What television Min. Farrakhan’s Hopeless families have Annual Saviour’s really taught Day speech Lives reveals trouble The chosen lives and us about lifestyles of many Black America for Obama young Black males Page 10 Page 10 Page 4 PRST STD FBI closes U.S. Postage 50c PAID Jacksonville, FL the books Permit No. 662 on nearly ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED all of the unsolved civil rights cases Page 7 50 Cents Texas issues rare post pardon Volume 23 No.22 Jacksonville, Florida March 4 - 10, 2010 for wrongle imprisoned man Gov. Rick Perry of Texas has granted the state's first posthumous par- African Americans 45+ don to a man who spent 13 years in jail for a wrongful rape conviction following a campaign by his family to clear his name. The man, Tim Cole, died in prison in 1999 at age 39 while serving a 25- Hit Hardest by Recession year sentence. He was cleared by DNA evidence in 2008, and was pro- While millions of Americans general population (18% vs. 10%), nounced innocent in 2009 by a state district judge who said Cole had have experienced hard times during and almost one in four (23%) lost "suffered the greatest miscarriage of justice imaginable in our criminal the economic recession, the envi- their employer-sponsored health justice system." ronment for many African insurance. An inmate appears at a February 2009 court hearing on the case of Americans age 45+ and their fami- Some positive steps have taken Timothy Cole, whose photo is at right. Cole was serving a 25-year sen- lies is particularly difficult, accord- place to lessen the sting of the tence for rape when he died in 1999. DNA evidence in 2008 showed that ing to the AARP. recession. Efforts have included he didn't commit the crime. The survey, which is part of postponing plans to cutting enter- Texas has more verified wrongful convictions than any other state and AARP’s continued look at how tainment expenses. Even in the to date has exonerated 40 men from crimes in DNA testing. Americans age 45+ are faring in tough employment environment, Dr. Claudette Williams Nathaniel Glover this economy, found that over the 12% of African Americans age 65+ Michael Jordan reaches deal to buy last 12 months, a third (33%) of returned to the workforce from EWC President Resigns African Americans 45+ had prob- retirement, while 19% of African NBA's Charlotte Bobcats Less than three years after the city joined in a month long of activities cel- lems paying rent or mortgage, and Americans age 45 to 64 increased Retired basketball icon Michael Jordan has bought a majority share of ebrating the inauguration of Edward Water's Colleges first female presi- 44% had problems paying for the number of hours worked and the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats. dent, Dr. Claudette Williams, she has resigned to take a job with the essential items, such as food and 12% took a second job. Jordan, who was already a minority owner of the team, headed a group Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school's board of utilities. Unfortunately, African that bought a majority share of the team from businessman Robert trustees will appoint former Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover, a 1966 Nearly twice as many African Americans 45+ have been forced - Johnson, Johnson said in a statement. Edward Waters graduate, as interim president in May. Continued on page 3 Americans 45+ lost a job than the Continued on page 3 Johnson said he has signed a "definitive agreement" to sell majority interest of Bobcats Sports and Entertainment to Michael Jordan and MJ Ritz Theater Closes Black History Month with Salute Basketball Holdings, LLC. The deal is subject to NBA approval. Details on the purchase price were not available. Jordan has overseen the team's basketball operations in recent years. He to Jacksonville’s Legendary Professional Athletes won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls. Johnson, who founded BET and sold it to Viacom for $3 billion in 2001, announced that he had been looking for someone to buy earlier this year. His fortune was depleted by an expensive divorce, but in a 2009 inter- view with CNN, Johnson estimated his net worth was still $1.1 billion. Johnson's resume is full of firsts: BET was the first African-American owned company traded on the NYSE. He was the first African-American billionaire in the United States. And, in 2002, he became the first African- American majority owner of a professional sports franchise. New York’s first black governor to drop out of gubernatorial race David Paterson, the governor of New York and first African-American to hold that position, has said he will not seek re-election amid allega- tions that his administration exerted undue influence on a woman who had accused one of his senior aides of domestic violence. Announcing his decision, Mr Paterson insisted: "I have never abused my Left to right: 1st row, James Day, Adonica Toler, Jackie Flowers, Al Frazier, Al Denson, Tommie Chandler, Harold Carmichael, Larry Brown office - not now, not ever." He added: "I am being realistic about politics. and Derrick Alexander.(standing) Carol Alexander, Don Gaffney, Ron Lewis, Ernest Pough, Calvin Mummhand, Curtis Miranda, Derrick It hasn't been the latest distraction, it's been an accumulation of obsta- Gaffney and Ed Hayes. T. Austin photos cles." Court papers revealed that state police had telephoned the woman, even The Ritz Theater closed Black stage to share their experiences as cussions centered around their jour- pared their minds and bodies for the though the case was not in their jurisdiction. The governor's office admit- History Month with their final sym- some of the first athletes of color in ney from segregated high schools skills necessary for professional ted that Mr Paterson spoke to the woman directly, though it claimed she posium last week held in honor of the National Football League. The and colleges to the white dominated football, all agreed they had no initiated the call and denied he had tried to stop her pursuing the case. sports in Jacksonville. Themed first in the series held last fall high- NFL. With the mentoring and guid- preparation for integration. The controversy forced David Johnson, a close confidant of Mr "Panel of Pros - Jacksonville's lighted area coaches. ance provided by their coaches, The sports series will culminate Paterson's, to resign on Thursday and prompted colleagues in the Professional Black Athletes", trail- Moderated by Coach James Day, many went on to launch successful with an exhibit opening in Democratic Party to urge the governor not to run in November. blazing football players graced the Carol Alexander and Ed Hayes, dis- careers. Though the coaches pre- November 2010. Gov. Paterson was promoted from deputy governor to governor in 2008 when Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal. Phi Delta Kappa Focuses on Educating Elderly babysitter bites intruder, Tommorow’s Leaders at Annual Banquet stops sexual assault of 10 year old Philadelphia, PA - An elderly Haitian babysitter is being praised after she fought off an intruder who allegedly sexually assaulted a young girl as she slept in bed. A man, believed to be in his late teens or early 20s, broke into the home and made his way to a second floor bedroom where a 10-year-old was sleeping,. The young girl told investigators she awoke to find the man buttoning up her shirt. She immediately screamed for help, awaking her 74-year-old babysitter, who was sleeping in the same room. The elderly woman jumped up and began fighting off the man with a struggle that proceeded from that bedroom and down the steps to the first floor of that property. After he pushed the womandown the stairs, he went back for the girl and the babysitter went back for him this time biting him and causing him to flee. Police are still on the lookout. Terrance Howard Joins Phi Beta Sigma Actor Terrance Howard has been inducted into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. A private reception fol- lowing the induction ceremony drew more than 150 guests, including members of the sister organiza- tion, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. to the Ritz Carlton Shown above is the banquet Committee (L-R) Jean Farmer, Sandra in Philadelphia. Milton, Joanne Kitchen, Markeisha Powell, Leonella Williams, Betty Howard, a resident of the Philadelphia region, Burney, Callie Merriweather and Delores Williams. (Seated) Rebecca Shown above is Weave attendee Sam Hall (standing) sharing a fami- joins a list of recent Phi Beta Sigma notable mem- ly photo album with Helen Holloway. G Miler photo Highsmith, Flora McClendon-Parker and Olester Williams. R. Silver photo bers who are involved in the fields of arts and entertainment, business, The national sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc, Delta Delta Chapterheld civil rights, education, health, law, politics, science and sports. Weaving the Web Continues History’s Traditions their annual African-American Commission on Civil Rights Banquet at the The fraternity’s membership roster include heads of state such as 42nd Carlottra Guyton and friends hosted the 11th Annual Weaving the Web of Holiday Inn on Commonwealth. The theme for the event was “Educating United States President, William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton, world famous our history event in her historic Springfield home last weekend in honor Tomorrow’s Leaders” and keynoted by the Hon. Angela Cox. Proceeds scientist George Washington Carver, Black Panther Party co-founder of Black History Month. from the Banquet benefit scholarships to young people and community Huey P. Newton, and Philadelphia Phillies Ryan Howard. Held customarily the last Saturday of February, the event culminates the events for seniors.