Councilmember Minister Does Kamala Drawn by Haris Have Experience to Farrakhan Enough Obama be a Diabetes is Now an Swag to be the Ambassador on First Female Available Benefits Omega Man President? Page 7 Page 7 Page 4 PRST STD Young, Gifted, 75c U.S. Postage PAID Jacksonville, FL Black and Broke! Permit No. 662 The American RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Dream Remains Deferred for Black Millennials Page 3 75 Cents Bennett College Surpasses its Volume 32 No. 11 Jacksonville, Florida February 7 - 13, 2019 $5 Million Goal to Remain Open Bennett College surpassed its goal to raise $5 million to help in its fight to restore its accreditation. The school announced that it raised $8.2 million and will appeal the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission’s decision to revoke its accreditation in December. The Stand with Bennett Campaign launched eight weeks ago and saw support from students, alumni and corporations. Last month, the Papa John’s Foundation donated $500,000 to the school. Bennett President Phyllis Dawkins said in the past week that the pri- vate, historically Black college for women received a flush of donations. High Point University gave the liberal arts HBCU a $1 million chal- lenge grant, helping the school reach 95 percent of its fundraising goals. Los Angeles couple Kwanza Jones and Jose E. Feliciano also donated $1 million. “This whole campaign is not about money,” said High Point President Breakout Candidates Gear Up For Council Elections Nido Qubein. “I believe that God has ordained Bennett in a very special way, to say to the world that there is a reason why Bennett was founded many sitting members. and there is a reason why Bennett must continue to sustain itself with Candidates in attendance offer- both success and significance.” ing fresh perspectives and an exam- ple of their representation were NAACP’s Lawsuit Against Chad McIntyre, Solomon Olopade, Sharice Riley and Nash Knick. Also 2020 Census Moves Forward in the audience were candidates running for sheriff and at large The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People seats. In the following weeks, sev- (NAACP) and its allies recently won a major court ruling that allows eral candidate forums are scheduled them to proceed with a federal lawsuit challenging the government’s around town to allow contenders an inadequate preparations for the 2020 Census. opportunity to address the public. The suit, NAACP v. Bureau of the Census, was filed last March and According to the Supervisor of alleges that unless the Census Bureau significantly improves its plans Elections office, Jacksonville holds for 2020, the upcoming census will drastically undercount African unitary elections for their consoli- Americans and other people of color across the country. This undercount dated government. The first elec- will contribute to unequal political representation and reduced federal tion is held with a single ballot for funding for communities of color. all voters within each electoral dis- The NAACP and its partners brought this lawsuit because the ongoing trict, regardless of political party underfunding and understaffing of the Census Bureau violates its legal affiliation. obligation to conduct a full and fair census. As the plaintiffs explain in Candidates appear on the ballot their complaint, the Bureau has severely cut back on door-to-door can- Seated (L-R) were candidates Chad McIntyre, Solomon Olopade, Sharice Riley and Nahshon Nicks with party labels and campaign as vassing, community partnerships, and field infrastructure—all of which Duval County’s primary elections Caucus held a District 7 Candidate members past oversights and errors. party candidates. Any candidate are essential to encourage participation from communities of color. The will be held on Tuesday, March forum at Highlands Library on For many years, Jacksonville’s winning a majority of votes in the government has also cancelled crucial pre-census field tests, even as it 19th when voters will head to the Dunn Avenue. city council races remained under primary is elected; if no candidate attempts to use new technologies and implement a brand-new digitiza- polls to vote for City Council, Issues discussed included infra- lockdown with veteran candidates for a position wins a majority, the tion initiative. Mayor and other local offices. structure, schools, neighborhoods, often rotating among legal seats. general election serves as a runoff Several City Council races have crime and leadership. Each candi- This year marks one of the rare between the top two winners, Hate Crimes Spiked During multiple candidates vying for con- date fielded questions from the opening where new candidates can regardless of party affiliation. The tested seats. This week, the Duval community and detailed their goals make a breakthrough due to the General Election is scheduled for Midterm Elections County Democratic Party Black to make amends for former council legal issues and term limits of Tuesday, May 14, 2019. The number of hate crimes in major metropolitan areas rose around the 2018 midterm elections. In a yet-to-be completed annual report from Diverse Efforts Serve as a Stark Reminder of Heart Health California State-San Bernardino’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, noticeable upticks in hate crimes were seen in cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia last fall. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer Chapter, Inc. (GRO) recently Black, Jewish, Latino and LGBTQ populations in those cities were for all Americans, and stroke is decided to literally “step up” and often the targets of hate-based attacks, writes NBC News. also a leading cause of death. As make a difference for heart health. Hate crimes in Los Angeles decreased by 6.5 percent in the first half frightening as those statistics are, Last Saturday, over two hundred of 2018, per the report. Because of a 31 increase from October to the risks of getting those diseases members of the community and December, however, the city saw a 12.5 percent increase over the pre- are even higher for African- the chapter gathered at Winton vious year’s. Americans. This is why Heart Family YMCA and celebrated Experts believe that around highly charged emotional events, like a ter- Health Month is of particular inter- “Pink Goes Red for Heart Health.” rorist attack or an election, the bully pulpit does make a difference. They est to people of color. In its’ ninth year, the chapter also contend that the most common threat, the most prominent extrem- The good news is, African- presented the event along with ist threat right now, is undeniably far right and white nationalists. Americans can improve their odds over 1,000 chapters around the of preventing and beating these globe. This year’s activities diseases by understanding the included a chat with a cardiologist, risks and taking simple steps to tips from wellness coaches, indoor Student Beaten and Accused of address them. High blood pres- run/walk event, health checks and sure, obesity and diabetes are the ZUMBA. Stealing His Own Car Wins $1.25M most common conditions that February became synonymous Evanston, IL — Lawrence Crosby, an engineer- increase the risk of heart disease with not only Valentine’s Day but ing graduate student who was violently arrested and and stroke. Organizations through- heart health in 1963 to encourage beaten by police and falsely accused of stealing a out the First Coast are putting their Americans to join the battle Shown speaking at the Heart of a Woman Luncheon are car he actually owns, recently won a $1.25 million best foot forward to increase against heart disease. In addition speakers: Ethelbert Nwanegbo, President of Power House settlement from his lawsuit against the Evanston awareness and education on the to workshops and other events, Management Consulting (finances), Pamela Rama, MD, Police Department. silent killer. everyone is encouraged to simply Cardiologist at Baptist Health (body) and Addris Vinson, LCMH, On October 2015, Crosby, who was then 25-years The Women of Color Cultural “wear red” as a reminder of its Independent Licensed Clinical Mental Health Consultant old and pursuing his Ph.D. studies at Northwestern Foundation (WCCF) hosted their importance in our lives. University, was pulled over by police. When he 19th annual Heart of a Woman exited his car with his hands up, police took him to Luncheon Affair at WJCT Studio the ground and allegedly struck him 11 times. on Saturday, February 2nd. With After brutally beating Crosby, police officers discovered that the car over 250 attendees dressed in red in question was actually owned by Crosby. Apparently, someone mis- attire, the focus of theme of the takenly thought Crosby was breaking into the car and called 911. event was, “Matters of the Heart: “It’s not easy for me to have to be put back into that situation and have Mind, Body and Finance$.” to relieve it again. At that moment in time, I did not know if I would In 2000, WCCF began address- make it to the end of the night,” said Crosby. ing the growing health disparity in Crosby was accused of charges including resisting arrest. Following Northeast Florida by holding the incident, Evanston Police Department reportedly even posted a workshops and annual health sym- video defending the officer conduct, which is now deleted. posiums/seminars for people of Since being found not guilty, Crosby filed a civil suit color. against the city and officers. Another local organization that “The settlement was for $1.25 million, and I con- marked the start of Heart Health sider that a fair and just compensation for the experi- Month was Alpha Kappa Alpha ence that I went through,” Crosby said. Sorority. The Gamma Rho Omega The ladies of AKA’s Gama Rho Omega Chapter got their heart rates up for their “Pink Goes Red” event Page 2 - Ms.