"September Issue ‘Lee Godley 3rd Honored At Mississippi Making Civil Rights ‘Elizabeth City State University + 4 es r On Thursday, April 2 2009 Elizabeth city State University held its Honors convocation of Academic Excellence in the Mickey. be Burnim Fine ap Center: During this dinaeigighes pro- . _. gram many students were hon- ~~-~ored for their accomplishinén Lee Godley 3rd of Washington, NC received a Certificate of © Merit for an Exemplary year in Ea ai able! 2 A the Honors program (2008- 2009) and the Chancelor’s List. The Department of Mathemat- ics and Computer Science awarded him the CERSER Re- search award for the most out- "Sanding research. it was titled. } phasize the grass-roots nature of civil rights and the institution of racism.” The program is the | Out, growth of a law passed in 2006 by the Legislature. The State moves forward with state- wide implementation in the | 2010-11 school year, despite an || unsucessful legislative effort to . eliminate the plan this year. Education officials looked to other states, for a model , but couldn’t find one that included. -@8 comprehensive as what Mis- Sissippi has in mind said Chauncey Spears, who works | Capital, a relatively small |. portion of the mall.” He added that the march was just one of , | Several events taking place in the District on Sept. 12. Others were the Black Family Reunion, | 4 triathlon.trial run, a 5K run, | the Eucharistic Congress and, he added, normal tourist traffic for the season. The group {| protesting in Washington, distinguished not by its size but by; its lack of racial diversity, marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to the mall and there heard several speakers and performers, David: Meadows, director of communications for the. District of Columbia Democratic Party, said the march reminded him of the previous tea parties and town meetings, characterizing those participating as “male or female, [ages] 55-60 and White.” While the number of Blacks and other minorities in the crowd seemed nonexistent, that was not the case for featured guests and speakers. African-American headliners include Deneen Borelli, a Project 21 fellow; Charles Lollar, chair of the Charles County Republican Continued Page 2 in the instruction office pf Mississippi’s education curriculum. : Some states, including Ala- bama, Georgia and Arkansas, have placed an emphasis on Civil Rights instuction . new Part of K-12 Instruction Jersey created an Amistad Com- mission to ensure to history of slavery is taught in schools. Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia school district requires students to complete an African-Ameri- can historycourse before gradu- ation . Founders Day Celebration. ON nog dnoray euttozres) Bishop Best & Co, Pastor Helen Williams from the Anoited Ones Church pose for our camara at the Founders Day Ban- - quet Dr. Best new book is a Best Seller & David Payton has written a play based on his life story. _ photo by Jim Rouse BLACK NC GOPVICE CHAIR ALLEGES BIAS people (Fetzer’s)'bringing on staff _ The new chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party has been touring the state, railing against Gov. Perdue’s ‘’broken” promises of no new taxes, alleging that Pres, Obama address to students is actually a cover to save his falling poll numbers, and ‘urging Republicans across ‘the state that now is the time for unity in order to take back the state Legislature in the 2010 elections. Indeed NCGOP Chairman Tom Fetzer’s battle try is “One Team - One Goal - Victory”. But if Fetzer’s elected second-in- command is to be believed, the leadership of that NCGOP “team” is all White because Chairman Fetzer is deliberately freezing him out. That’s the stunning charge NCGOP Vice Chairman Dr. Timothy Johnson, an African- American, made in published reports last weekend. By press time Wednesday, no one from state Republican Party headquarters in Raleigh was willing to return phone calls to clarify. In those reports, published initially by The News and Observer, Dr. Johnson, formerly the chair of the Buncombe County Republican Party before he was elected as the State party's first African- American vice chair in history last June, alleges that he “’...has asked for an office at party headquarters in Raleigh and to be included in events and planning.” ‘’I'm the first black to serve at this role, as the ‘state vice chair, and I'm not . being included,” Johnson is quoted a8 telling the N&O. “All the are continuing to perpetuate the traditional image of the party, which is just whites. That’s all we have in our headquarters is whites.”” Later in the article, Johnson made it clear that under Chairman Fetzer, he is not a happy ‘camper. "This issue is between him and 1. It’s about him and I.” Fetzer, a conservative Republican who cut his political teeth working for.arch-Conservative Sen. Jesse Helms’ National Congressional Club inthe 1980s before serving three-terms as mayor of Raleigh from 1993-99, has always been an aggressive and controversial figure in North Carolina politics. In an effort to set up interviews with both Chairman Fetzer and Vice Chairman Johnson, and even get an official party statement on the controversy, The Carolinian/ Wilmington Journal called NCGOP headquarters early Tuesday morning, and left a message for Communications Director Jordan Shaw, However Shaw did not return the call, Dr. Johnson did not respond to a detailed email request for an interview, and Chairman Fetzer could not be reached independently before press time. A follow-up email was sent to the party's Communications director early Wednesday hours before press time, and again there was.no reply from anyone. There is no question that Dr. Johnson, a clean-cut military veteran, has taken great pride in winning the number-two spot in the state GOP. In a YouTube Se eTTtAusary AAeAqry7 Taulop j - Contined page T Fa Right & White 1 omcoe@e | | Democrats.” Cummings said folks should take a look at the mindset driving this and used Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and 3 Céntral Committee; Nic Lott, ~lfigst@Black student government _President at the University of Mississippi; Lloyd Marcus, creator of the Tea Party Anthem; rapper, Vance Venom and the Rev, C.L. Bryant from Shreveport, La. Borelli railed against big government. “We the people have had enough,” she said. “We will not sit by while our liberties and freedoms are being looted by elected officials serving their interests and. not the interests of their constituents.” She admonished “Black liberal politicians” for playing the race card instead of facing up to the __ the division in this country, fact that their policies have failed. “Personally, I will not sit by and let those who criticize our cause call it about race and call us rednee! neck is not red.” Rey. Bryant also spoke against . big government. “Yes, we need reform. Yes we know something needs, to be done about our health system,” he said. “We send this message to you. We want reform, but there will be no government takeover of one more American industry.” He also spoke about pointing the finger at politicians for causing it. “Politicians are . building ‘walls between the people,” he said. “You, are building = walls _— of misunderstanding. You're building walls of hatred. You're building walls of racism. You’re building walls of classism and _ . asin the Words of Ronald Reagan, when he spoke to. Mikhail Gorbachey at the Berlin Wall, Mr. Obama, ‘tear down this wall."” U. S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md), saw the Sept. 12 march in a larger context,.and-it caused-him some concern. Noting the lack _ of diversity in the crowd, he pointed to the lack of diversity in the Republican ranks in Congress and mentioned that it seemed disingenuous to call either group a cross-section of America, He referred to statements from march participants, saying, “When you listen to their comments, many of them didn’t know what they were protesting. So it makes you wonder what it’s teally all about.” Citing the _ Statistic that 1'in 3 people had , a lapse in health care coverage in the last two years, he said the very people protesting are the people who would be helped by reform. “Most of them are arguing against their best - ‘interest,” he said, When asked _ F 5 ok é i ke et 4 4: oy what he believes this is all . about, Cummings said, “Basically what you have is a lot of people upset that Barack Obama won. He is a brilliant, competent and honest elected official..“I am convinced there is a genuine dislike — and in some cases hatred — for. this African-American president.” Meadows said, “They’ ve [the loud minority] been loud, rude and obstructionist and quite harmful to a lot of citizens. | think, unfortunately, it [dissension] does tend to discredit the health care reform ‘imitiative.” Organizers of the oks,” she said, “My _ _ Scripture that would catise him Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) as. examples. He said South Carolina has the highest rate of uninsured residents in the country, 17 percent, and then repeated a quote from DeMint: “If we're able to stop Obama on this [health care reform} it will be his, Waterloo, It will break him.” “He would rather kill Obama’s dream than give his constituents what they need,” Cummings said. “I think this will strengthen the resolve of Democrats to take advantage of this once in a lifetime’ opportunity. This means we’ ve got to move ahead without Republicans. We’ve got to get this through. We’ ve got to make this happen.” Southern Baptist : For Obame's Death June 21, 2009) - A well-known minister of a denomination that once supported slavery and is firmly against a Woman's right to an abortion said recently that he is praying for President Obama to die. The Rev. Wiley. Drake, a former second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, told Fox News Radio earlier this month that he was practicing — “imprecatory prayer” or seeking a divine curse that would cause the president to die. “If he does not turn to God and does not turn his life around, I am asking God to enforce imprecatory prayers that . ate. throughout. the death,” Drake said in an interview with Fox’s Alan Colmes, according to the Associated Press. The Southern Baptist Convention was formed ‘in 1845 so slaveholders could’ continue to--serve as~ missionaries. The church supported the South during the Civil War, supported segregation of the races before _ and during the Civil Rights Movement and has been known for its hostility toward affirmative action and busing to achieve racial balance in schools. The church has been a favorite. of conservative Republican Party candidates. ( In 1995, Southern Baptists formally sought forgiveness from African-Americans.( By 2007, the convention’s minority membership, including A frican- Americans, Asians and Latinos, had grown to about 18 percent, said the Rev. Richard Land, head of the denomination’s public policy arm. But like many other U.S. denominations, the 16.2 million-member Southem Baptist Convention remains overwhelmingly White.( Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were raised Southern Baptists, Carter left the church in 2000 over its increasingly right-wing agenda . and =—s while ~—— Clinton acknowledges his roots in the denomination, he attends services with his wife, Secre of State Hillary Clinton, who is a United Methodist. Roger Oldham, vice president for convention relations with the Southern Baptist’s executive committee, said that Drake’s comments were out of line with church teachings, Oldham told the Associated Baptist Press _ that Drake's comments do not “~~ or positions ; of the. denomination. "I think it is a fair Statement to say that majority of Southern Bap are committed to praying for the well-being of the president in accordance with the specific instruction given in 'l Timothy 2:1-3,” Oldham said, quoti “First of all, then I urge petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be maile for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we : may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior.” Drake recently said that he prayed for the death of famed abortion doctor George Tiller. Tiller was shot to death in his church on May 3! in Wichita, Kan. by an anti- abortion activist. In regards to Obama, Drake, who pastors a ‘church in Buena Park, Calif, had not retracted his statement as of AFRO presstime. > Angela Davis Discuss the State of Women’s Rights — ActivAngela Davis shared her views on the state of women’s rights in 2009 at. the Maryland Institute College of Art in recognition of Constitution Day.’ (September 17, 2009) - Angela Davis accepted her applause in a way an internationally re- owned activist normally The crowd's toar échoed the ferocity once demonstrated by the former Black Panther, who took her seat at MICA’S Constitution Day panel discussion silently, allowing a modest smile to compliment her demeanor. At 65, Davis’ | navy blue blazer spoke of her scholarship as a professor at the University of California Santa Cruz. But, the tattoo on the outside of her left ankle reflects . her younger years.Displayed below her black capris was a hummingbird, considered a fragile, yet fearsome fighter, analogous to the prominent force Davis has been within the struggle for Black liberation and women’s rights. Her expertise in feminist studies contributed to Maryland Institute College of Art’s dialogue on the state of women’s rights in 2009 last Saturday. Davis acknowledged President Obama’s efforts to support women’s rights by signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to end the wage disparity between men and women. She also supports Obama’s universal health care plan, bat criticizes his approach to selling the idea to conservatives. “I get very angry when Obama feels that it’s Necessary constantly to reply to the right wing by saying ‘No, this health care reform is not supposed to benefit illegal immigrants,’” she said. “When I say the importance of health care for all women in this country, | mean all women in this country. [ mean women in prison, | mean women who are immigrants without documents. Everybody in this of women as opposed to _ - nothing more than perpetuate a | Gestructive. cycle among - women who have committed | crimes, and men who have committed crimes against ~ don’t see us making much Said. “The assumption is that those who commit these horrible acts as opposed to Johnson further called Obama °’a pawn of the Democratic system” ) already achieved stares us in the delegates that he was a country is an immigrant with the effortto set up interviews with both Chairman Fetzer and Vice Chairman exception of indigenous Johnson, eee ve tn official party Se on the controversy, . people.” A key part-of solving The Carolinian/Wilmington Journal = ee eae earl oblems associated with Tuesday morning, and left a message for Commur ee hie et cae. Wie Phd owever Seam did 00 retur the eall, Dr. Johnson did ee ee not respond to a detailed email request for an interview, and Chairman — Fetzer could not be reached independently before press time. A follow- up email was sent to the party’s Communications director early Wednesday hours before press time, and again there was no reply from examining the broad category considering women to be a . Unitary group. She believes anyone. There is no question that Dr. Johnson, a clean-cut military ‘Women suffering the most will veteran, has taken great pride in winning the number-two spot in the not be empowered without state GOP. In a YouTube feature videotaped during a local GOP meeting eliminating racism, yet racism in July ata restaurant in Buncombe County, Johnson told an interviewer iminated without that he had three goals as vice chair - bringing more young people into can not be eliminated without that gc ay 4 em ; “The the NC Republican Party from age 14 and up; improve party outreach powering women. e . : : , | ae ad ¢ to black, Hispanic, Native American and other communities of color ‘women that are on the lowest ee ees aid tindhvovines the f the ladder are African- 1°00" admits the party has historically ignored; and improving ted a en tite of technology to better position the party's broadbased outreach _ American women, women of and messaging efforts, “Our opponents have done a great job of color, poor women and women j Hes ei gy, and now we need to take it, and lead with it,” in pri son,” Davis told the Afro. Johnson is seen on the tape as saying. Acheck of his campai gn website, “Those are the women who we which he still maintains, shows that Johnson certainly woks hard for should all focus on ‘because the Republican cause of lesser government, lower taxes and a strong there will never be true victories military, As of October 10, Johnson was booked to attend at least six Jocal GOP events across the state, five of which he’s listed as speakin who are the most subjugated at. According to his website, Johnson is a native of Clevelat said progress has been made within tO leave early to serve in the United States Army, w | ; where lie spent 21 ‘Women’s rights, but there is still a long years, attaining the rank of Major. Soon after movin —— way to go. Speaking as a Prison Johnson ran succe essfully for chairman of the Buncombe County , . abolitionist, Davis pointed out Republican Party, where he served two terms before he was elected as that women are the fastest. state’party vice chair during the NCGOP Convention on June 13. The growing sector of the married father of four and grandfather is an adjunct professor at Shaw imprisoned population, with University’s College of Professional and Adult Education in Asheville, omen of calor and a PhD. He is also the president/CEO of a state certified Historically : . ee Underutilized Business that works with nonprofits and small businesses disproportionately represented. in organizational development and leadership training. Politically, the first black vice chair-of the NCGOP makes it clear he’s no friend or supporter of the first black president of the United States. As The Wilmington Journal first reported last June, a 2008 YouTube video from that year’s NCGOP convention has Johnson expressing serious doubts about Obama’s ability to serve as Commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces during atime of war. During that video interview with the. women. Although she attributes right-wing website “ScrappleFace.com,” Johnson, who had a son Imprisonment, she said, does _ Increased awareness of violence Srving in_raq atthe time, said he disagreed wit then candidate Obanta’s ~ toward women to the feminist ‘Pledge that if elected, he would end the war, "We have a responsibility ray ‘demic ‘0 finish what we started,” Johnson said. Afterward, the future vice 7 Meena — chair of the NCGOP expressed serious doubts about Obama’s fitness P __, (0 lead the troops, and chastised the black community for wanting to follow the Democratic candidate. ‘’In the black community, they speak those words [about Christian faith and family values) but then they want to follow Barack Obama because of color,” Johnson said. “It’s not because of change. It’s not because of hope, because those are rhetorical words that means absolutely nothing at the end of the day.” progress in stopping it,” she what we have to do is to punish trying to figure out. why is this. and, using the term “hypoctitically,” went on to suggest that Obama going on and trying to: figure Was not being honest in presenting himself as a selfless public servant, out what we need to do to stop So at first glance, Timothy Johnson stacks up to. be someone; NC it.” Progress within women’s Republicans would want to be their Number Two leader, if not Nutnber rights is evident Davis sai dbo One. But there have been problems for Johnson, problems that observers . Aya speculate Chairman Fetzer may be exploiting the negative perception it must not be measured by of to ultimately force Vice Chair Johnson’s resignation. Earlier this counting the number of female year, Dr. Johnson was accused of dishonesty by fellow North Carolina CEOs or the number of Women Republicans after it was reported that in 1996 he was convicted of who have almost become ageravated assault on his first wife im Cuyahoga County, Ohio during president. Rather, success adomestic squabble. He admittedly hid that fact from everyone, never within women’s rights must be revealing his criminal background to supporters in North Carolina when viewed with respect to those he first ran for Buncombe County GOP chair years ago. Just before who were worse off to begin June’s NCGOP Convention, Dr. Johnson, who last year accused Barack with, and from there, she said, Obama of not being totally transparent with the American people to thaw ii along way to go. “One Protect his own interests, told a local Asheville television station that of the nant is halve is thar 2° did not feel he had to tell the leadership of the Buncombe County a ‘é oblems utp GOP about his criminal past before they first elected him chair. Johnson’s we assume often that ONCE WE ‘belief that the people whose trust he was vying for had no right to know Wey eyene kind of victory that essential elements about his background was particuli ily damming it's going to be there, it’setched hecause the person Johnson replaced as Buncombe GOP chair reportedly in Stone and we don’t have to. did the same thing - hide his criminal past, including atwo-year stint in constantly defend it,” Davis prison. Ittooka public plea from his current wife, a public orsement said. “It’s often the case that from his battered first wife, and Dr. Johnson taking the podium on the that which we thought we had NCGOP Convention floor to denounce his detractors and assure. changed man, to-ultimately ‘overcome the ee a8 another struggle,” °OntToversy,'and win the VP chair. But since that historic triumph, NC GOP VICE CHAIR. *°°in-command about an alleged cident involving Johnson and Rens Sg nai a an NCGOP staffer, In a scathing Sept. 3 letter to Johnson re ased to _ALLEGES BIAS, _ + the press, Fetzer charged that the party VP verbally abused a fe : last June, alleges that he ”...has by the hand and would not let go of it while you berated her about the asked for an office at party Performance of the staff at the NCGOP headquarters for several headquarters in Raleigh and to be Minutes,” Fetzer wrote, “During the entire conversation, she felt included in events and planning.” ‘cornered’ and unable to escape. She found your attitude to be “"T’m the first black to serve at this Condescending and the entire encounter to be very embarrassing.” “At role, as the state vice chair, and best as reported to me, you exhibited extremely poor manners, and at I'm not being included,” Johnson Worst, conduct unbecoming an officer of the North Carolina Republican. is quoted as telling the N&O. * All Party,” Fetzer continued, Johnson disagreed with Fetzer’s account, the people (Fetzer's) bringing on S4Ying that there was no anger, the holding of hands was mutual, and, staff are continuing to perpetuate I wasn’t trying to control her and not allow her to walk away.” Still, the traditional image of the party, Johnson admits to sending an email of apology to the staffer. Exactly which is just Whites. That's all we Why Fetzer felt compelled to discuss the incident and his internal letter have in our headquarters is ' ® top NCGOP officer publicly raises questions, Normally, in an whites.”” Later in the: article, fort to spare a high profile political organization controversy and Johnson made it clear that under iniense media scrutiny, officials handle such serious charges of physical and emotional abuse internally, rendering only terse No comments” Chairman Fetzer, he is not a happy camper, This issue is between if asked. And since his vice chair has a well-known criminal of him and I, It’s about him and I,” abuse towards his ex-wife, Fetzer's effort to publicize the Fetzer, a conservative Republican incident, instead of Protecting a supposed member of his “One Team - who cut his political teeth working " political family, raises even further three-terms as mayor of Raleigh Published reports, says | from 1993-99, has always been an 5 given Johnson's “'apology,”” is considered “resolved.” But sth ‘ ' we “ | bt : re bee mY 4 : ip! it's 1 ay arena | . aL kee mye ee \ mane salt ti iM Bf) ik . me ati : he " o——— Eo Wi n 3. Free C/Ds_ Cornerstone Church is the home to some of the most praying women in Pitt County, name these 3 ladies and Win 3.C/D’s compliments of the Minority Voice Newspaper Call.757.0365 Social Security Checks Will Be Decreased WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of older people face shrinking Social Security checks next year, the first time in a generation that payments would not rise. The trustees ‘who oversee Social Security are projecting there won’t be a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the next two years. That hasn’t happened since automatic increases were adopted in 1975. By law, Social Security benefits cannot go down. Nevertheless, monthly payments would drop for millionsof people in the’: Médi¢are’ /Ptescription: drwy the’ program because premiums, which often are deducted from Social Security payments, are scheduled to go up slightly. “I will promise you, they count on that COLA,” said Barbara Kennelly, a former Democratic congresswoman from Connecticut who now heads the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. “To some people, it might not be a big deal. But to seniors, especially with their health care costs, it is a big deal.” Cost of living adjustments are pegged to inflation, which has been negative this year, largely because energy prices are below 2008 levels. Advocates say older people still face higher prices because they spend a disproportionate amount of their income on health care, where costs rise faster than inflation. Many also have suffered from declining home values and shrinking stock portfolios just as they are relying on those assets for income. “For many elderly, they don’t feel that ‘inflation is low because their expenses are still going up,” said David Certner, legislative policy director for ‘AARP. “Anyone who has savings and investments has seen some serious losses.” - About 50. million retired and disabled Americans receive Social Security benefits. The average monthly benefit for retirees is $1,153 this year. All beneficiaries received a 5.8 percent increase in January, the largest since 1982. More than'32 million people are : in the Medicare. prescription | drug program. Average monthly premiums are set to go from $28 this year to $30 next year, though they vary by plan. About 6 million people in the program have premiums deducted from their monthly Social Security payments, according to the Social Security Administration. Millions of people with Medicare Part B coverage for doctors’ visits also have their premiums deducted from Social “Security payments: Part B premiums are expected to rise as well. But under the law, the increase cannot be larger-than the increase in Social Security benefits for most recipients. , There is no such hold-harmless provision for drug premiums. Kennelly’s group wants Congress to increase Social Security benefits next year, even thodgh the formula doesn’t call for it. She would like to see a little less than $8 billion, could be covered by increasing the amount of income subjected to Social Security taxes, Kennelly said. Workers only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,800 of income, a limit that rises each year with the average ‘ national wage. But the limit only increases if monthly benefits increase. Critics argue that Social Security recipients shouldn’t get an increase when inflation is negative. They note that recipients got a big increase in January — after energy prices had started to fall. They also note that Social Security recipients received one-time $250 payments in the spring as part of the government’s economic stimulus package. Coiisiimer pricey are down font 2008 levels; giving’ Social Security recipients more purchasing power, even if their benefits stay the same, said Andrew G. Biggs, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Washington think tank. “Seniors may perceive that they are being hurt because there is no COLA, but they are in fact not getting hurt,” Biggs said. “Congress has to be able to tell people they. are not getting everything they want.” Social Security is also facing long-term financial ‘problems. The retirement program is projected to start paying out more money than it receives in 2016. Without changes, the retirement fund. will be depleted in. 2037, according to the Social Security. trustees’ annual report this year, officially announces that there will not be an increase in benefits next year. “I think a lot of seniors:do not know what’s coming down the pike, and I believe that when they hear that, they’re. going to be upset,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, Institute, a- ) taking some unbelievable shots.” At Friday’s weigh-in, Marquez (50-5-1) was four pounds’ lighter — than Mayweather, who paid a $600,000 penalty for missing the bout weight of 144 pounds. Simple physics took over from there. Though Marquez stayed on his feet for 12 one-sided rounds, Money Mayweather’s win was never in doubt.” Mayweather had an astonishing edge in punch stats, landing 290 of his 493 blows (59 percent) while allowing just 12 percent of Marquez’s 583 punches to land. Mayweather landed more jabs in each round than Marquez landed total punches; . and just 16 percent. of Marquez’s power shots even got. to Mayweather. Mayweather often appeared to be toying with Marquez, who’s generally considered among the world’s top handful of fighters. e. “I’ve been off for two years, so I felt like it took me a couple of rounds to really know I was back in the ring a ical Mayweather said. . September 4th - 11th 2009 page 3 MEN,S HAIRCUT $10,00 TO.$12.00 ” SHAVE $6.00 EYE BROW ARCH Gp ae NECKLINE TAPERREDGE - $5.00 BOY'S HAIRCUT $8.00 ie Continue To Stimulate Your Mind READ! We Never Stop Moving COLDWELI BANKER COMMERCIAL Drive ‘Payments of 173.00/ ' month + Insurance and . Taxes Call Nora Nomaz 252 341 3552 Tired Of Paying Rent? Check out this 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhome on Shiloh Great Condition—all ; appliances come with purchase Asking $28,900.00— American people. hoch Carolina’s Electric Coopetatives Your Teachane Ena” Cooperatives ID Ask Congress to vote for energy solutions we can afford. Congress is getting readly to vole on energy legislation that will increase energy costs for families and businesses. Many Americans will be unable to afford their electric bills. Please tell Congress to vote for solutions that balance the needs of the environment with the financial concerns of the ° “TELL CONGRESS YOUR STORY. Let them know thot we need energy legisiation that protects our wallets and our world. Find A apateed Solu 1 PUA AR need ahbe Oe seh ae et September 4th -11th Page 4 Oprah Wintry Sued — For 1 Trillion Local TV news Web site Abc2.com reports: “The TV titan, one of America’s highest éarning celebrities, is being sued by author Damon Lloyd Goffe who accuses the media mogul and her production - company Harpo Inc. of plagiarizing his book ‘A Tome _ of Poetry’ in her Internet published work ‘Pieces of My Soul.’”” While Oprah’s camp has yet to réspond, the media fallout for the queen of talk has already been ugly. Leave your: comments on this story. and more below in BV’s Black: Business Blast. Every week, BV. on Money brings you the latest in personal finance, investing, small business advice and more. Click the images to read more, and then respond How To Complain About A Company By Mary Pilon | As we all know, sometimes companies don’t get it right — "you order a DVD and receive a t-shirt with three wolves instead, your luggage winds up in Bangkok while you’ re in Birmingham, or you find two charges on your Visa bill for primer on how you, the consumer, can get the remedy you need. 1. Exhaust all options with the company. Most mistakes are honest ones, so hopefully speaking with customer service will set things right, Be polite but firm when dealing with customer service — representatives. Anyone who has worked in customer service knows that screaming, Swearing and name-calling ' aren't appreciated, and are occasionally tracked and noted on your customer profile. Ask to speak with a manager; and if discussions there have reached a standstill, consider filing a written complaint. Many companies have ways to file complaints online, and ask a customer service representative for the proper email and mailing address, as well as what kind of responise you can expect to receive. Most companies have contact information on their Web sites, but keep a copy of whatever you send with dates so you can follow up. "Written letters are a great 4 aa eat it helps you Tegularly © complaints, too, Consumer ‘and accurate. Don’t forget ~~ include contact information so ~~ ~~—the company cant Teach out to you. (The government j puts out a Consumer Action Handbook, a handy index of resources for consumers and also offers tips on how to write et - letters.) =a 2. File’a complaint with the | Better Business Bureau. Although the BBB is not an official regulating body, it’s.a powerful channel between consumers and companies. Consumers can file complaints on the BBB’s Web site, and the Bureau then sends the complaint to the company, If the company is among the BBB’s 400,000 participating businesses, they must respond, says Alison Southwick, a BBB spokesperson. | Member companies adhere to the BBB Code of Business Practices, which means they must maintain a BBB rating of B or higher, keep up with local licenses and clearly disclose policies to companies, among other things. Other non- participating. ‘businesses respond | to complaints are also filed into the BBB’s database of publicly- available reliability reports. When writing a complaint to file - with the BBB, be as detailed as possible. List the names, places, dates, times and numbers of people you spoke with: If the | complaint is about a smaller company or possible scam, these clues can help the BBB track down fraud. A rule of . thumb: “People should just pour themselves a glass of wine and, : start» typing,” Ms. Southwick says; The BBB doesn’t handle . complaints against employers or licensed professionals such as doctors or lawyers. But they will direct those complaints to the relevant ethics boards or industry regulators, 3. Tell the government. This - Option is best when you have an the same item. Here’s a brief ‘issue that you think could impact many other consumers, Ms. Southwick says, Think more along the lines of telemarketing fraud or loan- - modification scams rather than a late pizza delivery person. Ms. Southwick also suggests that consumers file a complaint with their state attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission. Consumers aren’t . individual guaranteed resolution to their issue, but if these vffices get lots of similar complaints, it could launch an investigation. Ohio state attorney general Richard Cordray recently filed a Jawsuit against a debt collector after receiving a wave of customer complaints. These complaints can be filed either through the Federal. Trade Commission’s website or by finding contact information for your state “attorney general. (Google your state and “attorney general”) In general, they’re looking for the same details and information that the BBB is, as they, too, may need clues to investigate, 4. Go public, Once you've exhausted all other options, you may have some luck going to the Web. Blogs and Twitter have made it almost too easy to (loudly) voice your complaints he. to ps Avmpainetis audience, erm has can explode at lightning Speed for a company. os Some companies like JetBlue have made a point of. introducing internet-focused consumer relations representatives, but not all companies have in-house resources dedicated to online‘ complaints. Nine different employees handle JetBlue’s million-follower- strong Twitter stream, says Morgan Johnston, JetBlue’s manager of corporate communications. He’s one’ of them, and the airline has: with two or three staffers: manning Twitter at any given time. The @JetBlue feed is used to notify consumers about possible weather delays, airline policies and where to get a good espresso. Mr. Morgan also says that the company responds to individual customer complaints, directing those consumers to. customer service representatives who can pull up . booking _ information, reschedule flights or issue refunds. “Thete’ § 1,000 customer service reps on the phone,” he _ says, “and two of us.” Mr. Morgan and his crew will also look for critical mass in * tweets and let airports know if § more staff is needed at certain s ee Es em and a public relations nightmare signed the week before the season began. It will pay him $9,957 million in 2009, or $9.932 million after he pays that fine. Butdon’t let the shoes fool you into thinking | Robinson was fined $25,000}. yesterday’ for wearing) customized Nike cleats with] the words “Pay Me Rick”| written on the heel during the} team’s season opener Sunday. | The message was intended for} Texans GM Rick Smith, who : had placed the franchise tag on} Robinson after failing to. sign : him to.a long-term contract} over the offseason. After sting out all of training camp because a of the dispute, Robinson finally) one-year tender al =F that Robinson is a guy concerned only about making money and not the betterment of the team: As he told The Houston Chronicle about the shoes: check-in points. Recently, one | customer tweeted about having to pay a $50 fee for a folding bike, even though the bike fit: into a carry-on. Within 24 hours, Mr. Morgan had the policy changed to create an exception for the $50 bike fee, and the airline refunded the | a : consumer’ $ money. ‘When it comes to castorners, Mr. Morgan says he sees the gamut of frustrated flyers. “People swear,” he says, “but we won't swear back.” There are other miscellaneous tactics, like executive email bombs that aim to shove your complaint directly under the noses of a company’s €xecutives, Another successful strategem: Put your complaint in song. One city, one people! : ve oy Paid For by he Camm - I Te ‘prenjomennmayesom ie Box 441 > Greenville NC 27834. 252.347.3234 o % | 0n, sowhen you apply: we'll C of “a "serene Ane Pretty A ye A Picture | t (picture above) Nell Lewis litle 5 baby girl is all grown up and looking good as she pose for the camara at an affair in Greenville, NC Photo s by Jim Rouse t 268. 1762 | ‘ Specials = = 1 Story House $80.00 2 Story House heaps 00 ne 9 a a * gw Don't Be One of . _ the Crowd! ai ie fyou had your natural ga’. cut off for the spring and summer, apply NOW fo get it tuned on for _ the heating season. Don't wait until the first sign of winter. If you do, you'll just be one of the crowed, and ‘may have’ to walt tonger for aAlvice. You must be hore when your natural gas is tumed schedule a time for ' _ You to meet one of our Service Workers. Call now, | and we'll be able to -inphact one day in advance, There isa $50 service charge toturn on your ~ Natural gas April through October. The a Is. 870 ene eee March. | Please call aC se wane at Ts ¢ African American Depression Obams spoke to Wal Street today about the need to carefully guard the apparent economic recovery, ordering financial titans to act with integrity as the recession slowly dwindles away. But The New York Times is painting a much different economic picture for African Americans. For blacks in large numbers, we are not coming out of a recession we . are experiencing a depression that germinated nine years ago, In addition to that; we are being mci blamed by disgruntled whites for their increasing economic misery. From The Times: When you're going down, as the white middle class has been doing for several years now, it’s all too easy to imagine that. it’s because someone else is | __ climbing up. Over your back. - Women.and The Sex Industry the: _ » disproportignately high levels of foreclosures and unemployment. Despite the sense of white grievance, though, blacks are the ones who are taking the brunt of “recession, with And they weren’t doing so well * to begin with. At the Start of the recession, 33 percent of the black middle class was already in danger of falling to a lower “economic level, according to a study by the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University and Demos, a nonpartisan public policy research organization. In fact, you could say’that for African- wrenching article about a terrible side effect of the economic downturn. Apparently, more women are turning to sex work to make ends meet, because jobs that pay decent wages are so scarce. And the Internet makes it easier than ever for women with no experience in this secretive industry to get started. Your image of who turns to prostitution may be shattered by this piece, in which you will meet characters who could be your sister, cousin, neighbor... Or even your wife: “Take 55-year- old Jennifer of the Bronx, N.Y. who was laid off from her Americans the recession is over, //247Ci4! bookkeeping job... Her It occurred from 2000 to 2007, as black employment decreased by 2.4 percent and incomes declined by 2.9 percent. During those seven years,-one-third of black children lived in poverty, and black unemployment - even among college graduates - consistently ran at about twice the level of white. unemployment. That was the black recession. What’s happening now is more like a depression.. Due To The Recession husband, a subcontractor, also got the boot five months ago. He managed to find a part-time gig but, despite three decades of work experience in her field, Jennifer hasn't been able to land anything. Meanwhile, bills have piled up and they’re six months behind on their mortgage; that’s why Jennifer started turning tricks on Craigslist.” The collapse of the economy is making these types of choices inevitable for many women _ ‘despite years. of education and — |. professional expertise. I have seen talk of this phenomenon on message boards as well: Women turning to strip-clubs and other venues that they would normally -hever consider because things _ ate that bad out there. Recently, | Vice President Joe Biden — ’ admitted that he and President Salon.com has published aheart- __ September 4th - 11th Page 5 A Reaffirmation Of Love Ricky Tyrone Demery and Bernita Whitaker Demery. celebrate their reaffirmation ceremony Boards The Pitt County Board of Commmissioners i is responsible for appointi advertising these boards and commissions in an effort to recruit a desired and the applicant's qualifications, Applications may days before consideration. ra 6 Q)])] MISSSIO ng and reappointing Members to various county boards and commissions. The Clerk to the Board is responsible for, qualified and diverse group of applicants. All individuals interested in serving must submit a written application provided by the clerk including name address and the name of the board(s) or commission(s) to which appointment iy be filed for several boards if desired. Applicants must be a Pitt County resident | to serve. Applications will remain on file 15 For more information on open boards and commissions, an application, or the application process, : Obama have greatly © rever I, m ept r 1. 1984. waderetinaed ths dap of te “Foreve i arried Septembe I, 8 hole the U.S. economy is in. If ' Ee me ee me ee ee ee i si middle class women are turning to prostitution in droves to stay | Fr ee . 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NO Bentcotnn Toman tana a s | Also paint repair and refinish all wooden furniture. | N C E mission Insp ections $ 24. 00 fw | Can Replace old material with new Mark’s Quick Lube & Automotive Center” : l 252.551. 6909 3 Owner Faith May 3550NE Greenville Blvd Greenville. NC Reg. Price $30.00 | 2959 NC HWY 121 Farmville, NC 27828 | One Block From North Campus i Bos its ‘ame isn cine wag me seem SMS dif cs ony grme exmey cy nt een wins io Si a i i et eee ie _ North Carolina ty | August | Pitt y 100 Best C 2008 he www.pittcountync.gov s AD pointments contact the Pitt County Clerk to the Board, Patricia Staton; at 252.902. 2950 or 1717 W. Sth St. Greenville. You may also visit uaa omens gov for the Board Policy on Appointments, Members of Boards and Chairman’s Appointments. In addition to the advertisement in this newspaper, an updated list of open boards and commissions isalso posted in the Stay Connected with Pitt County ad in each Saturdays edition of reel. Reflactot. i ! Simpson Wisse Board is in need of interested applicants that reside in the Simpson ET. ney meet the Ist Monday of each month , excluding July, August at 7:00 pm at simpson Town Hall Greenville Board of Adjustment i is in need of applicants that reside outsidethe cooperate limits of the city but with the ETI. They hear and decide appeals concerning zoning issues application for special use permitsand request for variances. Region Q'Workforce Development Board is in need of interested a link career center system and serve as a facilitate of workforce dey month at 3:00 pm Greenville Pecaie & Zoning Cohdeatadtin is in of applicants who wis 7% outside the cooperate limits of the city but with the ET) they regulate land developmegt in the city of Greenville and in Greenville extraerritorial jurisdiction, } Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities is in need of interested applicants. They meet the first Thursday of ¢ach month at 3:30pm . They promote the employment of all persons bt disabilities on all aspects of — emphasizing employment but also x areas such as transportation , tonite recreation and education. applicants. They administer and provide oversight of resources under the workforce investment act, coordinate the job retary the 5 countyareas of Pitt, Beafort, Mastin, Bertie, & Hertford, They meet the 2nd Wed. of every other In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Witney Houston discussed her marraige to singer Bobby Brown. The couple married in 1992 and were divorced in 2007. During their marriage, Brown was arrested on drug and alcohol charges, and Houston twice entered drug rehabilitation programs, She has custody of their teenage daughter. Houston told Winfrey that Brown ‘wasn’t physically abusive but “he slapped me once but he got hit on the head three times by me.” -A phone message left Monday with Brown’s attorney in Atlanta seeking comment was not immediately returned. Houston said she was attracted to Brown because he took control of their relationship and had “a sweet, . gentle tenderness.” “At home, he was very much the father, he was very much the man,” Houston said. “He was very much in control. I liked that. When he said. something, I listened. I was very interested in having someone have that kind of control over me. -It was refreshing.” She described - an episode after a birthday party for Brown that left her “horrified. ” He spit on me, in my face.” She - said their daughter, Bobbi Kristina, witnessed the incident, See Oe Fy ey <=. ie iS | a a en ee : ~ would smash and break things at their angry.’ * Houston also said ea a. home. The 46-year-old singer i described her drug use, saying it # became “heavy” afterher 1992 movie § “The Bodyguard.” She said she would take marijuana combined With rock cocaine. “You put your — marijuana, you lace it, you roll itup | and you smoke it,” Houston | : explained to Winfrey. Duringa2002 § ABC interview with Diane.Sawyer, iE Houston admitted dabbling in drugs} but denied using crack, then uttered the now-famous Phrase: “Crack is wack.” “He was my drug,” ‘Houston. © told Winfrey of Brown. “I didn’t do anything without him. I wasn’t getting high by myself. It-was me and him together. We were partners,” Houston Lone said she stuck with Brown because. Bea gyi4 she took her marriage vows seriously. fies She said she told her daughter about her drug use and took her with her to’ an Atlanta drug rehab for mothers and children. “I.didn’t lie to her,” ‘Houston. said. Her mother also tried to “intervene, the Singer said, and at one» point came to Houston's home with. police. The singer prayed for help, asking God to give her seca - . Coupon Corner | Booth 6........Do It Again | Buy 1 Get 2nd 1/2 off of equal Value or less | Pre- Owned Professional No Outfit,Over $25. 00 ‘Indoor Discount Mall - "Greéne St. Flea Market © Now Open tf (Located 900 N. 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