Feb. 29, 2016

Move to Name High School for the Late Mayor Marion S. Barry Jr. Elicits Strong Reaction
By James Wright

A commission has recommended that Ballou High School be renamed for former D.C. Mayor Marion S. Barry Jr. He passed away in 2014. (Courtesy Photo)

Former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry was instrumental in making Ballou’s recent improvements a reality. The school was one of Barry’s last projects as the council representative for Ward 8.
PHOTO: HUNS

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Afro American Newspaper

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The possible renaming of Ballou Senior High School in South East's Ward 8 of Washington, DC to the Marion S. Barry Senior High School has drawn some strong reactions from community members and alumni of the institution.

The D.C. Commission to Commemorate and Recognize the Honorable Marion S. Barry Jr. has recommended that the current administration rename Ballou Senior High School in honor of Barry. The commission had other recommendations such as renaming Good Hope Road S.E. in Ward 8, the new University of the District of Columbia student center in Ward 3 and either a bust or statute in the John A. Wilson Building located in Ward 2. However, changing Ballou’s name has generated the most discussion.

“I think the alumni and the students should have a say on changing the name of Ballou,” the Rev. Oliver Johnson, a parent of two graduates from the high school, said. “I talked to both of my children, who are graduates of Ballou about this and while they were fond of Marion Barry, they aren’t too sure about the name change.”

The commission held a public hearing last August to get public input on how to honor Barry and many of the speakers supported Ballou being renamed in honor of the former mayor. The formal recommendation for the honor was made Nov. 23.

Nicknamed "Mayor for Life", the widely beloved Barry is a national hero to many. The son of a Mississippi sharecropper, the civil rights activist served three terms as mayor before surviving a drug arrest and jail sentence; then coming back to be re-elected as mayor. Among other accomplishments, Barry is credited with hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development in DC during his tenure, much of which was spent with Black businesses and contractors. He died Nov. 23, 2014 at the age of 78.

Saying Barry deserves even greater recognition, Monique Goldston, who graduated from Ballou in 1997, doesn’t support the high school name change.

“Ballou has a history with that name,” Goldston, who lives across the street from the school, said. “Marion Barry did a lot for the city as a whole and he should be remembered for something bigger than just a high school.”

Christopher Barry, a member of the commission commemorating his late father, is circulating a petition and is active on social media promoting the name change. Barry, who ran and lost in the April 2015 special election to take his father’s council seat, said that Ballou isn’t a name that a predominantly Black high school should have.

“Who was Frank W. Ballou? Christopher Barry asks rhetorically. “What I have heard is that he was a segregationist and didn’t believe in Black education.”

Ballou served as the superintendent of the D.C. public schools from 1920-1943 when racially segregated schools were District law. Ballou Senior High School was opened in 1960 when the Congress Heights neighborhood in which it sits was predominantly White. Christopher Barry said that “Barry High School” would be one of the few landmarks for Blacks in the city.

An anti-name change group held a public meeting at Ballou on Feb. 18. Isabelle Jenkins, a longtime D.C. resident tried to attend the meeting but when she revealed that she supported the name change, she was told by an organizer that she shouldn’t participate.

Jenkins exploded in indignation. “Who do they want to name the school after, George Wallace or Bull Conner?" Jenkins told the AFRO. “Heck, Marion Barry has done so much for this city that I think the White House should be named after him....Barry helped to secure funds for the re-building of this school. Without his intervention, the students and faculty wouldn’t have this nice shiny building to come to every day.”

Karen Lucas, a leader in the anti-name change group and a 1988 Ballou alumnus, suggested another high school be named in honor of Barry. “The new Empowering Males High School should be named for him,” Lucas said, speaking of the all-male public secondary institution that will open in the fall in Ward 7.

D.C. Council member LaRuby May (D-Ward 8) hasn’t commented publicly about the name change but her chief opponent, former Ward 8 State Board of Education member Trayon White, is a 2002 graduate of Ballou and supports the name change.

Bowser will make the decision on the school’s name change and the D.C. Council must vote to approve or disapprove it.

“Mayor Bowser hasn’t set up a definite date on deciding on the Barry Commission’s recommendations,” said LaToya Foster, Bowser’s senior communications officer. “The mayor is committed to honoring Mr. Barry in a way that symbolizes his great accomplishments and contributions to the city.” 

Feb. 28, 2016

The Zika Virus: What You Need to Know
By Amy Pope

President Barack Obama convenes a meeting on the Zika virus in the Situation Room of the White House. PHOTO: Pete Souza/White House

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - If you've been thinking about traveling to warmer climates or have been catching a few news stories, you may have heard about something called the Zika virus - a disease spread primarily through mosquito bites.

Zika causes mild illness in some, however, we are closely tracking and responding to recent outbreaks of this virus because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued reports that indicate Zika may be linked to serious birth defects in babies of mothers who were infected with this virus while pregnant.

While this virus is not new, it is new to the Americas. The first case was reported in Brazil just last spring. Since that time, it has spread through South and Central America, and the Caribbean. No locally transmitted Zika cases from mosquitoes have been reported in the continental U.S., but cases have been reported in travelers returning from areas where Zika is present. As Zika continues to spread in our region, the number of cases among travelers visiting or returning to the U.S. is likely to increase.

In addition to serving as part of the President’s national security team, I am also a mom. I personally know how important it is to have all of the information you need to keep yourself and your family healthy and safe. There is still much we don’t know about this virus but we’re learning more every day. To help keep you up-to-date as we learn more, we have all the latest updates you need in one place: www.cdc.gov/Zika.

Meanwhile, here are a few answers to questions many Americans may have about the virus, how it spreads, and who is at risk.:

What is the Zika virus?

The Zika virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. These are the same mosquitoes that spread other viruses like dengue and chikungunya. Only about one in five people infected with the Zika virus will feel sick. In those that do, symptoms are usually mild and can include fever, rash, joint pain and red eye.

How is the President working with local leaders to combat Zika?

Since late last year, President Obama has directed his public health and national security teams to closely track and aggressively respond to the threat of Zika virus at home and abroad.  Zika virus is primarily transmitted by mosquito bites, primarily from the infected Aedes aegypti mosquito.  And while for most people, a Zika infection is not life-threatening, for women who are infected while pregnant, there are reports of serious birth defects and other poor pregnancy outcomes associated with the infection.  

While we haven’t seen Zika transmission by mosquitos in the continental United States, we have seen transmission in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, in addition to cases reported in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands.  And we know that this particular mosquito lives in certain parts of the southern United States, so we must prepare as the seasons change and weather gets warmer.

The President recently met with governors from each state and announced the formation of a coalition of experts and federal, state, and local leaders to combat the spread of Zika by attacking the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.  

As the President said, we all have to remain vigilant when it comes to combatting the spread of diseases like Zika. We are going to make sure that each at-risk state – particularly those in the South – has the resources to do so.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will host a summit of nation-wide leaders designated by governors to make sure the best information and practices for addressing Zika are reaching local communities across the country.

This broad coalition will create action plans to empower communities by providing resources to:

1. Understand Zika’s transmission and identify at-risk communities;

2. Rapidly detect the spread of Zika and respond to cases;

3. Provide clear, timely public information on the effects and spread of Zika.

This is not the first time that communities have responded to infections transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.  We have a strong history of success in managing the spread of similar viruses – like Dengue - but we need to work together with governors and local leaders, who have a proven track record in providing real solutions.  Governors, mayors, and community leaders get things done, and we can – and must - learn from each other.  

We’re asking each governor to designate a senior representative to join our coalition and help us ensure state and local health officials have all of the tools and information available to them to combat this mosquito and protect our communities.  The solutions range from simple things – like motivating communities to pick up trash that mosquitos can use as breeding grounds or using screens to prevent mosquitos from entering the house – to more sophisticated solutions on the cutting edge of science. 

To make sure that communities have the resources they need to minimize local transmission of Zika and that other countries affected by or at risk from Zika have the support they need to combat it, the President submitted a proposal to Congress requesting approximately $1.9 billion in emergency funding.  In addition to supporting local responses to threat here and abroad, emergency funds will support an acceleration of research and development on vaccines, therapies, and improved diagnostics as well as on advanced approaches to mosquito control.

President Obama is calling on Congress to fight the Zika virus

How is Zika transmitted?

Zika is primarily spread to people through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy, though we do not know how often that transmission occurs. Check out this link for some general information on transmission and other important resources.

There is also evidence that the Zika virus can be sexually transmitted by a man to his partners. At this time, however, there is no evidence that women can transmit the Zika virus to their sex partners. You can learn more about the Zika virus and guidance to avoid sexual transmission here.

Where are people contracting Zika?

People are contracting Zika in areas where Aedes mosquitoes are present, which include South America, Central America and the Caribbean. As the CDC notes, specific areas where the Zika virus is being transmitted are likely to change over time, so please check here for the most updated information.

Who is at risk of being infected?

Anyone who is living in or traveling to an area where the virus is found is at risk for infection.

Why are there specific recommendations for pregnant women?

There may be a link between a serious birth defect called microcephaly - a condition in which a baby's head is smaller than expected - and other poor pregnancy outcomes and a Zika infection in a mother during pregnancy. While the link between Zika and these outcomes is being investigated the CDC recommends that you take special precautions if you fall into one of these groups:

• If you are pregnant (in any trimester):  You should consider postponing travel to any area where the Zika virus is active.
• If you must travel to an active region, talk to your doctor first and follow the steps to prevent mosquito bites during your trip.
• If you are trying to become pregnant, before you travel, talk to your doctor about your plans to become pregnant and the risks posed from infection.

If you fall into one of these groups, the CDC has provided thorough information on what you should do here.

What can I do to prevent a Zika infection?

Right now, there is no vaccine to prevent this disease. The best way to prevent diseases by mosquitoes is to protect yourself from getting bitten.

Here’s how:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window, door screens, and netting to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. All EPA-registered insect repellents are evaluated for safety and effectiveness.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated items.
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

Should we be concerned about Zika in the United States?

The U.S. mainland does have Aedes species mosquitoes that can become infected with and spread Zika virus. U.S. travelers who visit a country where Zika is found could become infected if bitten by a mosquito.

With the recent outbreaks in the Americas, the number of Zika virus disease cases among travelers visiting or returning to the United States will likely increase. These imported cases may result in local spread of the virus in some areas of the United States. CDC has been monitoring these epidemics and is prepared to address cases imported into the United States and cases transmitted locally.

What is the President doing to help combat and control the spread of the Zika virus?

The President recently met with CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden and his other health and national security advisors to discuss the potential spread of the Zika virus in the U.S.

He emphasized the need to accelerate research efforts to make available diagnostic tests, to develop vaccines and therapeutics, and to ensure that all Americans have information about the Zika virus and steps they can take to better protect themselves.

The President recently met with CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden and his other health and national security advisors to discuss the rapid spread of Zika virus in the Americas. He emphasized the need to accelerate research efforts to make available diagnostic tests, to develop vaccines and therapeutics, and to ensure that all Americans have information about the Zika virus and steps they can take to better protect themselves.

So, President Obama has requested Congress to help combat this disease by providing $1.8 billion in emergency funding to build on our ongoing efforts. Specifically, we’d use the requested resources to rapidly expand mosquito control programs, accelerate vaccine research and diagnostic development, enable testing and procurement of vaccines and diagnostics, educate health care providers, pregnant women and their partners, improve epidemiology and expand laboratory testing capacity, improve health services and support for low-income pregnant women, and enhance the ability of Zika-affected countries to better combat mosquitoes and control transmission.

Amy Pope is Deputy Assistant to President Obama for Homeland Security.

Feb. 28, 2016

During This Election Season, Black Political Power Still Not Fully Realized 
By Jennifer L. Patin

NEWS ANALYSIS

Attribution: Dr. Megan A. Gall, @DocGallJr

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Some will reflect on 2015 as a year of renewed civil rights mobilization. Whether catalyzed by the loss of Black lives, restrictive state voting laws challenged in court by black voters and their advocates, or the golden anniversaries of Bloody Sunday and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, many of this nation’s Black communities demonstrated deep dissatisfaction with how poorly institutions and elected leaders are representing their interests.

This is not new. Black Americans share a history of organizing to advocate for their rights. Yet more than 50 years have passed since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously declared that “we can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote,” and too many African-Americans continue to question whether or not they should vote.

Here is the blunt truth: a voter who sits on the sideline of any election—whether a local school board race or a major presidential race—forfeits their single best opportunity to put a candidate who represents their interests in a position to make key decisions.

Diversity among state-level officials—not just diversity of race, but of experience, background, interests, and priorities—is critically important. A more diverse body of elected officials is likely to expand the pool of perspectives influencing state-level decisions, even if it does not guarantee immediate societal changes.

Local elected officials directly impact the everyday lives of those in the Black communities they serve, yet minorities are underrepresented in state-level offices. For example, the majority of states have an attorney general who influences law enforcement priorities and a secretary of state who is the primary official in charge of elections. Data from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies show there were only three Black attorneys general and three Black secretaries of state elected between 1995 and 2013. In states where the elected governor appoints those officials, there were none.

However, the lone Black governor elected during the same eight-year period—Massachusetts’ Deval Patrick—appointed more than 200 Black officials to various state-level positions, bringing unprecedented diversity to the Massachusetts government, in a state where just 7.8 percent of the population is Black according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

Meanwhile, in Florida, a state where 17 percent of the population is Black, more than 20 percent of the Black voting-age population disenfranchised because of policy changes supported by Attorney General Pam Bondi that make it harder for Floridians with previous felony convictions to restore their voting rights. Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted cut the state’s early voting schedule in 2014, even after census data showed Black voters in Ohio voted early at significantly higher rates than White voters during the past two presidential elections.

Still Blacks overall do not vote at the same rate as the White majority. Many factors contribute to this disparity: strict photo identification laws, cuts to early voting, and felony disenfranchisement, among others. These barriers undoubtedly make it harder to vote, but they only tell part of the story.

Census data analyzed by Dr. Megan A. Gall of the Lawyers’ Committee found that in the 2014 election, only 21 percent of the Black population reported voting. Of those who did not vote, more than 20 percent said that their vote would not make a difference, and another 37 percent said they were too busy to vote.

To honor the legacy and sacrifices of Dr. King, and of so many other heroes who gave their lives to secure the franchise for African-Americans, voters today should take every opportunity to exercise their fundamental right to the ballot. Just imagine the impact if voters mobilized for every election the way they did in 2008 and 2012, when Black voters elected and re-elected their overwhelming candidate of choice to the nation’s highest office. Through increased turnout, Black voters specifically can prove that one’s vote, from a small municipal election to a major presidential race, matters.

Jennifer L. Patin is a researcher/writer for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law works to address restrictions on voters’ access to the polls—burdens that have increased since the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder. In addition to litigation, the Lawyers’ Committee operates the nationwide nonpartisan Election Protection 866-OUR-VOTE hotline, which helps voters cast ballots that count.

Feb. 28, 2016

CIAA Legend to Be Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Richmond Free Press

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Abraham “Ham” Mitchell has wowed audiences at the CIAA Basketball Tournament for more than four decades with his dazzling attire, engaging personality and stylish strut.

Known as “Mr. CIAA,” he has entertained thousands of appreciative fans with the dapper tailor-made suits he wears during games that often reflect the official colors of the teams playing at the time on the basketball court.

Appreciative of his efforts to brighten the annual tournament’s atmosphere, the CIAA is honoring the Suffolk native at the tournament in Charlotte, N.C., by inducting him into the John B. McLendon Jr. Hall of Fame.

Mitchell was one of 10 inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame. He will join a prestigious group of 264 mostly athletes and coaches who have been inducted since the first class in 1967.

“I’m surprised, shocked and honored,” Mitchell told the Richmond Free Press.

He and the 2016 inductees were recognized during halftime of the CIAA men’s championship game Feb. 27 at the Time Warner Cable Arena.

“They told me they’re presenting me with a plaque,” Mitchell said.

Asked what he plans to wear during the halftime ceremony, he said, “I’ve got something they’ve never seen. I’ve been working on it for a while. It’s going to be an eye catcher. I have gold shoes, a gold hat, a white suit and a white and gold necktie with sequins.”

He said he chose the colors because they are neutral to all the participating CIAA schools.

Mitchell said he first learned of his Hall of Fame selection in a Dec. 31 letter from the CIAA.

“I had no idea it was coming,” he said. “It makes me really happy.”

CIAA officials no doubt see it as a fitting reward for the man who has made so many others happy with his stunning array of suits and flamboyant style.

Mitchell, who politely declined to provide his age, said he first started dressing to the nines for games in 1971, when his nephew, Peter Mitchell, played at Norfolk State University. He said he started by wearing a shirt and tie bearing Norfolk State’s colors of green and gold. Later, he decided, to take it up another notch by changing clothes at halftime to bear the colors of the opposing team.

Now, Mitchell said, “I sometimes do eight” changes of clothes in a given day at the CIAA Tournament. No longer does he have to run into bathrooms to dress and re-dress. He said CIAA officials now provide him with his own dressing room.

He credits his ability “to glide” up and down the steps at the arena for helping him make the quick changes. “I also watch the game clock so I’ll know when my next change of clothes will be.”

During games, he poses for photographs with fans, signs autographs and smiles and waves to just about anyone he sees.

Among his countless warm tournament recollections, Mitchell said one fan who had traveled from Paris for the tournament said she made it a point to meet him because she had heard so much about him. He said he also “makes it a point” to go to a special section at the arena where senior citizens are seated.

“I also love it when the young children come looking for me,” he said of his quest to entertain others. “I usually give them a treat of some type when they come up to see me.”

The former drum major at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk learned how to sew from his mother, a seamstress. He tailors most of the clothes that he wears. Other clothes, he’ll buy, he said, when he travels to places such as New York City or Boston.

Mitchell is now retired from Crocker Funeral Home in Suffolk, where he worked in a public relations capacity for many years.

He said fans occasionally will ask him when he plans to retire as “Mr. CIAA.” But so many other fans, he said, make it clear they want to see him perform his fashion magic at the following year’s tournament. And, so, he returns year after year.

He said, “This is something I’ve enjoyed doing."