centennial anniversary of rosa parks birth (1913 …the centennial anniversary of rosa parks birth...

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The Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013) February 1 - February 14, 2013 Pontiac News A POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH A LOCAL FLAVOR VOL. 3 ISSUE 8 Special Edition – Part 1 All New Buick Encore is Here GM employee discount now extended to Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews *24 month lease 10,000 miles/year using GM employee discount, lease conquest rebate and $379 down. Payment before tax. Plate, title and document fees extra. No security deposit required w/approved credit. MSRP$23,965. Offer ends 2.28.2013. 2013 BUICK VERANO $ 199/mo * 24 MONTH LEASE 36 month lease with 10,000 miles/year using GM employee discount and $1,550 down. Payment before tax. Plate, title and document fees extra. No security deposit required with approved credit. MSRP $31,520. Offer ends 2.28.2013. BUICK REGAL TURBO PREMIUM 1 $ 219/mo * 24 MONTH LEASE 24 month lease 10,000 miles/year using GM employee discount, lease conquest and $615 down. Payment before tax. Plate, title and document fees extra. No security deposit required with approved credit. MSRP $32,535. Offer ends 1.31.2013. 2013 BUICK LACROSSE $ 239/mo * 24 MONTH LEASE 24 month lease 10,000 miles/year using GM employee discount, and $625 down. Payment before tax. Plate, title and document fees extra. No security deposit required with approved credit. MSRP $26,660. Offer ends 2.28.2013. 2013 GMC TERRAIN $ 198/mo * 24 MONTH LEASE 24 month lease 10,000 miles/year using GM Employee discount, lease conquest and $0 down. Payment before tax. Plate title and document fees extra. No security deposit required with approved credit. MSRP $35,095. Offer ends 2.28.2013. 2013 GMC ACADIA $ 249/mo * 24 MONTH LEASE 2013 4WD GMC SIERRA 1500 SLE Great Selection! $0 DOWN Under New Ownership 775 Baldwin Road in Pontiac- Next to Sav-Plus See Our Grand Opening Specials On Page 3 Rosa Parks Mother of Civil Rights Movement U.S. Rep. Gary Peters Proudly Helps Announce 400 New Middle-Class GM Jobs in Pontiac Peters worked to secure loans necessary to help our auto manufacturers survive, grow and create jobs Pontiac, MI - Today U.S. Congressman Gary Peters joined officials from GM to proudly announce that General Motors will add 400 new jobs at their Global Powertrain Engineering Headquarters in Pontiac. The facility currently employs about 3,500 workers. “I want to thank GM for making an investment in the future of Pontiac by adding 400 good paying middle-class jobs,” said U.S. Rep. Gary Peters. “Four years ago, when it looked like announcements like today’s were a thing of the past, we worked together to secure a brighter future for our auto industry. Because of everyone’s commitment to the Greater Detroit region's auto industry, I'm optimistic that we'll continue to see positive job growth in 2013.” When the recession hit and it looked like our auto manufacturers might not survive, Congressman Peters worked with President Obama and leaders in Congress to ensure that GM received the loans needed to survive. Today, because of the sacrifices from both the company and its workers, we are seeing a resurging American auto industry - and with it, thousands of jobs have been created across the Greater Detroit region. Gary Peters Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013) Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute of Self Development (www.rosaparks.org) founded by Rosa Parks and Elaine Eason Steele will celebrate the centennial anniver- sary of Rosa Parks birth, February 4, 2013 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of the African American History, 315 E. Warren, Detroit, MI 48201 by unveiling the Rosa Parks U.S. Postage Stamp. Continues Page 2

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Page 1: Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913 …The Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013) Pontiac NewsFebruary 1 - February 14, 2013 A POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH

TheCentennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013)

February 1 - February 14, 2013

Pontiac NewsA POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH A LOCAL FLAVOR VOL. 3 ISSUE 8

Special Edition – Part 1

All New Buick Encore is HereGM employee discount now extended to Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews

*24 month lease 10,000 miles/year using GM employee discount, lease conquest rebateand $379 down. Payment before tax. Plate, title and document fees extra. No securitydeposit required w/approved credit. MSRP$23,965. Offer ends 2.28.2013.

2013 BUICK VERANO$199/mo*

24 MONTH LEASE36 month lease with 10,000 miles/year using GM employee discount and $1,550 down.Payment before tax. Plate, title and document fees extra. No security deposit required withapproved credit. MSRP $31,520. Offer ends 2.28.2013.

BUICK REGAL TURBOPREMIUM 1$219/mo*

24 MONTH LEASE24 month lease 10,000 miles/year using GM employee discount, lease conquest and $615down. Payment before tax. Plate, title and document fees extra. No security depositrequired with approved credit. MSRP $32,535. Offer ends 1.31.2013.

2013 BUICK LACROSSE $239/mo*

24 MONTH LEASE

24 month lease 10,000 miles/year using GM employee discount, and $625 down. Paymentbefore tax. Plate, title and document fees extra. No security deposit required with approvedcredit. MSRP $26,660. Offer ends 2.28.2013.

2013 GMC TERRAIN$198/mo*

24 MONTH LEASE24 month lease 10,000 miles/year using GM Employee discount, lease conquest and $0down. Payment before tax. Plate title and document fees extra. No security depositrequired with approved credit. MSRP $35,095. Offer ends 2.28.2013.

2013 GMC ACADIA$249/mo*

24 MONTH LEASE

2013 4WD GMC SIERRA 1500 SLE

GreatSelection!

$0 DOWN

Under New Ownership775 Baldwin Road in Pontiac- Next to Sav-PlusSee Our Grand Opening Specials On Page 3

Rosa Parks Mother of Civil Rights Movement

U.S. Rep. Gary Peters Proudly Helps Announce400 New Middle-Class GM Jobs in Pontiac

Peters worked to secure loans necessary to helpour auto manufacturers survive, grow and create jobs

Pontiac, MI - Today U.S. Congressman GaryPeters joined officials from GM to proudly announcethat General Motors will add 400 new jobs at theirGlobal Powertrain Engineering Headquarters inPontiac. The facility currently employs about 3,500workers.

“I want to thank GM for making an investment inthe future of Pontiac by adding 400 good payingmiddle-class jobs,” said U.S. Rep. Gary Peters. “Fouryears ago, when it looked like announcements liketoday’s were a thing of the past, we worked together

to secure a brighter future for our auto industry.Because of everyone’s commitment to the GreaterDetroit region's auto industry, I'm optimistic thatwe'll continue to see positive job growth in 2013.”

When the recession hit and it looked like our automanufacturers might not survive, CongressmanPeters worked with President Obama and leaders inCongress to ensure that GM received the loansneeded to survive. Today, because of the sacrificesfrom both the company and its workers, we areseeing a resurging American auto industry - and withit, thousands of jobs have been created across theGreater Detroit region.Gary Peters

CentennialAnniversary of

Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013)

Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute of SelfDevelopment (www.rosaparks.org)

founded by Rosa Parks and Elaine EasonSteele will celebrate the centennial anniver-sary of Rosa Parks birth, February 4, 2013at the Charles H. Wright Museum of theAfrican American History, 315 E. Warren,

Detroit, MI 48201 by unveiling the Rosa Parks U.S. Postage Stamp.

Continues Page 2

Page 2: Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913 …The Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013) Pontiac NewsFebruary 1 - February 14, 2013 A POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH

The Pontiac News is proud to present this Black History MonthSpecial Edition – Part One. This issue recognizes the contribution ofRosa Parks the Mother of The Civil Rights Movement. We have alsoincluded several articles and documents listing a few of the contribu-tions made by African- Americans and Africa to the World andAmerica. TPN recognizes the positive contributions made to the Cityof Pontiac by retiring Pastor Ernest Johnson Sr. during the past 50+years. I also personally thank Pastor Johnson his current wife Ruby,past wife Laura (deceased) and his sons for helping me along mylife’s journey.

Black History Month Edition – Part Two will hit the streets onFebruary 15, 2013. This edition will focus on the political, religious,educational, athletic, artistic, musical contributions made by African-American organizations, families and individuals to the city, state,country and the world. You can contribute to this effort bypurchasing an ad, submitting photos or articles. Please call 248-758-1411 or email [email protected] for more information.

The Pontiac News February 1 - February 14, 2013Page 2

Editorial

A POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH A LOCAL FLAVOR

Publisher R. Frank Russell

Pastor Ernest Johnson retires from New EraMissionary Baptist Church after 40 years of Service

Inside This Issue of

Editorial – Rosa Parks . . . . . . . . . . 2Pastor Johnson - Burch Ad

Young Gifted and Black Series . . . . .3African American Firsts . . . . . . . . . . .4What’s Happening Oakland County . . 5Africa’s Contribution to . . . . . . . . . . 6

Western CivilizationStudents Attend Rosa ParksCelebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Obama Inauguration . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Lafayette Place Lofts & Market . . . . .9

OCEDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lafayette Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Ask Elaine & Mike Reed . . . . . . . . 12Black Women’s Contributions . . . . .14Community Events . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Golling Ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

PUBLISHER & CONTENT EDITORR. Frank Russell

CONTENTS & NEWS EDITOR:Elaine Smith-Wright

AFRICIAN CORRESPONDENT: Kofi Annorh

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:Elaine Smith-Wright,

Rev. James Keys, Quincy Stewart III,Randolph Carter, Kevin McCormick,Adam Polk, Brenda Canty-Carter

Kenny Anderson, Kathleen O'QuinnPHOTOGRAPHER: TBD

ADVERTISING MANAGER: TBD

CIRCULATION MANAGER: Rahim Russell

OFFICE MANAGER:Mary C. Russell

DESIGNER & PRINTER: Michigan Web Press

CONTACT INFO:TELEPHONE: 248-758-1411

FAX: 248-758-1412 PO Box 431412, Suite #1

Pontiac, MI 48343

[email protected]

Kenneth R. Burch, Sr. P.C.Attorney At Law

PERSONAL INJURYAuto and Truck Accidents

Wrongful Death Cases Medical Malpractice • Premises Liability

All accident and serious injuries

Office - 248-338-1242 Fax - 248-338-1051

Email - [email protected] 295 West Huron - Pontiac, MI 48341

WE HAVE MOVEDSee New Address Below

Pontiac NewsThe

Continued from Page 1

Postal officials will be present to sell thehistorical stamp immediately following thebrief 7:30am program. Ms. Mildred Gaddis,Radio One Talk Show Personality, 1200 AMand 99.1 FM will Guest Host the programwith her live broadcast from 6-10am. Mr.Chuck Stokes, Editorial Director of WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 since 1987, an ABC affiliateand moderator and producer of Spotlight onthe News is the Master of Ceremonies.

The celebration is Free and open to thepublic.

Rosa Parks’ refusal to give her seat to awhite male passenger December 1, 1955 andher subsequent arrest was the catalyst thatbegan the 381 day boycott, December 5,1955 which changed the course of history in

the United States. Distinguished as the“mother of the modern civil rights move-ment,” she has been recognized with manyawards including Honorary DoctorateDegrees, the NAACP Spingarn Award, thePresident’s Medal of Freedom and theCongressional Gold Medal of Honor to namea few. She was the first woman and thesecond African American to lie in honor inthe United States Capitol Rotunda wherethousands paid tribute.

This year, Rosa Parks, will become thefirst person commissioned by Congress for afull-size statue since the 1870’s, whose like-ness was authorized by a special act ofCongress. Her life of pride, dignity andcourage will forever permeate the Instituteshe founded and the world.

Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013)

Pontiac NewsThe

Page 3: Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913 …The Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013) Pontiac NewsFebruary 1 - February 14, 2013 A POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH

A POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH A LOCAL FLAVOR

The Pontiac NewsFebruary 1 - February 14, 2013 Page 3

By Taki S. Raton

He is young, he is gifted and he is Black.At the age of 14, Tony Hansberry IIcertainly holds grounded status in the leagueof exceptional youth.

“Tony Hansberry II isn’t waiting tofinish medical school to contribute toimproved medical care. He has alreadydeveloped a stitching technique that can beused to reduce surgical complications, aswell as the chance of error among less expe-rienced surgeons,” writes Jackie Jones inBlackAmericaWeb.com on June 16, 2009.

“The project I did was basically thecomparison of novel laparoscopic instru-ments in doing a hysterectomy repair,”reveals Hansberry.

At the time, Hansberry was a high schoolfreshman at the Darnell-CookmanMiddle/High School of the Medical Arts inJacksonville, Florida, a special medicalmagnet school that allows its students totake advanced classes in medicine.Informational documents cite that studentsat the school are able to master suturing ineighth grade. Suturing is the surgicalstitching of a wound.

The son of a registered nurse and anAfrican Methodist Episcopal church pastor,the Darnell-Cookman student said that “Ijust want to help people and be respected,knowing that I can save lives.” His goal is tobecome a neurosurgeon.

Jones reports that the idea for his uniqueprocedure was conceived during the summerof 2008 while enrolled as an intern at theUniversity of Florida ’s Center forSimulation Education and Safety Researchat Shands Hospital in Jacksonville.

It was noted that Hansberry responded toa challenge to improve a procedure calledthe “endo stitch” used in hysterectomies thatcould not be clamped down properly toclose the tube where the patient’s uterus hadbeen. Using a medical dummy, the 14-year-old devised a vertical way to apply the endostitch, completing the stitching in a third ofthe time of traditional surgery.

“It took me a day or two to come up withthe concept,” Hansberry said in the Jonesinterview.

He was supervised by urogynecologistDr. Brent Siebel and Bruce Nappi, adminis-trative director of the Center for SimulationEducation and Safety Research. Hansberry’saccomplishment, it is reported, won secondplace in the medical category regionalscience fair in February 2009.

“Education experts say that youngstersas young as 10 can experience greatachievement at an early age if their thirst forknowledge is encouraged and they are givenopportunities to shadow professionals andget internships,” as quoted by Jones.

In April of 2009, Hansberry presented hisfindings at a medical conference at theUniversity of Florida before an audience ofdoctors and board-certified surgeons.Medical lead teacher Angela Tenbroeck isquoted noting that in many ways, Hansberryis a typical student, but that he is way aheadof his classmates when it comes to surgicalskills.

“I would put him up against a first-yearmed student. He’s an outstanding youngman and I am proud to have him repre-senting us,” she says. As an 11th- grader at

the age of 16, the January 25, 2011Jacksonville.com blog reports thatHansberry was one of nine youth who wereselected to travel to Washington thatFebruary to present the Boy Scouts ofAmerica Report to the Nation to PresidentBarack Obama.

District director for the Boy Scouts ofAmerica Lawrence Norman in theJacksonville report said that when districtleaders were asked to recommend an exem-plary Scout, “Tony’s name kept coming up.”

Hansberry was also introduced at theannual meeting of the North Florida Councilof The Boy Scouts at the University of NorthFlorida on January 25, 2011.

According to Jacksonville writer JustinSacharoff, the Boy Scouts of AmericaReport to the Nation features the year’sachievements including national service,conservation, healthy living and communityinvolvement.

The Darnell-Cookman Middle/ HighSchool of the Medical Arts is a schoolwithin the Duval County Public Schoolssystem in Jacksonville. It is a National BlueRibbon School and also an “A” school in theState of Florida school grading system.

The school had its beginnings nearly 200years ago when Methodist ministerReverend S.B. Darnell moved toJacksonville to serve as pastor of EbenezerMethodist- Episcopal Church. In the late1800s, he founded the Cookman Institute. Itwas the first school of higher education forAfrican Americans in the state of Floridaspecializing in the religious and academicpreparation of teachers.

Under the leadership of Darnell, theschool served thousands of young Blackmen and women until it was destroyed in theGreat Jacksonville Fire of 1901. TheReverend Alfred Cookman, a close friend ofReverend Darnell, helped raise the money torebuild the school. Today, Darnell-CookmanSchool of the Medical Arts has an enroll-ment upwards of 1,100 students in grades 6-12. The first graduating class will receivetheir diplomas in the spring of 2012.

This “Young, Gifted and Black” series isproud to present its first writing during this2012 February Black History Month bysharing the exemplary modeled accomplish-ment of Tony Hansberry II. But in reality,Hansberry’s achievement historically in ourcommunities is really not unusual orextraordinary for our African Americanstudents when they are taught, groomed andculturally inspired in an academically

African American youth inventssurgical technique at age 14

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Page 4: Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913 …The Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013) Pontiac NewsFebruary 1 - February 14, 2013 A POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH

A POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH A LOCAL FLAVOR

The Pontiac News February 1 - February 14, 2013Page 4

The following list provides the names of the first African Americansin a variety of areas of achievement in government, law, diplomacy, themilitary, science and medicine, sports, literature, and other fields.

African-American Firsts: Government • Officeholder in colonial America: Matthias de Souza, 1641• State elected official: Alexander Lucius Twilight, 1836. • Municipal elected official: John Mercer Langston, 1855.• County sheriff: Walter Burton, 1869.• State Supreme Court Justice: Jonathan Jasper Wright, 1870.• City mayor: Robert Wood, 1870.• U.S. Representative: Joseph Rainey,1870. • U.S. Senator (appointed): Hiram Revels, 1870. • Governor (appointed): P.B.S. Pinchback, 1872. • Person to run for the presidency: George Edwin Taylor, 1904.• Woman legislator: Crystal Bird Fauset, 1938.• U.S Senator (elected): Edward Brooke, 1966.• U.S. cabinet member: Robert C. Weaver, 1966. • Mayor of major city: Carl Stokes, 1967. • Woman U.S. Representative: Shirley Chisholm, 1969.• Woman cabinet officer: Patricia Harris, 1977.• Governor (elected): L. Douglas Wilder, 1989.• Woman mayor of a major U.S. city: Sharon Pratt Dixon Kelly,

1991.• Woman U.S. Senator: Carol Mosely Braun, 1992.• U.S. Secretary of State: Colin Powell, 2001. • Woman Secretary of State: Condoleezza Rice, 2005.• Major party nominee for President: Sen. Barack Obama, 2008. • U.S. President: Barack Obama, 2009.

African-American Firsts: Law • Admitted to the Bar: Macon B. Allen, 1845. • Woman admitted to the bar: Charlotte Ray, 1872. • Elected municipal judge: Mifflin W. Gibbs, 1873• Editor, Harvard Law Review: Charles Hamilton Houston, 1919. • Federal Judge: William Henry Hastie, 1946. • Woman federal judge: Constance Baker Motley, 1966.• U.S. Supreme Court Justice: Thurgood Marshall, 1967. • President of the American Bar Association: Dennis Archer, 2002.

African-American Firsts: Diplomacy • U.S. ambassador: Ebenezer D. Bassett, 1869. • Nobel Peace Prize winner: Ralph J. Bunche, 1950.• Woman U.S. ambassador: Patricia Harris, 1965.• U.S. Representative to the UN: Andrew Young, 1977.

African-American Firsts: Military • U.S Army unit to have black men comprise more than half of its

troops: 1st Rhode Island Regiment, 1778.• Commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy: Robert Smalls, 1863.• Commissioned officer above the rank of Captain in the U.S.

Army: Major Martin R. Delany, 1865.• West Point graduate: Henry O. Flipper, 1877.• Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy: Wesley A. Brown, 1949. • Congressional Medal of Honor winner: Sgt. William H. Carney,

1900.• Combat pilot: Eugene Jacques Bullard, 1917. • General: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., 1940. • Woman general: Hazel W. Johnson, 1979.• Woman to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy:

Janie L. Mines, 1980. • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Colin Powell, 1989–1993.• Woman Rear Admiral in the United States Navy:

Lillian Fishburne, 1998.

African-American Firsts: Science and Medicine • Patent holder: Thomas L. Jennings, 1821.• Hospital dedicated to black patient care: The Georgia Infirmary,

1832. • M.D. degree: James McCune Smith, 1837. • M.D. degree from a U.S. Medical School: David Jones Peck, 1847. • Woman to receive an M.D. degree: Rebecca Lee Crumpler, 1864.• Woman patent holder: Judy Reed, 1884.• Black-owned hospital: Provident Hospital founded by

Daniel Hale Williams, 1891.• Heart surgery pioneer: Daniel Hale Williams, 1893.• Developer of the blood bank: Dr. Charles Drew, 1940.• Member of the National Academy of Sciences:

David Harold Blackwell, 1965.• Astronaut: Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., 1967. • Implantation of heart defibrillator: Levi Watkins, Jr., 1980.• Astronaut to travel in space: Guion Bluford, 1983.• Head of the National Science Foundation: Walter E. Massey, 1990.

• Woman astronaut: Mae Jemison, 1992.• President of the American Medical Association: Lonnie Bristow,

1995• Space Shuttle Commander: Frederick D. Gregory, 1998.

African-American Firsts: Scholarship • College graduate (B.A.): Alexander Lucius Twilight, 1823. • Graduate of an Ivy League School: Theodore Sedgewick Wright,

1828• College professor: Charles Lewis Reason, 1849.• Woman to graduate from a college: Lucy Stanton, 1850. • College president: Daniel A. Payne, 1856.• Non-white public high school: Paul Lawrence Dunbar High, 1870. • Ph.D.: Edward A. Bouchet, 1876. . • Elected to Phi Beta Kappa: George Washington Henderson, 1877.• Rhodes scholar: Alain L. Locke, 1907.• Women Ph.D's: Georgiana Simpson, Sadie Tanner Mossell and

Eva Beatrice Dykes, 1921.• Ivy League University president: Ruth Simmons, 2001.

African-American Firsts: Art and Literature • Poet: Lucy Terry: 1746. • Published autobiography: Briton Hammon, 1760.• Poet (published): Phillis Wheatley, 1773. • Recognized artist: Joshua Johnston, 1790, portraiture. • Woman's autobiography: Jarena Lee, 1831. • Male Novelist: William Wells Brown, 1853. • Woman novelist: Harriett Wilson, 1859.• Recognized photographer: James Conway Farley, 1885• Pulitzer prize winner: Gwendolyn Brooks, 1950.• Pulitzer prize winner in Drama: Charles Gordone, 1970.• Poet Laureate: Robert Hayden, 1976.• Nobel Prize for Literature winner: Toni Morrison, 1993.• Woman Poet Laureate: Rita Dove, 1993.

African-American Firsts: Newspapers and Other Print Media • Newspaper: Freedom's Journal, 1827.• Daily newspaper: New Orleans Tribune, 1864.• Mass Circulation Magazine: Ebony, 1945

African-American Firsts: Music and Dance • Published musical composition: Francis Johnson, 1817.• Theatrical company: The African Company, 1821.• Nationally recognized dance performer: William Henry Lane

(Master Juba), 1845.• Member of the New York City Opera: Todd Duncan, 1945.• Member of the Metropolitan Opera Company: Marian Anderson,

1955.• Male Grammy Award winner: Count Basie, 1958.• Woman Grammy Award winner: Ella Fitzgerald, 1958.• Principal dancer in a major dance company: Arthur Mitchell,

1959, New York City Ballet.

African-American Firsts: Film and Theater• First African American film company: Lincoln Motion Picture

Company, 1916.• Film director: Oscar Micheaux, 1919.• First Oscar winner: Hattie McDaniel, 1940.• First Honorary Oscar: James Baskett, 1948.• Tony Award Winner: Juanita Hall, 1950.• Oscar, Best Actor: Sidney Poitier 1963.• Director for a major Hollywood studio: Gordon Parks, 1969.• Woman director for a major Hollywood Studio: Julie Dash, 1991.• Oscar, Best Actress: Halle Berry, 2001.

African-American Firsts: Radio and Television• Black-owned radio station: WERD, purchased by

Jesse B. Blayton, Sr., 1949.• Network television show host: Nat King Cole, 1956. • Star of a network television show: Bill Cosby, 1965.• Black-owned television station: WGPR-TV, 1975 • First Evening New Anchor: Max Robinson, 1978.• Woman television show host: Oprah Winfrey, 1986.

African-American Firsts: Sports • Jockey to win the Kentucky Derby: Oliver Lewis, 1875.• Professional golfer: John Matthew Shippen, Jr., 1896• World cycling champion: Marshall W. "Major" Taylor, 1899.• Olympic medalist (Summer games): George Poage, 1904.• Olympic gold medalist (Summer games): John Baxter "Doc"

Taylor, 1908.• World Heavyweight boxing champion: Jack Johnson, 1908.• NFL football coach: Fritz Pollard, 1922–1937.

• Professional Race Car Driver: Rajo Jack De Soto, 1923• Olympic gold medalist (Summer games; individual):

DeHart Hubbard, 1924. • Major league baseball player: Jackie Robinson, 1947.• Woman gold medalist (Summer games; individual):

Alice Coachman, 1948. • NFL quarterback: Willie Thrower, 1953.• Wimbledon tennis champion: Althea Gibson, 1957. • NHL hockey player: Willie O'Ree, 1958, Boston Bruins.• NASCAR stock car driver to win a major race:

Wendell Oliver Scott, 1963.• Male tennis champion: Arthur Ashe, 1968. • Professional Bowlers Association Champion: George Branham III,

1985• Olympic medalist (Winter games): Debi Thomas, 1988.• Golf champion: Tiger Woods, 1997.• Chess Grandmaster: Maurice Ashley, 1999• Olympic gold medalist (Winter games): Vonetta Flowers, 2002.• Olympic gold medalist (Winter games; individual):

Shani Davis, 2006.

African-American Firsts: Religion • Baptist Church: David George and the Silver Bluff Baptist Church,

1773.• African Episcopal (AME) Church: Mother Bethel AME Church,

1794. • Church-Sponsored African American College:

Wilberforce University, 1856.• Episcopal Church Bishop: James Theodore Holly, 1879• Pentecostal Faith Revival: William J. Seymour and the Azusa

Street Revival, 1906.• National Black Catholic Fraternal Order: Knights of

St. Peter Claver, 1909.• Woman Bishop in the Episcopal (Anglican) Church:

Barbara Harris, 1989.• Woman Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME)

Church: Vashti Murphy McKenzie, 2000.• President of the Southern Baptist Convention: Fred Luter, Jr., 2012

African-American Firsts: Business and Labor• Landowners: Anthony and Mary Johnson, 1640.• Black-owned insurance company: The African Insurance Company,

1810.• Black Labor Union: American League of Colored Laborers, 1850. • Black-owned Bank: True Reformers Bank, 1889.• Black-owned resort: Highland Beach, Maryland, 1893. • Millionaire: Robert Abbott, founder of the Chicago Defender in

1905.• Automobile manufacturing company: C.R. Patterson & Sons,

1915.• Record Company: Black Swan Records, 1921.• Black-owned Youth Camp: Camp Atwater, 1921.• Black-owned metropolitian newspaper: Robert Maynard and the

Oakland Tribune, 1983• Billionaire: Robert Johnson, 2001, owner of Black Entertainment

Television.

Other African-American Firsts: • Explorer, North Pole: Matthew Henson, 1909.• Licensed Pilot: Bessie Coleman, 1921.• Explorer, South Pole: George Gibbs, 1939–1941.• Captain of an American Merchant Marine ship:

Hugh Mulzac, 1942.• Pilot for commercial airline: Perry Young, Jr., 1957.• Flight Attendant: Ruth Carol Taylor, 1958.• President of Girl Scouts, USA: Gloria Dean Randall Scott, 1975• Woman commercial airline pilot: Jill Elaine Brown, 1978.• Miss America: Vanessa Williams, 1984. • Sail solo around the world: William Pinkney, 1990-1992• Miss USA: Carole Ann-Marie Gist, 1990.• President of the National League of Women Voters:

Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins, 1994.• President of the National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA):

Lois Jean White, 1995• Flight around the world: Barrington Irving, 2007.

Sources:Jessie Carney Smith, Black Firsts: 4,000 ground-Breaking andPioneering Historical Events (Detroit, Visible Ink Press, 2003); CharlesM. Christian, Black Saga: The African American Experience, AChronology (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995);Factmonster.com, http://www.factmonster.com/spot/bhmfirsts.html

101 African American Firsts

Page 5: Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913 …The Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks Birth (1913-2013) Pontiac NewsFebruary 1 - February 14, 2013 A POSITIVE NEWS SOURCE WITH

Business owners and entrepreneurs whoneed assistance are encouraged to attend semi-nars offered by the Oakland County BusinessCenter. Unless otherwise noted, all programstake place at the Oakland County ExecutiveOffice Building Conference Center, 2100Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph inWaterford. For pre-registration and locationmap, visit www.AdvantageOakland.com/expand or call 248-858-0783.

Marketing Your BusinessFeb. 6, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.This course presents practical applications

of marketing concepts designed to grow smallbusinesses. It covers basic marketing toolsincluding market analysis and research, targetmarketing, assessing competitors and keymarketing implementation tools. A strategic,well-planned approach to marketing is demon-strated with several examples of effectivehands-on marketing techniques. Focus is onthe business’ customers – creating and keepingthem.

Fee: $40

Venture PlanFeb. 5 - April 9, a 10-week series on

Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Venture Plan is an intensive program that

helps evaluate business opportunities anddevelop an action plan for owning or growing abusiness. It offers essential business informa-tion to help develop entrepreneurial skills andbuild your business on a strong foundation orhelp to prepare for expansion. The programutilizes text and online training materials froma nationally recognized program proventhrough use with thousands of businesses.

Full cost for the Venture Plan 10-weekseries is $700, however scholarships are avail-able to reduce the cost to $140.

You must submit a Venture Plan applicationand attend prerequisite workshops to qualifyfor the scholarship. Class size is limited to 30people.

Business Research: Feasibility to Expansion

Feb. 7, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Location: Novi Public Library, 45245 W.

10 Mile Road, NoviThinking of starting a business and want to

research your business idea? Are you a busi-ness owner who wants to benchmark yourprofit margin and other measures againstsimilar size businesses? Do you want to iden-tify market trends and opportunities to growyour sales? Are you looking for new customersor to diversify your market base? Business

Research shows you ways to find your idealcustomers, your competitors, perform competi-tive analysis and more. Presented by OaklandCounty Market Research and an OaklandCounty Public Library business referencelibrarian. This workshop is free, but pre-regis-tration is required.

CEED Microloan OrientationFeb. 13, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.Discover the requirements and process

necessary to apply and obtain a microloan.Many small businesses face obstacles whentrying to obtain a business loan. The recogni-tion of the serious need for working capital forexisting businesses, start-up or expansion,equipment purchases, and job creation is notthe priority it once was. If you have a need foralternative financing consider the MicroloanProgram. This workshop is free, but pre-regis-tration is required.

Team SBA Financing RoundtableFeb. 14, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.Before you apply for a business loan, attend

the Small Business Association Forum onSmall Business Lending. This is a free loanorientation conducted by a business banker, abusiness consultant from the SBA’s network ofSmall Business Development Centers, and anSBA representative. During the roundtable,we’ll debunk the myths and demystify theprocess of small business financing. You'lllearn how the lending process works and whatis expected of you and you'll understand howthe SBA can assist with our SBA GuaranteedLoan Program. This session is best suited tothose who have good credit, a solid businessidea, and some money to invest in their busi-ness. Because the SBA does not provide loanguarantees to real estate investment firms,

including purchasing and rehabbing houses forsale, this type of financing is not discussed atthe roundtables. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.

Twitter for Business (Beginner)Feb. 14, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Introduction to Social Media Marketing

and using Twitter for Business. Millions ofpeople are using Twitter and social media forfun, but it is also a powerful business tool thatcan connect you with your customers, potentialcustomers and the world. You will learn how tosign yourself and/or your business up forTwitter, how to navigate Twitter, Twitter lingo,how to find the right people and businesses tofollow, and more. Fee: $40

Starting a BusinessFeb. 20, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.This course is designed for individuals who

are considering self-employment or are at thebeginning stages of starting their business.Delivered in a workshop format, this introduc-tory session helps aspiring entrepreneurs assesstheir abilities to lead and manage a company,and evaluate market and sales potential fortheir products/services. The basics of businessownership are introduced along with resourcesavailable to help launch new ventures inMichigan. Fee: $30

Twitter for Business (Intermediate) Feb. 21, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Create your Twitter Strategy. In this

Intermediate session of Twitter for Businessyou will establish your social media objectivesand goals for Twitter. You will learn corestrategies and tactics businesses are using toget customers talking through Twitter, how touse social media management tools and how to

schedule tweets in advance. Prerequisite isTwitter for Business (Beginner). Fee: $40

Women's Business Certification Orientation

Feb. 27, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.Learn the benefits and process of becoming

a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE).Benefits include certification to private sectorWBE's and access to procurement opportuni-ties with major national companies. For addi-tional information on what it means to be certi-fied as a Women's Business Enterprise visitwww.miceed.org. Fee: $25

Writing a Business PlanFeb. 27, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.A business plan is a document that serves

your needs and the needs of others (investors,bankers, etc.) that may require informationfrom you about your business. Workshopparticipants will learn what elements arecommonly found in effective plans and willwork on developing each of these for theirbusiness. Assistance in the process as well asinformation on resources will be provided. Fee:$40

Twitter for Business (Advanced) Feb. 28, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Create and Launch your Twitter Campaign.

In this advanced session of Twitter forBusiness you will establish objectives andgoals for a Twitter campaign, create and launcha Twitter campaign, learn advanced strategiesfor reaching influencers and building a long-lasting online community and explore ways totake Twitter beyond social media marketing.Prerequisites are Twitter for Business(Beginner) and Twitter for Business(Intermediate) Fee: $40

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The Pontiac NewsFebruary 1 - February 14, 2013 Page 5

What’s Happening In Oakland County

Patterson Reacts to GM Powertrain Investment

Oakland County Executive L.Brooks Patterson released thefollowing statement in response toGeneral Motors' announcementthat it is investing $200 million toexpand its Global PowertrainEngineering Headquarters inPontiac, adding about 300 jobs:

"Thank you, GM. It's awelcome announcement. AndPontiac, I'm sure, appreciates theinfusion of good, high-payingjobs."

L. Brooks Patterson

A workshop to help homeowners delinquent on theirmortgage or property taxes takes place Feb. 13 from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m. at Oakland County's Executive Office BuildingConference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, building 41Win Waterford.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson initi-ated free seminars to help families protect their most valu-able asset, their home. Preventing foreclosure and its nega-tive impact on Oakland County families and communitiesis a priority for county and community leaders. The work-shop is free and open to all Oakland County homeowners.

"Losing a home due to foreclosure not only displaces afamily, causing extreme distress, but it has a detrimentalimpact on a family's finances, including the loss of earnedequity, damaged credit, and other monetary losses,"

Patterson said. "Whether at this workshop or theCommunity & Home Improvement office, we want to doeverything we can to help families keep their homes."

Information on the options available to homeownersdelinquent on their mortgages or property taxes and how toapply for support under the Step Forward Michiganprogram will be given by housing counselors certified bythe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developmentand the Michigan State Housing Department Authority.

This event is sponsored by Patterson and theCommunity & Home Improvement Division.

Registration is recommended. For more information,call Community & Home Improvement at 248-858-1891 orvisit www.AdvantageOakland.com/CPHA.

February 2013 Business Workshops offered by Oakland County

Richard T. Taylor, P.C.Attorney At Law

General PracticeSpecializing in Criminal Defense,

Family Law and Civil Law

28 N. Saginaw, Suite 912, Pontiac, Michigan 48342Email - [email protected]

Phone # 586-481-5981 Fax 248-338-2222

Oakland County Sponsors Free Workshop for HomeownersDelinquent on their Mortgage or Property Taxes Public

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The Pontiac News February 1 - February 14, 2013Page 6

By Edmund Zar-Zar BargblorAtlanta, Georgia

This article is a contribution to thecontinuing debate between Western andAfrican scholars regarding the role Africansplayed in the development of modern civi-lization. According to Dr. George G. M.James, author of the book, Stolen Legacy,"the authors of Greek philosophy were notthe Greeks but the people of North Africa,commonly called the Egyptians; and thepraise and honor falsely given to the Greeksfor centuries belong to the people of NorthAfrica, and therefore to the African conti-nent."

Apparently, the impression given bysome Western scholars that the Africancontinent made little or no contributions tocivilization, and that its people are naturallyprimitive has, unfortunately, become thebasis of racial prejudice and negativeperception directed against all people ofAfrican origin.

This article, therefore, is an overview ofAfrica's contributions to WesternCivilization. As such, it will briefly trace thehistory of Africa beginning with the empireof ancient Egypt and continues on to otherAfrican empires that developed thereafter. Itwill also review some aspect of AfricanCivilization and the impact it had on thedevelopment of Western Civilization.

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN EMPIRESThe contributions made by Egyptians

toward the development of what weconsider modern civilization cannot beoveremphasized. Between the periods of3000 B. C and 1100 B. C, a long line ofkings known as pharaohs governed Egypt.Under the pharaohs were the ruling of theroyal court, governors of the provinces inwhich the kingdom was divided, andcommanders of the army, etc. Priests andpriestesses officiated at religious cere-monies and attended to the needs of theirgods, but also served under the pharaohs.

The Greeks brought Egyptian educationand influences to the Western world. One ofthe Greeks who enunciated the cultural, reli-gious, and philosophical teachings of theEgyptians was Pythagorus. He was one ofthe men who introduced the teachings of theEgyptians to the Europeans. As such, theknowledge he passed on to his followerswere those he attained from the Egyptians.The teachings of Pythagorus came to usfrom three main sources. First, from thewritings of one of his followers by the nameof Nicomachus. In the introduction hisbook, “Introduction To Arithmetic,”Pythagorus’ theory was illustrated in a formclosest to the original teachings by thePythagorean brotherhood. Second,Pythagorean ideas can be found in theworks of the great thinkers like Plato whowas influence by followers of Pythagorus.Finally, some understanding of Pythagorus'theory may be attained form other famouswriters like Aristotle.

The Egyptians developed the concept ofthe right angle, which is the basis of thePythagorean theorem. This concept is oneof the fundamental teachings of theEgyptian mystery school. It is reflected inthe designs of the ancient Egyptian pyra-mids, which were initiated centuries beforethe birth of Pythagorus. This concept and

others like it, however, were "introduced"by Pythagorus. They represent the under-standing of man and the order of nature.According to the Pythagorean brotherhood,the study of the Number Theory which isthe foundation of creation -- is an aid toachieving harmony between the soul andthat which one meditates. In his book, THEUNIVERSE OF NUMBERS, Ralph M.Lewis states, "The influence of thePythagorean brotherhood extended over along period of time. The followers ofPythagorus influenced Greek philosopherssuch as Plato and Aristotle. Thinkers such asFluid, Vaughn, and Hoyden based theirphilosophy, to some extend, on Pythagoreanideas, including scientists such asCopernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton."Chikn Anta Diop, a Senegalese historian hasargued that Pythagorean theory, the conceptof Pi, Geometric formulas and the screwand level are only some of the patrimoniesof ancient Egypt and not of Greece asconventional wisdom holds.

In the September 23, 1991, edition ofNewsweek, page 49, Bernal, the author ofthe 575 page book, BLACK ATHENA,published in 1987, explores the reason whyin the beginning of the 18th centuryEuropean scholars intentionally omitted thenames of Egypt and Canaan from the familytree of Western Civilization. Bernal'sconclusion was that the classicists wereracists and anti-Semites. They could notstand the idea that their beloved Greece hadbeen made "impure" by African and Semiticinfluences. Therefore, they dismissed asmere coincidence, how Egyptian andCanaanite technologies, philosophies andpolitical theories shaped AlgeanCivilization. Additionally, Bernal isconvinced that many pharaohs were black.Among them was Menthotpe who reunitedEgypt around 21 B. C after 300 years ofchaos.

Egyptians also initiated the concept ofmonotheism-the belief in one God.Akhennaten, king of Egypt and God of thesun was the pharaoh who introducedmonotheism to his people. He was also apoet, artistic, an innovator, visionary, insti-gator of monotheism and forerunner ofChrist. He ruled Egypt during the 14thcentury BC. The personality of Akhennatencontinues to fascinate students ofEgyptology. He was the husband ofNefertiti, a goddess of her time. Historiansperceived Akhennaten as a good ruler wholoved mankind. Some of his religious prac-tices and ideas have influenced fraternitiesin the Western world.

KINGDOMS OF AFRICA SOUTH OFTHE SAHARA DESERT

The empires of Ghana, Mali, andSonghai were powerful medieval states inWest Africa. Each empire was advanced inmatters regarding the administration ofgovernment and economic prosperity.During each era of their respective histories,they were powerful nations, which had vitaltrading links with the commercial world ofNorth Africa and Europe.

GHANAGhana was the first of the three empires

to rise as a regional power in West Africa.The history of Ghana is based largely on thewritings of Arab travelers who visited and

traded with its people. Before the RomanEmpire left North Africa in the 4th centuryAD, Ghana was already a powerful nation.Various countries in Europe were dependenton imports of gold before the discovery ofAmerica. The "civilization" of Ghana wasadvanced to such a level that a system oftaxation was imposed on every load ofgoods entering or leaving the empire.Trading, therefore, was a highly organizedsystem which the wealth and importance ofGhana was based.

According to El-farzari, an Arab writerof that period, the people of Ghana werealso successful in overpowering theiradvanced methods of warfare and theirweapons, which were swords and lances.

MALIThe Empire of Mali emerged when

Ghana's powers declined. In the 13thcentury, the Mandingo speaking peoplebegan to extend their kingdom and pushedtowards the South and southeast regions ofWest Africa. Ghana's military forces wereeventually defeated. When Sundaiata Kitabecame ruler of Mali, it became the mostpowerful of all the kingdoms of the Sudan.The gold trades continue to flourish underhis reign. After Sundiata, his grandson,Mansa Musa, became ruler. During hisreign, Mali became known throughout theMediterranean world and in Europe.

SONGHAIDuring the decline of Mali, the Songhai

Empire emerged. In about 1464, Soni Alibecame king of Songhai. He was an ambi-tious young man who led his army tocapture Timbuktu, a city known for itslearning centers and trade routes, in 1468.Thereafter, he also captured Jenne, anotherfamous city like Timbuktu. After Soni Ali'sdeath, one of his generals removed his sonfrom the throne and took control of theempire by force. He, thereafter, namedhimself Mohammed. Mohammed was veryorganized and instituted a system of disci-pline government. He created a number ofcentral offices, similar to our contemporarygovernment departments to oversee justice,finance, agriculture and other matters ofimportance in the affairs of the state. Underhis rule, trade in gold from Sudan regioncontinued to flow northward into Europe.

Askia Mohammed imported manufac-tured goods, clothes, and salt from Spainand Germany. It was also during his reignthat Timbuktu became a greater center oflearning. Its university, one the first inAfrica, was so famous that scholars came toit from all over the Muslim world, Europeand Asia. As a Muslim himself, Askingallowed Islamic influence to spreadthroughout the Sudan.

Why did these African empires collapse?Some scholars cited the difficulties ofdefending the empire in the open WestAfrican region, in addition to the corruptioninfluence of the slave trade. While W. E. B.Du Bois stated that Sudanese civilizationfell before the triphammer blows of two ofthe world's great religions, Islam andChristianity. Another reason also advancedby Es-Sadi, a Timbuktu intellectual whowrote a history of the Sudan, TARKH AL-SUDAN, for the fall of the Songhai Empirewas that the people had grown fat and softon luxury and good living. He said that, "At

that moment, faith was exchanged go infi-delity; there was nothing forbidden by Godwhich was not openly done … because ofthese abominations, the almighty in hisvengeance drew upon the Songhai the victo-rious army of the Moors."

CONCLUSIONFrom the history of four of Africa's great

empires, it can be clearly seen that Africaand Africans have contributed to what wenow consider Western Civilization). Allalong the West African coast, Africans haddeveloped various systems of government,from the extended family to regionalempires and the Village State. Many ofthem consisting of those attributes of amodern state (i.e., armies, courts, etc.).According to Melville J. Herskovits, aknown anthropologist, "of the areas inhab-ited by non-literate people, Africa exhibitsthe great incidence of complex govern-mental structures. Not even the kingdom ofPeru and Mexico could mobilize resourcesand concentrate power more effectivelythan could some of these African monar-chies, which are more to be compared withEurope of the middle ages then referred tothe common conception of the 'primitive'state."

From the mystery schools of Egypt tothe University of Sankore and other intel-lectual centers in Timbuktu and Jenne,scholars throughout the Western worldcame to Africa in search of knowledge andwisdom. Leo Africanus, a Christianizedmoor, informed us that at the time, "InTimbuktu there are numerous judges,doctors, clerics, all receiving good salariesfrom the king. He pays great respect to menof learning. There is a big import fromBarbary. More profit is made from the booktrade than from any other line of business."The learning centers in Timbuktu had largeand valuable collections of manuscripts inseveral languages, including Greek andLatin.

Africans are also a deeply religious andartistic people. To most Africans, religionand art are the foundations of life. Religionand art are a collective expression in whichall the people participate.

As I mentioned earlier, Africa's contribu-tion to Western Civilization cannot beoveremphasized. As early as in 1907, thegreat European artist, Picasso, changed thefaces of his Canvas, LES DEMOISELLESD 'AVIGNON, to look like African masks.This marked a turning point in western art.

I hope that information contained in thisarticle will inspire others to explore the richstudy of African history; especially Africanand African American youths that may wantto know more about their heritage. Wisemen throughout the ages have told us that,''To understand and appreciate our history isto understand ourselves. In understandingourselves, we gradually open the window toour ingenuity and inner creativeness.''

Happy Black History Month To All!

About the Author: Mr. Edmund Zar-ZarBargblor is an Instructor of Mathematicswithin the Providence School Department,Providence, and Rhode Island. He is agraduate of Cuttington University College,Liberia; Howard University, Washington,D.C, and Israel Institute of Technology,Haifa, Israel.

Africa's Contribution To Contemporary Western Civilization - A Perspective

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Pontiac Students To Attend Rosa Parks CelebrationThe Pontiac School District will be sending two

groups of students to attend Rosa Parks’s birthdaycelebrations. The ninth grade students of PontiacHigh School will be attending the celebration at theHenry Ford Museum in Dearborn. TheInternational Technical Academy will start off itsday with a visit to the Charles H. Wright Museumin Detroit and will meet up with the ninth gradestudents. This is an excellent opportunity for thestudents in our district to learn firsthand about thecontributions of our leaders. Both of these celebra-tions are the results of legislation passed on CapitolHill.

Last December, Michigan Senator Carl Levinpresented legislation to Congress. In this legisla-tion Senator Leven wrote:

February 4, 2013, marks the 100th Anniversaryof the birth of Rosa Parks. In recognition of thisoccasion, I am immensely proud to be joined by 58bipartisan cosponsors of S. Res. 618, which wasjust adopted unanimously by the Senate, observingthe 100th birthday of Rosa Parks and commemo-rating her legacy. I am especially pleased to havehad the input of Senators Stabenow, Sessions, andAlexander in the crafting of this resolution, whichis befitting one who so significantly contributed tothe breaking down the barriers of legal discrimina-tion against African Americans, and equality for usall.

Pontiac School District is committed toensuring that all of its students know the historyand diversity of our school district. This event

kicks off a month long celebration of events toeducation our community about the contributionsof African American. Mrs. Elaine Steele, Co-founder of the Rosa and Raymond Parks Instituteand chairman of the Detroit festivities plan to haveseveral of our children interviewed on the MildredGaddis Show. It is important that our childrenunderstand the rich legacy from which they came.

The first Rosa Parks Forever stamps will be soldat the Wright museum, with a dedication ceremonystarting at 7:30 a.m. The Henry Ford Museum,where the Rosa Parks bus is on permanent display,will host the First-Day-of-Issue stamp event at10:45 a.m., as part of a daylong celebration dubbedthe National Day of Courage (Detroit Free Press).

Brenda CarterSecretary SchoolDistrict City of

Pontiac

supportive instructional environment uniqueto how we learn, grow, and developmentally, socially, emotionally, and evenpsychologically as Black youth in today’schallenging diverse society.

And added to this point in his words, ouryoung neurosurgeon to be says that, “It’s notreally hard if you have a passion for it.”

My Dear Young One:By Snugasaglove

I write to you today To let you know that

You are not isolated and alone For, with EVERY poet's heart You are connected and jointed

And that, through your words~~ ~mySOUL was anointed

So, please, never doubt nor question The reason for your existence

Please accept this as my heartfelt insistence That you are an essential part

of a GRAND design You are the acolyte

The blank page, the shrine

For God assigned to you a charge of prophecy

To speak your joy and tears thru the very blood of your ink

To instruct others, causing them to pause and think

And to shed light where darkness lurks So, no, your texted "vision" hangs not as a woeful curse

Upon your head But a beautiful gift of lyrical Psalms

Written, directed, and solo-led By your divinely blessed and ordered pen So that others may be enriched by reading

Where your heart yearns to go and where its been

So, please never cease to plumb your mind's depth

Please never corral, restrict or restrain it as boundary-ranged

For, because of YOU, This world and realm is positively affected and FOREVER changed

Indeed, every thought you mention Exemplifies a cerebral ascension

And serves as a benevolentoffering~~CELESTIALLY

Through YOU~~AESTHETICALLY.

© 2013 GS Poetry. All rights reserved.

Youth from page 3

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Obama Inauguration Event 2013 Photos By Councilman Randy Carter

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Monthly DiversityEducation Forum

“The Business Case for Linking Diversity and Inclusion to the Bottom-Line”

Thursday February 21, 2013, 1 to 3 p.m.Today's global economy requires companies torecognize the power of diversity to effectively

ompete in it. Companies of all shapes and sizes areadapting their products and services to appeal to

customers throughout the world in an increasinglydiverse market. Come and learn how leading

organizations, who desire to separate themselvesfrom their competition, better define who they are,

and increase their market share in this global economy are addressing diversity in the marketplace.Join us as we explore creative approach-es that support your organization's goals

to compete in this new world.Get more information Register Now!

www.ocedc.net

ABOUT THE MONTHLY DIVERSITY EDUCATION FORUM

Meeting on the 3rd Thursday of each month, the seriesis designed to assist human resources professionals,diversity managers, and all levels of leaders andsupervisors to develop and implement organizationalsolutions to move toward full productivity throughoutthe workforce.

NOT A MEMBER YET, NO PROBLEM ITS FREEJust visit our website: www.ocedc.net

Laura Robb, Oakland County Employment Diversity [email protected] 248 691-8437 ext 2974

Where:Oakland CountyConference Center 2100 Pontiac Lake Rd.Waterford, MI 48328

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Renovation of historic Sears building andupscale 10 West Lofts, opening of LafayetteMarket, Anytime Fitness and 18 new UnityPark homes culminates Pontiac’s successful2-year economic transformation withMSHDA, Land Bank

The Michigan State HousingDevelopment Authority (MSHDA) todayjoined state legislators and leaders repre-senting the city of Pontiac, Oakland County,builders, Realtors, lenders and the MichiganLand Bank Fast Track Authority to celebratethe grand opening of the Lafayette Placedevelopment, a nearly $20 million renova-tion and restoration of downtown Pontiac’shistoric Sears, Roebuck & CompanyDepartment Store building.

The project’s completion by West

Construction Services, a Pontiac-baseddeveloper specializing in historical preserva-tion and architectural excellence, is the city’snewest success story. The grand openingmarks the end of Michigan Land Bank’s$13.7 million Neighborhood StabilizationProgram 2 (NSP2) initiative in Pontiac, butstate and local officials say the collaborationhas laid the groundwork for future economicinvestment and partnerships.

“An exciting transformation is under wayin Pontiac,” said MSHDA ExecutiveDirector Scott Woosley. “This unprecedentedeffort has created permanent private sectorjobs, extended the dream of homeownershipto proud first-time buyers, removed blightand improved public safety, generated newinvestment in Pontiac’s Downtown Business

District and revitalized one of our state’slargest municipalities.”

“The accomplishments we have achievedby working together in Pontiac represent amodel success story that is helping to moveMichigan’s economy forward,” saidMichigan Land Bank Fast Track AuthorityExecutive Director Kim Homan.

Highlights of the two-year NSP2 initia-tive coordinated by MSHDA in partnershipwith the state Land Bank as well as Pontiacand Oakland County leaders include:

• Today’s announcement by WestConstruction Services President and CEOKyle Westberg that Lafayette Place Lofts’ 46residential apartments will become fullyoccupied with tenants by March 1. Rents forthe one- and two-bedroom lofts range from$675 to $1,295 per month.

• West Construction Services’ renovationof the 80,000-square-foot structure, locatedin the city’s Commercial Historic District, isthe largest construction investment in down-town Pontiac in approximately 30 years.

• GJ & JA Investments LLC’s renovationof a 24,000-square-foot historic building into10 West Lofts, a multiuse facility featuring14 loft apartment units and nearly 9,000square feet of retail space. The project’sfunding was supported by $2.4 million ofdirect NSP2 residential investment, whichwill leverage nearly $700,000 in privateinvestment for the redevelopment of 8,900square feet of retail space.

• Lafayette Market, a full-line fresh foodmarket, delicatessen, caterer and cafe on theground floor of Lafayette Place, is the firstfresh foods market to open within the city infour decades.

• The creation of more than 300 construc-tion jobs through Pontiac NSP2 investments,as well as an estimated 75 permanent posi-tions generated by 10 West Loft apartmentsand the Lafayette Place development’sopening of Lafayette Market and theAnytime Fitness center and juice bar.

• The demolition of 47 vacant andblighted dangerous buildings in the UnityPark neighborhood and in NSP2-eligibleneighborhoods surrounding Pontiac’sDowntown Business District. Elimination ofblight has helped increase property valuesand improved the perception of public safetywithin the community.

• The construction of 18 new single-family homes in the Unity Park neighbor-hood, located just southeast of the

Downtown Business District. All 18 homeshave buyers who have executed purchaseagreements, and nine mortgage loans haveclosed to date, with the remaining expectedto close before March 31. The new homeshave seen a 20 percent increase in appraisedvalues from construction start to loan clos-ings.

• The $14.7 million in direct NSP2project investments have leveraged nearly$11 million in private project investments.

• The Land Bank’s acquisition of nearly60 properties in Pontiac that could be usedby future developers or as side lots for localhomeowners. The Land Bank anticipates theacquisition will stimulate an additional $6million in Pontiac housing investments by2016.

The $19.8 million Lafayette Place projectwas funded by Michigan’s NSP2 initiative, afederal New Markets and Historic Tax Creditpartnership with U.S. Bank, the MichiganMagnet Fund (MMF), Great Lakes CapitalFund LLC, State Historic Tax Credits,Brownfield Tax Credits, KeyBank and otherprivate lending institutions.

“Lafayette Place is an incredible develop-ment, and we were excited to utilize andrenew the existing, historic structure of theSears, Roebuck & Company DepartmentStore,” Westberg said. “The building stoodas a symbol of strength during the GreatDepression, and I believe it stands as thattoday. We have seen an influx of businessescoming to Pontiac since we broke ground onthe development, and we hope that LafayettePlace continues to serve as a catalyst forfurther commercial growth in downtownPontiac.”

Among the dignitaries who served askeynote speakers during today’s media eventwere Pontiac Mayor Leon Jukowski; PontiacCity Council President Lee A. Jones; stateSen. Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion); HouseDemocratic Minority Leader and state Rep.Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills); OaklandCounty Treasurer Andy Meisner; MichiganAssociation of Realtors (MAR) Senior VicePresident Kathie Feldpausch and MARDirector Allan Daniels of Dr. Daniels & SonRealty in Bloomfield Hills; BuildingIndustry Association of SoutheasternMichigan Chief Executive Officer MikeStoskopf; and representatives of local devel-opers, including Home Renewal Systems,Venture Inc., Community Housing Networkand 10 West Loft Apartments. Insert Photo

Grand Opening of Landmark $20 Million Lafayette Place DevelopmentSpurs Revitalization of Downtown Pontiac, Local Neighborhoods

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By Mark McCormick(Contributor)

With Black history month just beginning,these African Americans that have madetennis much more interesting deserve somementions. Here they are:

Arthur Ashe: Arthur Ashe, I believe, isthe best African American male tennis playerof all time. He played a lot of sports in highschool like basketball, football, and tennis. Heled his tennis team to the state championshipand his football team to another championshipalso. He went to UCLA with a full ride in1963 for tennis. He was also the first AfricanAmerican to be put on the Davis Cup Team.

In 1965, he won the NCAA singles title,which is one of his biggest achievements. In1968, he won the US Open and led his DavisCup team to victory. Obviously, everyone hadsaid when he accomplished these things earlyin his career that he was the best AfricanAmerican tennis player of all time.

Arthur Ashe is by far the best, adding ontwo more Grand Slams, the 1970 AustraliaOpen, and the 1975 Wimbledon. He had alsoreached two other finals in the 1971 AustraliaOpen and the 1972 Us Open. He was inductedinto the Tennis Hall Of Fame in 1983. Anhonor to Arthur Ashe is the Arthur Ashestadium that is used during the US Open everyyear.

James Blake: James Blake started to playtennis when he was little with his brotherThomas Blake. He played tennis allthroughout high school at Fairfield,Connecticut. At a tennis clinic in Harlem,James Blake had heard Arthur Ashe speak,and those words he said had inspired Blake tobe more passionate about tennis and to goprofessional.

After high school, Blake went to Harvarduntil his sophomore year, where he went tostart his career in tennis. James Blake didn'twin a Slam title, but is still in the making of it.He reached a high rank of fourth in the ATPrankings in November '06. James Blake’s bestresults in a Slam was reaching threeQuarterfinals, one in Australia in 2008 andtwo at the Us Open in 2005 and 2006.

James Blake is currently 33 years of age,dropping the rankings last year and fighting tostay in it.

WomenAlthea Gibson: A very long time ago, in

the early 1900s, Althea Gibson was thewomen's popular tennis player. She was thevery first African American to ever win aGrand Slam tournament. Althea had won thecareer slam, also winning the French Open in1956, Australia in 1957, two Wimbledon's in1956 and 1957, and two US Opens in 1956and 1957.

Althea Gibson was also a tremendousdoubles player, where she won the careerdoubles Slam with five different doubles part-ners. After Gibson retired from tennis, shestarted to play golf in 1970, where she was thefirst African American women's golfer to turnpro. Her success in these sports shows that sheis one of the best athletes of all time.

She had many honors too, but her mainone was being the first African American to beselected player of the year by the AssociatedPress. She was inducted into the tennis hall offame in 1971 also.

Ora Washington: Before Althea Gibsonwas born, Ora Washington was showingAmerican how good she can be in sports. Orahad played both basketball and tennis in herlife and professionally in tennis and college

basketball.She was a star player for the Philadelphia

Tribunes and Germantown Hornets women'sbasketball teams. By the time she retired fromplay, she was undefeated in tennis for 12 yearsand earned 201 trophies in her basketball andtennis career. Since being so successful inboth of these sports, she clearly gets a spot asone of the best athletes in the 20th century.

Zina Garrison: Zina Garrison was bornright near the end of Althea Gibson's tenniscareer. Zina Garrison had not played tennisuntil she was 10, though. She started herjunior tennis career very well at 12 and won anational title when she was just 14.

When Zina was just 19-years-old, she hadbegun her professional tennis career. Sheskipped her high school graduation to play inthe French Open, which was her debut toprofessional tennis. She played well in GrandSlam singles tournaments, reaching the finalof Wimbledon in 1990 and winning thebronze medal at the 1988 Olympics.

Zina Garrison was a much better doublesplayer, though, making the Australia Opendoubles final twice in 1987 and 1992 andwinning the gold in the 1988 Olympics. In hermixed doubles career, she was much better,winning three Grand Slam mixed doublestitles and being runner up in three. Zina hadwon two Wimbledons in 1988 and 1990 andthe Australia Open in 1987 and also reachingthree other finals but fell short in all of them.

Serena Williams: Serena Williams is allfull of success. Serena and her sister Venuswon 11 Grand Slam doubles titles and twoOlympic gold medals. Serena won two mixeddoubles also: the 1998 Wimbledon and 1998Us Open. In Serena's Grand Slam singlescareer, she has already won 12 titles. Serenastill has many more Grand Slams in doublesand singles awaiting her as she has muchmore time in her career left.

Serena won the women's athlete of thedecade, being the second African Americanwoman to win this next to Althea Gibson.Serena could easily come down as one of thebest women's tennis players of all time. Wehope that the future has in store for us somemore solid Slams that Serena can win.

Venus Williams: Venus is also verysuccessful like Serena, winning 11 doublesSlam's and two Olympic medals with hersister, two mixed doubles and seven GrandSlam singles titles, and one Olympic goldmedal.

She is still active, and even though she is alittle older than Serena, she could still pull ofsome Grand Slams. Hey, maybe 2013Wimbledon? You never know. We'll seewhat's in store for us in 2013.

Move Over Serena! 19-Year-Old Sloane Stephens Beats Williams

Don’t know the name Sloane Stephens?You’ll remember her name now that she, onWednesday, defeated women’s tennis great andAfrican American trailblazer Serena Williamsat the Australian Open. Stephens, 19, who isalso black, introduced herself to a global audi-ence by beating 31-year-old Williams, 3-6, 7-5,6-4. The up-and-comer is the youngest in theWomen’s Tennis Association’s Top 40 athletes.

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The Pontiac NewsFebruary 1 - February 14, 2013 Page 11

On Saturday January 26, Pontiac High Wrestling Team wins first place for the third straightyear at Flint Beecher AL MINERT Invitational. Sebastian William heavy weight wins tour-nament for Pontiac with his pin in the final match of the tournament against opponent fromFlint Northwestern. Also, Davion Logan won MVP of the tournament by defeating an unde-feated opponent from Flint Beecher 15-6.

Team Standings1. Pontiac 119 2. Davison B Team 117, Bentley 90

Individual Placers112 Clarence Farmer- 3rd119 Damon Davis- Champion130 Tryron Logan- 3rd135 Davion Logan- Champion (MVP)145 Deshawn Cole- 3rd152 Dazon Cole- 3rd160 Jamell Humphrey- Champion171 Nicholas Reid- Runner-up215 Xavier Hershovitz-3rdHwt Sebastian Williams- 3rd

SportsBlack History Month: The Best African American Tennis Players

Pontiac High Wrestling

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Dear Ask Elaine:I have a best friend “Evie”, who has been my best friend since we went to grade school

together. We went through junior high and high school and both of our parents were alwayshard working people who graduated from college and have made a nice living for them-selves. Our parents always wanted us to go to college too and that way we could have greatpaying jobs and be very successful like they have been. The situation is that I took myparents up on their offer to pay for my college education and I graduated with a MBA by thetime I was done. Evie on the other hand decided that after high school she had had enougheducation and didn’t want to be bothered with any more school. She took a job at a pet storeand has been there ever since. She doesn’t want to move up in the company or becomemanager or anything. She is quite content doing what she does. The problem is that we stillhang out together and go shopping or hang out at a club but Evie has become jealous ofeverything that I do. If I go on a trip or vacation and she can’t go because she cannot affordit, she talks about me like I have stolen something. When we go shopping, she never buysanything and if I make a lot of purchases even though they may not be extravagant, shemakes a comment that it must be nice to be able to buy something so frivolous. Last weekwe were out looking for a gift for one of our friends who was getting married. She boughttwo towels and two washcloths. I bought a very nice crystal bowl from her registry. Eviewhined and talked about how I was just showing off my wealth and trying to make her lookbad and cheap. She stopped talking to me for two weeks! I couldn’t reach her by phone,text or email and every time I went by her house to try and talk to her, she never answeredthe door. I love Evie but I shouldn’t have to apologize for my new lifestyle. I went tocollege and I work hard to get the things that I have. Evie has even mentioned that herparents are still willing to help put her through college or even a trade school but she stilldoes not want to take them up on their offer. It hurts to see her so upset and depressed whenwe go out and she can’t afford things. If I offer to pay for everything she really gets offen-sive. What can I do?

Signed I Don’t Want To Apologize Any More

Dear Don’t Want To:My goodness! You’re right about one thing-you shouldn’t have to apologize for being

successful. That’s the reason you spent all of those years in school. It was a way to asuccessful end. More education has always promised to give students a better life, a betterincome and a better state of mind once it was completed. It’s too bad that your friend is soset in her ways. But if she mentions that it must be nice to have money to do whatever youwant whenever you want to, then mention to her that that was the reason you continued onthrough college. Because you couldn’t see yourself being very successful and making adecent living without it. It’s sad that she still doesn’t want to become the manager or betterherself. It sounds as if she’s afraid to become successful or take on any more responsibility.My suggestion is that you try and take most of your more expensive shopping trips alone orat least find someone else who will enjoy being with you or can at least afford to spend a fewdollars without being angry at you. Sometimes we have to change our friends because theirseason has come to an end. I know you care a great deal for your friend but maybe it’s timeyou start widening your circle of friends, change your friends or change the relationship thatyou have with them. Everything and everyone has a season. If you look around, you willprobably notice how your group of friends has actually changed. You’ve added some andgotten rid of some others. That’s the way life goes. Try and hold on to Evie but change yourrelationship a little. She doesn’t have to be with you every time you buy something. As faras apologizing, you’re right. Let her know that you are sorry if you hurt her feelings but alsoexplain that you shouldn’t have to apologize for going to college, getting a great job andmaking money. I would also let her know that you care for her and if the two of you aregoing to remain friends then she has got to stop being jealous and allow you to do some nicethings for her too. Everybody needs some help sometimes. Good Luck!

Ask Elaine.comBy Elaine Smith-Wright

Mrs. Smith-Wright started out as a Mass Communicationsmajor at Oakland University and now holds a B.A. degree inNursing Home Administration and the Certificate ofGerontology and Sociology of the Aging from Wiley Collegealong with a MBA Degree from East Texas Baptist Universityin Management. She also holds a Certificate in Filmmaking,Screenwriting and Directing from the Motion PictureInstitute of Michigan.

By Michael Reed

The United States of America has becomethe home for people of every nationality, raceand culture. Unlike the Native Americansand Eskimos who have lived in this countrylonger than any other race of people, mostforeigners came for may different reasons.Some people came seeking the Americandream of life, liberty, and the pursuit ofhappiness. Others came seeking refuge andsafety from wars, famine, calamities andpersecution in their native countries. Blackpeople were not seeking refuge or theAmerican dream. We were forced hereagainst our will, stolen from our homelandand forced to be slaves. Black Americanswere the engine of free labor. Hundreds ofyears of slavery created the greatesteconomic power the world has ever known.

Despite these wretched conditions, BlackAmericans persevered with dignity. Fromslavery to freedom, Black Americans haveplayed a pivotal role in defining and devel-oping American history and culture.Throughout the history of this country BlackAmericans have explored, created, inventedand excelled in every aspect of life. All of usknow of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas,Martin Luther King and so many otheroutstanding Black Americans that have andcontinue to make extraordinary contributionsto this nation. However, the individualsprofiled in this article were selected becauseof their lack of popularity and notoriety. Stillthere are others whom history will never telltheir story. These unnamed persons created alegacy much like our mothers and fathers.Community heroes who had the courage anddiscipline to face adversity, determined to

create a better life for their children. Wehonor and thank you for your sacrifice onbehalf of generations yet to come. As westruggled through slavery, emancipation,reconstruction, Jim Crowe, civil rights, blackpower and now the re-election of BarackObama, our community has shown incred-ible spirit and resolve that has produced anation of heroes.

Therefore as the nation celebrates BlackHistory Month, let the heroics of the afore-mentioned and the individuals listed belowserve as the inspiration to our youth tocontinue to overcome the obstacles and chal-lenges of life to create and even GREATERBLACK FUTURE!

Elizabeth Freeman (1742-1829) In 1781Ms. Freeman petitioned the Massachusettscourt that as a result of the AmericanRevolution slavery was illegal. The juryagreed and she was granted her freedom.

Elijah McCoy (1843-1929) started amanufacturing company in Detroit, MI anddeveloped a device to lubricate machinerywhile it was still in operation.

Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954) fromanti-lynching crusades, women’s’ rightsadvocate and educator, Mary Terrellremained active all her life against injustice.

John William Coltrane (1926-1967)Coltrane was a musician who is probablyknown best by most observers for his 1960Jazz interpretation of “My Favorite Things”.He once stated in an interview “I want to be aforce for real good. In other words, I knowthat there are bad forces, forces that bringsuffering to others and misery to the world,but I want to be the opposite force. I want tobe the force which is truly for good.”

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Created by Margaret Zierdt, NationalWomen’s History Project Board Member

1. Who was head of National Council ofNegro Women for 40 years and received thePresidential Medal of Freedom and theCongressional Gold Medal for her work forsocial equality?

2. Who was an advocate for civil rights, afund raiser for NAACP, and the first blackperson to sign a long-term Hollywoodcontract in 1942?

3. Who was member of HarlemRenaissance, an anthropologist, and authorof many books, including "Their Eyes WereWatching God"?

4. Who was the first American woman towin three gold medals in track and field - inthe 1960 Olympics for the 100 and 200meters and the 400 meter relay?

5. Who was denied permission to sing inthe Daughters of the American Revolution(DAR) auditorium because of her race in1939, but later became the first black personto perform at the Metropolitan Opera in1955?

6. Who is the dancer, singer, actor, fundraiser, author, and poet who read a specially-composed poem at President Bill Clinton'sinauguration in 1993?

7. Who was a nightclub and cabaret idolof Paris in the 1920's and a freedom fighterduring World War II?

8. What black woman chemist developedan extract from the Awa Root which relievedleprosy symptoms when injected and whichwas widely used until sulfa drugs wereinvented in the 1940's?

9. Who was a civil rights activist andPresident of the Arkansas NAACP whoadvised the nine high school students whointegrated the Little Rock public schools in1957?

10. Who founded the college that becamethe Bethune-Cookman University in Floridaand founded the National Council of NegroWomen in 1935?

11. Who was the first black female news-paper publisher and editor in North America(in Ontario, Canada), and the first blackwoman to enroll in law school ( HowardUniversity)?

12. Who was the first black woman in theworld to earn a pilot’s license, and was a

barnstorming aviator who performed dare-devil tricks?

13. Who was the first blackCongresswoman, beginning in 1968; andwho in 1972 ran for President and won 151delegates at the Democratic Convention?

14. Who was America's first great blackchoreographer, dancer, and teacher whoformed the first black dance troupe in the1940’s?

15. Who founded the Children's DefenseFund in 1973, a group focusing on helpingmillions of children living in poverty?

16. Who was first black woman to win atennis championship at Wimbledon and atthe U.S. Open?

17. Who was the first black woman towrite a Broadway play (1959) which wasmade into a movie (1961), “A Raisin in theSun”?

18. Who was the first black concertpianist to play with a European orchestra in1904?

19. Who was first woman of color to gointo space on the shuttle Endeavor in 1992?

20. Who was the first African-Americanwoman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet - asSecretary of Housing and UrbanDevelopment under President Carter in1977, and then served as Secretary of Healthand Human Services in 1979?

21. Who was the first woman bank presi-dent in America?

22. What slave named Isabella became afiery orator supporting anit-slavery andwoman suffrage after gaining her freedom?

23. Who is considered the first blackwoman journalist who advocated forwomen’s rights and the abolition of slavery?

24. Who was an award-winning poet whopenned "For My People" in 1942, and anovelist who wrote "Jubilee" in 1966?

25. Who was the black educator whofounded the National Training School forGirls about 1909 in Washington, D.C. whichwas re-named in her honor after her death?

26. What woman was the first African-American in New England to serve as Masterof a public high school which position sheheld for 40 years?

27. Who was the first black womanlawyer in the U.S. and the first womanadmitted to the District of Columbia bar

(1872)?28. Who won the 2-day, seven-event

heptathlon competition at the GoodwillGames in July, 1986 and won a gold medal inthe heptathlon at the Olympics in 1988 and1992?

29. What educator was the fourth AfricanAmerican woman to earn a doctoral degree(from the University of Paris-Sorbonne in1924)?

30. Who was first African-Americanwoman to earn a BA degree in United States– from Oberlin College in 1862?

31. Who was the first black president ofan Ivy League University and the first femalepresident of Brown University?

32. What abstract painter was the firstfine arts student to graduate from HowardUniversity, and the first woman to have asolo exhibit at the Whitney Museum of Art inNew York City?

33. What female athlete is considered“the fastest woman of all time” and set therecord for the 100 and 200 meters in 1988?

34. Who was a conductor on theUnderground Railroad and secured thefreedom of at least 300 enslaved people,making 19 trips into the South over 10 years,and served as a spy and scout for the UnionArmy?

35. Who helped black artists and disad-vantaged children while winning 13Grammys and being honored as the "FirstLady of Song"?

36. What anthropology professor becamethe first African-American woman presidentof Spelman College in 1987?

37. What actress appeared in "Gone Withthe Wind," received a bachelor's degree inpolitical science in 1975, and won an Emmyfor her role on television in 1979?

38. Who became a self-made millionairephilanthropist after creating a hair productsold house-to-house, and later held what maybe the first national meeting of business-women in the U.S. in 1917?

39. Who was the first African-Americanwoman to become an ordained minister, alawyer who helped found the first legal peri-odical about women’s rights, and co-foundedthe National Organization of Women?

40. What African-American woman wasborn enslaved, gained her freedom in 1856,

became a entrepreneur and philanthropist,and co-founded the first black church in LosAngles?

Answers 1. Dorothy Height (1912 - 2010) 2. Lena Horne (1917 - 2010) 3. Zora Neale Hurston (1891 – 1960) 4. Wilma Glodean Rudolph (1940 –

1994) 5. Marian Anderson (1897 – 1993) 6. Maya Angelou (1928) 7. Josephine Baker (1906-1975) 8. Alice Ball (1892- 1916) 9. Daisy Lee May Bates (1914 - 1999) 10. Mary Jane McLeod Bethune (1875 -

1955) 11. Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823 - 1893) 12. Bessie Coleman (1892 - 1926) 13. Shirley Chisholm 1924 - 2005) 14. Katherine Dunham (1909 - 2006) 15. Marian Wright Edelman (1939) 16. Althea Gibson ( 1927 - 2003) 17. Lorraine Hansberry (1930 - 1965) 18. Hazel Harrison (1883 - 1969) 19. Dr. Mae Jemison (1956) 20. Patricia Roberts Harris (1924 - 1985) 21. Maggie Lena Walker (1867- 1934) 22. Sojourner Truth (c. 1797 - 1883) 23. Maria Stewart (1803 - 1879) 24. Margaret Abigail Walker Alexander

(1915 - 1998) 25. Nannie Burroughs (1879 - 1961) 26. Maria Louise Baldwin (1856 – 1922) 27. Charlotte Ray (1850 - 1911) 28. Jacqueline "Jackie" Joyner Kersee

(1962) 29. Anna Cooper (1858 or 59 - 1964) 30. Mary Jane Patterson (1840 - 1894)31. Ruth Jean Simmons (1945) 32. Alma Thomas (1891 - 1978) 33. Delorez Florence “Flo-Jo” Griffith

Joyner (1959 - 1998) 34. Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross,

c.1822 - 1913) 35. Ella Jane Fitzgerald (1917 - 1996) 36. Johnnetta Cole (1936) 37. The lma "Butterfly" McQueen (1911 -

1995) 38. Madam C.J. Walker (1867 - 1919) 39. Pauli Murray (1910 – 1985) 40. Biddy Mason (1818 – 1891)

The Pontiac News February 1 - February 14, 2013Page 14

Black Women & Their ContributionsAfrican-American Women’s History 40 Question Challenge

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The Symphony of the Lakeswill hold its first concert of the2013 season, Saturday, February2nd at the Central UnitedMethodist Church, 3882 HighlandRoad (M59) in Waterford at 7:30pm, under the direction ofConductor Zeljko Milicevic.Twenty accomplished musiciansfrom the Metro Detroit area havebeen assembled for an evening ofchamber music, highlighted by theappearance of world renownedviolinist, Joanna Marie Frankel.

Hailed by the Washington Postas "an uncommonly fine youngviolinist," and praised for her"palpable singing tone andaesthetic intelligence" (The NewYork Sun, New York City),violinist Joanna Marie Frankelconsistently shares her uniqueimagination before many anddiverse audiences. As a soloistMs. Frankel has performed acrossthe U.S. and Europe, at suchimportant venues as CarnegieHall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam,Rachmaninoff Hall, GlazunovHall, Suk Hall, Rudolfinum,Slovak Philharmonic Hall,Vanemulse Hall and the SibeliusAcademy's Chamber Music Hall.She has presented recitals in manycities worldwide including NewYork, Chicago Philadelphia, WashingtonD.C., Chattanooga, Amsterdam, Moscow, StPetersburg, Prague, Tallinn, Bratislava andHelsinki.

The February 2nd concert with theSymphony of the Lakes may be the last timeMs. Frankel plays in the U.S. for a whilebecause this month, Ms. Frankel will beginher newest assignment. She was recentlyawarded the position as Concertmaster of theKwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra inDurban, and abroad, concert performancesacross South Africa, arts education initia-tives, and an exciting artistic directorship ofthe symphony's own Principal StringQuartet.

Ms. Frankel is a native of Philadelphiaand began her violin studies there at agethree with Suzuki training. A recent scholar-ship graduate of the Juilliard School, she hasworked closely with mentors JaschaBrodsky, Choong-Jin Chang, Robert Chen,Masao Kawasaki, Joseph Kalichstein andCho-Liang Lin. In 2010 Ms. Frankelconcluded her three season inaugural tenureas a fellow of The Academy – A program ofCarnegie Hall, The Juilliard School and The

Weill Institute, a groundbreaking new initia-tive that combines musical pedagogy with afull series of chamber music engagements atCarnegie Hall in New York City. Sheperforms on the 1846 Jean BaptisteVuillaume violin labeled "Joseph Guarneriusfecit Cremonae," on extended loan from agenerous patron through the RachelElizabeth Barton Foundation.

Highlights of the February 2nd programwill be a performance of Vivaldi's FourSeasons with Ms. Frankel as the featuredsoloist and the second Brandenburg concertoof J.S. Bach featuring Ms. Frankel and threeother talented soloists: Jason Borngesser,Trumpet; Timothy Michling; Oboe andDennis Carter; Flute. Dr. Joseph Daniel ofAnn Arbor will be playing the harpsichordfor both pieces. The orchestra will alsoperform a Mozart Divertimento and theBrook Green Suite by Gustav Holst.

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