Lighting The Road To The Future Data Zone Page 6 The Amen Corner “The People’s Paper” February 4 - February 10, 2012 46th Year Volume 36 www.ladatanews.com Page 2 Newsmaker Opinion DOC Metairie Disrespecting Re-Opens the President Page 5 Page 4 Page 2 February 4 - February 10, 2012 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com New Orleans Continuing a Rich History Norman “Jelly Roll” Morton Mahalia Jackson been an important part of the allure and magic that would like to pay tribute to a few of the many Black Written and Edited by Edwin Buggage makes the City come alive? The world has come to New Orleanians who have contributed, leaving know the City for its food and music, but in other their marks on the world . But this is only an entry New Orleans: A City areas New Orleans is just as important . Many who point into encouraging you to explore the history and its History have set precedents and been on the frontlines of and contributions of African-Americans to New Or- the struggle for Civil Rights, to inventors and in- leans . New Orleans is a City with a rich cultural heri- novators in so many fields of endeavor have called tage . It is a unique place with a mix of people com- New Orleans home . Today nearly three centuries ing together throughout its history producing a after its founding it continues to be the gateway to Jelly Roll Morton: gumbo of a place . One of the main ingredients that the world as a truly fascinating place that has the Jazz Pioneer have given it its flavor that keeps people savoring distinction as being the most international and Af- the taste of the Crescent City is African-Americans . rican influenced City in the U .S . On this the begin- In the world of music New Orleans stands out Who have throughout their sojourn in the City has ning of Black History Month Data News Weekly as the mecca for the creation of what has been Cover Story, Continued on next page. DATA NEWS WEEKLY P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 | Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 INSIDE DATA editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors CEO/Publisher Ray Bonnee Edwin Buggage Cover Story . 2 Data Zone . 6 Glenn Jones Lauren Victoria Burke VP Advertising Parnell Herbert & Marketing Scott Lewis Julianne Malveaux Cheryl Mainor Marc Morial Newsmaker . 4 Commentary . 8 Managing Editor Elise Schenck Edwin Buggage James Terry Editor Art Direction & Production Lynesia Carson MainorMedia.com Executive Assistant Editorial Submissions State & Local News . 5 Opinions . 9 [email protected] June Hazeur Advertising Inquiries Accounting [email protected] Please call 504-309-9913 for subscription information or to obtain a back issue of the paper ONLY. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com Cover Story February 4 - February 10, 2012 Page 3 Cover Story, Continued from previous page. called America’s classical mu- dear friend, Civil Rights Leader sic, Jazz . It is on the streets and Dr . Martin Luther King Jr . When neighborhoods of this mysterious an assassin bullet cut down the mystical jewel that the sounds man who dared to dream, Jack- of instruments playing the notes son inspired an audience to push and rhythms that would become on with a riveting rendition of Dr . Jazz . One of the first greats of King’s favorite song, “Take My this music is the great genius of Hand Precious Lord ”. Mahalia the piano Jelly Roll Morton (1885- Jackson is a woman who changed 1941) whose early life growing up the world with her gift of song in New Orleans shaped who he and continues to inspire the world would become as one of the true with a voice that was part of the innovators of this new music that soundtrack of a movement that took the world by storm . He was changed America . a child prodigy that legend has it that at age 12 was making $100 Sidney Bechet A.P. Tureaud Oretha Castle dollars a night playing in broth- Sidney Bechet: els in the Storyville District . As a Internationally to New Orleans as one of fewer desegregation of Louisiana State Oretha Castle teenager he also performed at the than twenty practicing African- University of New Orleans now Haley: Activist and 1904 St . Louis World’s Fair . And Renowned American Attorneys in Louisiana UNO . In the 1950s, Tureaud was while Jazz Music was a new form Ambassador of until the 1950’s . He worked with a founding member of the Louis Humanitarian not looked at in high esteem, it New Orleans Jazz the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Martinet Legal Society, a Legal Defying rigid socially pro- was Morton who was the first art- along with famed Civil Rights At- Organization that addresses ra- scribed southern gender and ist to publish a jazz arrangement Sidney Bechet (1897-1959), torney Thurgood Marshall and cial discrimination and civil rights racial role constructions, Oretha in 1915 with his composition the great Saxophonist and Clari- was a student of noted Legal violations in the State . Tureaud Castle Haley (1939-1987) became “Jelly Roll Blues ”. In his personal netist was born in New Orleans . Scholar Charles Hamilton Hous- was a leader mentoring several one of Louisiana’s leading Civil life Morton led a complicated and Along with Louis “Satchmo” ton . Tureaud worked on many young minds and encouraging Rights, Women’s Rights, and Hu- controversial life given the racial Armstrong was one of the inno- important cases that struck down them to continue the struggle to man Rights Activists . She was a climate at the time of behaviors vators of Jazz Music developing segregation laws throughout the end segregation . In 1977, one of founding member, and then Presi- and attitudes that were supposed the loose rhythmic style that set State of Louisiana . He was the Tureaud’s law partners, Ernest dent, of the New Orleans Chapter to be displayed by non-Whites he Jazz apart from ragtime called lead attorney in cases that gave “Dutch” Morial, became the first of the Congress of Racial Equality broke the rules and social mores “swinging ”. Throughout most of equal pay to Black teachers in ad- Black Mayor of New Orleans . Cover Story, of the time by being bold and bra- his life as a musician he was ac- dition to the case that led to the Continued on page 10. zen in how he chose to live life on claimed by other musicians, but his own terms . He was a proud did not receive acclaim from the man of extraordinary talent . His public until later in life where he musical legacy is one that is for- was hailed a genius throughout ever etched into the history of the Europe . He was an innovator who Crescent City . worked with many performers Are You or a Loved One including Louis Armstrong, Bes- sie Smith, Duke Ellington and Mahalia Jackson: Josephine Baker . He is one of the Queen of many great musical talents that throughout the history of the City At Risk for Diabetes? Gospel Music have spread the gift of the music She is a woman who changed of the Crescent City for the world * the face of Gospel Music and has to enjoy . And one of the reasons Find out: Text HEALTH to 300400 been hailed the reigning queen musicians from New Orleans of the genre . Mahalia Jackson continue to be world renown is (1911-1972) was born in New Or- because of artist such as Sidney leans, Louisiana and was raised Bechet who spread the sound of in a home filled with inspirational New Orleans music . music . A gifted singer she sang in her father’s church . With her amazing talent she soon became A.P. Tureaud: Civil in demand and traveled across the Rights Attorney country performing at churches and social events . After years of A .P . Tureaud, Alexander Pierre performing she finally received a (“A .P .”) Tureaud (1899-1972) was big break with her 1946 hit “I Will a key legal activist in an era of Move On Up a Little Higher” sell- vigorous challenges to Jim Crow ing 2 million copies . Jackson also in Twentieth Century Louisiana . performed at Carnegie Hall and From the beginning of his legal traveled throughout Europe to career in New Orleans in the wide acclaim with her gift of song . 1920s until his death in 1972, Tu- Her powerful contralto voice was reaud directed the most substan- in such high demand, so much tive assaults on racial segrega- so she sang at the Presidential tion in Louisiana’s history . After LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: txt4healthnola | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: txt4healthnola Inaugurations of both Dwight D . leaving New Orleans and attend- Eisenhower and John F . Kennedy . ing Howard University because * But one of the things she is most he was not allowed to attend Signing up for txt4health is FREE but standard text messaging rates do apply. Please contact your mobile phone carrier for questions about text messaging rates. Txt4health is available for Greater New Orleans area residents. know for is her soul stirring sing- any law schools in Louisiana be- For terms & conditions visit www.txt4health.com. Text ‘STOP’ to discontinue messages or ‘HELP’ to receive assistance. ing at the Historic 1963 March on cause of segregation he received Washington and the funeral of her a Law Degree then he returned 01MK4996 R01/12 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and incorporated as Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company.