WI Web Staff
Two days after declaring victory in the April 3 Democratic Primary, Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry found himself apologizing for comments he made about Asian store owners.
Barry, 76, said shortly after learning of his latest win, that Asians shop keepers who come into the ward and operate dirty shops should leave and make room for more African-American owned and operated businesses.
But Barry said in tweeted messages Thursday that his remarks had been taken out of context. He said he didn't mean to offend anyone, and that while he was referring to shop keepers who don't respect the community, he was wrong to target Asian Americans.
"I admit, I could and should have said it differently. But the facts are still very present in our daily lives here," Barry tweeted. "We are tired of sub-standard treatment, tired of being kept [at] arms length distance, tired of the lack of community engagement."
The former four-term mayor added that, "I want to express my deep apology for offending some members of the Asian community and the D.C. community."
Obama Signs Jobs Act to Help Jumpstart Small Businesses
Friday, 06 April 2012 01:14 Published in National
Surrounded by business and congressional leaders, President Barack Obama
signs the "Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act " Thursday, April 5,
during a White House ceremony. The measure includes key initiatives
President Obama proposed last fall to help small businesses and startups
grow and create jobs,
Abraham Inc. to Appear at The Strathmore
Thursday, 05 April 2012 19:25 Published in Arts & Entertainment
Aural alchemist David Krakauer, co-conspirators hip-hop beatmaster Socalled and legendary funk and jazz trombonist Fred Wesley (of James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic fame) have teamed up to create the masterful collaboration of Abraham Inc. – a genre-clasing mix of klezmer, funk and hip hop that has been taking audiences by storm.
The group is poised to prove its mettle again when they make their debut performance in D.C. with a hand-clapping, hip shaking, head bouncing dance parfty, slated for 8 p.m., May 3 at the Strathmore's Music Center stage.
The Washington DCJCC's Washington Jewish Music Festival is a promotional partner for Strathmore's highly-anticipated presentation.Julliard-trained clarinetist Krakauer founded Abraham Inc. in 2006 with Socalled and Fred Wesley. By embracing myriad genres, the group is "connected with something deep, mysterious, and timeless...as ancient as the sound of the Shofar...yet as modern as the...young hipsters at downtown venues" (Jazziz). The band released its debut album, Tweet Tweet, in 2010.
Krakauer is praised internationally for his "prodigious chops" (The New Yorker) and "soulfulness and electrifying showiness" (The New York Times). He is one of the world's leading exponents of Eastern European Jewish klezmer, plus a major voice in classical music and avant-garde improvisation.
Virtuoso Fred Wesley is renowned for his work with James Brown, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins and the Count Basie Orchestra. Multitalented Canadian hip-hop renegade Socalled is chiefly an accordionist and beat architect, and brings unparalleled versatility to the group with his skills as a pianist, composer, arranger, rapper, photographer, filmmaker and producer.
The trio will perform with rapper C-Rayz Walz, guitarists Sheryl Bailey and Allen Watsky, bassist Jerome Harris, trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, percussionist Michael Sarin, and saxophonist Brandon Wright.
Orchestra and Orchestra Tier accommodations for the event will be sold as unassigned General Admission tickets for standing and dancing. The Promenade, Grand Tier and Upper Tier levels will be assigned seating.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
Marion Barry, former District of Columbia mayor and veteran council member, easily defeated his four opponents in April 3 Democratic primary for the Ward 8 D.C. Council race. The win enables Barry, 76, who served four terms as mayor, to return to Council chambers for a third consecutive term after winning 73 percent of the vote.
In other Council races, voters favored Muriel Bowser (D) to retain her seat as the Ward 4 representative, while at-large incumbent Vincent Orange (D) narrowly edged out opponent Sekou Biddle (D), with 41 percent of the vote. Biddle garnered 40 percent of the votes but overall, Orange won by 500 and reportedly, a recount could be on the way.
U. S. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) ran unopposed and therefore, will return to her office on Capitol Hill.
Donna Edwards (D) gets another chance to serve the 4th Congressional District in Maryland, and Senator Ben Cardin -- who had the support of Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and former NAACP chief Kweise Mfume -- is poised to compete for a term in the Maryland senate race.
On the national level, Mitt Romney won Wisconsin, the District of Columbia and Maryland in his quest for the GOP presidential nomination.
The spring edition of "The Red Tent Symposium for Women" returns with even more interactive and inclusive and interactive workshops, lectures and a special Pre-Tent Pampering Session.
The Symposium's motto is "Problem-Solving Outside of the Framework." The two-day exchange, which takes place in the District of Columbia April 13-15, focuses on the needs of women and will also include storytelling, panel discussions and a pop-up marketplace.
Based on the novel, "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant, the red tent symbolizes a sacred and safe space where women can exchange ideas and insights.
According to Symposium creator Risikat "Kat" Okedeyi, "The red tent symbolizes exchange. It isn't a conference, but a genuine healing experience in a safe and sacred space."
Okedeyi added that, "I want women to get past that idea that gathering in this way requires perfect hair, make-up, a smart looking outfit and a stiff handshake. We are about comfort and ease, embraces and honesty. In the tent the teacher/student/leader/follower are purposely blurred so that as women we can recognize our full potential."
For more details please visit www.entertheredtent.com. Interested parties can also email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call at 301.684.8911.
Empowerment Movement: 1 Million Registered to Vote on Easter Sunday
Tuesday, 03 April 2012 18:54 Published in National
A coalition of African-American clergy is behind the launch of a new faith-based voting initiative, "The Empowerment Movement," which endeavors to get one million people across the country registered to vote on Easter Sunday.
The Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, pastor of the Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, Md., has been named president of the organization. Its mission in the massive undertaking --which came to fruition when Bryant met with Baltimore-area ministers to discuss highunemployment and restrictive voter ID laws -- challenges every black church in the United States to register 20 people on April 8.
"In 1965, Rev. Martin Luther King, a Baptist, Rev. Joseph Lowery, a United Methodist, and Andy Young, a Disciples of Christ preacher, walked out of an AME Church and marched together in Selma for voting rights," Bryant said in an interview, that also alludes to the several denominations that support the Empowerment Movement.
The non-partisan effort has the backing of the AME , AME Zion, Cogic, Progressive, Bible Way, Full Gospel, CME, and United Covenant churches, to name a few. Political supporters include Rep. Elijah Cummings, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
The Washington Informer presents "A Conversation with Civil Rights Icon and Congressman
John Lewis." The event takes place 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, April 19 at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave., in Southeast.
Congressman Lewis will discuss his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and '60s, its relevance to present day and where we are now as a culture.
The event will also feature, inspirational entertainment, a showing of the short documentary, "John Lewis - An American Hero," a discussion between Denise Rolark Barnes and Lewis, as well as presentation of the Washington Informer Humanitarian Award.
There will be a catered reception in THEARC Theatre Lobby from 6 p.m. -7 p.m.
To RSVP, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
A local call for justice has been issued in the Trayvon Martin case, which has now garnered the attention of the FBI.
The event, titled "Martin & Martin and the Many Thousands in Between," also pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The rally will be held at 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 4 at Greater New Hope Baptist Church, 816 8th St. in Northwest.
The public is asked to join the D.C. host committee, WPFW FM as well as several civil rights and community groups and churches in this quest for justice.
For more information call: Great Hope Baptist Church: 202-842-1036, Chuck Hicks: 202-421-8608 or Jerry Clark: 202-232-1939.
WPRS-FM Teams Again With St. Jude to Fight Childhood Cancer
Monday, 02 April 2012 18:03 Published in Local
WPRS-FM Teams Again With St. Jude in Fight Against Childhood Cancer
Lanham, MD-- Radio One DC Station WPRS-FM Praise 104.1 will host T=the annual St. Jude Radiothon on Thursday, April 5 from 6 a.m. -10 p.m. at their new
facility located at 8515 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring,Md.
The broadcast will begin during "The Yolanda Adams Morning Show" which airs from 6 a.m. -10 a.m., and will continue through "The Lonnie Hunter Show," from 10a.m -3 p.m. Local updates will be provided by Community Affairs Director Sheila Stewart and other radio show personalities up until 10 p.m.
On-site volunteers taking pledges this year will be the D.C. Congress of Black Women; 100 Fathers Inc; Sisters 4 Sisters Network; D. C.'s 100 Black
Men of America; Prince George's County 100 Black Men of America; Men Aiming Higher organization; as well as the Greek organizations, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Zeta Phi Beta. Local government and elected leaders and NBA/NFL players will also participate.
Last year the station raised more than $200,000 to benefit St. Jude and their global efforts to find a cure for cancer and diseases in young children. Listeners in the area can donate to St. Jude during broadcast hours by visiting praisedc.com.
The Color of Autism Foundation raises awareness about African Americans Living with Autism
ATLANTA -- The Color of Autism Foundation (CAF) is celebrating National Autism Awareness Month throuhghout April with a series of fundraising events and donation drives.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurological and developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveal that about 1 in 88 children have been identified with an ASD. With 1 in 54 boys identified, the largest increases were found among African-American and Hispanic children.
CAF is committed to educating and assisting African-American families with autistic children. Although autism affects children of every race, ethnic group and socioeconomic status, African-American children are frequently confronted with late diagnosis or misdiagnosis. To that end, the Foundation's goal is to help families identify the warning signs of autism early on.
"We can start to overturn these disparities by helping African-Americans with autism reach their full potential and empowering families with information on autism that they can use to advocate services for their child," said CAF founder Camille Proctor. "We are committed to raising public awareness about ASD, empowering families and lessening their isolation. We are dedicated to ensuring that all people with autism receive appropriate and effective services to maximize their growth potential."
CAF's main initiatives this year is the completion and distribution of a film with a new perspective on the autism epidemic.
"Screaming in Silence: Autism" is a documentary about the affects of autism on African American families. Autism is a growing epidemic that also has a resonating impact on the school systems, health and human services, judicial system, medical, mental health, therapeutic industry and caregivers in the African-American community.
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