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Editorials/Columns
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Chuck Berry: Farewell To Johnny B. Goode
et’s get one thing straight: you can’t say good-bye to a legend. In your room, in
your bed at twelve o’clock midnight with one ear plugged into what looked like a hearing aid that was itself connected to a “made-in-Japan” craze called a “tran- sistor radio” that belted out such hits as “Maybelline,” “School Day,” “Rock And Roll Music,” “Reelin’ And Rockin’,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Sweet Little Sixteen,” and close to a thousand other songs that clogged the radio waves during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s and became the foundation stone for the greatest public experiment since the French Revolution . . . an Experiment called the American Civil Rights Movement.
And standing like a Drum Major at the center of this revolution (which we called ‘Rockin’n Roll Music’), was a handsome brown-eyed, young, Black man from the Midwest, born Charles Edward Anderson Cherry (his friends called him “Chuck”).
And he and a counterpart by the name of Martin Luther King, Jr., would be des- tined to turn the world upside down. How dare you call him simply an entertainer? For, Chuck Berry was a prophet. Not only did he inspire pimple-faced adolescent disciples on both sides of the ocean to learn how to pluck two strings and look like Donald Duck carrying an electric guitar, but he let loose a gospel (call it “Holy Ghost?”) that took on a thousand names – Elvis, Little Richard, Michael Jackson, Fats Domino, The Beatles, Hendrix, The Rolling Stones etc. And when he was done, war seemed stupid and anger seemed a clown-show.
Chuck Berry was no saint. But his music was saintly. He was no messiah. But his lyrics were liberating. He was no god. But his example loomed higher than Mt. Ever- est.
And now, they say he’s dead, we say, “IMPOSSIBLE!” Mountains don’t die, do they? And even if they do die, no rock in the universe could ever outlast Johnny B. Goode.
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Timeless Teachings
mpowered Greet-
ings. As we continue to celebrate National Women’s History month, I want to ex- plore timeless teachings from the leading lady of the Bible.
The truths that this woman will exemplify shall empower you to make your own power moves as you create your boss business and lifestyle of suc- cess.
Let’s start with the original woman of all women “aka” Eve.
She was created by the cre- ator to be a creative force for all humankind. She was a strong sister that didn’t mind scouting out the garden thus exploring the world around her.
On one of her excursions she had a rap session with a serpent that challenged her to go against the grain.
Not only did she buck the system but she convinced Adam to do the same. Unfor- tunately, her decision was proven to be detrimental for them, but beneficial for us. Be- cause of the shortcoming of the first Adam, God sent His son to redeem us back to Himself.
The lessons we can learn from Eve, is that women were created with the gift of creation on the inside of them. Women have the power to bring things into existence. Therefore, we should utilize our ingenious nature to produce.
You may have to go beyond the environment of which you grew up in or are accustomed to, and explore something or somewhere new. When you go outside the realm of your com-
fort zone you may encounter conversations with people that are more knowledgeable than you. Discern what is true and what is the truth about the dis- cussions you are having and govern yourself accordingly.
Once that determination is made, if necessary, you may need to challenge the odds.
Just because it’s nEver been done before, doesn’t mean it can’t be done. You can do it!
You can lead the way. Like Eve, you are a leading lady. HowEver, be sure that you are blazing a trail for success.
Be careful not to lead oth- ers down a path of destruction. Although we women were cre- ated to create, one wrong deci- sion as we see with Eve, can also destroy your relationship with that, which God has given you to nurture and culti- vate.
The timeless lesson Eve teaches women is to think be- fore we do, so that our ad- mirable ambitions are guided by good judgment.
Stay connected with Selphenia! Check out her website at SuccessCoach- ToWomen.com Follow her on social media for tips and strategies you can use for life and business success.
Facebook: Selphenia Nichols Success Coach to Women
Instagram:@Selphenia Twitter: @queenofsuc- cess1 Invite Selphenia to speak, train or Emcee your next Event. Call 813-603- 0088.
FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5-A
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Independent Investigations Of Prison Deaths Needed
W
e extend condolences to the family of Darren Rainey and all families who
have experienced the questionable death of a relative in any of Florida’s pris- ons.
Darren Rainey, a 50-year-old inmate was found dead in a prison shower whose water tested at 160 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees higher than state limit) two days after his death in June 2012.
Yes, it has taken nearly five years to complete the investigation of Rainey’s death with a finding that there was “no evidence of a crime” in the death of the prison in- mate who was locked in and left for two hours in a scalding hot shower” by four prison guards. Prosecutors stated, “The evidence does not show that Rainey’s well- being was grossly disregarded by the correctional staff.”
In spite of credible testimony by a nurse on duty, inmate witnesses and opinions of expert forensic pathologists, Miami’s medical examiner gave “schizophrenia, heart disease and being confined in the shower” as the cause of death. In spite of Rainey’s skin having been peeled off, red and blistered, and the water temperature confirmed at 160 degrees Fahrenheit, the medical examiner stated, “It is not sub- stantiated that temperatures inside the shower room were excessively high.”
If scientific sources confirm that 122 degrees Fahrenheit is the maximum tem- perature a body can withstand for short-term (several minutes) exposure before suffering first and second degree burns, then why would prisons be able to heat water for showers to 160 to 189 degrees?
Moreover, why would an inmate be subjected to a shower for two hours at the rate of 2.1 gallons per minute or 252 gallons? By the way, Rainey was Black.
We suggest the Florida Legislature clean up Florida’s prisons by requiring inde- pendent investigations into the deaths of prison inmates. American prisons must never become places of human torture.