4 The Hampton Roads Messenger Editorial


Prevent Your Community from Becoming Another Ferguson also


notice of the


The rest of the world is taking


lethal


discrimination African Americans are facing in the US even when they are the majority in their community. Although the majority of the population in Ferguson is African American, the police department and local government is made up of a majority of African European Americans --people whose ancestors originated in Africa and at some point migrated to Europe and then to the Americas, also known as “Whites.” The rest of the world is looking at the United States as being hypocritical for pointing out human rights abuses in other countries while racial discrimination is still so prevalent here in our own country.


Last month, the mother of BY ANGELA JONES I was actually extremely hesitant


to write about Ferguson, Missouri this month for several reasons. One of the biggest reasons is because I wrote about how African Americans should spend money primarily in our own communities and support economic growth in our communities to secure hope and respect for our children. The article was titled “Become Wealthy Without Winning the Lottery.” Less than a few days after the article appeared in the August 2014 edition of the Hampton Roads Messenger, the shooting of another unarmed African American youth, Michael Brown, took place in Ferguson.


Even without having all of the


facts in the case, we know enough about the senseless killing of Michael Brown to know that it should never have happened. Several witnesses have stepped forward to say that Michael Brown was walking away from the officer with his hands in the air when he was shot multiple times in the head and chest, raising even more questions about the officer's motives.


In several articles, I implored


African Americans to stop shopping where they are not respected. A couple of months ago, before Michael Brown was shot, someone showed me a video clip allegedly taken at the QuickTrip gas station near the location where Michael Brown was shot. The video shows a person returning the nozzle of a gas pump to its off position but the pump continues to run and calculate more charges. I am not surprised by this at all. It is no secret that African Americans have received the short end of the economic stick in the United States since its inception. For some reason, other groups feel that they can cheat, discriminate against and even murder African Americans and there will be no repercussions.


Since the murders of Oscar Grant,


III, Trayvon Martin and most recently, Michael Brown, African Americans should no longer be surprised when a young or old African American is gunned down in the street for no apparent reason by someone who is sworn to protect and serve. Rather than being surprised, African Americans should be prepared. We can be prepared by not carelessly spending disposable income on such frivolous items as sneakers that cost more than they earn in a week.


Trayvon Martin, Sabrina Fulton, and Ron Davis, the father of Jordan Davis, the 17 year-old shot for playing his rap music too loud in Jacksonville, Florida, went to Geneva to participate in a United Nations committee session. Fulton testified before the panel of 18 independent experts who spoke about the continued racial discrimination against African-Amer- icans and other minorities in the US, including within the criminal justice system.


The U.N. Committee on the


Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) stated that minorities, particularly African Americans, are victims of disparities. "Racial and ethnic discrimination


Volume 9 Number 1 Oyster Trail FROM PAGE 3


new Virginia economy, I want to make sure that our tourism and agricultural industries, including our outstanding and diverse marine products sector, can and will play a significant role in that effort.”


partnership


This year, a public-private of stakeholders


working together to brand the Virginia oyster


travel experience to


began show


the world that Virginia is for Oyster Lovers. The trail offers visitors a way to enjoy Virginia’s seven different oyster regions, as well as experience the unique culture of watermen in the Chesapeake Bay. As a result of these exciting developments with the Virginia oyster, Governor McAuliffe officially declared November as Virginia Oyster Month and named Virginia the “Oyster Capital of the East Coast.”


perfectly


“The Virginia oyster pairs with another widely


recognized Virginia product – wine – and some of Virginia’s oyster regions share watersheds with a number of Virginia’s outstanding wineries,” said First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe. “I believe this goes a long way to proving the old saying of “what grows together, goes together.” Indeed, we have two world-class products – oysters and wine – right here in Virginia and I know that the Virginia Oyster Trail will provide new economic opportunities for both those sectors and many other businesses as we work to create a new Virginia economy.”


remains


a serious and persistent problem in all areas of life from de facto school segregation, access to health care and housing," said Noureddine Amir, CERD committee vice chairman, in a news briefing.


Evidently, the United Nations


is not falling for the “we have a black president therefore we are not racist” routine. Nor did they fall for the ideology of, “We have a black attorney general; therefore, all of the excessive force used against African Americans by police officers and the disproportionate rate of incarceration of African Americans to African European Americans is acceptable.”


Again, the only way African


Americans will gain respect is when we all move forward economically together, not just a token number of African Americans. Rappers, professional athletes, chief executive officers, prosperity preachers and anyone else who has the resources to assist their fellow man, needs to step up and stop being selfish.


African Americans have to


treat each other better before we can expect other racial groups to treat us with respect. We need to run for public office, vote in every election and support candidates from our community by volunteering and contributing financially to their campaigns. If we all work together to ensure that our community as a whole is economically sound, we will not have to worry about watching our children die in the streets like animals. Believe it or not, neither a police officer nor anyone else is going to ask a child if he is Oprah Winfrey’s child or Russell Simmons’ child or Magic Johnson’s child before he shoots.


Virginia’s oyster harvest increased


by 25 percent from 2012 to 2013, with more than 500,000 bushels – the most in nearly a generation. Over the past 12 years, the oyster harvest in Virginia has increased from approximately 23,000 bushels in 2001 to last year’s level of just over 500,000. This is the highest level since 1987. The dockside value alone of the oyster harvest in 2013 was more than $22 million, up from approximately $16 million in 2012.


“In addition to being the nation’s


third largest producer of marine products, Virginia is the leading East Coast seafood production state and the oyster industry plays a significant role in those both of these high rankings,” said Todd Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, noting that the Commonwealth had more than 400 million pounds in landings last year placing it behind only Alaska


September 2014


and Louisiana. “We’re proud to promote Virginia oysters here and on international trade missions, where we’ve generated new export sales to China, Hong Kong, and Canada. As we answer the Governor’s call to build a new Virginia economy, we must take an inclusive approach by working with some of our oldest businesses, such as our seafood industries, as they continue to provide good jobs and outstanding products. With today’s announcement of the Virginia Oyster Trail, we’re hoping to spur more growth and opportunities for our watermen, the marine product sector, and other businesses along the trail.”


Virginia’s seven different oyster


regions produce the largest quantity of fresh wild-caught and farm-raised oysters in the United States and each region produces oysters with distinct flavors, offering an oyster for every palate. The Virginia oyster industry is one of the longest-standing industries in the state, providing bountiful meals for Virginia’s first inhabitants.


“The continued growth of the


oyster industry and our fisheries management programs, combined with private sector investment, positively impacts the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s economy, particularly with respect to tourism,” said Maurice Jones, Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia, accounting for over $21.2 billion in revenue and supporting 210,000 jobs in 2012. The Virginia Oyster Trail is sure to continue this growth in tourism around the Commonwealth.”


“Virginia is in the oyster business


in a major way,” said Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “With seven different oyster regions, we are unlike any other state in the nation. The development of the Virginia Oyster Trail will allow travelers to experience the state with taste by pairing the Virginia oyster with other quality products made in Virginia, including wine, craft beer, cider and spirits.”


The Virginia Tourism Corporation


partnered with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Shellfish Growers of Virginia, the Virginia Seafood Council, the Virginia Marine Products Board, and the Artisans Center of Virginia, in addition to local tourism offices and planning district committees, to make this project a reality. For more information on the Virginia Oyster Trail, visit vir- giniaoystertrail.com.


Established 2006 Angela Jones, Publisher Chris Parks, Editor


Rae Willis, Graphic Designer Ida Davis, Contributing Writer


PO Box 10414 ● Norfolk, VA 23513


Sales and Information 757-575-1863 info@hamptonroadsmessenger.com Copyright pertaining to contents of this edition. All rights reserved.


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