4 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Remembering the past, deciphering the present and preparing for the future


Editorial


see a difference in the state of African Americans. I have said it before and I have to say it again: None of us will be respected until we all are respected. That is why we have to support each other. That is also why we must show empathy for one another.


When we see someone in our


community suffering, we should feel their pain and we should not rest until their suffering has subsided. We cannot afford to be selfish. There is strength in numbers and only the strong survive.


BY ANGELA JONES If the last couple of weeks have


taught African Americans anything, it should have taught us to be prepared for and expect the unexpected. Who would have ever guessed that our new president would have come out of the gate wielding a mighty pen that would erase the strides the United States has made with regard to international diplomacy over the last century.


Unsuspecting Muslims who tried


to enter the U.S. from countries that were singled out as provocateurs were detained. One should ask himself or herself, “Why would a novice to government relations want to make so many changes, so fast?” The answer is simple, he would not. Our president’s hand


must have been forced by


something or someone and my guess is that it was a case of "Wag the Dog."


Wag the dog is a term that is used


when someone takes bold unexpected actions that cause an uproar that can be used as a smoke screen to cover actions that were previously made or actions that will be made during the commotion.


What was the big news topic


before the executive orders? Whatever it was, it ceased to be important or discussed once the “poison” pen ink started to fly.


That is why we cannot concern ourselves so intensely with the crisis de jour. We have to remain focused on our future and the future of the next generation and the


generation after


that. We have to focus on educating our families


and our community;


contributing to the financial success of our families and our community and supporting the positive endeavors of our families and our community. If we begin to focus on those things and continue on that trajectory for the next 100 years, then and only then will we


We can look at other cultures that were oppressed and struggled to become successful in America. And we know of other oppressed groups that


Volume 11 Number 5 NC Innovation


FROM PAGE 1 Street


small businesses in Southeast


Raleigh and beyond. We believe this will have a lasting economic impact and represent a model than can be duplicated. We are excited to begin this model initiative with Shaw University."


The purpose of the Center is to inspire, connect, encourage and support startups, students and existing entrepreneurs. It will provide potential business owners with space to create and develop business ideas, business plans, and find resources for financing, networking and capacity


building to


bring entrepreneurial concepts to the marketplace.


staff, alumni, students, and members of the community, the Center open


university instruction, struggled and were practically


made extinct. As a matter of fact, the new president seems to admire the very president, Andrew Jackson, who almost single-handedly wiped all of the Native Americans off of the face of the earth.


Americans are blessed to be a part of a diverse population. We can all thrive in a country with so many resources. We do not have to worry that if one group is successful, other groups cannot be successful. There is enough of this "American pie" to feed the entire nation – and then some.


us today, I believe they would say “Be


They


If our ancestors could speak to prepared!”


were often


unprepared. When they were taken from their homeland, they did not expect it to happen. When they were crammed into ships, they did not expect that either. When they were hanged, and refused the right to vote, their solution was twarted by Jim Crow. There is a saying that states, “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” In other words, be prepared.


Throughout history, African Americans have been disarmed both literally and figuratively. We were figuratively disarmed for the last eight years. As our civil liberties were infringed upon time and time again, we did not speak up because there was someone who looked like us in the White House. Disarming one’s enemy is a well-known tactic of war. Perhaps we should also stock up on nonperishable foods and familiarize ourselves with the book, “The Art of War” and other empowering reading material. advocate


While I personally do not violence,


I do believe in being prepared and maintaining focus. FROM PAGE 1


action by organizing protests against this executive order at major points of entry and that legal organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, immediately filed challenges to this order.


These efforts send a clear


message that the President’s actions are contrary to American values.


Strong Awards


FROM PAGE 2 ·


Margaret Ellen Mayo Tolbert,


Ph.D. – scientist, educator and author, Suffolk


*Posthumous honor Four high school students also were


recognized during the ceremony. Each wrote winning essays, selected from nearly 200 entries, about the importance of helping others.


The winners of the 2017 “Strong


Men & Women in Virginia History” student essay writing contest are:


· Meenakshi Balan – Thomas Museum FROM PAGE 1 Washingtons’ Relentless 8 p.m.,


On Thursday, the


Feb. 9, Pursuit


of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge. The book will be available for sale and signing following the discussion.


at 6 to National Museum of


the American Indian, the National Museum of African Art and NMAAHC will present From Tarzan to Tonto: Stereotypes as Obstacles Toward a More Perfect Union. This symposium will be a discussion among noted scholars, authors and critics


about


the persistent presence of stereotypes and the a


barriers more


Established 2006 Angela Jones, Publisher Chris Parks, Editor


Rae Willis, Graphic Designer Ida Davis, Contributing Writer


Sales and Information 757-575-1863 info@hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Copyright pertaining to contents of this edition. All rights reserved.


Brown they enlightened pose and University; toward inclusive


society. Participants include Gaurav Desai, Tulane University; Adrienne Keene,


Tiya


Miles, University of Michigan; Imani Perry, Princeton University; and Jessi Wente, film critic and director of film programs, TIFF Bell Lighthouse. The event will take place at the American Indian Museum’s Rasmuson Theater at Fourth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. in Washington, D.C. It will be live webcast at nmai.si.edu/ multimedia/webcasts.


On Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 7


to 9 p.m. the museum will present NMAAHC Fashion Collection— Iconic Looks. Pulitzer Prize-winning


the American people and immediately rescind this executive order.


“The President should listen to If he


fails to do so, Congress must take appropriate action to address the order’s constitutional problems and openly debate and vote on whether or not our nation should be a beacon of hope to the world.”


Jefferson HS for Science


Technology, Fairfax County ·


High School, Scott County ·


and


River High School, Suffolk County ·


Hunter Davis – Gate City Indya Gipson – Nansemond Grace Lu – Douglas S.


Freeman High School, Henrico County


MacBook Air laptop and $1,000 for their


Each student received an Apple school. Winning essays and


program details, as well as photos and videos of the event are posted on www.lva.virginia.gov/smw.


fashion writer, Robin Givhan, will interview haute couture designers who have contributed to NMAAHC’s collections


including Tracy and B Michael, Reese,


who designed the dress Michelle Obama wore during her 2012 DNC speech


whose


beautiful designs have been worn by such renowned actresses Tyson and Phylicia evening’s conversation


Rashad. creativity Registration for this


as Cicely The


on their works, ideas about culture, inspiration, preneurship.


will focus and entre-


program is strongly encouraged, but walk-ins will be welcomed subject to space availability.


Wrapping up the month on


Sunday, Feb. 26, from 3 to 5 p.m. will be A Celebration of Black Composers and Chamber Music Performed by Pershing’s Own. The U.S. Army Band, known as Pershing’s Own, will perform chamber-music works by esteemed


African space to Scott on Ban


Open to Shaw University faculty, will


classroom research technology and


February 2017


professional mentorship from local business owners.


"Shaw University is excited to partner with the Carolina Small Business Fund to launch this critical resource


for our startup community culture of


entrepreneurs,” said Shaw University president, Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy. “Raleigh is a national leader connecting


and


investment with several emerging industries. We are proud to serve as a workforce development partner in this ambitious venture," said Dubroy.


By establishing the Center, Shaw University and Carolina Small Business aspire to provide more awareness, training


and support


to entrepreneurs in underserved communities that significantly impact local economies.


This 21st


century business incubator will be ground zero for cultivating big ideas, and training and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.


in


American


classical music composers, including H. Leslie Adams, Valerie Coleman, David Sanford, Alvin Singleton and William Grant Still. The 90-minute concert, with intermission, will be followed by a Smithsonian-mod- erated discussion and an audience Q&A. Registration for this program is strongly encouraged, but walk-ins will be welcomed subject to space availability.


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