Blacks and whites described him as a courageous activist with unstoppable anger towards racial injustice. David Jones, Sr., cofounder of Humana, Inc., credited him for his effective use of the media, recalling a white tablecloth luncheon he once held on the sidewalk in front of the Pendennis Club (then all white) which he said “produced major TV coverage and led to the club’s integration”, and how he was known to stage candlelight ceremonies in front of crack houses to alert police of their whereabouts.

Etta Jones, a long-time friend and fellow activist, acknowledged his big shoes to fill, but says as the interim director of his Justice Resource Center she vows to try and fill them because she believes the work should continue.

The Rev. Coleman I was familiar with since becoming a Louisville resident regularly took issue with incidents involving police shootings. Many of these confrontations came with controversy, not because the shootings weren’t questionable (although determined justifiable). The controversy was because some believed the victims were supported for indefensible reasons, raising an eyebrow of more than a few. Still, he was admired for having enough nerve to raise the issue.

Free public transportation was provided for all who desired to attend his funeral held Friday, July 11. The homecoming was celebrated at Caanan Christian Church. It started at 11 a.m. and went well into the afternoon. Over 3000 were in attendance. His work was greatly appreciated.

Technology has been fiercely competing for time we used to reserve for reading. Yet, despite the reading decline, the black press has continued to keep its nose to the ground in order to find the stories that are of importance to us. In return they have been able to maintain bragging rights over a respectable and verifiable group of committed readers. Its subscribers are more likely to spend 45 minutes reading the paper (a sign that all of it is being read), more likely to save copies (especially those that document important or historical events), and more likely to pass them on to other family members than they do traditional papers.

I found this information interesting since I was already considering taking out a subscription being that I buy one weekly from the news box anyway. I do have several back copies of papers and magazines that possess articles I want to keep; and it just so happens I bought an extra copy of this week’s paper to send to my mother because our cousin was being featured.

This year they offered a tribute to some of those who have accomplished great milestones. Ben Jealous, president-elect of the NAACP, Senator Barack and Mrs. Michelle Obama, and hometown legend Muhammad Ali were among those celebrated. It was a timely theme in light of the new wave of second generation publishers on board and a new term on the horizon. I got the sense that a younger, more innovative group is preparing to take traditional journalism to a 21^st century level. Fresh ideas were being introduced throughout the event.

The four-day conference was hosted by our own Louisville Defender. Each day was packed with a mix of workshops, luncheons, and award ceremonies. One of the highlights was a book signing featuring Carl Webber and L. Divine. Another highlight was a prayer breakfast and panel discussion hosted by Simmons Bible College, St. Stephen Church and, the Louisville Defender. It was a delightful and enlightening experience.

Despite the attempts of some to walk on egg shells through a presidential race that, at least in the beginning, attempted to keep the main thing the main thing, fear and ignorance inevitably caused the “race card” to raise its ugly head. People can say whatever they want about how progressive our society has become. The numbers have spoken. They are saying we may have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.

Just when the smoke was beginning to clear on the controversy around Barack Obama’s former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the voice of rural Kentucky has chosen to fan the flames again. It was no surprise that Hillary Clinton would win the state of Kentucky in the primaries. The stunner was finding out why. Twenty-one percent blatantly admitted race played a part in their voting decision. As a Kentucky resident, that statistic embarrassed me.

It is not like an African American (or woman for that matter) never ran for president. Shirley Chisholm ran in 1972, Jesse Jackson ran in 1984, and Alfred C. “Al” Sharpton ran in 2004. It is the first time such a candidate has gotten this far. The two remaining democratic nominees will share a moment in history for attempting to change the face of American’s highest office if for nothing else.

In the urban part of Louisville where I live signs of racism are harder to see. A sufficient number of integrated families, business relationships, and friendships clearly indicate that not everyone shares the sentiments of the rural in this state. The polls reported that ninety percent of Jefferson County actually voted for Obama. Again the numbers are telling the story.

Americans know this mindset is deeply embedded in our country’s history. Whoever tries to deny this is simply not being honest. Anyone can see that we are trying to move away from it. Yet, divisive instances like this have me wondering if racism will ever completely go away.

The last time I had a hunch about a Derby horse which proved to be right was when Strike the Gold took home the coveted rose garnet in 1991. I didn’t place a bet, though I wish I had. I did, however, manage to pull his name from a party drawing, which made me feel somewhat part of his victory.

This year it was my mother who had the hunch. I had been too busy working to pay attention to the usual Derby chatter and had given the ordeal no thought until I heard that this year’s favorite, a horse given the nickname of my employer’s competition (Big Brown), had a braggadocios owner who was said to have quoted Muhammad Ali by saying, “If you can do it, it ain’t bragging.” What a Louisville connection, I thought. Muhammad Ali is from Louisville. UPS’s hub is in Louisville. And Louisville is the home of the Kentucky Derby, the fastest two minutes in sports. That got my attention.

And there was another horse. Her name was Eight Belles. She was a filly in a colt’s race, and was believed to be a worthy competitor. It so-happened Hillary Clinton was courting Indiana around the time her name came up. She identified; even made Eight Belles part of her campaign speech by encouraging prospective voters to “put their money on the filly.” Now, I’m not in the Hillary Clinton camp, but even I was reserving hope for the female runner. Once again I was tempted to follow the hunch. This time I was considering a win, place, or show. But, for the second time, I didn’t follow through.

The race did not disappoint. Big Brown maintained a cool stride from the worse lane in the race (lane twenty on the outside) until he reached the stretch, where he performed a cool “walk down” on each of his competitors and won by a sizable lead. Eight Belles, who appeared for a while to have a chance at first, gave everything she had, which won her a non-contested second. It was a very impressive effort. It just wasn’t enough. Once again, I regretted not acting on my hunch, well, my mother’s hunch. (Not really. I’m cool.)

My first thought was to count my would-be winnings. My second thought went briefly to politics. Both thoughts were interrupted when Eight Belles took a fall shortly after crossing the finish line. The tragedy would not take away the excitement of Big Brown’s win right away. Never-the-less, the news that Eight Belles had been euthanized due to ankle brakes in both legs would ultimately put a damper on the day. It would turn out to be a day of joy and pain, with Big Brown going on as the undefeated contender and Eight Belles remembered for her courageous blaze of glory.

Female relationships can be complicated. Yet, not many relationships are stronger than the female bond. We love occasions that allow us to fellowship. In fact, conversation is good for the female soul. I just happen to know of two “girlfriend” gatherings where fellowship possibilities exist.

All month the Saturday Academy, host of weekly discussions on history, culture, and current events, has made women subjects the focus of their March meetings. This Saturday, March 29, they will celebrate their 2008 Second Annual Sistah Summit—“Black Women Hiding in Plain Sight: Silence, Secrets, and Solutions”. It is an all day event that (if it is anything like last year) promises to live up to all expectations. If you can’t do the whole event, luncheon tickets are available. For more information contact Marian Vasser, coordinator, at 502/852-2252 or send an email to Bani Hines-Hudson at hineshudson@yahoo.com.

For those who up to a weekend get away, save your money for the Baby Boomer Girlfriend’s Getaway sponsored by BAM Enterprises, which will be held in Daytona Beach, Florida April 18-20. The weekend will be filled with social and networking opportunities, including a luncheon featuring Bern Nadette Stanis, “Thelma” from Good Times, as the keynote speaker. You won’t want to miss this either. I’ll be there. Go to http://www.enjoyyourmenopause.com for more details about this event.

Happy Women’s Month

Unlike other hot topics that pop then fizzle, this one refuses to die. Most of the rhetoric comes from disgruntled parents, black leaders, and offended sisters, who are demanding the lyrics be changed (which to me is like asking a prostitute not to go all the way, as if doing so will still produce revenue) and rappers who want to “represent”, but do not necessarily want to be their brothers’ keeper, not exactly the kind of freedom Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had in mind.

I get them all. What woman likes being publicly called out of her name—unless that is her own self-reference (as it sadly is for some)? And what mother wants violence glorified to her children? None I know. On the other hand, GRM allows its vocalist to be edgy, it is perfectly legal, and has the ability to create wealth. Degrading nature aside, the arguments for it are hard to counter.

There was a time when it could be argued that rapp informed. Today I would say entertainment for profit is the primary intent. Not much of today’s GRM informs me about anything. The truth I get borders on exploitation, and I continue to wonder who (between the artists and their producers) is exploiting whom?

To what affect this issue concerns black teens (most likely to be hurt by these images) is my question. After all, what matters most at the end of the day is what we think about ourselves. To get a perspective I conducted a survey (a very loose survey) on sixty-six average, black teens from various Louisville neighborhoods. I found their answers interesting.

Almost all of them admitted they like and listen to GRM, although not all of them buy it. Most said they do not follow the careers of their favorite artists, but I would venture to say they would read information about them if it were available. As it might be imagined, the beat is the initial captivator. Make no mistake, though, they are also catching the words. When asked if they believe GRM mostly represents real life or entertainment, the majority said entertainment. Some said both. Almost the same number of teens said they know someone who has been negatively influenced by GRM. (Go figure.) As a whole they believe it is time for GRM to take a new direction, but also feel too much is being made of it. One teen added, “Let them do what they do, and we’ll do what we do.” I have one word for him/her—history, which bears proof that changes are not made on the sidelines, they are made on the battle field. (To see the exact questions and answers go to www.myspace.com/karenelaineobannon, then click on the blog titled “Survey Says”.)

The survey I conducted hardly represents the entire teenage black American perspective. It does, however, expose their conflicting views. The teen that made that “let them do what they do” comment was not alone in his/her thinking. Many find it hard to go against something they like. They realize the harm, yet do not hate the effects enough to force the industry to change. GRM is that bad friend our mamas warned us about, but we couldn’t stay away from. Therefore, despite a drop in sales, the industry continues to profit and the degradation continues.

I will agree there has been too much public whining on our part if our youth will agree there have been too few attempts to demand changes on theirs. As we approach Black History Month, let us be reminded of the dreams our forefathers sacrificed, fought and died for; and let us be led, not by passive remarks and cowardly excuses, but by the voice of character and a commitment to truth.

Diabetes runs on both sides in both of our families. For that reason alone we should not have been surprised. Furthermore, we were aware of some of the symptoms—being thirsty, frequent trips to the bathroom, blurry vision—but had been too busy misusing our bodies through poor eating habits to see any of those symptoms in him. The one symptom we did see (fatigue) we were blaming on the penicillin he was taking for a tooth infection. We thought he was allergic to it. Simply put, we were caught off guard. His sugar was so high, the doctor refused to feed him anything until it came all the way down. It was a rude awakening. To get better he would have to change his eating ways. And, if I hoped to escape the same fate, I will have to change mine, too.

Unfortunately, we are not the only ones who have been taking our health for granted. My husband’s encounter brought many of our friends out of the closet with stories of their own. We had seen the statistics, but knowing some of the people behind those numbers painted quite a different picture. Sadly, none of us can say we haven’t been warned. Childhood obesity, the lack of insurance, and early detection programs have brought healthcare to the forefront, and it has even pressed its way into the upcoming election.

Mayor Abramson is also trying to be part of the solution. In 2003 he launched the Healthy Hometown Movement website as part of his multi-phase program to “increase physical activity, better nutrition, healthy policy, and access to needed resources.” Here are a few fast facts from his site:

• 59.6% of Louisvillians are overweight; of those 28.6% are obese.
• 9% of Louisvillians have been diagnosed with diabetes as compared to 6% nationwide.
• The lifetime medical costs of five diseases and conditions (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and high cholesterol) among moderately obese people are $10,000 more than among people at a healthy weight.

Go to: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/Health/MHHM/Fast+Facts.htm for more information.

With the new year upon us, it seems like the perfect time to recommit (or make a commitment for the first time) to one of the few things money can’t buy—our health.  So change your diet, get more exercise, see a doctor, and have a happy new you!

Those of us who are led by tradition will race through the days of December going to parties, family dinners, and/or other holiday events. With gift(s) in hand we will celebrate our way through the festivities. And, despite periodic complaints of being tired and broke, we will be thankful in the end for all of the new memories the season will have evoked.

Not that there is anything wrong with this. After all, it is the time of year when peace and harmony are encouraged. It is a time when Christians appreciate the goodness of God a little more and, at least for a while, are willing to lay down differences and have a good time. But it would be a shame, I believe, to extend our good will towards men only to the ones we celebrate with. At least some of our acts of kindness should be invested in those who truly need to experience them.

Unfortunately, the holidays are not happy times for everyone. They depress some because of financial hardships and are sad reminders of lost loved ones to others. Add those who are ill and it becomes easy to see how any social or spiritual significance might be lost on those who are just trying to survive.

Just this week several regional charities reported the number of those in need to be on the rise thanks, in part, to high fuel prices and real estate foreclosures. At the same time, and possibly for the same reasons, many are unable to give. Those who have the means may now be skeptical thanks to former WDJX promotions director, Edward Smith. He is the one who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for falsely claiming to have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and raising $20,000.00 for research that he spent on himself. I can only hope that a few bad apples will not spoil it for the bunch of worthy causes.

Fortunately, giving is not limited to money. A donation of time can be equally valuable. A phone call, a card, a visit, or sharing a meal are all ways we can give of ourselves and spread the gift of holiday cheer. I personally do not have to look far to find someone to share tidings with. I know family, neighbors, and friends who have fallen into hardships that benefited from and appreciated whatever love I had to give. I have also had occasions of my own to appreciate them. Believe me there is a reward on either side. So let the season be about more than celebrations. Find someone in need to share some love with; and, if you can not think of anyone, you’d better ask somebody!

During the opening ceremony Dr. Kevin W. Cosby, senior pastor of St. Stephen Church, also located in the California neighborhood, publicly announced that in addition to these adjacent services, plans are also underway to open an affordable food mart, and, with the help of Norton’s Hospital, a healthcare facility to be located nearby at some point in the future.

I do not live in the California neighborhood. Yet, I could not stop smiling while touring the new facilities. Jesus said the poor would always be among us; and one has only to look around to see that those words continue to be true. He, therefore, said to His disciples, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” What St. Stephen is attempting to do through these services is a clear attempt to fulfill this command.

The promise of an affordable food mart is also a bearer of hope. Just yesterday one of the neighborhood stores attempted to grossly overcharge me for a pack of foam cups. The price charged may be legal, but in an area primarily occupied by low income residents, it hardly seems fair to those who may not have the transportation to shop in more competitive stores. While I understand the goal of any business is to make money, there has to be a way to do so without, as Dr. Cosby put it, gouging its customers. A store offering lower prices would force accountability and level the playing field.

But my biggest source of joy was over the announcement of a proposed healthcare facility. With plans underway for one of the city’s hospitals to get in the game, affordable healthcare may be right around the corner for those without insurance. Healthy people are more productive; and a financial break for those who need one would take some of the strain out of already tight budgets.

I’m sure St. Stephen is not the only organization being its brother’s and sister’s keeper. Not far down the street House of Hope Kentucky, a transitional housing facility for women recovering from substance abuse, is on a mission of its own. By empowering addiction over-comers with tools to help them live again, Tangy Hunter is also giving hope to the community.

I faintly remember hearing something about Kentucky trailing in adult literacy when I moved here in 1980. The thought of education still being an issue seventeen years later is very troubling to me. Even more disturbing, though, is why parents continue to depend solely on this system to do what it, obviously, can not do alone, which is to educate our children.

I have seen my share of good and bad teachers from a student’s, as well as a parent’s perspective. The bad ones will only do the minimum which is to (at best) dispense the required information. They will not let a student know they are failing outside of the grade they give. Nor will they recommend specific tutorial resources to help the student keep up. During class there is only limited time for individual assistance, and they are rarely available after school to answer questions.

But even the good teachers who take the time to make students aware of their progress and failure can only do so much. The problem becomes even more prevalent when parents do not take advantage of opportunities to assess their children’s progress through parent/teacher consultations and random visitations. Ultimately, it is the student who will suffer for whatever he or she is unable to grasp from the classroom experience. Therefore, like it or not, this, too, becomes a task the parent(s) must be responsible for. No wonder parenting is considered to be the hardest job.

This is easier said than done for those of us who work. Finding the extra time may be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Parents who were themselves challenged in school or who are unfamiliar with the latest learning techniques won’t have an easy time, either, not to mention the cost of a tutor. However, despite the inconvenience, it is what we must do if we want our children to succeed. I heard somewhere that our current generation may be the first group to not do better than their parents. I pray that doesn’t turn out to be true.

Ideally, there should be a co-operative partnership. Our children have a right to a quality education by law, and teachers are expected to make every effort towards the success of this process. Parents, on the other hand, also have a part to play. Subjects are mastered by repetition, and students should be practicing at home what they have learned in school. Homework should not be an option. We support that idea when it comes to sports. Why should academic mastery be any different?