Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 1-19-16 Edition

Editorials
Opinion:
Justice Scalia All Wrong On African American Students’ Academic Abilities
Opinion:
People Of Color Should Boycott
This Year’s Oscar Ceremony
BY BRIAN L. PAULING
Much of the initial outrage over statements made by U. S. Supreme Court Justice An- tonin Scalia last month dur- ing oral arguments in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin has abated, but deep disap- pointment remains. To suggest that Black college students might fare better by attending “less-advanced” or “slower- track” colleges and universities than more elite schools like the University of Texas makes it abundantly clear that he has no regard for the capabilities of African American students.
Justice Scalia’s com- ments are as wrong as they are discriminatory. Additionally, his assumptions in no way match what we at 100 Black Men of America Inc. (The 100) know about the capabilities of African American youth based on our experiences with the thousands we serve.
As The 100 enters its 53rd year of service to youth and communities, we have five decades of testimonies that soundly prove that all students have the ability to learn at high levels when given the proper opportunity, access and sup- port to do so.
Particularly mystifying to me is how a Supreme Court justice – a position that sets the tone and is responsible for en- suring a system of equity
BRIAN L. PAULDING
across this great nation – could be so blinded by and embrac- ing of such negative stereo- types relative to the academic abilities of Black students. The implication that they are inca- pable of operating at high lev- els is more than concerning. It’s absolute nonsense!
It is well documented that, irrespective of race, students who attend high-performing schools and are taught by high- performing instructors do well. Too often, however, those two critical variables are not avail- able to students equally in cities across our nation.
The 100 believes the right to learn often equals the right to earn. As such, The 100 has taken a public stand in favor of national education reform. Critical to education reform is that all students have access to high-performing schools where they receive a quality education and increased enrichment op- portunities, whether tradi-
tional public schools or non- profit public charters.
Since the overwhelming majority of our children are ed- ucated in public schools, we maintain our long-held belief that public schools must be- come equitably funded and high performing. We also sup- port high-performing, evi- dence-based, nonprofit, public charter schools as an accept- able alternative for parents seeking educational options to traditional public schools.
We strive daily to change the life outcomes and trajec- tory of underserved and disen- franchised African American youth. We know that the qual- ity of education they receive will aid in their successful tran- sition to a rewarding career and becoming contributing members of society.
If Justice Scalia and like- minded individuals were more fixated on ensuring that every child has access to a high-qual- ity education, the need for pro- grams like those at the University of Texas would lessen, and African American students would be in a much better place.
Brian L. Pauling is presi- dent of 100 Black Men of America Inc., a global nonprofit mentoring organization with more than 100 chapters reaching 125,000 youth in the United States, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.
Obamacare Is Not Welfare
K arla, a 23-year-old mother with three children recently suf- fered kidney stones and gall bladder illness and had to spend 24 hours in a local hospital. Unfortunately, Karla had no health insurance and (are you ready for this?) she works for a major hospital. When asked why she hadn’t applied for health insurance through Obamacare, she shrieked, “I don’t want to
fool with no welfare!”
Sadly, Karla bought into a common, yet, overworked miscon-
ception promoted by the nickname “Obamacare,” which was meant to be a derogatory and offensive slur for the anything- but-offensive Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In- deed, unless a person qualifies for Medicaid, health insurance must be BOUGHT (as in pay for it) through a Health Insurance Exchange from private insurance companies.
Insurance premiums are based on income (100% to 400% of poverty). If your income is below 400% of the poverty level, you may qualify for help to pay part of your monthly insurance pre- mium. However, if your income is above 400% of FPL, you will be ineligible to receive help in paying the premium, but will be able to secure health insurance through the Obamacare Health insurance exchanges. Qualifying for Medicaid requires meeting strict guidelines, and IS a social welfare program.
So, we urge our readers not to resist signing up for health in- surance through Obamacare simply because of PRIDE. Con- sider, your economic future can be destroyed by one illness that requires you to spend a day or more in the hospital. And, in case you didn’t know it, taxpayers and people with health insurance paid for Karla’s hospital stay. You still have until January 31st to sign up for health insurance. If not for yourself, at least get health insurance for your children.
Michael B. Jordan did an extraordinary job in the movie, “Creed,” but it was Sylvester Stallone who got the nomination.
Although ‘Straight Outta Compton’ did well at the box office, both here and abroad, it wasn’t enough to get a nomi- nation for any of the actors who ap- peared in the movie.
BY LEON B. CREWS
For more than a half century, people of color have fought to gain their rightful place among the elite of Hollywood. Al- though some strives have been made in the industry, it still has a long way to go.
Proof of the snubbing is ex- hibited by this year’s and last year’s Oscar Ceremony where no one of color has been nomi- nated. The only shout-out this year is for Original Screenplay for the movie, “Straight Outta Compton.” The screenwriters for that movie are both white.
Professionals of color in Hol- lywood are outraged, and de- mand that something be done about the old establishment that decides who and what should be nominated for an award.
Each year, it appears the same actors and actresses are nominated, although their movies didn’t do that well at the box office.
To show just how deep the snubbing is, Sylvester Stal- lone received a nomination in the Best Supporting Actor Cat- egory for Creed, but the star of the movie, Michael B. Jor- dan, didn’t even get a mention.
Also, Idris Elba got no con- sideration for his role in “Beasts of No Nation.”
Last year, the directors of
“Selma,” Ava DuVermay and David Oyelowo, failed to get a nomination.
If there has been progress in Hollywood for people of color, it has taken several steps back over the past few years, and proves that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, or an independent force needs to take over and acknowledge the great actors, actresses, and oth- ers who have done phenomenal work in the motion picture in- dustry.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Birth Of A River
N obody remembers how they came about it or who gave it to us, but 8 years ago, directly after the investiture of America’s first Black President, one of our staff writers hap- pened to come by a black-and-white photograph of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and seated beside him as if they both were in the same room, was none other than President Barack Obama. We have seen the photograph of those two men in men-
tion.
And we must admit, 8 years later, every time we see it, the
sight of it reminds us of the late James Weldon Johnson’s The Black National Anthem, when he writes, “Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod/ felt in the days when hope un- born had died. / Yet, with a steady beat have now our weary feet, come to the place for which our fathers sighed.”
And Johnson’s words reminded us of Dr. King’s words when he wrote, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase,” or when he explained, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that;” then concluded, “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Or perhaps, you remember when he said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” Maybe, not so strange is a comment made by President Barack Obama at the christening of the MLK Memorial in 2011 when he stated, “We can’t be discouraged by what is. [But] We’ve got to keep pushing for what ought to be!” Indeed, it reminded us of a quote by his intellectual mentor, Rev. Dr. King, Jr. who said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
Had he lived in physical years, Rev. Dr. King would have cel- ebrated his 87th birthday, this past January 15th. However, the eternity of his words reminds us of a piece written by a local poet whose poem concludes, “My life is like a river/ and it’s rolling all the time.” Such was the birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose life was like a river.