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Features
Middleton Senior Wins Black History Month Essay Contest
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Middleton High School senior Charity Franks said she’s always been fascinated about Black History, especially the era of what was once known as the “Black Wall Street.”
While attending classes in late January, Franks saw a notice posted on her school’s web- site about an essay contest.
“I read the notice, and it said the Nation of Islam was hosting a Black History Essay contest, and the winner would get a $500 scholarship.”
Franks submitted her essay about an era in Black History when the “Black Wall Street” rep- resented the future of African Americans in this country.
The essay was a winner, and Nation of Islam Student Study Group Coordinator, Brother Michael Muhammad, presented Franks with her $500 scholarship award.
“The essay the young lady wrote was far and above anything we expected. We all found it amazing how someone so young found the time to study an era of our history that many people don’t talk about anymore, and others have for- gotten.”
In expressing her views in the essay, Franks said she feels the African American race is losing a war against a generational threat, and the so- lution lies in the history of those who came be- fore us.
“In our social studies classes, we spend hours memorizing the order of the presidents, and the history of Supreme Court justices, but less than a minute is spent on the innovations of the peo- ple of Harlem or the contributions of African Americans to music, engineering, and science.
“You can be certain there is not a single chap- ter on Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Riot. Black history has become a footnote in the text- book of high school indoctrination.”
Franks said she feels Black people need to start appreciating more the freedoms we all have and stop abusing them. She also said she thinks some Black people take for granted the rights we have.
“I know we can be successful business people, because we were in the past. We just need to find our roots, and return to the fundamentals that made us a self-sustaining race with a lot of pride and a bright future.”
Franks said as far as what college she’ll at- tend is concerned, she’s torn between the Uni- versity of Central Florida and the University of South Florida.
“As you can see, with either choice, my inter- est is staying close to home.”
From left to right: Bro. Michael Muhammad, Charity Franks, and her mother, Tjuana Franks.
Tampa Native Begins Peace Corps Service In Costa Rica
Tampa native, Ryan Jeter, recently departed for Costa Rica where he will live and work for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer. Dur- ing his Peace Corps service, Jeter will teach English to secondary school students while collaborating with local teachers to develop classroom materials and curriculum.
Jeter will also work with members of his community to identify and customize sec- ondary projects based on his experience and the commu- nity’s need.
The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest Americans abroad on behalf of the United States to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Volunteers work at the grassroots level to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in ed- ucation, health, economic de- velopment, agriculture, environment and youth devel- opment.
Through their service, vol- unteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Jeter joins 305 Florida residents currently serving in the Peace Corps around the globe.
During the first three months of his service, Jeter will live with a host family in Costa Rica to learn the local language and integrate into the local culture.
A graduate of Freedom High School, Jeter set be- coming a Peace Corps volun- teer as one of several goals he set while in high school. After his high school graduation, he interned with the Summer Bridge program in Provi- dence, Rhode Island, the sum- mer before entering college. This program matched him with students from Brown, Stanford, Yale and the Univer- sity Virginia.
He earned a bachelor’s de-
gree in political science/inter- national relations from Howard University, interned on Capitol Hill for Congress- woman Kathy Castor and traveled throughout southern Africa and parts of Europe.
Jeter says he is honored to be a part of this highly-se- lected and competitive pro- gram. “Through the Peace Corps service, I hope to learn about other cultures while also teaching my community members about the United States and my own culture,” he said.
Since graduating from col- lege in 2010, Ryan has lived in Chicago, where he was hired to educate middle school students about domes- tic violence for the non-profit program “Between Friends.” This experience helped him understand the power of edu- cation and how it changes cit- izens and communities. He hopes to apply this same prin- cipal in Coast Rica.
Jeter is the son of Chad- wick Hannah and Colette Glover-Hannah, the grand- son of Margaret Claritt and Isiah Glover and the great- grandson of Lizzie Steven- son.
For more information about the United States Peace Corps, visit www.peacecorps.gov and follow on Facebook and Twitter.
RYAN JETER ...Departed this week for Costa Rica.
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