Lighting The Road To The Future Data Zone Page 6 History of Black Hair pt. 2 “The People’s Paper” February 19 - February 25, 2011 45th Year Volume 37 www.ladatanews.com Page 2 President Awards Morial Urges Freedom Medals Halt to Merger Page 11 Page 4 Photos by Victor Holt Page 2 February 19 - February 25, 2011 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com Today’s Young Leaders Make Tomorrow’s History By Edwin Buggage The Struggle Continues Throughout the history of this nation Blacks have struggled to gain a foothold on the American Dream . The scars of the stars and stripes have begun a slow healing process as the walls of op- pression have come tumbling down . Today African- Americans are navigating cultural and social spaces as a new breed of leaders are emerging . Historically, Lolis Elie Dr. Corey Hebert they have come from the pulpit, the courts and the streets protesting for equal rights . Picket signs and pressure groups worked vigorously to secure that the nation’s darker people could dine at the table of opportunity and access . Today, that day has come for a portion of the African-American population, at every corner of the nation’s shores Blacks are lead- ing the way forging ahead into the future . And as Blacks continue to be much maligned in the society, Data News Weekly would like to in an antidotal way remedy this state of affairs by spotlighting some of the new generation of African-American leaders who are emerging in the City of New Orleans . Dedication to Education Education is essential to the upliftment of the city, the culture and the race if we are to be competitive in the 21st century . Dr . Kyshun Webster CEO of Op- eration Reach is a young visionary who has come a long way since his early days of being a resident of the St . Bernard Housing Development and Lower Ninth Ward to become a nationally renowned wun- Dr. Kyshun Webster Wilbert “Chill” Wilson derkind of sorts in the field of education . “I think Cover Story, Continued on next page. DATA NEWS WEEKLY P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 INSIDE DATA Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors CEO/Publisher Edwin Buggage Glenn Jones Eric Connerly Cover Story . 2 Data Zone . 6 VP Advertising Lee A. Daniels & Marketing Judge Greg Mathis Cheryl Mainor Janice Meredith Managing Editor Fred Watkins Newsmaker . 4 Commentary . 8 Edwin Buggage Dorinda White Editor Dionne Character Art Direction & Production Arts & Entertainment Editor MainorMedia.com Melanie Mainor Editorial Submissions State & Local News . 5 National News . 11 Copy Editor Intern [email protected] June Hazeur Advertising Inquiries Accounting [email protected] Please call (504) 309-9913 for subscription information. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com February 19 - February 25, 2011 Cover Story, Continued from previous page. education is important if we are to ment . So she was about instilling become the community we aspire a certain discipline in me . My fa- to be,” says Webster, continuing ther is more of a free thinker . So he says, “Many of the ills that our the combination of her discipline community experience is a direct and his out of the box thinking result of problems in our educa- helped me imagine great things tional system .” and work toward accomplishing In education the scales are them ”. Although many walls have unbalanced and there is a dis- come down in the areas of racial connect between those who are relations, they’re perceptions of prospering and those who are Black men as ogre like figures struggling, “We cannot settle for of society and much of these mis- less from our kids, we must ex- perceptions are a direct result pect the best from all of them,” of media images . Elie addresses says Webster . Speaking of self- this issue saying, “There are two improvement he says, “Education things that we can do to improve is the number one equalizer and the image of Black men in the with that knowledge is a pathway media . First, we can stop patron- to power ”. izing films, television shows and Webster is one who has had performances that portray im- to overcome adversity and set- ages we don’t like . Second we can backs and says his story is one support those artistic endeavors that should inspire, “I am today that reflect our better selves . But an educator and I failed the first it’s really not clear that the aver- grade and because of that I under- age Black American is offended stand what some of our kids ex- by these images . So perhaps we perience, and it has been through get what we want .” hard work to get where I am to- In the period after Hurri- day,” says Webster of going down cane Katrina Elie has become a the road from plight to an eagle in staunch advocate for his city us- flight . He says of Operation Reach ing the arts first collaborating where the program has offices in with Lucie Faulknor, and Dawn Alabama and Georgia he hopes is Logsdon on the award-winning a recipe for the larger community, documentary, “Treme: The Un- “The fight to save our children is told Story of Black New Orleans not about school alone, it is about and becoming one of the writers all of us working together to en- for the critically acclaimed HBO sure our children have what they Series “Treme ”. “The single History is still happening, need to succeed from the cradle to greatest challenge facing this the grave this is what we have to city is the intrusion of American do to make our community better culture - be it from Baton Rouge expect more to come... and I have been dedicated since I or Washington, D .C .,” he says of was 12 years old to doing my part the problems facing the city and to not simply talk about the prob- the rebuilding effort . “Certainly lems but offer solutions .” no person who understands our city would support destroying At Regions and Morgan Keegan, we know that her future can be whatever The Power of Words Mid-City to build this new sub- she chooses. That’s why during Black History Month we celebrate the As a writer, filmmaker, avid art urban style parking arena with a countless contributions African Americans have made in strengthening our collector and city advocate Lolis little hospital in the middle . Who Eric Elie was born into the spirit would be foolish enough to tear nation and reaffi rm our commitment to do all we can so future history makers of struggle as the son of noted down public housing at a point reach their full potential. Our fi nancial literacy program and long-term Civil Rights Attorney Lolis Elie when our most acute need was and mother who was an educator . for affordable housing? But these partnerships with organizations such as the United Negro College Fund Armed with an Ivy League edu- moves both reflected national and the INROADS internship program are just some of the ways we are cation but a spirit rooted in the trends instead of local insight . helping young leaders achieve now and into the future. community he is an example of a Instead of approaches that reflect new form of leader that is taking the uniqueness and richness of shape . For today it is not simply New Orleans culture, we are bur- Regions. When Our Communities Succeed, We Succeed. the courtroom battles or picket dened with a gaggle of politicians signs it is one of the lived revolu- who really think progress is in be- For more information, visit www.regions.com/blackhistory tion of Blacks picking up the ba- ing more like Dallas .” ton of opportunity and running with it moving the race further The New Face of along the run to freedom, justice Politics and Justice and equality . In droves women have been Today Lolis attributes his ac- grabbing the mantle of power and complishments to his parents, are now major players in politics, “The most important element of business, education and many my success has been the influ- fields of endeavor . Today women ence, assistance and example in the U .S . both Black and White of my parents . My mother is a outnumber men that are enrolled © 2011 Regions Bank. Investment services are provided through Morgan Keegan & Company Inc., a subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation and a member teacher by training and tempera- in colleges and universities . The FINRA and SIPC. Securities and insurance products sold through Morgan Keegan are not FDIC-insured, not a deposit, not an obligation of or guaranteed by Regions Bank, its affi liates, or any government agency, and may lose value. Continued on page 9. BRD-1027 NewOrleans.indd 1 1/31/11 3:45 PM Page 4 February 19 - February 25, 2011 Newsmaker www.ladatanews.com National Urban League Ceo Urges Louisiana State Officials To Halt University Merger Plans Louisiana’s proposal to merge Young, who said Saturday that Morial further noted that the the University of New Orleans in order for a city to develop eco- average ACT score of a SUNO and Southern University of New nomically, it must grow jobs by student is 20; at UNO, 23 . SUNO’s Orleans is a step backward that growing minds .” smaller classes and high student would diminish both schools, ac- “Southern University at New to faculty ratio offers a nurturing cording to Marc H .