http://nnpa.org/nnpa_newswire/poverty-still-major-affliction-for-blacks/?_sft_category=national
http://nnpa.org/nnpa_newswire/blacks-least-likely-to-get-business-loan-from-banks-by-freddie-allen/?_sft_category=lead
http://nnpa.org/nnpa_newswire/a-call-to-curb-expansion-of-charter-schools-in-black-communities-by-freddie-allen/?_sft_category=lead
CASH IN THE APPLE FOR
MAY 28, 2015
By Cash Michaels
GOODBYE,
B.B. - Years ago, I
was asked to mc a blues concert at Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium. Headlining
the show was the great B. B. King. I'll never forget he was supposed to be
presented the key to the city on stage by a city official. Problem was that
city official was so drunk, he was slurring his words as he handed B.B. the
honor. King was so put off, he looked at me onstage and asked in the microphone
for everyone to hear, "Is this the key to the city, or the key to the
city's liquor closet?' OUCH! I felt so bad I looked for the escape door on
stage to get off. But B.B. King was a nice man to work with that night. We have
lost one of the true legends of music, who died last week at the age of 89.
Now we hear the sad news that two of
his children are alleging that he was poisoned by his manager to takeover his
estate. I find this hard to believe, especially given that B.B. King was
reportedly estranged from his children, and none of them were at his bedside
when he died. Plus, he didn’t put any of them in his will, which further
smells. Now, all of a sudden, they don’t want his closest aides to get any of
his money. A criminal investigation is underway, and we’ll know in a few weeks
what the toxicology tests say on the body, but here’s another situation where a
star’s estranged children want a parent’s money in death, but apparently did
little to earn that parent’s love in life.
We’ll see.
MEMORIAL DAY – I hope everyone had a
safe and joyous Memorial Day weekend. And make no mistake, I’m 100 percent
honoring the brave men and women, past and present, who have taken up arms to
defend our nation against the enemies who sought, and still seek, to destroy
this nation, and the promise of freedom, justice and equality that it holds.
But I also insist on Memorial Day,
to honor and pay tribute to those who never picked up a weapon of any kind, but
instead, stood strong for that same freedom, justice and equality our men and
women in uniform fought so far for on distant shores. But these other heroes I
commemorate fought hard and sacrificed for freedom right here at home,
marching, demonstrating, standing up to oppressive laws that historically
denied Americans their rights as citizens and human beings. How can we possibly
forget these brave Americans, who demanded equality, and were successful in
bringing about some measure of it through blood, sweat and tears.
Now it could be said that many of
these people are rightfully honored during the federal and state holidays
commemorating the work of civil rights champion Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
and I wouldn’t argue that, except for one thing – we spend 90 percent of that
time remembering the man, and then the movement.
How about including the courage of
the entire movement for freedom, justice and equality with the courage of
battle? Tell me why, convince me that the people who got on buses to ride
through the segregated South back in the 1960’s, only to be pulled off and
beaten by other American citizens because they threatened a segregated
un-American way of life, weren’t courageous knowing that they were taking their
lives in their hands.
And refused to fight back with
violence because the integrity of their cause was so important to the future of
this country.
Tell me that we don’t owe those
heroes whose shoulders all of us stand on today a great debt of thanks?
Of course we do. From this day
forward, let us continue to honor those who went to war for their bravery and
sacrifice, but let us also honor those who paid dearly for freedom right
here by standing up top homegrown
tyranny.
In my heart, they will always be
commemorated.
RAVEN’S MOUTH – I’m sure you’ve
heard by now that former “Cosby Show” darlin’ Raven Symone is angling for a job
on ABC-TV’s daytime girl talker, “The View”, which has been suffering in the
ratings ever since Barbara Walters retired a few months ago.
Apparently the producers of “The
View” like what they see – good ratings every time mixed up Raven shows up and
opens her “I’m not African-American” mouth. So unless there are secret photos
of her doing something that would get us all in trouble, Ms. Mixed Up most
likely has the job.
And it’s a shame really. Instead of
hiring a young black woman who could be entertaining, but also offer sharp,
insightful perspective on the days events, ABC wants to hire a loudmouthed brat
who thinks she’s so special, she’s too “good” for labels. Thus, the idiot
statement to Oprah recently not to call her an African-American because she has
nothing to do with Africa.
And when a Spanish TV host said
that First Lady Michelle Obama looked like she could have starred in “Planet of
the Apes,” instead of standing up and defending history’s first black First
Lady, Raven get’s on “The View” and says that some people do look like animals.
So now ABC wants somebody who has
no common sense on the air just to pull a crowd. In other words, folks will
tune in just to see if Raven will say something stupid, not because they
respect her.
That’s the opposite of why they tune
in to hear what host Whoopi Goldberg. They know the outspoken Whoopi will say something outrageous because Whoopi
is known for speaking her mind. But Whoopi is mature enough to know how to be
outrageous, yet make a cogent point. Doesn’t mean you agree with her, but at
least she’s coming at you from the credible, thus, you respect her point of
view.
Raven is going to deliberately be
the class clown, the joke. Bad enough she’s stupid enough to disrespect her
people and community, but now she’s going to dis herself, and act like it
doesn’t matter.
That’s called a darn shame where I
come from. Oh yes, Raven will have her supporters, probably folks as dumb as
she is. They’ll maintain that raven isn’t dumb at all because she’s getting
paid. Well if willfully shilling your self-respect is worth “getting’ paid” to
you, then go right on with Raven, if you can get it.
Let’s see how she ends up, shall
we?
Make sure you tune in every Thursday
afternoon at 4 p.m. for my talk radio show, ''Make It Happen'' on Power 750 WAUG-AM,
or online at www.waug-network.com. And read more about my thoughts and
opinions exclusively at my blog, ‘The Cash Roc” (http://thecashroc.blogspot.com/2011/01/cash-roc-begins.html).
Cash in the Apple - honored as the
Best Column Writing of 2006 by the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
Columnist Cash Michaels was also honored by the NNPA for Best Feature Story
Journalist of 2009, and was the recipient of the Raleigh-Apex NAACP’s
President’s Award for Media Excellence in Sept. 2011.
Until next week, keep a smile on your
face, GOD in your heart, and The Carolinian in your life. Bye, bye.
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TRIANGLE NEWS BRIEFS
FOR 5-28-15
NATIONAL ROSENWALD
SCHOOLS CONFERENCE JUNE 17-20 IN DURHAM
A national
conference on the history and preservation of Rosenwald school buildings is
scheduled to be held in Durham June 17-20. The National Trust for Historic Preservation
is hosting the 2015 National Rosenwald Schools Conference to help restore and
re-use classic buildings that once housed African-American schools in the 1920’s throughout the South. Rosenwald
Schools are on the National Trust’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered
Historic Places. Go to www.rosenwaldschools, or call
843-266-2044 to learn more about the conference. Deadline for online
registration is June 10th.
POLICE ARREST DURHAM
COURTHOUSE CLERK IN ALLEGED DRUG DEAL
Based on a
tip, Durham County Sheriff’s investigators staked out the Durham County
Courthouse parking deck on April 15th, and caught court clerk Meghan
Dempsey allegedly involved in a drug deal with a man later identified as Domini
Speed of Durham. The episode was caught on parking deck surveillance cameras.
Heroin was allegedly found in Dempsey’s car at the deck, while Speed was caught
with both drugs and cash. Both have been charged with possession. Dempsey has
been terminated from her job.
UNC BOARD OF
GOVERNORS ELIMINATE 46 DEGREE PROGRAMS
In another
controversial move, the UNC Board of Governors last week voted to eliminate 46 educational
training degree programs at various system campuses. The move comes after reviews of several programs that reportedly
had low enrollments. Many of the degrees will now be now consolidated into
other major concentrations. Officials say in recent years there has been a
substantial drop in the students pursuing education.
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR
5-28-15
POLICE OFFICER
CHARGED AFTER ILLEGALLY PASSING STOPPED SCHOOL BUS
[CLINTON] A Clinton police
officer is in hot water after he was seen allegedly passing a stopped school
bus in his patrol vehicle. Video from
the bus confirmed that Lt. Robert Dalton was driving when his vehicle allegedly
passed it at 7”30 a.m. on the morning of May 15th. He was issued a
citation six days later by the NC Highway Patrol, and is expected in traffic
court on July 28th. Lt. Dalton is also the subject of an internal
police department probe about the matter.
NCAA ISSUES ANOTHER
“NOTICE OF ALLEGATIONS” TO UNC
[CHAPEL
HILL] Just when the smoke seemed to be clearing from the previous athletic
program scandal at UNC – Chapel Hill, comes another NCAA investigation, according
to published reports. Last week the NCAA delivered a “Notice of Allegations” to
UNC, most likely concerning allegations of “paper classes” that allowed
athletes to pass courses without ever attending classes or taking tests. The
document is under review, and is scheduled to be made public shortly. UNC Chancellor Carol Folt and
Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham said in a joint statement that they take
the allegations “very seriously” and would be responding to the NCAA within the
90-day deadline.
NCDMV NOW ISSUES
SINGLE LICENSE PLATE STICKER FOR CAR REGISTRATION
[RALEIGH]
No more double stickers on your North Carolina license plate giving the expiring
month and year for registration. For now on, a single gray sticker in the upper
right-hand corner of your license plate will do the job, meaning that the
Highway Patrol won’t be able to just look at color anymore to determine who is
and is not in compliance. State officials say the change will save money in the
long run for NCDOT. The two-color system had been in use since 1976.
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MCCRORY DELAY ON
PARDONS
HURTING INNOCENT PAIR
By Cash Michaels
Editor
It has been
almost nine months since Henry McCollum and Leon Brown, two half brothers, were
proven innocent and freed after
spending over 30 years in prison, and
yet Gov. Pat McCrory still hasn’t issued pardons of innocence for either.
"Yesterday, I was heartened to see the
convictions of Henry McCollum and Leon Brown vacated by the court," said McCrory
in a Sept. 4, 2014 statement after the two black men were cleared of a 1983 Red
Springs rape and murder they were falsely convicted of. "My office has a
process in place to review applications for pardons of innocence. If they
apply, we will begin reviewing their applications as soon as they are received.
While it is
normal for the Governor’s Office of Executive Clemency and the governor’s chief
counsel to review the case files of those who apply for the various levels of
pardons granted by a governor – a power only he has – it is unusual, observers
say, that it should take as long as it has for McCrory to act.
Indeed, in
just three months, it will have been a year since their release.
Without
those pardons of innocence – which would legally certify that both men were
innocent of the crimes they were falsely convicted of, even though their
convictions were vacated by a judge, they cannot legally collect compensation
from the state for the many years they’ve spent in prison.
With IQ’s
ranging in the 50’s and little formal education, both men have been deemed
mentally disabled since their youth. At their advanced ages, the prospects of
both men being able to earn decent livings for themselves is beyond probable.
“If the governor called me,
I would tell him the reason why I need his pardon: I would tell him I deserve
this pardon,” McCollum told The New York Times earlier in March. “I did 31
years in prison for a crime I did not commit. I could have given up a long time
ago and told the state to kill me.”
“It is
simply a disgrace,” said Chris Fitzsimon, political commentator and writer for
the progressive NC Policy Watch, in an April 20 posting on the “Progressive
Pulse” website. “McCrory’s office received the [pardons of innocence]
applications 221 days ago, and nothing has happened.”
Fitzsimon’s
April posting continued, “ The News &
Observer reported two months ago that McCollum and Brown were unable to pay
their bills and were relying on donations from friends and supporters to
survive. At one point their water was turned off because they couldn’t afford
to pay for it.”
Neither man
even knew how to drive a car when they were released, according to The NY Times.
On May 11, The Charlotte Observer published an
editorial titled “31-year wait for justice is enough,” noting that once the
governor issues the pardons of innocence, under law both McCollum and Brown
would be eligible for up to $750,000 “…for having their entire adult lives
wrongly taken from them, So far all they’ve received was $45 each when they
left prison.”
At the time
of his release, Henry McCollum had been North Carolina’s longest serving death
row inmate.
The
editorial went on to recount how investigators for the NC Innocence Inquiry
Commission spent five-years looking into the 1983 rape and murder of an 11
year-old Red Springs girl that both men were ultimately convicted of while they
were teens. Based on that new investigation, DNA evidence was discovered
actually linking the victim to a serial rapist who had been convicted of a
similar crime nearby during that time.
“The
Robeson County district attorney, Johnson Britt, ..agreed the brothers should
be exonerated,” The Charlotte Observer
May 11th editorial continued, noting that there was now no “credible
evidence” against them. “Superior Court Judge Douglas Sasser declared them
innocent. They were freed the next day. None of that is good enough for
McCrory, who has launched his own investigation.”
The paper
then quoted a statement sent from the governor’s general counsel, Bob Stephens,
to NC Policy Watch.
“This is a thorough and detail-intensive
process, and it takes time to complete,” Stephens wrote. “We review evidence,
transcripts, and other reports connected to the case. Interviews of relevant
parties are also conducted.”
The
Observer editorial concluded by calling Gov. McCrory’s followup
investigation “unnecessary” and taking way too long. “He needs to wrap it up
and let McCollum and Brown get on with the lives the state unconscionably took
from them.
Last March, Ryan Tronovitch, a
spokesman for McCrory, told The NY Times,
“Our extensive
review is ongoing, and we need to ensure that we have gathered and considered
all relevant information as part of our process. While we can’t put an exact
time frame on when a decision will come, this is a top priority for Governor
McCrory, and he has made that abundantly clear to those involved.”
The Carolinian submitted a written request for comment to the
governor’s press office Wednesday regarding the status of McCollum and Brown’s
pardons of innocence applications, but received no response by press time.
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