Neighborhood News Bureau

Author: mulrooneyl

  • ‘A Lion of the Law’ Justice Thurgood Marshall honored by ASALH, ACLU

    BY LAURA MULROONEY
    NNB Reporter

    ST PETERSBURG — Thurgood Marshall is well known for his civil rights activities; however, his jurisprudence style tends to be overlooked.

    The St. Petersburg chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) held the Speakers for Justice Seminar last Sat., Jan. 23 honoring Justice Thurgood Marshall at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum.

    Master of Ceremonies Attorney Jacqueline Hubbard, president of the St. Petersburg Chapter of ASALH gave the audience a brief yet thorough history of Justice Marshall’s academic, civil rights and legal accomplishments.

    According to Hubbard, one of Marshall’s most notable accomplishments was his instrumental hand in developing the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund in 1940, which fights for racial justice through litigation, advocacy and public education. Hubbard also highlighted his victory in Brown vs. Board of Education ending legal segregation in public schools.

    Imam Askia Muhammad introduced Civil Rights Attorney Delano Stewart, the first African- American assistant public defender in Hillsborough County. Stewart, who started working as an attorney more than 50 years ago, is known for his candidness in the courtroom.

    “It doesn’t matter if a man likes or loathes you, if he respects you, you cannot discern the difference,” Muhammad quoted Stewart.

    Stewart known as the “shield for the oppressed” spoke passionately about civil rights focusing on a theme of respect. His powerful anecdotes triggered a vast range of reactions from laughter, applause in agreement and silence of solemnity as he rapped on the podium to emphasize his points.

    ACLU Attorney Adam Tebrugge spoke of Justice Marshall’s efforts to discredit the death penalty. Marshall believed that the inconsistent death penalty convictions violated the Eighth Amendment. For some 20 years, Marshall traveled throughout the South defending death penalty cases earning Marshall his reputation.

    Tebrugge’s acknowledgement of Marshall’s efforts came 10 days after eight Supreme Court Justices ruled in favor of striking down Florida’s death penalty practices.

    Florida previously allowed the judge, not the jury, to hand down a defendant’s sentence, a violation of a defendant’s constitutional right to have a trial by jury. The debate that is sure to follow this decision could render all inmates on death row eligible for re-sentencing.

    “We have a historic opportunity at this moment in time to reach out to our elected representatives and to tell them that we here in the state of Florida do not need the death penalty and that we cannot afford the death penalty,” said Tebrugge.

    The Honorable Charles Williams, Chief Judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit focused on Marshall as a person and his gregarious nature. Marshall’s ability to be fluid in different societies and knowing when to be aggressive and when not to be aggressive advanced his position in the Civil Rights Movement.

    “He is the least known major civil rights figure in America and I think he has gotten the least credit,” said Williams.

     

  • Light at the end of the 
Sunnel

    BY LAURA MULROONEY
    NNB Reporter

    ST. PETERSBURG – It was not her passion but Sandra Gadsden played basketball regardless.

    For her achievements on the court, she was inducted into the South Carolina State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.

    So, why did she play basketball?

    “It wasn’t inspiration, it was a growth spurt,” Gadsden said.

    Although she wasn’t inspired to play basketball, it inspired her outlook on life. Her experience at South Carolina State University showed her how people who are considered different and marginalized deal with and navigate life.

    “When you see it for the first time it’s hard to pinpoint what it is, people there go beyond just being your professor, they advise you on life, they prepare you for the real world outside of campus…you learn about adversity” Gadsden said.

    Gadsden shared her story of perseverance with students from Mt. Zion Christian Academy as part of the third installment of “Light at the End of the Tunnel”, a series of storytelling events Feb. 12, at the “Blue Sunnel.”

    Artist Ya La’ford designed the “Blue Sunnel” mural as a reminder to residents that they can find hope in the darkest of places. The Sunnel is an underground tunnel between Tropicana Field and Central Avenue.

    The “Blue Sunnel” provided a living-room like ambience, lit with invigorating blue lights where the children sat with community leaders.

    Councilwoman Darden 
Rice, police chief 
Anthony Holloway, St.
Petersburg director
 of
 urban
 affairs 
Nikki 
Gaskin‐Capehart, and artist 
Bob 
Barancik joined Gadsden to speak about gun violence, the city budget and how to become a police officer.

    The children came prepared with well prepared questions for each guest speaker. The students are assigned a research class project, where La’ford guides them through research methods for each panelist and teaches them how to ask questions that they can learn from.

    The intent of the class project is to prepare students for public speaking, critical thinking and to improve their listening skills.

    “These events really have grown into a magical real life field trip, kids get an experience outside of their regular routine, it challenges all of their senses: listening, thinking, speaking,” said La’ford.

    When asked how to become an elected official, Rice advised the students to get involved at school, student government and in the community.

    “We can get so much more done by getting involved with other people,” said Rice.

    As the event concluded guest speakers shared words of inspiration with the students.

    “It doesn’t matter where you start,” Gadsden said. “You all have an opportunity to make an impact in the lives of other people.”

    La’ford’s next event is with the SunLit Festival, where children are invited to participate in a community literacy mural titled “Lift Every WORD and READ” at the James Weldon Johnson Community Center Mar. 5.

  • What society can learn from the military about diversity

    Diversity in the Military Panel

    BY LAURA MULROONEY
    Neighborhood News Bureau

    ST. PETERSBURG –“After about two weeks you find strength through your diversity,” as former Navy Petty Officer Donald Holly anecdotally recalled his time spent drifting through the depths of the ocean in a submarine. “You learn to identify the things that don’t really matter… then you learn to appreciate those things.”

    A panel of three former military leaders convened Thursday night for the “Shades of Green,” discussion on diversity in the United States Military at Stetson University College of Law.

    diversity sub, featuredHolly’s sentiment characterized the tone of the 90-minute discussion, with little to no disagreement from the other two panelists, retired Army Col. DJ Reyes, and retired Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Terry Nealy.

    Although they were products of vastly different backgrounds the innate camaraderie and mutual respect was apparent. As with most military driven events, the panel of strangers conversed as if they had known each other for ages.

    Socioeconomic status, gender, race, and sexuality were just a few defining factors of diversity discussed Thursday evening.

    Due to the expansive nature of the military, a single-culture environment is not a prospect for members of the military admitted Holly.

    When asked by moderator Kristen Colelli, Stetson Law Juris Doctorate Candidate, “What is the most challenging aspect of accepting people from all over the place?”

    Reyes responded, “The biggest challenge is one of ignorance.”

    Not ignorance in a negative way, but ignorance in the sense of unfamiliarity, he clarified. According to Reyes, the members of the military are trained to fit one common model. It is difficult to keep one’s individuality in the process.

    Communication and mutual respect were revered throughout the discussion; Reyes explained that acceptance and inclusion occurs after lines of communication have been opened, “when respect goes both ways, progress can be made.”

    “After work we don’t have to invite each other home for dinner, but we do have to work together,” commented Nealy. According to Nealy, people are wired differently and are products of their environment; the key is to respect those differences.

    Holly concluded the discussion by advocating the practice of labeling; he explained that the process of labeling empowers people to represent who and what they are. “To level the playing ground by diminishing labels we marginalize people,” labels allow us to own who we are.

    The panel was co-hosted by The Pillars at Stetson College and the Student Veterans Organization Stetson College chapter to highlight the importance of diversity and promote the understanding of diversity of all types during the American Bar Association’s Diversity Week.

  • African American Heritage Trail: The Historic Manhattan Casino

    The Historic Manhattan Casino comes to life at night with Jazz performances from local Jazz artists following in the footsteps of former greats.

    Photo courtesy of Tim Arruda

    Listen to live jazz as you delve into a soulful menu of upscale southern comfort at Sylvia’s St. Pete.

    Experience southern staples and a new twist on old favorites.

    BY LAURA MULROONEY AND JASON SAAB
    NNB Reporters

    Constructed by Elder Jordan Sr., one of the first African American businessmen in St. Petersburg, FL and his sons was and has remained a quintessential establishment in Midtown since 1925.

    For 40 years, the Manhattan Casino played a significant role as a social hub for the community.

    The Manhattan was once a venue on the renowned southern “Chitlin Circuit,” a string of venues throughout the eastern, southern, and upper mid-west areas of the United States that were safe for African American performers of all genres to perform uninhibited.

    George Grogan served as the booking agent responsible for bringing in big acts, while simultaneously employed at Gibbs High School as a chemistry teacher.

    Major jazz and blues performers, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, B.B. King, Fat Domino, Count Bassie, Otis Redding and local legendary icons Al Downing, LeRoy Flemmings Jr., Al Williams, and George ‘Buster’ Cooper played at the venue.

    Al Downing, also a teacher at Gibbs High School inspired many students throughout the years with his passion and skill, some of the impressionable youth followed in his footsteps like Buster Cooper.

    Cooper learned music from Downing during his formative years at Gibbs High School.

    Buster would eventually go on to play throughout the country, but started off at the Manhattan where he would play with his cousin’s band and any swing bands that would allow him to sit in as they visited. Buster remembers the Manhattan being the “only place we could play at that time.”

    The casino closed in 1966 due to effects of integration throughout the city, allowing African American musicians greater exposure by playing in once closed off parts of the city.

    In 2005 The Manhattan was renovated under the initiative of former St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster.

    After many years of debate and fiscal hardship, once just a dance hall and center for community events the space packs twice the punch.

    On the first floor Sylvia’s Queen of Soul Food Restaurant opened in 2013 and is the first upscale soul food eatery in St. Petersburg.

    Sylvia’s serves down home cooking with a swanky ambiance. Piping hot corn bread is served upon seating as a four-page menu is placed in front of you. The menu offers three styles of chicken and waffles, grilled, blackened, fried, and BBQ seafood options, and every southern side dish imaginable.

    Upstairs stills serves it’s purpose as a dance and event hall.

    The Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association, Inc. continues to keep the music alive at the Manhattan with live Jazz Jams every second Sunday of the month. With major events such as Jazz Jams culminating conclusion of the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival

    Jazz is offered every Saturday downstairs at Sylvia’s from 11-2. Sylvia’s also hosts a Gospel Brunch every Sunday.

    Buster Cooper Quote and Interview courtesy of Jon Tallon- Florida Historian
    King’s Dream Unite and Manhattan Casino night photos courtesy of Tim Arruda

    Visit the King’s Dream Unite mural painted by artist Ya La’ford to recognize unity within the community.

    Photo Courtesy of Tim Arruda

    Internationally known artist Ya La’ford incorporates lights with her murals to remind residents that hope can be found in the darkest places.

    Local musicians bring the old Jazz hall back to life every Saturday and the second Sunday of every month.

  • Flag raised over City Hall commemorates 40 years of Black History Month

    BY LAURA MULROONEY
    NNB Reporter

    ST. PETERSBURG – History was made February 1 at City Hall.

    Amid applause, whoops and laughter, Mayor Rick Kriseman raised a flag over City Hall commemorating 40 years of Black History Month.

    The flag featured the likeness of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an educator, author and historian who is known as the father of Black History Month.

    After the flag was raised, Terri Lipsey Scott, chair of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Petersburg, praised Kriseman for the important gesture.

    She commended him on doing what no other St. Petersburg mayor has ever done, “which was to acknowledge and commemorate the contributions that African Americans have made to this nation by flying, over a government institution, a flag in honor of not only Dr. Carter G. Woodson but African American history,” said Scott.

    In response, Kriseman said that “one of the many things that makes our community so special is our black history and the countless contributions that black individuals and families have made, and continue to make.”

    Last March, Kriseman also won plaudits when he announced that the city will try to purchase and preserve the Woodson museum, a long-simmering point of controversy between the museum board and the museum’s landlord, the St. Petersburg Housing Authority.

    Two months earlier, the Housing Authority board had voted 4-3 to sell the small community museum at 2240 9th Ave. S.

    Since then the city has announced a plan to purchase the building with the intent to keep it as a cultural landmark, museum, and now city building.

    In praising Kriseman’s recognition of the city’s diversity and the importance of keeping its history alive, Scott quoted Woodson: “If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”

    Woodson announced the celebration of “Negro History Week” in 1926, in effort to preserve African American history, which had been routinely overlooked in history books.

    In 1976 “Negro History Week” was extended to encompass the entire month of February. Some say that the establishment of Black History Month is counterproductive to Woodson’s initial intent.

    Relegating black history to one month excuses the full integration of black history into mainstream education.

    This is not the first time Kriseman has made steps to unify the community and demonstrate St. Petersburg’s inclusiveness.

    During Pride Week in 2015, Kriseman flew the LGBT Pride Flag over City Hall and returned as the parade’s honorary grand marshal along with former St. Petersburg Assistant Police Chief Melanie Brevan.

    Laura Mulrooney is a reporter in the Neighborhood News Bureau at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Project: ‘King’s Dream Unite’

    BY LAURA MULROONEY
    NNB Reporter

    ST. PETERSBURG — As part of the nationwide Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, a substantial crowd gathered as a mural by local artist Ya La’ford was unveiled on the north side of the historic Manhattan Casino in Midtown Monday.

    bluebird ya la ford unveiling Steinocher mycro school mural 2 mural 1 mt zion i have a dream hubbard darden rice deputy mayor dance

    Titled “King’s Dream Unite,” La’ford and 25 students from MYcroSchool Pinellas, a tuition-free, dropout recovery, public charter high school, painted the expansive 30’x30’ mural in one week with what was described as a “tremendous amount of paint.”

    “King’s Dream Unite” is a community mural where La’ford admits the community helped her realize Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream.

    “The mural is about unity, this is about how we’re connected, this is about how we can pull and collaborate the community together where I am not only exposing you to the visual but also to the dance and to the music, I am kind of forging these forces together to have something so impactful to the community,” she said.

    The event Monday began with the roar of the Mt. Zion Progressive Community Marching Band. The 13-percussion piece ensemble’s force and presence brought the crowd alive with the beat of their drums and crash of their cymbals.

    “The pounding of the drums represents our heartbeats coming together,” said La’ford at the end of the event.

    Jacqueline Williams Hubbard, Esq./Pres., St. Pete Chapter, The Association for the Study of African American Life and History spoke of the importance of the mural’s location on the side of the historic Manhattan Casino. For 40 years the Manhattan Casino played an instrumental role in south St. Petersburg arts, entertainment, and cultural development in the 1920s when Jim Crow segregation laws were still prevalent.

    The Moving Mural, a collaborative dance and song presentation performed by dancer and rehearsal director Helen Hansen French, singer Becca McCoy, MYcroSchool students and Mt. Zion Impact Dance Ministry confirmed that arts and entertainment still thrive in Midtown.

    La’ford along with Deputy Mayor Dr. Kanika Tomalin, Councilwomen Lisa Wheeler-Brown and Darden Rice and Chris Steinocher, president and CEO St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon as the tarp simultaneously raised, revealing the unified efforts of a diverse community.

    The mural consists of a black background with silver intersecting geometrical lines starting from the base of the building like tree roots that grow upwards to form the trunk and then a circular crown. The crown embraces two illuminated circles, one inside the other. A description by La’ford is essential to understand the magnitude of the piece.

    “Black represents the color of our people, the lines forge together in silver, silver being one of the oldest and most precious metals, as precious as our people. The three circles represent all of us rotating around each other for infinity. The geometric patterns represent how all of our lives intersect, everyone’s life journey may have traversed to the left or to the right but they will all intersect at some point. The center two circles are illuminated to acknowledge the presence of a higher being connecting us all together.”

    La’ford consistently involves children in her art to show that art is in everything that they do and see. This project provided MYcroSchool Pinellas students with the opportunity to participate in something they would not have normally done.

    The mural unveiling also included a free book giveaway for students and children courtesy of Keep St. Pete Lit and Bluebird Books. Students received bookmarks where they could write their response finishing MLK Jr.’s famous sentence “I have a dream.”

    Laura Mulrooney is a reporter in the Neighborhood News Bureau at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

  • ‘Champions of Peace’ honored in MLK high school essay contest

    BY LAURA MULROONEY
    NNB Reporter

    ST. PETERSBURG — The excitement builds as the parents, grandparents, guardians and supporters of this year’s finalists file in for the 35th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Essay Contest Finals held at the Enoch Davis Community Center Thursday, January 14.

    Tasina Taylor 1st Place

    Alexandra Givins 2nd Place

    Amber Seay 3rd Place

    The excitement is amplified by the rhythmic beats overhead from African Tribal Orchestra’s album “Sounds Like Africa.” The stage is empty, save for an oversized portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. awaiting the start of the contest with an inquisitive yet solemn gaze.

    As the contest commences the support can be felt through the words and emotions displayed on stage during opening remarks by Virginia Scott and Jarish Jones, Master of Ceremonies.

    For the first time since the contest’s inauguration, all six contestants were African American females; a proud accomplishment acknowledged by Virginia Scott, EDC Senior Advisory Council and Leontyne Middleton, both members of the SPC of MLK, Jr. CO, Inc.

    Diversity among the contestants is always welcomed and has been the norm throughout the existence of the contest, but with this year’s finalists being all female it has shown the community that women are no longer supporters in the background but front running leaders.

    The prompt for this year’s contest was to identify a ‘Champion of Peace’ and why? After experiencing an increase in violent protests, mass shootings, and terrorist attacks around the world over the last few years, the words of these future leaders lingered heavily amongst the more than 45 attendees.

    As stated by Leontyne Middleton in her closing remarks these powerful, young women “spoke about our world today – multinational.” The champions mentioned in the student’s essays spanned the globe from Pakistan, Kenya, Liberia, and the United States.

    Contest winner and Lakewood High School Senior Tasina Taylor’s tenacious presentation defined a champion as “a person or figure that fights, argues, and defends greatly for a cause on the behalf of something or someone.” Her champion of peace is President Barack Obama.

    With over 50 top accomplishments Taylor believes the defining act that made President Obama the ultimate champion of peace was when he “ordered Special Forces to raid a secret compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan to assassinate the calamitous leader Osama Bin Laden” bringing America great peace, a justice former president George W. Bush could not serve.

    Taylor won a $200 cash prize and a seat at the VIP table for her and an accompanying adult at the 30th Annual MLK Leadership Award breakfast being held at the Coliseum Mon., Jan 18. Taylor and her guest will enjoy breakfast with members of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s family.

    First runner up Alexandra Givins, a junior at Gibbs High School gave an emotional speech on Malala Yousafzaoi, a young woman in Pakistan who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban for bringing education to young females in a country where women are forbidden to learn. Yousafzaoi won Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize for her efforts. Alexandra won a $100 cash prize.

    Leymah Gbowee was third place winner Amber Seay’s champion. Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist known for stepping up to protect the lives of women and children in a civil war ridden country. Amber attends Lakewood High School and won a $75 cash prize.

    Fourth place winner Tatjana Simmons from Lakewood High School chose Tegla Loroupe, a Kenyan long distance and roadrunner who was the first African American female to win the New York City Marathon. Tegla is a spokeswoman for a peaceful coexistence across the globe.

    Fifth place winner Brittany Matthews spoke of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his accomplishments that advanced the civil rights movement in the United States.

    Finalist Deonnie J. Brown was unable to attend.

    Jacquilin Wallace, Shelia Lamb, and Arcilous Mincey

    Virginia Scott poses with finalists

    Tatjana Simmons 4th Place

    Brittany Matthews 5th Place

    Carlos Walker, Jr. an 8th Grader at John Hopkins Middle played Lift Every Voice on the violin. GLP Inspirational Dance Team provided the entertainment while the judges discretely tallied their scores.

    Jacquilin Wallace, Shelia Lamb, and Arcilous Mincey, all educators, took on the challenging role as judges. Jarrish Jones, from St. Petersburg Youth Build, maintained his role as Master of Ceremonies for the 7th year. Charlie Williams, of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Virginia Scott of SPC of MLK, Jr. CO, Inc. presented the awards to the finalists.

    This event was sponsored by the St. Petersburg Chapter of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Organization, Inc. Committee (SPC of MLK, Jr. CO, Inc), in cooperation with the Theta Eta Lambda Education Foundation of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.,

    Laura Mulrooney is a reporter in the Neighborhood News Bureau at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

    GLP Inspirational Dance Team