Wal-Mart, as the mega-

corporation donated $35,000

to further assist in their effortsto provide reliable vehicles to

local residents. The only waywe can award cars for $700 to

families is if we can get some

subsidized foundation money,so Wal-Mart stepping up and

providing that [donation]

allowed us to award 15 morecars to families in the area

that we would have not been

able to do, Schwartz said.Its a great partnership and

Wal-Mart does a lot more

for the community than theyreally get credit for.

Wal-Mart RegionalSupervisor Rhoda Washington

believes the corporationsassistance to the VFCprogram provides her

with a once-in-a-lifetimeopportunity to touch the

lives of people right withinher community. Im from

Maryland and I was raised

[here], Washington said.It is a very humbling and

tremendous opportunity to be

a part of.For Schwartz, seeing

the families reactions after

receiving their cars is enoughsatisfaction for him. Its like

theyre 16 again, they get soexcited, he said.

At Baltimores recent VFC

event, Schwartz noticed thereaction a son had when his

mother received a vehicle.

With his mothers new car, heis now able to play basketball

at his local high school. To

see that young fellow beingreally excited to know that his

dream of being able to play

basketball was going to cometrue...theres no other feeling

like it, Schwartz said.

For more information onVehicles for Change, visit:

www.vehiclesforchange.org.

Local Nonproft Provides Vehicles or Families in Need

afro.com


7/16


I was honored whenSpeaker Nancy Pelosi namedme as a House negotiatorin our marathon effort toseek the Senates agreementon how best to make WallStreet and the big nancialinstitutions more accountable.I also knew that achievingtrue reform would be adifcult ght.

It took us days ofnegotiation capped by a20-hour bargaining session but, nally, we were ableto reconcile the House andSenate versions of the WallStreet Reform and ConsumerProtection Act[H.R. 4173].

As I write these words, the House has approved our bill[237-192], but Senate approval of our reconciled bill is still indoubt. With all due respect to our Senate colleagues, Americacan no longer afford to wait.

During our conference committees long hours of debate, Iknew that neither failure nor delay is an option.

For eight years, President Bush and congressionalRepublicans looked the other way as Wall Street and largenancial institutions exploited loopholes and gambled ourmoney on complex schemes.

Our communities and small businesses have paid the price.We have lost an additional 8 million jobs and as much as $17trillion in retirement savings and net worth while millions ofour neighbors are in danger of losing their homes.

The time for more oversight and restraint of large nancialinstitutions is at hand.

As a nation, we must put behind us the idea of too big tofail. We cannot afford any more taxpayer bailouts.

After the days that we spent in that very difcult series ofnegotiations, I knew that we could be proud of what we hadaccomplished. Consider just some of our more importantreforms.

Americans deserve an end to the predatory lending practices

of our recent past. We need theprotection that our new ConsumerFinancial Protection Bureau wouldprovide.

Federal regulators must havethe legal tools that would allowthe prudent restructuring of toobig to fail nancial organizationsbefore irresponsible behavior couldagain threaten our entire economy.Those tools should be paid for bythe nancial industry itselfnot byAmericas taxpayers.

Our economy can move forwardagain but only if we limit the typesof risky nancial practices that causedthe current nancial crash. Ourapproval of a strong Volcker Rulewill limit excessive speculation bylarge nancial rms.

Wall Street must learn to operatewithin strengthened oversight by theSecurities and Exchange Commission,hedge funds must operate in the lightof day, and credit rating agencies must operate under far more

penetrating oversight.Shareholders must have a say on pay about executivecompensation, and small businesses will have expandedprotection against unreasonable credit card fees.

Equally important, our legislation will help the millionsof Americans who now are in danger of losing their homesbecause their incomes have been slashed in a sluggisheconomy.

During the last 15 months, Ive sponsored four foreclosureprevention seminars, and thousands of distressed Baltimorehomeowners have attended. Black, White, and HispanicAmericans - they all were in tears.

As Americans, we must do better than this.I was gratied that the conference committee accepted my

proposal for the creation of a $1 billion fund - underwrittenwith remaining TARP funds - that would provide low-interestbridge loans to homeowners facing foreclosure.

Our committee also approved my provisions requiring

lenders to notify borrowers of all the consequences ofrenancing or accepting a home equity loan, to disclose their

policy regarding partial payments, and to inform borrowershow their escrow payments will be applied.We are witnessing the harsh economic consequences of

the ideologically-driven regulatory failure of our recent pastmillions of jobs lost, millions of homes lost, and a multi-trilliondollar decline in retirement savings.

Now, American nancial institutions must change.President Obama once reminded us that his election was the

opportunity to work for constructive change. The Congress hasbeen doing that work, and, now, the American people deservethe results of our labor.

Now is the time to enact Wall Street and consumerprotection reform.

Our nation has no more time for delay.

Congressman Elijah Cummings represents Marylands7th Congressional District in the United States House ofRepresentatives.

July 4 marked 234 yearsof U.S. independence. Andalthough Americas ongoing

melting pot experiment is theoretically unbiased to Blacks,Latinos and Muslims, the Southern Poverty Law Center reportsthat hate groups, like the well-armed Hutaree militia, haveincreased 200 percent since President Obamas 2008 election.

Texas, the former rebel republic and current headquarters ofthe Guardians of the Free Republic is now waging new ethnicand ideological battlefronts by arming schoolchildren withconservative-bent textbooks that re-sculpt some of Americasmost traditional outlooks. In Arizona, new immigrationlegislation now gives a tacit eyewink for police to round up andshakedown Latinos. And if you didnt know, the catchy sloganIf you see something, say something is a discreet way of

saying keep a close eye on all Muslim people.The resulting rifts over the civil liberties of U.S. citizens andObamas recent speech on immigration reform, offer a perfectplatform to dissect the denition and discrepancies of We thePeople as spoken of constitutionally and historically.

It was German cartographer Martin Waldseemller whonamed the Western Hemisphere America in tribute to Italiannavigator Amerigo Vespucci in 1507. As early as 1782 whencolonists were still blasting their British kinfolk with musketballs, J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur posed the question Whatis an American? in his famed book Letters from an AmericanFarmer. So who exactly are We the People in modern termsand times?

Certainly, when these three simple but signicant wordswere rst penned in the U.S. Constitution in 1787, the foundersdidnt envisage America becoming a vast multi-ethnic societyin a world of international laws, where state-sanctioned slavery

could have them prosecuted today for the likes of war crimesand crimes against humanity.

Certainly, when the ironsted but seldom-mentionedPresident James K. Polk swiped an unprecedented 1.2 millionsquare miles of territory from Mexico as spoils of war in 1846,it was never intended for millions of Mexicans to sneak acrossAmericas border with impunity today. But as the sayinggoes, Mexicans arent crossing the border, the border hascrossed them.

And certainly for Japanese-American citizens, We thePeople became constitutionally meaningless when FranklinD. Roosevelt decreed Executive Order 9066, which unleashedthe U.S. military to mass-incarcerate 120,000 men, women, andchildren of Japanese ancestry during World War II.

While the malice of the founders and ethnic crackdowns

of Polk and Roosevelt do not detract from their Americangreatness, theres comparative objection from Blacks andliberal Democrats because the new textbooks in Texas placepositive spotlights on people like Jefferson Davis and SamHouston. Based on the outcry, youd think Davis and Houstonwere more crippling to the cause of African Americans than,say, George Washington or Thomas Jefferson.

If youve noticed, however, theres an overall process atwork to politically repackage the image and ideals of Americasfounding history. As such, despite centuries of knownethnic mistreatment and Whites-Only privileges, Americaconversely portrays itself as being uniquely constituted withrights and freedoms that were always meant for everyone topartake ... as though We the People signied Blacks, NativeAmericans, Latinos, Asians and even Muslims all along.

Sure, this promotes feel-good nationalism, especially duringthese days of protracted warfare in Muslim countries. But the

unedited political truth as cited in Foreign Affairs magazine isthat: For substantial stretches of U.S. history, it was believedthat only the people of English origin, or those who wereProtestant, or white, or hailed from northern Europe were realAmericans.

Although the founders bequeathed a largely-Anglo nation,what they didnt politically calculate were a few societalprobabilities ... That demographic shifts could eventuate aNew We the People, causing Anglo people to teeter onthe brink of becoming a minority on American soil, whereone man, one vote would become an establishment threat.Moreover, that the New We the People could send a Blackman to the White House in the 21st century.

On the downside, along with secretive hate groups, theNew We the People has attracted mainstream opposition

from tea partiers who openly aim to take their country back,which among other things is a coded expression of ethnicdispleasure. The fact that a group like the tea party has almostinstantly become a fully-nanced movement of scale is anomen that the New We the People can expect continuedethnic resistance well into the future.

Celebratory reworks and barbeques on the Fourth ofJuly masks the nations racial complexities for 24 hours. Yet,the much-hailed ideals that the Declaration of Independenceproclaims are still nevertheless A Dream Deferred, given thatlingering ethnic prejudices and political contradictions remainendemic 234 years later ... and still counting.

Ezrah Aharone is the author of two political books. He is a

founding member of the Center for Sovereignty Advancement.

He can be reached at [email protected].

Although the NAACP andRev. Al Sharptons NationalAction Network haveenthusiastically endorsedSupreme Court nomineeElena Kagan, two key legalgroups have so far refrainedfrom endorsing the formerHarvard law dean amidquestions about whether shewould be a strong civil rightsadvocate on the court.

That split underscores thecomplexities of a civil rightscommunity eager some sayover eager to support the

nations rst African-American president, and the legitimateconcerns of some highly-respected legal organizations in a

much better position to evaluate Kagans suitability to ll theseat vacated by Justice John Paul Stevens, a reliable liberalvote on the sharply-divided Supreme Court.

Mavis T. Thompson, president of the National BarAssociation, the largest organization of Black lawyers andjudges, said the group gave Kagan only a lukewarm ratingbecause of concerns about her positions on crack-cocainesentencing disparities and her record on diversity at Harvard.

Although Kagan is clearly qualied to join the court,Thompson said, We hope Ms. Kagans views on civil rightsand equal justice will become apparent during the conrmationhearings. To date, the NBA has withheld its endorsement due toinsufcient information to ensure that Ms. Kagans views areconsistent with the core missions of the organization.

Barbara R. Arwine, executive director of the LawyersCommittee for Civil Rights Under the Law, said herorganization voted not to take a position on Kagan. There isnta judicial record to review, indicating her views on critical civilrights matters, she told the Washington Post. And otherwise,

the civil rights record that exists is thin and mixed.Despite that mixed record, Sharpton issued a statement

saying, President Obamas nomination of Ms. Kagan a NewYorker who was a clerk for the Honorable Thurgood Marshalland who has shown balance and fairness throughout her career is worthy of the support of the civil rights community.

It took the NAACP just ve days to endorse Kagan. After acareful and thorough review of Elena Kagans record, we haveunanimously voted to endorse her nomination, President andCEO Benjamin Jealous said in a statement. By contrast, theNAACP took nine times as long to research Clarence Thomasbefore opposing his nomination.

Jealous, like Sharpton, noted that Kagan once clerked forlegendary Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. But makeno mistake about it Kagan is no Thurgood Marshall. Noteven close. When Marshall joined the court, no one questionedhis commitment to civil rights.

As a recent story in theLos Angeles Times observed,

Though Marshall was an unwavering liberal, Kagan alreadyappeared less so. Memos on le in Marshalls papers at theLibrary of Congress show Kagan to be cautious, skeptical and,at times, scornful of those who would push the law too far tothe left.

Because Kagan has not served as a judge, has writtencuriously little about major civil rights issues, and has a recordof courting conservatives, many are looking at her time atHarvard, her service in the Clinton White House and her shorttenure as solicitor general for clues on what kind of judge shemight become.

Critics note that of the 43 full-time faculty members hiredduring her tenure at Harvard, only two were Black and one wasAsian. After studying her record, scholars found that of the 32tenured and tenure-track faculty appointments under Kagan,only one was a person of color (Asian) and seven were women.

Kagans defenders argue that the law school faculty, not thedean, makes the nal decision on hiring. But Kagan supporterscant have it both ways. They cant argue convincingly that she

represented only one vote, while taking credit for her bringingin more conservative faculty members.

For example, President Obama in his nomination speechsaid, At a time when many believed that the Harvard facultyhad gotten a little one-sided in its viewpoint, she sought torecruit prominent conservative scholars and spur a healthydebate on campus.

She was so successful in attracting conservative facultymembers that the right-wing Federalist Society gave her astanding ovation at one Harvard banquet. On its Web site, thegroup carries this quote from Kagan: I love the FederalistSociety ... They are highly committed, intelligent, hard-working active students who make the Harvard communitybetter.

Many prominent conservatives have endorsed Kagan,including Charles Fried, solicitor general in the Reaganadministration; Ken Starr, the person who prosecuted BillClinton; and Theodore Olson, who served as solicitor general

for George W. Bush. Those endorsements have raised theeyebrows of progressives.

With conservatives holding a 5-4 edge on the SupremeCourt, Obama cant afford to be wrong about Kagan.Other presidents have lived to regret their Supreme Courtappointments. President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointedEarl Warren as chief justice in 1953, feeling certain he wouldbe a reliable conservative vote. However, Warren moderatedhis views and became one the courts most consistent andinuential liberals.

Eisenhower would later say Warrens appointment was thebiggest damn-fool mistake I ever made. We can only hope thatObama wont have to say the same thing about Kagan.

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emergemagazine and the NNPA News Service, is a keynote speaker,moderator, and media coach. He can be reached through hisWeb site, www.georgecurry.com You can also follow him atwww.twitter.com/currygeorge.

The New We the People

Rep. Elijah

Cummings

The Time for Financial Reform is Now

George E. Curry

Opinion

Two Lawyers Groups Have Reservations about Kagan

Ezrah Aharone


8/16


By Stephen D. RileyAFRO Staf Writer

Dr. Tom Grace has been

performing plastic surgery

in Baltimore since 1990,

but his voice still becomes

animated when discussing

recent medical advances.

Most recently, the St. Agnes

Hospital surgeons excitement

was ignited by an evolving

technique that uses human

skin to aid the process of

breast reconstruction for

breast cancer survivors.

Contrary to belief, the road

to recovery doesnt end for

breast cancer patients once

their treatments are nished.

For many convalescents,

specically those that undergo

mastectomies, the next

phase to full recoveryboth

mentally and physically

is breast reconstruction.

Mastectomy typically

destroys everything inside the

breast including the nipple

and areola and a fair amount

of skin in some cases, leaving

the breast at after treatment.

Plastic surgeons then try

to rebuild the breast to its

regular appearance utilizing

breast implants and human

tissue. Applying human tissue

for surgery is a technique

thats been used by surgeons

for years via cadaver skin,

but recent developments have

allowed for the use of donated

skin, lending to improved

results while minimizing the

risk of complications.

Its a technique weve

been using a lot since the 70s

or the 80s. About ve years

ago somebody gured out if

we take human beings skin

or a product of the skinnow

its been extended that some

companies use pig material

we can sew it to the muscle

to cover the implant,

Grace said. Theres less

complications, a better

looking breast reconstruction

Human Skin Now Used forBreast Reconstruction

Courtesy Photo

The AlloDerm

Regenerative TissueMatrix is one of several

innovative techniques

that surgeons use toreconstruct the busts of

breast cancer survivors

utilizing human tissue.

Health

If youre HIV+ and think you cant afford the medication you

need, theres something you should know.

MADAP CAN HELP.

The Maryland AIDS Drug Assistance Program (MADAP) helps cover thecost of many medications for low to moderate income people in Maryland

who are living with HIV/AIDS.

There are exciting, new drugs in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Dont miss out

because you cant afford them.

Call MADAP today.

410-767-6535 Baltimore Area

1-800-205-6308 Toll Free in Maryland

410-333-4800 tdd

MADAP is a program of the AIDS Administration

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Feel Good Friday

Friday, July 23

9 to 11 a.m.

Includes continental breakfast

Harbor HospitalsWaterfront Baum Auditorium

3001 South Hanover Street

Baltimore, MD 21225

Knee Pain Seminar

Are you skipping out on activities because your knees ache? If so, it might be time to get help. JoinJames E. Wood Jr., M.D., Harbor Hospital chief of orthopaedics, for a free seminar on the commoncauses of knee pain and treatments that are available. Registration is required; a light breakfast will beserved. To register, visit harborhospital.org/classesor call 410-350-2563.

James E. Wood Jr., M.D., is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon. He is one of the leading kneereplacement surgeons in the region, and was a fellow in sports medicine, working with the teamphysicians for the Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, Angels, Rams and Kings.

Look, honey, only 1,567 steps left to go.

Harbor Hospital is part of MedStar Health , a not-or-proft, regional healthcare system with nine hospitals and

more than 20 other health-related services in the Maryland and Washington, D.C., region. More than a hal-million

patients trust their care to MedStar Health each year. medstarhealth.org

www .afro .com

By AFRO Sta

As part of their efforts to warn youth about extreme alcohol

consumption, Montgomery Countys Keeping It Safe (KIS)

coalition on Under 21 Alcohol Prevention has administered

educational posters to every school and liquor store in the

county that explain the dangers of binge drinking and alcohol

poisoning.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

recently produced the Youth Risk Behavior Survey which

found that nearly one in four high school students across the

country have had ve or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting

over a 30-day period. The CDC estimates that extreme drinking

contributes to approximately 75,000 deaths a year.

Our youth need to hear a consistent message from all

corners of our community, said KIS Coordinator Meg Baker

in a statement. And, while our focus remains on preventing

under-21 consumption of alcohol, we understand that some

of our youth will continue to consume alcohol, and we want

them to be aware of the dangers of binge drinking and alcohol

poisoning.

Stephanie Quinn, a student intern in the Montgomery

County Police Department and a member of the Keeping It

SAFE Coalition, created the poster idea. Four posters were

selected from Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Richard Montgomery

and Walt Whitman high schools, and were reproduced and

delivered to every Montgomery County high school.

Even kids who dont drink alcohol sometimes come

across others who do, said Quinn in a press statement.

Reacting appropriately to a potential alcohol poisoning victim

could be life saving.

For more information, call 240-777-6652 or visit www.

montgomerycountymd.gov/kis.

Initiative Teaches MarylandStudents the Dangers of

Alcohol Poisoning

and the like. Its a technique

thats been around for a long

time [but] this newer materialhas really made the technique

a lot better.

While most people would

chafe at the idea of donating

their own skin, cosmetic

surgeries such as liposuction,

abdominoplasties and others

have allowed patients to

willfully provide excess

and unwanted skin without

hesitation. Because the top

layers of provided skin arent

used by surgeons in the breast

reconstruction procedure,

cross matching different races

of skin is acceptable.

The biological material

from the skin that we use

you can use anybodys on

anybody, its not rejected,

Grace said.

Perhaps the most

challenging part of the

reconstructive process for

patients is learning their

alternatives. A recent study

by the American Society of

Plastic Surgeons reveals that

seven of every 10 women

facing breast cancer do not

know their reconstructive

options. Although several

resources and outlets are

readily available, study

results suggest women are

not informed properly about

breast reconstruction options

post-mastectomy.

Despite the lengthy history

of breast reconstruction

procedures, awareness of

advancement in cancer

recovery is something that

still eludes most patients.

But its knowledge physicians

worldwide are trying

diligently to promote.

Whats exciting about

being a physician is that

youre always looking for

new and better things, Graceadded. So when we nd

things that are newer and

better its even more exciting

to people like me.

For more information

on breast reconstruction

and other related

matters, visit www.

breastreconstructionmatters.

com.

Courtesy Photo


9/16

July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010, The Afro-American B1

Photos by Bill Tabron

On June 20, former radio host and Baltimore-based media personality

Marc Clarke hosted the Always Daddys Girl father-daughter dance,

featuring a JF, hors d oeuvres and more.

The event, held at t he Frederick Douglass Maritime Museum, was created

to highlight the special bond between girls and their fathers.

Marc Clarke

Kierra, Kevin

and KeyonneSimpson

Sydney and

Byron Cooper

Indira, Bryanand Sims Alston

line dance

Ahesahmahk

E. Dahn, CEO of

City Ranch

Akilah and

EdwardBazemore Bobby Marvin and

Raniya Holmes

Attendees enjoya father-daughter

dances

The Rev. MarlonTilghman, Edwin Avent,

co-founder; Marcus

Franklin and Rod Carter

Kalabe Haile, IsaacRichardson and

Girume Achenafe

Ellwood Lane and

Craig Menzel

Marvin Tilghman and

Carol Ford

Kyran Abraham Jr., Kendall Newman,

Dion Lawson and James Bennett

Vickie Ballou-Watts,

Claude and Vincent

Watts

Black Professional Men, a nonprot organization created to

address the economic, social and political concerns of African

Americans, recently held its 17th awards ceremony honoring

community leaders.According to the groups Web site, the Rays of Hope

Breakfast is an opportunity for Black Professional Men,

Inc. to showcase its mentoring program, and to oer

scholarships to deserving Black male students from the

Baltimore metropolitan area. In the past fourteen years, BlackProfessional Men Inc. has awarded scholarships to more than

90 deserving African-American male high school

graduates.

The program took place at the Sheraton Baltimore City

Center Hotel and aimed to raise $13,000 in scholarships for theyoung men aliated with the BPM.

Kalan McGee, Hailey

Boutte, Dynasty Covell andTiany McGee

Erica and WandaFreeland sell ne

jewelry and goods.

The Rev. Dr. Charles E. Coger,

pastor of Mt. Ararat Baptist

Church, and his granddaughterOleshia Vines

Daleiah Brown

enjoys a ponyride as Aaron

Wheeler of CityRanch guides

the horse.

Gloria Williams, Robinette White,

Cathy Blackwell, Aubrey Gordonand Bernice McNair

Lachrista Alsina andJimmy Wilkens

Darryl Stokes,Anita Jackson and

Craig Menzel

Baltimores Mt. Ararat

Baptist Church recentlyhosted a community

fair featuring pony

rides, giveaways, food,fellowship and fun.

Photos by Bill Tabron


10/16

B2 The Afro-American, July 10, 2010 - July 16, 2010

By Stephen D. Riley

AFRO Staf Writer

The New York Knicks

knocked down the rst major

domino in the NBAs free

agency period by coming toterms with former Phoenix

Suns forward Amare

Stoudemire, inking the ve-time NBA All-Star to a ve-

year, $99.7 million deal July 5.

Stoudemire represents therst name of a popular free

agent group to sign a deal this

offseason, and hopes to pavethe way for the Knicks to

possibly add another.I feel great, really,

about being a pioneer,

Stoudemire told reportersat his introductory press

conference. Its a situation

where no one wanted to makethat rst move and I felt

condent enough to take thatrst step, and hopefully now

we can bring in a few guys to

join us.Stoudemire admitted he

has spoken to LeBron James

and is actively

recruiting himto join him

in New York.Im denitely

going to reach

out to himagain and see

if we can get

him to come.I really have

no reading on

which wayhe is leaning

at all. But,

again, hestotally open

right now; hehasnt made a

decision yet,

and hopefully Ican get him to

choose us.

The

Knicks have

spent the lasttwo seasons

clearing cap

room to lure big time freeagents to the Big Apple

with the appeal of a major

market and millions ofdollars. Several sportsniks

have speculated that James

would head to New York

under the enticement of themedia spotlight that the city

would bring. Although Jameshas been heavily linked to

the Knicks, his leaving the

Cleveland Cavaliers woulddepend mightily on a strong

supporting cast, which the

Knicks have now upgradedwith Stoudemires signing.

Despite a rash of injuries

over the past few years,Stoudemire has averaged more

than 20 points per game in

four straight seasons. He willbe rejoining head coach Mike

DAntoni, whom he playedfor from 2003 to 2008 before

DAntoni left to become the

Knicks head coach.DAntoni made a pitch

himself to help land another

marquee free agent by tellingreporters, If somebody wants

a real good basketball playerto play with and win a title

... this could help get the

dominoes falling.Free agent deals cannot be

made ofcial until July 8.

More Sports on Afro.com

www.aro.com

By Bilal Salaam and Perry GreenAFRO Contributor and AFRO Sports

Editor

Coppin State Universitys new

Physical Education Complex has

become the hot spot for collegeathletes looking to stay in shape

during the summer. But during the

past week, the $136 million centerwas lled with a great amount of

not-quite college-aged kids.They were all participants of

the 2010 Charles Choo Smith

Summer Basketball Camp.One might assume a bull in a

china shop effect ensuing when

more than 100 youths, some as

young as 6 years old, are given freerein to such an open environment.

Not so.Grouped by age, each kid worked

on basic skills such as shooting,defense, free throws, rebounding,

posting and pivoting and off-hand

layups.Choo, a former Original Harlem

Globetrotter and native of Baltimore,

sees a lot of himself in the campparticipants. Thats why he puts so

much energy into molding each of

them individually.Nothing is too simple to me,

says Choo. Im never afraid to go

over the top and take risks, becausethats what I believe it takes to be on

the next level.Thats how he came up with the

Four Ls (Love it, Learn It, Live

It, Lead It), a motto that he uses toencourage the camp participants,

Choo added.Its so important to love and

be passionate about everything you

do, and then it becomes natural tolearn how to do it better, he added,

explaining the Four Ls. Once you

learn, you have to live what youlearn, and then nally you have to

lead by example.

The Four Ls are visible ineverybody who works with Choo,

including youths and adults.Jawuan Wilson, a 16-year-old

even-keeled teenager, has been with

the camp since its inception in 2006,when the camp was stationed at

New Town High School.

Wilsons mother, Vicki,

excited about the changeshe saw in Jawuan after

his rst year, decided tovolunteer her services.

Ive enjoyed watching howhes grown, and not just basketball-

wise, said Vickie Wilson, who

couldnt hold back a few emotionaltears when overhearing Choo

explain the Four Ls to theAFRO.

It really touched home becauseIve witnessed how my son has

progressed through each of the four

phases and now hes at the pointwhere hes evolving into a leader

both on and off the court.

Wilson cant imagine her sonworking with anyone else but Choo,

who considers Jawuan as one ofhis best pupils in the camps ve-

year history.

[Jawuan] was about 10 yearsold when he rst started the camp.

He was a pudgy, mild-mannered kid,but he was always excited about the

game. This year, hes dominated his

age group and now every school inthe area is after him.

The coaches (including Arthur

Lewis, Omar Smith, KevinEnglish and

Lamar Pennick) are also inspiredby Choos ability to mold youths

with sound fundamentals.

Arthur Lewis met Smith just afterplaying junior college basketball,

and instantly learned to exude

positive energy into every endeavorhe takes on.

We have fun here, said Lewis

after balancing a ball on the backof his hand and punch-passing it

to Choo. Just because you dothe right thing doesnt mean

you cant have fun. You just

have to love doing the rightthing.

Lamar Pennick, also

a coach and former

college basketball player,appreciates how the camp

narrows the gap betweenlife and basketball.

We try to keepthe game simple, but

we also teach the kids

how to play chess, readthe daily paper and keep up

on current events, Pennick

said. We emphasize thedevelopment of communication

skills.

In addition to talented ballplayers, Smith also has won the

support of business/marketing

tycoon Mel Butler, who personallyadmired Smiths commitment to

the youths of Baltimore.There are few who are

genuine about their passion

and vision for young people,said Butler, who now holds

the title of chief operations ofcerfor Smiths camp. I decided that

this was a worthy cause when I

found out that he was conductinga camp that he paid for out of his

pockets for four years.

While watching Choo and Arthurexchange Globetrotter-style basketball

tricks among one another, Butler

mentioned a few events scheduledto help support the camp, including

the rst annual Choo Smith CelebrityCharity Golf Tournament on July

26. Butlerwho has 40 years of

marketing experience both nationallyand internationally, including ties to

the founding of Baltimores rst ethnic

festival, Salute to Soul Festival,

precursor of the African AmericaHeritage Festivalwants to help

attract more positive attention to whathe considers as Baltimores best kept

secret.Its amazing that we have

an Original Harlem Globetrotter

running a youth camp right here inthe backyard of our own city and

almost no one knows about it,

Butler said.Choo said he hasnt done much

to promote the camp in the past

because he wanted to keep it on amore personal level, so that original

campers could return and continue to

grow and mature under his guidance.But were at the point where

were ready to evolve to the nextlevel, Choo said, one step at a time.

For more information, see www.

chooyouth.com.

AFRO Photo/Anderson R. Ward

Former Original Harlem Globetrotter Charles

Choo Smith has closely mentored 16-year-

old Jawuan Wilson, molding him into aleader both on and o t he basketball court.

Meet Choo Smith: Baltimores Best Kept Secret

By AFRO Sta

NFL quarterback Jamarcus Russell was recently arrestedand charged with possession of codeine syrup, according to

police reports.The 24-year-old former Oakland Raiders quarterback was

arrested from his home in Mobile, Ala., on July 5 during an

undercover narcotics investigation, Mobile County Sheriffs

spokeswoman Lori Myles told reporters. Myles did notspecify exactly what led to Russells arrest, but did mention

that while several people were present at the quarterbacks

home when poli

Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, July 10, 2010

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Transcript of Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, July 10, 2010