The 600+ Students Despite Ups Dangers Close Out and Downs - Participation Obama is of False in City’s Summer Youth Building a Eyelashes Jobs Program Solid Legacy Page 7 Page 3 Page 4 PRST STD Never Before 50c U.S. Postage PAID Jacksonville, FL Stories On Permit No. 662 Godfather RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED of Soul James Brown Page 9 50 Cents College President Gives $90k of His Volume 27 No. 40 Jacksonville, Florida August 7-13, 2014 Salary to Low-Paid Employees Why are Black Men Failing in School While Raymond Burse, interim president of Kentucky State University, elected to have his salary decreased from $349,869 to $259,745 in order to boost the paychecks Black Female Achievement is at a Record High? of the university’s lowest-paid workers. By Jeremy Bamidele gration, and graduating at rates of ty compared to other ethnic com- While black males and females may Burse’s pay cut will increase the salaries of 24 KSU Black women are currently 2/3 the graduation rate of black munities that are truly startling. arise from the same households and employees, some of whom were making as little as attending universities at historically women? One explanation for these dis- socioeconomic classes, the way $7.25 an hour, to $10.25 an hour, WLKY reported. high rates. While such achieve- Admittedly, the trend in black crepancies is a difference of social- they view their gender roles vis a Burse said that his giving up $90,124.96 is a response ments must be applauded, it brings female achievement aligns with ization, even within the same home vis society and vis a vis each other to “tough times” and wanting to ensure that university to light a blaring inconsistency female educational success across environments. Over half of African are affected by the presence of their workers know the school’s board and president “care about them and want between the level of black male the states with women now attend- American homes are single mother or lack thereof gender specific to do the very best by them,” according to the Herald-Leader. achievement to black female ing universities at a higher rate than led households. As a result, many parental role model. Burse has experience dealing with KSU employees -- he served as KSU achievement from the same socio- men. Graduation rates for women black men lack male role models In addition to not having black president from 1982 to 1989, according to KY Forward. After his presiden- economic backgrounds. Why are as a whole are also statistically within their household. While at male role models in the home, black cy, Burse held an executive position at General Electric Co. He retired in black women attending universities greater than graduation rates of men the same time, the sisters of these male role models are also lacking 2012 after 17 years with good benefits, the Herald-Leader reported. at historic highs while their male as whole. However, it is the degree same men grow up under a matri- within the educational environment For all of his Good Samaritanism, Burse wants to make clear that his pay counterparts are both attending uni- of difference between the genders arch that whether by circumstance with less than two percent of educa- cut is not a poke at other university presidents to follow suit, according to versity at historic lows, since inte- in the African American communi- or choice, practice self-sufficiency. tors being - Continued on page 3 the Herald-Leader. Burse said, "I was in a position where I could do that," and he recognizes that his decision is one that many people aren't able to make. Memorial Bridge Dedicated in Honor of Dr. Chester Aikens Eric Garner’s Death in NYPD The Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) invited the com- Chokehold Case Ruled a Homicide munity to a special ceremony last The controversial death of a New York City man who was placed in a week to commemorate Dr. Chester chokehold by police has been formally ruled a homicide - a move that will A. Aikens, former member of the almost certainly place the officers in front of a grand jury and heighten ten- JAA Board of Directors. JAA sions between residents and the police department, city officials and polic- Board of Directors Terri Davlantes ing experts said. welcomed the attendees to the cere- mony, while Rolf Riechmann Airport Manager provided an inspi- Man Who Shot NYC Choke video rational quote of Chester Aikens’ commitment to the community. of Eric Garner Held on Gun Charge JAA Human Resource Director The man who recorded video of a fatal police chokehold in New York City Michael Rogers presided over the has been arrested on gun charges. Police said 22-year-old Ramsey Orta was unveiling of the pathway that leads arrested Saturday night on Staten Island, a few blocks from where officers to the entrance of the JAA on the confronted his friend Eric Garner on July 17. airport grounds. Orta, whose recording of an officer restraining Garner with a chokehold Dr. Aikens, was a member of the fueled outcry against the police, is charged with two counts of criminal pos- bi-model Jacksonville Port session of a weapon. Authority Board of Directors from Police said Orta had a previous weapon conviction that prohibited him 1993-1999 and was appointed by from possessing a firearm. He is due in court this month on robbery charges Mayor Ed Austin and reappointed stemming from a May arrest and an assault charge from an arrest three days by mayor John Delany. He was also before Garner’s death, according to court records. appointed to serve on the Orta’s latest arrest came a day after the city’s medical examiner ruled Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s Garner’s death a homicide caused by the officer’s chokehold, as well as the Board of Directors by Mayors John compression of his chest and prone positioning “during physical restraint by Peyton in 2007 and Alvin Brown in police.” 2011. Throughout his tenure with Family members onhand for the occasion included the Aikens family: Chae, Jean and Chet Aikens the Aviation Authority, Dr. Aikens affairs and with the utmost integrity rational quote was taken from Dr. lege degree to serve. You don’t have Diploma of Harvard College's First represented the Jacksonville and professionalism. The bridge is Martin Luther King: “Everybody to make your subject and verb agree Aviation Authority in community, located near the JAA can be great – because anybody can to serve. You only need a heart full Black Graduate to Be Auctioned state and economic development Administration Building. The inspi- serve. You don’t have to have a col- of grace, a soul generated by love.” Owner of the historic document had threatened to burn it in 2013 The original Harvard College diploma received by the school’s first African-American graduate, Richard Greener, is up for auction. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. After finding the diploma while cleaning out a home in Chicago, Rufus Initiates – Launching New Dimensions McDonald, the current owner of Greener’s diploma, made headlines in 2013 when he threatened to burn the document if he did not receive a rea- sonable offer for it from Harvard. He also found a number of Greener’s paintings and writings. “I very much hope that Harvard acquires these documents at a fairly appraised value,” Henry Gates Jr., of Harvard’s W.E.B. DuBois Institute for African-American Research, told Boston Magazine in 2013. There is no word yet on whether the diploma will find a home at Harvard. Greener graduated from the ivy league college in 1870 with honors. His long career in academia, law and social justice included a two-year term as dean of the Howard Law School and a seven-year position as the United States Commercial Agent in Vladivostok, Russia. He died of old age in Chicago in 1922. NAACP Teams Up with Dunkin’ Brands To Grow Black Franchises The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People a will partner with Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, to create an initiative to Coretta Hill of the United Way of Northeast Florida with Gamma increase the number of Black-owned franchise businesses in the U.S. Rho Omega members Mary L. Brown and Willetta R. Richie “Franchising can be a powerful economic tool that further enables the Standing left to right is the Back to School Committee (front row) is The 73 year old Gamma Rho I – Educational Enrichment by the African-American community and others to realize the American dream of Sister Kanzla Parker, Sister Ilsa Jefferson, Sister Jackie Mims, Sister Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa International President, Dorothy business ownership,” said Cornell William Brooks, the newly-elected Zondra Williamson and Amala Taylor. Back row left to right is Oliver Alpha Sorority, Inc. recently con- Buckhanan Wilson. NAACP president and CEO. Martin, Donovan Trimble and Tenaro Urso. R. Silver photo ducted their annual leadership plan- The chapter is collaborating with According to the NAACP, the initiative will focus on “in-depth franchis- ning retreat to strategize their serv- Jacksonville Jaguar’s Cecil Short’s ing education and training” in addition to “assistance in overcoming the Grand Lodge Holds 5th Annual ice to the Jacksonville community. efforts in conjunction with the financial challenges related to becoming a franchise owner.” In addition to participating in United Way of Northeast Florida “The Dunkin’ Brands Diversity in Back to School Youth Give-Away workshops and activities, the chap- and three local elementary schools Franchising Initiative will provide educa- On Saturday, August 2nd The Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge, PHA ter members began their New they service through tutoring to tion, networking opportunities and infor- held a Back to School bash on the Masonic Temple grounds.