THENANDNOW How Civil Rights Pioneer Recy Taylor’S Story Connects to Black Women Today
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Volume 95 Number 29 | MARCH 7-13, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com | Ninety-Three Cents SPEAKING UP ABOUT RAPE THENANDNOW How civil rights pioneer Recy Taylor’s story connects to Black women today JANIAH ADAMS that kind of power- Union, for leaving out the [email protected] ful backing in the voices of Black women. 1940s. Instead, she Similar to how Taylor’s The #MeToo movement has had protests in her story was swept under the gained traction over the past few favor followed by rug, Black women wonder months with female celebrities, It’s one thing to talk no action. if the same is being done to factory workers and CEOs contest- Mansfield Today’s Black theirs and borrow strength ing the sexual assault women face. about sexual harass- women and girls from one of history’s unsung However, the most-known Black ment, it’s completely feel the same. While many praise heroes. woman who publicized that she different from child the #MeToo movement, some crit- During her Golden was raped, Recy Taylor, didn’t have “sexual abuse.” icize it, including actress Gabrielle SEE RECY 4A Courtesy of Julie Mansfield AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack Wakumi Douglass, center, founder of Soul Sisters Leadership Collective, center, marches with other Black Recy Taylor, 90, is seen outside her home in Win- women during the Black Women’s March last year. During the march, one of the topics Black women brought ter Haven, Fla., in this photo taken Thursday, Oct. 7, attention to was sexual abuse. 2010. She was raped by white men in the 1940s. WORKFORCE HOUSING SLATED FOR OVERTOWN CRA buys foreclosed homes at Town Park Plaza North for resale Carvalho Norwood Johnson ANDREA ROBINSON 3-acre parcel near downtown Miami. Dade school board [email protected] In the second project, the city au- thorized the purchase of 19 condos A city of Miami redevelopment at Town Park Plaza North develop- selects Carvalho agency is focusing its attention on ment. The CRA will spend $700,000 workforce and affordable housing in to purchase those units, as a step to- Overtown, approving two projects ward saving homes that Black resi- that could benefit working and low- dents lost in foreclosure from out- ally for audit post er-income renters. side investors. Those units will be In the first project approved March 1, put up for sale to elderly, low- and Highly qualified Black man ignored the board of the Southeast Overtown/ moderate-income families. Park West CRA approved a resolution Town Park Plaza North is al- to award a $131-million development ready in the midst of a $15.3 million ANDREA ROBINSON Martin Karp. project that will bring more than 100 total rehab of its 169 units, funded [email protected] That vote goes against the units of workforce housing rentals, by the CRA. wishes of outgoing Chief Au- The man tapped by the ditor Jose Montes de Oca. In along with a mix of retail space, on a Cornelius “Neil” Shiver SEE CRA 6A outgoing chief auditor for a Jan. 24 exit letter, de Oca Miami-Dade County Public recommended that Williams Schools as his successor was assume the position of inter- passed over for the position, im chief auditor and that he raising eyebrows of Black “be strongly considered as community leaders. a candidate” for the regular At the Feb. 21 School Board position. meeting, members voted The chief auditor plays 5-2 to appoint Iraida Men- a critical role in the selec- dez-Cartaya — an ally of Su- tion of an outside auditor perintendent Alberto Carval- and over the staff that con- ho — as interim chief auditor ducts internal audits. That over Trevor Williams, the person is in charge of the current assistant chief audi- Office of Management and tor. Williams is Black. Compliance Audits, which Steve Gallon III and Doro- provides analyses, appraisals thy Bendross-Mindingall, the and recommendations and, two Black board members, by design, is separate from voted for Williams. the school administration to The members voting for maintain an appearance of Concept of Sawyers Mendez-Cartaya were Board transparency. The person in Landing, slated for 100 Chairman Perla Hantman, that position reports directly workforce housing units. Mari Tere Rojas, Marta Pe- to the school board. rez, Lubby Navarro and SEE AUDIT 6A Overtown CRA BUSINESS ................................................. 7B LIFESTYLE HAPPENINGS ....................... 5C HEALTH & WELLNESS ............................. 9D Today CLASSIFIED ............................................. 11B YOU & YOURS ............................................ 7D CHURCH DIRECTORY ................................ 11D 81° IN GOOD TASTE ......................................... 1C FAITH CALENDAR ................................... 8D OBITUARIES ............................................. 12D INSIDE 8 90158 00100 0 Editorials Cartoons Opinions Letters VIEWPOINT BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY | MARCH 7-13, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com Credo Of The Black Press MEMBER: National Newspaper Periodicals Postage EDITORIAL The Black Press believes that America Publisher Association paid at Miami, Florida (ISSN 0739-0319) can best lead the world from racial and MEMBER: The Newspaper POSTMASTER: Published Weekly at 900 NW 54th Street, Association of America Send address changes to national antagonism when it accords Miami, Florida 33127-1818 Subscription Rates: One Year THE MIAMI TIMES, to every person, regardless of race, Common sense, not Post Office Box 270200 $52.99 – Two Year $99.99 P.O. Box 270200 creed or color, his or her human and Buena Vista Station, Miami, Florida 33127 Foreign $75.00 Buena Vista Station, Miami, FL Phone 305-694-6210 legal rights. Hating no person, fearing 7 percent sales tax for Florida residents 33127-0200 • 305-694-6210 emotion needed, when no person, the Black Press strives to H.E. SIGISMUND REEVES, Founder, 1923-1968 help every person in the firm belief that GARTH C. REEVES, JR., Editor, 1972-1982 all persons are hurt as long as anyone GARTH C. REEVES, SR., Publisher Emeritus is held back. it comes to guns RACHEL J. REEVES, Publisher and Chairman he more people we talk to about allowing some school personnel to have access to guns on school Tcampuses, the more clear it becomes that it is Black people: GOP not for you more than a bad idea. RENÉE GRAHAM, The Boston Globe The flurry of legislation proposed since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre has been impres- Funny thing about Black ence, likely because he’d said chairman, all but admitted sive and mind-boggling at the same time. As the Florida leg- Republicans — they’re always aloud what was generally a that the GOP isn’t pleased islative session winds down, lawmakers are pushing through the last to know that the par- whispered narrative. Steele with its former RNC chair- ty to which they’ve pledged refused Walters’ bland apolo- man. On Steele’s radio show, half-baked ideas and perhaps burying good ones based on their political devotion will gy. When asked by MSNBC’s Schlapp told his host, “You emotional decisions and reinforced relationships with the never fully accept them. Joy Reid whether the Repub- have not been very graceful National Rifle Association. That’s not to say that Re- lican Party has a racism prob- to the Republicans and con- Why does it matter that the librarians, coaches and other publicans won’t cynically lem, Steele said, “Yes … and servatives in this room for a personnel at school can have access to guns, but teachers embrace Black conservatives I think we need to be honest very long time.” in the classroom do not? Once the weapons are on campus, as proof of their party’s inclu- and acknowledge it.” Never mind Steele’s de- they will find their way into the wrong hands. Besides, apart sivity. To be a Black Repub- On his radio show, Steele cades of loyalty to the Re- from Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program or lican is to always be seen as later said he hoped Wal- publican Party. At the end of Black first, and as Republican Former RNC chairman ters’ comments are “not a the day, the GOP just wants members of the U.S. military or former police officers, most Michael Steele librarians or coaches are not used to having someone shoot- a very distant second. reflection of the leadership Steele to “shut up and drib- Michael Steele is now hav- of CPAC.” In truth, Steele ble,” to borrow conservative ing at them nor do they shoot at other people on a regular called a vote for Steele, who ing his getting-of-wisdom won on the sixth ballot, “the is likely being punished be- yakker Laura Ingraham’s basis. moment. At a Conservative greatest contribution you will cause he’s been a frequent failed attempt to silence the Bringing guns into the midst of a pool of people dealing Political Action Conference have ever made to the Repub- critic of President Trump. political activism of NBA with different types of stressors daily, including difficult -stu (CPAC) dinner last week, lican Party.” After Obama’s In a tweet after the recent superstar LeBron James. To dents, is a recipe for more shootings at school. Is this the American Conservative historic election, Steele’s se- school shooting in Parkland, the GOP, Steele is just anoth- way the Republicans reward the NRA? Raise the age to pur- Union communications di- lection seemed painfully ob- Fla., he called the president’s er Black person who doesn’t chase the gun, but provide a way to arm more people — that rector Ian Walters said, “We vious. For the prior 40 years, absurd desire to arm teach- know his place. sounds like a win for the gun lobby. elected Mike Steele as chair- Republicans had turned de- ers “delusional.” He also used It’s a lesson every Black What’s worse, Black students, teachers and staff are at a man because he was a Black monizing Black people and the hashtag #ICallBS, echo- Republican, all 2 percent of greater risk if the House of Representatives make it legal to guy; that was the wrong thing scaring white folks into a ing the call of Emma Gon- them, eventually and painful- have guns on school campuses.