inspirations
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE December 9-15, 2009 Page C-8
Can Fanchon Stinger
Josephine Baker
Missionary
By Hugh Burrell
Humphrey’s
bounce back?
The Memory Train
Week’s special guest is the
closeout
By V. Lonnie Peek, Jr.
she was not under investiga-
legendary Josephine Baker.
tion; she was not a part of the
She was a popular singer and
service
Several days ago former
bribery. Her company, Stinger
dancer who, surprisingly, also
Fox 2 anchorwoman Fanchon
Strategies, had been used by
did some undercover spying
Missionary Hattie B. Hum-
Stinger broke her silence rela-
Jackson to receive cash from
for the Allies during World
phrey and Mayflower Baptist
tive to the tangled web she
Synagro, unbeknownst to her.
War 11.
Church, 2270 W. Grand Blvd.,
found herself in with the Syna-
will present the 2009 closeout
gro bribery scandal.
Now she has gone public
Ms. Baker was born in June
service on Monday, Dec. 14,
with the difficult pages in this
1906, in St. Louis. By the time
7:30 p.m. Carolyn F. Johnson
She basically said her heart
chapter of her life. She has
she was 16, she was a widely
will be the guest speaker.
had led her places that her
been highly trained. She went
recognized enteertainer.
Johnson holds degrees in
mind should have overruled.
to private all girls’ schools
She was introduced to
business administration, com-
She fell in love with Detroit
and lived a sheltered life. But
Black bandleader/musician
puter science and accounting.
businessman Rayford Jack-
she used her background to
Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake,
She is a member of New Mt.
son, who was found guilty
become an Emmy Award-win-
who was so impressed with
Moriah International Church
of bribery and has been sen-
ning journalist.
her talent that they introduced
tenced to five years of prison
Can she regain her stature
her to a national American au-
time. The Texas firm went
and return to the world of tele-
dience by featuring her in an
after and secured a $1.2 billon
vision news? Will someone
all-Black musical titled “Shuf-
sewage sludge contract. But a
hire her? Would she be good
fle Along.”
lot of money changed hands in
for ratings? Can she expose
order to get the deal.
This show opened on 1921
others to the pitfall of the de-
and was so successful, that it
Stinger was at the top of
V. Lonnie Peek Jr. cisions she made? Only time
introduced new kind of danc-
her career, six figure salary,
He put expensive cars in her
will tell. But what she has done
ing, singing and chorus lines
Hugh Burrell
woman about town, likable
name which messed up her
is step out of the shadows and
that revolutionized Broadway wonderful women risked her
and admired. She found her-
credit. He never paid her back.
tell what happened and how
musicals which was threating life for America, as well as for
self deeply involved with
According to Stinger, not only
her decisions affected her life
to and White entertainment. France, and never received the
Jackson and as the schemes
did he abuse the trust in the
and changed its course.
White entertainers respond- world appreciation that she
began to unravel, her personal
relationship, he abused her
There is not enough space
ed as they had throughout deserved.
relationship with him became
physically. She now feels com-
here to recount those who
history by emulating Black
public and raised eyebrows.
I hope that just maybe this
pelled to speak out on behalf
have fallen but climbed back
Entertainers and using po-
As a high profile newswoman,
column will help familiarize
of women who find themselves
up. One of the keys to moving
litical and economic tactics
it was only a matter of time
future generations with won-
in abusive relationships.
beyond mistakes is knowing
to force them out of Broadway
before she had to leave her
derful people like Josephine
what you learned and how it
musicals.
job. She went quietly, recog-
Ironically, she states, it
Baker.
improved your character. You
nized her mistakes and took
was the FBI, who pulled her Rather than fighting racism
must also be forthright in
Notable Quotable: “Slave
her lumps.
coat and let her know that with the American entertain-
masters promoted White
they knew what she was going
owning up to the fact that you
ment industry, Josephine
Now she is publicly laying
female superiority over Black
Missionary Hattie B. Humphrey
through and that she was not
messed up.
Baker formed her own troupe,
out what happened to her,
female inferiority by saying in Pontiac.
a target of their investigations.
Stinger has taken a major
as so many Black entertainers
not only as it relates to being
White women were for mar-
This served as a pathway for
step in that direction. I believe
did, and then moved Europe,
caught up in the undertow of
riage, mulatto women were for
Guests scheduled to appear
her to begin to emerge from
she will come back wiser,
where she they would be re-
Synagro, but the intricacies
sex, and Black women were
are the Rev. Edgar L. Vann Jr.,
the unanticipated quicksand
stronger and admired for her
spected and appreciated.This
of her relationship with Jack-
for work.’”
Warren Evans, Charles Pugh,
that she found herself in. She
courage in speaking out.
plan worked out well and Ms.
the Rev. Nicholas Hood, the
son. She stated she lent him
was relieved to know that Baker became the hit of the
A special thanks to Dr. Rev. Larry Robinson, Bishop
money, well over $100,000. European continent for the Claud Anderson and Brant An- K.M. Early, the Rev. Loyce
next 20 years.
derson, authors of “More Dirty Lester, Augustine Cox, Dr.
Little Secrets About Black Betty Hall, the Rev. Jon Mark,
Grant Thornton LLP’s
Her Follies Bergere was
History, Its Heroes, And Other the Rev. Robert Smith, the
so popular at the Casino de
Troublemakers, Volume II.” Rev. Lernard Thomas, the Rev.
Paris that she chose to make
Southfield office
Paris her home. The Germans
By the way, I would still
Kevin Linson, Tom Barrow
invaded France in the 1940s,
like for everyone to know that
and Benny Napoleon.
annnounces appointment
but the shows continued to be
I still do shows. “Mr. Blue Blue “At this holiday season,
presented. High ranking offi-
Pig” is alive an well. there is no more appropriate
cers in the German army regu-
And just remember, how far
time for me to say thank you
Vincent Tomkinson has been named manag- Michigan companies as they navigate their way
larly attended her shows and
you go in life depends on your
for your support throughout
ing partner of Grant Thornton LLP’s Southfield through this difficult economy.”
socialized with her.
being tender with the young,
the year and to express to you
office.
Tomkinson has more than 20 years of expe-
Fortunately, they never re-
compassionate with the aged,
every happiness for this beau-
Prior to being named managing partner, rience, both in the U.S. and Europe, in provid-
alied that she was gathering
sympathetic with the striving,
tiful season and throughout
Tomkinson was an audit partner serving both ing clients with financial statement audits and
secret information from them
and tolerant of the weak and
the coming year. God bless
publicly traded and privately held clients in a internal control risk assessments.
and conveying it to the United
strong. Because someday in
you,” Missionary Humphrey
States and the European allied
life, you will have been all of
said.
variety of industries.
He is experienced in assisting publicly
forces through the French un-
these. — George Washington The host pastor for the
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead traded companies with auditing and accounting derground. Carver event is the Rev. Douglas
Grant Thornton’s Detroit office and work with needs and fulfilling SEC requirements, includ-
When World War II ended,
Until next time, I’ll plant U
Butler. Committee members
our partners as we build on our reputation ing compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as
Josephine baker was induct-
now and dig U later. Peace and
are Pastor Rick Cranford, Mi-
of providing outstanding client service in the well as transaction consultation and support
ed into the French Legion of
chicken grease!
chael Vantull, Tom Barrow
Michigan market,” said Tomkinson. relating to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures
and “The Father of Hymns”
Honor for her work as a spy.
and structured financings.
Hugh Burrell can be con- Cookie Neal.
“This is an exciting time for our office as
She died on April 15, 1975,
tacted at Hughburrell@aol.
we look to expand our practice in the Detroit For more information, visit In the U.S., visit
from a cerebral hemorrhage
com and (313) 872-3437.
For more information, call
area. I believe we are well positioned to help www.GrantThornton.com.
in Paris. It is sad that this
(313) 896-6044.
A Thanksgiving Miracle
Thanksgiving Day was a blessing for many Detroiters as they filled the Cathedral Worship Center for a scrumptious dinner. Several families patiently stood
in line as volunteers added several delectable servings to their plates.
With the help of Bishop PA Brook’s Ten Ten Ten Plan, the support and partnership of more than a few large corporations, several dedicated volunteers,
and faithful members of New St. Paul Tabernacle COGIC, there was more than enough food and supplies to feed more than a thousand people.
Bishop Brook’s Ten Ten Ten Plan kicked off during the World Missions Walk when he called for groups of ten to raise funds to help carry out the Mission
Walk; the Plan sparked such a huge response, raising more than four thousand dollars, Bishop was compelled to do it again by feeding 1000 underprivi-
leged, unemployed, and the homeless on Thanksgiving Day.
As a result, not only were families treated to a delicious sit-down meal, but many of them were encouraged to take plates to go. Many of them did just that
as some of their family members were homebound. Several guests soaked up the kind hospitality shown to them, saying “this is the way to win souls.” As
the evening came to a close, some of the guests did not want to leave and instead they sat around sharing laughs and talking about the love displayed to
them.
In accordance with this, some of the men of New St. Paul Tabernacle COGIC walked the streets, sharing the love of God and warm meals under the bridges
near the viaducts of Detroit and fed the homeless people who resided there. Meals were also delivered to senior citizens, sent to several homeless shelters,
and several volunteer workers. Some families even received whole cooked turkeys.
Bishop PA Brook’s vision to feed a thousand underprivileged, unemployed, and homeless people was more than a success. The outreach effort was publi-
cized on Inside Detroit Radio AM 1200, Channel 7 news (WXYZ) was contacted and came out to cover the event, and the Detroit Free Press published an
article that was instrumental in leading families to the Cathedral for Thanksgiving dinner. Written by Niketa Woodley
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