Our Time PressThe Local Paper with the Global View

By Jasmin Dysard

On November 18, 2006 the doors of a Black women-owned funeral home in Prospect Heights officially opened for business. One year to the day, family, friends, clergy and a New York City

Councilwoman gathered in one of the funeral home’s beautifully designed rooms as the owners of the funeral home, Ms. Renaye Cuyler and Ms. Maria Sealy gave thanks to God and to their loved ones and supporters for one year of success with their baby.

Words of praise and inspiration were spoken by the Reverends Gary Gibbs and Frederick Ennette, and rousingly sung by the Reverend Alvin Freeland.
New York City Councilwoman Letitia James, a supporter of the ladies from day one, was on hand to dedicate the funeral home’s new name. The funeral home is now officially Sealy Cuyler Funeral Home.
Ms. James also filled in for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who was tied up at another event, in giving the women, and funeral home, a Proclamation.
Ms. Cuyler and Ms. Sealy closed the event by acknowledging and thanking their loved ones in the audience. Both women’s youthful-looking mothers were there and stood up to greet the audience when their daughters thanked them for their constant support.

By Aminisha Black

Regaining the Skill “To Think”
In New York City Chancellor Klein released report cards for the city’s schools.  Mayor Bloomberg’s calling the report cards “The best way to hold a principal’s feet to the fire” is disturbing since the flaws and lack of transparency leaves serious questions about the effectiveness of progress measurement.   Is the purpose of the reports keeping principals in check or ensuring that students get a good education?
What is a good education?   Parents especially need to distinguish  holding educators accountable for students being engaged in activities that promote social and academic development, skills in thinking and problem-solving and holding them accountable for their school getting “A” or “B” on standardized tests.   There is a difference.  Even if the formula was unflawed, judging students by standardized tests results is a complete negation of the child’s ability and most likely accounts for the lack of enthusiasm among students, especially those students who would benefit from Dr. Howard Gardner’s work on Multiple Intelligences.   Our children need a curriculum that’s designed for them to experience individual mastery through collaboration with others, has them exploring, solving problems and gaining real-life experiences with the subject matter. We want to end their deaths in wars, their filling the jails, their being killed on our streets.  We want them taught skills that prepare them to be self-sufficient citizens who think about and participate in activities that make their communities and the world better. We want them taught how to think, not what to think. 
Some concerns about the formula that yielded the report card results: 
“The report card relies too heavily on test scores (85%).  Math and ELA are the tests, ignoring other factors that make a great school; for example, whether a school has enrichments such as music, art, dance, chess and language classes; whether it encourages children to learn to work cooperatively; whether children are making academic progress based on measures other than test scores.” www.timeoutfromtesting.org
There are questions about how the peer groups were constructed.   Is it fair to group and  judge the performance of  schools with huge differences in  populations – or combining percentages of African-American and Hispanics as interchangeable; i.e., as a school with 59% Hispanic and 1% African-American a match for 59%African-American and 1% Hispanic.  Questions about factors that impact scores that lie outside of the school, such as percentage of Asian students whose families are organized in a way that extends the school day at home.
These are only a few of the questions. Next time, we’ll look more closely at schools and more of the problems with the formula. Our children deserve more than what the current system offers.  PN will be listing programs that acknowledge all intelligences and impact ELA and Math scores. Give your child the gift of recognizing his strengths and arming her with the spirit to master tests.  Most of all, watch for opportunities to problem-solve at home with real problems.  Encourage them to think of possible solutions.  Learning takes place in the real world.
Comments and questions: parentsnotebook@yahoo.com
 
PN Alerts! Activities are in Bklyn unless otherwise noted.
*Sew What?  Create a Bag in Basic Sewing Class with Denise Beckford – 369 Madison St.   917-701-9864 – Saturday, Dec. 15th (2 pm)  Recommended for girls 8 years old and over.
*BPL – Bedford Branch, 496 Franklin Ave., 718-623-0012 Friday, Dec. 7th – 4 PM -For Teens – Mind Your Money Workshop –     Making a budget and sticking to it; learn skills for smart shopping.  For 6 – 12- year-olds – Sing along with the Kaleidoscope Band.
*Master Sabu’s Humble Dojang of Martial Arts,  997 Fulton St., 718-398-7789 – Teaching  youth  Self-Defense Skills and Child Safety, Courage to stand up for what is right, even if they stand alone, Patience to handle life’s daily challenges, Courtesy and Respect to build strong relationships with adults and peers.
*N.S.P. Youth, Inc.’s calling all youth performers -children (from age 3), teens and young adults. Weekly rehearsals and youth activities.  25 years of youth programming. For info contact Non-Stop Production at 718-415-3474 or e-mail: contactus@nspyouth.org.
*Essay Contest – “The Living Legacy of Malcolm X”, sponsored by The Malcolm X Commemoration Committee and the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center.  Elementary (4th & 5th grade), Middle School (6th -8th) and High School (9th – 12th). For details contact Iyalula Ferguson by e-mail: MXCC519@aol.com or write the committee at PO Box 34008, Jamaica, NY 11434.

By Linda Armstrong

The 35th Annual AUDELCO Awards were held at Aaron Davis Hall on November 19 and they were absolutely wonderful. There was a grace and elegance about the evening, co-hosted by Flo Wiley and Billy Mitchell. A smoothness and organization that was exciting to experience. It was also marvelous that I saw so many people come out for this special 35th Anniversary. There were actors, actresses, directors, producers, costume designers, set designers, other types of technicians and theatre lovers. Some of the actors were veterans like Stephen McKinley Henderson and Russell Hornsby, while others were youth actors who have recently begun getting their feet wet in the business. At the awards the torch was passed to several young actors. If you are not familiar with what the AUDELCO Awards are for, let me educate you about this vital tool that assists and helps Black theatre companies to survive by developing audiences who go to and support Black productions. The AUDELCO Awards are a way of recognizing the talent of African-Americans in theatre. It salutes the accomplishments of our people in Black theatre companies, in companies with Black actors and with Black Theatre-related groups.

The AUDELCO Awards, with the theme of “35 And Still Alive,” was a night to remember and was full of stunning moments, in addition to the VIV-which is the award named after Vivian Robinson, one of the late founders of AUDELCOs (Audience Development Committee, Inc.)-being handed out in 14 categories. The AUDELCOs President, Grace Jones, and the members of the Board of Directors-also chose to make this year about Black theatre companies and theatre related groups that have been around for at least 35 years.
We have a lot of awesome theatre companies out there and this year’s awards recognized their hard work and longevity with Outstanding Pioneer Theatre Company Awards, which went to the Billie Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn, the Nuyorican Poets Caf‚ and the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop in Manhattan-each having lasted 35 years. The Black Spectrum Theatre in Queens has been going strong for 37 years. With one more year under its belt, New Federal Theatre in Manhattan, founded by Woodie King, Jr., has been around for 38 years. Richard Allen Center for Culture & Art (RACCA) has been around for 39 years and ties with AMAS Musical Theatre. The longest-lasting theatres, with 40 years to their credit, are the National Black Theatre on 5th Avenue and 125th Street and the Negro Ensemble Company, which just became the resident theatre company at Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) on 141st Street.
Again looking towards the next generation of actors, Youth Theatre Group Rising Stars were given to the Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy; Black Spectrum Teen Acting Academy; Restoration Youth Arts Academy; Impact Repertory Theatre Group; Ronald Edmond Learning Center and Middle School 113, Brooklyn.
VIVs went to Harlem’s own National Black Theatre for its outstanding production of Black Man Rising. The show won for Dramatic Production of the Year; Outstanding Ensemble Performance; Director/Dramatic Production-Patricia R. Floyd and choreography, Juson Williams. The production Passing Strange won Musical Production of the Year; Outstanding Musical Director-Hiedi Rodewald, Director/Musical Production-Annie Dorsen and Outstanding Performance in a musical/male-Daniel Breaker. Another Harlem theatre company had an impressive night, the H.A.D.L.E.Y. Players tied with Black Man Rising as Dramatic Production of the Year for The Guest at Central Park West, and also won the VIV for Playwright-Levy Lee Simon and Lead Actor for John Marshall Jones. Signature Theatre had a great evening, as it accumulated VIVs for King Hedley II-for Supporting Actor Lou Myers, Lead Actress-Lynda Gravatt and Set Design-David Gallo. Signature Theatre Company also won the Lighting Design VIV for Robert Wierzel for Two Trains Running. Take Wing & Soar Productions won two VIVs for costume design and sound design for Hamlet. Classical Theatre of Harlem had actress Petronia Paley come away with the VIV for Supporting Actress for Electra. Outstanding Performance in a Musical/female was won by Eartha Kitt for Mimi Le Duck. And a brilliant playwright/actor, Daniel Beaty, walked away with the VIV for Solo Performance for his one-man show Emergence-See. Samm-Art Williams received a Special Achievement Award.
The evening also included incredible acting scenes from some of this past season’s shows such as Moon Over A Rainbow Shawl, Black Man Rising, and Magpie.
Support Black theatre, there are so many extraordinary companies out there in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. And remember Black Theatre is us telling our stories in the way that they should be told. For more information about AUDELCO, a group you can become a member of, go to its Web site at www.audelco.net or call 212-368-6906.

By Jasmin Dysard

“We at Barber-Scotia College believe that human dignity is an endowment from God and that all persons have the responsibility for developing their potential to the fullest and for devoting their creative energies toward making a better world.” So reads the first sentence of the Barber-Scotia College mission statement. “There will always be a need for Barber-Scotia,” said Carl M. Flamer, President since June 2006 of Barber-Scotia College, as he addressed the audience at the Barber-Scotia College Alumni Prayer Brunch and fund-raiser held at the Berean Baptist Church in Brooklyn on Saturday, November 17.

Church members, Barber-Scotia alumni and faculty, family, friends and well wishers gathered in the spacious Berean Church basement  for prayer, music, dance, good food, celebration and the opportunity to salute and raise money for the 140-year-old HBCU founded by a Presbyterian Reverend in 1867, originally as an all-African-American women’s school.
After a formal welcome from college alumna, and President of the New York Alumni Chapter, Alma Clark, guests were treated to a superbly sung musical solo by Berean Baptist Church member Gwen Davis Young. A tasty brunch of scrambled eggs, sausage, crispy bacon, biscuits, fried whiting, fried apples, creamy grits, toast and beverages were served afterward. More crowd-pleasing musical acts followed including the Brooklyn-based band Twins & The Sons of Glory, violinist Laticia Lewis and singer Gina Fletcher. Spiritual dance routines from the Master Mime Ministry and New Generation Praise Dancers also drew applause and standing ovations from the crowd.
But the event was about more than food, music and dancing. A video presentation, “Long Live Barber-Scotia”, gave those in attendance who may not have known the history of Barber-Scotia a history lesson on the institution: Barber-Scotia College was originally named Scotia Seminary, when it was founded by the Reverend Luke Dorland. Reverend Dorland was commissioned by the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. to establish a learning institution in the South for African-American women who were the daughters of newly freed slaves. The college’s purpose originally was to train the women to become teachers and social workers. However, it later became known for graduating more business administration majors than any other major, and is currently transitioning to become a 4-year Entrepreneurial and Business College. The school was christened Barber-Scotia College in 1932 after merging with Barber Memorial College of Anniston, Alabama. In 1954, Barber-Scotia became coed and was admitted to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  Its most famous alum is probably educator, civil rights activist and founder of Bethune-Cookman University Ms. Mary McLeod Bethune. It continues to be affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The college has faced setbacks in recent years including losing its accreditation, which cut off federal funding and UNCF funding, that make up about 90% of the funding the college typically receives. This is why fund-raising events such as this are vital to the college’s continued existence. I asked President Flamer, who received his BS from Barber-Scotia in 1974 and who also chooses not to accept a salary as president of the school, why Barber-Scotia lost its accreditation and if he feels that Black America supports its institutions, financially and otherwise, as much as it should. He said that Barber-Scotia losing its accreditation “really had to do with offering a program to individuals in another county, and unfortunately, the person who was in charge of that program didn’t communicate what the program was about. . . . Because of the irregularities related to that, it actually resulted in some people receiving degrees at that program who in fact had not met all the requirements.” When asked if Black America supports its institutions as much as it should he replied, “I would certainly say that I think too often we do forget to support our historically Black institutions. I think one of the things we as a people have basically are our churches and our schools, and we’re losing too many of our schools. I think since 1983 we’ve either lost or had institutions lose their accreditations somewhere in the vicinity of about 30 schools, and that’s a lot of schools since 1983. I think that there’s really no excuse. We are the best educated generation; we are also the wealthiest generation, and when you think about what our forefathers did in terms of getting institutions started and supporting these institutions, we find that there’s just a major gap.”

The commitment and dedication of Barber-Scotia alumni to raising funds for their alma mater is a major part of the reason the institution continues to function, and several members of the alumni and prayer brunch committee were honored at the event including Ms. Claudia Umpthery, a 50-year alum of Barber-Scotia, who received a proclamation and plaque from a representative from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’ office. November 17 was also declared “Ms. Claudia Umpthery Day” in Brooklyn! Ms. Sarah J. Whitley-Brinson, Chairperson and member of Berean Baptist Church for forty-four years, retired educator and honorary alumna of Barber-Scotia since 1997 gave the closing remarks of the ceremony. “I went to four colleges here in New York, but I feel like I’m a graduate of Barber-Scotia,” she said. “When one takes on an endeavor, one must breathe life into it and make it happen.” The ceremony ended with raffle drawings in which guests won prizes and a closing prayer led by Ms. Evelyn Hyatt, a Barber-Scotia alum and chaplain.
 Barber-Scotia College has been a historically Black institution for 140 years. And with the continued support of a dedicated alumni, a selfless president, the contributions of the public and lots of prayer, it will remain so for at least another 140 years.

By Akosua Albritton

Accompanied by his daughter Sharon Daughtry and Mr. Yahya Ousman, an ex-patriot of Sudan, Rev. Herbert Daughtry, National Presiding Minister of the House of the Lord Pentecostal Churches and Chairman of the National Religious Leaders of African Ancestry Concerned About Darfur (NRLAA), boarded an Air France jet for N’Jamena, Chad, Monday, October 15, 2007.  His objective was to meet a delegation to get status on the civil war in Sudan and deliver a shipment to the refugee camp in Gaga, Chad. The genocide resulting from Sudan’s civil war in the Darfur region is such that millions are a part of a mass exodus to neighboring Chad.  Gaga is one of the huge tent cities that have developed.
By October 20, Daughtry and company entered Gaga, bringing enough clothes, food and household supplies to fill 700 boxes, weighing a total of 1,800 lbs., filling a 40-foot container.  The crowd cheered and followed the two trucks into the parking lot.  This mission is the fulfillment of promises made in March 2007 wherein the NRLAA went on collection drives in the US and Daughtry assigned himself the task of personally managing the delivery.
Sharon Daughtry conferred with a group of twenty young women.  Using French- and Arabic-speaking translators, Ms. Daughtry expressed wishes for social development and empowerment.  Ms. Daughtry said, “African-American women are disliked, too, because of our skin color and because we are women.  But we still achieve our goals and you can, too.”  The other young women described their life of no formal education, early marriages and violence.  In Sudan, marriage is permissible at age thirteen.
The other objective was not as clear-cut a success as the delivery.  Rev. Daughtry had hopes of observing the United Nations African Union-sponsored negotiations between Darfurian and Sudanese leadership.  These negotiations were slated for October 27 in Tripoli, Libya.  While he wasn’t initially invited to this meeting, the president of southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, invited the group to another one in Juba, Sudan, wherein parties discussed whether they would participate in the October 27 meeting.
During a recent telephone interview Rev. Daughtry explained that due to the inability to get a flight from N’Jamena, Chad to Juba, Sudan, the group departed Africa on  October 23, 2007.  Daughtry said, “Many Darfurian leaders did not make the Libyan meeting.  The United Nations and African Union continue the efforts to convene a meeting with full representation from both sides of the strife.”