Washington Informer

"Uptown Dreams"
by Kelli London
c.2011, Kensington Dafina
$9.95 / $10.95 Canada

256 pages

You knew exactly what you were going to do.

You might have been three or five or 10 years old. Maybe the realization hit you last summer or last week, but you knew there'd be no stopping you. From the moment you understood that you had talent – that "Hey, this is fun and I'm good at it!" moment – you knew what you were going to do with it. You'd be taking that gift to the top.

In the new book "Uptown Dreams" by Kelli London" four students at Harlem's Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) are headed the same way up. But their path to the top will be a long climb.

ARIES You can be very efficient this week if you set your will to the task. New ideas will occur to you as you are working steadily, so keep pencil and paper nearby to jot down your latest brilliance! Soul Affirmation: I will ask joy to marry me. Lucky Numbers: 1, 8, 14

TAURUS The forces that disrupt your life this week are not as big as they seem while you are standing close to them. Move back. See what surrounds the problem area and you'll notice how small it is on the landscape of your life. Enjoy looking at the goodness that is all around your problems. Soul Affirmation: I keep my attention on the highest and the best. Lucky Numbers: 22, 46, 52

GEMINI This is a week when you can be a singular beacon. Shine for those around you. Go inside yourself and find those rays of sunshine that others need. Sure you're a bit touchy yourself but that's just the situation in which you can make yourself happy by creating happiness for others. Soul Affirmation: I avoid negative feelings, especially this week. Lucky Numbers: 7, 8, 21

CANCER Business as usual is good business. Energy is high. Others give back to you what you gave to them the past few weeks. We hope you were generous because what you get this week will be a multiple of what you bestowed. Soul Affirmation: I give happiness wherever I go.

Lucky Numbers: 6, 13, 48

LEO Energy is higher than it has been for a while. You might feel like the sunshine inside yourself provides blinding light. Walk into it. There are no dangers. Put dark glasses on your soul and be cool. Smile and keep stepping. Soul Affirmation: My mental powers are my greatest assets this week. Lucky Numbers: 17, 29, 35

VIRGO High physical energy means you may roar through the week. Others will have trouble keeping up so exercise your compassion muscles and be as patient as possible. Keep your best interests in mind because they serve the best for everyone around you right now. Soul Affirmation: I savor the flavor of the happiness I find in others. Lucky Numbers: 5, 51, 53

LIBRA Charm is an extremely effective tool for you this week. Charisma works better than at any recent time especially at home. Shine brightly and let your glow work for you. Your self-image is your most effective tool. Soul Affirmation: Time is the greatest peacemaker of them all. Lucky Numbers: 3, 24, 43

SCORPIO This week make your special interest pay off in cash. Enough of goodness for goodness sake. You've got bills to pay. People expect generosity from a big hearted person like you. Ask them for something in return or they'll drain you. Soul Affirmation: Intelligent information does not have to come from intelligent sources. Lucky Numbers: 6, 8, 14

SAGITTARIUS During the next few weeks be ready for surprises that await you. Don't make any solid plans with anyone except you lover. This week will bring forth a new dimension in a special relationship. You will come upon a sensational poem that illustrates the love the two you share. Soul Affirmation: The search for fun occupies my time this week.

CAPRICORN Stay steady in your pursuits. Temptations are all around you. Attractive pursuits abound but stay on course with what you planned to do with all the good energy that has arisen in your life. Soul Affirmation: I do not allow demands to be placed on me this week. Lucky Numbers: 17, 28, 31

AQUARIUS You have made many friends through a social network you've been involved with. Continue to cultivate those friendships this week. Long distance phone calls are worth the money. Your actions will speak much louder than words this week. Prove your love and your friendship. Others might need convincing. Soul Affirmation: My imagination is the source of my happiness. Lucky Numbers: 19, 21, 30

PISCES This is no time to try to be neat. Continue with your messy thinking. Others might not know how things fit together but your faith allows you to work without a plan this week. Faith will guide you through the chaotic mental atmosphere that surrounds you this week.

Soul Affirmation: I give extra attention to my mate this week. Lucky Numbers: 20, 29, 37

Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? I Cor 15:55

Did you know that when a bumblebee stings you it leaves its stinger in you? A bumblebee without a stinger can't hurt you. But a bumblebee withouta stinger still looks like a bumble bee that CAN hurt you. So what do we do? We fight them off and run away as fast as we can.

Radio Talk Show Host Warren Ballentine, Black bankers, and civil rights representatives are teaming up to encourage an economic revolution by encouraging Blacks to do business with Black banks. Pictured front are: Hermnd E. Palmer Jr., vice president, Industrial Bank; Michael Grant, president, National Bankers Association; Kim D. Saunders, president/CEO, M&F Bank; Ballentine; and the Rev. Deforest B. Soaries, Jr., senior pastor, First Baptist Church of Somerset, N.J.; Back: Victor E. Cook, executive director, NBA; Joe D. Briggs, Counsel, NFL Players Association; Hilary Shelton, vice president, NAACP; and B. Doyle Mitchell, Jr., president and CEO, Industrial Bank.WASHINGTON (TriceEdneyWire.com) - In his last public message the day before he was assassinated, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called on Black people in Memphis to support Black banks.

"We've got to strengthen Black institutions. I call upon you to take your money out of the banks downtown and deposit your money in Tri-State Bank," he said in his "Mountaintop" speech at Mason Temple, April 3, 1968. Tri-State Bank, now 65 years old and still in operation, was among the institutions where civil rights demonstrations were planned during that time.

After encouraging people to also support Black insurance companies, Dr. King concluded in his speech, "These are some practical things that we can do. We begin the process of building a greater economic base. And at the same time, we are putting pressure where it really hurts. I ask you to follow through here."

Felled by an assassin's bullet the next day, the "follow through" for which Dr. King asked never really happened. Fast forward, 43 years later, an organization of Black and other racial minority banks and a radio talk show host have now united to take up the mantle amidst an economy that is still causing disparate suffering to African-Americans.

Atlanta-based radio talk show host Warren Ballentine and the Washington, D.C.-based National Bankers Association believe reinvesting in Black-owned banks could inspire economic healing and strength in every aspect of the Black community. That's why they have started "The People's Economic Movement."

"If we want to change all the drugs in our community, if we want to change all the violence, if we want to change the educational abilities that our next generation will have, it starts with having the capital available to teach the proper things to do to make a difference," said Ballentine during a July 15 press conference at the NBA headquarters to announce the new movement.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

Mrs. Campbell was a sweet, first year kindergarten teacher who loved all her 'babies' but fell in love with my middle son Jai and Jai fell in love with her. His older brother Nico would tease him by singing the Campbell soup song ... 'Um, Um Good! Um, Um Good! Mrs. Campbell Soup is Um, Um Good.' Jai held Mrs. Campbell in such high esteem that he would fight Nico every time he sang that song.

After kindergarten graduation Jai missed Mrs. Campbell so much that I finally talked to her and I took him to her house for a visit. We found Mrs. Campbell working in her flower garden and after a brief stay and a quick hug Jai was ready to go.

In the car I asked him why he wanted to leave so soon. With a sad face he answered, "Mommy, I didn't know Mrs. Campbell could get dirty. And she was barefoot too." Jai realized that the teacher he idolized was just like the rest of us ... human.

How many times have we idolized our leaders, our teachers, our preachers, our pastors? How often do we put them on pedestals just to realize that we have placed an imperfect person into an impractical position and doomed them for failure, confusion and disappointment? It's wrong to idolize any person my friend. I enjoy watching American Idol but I love worshipping the idol ... God the Father!

Campbell Soup

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

Mrs. Campbell was a sweet, first year kindergarten teacher who loved all her ‘babies’ but fell in love with my middle son Jai and Jai fell in love with her. His older brother Nico would tease him by singing the Campbell soup song … ‘Um, Um Good! Um, Um Good! Mrs. Campbell Soup is Um, Um Good.’ Jai held Mrs. Campbell in such high esteem that he would fight Nico every time he sang that song.

After kindergarten graduation Jai missed Mrs. Campbell so much that I finally talked to her and I took him to her house for a visit. We found Mrs. Campbell working in her flower garden and after a brief stay and a quick hug Jai was ready to go.

In the car I asked him why he wanted to leave so soon. With a sad face he answered, “Mommy, I didn’t know Mrs. Campbell could get dirty. And she was barefoot too.” Jai realized that the teacher he idolized was just like the rest of us … human.

How many times have we idolized our leaders, our teachers, our preachers, our pastors? How often do we put them on pedestals just to realize that we have placed an imperfect person into an impractical position and doomed them for failure, confusion and disappointment?  It’s wrong to idolize any person my friend. I enjoy watching American Idol but I love worshipping the idol … God the Father!

I will protect you because you know My name. Psalm 91:14b

One of my childhood best friends was my cousin, Connie. We did everything together. When we weren't in school we were in church. We loved the Lord and Tabernacle Baptist Church. We were choir members, Sunday school students, Youth Ministry officers and we even baby sat for our pastor. Our bratty little brothers called us 'Church Girls' but contrary to their beliefs, we didn't have church on our minds 100% of the time.

You see, we were normal teenagers and although we never crossed the line to being 'bad girls' we did bend the rules a little every now and then. Connie would spend Friday nights with me so we could go to basketball or football games together. Before leaving the house we had to listen to Rosie's lecture ... "Don't ya'll go getting in no cars with no boys and be back here by 11." Connie would laugh as I made crazy faces behind Rosie's back because we'd heard the lecture 100 times before. We'd always answer in unison, "Yes ma'am, Aunt Rose." And then what did we do? Two blocks down the street we'd jump in the car with our dates and head to the game.

Today's scripture declares ... 'I (the Lord) will protect you because you know My name.' Even though Connie and I were disobedient, God protected us and no hurt, harm or danger ever happened to us. You see, we knew our Protector's name, but most important, He knew ours and loved us in spite of our disobedience. He blessed us both to grow from foolish church girls to faithful Christian women.

Kudos and congratulations to Ms. Venus Senior, a 2011 Graduate of Dudley’s Beauty College in Washington DC. Senior is a Fort Washington, MD resident, independently raising four children; 3 girls and 1 boy. 

Through dedication and determination, she purposed in her heart and mind to successfully complete the program in spite of unforeseen circumstances and difficulties. Ms Senior is well known through her clients at Dudley’s for her infamous shampoos. Senior stated that it has not been easy balancing work, hair school, and parenting all at once, however she was determined to prove to her children that hard work pays off. Senior has been in hair school since 1998 and finally completed the program at Dudley’s. Senior say’s she is now on her way! She strongly believes that all products, in which she uses, should benefit her client’s hair and skin.

Special Half Price Offer for OKLAHOMA!  

at Arena Stage

It's E. Faye Butler's final week in Oklahoma!

Don't miss your last chance to see the amazing E. Faye Butler in Arena Stage's acclaimed remount of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!  

And to make sure everyone gets one  chance to see Ms. Butler one last time in her Helen Hayes nominated performance, Arena Stage is making this very special offer:      

Use Promo Code: INFORMOK to get half price tickets for any performance now through August 7, 2011. Offer expires August 3, 2011.

Call the Sales Office at 202-488-3300 or order online at www.arenastage.org .

Photo of E. Faye Butler and Anton Harrison LaMon in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! by Suzanne Blue Star Boy.