Florida’s first African American Guardsman continues service in community

Grandson carries on family tradition of National Guard service By Staff Sgt. Blair Heusdens Florida National Guard Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., (Feb. 23, 2011) – It was 1963. Northeast Florida was center stage of the Civil Rights Movement. Protests, marches and riots – some peaceful, some violent – marked a period of resistance from segregation and movement toward equal rights in America.

Amidst the racial tension, James Solomon Bryant, an African American postal worker from Jacksonville, Fla., became the first African American to enlist in the Florida National Guard in October 1963. Bryant remembers feeling proud as he walked down the streets of downtown Jacksonville in uniform for his first drill at the Maxwell C. Synder Armory, located on the corner of Market and State Streets.

“When it was announced that I was the first black Guardsman, people would look at me like, ‘What? Him?’” remembers Bryant. “It was an accomplishment, you can imagine. We just thought of the armory as some place of socializing, but it was the headquarters that controlled the first line of defense; and you’re a part of it.”

Bryant served in the Air Force during the Korean War, before returning in 1953 to North Florida to find a job as a postal worker. The opportunity to join the Florida National Guard came from a co-worker at the post office, a second lieutenant in the 55th Command Headquarters. He mentioned to Bryant that he was interested in getting an African American into the National Guard. Bryant, though unwilling at first after nearly 10 years out of the service, decided to give it a go.

Pride of service

Bryant remembers taking his physical and the oath of enlistment into the Florida National Guard in the evening so as not to draw too much attention. His aptitude tests indicated he had mechanical abilities. A slot was available in the motor pool section of the 55th Command Headquarters, so Bryant came into the Florida National Guard as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic.

“I grew up around trucks, so it wasn’t anything I hadn’t done as far as changing tires, working on engines and transmissions,” said Bryant. “I was not a novice to that.”

Bryant served four years in the Florida National Guard. During that time, he had the opportunity to serve on state active duty during Hurricane Dora in 1964 by providing a generator to power a local school. He was also on active duty during the 1964 race riots in Jacksonville, pulling duty at the armory where rioters were held. Bryant was also chosen for the honor of driving Governor Kirk and Generals Ballard and Simmons for a review of the troops during Kirk’s gubernatorial inauguration in 1967.

During annual training at Fort Stewart, Ga., in 1966 Bryant received top marks and praise from reviewers while serving as the chief of the unit’s motor section. The report states that, “Specialist 5 Bryant of Maintenance was in charge and is very capable, a definite credit to the unit.”

“In the motor pool, we just prided ourselves because we wanted our vehicles to look top-notch,” said Bryant. “The deuce and a half had to hum right. We tuned them to perfection and they recognized that.”

Bryant said there were some problems because of his race, but, for the most part, he got along well with his fellow Soldiers.

“I look at it as God-given, how you treat people,” said Bryant. “Because I came not as a novice, I came as a citizen; I came as a married person; I came as a deacon; I came as a valued employee with the postal service. So a combination of skills that were God given – just being able to treat people right – endeared me to them and we got along good.”

After leaving the Florida National Guard, Bryant became more involved with the post office and received his introduction into postal management when he became the first black assistant safety officer in 1971. He continued to advance in leadership positions throughout his 35-year postal career before retiring in 1988.

“God’s Men”

Bryant took the values he learned in the military, along with his concern for people, and put them into service within the Jacksonville community. He was ordained as a deacon at the Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Jacksonville in 1958. Through the church he became involved in local politics, where he had the opportunity to meet and interact with many different people within the community.

“God called me into ministry, not as a pastor of a church, he just simply spoke to me early one morning,” said Bryant. “He said, ‘God’s men,’ very audible. He gave me direction of what he wanted, which is to make men of caliber – not in the limelight or spotlight – just men.”

Bryant assembled a group of approximately 20 men to make a difference in the community. He believed that good men of character from all walks of life could have a positive impact in the Jacksonville area.

“I told them this, ‘I don’t care who you are; you leave that at the door, because now we are all men of equal ground. We are able to do things for people God’s way,’” said Bryant.

Bryant is involved in several projects within the Jacksonville community through his ministries. He works closely with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Advisory Council, which encourages partnerships between law enforcement and the community. Bryant also helps ex-offenders who are coming out of the prison system and works closely with the Baker County Correctional Facility. This past Christmas, Bryant and his peers helped 63 local children through the Angel Tree program.

“We look at religion as a blessing,” said Bryant. “Not because of title or prominence, but to be able to do something for people and keep that common touch.”

Family ties

As the eldest of six children, family has always been very important to Bryant. His large family includes four children (one who died in 2000), seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Patriotism and sense of service are evident in the military tradition within his family. Bryant’s son, the late James S. Bryant, III, served in the Florida National Guard and one of his grandsons, Sgt. Douglas Bryant, currently serves in the Florida National Guard as an information technology specialist.

“When I was younger, I used to visit Camp Blanding,” said Douglas. “My grandfather would take me out there and show me around a little bit and he gave me the story along the way about him being the first black national guardsman.”

Like many, the youngest Bryant saw the benefits that the Guard offered for education, but has come to appreciate the impact the National Guard has had upon his family and the opportunities that are available to him.

“As I started going through the day-to-day operations of the Guard and as I went through school, it allowed me to find a career within the Guard,” said Douglas.

With a degree under his belt, Douglas is focused on the future, a future he sees with the Florida National Guard. One of his goals is to become a warrant officer.

“I want to be the first officer in the family,” said Douglas. “Being a trailblazer; it’s kind of hard to picture yourself doing that; because nobody before me has done that. I not only want to make myself proud, but also my family and my country. I want to try to make some more first time-type history within the family.”

The eldest Bryant doesn’t regret his military service and carries an immense amount of pride in his accomplishments and service.

“It gave me an opportunity to really know how to transition from civilian to military at a phone call,” Bryant said. “I call it ‘Operation Ready.’ You become the state’s first defender. You never forget that ever that you’ve sworn the duty.”

Although his military service was groundbreaking, Bryant’s service to the Jacksonville community has been with less display but is no less important. A self-professed workaholic, Bryant plans to continue to work to make a positive difference in the Jacksonville community.

“There are so many good programs to keep our young people involved,” said Bryant. “We take pleasure in sharing what’s happening in Jacksonville. We have a cross section of things that we’re doing; we’re not making a big splash, just doing it.” ###

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: Florida National Guard Public Affairs

Submariners Recognized as Black Engineer Award Winners

By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Five submariners were recognized at the 2011 Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 19.

Rear Adm. Bruce E. Grooms, Lt. Cmdr. James Mahoney, Lt. Michael Paisant, Lt. Thomas Dotstry and Lt. j.g. Cameron Lindsay were all recognized at the awards ceremony for demonstrated technology leadership contributions within the African-American community.

Two award competitions are held annually for BEYA recognition, one for Professional and Career Achievement, and one for the organization's Modern Day Technology Leaders. Sponsored by the Career Communications Group, the BEYA awards program recognize men and women from around the country who demonstrate outstanding performance in a technical field and show great potential for shaping the future course of science, technology, engineering and math.

Grooms was recognized for with the award for Professional Achievement in Government. This award is presented to a highly professional past the midpoint of their career which signifies achievements in government as a role model and leader for other minorities.

110218-N-ZB612-090 WASHINGTON (Feb. 18, 2011) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead delivers the keynote address at the 2011 Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) Stars and Stripes dinner. The event is part of the BEYA Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Global Competitiveness Conference. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst/Released)

Grooms is currently assigned as the Assistant Deputy, Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5B) on the Chief of Naval Operations staff in Washington, D.C. Mahoney, Paisant, Dostry and Cameron were recognized as Modern Day Technology Leaders. Mahoney, a native of Sumter, S.C., is currently assigned as deputy assistant chief of staff for Resources and Requirements for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain; Paisant, an Atlanta native, is currently assigned as navigator and operations officer aboard Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Montpelier (SSN 765); Dotstry, a native of Newport News, Va., is currently assigned as admissions advisor at the U.S. Naval Academy; and Lindsay, a Kernersville, N.C. native, is currently assigned as assistant engineer, sonar officer, and dive division officer on Virginia-class attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Capt. Richard R. Bryant was also announced as a recipient of the Professional Achievement in Government award and will be recognized as the 14th recipient of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Golden Torch Award for Lifetime Achievement in Government at the 37th Annual NSBE Conference in St. Louis March 26.

"I am very humbled, and internally pleased to be recognized for this award," said Bryant. "Just to be considered is an immense honor, but to be selected is something more touching. I am glad that I am able to bring the message about the Navy's nuclear propulsion program to some who do not understand the program and may not have the opportunity to see it. It is a challenge to maintain a diverse work force in the Navy's nuclear program, because individuals who qualify for nuclear engineering are certainly qualified for other civilian occupations."

"It is poignant and very spiritual for me to receive this award in my hometown of St. Louis, because I grew up in the rough section of Kinlock and not many nuclear engineers come from there," continued Bryant. "Presentation of the award there sends a strong message that hard work and determination can be springboards to future success. Once again, I am extremely humbled by my selection, and having known previous recipients, it is tough for me to realize I belong in their company."

NSBE is the premier organization serving African-Americans in engineering and technology, and are the link between the African-American community and the world of technology. The Golden Torch Awards link the accomplishments of distinguished African-American engineers and technical professionals with college bound dreams of pre-college students.

Bryant is currently the Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Chairman's Action Group at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. He will soon assume command of Commander, Submarine Squadron Three in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/sublant/.

Randall Kenan will be the 2010-11 Sturm Writer-in-Residence at WVU

Randall Kenan, an award-winning author and professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been chosen as the 2010-11 Sturm Writer in Residence at West Virginia University.

Kenan will read at 7:30 p.m. Monday (March 7) in the Gold Ballroom in the Mountainlair. In addition to this public reading, Kenan will work with 12 WVU creative writing students for the remainder of the week.

Randall Kenan is the author of “Let the Dead Bury Their Dead,” a collection of short stories published in 1992 by Harcourt, Brace. It was nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Award for Fiction, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and was among The New York Times Notable Books of 1992. He is also the author of “A Visitation of Spirits,” a novel published by Grove Press in 1989; a young adult biography of James Baldwin published in 1993; and “The Fire This Time,” a work of nonfiction, published in July 2007. He wrote the text for Norman Mauskoff’s book of photographs, “A Time Not Here: The Mississippi Delta” (1997). “Walking on Water: Black American Lives at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century” was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1999, and was nominated for the Southern Book Award.

“We are extraordinarily fortunate to have Randall Kenan come to WVU as our Sturm Writer-in-Residence,” said Mark Brazaitis, associate professor of English and the director of the Creative Writing Program. “He is a superb craftsman who writes beautifully in a number of genres. I also understand he is a mesmerizing reader of his work.” From 1985 to 1989, Kenan worked on the editorial staff of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. In 1989 he began teaching writing at Sarah Lawrence College and Columbia University. He was the first William Blackburn Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at Duke University in the fall of 1994, and the Edourd Morot-Sir Visiting Professor of Creating Writing at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1995.

He was the John and Renee Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi, Oxford, Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Memphis, and held the Lehman Brady Professorship at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. He has also taught urban literature at Vassar College.

He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Writers Award, the Sherwood Anderson Award, the John Dos Passos Award and was the 1997 Rome Prize winner from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was awarded the North Carolina Award for Literature in 2005.

Students are selected for the Sturm Workshop on the basis of a campus-wide writing competition. Any student may submit a sample of writing for consideration. Those selected are among the University’s finest creative writers.

The reading, which will be followed by a reception and book signing, is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Mark Brazaitis, director of Creative Writing, at (304) 293-9707. Mark.Brazaitis@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Rebecca Herod, Marketing and Communications Coordinator 304-293-7405, ext. 5251, Rebecca.Herod@mail.wvu.edu

University Relations 48 Donley St. 4th Floor, Marina Tower P.O. Box 6688 Morgantown, WV 26506-6688 Email: John Bolt Phone: 304-293-6997

IMAGE CREDIT: Department of English and Comparative Literature Greenlaw Hall, CB #3520 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3520 phone: (919) 962-5481 | fax: (919) 962-3520

Black-Owned Businesses Grow at Triple the National Rate

February is Black History Month, a time when our nation celebrates the contributions of people of African-American heritage.

It’s also an appropriate time to acknowledge the growing impact the black community has had on our nation’s economy.

Data released today from the 2007 Survey of Business Owners (SBO) highlight black-owned businesses and their growing numbers since 2002.

What’s exciting about the new SBO data is that it gives us a complete look at black-owned businesses (including industries and size of business), insight that we have not had since the last statistics were released from the 2002 survey. So what do these new data show us about black-owned businesses?

Between 2002 and 2007, the number of black-owned businesses increased on a rapidly upward track (60 percent), more than triple the national rate (18 percent) to 1.9 million businesses. The data show that, in terms of sheer number, black-owned businesses are one of the fastest growing segments of our economy.

Map of Black Owned Businesses

In addition, black-owned businesses’ revenue increased to $137.5 billion (a 55 percent increase) between 2002 and 2007. These businesses employed 921,032 workers in 2007 (an increase of 22 percent from 2002) and their payrolls totaled $23.9 billion (an increase of 36 percent). According to the data, nearly four in ten black-owned businesses operated in health care and social assistance; and repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services.

The SBO survey does much more than give us a complete picture of black-owned businesses nationally. It also provides us with a detailed look of black-owned businesses by smaller geographic areas, including cities, counties and metro areas.

For more information on black-owned business in your area, Survey of Business Owners (SBO).

Harvard Professor Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham to Lecture on African American History at Adelphi University on February 23

Adelphi University is pleased to host Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham as she delivers the John Hope Franklin Distinguished Lecture “From Slavery to Freedom and the Legacy of John Hope Franklin: A Tribute.” The event will take place on Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in the Ruth S. Harley University Center’s Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY. The annual distinguished lecture, which pays homage to the great African American culture and history scholar, John Hope Franklin, who first delivered the lecture in 1996, is sponsored by The Center for African, Black, and Caribbean Studies and the John Hope Franklin Distinguished Lecture Series. The event is part of Adelphi’s Black History Month celebration.

Dr. Higginbotham is the Victor S. Thomas professor of history at Harvard University, as well as the chair of the African and African American Studies Department at the school. This year, she was invited to be the first John Hope Franklin Professor of American Legal History at the Duke University Law School. She also served as acting director of Harvard’s W.E.B. Du Bois Institute in spring 2008.

Dr. Higginbotham has revised and re-written the classic African American history survey, From Slavery to Freedom, and co-authored the book’s latest edition with the late John Hope Franklin. She also co-edited the African American National Biography with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., was editor-in-chief of The Harvard Guide to African-American History, and authored Righteous Discontent: The Women's Movement in the Black Baptist Church: 1880-1920, among numerous other works and accomplishments.

Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham

Her accolades include induction into the American Philosophical Society for promoting useful knowledge, the 2008 Carter G. Woodson Scholars Medallion from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, and the 2008 Legend Award from the Urban League, among others. In March 2005, she made the AOL Black Voices’ list of “Top 10 Black Women in Higher Education.” In April 2003 she was chosen by Harvard University to be a Walter Channing Cabot Fellow in recognition of her achievements and scholarly eminence in the field of history. Professor Higginbotham earned a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in American History, an M.A. from Howard University, and her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Before coming to Harvard, she taught on the full-time faculties of Dartmouth, the University of Maryland, and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she was a visiting professor at Princeton University and New York University.

For more information about this and other events on campus, please visit adelphi.edu, or call the Cultural Events Hotline at 516.877.4555.

About Adelphi University: Adelphi is a world class, modern university with excellent and highly relevant programs where students prepare for lives of active citizenship and professional careers. Through its schools and programs—The College of Arts and Sciences, Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Honors College, Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, and the Schools of Business, Nursing, and Social Work—the co-educational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults.

Adelphi University currently enrolls nearly 8,000 students from 41 states and 60 foreign countries. With its main campus in Garden City and centers in Manhattan, Hauppauge, and Poughkeepsie, the University, chartered in 1896, maintains a commitment to liberal studies in tandem with rigorous professional preparation and active citizenship.

Media Contact: For additional information, please contact: Kali Chan Director of Media Relations p - 516.877.4040 f - 516.877.3266 e - chan@adelphi.edu

Texas Tech Celebrates Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and Texas Tech University’s history department is commemorating with faculty-led talks, film screenings and panel discussions, one of which honors 25 years of celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.

Black History Month is an annual celebration recognizing the achievements and momentous role that African-Americans have and continue to contribute to U.S. history.

Barton Myers, history professor and Civil War historian, said the history department has been trying to put together a series of talks and panel discussions for Black History Month over the past few years, and it finally came together this year.

“It’s always been my opinion that as Americans we own all of American history,” Myers said, “both the good and the bad.”

Myers said he thinks it is wonderful that Texas Tech is hosting events to celebrate Black History Month, and it is important to highlight the role of minority communities in American history.

Barton A. Myers

“As a Civil War historian,” Myers said, “I think it is fundamental to study African-American history.” Myers said it is important not to only look back at 20th century black history and the Civil Rights movement, but also to go as far back as the 18th and 19th centuries. Myers led a brown bag lunch and discussion that covered a wide range of black history, but specifically examined black military resistance to the Confederacy during the Civil War. He said approximately 180,000 African-American soldiers aided the Union Army to victory, which was pivotal to American history.

Written by Audrey Rickel Contact: Barton Myers, history professor and Civil War historian, Texas Tech University, barton.myers@ttu.edu, or (806) 742-3744

Preaching with Power: A Forum on Black Preaching and Theology

Preaching with Power: A Forum on Black Preaching and Theology returns to Philadelphia for the 29th year from Sunday, March 6 through Thursday, March 10. Preaching with Power is a program of the Urban Theological Institute (UTI) of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP), and features five sermons and one lecture by six distinguished African American preachers and theologians, along with an Ash Wednesday service with preaching by seminary professor the Rev. Dr. Charles Leonard.

Local churches in the Philadelphia community host the evening worship services, plus the lecture and music celebration held on the LTSP campus in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. All are welcome! Come and be inspired! The worship offering proceeds go to The Rev. Dr. Joseph Q. Jackson Endowed Scholarship Fund, which benefits UTI students.

Dates and preachers/programs for 2011 are:

Sunday – March 6, 2011, 6:00 pm, The Rev. Dr. William H. Curtis preaching at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2800 West Cheltenham Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19150

The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.

Monday – March 7, 2011, 7:30 pm, The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preaching at Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, 25 West Johnson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144 Tuesday morning – March 8, 2011, 11:30 am, Dr. Anthea D. Butler lecturing at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Benbow Hall, The Brossman Center, 7301 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119 Tuesday evening – March 8, 2011, 7:30 pm, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Mt. Pisgah AME Church, 428 North 41st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Wednesday morning – March 9, 2011, 11:30 am, Ash Wednesday: Word and Sacrament service, Schaeffer-Ashmead Chapel, LTSP Campus, 7301 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119

Wednesday evening – March 9, 2011, 6:30 pm (note earlier time), The Rev. Dr. Loran E. Mann preaching at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ, 6401 Ogontz Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19126

Thursday – March 10, 2011, 7:30 pm, The Rev. Dr. Kevin Dudley preaching at Reformation Lutheran Church, 1215 East Vernon Road, Philadelphia, PA 19150

The week concludes with a Prospective Student Day on Saturday, March 12 starting at 8:30 am on the LTSP campus. Is God calling you? Come and See what is available for you at LTSP!

For more information on Preaching with Power, including venue directions and preacher profiles, and to register for Prospective Student Day, go to the seminary Web site: www.Ltsp.edu.

About the UTI: The Urban Theological Institute (UTI) of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, celebrating 30 years, is dedicated to providing theological education to church leaders that is relevant and upbuilding for the African American community. The UTI sponsors Preaching with Power, a series of public lectures and several certificate programs for lay church leasers, as well as academic programs to prepare MDiv, MAR and DMin credentialed leaders for the black church. UTI Director The Rev. Dr. Quintin Robertson can be reached at qrobertson@Ltsp.edu or call 215-248-7324.

About LTSP: One of eight seminaries certified by the 4.6-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), LTSP (www.Ltsp.edu) has prepared well over 4,000 church leaders during its history. The school has been located on its Mt. Airy campus in Philadelphia since 1888 and has embraced seminarians from some 30 Christian traditions. Its 30-year-old Urban Theological Institute has prepared scores of African American leaders for church service in the Greater Philadelphia area.

John Kahler Director of Communications The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia 7301 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19119 215-248-6397 fax 215-248-4577 jkahler@ltsp.edu

For Immediate Release For more information please contact: John Kahler, Seminary Communications, communications@ltsp.edu, 215-248-6397

GRAMMY-WINNING GROUP SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK PERFORMS AT OTTERBEIN

Westerville, OH—The Otterbein University Signature Series will host a performance by the Grammy Award-winning a cappella ensemble, Sweet Honey in the Rock, at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 11, in the Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St. This event is free and open to the public. Free tickets must be picked up in advance at the Campus Center Office, 100 W. Home St., between 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There will be a limit of two tickets per person. For more information, call (614) 823-3202.

Founded in 1973 at the D.C. Black Repertory Theater Company, Sweet Honey in the Rock is an ensemble of six African American women internationally known for their a cappella sounds of blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, hip hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz improvisation.

Called “a national treasure” by First Lady Michelle Obama, Sweet Honey has performed at the White House and prestigious venues across the country. Audiences can see them at Otterbein before their upcoming performances at the Rose Center in New York as part of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Symphony Hall in Boston as part of the Celebrity Series, and Carnegie Hall in New York as part of the Around the Globe Series.

White House photos 2/18/09 by Joyce N. Boghosian.

Sweet Honey won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Recording in 1989 for their version of Leadbelly’s Grey Goose and have been nominated for several other Grammy Awards, including one in 2008 for their latest release, Experience…101. They have been featured on NPR, PBS, and the Ken Burns epic documentary, The Civil War. For more information, or to listen to samples of their work, visit www.sweethoney.com.

The Otterbein University Signature Series was created to bring national and international artists and lecturers to Otterbein to share their experiences with Otterbein students, faculty and staff and the general public. The presenters also teach classes and interact with students and faculty during their visits. The Signature Series has previously featured renowned photographer Joel Meyerowitz and his exhibition of art from Ground Zero, a performance of the musical piece On the Transmigration of Souls by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams, independent filmmaker Gus Van Sant, and a performance by Grammy Award-winning musician Branford Marsalis featuring guest soloist Ellis Marsalis.

Otterbein University

Poets Gary Jackson and Yusef Komunyakaa headline NOMMO African American Authors Series

What: Seventh annual NOMMO African American Authors Series
Who: Poets Gary Jackson and Yusef Komunyakaa
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24
Where: Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Center, University of Minnesota West Bank campus, 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis
Tickets: $15. Complimentary tickets available to U of M students and Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Call (612) 624-2345 or visit www.tickets.umn.edu

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (02/15/2011) —Gary Jackson and Yusef Komunyakaa will appear at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, in Hubert H. Humphrey Center, 301 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis, on the university’s West Bank. Both Jackson and Komunyakaa will read from and discuss their works with series host Alexs Pate, University of Minnesota professor and author of the novel "Amistad."

The event is part of the annual NOMMO African American Authors Series. This is the fourth year the series has been co-presented by the Givens Foundation for African American Literature and the University of Minnesota Libraries. Additional sponsors for this event are the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center, (www.uroc.umn.edu), Cave Canem (www.cavecanempoets.org) and Graywolf Press (www.graywolfpress.org).

Gary Jackson and Yusef Komunyakaa will headline NOMMO African American Authors series with host Alexs Pate, University of Minnesota professor and author of the novel "Amistad."

"Nommo" is a Dogon word meaning "the magic power of the word." "Too many vital African American writers, and I count myself among them, find our work sprouting shallow roots on the periphery of public awareness," Pate says. "My conversations with these authors present rare opportunities to publicly define the state of the art of African American literature and to locate our work and contributions within the present authoring of our literary tradition." More about Gary Jackson and Yusef Komunyakaa

Winner of the 2009 Cave Canem Poetry Prize for his manuscript "Missing you, Metropolis," Jackson was born and raised in Topeka, Kan. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from the University of New Mexico in 2008 and his poems have appeared in "Inscape," "Magma," "The Literary Bohemian" and local chapbooks. Published by Graywolf Press, "Missing you, Metropolis" is lauded by critics such as Komunyakaa, who writes that the book “embodies and underscores a voice uniquely shaped and tuned for the 21st century.” Jackson currently teaches English as a Second Language in Seoul, South Korea.

Komunyakaa is the critically acclaimed author of 14 books of poetry, including "Copacetic" and "Neon Vernacular: New & Selected Poems 1977–1989," for which he received the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book of poems, "Warhorses," was published in 2008. His prose is collected in "Blues Notes: Essays, Interviews & Commentaries," and he coedited "The Jazz Poetry Anthology." In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, his honors include the 2004 Shelley Memorial Award, the 2001 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, the Hanes Poetry Prize and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. He is professor and Distinguished Senior Poet at New York University.

Contacts: Marlo Welshons, University of Minnesota Libraries, welsh066@umn.edu, (612) 625-9148 Preston Smith, University News Service, smith@umn.edu, (612) 625-0552

Hispanic and African American Vets at greater risk of living on the streets shelters

Our guest blogger today is Mark Johnston, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Programs

For the first time ever, HUD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published the most comprehensive analysis of the extent of homelessness among American veterans. According to HUD and VA’s assessment released this week, nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009, while roughly 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year – a national tragedy.

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan has said that “understanding the nature and scope of homelessness among all our veterans is critical to meeting President Obama’s goal of ending veterans’ homelessness by 2015.”

Overall, veterans are fifty percent more likely to become homeless compared to all Americans, and the risk is even greater among poor minority veterans. Of all veterans in shelters, 34% were African American and 11% were Hispanic. By comparison, only 11% of all veterans are African American and 5% are Hispanic. That means that Hispanics and African Americans are significantly overrepresented in the homeless population. The risk of homelessness among poor minority veterans is even greater. Poor Hispanic veterans are twice as likely to use a shelter compared with poor non-Hispanic veterans. African American veterans in poverty had similar rates of homelessness.

Mark Johnston, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Programs.

HUD and VA are currently working together to administer a joint program specifically targeted to homeless veterans. Already, through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, HUD provides rental assistance for homeless veterans while VA offers case management and clinical services. Since 2008, a total investment of $225 million is working to provide housing connected to VA health care for some 30,000 veterans who had been homeless. And last month, HUD awarded $1.4 billion to keep nearly 7,000 local homeless assistance programs operating in the coming year. These programs house hundreds of thousands of persons who had lived on our streets and in emergency shelters. Finally, the Department also allocated $1.5 billion through its newHomeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing (HPRP) Program, to prevent people from becoming homeless due to the recession and to rapidly re-house those who fell into homelessness.

TEXT CREDIT: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455

Ceremony Honors Service of African Americans in Korean War

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2011 – African Americans fought against Communism during the Korean War of 1950-53 to protect the rights of individuals, even as their own civil rights were denied at home, the Defense Department’s top equal opportunity official said here yesterday.

Speaking during a Pentagon ceremony to honor African American veterans of the Korean War, Ronald M. Joe, acting director of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, said America now remembers the contributions of African American veterans during the war sometimes called “The Forgotten War” or the “The Forgotten Victory.”

“Yours is a distinguished generation in the history of African American military service,” Joe said to a group of seven Korean War veterans in attendance. “You belong to a legacy older than the Declaration of Independence, one that includes the legendary service of the Massachusetts 54th in our Civil War, the Buffalo Soldiers in the West, the 92nd Division and the Tuskegee Airman of World War II.”

For too long, he said, the service of African Americans during the Korean War was forgotten, “but it should be clear to all of you that you are forgotten no more.”

Mr. Ronald M. Joe, Acting Director of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity.

Joe said the armed forces has played a pivotal role in the nation’s pursuit of equity for all Americans, following President Harry S. Truman’s 1948 Executive Order 9981, which called for the end of segregation in the military. The Korean War “interrupted” work to desegregate all-black units, so many of those units went into the conflict. It was when fighting intensified in Korea that the armed forces realized they had “a manpower problem,” Joe said. Increasingly, large numbers of black American draftees and volunteers were in the training pipeline, but no more room existed in the segregated units. Joe said Army studies showed “integration was a more efficient policy than segregation.” The result, he said, was that “Black Americans were individually assigned to units on an as-needed basis, and the Army began working toward true integration.”

The last two years of the Korean War, after all-black units were disbanded and ended segregation in the U.S. military, African Americans had served in command positions, in elite units such as combat aviation, and served in a variety of technical specialties, Joe said.

The military began a social movement, he said, that served as a model or the nation and as a pattern for other military organizations. The armed force has made impressive progress toward equality, but work is yet to be completed, because women and minorities are still under-represented, Joe added.

A number of other speakers made brief remarks at the ceremony, including members of a panel of Korean War veterans; South Korean Defense Attaché Brig. Gen. General Lee, Seo Young; and Frank Martin, producer of “For the Love of Liberty: The story of America’s Black Patriots.” The audience watched a 15-minute segment of Martin’s four-hour documentary.

Today’s Black History Month observance stems from the Department of Defense 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemorative Committee, created by Congress to honor the service and sacrifice of Korean War veterans, their families and those who lost loved ones in the conflict.

American Forces Press Service By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service

I. India Geronimo Named Director of the Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African American Legal History

DETROIT (Feb. 11, 2011)—I. India Geronimo has been named Director of the Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African American Legal History.

Geronimo previously served as a law clerk to Judge Damon J. Keith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and more recently clerked for the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Previously, she clerked for the Honorable Robert L. Carter in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and was as an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union Racial Justice Program, where she was the Marvin M. Karpatkin Fellow. She has been involved in litigation and advocacy surrounding a variety of civil rights issues.

“I am pleased to welcome Ms. Geronimo to Wayne Law,” said Wayne Law Dean Robert M. Ackerman. “Her legal expertise combined with her commitment to upholding Judge Keith’s legacy will benefit the Wayne Law immeasurably.” Geronimo will also be working with the Keith Center to develop programming around its “education as a civil right” initiative.

The Keith Collection, which houses exhibits such as Marching Toward Justice and Saluting a Giant, was created to meet the need for a central repository for the nation’s African American legal history.

The collection is dedicated to recording the history of African American lawyers and judges. It was firmly established upon the founding contribution of papers and records by Judge Keith. - ### - Visit the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at: keithcenter.wayne.edu. Contact: Kristin Copenhaver Wayne Law communications director, with any questions, media inquiries or if you'd like to subscribe to Law School news releases. Or, visit our news and publications page online at law.wayne.edu/about/news for more information.

Author of Black Pain and activist Terrie Williams to lecture Feb. 23 VIDEO

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University will host a free public lecture by Terrie Williams, president and founder of the Terrie Williams Agency and the Stay Strong Foundation, on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at noon in the NKU Student Union Ballroom. Following the lecture, which is sponsored by the NKU Office of African American Student Affairs, will be a book signing and reception from 1:30-3 p.m.

Williams' most recent work, titled "Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting" (Scribner, 2008), reveals her personal struggles with depression and the impact the stigma of this and other mental illnesses have, particularly on the African-American community. That is also the topic of her lecture at NKU.

Williams is a mental health activist, author and advocate for change and empowerment. Named one of Ebony magazine's "Power 150" for activism and Woman's Day magazine's "50 Women on a Mission to Change the World," she has utilized her influence and communications expertise for more than 30 years to educate and engage audiences in causes that affect the community, the nation and the world.

Williams has written four successful books and countless articles. Her first book, "The Personal Touch: What You Really Need to Succeed in Today's Fast-paced Business World" (1994, Warner Books), is a perennial business bestseller.

Her second book, "Stay Strong: Simple Life Lessons for Teens" (Scholastic, Inc. 2001), has been utilized in school curricula and was the catalyst to launch The Stay Strong Foundation, a national non-profit for youth. "A Plentiful Harvest: Creating Balance and Harmony Through the Seven Living Virtues" (Warner Books, 2002), is her undertaking to help others achieve balance in their daily lives. ### NKU ###

For immediate release... Friday - Feb. 11, 2011

Northern Kentucky University, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099 -

Atlantic City Resident Serving as First African American Editor of Rutgers Law Journal at Rutgers-Camden Law School

CAMDEN -- “Making law review” is an aspiration for ambitious law students who recognize the value of producing journals that showcase cutting-edge legal scholarship and theory.

At the Rutgers School of Law–Camden, Matthew D. Sykes has achieved that goal, and set a milestone in the process: the 24-year-old Atlantic City resident is the first African American to serve as editor-in-chief of the prestigious Rutgers Law Journal.

Currently in his third and final year as a Rutgers–Camden law student, Sykes acknowledges that his editorship at the nationally respected law school offers a positive message. “My position should encourage others not only because of my race, but because of my experiences, which many African Americans share in common,” he explains. “I grew up with a lack of positive role models, ineffective school systems, and a neighborhood where drugs were sold and used at my high school bus stop. I graduated from high school with a C average. Nevertheless, I managed to make it to college and was later admitted to Rutgers School of Law.

“I want to send the message that, if I can do it, anyone can. Moreover, for those who share my background, and those committed to public interest work, my position is significant because it demonstrates that the greatest strength and motivation comes from the desire to help the people that weren’t so lucky, because up to this point that has been my only objective. “ Law reviews are student-run publications that allow scholars (and the occasional jurist or practitioner) to advance discussion about legal theory.

Dating back to the mid-1800s, the practice might seem out of synch in the social media era to some, but not to Sykes. “Law journals provide a forum, other than the classroom, where students can express their ideas and gain recognition based on their original legal scholarship. Likewise, I think law journals are important to the advancement of the study of law specifically because they allow for the exchange of ideas, which is essential to growth and innovation within the legal field.”

At the Rutgers School of Law–Camden, the Rutgers Law Journal publishes online while maintaining a subscription-based print distribution. Rutgers law students review submissions from professors across the nation, and select the articles for publication. Sykes envisions the journal sponsoring symposia featuring top legal scholars as an opportunity to build upon the prestige of the publication.

In addition to setting new standards for the Rutgers Law Journal’s chief editorship, Sykes pursues his passion for public interest law. He has been an active student participant in the Prisoner Reentry Program at the Rutgers School of Law–Camden, whereby law students work closely with attorneys to provide critically needed pro bono services to ex-offenders seeking to forge new roles in society.

Currently, Sykes teaches Camden children and teenagers about their rights and the legal system through the Rutgers–Camden Street Law Program, and helps Camden residents to file their state and federal income tax returns through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program at the Rutgers–Camden law school.

While helping ex-offenders with such important matters as finding employment and securing new driver’s licenses, Sykes also maintains high marks in the classroom. He is a Dean’s List student at the Rutgers–Camden law school, where he has received numerous scholarships and has been active with the Black Law Students Association. He has been offered a clerkship with the Hon. Dolores Sloviter, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Sykes is a 2008 graduate of Rowan University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science. -30-


For Immediate Release Media Contact: Mike Sepanic (856) 225-6026 E-mail: msepanic@camden.rutgers.edu

Director Kobina Aidoo Asking ‘Who is Black?’ to Speak at Neo-African Americans

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Director Kobina Aidoo will give a showing of his 2009 documentary Neo-African Americans on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 17 in Beckman Auditorium of The Ames Library (1 Ames Plaza East, Bloomington). The event, which is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs in honor of African-American Heritage Month, is free and open to the public.

Neo-African Americans explores the influx of voluntary immigration to the United States, and how it impacts the traditional interpretation of the term African-American, as well as initiatives like Affirmative Action. According to Aidoo, over the past 25 years, more than 3 million people have immigrated to the U.S. from countries in Africa and the Caribbean.

“It is not simply a matter of white Americans and black Americans confronting a shared past. It is a redefinition of who is white, who is black, who is African-American, and how we should treat each other,” Aidoo said in a 2009 interview.

Along with filmmaking, Aidoo is a consultant for the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Originally from Ghana, he is a self-described African non-American, who studied at Barry University in Miami.

Kobina Aidoo

He has since worked with Warner Bros. Publications, Intel Computer Clubhouse and De Beers. He has also performed economic consulting assignments for governments in the Middle East and Africa. Aidoo holds a master’s degree in public policy with a specialty in international trade and finance from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he also served as co-chief editor of the Africa Policy Journal.

For additional information, contact the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at (309) 556-3412.

Illinois Wesleyan Contact: Rachel Hatch, (309) 556-3960

Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. will be the featured speaker for Talladega College’s Black History Month convocation

Talladega, Alabama—The Honorable Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. will be the featured speaker for Talladega College’s Black History Month convocation on Thursday, February 10th. Talladega College will join in the national celebration of accomplishments and the impact of blacks on American history during this commemoration scheduled for 1:00 pm Thursday afternoon in DeForest Chapel on the campus.

Mayor Bell is the 33rd mayor of the city and he’s also ranked as one of the longest serving public officials in Birmingham. During his public service, Bell became the first African-American President of the Birmingham City Council in 1985 while serving his third term. He also served as the City Council President in 1987 and 1997. Then in 1999, he advanced and became the Interim Mayor of Birmingham. Some of Bell’s major accomplishments include: assisting in the funding of a fitness track and a mini-park at Legion Field; and the establishing of the first Hope VI Project in downtown Birmingham that converted a local inner city housing development and made it become an affordable, mixed housing community. Mayor Bell has also acquired over $197 million dollars for Birmingham schools, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) received an excess of $87 million dollars plus for capital improvements during the mayor’s tenure.

He received a Master’s Degree in Psychology and Guidance Counseling from UAB, and he has a doctorate in Jurisprudence from Miles Law School in Birmingham. Mayor Bell is married to Dr. Sharon Carson Bell and they have 2 children who graduated from the Birmingham City School system and from UAB. The public is invited to come hear Mayor Bell on the campus. For more information, please contact the Office of the President at (256) 761-6212. For more upcoming Black History month events at the College, please go to: http://www.talladega.edu/calendar/events.asp.

ABOUT TALLADEGA COLLEGE

Talladega College, founded in 1867, is Alabama's oldest historically black private college and among the oldest liberal arts colleges in the nation. Located in the historic district of the city of Talladega, Alabama, the college offers a range of degrees in four divisions: Business and Administration, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Sciences and Education.

Talladega College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees; and the school holds several institutional memberships. For more information visit www.talladega.edu # # #

Talladega College 627 West Battle Street Talladega, AL 35160 256.362.0206 (Main Number) 256-761-6235 (Admissions)

Released On: Monday, February 07, 2011 Nicola Lawler Office of Public Relations 256-761-6207

The Tuskegee Airmen and the Struggle for Civil Rights

by Andrew Billman 65th Air Base Wing Historian

Lajes Field, Azores -- Sleek red-tailed P-51 fighters, the 99th Fighter squadron, the 332nd Fighter Group--valiant men with air-combat prowess and a stellar combat record all come to mind with the mention of Tuskegee Airmen. But the Tuskegee story would be incomplete without addressing the experiences of the B-25 pilots, navigators, and bombardiers that comprised the 477th Bombardment Group (477 BG). While their 332nd brothers-in-arms bravely flew their P-51s to glory in the skies over Europe, the men of the 477th courageously fought another enemy at home - racism and discrimination.

From 1941 through 1946, 994 pilots graduated from Tuskegee Army Airfield and earned the wings they hoped would finally silence the racist critics who thought black men lacked the necessary skills and abilities to fly. At this time even more African-American men broke racial barriers and received training as navigators, bombardiers, gunners, mechanics, and ground crew at various bases spread across America. By the spring of 1945, they would come together at Freeman Field in Seymour, Indiana as the 477 BG under all-white leadership, as they prepared to enter the War in the Pacific. But they would not make history fighting the Japanese in the Pacific--their place in history was reserved for battling the forces of bigotry in the very country they were willing to defend with their lives.

A few of the 162 Tuskegee Airmen under arrest at Freeman Field April 1945. (courtesy photo)

When the 477 BG arrived in Seymour, the African-American members of the group soon felt the sting of discrimination as many of the grocery stores in the community would not allow them to buy goods and only one restaurant in town would serve them. The Seymour Laundry took this treatment a step further as they refused service to black airmen, while, at the same time regularly laundering the clothes and bedding of German prisoners of war confined in the area. This maltreatment continued on base as the group's commanding officer, Col. Robert Selway, issued an order on April 1, 1945, segregating the officers clubs at Freeman Field.

A former dilapidated non-commissioned officers club was designated for the "black training personnel." Col. Selway attempted to circumvent Army regulations that maintained equal access to recreational facilities on post for all officers by categorizing all black officers in the group as "trainees." But the airmen saw this ploy for what it was and dubbed the run-down structure set aside as their officers club, "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

In reaction to this intolerable situation, black officers refused to use "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and they began to formulate a non-violent plan to integrate the officers club on post. Under the leadership of Lt. Coleman A. Young (a future mayor of Detroit), small groups of men attempted to enter the club on the evening of April 5, 1945, only to be refused entry. Before the club had closed at the end of the night, 36 black officers had not only been refused service but had been placed under arrest in quarters. These consequences did not deter more persistent airmen, who, on the next night, attempted entry only to be refused; they joined their compatriots under arrest, now totaling 61 men. Col. Selway could not prove all these men had read the order and eventually had to release 58 men from custody and possible court-martial. Three men remained in custody, pending court-martial, accused of pushing a lieutenant placed at the door of the club to prevent access.

Col. Selway then issued Base Regulation 85-2, defining the segregated facilities and required all officers to sign a statement they had read and acknowledged the new regulation. This time 162 black officers had the courage to refuse their signatures on a document they knew to be unjust, and faced arrest and possible court-martial. These brave men were willing to put "Service before Self" in defense of justice, and in the face of an uncertain and possibly perilous future.

In the end, an Advisory Committee on Special Troop Policies was convened in Washington, D.C., that determined the regulations put into effect at Freeman Field were not in accord with existing Army regulations prohibiting separation of recreational facilities on the basis of race. Col. Selway was relieved of command on July 1, 1945, and Col. Benjamin O. Davis, a Tuskegee Airman, assumed command. Fifty years later, on Aug. 12, 1995, the Air Force vindicated all the courageous men who stood against the unlawful orders at Freeman Field. The Air Force ordered the removal of all letters of reprimand from the personnel records and overturned the one court-martial which resulted from the civil disobedience at Freeman Field. The Air Force also reinstated 2nd Lt. Roger C. Terry to all the rights, privileges, and property he lost as a result of the conviction.

The non-violent quest for civil rights for African-Americans did not begin in December 1955 on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The origins for civil disobedience and the Civil Rights Movement may be traced 10 years earlier to an Army Air Forces base in Indiana. Freeman Field became the site where Tuskegee Airmen took a firm, peaceful stand against the twin evils of racism and discrimination at home. While the 332nd fighter group brought honor and glory to Tuskegee Airmen as they fought against tyranny and racism in Europe, the Tuskegee Airmen that comprised the 477 BG exhibited the same courage, and became instrumental in the integration that would soon sweep throughout all of the armed forces of the United States. These heroic men provided the non-violent examples which translated years later into the fabric of the Civil Rights Movement and fundamentally changed American society as a whole.

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: The Official Web Site of Lajes Field

Connecticut Recognizes February 7th as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Blacks in Connecticut found to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.

Hartford – In recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day local organizations throughout the state, funded by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), will provide free HIV testing and educational activities on Monday, February 7, 2011.

“Although Blacks in Connecticut only make up ten percent of the state’s population, they account for nearly one-third of the state’s population living with HIV/AIDS,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Jewel Mullen. “It’s important that not only Blacks, but people of all races and ethnicities, educate themselves about HIV/AIDS and get tested to know their status.”

According to state health officials, there are 10,574 reported cases of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state. Blacks account for 3,412 reported cases (2009 data).

Monday marks the 11th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The day is meant to promote education, HIV testing and treatment in an effort to mobilize Black communities nationwide. In 2008, an estimated 18,328 Blacks in the United States received an AIDS diagnosis, a number that has remained relatively stable since 2005. In 2006, Black men accounted for two-thirds of new infections (65%) among all Blacks, with 63% of those being men who have sex with men.

There are several agencies throughout the state that will be offering free HIV testing. For a list of participating agencies, visit www.ct.gov/dph/hivtesting or call (860) 509-7801 to find where to get tested. More information is also available at blackaidsday.org/. Additionally, individuals can speak to their health care provider about HIV testing.

In 2009, the Connecticut General Assembly passed House Bill 6391, An Act Concerning Revisions to the HIV Testing Consent Law. This law, which went into effect July 1, 2009, facilitates routine HIV screening in health care settings by eliminating the requirement for a separate written or oral consent for HIV testing. Testing is voluntary.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state. To contact the department, please visit its website at www.ct.gov/dph or call (860) 509-7270. ###

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Activities

Bridgeport – Greater Bridgeport Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program, ASHA Women’s Conference

February 7, 2011, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Mount Aery Baptist Church, 73 Frank Street, Bridgeport: HIV testing and free giveaways, to register call 203-870-0761

Hartford – Latinos Community Services

February 7, 2011, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.- Zezzo House, 184 Homestead Avenue, Hartford: HIV testing (event organized by the African-American Caribbean Care Team)

February 8, 2011, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Loaves and Fishes, 360 Farmington Avenue: HIV testing and outreach

New Haven – Cornell Scott Hill Health Center

February 7, 2011, 10:00 a.m – 3:00 p.m. - 428 Columbus Avenue, New Haven: HIV testing and free giveaways

Connecticut Department of Public Health: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2011 Connecticut Department of Public Health Contact: William Gerrish (860) 509-7270

MADISON, WISCONSIN TO HONOR TALLADEGA COLLEGE

Madison, Wisconsin—The City of Madison, Wisconsin will honor Talladega College during their Black History Month festivities. The second largest city of Wisconsin which also ranks 2nd in the nation by Forbes magazine for education, has chosen to focus on the efforts and strides of blacks in the late 1800s.

The Minority Affairs Committee of Madison spearheaded this effort and has produced a booklet entitled, “Celebrate Black History Month, African Americans and the Civil War.” In this publication, they will feature Talladega College and one of our distinguished alums along with native Wisconsin black pioneers.

“We are honored that the City of Madison will highlight the impact of this great institution as a part of American history and the African American experience. We are also proud to have Dr. Hicklin represent the college’s legendary influence upon its graduates,” remarks Talladega College President, Dr. Billy C. Hawkins.

Dr. Fannie Ella Frazier Hicklin will be a featured speaker during the City of Madison’s Black history month program on February 9th at the Monona Terrace Lecture Hall. Dr. Hicklin, a graduate of Talladega College, was born and reared on the campus. After graduating with a B.S. in Foreign Languages, Dr. Hicklin went on to receive a Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Billy C. Hawkins became the 20th President of Talladega College beginning January 1, 2008.

Although she retired from UW, at the precious age of 92, Dr. Hicklin continues to work as a volunteer with various organizations in Madison. During the February 9th program, Ms. Casandra Blassingame, Talladega College Vice President of Institutional Advancement, will also be a speaker. Mr. Seddrick Hill, Talladega College Director of Alumni Affairs will also be in attendance. Pictures, paraphernalia, and recruitment information for Talladega College will be available for public view on the first floor of the Madison Municipal Building at 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. For more information, please contact: Christie Hill at (608) 267-8634 or visit their website at http://www.cityof madison.com/dcr/index.cfm. ABOUT TALLADEGA COLLEGE Talladega College, founded in 1867, is Alabama's oldest historically black private college and among the oldest liberal arts colleges in the nation.

Located in the historic district of the city of Talladega, Alabama, the college offers a range of degrees in four divisions: Business and Administration, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Sciences and Education.

Talladega College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees; and the school holds several institutional memberships. For more information visit www.talladega.edu # # #

Talladega College Released On: Friday, February 04, 2011. Nicola Lawler Office of Public Relations 256-761-6207

CSUS Chancellor Chancellor David G. Carter to Retire

One of the state’s longest-serving higher education leaders, Connecticut State University System (CSUS) Chancellor David G. Carter, informed the CSUS Board of Trustees today that he will be retiring on March 1, 2011. Carter announced last fall that he would be retiring no later than September 1, 2011.

In a letter to CSUS Board Vice Chairman Richard J. Balducci, which was shared with members of the Board via email, Carter said, “I could not then have anticipated that my health, and my increasing desire to spend more time enjoying my grandchildren, would hasten that timetable. Accordingly, I have revised my plans... Please know that taking leave of this work is even more difficult than I had anticipated, and were circumstances otherwise, I surely would have continued.”

Balducci described Carter as a “bold and insightful educator whose impact on students has made a significant and enduring difference in countless lives. David Carter never believed he would attain a college education but others believed in him. That helped make him the man he is – with tremendous respect and affection for what CSUS means to its students, universities that give people of all backgrounds the opportunity to pursue a dream, as he did. Throughout a remarkable career, his passion for education, fundamental belief in treating every person with dignity, and extraordinary commitment to advancing student success were the hallmarks of his leadership.”

Connecticut State University System trustee Karl Krapek (right) adjusts the pure silver medallion symbolic of the office conferred upon Dr. David G. Carter, Sr., as Chancellor of the CSU System

Carter’s career as a professional educator spans 45 years, beginning in Ohio and, since 1977, flourishing in Connecticut. He became the fifth president of Eastern on April 2, 1988 – the first African-American president of a four-year institution of higher education in Connecticut. He served as president for nearly 18 years, leading Eastern from a small university into a thriving academic institution with newly constructed first-rate facilities attracting a dynamic residential population from across the state, now designated as Connecticut’s public liberal arts university. “To say that serving the students and our State of Connecticut has been the joy of my life is to understate the depth of affection that I have for the transformative impact of higher education,” Carter wrote, expressing appreciation for the efforts of trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, and students.

“The transformation of Eastern Connecticut State University and later the substantial progress of the Connecticut State University System, driven by his respect for all who contribute to the vibrancy of an academic community and his devotion to students was always something to behold,” said Balducci, who has served on the CSUS Board since 1995.

“How he was able to know almost every Eastern student, remember virtually every name, and understand how best to motivate each of them still defies explanation. But he did, and students knew he genuinely cared. And still does,” Balducci added.

Carter is widely credited with leading dramatic changes in the physical and academic quality of Eastern and helping save it from potential elimination. Among the facilities that were either begun, built or rebuilt under his tutelage were a new academic classroom building, student services center, library, child and family development resource center, student center and Science Building, as well as student residence halls, and athletic fields.

Prior to assuming the presidency at Eastern, he spent 11 years at the University of Connecticut, serving as associate vice president for academic affairs, associate dean in the School of Education and professor of educational administration. Before joining the faculty at UConn, he was an associate professor in the College of Education at Pennsylvania State University for four years.

As Chancellor of CSUS since February 2006, Dr. Carter has presided over a period of economic challenges while leading the system of four universities to unprecedented accomplishments. Working in concert with the universities during his tenure as Chancellor, CSUS:

* reached all-time records in the number of full-time undergraduate and graduate students,
* increased graduation and retention rates,
* expanded minority population recruitment and retention,
* increased community college students and out-of-state students transferring to CSUS.

In addition, more undergraduate degree recipients are pursuing graduate level education at CSUS, and student satisfaction among graduating seniors system-wide exceeded 90 percent.

Leading CSUS, Carter encouraged the development and implementation of an articulation agreement that had been discussed since 1991 with the Connecticut Community College system; worked in concert with Trustees, the Governor, General Assembly, collective bargaining units and staff of the universities and System Office to achieve the largest financial commitment ever to CSUS: $80 million in bond funds in FY08 followed by a 10-year, $950 million commitment known as the CSUS 2020 capital infrastructure investment plan; and achieved more than $48 million in cost avoidance and system-wide savings since 2007 by working closely with the leadership at the universities in response to the state’s economic conditions.

Carter has long been active in national, state and local organizations and agencies, and is the recipient of numerous awards and recognition. He currently serves as chairman of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, Secretary/Treasurer of the National Association of System Heads, and as a member of the Board of Delegates of the New England Board of Higher Education. He is past chair of the Board of Visitors of the Marine Corps University, past chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and has served on the Board of Directors of the American Council of Education and chaired its Finance Committee.

“Highly respected by his peers across the country, he brought national recognition to CSUS through his active leadership in national education organizations. We are a better state for his years of service at UConn, Eastern and CSUS,” Balducci said. “While he certainly will be greatly missed, he leaves a legacy of dedication, determination, character, and accomplishment that we can all aspire to.” Born in Dayton, Ohio, David Carter faced and overcame many obstacles. When he was five years old, a fire destroyed his family’s home and business, an uninsured general store. Shortly thereafter, his father passed away, leaving his mother to raise him and his older brother. But through the support of his family and the guidance of two school-teacher sisters who took him under their wings – he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Central State University in Ohio, an M. Ed. degree in curriculum and supervision from Miami (Ohio) University, and a Ph.D. in educational development and educational administration from The Ohio State University.

Previous to his career in higher education, Dr. Carter was an elementary school teacher, vice principal, principal, and unit facilitator responsible for overseeing more than 20,000 students in 24 Ohio schools.

“Education has been my life’s work, in ways I could not possibly have imagined in my youth,” Carter wrote. “You have heard me describe my strong conviction, rooted in my experiences in those early years, that there is nothing more meaningful, more profound nor rewarding than to touch a life and affect its course.”

TEXT CREDIT: Connecticut State University System CSUS System Office 39 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105-2337

IMAGE CREDIT: Central Connecticut State University

Stage production confronts African American stereotypes

Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia African American Cultural Center will present If It Ain’t Got that Swing on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Morton Theater in Athens. The play utilizes inspiration and laughter to confront age-old stereotypes faced by African Americans.

If It Ain’t Got that Swing is produced by Harmageddo Entertainment, a Philadelphia-based film and theater company that seeks to raise social consciousness through art, principally writing and drama.

The production is being held in conjunction with the50th anniversary commemoration of the desegregation of UGA.

Tickets are $10 for students with valid UGACards who pay activity fees on the Athens campus and $15 for non-students. Tickets are available at the Tate Student Center Cashier Window, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The African American Cultural Center is an office of the Department of Campus Life/Intercultural Affairs within UGA’s Division of Student Affairs. ##

Writer: Don Reagin, 706/542-7774, dreagin@uga.edu Contact: LaRetha Spain-Shuler, 706/542-8468, lshuler@ugal.edu Feb 3, 2011, 15:01

Minorities More Likely to be Unaware of Having Diabetes or Hypertension

UAlbany economists' study reveals racial/ethnic disparities in awareness of chronic diseases.

ALBANY, N.Y. (February 02, 2011) -- Blacks and Latinos in America are more likely to be unaware they have diabetes than whites, according to a study by University at Albany researchers.

And while a relatively greater number of African-Americans receive treatment for hypertension, those who are untreated still are disproportionately unaware of having the condition, compared to individuals from other racial and ethnic groups.

The study was funded by a $1.1 million grant, part of a $6.8 million award from the National Institutes of Health to the University's Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities to advance research aimed at eliminating health inequalities.

"The incidence of these chronic illnesses is steadily increasing in the U.S., and is more so for minorities. The economic implication of continuing unawareness among all segments of the population, particularly for African-Americans and Hispanics, is truly staggering," said Distinguished Teaching Professor Kajal Lahiri.

Early awareness of having a chronic health condition, say the study's authors, is an aspect of health knowledge that influences an individual's ability to manage the progression of a disease.

According to recent studies, nearly 15 percent of Americans have undiagnosed hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol, and African-Americans are significantly more likely than other ethnic groups to have more than one of these conditions. Currently the direct health costs and indirect costs such as lost production due to diabetes and hypertension exceed $250 billion annually. In "Beware of Unawareness: Racial Ethnic Disparities in Awareness of Chronic Diseases," UAlbany economists Kajal Lahiri and Pinka Chatterji discovered that a larger percentage of minorities with undiagnosed diseases were not aware they have the disease, a condition which ultimately affects not only individuals and families, but also impacts the nation's health care system and economy. The study was funded by a $1.1 million grant, part of a $6.8 million award from the National Institutes of Health to the University's Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities to advance research aimed at eliminating health inequalities.

"The incidence of these chronic illnesses is steadily increasing in the U.S., and is more so for minorities. The economic implication of continuing unawareness among all segments of the population, particularly for African-Americans and Hispanics, is truly staggering," said Distinguished Teaching Professor Kajal Lahiri.

According to recent studies, nearly 15 percent of Americans have undiagnosed hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol, and African-Americans are significantly more likely than other ethnic groups to have more than one of these conditions. Currently the direct health costs and indirect costs such as lost production due to diabetes and hypertension exceed $250 billion annually.

"The large number of minorities being treated for diabetes and hypertension may lead to the conclusion that awareness of chronic illness is high among minorities," said Pinka Chatterji. "However, if we limit our analysis to untreated individuals, we find that significant disparities persist along racial and ethnic lines in awareness of these serious conditions."

Without early preventative intervention, the course of a chronic disease is a continuum from the disease-free state to asymptomatic biological change, clinical illness, and ultimately death. Due to the long latency periods of hypertension and diabetes, early recognition and treatment of chronic illnesses is critical for preventing a rapid progression of the condition to disability.

Early awareness of having a chronic health condition, say the study's authors, is an aspect of health knowledge that influences an individual's ability to manage the progression of a disease. The lack of awareness may contribute to health disparities and, ultimately, greater cost to the health care system.

The research found that minority individuals are in some cases 10 percentage points less likely than non-Latino whites to be aware of having a chronic illness.

The study's data were taken from the national Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), which collects economic and health data on people over 50 years old. The survey, which is conducted every two years, gathers extensive health information, including results from health examinations and blood tests administered during the review. The study focused on 8,051 HRS respondents who were eligible for the health examination and blood tests in 2006 and re-interviewed in 2008.

The study was published as a National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. Working Paper. NBER is widely-disseminated publication series that showcases new findings in applied economics prior to publication in a journal.

Contact: Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150 University at Albany, State University of New York 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222 · Phone (518) 442-3300

Renita J. Weems to speak at Union’s Black History Month program

JACKSON, Tenn. – February 1, 2011– Renita J. Weems, author and vice president of academic affairs at American Baptist College, will be the keynote speaker for Union University’s fourth annual Black History Month program Feb. 14.

Weems, who has a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary, will examine the African American leadership that emerged during and after the Civil War. The theme for the program is “Being the Change: African American Leaders from Civil War to Social Justice.”

“It is our sincere hope that this event will serve as a catalyst for serious debate regarding the necessity for continued and innovative leadership throughout the black community within the context of a Christian worldview,” said Jacqueline Taylor, Union’s assistant dean of students.

In addition to Weems’ address, the event will feature music by pianist Patricia Porter and Union University’s Mosaic Gospel Choir.

A reception will begin at 2:30 p.m. with the program starting at 3 p.m. in the Carl Grant Events Center. The event is open to the community. Seating is limited, so those planning to attend should make reservations by Feb. 7 at noon.

Renita J. Weems will speak at Union's Black History Month program Feb. 14. Union University For more information, or to make reservations, call (731) 661-5421 or (731) 661-5316. Contact: Tim Ellsworth, 731-661-5215.