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The Creative Entrepreneur
mpowered Greet-
ings. The creative en- trepreneur is one who journeys to the future through the figment of their mind and returns to the pres- ent with a zeal to produce the results they’ve imagined. In other words, the creative en- trepreneur sees a non-tradi- tional idea in the eye of their mind, then they take the nec- essary actions needed to manifest their idea physically.
What makes them “cre- ative” is they do not color in- side the lines and do business as usual. They are not limited
by the boundary of restrictive thinking. Creative entrepre- neurs are not deterred by sta- tistics, hindered by stereotypes or confined by status quo. They have freed their minds to think, move and live outside the box.
If you want to go to higher heights, I encourage you to start cultivating the notion of creative thinking in your per- sonal life, your business and your ministry. It is bold ac- tions of a creative entrepre- neur that positions them to be elevated above their coun- terparts, in the mind of the
consumer. I am of the firm belief, that new creative busi- ness and ministry ideas will produce the uncommon favor, uncommon results and uncommon profits you de- sire.
For more information on creative entrepre- neurship or to have Selphenia facilitate, speak or train at your next conference, retreat, organizational meeting, school or event call 813- 603-0088.
Stay connected to Selphenia on social media.
Facebook: Success Coach To Women
Twitter: queenofsuc- cess1
Instagram: Selphenia
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C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
Pres. Obama At The DNC: Passing The Baton
id you see the lightning in his eyes . . . clear eyes, Abra-
ham Lincoln eyes like when Abe promised “that the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth”. . . Franklin Delano Roo- sevelt eyes like when FDR reminded us, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” . . . John F. Kennedy eyes like when JFK admonished America, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country,” or the eyes of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who preached to this nation, “I have a dream, today?” But we’re not referring to either of these great Americans.
Instead, we are talking about the lightning in the eyes of America’s 44th President Barack Hussein Obama – African American Native Son who stood before a packed Democratic National Conference and spoke like the Biblical King David for 45 minutes. Pride, Joy, and Love of Country is what he talked about. But of everything he said, one thing came to mind when he turned to an entire nation and asserted, “We don’t fear the future. We shape it!” Then when it seemed he could make no greater statement, under the booming back- ground of Stevie Wonder’s song “Signed, Sealed and Deliv- ered,” the 44th President of the United States welcomed the presumptive 45th President of the United States. The audi- ence roared, and the next night, Hillary Clinton became the first woman to be nominated for President by a major Amer- ican political party...
So, what does it all mean? It means the destiny of America – for everyone regardless of race, religion, gender or ability group -- shall not be denied. It means the only thing America is failing to do is refusing to go backwards. But most impor- tantly, it sends a message to American voters: Dust off your dancing shoes. For, the next Stevie Wonder song is yours.
The History And Impact Of Black Voters
ack in the 1970s, I wrote
a column for another Black-owned newspaper and predicted that even if America elected a Black president, the plight of Black Americans would not change much be- cause of our “messiah com- plex.”
Furthermore, I stated that as long as we needed “leaders,” our destiny and, economic and social justice would elude us until each of us registered, voted and became our own messiah.
The idea that there are Blacks who are thinking about not voting or who are going to vote for a demagogue who was sued twice by the U. S. Justice Department in the 1970s when he wouldn’t rent apartments to Black tenants, who used sham leases and quoted higher rental rates to Black applicants is scary.
However, I realize that we all don’t think alike and each of us is entitled to vote for whomever we choose. There- fore, today I would like to re- mind our readers briefly of the history of our right to vote and the impact of Black voters. As to local elections I will never forget that Black businessman Alton White could have been elected mayor when he ran for that office in 1974, a year when there were nearly more regis- tered Black voters in Tampa than the total number of voters who actually turned out to vote
in that election.
We must never forget that
at least 21 Black and white Americans were murdered while advocating for the rights of Blacks to vote. Among those courageous men and women were Rev. George W. Lee, (Belzoni, Mississippi, 1955), Herbert Lee (Liberty, Mis- sissippi, 1961), Johnathan Myrick Daniels, (1965 in Hayneville, Alabama), Ver- non Ferdinand Dahmer, (1966 in Hattiesburg, Missis- sippi), and Viola Liuzzo, (1965 in Selma, Alabama).
Many others were beaten, water-hosed, and otherwise intimidated by the law en- forcement, Ku Klux Klan and other racist groups while seek- ing Black voting rights.
When we reflect upon piv- otal moments in our fight for voting rights between 1700 and 2013, we find many more reasons to vote. During the 1700s, the voting rights of free Blacks living in the territories of South Carolina and at least seven northern states were protected by each state’s con- stitution.
At that time, there were no national standards for voting and the right to vote was re- stricted to male property own- ers or men professing Christianity. During the 1980s abolitionists and women’s rights groups joined together to fight for the voting rights of women. In 1870, the 15th
Amendment was passed and outlawed the denial of the right to vote based upon race by federal or state govern- ments.
Indeed, this amendment ushered in state laws that re- stricted Black voting by poll taxes, literacy tests, a grandfa- ther’s history of voting, and criminal records.
In 1872, Sojourner Truth showed up and at- tempted to vote at a polling place in Grand Rapids, Michi- gan. She was, of course, denied that right.
By the 1900s, organiza- tions such as the NAACP and Urban League had launched protests, marches, sit-ins and “vote-ins” to promote the vot- ing rights of Black Americans. In Birmingham, Alabama, a group of Black women were beaten and denied the right to register to vote in 1926 when they showed up at a voter reg- istration site.
In the 1960s, massive voter registration drives were held in the South and all across America by the NAACP and other civil rights groups which resulted in the registration of 5.5 million Black voters in 34 states and the District of Co- lumbia. The year 1965 culmi- nated with the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
Since the 1960s, voter reg- istration and participation in- creased to nearly 70% and Black voters cinched presiden- tial elections for presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Consequently, we must maximize our voting strength in 2016 in order to guarantee our lives and protect our right to vote. Therefore, if you CAN VOTE, but DON”T VOTE, keep your handshakes and complaints to yourselves.
Divine Retribution For Freddie Gray
any Americans are left wondering how perfectly
healthy 25 year old Freddie Gray ended up with an 80% severing of his spine, a fatal spinal cord injury, during his arrest and transport on April 12, 2015 for no other reason than the fact he and another young man started running when they saw two police officers riding bicycles. There were no outstanding warrants for his arrest; he had not been ac- cused of any recent crime, and there was no law against run- ning. In fact, Baltimore police officials stated “it was not clear why Gray was stopped by the officers as there is no law against running.”
Moreover, another official stated that the knife found on Gray was “actually a legal knife and did not justify arrest.” In addition, a police official stated that Gray “should have re- ceived medical attention BEFORE he was placed in the police van,” and was “not properly restrained by a seat belt” during the ride to police headquarters for booking. Even though de- tractors published Gray’s rap sheet, none of his past offenses were punishable by death.
Very clearly, the Baltimore police Department’s policies and procedures were violated in regards to pursuing suspects, providing medical attention upon request, and health and safety procedures for transporting suspects. Therefore, when our human justice system failed to re- deem Freddie Gray and other Black people needlessly killed, we believe a divine system of justice will ultimately redeem them. We shall watch, wait and continue the fight for justice, human and divine.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5
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