community


By Judge Greg Mathis Diamonds are a girl’s — or


rapper or baller’s — best friend. But these precious stones are also at the core of some of the greatest atrocities known to man. “Blood diamonds” or conflict diamonds, as they are called, are diamonds mined in war zones and then used to fund violent militias; they’re most common in Africa, where about two thirds of the world’s diamonds are produced.


As governments and orga-


nizations around the world have become more of “blood diamonds” and the roles they play in war, actions have been taken to limit their appearance in the marketplace. We too can and should do our part to make sure any bling we might buy is conflict free.


For three years, former


Liberian president Charles Taylor has been on trial for, among other things, sex traf- ficking, murder, and recruit-


Greg Mathis


ing and using child soldiers. T a y l o r a l l e g - edly used blood dia- monds to fund these c r ime s . The case has at-


tracted international media at- tention and has even involved testimony from international supermodel Naomi Campbell who received blood diamonds from Taylor’s men in 1997.


Taylor’s case is important


because it illustrates very clearly the destruction and terror that blood diamonds, once they’re sold, can bring. Thankfully, much has been done around the world to try to curtail the trading of these stones. In 2001, the U.S. passed laws that prevented rough diamonds from Sierra Leone and Liberia from being


THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE Avoid blood diamonds


imported into the country. In 2003, the Clean Diamond Trade Act was passed and signaled the US’s participation in The Kimberley Process. Started in 2000, The Kimberley Process is a UN mandated certification system that prevents conflict diamonds from entering the marketplace. Today, over 99 percent of all diamonds certi- fied through process are from conflict-free sources.


Though this is an impres-


sive fete, a small number of blood diamonds are still sold — knowingly or unknowingly — by jewelers, usually small, independent sellers. Ask your jeweler or reseller to provide documentation certifying the diamonds are conflict free. If they cannot do that, look for another jeweler. This seem- ingly small action is a big step in helping shut down the blood diamond market and, hopeful, bring an end to these unthink- able acts of torture.


AGENT SPOTLIGHT


August 25-31, 2010


By Hugh Burrell Did you know that all states


Our state songs The Memory Train


have an official song? Those from states such as Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Georgia and Texas show some very interesting


views


on Black people. This is a repeat of an article


I wrote a while back. You had such songs as “My


Old Kentucky Home,” which was made the official state song in 1853. The original title was “Poor Uncle Tom, Goodnight,” It would become one of Stephen Foster’s best loved ministrel songs. The lyrics were racially stereotypi- cal with lines such as “The time will come when darkies have to part.” Surprisingly, many of these songs are still being played at today’s Ken- tucky Derby.


So, what am I leading up


to? Well, there will always be some form of racism. Surpris- ingly for me, is that my tour of duty as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne in the early 1960s was a wake-up call. It was tough and when I joined the Detroit Police Department in 1969, I learned that if you are a good person, color has nothing to do with it. I have


Page B-3


University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After graduating in 1968, he became an industri- al arts teacher in the Detroit Public School. His students have won many regional and state awards in metal craft, wood sculpturing, drafting and furniture building. His art career, until the late 1980s was mostly centered around painting his family and other subjects of general interest.


I have known Ivan for many Hugh Burrell


friends of all colors. The real color is their hearts, their soul and their talent as musicians.


I would like to introduce


you to this week’s “Memory Train” passenger, Ivan Stew- ard, Jr. He was born in Plaquemine, Louisiana and demonstrated artistic and cre- ative abilities at an early age. As an African-American young- ster growing up in the South, “art supplies” came only in the form of house paint, wooden boards and mud. With a lack of exposure to other Black art- ists, he pursued an education in industrial art.


Ivan attended Southern


relaxers such as Xenna’s Curl- away Curl Relaxer (www.curla- way.com) are gaining ground fast with women who are look- ing for a natural alternative to chemical relaxers, especially African Americans.


LaFrance Lockhart, who


Agent Kenya Wells 13318 E Jefferson


Detroit, MI 48215-2719 Office Hours:


Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.


Saturday and Evenings by Appointment Phone: (313) 822-5948


About Kenya…. About John…


• California State University, Bakersfield • Detroit Area Pre-Engineering Alumni • Member, Charles H. Wright Museum of Afri- can American History • Member, Perfecting Church • Member, NAACP • www.kenyawells.com


• Arizona State University, BS •Member, NAACP •Member, Oak Grove AME Church


Agent John Cash 16022 Grand River


Detroit, MI 48227-1820 Phone: (313) 836-1133


Office Hours:


Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.


lives in Detroit, the “Hair Cap- ital of the World,” said, “Afri- can-American women need to know they have a natural option that really works.


“Overuse or misuse of lye


and no-lye relaxers, coupled with hair coloring and other chemical services are the major culprits that lead to breakage and dryness.”


As a result, she says she


believes “many women have given up on the idea of main- taining their own hair in ex- change for the wearing of weaves, wigs and hats.”


Carol J. Buck, CEO of Xenna


Corporation, said “Alkaline relaxers have their place and do an excellent job of remov-


ing curl quickly. However if they’re used incorrectly or repeated too often, hair break- age and dryness can result.”


Naturally formulated with


fermented grains, plant oils, vitamins and minerals, Cur- laway Gel’s mild, low pH, pat- ented formulation is neither drying nor damaging to hair and gently removes curl with continued use.


Curlaway Gel is applied


overnight as a treatment or daily as a leave-in styling gel to gradually reduce curl. Straight hair is also possible with continued use, but Buck says many Xenna customers want hair that has bounce and full-body curl. Curlaway also has the advantage of being reversible (curl will eventu- ally return if one stops using Curalway) while the product goes beyond the benefits of hair texturizers.


In addition to creating


healthier looking hair, Curla- way can be applied over previ-


years and have been impressed with his ability to record histo- ry events with his paint brush that were left out of books. Such as the 9th and 10th Cav- alry Regiments, better known as the Buffalo Soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Negro League baseball and many Black blues musicians.


If you ever want to get in


touch with Ivan Stewart, Jr., you may do so at 1-888-447- 1945 or historythroughhart. com.


Words of Wisdom: It is nice


to be somebody, but it is better to be somebody nice.


Until next time, I’ll plant U


now and dig U later. Peace and chicken grease! Reach Hugh Burrell at (313)


872-3437 or Hughburrell@Aol. com.


New relaxer for African-American women At-home, chemical-free hair


ously relaxed hair to refresh a perm, and can be used on color-treated hair or before dying hair. Curlaway is sold as an all purpose hair product be- cause it controls frizz, makes hair easier to comb, and even detangles and relaxes chil- dren’s hair.


Found at select Wal-


greens (www.walgreens.com) throughout the United States, Curlaway can be used by all ethnicities and is also avail- able online at several Web stores and at www.curlaway. com.


“This is the first product


I’ve ever used that stopped the breakage,” said Lockhart.


“Before using Curlaway,


I had six inches of breakage after using chemical relaxers. After using Curlaway, I’ve had three to four inches of hair growth without any breakage at all.”


BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY. BUSY.


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