Gardner Taylor, Empire Star We Can Preacher Says She Never Save One Experienced Young Black and Civil Colorism Until Male at a Rights Figure, She Came Time Through Dies at 96 to the U.S. Mentoring Page 7 Page 10 Page 4 PRST STD Boxing’s Floyd 50c U.S. Postage PAID Jacksonville, FL Mayweather's Permit No. 662 2015 Earnings RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Will Shatter Records for Athlete Pay Page 2 50 Cents Man Tries to Avoid Child Support Volume 28 No. 22 Jacksonville, Florida April 9 -15, 2015 By Saying He ‘Died’ in Car Accident Black Women Face Unique A Milwaukee man told a news reporter the reason why he couldn’t pay the $100-a-month child support ordered by the court is because he had “died in a car accident.” Challenges in Building Wealth People go to unbelievable extremes to get out of paying their bills. But Black women are the only group for Black women, too. rarely do you hear about a parent, a person who is at least half respon- that has not recovered the jobs they According to a new report com- sible for bringing another human being into the world, going to such lost in the recession. Five years into missioned by Essence magazine, 80 lengths to avoid taking care of that child. national recovery, the unemploy- percent of Black women surveyed Known by his rap name, Jon “Jakitdown,” McCroy was busted and ment rate for Black women has believed that they could not sentenced to 60 days in jail once authorities determined that he’d avoid- even risen a little since December, advance in their careers without ed paying support for his daughter. He also faces 3 years probation from from 8.2 percent to 9.2 percent. altering aspects of their identities. a felony charge of failure to pay child support. On the flip side, employment Additionally, 57 percent believed - Although the man is unemployed and lives at home with his parents, brings its own unique difficulties Continued on page 2 he has managed to cough up $10,000 in outstanding child support. McCroy has three children by three different women. He allegedly doesn’t pay support for any of them; but only one mother is taking him to court. Study Shows Muslims Will Shown is the new Miss Delta Teen and her court Amber Williamson (1st Runner-Up ), Pageant Hostess Kumasi Aaron, Bertha Jones ( Miss Outnumber Christians by 2070 Delta Teen 2015) and Jayla Williams (2nd Runner-Up ). Photo Karel Danzie Muslims will overtake Christians by the end of this century. India, now mostly Hindu, will become the world’s largest Muslim country. Deltas Crown The numbers of people with no religious identity will soar in the United States and Europe, but the unaffiliated will lose worldwide market share as Christians maintain a steady growth. New Teen Queen Among the major findings: * “As of 2010, Christianity was by far the world’s largest religion, with The Jacksonville Alumnae poise. an estimated 2.2 billion adherents, nearly a third of the Earth’s 6.9 bil- Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta After Miss Delta Teen 2014 lion people. Islam came in second, with 1.6 billion adherents, or 23 per- Sorority, Inc., recently held their Christina Lavender took her final cent of the global population.” Four in 10 of all the world’s Christians 39th Miss Delta Teen Pageant at the walk on stage while reflecting on will live in sub-Saharan Africa by 2050. Florida Theatre. This year's theme her memorable reign, a joyous * While Christian numbers will continue to grow, Muslims, who are was "Magical Moments: Life Bertha Jones was crowned Miss younger and have a higher birth rate, will outpace them. By 2050, “there Lessons From A Fairytale Delta Teen 2015 and Miss will be near parity between Muslims (2.8 billion, or 30 percent of the Princess." Each of the 12 contest- Dedication. Amber Williamson (1st population) and Christians (2.9 billion, or 31 percent), possibly for the ants portrayed a Princess and pre- Runner-Up) and Jayla Williams first time in history.” Barring unforeseen events — war, famine, disease, Black Caucus Visits Tallahassee sented the inspirational lesson that (2nd Runner-Up) were excited to political upheaval and more — Muslim numbers will surpass Christians Jacksonville Members of the Duval County Democratic Black Caucus a Princess represented. receive the honors of being award- after 2070. trekked to Tallahassee for the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida's annu- The Princesses had the opportu- ed a place in the Royal Court. The al Day on the Hill last week. DCDBC members met with legislators to nity to participate in 6 months of title of Miss Congeniality was support nine Bills that will improve the quality of life and rights of African contestant development workshops bestowed upon Mariah West. KKK Prison Guards Charged Americans in Florida. During their visit, they also held a press conference entitled "Princess Prep." The work- Each contestant received a Royal with Planning to Kill Inmate and luncheon before being split into teams and lobbying with the staff of shops were designed to enhance “Plaque of Participation” and an key elected officials to discuss DBCF legislative priorities. Shown are their interview, oral and written array of gifts to end the evening on GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Two current and one former prison employee DCDBC memberbers Aleta Finley, Valerie Green, Phillip Miner, Hazel communication skills, as well as a magical note. who all belonged to the Ku Klux Klan planned to kill a black inmate as Gillis and George Gillis. their self-confidence, etiquette and he was released in retaliation for a fight, officials announced. The three men — Thomas Jordan Driver, 25, David Elliot Morgan, 47, and 42-year-old Charles Thomas Newcomb — each were arrested on Powerhouses Gather to Honor Maya Angelou Stamp one state count of conspiracy to commit murder, according to a state- ment from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's office. WASHINGTON — At a ceremo- Driver and Morgan are current employees of the Department of ny attended by some of the nation’s Corrections, and Newcomb is a former corrections employee. The most powerful African American state's statement says Driver had the fight with the inmate. women and men, the U.S. Postal The wide-ranging investigation included the FBI, U.S. Customs and Service honored the phenomenal Border Patrol, and various state and local agencies. The charges for the life of poet Maya Angelou who was three men mark the latest black eye for the Florida Corrections raised in Stamps. Department. Last fall, DOC officials fired nearly 50 prison employees, Hundreds of admirers — includ- including several over allegations that they punched and beat inmates. ing first lady Michelle Obama, The deaths of inmates Randall Jordan-Aparo and Darren Rainey also White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, drew attention. Rainey, a mentally ill prisoner, was punished in 2012 Attorney General Eric Holder, with a shower so hot that his skin separated from his body. Jordan-Aparo singer Valerie Simpson, singer was reportedly gassed while in a confinement cell. Roberta Flack and Clinton adviser Witnesses say guards at Dade Correctional Institution left Rainey alone Donna Brazile — crowded into the for two hours in a locked, scalding hot shower as punishment for defe- Warner Theatre in downtown cating in his cell and refusing to clean it up. The warden at Dade Washington, D.C., for the Maya Correctional was fired. Angelou Forever Stamp dedication ceremony, which stretched for near- ly two hours in what emcee Melissa Jesse Jackson Jr. Has Left Harris-Perry likened to a church service. Federal Prison for Halfway House “They say Easter was Sunday, CHICAGO - Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has been released from but we’re still having church here,” an Alabama federal prison Thursday, two years after pleading guilty to Harris-Perry said after Alyson spending $750,000 in campaign money on personal items. The Rev. Williams led the crowd in singing, Jesse Jackson described his son’s release from the minimum security “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” federal prison camp at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Oprah Winfrey, Ambassador Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan stands on stage first lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey dur- Alabama, as a “joyous reunion” and said the younger Jackson was doing Andrew Young, poet Sonia ing a dedication ceremony for the Maya Angelou Forever Stamp on Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at the Warner “very well.” Jackson, a 50-year-old Illinois Democrat, began his sen- Sanchez, author Sophia A. Nelson, Theatre in Washington, D.C. tence on Nov. 1, 2013. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons lists his release date poet Nikki Giovanni and professor brave? Am I strong? Am I true? — “A bird doesn’t sing because it tion of poems, “Just Give Me a as Sept. 20, 2015. Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, who visited Eleanor Traylor delivered impas- And do I fill the world with love? has an answer, it sings because it Cool Drink of Water ’fore I Diiie,” Jackson on Monday, said Jackson would serve out the remainder of his sioned tributes to Angelou — the For Angelou, the answer was an has a song” — that Postmaster and was nominated for an Emmy in 2 1/2-year term in a Washington, D.C., halfway house. Jackson must author, the poet, the activist and unequivocal yes, Traylor said. General Megan J. Brennan said 1977 for her portrayal of Kunta also spend three years on supervised release and complete 500 hours of friend. The Maya Angelou Forever serves as an answer to the title of Kinte’s grandmother in Alex community service.