Insight News ::: 2.27.12

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Gateway to excellenceWaking the sleeping giant

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AestheticsGabrielle’s got it going on !

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Let’s MoveMichelle Obama explains Let’s Move Campaign

HealthCircle of Red says remember your heart

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Ellison: Ease restrictions on Somalia money transfers

Obama announces steps to boost rural economy

Marv Davidov Freedom fi ghter takes fi nal ride

Rep. Keith Ellison has called on the U.S. Treasury to ease restrictions on money transfers to Somalia. Somali-Americans trying to send money to loved ones in their homeland have become

increasingly frustrated after the treasury department restricted transfers amid concerns that some of the money may have been used to fund terrorist organizations. The last U.S. bank to allow wire transfers to Somali, Franklin Bank, announced last December it would no longer allow Somali hawalas – an underground banking system based on trust

whereby money can be made available internationally – to hold accounts with the bank. “Somalia is experiencing the worst famine in six decades and it’s exacerbated by the fact that the country is operating with no government,” said Ellison, who along with Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken met with U.S. Treasury

undersecretary of terrorism and fi nancial intelligence, David Cohen to discuss ways for Americans to send money to the war-torn African nation and ways banks and hawalas can operate with greater transparency. “Li ves are on the line. If money is turned off from remittances, it will turn on an opportunity for al-Shabab,” said Ellison referring

to an organization with believed ties to al-Qaida, operating within the Somali borders. According to Ellison, nearly $150 million dollars annually are sent from people in the United States to those in Somalia. The congressman said with no other methods of getting money to Somalis in need, some may resort to the dangerous endeavor of transporting cash into

the country. Ellison said the famine is affecting close to 12 million people. “The situation is dire,” said the Minnesota representative. Somalia has been without an offi cial government since 1991. Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the nation.

WASHINGTON, DC – As part of the Obama Administration’s “We Can’t Wait” efforts to strengthen the economy, create jobs and support business growth, Administration offi cials announced three signifi cant actions to expand the government’s purchase of biobased products, promote regional rural job creation efforts, and develop a rural healthcare workforce, all of which build on the historic investments the Administration

has made in rural America over the past three years. Today’s announcements are the latest in a series of executive actions the Obama Administration is taking to strengthen the economy and move the country forward because we can’t wait for Congress to act. “My Administration is committed to using every tool available to promote economic growth and create good jobs in rural America,” said President Obama. “Today’s announcements refl ect our

continued focus on expanding opportunity for rural Americans and all Americans, including supporting new and innovative businesses, and improving rural health care and education. And the actions we’re taking today are possible thanks to the feedback and ideas I’ve received from hardworking Americans across rural America, including the participants at the White House Rural Economic Forum.” “President Obama

In 1961 Marv Davidov was a Freedom Rider who had an epiphany while imprisoned in Mississippi – He had a dream that he would spend his life fi ghting for social change through nonviolent agitation. For the next 50 years he did just that -- he lived that dream. Marv died on January 14, 2012, 80 years old, smiling, laughing, joking and happy right up til

the end, comfortable that he had indeed spent his life as a successful catalyst for justice. One of the Great Ones has passed. Time magazine in December named “The Protester” as Person of the Year and draws a direct line from the 60s civil rights marches to last year’s Arab Spring and Occupy movements. No one better than Marv Davidov exemplifi es how this spirit of “Speak Truth To Power” was kept alive though

those 50 years. The Freedom Riders were people who purposely broke segregation laws in the deep South in order to challenge institutions of white privilege. These were brave folk who often were beaten severely by racist whites, including local sheriffs. In June 1961 one group of Riders included Marv Davidov, a 29 year old army veteran, beatnik Jew and self-

By Harry Colbert, Jr.Contributing Writer

By Bill Tilton

President Barack Obama Tom Vilsack,Secretary of Agriculture

Mary Wakefi eld, Administrator, Health

Resources and Service Administration

RURAL TURN TO 14

DAVIDOV TURN TO 15Walter Griffi nMarv Davidov

Russell Lee, 1939“Colored” drinking fountain from mid-20th century

I was born during the era of Jim Crow, where there were toilets for Blacks and Whites. I remem-ber being a little girl in our small Texas town of Floydada (where rumor has it that a man named Floyd and his wife named Ada created the town). In that small rural community, it seemed that

the sense of unity and respect went only so far. For example, African Americans lived “across the tracks” and the train separated those of us with dark skin from those whose skin was white. The whistle of the train and crossing the tracks were bleak reminders of the numerous socio-cultural barriers that served as barricades to our dreams and our equality as human beings. One day, I recall our town celebrating “Old Settlers Day” when people like Floyd and Ada were recognized for their contributions to the township. During this festive period,

CROW TURN TO 5

By Dr. BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya,

Ph.D., L.P.

Murua(Swahili for ‘Respect’)

Standing on somebody’s shoulders

February 27 - March 4, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 38 No. 9 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.comFebruary 27 - March 4, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 38 No. 9 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

INSIGHT NEWSINSIGHT NEWS

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In an ultimate act of charity, movie mogul Tyler Perry offered his Gulfstream III jet to transport Whitney

Houston’s body from California’s Van Nuys Airport to Teterboro Airport for her funeral services at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church. Perry’s patronage toward Houston was only surpassed by her lifelong benefactor,

Clive Davis. Clive Davis is the real rich man in the circle. The 79-year-old record producer and music industry executive is worth $800 million. The music mogul has been at the center of Houston’s life since he signed

her to his Arista recording label in 1983. During the last decade of her life, singer, actress, producer, and model Whitney Elizabeth Houston squandered millions of dollars she’d earned and relied almost entirely on Davis for financial support. (Nippy) as she was known to family had signed a $100 million recording contract with Davis in 2001. Her net

worth at the peak of her career was $150 million. She had earned as much as $30 million per year touring, acting and selling merchandise, but at the end, the diva was living on advances on a future album for Davis. Houston had also received money in advance for her role in the upcoming

COMMENTARYDebunking myths about enslaved Africans

Legacy of a diva

Barack Obama and “the magic of reality”

Nobody asked me, but since it is still African-American History Month; I thought I’d take a crack at some of the myths about

slavery and slaves. The movies like to depict the great plantations with their verandas and columns and rows of slave quarters way out back. Clearly, those places existed. But 80% of slaves were held by men who owned 5 or fewer. So, there were far fewer “house Negroes” than you may have thought. And, in the main, white southerners worked and lived “with” their slaves. Slave owners and southern politicians created the myth

that slaves were intellectually, emotionally and socially inferior to whites. They touted us as childlike and themselves as the brainy adults. BUT, Alex Haley, in his research for the book ROOTS, discovered advertisements, in Maryland and South Carolina newspapers of the period, which read: “ship arriving Tuesday from The Gambia with a consignment of slaves. Many are well versed in the cultivation of rice”. So, not only did slaves arrive with

important, useful knowledge and skills; knowledge of those skill sets was carefully researched and often preceded us to these shores. Consider the story of James Griffi n. He was a slave in Virginia during the 2nd half of the 18th century. As the outbreak of the Revolutionary War loomed; he was charged, by white land/slave owners, with the responsibility of designing the plans for the battlements that would protect the Virginia

colony from attack from the sea. At that time, England had the world’s largest and strongest navy. Griffi n produced the blueprints, oversaw the construction of the battlements and commanded the troops who manned those battlements throughout the war. When the Revolutionary War ended, Griffi n was returned to his “master”. Ironically, in 1865, slaves got the opportunity to fi ght

another war for their freedom in America. England abolished slavery throughout The British Empire in 1833. James Griffi n was born in Africa. Even though The College of William and Mary (the 2nd oldest college in the U.S) was operating in 1776; we can be certain Griffi n didn’t learn architecture there. Not only were “Negroes” not admitted to William and Mary at that time; it was against the law to teach one to read.

We all have the possibility of being magical, depending on how much of our whole selves we can get to download from outer or inner space. Whenever something happened that he could not explain, my friend Ralph Collins used to say “something is getting spooky in here.” Back when Barack Obama was elected President we were all feeling somewhat spooky, spooky in a good way, in a way that made our spirits soar in unity with the spirit of much of the known universe.

Even before the victory there were a lot of us who felt that Barack Obama’s election to the American Presidency in 2008 was going to be a magical happening. Summing up that pre-election prediction of magic I wrote: “. . .many of the folk I knew arrived at their conclusion in a very non-analytical way. “Ralph Collins said: ‘Obama has a divine wind at his back.’’ Another friend, Ronald Avila Taylor, said ‘Barack is going to fi nd a way out of no way. A miracle is going to happen.’ Oprah who seems to discern spiritual things said he was ‘the one.’ Obama himself

said very early in his campaign. ‘There’s something stirring in

the air. You can feel it!’ Related Articles

Something stirring in the air . . .? What kind of way is that for a former president of the Harvard Law Review to talk? Harvard’s not exactly the sort of data-driven place where they teach you to have faith in ‘something stirring in the air.’” My point was that there are many ways of discerning truth about the “something spooky” that exists. If you are sensitive enough “you can feel it.” Because when spiritual thinking (faith in the evidence of things un-seen) is properly mixed with empirical thinking (knowledge of the seen), magic can happen. I wrote a piece for The

Modern Melting Pot that was picked up by Huffi ngton Post; and from there it made an appearance on The Wall Street Journal’s website. The original article was The State of the Union May Be Better Than We Think. The link that WSJ picked up stated: “Suppose Barack Obama is a ‘Magic Negro,’ as some of his detractors saw and quickly ridiculed so that ‘thinking’ people wo uld not look into the possibility. Suppose we all have the possibility of being magical, depending on how much of our whole selves we

Nobody Asked Me

By Fred Easter

By William Reed

By George Davis

Here Books

HOUSTON TURN TO 4

OBAMA TURN TO 5

Wikimedia CommonsWhitney Houston

insightnews.com Insight News • February 27 - March 4, 2012February 27 - March 4, 2012 • Page 3

Waking the sleeping giant

HUD announces more than $18.4 million in Indian housing block grants for Minnesota

We are approaching the last days of February, a month noted for celebrating love and black history. As we emerge from twenty-eight days of happy talk and feel good moments, the realities of the time once again take center stage. As a nation collectively, but more concisely within African-American communities (or communities of color; whichever your preference), when you look at the growing disparities and alarming statistics that have become associated with our lack of meaningful progress, the word crisis cannot help but come to mind.

Beyond CrisisA crisis is commonly defi ned as a calamity, a disaster, a catastrophic event, an emergency predicament that requires a swift, decisive and strategic response. Crisis is so

often thought of as being the result of a tornado, a hurricane, unrelenting wild fi res. During these times of uncertainty, communities rally together, only to move quickly back into their respective spaces and normal routines when it appears that much of the clean-up has been completed. Rarely, when this occurs has the root cause been identifi ed or the host of challenges resolved. There is a crisis of underachievement in our community. How do we as a community get beyond the

consensus that we are in crisis to a place where actionable strategies can create real change in the lives of families?

Beyond ConsensusAll around the globe, humankind is discussing and facing tremendous change:

change in politics, change in technology, change in education, change in the employment marketplace; constant change in quality of life conditions in our communities. In the midst of all of this change, some things appear to be remaining very much the same. Racial tension and violence are still apparent. Self-hate and unhealthy competition hamper both unity and community progress. Poverty and food insecurity is on the rise. Disillusionment and

despair linger, and shattered dreams and wasted potential is far too commonplace. We all agree about how things have changed; we all speak about the need for a change to come. We are all united by consensus as we discuss the varied reports that speak of

crisis. However beyond this superfi cial consensus, what has truly changed? In these contemporary times, we see people of color from all walks of life fail to acquire the skills necessary to live prosperous 21st century lives doing meaningful work. We still see a time that the prison system has become a rite of passage for a growing numbers of African American males. We see a time when the unemployment rate of the 1980s compared with that of 2012 is relatively unchanged. It is time for us to change our attitudes, our mentalities, and our expectations. It is time for us to pursue our gateways to the vast opportunities that wait for us as individuals and as community and faith organizations that seek to solve the crisis at hand.

Culmination: Maximizing Opportunity and PotentialThe time has come for people of color to do more than shine the spotlight on the contributions of their ancestors for 28 days. The time has come for people of color to acknowledge the struggles and sacrifi ces made by our ancestors each and every day. It is time for us to take control of our lives and our destinies; the time has

come for people of color to create their own jobs, to treat each other with self-respect, to genuinely applaud the success of one another, to replace judgment with joint effort. We as a people cannot depend upon the government, the next social program, proposed educational reform, or the powers that be to rescue us. Superman is not coming. If we are to survive, we will have to choose to save ourselves. We will have to learn to recognize and harness opportunity when it presents itself; we will have to begin investing our time, talents and dollars into our communities. We must genuinely unite to create change. We must shift from being game players to game changers. We do not need another committee, another conversation, another composition about the crisis; what we truly need is to implement solutions that wake the sleeping giant that is us, communities of color. It is time for a change; it is time for us to claim our rightful place in the world. It is time for us to do more than just survive; it is time for us to thrive. Join with the Minneapolis Urban League as we work to awaken the sleeping giant.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced more than $18.4 million in Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) allocations to nine tribes in Minnesota. These funds are distributed each year based on a formula to eligible Indian tribes or their tribally designated housing entities for a range of affordable housing activities.

IHBG funds are intended to primarily benefi t low-income families living on Indian reservations or in other communities. The amount of each grant is based on a formula that considers local needs and housing units under management by the tribe or designated entity. “These funds are making a real difference in tribal communities each and every

day,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “Projects include affordable housing, infrastructure upgrades, community centers and safety programs that every community needs to thrive. These efforts are part of a broader commitment to ensure Native American communities can build their economies in response to their needs and as they see fi t.”

“These grants will help provide safe and affordable housing to our Native American families in Minnesota, and help create economic opportunities,” said Antonio R. Riley, HUD’s Midwest Regional Administrator. Eligible activities for the funds include housing development, assistance to housing developed under the

Indian Housing Program, housing services to eligible families and individuals, crime prevention and safety, and model activities that provide creative approaches to solving affordable housing problems. The block grant approach to housing was enabled by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA).

By Scott GrayMUL President/CEO

Gateway to excellence

State Senator Jeff Hayden

Hayden pleased with new District 62 boundariesLast week, the Minnesota Judicial Special Redistricting Panel released new district boundaries. While Senate District 61, represented by State Senator Jeff Hayden (DFL-Minneapolis), was renumbered as Senate District 62, the district’s lines were left largely unchanged. Retaining all of its previously-held neighborhoods, the district has expanded to include the rest of Lyndale and Kingfi eld neighborhoods, and now encompasses a portion of Tangletown. Hayden said he is pleased with the new district lines. “They are respectful of the need for our communities of interest to have a strong voice at the Capitol,” he said. Hayden noted that while the district is rich in diversity, it also has the shared goal of making the community a better place for everyone. He added, “I am excited to get to know the newest members of the district so that we can work together to move our community and state forward.”

“Superman is not coming. If we are to survive, we will have

to choose to save ourselves.”


EDUCATIONCongresswoman McCollum joins 170 students and community members to discuss their vision for Minnesota’s environment

Dayton signs bill requiring teachers to pass basic skills exam

Facing extreme attacks on the environment in the U.S. House, over 170 students and community members joined Representative Betty McCollum on Monday for Coffee with Congress, hosted by Environment Minnesota and MPIRG, to discuss how to move forward to protect Minnesota’s environment. The students and community members at the event thanked Congresswoman McCollum for her leadership on environmental issues in the House. “It is critical that we have strong champions like Congresswoman McCollum speaking up for us in Washington D.C.,” said Michelle Hesterberg, who is a

constituent of McCollum’s in St. Paul and a Field Associate with Environment Minnesota. “We need to make sure we support the great work that Congresswoman McCollum is doing to keep our water clean, our air safe to breathe, and to move our country towards a clean energy economy.” Environmental measures currently face signifi cant political opposition in the U.S. House. Last year, the House voted 191 times to erode critical environmental protections like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, according to a report authored last December by members of the U.S. House’s Energy and Commerce Committee. That amounts to

one out of every fi ve votes cast on the House fl oor in 2011. Though 2011 was a troubling

year for the environment in the U.S. House, McCollum was not hesitant about laying out her vision for how to move forward to protect Minnesota’s environment. “Investments in clean energy are the path to creating good jobs here in our community. This benefi ts our topline – the leaders in this sector AND our bottom line by spurring our economy and our ability to provide for ourselves and our families,” McCollum said. Students and community members at the event agreed with McCollum that it is time that we move forward with clean energy solutions to safeguard public health and protect our environment.

“Congress must start thinking about what’s best for this county instead of what’s best for big polluters,” said Nick Matzke, Macalester student and MPIRG’s Environmental Task Force Leader at Macalester. “Congress is making decisions today about our future and our children’s future. We are going to have to live with the polluted environment they leave us, and it’s time they start listening to us instead of BP and Exxon Mobil.” But moving forward with clean energy solutions in the current U.S. House looks unlikely. This year, House Republican leaders have continued their assault on the environment. Earlier this

month, for example, the House proposed eliminating all federal funding for public transit while opening our coasts and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. “When it comes to the environment, this House is taking us down a dead end road to pollute our air, threaten our climate, endanger our country’s treasured spaces, and grant oil corporations’ every wish,” Hesterberg stated. “America needs a smarter, cleaner energy future. It’s time for us to transition from dirty, polluting energy sources that threaten our health to cleaner, smarter energy sources that keep our water clean and our air safe to breathe.”

On Wednesday, February 22, Governor Mark Dayton signed HF 1770 into law, requiring teacher candidates to pass a basic skills exam in order to

receive a Minnesota teaching license. Current law requires Minnesota colleges and universities that offer a teacher preparation program to provide

remedial assistance and academic support to teacher candidates that do not pass the basic skills exam Last year, Governor

Dayton vetoed an earlier version of this bill; the current bill includes changes made through negotiations between the legislature, the Dayton

Administration, and key stakeholder groups. The legislature has now been in session this year for almost a month, and still has

not passed the Governor’s Jobs Proposal, which will put tens of thousands of Minnesotans back to work.

State Representative Betty McCollum

movie, Sparkle. Actually, the amount of money Houston is projected to make posthumously is far greater than any paycheck she’s seen in years. Houston’s and Davis’ stock has been rising since she died. The day after her death, iTunes increased the price of her songs from 99 cents to $1.29. Similar to the way in which Michael Jackson’s estate

increased after his death, demand for Houston’s singles and albums will grow and become valuable commodities. Nippy went from a middle-class household to penthouses and wealth. She began singing in a junior gospel choir and earned money for backup vocals she provided artists such as her mother Cissy Houston and Chaka Kahn. During Houston’s career as a fashion model she appeared on the covers of Seventeen, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan magazines. Houston sold more than 170 million albums and had 2 Emmy Awards,

6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards and 22 American Music Awards. She held the all-time record for the most American Music Awards (AMAs) of any single artist and shared the record with Michael Jackson for the most AMAs ever won with 8 in 1994. However, Houston was “just the voice” and did not write or own the masters of her most popular songs. Houston’s recordings, “How Will I Know”, “Saving All My Love” and “I Will Always Love You”, were all written and produced by others.

Country star Dolly Parton wrote and owns the masters to “I Will Always Love You” and has earned $10 million in royalties to date. At the time of her death, Houston was divorced from “the other man in her life.” So, all her wealth goes to their daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. In 1992, on the grounds of her Mendham, N.J. mansion, Houston married R&B singer Robert Barisford “Bobby” Brown. The couple lived a stylish lifestyle, and Houston also bought homes in Miami, Los Angeles and Atlanta. During their 12 year

marriage, Brown had several run-ins with the law. Brown has fathered five children: Landon, La’princia, Robert Jr., Bobbi Kristina, and Cassius. When Houston decided to end her marriage to Bobby, many fans faulted her for taking so long in light of the marriage’s history of infidelity, scandals, drug and alcohol arrests, and marital problems. The relationship was dysfunctional and a mere 5 years after signing the $100 million contract, the New Jersey mansion faced foreclosure. In recent years, Whitney hadn’t paid property

taxes, or her mortgages, and had run up a debt of more than $1 million as she teetered on the brink of financial ruin. Houston was able to save the New Jersey property but lost the Atlanta mansion. Since her death, the “12,000-square-foot home on five acres with a hot tub and pool” the couple had shared is on the market for $1.75 million.

(William Reed is head of the Business Exchange Network and available for speaking/seminar projects via the BaileyGroup.org)

HoustonFrom 2


Walking your way to better health, wealth and well-being

Michelle Obama explains Let’s Move Campaign

One of the easiest, safest and least expensive forms of exercise and getting around doesn’t require a fancy gym membership, designer clothing or special training. In fact, you’ve been doing it practically your entire life: it’s walking! From your fi rst steps as a child, you’ve known that walking is good for you. Not only does walking offer a host of health benefi ts, it also can provide several additional advantages – from saving you cash and enhancing your relationships to boosting your brain power and mood. We’ve long known that walking boosts health. New research shows a signifi cant

risk reduction for developing type 2 diabetes among those who regularly walk briskly. In other studies, walking has been shown to reduce the pain of fi bromyalgia, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, and help you better manage your weight. An 18-year study of 46,000 men and 15,000 women showed a 40% lower risk of developing a stroke among those who regularly walked. And women who walk regularly after being diagnosed with breast cancer have a 45% greater chance of survival than those who are inactive, according to a prominent oncology journal. Walking can help you save on gym costs. On average, gym memberships run $40-$60 per person per month. The cost of a single month of

gym membership could easily pay for a new pair of sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. Walking can also help cut your medication costs, not to mention the potential side effects of many medicines. Data from the National Walkers’ Health Study found that those who took the longest weekly walks were more likely to use less medication. Walking with someone for a half-hour – a spouse, friend, child or other family member – naturally leads to conversation. Those who regularly walk with others report higher levels of satisfaction with their personal relationships. And if you’re a dog owner, that’s a great reason to take a walk. You’ll fi nd your role as “top dog” in your home solidifi ed if you regularly take your four-legged friend for

regular strolls. Need a mental boost? Go for a walk! A recent study of 278 midlife African-American women showed that those who regularly walked were signifi cantly less depressed than those who did not. Similarly, an Italian study tracked 749 older adults who had been identifi ed as experiencing memory problems, and found that those who expended the most energy walking had a 27% lower risk of developing dementia than their less energetic counterparts. Considering our mild winter so far in the Twin Cities – one of the 10 warmest winters on record – February is shaping up to be a great month to walk. The Winter Walkoff 2012 campaign, through the end of February, specifi cally urges Twin Cities residents to get outside and

walk at least once a day. Those who commit to the campaign are encouraged to post about it on Twitter, at #winterwalkoff. We’re fortunate that the Twin Cities metro area is primarily pedestrian-friendly. Of the nation’s 52 largest metropolitan areas, we are among the nation’s safest spots for pedestrians, according to Transportation for America. And indeed, three out of four Twin Cities residents keep walking year-round, according to Bike Walk Twin Cities. Yet even those who regularly walk do not typically walk enough to fully enjoy its ample benefi ts. The daily walking goal cited by most health experts is 10,000 steps – about 5 miles of walking, or approximately the equivalent of exercising vigorously for 30 minutes.

To help you track your walking, buy an inexpensive pedometer for less than $20, and commit to wearing it each day. You’ll be surprised by how much more you’ll likely walk once you’re aware of your daily step-taking. Need some ways to add more steps to your days? Walk, rather than drive, to run errands. Forty percent of the places we go are 2 miles or less. If you’re reasonably fi t, you can cover 2 miles in less than 40 minutes. Additionally, consider taking the stairs, instead of the elevator. Get up to change the channel or use the phone. Purposely park farther from your destinations. Incrementally, you’ll be adding steps to your days, miles to your months, and likely years to your life!

SiriusXM’s Joe Madison recently sat down with First Lady Michelle Obama at the “Let’s Move!” Faith and Communities Event held February 11 at Northland Church in Longwood, Florida at which the First Lady spoke about the progress that has been made during the last two years of “Let’s Move!,” her national initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation. In an interview airing Wednesday, February 22 at 8:00 am ET on The Joe Madison Show on The Power (SiriusXM ch.128), Obama tells SiriusXM host Joe Madison that she and President Obama practice what they preach when it comes to the message of “Let’s Move!,” revealing that exercise is such a priority that there is a treadmill on Air Force One for the President to get his daily workout in no matter what. She also pledges her commitment to this effort in the years after her family has offi cially left the White House, saying: “…this is a cause that can’t be solved in a few years. It’ll take generations for us to change the way our children see

food and how they raise their kids and how communities…[will be]… structured…I’m writing a book that is going to focus on the White House kitchen garden and the proceeds of that are going to be used to deal with this issue, to look at community gardens, and I’m already looking for ways to keep the conversation going long after I’m out of this position.” In addition, SiriusXM will air First Lady Obama’s remarks from that day’s event as part of the hour. Excerpts from Joe Madison’s SiriusXM interview with First Lady Michelle Obama: SiriusXM host Joe Madison: “Talk about how the Obamas live what they preach when it comes to…[the ‘Let’s Move’ initiative]….how do you work out when you are on the road?” First Lady Michelle Obama: “….I brought a jump rope and in my hotel room, I got up this morning and I jump roped. I did seven sets of 500, so by the time I fi nished I had done about 3500 jumps…I had my cardio in, took a shower, got

ready, got dressed and I’m here. Even before coming to the White House, we were always physically active….I would get up in the morning, my mom would come over if Barack was traveling and he wasn’t home so that I could get up. I got up at 4:30 am in the morning to go the gym and get that done before

the girls got up so by the time I got back they were just getting up to get ready for school. But I prioritized that. I…said I would sleep a little bit less [and] go to bed early, but if I don’t get that done in the beginning of the day, the day just gets away….you go to work and work takes over. Then you are tired, you

come home…then you stop prioritizing yourself. So I thought, I’ve got to get up and prioritize my own health before I do anything else—work, [or] taking care of my kids…. The President is the same way…he works out every single day, even on his busiest days, even when he’s on the road he goes down to the gym. There’s got to be a treadmill, there’s a treadmill on Air Force One…if he’s got a long distance fl ight….because he needs that now….that’s the way he burns off a lot of stress. So it’s critical. SiriusXM host Joe Madison: …“After your years in the White House and I hope it’s no time soon [that you leave], is this something that Michelle Obama [as] former fi rst lady will continue beyond her years in the White House?” First Lady Michelle Obama: “Absolutely…this is a cause that can’t be solved in a few years. It’ll take generations for us to change the way our children see food and how they raise their kids and how communities…[will be]… structured…I’m writing a book

that is going to focus on the White House kitchen garden and the proceeds of that are going to be used to deal with this issue, to look at community gardens, and I’m already looking for ways to keep the conversation going long after I’m out of this position So, yes, I am committed to continuing to focus on this issue, to shine a light on it, to lift it up because it’s not going to go away with just a few tours and….a couple of years in offi ce.” Joe Madison, “The Black Eagle,” is a human and civil rights activist, abolitionist against slavery in Southern Sudan, television commentator, columnist, lecturer, labor and corporate spokesman, musician and athlete. He is the former executive director of the Detroit NAACP and was later named director of the national NAACP political action department. Madison’s live, daily, call-in show airs weekdays from 6:00 - 10:00 am ET on The Power, SiriusXM ch.128. For more information visit www.siriusxm.com/thepower.

By Joan Pasiuk, Director, Bike Walk Twin Cities

Offi cial White House Photo by Chuck KennedyFirst Lady Michelle Obama talks with SiriusXM’s Joe Madison,

host of “The Joe Madison Show,” after the “Faith and Community Groups Leading the Way” event at Northland, A Church Distrib-uted, in Longwood, Florida on Feb. 11, 2012. Madison had just fi nished interviewing Mrs. Obama during the First Lady’s tour cel-

ebrating the second anniversary of the “Let’s Move!” initiative.

can get to download from outer space or inner.” I had no idea why The Wall Street Journal decided to display an article with such a heavy leaning toward the supernatural. My daughter said they were poking fun, but then one of the comments on the article said: “Colin Powell warned that we didn’t elect ‘superman,’ as though the expectation of supernatural events stemming from a man on earth are dangerous. I prefer your interpretation, we all have the potential to incite supernatural or magical events. The fact that Obama so naturally manifests his supernatural gifts is what makes him compelling and that also makes him destined to succeed at the task he has before him. “ I knew the comment came from my daughter. She said yes. A friend who does research for a top tier fi nancial service fi rm wrote: “The people who design exotic fi nancial products and do advanced science believe that reality is magical.

In fact, Richard Dawkins has a book by that title, The Magic of Reality,” he wrote. He continued: “What is magic? Things we observe that appear to contradict our current understanding of cause and effect. There is so much of reality that we don’t really understand. We try to understand as best we can with the knowledge we have.” I called Ralph Collins to talk about the 2012 Republican Primary knowing that he was going to say something weird: “You notice that when we get the news each morning we fully expect to see that one of Obama’s opponents has self-destructed Makes you wonder, don’t it?” “Or they’ve destroyed each other, but I thought that was because, as the old folk say, ‘God don’t like ugly,’” I say. In the past Ralph has said he is an extra-terrestrial and he accepted my based-on science explanation that we all have a connection to stuff that is not of this earth. In Unifi ed Field Theory and mathematical physics they actually create equations on how the intangible interacts with the tangible. While talking to Ralph I

thought about having quickly read some of The Magic of Reality, by Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist. I was seeking to fi nd if humans had evolved to a point where they could do rough solutions in their heads to equations that calculated the effects of the intangible world on the tangible. Ralph was still talking when my mind came back fully to him. “as you wrote, ‘we all have the possibility of being magical, depending on how much of our whole selves we can get to download from outer or inner space,” he said. “I got that from hanging out with weirdoes like you,” I said. I wouldn’t mind hanging out with him soon to talk about the 2012 election. He’s one of those friends that you love to listen to but are a little afraid to totally believe because he often thinks with no backup data.

George Davis is professor emeritus at Rutgers University and the creator of the 5-book, interactive, world-sourced, digital series, Barack Obama, America and the World.

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rural community, it seemed that the sense of unity and respect went only so far. For example, African Americans lived “across the tracks” and the train separated those of us with dark skin from those whose skin was white. The whistle of the train and crossing the tracks were bleak reminders of the numerous socio-cultural barriers that served as barricades to our dreams and our equality as human beings. One day, I recall our town celebrating “Old Settlers Day” when people like Floyd and Ada were recognized for their contributions to the township. During this festive period, everyone was invited to go Downtown and experience the happenings at the City Hall/Town Square. As a little girl, I remember seeing toilets that said “colored” and I thought to myself: “Wow what a spe-cial day---they even have toilets that are colored!” I asked my mother if I could go to the “col-ored” bathroom expecting to

fi nd commodes in hues of blue, pink, green, purple, and orange! I was so disappointed when I saw that the toilets were white. I re-call telling my mother: “Those people lied, those toilets were not colored,—they were white just like at home!” My mother replied, “BraVada, they are not talking about the toilets, they are talking about you.” With only the innocence that a child could have, I could not grasp what she was saying. I then saw a water fountain. One side read “colored” and the other side read “white.” In my cognitive schema, I realized that while I had not seen multi-colored commodes in my day, I had seen (and drank) a whole lot of “colored” water called Kool-Aid! So, I immediately started my trek towards the fountain. On my way there, I noticed a little white girl who was obviously thinking the same thing. She was just about to turn the sprocket on the “colored” water fountain when her mother grabbed her by the arm and yelled disapprovingly: “You can not drink from the colored water fountain.” The little girl cried, and with tears streaming

down her face, she screamed and repeatedly yelled: But, I want the COLORED water! Then, I knew it must be GOOD (because your parents never want you to enjoy something sweet and good like Kool-Aid). That moment was when I turned the sprocket on the “colored” water fountain only to discover that it too was clear just like at home. I felt a visceral pain reverberate throughout my body. I was seven years old and I was deeply wounded. What was wrong we ME, I thought, that a white girl could not drink from the same fountain as I? Later, I recall noticing that something was wrong with being black in our society. Angel’s food cake was white, but Devil’s food cake was dark. Magic was fi ne unless it was “black magic.” Mail was okay unless it was “black mail” and even a lie became all right if it was a “white lie.” Only many years later did I discover the deeper meaning of the psychological truth of that experience which was that both the little white girl and I were injured. I have since

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AESTHETICS

Tyler Perry morality play fi nds groom-to-be torn between shallow fi ancée and homeless widow

Gabrielle’s got it going on!

Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry) has it all, or so it seems, between serving as CEO of a thriving computer software company and his impending marriage to a successful, if shallow, San Francisco realtor (Gabrielle Union). The dedicated, driven executive was handpicked by his mother (Phylicia Rashad) over his hot-headed brother, Walter (Brian White), to replace their late father to run Deeds Corporation. But because Wesley has spent most of his life trying to satisfy the wishes of the domineering family matriarch, he might be getting married in a few months more to please her than himself. Even his already-jaded fi ancée, Natalie, fi nds her Momma’s Boy a tad too boring and predictable, despite his being a great catch. Then, while the couple is in the midst of putting the fi nal touches on their elaborate wedding plans, a fl y lands in the nuptial ointment in the person of a most-unlikely other woman. Lindsey Wakefi eld (Thandie Newton) is a struggling, single-mom living in a car with her 6 year-old daughter, Ariel (Jordenn Thompson). She fell on hard times after her husband was killed in Iraq, when she had to drop out of nursing school and fi nd a job. And the only reason the homeless woman and wealthy Wesley happen to cross paths is because she’s the night janitor in his offi ce building. The gruff, ghetto girl initially rubs her relatively-refi ned boss the wrong way. After all, she is defi nitely a little rough around the edges, and just not the class of female Wesley’s accustomed to associating with. However, the tension

between the two starts to dissolve the night she offers to give him a back massage while he’s burning the midnight oil at work. And upon hearing all the details of her pitiful plight, Wesley altruistically offers Lindsey and little Ariel a free apartment to crash in indefi nitely. Will this gallant knight-in-shining-armor develop deeper feelings for the grimy damsel-in-distress who subsequently cleans up so nicely, literally and fi guratively? If so, will he be able to summon up the gumption to break off his engagement, given the little matter of his fast-approaching wedding day? That diffi cult dilemma is the raison d’etre of Good Deeds, the latest modern morality play written by, directed by and starring Tyler Perry. Avoiding his usual staples of comic relief courtesy of Madea and clownish support characters, Perry presents this sober soap opera in straightforward fashion. Consequently, in the absence of those typical distractions, the plot is not only perfectly plausible but remains refreshingly grounded in reality from start to fi nish. Along the way, veteran lead actors, Tyler, Thandie Newton and Gabrielle Union, generate a convincing chemistry guaranteed to keep you on edge right up to the surprising resolution of the unfortunate love triangle. Another compelling Tyler Perry parable delivering a priceless message about what really matters most.

Excellent (4 stars)Rated PG-13 for sexuality, violence, profanity and mature themes.Running time: 129 minutesDistributor: Lionsgate Films

One of today’s hottest stars, Gabrielle Union continues to shine. She will soon be seen in Screen Gems’ Think Like a Man, based on Steve Harvey’s book “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man”, which is slated for release on March 9th, 2012. Gabrielle’s impressive film credits include the critically-acclaimed Cadillac Records, The Perfect Holiday, Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, Bad Boys II, Breakin’ All the Rules, Deliver Us From Eva, Bring It On, Two Can Play That Game, Love & Basketball, Cradle to the Grave, Ten Things I Hate About You, The Brothers, The

Honeymooners, Meet Dave and She’s All That. She made her television debut on the hit sitcom Moesha, before going on to guest-star on such series as ER, Dave’s World and The Steve Harvey Show. Shortly thereafter, Gabrielle had a recurring role on two WB hit shows, Sister, Sister and 7th

Heaven. And she stirred things up on Friends where she played a love interest to both ‘Joey’ (Matt LeBlanc) and ‘Ross’ (David Schwimmer). In that role, Gabrielle marked the first African-American love interest on the series. Gabrielle’s passion for acting is rivaled by her involvement as an

Ambassador for the Susan G. Komen Foundation as well as her support for the Young Survivor Coalition (YSC) and the Rape Treatment Center (RTC) at UCLA. She also helped found a program called “A Step for Success” which helps to raise funds for the economically-challenged Kelso Elementary School located in Los

Angeles. She currently serves as a brand ambassador for Neutrogena, and is featured in its national television and print campaigns. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Gabrielle currently resides in Los Angeles. Here, she talks about her new movie, Good Deeds, a romance drama where she co-stars opposite Tyler Perry and Thandie Newton.

Kam Williams: Hi Gabrielle. How have you been?Gabrielle Union: I’m good! How are you doing, Kam?

KW: I’m fine, thanks. What

interested you in collaborating with Tyler again and in playing Natalie in Good Deeds? GU: Once I read the script, the biggest thing was that I loved how he didn’t make her a bitch. My character’s usually the villain in this sort of romantic drama. I was very happy that Tyler made her a normal person who has a great career, great friends and who comes from a great family. So, in this case, maybe the relationship’s just not working instead of my character’s being an evil shrew.

By Kam [email protected]

Interview

By Kam WilliamsContributing Writer

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Lionsgate FilmsTyler Perry and Gabrielle Union in Good Deeds

STARTS FRIDAY, MARCH 2CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

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Insight News is publishedweekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-ChiefAl McFarlane

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Facilities Support / Assistant Producer, Conversations with Al McFarlaneBobby Rankin

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Contributing WritersCordie AzizMaya BeechamHarry Colbert, Jr.Brenda ColstonJulie DesmondFred EasterS. HimieOshana HimotTimothy HoustonMarcia HumphreyAlaina L. LewisLydia SchwartzStacey Taylor

Photography Suluki FardanTobechi Tobechukwu

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Sounds of Blackness album receives NAACP Image Award Friday Feb 17, 2012 the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles was the site of The 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards. The Sounds of Blackness took home the honors for their self-titled CD,The Sounds of Blackness. The NAACP Image Award-Winners’ latest album focuses on the themes of reconciliation and healing. “Music can be our primary method, mode and means of avoiding annihilation and achieving peace,” explains group’s Director, Gary Hines. “Music is God’s perfect form of communication, because what comes from the heart reaches the heart. What comes from the soul reaches the soul and what comes from the spirit reaches the spirit.” The So unds of Blackness have been bringing hope and inspiration to people through its music globally for the past four decades. The group has awed audiences on fi ve continents with the depth and breadth of its artistry, covering all forms of African-American music from gospel and soul to jazz, R&B, reggae, hip-hop, rock and blues, to ragtime, fi eld hollers, work songs and traditional spirituals. As Sounds of Blackness

celebrates 40 years of music and inspiration, the group offers a superb self-titled 15-track CD that is a dazzling showcase for its all-encompassing musicality, with guests from Japan and India! The Sounds of Blackness is fi lled with material that celebrates life and offers encouragement during trying times. In addition to serving as executive producer for the album, Hines was co-producer on most of the tracks on the project. However, like all of the group’s projects, it was a collective effort. Over the past 20 years, the group’s accomplishments include garnering three Stellar Awards, one Soul Train Award, fi ve NAACP Image Award nominations, an Emmy nomination, three GRAMMY

Awards and fi ve GRAMMY Award nominations. They’ve performed at the White House on fi ve separate occasions and have been seen performing before more than one billion people worldwide on televised events such as the 1996

Olympics, the 1994 World Cup and the 1998 World Figure Skating Championships. The list of artists with whom the group has performed or recorded includes: Quincy Jones; Stevie Wonder; Sting; Santana; Eric Clapton; Usher;

Elton John; Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber; Aretha Franklin; Anita Baker; Dolly Parton; Vince Gill; Bob Dylan; Patti LaBelle; Earth Wind & Fire; Shirley Caesar; Yolanda Adams; Kirk Franklin; Kenny G; Lena Horne; Isaac Hayes; Little Richard; B.B.

King; Johnny Mathis; Billy Crystal; Robin Williams; Jim Carrey; Whoopi Goldberg; Robert Duvall; Maya Angelou and many others. Refl ecting on the past four decades, Director Hines says, “To quote the Gospel song, ‘How I Got Over,’ my soul looks back and wonders...I know it’s by the Grace of God that Sounds Of Blackness has thrived, and it’s incomprehensible to me that as an original member, it’s been forty years.” Now proud to be associated with Malaco Music Group, whose commitment to Black music in its many forms also stretches back over decades, The Sounds Of Blackness present a self-titled album that is a fi t for the challenging times, while offering energy, optimism, compassion, and as always, giving praise. “This ranks amongst our best work,” says Hines proudly. “We’re incredibly excited about it. Lyrically, musically and thematically, it’s on time and it embodies the spirit of togetherness, healing, Ubuntu and inspiration that is at the heart of who we are. We are greatly honored to receive an NAACP Image Award!”

KW: It’s definitely a much more modulated film for Tyler, and less given to melodrama and the extremes. GU: I would agree.

KW: How was it working with this cast? GU: Phylicia [Rashad] is an icon, and amazing. Just being able to watch her work up close is like taking a master class in acting. Thandie was great, and having Beverly Johnson play my mother was huge, and a nice ego boost. The whole experience felt like being in a big, happy, well-functioning family.

KW: Harriet Pakula Teweles says: Good Deeds is a film about a “defining moment.” Has there been such a moment in your life or career you’d like to share?GU: In my life, when I got divorced. I sort of realized that I hadn’t been making sound choices which were the best for me to pursue my hopes and dreams and aspirations and passions. I had been living the life that society tends to dictate for women of a certain age. You marry the person who asks you, even though he may or may not be the best one for you. Around the time that I got divorced, I had an epiphany that there is no blue ribbon or gold medal for living someone else’s life, for fulfilling someone else’s dreams. It’s doesn’t make you happy. You just end up with a life that’s not yours. So, I decided to follow my dreams and my passions and to always have an adventure, no matter what it is.

KW: Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing. GU: Exactly! At least it should be.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would? GU: [Laughs] No. It’s usually when I hear one, I think, “Gee, that’s something different!” I encourage people to ask whatever question you’re most interested in hearing the answer to.

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?GU: Five minutes ago.

KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?GU: Twitter.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read? GU: It’s called “Singleholic.”h t t p : / / w w w . a m a z o n .c o m / e x e c / o b i d o s /A S I N / 1 9 0 6 1 9 0 1 5 1 /ref=nosim/thslfofire-20

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What’s the last song you listened to? GU: “Groove Me,” by Guy. http://www.amazon.c o m / e x e c / o b i d o s / A S I N /B 0 0 0 0 6 H I 6 5 / r e f = n o s i m /thslfofire-20

KW: What is your favorite

dish to cook?GU: Collard greens.

KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?GU: Whoever’s giving out free stuff. [Laughs]

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?GU: My mom.

KW: How often do you get back to Nebraska to see her?GU: Pretty often. I go back quite a bit, although I don’t announce my visits in order to protect our privacy.

KW: What’s it like to lose your anonymity? Can you go to the mall or a movie theater? GU: I can go, but you go with the understanding that people are going to know who you are, and may or may not respect your privacy. The time when I most want privacy and my anonymity is to do things like buying tampons.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for? GU: My wish for the world would be to end violence against women. My wish for myself would be for peace of mind.

KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory? GU: Playing catch with my dad.

KW: Mike Pittman asks: Who was your best friend as a child?GU: There were ten of us. We were called The Bash Crew.

KW: When did you realize that you had made it?GU: I haven’t made it yet.

KW: The Flex Alexander question: How do you get through the tough times?GU: I eat.

KW: The Judyth Piazza question: What key quality do you believe all successful people share? GU: Great communication skills.

KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What excites you?GU: I’m going to see Sanaa tonight. I’ll let her know you asked me that. What excites me? A great sporting event.

KW: Dante Lee, author of “Black Business Secrets,” asks: What was the best business decision you ever made, and what was the worst?GU: [LOL] My worst was co-signing on a car loan for someone who had an aversion to paying their bills. My best, probably, was taking the role of Muddy Waters’ wife in Cadillac Records.

KW: The Melissa Harris-Perry question How did your first big heartbreak impact who you are as a person? GU: [LOL, then sighs] I think the impact is that you become a little hardened and you protect your heart a little more. You’re not as open, or so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I was only broken up with once. He just happened to go on to become famous. So, the story has lived on in infamy. Jason Kidd dumped me two

weeks before the junior prom. You kind of hoped he’d go off and no one would ever hear of him again. But in this case, he went on to a Hall-of-Fame career in the NBA.

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks: What is your favorite charity? GU: Gosh, I can’t pick a favorite. I’m a Susan G, Komen global ambassador. I speak on behalf of Planned Parenthood as well. I love UCLA’s Rape Crisis Center. Me and my girls have our own non-profit, called A Step for Success. I truly love them all.

KW: What has been the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?GU: Getting raped.

KW: I’m sorry that happened to you. The Rudy Lewis

question: Who’s at the top of your hero list? GU: My mom.

KW: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?GU: Stay in school. You have the rest of your life to act.

KW: Do you ever feel pigeonholed or pressured to not change creatively? GU: What’s interesting is that producers, directors and writers tend to typecast me in terms of whatever movie they’ve seen me in most recently.

KW: The Dr. Cornel West question: What price are you willing to pay for a cause that is bigger than your own self interest? GU: I love his book, “Race Matters.” http://

w w w. a m a z o n . c o m / e x e c /obidos/ASIN/0807009725/ref=nosim/thslfofire-20 I’ve lost a lot. I’ve lost money, and my reputation has taken a hit for taking the high road to protect my dignity, to protect children, and for other good causes. But I don’t think there’s ever too steep a price for doing the right thing.

KW: The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered? GU: As someone who was genuinely happy and who smiled a lot.

KW: Thanks for another great interview, Gabrielle, and best of luck with Good Deeds and Think Like a Man.GU: Thanks, Kam.

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Courtesy of the artistsSounds of Blackness


LIFESTYLEWelcome to America: An economic stimulusFrom the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon to the whimsical ingenuity of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the United States is a land of world-class attractions. But it isn’t always easy for foreign travelers to get here. Too often, a cumbersome U.S. visa process has encouraged travelers from countries such as Brazil and China to spend their money at other international destinations. Now, however, President Obama has unveiled a major initiative to streamline the visa process and welcome travelers to the United States. For the fi rst time, the United States will have a national strategy to make America the top destination for

travelers worldwide. With the Magic Kingdom castle as a backdrop, President Obama told travelers from around the world, “We want to welcome you.” He signed an executive order calling for expanded “trusted traveler” programs, faster visa processing, and a government-wide initiative to welcome visitors to the United States. This announcement couldn’t come at a better time. International travel can and should play a crucial role in boosting U.S. GDP and creating much-needed jobs. Travelers come here, spend money, fuel local businesses, don’t consume public resources, and return home to tell their friends what a great time they had in the United States.

Yet America has been losing ground in the global competition to attract international

travelers. Between 2000 and 2010, America’s share of the international travel market fell

from 17 percent to 12.4 percent. If the United States had held onto that 17 percent market

share over the past decade, 78 million more travelers would have contributed $606 billion in additional U.S. GDP and supported 467,000 more American jobs. If we recaptured that 17 percent share, it’s estimated America would see 1.3 million new jobs and an increase in additional economic output of $859 billion by 2020. One of the biggest obstacles, which the president’s executive order addresses directly, has been a cumbersome and outdated visa application process. Now, potential visitors who pose no conceivable danger to the United States, especially from such booming “emerging markets” as Brazil and China, will be able to

(BLACK PR WIRE) – PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communications

companies, today announced it has selected four new minority-owned independent networks to be broadly distributed on Comcast Cable systems between April 2012 and January 2014. After a

thorough evaluation of more than 100 proposals, Comcast selected four networks ― two of which are majority African-American owned and two that are majority American Hispanic owned and operated and programmed in English. “We are thrilled to work with such talented individuals to launch these new networks that will bring exciting and fresh content to consumers,” said David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation. “Comcast is committed to delivering programming that refl ects the interests of our customers, and we look forward to integrating these great networks into our rich programming line-up.” African-American Category: Aspire: Spearheaded by Entrepreneur and NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson, in partnership with GMC TV, Aspire is dedicated to delivering enlightening, entertaining and positive programming to African-Americans families, including movies, documentaries, short fi lms, music, comedy, visual and performing arts, and faith and inspirational programs. Aspire will celebrate the successes, achievements and accomplishments of the African-

American community and create new opportunities for the next generation of African-American visionaries. The network will launch by summer 2012. “Aspire will be a network that encourages and challenges African-Americans to reach for their dreams and will appeal to all generations. Aspire will celebrate our heritage, our groundbreaking achievements and the fearless talent that has shaped American culture. I’m most excited about Aspire creating opportunities for the new voices, new visions and the next generation of storytellers,” said Earvin “Magic” Johnson. REVOLT: Proposed by superstar and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs and MTV veteran Andy Schuon, this network is designed to have programming inspired by music and pop culture, including music videos, live performances, music news, and interviews and will incorporate social media interaction for music artists and fans. The network has entered into an agreement to launch in 2013.“REVOLT is the fi rst channel created entirely from the ground up in this new era of social media”

By Roger Dow

White House photoPresident Barack Obama

Comcast announces new network agreements

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Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, [email protected], by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Andrew Notsch. Free or low cost events preferred.

EventsYour Voice, Your Vision - Feb 28Northway Community Trust Listening Project invites you to join us and participate in developing action plans that address community concerns and issues. Tue. Feb. 28 6-8pm @ North Regional Library - 1315 Lowry Ave N. Conference Rm. B Upper Level, Minneapolis MN 55411. Light Dinner Served

Our City, Our Schools - Teacher Seniority - Feb 29Should school districts use a teacher’s seniority as the main consideration in deciding whether or not to fi re him or her? This debate is currently at the forefront of national and local conversations on public education with a proposal in the Minnesota Legislature to reduce the importance of teacher seniority in making lay-off decisions. Come hear from both sides of the issue and share your thoughts at AchieveMpls’s February Our City, Our Schools community forum, focusing on teacher seniority. This free public event will be held on Feb. 29 from 11:30am–1pm at Hope Community Center, 611 E. Franklin Ave., Mpls.

A Taste of Italy - Bethel UCC Preschool 15th Annual Spaghetti Dinner - Mar. 1Door prizes, Silent Auction, Raffl e, Sweet Tooth Booth, Entertainment throughout the evening. Adult ticket-$9, Child ticket-$5. 3029 N. Green River Rd. Contact : (812) 477-7105.

United Way Best of Awards - Mar 1Greater Twin Cities United Way’s Community Celebration is the one time of year we bring everyone together to celebrate the successes of 2011. We recognize campaign best practices and achievements of our agency and corporate partners by honoring the best of the best. Thur. Mar. 1 5:30-9pm @ St. Paul RiverCentre, 175 West Kellogg Boulevard, St Paul, MN 55102. Cost: Free - Please RSVP at http://celebratewithunitedway.eventbrite.com/

The Socaholix - Mar 2For one night only at 9:30pm, Fri., Mar. 2, The sounds of the Socaholix will heat up the stage at Bunkers Music Bar & Grill located at 761 Washington Ave. N., Mpls, MN.

Children Taking Medications for Mental Health Reasons - Mar 6PACER Center is offering a free workshop for parents of children with disabilities and for professionals. It is on Tue., Mar. 6, from 7-9pm, at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN. Advance registration is requested. To register for the workshop, call PACER at (952) 838-9000. In Greater Minnesota, call (800) 537-2237 (toll free) or visit PACER.org.

McKnight Screenwriting & Filmmaking Awards Presentation - Mar 7Recipients of the 2011 McKnight Fellowships in Screenwriting & Filmmaking will present their work in a facilitated discussion by IFP’s Executive Director Jane Minton. Wed. Mar. 7, 7pm. The Loft Literary Center

at Open Book - 1011 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. Free and open to the public.

Seven - Mar 8-25“SEVEN” is an inspirational documentary play about the remarkable lives and work of seven courageous and diverse women. The play is a collaboration by seven award winning playwrights who traveled to interview these seven women that have overcome enormous obstacles to bring about major changes in their individual home countries. For more info and performance dates, visit: chainreactiontp.com

Corporate Personhood: The Rise of Corporate Power - Mar. 8Robin Monahan will speak about the Move to Amend as well as the efforts of others who believe that corporations are not people and must not be permitted to buy elections and run our

government. Parish Community of St. Joseph, 8701-36th Ave. N., New Hope.

IDEA: Blueprint for Special Education - Mar 8PACER Center is offering a free workshop for parents of children with disabilities and for professionals. It is on Thur., Mar. 8, from 6:30-9pm, at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN. Advance registration is requested. To register, call PACER at (952) 838-9000. In Greater Minnesota, call (800) 537-2237 (toll free) or visit PACER.org.

Weekend Walker - Fit 4 Life - Mar 9Want to lose a little weight or a lot? If you or anyone you know lives with obesity, type-2 diabetes, or high blood pressure, please attend our next overview on Fri. Mar. 9. 6:30-8:00pm. @ Kwanzaa Community Church - 2100 Emerson Ave. N. Mpls.

Two-day Job Transition Services workshop - Mar. 6&8 and Mar. 20&22Tue./Thu. 9am–3:30pm., Employment Action Center Offi ce, Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN. Sponsor: Women In Transition. Fee: Sliding fee scale. The workshop will help you chart your career path, navigate obstacles and land the job. For more information call 612-752-8444.

Publication Reading with Todd Boss - Mar 14Todd Boss reads from his new poetry collection, Pitch, published by W.W. Norton in Feb.. Wed. Mar. 14, 7pm. The Loft Literary Center at Open Book - 1011 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. Free and open to the public.

Minnesota Book Awards Readers’ Choice Event - Mar 16Meet many of the fi nalists for the 24th Annual Minnesota Book Awards as they give short presentations about their books. Then join us after the program to chat with the authors and enjoy complimentary wine and refreshments. Finalist books will be available for purchase and autographing. Sat. Mar. 16, 7pm. - The Loft Literary Center at Open Book - 1011 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. Free and open to the public.

4th Annual Women’s Appreciation Banquet - Mar 17“I Survived Domestic Violence” - Our keynote for the evening is Yvette Cade a nationally recognized advocate against domestic violence and the survivor of a horrifi c act of domestic violence will speak from personal experience. The program starts at 7pm. Tickets are currently on sale for $30.00 per person and $375.00 for a table of 10. To obtain more event information or to inquire about partnership opportunities, please contact J.MOST at 612-237-5118 or via email at [email protected]. Mar. 17 - Mall of America - Hilton Hotel.

Suluki FardanKevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves Foward, partnered with Comcast Twin

Cities for the fourth year in hosting a coat drive benefi ting The Salvation Army on Jan 23rd. During the three-week drive coats were accepted at seven metro-area Comcast payment centers as well as the Target Center box offi ce. Coats were collected to help those in need stay warm this winter. Love, personally delivered many coats collected during his recent coat drive to The Salvation

Army last Tuesday.

COMMUNITYNorth Minneapolis neighborhood beatAfrican American Family NightRichard Green Central will host African American Family Night 4:30-7:30pm Tuesday February 28th 3416 4th Ave. S. For more information: Brenda R. Carrasco 612-668-3736 [email protected]

HarrisonThe Harrison Neighborhood Association will hold a housing and committee meeting 6:30-7:30pm Thursday March 1st at

the HNA offi ce 503 Irving Ave. N. For more information; Larry Hiscock 612-374-4849 or [email protected]

VictoryThe Victory Neighborhood Association has a scheduled board meeting 7-9pm Wednesday March 7th at 44th Osseo Rd.

Cleveland The Cleveland Neighborhood Association will hold a board

meeting 7pm Monday March 5th at Lucey Craft Laney 3333 Penn Av. N.

Clothing ClosetMost needed now: kids’ clothes and winter coats. North United Methodist Church, 4350 Fremont Ave. N. has a clothing closet on the fi rst, second, third Saturday of each month, 9:00am-noon and the fi rst Monday of each month, 6-8pm. Mobile Loaves and Fishes Free Meal at 6:30pm will also be available..

Information: 612-522-4497. No charge – donations accepted.

JordanThe Jordan Area Community Council will have a housing and committee meeting 6:30-8pm at their new location 2900 Freemont Ave. N. Suite #108 & 109. For more information: Sandy Ci Moua 612-886-4539 or [email protected]

HawthorneThe Hawthorne Neighborhood

Council will host the Hawthorne Huddle, a monthly meeting 7:30-8:45am at Farview Park 601 29th Ave. N. For more information: Jeff Skrenes Housing Director: 612-529-6033 or [email protected]

Get Ready for CollegeThe Minnesota Offi ce of Higher Education is pleased to announce the 2012 Summer Academic Enrichment Program; made possible by the Federal

College Access Challenge Grant Program. The Summer Academic Enrichment program will provide stipends on a fi rst-come, fi rst-serve basis, to cover all or a portion of the direct cost for students in grades 3-11 to attend eligible summer academic enrichment programs during the summer of 2012. For more information: Nancy B. Walters, Program Manager 651-259-3907 or visit http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cfm?pageID=1958

Calendar / Classifi eds Phone: 612.588.1313 Fax: 612.588.2031 Email: [email protected]

Insurance AgentLooking for people with a strong entrepreneurial mindset to own their own insurance agency. The average agent earns over $120,000 a year, with some earning over $500,000. If you desire fi nancial independence, call 651-204-3131 to set up an appointment.

ATTORNEY Mid-MN Legal Assistance seeks FT atty in Willmar offi ce. More info at www.mylegalaid.org/jobs


FULL CIRCLEThe importance of fathers

The role of the father is a very important part of the family structure. With more and more families being headed up by single mothers, the effect of their absences is both noticeable and negative. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, children who have absent fathers are 43 percent less likely to get high

grades in school. Without a father to guide them, many young boys are growing up wild, and many young girls are growing up needy of male affections. Fatherless boys developed puberty late, become fathers earlier, and tend to emulate the effeminate behavior of the mother more than the boys with fathers in their lives. Fatherless girls often have a deeply ingrained fear of abandonment and rejection. To cope with these fears, they usually develop a fear of commitment as a defense mechanism. In relationships, these women often strive for emotional closeness but then run away when things are going perfectly well out of fear that

they will be rejected, which would reopen the early wound of being “rejected” by her father. This can prevent them from ever having a successful relationship with another male. Today, now more than ever, the father’s role is both powerful and necessary. Fathers in general are thought to be nurturing for their children in a way that differs from the mother. The balance of the two varying nurturing styles is what helps to create a child’s sense of confi dence. Children who have a nurturing relationship with their fathers in their early years are more likely to develop better speech and decision-making practices. To make the most of the father-child opportunity, the

father will need to focus on these key areas. First, a father must be involved. I read that the average father spends less than 20 minutes a day interacting with their children. This lack of involvement over time causes the child to view the father’s role as a non-factor. To counter this view, men who are fathers must increase the amount of time they spend interacting with their children. This deliberate action at any point in the child’s life will have a positive effect. Even adult men and women long to have a father that seeks to spend time with them and enjoy their company. Secondly, a father must be a positive infl uence. Children

model the behavior of the parents. If the father has bad habits his children are more likely to adopt those bad habits. A father should be a positive role model and infl uence in their children’s lives. Finally, a father must be affectionate. A father’s affection gives his daughter a higher self esteem and a positive inner self confi dence and his son a positive sense of self worth. Without it, they both will look for love and affections in all the wrong places. Being lovingly affectionate towards his children is one of the most important roles that a father can perform. The role of the father is more important now than ever. He is the calming infl uence in

the family, and when daddy is home, everyone sleeps better. The father sets the limits in the family, keeping the negative infl uence of drugs and alcohol at bay. His absence is not only noticed by his family, but the world itself is impacted. I pray for every man that is a father that they be the best one possible. His role is too valuable to be replaced.

Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For questions, comments or more information, go to www.tlhouston.com.

ManTalk

By Timothy Houston

said Sean “Diddy” Combs. “We’re building this platform for artists to reach an extraordinary number of people in a completely different way. REVOLT will be live, like all great moments in television history. REVOLT will also be immediate, like today’s social networks. We know it was a highly competitive process and we want to thank Comcast for this opportunity to truly change television with REVOLT.” Hispanic Category: El Rey: Proposed by legendary

Hollywood director Robert Rodriguez and FactoryMade Ventures executives John Fogelman and Cristina Patwa, this network is designed to be an action-packed, general entertainment network in English for Latino and general audiences that includes a mix of reality, scripted and animated series, movies, documentaries, news, music, comedy, and sports programming. The El Rey network will include programming that features Hispanic producers, celebrities and public fi gures. The network has entered into an agreement to launch by January 2014. “This partnership with Comcast signals an important moment for the Latino community

in this country – we are passionate about creating a wildly entertaining destination that we can be proud of by appealing to both Latino and mass market audiences,” said Robert Rodriguez and CEO of FactoryMade Ventures John Fogelman. “We engineered El Rey to address a burgeoning opportunity to deliver unique, high-quality and compelling content to a hard-to-reach demographic and are excited to bring more opportunities to generations of talent, storytellers and dreamers through this special partnership.” BabyFirst Americas: Proposed by Spanish language television veteran Constantino “Said” Schwarz, this network is designed for infants, very young

children, and their parents, and emphasizes the importance of early development of verbal, math and motor skills. The network has entered into an agreement to launch by April 2012. “We are thrilled to partner with Comcast and commend them for recognizing the importance of quality education for young children,” remarked Constantino “Said” Schwarz, CEO and Chairman BabyFirst Americas. “BabyFirst Americas aims to bring the essential academic building blocks for Kindergarten readiness into the home, making it accessible for families all across the U.S.” Comcast made a series of voluntary public interest commitments in connection with

the NBCUniversal transaction, one of which is to launch 10 new independently owned and operated networks over the next eight years. Of the 10 networks, four will be majority African-American owned, two will be majority American Latino owned, two will be operated by American Latino programmers, and two will provide additional independent programming. Ultimately, each of the 10 networks will be added on select Comcast systems as part of the digital basic tier of service. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.Comcast.com) is one of the world’s leading media, entertainment and communications companies.

Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

ComcastFrom 8


realized that when any child goes to a “colored” water fountain…there should be colored water in it! Now because of experiences such as that one, both she and I have to seek to actively recover from the saturation of pro-racist beliefs, policies and practices that create a white racial frame of superiority in our society. Black history month reminds me of that day and the many shoulders on which I stand. It reminds me that I have carried the baton of recovery from racism most of my life, and that the load continues to be burdensome because of the ongoing course of pervasive, insidious onslaughts of racially oppressive policies, practices and beliefs. Daily I am challenged to re-examine the micro-aggressions that constantly tell me that I do not belong to America and that America does not love me. On a daily basis, I still face oppression when I am reminded that as a Black woman, I should feel ashamed about my body, my hair, my hips, my lips, and my thighs. Daily, I am poised to coil against those who perceive me and my sisters as “welfare queens” and my brothers as “oversexed brutes.” Almost hourly, I face systems that force me to wonder if my black brothers do not fi nd me as intelligent, desirable, worthy , precious or beautiful as my white sisters. I am constantly reminded that we live in a society where slavery and religion were inextricably meshed to such a degree that male slave owners (who bought, sold, and bedded us) could with all sincerity claim that they loved the Lord and that they were justifi ed by the blood of Jesus! Now, I am still threatened with the reality that even today we live in a society where a subgroup of mostly white men

(and some brain-washed women) claim that they love the Lord and are justifi ed by the blood of Jesus when they force me to relinquish submissive control of my body (and yes, my womb)--implying that some of us who are low-income, Black women are too stupid or morally inept to make decisions for ourselves and therefore, we must be subjected to legislative enforcement of policies that determine our fertility. During Black history month, many of us are reminded that we have a legacy of greatness that has surpassed multiple exposures to systemic oppression and abuse. We are proud of our Blackness and our heritage; but it saddens me to think that your parents and mine have paid such a high price for us to be here. Meanwhile some of us fail them. We forget that many of our grandmothers, as domestic servants, took care of white children all day, washed hard fl oors on their knees so long and so often until they would bleed and become calloused through the torture. And as she worked, our grandmother would hum “Bring me over Great Jehovah” and say “Jesus”; and sometimes the salty perspiration from her beautiful brow would roll down her cheeks meeting the tears and slowly a drop would fall here and there. And she did that hard work- so that you and I would never have to! Sometimes our mother, grandmothers or great grandmothers would come home so tired that they hardly had the strength to cook dinner for their own children or to help them with homework, or to look for them in the streets where they may be playing or “hanging out”, to stop them from getting into gangs, to stop them from using drugs, to stop them from having babies due to premarital, unprotected sex… Some of our mothers still wash fl oors, clean houses, and work as clerks, do hair, or work as manual laborers.

Yes, it saddens me that we have forgotten that we stand on their shoulders. It saddens me to think that your fathers and mine worked to build bridges, and schools, and universities just like the U of M. They labored in fi elds toiling the soil and crushing their backs. They toiled the soil that their children would never own, and built the buildings in which their children could not enter for an education. And with the strength and pride that only a Black man possesses, the pride of a Prince, of royalty, of divine selection, sometimes our fathers, and grandfathers and great grandfathers would have to say: “Yes sir Mr. Bo, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Tom,”…. “Yes, sir Mr. Electric Company, Mr. Telephone Company, Mr. Rent Man, Mr. Food Stamp Man …Yes sir, Yes sir, Yes Sir!” …… Often to white men who were half their ages. But after picking up the day’s pay or arranging one

more extension on the rent or the electricity or the water, SOMEBODY’S father would say “Thank you Father, maker of heaven and earth.” They would say, “I can feed and shelter my family --- just a little while longer.” Maybe he would whistle “Precious Lord”….and sometimes in the evening our fathers were in so much pain, they could not lift their children or play with them or teach them how to drive, or teach them about manhood or womanhood. Sometimes they were too tired to teach them how to love and respect themselves, or to teach them about their history or to give them encouragement, or to stop them from taking drugs, joining gangs, looking for manhood or woman behind sex, vulgar mouths and disrespect of others…. Some of our fathers still work, drive trucks, build houses, and work as janitors, fi eld hands, and common laborers. Yes, its saddens me that we forget

that we stand on their shoulders. The price they paid (and still do) for your benefi t and mine was great, was awesome – so that we could be educated, and have access to opportunity. When your grandparents toiled the soil and scrubbed the fl oors, they expected that each ache would result in a betterment of their children’s welfare. Whether you were motherless or fatherless or had parents who were abusive and no good; whether you were rich, well to do, or poor

on welfare and raised in dire poverty…Somebody suffered for YOU! Maybe it was not your parents, but your grandparents, or your great grandparents or your great-great grandparents. But somebody suffered for you so that you could be here today and the have an opportunity for success. And yet, the question remains…what do we do with that opportunity? What has come

CROW TURN TO 14

CrowFrom 5


Circle of Red says remember your heart

Nurses wanted: Largest women’s health study seeks 100,000 nurses

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but now is not a time to forget about your heart. That’s the main message of the Circle of Red, a member organization committed to educating women in their community about the dangers of heart disease. Two days after V-day, on February 16, 2012, I was fortunate to attend a chocolate and wine event sponsored by a Raleigh-based group, and led by professional CPA Sheila Ahler, the current Circle of Red Chair (COR). The organization is affi liated with the American Heart Association (AHA) and its “Go Red for Women” National Campaign. Each member is asked to make a fi nancial commitment of $1,000- $2500 annually. This generous tax deductible contribution does beg the question, “how much is your heart health worth?” About 14 women were in attendance at this

post-Valentine’s event, and COR Chair Ahler has already reached her membership goal of 24, but wants to surpass it. For Ahler, heart disease is a family matter and deeply personal. Her father died of a heart attack at age 46 and her mother suffered congestive heart failure during surgery twelve years ago. If that were not enough, her husband was given a pacemaker four months ago, and she has now developed stress-related heart issues. Says Ahler, “I agreed to chair Circle of Red to honor the memory of my mother and father. …Circle of Red is a way to support the incredible AHA research in the area of women’s heart issues. …AHA is truly a family matter for me.” While we were wined and dined, the aim of the COR events is to inform women on how they can prevent heart disease. We were given a healthy heart cookbook and had the opportunity to dialogue with a local physician and nutritionist. Amy Bowen, a registered and licensed dietician from WakeMed Cary Hospital, encouraged us to focus on our eating habits and getting professional advice about diets. But it was Dr. Bhavani Balaravi, a cardiologist with the Raleigh-based WakeMed Faculty

Physicians, who interestingly once worked at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, who told us some startling facts. Of the group of women in the room 1 in 8 was at risk of getting breast cancer. But for heart disease, 1 in 2 was at risk. That’s a scary scenario. It means if two women are standing at a bus stop, one of us is at risk of having a heart attack, and probably dying. But what is more frightening is that

women tend to be misdiagnosed because our symptoms are not the ones with which doctors are most familiar. The classic chest pains, tightening of the chest, and shortness of breath represent the symptoms frequently found in men. But women are different—as if we didn’t know that! Symptoms for women who are experiencing heart problems frequently come in the form of

fatigue, nausea, and are more often than not fl u-like. That doesn’t mean a few won’t have the classic chest pains, but they are more likely to have a stomach ache or simply feel unexplained tiredness. One woman in attendance told the story of a friend who presented these symptoms, assumed it was the fl u, and showed greater concern about getting her children off to school than herself. Like most women,

she put everyone else and their needs fi rst; by the time she was taken to the hospital, the doctor informed her that had she delayed a few more hours, she would have died. She’s the lucky one, but what about the others who have died needlessly because they didn’t recognize the symptoms? And, who were so busy taking care of everyone else, they forgot to take

care of number one—themselves? As women, we are socialized to nurture, to be selfl ess, and to put our needs behind everyone else’s. As a result of this socialization process, we are dying, and in large numbers. Women make up over fi fty percent of the world’s population. Globally, for a variety of reasons, we have a large number of families that are solely headed by women. When we die, it matters. According to the Women’s Heart Foundation, “worldwide, 8.6 million women die from heart disease each year, accounting for a third of all deaths in women. Three million women die from stroke each year. Stroke accounts for more deaths among women than men (11% vs 8.4%) with additional risk for CHD [coronary heart disease] unique to women related to oral contraceptive use in combination with smoking.” So is chocolate and wine the solution? Hmmm? I know you’re thinking “chocolate” and “wine”? Doesn’t sound like a healthy combination, but in fact, both are on the recommended list for those concerned about their heart—but with the caveat of “MODERATION.” Dark Chocolate (especially the kind that is at least 65% cocoa) may have some benefi ts, if used in moderation. Why?

According to a Mayo clinic website, the “fl avanols in cocoa beans have antioxidant effects that reduce cell damage implicated in heart disease.” These fl avanols tend to be found mostly in dark chocolate, but not in milk or white chocolate. They also are attributed to being able to “…help lower blood pressure and improve vascular function.” So, don’t stock up on snicker bars and Milk Duds, but an occasional piece of dark chocolate might not only taste good, it could help reduce a woman’s risk of heart disease. So go ahead, treat yourself and take that dark chocolate break---mmmmm. What those who might want to add dark chocolate to their diet must also consider is whether they can tolerate the extra sugar (a big NO, if you’re diabetic) or the extra fat (an even bigger NO, for those who suffer from obesity). Red wine may also aid in reducing the risk of heart disease—again, MODERATION is the key. This is not an invitation to encourage anyone to start drinking, but rather to let those who do indulge know that switching from white zinfandel to red wine may be helpful to their heart. According to Mayo again,

BOSTON, Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- From the dangers of tobacco and trans fats to the benefi ts of physical activity and whole grains, much of what we know about health today is thanks to the Nurses’ Health Study. Researchers are recruiting 100,000 nurses and nursing students to join the long-running Nurses’ Health Study and expand its landmark research on women’s health. Female RNs, LPNs, and

nursing students between the ages of 20 and 46 who live in the U.S. or Canada are eligible to join the study. More than 25,000 have signed up already, and recruitment will stay open until the goal of 100,000 participants is reached. Researchers hope to engage a highly diverse group of women in the “next generation” of the study. For the fi rst time, nursing students are eligible to enroll. In order to make

participation as convenient as possible for busy women, participants can join online and complete the study’s surveys through a secure website, http://www.nhs3.org/. More than 250,000 nurses have participated in the study since the 1970s. By completing confi dential lifestyle surveys, they have helped advance medical knowledge about nutrition, exercise, cancer, heart disease, and many other conditions.

“Nurses were originally recruited for their expertise in accurately reporting health data,” explains Dr. Walter Willett, the study’s lead researcher and Chair of the Nutrition Department at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Mass. “Their involvement has been invaluable, and their dedication is remarkable—an astounding 90% of them are still enrolled, decades later! The new group, NHS3, will allow us understand

how today’s lifestyle and environment affect a woman’s health in the future.” Nurses enrolled in the earlier studies are encouraging their daughters and younger colleagues to join. “My mom started fi lling out surveys when the study began,” one nurse recently commented on the NHS3 Facebook page (www.facebook.com/NHS3.org) . “I am so proud to be part of this study and see what it has done.”

NURSES’ HEALTH STUDIES Started in 1976 and expanded in 1989, the Nurses’ Health Studies have led to many important insights on women’s health, including cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Most importantly, these studies showed that diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors can powerfully promote better health. www.nhs3.org

By Irma McClaurin, PhDCulture and

Education Editor

Commentary

RED TURN TO 14

“Circle of Red events offer women the opportunity to relax, network, and learn how to take

better care of ourselves.”

HEALTH


BUSINESSCareer planning: From here to outstanding

Human tragedy plus triumph equals ratings magic

Poet, activist, novelist and playwright Langston Hughes said, “I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.” For a jazz poet and innovator

like Hughes, there were surely any number of places he wished to go, and went. He invites us to go, also. The key phrase being, “… if you really want to go.” Wanting to go further – in a career, in a relationship, in any ambition – is common. Who doesn’t want to improve? Who doesn’t want to tackle new challenges and grasp the satisfaction of hard work rewarded? And yet, people remain in want mode and only in hindsight recognize the opportunities they’ve let slide by.

I was on a road trip with a friend last weekend. She mentioned that she had to fi re an employee. This was particularly unpleasant because he was not cheating or stealing or coming late to work; he was meeting his goals, but just barely. Simply, he was not outstanding. Sounds like a tough organization, if Exceptional is the minimum expectation. My friend explained, In order to improve the company we need to hire people who excel. If he’s not outstanding, he is a blocker, she said. If you’re not standing out, you’re

in the way. Makes sense. Can he be trained? I wondered, always cheering for the underdog. We’ve tried, she said, but he doesn’t seem to want to change. Aha. We all have our reasons: But I’m busy. But I can’t afford the education. But I’m needed here. But my team is uninspiring. But it’s too risky. But it might not pan out. But it could backfi re. Underneath every genuine excuse, the loud and clear message bubbling up is, “I don’t really want to.” If you wanted to, you would. When you want to and you

do, you cannot help but excel. Studies show that when a person works from their strengths and personal interests, when their heart is really into what they are doing, they consistently will work harder, achieve more and feel energized while working. The opposite phenomenon occurs when someone is just going through the motions; he works hard, accomplishes little and leaves work feeling drained and unsatisfi ed. Career planning involves sorting the shoulds from the want-to’s. If you have a career goals bucket list (if not, start

now), cross off all but the most burning ideas. Disregard the easy money, the title your mate admires and the profession your parents pushed you into. What do you really want? Where do you really want to go? Aim for that star, and keep in mind another great line from Mr. Hughes, “I will not take but for an answer.”

Julie Desmond is Talent Manager for Lake Region Staffi ng and Express Employment Professionals. Write to julie@lakeregionstaffi ng.com.

I am always fascinated by the impact of human emotions on our consumer behavior – whether those emotions are inspired by tragedy or triumph. Two television broadcasts made ratings history recently, one because of a tragedy and one because of a triumph: the 54th Annual Grammy Awards on CBS and the contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks, February 10, on ESPN.

Nielsen research has proven Americans love sports and music programming. African- Americans are typically well-represented in both. The Grammy Awards have been a viewing favorite. Research backs up the common sense notion that Blacks tend to gravitate to programming where there are larger numbers of people who look like us – but this year, the number of us who watched the Grammys was almost off the charts (no pun intended). The recent 54th Annual Grammy Awards attracted nearly 40 million viewers (39.9 million), which made it the largest Grammy audience since 1984 and the second largest in the history of the broadcast. Of those 39.9 million viewers, African- Americans made up 6.21 million. That means a

whopping 60% more Black folks watched the Grammys this year than last (3.7 million out of a total viewership of 24.7 million in 2011). Some people like me may tune in to see who’s wearing what. How fabulous will our favorites be, or how outrageous? Others are true music afi cionados. While the why for this year’s phenomenal success of the Grammys has not yet been offi cially analyzed, I suspect that the tragic news of the sudden death of beloved music icon Whitney Houston the night before piqued the increased interest. If you were like me and my friends, we were reeling

with disbelief. Tuning into the Grammys seemed to offer a kind of solace and comradery in our collective desire to pay homage to a musical phenomenon who was one of our own. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, the show didn’t hold my attention for long beyond the luscious LL’s prayer for “our fallen sister” (a very nice touch). But after his intro and having glimpsed the outrageous outfi ts of Nicki Minaj, Gaga and the sweet acknowledgements from Alicia Keys and Bruno Mars, I begged my Facebook friends to wake me up when they got to the Whitney tribute. Someone from Ft. Wayne, Ind. (my hometown)

actually alerted me when Glen Campbell’s tribute came on. (You couldn’t grow up in the Fort without being inundated with his music back in the day). So I loudly and proudly sang along to the tribute. My son watched me with his mouth hanging open in disbelief. “Really, mom?! Seriously, you LIKE this country music?” (If he reacted like this to my Glen Campbell tribute, he does NOT want to be around when my sister, his Aunt Natalie, goes berserk over Kenny Rogers). Following Jennifer Hudson’s moving tribute of “I Will Always Love You,” and after fi ghting back tears, I clicked off.

On the fl ip side, Americans love to cheer on an underdog, a “Rocky,” a champion who rises from the ashes of obscurity to achieve victory. In two words: Jeremy Lin. It was my basketball-playing son who turned me onto the phenomenon that was taking place with the undrafted 23-year old, Harvard-educated Asian-American from California and his fortuitous match-up against the New Jersey Nets. Lin has averaged 27 points per game – launching him from bench warmer to global superstar. In addition to a 73

By Julie [email protected]

Plan Your Career

By Cheryl Pearson-McNeil

DissectingDiversity

RATINGS TURN TO 14


of it? The truth is that many of us have taken it for granted. We have taken it for granted that we can vote forgetting that not 40 years ago, African Americans would be whipped, beaten, hung, and raped on the way to the voting booths! And IF they made it to the booths, their ballots would be illegally destroyed or they would have to pay a “Poll Tax” so high that it would represent a week’s wages and SOMEBODY would have to decide if voting freedom was more important then putting food in the mouths of their children. Yet, when election time comes around, most of us do not

vote; and many of us do not even register to vote. Yes, we have taken it for granted that we stand on somebody’s shoulders. We have taken it for granted that we deserve and can get an education. Yet, we forget that SOMEBODY was burned alive in a school bus bombing trying to integrate schools because separate, but equal was a lie. We take it for granted that we can get an education forgetting that not 40 years ago, young black students tried to enter a school in Alabama with the GOVERNOR of the state holding a shotgun barring them at the door from entering; with people throwing food at them, spitting at them, beating them up between classes, and whispering words like the “N-word,” “Coon” Black stupid Baboon!” —and some of them

did not even whisper—they yelled it! And yet today, many of us have come from the back of the bus to the fronts of the classrooms—only to fl unk out! Some statistics say that in Minnesota over 87% of White students graduate from high school, yet less than 45% of Blacks do. Sometimes our children fl unk out because we as a community check out, give up and throw them away. It is clear that educators know how to teach white students; however, they do not know how to teach those of color, especially black boys. Consequently, it is my contention that our children do not fl unk out because they are less intelligent as posed by white psychologists such as Arthur Jensen, nor do they fl unk out because they have a smaller brain capacity due to

their smaller cranial diameter as Philippe Rushton claims. No, our children fl unk out because we allow them to come home and play video games all night and do not turn the television off. They fl unk out because white teachers are afraid of them (and you) and therefore do not challenge them or hold high expectations of them. Some of them fl unk out because we are not available as parents because we work too much, party too much, use drugs and alcohol too much, and believe that our children should be there to nurture and care for US (instead of the other way around). Some of our children fl unk out because they depend on their athletic abilities to give them a future when someday they could be irrevocably hurt or they may never be good enough for the NFL or NBA! Our children fl unk out because they do not study, they skip class, they do not know how to study and do not

get help in learning how to study. They fl unk out because they forget the backs that they have climbed on and the sacrifi cial prices that have been paid for them to be in school. They forgot that they stand on somebody’s shoulders and we fail to remind them. It is my hope that we will begin this new year with a renewed commitment to honor those who came before us. Perhaps many of us do no think well enough of ourselves to change our attitudes and behaviors in order to become diligent in our pursuit of personal and collective success. Perhaps some of us have simply given up on the notion that we can survive anything. Perhaps some of us believe that life is supposed to hurt, and being black is supposed to be a burden. We are not responsible for what has been done to us, or even what is being done to us; however, we are responsible for how we react

to our past, our present, and our future. What I think is that we have the personal and collective power as a people to hold ourselves accountable for what we can do. We have the right to wellness, abundance and success. A right that has been bought and paid for by those who came before us. Therefore, I think that one of the greatest gifts that we can give each other this Black History Month is to remember the African proverb: “If we stand tall, it is ONLY because we stand on the shoulders of many ancestors.” BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, serves as President of Brakins Consulting and Psychological Services, and is the Executive Director of the African American Child Wellness Institute. The mission of the African American Child Wellness Institute is to

obtain visas more quickly and with less diffi culty. Travelers from Taiwan will join those from 36 countries who are able to come to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, which means they need only present a valid passport to gain admission to the United States.

In too many countries, the U.S. simply hasn’t had the presence it needs to meet demand. For example, in China, with a population of 1.3 billion, consular services have been available in only fi ve cities. That leaves 20 cities with populations of two million or more without a U.S. consulate. Compare that to the U.K., which offers consular services in 12 Chinese cities - and the U.K. doesn’t even require an in-person interview for its visa

applications. The result? Lost economic activity for the United States. In Europe, the number of Brazilian visitors increased by 163 percent once they no longer had to obtain visas in order to gain entry. Our failure to offer Brazilians similar access has cost the U.S. an estimated $5 billion. Sixty fi ve percent of travelers to the United States currently come under the Visa Waiver Program. Expanding the program

to include countries such as Poland, Chile, Argentina and Brazil would have a dramatic economic impact. The president’s announcement is a huge step toward a more welcoming United States as destination for international travelers. His initiative will rightly garner bipartisan support, as a robust travel industry benefi ts all Americans. Now, it’s Congress’s turn.

It’s time to take up recently introduced legislation that directs the State Department to develop accurate visa demand projections and a consular offi cer hiring plan to meet a 12-day maximum standard for visa processing. Other worthwhile proposals to expand access include the use of videoconferencing technology for visa interviews, longer visa terms and expedited processing for travelers willing to pay a premium.

For the United States, international travelers represent “free money.” With a small investment in improving their access, we could reap a huge return.

Roger Dow is President and Chief Executive Offi cer of the U.S. Travel Association, the national umbrella organization representing all segments of the U.S. travel and tourism industry.

percent increase in viewership of Knicks games on MSG and ESPN in New York, nationally

the February 10 game between the Knicks and the Lakers on ESPN was the most-watched Friday night regular season NBA game on the network, so far this season - with just over 3 million viewers. On top of that, NM Incite

(a Nielsen McKinsey company) reports that social media buzz has also hit a frenzied pitch around the world since the fi rst February 4 game. Even the phrase “LinSanity” has been coined. The online chatter about Lin has surpassed conversations

about the Knicks, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant combined. Now, that’s powerful. And so are you. Because, if you follow these ratings stories, you know these surges in increased viewership are a result of people just like you and me tuning in.

It’s great news for the networks as well as the advertisers. Those advertisers are dedicated to reaching us – the consumers. Which brings me to my mantra, “Knowledge is power.” The power is in your hands, and so is the remote control.

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of public affairs and government relations for Nielsen. For more information and studies go to www.nielsenwire.com.

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the secret weapon is a polyphenol called “resveratrol.” Polyphenols are thought to “protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart.” Resveratrol is also seen as a key factor in the reduction of “bad” cholesterol and in the prevention of blood clots. What Circle of Red also provides is a much-needed social break for women. Too often, we are on an endless treadmill of

work and family, with too few opportunities to just sit and kick back. Circle of Red events offer women the opportunity to relax, network, and learn how to take better care of ourselves. Pay attention. Every woman over the age of 25 is at risk of heart disease, and more likely to die when it happens unless we do something radically different. The recipe for a healthy heart, beyond a little chocolate and red wine, is exercise, eating well, getting a preventive heart check-up, and fi nally, submission of those retirement papers from

the jobs of Super Mom/Wife and Super Woman Worker. My personal advice? Chill. Dance to some Aretha, Beyoncé, Madonna (great cardiovascular exercise)—whatever fl oats your boat or gets your toe to tapping, take at least a one hour walk four times a week, and take a break from everyone (children, spouse, partner, work, family, television and friends) to give yourself some down “woman time.” Also, contact the American Heart Association and fi nd out what the women in your community are doing to fi ght

heart disease among themselves. Kelly Rogers, Senior Director of Corporate Relations at AHA ([email protected] or 919.463.8327) can help. You can also establish your own Circle of Red, or just a neighborhood healthy heart group for walking and indulging in some occasional wine and chocolate. The heart/life you save along the way may be your own. © 2012 McClaurin Solutions END – Word count 1373 Irma McClaurin, PhD is the Culture and Education Editor for Insight News of Minneapolis.

She is an anthropologist and writer living in Raleigh, NC and a former university president. (www.irmamcclaurin.com) (@mcclaurintweets) To learn more about how women can prevent heart disease, check out the following: h t t p : / / w w w. h e a r t . o r g /HEARTORG/ https://americanheartraleigh.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/20112012RaleighGoRedLuncheon/tabid/300242/Default.aspx http://www.irmamcclaurin.com/resources/Healthy%20Living-Head%20To%20Toe%20

Toning.pdf ht tp: / /www.mayocl inic .com/health/healthy-chocolate/AN02060 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004458/ h t tp : / /abcnews.go.com/Health/HeartDiseaseNews/top-symptoms-heart-disease-women/story?id=14009993#.Tz6olVbvOVo http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089 http://www.womensheart.org/content/heartdisease/heart_disease_facts.asp

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understands that a strong American economy is tied to a healthy, vibrant rural economy,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who chairs the White House Rural Council. “The actions we are taking will bring new economic investments to our rural communities, to ensure the people who live in these towns have a better, brighter future.” The three announcements were recommended by federal agencies participating in the White House Rural Council, and leverage existing programs and funding, but the new actions will expedite job creation in rural parts of the country. “This Administration will not be satisfi ed until everyone who wants a job, has a job – both in rural and urban communities,” said Commerce Secretary John Bryson. “Today’s announcements are just the latest example of federal partners aligning all of their efforts and resources to help businesses grow, create jobs, and ensure that our economy is built to last.” “Health information technology has the potential to improve the quality, access, and effi ciency of health care delivery, especially in our nation’s rural areas. To achieve this aim, it is essential that we have a skilled health IT workforce,” said Mary Wakefi eld, PhD., R.N., Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. “This memorandum of understanding with our colleagues at the Department of Labor will build on existing collaborations to help ease the challenges of geographic isolation and staff shortages faced by rural communities and help move us toward our mutual goal of Health IT workforce development.” “There is a real need to expand the rural health IT workforce and our MOU with the Department of Health and Human Services will help ensure that job training programs are quickly and effectively addressing this

need,” said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Administration Jane Oates. New initiatives being announced today include:• Promoting A Bioeconomy:

President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum today directing the Federal Government to take decisive steps to dramatically increase the purchase of biobased products over the next two years, which will create jobs and drive innovation where biobased products are grown and manufactured. The Memorandum will also result in a 50 percent increase in the number of new products that are designated as biobased. Biobased products include items like paints, soaps and detergents and are developed from farm grown plants, rather than chemicals or petroleum bases. The biobased products sector marries the two most important economic engines for rural America: agriculture and manufacturing.

• Rural Jobs Accelerator: The Rural Jobs Accelerator is a national competition that will provide about $15 million for projects that promote innovation-fueled regional job creation. The competition will combine funding from the USDA, the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Delta Regional Authority and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Additionally, this approach will require multiple agencies to coordinate technical assistance and grant / loan programs so that potential rural customers have a single access point within the Federal government to mobilize the resources of the government to help a region of the country. USDA will utilize the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program to support this effort and provide technical assistance and training funds to qualifi ed intermediary organizations to develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facilities, and community and economic

development projects in rural areas. The Federal Funding Opportunity will be released in the next few weeks.

• Rural Health IT Workforce: The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor signed a memorandum of understanding to connect community colleges and technical colleges that support rural communities with the materials and resources they need to support the training of Health Information Technology (HIT) professionals that work in rural hospitals and clinics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the needed HIT workforce will increase by 20 percent by 2016.

Over the last month, the Obama Administration has made several additional announcements resulting from the White House Rural Council’s efforts, including an initiative to help rural homeowners refi nance their mortgages at lower interest rates and a new forest restoration framework to drive economic growth and job creation through timber restoration and harvest. The new plan would place federal agencies on a path toward increasing federal timber harvests to 3 billion board feet. Since August 2011, the White House Rural Council has supported a broad spectrum of rural initiatives including a $350 million commitment in SBA funding to rural small businesses over the next 5 years, launching a series of conferences to connect investors with rural start-ups, creating capital marketing teams to pitch federal funding opportunities to private investors interested in making rural investments, making job search information available at 2,800 local USDA offi ces nationwide, making HHS loans available to help more than 1,300 Critical Access Hospitals recruit additional staff, and helping rural hospitals purchase software and hardware to implement health IT. USDA and Navy also announced a partnership to advance the use of next generation biofuels in Navy operations.

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Larnell McMorris elected to NAACP board

Black farmers get $1.25 billion settlement

The NAACP National Board of Directors elected Lamell McMorris as one of the Board’s youngest and newest members on Saturday, February 18, 2012. The election took place at the 103rd NAACP Annual Meeting at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. “I am both humbled and honored to be elected to the NAACP National Board of Directors. This great

organization has been at the forefront of all civil rights organizations for more than a century, and is continuing to advocate each day for the political, educational, social, and economic equality rights of all people,” said McMorris. “I am excited to be part of the leadership that will shape policy for the NAACP, and continue the fi ght in eliminating discrimination in our nation and throughout the

world.” McMorris, a native Chicagoan, moved to Washington, DC in 2002 to open Perennial Strategy Group (www.perennialsg.com), a strategic advisory fi rm that provides government relations and public affairs services to Fortune 500 companies, national non-profi ts, trade associations, and public-sector clients on a wide range of public-policy issues and

corporate matters. Within a few years, McMorris also opened Perennial Law Group (www.perenniallg.com) and Perennial Sports and Entertainment (www.perennialse.com), which collectively represent a number of well-known entertainers and dozens of professional football, basketball, and baseball players. In addition to serving his clients, McMorris serves on several NAACP committees, including the Economic

Development Committee, the Legal Committee, the Image Awards Committee, and the SCF Trustee and Development Committee as the Committee Chair. McMorris is also a Diamond Life Member of the NAACP and a proud recipient of the Benjamin L. Hooks Keeper of the Flame Award, which he received in 2010 at the NAACP 101st Annual National Convention in Kansas City, MO.

Following the march from Selma to Montgomery, America was changed forever. To claim that it would be welcomed or rapid would be to miss the relevance of the situation that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others accomplished on those long and winding, southern roads. These roads were fatal for some of the participants and dangerous for nearly all of those who followed Dr. King in those fateful days in March of 1965. But history teaches us that the relevance of a movement is not gauged

by the moment, but by its long term results. When asked by some in the media and by his own staff how long it would be before African-Americans would receive voting rights, Dr. King responded by saying, “How long? Not long, because the arm of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice...” I believe that Dr. King knew in 1965 that the struggle for justice was just beginning, and that it would ultimately stretch from fair housing to equal opportunity in education, employment, and accommodations. In the struggle for justice, the road winds and turns in many directions, and the longer

justice is denied the more complicated and the longer it will take to straighten its arm

back to its moral universe. As a student of history and a person of moral conscience, I understand the teaching of Dr. King and the lessons of Selma as it factors into the settlement of the Pigford class action lawsuit. We see the moral compass of justice turning and it moved these African- American farmers from a state of frustration to that of satisfaction. In 1997, a group of African-American farmers fi led a class-action lawsuit, Pigford I, against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in federal district court, alleging discrimination regarding participation in some USDA farm programs. The

case was settled in 1999, with a Consent Decree, through which individual claims would be assessed and adjudicated in a court-approved claims process. There were concerns with the Pigford I Consent Decree when more than 63,000 potentially eligible African-American farmers who fi led late claims were denied participation in the claims process. In response, Congress passed language in the2008 Farm Bill, which allowed these African-American farmers to fi le lawsuits against USDAand, appropriated $100 million for monetary relief. These cases have now been consolidated into a new lawsuit. Pigford II. The Obama administration

and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack vigorously pursued the settlement of this case bringing closure to this longstanding and well documented case of discrimination, and subsequently Pigford II was settled in February 2010. The settlement contains a non-judicial, non adversarial claims process for awarding a total of up to $1.25 billion - which includes the original $100 million provided by the 2008 Farm Bill - to African-American farmers who meet specifi c eligibility requirements. To be eligible, farmers had to also have previously submitted a request to fi le a late claim in the 1999 Pigford I Consent Decree.

perenniallg.comLamell McMorris

described “art dealer” from Minneapolis. He ended up at Parchman Prison Farm with other Riders, and from then on he was devoted to “The Movement,” the groundswell of progressive activists fi ghting for civil rights and world peace and opposing the Military-Industrial Complex. During the early 60s Marv got to work with leaders of SNCC, NAACP, SCLC, CORE, the Albany Movement, CNVA and similar organizations. Marv was on the National Mall in Washington D.C. when Martin Luther King Jr gave his “I have a dream” speech on August 28, 1963. He was part of the “Canada to Cuba March,” that year and spent time in jail in Macon and Albany, Georgia for being part of the interracial group which was agitating for both racial justice and world peace. He was an early supporter of the Black Panthers and American Indian Movement. “Racism is used to exploit people and divide poor whites against blacks,“ he taught. “We must cherish youth and honor elders, return tribal lands, make reparations to black people for the crimes of slavery and racism.” Marv was also one of the early organizers against the Vietnam War and against the military-industrial complex. In December 1968 he was one of the founders of the Honeywell Project, a group dedicated to opposing the

manufacture of anti-personnel fragmentation bombs by Honeywell Corporation, then headquartered in Minneapolis. In January 1969 he was part of a group of whites who supported the University of Minnesota’s African American Action Committee (AAAC) when it held a sit-in at Morrill Hall, the U’s administration building, in order to advocate for increased minority recruitment and black studies at the U (at that time there were only about 85 blacks among the 40,000+ students at the U’s Twin Cities campus, and that included the athletes). Rose Freeman Massey was AAAC President at that time. 43 years later she still remembers Marv as “a warrior, a true soldier” and says “The world is a smaller place with him gone.” When AAAC leaders were indicted for the sit-in, Marv was a central fi gure in The Liberation Coalition, a university-community coalition which provided some of the fi rst civil rights organizing experience for a generation of student activists, who were widely inspired by Marv’s sonorous voice telling tales of his already-extensive experiences. That voice carried on for many years to come. One of the most telling memories of Marv was written by ABC7 Washington D.C. TV News reporter (formerly of WCCO and CBS) Sam Ford: “I met Marv during a visit to Minnesota nearly a decade ago and he held me spellbound. Though I am a black man and student of Civil Rights history, the closest I ever felt to the

movement was the two hours I sat listening as this white, one-time “freedom rider” described his experiences, including his gut-wrenching fear as he sat in a Mississippi prison wondering whether he would ever make it out alive. I live in DC where I am one of the organizers of our Martin Luther King parade on Monday [1/16/12]. I’m going to give a shout out to Marv Davidov, a Civil Rights hero. And it is noteworthy he died on this weekend. The federal holiday is about Martin Luther King, but it is also about so many others who struggled in the fi ght for equality from the Fannie Lou Hamers of Mississippi to the Marv Davidovs of Minnesota. Thank you Marv. Sam Ford.” During this late 60s/early 70s era Marv ran Liberty House, selling handmade crafts from rural Mississippi in a building at 6th and Cedar on the West Bank, a building which also housed the Twin Cities Draft Information Center, Hundred Flowers newspaper, the Minnesota 8 Defense Committee and innumerable meetings of other peace and justice activists. Marv’s place was for years a central hotbed of radical activism. Marv always believed in the admonition of James Baldwin “You have to take freedom; it’s not given.” He was a believer in Gandhian civil disobedience, in Martin Luther King’s admonition “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny” and “one has a moral responsibility

to disobey unjust laws.” With these thoughts in mind, Marv was an unapologetic advocate of “civil disobedience,” i.e. getting arrested in order to create non-violent confl ict to heighten social problems. The Honeywell Project (later Alliant Action) was Marv’s main focus for years, but he also was on the lines in support of central Minnesota farmers fi ghting power line siting; the Black Hills Alliance to stop uranium mining in South Dakota; the Plowshares anti-nuke movement; the striking workers at Hormel, Normandy Hotel, and elsewhere; the Minnesota Campaign to Ban Land Mines; the Minnesota Peace and Justice Coalition; the Midwest Institute for Social Transformation; and more. While many of the others involved in these issues soon left “movement” activism to pursue careers and make money, Marv never considered doing anything else but being a full-time organizer for social change. Throughout history pacifi st activists are periodically scorned as quaint but foolish dreamers; as not-sensible pragmatists. Marv occasionally faced such scorn. After all, he was in many ways a community scold, in the best and most uncommon use of that phrase. And while folk around him sometimes tired of the constant demonstrations and arrests and agitation, and sometimes Marv himself got quite depressed by the need for constant struggle, at the same time he never doubted his Gandhian principles. “Non-violence can win social change

with minimum loss of life,” he taught. “Every movement begins small, and from that grows mass movement to change social policy.” He never lost his unerring belief that change was always needed and that good people could peacefully agitate to obtain progressive change. Because of Marv Davidov, two generations of peace and justice activists have been trained in non-violent civil disobedience. “You want to make a difference and I feel I’ve done that with my friends and comrades.” Because of his choice to devote his life to ‘the movement,’ Marv was always broke. He supported himself by donations from friends, small stipends from the organizations he supported and for speaking, occasional poker games and, in the main, teaching. He taught at Carleton College and St Cloud University, among other places.

Even though Marv was never religious and certainly never Christian, at the same time there is a symmetry that his job for the last several years of his life was teaching an Active Non-Violence class at Catholic St Thomas University, as many of his comrades in the civil rights and anti-war movements were Catholic pacifi sts. A Celebration of the Life of Marv Davidov is being held on Saturday March 10, 2012 at the University of St Thomas new alumni center at the corner of Cretin and Summit Avenues in St Paul, starting with an informal gathering at 1:00 p.m. and formal program at 2:00 p.m. The public is welcome, and any of Marv’s old compatriots from the front lines of struggle are affi rmatively invited to attend and make add their comments during the program.

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Joe Leonard, Jr., PhD, U. S. Department of Agriculture

By Joe Leonard, Jr., PhD, U. S. Department of Agriculture


Documents

Insight News ::: 2.27.12