TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM -
NNPA -
MICHAELS BEING AWARDED ORDER OF THE LONG LEAF PINE MARCH 4TH. READ ABOUT IN IN "CASH IN THE APPLE." (photo courtesy of the Ujima Group)
CASH IN THE APPLE FOR 03-09-17
WOW! – What
human being on GOD’s green Earth qualifies for not one, but two nights of
tribute, in addition to several honors, including North Carolina’s highest
civilian award?
I can think
of at least one person – the Rev. William Barber, president of the NC NAACP.
His fearless, tireless and forthright leadership for equal rights and equal
justice in this state, and nation, are unmatched, in my opinion.
And yet,
apparently some folks in the Triangle believed last weekend in Cary that yours truly was deserving of such an
honor. I’m glad I said “yes” when asked by my friend, community activist Lester
Thomas, president of the Ujima Group, Inc. in Cary, for permission to proceed
with plans to pay tribute to me, even though my first natural instinct was to
reply, “ Really Lester, really?!!!
You see, I
don’t mind people praising my work. Or criticizing my work, for that matter.
Either one is what comes with the territory when you work in the public eye,
and you learn from each experience, each reaction. After all, it is you, the
public that we serve, when we write and report stories, or produce documentaries,
or appear on television or radio to offer informed opinions about the news of
the day.
So if
people like my work, hey, I’m very pleased, because that means that my
storytelling connected with them, which is what I strive for. The fact that
someone has read or seen my work, and was either enlightened, outrage or
touched by it, is honor enough.
So when
folks say, “No it’s not,” and follow up with some sort of special occasion,
that’s when things feel a little unusual.
Things felt
a lot unusual March 3rd and 4th at The Cary Theater in
downtown Cary last weekend as Lester Thomas and his Ujima Group. Unusual? Yes,
but in a good way.
As part of
the 22nd Annual Cary African-American Celebration, the two-night
program, cosponsored with the Town of Cary, was titled, “ A Special Tribute to
Cash Michaels: Reflections of a Journalist’s Life.”
Friday
night was special because I was able to premiere a special 26-minute
autobiographical mini-documentary about my career since growing as an only
child in Brooklyn, NY.
It was also
special because in addition to honors from both Shaw University and St.
Augustine’s University, there was a special panel discussion moderated by my
friend and colleague Tom Campbell, executive producer and moderator of “NC
Spin” (which I will be appearing on this weekend).
Thanks to
civil rights attorney Al McSurely, former NC House member Deborah Ross,
nonprofit professional and consultant Salima Thomas, and another friend and
colleague Afrique Kilimanjaro, editor of The
Carolina Peacemaker, the panel about journalism and social activism was
strong. I was very proud of all of the participants.
Saturday
evening was even bigger, with a video message from NC NAACP Pres. Rev. William
Barber, then atty. Irving Joyner, chair of the NCNAACP Legal Redress Committee,
followed by honors from the NC Black Publishers Association, the city of
Raleigh, the Ujima Group, Inc., and finally the Order of the Long Leaf Pine
sent from Gov. Roy Cooper.
Through it
all my family – wife, Markita; oldest daughter, Tiffany; youngest daughter,
KaLa: my two sisters –in-laws; along with an assortment of old friends and
people I admire, made the evening extra special. And to top it all off, jazz
singer Eve Cornelious and her ensemble rock the place to close us out.
In closing,
I will forever by thankful to all of the people who gave of their precious time
to make the two-night event happen. Yes, I’m happy to have my flowers while I’m
living, especially since it was exactly one year ago this week, on March 11th,
2016, when I was first diagnosed with acute leukemia, and had to undergo months
of aggressive chemotherapy in order to survive.
And don’t
forget, that was following my debilitating stroke to my left leg in November,
2015.
So yes, GOD
is good, and I am so thankful for His goodness and mercy. I openly embraced the
tributes last week not only as tremendous love from the people that I serve,
but also as a positive sign that my Lord and Savior is not through with me yet!
Thank you
to all.
-30-
HBCU CHANCELLORS WAITING FOR REPUBLICANS
TO PROVE THEIR
COMMITMENT
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
When over
80 presidents and chancellors from historically black colleges and universities
(HBCUs) left Washington, D.C. last week after first meeting with Pres. Trump at
the White House, and then taking part in a Republican-sponsored fly-in
conference at The Library of Congress, convened by conservative Rep. Mark
Walker (R-NC-6), some, like chancellors Harold Martin of N.C. A&T
University in Greensboro, and Elwood Robinson of Winston-Salem State
University, were hopeful that the visits would ultimately be manifested in a
stronger relationship yielding greater federal public policy and funding support.
“With
the national spotlight shifting to other topics, it will be important for this
dialogue to continue with both the executive and legislative branches,”
Chancellor Martin, in an open letter to the NC A&T campus, wrote
afterwards.
“Clearly,
there is much still to learn about our institutions from key government
officials, and we accept our role in providing this education,” Martin
continued. “I look forward to continuing the conversation around needs of
particular importance to our university, other campuses, and the nearly 300,000
students (from over 100 HBCUs across the country) we collectively serve. “
WSSU’s
Chancellor Robinson echoed his colleague’s response.
“As this
university’s leader, it is my responsibility to ensure that our elected
officials understand how crucial our mission is and to ensure ongoing federal
support for our students, faculty, staff, research, and programming,” Robinson
said in an open letter to the WSSU campus on Facebook.
“We are keenly interested in policy and discussions around
issues that impact our campus, including Title III funding, Pell grants,
federal research grants, and HBCU-specific federal funding. The meetings this
week in D.C. between more than 80 of my fellow HBCU leaders and high-ranking
Washington lawmakers offered an opportunity to engage in constructive
conversation about the value—and the incredible outcomes—of HBCUs. It is my
hope that these conversations will lead to additional support for our mission.”
Observers note,
however, that neither chancellor, in their post-DC assessments, portrayed the
Washington meetings as “productive.” Indeed, at least one North Carolina HBCU
leader who also attended last week, expressed considerable skepticism off the
record about the Republican effort, especially after Pres. Trump issued an
executive order declaring the future of HBCUs “an absolute priority” of his
administration, but did not offer any further budgetary support for them beyond
the $4.7 billion HBCUs received during President Obama’s tenure.
On the record, Morehouse
College Pres. John S. Wilson, Jr. also issued an open letter to his campus
community in Atlanta, a skeptical one, concluding it with, “In general, the meetings
were a troubling beginning to what must be a productive relationship.
Trust that the HBCU community will continue to press for the kind of funding
that educational excellence and national competitiveness require!”
Pres. Wilson wanted to see HBCUs
come away from the Washington, DC visits with at least a $500 million federal
commitment…to start.
In a Feb. 27 White House press
release titled, “President Trump Seeks to Outdo Obama in Backing Black
Colleges,” White House Press Sec. Sean Spicer is quoted as saying, ““The president
has a strong commitment to them and understands over the last eight years
they've been woefully neglected. And I think he wants to really show a
commitment. ... And so you’ll see, I think, not just a push this month, but in
his budget and going forward.”
Published
reports indicate that HBCUs are pushing for $25 billion in infrastructure,
readiness and financial aid from Trump and the GOP-led Congress when the next
federal budget is rolled out. Johnny Taylor, CEO of the nonprofit Thurgood
Marshall College Fund in Washington, DC, pushed for specific increases in
federal grants to HBCUs, as well as contracts.
Several members
of the Democrat-led Congressional Black Caucus are actively challenging
Republicans to “put-up-or-shut-up” with more HBCU budget funding as well.
“If Pres. Trump
is serious about HBCUs, he must also be serious about removing the structural
barriers African-Americans still face, and he should put his money where his
pen is by urging his colleagues in Congress to increase federal funding to
HBCUs,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD-7) in a statement.
Rep. Alma Adams
(D-NC-12) challenged Republicans during her remarks at the fly-in conference
luncheon asking, “…how do we work together to ensure that HBCUs not only
survive, but thrive?”
Contrary to
some of the skepticism that resulted from last week’s HBCU meetings, especially
after Walter M.
Kimbrough, president of Dillard University in New Orleans, LA, wrote about the
visit to the White House to meet with Pres. Trump, that,“…there was very little listening
to HBCU presidents today…,” Congressman Walker’s office was upbeat about the dialogue
that took place at the fly-in conference the following day.
According to Jack Minor, Rep.
Walker’s communications director, HBCU presidents and chancellors were afforded
plenty of opportunities to be heard during the day-long event that was replete
with panel discussions, and remarks from Republican leaders such as Sen. Tim
Scott of South Carolina, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, and House Speaker Paul
Ryan of Wisconsin, who said at the conference that he was supportive of
year-round Pell Grants for HBCU students.
“I have always valued the
importance of HBCUs,” said Congressman Walker in a statement after the fly-in.
“With more than 100 HBCUs across the nation – and eleven here in North
Carolina, they are an integral part of our higher education system.”
“On a more personal note, my wife, Kelly, is a graduate of
Winston-Salem State University and has found success as a nurse practitioner,
which she attributes in part to the strong education she received. I believe it
is as important as ever to have Republicans engage with HBCUs. On Tuesday we
made big strides to bring bipartisan support to HBCUs and create an open
dialogue to address issues they face. I look forward to continuing to work
together for the betterment of our students. This is not the first step, but it
certainly is not the last.”
But what about the bottom-line? How
committed are Republicans to earmarking anything near the $25 billion HBCU
leaders want to see in the federal budget?
On Tuesday morning, The Journal got an answer the HBCU
chancellors and presidents might not like.
“Everything here is Obamacare-oriented [right now],
[so] until we get through that,” said Walker spokesman Jack Minor regarding
where the GOP-led Congress’ primary
attention is currently, adding that what Pres. Trump’s budget eventually looks
like also plays a key role.
Minor went on to say that’s why Rep. Walker convened
last week’s fly-in when he did, so that it would be at the beginning of the
budget consideration process.
Indeed, it has been reported by McClatchy News that “Walker, chair of the conservative
Republican Study Committee, sent a letter to House Oversight and Government
Reform Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and top committee Democrat
Elijah Cummings of Maryland, calling for hearings on federal grants, contracts
and cooperative agreements for HBCUs.”
But establishing relationships and “trust” first, according
to Minor, was important and the primary goal.
Rep. Walker added that Democrats and Republicans
fighting over how much funding the nation’s HBCUs should get “is a good thing.”
Jack Minor added that Rep. Walker does intend to work with the Congressional
Black Caucus, which has traditionally been the strongest advocate for HBCUs in
Congress.
“The schools were very open about the help they
needed,” Minor said. “Republicans now control the House, Senate and the White
House, so if [HBCUs] are going to get it, it will have to largely come from
us.”
Minor also confirmed that unlike their White House
visit with Pres. Trump the day before the fly-in (which in the Walker press
release seemed to be royally thrown under the bus), HBCU presidents and
chancellors got plenty of opportunity to
express their views about the value, history and needs of their institutions
during the conference.
One aspect of the GOP – HBCU outreach drama to keep
an eye on is how students on various campuses are reacting. Last week at Howard
University, students and faculty expressed disgust with their president’s
participation in the meetings, particularly with Pres. Trump. Vandals
spray-painted their dismay on the campus yard, calling Howard Pres. Wayne A.I.
Frederick the “overseer” of the “Trump Plantation.”
That response echoed something Rep. Alma Adams said in
an interview after the HBCU fly-in conference regarding Pres. Trump’s suddenly
enthusiastic welcome of the HBCU presidents and chancellors to the Oval Office.
“We’re going to have to hold him to what he says,”
Rep. Adams says. “He certainly wasn’t supportive (during the campaign) of people
who look like me. So I don’t know.”
However, a review of Trump’s campaign remarks last
year during a visit to Charlotte indicate that he did voice support for HBCUs.
During his “new deal for black America” remarks, Trump told the mostly white
crowd gathered, “My [education plan] will also ensure funding for historical
black colleges and universities, more affordable two and four-year colleges,
and support for trade and vocational education,” a Youtube video, published on
Oct. 26th, 2016, shows.
WSSU Chancellor Robinson is one of those who now wants
to see proof in the Republican pudding.
“Although lawmakers expressed their support for our
mission, it is critical that they demonstrate that support with significant
budget allocations and policy actions,” Robinson said in a follow-up statement
to his earlier letter.
-30-
REP. MOORE SPONSORS
BILL
TO INCREASE HATE CRIME PENALTY
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
State House
District 99 Representative Rodney Moore is sponsoring a measure “…to create the criminal offense of
felonious assault as a hate crime, to expand the population protected by
current misdemeanor hate crimes, and to amend the aggravating factor regarding
hate crimes to include persons targeted due to gender, sexual orientation,
gender identity, or disability.”
If passed
by the Republican-led state legislature, the bill would make women, and members
of the LGBT community a “protected” class in the state, something the GOP
majority that is still fighting repeal of their HB 2 “bathroom law” against
transgender North Carolinians, may not be in favor of.
Rep. Moore
(D-Mecklenburg) is the primary sponsor of the measure, better known as HB 152 –
“Hate Crime/Increase Scope and Penalty.”
Currently the bill is in the House
Judiciary III Committee.
According to the bill, “gender
identity” is defined as “actual or perceived gender-related characteristics.”
“Anyone who, because of the actual
or perceived race, color, religion, nationality country of origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender
identity, or disability of another person, assaults that person and inflicts
serious bodily injury to the person or attempts to assault that person and
inflict serious bodily injury to the person is guilty of committing the offense
of felonious assault as a hate crime.,” the measure states.
It goes further to classify the offense as a Class E felony,
which is serious, if death results, or includes kidnapping, first degree
forcible rape, second degree forcible rape, first degree forcible sexual
offense or second degree forcible offense.
If passed, the act becomes
effective December 1, 2017, and applies to offenses committee on or after that
date.”
The
Journal has sought comment from the
NC American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina about HB 152 for this story
since last week. A spokesperson for the
NC ACLU said they were not familiar enough with the bill to comment.
-30-
STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR
03-09-17
FORMER FAYETTEVILLE
BASKETBALL COACH FACES 175 CHILD SEX CHARGES
[FAYETTEVILLE] A former
Fayetteville basketball coach is now facing an additional 105 charges of sexual
abuse after an eighth accuser, a former player, came forward recently,
Fayetteville police say. Coach Rodney Scott, 50, was originally charged with 70
counts of sex with teenage boys before authorities determined more charges were
warranted. Scott’s bond is now over $21 million. The alleged offenses took
place over a 20-year period at Coach Scott’s home.
CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD TO APPEAL
SHUTDOWN ORDER FROM STATE
[DURHAM]
THE board of Kestrel Heights High School, a charter school, has voted to appeal
the state Board of Education’s decision to close the school after it was
revealed that several students who graduated did not finish state-required
course work first. An investigation had determined that 160 of the school’s 399
graduates had not taken all of the state –required courses. The state ordered
the school closed as of this July 1st, and it is to remain closed
for three years before it can reopen. The board has until Friday to appeal the
state board’s decision.
SENATE APPROVES HALL
APPOINTMENTS; SUBPOENAS HOOKS TO APPEAR
[RALEIGH]
Based on the recommendation of a state Senate committee, the NC Senate approved
Gov. Roy Cooper’s appointment of former Rep. Larry Hall as secretary of the
Military and Veteran Affairs Monday night. But at the same time, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena for
Erik Hooks, secretary of Public Safety, to appear before a Senate committee for
questioning. Hooks was compelled to appear on March 15th at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, the court case involving Gov. Cooper maintaining his right to
appointment his Cabinet officer without Senate oversight began this week.
Lawyers for the state Senate contend that that body has the constitutional
right to confirm the governor’s appointments.
NC NAACP LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCACY DAY ON MARCH 21ST
[RALEIGH]
For the eleventh consecutive year, the NC NAACP and the Forward Together
Movement will sponsor the annual Legislative Advocacy Day at the state legislature
on Tuesday, March 21st from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Hundreds of protesters from across the state
converge on Jones Street to lobby state lawmakers on voting rights, repealing
HB2, and many more issues.
-30-
No comments:
Post a Comment