Volume 32, No. 3 “And Ye Shall Know The Truth...” February 25, 2015 Happy 75th, Jean Holden! In This Issue... Perryman Defeating Page 2 Modern Slavery Page 4 Sen. Brown with Tolliver Black Leaders Page 3 Page 5 The Soulcial Scene Jean Holden AKA’s Page 16 Founders Day Jean Jam Page 9 Page 16 Clarence Steppin’ Smith Page 8 Page 10 Book Review Page 13 Classifieds BlackMarket- Page 15 Place Page 14 Page 2 The Sojourner’s Truth February 25, 2015 Truth and Consequences By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, D.Min. The Truth Contributor I am a threat to the degree that I am trying to tell the truth about America. - Cornel West If approved by Toledo City Council, longtime Lucas County scheduler. I was also the Democratic Party loyalist Yvonne Harper will fill the District scheduler for former Lu- 4 council seat vacated by Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson. Never- cas County Common Pleas theless, Harper faces many challenges. Chief among them are, Judge Charles Doneghy. I whether the corridors of power in Toledo can handle the pres- went to Columbus to sit ence of such a strong and outspoken woman of color without on the Strickland cam- being threatened. It remains to be seen. paign. I have volunteered and also worked part-time I spoke with Harper regarding her political ambitions, her for the board of elections contributions to the community and about the obstacles she in training poll workers. faces in reaching her goal to become the representative for Dis- trict 4 on the Toledo City Council. Have I ever run for public office? Well, yes I have. I ran for precinct commit- Perryman: Mayor Hicks-Hudson has yet to publicly declare tee person and won every whether she intends to either run for mayor or once again for time I ran. From 2002, ’04, her vacated District 4 council seat. It has created a bit of anxi- ’06, ’08, ’10, ’12 and ’14, ety for many political hopefuls. How does this affect your po- I have been on the ballot litical outlook and plans for the council seat? as a precinct committeep- erson in Ward 8, precinct Yvonne Harper Harper: In case Paula decides at the last minute that she does F. And I have been the not want to run for mayor, I am willing to step aside and she ward chair twice. ... continued on page 12 can run for her old seat, which would be in September, for the November election. I am willing to go through the screening, then get the signatures for May and then get on the ballot and if Paula decides at the last minute to run for council rather than Community Calendar mayor, then I’ll step aside. I’m willing to be a place holder for February 16 – March 31 her. Art Exhibit: Maumee Branch Library; 40 paintings by artists Larry Parker, Sr Perryman: Let’s talk about your present and past work for February 25 the Lucas County Democratic party. Lourdes University “Celebration of Black History Month:” 5:30 pm; Lourdes Chorus and Good Company Ensemble, guest choirs, Alma Drum & Harper: I’ve been the executive director of the Lucas County Dance Ensemble: 419-824-3772 or [email protected] SunBridge School’s Annual Black History Month Celebration: St. James Democratic Party for over five years. Before then, when San- The Armory Church; Featuring Men of Change and Women of Change: dy Isenberg was the chair of the party, I was the co-chair for 419-725-5437 the screening committee under John Irish. So I’ve been here. And then I was instrumental in this office to develop a judicial February 28 screening committee that was the first to take advantage of the Toledo Kwanzaa House Black History Café: Kent Branch Library; 1:30 to legal expertise of practicing attorneys. I have worked on just 4:40 pm: 419-973-0248 about everybody’s campaign. For Judge Myron Duhart, I was the March 1 Clarence Smith Community Chorus in Concert: 4 pm; Monroe Street United Methodist Church: 419-473-1167 ext 230 United Church of God Wnterfest Blues Event: Noon to 3 pm; Arts and The Sojourner’s Truth crafts, games, food, prizes Toledo’s Truthful African American Owned and Operated Newspaper March 9 ProMedica’s Look Good … Feel Better:: 9 to 11 am; ProMedica Defiance; Fletcher Word – Publisher and Editor Workshop by trained cosmetologists who teach women with cancer to Marticia Hurst – Office Manager understand and care for changes in sin and hair that may occur during treat- ment: 800-227-2345 Tricia Hall – Reporter Carla Leonard – Social Editor March 16 Rev. D.L. Perryman – Columnist ProMedica’s Look Good … Feel Better:: 2 to 4 pm; ProMedica Memorial Fremont; Workshop by trained cosmetologists who teach women with can- Jennifer Retholtz – Webmaster cer to understand and care for changes in sin and hair that may occur during Kathy Sweeny – Graphic Designer treatment: 800-227-2345 Jessica Crans - Layout April 17-19 A Certified MBE Calvary MBC Women’s Ministry 18th Spring Retreat: 419-531-9443 The Sojourner’s Truth, 1811 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604 Phone 419-243-0007 * Fax 419-255-7700 May 3 [email protected] Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screenings: Free at Mitchell Dermatology; 9 am to www.thetruthtoledo.com 1 pm; 900 W. South Boundary, Perrysburg: 419-872-4673 February 25, 2015 The Sojourner’s Truth Page 3 A Lost Letter Found By Lafe Tolliver, Esq Guest Column Some of you may have heard about an I received that in- acts of their faith in action, then where are we as a collective body old, black lady in Montgomery, Alabama formation with much of believers who pray and believe on Sundays but on Mondays and who found a shoebox of yellowed letters in sorrow since as you Tuesday, give lip service to the principles and ideals that we spoke her attic. Thinking that they were from her know, the black so eloquently about in the pulpit and in the hymns of the church? brother who fought and died in Vietnam, the church has always If the clergy cannot remake the image of God in the reflections senior citizen set out the box of letters for a been the beacon and of the people that populate their Sunday services, then why do we quick read. the castle for many preach or teach a gospel that only remains alive inside of buildings To her surprise, in the box, was a one-page generations of our with stained glass windows? draft of a letter that purportedly was from people in order for To proclaim to an oppressed people that you love them as Christ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was written them to get a sound- loved the Church and gave Himself for it but yet when social cir- while he was in a jail in Kennesaw, Mis- ing of their station in cumstances dictate that such a wholesome love must propagates sissippi on trumped up charges of driving life; and to receive arms and legs so as to give visible demonstration to that preaching without a license. nurture and guidance text and nothing is visibly produced, we have failed. The charges were dismissed when his li- from the collective We have failed to demonstrate the phileo love of which we have cense was “found” in a second wallet that wisdom of the black been schooled in and we have failed to demonstrate the agape love the police took when they searched him at clergy and its mem- of which we were first loved by God. bers. the jail. But, for two days, Dr. King sat in To allow our love of the purse to dictate our policy is akin to al- the jail and composed a letter to the South- To hear that the lowing a rich well fed man to dictate what will be the diet of his ern American Baptist Convention, which Church of God is poorer cousin. feinting and fall- was composed of black Baptist clergy mem- That should not be so. ing away from an bers. I need not tell you that the collective wealth of the black churches engagement in the According to the letter, it was written be- in America is great and is growing and needs to find tangible ex- struggle to see that cause Dr. King learned that several pastors pression in accomplishing those tasks that make freedom not a dis- all of God’s children of both large and small churches were hesi- tant hope but a present reality. have a chance at a tant in contributing any funds to the bank Is it too much for my fellow clergy to come together and throw accounts that were being set up across the full life and are free from the tyranny of off the stifling harness of denominationalism and with much lar- South for bail money for the freedom rid- gesse, joyfully contribute to our brothers and sisters in need? ers and for marchers who were getting orga- segregation is news By what standard can we with a clear conscience pass the offer- nized to march on Washington. that is most discon- certing to me. ing plate each Sunday and bank those collections but turn a deaf When Dr. King heard of their reluctance ear to the very people who made such church wealth possible? to contribute and help out but yet they were We as black cler- How do we justify our place in the black community when we are quick to sponsor extravagant church parties gy do not have the inured to the sufferings and deprivations of people, who for the lack and celebratory events, he hastily penned privilege or right to the following paragraphs in hopes of con- withhold our bless- ..