MCJ Sept. 10, 2014 Edition

JJOUROURNALNALWISC O N S I N ’ S L A R G E S T A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N N E W S PA P E R

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSINPERMIT NO. 4668The Milwaukee

BlacksHaving Tougher TimeRecovering fromRecessionBy Freddie AllenNNPA Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – The unemploymentrate for Blacks (11.4 percent) and Whites (5.3 per-cent) remained unchanged from July to August,but the fact that Black unemployment is 2.4 per-cent higher than when the recession began fiveyears ago is an indication that Blacks have the far-thest to go to get back to pre-recession levels, ac-cording to Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The CBPP reported that the unemployment rate

for Whites is about one point higher than it was atthe start of the recession and for Hispanics it is 1.2

percent higher. According to the latest monthly job report issued

Friday, the unemployment rate for Black men over20 years old dropped from 11.1 percent in July to10.8 percent in August, but the labor force partic-ipation rate, the measure of workers that eitherhave jobs or are still looking, also fell from 68 per-cent to 67.3 percent. That means that the drop in the unemployment

rate is likely due to people dropping out of the jobmarket. By contrast, the jobless rate for White men over

20 years old rose from 4.8 to 4.9 percent and the

labor force participation rate was flat from July toAugust (72.2 percent). For Black women the unemployment rate in-

creased from 10.1 percent in July to 10.6 percentin August while the jobless rate for White womenedged down from 4.9 percent to 4.8 percent. However, like Black men, the share of White

women in the labor market also fell, which couldhave contributed to the slight decrease. Young Blacks (16-19 years old) continue to ex-

perience the highest levels of unemployment com-pared to other major worker groups. In August, the

ADRIAN L. BROOKS: “Yes, theyhave the best team in the league andthey are my team!”

MARIA FOSKETT:”I think the Brew-ers will win the Wild Card spot so theycan be in the playoffs.”

DONELL DORSEY: “I think the brew-ers are going to win because they area few games back and its my hometeam.”

MATTIE REDMOND: “I think theBrewers will make the playoffs for tworeasons: 1: I have faith in them. 2:They are unpredictable.”

PULSE OF THECOMMUNITY

Photos and question by Yvonne Kemp

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

During a recent Brewershome game at Miller Park,we asked four Brew Crewfans a question that week’sago didn’t seem plausable:“Do you think the Brew-ers still have a chance tomake the playoffs?”

By Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.During a recent interview about his role

as “Mister” in the Milwaukee RepertoryTheater’s musical production of “TheColor Purple,” veteran stage actor and Mil-waukee native Nathaniel Stampley, Jr. wasasked if acting was comparable to a minis-ter delivering a sermon to his congregation.If the question sounds out-of-place, consider the fact

Stampley’s father, Rev. Nathaniel (Nate) Stampley, Sr. isa prominent minister and activist in Milwaukee knownfor his outreach efforts—both economic and humanitar-ian—in the community, as well as nationally and inter-nationally. “As actors, we’re telling stories. Ministers—preach-

ers—are telling stories as well, but with larger implica-

tions as it relates to life,” Stampley said, adding there isa level of theatrics in a church setting.“The essence of acting—stage work—a story is being

told. In a church—or temple setting—the congregation(or audience) is focused on the orator/actor, who has tomaintain their attention in any way he (or she) can.”Stampley will obviously have the attention of the au-

dience when “The Color Purple” premieres September23 in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theatre playing the partof Mister, the abusive husband of Celie (who will beplayed by Zonya Love in the Milwaukee Rep production)in the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, movie and musical.Stampley said he’s approaching the controversial part

of a spousal abuser as a challenge to find his character’shumanity. “As an actor, to do a role well, you can’t cast any judg-

ment on the character (you’re playing); you can’t say

“We’re not all good,and we’re not allbad...Mister has an incredible journeythroughout the show.He’s not the same per-son at the end as hewas in the beginning.It’s the journey I’m in-terested in and wantthe audience to see.”

Stampley (far left front) with fellow cast members of “The Color Purple” at a community meet andgreat held recently at Holy Redeemer Institutional COGIC. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)

“Be Well Milwaukee” tocelebrate and empowerwomen and familiesBy Taki S. RatonA full morning of networking and

personal empowerment is scheduledfor Saturday, September 13, 2014 atthe Comfort Suites Park Place, 19831West Park Place from 9 a.m. to 12noon. Themed, “Be Well Milwau-kee,” the event will feature a panel ofcommunity leaders, business ownersand visionaries.“’Be Well Milwaukee’ is a coming

together of like-minded and like-spir-ited people with the primary objec-tive of motivating and inspiringothers,” says event organizer Carmen C. Ray. She adds that the morning willprovide the opportunity for individuals and families to take their business,career and personal goals to the next level.Keynote speakers include community leader Andre Lee Ellis and author

and business owner Shauna Weatherspoon.Co-sponsorship of “Be Well Milwaukee” includes Pinnacle Motivations,

Carmen Ray

(continued on page 2)


Jamal Randle, from left, Loren Cowling, andDave Jackson fill out applications for posi-tions at a new bar and restaurant in Detroit,Sept. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (continued on page 6)

Mayor Tom Barrett was joined by various Milwaukee community leaders and residents to celebrate the100th day of his Walk 100 miles in 100 Days program Tuesday at Pere Marquette Park, 950 N. Old WorldThird St. The YMCA lead brief warm-up exercises (shown above and in lower photo at right) before thefinal one mile walk along the Riverwalk. Participants enjoyed healthy snacks, received free T-shirts andentered several raffles for prizes. (All photos by Yvonne Kemp)

MayorBarrettConcludes Walk 100 Miles in100 Dayswithonemilewalkon the Riverwalk

Ald. Willie Wade and Bevan Baker, commissoner of the City’sHealth Department, participated in the one mile walk along withcity’s Riverfront. (Pictured below): walk participants warm-up be-fore their trek.

Mayor Barrett with some of the participants in the walk (left toright): Patricia White, a Cancer survivor, holding Demiko White,the mayor, Samantha Giles, a staffer with the Greater Milwau-kee Committee; and Cavalier Johnson, a staffer in the mayor’soffice and a one time TNT Scholarship recipient.

Nathaniel Stampley, Jr.Actor, Milwaukee native returns home to star in the Repertory

Theatre’s production of the Broadway musical “The Color Purple”

The Milwaukee Community Journal September 10, 2014 Page 2


THETHEMILWAUKEEMILWAUKEECOMMUNITYCOMMUNITYJOURNALJOURNALPublished twice weekly,Wednesday & Friday3612 North Martin LutherKing Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212Phone: 414-265-5300 (Advertising and Administration) • 414-265-6647 (Editorial) • Website: communityjournal.net • Email: [email protected]/[email protected]

Opinion and comments expressed on the Perspectives page do not nec-essarily reflect the views of the publisher or management of the MCJ. Let-ters and “other perspectives” are accepted but may be edited for contentand length.

MCJ STAFF:Patricia O’Flynn -PattilloPublisher, CEORobert J. ThomasAssoc. PublisherTodd Thomas, Vice Pres.Mikel Holt, Assoc. PublisherThomas E. Mitchell, Jr., EditorTeretha Martin, Technical Consultant/Webmaster BillingDept./Publisher’s Admin. Assist.

Colleen Newsom,Classified AdvertisingJimmy V. Johnson, Sales Rep.CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:Taki S. Raton, Richard G. Carter,Fr. Carl Diederichs, Rev. JoeMcLinPHOTOGRAPHER: Yvonne Kemp

“Only one big room. But it’s big enough for me andmy 21-inch TV…”--Arthur O’Connell, “Picnic”(1955)

Every year around Labor Day, I think of the iconic 1955 movie “Picnic,”based on a Broadway play by William Inge. Boasting an all-star cast, theAcademy Award-winning film perfectly captured the spirit of the annual hol-iday honoring America’s workers.

In remembering “Picnic,” I also remember seeing it with my pal, JamesReed, at the Warner theater -- one of the most popular of Milwaukee’s down-town movie houses. These were large, resplendent venues with which today’splain vanilla, utilitarian, multi-screen boxes in sterile shopping centers, simplycannot compare.

From 1945-55, a total of 10 downtown theaters admitted youngsters under12 for 12-cents, and adults for a half-dollar before 6 p.m. And each wasunique and friendly.

A single block of N. Third St. from W. Wells St. to W. Wisconsin Ave.,was home to three, with seven others on Wisconsin between the river and N.Sixth St. After World War II, these iconic houses -- the White House, Princess,Miller, Telenews, Alhambra, Strand, Wisconsin, Palace, Warner and Riverside-- featured Hollywood’s best and worst.

As kids on the Near North Side, my cousin, Tommy Gee, and I, becamefamiliar with them all. We’d take the streetcar on Saturday and Sunday morn-ings to this street of cinema dreams. Our first stop usually was the WhiteHouse, at 739 N. Third St., with its gleaming alabaster exterior. This three-story structure attracted passersby with photos of second-run films festoonedall over its huge, recessed, outside lobby.

When entering, you had to look behind you to see the elevated screen inthe large, flat, lower auditorium. A slanted balcony also provided sightlines.The reverse design grew out of the developer’s yearning for a gimmick, whenthe theater was built in 1916.

As a result, this striking, yet homey venue -- next door to the bawdy Em-press burlesque theater -- was touted as “The House That’s Different.” Beforebeing torn down in 1955, its name was changed to the Atlantic and then theMid City.

In the decade before its demise, the White House changed features dailyand was the best place for cowboy pictures featuring the Cisco Kid, DurangoKid, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and others. It also showedgreat “March of Time” news shorts.

Hours later, Tommie and I would cross the street to the Princess -- builtin 1909 -- which came to be known as “Milwaukee’s Home of Action Pic-tures” specializing in “B” double features. Before being razed in 1984, thePrincess was given over to X-rated films.

We sometimes crossed the street again, to the Miller, built in 1917, at 717N. Third, which showed “A” film fare. Remodeled in the early ‘50s and re-named the Towne, this posh theater boasted of the city’s first “push-backseats.” It was demolished in 1979.

The Telenews, erected in 1947 at 310 W. Wisconsin, was the last down-

town movie house built. Designed in a modern mode, it showed news footageand documentaries, sponsored radio shows and had a lobby TV set for break-ing news. Renamed the Esquire, it remained popular with a steady flow ofsecond-run films before being razed in 1981.

The huge, stately Alhambra, built in 1896 at 334 W. Wisconsin, special-ized in film noir, Technicolor shoot-em-ups and second feature Warner Bros.offerings. Designed in lavish fashion, it contained private boxes, richdraperies and countless lights, before expiring in 1960 after a run of low-bud-get horror flicks.

The Strand, at 510 W. Wisconsin, was touted as “the largest exclusivephotoplay house west of New York” when built in 1914. This was our favoritetheater on the avenue because of its neighborhood house atmosphere andmixed bag of films. In 1963, I was privileged to interview Sidney Poitier atthe Strand, which finally succumbed in 1978.

A few doors west, at 530 W. Wisconsin Ave., was the enormous, double-balconied Wisconsin -- built in 1942 with 3,275 seats, a huge columned lobby,chandeliers, ornate ceilings, gargoyles and marble statuary. Twinned in 1963and renamed Cinema 1 and 2, it later lapsed into weekend-only operation be-fore bowing to the wrecker’s ball in 1986.

Directly across the street, at 535 W. Wisconsin, the imposing Palace --built in 1915 as the Orpheum -- showed Cinerama and 3-D films in the ‘50s.Tommie and I got in free via its only Black usher -- father of a close friend,Joe Barnes. It was demolished in 1974.

The art-deco-style Warner, at 212 W. Wisconsin -- later to become theGrand -- was built in 1931 as Warner Bros. flagship in Milwaukee for block-buster films. During the ‘50s, I attended a number of its closed-circuit televi-sion championship boxing matches.

Finally, on the west bank of the Milwaukee River, was the Riverside.Built in 1929, this French baroque house had bronze doors, marble halls, gold-

Whoever told us that life is fair was a liar. What is theevidence? When you examine what men do to other eachother without any visible evidence of consequence – atleast in this human dimension, fair doesn’t come into play.What humans do to other humans can sometimes be ab-solutely brutal and animalistic and many times without ap-peared consequence. The fact that Black people have had an absolutely terri-

ble journey in this country beginning with a brutal kidnap-ping. Followed by a massive series of pillages, wholesalemurders, atrocious brutalities, industrial and structural ex-ploitations. Additionally a series of disfranchisements which have

created the current level of disparities that threaten to com-mit the Black community to a permanent underclass inAmerica. I often wonder how did this happen?How were so many Blacks forcibly sold into mass slav-

ery? Who is guilty? How where these kidnapped Blacksthen be placed in the hulls of cargo ships encounteringdocumented atrocities that was so foul and inhuman, thatmany died? The diseases caused by the filth, urine and feces that our

ancestors lived in during nearly 9 months of transporta-tion, pregnant woman and those that were ill received nomedical treatment whatsoever. Our ancestors were treatedless than cargo. While the trans-Atlantic passage was absolutely hor-

rific, that was overshadowed by a life of hell and horrorfor untold millions that would continue for nearly 300years. How did this happen and why? This was and is the

biggest crime against all humanity that was ever commit-ted, yet we treat it like some incidental event of the past.How can one group inflict so much hurt and pain on an-other people? We’ve seen many human atrocities but many never get to mature because

the world addresses them. Why hasn’t the enslavement of our Ancestors whowere so disrespected and their pain and suffering so minimized been addressand treated? Life can’t be fair!Unfortunately, no one cares because life isn’t fair. If life were fair, our

struggle wouldn’t be so pronounced and so prolonged. If it were fair, slaverywouldn’t happen. If life were fair, the struggle for human and civil rights for Black people

wouldn’t have been so difficult. There is absolutely nothing fair about life –our history in this country has been UNFAIR and today finds us in a dilemmathat is a direct result of that history. For any sane and rational person, seeing this is a “no-brainer,” then why

has it been so difficult to even get traction? Our problem is exasperated bythe fact that many Blacks believe that life is fair and we waist time, energy,and resources, trying to get the White community to feel our pain and do theright thing by us. It hasn’t happened and yet, why? Those that oppress very rarely feel the

pain of those that are oppressed. Those that victimized very rarely feel the

pain of the victim. Those at the top of the food chain veryrarely understand the plight of those at the bottom of thefood chain. No one will care about our plight except those who have

had similar experiences of persecution and/or discrimina-tion. No one cares and no one should care except for us;however; we don’t. WHY? I believe after approximately 100 years (1619 – 1719)

of harsh and extreme slavery that represented the conceptof “Breaking the Slave.” There are no words that I can use to reflect the horror

that many of our ancestors experience during this periodof the American Institution of Slavery.Every known and many new unknown atrocities were

perpetuated against our ancestors with the sole purpose ofbreaking the Black man and woman to force him into sub-mission. What I've learned that happened during this timeis not suitable for the newspaper but I urge everyone toread more about our history and to learn firsthand whathappened to us. However the story isn’t over, it getsworse. Around 1719, the slave-owners, in an effort to get a bet-

ter and more submissive slave, began to implement a mostdiabolical strategy that can only be called “Making aSlave,” a scientific process that would insure amaster/slave relationship utilizing the following six prin-ciples (Willie Lynch):Both horse and nigger are no good to the economy in

the wild or natural state (the Black man is very dangerous– you must break the will for the Black man to resist)Both must be broken and tied together for orderly pro-

duction (the same way you break a horse you break aBlack man)For the orderly futures, special and particular attention

must be paid to the female and the young offspring (putall of your attention on the Black female and get her to eat out of your hand– so will her children)Both must be crossbred to produce a variety and division of labor.Both must be taught to respond to a particular new language. Psychological and physical instruction of containment must be created for

both (take the biggest and meanest Black man and beat him to near death infront of everyone – until you put the fear of God in him, the Black woman,and the children) We don’t care about what has happened to us because while we are physi-

cally free, the mental slavery exists for so many members of our community.Over the past year, I’ve been writing about our community as part of an ef-

fort to challenge the status quo and begin to organize the Black community.My writing is not intended to preach but to teach or at least encourage us torethink why we're in this mess and how important our history is connected toour current plight. I’ve received so many criticisms from a few of our Black leaders with the

majority questioning why I continue to bring up our past – why do you have

PERSPECTIVESPERSPECTIVES QUOTE OF THE WEEK:“LIFE HAS TWO RULES: NUMBER 1,NEVER QUIT! NUMBER 2, ALWAYSREMEMBER RULE NUMBER 1.”–DUKE ELLINGTON, LEGENDARY JAZZ PIANIST, COMPOSER AND BANDLEADER

In a major American city that has one of the highest—if notthe highest—Black/White infant mortality gaps, we are just asstunned as Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin (BHCW) at thenews it lost federal grant funding for its Milwaukee Healthy Be-ginnings Project (MHBP).Black babies in Milwaukee die three to four times more sothan White babies.As noted in our front-page story last week on the grant loss,though BHCW’s grant application for the “National HealthyStart Initiative’s Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health” ap-plication was approved, the funding was not.This means a $750,000 in funding lost for the community interms of health advocacy.As a result, the agency will be forced to cut back dramaticallyon MHBP services as of January 31, 2015. This will mean theloss of jobs for approximately 10 BHCW employees.Since it first received the grant in 1998, MHBP has providedcomprehensive culturally respectful services to 500 to 750pregnant and interconceptional women, infants, children andfamilies annually. As noted in the article, these families are often the most vul-nerable in our community, having complex medical and socialconditions.But the program went beyond focusing on pregnant women,children and infants. MHBP was wholistic, addressing father-hood, peer community education, health education, mentalhealth services, domestic violence services, AODA services,breastfeeding education and support, the Milwaukee AfricanAmerican Infant Mortality Task Force, as well as providing in-formation on health issues through community forums.Earlier this week, the health agency received more cripplingnews. It lost its federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Serv-ices (CMS) Navigator grant. Its four navigators will lose theirjobs as of this Friday. They had worked to sign-up individualsfor the Marketplace Exchange and Medicaid.This is bad timing with open enrollment starting Nov. 15.There’s no other agency that had provided ACA outreach, edu-cation, and enrollment like BHCW.The loss of the MHBP and Navigator funding drastically limitsthe effectiveness of BHCW in our community given the myriadof health issues it faces.We agree with Mayor Tom Barrett when he lamented the tim-ing of the lost funding. Milwaukee needed the resources thegrant dollars bring to deal with infant mortality and the otherhealth issues being effectively addressed by BHCW, the onlyhealth organization dedicated to advocating for the Black com-munity, a community whose people are at or near the top ofthe list of health negatives. This is a loss of serious—perhaps even catastrophic—pro-portions. Even if other agencies in the community step in andtake up some of the initiatives BHCW had to discontinue, wedoubt they will have the level of dedication, service and advo-cacy demonstrated by BHCW under the strong leadership ofthe organization’s president and CEO Dr. Patricia McManus.Hopefully, the agency can find other resources to keep itsdoors open and working on the behalf of children, women, andothers impacted by health issues and the health industry. Thecommunity itself must also come together and rally around anorganization that has come to its aid time and time again. Notdoing so would be a tragedy for our community and the stateof its health and care.

UNIVERSALLYSPEAKING

By Rahim Islam

Remember When...

Going to downtown movies was the norm...especially on weekends!By Richard G. Carter


Life Isn’t Fair, UnlessweMake it Fair

Rahim islam


MCJ EDITORIALMCJ EDITORIALLoss of important grant by Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin is bad news forcommunity health advocacy


RELIGIONRELIGIONREVIVAL SET IN HARAMBEE NEIGHBORHOODAll Peoples Church in Milwaukee is hosting a three-day revival from Septem-

ber 11 – September 13, 2014. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. each evening, there willbe food, music, testimonies, and preaching. The revival’s theme, “The Powerof God to Renew, Reform, and Revive” will be the focus of three well-knownguest preachers:• The Rev. Stephen Marsh from Lake Edge Lutheran Church in Madison will

kick off the revival on Thursday, September 11, 2014.• The Rev. Wanda Washington, formerly of Trinity United Church of Christ

in Chicago and Grace United Church of Christ in Milwaukee, will preach on Fri-day, September 12, 2014.• The Rev. Yehiel Curry of Shekinah Chapel in Chicago will preach on the

final night of the revival, Saturday, September 13, 2014.Music, under the leadership of All Peoples’ Minister of Music, David Nunley,

will include choirs from All Peoples Church, All Saints Catholic Church, andCross Lutheran Church. "This is a Holy Spirit moment," says Rev. Steve Jerbi,senior pastor at All Peoples Church. "At this time in our city and our communitywe need to celebrate what is 'good in the hood.' These services focus on how wejoin in God's work to renew our lives, reform our church and revive our city."The community is welcome to attend any or all evenings, beginning at 5:30 p.m.All Peoples Church is located at 2600 N. 2nd Street in Milwaukee, WI. Streetparking is available.

Come celebrate 119 years of serving God with Calvary Baptist Church, the old-est African American Baptist church in Milwaukee, Sunday, Sept. 21, at 9:30 a.m.Calvary is located at 2959 N. Teutonia Ave. Rev. Dr. John R. Walton, Jr. is thesenior pastor. The guest preacher for the worship service will be the Rev. Dr. Rus-sell B. Williamson, pastor of Milwaukee’s Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church.There will be a dessert tasting reception after the service. For additional infor-mation, call 414-372-1450.

Calvary Baptist Churchcelebrates 119th anniversary

WHAT’S HAPPENING!WHAT’S HAPPENING!In Your Faith-Based Community...

Yes, GoodTimes are on the WaySome years ago I was a staff mem-

ber at a Community Learning Centersponsored by the American Baptistchurches of Wisconsin, here in Mil-waukee.

The Learning Center, was located ina separate building on the grounds ofa large housing complex developedand owned by the church. What I experienced and learned

while working there and organizingactivities and programs for the resi-dents and their children turned out totruly be a God send for me; and attimes a stark reminder just how mucha responsibility we have as parents,grandparents, and caregivers. These young people ranged in age

from pre-teen to college bound. Theycame from situations where ‘most’ ofthe parents and full time caregiverstruly cared about them and their re-sponsibilities they had in giving theseyoung people the best chance of mak-ing it through to adulthood. Through this and other life experi-

ences I have learned that we, as “un-derstanding adults and formerteenagers ourselves” should not al-ways point fingers, find fault, orblame the actions of some of ouryoung people of today solely on them. Some of these young people are

only a reflection, and product of theconditions they are trying to survivein. Yes! I said survive in.I also learned that we should try and

give them some of the love they maynot be receiving every day. Some ofthem do not realize that being putdown every day by their so calledcaregivers, parents, teachers and other“adults” is not all their fault.We need to try harder to show them

that no matter what your current situ-ation may be, there is someone thatdoes care about them and will alwayslove them. Too many times I see “Our” youth

of today wandering through life withwhat appears to be no direction to-wards whom or what they want to be.So many of these children, that I ob-serve, seem completely alone in deal-ing with this hard process of justtrying to grow up in today’s society.Some of the parents that are sup-

posed to help in this process seem tobe too busy with themselves to pro-vide the nurturing and caring mo-ments that a child needs to beinternally happy and carefree.The importance of having GOD in

their lives is just not ‘Important’ any-more.From the time we were first intro-

duced to Him as little children, wewere told about this great, but humblemessenger that was sent from some-

where by someone whom we hadnever met before. And we were toldby our elders, mothers, fathers, aun-ties, and yes the preacher in the pulpitat our church that this messenger was‘soon and very soon”, coming tostraighten out all our worries andproblems.Oh yeah, this is what we were told

by everyone who we came in contactwith that called themselves a Chris-tian, a Believer, or someone that was“Saved”. And because we all knew that these

special grown-ups in our lives wouldnever tell us anything but the truth, weeither just believed what they said, oracted like we did. And you knowwhy?Because these were the people that

fed us, clothe us, took us to school,gave us candy and presents and gen-erally took care of all our needs. In our young minds, and in our

small world we lived in, we trustedour caretakers in almost everythingthey said or did. They provided for usand they made us feel safe every dayof our young lives.Now we had never seen this mes-

senger or the one that sent Him tothese people that swore by Him andall the good things he had alreadydone for them in their lives, but theirword was good enough for us.So, I say to you young people

today; don’t ever let someone tell youwhat you can’t do. Not me or anyone else that crosses

your path in life. You are a child ofGod, that has been given All the toolsof intelligence, and know how that Hehas bestowed upon all His children.There is nothing, I repeat nothing

that you can’t do if you cultivate anduse the skills that have been put intoyou by Almighty God Himself. When someone tells you that you

can’t what it really means is theycan’t, and because they can’t theydon’t you to do what they couldn’t orwouldn’t do with what God gavethem, so why should you get to. You are special, you are somebody

that can be nourished through Faith,Hope, and the Dreams of succeedingin all that inspire to accomplish.YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD!!!

Back to School Praise Talent ShowGrace United Church of Christ will host a Youth Back to School/No Violence Praise

Talent Show Saturday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 10 p.m. Grace United is located at 4920 N.Sherman Blvd. This free and positive event is being sponsored by T.A./USW1114/AFL-CIO and the Milwaukee Area Labor Council. there will be Praise Dancers,Gospel Rappers and Youth Singers, Poets, Youth Choir and Singers. Free hair cutswill also be provided. For more information, call 414-426-3762.

Mason Temple COGIC to host Diamond Jubilee The Women’s Department of the Wisconsin Northwest Jurisdiction of the Church

of God In Christ (COGIC) will hold a 10th Diamond Jubilee and Worship Celebrationfor Dr. Grace A. Harris, the Wisconsin Northwest Jurisdictional Supervisor. The eventwill be held at Mason Temple COGIC, 6098 N. 35th St., starting at 6:30 p.m. Super-intendent Osie Tatum, Jr. is the host pastor. For more information, call 414-365-0683.

Michelle Crockett, MUL Guild Presi-dent (pictured on the left), received theNational Council of Urban LeagueGuilds Molly Moon Service Award atthe 2014 National Urban League Con-ference in Cincinnati, OH. The MollyMoon award is the highest and mostprestigious Guild award presented an-nually at the conference. Picturedfrom left: Michelle Crockett, President,Milwaukee Urban League Guild andCynthia Stokes-Murray, President, Na-tional Council of Urban League Guilds.The Milwaukee Urban League Guild

received the 1st Place Central RegionCommunity Service Award at the 2014National Urban League Conference.

Milwaukee UrbanLeague wins bigat National UrbanLeague Confab

MYBROTHER’SKEEPERBy Rev. Joseph McLin

This coming Sunday, September14, the Church celebrates the Feast ofThe Exaltation of the Holy Cross.On this day our readings are: Num-bers 21:4b-9, Philippians 2: 6-11, andJohn 3:13-17.The Holy Cross, the instrument

used to murder Jesus, has become forus a sign of hope and salvation. Thisinstrument of death has become asign of life. The first reading fromNumbers gives us that interesting story of how our an-cestors were bitten by poisonous snakes because theycomplained so bitterly about life in the desert as theywere fleeing slavery. But healing came as Moses liftedup a bronze serpent on a pole and all who looked at itwere saved.Jesus makes reference to this event while speaking to

Nicodemus in the cover of night. He compares Himselfto that serpent lifted up so that all would have eternal life.But how he got "lifted up" is still a tragic murder filledwith pain and suffering. As Paul says, "he emptied him-self, taking the form of a slave…he humbled himself, be-coming obedient to death, even death on a cross." Andfrom this brutal murder Jesus becomes the salvation ofworld. We Christians bear the Cross of Jesus Christ. At our

baptism we were signed with the Cross and anointed withthe oil of chrism to become Jesus in the flesh. And our

l i f e ,like His, is filled with daily crosses, opportunities, I callthem, to be in fact "another Christ" doing the very thingshe did; reaching out to the suffering, not standing for in-justice no matter where we find it, making sure that thehungry get fed and the naked get clothes, demanding thatchildren get a good education and good health care, join-ing with others to eradicate racism and sexism, beingchampions for those who suffer domestic abuse and sex-ual exploitation. And making sure that people have decenthousing.To be a Christian today is certainly no easier than in

past centuries. The ills of society that Jesus railed againstare still with us. The constant question is, however,whether we follow Jesus even to the end or simply useHim as a crutch when times get bad for us. Is the sign ofthe cross a mere piece of jewelry we wear or a way oflife? We must decide. And I have decided to followJesus, no turning back, no turning back.

BREADIN THE WILDERNESSBy Fr. Carl Diederichs,All Saints Catholic Church

Brentwood to host comedy showfor its scholarship fund Oct 11The Lois M. Chapple Scholarship fund of Brentwood Church of Christ willpresent “Laugh to Educate,” Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at 7 p.m., in theLeroy Durley Fellowship Hall of Brentwood COC, located at 6425 N. 60thSt. Popular comedian Marlin Hill will perform, along with Chassity Wash-ington. Admission is $10 per person. There will also be a consession standto allow members of the audience to grab some food while watching theshow.


PPOLITICSOLITICS&GGOVERNMENTOVERNMENTC i t y • C o u n t y • S t a t e • N a t i o n a l

‘he’s a bad guy,’ and portray him. “We’re not all good, and we’re not all bad,” Stampley

continued. “Mister has an incredible journey throughoutthe show. He’s not the same person at the end as he wasin the beginning. “It’s the journey I’m interested in and want the audi-

ence to see. At the end of the book and film, Mister is achanged man, a redemptive man.”Stampley said he found out the Milwaukee Rep was

planning to stage the production of the musical last sum-mer while doing a show with another company. “I putsome feelers out and here we are,” he chuckled. Stampley made his Broadway debut as a cast member

of the production when it was on the “great white way,”playing two parts: the African chief and Buster, Sophia’sboyfriend. He was also the understudy for the actor play-ing the character Harpo.The actor said it is an exciting time for the Milwaukee

Rep doing the production of “The Color Purple.” “Grow-ing up in Milwaukee, the Rep didn’t do musicals. This isnew territory for the theatre company.He credited the Rep’s Artistic Director Mark Clements

for broadening the artistic frontier of the theatre companyby doing musicals. Clements, who is directing “The Color Purple,” also

directed last season’s wildly successful production of theBroadway musical “Ragtime,” the first musical done bythe company in its history.The church came up again when Stampley was asked

what sparked his interest in acting.“I’ve been singing in church since I could walk; I sang

all the time,” Stampley said. “I always felt comfortablein front of large groups.”His very first stage experience was in fourth grade at

Byron Kilbourn Elementary School, playing the titlecharacter in a musical play titled “The Most AmazingSnowman.”Stampley recalled when he started to sing, “my nerves

kicked in and I started the song too high. I was embar-rassed but not scared or scared enough not to go back onstage.”Stampley’s interest in the stage and making acting a ca-

reer came about by accident—literally—when he blew

out his knee while a member of the Whitefish Bay HighSchool basketball team. “The (knee) injury changed theprojection of my life.”During two years of physical therapy, Stampley be-

came active in chorus and participated in school musicals.“I found out about and attended a summer music clinicin Madison, where I eventually went to college (Univer-sity of Wisconsin-Madison).“I enjoy being on stage. I count myself a blessed and

grateful person to be able to follow his dream.”Stampley said his acting work on television or movies

is “nothing to write home about.” He was an extra in afilm and in the background on a television set. “But it’scoming (film and television opportunities),” he said,adding he did a voice over for an animated series forNickelodeon and the National Football League called,“Rush Zone.”“Everything will happen in due time,” Stampley said.

“The interest is there, but I enjoy what I do. The experi-ence of theater is unsurpassed. “You’re not waiting on box-office receipts or ratings to

know if the audience is with you in the story telling. WhatI deem success is different from others. Being able to tellif the audience is with you (in the journey) is what’s key.”

Nathaniel Stampley, Jr.(continued from page 1)

Mason Temple COGIC to host Diamond Jubilee The Women’s Department of the Wisconsin Northwest Jurisdiction of the Church

of God In Christ (COGIC) will hold a 10th Diamond Jubilee and Worship Celebrationfor Dr. Grace A. Harris, the Wisconsin Northwest Jurisdictional Supervisor. The eventwill be held at Mason Temple COGIC, 6098 N. 35th St., starting at 6:30 p.m. Super-intendent Osie Tatum, Jr. is the host pastor. For more information, call 414-365-0683.

Praise Temple Intl. Ministriesto host meet and greet forcast of “The Color Purple”Praise Temple International Ministries will host a

meet and greet for members of the cast of the TonyAward winning Broadway Production of “The ColorPurple” Monday, Sept. 15, starting at 6 p.m. PraiseTemple International Ministries is located at 6103 W.Capitol Drive.There will be a special musical presentations by local

artists “Stairway to Fame” and Tiffany Sims-Terry.The meet and greet is being sponsored by Mother-

land Media Cooperative Alliance Inc. and New PittsMortuary Funeral Services. Refreshments will beserved.For more information about the event, go to

www.motherlandmediacoop.com

NEW REPORT:Wisconsin No. 1 in Racial DisparitiesUnsurprising but important report confirms what people of color in Milwaukee already knew

Milwaukee community leadershave been speaking out about racialdisparities and the struggles of hard-working, well-meaning African-American families to get ahead fordecades. Now, a new report from the Wis-

consin Council on Children & Fami-lies confirms that Wisconsin has thelargest gap between the well-being ofwhite and black children in the coun-try. While the well-being of white chil-

dren in Wisconsin ranks tenth nation-ally, the well-being of Latinochildren ranks seventeenth, Asianchildren are thirty-seventh, AfricanAmerican children rank a horrendous46th – a full thirty places lower thanwhite children. This disparity is byfar the worst in the country. The WCCF re-

port, Race for Re-sults: Wisconsin’sNeed to ReduceRacial Dispari-ties, highlightsdisturbing reali-ties that are hurt-ing Wisconsin’schildren. The report con-

tains rankings innumerous cate-gories of well-being, includinghigh school grad-uation, familyand communityincome, math andreading profi-ciency, and fam-ily education. Inaddition to rank-ings, the reportalso highlightssome key facts:• Eighty per-

cent of black chil-dren live inh o u s e h o l d sbelow 200% ofthe poverty level,compared tothirty percent ofW i s c o n s i n ’ swhite children.• White adults

in Wisconsin, age25 to 29, are threetimes as likely tohave an associ-ate’s degree orhigher, comparedto their African-American or Latino peers.• White children are nearly six

times more likely to be proficient ineighth grade math than black chil-dren.The report paints a bleak picture of

the lack of opportunity for childrenof color in Wisconsin and their barri-ers to receiving quality education andemployment. Ken Taylor, the Execu-tive Director of the Wisconsin Coun-cil on Children & Families, saysthese disparities must be addressedquickly.“Dramatic racial disparities are

hurting Wisconsin’s communitiesand our economy,” says Taylor. “Al-lowing these disparities to continuehurts us all, and our state’s leadersmust renew their focus on reducingthis gap.”The report does lay out policy pro-

posals and ideas to address Wiscon-sin’s racial disparities, includingengaging families and communitiesmost affected by disparities, analyz-ing major investments to effectivelyuse limited resources, and ensuringthat different programs aimed at re-ducing inequality are working collab-oratively.Wisconsin Council on Children &

Families is a non-profit, non-partisanstatewide advocacy organization.The full report can be found online attheir website, www.wccf.org.

Article courtesy of Urban Media News

Graphic courtesy ofthe Sentencing Project

“While thewell-beingof white

children inWisconsinranks tenthnationally,

the well-beingof Latinochildrenranks seven-teenth,

Asian chil-dren are

thirty-sev-enth,

AfricanAmericanchildrenrank a horren-

dous 46th –a full thirty

placeslower thanwhite chil-dren. Thisdisparity isby far the

worst in thecountry.”


KALEIDOSCOPEKALEIDOSCOPEthe MCJ l i fes ty le & en te r ta inment sec t ion

YOUTH&EDUCATIONYOUTH&EDUCATION Terrence N.ThomasScholarshiprecipientneeds community’shelpHello,I am Angelica Weary, afour-year TNT scholarshiprecipient. I would first like tothank you for blessing mewith the opportunity to be apart of your great cause eachyear and for your consideration and generosity withawarding me the TNT scholarship. Currently, I am in my last year for both my Masters inPublic Health and my medical degree. I am now facing adilemma with my medical school because they will notallow me to start my last year due to the balance I owe onmy tuition. I owe $26,000 and will not be able to begin until I paythe school. I have applied for the private student loanthrough the school 10 times and have been denied. Due to these circumstances, I will be hosting afundraiser on behalf of my medical school tuition and Ialso have a goFUNDme page online for people to donate. I would really appreciate any advice that you can give tohelp get this information out to the public or any advicethat can help me can raise money for school. I appreciateyour time and consideration. Information about thefundraiser and my goFundme page is below.Angelica Weary Medical School FundraiserSeptember 20th, 2014 Rumor Lounge - 161 W Pittsburgh Ave Milwaukee, WI3:00pm- 7:30pm

For Angelica's goFundme Page, go towww.gofundme.com

Sista Speak...Speak Lord!Sista Speak...Speak Lord!

Angelica Weary

jobless rate for young Blacks was 32.8 percent down slightly from the 34.9percent rate set in July, but nearly double the jobless rate of their White peers(17.7 percent). The economy added just 142,000 jobs in August, far belowwhat many economists expected, and more than 70,000 fewer jobs than themonthly average for 2014. According to the Labor Department, jobs in pro-fessional and business services increased by 47,000 and the health care in-dustry added about 34,000 jobs in August. The economy added 20,000construction jobs last month. The national unemployment rate inched down from 6.2 percent in July to

6.1 percent in August. In a blog post on the August jobs report, Elise Gould,senior economist and director of health policy research at the Economic Pol-icy Institute, said that even though it’s too early to tell if this slower jobgrowth in August is an anomaly or a new trend, these numbers should giveus pause. “We need to be consistently adding jobs at a much faster rate to return to

the labor market conditions before the recession began,” wrote Gould. “Ar-guably, that standard is a low bar as the labor market at that time still hadconsiderable slack.” In a statement on the August jobs report, Chad Stone,chief economist for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said that thejobs report was disappointing and “a sober reminder of how devastating theGreat Recession and subsequent prolonged jobs slump has been for workers.”Blacks lost nearly half of their nonretirement assets and nearly 32 percent oftheir retirement assets during the Great Recession. Stone also said that long-term unemployment, which disproportionately af-

fects Black workers, remains a significant concern. He observed, “Policy-makers’ shortsighted decision not to renew federal emergency unemploymentinsurance benefits in 2014 eliminated not only valuable financial support forthese workers and their families, but also a valuable source of consumerspending that would have strengthened demand and put more jobless Amer-icans back to work.”

(continued from page 1)

Blacks finding it harder to recover from recession

On the Issues with Mike Gousha. Dr. HowardFuller (pictured at right), Director of MarquetteUniversity’s Institute for the Transformation ofLearning—Dr. Fuller, a distinguished professor ofeducation at Marquette, visits Eckstein Hall to dis-cuss his new memoir, No Struggle, No Progress: AWarrior’s Life from Black Power to Education Re-form. The book, to be released September 9, chronicles Fuller’s journey fromcommunity organizer and founder of Malcom X Liberation University in NorthCarolina, to Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent, to one of the nation’sleading proponents of parental choice. The nation’s former education secretary, Rod Paige, says No Struggle, No

Progress “reveals the inner workings of a life passionately determined to assurethat underserved children are not left behind.” Fuller will talk about his life’swork when he joins us at the Law School. 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Marquette LawSchool, Eckstein Hall.

New Pitts Mortuary, Exposure PR & Marketing, Fit2aTea, Nobody’s Biz-znis, and Cynthia’s Breast Cancer Giving Circle, Inc.A noted social entrepreneur and Expansion Leader with Soul Purpose

Lifestyle Company founded by Nadine A. Thompson, Ray has over 25 yearsexperience in the human service field. Among her achievements and contri-butions is her work as Founding and Executive Member of Pinnacle Motiva-tions International, a virtual network marketing company for small businesses.She has additionally provided consulting and professional development

training nationally in the areas of parental nurturing, domestic violence andwomen’s empowerment.This nationally acclaimed consultant received her Certification as Consult-

ant in Diversity Training and Women’s Issues from the Professional WomenNetwork. She is a contributing author to “Raising Healthy Children in anUnhealthy World” and facilitates trauma resolution programs for both menand women involved in domestic violence. For any additional information on this Saturday’s “Be Well Milwaukee”

event and for ticket, information table and vending booth details, please callMs. Ray at (414) 394-7458.

(continued from page 1)

“Be Well Milwaukee” tocelebrate and empowerwomen and families

Former MPS Sup. Dr. Howard Fuller to discuss his book oneducation reform

Dr. Howard Fuller

This September, baby boomers,Medicare beneficiaries, their families andcaregivers in the Milwaukee area are in-vited to participate in educational eventsas part of National Medicare EducationWeek (Sept. 15 – 21). This annual observance begins exactly

one month before the start of theMedicare Open Enrollment Period (Oct.15 – Dec. 7), when people can makechanges to their coverage. During theweek, UnitedHealthcare will host educa-tional events where local representatives will address people’s top Medicare ques-tions and will be available to speak with them one-on-one. Last year, 99 percent of people who attended National Medicare Education

Week events across the country said that their understanding of Medicare im-proved. Events will take place Monday, Sept. 15, 1 p.m., at the Washington Park Senior

Center, 4420 West Vliet St., Milwaukee, Wis., 53208, and Thursday, Sept. 18, 1p.m., at the Wilson Park Senior Center, 2601 West Howard Ave., Milwaukee,Wis., 53221. There is no cost to attend but registration is requested. To RSVP, goto NMEW.com and click on Attend an Event, or call 1-877-228-4557.

Events slated to coincide with National Medicare Education Week


KALEIDOSCOPEKALEIDOSCOPEthe MCJ l i fes ty le & en te r ta inment sec t ion

Feel the PULSEof YOUR Communityonline! Go To communi-tyjournal.net

RESPECTHave style about yourself without being trendy and provocative.Don’t talk about money and your ma-terial possessions. You don’t have to be the loudest per-son in the room.Stop talking behind others backs. It’snot attractive.Is it really necessary to see a man’spants sagging with his boxers show-ing? What is this saying about yourself-worth?Treat others the way you expect to be treated. Seek assistance when needed, but never show desperation.Be considerate of another person’s time, effort, manners. This isso important.Assert yourself without appearing bossy and mean.Demonstrate your independence.Never repay an evil deed with an evil deed.Learn to practice stillness. There is power in doing nothing andletting God handle it.Be authentic. Show the world your true class in respecting your-self.Sonya M. Bowman“It Is What It Is”

REALITY SHOWSAre you addicted to Reality Shows?If your answer is Yes...An interven-tion needs to take place. It started with these shows beingentertainment...Now it has becomemoney makers for networks and

producers while exposing severely wounded individuals to all ofsociety. Reality Shows that capitalize on the wounded continues to put aprice on those who participate in these shows. Yes the partici-pants are paid and appear to not know how to handle the socalled fame they receive. It appears the participants who verbally and physically attackothers are given notoriety and that this type of behavior isokay...Is this how we want to be known?Stop accepting the crumbs and allowing the Rich to get Richer onour wounds...Always Keeping it RealTara R Pulley

PERSONAStylishPanacheChicElegantExclusiveFashionableVogueModPosh SelectSwank ExampleRespectedFavoredWhat adjectives would you use to describe you?Zelda Corona-Vision Represents Faith!

Sista Speak...Speak Lord!Sista Speak...Speak Lord!

Sonya Bowman

Tara R. Pulley

Zelda Corona

CLASSY!CLASSY!

to go there? I continue to bring ourpast because it’s fundamental to myargument. Where you start is critical and

every issue we face today results inthe reality that we have no capital ina capitalistic “free market” society(this fact handicaps every aspect ofBlack life in America). While we suffer from other social

and economic issues as the result ofour history in this country, none isbigger than the fact that we have nei-ther capital nor so sense of self thatcould assist us with overcoming thisdeficit. I bring up our past to honor our

Ancestors and the sacrifices that theymade to advance the self determina-tion of our people. I bring it up tokeep reminding Black people that oursocio-economic conditions havebeen manufactured. I also bring up our past because I

am a big proponent of the concept ofreparations and I will never stopbringing up this issue until our com-munity has been repaired by the psy-chological and mental scars thatremain with our community.

Reparations are about making righton wrongs – it is the act of makingatonement, amends, and indemnityfor a wrong committed against an-other. I’ve already stated that thewrong inflicted against Blacks inAmerica is the worst in modern his-tory, so why is there not even a con-versation about it? The term implies an active repair-

ing of the damage or injury inflictedon the wrong party. The right toreparations has long been recognizedin International Law. While there a few that can be ref-

erenced, none more than reparationspaid to the Jewish victims of the Nazipersecution of the 1930s and 40's.Since the Second World War, Ger-many paid more than $60 Billion inreparations to Nazi victims and thestate of Israel. In December 1999, Germany an-

nounced a $5 Billion deal reachedbetween Germany, Israel, and theUnited States to pay victims of theHolocaust. What's interesting is that almost 65

German companies joined the fundbecause they benefited or were priv-ileged from the plight of the Jewsduring this period? Life wasn’t fair for so many Jews

who lost their lives and the massivedisruption of their lives during this

period and the act of Reparations wasan attempt to fix. Rahim Islam is a National Speakerand Writer, Convener of Philadel-phia Community of Leaders, andPresident/CEO of Universal Com-panies, a community developmentand education management com-pany headquartered in Philadel-phia, PA. Follow Rahim Islam onFaceBook(Rahim Islam) & Twitter(@RahimIslamUC)

RememberWhen...(continued from page 3)leaf, grand chandeliers and plushwall draperies. Still operating todaywith live stage shows, this venueover the years presented big namessuch as Abbott and Costello, RedSkelton, Jack Benny and JohnnieRay, as well as big swing bands andR&B concerts. In recent years, Mil-waukee’s celebrated Al Jarreau is oneof a number of well-known perform-ers to appear in concert. Sadly, Milwaukee’s wonderful

downtown movie houses are longgone, but not forgotten. Not by me.Those were the days, my friends. Wethought they’d never end.--Milwau-kee native Richard G. Carter is afreelance columnist

UniversallySpeaking(continued from page 3)



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MCJ Sept. 10, 2014 Edition