Volume 95 Number 52 | AUGUST 15-21, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com | Ninety-Three Cents WHEN A SEAT AT THE TABLE MATTERS Jamarah Amani and Mahoro Amani If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring in a Racial slur “folding chair." Shirley Chislom at UM camp U.S. rep candidate Michael Hepburn disappoints pulls up his own chair Parent seeks accountability from Nyamekye Daniel [email protected] STEM academy after recent incident ix white folding chairs sat behind a table skirted K. BARRETT BILALI come home and tell me what she learned in STEM, instead in black in the gallery of the Little Haiti Cultural Miami Times Contributor she is coming home telling me Complex. “Dyke!” “Nigger!” a girl called her a nigger.” The chairs were awaiting the Congressional These are the not words a Mahoro is one of a handful middle-school student is ex- of Black students in a nearly candidates for District 27 at The Miami Times pected to hear in a five-day 25-student exclusive program, politicalS forum last Wednesday. educational program at the which is designed to expose University of Miami STEM + young students to science, L Academy camp. technology, engineering and In comes candidate Michael Hepburn carrying his own fold- But 12-year-old Mahoro math. The camp ran from ing chair. Hepburn moved his designated white chair off to the Amani was called the N-word Monday, Aug. 6 to Friday, Aug. side and replaced it with the purple folding chair he brought when she was trying to defend 10. The students will meet to- in. Taped to the front of his chair was a paper with a black and another girl from the pejora- gether once a month until Jan. white photo of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected tive word for lesbian. 6. to Congress. The white student who used The name calling happened There was a quote: “If they don't give you a seat at the table, both of the offensive terms did the second day of the camp, bring a folding chair. Shirley Chisholm not retreat, leading Mahoro to Aug. 7. Amani said her daugh- 1924-2005.” “Michael A. Hepburn for call her a “racist bitch.” ter finished the week but still Congress,” the signature read. “My daughter was defend- had to listen to phrases such Hepburn first heard of Chisholm’s ing that girl and saying you as “I am Black inside” and quote about the chair last Martin shouldn’t use that word,” said “I was just joking.” Amani’s Luther King Jr. Day. Mahoro’s mom, Jamarah Am- worried about what is going He was doing some door-to- ani, about why her daughter to happen when the students door community outreach in his responded the way she did.“I meet up next month. neighborhood when a neighbor was expecting my daughter to SEE RACIAL 10A shared the quote with him. His mother then purchased the purple chair for him. Hepburn said purple is the right choice because it lies Miami strong mayor somewhere between the two political parties. Blue represents the Democrat- ic party while red represents the measure on ballot Republican party. “I am a Democrat running Voters to decide whether to change for Congress, but I don’t like [labels]. Red and blue make to constitution on election day, Nov. 6 purple,” said Hepburn. Hepburn is one of 15 candi- K. BARRETT BILALI and dates and one of five Demo- CAROLYN GUNISS crats who will face off during [email protected] the primary Aug. 28. Hepburn is running on Miami’s voters will decide voters having easy access to in November if they want to education and health care. make Mayor Francis Suarez He wants to raise the min- and all future mayors the ex- imum wage to $15 per hour; ecutive decision-maker for and he wants to strengthen and expand the city. Social Security benefits. In a grinding meeting Tues- Hepburn has more rights today than did Chisholm when she day, Aug. 14, the city’s com- won her congressional seat for a Brooklyn, New York district in Congressional candidate Michael Hepburn brought a missioner voted 3-2 to let vot- 1968, touting the slogan, “unbought and unbossed.” ers decide whether to change chair with a picture attached She was the only woman among the newly elected congres- the city charter and replace sional officials, according to the archives of the U.S House of of Shirley Chisholm, the the city manager system for a Mayor Francis Suarez Representatives. first Black woman elected strong mayor form of govern- “I have no intention of just sitting quietly and observing,” she to Congress to The Miami ment. recall and the right to hold me said. “I intend to focus attention on the nation’s problems.” Times political forum last “ I don’t like the name strong accountable.” Chisholm held the position as congresswoman from 1969 to Wednesday at the Little Haiti mayor,” said Suarez after the The need to put the issue on 1983. In 1977, she became the first Black woman to serve on the the ballot was spurred by the Cultural Complex. vote. “It’s opposite from what House Committee on Rules. it should be. Citywide, peo- collection of 20,000 petition SEE SEAT 10A ple will see the mayor doing signatures calling for a strong Miami Times photo/Felipe Rivas things. They have the right to SEE MAYOR 10A Today BUSINESS ................................................. 14B YOU & YOURS ............................................ 7D 88° CLASSIFIED ............................................. 17B FAITH CALENDAR ................................... 8D POLITICAL FORUM IN GOOD TASTE ......................................... 1C HEALTH & WELLNESS ............................. 9D INSIDE LIFESTYLE HAPPENINGS ....................... 5C OBITUARIES ............................................. 12D TODAY @ 6 PM 8 90158 00100 0 #26A Editorials Cartoons Opinions Letters VIEWPOINT BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY | AUGUST 15-21, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com Credo Of The Black Press MEMBER: National Newspaper Periodicals Postage OPINION The Black Press believes that America Publisher Association paid at Miami, Florida (ISSN 0739-0319) can best lead the world from racial and MEMBER: The Newspaper POSTMASTER: Published Weekly at 900 NW 54th Street, Association of America Send address changes to national antagonism when it accords Miami, Florida 33127-1818 Subscription Rates: One Year THE MIAMI TIMES, to every person, regardless of race, Post Office Box 270200 $52.99 – Two Year $99.99 P.O. Box 270200 Democrats now's creed or color, his or her human and Buena Vista Station, Miami, Florida 33127 Foreign $75.00 Buena Vista Station, Miami, FL Phone 305-694-6210 legal rights. Hating no person, fearing 7 percent sales tax for Florida residents 33127-0200 • 305-694-6210 no person, the Black Press strives to H.E. SIGISMUND REEVES, Founder, 1923-1968 help every person in the firm belief that the time to be busy all persons are hurt as long as anyone GARTH C. REEVES, JR., Editor, 1972-1982 GARTH C. REEVES, SR., Publisher Emeritus is held back. about the vote RACHEL J. REEVES, Publisher and Chairman EUGENE ROBINSON, The Washington Post RECOMMENDATIONS For President Trump, this What really happened can’t be much of a vacation. Tuesday is that Democrats The Miami Times recommends . part 1 The onetime chairman of were given reason to hope The Miami Times sent ques- Times says yes to Andrew Gil- on a crowded – albeit flawed – Trump’s presidential cam- for a more sweeping victory tionnaires to many of the candi- lum for the Democratic nomi- field but one without real scan- paign, Paul Manafort, is on tri- in November than they had dates who are seeking political nee for governor. dal and headlines that made al in federal court for tax fraud dared to imagine — if, and office and will be on the ballot you cringe. The Miami Times and other alleged crimes. The only if, they work their hearts Aug. 28 for the state’s closed Sean Shaw in 2016 recommended Pizzo prosecution’s star witness in out between now and then. primary election. Already, early Attorney General for the Florida Senate District that trial is Rick Gates, the And Trump, for nervous voting is underway, so you are When you read statements 38 seat. He didn’t win. He is deputy chairman of Trump’s GOP candidates, is the clas- pondering your ballot, wonder- from Sean Shaw in the me- back to face the person who inaugural committee. The sic double-edged sword: His ing who will live up to promis- dia, he sounds just like when bested all in the race, Daph- first sitting member of Con- overwhelming popularity es to work in the best interest a new sheriff rides into town. ne Campbell. But since her gress to endorse Trump for among his base does boost of you, the voter. We tried to He wants respect, and he plans election, Campbell has been president, Rep. Chris Collins Republican enthusiasm to parse the information for you, to get it. Scammers, watch out, embroiled in scandal, one that (R-N.Y.), was indicted on fed- some degree, but it also pro- but some who may have sin- if Shaw gets elected, he said. could've been named after eral charges of insider trading. vokes Democrats and other cere interest in serving you did Safety in schools is a priori- the movie a “Fist full of Dol- And last Tuesday’s election opponents of Trumpism to not find the time to share their ty for Shaw, he says but that lars.” And while those in her results showed that Trump’s turn out in large numbers to views on four serious ills in Mi- seems like a populous topic district waited to have pow- insurance policy — the Re- vote against the captive and ami-Dade County: economic se- Andrew Gillum er restored after Hurricane publican Party’s iron-fisted supine GOP.