Af-Am Your VOICE Your COMMUNITY POINT OF VIEW Your POINT OF VIEW www.afampov.com Our Community News Magazine november 1, 2017 HAPPY THANKSGIVING! BEING THANKFUL & BEING LET’S HOPE OUR WHITE FRIENDS GRATEFUL “Gratitude is when we think about more than just the feeling of thankfulness. There’s nothing wrong REGAIN THEIR SENSES SOON with being thankful. It’s actually the first step. But how do we redirect our focus to being consistently By Frederick A. Hurst grateful every day?” here was a time honestly contribute to By Patricia Spradley – 6 when we folks of reversing the effects of it THANKS BE GIVEN… Tcolor could rely as do many White folks. For us, Thanksgiving is a day and time to express on the predictability of However, Black folks our gratitude for the blessings we have received White folks and be as- are finding it more and in life. For others, Thanksgiving may be just an- sured that, whether they more difficult to distin- other day in a year filled with “just another days.” were good or bad, we guish White friends By Gianna Allentuck – 7 could predict their from White foes. LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM moves in any given situ- These are such con- DOGS ation. But nowadays, we fusing times that I am “In the human world, we often don’t clearly com- don’t know what to think even unsure how to municate our needs, anxiety and strengths. Groups about White folks and write about what seems try to size one another up with many working not that has become a real to be happening. Black to convey emotion or motives. We can take a les- functional problem. folks generally want to son from dogs by clearly communicating our- I mean, if White be one with White folks selves early on.” folks legally lynch us, when they deserve it. By Lora Wondolowski – 15 co-opt us, cheat us or deny us economic and health secu- But how can we be one with White folks while watching STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR rity and justice under the law, we are not caught by sur- the many ways they rationalize acquitting cops who we KENNETH E. MAPP prise, just as we are not caught by surprise when White watch murdering our Black men on national television? “Seventy percent of our first responders lost their folks join us in genuine opposition to such behavior and continues to page 38 homes, but were in the streets working the day after each hurricane struck. Neighbors have la- bored together to clear roads and share resources Pledging Allegiance to the Cloth: ACLU of Missouri Statement on – many sheltering former strangers….If there was ever a time that the four million American citizens The Constitutional Right to Acquittal of Jason Stockley living in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico need #takeaknee. By Jeffrey A. Mittman, Executive Director, your help, it is now! By Professor of Law Bridgette Baldwin ACLU of Missouri By Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth E. Mapp – 25 game against the Cardinals September 15, 2017 – department involved. CAN YOU TRUST AGAIN? seven months earlier. And, “Police officer Jason “Michael Brown. Phi- “Trust that has been earned over years can be de- while this momentous oc- Stockley’s acquittal today lando Castile. Terence molished with a single act. And it may take a long casion will leave an indeli- does not change the facts: Crutcher. Alton Sterling. time to convince people that the person who had ble mark in the history of Anthony Lamar Smith died Tamir Rice. betrayed their trust is worthy of being trusted the NFL, Rogers’ reappear- “We must say their again.” unnecessarily, another ca- ance on the field is not what names and those of the By Sweets H. Wilson – 28 n August 26, 2016, sualty of excessive and August 26, 2016 is most deadly force by police many others killed by po- NATIVE AMERICAN MONTH my home team, the known for. At that game, lice in recent years. In against people of color. “What started at the turn of the century as an effort OGreen Bay Pack- the name Colin Kaepernick 2016, Black males between “We extend our sym- to gain a day of recognition for the significant con- ers, would push past the would forever be etched in 15 and 34 years old were pathies to Mr. Smith’s fam- tributions the first Americans made to the estab- San Francisco 49ers with a the annals of history when nine times more likely than ily and loved ones. This lishment and growth of the U.S. has resulted in a 21-10 victory. In this spec- the young 49ers’ quarter- other Americans to be whole month being designated for that purpose.” tacular football game, quar- back sat in protest against region — and our country killed by law enforcement By Rosemary Woods – 31 terback Aaron Rogers made police brutality and racial as a whole — have seen officers. It is past time for his first appearance on the injustice during the singing too many deaths caused by Missouri and the country DO NOT FORGET TO VOTE ON field since the Packers were police, with little account- NOVEMBER 7! defeated in the playoff continues to page 23 ability for the officers or continues to page 25 afam point of view page two november 1, 2017 ON BOARD, INC. f you are interested in getting in- fair and speed dating: individuals volved in the community and visit the organizations they are inter- Ijoining a board or committee, ested in connecting with for 10 then come to “Get on Board” on minute periods with time to socialize Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at with food and drink. It’s a fun and the Hall of Fame from 5:00p.m. to FREE Board Matching Event lively evening. Organizations which 8:00p.m. and meet with 50 of our have participated in the past include community’s non-profit organizations Square One, the Forest Park Zoo, the looking for new, energetic and pas- sionate people to sign up with them. Drama Studio and Elms College. It’s free to attend but you need to There’s something for everyone. Di- register with Eventbrite or through rect any questions to Ellen W. Frey- Facebook.com/OnBoardSpring- man at 413-575-8655 or field. The event is a mash-up of a job [email protected]. ■ re you on a nonprofit board that seeks to expand or diversify “Aits membership? Or are you seeking to help strengthen our Wednesday, November 29, 2017 communities by serving on a nonprofit board or committee? Here is a must-attend event for you or your organization: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. http://diversityonboard.wixsite.com/onboard/services Basketball Hall of Fame The event, sponsored by OnBoard, is the 5th biennial “matching” event bringing nonprofits and people together at the Hall of Fame, com- To learn about the non-profits in our ing in November. Please pass this message along!” community and how you can get involved. Alan Popp, President Facebook.com/OnBoardSpringfield Mason Wright FOREVER DUNBAR, INC. By Ellen Freyman he Board of Forever Dunbar, Inc. was pleased to present a $9,000 check to the TYMCA to help fund its youth program- ming at the Dunbar. The money was raised from last year’s “Broadway Comes to Springfield,” a Broadway review at City Stage featuring Dun- bar alum who went on to professional careers in music, dance, television and movies. Mamie Duncan Gibbs produced the extraordinary show and performed along with Sondra Bonitto, Gretchen Palmer, the Williams Brothers, Vanessa Ford, the Frank Hatchett dancers and others. The YMCA was managing the Dunbar until Mt. Zion Baptist Church acquired the property in 2016. The Church has renovated the building and is leasing space to the YMCA for youth pro- gramming. Forever Dunbar, Inc. was formed to maintain the legacy of the Dunbar and was re- sponsible for bringing the alumni together to celebrate the next chapter in this historic insti- Forever Dunbar, Inc. presents a check for $9,000.00 to the YMCA from funds tution in our community. ■ raised from last year’s “Broadway Comes to Springfield” review at City Stage. afam point of view page three november 1, 2017 CLASSIFIED/REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS................36 AN AFRICAN AMERICAN Point of View 688 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01119 COMMUNITY Phone: (413) 796-1500 ● Fax: (413) 796-6100 Community Beat ........................................................................14 CONTENTS E-mail: [email protected] ● Website: www.afampointofview.com www.facebook.com/ https://plus.google.com/ www.twitter.com/ Community Focus.................................................................18,19 AfAmPointofView +PointofViewSpringfield AfAmPointofView Community Information .......................................................17,35 Point of View is a monthly news journal with an African American orientation. 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