Page 9 - 3-10-15 Tuesday's Edition

Local
Progressive Black Men Host Women’s Dedication Program
Cuba Gooding Takes Legal
Action To Protect HBCU
Schools, Florida A&M
And Bethune-Cookman
Cuba Gooding, Sr.,
long-time lead vocalist of the Grammy-nominated R&B en- semble, The Main Ingredi- ent, and father of Academy Award winner, Cuba Good- ing, Jr., thought it was a great idea to hold two benefit concerts in Orlando late last year during the annual Florida Classic Weekend – a historic and annual college football game between Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University – to raise needed money for the two historically black col- leges. Both schools agreed.
Gooding is accusing ex- ecutives of The Dr. Phillips Center (who took over the day-to-day operations of The Bob Carr Theater) of multiple mistakes and failure of its ob- ligations as a venue, most glaringly, to offer viable op- portunities for people to pur- chase tickets to the benefit concerts, via Internet or the venue’s box-office.
In a gesture to correct its many wrongs, Dr. Phillips’ executives, according to Gooding, offered to donate $1,000 to each of the two black universities, to which Gooding, said, “No Way!.” He finds the offer insulting, not only to himself and his family, but to the two schools as well.
Gooding said, “If Dr. Phillips Center had good in- tentions to help the two black schools, the venue would not have made so many unprofes- sional mistakes, blunders, and oversights.”
Gooding also said there were many other failures and
CUBA GOODING, SR.
acts of negligence on the part of the Dr. Phillips Center and its brain trust, which will be revealed in court.
“I’m in this to win this for the two Historically Black Colleges and Universities that would have given them much more than the insulting $1,000,” said the legendary singer, whose signature hit song is, “Everybody Plays the Fool.”
“These two schools, like so many other HBCUs are fight- ing for their very existence and should not have to be subjected to negligence or mistakes on the part of a venue that should have known better and should have operated with more pro- fessionalism.”
Gooding is not going away due to the pressure of Dr. Phillips’ name in greater Orlando. “I’m from Harlem – I’m used to a good fight,” says the father of the Oscar Winner, “but what a shame that it had to come down to this. They were quick to take my money for the two events, while rendered noth- ing close to what was prom- ised.”
Malik Moss served as the Master of Ceremonies for the annual event.
The Progressive Black Men who attended the “Wine & Roses” Women’s Dedication Program included: Stephen Robinson, Eric Hutto, Stephen Sewer, President, James Joseph, Malik Moss, and Darius Fields, Secretary of the organization.
Samantha
captivated the audience with the delivery of her poem entitled, “Walk- ing.”
Holly Delarosa, Yabi Demissie and Jasmin Marshall were among those in attendance at the Annual Women’s Dedication entitled, “Wine & Roses.” The event was hosted by the Progres- sive Black Men.
Bryant
CaHana Charles and Eric Hutto attended the event.
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9