Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 3-25-16 Edition

Local
Tampa Man Needs Help In Attending Grandson’s Funeral
National
The death of a family mem- ber is a difficult time in any- one’s life, but when that family member is someone you’ve never met, the hurt runs much deeper.
Cornelius Sellers re- cently got news that his grand- son, Isaac Thomas, was killed in an automobile accident in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
“I just met my son, Carlo Thomas, for the first time re- cently, and now I have to deal with my grandson dying in a
car accident.
“I never got the opportunity
to spend any time with him, and that’s very painful. He was only 12-years-old.”
Sellers is trying to raise funds to travel to Columbus, Georgia for a service scheduled for next week.
Sellers said he will be set- ting up a GoFund Me account in his grandson’s name, and if anyone else wants to help him get to Georgia, they can call (813) 384-0476.
High School Student From D.C. Wins Google’s Doodle Contest
Fulfilling His Dream, Winemaker Is Finding His Niche
Andre Mack sits on his barrels of wine. And displays one of his labels.
High School 10th grader, Akilah Johnson wins Doodle 4 Google contest.
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
For many people, their ideal job is out of reach.
Andre Mack isn’t one of those people.
As the founder of Mouton Noir (which means “Black Sheep”), Mr. Mack is living his dream role as a business- man and winemaker.
“IgettodowhatIlove every single day,” he said. “I’m lost in what I do and to me that’s very fulfilling.”
Recently, Mr. Mack vis- ited Tampa during a promo- tional swing through Florida. Several restaurants in the area – including Datz and Wine Exchange – carry his wines which carry such whimsical names as Knock on Wood (Chardonnay) and O.P.P. (Other People’s Pinot Gris).
The Oregon-based label – which is sold throughout the world – also can be found at Total Wine & More stores.
As an African-American winemaker, Mr. Mack is a member of a very small fra- ternity within the industry. Of the more than 8,000 wineries in the country, it’s estimated that fewer than five percent are black-owned.
An Army brat who moved constantly while growing up, Mr. Mack said he often was the only Black student in his classes.
That experience of being the “only” among his peers still exists and with it often comes surprise.
But said he isn’t bothered by whatever preconceived no-
tions others may have of him. He just wants people to
enjoy his wines.
“I want my wines to be
judged on their merit,” he said.
Winemaking is Mr. Mack’s third reinvention. As a young man, he worked at Red Lobster. After dropping out of college, he launched a career in finance at Citicorp Investment Services. A banker by day, Mr. Mack soon took up a serious inter- est in wine and began study- ing everything he could about it for hours every day.
After working some years at Citicorp, Mr. Mack left to again join the restaurant busi- ness.
But in his second stint, Mr. Mack went beyond wait- ing tables and became a som- melier. Now living in Texas, he was steadfast in sharpen- ing his expertise in all things wine, soaking up everything on the subject. In 2003, his hard work was recognized by the highly regarded Chaine des Rotisseurs which honored him with the title of Best Young Sommelier in America.
Soon after, he was offered the chance to work as a som- melier at famed chef Thomas Keller’s world- renowned The French Laun- dry in Yountville, California and would eventually work his way up to head sommelier at Keller's prestigious Per Se restaurant in New York City.
Married and the father of three boys, Mr. Mack and his family live a bi-coastal life with homes in Oregon and New York City.
Akilah Johnson was “sur- prised and overwhelmed” when she learned that she was a na- tional finalist in the “Doodle 4 Google” contest for elementary through high school students.
Imagine how she feels now.
Akilah, a sophomore at Eastern Senior High School in Northeast Washington, has just been named Google’s big win- ner in the national contest, top- ping the 53 state and territory champions, whose work had been culled from about 100,000 student entries.
Akilah received the news Monday during a ceremony at Google headquarters in Moun- tain View, Calif.
“I was so excited, I started crying,” Akilah says. “I didn’t even look at anybody — I was just looking at the framed copy [of the Doodle] they gave me.”
Akilah is the contest’s first winner from D.C.
This year’s contest theme was: “What makes me...me.” Akilah drew a box-braided Doodle, titled “My Afrocentric Life,” using color pencils, black crayons and Sharpie markers. The Doodle includes symbols of black heritage and signs repre- senting the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I based this picture off my lifestyle,” she stated as part of her entry, which is featured on
Google’s home page. Besides seeing her work spotlighted on Google’s home page, Akilah will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, and her high school will be awarded a $50,000 Google for Education grant “towards the establish- ment and improvement of a computer lab or technology program.” She also will get to meet with professional artists at Google’s headquarters. And what does she hope millions of Google users will take away from viewing her Doodle?
“I hope they feel inspired,” Akilah says, “and try to under- stand the picture as I want them to understand it.”
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 13-A