Urban Pro Weekly

NEWS • COMMENTARY ARTS ENTERTAINMENT Urban WProOCTOBER 10 - 16, 2013

The CSRA’s FREE WEEKLYNEWSPAPERVOL.3 NO.6eekly

Paine College volleyball players Felisha Shugart (L) and Kayla Lewis (R) take position during a game against Morris College at the HEAL complex. The Lady Lions crushed the Lady Hornets 3-0 in the final score.Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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JAZZ ON PINENeighborhood draws on rich cultural heritage for concert series

Is Fred Russell too big to fireChances are city administrator Fred Russell is a good chess player. We already know he has the gift of gab and, as former police brass, he is unfazed by negative turns of events. He’s not a politician, but he might have the best political instincts of anyone sitting on the city commission. Everyone, at some point, has wanted him fired. Story on page 4.

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PublisherBen Hasan

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Managing EditorFrederick Benjamin Sr.

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UrbanProWeekly LLC

Mailing Address:3529 Monte Carlo DriveAugusta, Georgia 30906

Urban WeeklyPro Sales & MarketingPhone: 706-394-9411

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AUGUSTAFor many years, it was one of the most renowned

music locales in the Southeast, home to the Lenox Theater and host to headliners such as Cab Calloway and Ray Charles. And now, jazz is returning to Laney Walker/Bethlehem, with the first of what many antic-ipate will be an annual jazz concert series, Jazz On Pine, to take place on upcoming Saturdays at 6:00 pm in the Heritage Pine Pocket Park on Pine Street between Laney Walker Boulevard and Florence Street. The event, which was planned and orches-trated by highly-regarded jazz keyboardist Karen Gordon, features the following line-up:

Oct. 12 - Doc Easton Smooth JazzOct. 19 - Jerusalem SoundsOct. 26 - Joe Collier & FriendsNov. 2 - Tim Sanders & UNITY

The event will serve as the first public cultural event for the neighborhood’s newly-christened park. “You know,” noted Gordon, “several years ago, I per-formed on this street as part of the neighborhood’s inaugural ‘Blocks Are Beautiful’ celebration, and the feeling just stayed with me that my fellow musicians and I were part of something special. That this whole Laney Walker/Bethlehem community was experienc-ing a renaissance of sorts, and not just because of the new homes being built. But because of the increas-ing commitment to make this place even more meaningful by honoring the art and culture that has been here all along. Although, for myriad reasons, my brother, Wycliffe, has chosen to remain in the Big Apple rather than move back to Augusta, something in Heritage Pine still reminds him of Harlem. He wants to sow seeds here – it’s where his roots are.

And so, his energy, his influence remains here – in this community. This place matters. So, an annual jazz series in Laney Walker/Bethlehem – it’s going to be remarkable.”

Chester Wheeler, Director of Augusta’s Housing & Community Development Department, which serves as the master developer for Laney Walker/Bethlehem concurred with Gordon’s assessment. “I’ve said on a number of occasions,” noted Wheeler, “that this project is like a jazz composition, a complex weaving of both orchestrated and improvisational elements. Nothing could be more fitting than to have a whole music series that expresses the heart and soul of this place – particularly given the place that jazz has played in the history of Laney Walker/Bethlehem.”

Info: (706) 821-1797.http://www.heritagepineaugusta.com/news-events/

Jazz On Pine Neighborhood draws on its rich cultural heritage for concert series

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POLITICAL ANALYSIS

The CiTy

By Frederick Benjamin Sr.UrbanProWeekly Staff Writer

AUGUSTA

Chances are city administrator Fred Russell is a good chess player. We already know he has

the gift of gab and, as former police brass, he is unfazed by negative turns of events. He’s not a politician, but he might have the best political instincts of anyone sitting on the commission, including Mayor Deke Copenhaver.

Everyone, at some point, has wanted him fired.

Recent chatter about the displeasure of some of Russell’s questionable moves is just that — chatter – white noise.

Indeed, Russell has been to the brink in the past and has always been able to survive. On a previous such occasion when the grumbling about getting rid of Russell grew louder, a real concern among some members of the commis-sion was the likelihood of finding a suit-able replacement. It would have to be someone who was seasoned enough to read the political landscape, compliant enough to be controlled by the commis-sion, apolitical enough to avoid factional squabbles and smart enough to realize that municipalities across the nation are having to do more with less.

Modern cities cannot be effectively

run by politicians or businessmen. They must rely on technical managers, accountants and lawyers.

There are a number of reasons why Fred Russell is sitting pretty. Tops is that he’s good at controlling the flow of information. Nothing comes in or out without his knowledge. We’re talk-ing official correspondence; stuff that matters. Stuff that requires the mayor’s signature — stuff that binds

Russell has surrounded himself with highly paid technocrats. Just four of Russell’s top lieutenants, including dep-uty administrators Tameka Allen, Bill Shanahan, Chester Wheeler and Andrew Mackenzie pull down a cool half million bucks in yearly salary. Russell, himself, is the highest paid public employee in Augusta; his salary tops $137,000.

At times, Russell seems to merely tolerate commission members and his attitude toward them is that they should be seen but not heard.

While he appears to be fiercely loyal to his inner circle, he is not above letting beleaguered department heads twist in the wind before putting them out of their misery (Remember Parks and Recreation Director Tom Beck and former fire chief Howard Willis).

As the chief operating officer of the

city, he knows where all the “bodies are buried.” And while everyone is not required to talk to one another, they are required to talk to him. Mayors and commissioners come and go, but good managers make themselves too valuable to cast aside.

Like him or not, Fred Russell gets things done. While he’s not a seer (he has made a lot of obvious miscalcula-tions), he does read the tea leaves cor-rectly most of the time — especially when the money is on the line.

Plus, Russell is a good ally. You want him on your side, even though he might have “dissed” you in the past.

Perhaps Russell’s greatest trait is his ability to work independently and with-out a script. Unimpeded by unsolic-ited “goals objectives and guidelines,” Russell is free to complete tasks his way. With Russell, if you have to ask, you don’t need to know. Because if you needed to know, you would have been included “in the loop” or, at the very least, have “received the memo.”

Often maligned and ridiculed on very personal levels, Russell always seems to keep his emotions in check. When forced to dodge darts tossed his way by irate commissioners for some indiscre-tion on his part, he will always preface his retort with a reminder that “this body voted for this . . . .” or “this body

directed me to do this . . .” And in most cases, he would be correct.

The latest snafu over the word “slum” was obviously a Fred Russell miscalcu-lation, but it represents in microcosm how this commission interacts with the city administrator.

Depending on who the commission-ers are and whether or not he supports their pet projects, Russell can pretty much figure out who will be paying attention to a particular item and who will not. If commissioners are not pay-ing attention they could very easily vote for something and not really remember having done so.

The “slum-gate” affair might have slipped through unnoticed had it not been for the fire storm of media atten-tion started by Chronicle writer Susan McCord who reviewed the same docu-ments possessed by the commissioners. Absent that media attention, it is likely that the commission would have rub-ber-stamped the funding motion and no one would have been the wiser.

Of all the really bad deals that this city has made in the past nine years, Fred Russell’s stamp has been on all of them. Yet, even as his warm embrace of the S-word angered many downtown business owners, Russell remains very much in charge and leads us to wonder, is Fred Russell too big to fire?

Is Fred Russell too big to fire?

THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE IN NOV. 5, 2013 HAS

PASSED.Mail-out absentee ballots will be

available upon written request begin-ning Monday, October 14, 2013. Requests will be accepted by mail, fax, email, or in person. In-person Early Voting will begin on Monday, October 14, 2013 and Saturday Voting will be on Saturday, October 26, 2013. The last day for Voting by Mail and Early Voting will be Friday, November 1, 2013. The only location open for Early Voting for this election will be the

Board of Elections Main Office located at 530 Greene Street, Room 104 in Augusta.

Additional voter information includ-ing confirmation of voter registration status, confirmation of district assign-ment, the location of your polling place, driving directions to your polling place, hours and locations for Early Voting, sample ballots and more is available on the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page at www.sos.ga.gov . Voters seeking information may also contact the Board of Elections Office at (706) 821-2340 or www.augustaga.

Important Information for VotersNovember 5, 2013 Municipal and Election

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eekly • OCTOBER 10 - 16, 2013Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church314 Sand Bar Ferry RoadAugusta, Georgia 30901(706) 722- 0553Church School Sunday 9:25amMorning Worship Sunday 11amEvening Worship 6pm (1st & 3rd Sunday) Midday Prayer 12pm WednesdayIntercessory Prayer/Bible Study 6pm Wednesday

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Good Shepherd Baptist ChurchRev. Clarence Moore, Pastor1714 Olive Road / P. O. Box 141 (mailing address) Augusta, GA 30903706/733-341- Telephone/706/667-0205 – FaxE-mail address: [email protected] address: goodshepherdaugusta.orgChurch Service: 7:45 & 11:00 a.m.Church School: 9:45 a.m. / Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. – WednesdayBible Study: 9:00 a.m. - Saturday / 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday

Rev. Clarence Moore

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Star Wars enthusiast Corey Rogers (center) looks over a model replica of an ATAT (All Terrain Armored Vehicle) during the Star Wars Festival, held in conjunction with “Star Wars Reads Day” at the headquarters Library in downtown Augusta. Rogers has been collecting Star Wars mem-orabilia since 1979. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

By Vincent Hobbs

“The Force” was powerful in Augusta on Saturday as Augusta’s first “Star Wars Festival” invaded the Library Headquarters downtown, in conjunction with the national event “Star Wars Reads Day” to promote literacy. Fans of the epic science fic-tion opera dressed as characters from the movie series and participated in a trivia quiz, toured a collection of Star Wars memorabilia, and watched mov-ies from the series.

Kids stood on tiptoes and craned their necks to see the detail in a replica Millennium Falcon starship on display. Another glass case held a talking Darth Maul figurine, who talked in a menac-ing voice while holding a double-sided red light saber. An ATAT (All Terrain Armored Transit) replica stood guard over a large deployment of Imperial storm-troopers in another display. A youngster dressed as Darth Vader sat with family members while watching Star Wars -Clone Wars on a TV screen. A pint-sized Princess Leia milled about the Library children’s section on the first floor.

Stars Wars memorabilia collec-tor Corey Rogers, along with local librarians Aspasia Luster and Dottie Demerest, were the main catalysts behind the event. Rogers, a historian and curator at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of History, has been collect-ing Star Wars memorabilia since 1979 (along with his brother Carl), and has amassed several hundred individual

pieces over the years. The group thought it would be a great idea to showcase the collection in the Georgia Room at the Headquarters Library.

The response to the collection, which opened in August, was extremely positive and the idea to orchestrate Augusta’s first Star Wars Festival was born.

Star Wars and its many facets (books, movies, animation, and cosplay celebrations) is big busi-ness and continues to garner new fans non-stop - ever since a little film by writer-director George Lucas graced the movie screen in 1977. Over one hundred fans attended the Augusta event.

“I’m a sci-fi geek”, Rogers said. “Star Wars really allows me to be me, and allows me to enjoy another world and become totally immersed in another culture.”

Attending Star Wars festivals and Comic-Cons is standard fare for hard-core Star Wars fans. Rogers has formed friendships with fellow Star Wars fans in France, England and across the United States.

“What Stars Wars has really done for

me – it has allowed me to meet some really nice people over the years, and has allowed me to bond with people around the world,” Rogers reflected. “It’s fun meeting people from different walks of life. We come from differ-ent socio-economic backgrounds and political ideologies – but Star Wars is the tie that binds us.”

Rogers attends Star Wars celebrations on a regular basis and is encouraged by the camaraderie he feels and witnesses among the variety of fans.

“We’ve already started working on next year’s event, “Corey said. “We’re hoping to have collectors all over Augusta contribute and we are looking for community sponsors.”

Light sabers! The Millennium Falcon! Stormtroopers!

Star Wars enthusiast Corey Rogers (center) explains the workings of a replica “Millennium Falcon” starship to Star Wars fans during the Star Wars Festival, held in conjunction with “Star Wars Reads Day” at the headquarters Library in downtown Augusta. Rogers has been collecting Star Wars memorabilia since 1979.Photo by Vincent Hobbs

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Every third Thursday begin-ning on October 17th, I will be hosting the Do You Lyric Lounge-Augusta at 1102 Bar and Grill. This open mic variety show will feature spoken word artists, sing-ers, musicians, conscious hip hop artists, actors/actresses with dra-matic monologues and anyone with unique talent to share. For a $5 admission, audience members will have a chance to be inspired by live entertainment which will educate, enlighten, and hope-fully spur the artist within us all.

My motto for the Do You Lyric Lounge has always been to “provide a stage and microphone for voices to be heard.” I am an advocate of quality creative expression of all forms. I believe there are certain characteristics that make up a memorable per-formance. As an event host and a performing artist, I know it’s important to have a checklist of techniques that will motivate me to have a positive impact on my chosen audience.

Technique #1: Never com-promise your individuality. Every artist has a unique voice to share that comes from a customized life experience. Don’t be shy or ashamed to tell your story in dra-matic detail. No one can be you as great as you can!

Technique #2: Always

include a variety of your range of talent. A performing artist’s portfolio should have a sample of the best art you’re capable of. For example, a spoken word art-ist should have a feature set with serious poems, comedic pieces, romantic poetry, and maybe even spiritual poetry to show the audience that you speak on many topics. This makes you appear to be more interesting and more well-rounded as a writer.

Technique #3: Rehearse and be comfortable with your art. Take a few deep breaths and have fun with your perfor-mance! See your performance as an intimate conversation with your audience. They are there to be inspired by you and to relate to the universal themes that con-nect us all.

When it comes to quality creative expression, the audience is there to be entertained by the artist on stage showcasing their work. What makes your show memorable is how you choose to personalize your art and how you choose to present it in only the most unique way possible. Each and every month I look forward to being exposed to the creativity that touches my heart and challenges my thoughts. Step into the spotlight and DO YOU to the FULLEST!!

The characteristics of quality creative expression

Livin’ OutLoudArtistic Commentary By LadyVee LOVE FOR SALE. Jason Craig, a local Augusta artist, coordinates the

Artzilla live art auction held on First Friday in downtown Augusta in front of the Book Tavern. Eleven local artists had their work available for sale, with a percentage of the proceeds going to help support the Getrude Herbert Institue of Art. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

TICKETSOnline: JALC.ORGIn Person:Pyramid Music and Video1647 Gordon Hwy. Augusta, GA 30904

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Paine College volleyball player Malachia Kendrick (#15) celebrates after a point is scored during a game against Morris College at the HEAL Complex. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Paine College volleyball player Aaliyah Myrick (#4) keeps the ball in the air. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Paine College volleyball players huddlle together as they are advised by assistant coach Zack Howard (R-foreground) during a time-out in game against Morris College at the HEAL Complex. The Lady Lions crushed the Lady Hornets 3-0 in the final score. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

SPORTS Paine College Volleyball Photos by Vincent Hobbs

Paine vs Morris3-0

HEAL Complex SPORTS

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Supporting PARENTS of slain childrenMeeting: Oct. 17, 2013 @ 5:30 pm

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AUGUSTADr. David Satcher, former U.S.

Surgeon General and Director of the Centers for Disease Control, will speak on targeting the social deter-minants of health at Georgia Regents University Thursday, Oct. 17 at noon in room 1204 of the Health Sciences Building, 987 St. Sebastian Way.

Satcher’s visit is the latest in the ongoing College of Allied Health Sciences Dean’s Research Seminar Series, which brings nationally and internationally known speakers to campus to discuss topical health care issues.

Satcher is Director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atanta, where he occupies the Poussaint-Satcher-Cosby Chair in Mental Health. He serves on the board of directors for Johnson and Johnson, MetLife, and the Kaiser Family Foundation, and is well-known for his efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care.

Under Satcher’s tenure as the 16th U.S. Surgeon General, the depart-ment released Surgeon General’s reports on mental health and men-tal retardation, suicide prevention, sexual health and responsible sexual behavior, tobacco and health, youth violence prevention, and obesity.

Previously, he served as President of Meharry Medical College in Nashville,

Tenn., and was a faculty member at the UCLA School of Medicine, UCLA School of Public Health, and King-Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Satcher is a recipient of more than 40 honorary degrees and numerous distinguished awards. His expertise in public health includes bioterrorism, sex education, mental health, AIDS, suicide, cloning, and achieving a bal-anced community health care system.

Former U.S. Surgeon General to speak at GRU

Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General and Director of the Centers for Disease Control

Augusta Mini Theatre, Inc. Celebrates 38 Years with 12th Annual Chefs’ Showcase

AUGUSTAThe Augusta Mini Theatre

Community Arts and Life Skills School will host its 12th Annual Alumni & Friends Chefs Showcase in celebra-tion of its 38th Anniversary. The event will take place on Sunday, October 20, 2013 at 2:00 p.m., at the Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites located at Two Tenth Street, Augusta, Ga.

The event will feature the Augusta area’s finest chefs, caterers and res-taurants. This year’s participants currently include A Little Taste of Nawlins’, Jackie M’s & Son Cafe’ & Catering, Villa Europa, Augusta Mini Theatre Parents’ Soul Food Corner, The Harvest Table Buffet, Edible Arrangements, French Market Grille, Roux’s Gourmet Catering, Augusta Technical College Culinary Arts Program, Dent Creations, Ring My Bell to Lilly’s Cake, Southern Grilling & Catering, Chef Charlie Williams, Sconyers Bar-B-Que, Collins Catering Service, Sophia’s Antiques, DeShawn’s Seafood Restaurant, Liquid Sunshine, The Wife Saver Restaurant (N. Augusta), Ashley’s Fish & Seafood, Augusta Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Chef Earline Brown, Chef Julia Jackson, Chef Candice Brooks, Miles Catering, Five Star Catering & Event Unlimited and Sugie’s Kitchen Catering Services.

Admission for the Chefs Showcase is $38 ($1 for each year) for adults and $16 for children and students.

Contributions can be made at the

Augusta Mini Theatre, Inc. located at 2548 Deans Bridge Road. You can also contribute or purchase tickets by visiting www.augustaminitheatre.com.

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Notice to Lower Income Families

Augusta Housing Authority This notice is to advise that effective Monday, October 7, 2013 that the Augusta Housing Authority will open the waiting lists for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments) and the Project Based Voucher Program for The Legacy at Walton Oaks. The waiting lists for the Public Housing Program and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program are currently closed. The Augusta Housing Authority will also accept updated information from persons who have previously applied for the Section 8, Moderate Rehabilitation and Public Housing Programs. Walton Communities provides a quality living environment in a “Breathe Easy, Smoke Free Community” for low income adults ages 55 and up. Special rental assistance will be provided with respect to 26 of the 75 apartment homes through the project based vouchers provided by the Augusta Housing Authority. Applications for the Section 8 Project Based Voucher Program for The Legacy at Walton Oaks will be accepted by applying in person on Thursdays at the Augusta Housing Authority located at 1435 Walton Way, Augusta, Georgia between the hours of 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. and completing an on-line application at www.augustapha.org. The Legacy at Walton Oaks will access a $14 application fee to process your application. Eligible applicants will be placed on the site-based waiting list and will be ranked by date and time. Applications for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments) will be accepted by completing an on-line application at www.augustapha.org. Walk-in customers wanting to apply for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments) will not be seen during the open application period.

This notice is also to advise that effective November 6, 2013 at 5:00p.m., the Augusta Housing Authority will close the waiting lists for the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (River Glen Apartments) and the Project Based Voucher Program for The Legacy at Walton Oaks. The Augusta Housing Authority does not discriminate in admission or access to its federally assisted programs. Any potentially eligible individual who has a visual or hearing impairment will be provided with information necessary to understand and participate in the Augusta Housing Authority's programs. Richard Arfman has been designated as the responsible employee to coordinate the Augusta Housing Authority's efforts to comply with the nondiscrimination based on handicap regulations.

Equal Housing Opportunity The Housing Authority of the City of Augusta, Georgia

By: Jacob Oglesby, Executive Director Mission Statement: To promote adequate and affordable housing, economic

opportunity and a suitable living environment free from discrimination.

By Penda D. Hair

Over the past few years, state lawmakers have gotten increasingly bold in their efforts to make it harder to vote. From new restric-tions on the type of ID that voters can use to requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register, these initiatives have fixated on aspects of voting that are most harmful to people of color. Legislators have convinced themselves that the best way to maintain political power is to manipulate the rules.

The June 2013 Supreme Court ruling in Shelby County v. Holder made it even easier to pass these kinds of policies by dealing a blow to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. For decades, Section 5 required jurisdic-tions with a history of voting discrimination to obtain federal approval before making any changes to voting procedures. Though Section 5 was highly effective at stopping racial discrimination before it could take hold, the Shelby decision rendered historical protections for voters of color powerless. Like an animal lying in wait for an unsuspecting prey, some politicians pounced. Perhaps they thought it was open season on voters?

They were wrong.Attorney General Eric Holder made

that perfectly clear this week, when he announced plans for the U.S. Department of Justice to file a lawsuit against North Carolina over a new voting law that the state swiftly passed after the Shelby ruling. The measure’s “kitchen sink” approach to restricting the vote includes a strict voter ID requirement; cutting early voting by a full week; eliminating same-day registra-tion; allowing voters to be challenged by any registered voter in the same county, rather than precinct; rejecting provisional ballots cast in the wrong precinct; banning 16- and 17-year-olds from pre-registering to vote; and preventing counties from extend-ing poll hours to accommodate long lines. All told, it holds the distinction of being the most extreme voting measure in the nation.

With Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act no longer in play, the federal government is challenging the law under Sections 2 and 3. These provisions, respectively, ban voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, and allow for a state to be brought back under federal pre-clearance if the Department of Justice can show that the state intentionally discriminated against voters of color.

The Department has a very strong case in North Carolina. I would know: Back in August, Advancement Project, on behalf of the North Carolina NAACP, filed a similar Section 2 lawsuit against the state. And we weren’t alone. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice and ACLU also filed a lawsuit over the North Carolina law.

These lawsuits will show that North Carolina’s law is an outright attempt to suppress the votes of African Americans. In 2008 and 2012, the state saw a dramatic increase of African-American voter participa-tion, which officials are now seeking to scale back. In 2012, for example, 70 percent of African Americans who voted used early vot-ing. Thirty-one percent of registered North Carolina voters who don’t have photo ID are African-American, despite comprising just 22 percent of the state’s voting population. In 2012, African Americans cast 45 percent of ballots by voters who used same-day registration to update their registration at the polls. There is no doubt that this law

was intentionally designed to focus, with laser-like specification, on vot-ing policies that will disproportion-ately impact people of color.

We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Justice has chosen to bring its resources, stature and force to the struggle for voting rights in North Carolina and, indeed, across the nation. During his announce-ment of the lawsuit last week, the Attorney General put the entire coun-try on notice:

To other states considering vot-ing restrictions like North Carolina’s, I want to say this: I and my col-leagues at every level of the Justice Department will never hesitate to do

all that we must to protect the con-stitutionally guaranteed civil rights of all Americans. I call upon state leaders across the country to pause before they enact measures similar to those at issue in this case.

Underscoring that point, the Department of Justice also recently called on Sections 2 and 3 of the Voting Rights Act to sue Texas over its restrictive voter ID law, and its redis-tricting plan. Likewise, Advancement Project is currently litigating voter ID laws in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to ensure that elections are free, fair and accessible for all.

As states continue to do all that they can to curtail voting rights in

every region of our country, we can-not and will not stand by. We applaud the Justice Department’s mounting role in this battle, as it’s a fight that will take every resource of the civil rights community, from grassroots organizing and community-based coalition building, to the force of the federal government. And as we keep working to expose, prevent and dis-mantle voter suppression across the country, we are collectively letting politicians know that the Supreme Court’s Shelby ruling does not mean that it’s open season on voters.

Penda D. Hair is Co-director, Advancement Project; public interest

Think it’s open season on voters? Think again!

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Kristie Robin Johnson

We all know the common, some-times ugly stereotypes that we often attach to one another as human beings: all Asians are super-smart; all blacks are naturally athletic; all people of Irish descent are heavy drinkers; and so forth and so on. Partly due to stereo-types like these, many of us in the black community are often shocked when mass shooters, serial killers, and other notorious mentally ill assailants are revealed to be African-American. This has been the case in the past few weeks with the Navy Yard shooting and, most recently, the Capitol Hill high-speed chase. Both situations ended with the shooting death of presumably African-American perpetrators. There were other commonalities between the two. Both were 34 years of age and had noted histories of mental illness. These events, as tragic as they were, present an opportunity to advance a much needed conversation in black house-holds about mental illness.

Healthcare disparities in general are a real problem within the African-American community. Mental health-care disparities can be even worse because of the self-imposed stigma that we tend to place on those with men-tal illnesses and disabilities. We’ve all heard our elders whisper about family members who were “touched”. And if you are of a certain age and a Georgia native, you have probably heard gossip about a neighbor or friend who spent some time in Milledgeville (a reference to the former state mental hospital).

TAKE FIVE By Ben Hasan

We can influence local culture

Don’t believe the hype!Perhaps because we’ve always had so many other social ills to combat or maybe due to a lack of access or knowl-edge, African-Americans have made an unfortunate tradition of sweeping men-tal illnesses and disabilities under the rug. This is a phenomenon that I have experienced firsthand.

My oldest son was diagnosed with autism at 2 ½ years of age. Autism is a neurological disorder marked by expressive communication delays and deficits in social skills. I imagine that parents of children with special needs of all races and ethnicities find it difficult in the beginning. I felt particularly lone-ly in my situation because I got very little substantive support from my immediate community. What I did get was a lot of

awkwardly long stares and comments like “that boy just needs a spanking” or “ain’t nothing wrong with that boy”. My own grandmother even suggested that my child was not speaking at 3 years old because I allowed him to get his first haircut too early. Like many from her generation, she accepted a myth over science. Most of the support that I found early on in his diagnosis came from white people. Many other black moms that I have met over years often relate to my frustration.

I fully understand the fear of getting labeled and having that label lead to fur-ther discrimination. But I refused to put my child’s future at risk because I was worried about public shame. Because my son was diagnosed and treated early,

we have been able to identify therapies and treatments that have improved his quality of life tremendously. If I had made the choice to ignore the early signs or listen to some of those closest to me, his situation could be consider-ably worse. Looking back at my experi-ence I can’t help but wonder if Miriam Carey or Aaron Alexis felt support or judgment in their struggles with mental illness. Could the outcomes have been different? We will never know. What we do know is that mental illnesses and dis-abilities are real challenges (not an old wives tale or the result of bad voodoo). These challenges are felt by real peo-ple. This includes black people. Taking notice and taking action not only builds awareness; it could also save a life.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

OF RICHMOND COUNTY

The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, for the following:

Furniture for Various Schools RFQ #13-434

Steamer for Goshen Elementary School RFQ #13-649

Bid specifications may be obtained by contacting Amy Bauman in the Business Office at 706-826-1298, on our web site at www.rcboe.org, or at the Richmond County School System, Central Office, 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY

By: Dr. Frank G. Roberson, Secretary

Those of us who have grown up in Augusta have to be excused if we’re somewhat taken aback by opinions that newcomers express when talking about how things are done here. We’ve all heard it many many times, usu-ally from those who have come here from the military or relocated from other parts of the country to enjoy our weather and relatively low cost of living.

They usually wind up sounding something like this: “Augusta operates like a one-horse town” or “Augusta’s leaders are deliberately working to keep Augustans small minded so they

can run the city as though it is a small town.” Then there’s the racial thing. Local blacks take the rap for being “too accommodating or even subservient” to white folks. Politically, there are com-plaints that “black and white leaders operate from a position of divide and conquer.”

A continuing diet of these thoughts can be discouraging if not for the fact that culture is not a static entity.

Culture, like language, is dynamic. It can be changed.

A wise man once said, “we are not born with a culture, we are born into a culture.” We must understand

that a culture is impacted directly by how people act. And because people’s actions follow their thinking, it follow that we can change our culture simply by changing our thoughts.

Here in Augusta, we have the oppor-tunity to infuse the material realities of growth and expansion with a new attitude — a synthesis of what is genu-ine and familiar along with ideas and practices that are new and challenging.

A recent census reveals that over the past decade, Augusta’s population hard-ly grew at all (a 700-person net gain).

Is that acceptable? Let’s create some-thing more attractive.

Notice of Public HearingRichmond County Board of Elections

2013 Precinct PlanPlease be advised that the Richmond County Board

of Elections will conduct a public hearing to provide information and to seek input and comments from all interested citizens on its proposed 2013 Precinct Plan. The proposed 2013 Precinct Plan would add an additional Advance Voting Site increasing the number of Advance Voting Sites from 3 to 4 and would consolidate certain precincts thereby reducing the number of Election Day Polling Sites from 50 to 44. Any changes resulting from the proposed 2013 Precinct Plan would go into effect for the 2014 Election Year.

The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at 6:00 PM at the Main Library located at 823 Telfair Street, Augusta, Georgia.

To view maps, see plan details, or provide feedback on the proposed 2013 Precinct Plan you may visit the Board of Elections Website at www.augustaga.gov or contact our Main Office at (706) 821-2340.

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American History, Midway, Georgia.“Low Country Broil”, at Dorchester

Academy and Museum of African-American History, Midway, GA 31401

S U N D A Y , OCTOBER 27, 2013

G A B E O Closing Worship Service

M i d w a y Congregational Church, Dr. Larry Evans, Pastor,

LUNCH AND ADJOURNMENT

For more infor-mation about GABEO please

visit www.ga-gabeo.org or call Tyrone Brooks 404-656-6372 or 404-372-1894 and Rep. Al Williams, Host, GABEO Annual Fall Convention, Midway , GA 912-977-5600.

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CommuNiTy CoRNeR

The 2013 GABEO Annual Fall Convention will be held in Midway, Georgia on October 25-27, 2013, at the Historic Dorchester Academy and Museum of African-American History.

The theme for this year’s conven-tion is “Remembering the Past to be Prepared for Today and the Future.”

An outline of the conference agenda follows:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013Discussion Panel: A Diagnostic

Look at Dorchester from the Civil Rights Lens from Workers of the Past-Present-Future.

Discussion Panel II: Revisiting Civil Rights Training Central- Back to Social Justice.

GABEO Opening Reception at LaQuinta Inn and Suites, 1740 E. Oglethorpe Hwy, Hinesville, GA 31313

8:00 p.m. Entertainment – LaQuinta Inn and Suites.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 268:00 a.m. Registration.Welcome Program: Honorable William Bill Austin, Mayor

of the City of Riceboro, President of Dorchester Improvement Association, Member of the State Martin Luther King Celebration Commission; the Honorable Clemontine Washington, Mayor of the City of Midway; the Honorable James Thomas, mayor of the City of Hinesville; the Honorable

Donald Lovett, Chairman of Liberty County Commissioners.

Round Table Discussion I: How Do I Install In My County or

My City MBWE Policies

Round Table Discussion II Understanding the Obama Care

(The Affordable Care Act)Facilitator: Ms. CeeCee Anderson,

Health Care Analyst/Consultant Presenter: Ms. Pamela Rochelle,

Regional Director, U. S. DEPT. Health and Human Services.

Legislative Overview: Honorable Earnest “Coach” Williams

Executive Committee Meeting Historic Tour – Dorchester

Academy and Museum of African-

GABEO Fall Convention at Historic Dorchester Academy and Museum

15UrbanProW

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Comforters • Hem Pants, etc.Cell: 706-399-5096 • Home: 706-793-0561

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429 Walker StreetUpper Level

Augusta, GA 30901

Phone 706-722-6200Fax 706 722-4817

[email protected]

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Urban Pro Weekly

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