DNC Launches Rappers Using We Must Ask Black Womens Millions to Ourselves if Outreach Initiative to Change Reinvest in Affirmative the Face of Their Old Action is Fall Elections Neighborhoods Still Needed? Page 2 Page 9 Page 4 PRST STD 75c U.S. Postage It Takes PAID Jacksonville, FL a Village: Permit No. 662 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Dedicated Volunteers Celebrate Work of Giving At Risk Youth a Second Chance Page 3 75 Cents Kappa Alpha Psi Sues Hotel Denying Volume 31 No. 32 Jacksonville, Florida July 5 - 11, 2018 Service to ‘All Black Groups’ An Alabama restaurant has found itself in legal hot water after declin- Plans to End Obama-Era Affirmative ing service to a Black fraternity, the latest in a string of racist incidents nationwide at restaurants. Kappa Alpha Psi’s Alabama chapter filed a racial discrimination law- suit on June 27 against Tuscaloosa’s Cypress Inn. It stems from the Action Initiatives on President’s Menu restaurant canceling the Kappas’ reservation in February to rent a pavil- ion after learning that the fraternity is an “all Black group.” The Trump administration is stered colleges’ use of race among ther the compelling interests in philosophy. A restaurant representative returned the fraternity’s $1,500 registration rescinding Obama-era guidance many factors in the college admis- achieving diversity and avoiding Civil liberties groups immediate- fee after citing security concerns, the lawsuit stated. In response, the fra- that encouraged schools to take a sion process. But the opinion’s racial isolation.” ly decried the move, saying it went ternity offered to cover expenses for additional security, obtained insur- student’s race into account to author, Anthony Kennedy, The Obama approach replaced against decades of court rulings that ance and showed photos of past fraternity events. encourage diversity in admissions. announced his resignation last Bush-era policy from a decade ear- permit colleges and universities to The restaurant’s owner, however, was unmoved, citing problems with The shift would give schools and week, giving President Donald lier that discouraged affirmative take race into account. the fraternity’s “kind” in the past. universities the federal govern- Trump a chance to replace him with action programs and instead In 2016, the Supreme Court, in an The federal discrimination lawsuit alleged that Cypress Inn refused ment’s blessing to take a race-neu- a justice who will be more reliably encouraged the use of race-neutral opinion written by Kennedy, grant- services that it has provided to white customers. It asks the court for tral approach to the students they skeptical of affirmative action. alternatives, like percentage plans ed affirmative action policies a nar- compensatory damages, punitive damages, and an injunction that would consider for admission. Such guid- The guidance from the Obama and economic diversity programs. row victory by permitting race to be stop the restaurant from racially discriminating against others. administration gave The Trump administration sig- among the factors considered in the schools a frame- naled Tuesday that it planned to college admission process. work for “consider- reinstate the Bush administration’s Continued on page 3 West Point Gets ing race to further the compelling First Black Superintendent interests in achiev- Volunteers Join Forces to U.S. Army Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams ing diversity and has been named the 60th superintendent of the United avoiding racial iso- Brighten Neighborhoods States Military Academy at West Point, making him lation.” the first African American to command the school, In a 2011 policy which was founded in 1802. document, the General Williams assumed command during a cer- administration said emony in Jefferson Hall. A 1983 graduate of West ance does not have the force of law, schools have a “compelling inter- Point, he holds masters’ degrees in Leadership but schools could use it to help est” in ensuring a diverse student Development, Military Art and Science and National defend themselves against lawsuits body, and that while race should not Security Strategic Studies. He succeeded Lieutenant General Robert L. over their admission policies. be the primary factor in an admis- Caslen, Jr., who retired from the Army after 43 years. The action comes amid Supreme sion decision, schools could lawful- In 2015, West Point, which is based in West Point, N.Y., erected cadet Court turnover expected to produce ly consider it in achieving diversity. barracks, honoring Four-Star General Benjamin O. Davis, who was the a more critical eye toward schools’ The administration issued a simi- fourth African American and the first in the 20th century to graduate affirmative action policies. lar guidance document in 2016 from the Academy. The high court’s most recent sig- aimed at giving schools a frame- General Williams served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States nificant ruling on the subject bol- work for “considering race to fur- Army in Europe, which is located in Wiesbaden, Germany. He also was Deputy Commanding General for Support for the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea. In addition, he was Commanding General for the United States Army Warrior Transition Command and Assistant Free STEM Camp Prepares Shown are volunteers painting a home in Old Floradale Surgeon General for Warrior Care and Transition. Williams is a native Last week, Northwest Jax landscaping and cleaning at each of Alexandria, Virginia. Youth for Opportunities in Life Community Development Corp. home selected for the iniaititive. held their annual ‘Paint the Town’ “This is the first time my home has Senators Introduce Bill to neighborhood improvement project been painted in 40 years,” said focusing on the Magnolia Gardens longtime resident Ruth Roberts Make Lynching a Federal Crime and Old Floradale neighborhoods. sighting economic reasons for her Three African-American U.S. Senators have introduced a bill in Over the course of five days, vol- homes lack of upkeep. Her home Congress that if passed and signed into law would make lynching a fed- unteers assisted in the painting and was among those selected for the eral crime. It is similar to legislation introduced earlier this month in the beautification of eight homes makeover, which she cited as a life House by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush. belonging to elderly or disabled changing event for her. Senators Cory Booker, Kamala Harris and Tim Scott introduced the residents. Beautification effots “I can’t tell you how good it feels “Justice for Victims of Lynching Act 2018.” The legislation would make included trash removal, painting, to walk outside now,” she said. lynching punishable as a hate crime. Gov Track, which keeps track of legislation, does not have a record of the legislation. The proposed law also does not have a Senate bill num- Comedian Brings Star Power to ber. The lawmakers introduced the legislation after The National Memorial Jax to Bring Together Community for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum opened in April. The museum, which is based in Montgomery, Alabama, is a memori- al to the 4,400 black men, women and children lynched between 1877 and 1950 in 12 Southern states. Lynchings didn’t just include hanging people without benefit of a trial, they also involved burning blacks at the stake. And as victims pleaded for mercy, happy onlookers cut off their fingers, hands, heads and in the case of men their genitals. reported that the main years of lynching occurred between 1890 to 1937. Super Bowl White House Visit Axed In a series of events that the Trump White House has become known for, a visit by the 2018 NFL Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles was cancelled after they informed the White House that a small team delegation of about ten players was planning to attend. The White House Press Office sent out a statement from President Trump that in part read that the Philadelphia Eagles “were unable to come to the White House with their full team” and that. “They disagree with their President, because he insists that they proudly stand for the Shown is Christian Harrell constructing an robotic car Shown at the free July 4th event are Yolanda Hightower, comedian National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women As the American workforce continues to evolve, areas of study like Lil Duval, Andre Bens and Titiana Bens of our military and the people of our country. The Eagles wanted to send science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have Jacksonville native Roland Powell better known by his comedic stage a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event become critical as we prepare students for the jobs of the future. A non- name, “Lil Duval”, held his annual come together day Independence Day deserve better.” profit summer camp sponsored by Great Expectations Educational Street Festival in the heart of the city on Myrtle Ave. and Kings Rd. Lil In response to the cancelled White House event, former Eagles wide Resources and Support (GEERS) Kidzxtreme Fun Camp is charged Duval chose his stage name to pay homage to his Jacksonville roots. receiver Torrey Smith tweeted, “It’s a cowardly act to cancel the cele- with instilling that desire in area youth. Playing to sell out crowds, Powell returns to the city ever year to give back bration because the majority of the people don’t want to see you. To For the past three years, the camp has focused on providing a fun-filled to the community. Duval motivates youth at the festival, while having fun make it about the anthem is foolish.” project-based learning environment for youth in kindergarten through showcasing his Jacksonville roots on his social media platforms. Attendees In a statement about the cancelled visit, the eighth grade.