news
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE December 2-8, 2009 Page A-4
News Briefs
Wendell Anthony
Anthony receives
ALPACT award
Rev. Dr. Wendell An-
thony, president, Detroit
Branch NAACP, recently
received the Excellence
in Community Leader-
ship Award during the
first annual Advocates
and Leaders for Police and
Community Trust (ALPACT)
Banquet.
Anthony was awarded
this honor for his perse-
verance and commitment
to the advancement of
diversity, community and
humanity.
U.S. Attorney General
Eric Holder served as the
Keynote Speaker for the
Wedding ring From page A-1
banquet.
“I am thankful to
compared to Black women.” “Our Black culture may
ALPACT for this honor,”
yield more ground in the cul-
said Anthony. “This award
Reed, an accomplished
tural push and pull, losing
is representative of service
journalist who received man-
some of its steam and sub-
not only to the Detroit com-
agement training at the New
stance. Yet, I must posit that
munity but to the broader
York Times and at the Maynard
love is wherever and when-
community as well. An
Institute’s Media Academy at
ever you find it — in White or
award such as this is based
Harvard University, said the
Black, inner city or suburb,
not only on what you have
situation in Detroit is dire.
tall or short, online, word of
done, but work that others
“For Detroit women be-
mouth recommendation, at
have helped me to do.
tween the ages of 30 and 40,
professional conference or
“I also wish to thank
there are approximately 30
choir practice — as long as it
everyone who has helped
percent more women than men
is love and not something that
me in my quest to lift up
in the city,” Reed said. “When
pretends to be love. I think the
the quality of life for all
you look at the Census data
more our women go outside of
people. My desire to serve
for the same age group across
our community to marry, the
is based on a commitment
Michigan, there is only a 6 per-
stronger the challenge would
to provide freedom, justice
cent difference, based on the
be on our men to rise up and
and equality to all people
recent U.S. Census American
take their rightful place in the
regardless of race, ethnicity
Community Survey.”
hearts of these women. If they
or gender.”
Reed said that means
don’t fill the vacuum, you can
women who live in Detroit face
bet others will, eventually.”
a much smaller pool of avail-
The divorce rate in the
AKA Foundation
able men to start with.
Black community is equally
of Detroit plans
“For example according
soaring, presenting another
to the recent Census, more
challenge to the Black family.
charity gala than 50,000 women in De-
“Yes, the number of should-
The women of the Alpha
troit, which is a mostly Black
be-married and once-married
Kappa Alpha Foundation of
community, have a bachelor
ladies is huge. One may say
Detroit will host its Winter
degrees or higher compared
it has even become a thing
Wonderland Charity Gala to
to only 31,000 of men,” Reed
of pride to wave the once-
be held at the Ritz-Carlton
said.
married banner and talk often
in Dearborn, on Friday, Dec. At 26 years, Kelly L. Dick-
about ‘loving my daughter to
death,’ as if the daughter is
18
ens, a successful producer
and reporter for ABC12 WJRT
a finite consolation for not
Traditionally, the Foun- TV in Flint, describes herself
ditionally held by men, which are looking for men who treat of ourselves and don’t neces- having a husband,” Eze said.
dation biannually hosts a as “super single.”
consequently affects relation- us respectfully, love us, and sarily need or want men (or “You know, it sort of reflects
Rose Ball during December.
ships. have healthy relationships anyone else) to provide for one’s level of social sophisti-
However, in recent years
“I have had about three re-
with their families, friends and us. There’s power in indepen- cation and spirit of indepen-
as the economy began its
lationships and I ended them
“I’ve heard a few men say
their God. Men who are confi- dence.” dence. Beyond that, I think, in
downward spiral, that sig-
because they simply weren’t
that women nowadays just
dent, open and secure with many ways, marrying and stay-
nature event had not been
working,” she said. “There
don’t know their ‘role.’ Being
rk force, I
themselves,” Roberson said.
C. Paschal Eze is author of
the allegorical “Divorce Ap-
ing married has also become a
held. And again because of
was tension in a few of them
a woman in the wo
work to tear down ‘roles.’ My Lonette McKee, actress and petizers: All You Shouldn’t
matter of cash. Show me your
the deepening slide in the
because of my demanding job
coworker just said women filmmaker, said it is a new day Eat and What to Do When You
wallet, and I will show you the
economy, particularly in
schedule and ambition. Right
fight for their rights and roles for Black women. Eat Them,” that offers meth-
type of woman that can stick
Detroit, the nature of the
now I am single. I have no can-
at work and then bring that
with you, come summer or
event has been changed
didates. I’m not sure I totally
same attitude into a relation-
“Throughout my entire
ods for maintaining a healthy
winter. But not all women are
to a charity gala to raise
believe that’s because there
ship and it doesn’t work,”
adult life I’ve always been in
marriage.
that way, I must add.”
much-needed funds for the
aren’t any available men who
Dickens said. “I can see this
a live-in relationship with a “I won’t be surprised if in
Foundation’s “Selected
have my standards.”
happening, but I don’t think
man. I’ve been happily married the future you find many more
But Eze added, “There are
Citizens Project.” Dickens said she and sev-
that is me. I think I can be a
and gleefully divorced. I’ve en- diverse families where John
still women that will love their
The chapter has offered
eral other successful Black
good mate but I don’t baby and
joyed great relationships with is Brown, Mary is Yellow and
Black men for who they are,
this project, which services
women are waiting for their
coddle men. I will, however, be
wonderful men and some, Steve is White and their Mama
and will go the distance with
more than 100 seniors, on
“Barack Obama” to come and
your number one supporter.”
well, not so much. But things is my lovely Black sister whose
them. There are also men
have changed. It’s a new day,” current husband is Yellow. I
who fold their hands and wait
the third Saturday of every
find them.
Portia Roberson, who heads McKee said. “Women nowa- won’t be surprised if that same
for the women to guide, feed,
month at the Foundation, President Obama has
the U.S. Justice Department days are holding down jobs, future produces more Black
clothe and bathe them. Are
located on Howard Street. become the new model of a
Office of Intergovernmental earning their own paychecks fathers of mulattoes who do
they really men?”
Tickets and further infor-
charming Black prince for
and Public Liaison, is not only and taking responsibility for not really care about our tra- E-mail senior editor
mation for the Charity Gala
most Black women who see
a successful lawyer, but the their own happiness and emo- ditions,” Eze said whose book Bankole Thompson at bthomp-
can be obtained by calling
his strong family values and
native Detroiter is also a rising tional well-being. We realize is being released on Amazon. son@michronicle.com.
(313) 964-1572 or (248)
affection for Michelle Obama
star in the Obama administra- we’re capable of taking care com.
945-0309. Those who are
as renewed hope that they can
tion.
interested in contributing
find their own someday.
When reached on her cell,
may call the same numbers “For so long people have
Roberson, who has turned 40,
or send their tax-deductible pretended as if it was close to
Henderson From page A-1
agreed with Kimberly Hill that
contribution to The Alpha impossible to have it all, but
Black women should expand
Kappa Alpha Foundation of the President of the United
months, all involved agree that on four core brands: Chevro- Whitacre said an interna-
their dating options.
Detroit, P.O. Box 441013, States and Michelle shattered
changes needed to be made.” let, Cadillac, Buick and GMC tional search for a new presi-
Detroit, MI 48224-1013. that glass ceiling,” Dickens
“We need to widen our
Henderson’s resignation
— a move favored by industry dent and CEO will begin im-
said.
scope of dating and relation-
comes less than a year after
critics and government offi- mediately.
State approves
ship possibilities. However,
The U.S. Census Bureau’s
former GM CEO Rick Wagoner
cials alike that suggested the
we are often convinced that
$7.2 million tax
American Community Survey
was ousted from the company,
automaker had too many over-
“I want to assure all of our
only a certain type of man can
reportedly at the urging of the
lapping products and lacklus-
employee, dealers, suppliers,
credit for Detroit
of 2006 showed that 45 per-
be our soul mate,” Roberson
cent of Black women in Amer-
Obama administration.
ter brands.
union partners and most of
all, our customers, that GM’s
said. “We recognize that men
redevelopment
ica have never been married
As part of the move, GM daily business operations will
may seem to have a myriad of
By most accounts Hender-
compared to 23 percent of
The Michigan Economic
dating options, but they must
son was seemingly making
is winding down Pontiac and continue as normal,” said
White women.
Growth Authority (MEGA)
challenge themselves to rec-
significant strides with the
was successful in winning a Whitacre. “I remain more con-
Board recently approved
That fear of being alone,
ognize that there remains real
government to reorganize
tentative sale of Hummer to vinced than ever that our com-
a $7.2 million tax credit
whether it is during the holi-
value and happiness in being
GM after the automaker filed
a Chinese construction ma- pany is on the right path and
for the NSO Bell project
day season or other special
in committed, loving relation-
for Chapter 11 protection in
chinery maker. But some of that we will continue to be a
expected to invest $50 mil-
occasions forces some women
ships.”
June.
the company’s plans under leader in offering the world-
Henderson’s leadership have wide buying public the highest
lion in Detroit, State Sen.
to make rash decisions re-
Recounting her dating ex-
With the federal gov- hit obstacles. quality, highest value cars and
Martha G. Scott (D-Highland
sulting in unsatisfactory re-
perience, Roberson said it’s
ernment’s assistance, GM
Park) announced.
lationships, and unfulfilling
never been an issue for her to
emerged from court protec-
A bid to sell Saturn to busi-
trucks.
marriages that end quickly in
The Brownfield Michi-
date men of different status
tion in just 40 days, eliminat-
ness mogul Roger Penske “We now need to acceler-
divorce.
gan Business Tax credit is
and income levels.
ing a substantial amount of
went sour and the brand is ate our progress toward that
debt and contracts burdening
now being liquidated. And ac- goal, which will also mean a
valued at up to $7,240,229.
More recently the gender
“I’ve dated men who made
the company.
cording to reports, last week, return to profitability and re-
The project is an innovative
roles of women have changed,
significantly more than I did Swedish sports carmaker Koe- paying the American and Ca-
mixed-use renovation of
making them more demand-
and men who’ve made less.
Henderson then pushed to nigsegg Automotive AB pulled nadian taxpayers as soon as
the Bell Building at 14300
ing in professional fields tra-
Black women, like all women,
downsize GM by just focusing out of a deal to buy Saab. possible.”
Woodrow Wilson St and 850
Oakman Blvd by the Neigh-
borhood Service Organiza-
tion (NSO), a human service
agency.
Lowery to keynote peace and justice dinner
Free seminar for On Sunday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m., devoted their lives to creating a
women
Central United Methodist Church world of peace and justice.
will hold its fifth annual Peace &
Waddell & Reed presents
Justice Banquet at Fellowship
This year’s honorees are Sixth
“Money Management; A
Chapel, 7707 W. Outer Dr.
Circuit Court of Appeals Judge
Woman’s Perspective.” This
Damon J. Keith, State Supreme
free seminar is designed to
The featured speaker for the
Court Chief Justice Marilyn J.
help women focus on their
evening will be Rev. Dr. Joseph
Kelly, and former U.S. Rep. David
current and future financial
E. Lowery, civil rights icon and
Bonior.
goals and objectives. The
recipient of the 2009 Presidential
event will take place at the
Medal of Freedom. Rev. Lowery
This event will serve as the
Waterford Public Library in
will also receive the Pastor’s
launch of Central United Meth-
Community Room B on Dec.
Award for his lifelong struggle to
odist Church’s bicentennial cel-
7, 6:30 p.m. Call (248) 273-
achieve equal rights for all. ebration next year.
1928, ext. 130.
As in the past, this year’s ban- For more information, call
David Bonior Damon J. Keith Joseph E. Lowery Marilyn J. Kelly
quet will honor people who have (313) 965-5422.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27