University of South Florida Scholar Commons Newspaper collection The Weekly Challenger 2009-01-01 The Weekly Challenger : 2009 : 01 : 01 The Weekly Challenger, et al Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/challenger Recommended Citation The Weekly Challenger, et al, "The Weekly Challenger : 2009 : 01 : 01" (2009). Newspaper collection. 1. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/challenger/1 This is brought to you for free and open access by the The Weekly Challenger at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Newspaper collection by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2271 St. Petersburg, FL OPINION ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS NATIONAL George Curry on black coaches 2 Eartha Mae Kitt succumbs to cancer 6 Bucs Fail To Make Playoffs 8 Caroline Kennedy seeks Senate seat 7 50¢ We Value Diversity. We Value Education. We Value History. St. Petersburg • Clearwater • Tampa • Largo • Tarpon Springs • Safety Harbor • Bradenton • Sarasota VOLUME 41 NUMBER 18 JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 7, 2009 ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA Happy New Year From TheWeeklyChallenger 2009 Dr. Martin KWANZAA: Reflects On The Past Luther King Jr. With Hopes For The Future Leadership Breakfast To Celebrate The Dreamer And The Dream Photograph courtesy of Kelley Collier Photograph courtesy of Kelley Collier Celebrating Kwanzaa at Simply Natural Kwanzaa display Keynote speaker, Dr. Bartholomew Banks Sr. BY JEANIE BLUE 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, The seven principles of crafted Kwanzaa calenders. ST. PETERSBURG - The State Convention and pastor of CHALLENGER CORESPONDENT National Council of Negro St. John Progressive M.B. is a holy day created to Kwanzaa are Umoja (unity); Kwanzaa is not a religious unite African-Americans with Kujichagulia (self-determina- or political holiday. Therefore, Women has kicked off plans for Church, Tampa. Banks is con- ST. PETERSBURG - “We the upcoming 2009 Dr. Martin sidered one of the most dynamic Africans on the continent of tion); Ujima (collective work it should not conflict with other have a lot to celebrate for Africa, designed to hold on to and individual responsibility); holiday or political observanc- Luther King Jr. Commemorative individuals of our time. Acritical Kwanzaa in particular the Leadership Awards Breakfast. thinker, analyst, motivator and and preserve the culture. The Ujamma (cooperative economics); es. It does offer families an accomplishment of President- celebration is a week-long Nia (purpose); Kuumba (cre- opportunity to engage in family The breakfast is co-sponsored mentor. He received a Bachelor elect Barack Obama, the first by The City of St. Petersburg of Arts in Accounting from the observance beginning on Dec. ativity); and Imani (faith). oriented activities, that includes African-American to be elected 26 and ending on Jan. 1. There “Unity is about harmony, preserving the heritage by along with President/CEO Jeff University of South Florida and president of the United States of Lyash of Progress Energy a Master of Arts in Biblical are seven principles highlighted being in accord and linked recalling information to keep a America,” Raynetta Mobley and each day a principle is together for a purpose,” Uwezo people's stories alive. The final Florida who serves as honorary Studies from Dallas Theological said. Mobley hosted the first chairman. Seminary. Banks is the director honored by lighting a candle, Sudan stated. “Being rude and day of Kwanzaa (Imani-faith, day of Kwanzaa (Umoja-unity, having discussions about the nasty works against harmony.” Jan. 1), will be celebrated at the The breakfast will be held of the Division of Social Dec. 26), at the family business, on Monday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 a.m. Services; and a member of the principle of the day, reflecting Sudan, a Griot (storyteller), Enoch Davis Center. For infor- Simply Natural, 1622 Central on the past year and any plans attended the celebration and mation call Raynetta Mobley at at the St. Petersburg Coliseum. Hillsborough County Board of Ave. “We have hope for This year’s keynote speaker is for the upcoming year. There is provided presentations to 727-820-0240. All activities something better, something also food for sharing and fel- attendees. There was drumming publicized are free and open to Dr. Bartholomew Banks Sr., NCNW different.” president of the Florida M & E lowshipping after the brief dis- and a visual artists from the general public. continued on pg. 3 Kwanzaa, established in cussions. Baltimore, Md. promoted hand - Obama’s Miraculous Win Leads 2008 Black Press Stories; Opinion..............................2 Stories Of Injustices Close Behind Community News........3, 4, 5 BY HAZEL TRICE EDNEY showed Obama’s Democratic Immediately, the pace of his NNPA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF primary opponent Hillary black support escalated. By mid- Black History .......................6 Rodham Clinton at 40 points January, an ABC News poll WASHINGTON (NNPA) – higher than Obama among showed black support for Obama Entertainment .....................6 At this time last year, then U.S. African-Americans who had been slowly reversing at 60-40 percent Sen. Barack Obama was not the asked their preference for the over Clinton. After he won the State News ........................7 black community’s favored Democratic primary. South Carolina primary on Jan. candidate to win the Democratic Only a month earlier, in 26, his black support skyrocketed nomination for the presidency of December 2007, only 54 percent and solidified at well more than 90 National News..................7 the United States. Indeed, because of blacks to 65 percent of whites percent for the rest of the way. of America’s past history of even believed America would be Coupled with overwhelming Sports .................................8 racism, most blacks did not willing to elect a black president. support from a cross section of initially favor Obama as the Photograph courtesy of NNPA But, it was Obama’s win in white and Latino-Americans, the Church News....................9 Democratic nominee because the Jan. 3 Democratic primary in advent of Barack Hussein Obama President-Elect Barack they simply did not believe he Iowa – a 95 percent white state - Church Directory .....10, 11 Obama was celebrated could win the general election. that caused the world to hearken 2008 world-wide as American's In January of 2008, an ABC his convincing chant - “Yes we first black president-elect News-Washington Post poll can.” continued on pg. 7 How To Reach Us: News: [email protected] • Advertising: [email protected] • Phone: (727) 896-2922 • Fax: (727) 823-2568 2 THE WEEKLY CHALLENGER, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2009 The Weekly Challenger The Weekly Challenger Newspaper Ethel L. Johnson . Publisher/CEO L. Dianne Speights . General/Advertising Manager Shikara Edwards-Dodson . .Editor We Value Diversity. We Value Education. We Value History. Lorrie Bellinger . Art Director • A knowledge of history brings a feeling of fellowship that runs through the ages — be it a territory, a village, a district, or a nation. • To live without history is likened to living without a form of memory. The Weekly Challenger Office: • To be without history is to live without roots or a past, with the present having no real foundation, and very little meaning for the future. 2500 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street South • To know the events of our past (can help us) to know what future events can be. St. Petersburg, FL 33705 • The Weekly Challenger is committed to featuring articles of all ethnic cultures for the reading enjoyment of both the young and old generations. (727) 896-2922 Fax (727) 823-2568 Email: [email protected] www.theweeklychallenger.com OPINION Readership: 100,000 monthly THE BLACK PRESS believes that America can best lead the world from racial antagonism when it accords to every man, regardless of race, creed or color, his human Too Many Bowls, Too Few Black Coaches and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man... the Black Press strives to help every man in the firm belief BY GEORGE E. CURRY were twice as many African- coaches than take a chance on a nonsense? that all men are hurt as long as anyone is held back. NNPA COLUMNIST American coaches as there are now. promising African-American. Two One approach would be to Evidently, the football sidelines examples immediately come to adopt a college version of the Basketball’s “March suffer from the same on-field racial mind. Rooney Rule. Some have suggested Madness” has nothing on the stereotypes of the past. For years, Auburn University hired Gene calling it the Robinson Rule, in college football bowl frenzy – 34 they said blacks were excellent Chizik as its new head coach after honor Doug Williams’ former games over a 19-day period players but didn’t have the intellect he went 5-19 over two seasons at coach, Eddie Robinson of spanning the last month of the old to play the so-called “thinking Iowa State, including 10 straight Grambling. For that to work, year and the first month of the new positions” – quarterback and losses. Meanwhile, the University however, penalties must be one. Let’s face it, not all 68 teams middle linebacker. Of course, that of Tennessee, eager to get back on assessed against universities that deserve to be in a bowl. Some - was pure hogwash. For years, the winning track after forcing out fail to cooperate. including North Carolina State, Grambling, Florida A&M and Phillip Fulmer, hired another losing A sure-fire way of forcing Kentucky, Bowling Green, Tennessee State were football pow- coach, Lane Kiffin, formerly of the change would be for star high Southern Mississippi, Northern erhouses and it wasn’t because they Oakland Raiders. Kiffin was fired school players and their parents to The Weekly Challenger Illinois, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt played 10 men on each side of the by the NFL team after compiling a spurn athletic programs that spurn - got invitations after winning only ball – or without a coach on the record of 5-15.