Volume 97 Number 43 | JUNE 10-16, 2020 | MiamiTimesOnline.com | Ninety-Three Cents “Floyd was someone who also had a beautiful soul. If he was told he would have to sacrifice his life to bring the world together, I know he would've did it." RODNEY FLOYD Younger brother of George Floyd George Floyd is laid to rest amid criminal justice reform PENNY DICKERSON, Managing Editor lean frame and a mural hung on a stage [email protected] behind the casket that depicted the Chris- tian street evangelist wearing a black cap Black man’s body is laid to rest in a casket. Four ex-police officers are in custody. Pro- against a backdrop of white angel wings. testors world-wide have been subjected to curfews and a voluminous call for ‘change’ The symbolic homegoing was described persists. The alliterative aftermath of George Floyd’s death on May 25 has altered the as being dignified and attended by states- A men, celebrities and civil rights leaders. humanitarian fabric that monitors everyone’s pulse. Floyd’s last breath also tempered racial conflicts that have heightened since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. first dreamed. SEE FLOYD 4A Floyd’s funeral was held Tuesday in a her 6’4” ‘gentle giant’ into the world and private service in Houston, where he was served as his final outcry for raised. His final burial was in Houston help before he took his last Memorial Gardens cemetery in suburban breath. Pearland next to his mother — Larcenia His coffin was gold, a brown Floyd — who brought suit was fitted to clothe his Today BUSINESS................. ................................. 8B FAITH & FAMILY ...................................... 16D Jazz on 89° CLASSIFIED ............................................. 10B FAITH CALENDAR ................................... 18D Juneteenth at Historic Hampton IN GOOD TASTE ......................................... 12C HEALTH & WELLNESS ............................. 17D House 8 90158 00100 0 LIFESTYLE HAPPENINGS ....................... 15C OBITUARIES ............................................. 20D 1C INSIDE Editorials Cartoons Opinions Letters VIEWPOINT BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY | JUNE 10-16, 2020 | MiamiTimesOnline.com Credo Of The Black Press MEMBER: National Newspaper Periodicals Postage The vice-president pick: Publisher Association paid at Miami, Florida (ISSN 0739-0319) The Black Press believes that America MEMBER: The Newspaper POSTMASTER: Published Weekly at 900 NW 54th Street, can best lead the world from racial and Association of America Send address changes to Harris vs. Demings Miami, Florida 33127-1818 national antagonism when it accords Subscription Rates: One Year THE MIAMI TIMES, MYRA ADAMS Post Office Box 270200 to every person, regardless of race, $65.00 – Two Year $120.00 P.O. Box 270200 Buena Vista Station, Miami, Florida 33127 creed or color, his or her human and Foreign $75.00 Buena Vista Station, Miami, FL Phone 305-694-6210 7 percent sales tax for Florida residents 33127-0200 • 305-694-6210 If a broad spectrum of news sites is indicative, Joe Biden’s legal rights. Hating no person, fearing shortlist for his running mate is now a face-off between California H.E. SIGISMUND REEVES Founder, 1923-1968 no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that Sen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Val Demings from Orlando, Fla. — GARTH C. REEVES SR. Publisher Emeritius GARTH C. REEVES JR. Editor, 1972-1982 all persons are hurt as long as anyone two women of color. Here is the back story. is held back. RACHEL J. REEVES Publisher and Chairman As confirmation that we live in the most gender-sensitive times, at the March 15 Democratic primary debate, Biden was prompted to announce, “I will pick a woman to be my vice president.” But he did not mention the skin color of his future VP. However, he Remove Trump — Crybaby-in-chief owes his campaign’s resurrection and presumed nomination to a decisive South Carolina primary victory on Feb. 29 after a late GEORGE F. WILL, columnist, Washington Post endorsement by the state’s powerful Black leader, Rep. James Cly- This unraveling presiden- — approve of his sordid conduct. burn. How powerful is Clyburn, the U.S. House majority whip? cy began with the Cryba- Presidents seeking reelection Exit polls showed 47% of South Carolina voters indicated his en- dorsement of Biden was an important factor in their vote. by-in-Chief banging his spoon bask in the chants of “Four more Then, on March 10, Clyburn told NPR: “I really believe that on his highchair tray to protest years!” This year, however, most we’ve reached a point in this country where African American a photograph — a photograph — Americans — perhaps because women need to be rewarded for the loyalty that they’ve given to showing that his inauguration they are, as the president pre- this party.” He added, “So I would really be pushing for an Black crowd the day before had been dicted, weary from all the win- female to go on the ticket. ”In late April, Clyburn softened his smaller than the one four years ning — might flinch: Four more “demand,” telling NBC News, “I’m among those who feel that it previous. Since then, this weak years of this? The taste of ashes, would be great for him to select a woman of color. But that is not person’s idea of a strong person, metaphorical and now literal, a must.” this chest-pounding advertise- dampens enthusiasm. Subsequently, a combined confluence of events — Biden be- ment of his own gnawing insecu- The nation’s downward spi- holden to Clyburn, the pandemic/economic crisis disproportion- rities, this low-rent Lear raging ral into acrimony and sporadic ately and negatively impacting blacks, Biden’s controversial “you on his Twitter-heath has proven anarchy has had many causes ain’t black” gaffe, racial unrest exploding on a scale not seen since that the phrase malignant buf- much larger than the small man the 1960s — accounts for the media recently settling on a Harris foon is not an oxymoron. Presidents Donald Trump who is the great exacerbator of vs. Demings veepstakes face-off. Presidents, exploiting modern them. Most of the causes predate Perhaps now we can predict Biden’s choice (and possibly a fu- communications technologies punished. He must be removed. What Daniel Patrick Moyni- his presidency, and most will ture president) by applying the “Kaine criteria.” This is the model and abetted today by journal- Social causation is difficult to han termed “defining deviancy survive its January terminus. I used in April 2016 to forecast that Hillary Clinton would select ists preening as the “resistance” demonstrate, particularly be- down” now defines American The measures necessary for res- Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate, months before her tween one person’s words and politics. In 2016, voters were pre- July 22 announcement. Let’s compare how Harris and Demings — like members of the French toration of national equilibrium other persons’ deeds. However: sented an unprecedentedly un- stack up. Resistance 1940-1944, minus the are many and will be protracted bravery — can set the tone of The person voters hired in 2016 palatable choice: Never had both far beyond his removal. KAMALA HARRIS American society, which is re- to “take care that the laws be major parties offered nominees One such measure must be Currently, Kamala Harris’ grettably soft wax on which pres- faithfully executed” stood on July with higher disapproval than the removal of those in Congress résumé is topped by her 2016 idents leave their marks. The 28, 2017, in front of uniformed approval numbers. Voters chose who, unlike those who cosset U.S. Senate election from the president’s provocations — his police and urged them “please what they wagered would be him in the White House. They nation’s most populous state. coarsening of public discourse don’t be too nice” when han- the lesser blight. Now, however, will not disappear “magically,” as To her credit, two years from that lowers the threshold for dling suspected offenders. His they have watched him govern Eric Trump said the coronavirus completing her first term, Har- acting out by people as mentally hope was fulfilled for 8 minutes for 40 months and more than 40 would. Voters must dispatch his ris has valuable presidential crippled as he — do not excuse and 46 seconds on Minneapolis percent — slightly less than the congressional enablers with a campaign experience from the violent few. They must be pavement. percentage that voted for him canine hunger for petting. her own failed attempt, which translated into national expo- sure (both good and bad). She rose to media prominence in South Florida Black Prosperity Alliance 2017 after her aggressive ques- G. ERIC KNOWLES, President and CEO Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce tioning of Republican officials during Senate hearings. Then, The murder of George Floyd Ron DeSantis included, sit at the of unarmed Black men. The pan- during a primary debate last June, Harris famously and rough- ignited raging fires across the table with us to discuss these is- demic continues. ly sparred with Biden over his record of school busing. Overall, United States of America. The sues. Black children are marginal- Harris’ six years as California’s attorney general and seven as San South Florida Black Prosperity COVID-19 has painted a clear ized by the third grade. Some Francisco’s district attorney, means Team Trump will weaponize Alliance understands the pent- picture. The Black community are unable to read or compre- her law enforcement record while the criminal justice system re- up rage within our communi- continues to suffer dispropor- hend and many are four times mains under fire. ty as Black people — men and tionately from a health and eco- COVID-19 has painted less likely to graduate on time. women — continue to be mur- nomic perspective.