Vol. 24 No. 392nd (1186th Edition)
July 28 - August 3, 2010
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RICHMOND, VA PERMIT NO. 639
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Richmond leaders disagree on key issues for city jail
By Sylvina Poole
Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ recent announcement to allow
the Richmond City Jail facility to remain at its current
location instead of building another site caused quite a stir
among Richmond leaders.
Jones’ announcement came on the heels of a heated
debate on the conditions at the jail.
The conditions at the jail violate inmates’ civil liberties,
according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
of Virginia. Problems worsened as officials continued to
work to relieve the on-going challenge by searching for a
more modern jail facility.
The city had gone through even more scrutiny by critics
who lamented the lengthy time it’s taking to make a firm
decision on a new modernized facility where current and
future prisoners can be placed, although several proposals
were on the table to alleviate the strain at the city’s jail.
Two inmates allegedly died from heat exhaustion,
enduring high temperatures at the jail which doesn’t have
air-conditioning. Twenty-five industrial fans were
brought into the facility recently to alleviate any
fur ther casualties.
The ACLU had asked the Department of Justice
to investigate conditions at the jail as a result of
the two deaths.
The jail, built in the 1960s currently exceeds its
inmate capacity of 850 by several hundred.
Eighth District Councilwoman, Reva M. Trammell
has come toe-to-toe with city officials, particularly
Mayor Jones on the issue.
At the time, several proposed sites on where to
move the city jail were announced but a firm decision
on the matter had not been decided. One location
being considered was in Trammell’s district.
While Trammell doesn’t see eye-to-eye with the
Mayor Dwight Jones, she admits that it’s not
personal.
“Everything is okay,” she said of the oftentimes
heated debate between the two. “The Mayor has a
lot on his plate just like I do.”
Still, both had oftentimes been enthrawled with indifference on
key issues in the city, particularly the site for the new jail
and the “teen parties” some club owners in Shockoe Bottom
hosted which resulted in violence and even death.
“See “City Jailˮ on pg. 23
Virginia senator calls for ending state diversity programs
By Sylvina Poole
A recent report that Virginia Sen. Jim Webb called for
ending diversity programs has caused an uproar among
Black Virginians.
Government-operated diversity programs have disinfranchised,
struggling whites and has done more harm than good to
create racial harmony said, Sen. Webb in a Wall Street
Journal editorial.
The editorial entitled, “Diversity and the Myth of White
Privilege” targeted diversity programs in particular as
“unfair” and “they should end,” Webb wrote.
Sen. Webb’s column specifically said,
“America still owes a debt to its Black citizens, but
government programs to help all ‘people of color’
are unfair. They should end.”
Sen. Webb wrote in part,
“The Civil War devastated the South, in human and economic
terms. And from post-Civil War Reconstruction to the
beginning of World War II, the region was a ravaged place,
affecting Black and white alike.
In 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt created a national
commission to study what he termed ‘the long and ironic
Sen. Jim Webb
history of the despoiling of this truly American section.’
At that time, most industries in the South were owned by
companies outside the region. Of the South’s 1.8 million
sharecroppers, 1.2 million were white (a mirror of the
population, which was 71 percent white). The illiteracy rate
was five times that of the North-Central states and more
than twice that of New England and the Middle Atlantic
(despite the waves of European immigrants then flowing
to those regions). The total endowments of all the colleges
and universities in the South were less than the endowments
of Harvard and Yale alone. The average schoolchild
in the South had $25 a year spent on his or her education,
compared to $141 for children in New York.”
Webb said generations of such deficiencies do not
disappear overnight, and they affect the momentum of a
culture. A recent NORC Social Survey of white adults
bor n after World War II showed that in the years
1980 -2000, only 18.4 percent of white Baptists and 21.8
percent of Irish Protestants—the principal ethnic group
that settled the South—had obtained college degrees,
compa red to a nat iona l average of 30.1 p ercent,
“See “Virginia Senatorˮ on pg. 23
The Richmond Voice
LOCAL
City’s Health District dental program gives patients something to smile about
2 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
By Sylvina Poole
The Richmond Smiles Dental program
gives uninsured Richmonders something
to smile about.
“The partnership also includes the city
of Richmond. In the 106 days that the van
operated during the last fiscal year, we
treated 1250 patients. Most of these patients
had severe caries that required major
fillings or extractions,” said Dr. Michael
Welch at the City’s Health District.
“Some patients arrive around 5:30 a.m.
waiting to ensure they are seen,” added Dr.
Welch.
The Richmond Smiles Dental Van - a
wheelchair accessible 40 foot commercial
RV fully equipped with two dental
operatories and x-ray capacity supporting
two-handed dentistry that provides free
dental care in the Richmond community.
The Richmond Smiles Program is made
possible through a collaboration with
the Virginia Department of Health, Bon
Secours Richmond Health System, and
Richmond City Health District.
Its mission is to provide emergency and
initial entry to dental care for residents
that do not have access to routine dental
services. A wide range of services are
offered including dental examinations,
cleanings, fillings, school screenings, and tooth
extractions. The dental team also provides
a referral service to local area dentists for
continued treatment of patients.
Dental services are available on a first-comefirst-served weekly schedule from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. at these service locations:
• Saint Paul’s Church - South location,
700 E. Belt Boulevard, first and fourth
Mondays
• Hotchkiss Community Center, 701 E.
Brookland Park Boulevard, third Mondays
• St. Augustine Church, 4400 Beulah
Road, Tuesdays
• Bon Secours Richmond Community
Hospital, 1500 N. 28th Street, Wednesdays
Other services sites which are included
on the schedule are Richmond City Health
District and Ramsey Memorial Church. A
monthly schedule for the dental van is
posted on the Richmond Health District
website at www.vdh.virginia.gov/lhd/richmondcity.
Information is also available by calling
804-381-2624.
Audrey White, who serves as hygienist
and coordinator of the program has been
with the Richmond Smiles program since it
began operation in April 2008. White holds
a degree in dental hygiene and has many
years of management experience at VCU
School of Dentistr y. Other members of
the Richmond Smiles team include dentists,
dental assistants, and the indispensible
driver of the van, Oscar “Bear” Crafton,
who also has been with the program since its
beginning. In addition to serving the Richmond
community, the Richmond Smiles van is also
used annually for the Virginia Department of
Health Missions of Mercy (MOM) project
which provides dental services to underserved
rural localities.
Audrey says “fa r too many people
neglect dental care until it becomes an
emergency.”
Tooth decay is the single most common
childhood disease. The Virginia Department of
Health estimates that more than 50 percent
of five to nine year olds in Virginia have at
least one cavity of filling, a proportion that
increases to 78 percent by age 17.
According to a Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance Survey (an annual telephone
survey), 26 percent of adults in Richmond
lost up to five teeth due to tooth decay or
gum disease. Also, 35 percent of Richmond
adults stated that they have not visited a
dentist in the last year.
The Richmond Voice
LOCAL
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 3
Rep. Scott may face two challengers in the 3rd Congressional District race
By Sylvina Poole
There are at least two challengers in the
running for Democrat Bobby Scott’s 3rd
Congressional District seat this fall.
Previously, Libertarian candidate James
Quigley and Republican contender Chuck
Smith announced they were both vying for
the 3rd Congressional seat.
Candidate Smith was in the running for
the Republican nomination for Virginia’s
2nd District at one time, which appears to
be his actual district of residence.
Since being elected to the seat in 1992,
Scott has run unopposed five times; none
of his four challengers have managed more
than 31 percent of the vote.
Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District
covers all of the city of Portsmouth, parts
of the cities of Hampton, Newport News,
Norfolk and Richmond, all of the counties
of Charles City, New Kent, and Surry, and
part of the counties of Henrico and Prince
George.
Scott initially ran for Congress back
in 1986 for the 1st District which at that
time included his home in Newport
News. He lost to Republican incumbent
Herb Bateman. But, in 1992, the U.S.
Department of Justice directed the Virginia
legislature to draw a Black-majority
district after the 1990 census results. The
legislature responded by shifting most of
the Black residents of Hampton Roads and
Richmond into a newly-created 3rd District.
Scott won a three-way Democratic primary
with 67 percent of the vote in this majority
Democratic district.
Scott has been re-elected eight times. He
has only faced substantive opposition
once, in 2004, when former state Delegate
Winsome Sears challenged him. Scott won
69 percent of the vote.
Up until now, this is the last time the
Republicans have even put up a candidate
against Scott. He ran unopposed in 2000
and 2002.
Since Reconstruction, Scott is the first
African American representative from
Virginia. Scott’s maternal grandfather is
of Filipino descent which gives Scott an
additional distinction of being the first
American of Filipino ancestry to serve as a
member of Congress.
Political pundits feel the 3rd Congressional
District race will be a
hotly contested race
and with Scott having
a Black opponent
might cut into his
majority somehow.
C hu ck Sm it h , a
r et i r e d nav y JAG
Officer and for mer
Marine (Infantr y)
officially accepted
the Republican
nom i nat ion as 3rd
Dist r ict ca nd id ate
for the United States
Congress in earlier this year.
Smith stated, “The 3rd District deserves a
Congressman who will fight for conservative
values and principles that have made this
nation strong.”
Smith went on to say “Too long have
Virginians throughout the commonwealth
sought the mantle of effective leadership
through a Congressional Representative
who is actually “representative” of the views
and values of the district, and nowhere is
the argument for that search more apparent
Rep. Bobby Scott
than in the 3rd Congressional District.”
Chuck says, “leadership is not longevity,
leadership is effectiveness, and when
effectiveness ceases to exist, then longevity
brings no real value.”
No stranger to local politics, Chuck
Smith has worked extensively with the
V i r g i n i a R e p u b l i c a n P a r t y, f r o m
p r e ci nct capt a i n t o s er v i ng on it s
Executive Committee, and serving as
Chairman of the Welcoming Committee
(ECC) and Chair man of the Virginia
Beach Republican Party.
4 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
LOCAL
The Richmond Voice
Richmond seniors live well with new illness self-management program
By Sylvina Poole
It’s a fact of life for the elderly; chronic
illnesses increase with age, said city health
district officials.
It helps to generally live a healthy lifestyle,
but it’s especially important to be knowledgeable
about managing specific chronic diseases that
you may have to maintain an enjoyable
quality of life.
“Let’s say a friend or family member
lives alone, they have diabetes, impairment
of their vision, high blood pressure, be
overweight, and also suffer from mild
arthritis. When friends talk to them they
sense that they’re overwhelmed and might
be depressed. Her friends are constantly trying
to provide encouragement and reassurance,
but they do not see signs of improvement.
They continue to be concerned but are
unsure of whom they should ask for help,”
said Michael Welch, at the Richmond City
Health District coordinator of the illness
self-management program.
He said that while the above scenario
is fictitious, but unfortunately much too
realistic in the metropolitan Richmond area.
The size of the U.S. population over 65
years of age will double over the next 25
years. Currently the average 75 year old
suffers from three chronic conditions and
takes five different medications. Medicare
beneficiaries with five or more chronic
diseases see an average of 14 different
physicians a year. And 96 percent of
Medicare expenditures are the result of
paying for those seniors with two or more
chronic diseases. No wonder she is overwhelmed and depressed, Welch explained.
However, Senior Connections in partnership
with the Richmond City Health District
and the Chesterfield Health District is
now offering a workshop entitled Chronic
Disease Self-Management Program.
This free program endorsed by the U.S.
Surgeon General, meets once per week for
six weeks for approximately two hours.
The goal is to enable participants to build
self-confidence and to assume a major role
in maintaining their health and managing
their chronic health conditions. Numerous
studies have shown that this workshop will
decrease symptoms, improve behaviors,
improve self-efficacy, and sometimes
decrease health care utilization.
The program led by lay professionals,
many with chronic diseases themselves,
gives people the confidence, motivation
and coping strategies they need to manage
the challenges of living with a chronic
health condition through feedback, action
planning, behavior modeling, problemsolving techniques and decision making,
which are applicable to all ch ronic
diseases.
Program participants should be adults
experiencing chronic health conditions
such as: high blood pressure; arthritis; heart
disease; stroke; lung disease and diabetes.
However, any long term health condition
that impacts one’s daily activities are
encouraged to attend. Participants can also
be family members, friends and caregivers
of those with a chronic health condition.
During the six-week program, participants
are taught to control their symptoms
through: relaxation techniques; changing
their diets, managing sleep and fatigue;
using medications correctly; exercising and
communicating with health providers.
Senior Connections is now seeking
individuals and particularly organizations
interested in hosting this six week program
with a class size of at least 10-16 people.
Contact Joan Welch with Senior
Connections at 804-615-0135 to enroll your
organization.
Esther Wilkins turns 102 years old
Miss Esther Wilkins recently celebrated her 102nd birthday with the Crimson Chapeaux Chapter of
the Red Hat Society. Miss Wilkins, the 4th of 12 children was born to a share cropper in Halifax, North
Carolina in 1908. Miss Wilkins is an honorary member of the chapter, which includes members:
Sureatha McGhee Richardson, Queen Mom, Vivian T. Coleman, Vice Queen Mom, Gerri Carter, Glynes
Cheatham, Carol Ellis, Ethel M. Evans, Rita W. Miller, Sharon Wilkins-Johnson and Sandra Williams.
The Richmond Voice
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 5
Broad Street Corridor Improvement
Project continues through fall
By Sylvina Poole
Ever y t h i ng is goi ng
according to plan for
the Broad Street Corridor
Improvement Project, say city
officials at the department
of public works.
The city of Richmond
Department of Public Works
(DPW) has began a Capital
Improvement Project for
cor ridor improvements
on Broad Street from
5th Street to Adams Street.
The initial work includes
sidewalk replacement, adding
tree wells, and planting trees. In addition,
DPW will renovate and re-landscape
medians and repair the existing irrigation
system from 2nd Street to Adams Street.
“This project is the second phase of a
four phase program designed to turn Broad
Street into one of the most pristine streets in
the city leading into the heart of downtown.
The city of Richmond is the region’s core
and we are continuously working to Build a
Better Richmond. Addressing the gateways
and commercial corridors like Broad Street
is important to that vision,” said Mayor
Dwight C. Jones.
The project began on the east bound lane
beginning at 5th Street and moving toward
4th Street. Construction began Wednesday,
July 21, 2010 and runs through Oct. The
contractor will make every attempt to
minimize interruptions to local businesses.
The Broad Street Corridor Improvement
Project will cost $550 thousand. All
funding is available through the city
of Richmond’s Capital Improvement
Program.
Phase three of the project involves milling
and overlaying Broad Street with asphalt
from Belvidere to Boulevard. It will start in
September and conclude in October.
Phase four which involves milling and
overlaying Broad Street with asphalt
from Boulevard to Staples Mill will begin by
September 2011. Phase one was completed
in the fall of 2009 and encompassed
repaving Broad between 15th and Belvidere
Streets.
“The Broad Street Corridor Improvement
Project is an important element of Mayor
Jones’ emphasis on investing in Richmond ’s
infrastructure as part of his overall strategy
for growing the city’s economy,” said Byron
C. Marshall, chief administrative officer.
“A f ter a sig n i f ica nt p er iod where
there was insufficient investment in our
streets, sidewalks and bridges, at the
mayor’s direction we will be investing
approximately $25.5 million over the next
five years; and over 30 percent of our streets
will be paved during this period,” Marshall
continued.
Rep. Scott hosts Gun Show Loophole Act forum
There are two systems for purchasing firearms in this country. One system involves
those engaged in the business of selling firearms who obtain federal licenses and
follow required procedures, including conducting background checks on firearms
purchasers. The other system involves unlicensed individuals who claim not to sell
guns as a business and who are, therefore, exempt from the procedures for licensees.
Unlicensed individuals at gun shows can sell as many firearms as they wish without
having to comply with the federal safeguards that apply to licensed firearms dealers
and purchasers from them. They are not required to ask for identification, they cannot
initiate a background check, there are no forms to fill out and no requirements to
keep records of sales. This exemption of unlicensed sellers is called the “gun show
loophole”
This forum examined the gun show loophole in detail and how H.R. 2324, the Gun
Show Loophole Closing Act, would end this exemption. Above is Colin Goddard,
a Virginia Tech graduate and a sur vivor of the VT shootings, and the
congressman. Photo Credit – Lauren Victoria Burke.
OP-ED
6 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
The Richmond Voice
Cruel and unusual punishment
The Constitution is the basis of the law
and the reason the U.S. government exists.
Gover nment officials including the
Richmond city sheriff swear an oath to
uphold the U.S. Constitution however
they seem not to understand the most
straightforward elements of our founding
document. Amendment VIII of U.S. Constitution
states; “Excessive bail shall not be required,
nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and
unusual punishment.” The municipal affiliate of the prison
industrial complex which includes not
only the Sheriff’s Office but also
the Richmond Police Department and the
Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
seems to conduct itself exclusively
in violation of this important part of the
Constitution.
There are many cases of people being
held in the Richmond City Jail because
of their inability to pay fines imposed. In
some cases people are imprisoned for
not paying fines for traffic violations
s u c h a s d r i v i n g o n a s u s pended
license. The jail is also full of victims in
the so called war on dr ugs which in
reality is nothing more than a war on
the Constitution and the American
people. This brings us to the deadly conditions for
the people inside the Richmond City Jail, a
place where many have died prematurely
due to their treatment. Many held in the
jail have died as a result of beatings, organ
failure as a result of heat exposure (the
temperatures reach as high as 120 degrees)
and withholding necessar y medical
treatment. Most who suffer the brutal,
unconstitutional treatment at the Richmond
City Jail do not die from their inhumane
treatment, however, they suffer from the
physical and emotional scars caused from
beatings, rapes, and diseases that spread
like wildfire.
Government officials have not addressed
the deaths they are responsible for, nor have
they shown any evidence the conditions
have improved. The reply given by those
responsible for the deaths at jail have been
dubious. The commonwealth attorney and the
sheriff have addressed council and the
mayor and gave lip service to reducing the
jail’s population of inmates. No mention
of the deaths, and no mention of current
conditions. I believe the deaths at the jail were a result
of violations of the Eighth Amendment,
which prohibits cr uel and unusual
punishment. The sheriff’s [alleged] response to this
came four days later in a statement where
he [allegedly] said he is opposed to
overcrowding in the facility. Well, as you
can see, those criminally responsible have
their empty talking point.
The sad fact is that the Richmond city
gover nment’s unconstitutional nature
mirrors all the local, state, and federal
institutions that get their authority from the
current U.S. government. We the people must form a government
based on serving the people, honoring the
truth, and upholding the Constitution. We
need a revolution of ideas and actions
against the criminal status quo that
has created the biggest prison population
in the world. We must restore the U.S.
Constitution and its basis the Great Law of
Peace. There must be accountability for the
deaths caused by cruel and unusual
punishment at the jail.
Chris Dorsey, Justice Enforcem ent
League
The VOICE Unleashed
Sports fans knew George Steinbrenner
for 37 of his 80 years, ever since he bought
the New York Yankees in the early 1970s. But the
legacy Steinbrenner leaves behind will
permeate the offices of sports owners for years to
come. George Steinbrenner set the standard
for just about all of today’s sports owners.
Embodied within one man though, were
many different qualities. Not all flattering.
Charitably he’s been described as complex.
But he was always larger than life and not
to be forgotten.
George Steinbrenner was bombastic, when
lesser inclined owners sat quietly behind
the scenes. He spent millions on players while
his peers failed to successfully utilize
free agency like he did. Most importantly
– he won. He demanded it. But the ways
he went about winning were often over the
top, cartoonish at times and occasionally
even cruel. Steinbrenner was regularly lampooned
by Jerry Seinfeld and Saturday Night Live
for his antics. But he didn’t mind being
made fun of because it only enhanced the
big Boss brand. Without Steinbrenner, there is no Jerry Jones, Dan
Snyder or even Dan Gilbert. Steinbrenner
took sports ownership to the ultimate level.
The sports owner is a unique being
who can have a special relationship with
a community. Some are flamboyant, and
extravagant. Others are stingy and greedy.
Some are isolated in small markets,
just glad to be in the league and hoping
not to lose too much money. Some have
transformed their sports and made them
more accessible like the Rooney family in
Pittsburgh. Others, like Bob Irsay and Art
Modell, have been vilified for uprooting
and relocating their teams.
It takes big ones to own a team and
actually win – your way. It’s your money,
your team. Which is why Jesse Jackson
thinks Cleveland’s angry owner Dan
Gilbert acted like a “slave-master” when
LeBron James left his “plantation”. That
of course is just one interpretation.
Then there are others like the late Abe Pollin
who owned the Washington Wizards. Pollin with
little fanfare and even less credit built two
arenas for his fans, with his own money.
That was Abe’s way. Sports owners indeed
have impact. But among them all George
Steinbrenner was genuinely unique. More
than just about any owner before or since,
he changed the dynamics and economics
of his sport and other sports as well.
David Burnett
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 7
P.T. Hoffsteader, Esq.
The Richmond Voice
On the Sherrod thing
Like many people, I was shocked and
horrified by what happened to Shirley
Sherrod. I am also disappointed in
President [Barack] Obama and his
handling of the situation. I expected
nothing more from Secretary [Tom]
Vilsack, whom I consider an incompetent
racist. The NAACP behaved despicably
towards this woman. They, of all involved,
should be ashamed of themselves. Their
sorry apology in my opinion was too
little, too late. You mean that the name
“Sherrod” didn’t ring a bell with them?
It did with me as I remembered Charles
Sherrod, husband of Shirley Sherrod
from his place in history as a civil rights
activist.
There’s a tradition of throwing Black
women under the bus at the tiniest sign
of disgruntlement from right wing white
men. Go back to Bill Clinton and how he
targeted Sister Souljah, but didn’t mention
the KKK. He threw his own law school
friend, the brilliant Lani Guinier under the
bus when the hard right wing went after
her, likewise Jocelyn Elders. The Black
female is always the sacrificial lamb. But
she can’t depend on Black leadership to
defend her. I applaud Ms. Sherrod for
being the bold, intelligent woman she is and
for never backing down. How refreshing!
She fought back and used the media to
fight back thanks to CNN. I’m so happy
she didn’t turn into a shrinking violet and
go quietly into the night.
What a spineless bunch of wimps in the
White House administration. Fox News
has proven that it hates this president and
never misses a day to go after him, they
even call him names and they had the
audacity to take the word of Fox News?
Disgusting. Somebody in the White
House needs to grow a spine.
I hope Sherrod does not take another job
in the USDA. What about giving her
old job back to her? [She should] take
them all to the bank and show them what
it means to mess with the wrong Black
woman.
Although I did not have the high powered
position Ms. Sherrod has, I had the same
thing happen to me as an employee of the
City of Richmond when a white woman
fabricated lies on me and the white
supervisor reacted against me without
benefit of due process. I did what Ms.
Sherrod did and went to you all at The
Voice and made my voice heard. For
which, I can never thank The Voice
enough. Had I not done that, they would
have fired me without cause; in which
case, I would have been a wealthy woman
today. The white supervisor never apologized
for his ignorance and stupidity even when
the facts of the other female’s lies were
brought to the forefront.
I’m sick and tired of the Black woman
being made a scapegoat in every instance
and never being accorded the right to
due process which even the most
egregious criminals are afforded under
the constitution but seems to fly out
the window when it comes to Black
females.
Jean E. Morris
Richmond
Steele caught in GOP trap
The current Republican (AKA Tea
party) problems regarding Blacks is just
another reminder of the racist things that
Rush [Limbaugh], [Glenn] Beck and
others continue to write and talk about.
I have no use for most Republicans,
Black or otherwise, but the little
respect I had for [Michael] Steele is gone.
The Republican Party Chairman Michael
Steele was doomed to failure before he ever
took the job.
Steele aspired to stand for a new, cool
and refreshing conservatism, only to find
that his party’s base and its top tastemaker,
Rush, still prefer the old, bitter and nasty
flavor. No surprise to anyone who has been
paying attention to the evolution of the right
over the past four decades. Conservatives
and Republicans have long faced the same
dilemma concerning issues of race, gender
and sexual preference. Their habits of
pandering to prejudice, which once seemed
so advantageous, have eroded badly and
created an image that is repellent to the
nation’s young.
So now the Tea party has picked up the
banner. Republican leadership has imposed
certain constraints on Black republicans
like Steele. For example, they are not
permitted to speak out on behalf of their
race, unless they are attacking Democrats
or liberals. And they certainly are not to
speak honestly about the likes of Limbaugh
and Beck. While it is difficult for me to
say Limbaugh is not a racist, because he
never hesitate to indulge bigotry among his
listeners -- sometimes in the whining tone
of the victimized white male, or often in an
aggressive skinhead style. His obnoxious
remarks also target other minorities,
women, gays and so on.
Steele’s chronic case of foot-in-mouth and
his overall ineptitude have only justified
the sense among his detractors that “see I
told you so.” But then why would a truly
talented Black Republican politician -- as
Michael Steele-- devote his life to a party
that really doesn’t want him? Meanwhile
the bad old diehards in the Grand
Old Party continue to demand his
resignation.
The GOP effort on Steele shows again that
they will not make a concentrated effort to
secure Black votes. Most senior Blacks
attribute freeing the slaves with Lincoln, a
Republican. Black people are very religious
(and George W. got through to the Black
community by way of the Black pastors
using “faith based” initiatives), but the GOP
should understand that (1) all Black people
do not believe in higher taxes (2) all Black
people do not believe in abortion (3) all
Black people are not anti-guns (4) all Black
people are not on welfare (5) all Black
people are not high school drop outs or only
have a GEDs. The GOP may have blown an
opportunity by not supporting Steele. The
wrong-headed political ideologies of a few
caused George W. to be the worst president
so far in U.S. history. Now we have the
Republican Tea Party attempting to lead us
down another dark path.
Walt Hill
Petersburg
RELIGION
8 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
The Richmond Voice
CME Church elects first female Bishop: Rev. Teresa Snorton
(NNPA) -- The Rev. Dr. Teresa Snorton
has been elected the first female bishop
of the Christian Methodist Episcopal
(C.M.E.) Church. Snorton was one among
elected bishops during the congregation’s
36th quadrennial session and 37th General
Conference, which convened in Mobile,
Ala. early this month.
T h e c o n f e r e n c e t h e m e w a s , “A n
E ss ent ia l Church: Poised for 21st Century
Ministry.”
A fourth generation, life-long CME
member, Bishop Snorton has long prepared
for this moment. She is executive director
of the national Association for Clinical
Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE); the
former executive director of the Emory
Center for Pastoral Services in Atlanta,
Ga.; and for mer director of Pastoral
Services at Crawford Long Hospital. She
has been adjunct instructor in Pastoral Care
at Candler School of Theology at Emory
University.
Bishop Teresa Snorton
According to a release announcing her
election, she is descendant of a greatgrandfather, a father and an uncle who were
all CME pastors. Her grandmother was an
active missionary. Her two sisters are also
CME ministers. As an ordained minister in
the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church,
she has served as a pastor in Kentucky.
Before moving to Atlanta, she was also a
psychiatric staff chaplain in Louisville,
on the adjunct faculty of the Louisville
Presbyterian Theological Seminary
in Kentucky. She was also on the faculties
of the Patient Counseling Program at the
Medical College of Virginia and the School
of Theology of Virginia Union University,
both in Richmond.
Bishop Snorton has a B.A. degree from
Vanderbilt University, a master of divinity
degree from Louisville Presbyterian
Theological Seminar y, a master of
theology in pastoral care from Southern
Baptist Theological Seminar y, a postgraduate certificate in patient counseling
from Virginia Commonwealth University,
and the doctor of ministry degree from
United Theological Seminary in Dayton,
Ohio. Amidst a plethora of activities and
memberships, she is a member of the
International Congress of Pastoral Care
and Counseling, the Society for Pastoral
Theology, and Business Manager of the
Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling.
Also an author, Bishop Snorton is coeditor of a book, “Women Out of Order:
Risking Change and Creating Care in a
Multi-Cultural World, co-edited with Dr.
Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner and published
by Fortress Press last year. Bishop Snorton
is married to Charles Short. They have
three sons and three grandchildren. The Christian Methodist Episcopal
Church, under the leadership of Senior
Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. and its College
of Bishops, is a 139-year old historically
African American Christian denomination
with more than 1.2 million members across
the United States. It has missions and sister
churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia,
Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Sudan Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania,
Uganda Rwanda and Burundi.
Frank Edward “Hawk” Crawley
On July 26, 2010 Frank Edward
“Hawk” Crawley past away
peacefully at home. He is the
co-founder of Hawks BBQ and
entrepreneur with his parents
Pastor Frank and Mary Crawley, Jr.
His father and sister Maxine
Crawley and William Crawley
preceded him in death. He is
survived by Brenda Crawley
(wife), Frank E. Crawley (son),
Angela Winston (daughter) and
other loved ones.
Frank was one of 10 children born to
the Crawley family. He worked diligently
and faithfully in his family business.
He was born December 4, 1946. He
graduated from Armstrong High School
and attended Virginia Commonwealth
University. He was honorably discharged
from the U.S. Army and was later employed
with Philip Morris, Inc and the Richmond
Police Department, which he retired.
He continued working in the family’s
many enterprises beginning with Jet
Bargain Stores in the 1960s and Hawks
BBQ. He also worked with Indian Head
Brand Hair Grease Company, Mascot
Gas Stations and Oil Company, Crawley
Seafood Market, Crawley Rest Home and
Crawley Funeral Home.
Frank loved to cook. He developed our
famous BBQ and Ribs Sauce, which will
Frank Edward “Hawk” Crawley
hit the marketplace shortly. Frank, along
with his parents and other family members
including Jerome, Maxine, Thelma, Carolyn,
Faye Dr. Charlene Crawley, Melvin,
Douglas, Randy and Chris, combined
with the blessings of Almighty God and
hard work built an empire at one point
valued in the multi-millions.
Hawks BBQ is still operating with five
locations and soon franchising to other
cities. Frank and Melvin’s plans are still in
effect to re-open Crawley Funeral Home.
“Hawk” will be greatly misses but his
entrepreneurial spirit will always be
present.
Funeral services by Watkins Funeral
Home will be held at St. Paul’s Baptist
Church at 12 p.m., Saturday, July 31,
2010.
All letters, cards and gifts please send to
Watkins Funeral Home.
The Richmond Voice
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 9
10 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
EDUCATION
City teachers attend Yale National Initiative
The Richmond Voice
Reggie Malone named as new
PHSSA Board vice president
Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts
Board member Reginald Malone has been
unanimously voted into the new Board
of Directors position of vice president. Malone will begin serving in this new role
immediately.
“Mr. Malone was elected to the PHSSA
Board several months ago. His past
experience on the Richmond School Board
and in the community is invaluable,” said
Deb Butterworth, president of PHSSA. “I am pleased to share some of the
leadership responsibilities with Reggie and
I look forward to working with him more
closely.”
Malone was elected to the PHSSA Board
of Directors in May. He holds a masters
from VCU and served on the Richmond
School Board for eight years. In his new
Eight Richmond Public Schools teachers Summer Hill Elementary School; Yolanda
position, he will assist the president in her
recently completed a two-week seminar as Bezares-Chavez, Summer Hill Elementary
duties, develop Board policy and serve on
participants in the Yale National Initiative. School; Ram Bhagat, Open High School;
the PHSSA Board Nominating Committee.
The on-campus program is designed to Chanté Givens, Fisher Elementary School;
“I am honored to represent the Patrick
strengthen teaching in urban school districts David Probst, Ginter Park Elementary School;
Henry School of Science and Arts in such
by establishing exemplary local teacher Valerie Schwarz, Munford Elementary School;
an important role,” Malone said. “I have
institutes that provide high quality professional and Dean Whitbeck, Armstrong High School.
been a long time supporter of school choice
development, according to Victoria Oakley,
Seminars were held in the areas of biology,
and charter schools and I’m dedicated
chief academic officer for Richmond medicine, nanotechnology and human health,
to making PHSSA a success for the city
Public Schools.
social studies, poetry, art and mathematics. of Richmond and the Commonwealth of
Richmond city teachers selected as Yale Along with attending seminars, participants
Virginia. “
National Fellows include: Shamsu Abdul- also developed content-based curriculum
The Patrick Henry Board of Directors is
Aziz, Brown Middle School; Holly Banning, units.
Reggie Malone
made of up 12 community members who
receive no compensation for their positions. The Board includes both parents and nonparents from all four corners of the city
Richmond. The Board members all have the
common goal of working to build a school
based on meaningful parent, educator, and
community involvement. PHSSA is the first elementary charter
school in Virginia. The school’s charter
was signed in May 20 08. The school
will welcome children in kindergarten
through fifth grade from all over the City of
Richmond in August.
Local schools raise money for Children’s Hospital Foundation “Wishing Well” program
T he combi ned ef for ts of 17 loca l
schools raised over $16,200 for Children’s
Hospital Foundation of Richmond from the
“Wishing Well” Program during the
20 09-2010 school year. Since “Wishing
Well” began 11 years ago, the program
has raised more than $135,0 0 0 for
the Foundation.
The “Wishing Well” program, which
is coordinated by the Senior Board of
Children’s Hospital Foundation, involves a
community-wide fundraising effort through
coin collection programs. Once committed
to participating, each school works with
the Senior Board to learn about Children’s
Hospital Foundation and design their own
coin collection programs. Through the
years participants’ efforts have incorporated
public speaking activities, math and art
projects, and even physical fitness – such as
school-wide jogging and exercise programs
– in fundraising efforts. Others have
put a youthful twist on fundraising
with special promotions that included
“Giving Your Teacher or Administrator a
Make-Over” for reaching a total donation
goal.
This year, Children’s Hospital Foundation
honored Luther Memorial School, Nuckols
Far m Elementar y and W.W. Gordon
Elementary for their 10-year commitment
to the “Wishing Well” Program. There
are several schools that have been
par ticipating in the program since
the program began in 1999, but there
are also new schools joining each
year.
The following area schools participated
in the “Wishing Well” Program during the
2009-2010 school year:
• C.C. Wells Elementary, Chester
• C.E. Curtis Elementary, Chester
• Colonial Trail Elementary, Richmond
• Falling Creek Middle School, Richmond
• Freeman High School, Richmond
• Luther Memorial, Richmond
• Manchester High School, Chesterfield
• Miles Jerome Jones Elementa r y,
Richmond
• Nuckols Farm Elementary, Richmond
• Shady Grove Elementary, Glen Allen
• Springfield Park Elementary, Glen
Allen
• St. Bridget’s, Richmond
• St. Mary’s Catholic School, Richmond
• Three Chopt Elementary, Richmond
• Tuckahoe Elementary, Richmond
• Victory Christian Academy, Richmond
• W.W. Gordon Elementary, Richmond
Children’s Hospital Foundation is an
ind ep end ent supp or t i ng ent it y of
Children’s Hospit a l of R ich mond
(C HoR), a new hospit a l t hat wa s
for me d by t he u n ion of Children’s
Hospital and VCU Medical Center. CHoR
is a full service children’s hospital that
offers a robust continuum of pediatric
services, research and education. Together,
administrators say they can ma ke a
new day for pediatric health care in
Virginia.
The Senior Board of Children’s Hospital
Foundation is an organization that serves
the hospital’s patients and medical
staff and encourages the community to
suppor t the hospital through projects,
gifts and activities. For more information
on participating in the “Wishing Well”
program, contact Stephanie Allan, special
events coordinator, at 804-228-5827.
The Richmond Voice
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 11
ENTERTAINMENT
12 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
The Richmond Voice
Salt (***): A blood rushing experience until the end
Chiwetel Ejiofor co-stars in the action thriller, Salt.
By Dwight Brown (NNPA) - Whatever Angelina Jolie was
paid for starring in this nail-biting action
th riller, she deser ved each and every
million. She’s the first woman to command
an action movie, on this level, since
Sigourney Weaver in “Aliens.”
The script by “Thomas Crown Affair”
scribe Kurt Wimmer was originally
intended for a male lead. Switching the
role to a female was brilliant. Casting the
brooding, volatile Jolie was genius. This film is not a head case like “Inception.”
It’s a straight out moment-to-moment,
chase-to-chase, fight scene-to-fight scene
action movie. Most films of this genre take
a while to get going. This one barely takes
a breath before Jolie is running for her life,
then fighting a swarm of agents and spies. Hell brea ks lose when CIA officer
Evelyn Salt questions a Russian spy/
defector in an interrogation room viewed by
agents and superiors. The turncoat swears
a sleeper spy mole has infiltrated the CIA.
When Evelyn asks for a name, he says
the unfathomable, “Salt.” Before she can bat
an eye, counter-intelligence agent William
Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor, “American Gangster”)
cast an accusatory glance. Salt’s partner
Ted Winter (Live Schreiber, “X-Men Origins:
Wolverine”) attempts to defend her reputation. But once Salt feels her innocent husband
might be at risk, she bolts. According to the
defector, Salt’s mission is to kill the Russian
prime minister while he attends the funeral
of the U.S. vice-president. The lightening-quick beginning that sets
the film in non-stop motion is a blessing
and a curse. For a distinguished CIA officer
to go from hero to zero in a few minutes
doesn’t seem real. But again, this is an
old-fashioned action thriller, and realism is
not the point. Taken for what it is, “Salt”
delivers well-paced kinetic scenes (editor
John Gilroy also cut “Michael Clayton”),
shot with great imagination (Robert Elswit,
Oscar-winning cinematographer for “There
Will Be Blood”), directed by Philip Noyce,
the dean of action/espionage thrillers, who
honed his skills on films like “Clear and
Present Danger” and “Patriot Games.”
Wimmer’s script is intriguing. When it’s
strong it takes the time to develop the Salt
character so you care about her childhood,
marriage and betrayals. The error is that
there are so many flashbacks detailing
the past that these edits take away from
for ward momentum. A Russian official
may be assassinated and Salt has to clear
here name. That’s what’s important, not
her life as a kid abused by Russian agents. Though the film and the script may have
flaws, Jolie has none. She’s photogenic. She emotes like an Oscar-winner. She
handles action/fight scenes like a man,
even if an occasional body-double does the
heavy lifting. She commands the screen on
the level of a Will Smith or Tom Cruise. Though it’s unlikely that a tall, modelthin woman could beat up so many husky
men, she makes you suspend belief and stay
engaged in her character’s crises and quest. Schreiber and Ejiofor are solid actors, but
they stand in the shadow of this gusty
actress who steals every scene.
Leave your disbelief, skepticism and discerning
eye at the movie theater door. Just sit back
and take this joyride, which will keep your
blood rushing until Salt proves her innocence,
or completes her deception.
Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Angelina Jolie.
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ENTERTAINMENT
The Richmond Voice
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 13
“Tinker” Barfield set to release new CD “Tinker B & Lu Fuki”
Eluriel “Tinker” Barfield, CEO of Keep
On Smilin’ Productions, an icon behind
the scenes in the world of funk and R&B
for his electrifying bass interpretations,
is in-studio in New York City working on
his first solo CD, “Tinker B & Lu Fuki,”
scheduled for release later this year.
For many years, Bar field’s singular
brand of funky bass lines has illuminated
t he music of a long l ist of worldrenowned musicians in concerts, cabarets
or in studio. These artists include
Grammy Award winners Luther Vandross,
Ashfor
& Simpson, and Lou Rawls; Tony
Award winner Lilias White; guitarist
Robbie Robertson; actress-singer Phylicia
R a s h a d ; a n d t h e wo r l d r e n ow n e d
musical director, Ray Chew.
Ne-Yo’s “Libra Scale”
Ne-Yo
Singer/songwriter phenom Ne-Yo
describes his creative inspiration, and
story line for “Libra Scale”:
“It is made up of a few components.
Firstly, boredom! I was bored with the
concept of just doing another compilation
of songs. I wanted to do something with
a lil’ more creative edge to it. Secondly,
the late great Michael Jackson. Looking
back on what he did for entertainment
as a whole was a key inspiration and
motivation to push the envelope a lil’ bit.
Thirdly, my geeky side. I’ve been a fan of
sci-fi, comic books and kung-fu films for
longer than I can remember. This album
allowed me to bring this side of me to the
forefront, and due to my current
positioning career-wise, do it
with no fear.
“The story of “Libra Scale”
follows an average joe garbage
man named Jerome and his two
buddies, Clyde and Leroy. The
three guys, when not busting
t hei r but ts work i ng t hei r
cr u m my 9 t o 9, r eg u l a rly
sit around and talk about what
each of them would do if they
had money, power and fame.
“Oppor tunity knocks one
night when a being from the
stars named Numinous comes to the guys
with the promise of the money, power and
fame they’ve always wanted, under one
condition; they have to agree to become
superheroes and protect the city from
an unknown evil that’s on its way to the
planet with the potential to destroy it. The
guys reluctantly agree and now must live
their lives by a strict set of rules, the most
important being -- no falling in love.
“Time passes and the guys are getting
everything they always dreamed of, when
Jerome gets something he didn’t bargain
for -- an instant infatuation with a young
woman by the name of Pretti Sinclair.”
In cabaret, he worked
with Bill Cosby and
Sheryl Lee Ralph. His music work for
stage productions,
i ncludes hold i ng
the bass chair in
New York and LA
companies of the
original production
of “Dream Girls.” His
per for mances on
commercials and
movie scores, includes
the theme for the
theatrical release, “48
Hours.” Tinker also studied under the great Earl
Coleman, and was an NYFA grant recipient
(artist-in-residence) at El Puente Academy
for Peace and Justice.
With Tinker B & Lu Fuki – the penultimate
showcase of his talents and gifts, Bar field
explores, with a dream team of
vanguard music legends and friends, new
realms of consciousness to unleash fuki
power.
“Lu Fuki, an African phrase used to
praise people for the integrity of their
art, translates to funky when describing
R&B music,” says Barfield. “And funk or
the
fuki (pronounced Fuke) is the common
thread that runs throughout my music
no matter the genre or style. One song may
have classical elements but fuki is there. Another may have jazz elements but it’s
still the fuki fundamental, just the same,”
said Tinker B.
Barfield’s surname, Eluriel, also suggests a fuki
vibe: enlightened spiritual understanding,
universal consciousness, cosmic universal
flow, descriptions apropos to the new
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Tinker Barfield
release; and while the CD is intended to
be a musical experience for the listener, it
may also prove to be historic in pedigree. “Tinker B & Lu Fuki” boasts a VIP list of
musicians and singers who helped to create
… and now want to preserve … classic
R&B, funk or dance music.
The musicians on Tinker’s CD are: musical
director Nat Adderley Jr., drummer Bernard
Davis, guitarist Dave Chun, music director
Pete Cannorozzi, songwriter-keyboardist
Valerie Ghent; and percussionist Steve
Kroom.
Singers include: La Juan Carter-Dent, Keith
Fluitt, Eric O’Neal and Clayton McNair. Ti n ker’s new C D a lso c elebr at es
a reunion after more than 20 years
of t he phenomena l A l fa A nd er son
– Barfield’s wife, Norma Jean Wright
and Luci Martin, who supplied lead
and background vocals for the hugely
popular disco group chic and who, along
with Lisa Fischer, recorded the first
single to be released from the album
entitled “My Lover’s Arms.”
14 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
HEALTH NOTES
The Richmond Voice
The importance of healthy communities for boys of color
By Marian Wright Edelman
(NNPA) - A new report was released in
June that sheds a sobering light on how
many Black and Latino boys grow up in
communities that are, in a number of ways,
dangerous to their health.
Called “Healthy Communities Matter:
The Importance of Place to the Health
of Boys of Color,” the report contained
contributions from scholars and researchers
at the RAND Corporation, PolicyLink, the
Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for
Race and Justice at Harvard Law School,
and the Center for Nonviolence and Social
Justice and the Department of Emergency
Medicine at Drexel University.
Researchers found that boys and young
men overall experience worse health
outcomes than girls, that these health
disparities are even more profound for
Black and Latino boys, and that many
of these disparities can be connected to
community patterns.
As they explain: “Negative health
outcomes for African American and Latino
boys and young men are a result of growing
up in neighborhoods of concentrated
disadvantage, places that are more likely to
put boys and young men directly in harm’s
way and reinforce harmful behavior.
“In other words, if you grow up in a
neighborhood with a good school, where it’s
safe, where you can walk and play outside,
where you have a regular doctor and where
you have access to good food, you are more
likely to live a long and healthy life.
“On the other hand, if you grow up in a
neighborhood where you’re not safe, where
your school is failing you and where you
do not have a place to go when you are sick
or a basic grocery store, then you are far
more likely to live a shorter life, to earn less
money, to be party to or victim of violence
and to be far less healthy emotionally and
physically.
“If you are African American or Latino,
you are likely to face not just one of those
challenges, but many or all of them at
once.”
They found disparities for Black and
Latino boys and young men in a number
of a reas, including infant mor tality,
childhood asthma hospitalizations,
childhood obesity, post-traumatic stress
disorder, rates of HIV and AIDS, and lack
of health insurance and access to health
care.
They also found safety disparities,
including higher rates of exposure to
domestic and community violence, child
abuse and neglect, lifetime likelihood
of going to prison, and gun violence and
homicide death rates.
The researchers also were able to track
how social inequalities and negative
neighborhood conditions work together to
shape the life course of boys and young
men in schools and communities of
“concentrated disadvantage.”
They note that these schools’ and
neighborhoods’ common characteristics,
including concentrated poverty, community
violence, high rates of incarceration,
overexposure to unhealthy foods, and lack
of recreation often work together to lead
to disruptive behavior and psychological
conditions for boys and young men of
color.
For the Children’s Defense Fund and
others concerned about dismantling the
pipeline to prison for children of color,
their descriptions of accumulated risks and
negative outcomes are familiar.
But there are solutions.
“To recalibrate the life trajectory of
African American and Latino boys and
young men, policymakers, community
activists and government officials must view
the health of a community not in individual
parts, but as an unbroken whole, made up of
individual but virtually inseparable parts,”
researchers maintain.
The report profiles several California
organizations and public/private partnerships
that are doing just that and achieving
results including Youth UpRising, a
successful Oakland youth organization
and community center that includes health
and mental health care, a healthy café, and
job training among its offerings; and Safe
Community Partnership, which is using
a public health approach to help stop gun
violence.
“If we have a clearer understanding of
[the problems facing Black and Latino
boys and young men], then we are all
more obligated to do something about it.
And once we know that the trauma these
children experience is a product of many
different factors in their homes, schools and
neighborhoods, then it becomes incumbent
on health, education, criminal justice and
civic leaders to all work together to improve
conditions,” researchers conclude.
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July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 15
The Richmond Voice
Bad cholestrol common, but screening Rebate checks for doughnut hole
low among young adult’s
By Catherine Georges
diseases at an earlier, more easily treated
Less than half of young adults don’t get
cholesterol screening even though up to a
quarter of them have elevated cholesterol,
according to a study by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
The rate of elevated low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL-C), commonly known as
bad cholesterol, among young adults ranges
from 7 percent to 26 percent, the study says.
However, the screening rate among this age
group is less than 50 percent, regardless of the
number of individual risk factors, it says.
The report, “Prevalence of Coronary
Heart Disease Risk Factors and Screening
for High Cholesterol Levels Among Young
Adults, United States, 1999-2006,” is in the
July-August 2010 issue Annals of Family
Medicine.
Preventive guidelines for cholesterol
screening among young adults differ, but
experts agree on the need to screen young
adults who are at increased risk of coronary
heart disease. The researchers say the report
identifies the need to improve screening for
and management of high LDL-C among
young adults. Elevated LDL-C is a leading
cause of heart disease.
Approximately 55 percent of American
young adults (men aged 20 to 35 years; women
aged 20 to 45 years) have at least one risk
factor for coronary heart disease, such as high
blood pressure, smoking, family history or
obesity, according to the CDC study.
“What’s surprising and, quite frankly,
rather concerning, is that we are doing such
a poor job of identifying young adults in
America who have elevated LDL-C,” said Dr.
Elena Kuklina, a nutritional epidemiologist
with the CDC Division for Heart disease
and Stroke Prevention and lead author of the
study. “Young men and women experience a
high burden of risk factors for heart disease,
the nation’s leading cause of mortality.”
The CDC study found elevated LDL-C
levels in 7 percent of young adults with no
other risk factors, 12 percent with one other
risk factor, and 26 percent with two or more
other risk factors. LDL-C is a common risk
factor for coronary heart disease, one that
can be managed with lifestyle changes or
treated with medication if needed, once
identified.
The study examined data from the
National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey (NHANES), which explores the
health and nutritional status of about
6,000 participants every year. Researchers
analyzed results for 2,587 young adults.
Elevated LDL-C was defined as levels
higher than the goal specific for each
heart disease risk category outlined in the
National Cholesterol Education Program
Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines.
(NNPA) - If you’re one of the three million
Americans who have fallen into Medicare’s
prescription “doughnut hole” this year, you
know what it is like to live in the twilight
zone. You’ve bought so many prescriptions,
Part D won’t cover them anymore. Some
help is on the way.
In June, the first round of $250 rebate
checks went out to 80,000 Medicare seniors
who’ve fallen into the Medicare Part D gap. Checks will keep going out throughout
2010 as more people reach the doughnut
hole.
This one-time payment is part of the new
health care law, and it’s meant to provide
some immediate relief to help people in
Medicare with their prescription drug
costs. The payment is the first step toward
closing the doughnut hole, which will lower
drug costs for millions of seniors who are
currently paying thousands of dollars out of
their own pockets.
The $250 payment is automatic. If you’re
enrolled in Medicare Part D, and you’re in
the doughnut hole, the check should be in
the mail. For African American families
struggling with health issues, especially in
the current economic climate, relief from
the high cost of drugs is welcome.
Studies show that African Americans
in Medicare are twice as likely as whites
to report problems affording prescription
drugs. African American men and women
are less likely than whites to get preventive
health screenings that could detect chronic
stage. The combination of higher rates of
disease, fewer preventive measures, and
the inability to afford prescriptions puts
Blacks’ health at greater risk.
For example, African Americans are
much more likely to have high blood
pressure, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Black women are far more likely than white
women to have several cancers, including
colorectal, pancreatic, and stomach. Among
Black males, there is a greater incidence
of prostate, lung, colorectal, and stomach
cancer.
So, while not a cure-all, an automatic
rebate check may help ease the financial
burden on families. And it may offer some
peace of mind to know that you do not have
to do anything in order to receive your
check. Think about the following as you sort out
whether you are eligible to receive a check. • Keep all your receipts. If you think you
reached the doughnut hole, but you did not
receive your check, having the receipts will
be helpful.
• Watch out for scams. If a person tells
you, especially for a fee, they can help
you get the check faster, don’t believe
them. 16 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
ACTIVITIES & MEETINGS
The Richmond Voice
August 4
July 28
2010 Women’s Conference
Plentiful Harvest Ministries presents Women’s Conference 2010 with the theme:
“Walk In Your Destiny, Let It Go” at the DoubleTree Hotel - Richmond Airport, 5501
Eubank Road in Sandston.
Women, from teens to adults, will join together to learn how biblical principles apply
to relevant issues facing women everyday and to bridge the generation gap.
Go to plentifulharvestministries.com to register or call 804-205-4528 for
more information.
July 29
RRPDC Open House
The public is invited to attend a public meeting and open house on Thursday, July 29
to learn about plans for and provide citizen input on the future of Route 5 from 7th Street
in downtown Richmond to South Laburnum Ave. in eastern Henrico County. The open
house is from 6 – 8 p.m at Varina High School, 7053 Messer Road in Henrico.
July 29
Richmond History Project
The Valentine Richmond History Center invites the Richmond community to learn
about and comment on ideas for a new comprehensive history exhibition on the city of
Richmond on July 29 between 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Valentine Richmond History Center,
1015 E. Clay St.
The History Center wants Richmond residents to see their lives reflected in the
Richmond History Gallery and is inviting members of the community to offer their
thoughts and suggestions. Project manager and historian Edward D. Ragan will present
an overview of developing themes and sample objects. The exhibit designer will present
preliminary design ideas. Light refreshments will be provided.
Free parking is available in the History Center lot, accessible from 10th Street between
Marshall and Clay. The program is free but space is limited; RSVP’s are encouraged by
calling 804- 649-0711 x333.
August 1
ALC Family Conference
Join Abundant Life Church of Christ, 3300 Neale St., Richmond, Aug. 1-8 for the 2010
Overflow Family Conference to “experience God’s power of living in the overflow in a
turbulent season.”
The conference, led by pastors, Dr. Steve and Olivia Foreman, promises something for
the whole family, including Men of Destiny, Power-Filled Women, One-Flesh Married
Couples, singles, youth and children.
For more information, call 804-329-2522 or visit www.alccrichmond.org.
August 3
Adoptions From The Heart
Adoptions From The Heart (AFTH), a licensed, non-profit adoption agency, will hold a
free online webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. Attendees will learn about the agency
and its programs. The focus of the webinar will be on African Americans and African
American Biracial Domestic Adoption programs. There is an urgent need for African
American applicants. The webinar is open to anyone living anywhere in the U.S., and
will be led by an AFTH social worker who will be available to answer any questions. A
webinar is an online version of our free information meetings. Participants are emailed a
link and a phone number that will connect them to the presentation.
Registration is required to join the webinar. Online registration is available
at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/910762440
Send community events to
editor@voicenewspaper.com.
Free Seminar For Cancer Patients
The Cancer Center at Henrico Doctors Hospital and LINC present a free legal and
Financial Planning Seminar for cancer patients, survivors, their families and caregivers.
The public is invited to attend.
On Wednesday, August 4 at 5:50 to 9 p.m. at Williamsburg Room, 1st floor, Henrico
Doctors Hospital, 1602 Skipwith Road, Richmond.
Topics presented are: Medicaid 101, Social Security Disability, dealing with your
insurance company.
Dinner will be provided to anyone who registers in advance by calling
1-877-644-5462 or emailing Education@cancerlinc.org.
Door prizes will be given out, including a $50 gift certificate to a luxury salon.
This is a summer seminar and is being presented in the evening so that those
who work, or who rely on transportation from someone who works can attend. Everyone
is welcome!
August 7
Choir Reunion Concert
Choir members from various churches who have sung together through the years are
reuniting to sing praises to the Lord at Star Fellowship Baptist Church, 105 Pilkington St.,
on Saturday, Aug. 7, 4 p.m. For more information, call Barbara Gordon, 804-648-2559.
August 8-11
Homecoming and Revival Services
Homecoming and revival services on Aug. 8-11 “Redeeming God’s People for God’s
Purpose.” Come and fellowship with the New Chestnut Baptist Church family, beginning
Sunday, Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. morning service with dinner to follow.
Guest Revivalist will be Dr. John Kinney and the Ebenezer Baptist Church family.
Sunday afternoon service begins at 3 p.m. Nightly Revival services begin with prayer
and praise at 7:30 p.m.
The New Chestnut Baptist Church, 7250 Chestnut Church Rd., in Mechanicsville. Phone:
(804) 730-1574 and Reverend Adrian Sledge, supply pastor.
August 11
Forbes Job Fair in Chesterfield County
Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) will host a job fair with area businesses in
Chesterfield County on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at Lloyd C. Bird High School. The job fair is
free and open to all constituents who are interested in learning about available jobs with
area businesses.
Area employers scheduled to participate:
• Verizon • Rolls-Royce • Food Lion Distributions • U.S. Secret Service
• Virginia State Police • Chesterfield County Government • Chesterfield County Police
Department • Central State Hospital and 28 other area employers, 10301 Courthouse
Road, Chesterfield.
Registration is required and attendees may register online at http://forbesjobfairchesterfield.
eventbrite.com or by calling Congressman Forbes’ Colonial Heights office at (804) 526-4969.
Attendees should be prepared to bring their resumes and letters of reference.
August 14
Shockoe Chef Showdown
Calling all Culinary Masters from the Slip to the Bottom and beyond! So, you think you
have what it takes to compete for title of Top Chef in Richmond’s River District? The 4th
annual showdown at 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., will pit the Savory-savvy
Gurus from Shockoe Slip against the Flavor-chic Experts of Shockoe Bottom, with some
local homegrown culinary talent thrown into the pot to spice things up a bit! Competition
will be hot with three dish categories to enter: Meat-based dish, Vegetarian-based dish,
and Dessert! Free admission for all. For more information call 804-646-0477.
The Richmond Voice
Federal jobs bill
The fate of a $112 billion jobs bill that
would provide relief for struggling states
and fresh unemployment benefits for the
nation’s jobless, faced new life recently
before passing in Congress last week.
Republicans, who believed its passage
would lead to an unmanageable level of
additional national debt, had been stalling
the bill. But Democrats were hopeful that
the appointment of Carte Goodwin to
fill the seat vacated by the death of Sen.
Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.) would provide the
vote needed to release the bill from a stall
generated by Senate Republicans.
Goodwin, once a key staff member for
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, was
sworn in as the interim senator and voted in
favor of the bill, in the face of Republican
opposition. T he G OP’s r esist a nc e out r age d
many of the bill’s supporters who believed
it would address the unemployment issue
head on.
“This is irresponsible and immoral,”
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) said
in a statement. “This legislation would
create and save jobs, help families feed
their children and keep Americans in their
homes. We are following through on our
commitment to help the people and we are
being blocked at every turn.”
According to The Washington Post, the
measure will protect doctors from
a drastic cut in Medicare rates enacted
on June 18, and will offered emergency
unemployment benefits to over five
million people. As a result of the blocking
of the bill, an estimated 1.2 million people
stopped receiving checks at the close of
June. In an effor t to secure Republican
support, Democrats initially scaled the
bill down from its original $200 billion
cost. In addition, Majority Leader Harry
M. Reid (D-Nev.) scaled back other parts
of the bill, including a measure that would
have protected doctors from the Medicare
cut for six months rather than 19 months.
In addition, Reid proposed deducting
$25 from the checks from the millions of
people receiving unemployment benefits. “We owe it to these Americans, who we
have sworn to protect to get this legislation
passed,” Cummings said in a statement.
“Our primary focus must be putting those
who are unemployed back to work.
Special to the NNPA from the AfroAmerican Newspapers
NATIONAL
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 17
18 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
NATIONAL
The Richmond Voice
North Carolina school board meeting leads to 19 arrests
“ H e y , h e y , h o , h o , resegregation
has got to go,” some protesters chanted during
a school board meeting in North Carolina.
Protesters and police scuffled at the
meeting in Wake County over claims that
a new busing system would resegregate
schools, roiling racial tensions reminiscent of the 1960s.
Nineteen people were arrested, including
the head of state NAACP chapter who was
banned from the meeting after a trespassing
arrest at a June school board gathering.
“We know that our cause is right,” Rev.
William Barber said shortly before police
put plastic handcuffs on his wrists before
the meeting started.
Inside, more than a dozen demonstrators
disrupted the meeting by gathering around
a podium, chanting and singing against the
board’s policies.
After several minutes, Raleigh police
intervened and asked them to leave. When
they refused, the officers grabbed arms and
tried to arrest the protesters. One child was
caught in the pushing and shoving, as was
school board member Keith Sutton, who
was nearly arrested before authorities
realized who he was.
Sutton, the only Black member of the
board, said he went into the crowd to try
and calm things down and encour age
of f icers not to use such strong force. He
said he felt insulted that he almost got
arrested and believes the officer who tried
to detain him owes him an apology.
“I’m just real dismayed and disappointed,”
Sutton said.
The Wake County School Board has
Chicago police officer recognized for
community service
Major League Baseball, PEOPLE and White Sox announced Kenny Fullman as the
White Sox “All-Star” of the “All-Stars Among Us” campaign, which debuted in 2009
and recognizes individuals who are serving their communities in extraordinary ways. Out of the three “All-Star” finalists representing the White Sox, Fullman of Chicago
was chosen by fans across the nation for his community service through the Amateur
City Elite, an inner-city high school baseball program designed to mentor young people
and help them prepare for college or professional baseball.
Fullman, plus the other 29 “All-Stars Among Us,” one representing each MLB Club,
attended and were honored during the pre-game ceremony of the 81st Major League
Baseball All-Star Game July 13 on Fox television. Fans across the nation cast 1.7
million votes – more than double the amount of votes from the previous year – at
PeopleAllStars.com to select the 30 “All-Stars Among Us” winners out of the pool of
90 finalists who are serving as leaders within their communities.
When Fullman was 12, his father was shot and killed while trying to break up a
gang fight on Chicago’s South Side. He is a full-time Chicago police officer and head
baseball coach at Harlan Academy, as well as the head coach of the Amateur City
Elite.
An over-capacity crowd listens to the public hearing that led to 19 arrests.
voted multiple times over the last several
months to scrap the district’s diversity
policy, which distributed students based on
socioeconomics and for years had been a
model for other districts looking to balance
diversity in schools. Several school board
members elected last year have built
a majority in favor of focusing on
neighborhood schools.
The board’s chairman, Ron Margiotta,
said the panel would not be distracted in its
effort to “provide choice and increased
stability for families.”
“This board does not intend to create high
poverty or low-performing schools,” he said
to scoffs from the crowd.
At a morning rally that drew 1,000
people, speakers quoted Martin Luther
King Jr., remembered the days of segregated
water fountains and likened the current
situation to the landmark Brown v. Board
of Education battle. Barber talked about
America’s legacy of racial strife to
galvanize the crowd.
“Too ma ny prayers were prayed,”
Barber said. “Too many lives were
sacrificed. Too much blood was shed. Too
many tears were shed. We can’t turn back
now.”
Barber’s supporters believe the new
policy will resegregate schools. They
carried signs that read: “Segregate equals
hate” and “History is not a mystery.
Separate is always unequal.”
George Ramsay, a white former student
body president said it was necessary
to keep the diversity policy in place
to prepare students for an increasingly
connected world.
“It is shor tsighted to ignore the way
students like me have been enriched
by diversity,” Ramsay said.
Rangel faces House ethics Hearing
The House Ethics Committee will hold
a formal hearing on alleged violations
by Rep. Charles Rangel, the New York
Democrat forced to step aside as chairman
of the House Ways and Means Committee
earlier this year over ethics questions.
In a document issued last week, the panel
appointed an eight-member adjudicatory
subcommittee to determine if allegations
against Rangel “have been proved by clear
and convincing evidence.”
A formal hearing will be a trial-like
session involving formal charges with
lawyers for the House acting as prosecutors
and Rangel’s lawyers defending him.
There was no immediate information
available on the possible charges Rangel
faces. According to the ethics committee
document, the subcommittee that will
hold the formal hearing will have its first
organizational meeting on July 29.
In comments to reporters, Rangel said he
welcomed the news and wanted to testify
in his defense.
“It gives me an opportunity to respond to my
friends and constituents who have supported me
for 40 years,” Rangel said. “All I’ve been
able to give them is ‘trust me.’ “Now, he said, the
facts will come out. However, Rangel said he has
yet to see any formal charges against him.
NATIONAL
The Richmond Voice
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 19
Carolyn Stewart new international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Carolyn House Stewart of Tampa, Florida
was installed as the 28th International
President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Inc.
In ascending to the international presidency,
Stewart becomes the first lawyer to head
the organization. She also makes history as
the first president to serve a full term in the
sorority’s second centennial. Alpha Kappa
Alpha celebrated its first century in 2008.
Stewart will serve a four-year term from 20102014. During that time, she will guide policy,
develop programs and set the leadership tone
for Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 250,000 members
in 975 chapters worldwide.
Stewart will continue Alpha Kappa Alpha’s
102-year-old commitment to service. Driven
by the theme, “Global Leadership Through
Timeless Service,” the Stewart administration
will address issues related to social justice
and human rights, health, global poverty,
economic security, education, environmental
stewardship and maintaining a viable
sisterhood.
Stewart is passionately committed to
young people and under the signature program
Carolyn House Stewart
“Emerging Young Leaders” Alpha Kappa
Alpha will work to enrich the lives of 20,000
young girls in grades 6th, 7th and 8th.
Components of the program include leadership
development, civic engagement, educational
enrichment and character building.
The new international president also plans
to fortify Alpha Kappa Alpha’s commitment
to cultivating leaders through a program
titled, “Internal Leadership Training for
External Service.”
Acutely aware of the importance of
promoting health and wellness, the new
administration will promote asthma awareness
and treatment options through a partnership
with several advocacy organizations.
Stewa r t also plans to evaluate the
AKAdemies in South Africa by dispatching a team
on a fact-finding mission to the country. The
outcome of the assessment will determine
next-step action for the schools, which were
founded in the 1990s in a partnership between
AKA and the International Foundation for
Education and Self-Help (IFESH).
She says the program will appeal to all
members and will draw from the sorority’s
full spectrum of strengths to engage the
full membership in service with the major
emphasis being on addressing issues that
impact women and girls.”
As a lawyer, civic leader and respected
leader, Stewart brings a rich and impressive
professional background to the role of
international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority.
After graduating from the University of
South Florida in 1972 with a BA in history
and social science education, she entered the
University of South Carolina Law Center
and earned her Juris Doctor degree. She was
admitted to the Florida Bar in 1978. She was
subsequently admitted to practice before
the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and
Southern District of Florida; the U.S. C the U.S.
Court of Appeals, for the 11th and 5th Circuit;
and the United States Supreme Court.
During her 32-year legal career, she has also
served as an associate litigation counsel to a
Fortune 500 Company and staff counsel to a
major insurance company and government
lawyer.
As Stewart prepares to serve the sorority,
the nation and the world in her leadership role,
she says the overarching goal is to continue
Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 102-year legacy of
serving all mankind by “building on the
vision of AKA’s founders and the leaders who
served before me.”
Bank reform legislation a victory for consumers and urban communities
National Urban League President and
CEO Marc H. Morial praised the U.S.
Senate for passing much-needed banking
reform legislation.
“The bill passed by the Senate and sent to
President Obama will help protect America’s
families from predatory lending practices
and guard against the risky practices that
landed the nation in its current financial
crisis,” Morial said.
Morial noted that communities of color
have been disproportionately affected by
the financial crisis, and stand to gain the
most from provisions like the newly-created
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
and the additional investments in the
Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
The creation of the Office of
Minority and Women Inclusion will
address the need for diversity in
the workforce of regulators and in
contracting, he said.
“American consumers, particularly
those in at-risk communities, already
have paid too steep a price for Wall
Street’s reckless behavior over the
last decade,” Morial said.
Morial noted the unfortunate
fact that it took 60 votes to pass
the legislation, an all-too-common
condition in the Senate of late.
“Obstr uctionists in the Senate are
working overtime to protect the wealthy
and influential at the expense of average
Americans who are struggling to get by,”
he said. “We desperately need to change
the legislative culture and work together
to stabilize our economy and support the
working class.”
In addition to the neighborhood investments,
women and minority inclusion and the
new consumer financial protection bureau,
which will regulate financial products
and protect consumers from predatory
practices, the legislation includes:
• A resolution authority for the federal
government to ease failed firms through the
Marc H. Morial
liquidation process -- an authority former
Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson says
would have helped him and the country
a great deal during the financial crisis of
2008.
• A requirement that large institutions
move risky derivatives-trading businesses
in t o e x t e r n a l a f f i l i a t e s , w h e r e
taxpayers will not be required to cover
the risk.
• Prohibitions on conflicts of interest on
Wall Street, limits the extent to which big
banks can make risky trades with their
profits.
• And thorough auditing of the Federal
Reserve’s non-monetary policy operations,
including its response to the deepening
crisis in 2008 .
20 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
WORLD BRIEFS
The Richmond Voice
Special to NNPA from GIN
White artist stirs furor over painting
A white South African has stirred a
furor over his painting of former President
Nelson Mandela as a cadaver, surrounded
by prominent African figures witnessing
his autopsy.
Artist Yuill Damaso called his work “a
modern take on the Rembrandt oil painting
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes
Tulp.” According to Damaso, his rendition
is a tribute to Mandela.
“Underneath all his great achievements,
the revered former South African president
is flesh and bone, like everyone else,”
Damaso said in interviews.
But the work has infuriated local
residents who are demanding it be removed
from Johannesburg’s Hyde Park shopping A past painting of Nelson Mandela by Yuill
Damaso
centre. The African National Congress also
has condemned the work, saying: “It is in
Mandela, who is due to celebrate his 92nd
bad taste, disrespectful, and it is an insult birthday on July 18, has increasingly limited
and an affront to values of our society.”
his time in the public in recent years. He
In Africa, some believe it taboo to depict a made a brief public appearance at Soccer
living person — let alone the internationally City in Johannesburg on Sunday about an
revered, anti-apartheid icon — as dead.
hour prior to the World Cup final match.
Cameroonian journalist dies in crash
Celebrated African journalist Pius N.
Njawe, said to have been arrested more
than 10 0 times for his newspaper’s
independent and sometimes critical
reporting, was killed in an automobile
accident in Virginia.
Njawe, 53, was in the U.S. attending
a conference at Howard University of
the Cameroonian Diaspora for Change
(CAMDIAC).
Njawe’s car reportedly stalled on the
interstate when it was hit by a tractortrailer, according to police.
Njawe became West Africa’s youngest
editor and publisher when he founded
Le Messager at 22, notes a bio from the
International Consortium of Investigative
Journalists. In 2000, he was named one of
the ‘50 World Press Freedom Heroes’ of the
last half century by the International Press
Institute, and he won the World Newspaper
Association’s Golden Pen of Freedom in
1993.
The National Association of Black
Journalists gave him its Percy Qoboza
award for foreign journalists in 2004. In
Luis Inacio Lula
spring 2001, Njawe was a visiting lecturer in
the University of North Texas’ Department
of Journalism.
“The African media has lost a truly
courageous individual whose braver y in
the face of gover nment intimidation
served as an inspiration for other
journalists in similar circumstances
across t he cont i nent,” sa id Di rector
David Dadge of the International Press
Institute. Turkey and Zamba linked economically
Outreach to Africa for economic
cooperation continues from
Asian and European countries.
Tu r k e y – c o n s i d e r e d a
‘strategic par tner’ by the
African Union - and Zambia
st r eng t hene d t hei r t r a d e
t ies.
Tu rkey’s t r a d e volu m e
with African countries, which
was only $5.4 billion in 2003,
has increased more than twofold and exceeded $12 billion
Turkish President Abdullah Gul
in 2007. Turkey’s target is to
off state-owned enter prises, the most
reach a trade volume with
Africa of $30 billion by the end of recent being Zamtel, the national telecom
company, sold to Libya. Some 262 state2010.
“Turkey is ready to improve cooperation owned enterprises were sold in the past 18
with Zambia in the fields of agriculture, years. It could not be determined at press
mining, energy and transportation. Turkey time if Turkey is also buying up Zambian
will pay close attention to the African national companies.
A for m er p r ivat i z at ion agency
continent and especially to Zambia,”
chief, critical of the process, c ompa r e d
Turkish President Abdullah Gül said.
Meanwhile, under orders from the World it t o “g r abbi ng go o d s fa l len f r om a
Bank and IMF, Zambia has been selling t r uck .”
Ugandans take stock of fata l blasts
Ugandans shared their grief and shock
over three deadly bomb blasts whose
death toll has reportedly reached 74.
Africans from the region took to the
internet seeking solace over the many
who died, never suspecting a threat at the
Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala
and later at the Kyadondo Rugby Club
where thousands had gathered to watch the
windup of the World Soccer Cup.
“After the first blast, which occurred
slightly on the sidelines of the crowded area,
many people ducked under their chairs, some
lying down and using the chairs as shelter.
Barely a minute later, I heard the second
blast, right in the middle of the crowd. It
was more ear-piercing and louder,” recalled
Richard Wanambwa, a survivor.
“What had been a football party turned
into a sea of chaos. A blanket of smoke
hung over the field, with wails and groans
being the signature sound,” he recalled.
Among the dead were 10 Eritreans and
one American working with a missionary
group. Six Americans were injured in the
explosions, according to Police Chief Kale
Kayihura, adding this is not new in Uganda.
The country suffered similar attacks in
1997, 1998 and 1999.
Norbert Mao of Uganda’s Democratic
Party linked the attacks to Uganda’s deployment
in Somalia. Uganda has the largest troop
presence in that conflicted country. The
Ethiopian restaurant may have faced
retaliation over that country’s support of
the isolated Somali president who despite
backing from the U.S. and international
community controls a tiny fraction of the
capital city.
An Ethiopian-born Eritrean, Massawa,
wrote to the BBC online: “I am devastated
to read about the slaughter of my people
by murders driven by religious zealotry.
This kind of act should be denounced and
stopped at its root.”
Massawa blamed “a misguided foreign
policy of the United States to support the
thugs and warlords who are unable to govern
more than a few block of Mogadishu.
Al-Shabab and other Islamic groups,
though religious fanatics, govern most of
Somalia and therefore should be brought-in
to the negotiating table.”
“African leaders who have no vested
interest in Somalia should facilitate constructive
talks to bring about peace. How can you
have Ugandan and Burundian “Peace Keepers”
when there is no peace to keep?
(804) 644-9060
The Richmond Voice
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 21
The VOICE flashes back to: “Jimi Hendricks”
James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix is often
considered to be the greatest electric
guitarist in the history of rock music by
other musicians and commentators in the
industry, and one of the most important
and influential musicians of his era across a
range of genres.
After initial success in Europe, he
achieved fame in the United States following
his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop
Festival. Later, Hendrix headlined the
iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival and the
1970 Isle of Wight Festival.
Hendrix often favored raw overdriven
amplifiers with high gain and treble and
helped develop the previously undesirable
technique of guitar amplifier feedback.
Hendrix was one of the musicians who
popularized the wah-wah pedal in
mainstream rock, which he often used to
deliver an exaggerated pitch in his solos,
particularly with high bends and use of
legato.
Hendrix did much to fur ther the
development of the electric guitar’s
repertoire, establishing it as a unique sonic
source, rather than merely an amplified
version of the acoustic guitar.
He was influenced by blues artists such as
B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf,
Albert King and Elmore James, rhythm and
blues and soul guitarists Curtis Mayfield,
Steve Cropper, as well as by funk and some
modern jazz.
Hendrix played and recorded with
Little Richa rd’s band from 1964 to
1965.
As a record producer, Hendrix also broke
new ground in using the recording studio
as an extension of his musical ideas. He
was one of the first to experiment with
stereophonic and phasing effects for rock
recording.
Hendrix won many of the most prestigious
rock music awards in his lifetime,
and has been posthumously awarded
many more, including being inducted
into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 1992 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in
2005.
An English Heritage blue plaque was
erected in his name on his former residence
(November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970)
at Brook Street, London, in September
1997. A star on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame was dedicated in 1994. In 2006, his
debut U.S. album, “Are You Experienced,”
was inducted into the United States
National Recording Registry, and Rolling
Stone named Hendrix the top guitarist on
its list of the 100 greatest guitarists
of all-time in 2003. He was also the first
person inducted into the Native American
Music Hall of Fame.
Hendrix died in London in 1970. The
doctor who initially attended to him
reported that Hendrix had asphyxiated in
his own vomit, mainly red wine which had
filled his airways.
22 • July 28 - August 3, 2010
CLASSIFIED & LEGAL ADS
The Richmond Voice
The Richmond Voice
City Jail
From Page 1
Onlookers could clearly see what
some have deemed ‘rift’ between the two
leaders.
One of the jail proposals would have the
jail situated in the old Philip Morris
building off Bells Road. This is Trammell’s
district. She also chairs the safety
committee on Richmond City Council.
Not in our backyard, said Reva Trammell
of the unanimous sentiment from her
constituents in the 8th District. At that
time, Trammell pointed out that residents
should have some say so in what happens
in their neighborhood. More specifically,
decisions that city officials make without
asking for residents input is unfair.
Mayor Jones held a meeting that concluded to allow the jail to remain at its current
location. Jones stated the following:
“As I’ve stated from the beginning, this
July 28 - August 3, 2010 • 23
administration was interested in building a
new jail at the existing site.
“The four firms that will have an opportunity
to respond to a detailed solicitation for
this phase include:
• City Central, LLC
• English/Balfour, Beatty Construction
• Tompkins/Ballard, and
• Mojave Corrections, LLC
“This procurement process needs to be
treated like any other wherein we all
protect ourselves from any appearance of
impropriety.
“We need to prevent potential conflicts of
interest, and ensure that no offeror has an
opportunity to obtain information giving
that offeror an unfair advantage.
“It is in all of our best interest that this
process moves forward swiftly and without
complications.
“Our city has a dire need for a new jail
facility and we should all do what we can to
help ensure the best outcome.”
Virginia Senator
From Page 1
a Jewish average of 73.3 percent, and an
average among those of Chinese and Indian descent of 61.9 percent.
“Policy makers ignored such disparities
within America’s white cultures when, in
advancing minority diversity programs,
they treated whites as a fungible monolith.
Also lost on these policy makers were the
differences in economic and educational
attainment among nonwhite cultures. Thus
nonwhite groups received special consideration
in a wide variety of areas including
business startups, academic admissions,
job promotions and lucrative government
contracts,” said Webb.
“Where should we go from here? Beyond
our continuing obligation to assist those
African Americans still in need, governmentdirected diversity programs should end.
“Nondiscrimination laws should be applied
equally among all citizens, including those
who happen to be white. The need for
inclusiveness in our society is undeniable
and irreversible, both in our markets and in
our communities. Our government should
be in the business of enabling opportunity
for all, not in picking winners. It can do so
by ensuring that artificial distinctions such
as race do not determine outcome.”
Webb continued, “Memo to my fellow
politicians: Drop the Procrustean policies
and allow harmony to invade the public
Mayor Jones
Reva Trammel
mindset.”
Webb had initially drew large support
and victory in his bid for senator based on
promises of fairness and ethnic and racial
sensitivity in 2006.
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