Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 TPA TEXAS PUBLISHERS www.TheAustinVillager.com ASSOCIATION This paper can be recycled Vol. 45 No. 8 Phone: 512-476-0082 Email: [email protected] July 14, 2017 The Untimely Death of LEGENDARY SINGER INSIDE Austin’s Own Bakari DIANA ROSS ROCKS Jaward Henderson ACL-LIVE AT MOODY Killed During Greek Island Vacation By Naomi Richard|VILLAGER By Naomi Richard|VILLAGER Oscar-winning film RAPPIN’ maker adapts James Baldwin 1974 novel. Tommy Wyatt See MOONLIGHT A parent’s Page 2 worst nightmare! One of the hardest decisions that a parent can make is to let their Candidate Wagstaff child leave home for the seeks to restore first time. Although failed justice system. they know that this day See PEACE will ultimately come, Page 4 we try to delay it as long Diana Ross performs on stage at Austin's as possible. Most of our Bakari Henderson senior class portrait. ACL Live at The Moody Theater (2013). children leave home to Photo by Naomi Richard. Photo by Naomi Richard. go to college, join the Austin native, Bakari Jaward Henderson (22), a AUSTIN, TX - The beautiful and extremely talented military or for their first 2017 graduate from the University of Arizona with a DIVA that is Diana Ross hit ACL Live at The Moody The- job. But, for whatever bright future ahead, was beaten to death in Greece on ater by storm on July 6, 2017. She came out struttin’ reason, that day Friday, July 7, 2017. her stuff on the stage in a lavish emerald green gown Airport mom snags ultimately comes. Bakari was beaten by 10 people at a bar on the with a fluffy sequined-lace full-length shawl singing memorable photo op. Parents, especially island of Zakynthos. He was in the town of Laganas with “Lady Marmalade” to a packed audience. In a remark- See OBAMA Black parents, never his Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brothers when the in- able career spanning over 40 years, Diana Ross has Page 6 stop praying for the cident occurred. proven herself the consummate music artist as well as safety of their children. According to the Associated Press, eight people one of the most iconic female singers of all time. Fox Business And the farther they are have been arrested for the beating, including a secu- For sure, she came full of energy and ready to en- Host Suspended away from home, the rity guard and a bar employee. Serbia’s foreign minis- tertain the audience that barely sat down the entire During greater the worry. I try says six of the men arrested are Serbian citizens. evening. Ross delivered a stellar performance, singing experienced that fear See JACK & JILL CLASS OF ‘14, page 3 crowd favorites like “All I Want”, “You’re All I Need”, Investigation “Grown-Folk Party” and “I’m Coming Out”. when my son went off to by: Lynn Elber college, although it was ‘True Blood’ Actor See TWIRLING MAN, page 2 AP Television Writer just in Houston. My fears grew greater when Round Rock native serves he joined the military. I Nelsan Ellis was somewhat relieved US abroad in Spain when he returned. Dead at 39 By Navy Office of Unfortunately, for Community Outreach many of us, our worse ROTA, Spain – A Ce- fears do come true. And dar Ridge High School it is during that time we graduate and Round Rock, all feel we have suffered Texas native is serving in a great loss. Whether it the U.S. Navy aboard the is locally or nationally, Arleigh Burke-class guided Charles Payne we all feel the pain of missile destroyer, USS LOS ANGELES (AP) — that loss. Donald Cook. A Fox Business Network When news reached Fireman Vanessa host has been suspended Fireman Austin this week that Arnold is a damage after a contributor report- controlman aboard the Vanessa Arnold BakariJawardHenderson edly accused him of sexual forward-deployed nam War prisoner of war had been killed in harassment. Arleigh Burke-class who died in captivity. The network said Greece, the entire guided missile destroyer Donald Cook is a tac- Thursday it suspended community felt the loss. operating out of Rota, tical multi-mission surface “Making Money” host Bakari, like many of the Spain. Donald Cook is combatant capable of con- Charles Payne pending an youth that we have lost one of four destroyers ducting anti-air submarine investigation, but didn’t in recent years, was homeported in Rota. surface warfare in con- provide any details. doing everything right. A Navy damage junction with being outfit- The Los Angeles He made his parents, controlman is responsible ted with aegis ballistic mis- Times, citing two anony- friends and community for being a shipboard sile defense capabilities. mous sources, reported proud. In this Monday, July 21, 2014 file photo, ac- firefighter and teaching BMD enables the ship to that Payne had been ac- As the community tor Nelsan Ellis attends the world premiere of people the proper tech- conduct long-range sur- cused of harassment by a niques to fight a fire. veillance, tracking, and wraps its arms around “Get On Up” at the Apollo Theater in New York. female political analyst ”We ensure the ship engagement of short and the grieving family, we Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File. who appeared on Fox is able to defend itself in medium-range ballistic Business. pray that the people NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Nelsan Ellis, best known the event of a fire or casu- missiles. “We take issues of involved in this tragedy for his memorable portrayal of Lafayette Reynolds on alty,” said Arnold. ”The thing I like most this nature extremely se- are brought to justice. HBO’s “True Blood,” has died at the age of 39. Commissioned in about serving at this com- riously and have a zero- We will all hold our Ellis’ manager, Emily Gerson Saines, confirmed the 1998, the Arleigh Burke- mand is the people I work tolerance policy for any children a little tighter actor’s death in an email Saturday. The Hollywood Re- class guided-missile de- with,” said Arnold. professional misconduct,” for the next few days porter, which was first to report Ellis’ death, quoted stroyer, Donald Cook, is ”I like serving in the a Fox Business Network and count our blessings. her as saying the actor died from complications of heart 509 feet long; the length Navy because I get to help representative said in a RIP Bakari Jaward failure. of more than 3 football people,” said Arnold. “It fields. The ship is named makes me feel great to do See BLACKBALLED, Henderson. See HBO RELEASED STATEMENT, page 2 after Donald Cook, a Viet- what I do.” page 5 Page 2 ~ THE VILLAGER/July 14, 2017 THE COMMUNIQUÉ www.theaustinvillager.com What Happens When Twirling HBO “EXTREMELY Gentleman Catches Ross’s Eye? SADDENED” BY ELLIS’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The DIVA held a matching Amidst the action- red crimson fan, very ap- DEATH packed evening, Ross be- propriate for our warm gan singing “Upside summer nights. The last Down You Turn Me”. She outfit showcased another swayed from side-to-side silver-sequined gown with while singing upside a silver-sequined laced down you’re turning me, shawl. you’re giving love instinc- The wardrobe tively, around and round matched the leading lady you’re turning me! During that she is. Full of class the performance a and style, adorned by long gentleman in the audi- flowing curly hair and ence caught her atten- fashionable makeup ac- tion as he danced and centuating her timeless twirled. beauty! To the gentleman’s Other musical perfor- surprise, Ross invited him mances included “Endless to the stage along with Love”, “Why Do Fools Fall two other members of the In Love”, “Touch Me In The audience. They danced Morning” and “Stop In The while she rocked the Diana Ross performs Name of Love”, to name a house with her vocals. on stage at Austin's few. What a magical moment ACL Live at The Moody Concert-goers en- In this June 21, 2011 file photo, Nelsan Ellis arrives at the premiere for for three young men to Theater (2013). joyed a fun, relaxing and the fourth season of HBO’s “True Blood” in Los Angeles. Ellis, best known Photo by showcase their dancing music-filled evening, in- for playing the character of Lafayette Reynolds on “True Blood,” has died Naomi Richard. skills in front of this living cluding a walk down at the age of 39. Ellis’ manager Emily Gerson Saines confirmed the actor’s legend. It’s a story I’m Ross would make two out- memory lane of music death in an email Saturday, July 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File) sure they will tell for years fit changes. The second they loved so much. to come. gown was a vibrant red Without a doubt, our CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 On Twitter, some ativity never ceased to To continue her ac- with an indented waist world would be empty The Illinois-born ac- fans posted one of his amaze me. Working with tion-packed performance, and a flowing red train. without you, Ms. Ross! tor, who studied at more famous scenes as him was a privilege.” Juilliard, played the role of Lafayette, where the char- In a 2012 TV interview Lafayette, a gay short or- acter marches out of the in Chicago, Ellis recalled Jenkins to Adapt James Baldwin der cook, on the HBO kitchen to confront some that it took four auditions drama from 2008 to 2014, bigoted diners.