Kingsley Heritage Celebration 2012:  The War of Jubilee

Jacksonville, FL:  The National Park Service invites the public to the 14th Annual Kingsley Heritage Celebration.  This year the event focuses on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which was called by many as the War of Jubilee.  This tumultuous time in our history signaled the end of bondage for more than four million enslaved African Americans.  In this conflict, African Americans fought as soldiers, worked as spies, and spoke out against the horrors of slavery.  This years celebration honors the role of African Americans in the Civil War as our nation remembers this important anniversary.

Special afternoon events will be held on February 18th and 25th, and are sponsored by the National Park Services Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.  These events are free and open to the public.  The goal of this annual celebration is to allow the local community to explore cultural traditions found in modern American society that originated during the plantation period.

These events are a celebration of the determination and perseverance of the human spirit to survive against incredible odds, explains Superintendent Barbara Goodman.  The goal is to present this history in meaningful ways to our community. The arts have united people through the ages, and it will help us learn more about our shared history through the cultural influences that we hear and see every day.

Surrounded by ancient live oaks and stately palms, Kingsley Plantation overlooks the Fort George River on Fort George Island in the Timucuan Preserve. The rich and diverse history of the plantation includes the story of wealthy English planter Zephaniah Kingsley and his wife Anna Madgigine Jai, who was born in Senegal and purchased by Kingsley as a slave. The history also includes the stories of the men, women, and children who struggled to survive enslavement, in an era when wealth was sometimes measured in human property.

Kingsley Plantation is a unit of the National Park Services Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Jacksonville. Zephaniah Kingsley owned and operated a 1,000-acre plantation on the island during the first half of the nineteenth century. In addition to the scheduled events, visitors may also visit the grounds that include the original plantation house, kitchen house, barn, and the remains of 25 tabby slave cabins.  The Plantation house is itself Floridas oldest standing (1798) plantation era structure.

The grounds offer perhaps the most graphic evidence of slave living quarters and daily life experiences in the state, if not the South.

Located off Heckscher Drive/A1A one-half mile north of the St. Johns River ferry landing, Kingsley Plantation is open daily, at no charge, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  For more information, call 904.251.3537, or go to http://www.nps.gov/timu, where you can access this full text press release and detailed biographies of the presenters and performers.

Details of the events are as follows:

Saturday, February 18:

1:30 p.m. – Rose Person, a Harriet Tubman reenactor, will recite poetry and explain Harriet Tubmans role in the Civil War as a spy, nurse, and occasional laundress, including her role in the Civil War events of Jacksonville.  Ms. Persons performances with the Tubman African American Museum have been lauded as deeply moving.

2:00 p.m. – Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, folk musicians, will present their poignant performance  The Blue and Gray in Black and White,  the story of the Civil War told through music and song. In over forty years of performing, Sparky and Rhonda have performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival as well as NPR’s On Point, Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, and Morning Edition.

Kids Corner:  Throughout the day, park staff will present childrens activities relating to the Civil War and the Underground Railroad.  Kids will be able to design their own drums, make a rag doll to take home and even send secret messages like Civil War spies.

The Kingsley Plantation Main House will be open for viewing from 10 am until 1:30 pm.

Saturday, February 25:

1:00 p.m. -54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first all-black regiment of the Civil War, a group of soldiers that paved the way for other black men to join the Union army, in the form of the United States Colored Troops (USCT), will be the topic of the day.

Volunteers from the local reenacting group, which portrays the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, will be on hand to discuss the experiences of the first all-black regiment of the Civil War.  The original regiment spent time in Northeast Florida during the Civil War.

Park rangers and volunteers in period costumes will demonstrate various tasks involved in the operation of a large plantation.  Demonstrations will include cooking, spinning, weaving, dyeing with indigo, woodworking, and gardening.

For more information, please call Kingsley Plantation at (904) 251-3537 or visit http://www.nps.gov/timu.

Like us on Facebook at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and follow us on Twitter @TimucuanNPS.

Best Wishes,
Emily Palmer, Park Guide
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Kingsley Plantation
11676 Palmetto Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32226
(904) 251-3537-office
(904) 251-3577-fax
Emily_Palmer@nps.gov

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Gemini One Films in association with Private Side Media

presents WE REMEMBER RAINES , a documentary about the history and legacy of William M Raines High School, Jacksonville, FL

Film Screening: We Remember Raines February 22, 2012 7:00p

University of North Florida Andrew Robinson Theater Jacksonville, FL Parking $3

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/events/323152844396195/

Exclusive Premiere: WE Remember Raines February 25, 2012 8:00p

William M Raines Auditorium Jacksonville, FL

http://www.facebook.com/events/324810967557072/

Director: Emanuel Washington
… Executive Director: Andrew Wright
Narrators: Ben Frazier and GeneDotCom
Photography: Tamica Jackson and Donnell Bennett
Assistant Director/Producer: Diallo Sekou
Film Editor: Maxie Coleman
Music Director: Tony White
Theme Song: Tru.Ski The Transmitter
Graphic Design: E. Street Paperie

For more information contact ewashington@nokturnalescape.com or call (904) 465-6891

sponsored by
Nokturnal Escape Entertainment, LLC http://www.nokturnalescape.com/
Eartha MM White Legacy Fund http://www.jaxcf.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=530
Jacksonville Free Press http://jacksonvillefreepress.com/
“Still Raines”
William M Raines High School National Alumni Association
Blinkvirtualbuzz.com http://blinkvirtualbuzz.com/

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Proud mother: Oprah Winfrey joins her ‘daughters’ at their graduation ceremony in South African on Saturday

She complemented the design by wearing striking eyeshadow and teased her hair into soft waves along with a pair of avocado coloured drop earrings.

Oprah, 57, described herself as a proud mother during the momentous occasion which involved classes of singing and dancing young ladies celebrating their success dressed in demure white frocks.



People in high places: The philanthropist did her best to hold back tears as the Nelson Mandela’s wife Graca Machel embraced her

She said: ‘I have never been more proud to know, to grow, and to call myself Mam Oprah to you girls.’

Listing the blows they have experienced: ‘Divorce. Violence. Molestation. The loss of one parent. The loss of another parent. Sorrow. Sadness. Grief,’ Winfrey also praised the teachers, administrators, social workers, psychologists and family members she said had ensured the students succeeded by starting early and staying late.


Fighting back tears through the applause, one of her 72 students graduating out of 75 who started, took to the podium to speak which prompted more reaction from the star who has been dubbed the richest African American of the 20th Century.

Mashadi Kekana said: “Mam Oprah, thank you for showing us that we’re not just girls, but girls with greater purpose in this world.”

Founded in 2007 with $40 million from Oprah, the school has faced criticism for focusing on a select few in a country that struggles to meet basic education needs.

Momentous day: The star was joined by Nelson Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, for the ceremony in Henley-on-Klep

Looking gorgeous: The 57-year-old wore a Grecian green gown to celebrate

The American television personality added: ‘When you invest in the leadership of girls, you invest in the leadership of a nation.


‘Because every one of these girls will serve herself, her family, her community and this country, in ways that are yet to amaze you. Just wait to be amazed by these girls.’

Today Oprah also welcomed a special guest in the form of Graca Machel, wife of former South Africa president, Nelson Mandela.

The pair hugged and beamed at each other as families and the world’s media observed their union.

Winfrey told reporters after the ceremony that her girls would continue to be able to rely on her support. A counseling unit had been set up to help all the graduates budget time, money and priorities while in university.

The Class of 2011: Her girls were decked out in angelic white uniforms

Friday was more of a light-hearted day on the educational premises.

She was seen laughing, joking and dancing with the young women, whom she apparently teaches in classes via satellite.

Her graduating students are all headed to universities across South Africa and the United States, undergoing courses in various subjects including medicine, law, engineering and economics.

Oprah says she is cut out for the job because she hasn’t forgotten her roots.

So proud: The world’s media watched on as the TV personality spoke about all 72 girls’ achievements

Across South Africa, more than half a million members of the class of 2011 disappeared before the 496,000 remaining took their final exams, and only a quarter of those who graduated did well enough to qualify for university study, according to government figures.


She said: ‘I know what it’s like to be a poor girl with your heart’s desire to do well in the world. I chose to use my philanthropy to do what I know.’

While the venture has proved rewarding and fruitful, it has not always been an easy ride for founder Oprah.

Shortly after the school was opened, a dormitory matron was accused of abusing teenagers.

The former chat show host, who has spoken out about being abused as a child, said she was ‘profoundly’ disappointed when the woman was acquitted in 2010.

Happy days: Yesterday was less emotional as she sang and danced with her students

Five years ago, 11-and 12-year-old girls arrived who had never used a computer before. They went  to primary schools that lacked enough desks and chairs and were raised by grandmothers or older siblings after losing parents to AIDS or cancer. 

Winfrey notes the graduates were born in 1994, the year apartheid ended…she stated “You are free. You are free to rise. You are free to soar.” Later, Oprah Winfrey was in tears as she is joined by Nelson Mandela’s wife at her South African girls’ school graduation.

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http://theatrer.org/ResultsTicket.aspx?evtid=1794657&event=Gladys+Knight&ppcsrc=9147468147&nid=1

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”Bonding is one of the ways we’ve avoided facing the consequences of mass incarceration in our state,”  said April Young, the Collins Center’s Vice President for Justice Initiatives, “but we simply cannot afford this.”

Florida’s prison population has increased significantly over the past three decades.  The number of inmates grew from just under 20,000 in 1980 to more than 102,000 in 2010.  This growth was accompanied by a spike in public spending on prisons.  In 1980, the Corrections budget was $169 million. In FY2010-11, it jumped to nearly $2.4 billion.

To fund the cost of prison construction while meeting the constitutional requirement to balance the state budget, Florida – like many states – resorted to a complicated system of borrowing through the issuing of lease revenue bonds – a type of certificate of debt issued by government or other public entities to raise money. Lease revenue bonding has become a common means to achieve a balanced state budget. However, it is not well understood by the general public even as it obligates them to considerable debt well into the future.

“Florida’s taxpayers owe more than $1 billion, or about $200 per household, to pay for recently built state prisons,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.  “Borrowing to build more prisons is not the way Florida should be addressing public safety.  Florida needs to enact comprehensive smart justice reforms that keep us safe while saving us money.”

Among the findings detailed in the report:

Ø  There is currently $721.7 million in prison bonding debt outstanding requiring future payments of approximately $1 billion when debt service and interest payments are included.

Ø  The exponential increase in the prison population in recent years cannot be explained by increasing crime rates, since crime rates have steadily declined in the past 20 years.

Ø  Florida leads the nation in incarceration rates and stringency in law and sentencing, making its criminal justice system among the most punitive of the 50 states as measured by more than 40 variables, including average prison sentences, life imprisonment, and prison conditions.

Ø  43 percent of the total cost of prison construction and expansion between 2006 and 2010 was paid for by issuing lease revenue bonds.

The report outlines some of the policy choices in Florida that have led to the increases in the prison population.  It describes the wide range of criminal justice reforms undertaken in other states that are successfully reducing prison populations and saving significant money without endangering public safety. It recommends:

Ø   A moratorium on any new bonding to build prisons until the Governor and Legislature fully disclose to the public the all costs created by the use of prison bonding and give citizens voice in determining whether they want to pay for criminal justice policies that result in the growth of the prison system without increasing public safety.

Ø  Florida legislators seriously review the criminal justice policies and practices which have contributed to the growth of the prison system over the past two decades and have financially strangled the state.

Ø  Florida join the growing number of states that are undertaking a broad range of criminal justice policy reforms led predominantly by conservatives who understand that highly punitive and incarceration-heavy penalties even for minor, non-violent crimes are unsustainable.

To read the report, visit www.CollinsCenter.org. Named after Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins, the nonprofit Collins Center is independent, nonpartisan and dedicated to advancing the understanding of important public policy issues.

Florida TaxWatch is a statewide non-partisan, non-profit research institute that over its 31 year history has become widely recognized as the watchdog of citizens’ hard-earned tax dollars.  Its mission is to provide the citizens of Florida and public officials with high quality, independent research and education on government revenues, expenditures, taxation, public policies and programs and to increase the productivity and accountability of Florida state and local government. Its support comes from homeowners and retirees, small and large businesses, philanthropic foundations, and professional associations. On the web atwww.FloridaTaxWatch.org.

# # #

Tracey Lowe

Tallahassee Communications Manager

Tallahassee Operations Manager

tlowe@collinscenter.org
www.CollinsCenter.org

2630 Centennial Place, Suite 2

Tallahassee, FL  32308
Office: 850-219-0082, ext. 1413
Fax: 850-219-0491

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A president’s time is scheduled to the nth degree.  So, if the president is meeting frequently with the oil industry, it’s a safe bet that he will be pursuing legislation that will impact that industry.

So, with that as my premise, I think one could safely conclude that Obama sees little value in the Black community!

Obama was sworn into office on January 20, 2009.  In less than 2 months (March 18, 2009), Obama had his first meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss giving amnesty to the 30 million illegals in the U.S.  After the meeting, the White House’s Press Office issued this statement in part: “The President had a robust and strategic meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus today on the topic of immigration. The meeting lasted approximately one hour. The President discussed how the administration will work with the CHC to address immigration concerns in both the short and long term. Notice that only Hispanics were in this meeting and the purpose was to discuss an issue that is of particular importance to only them (though other groups that support amnesty would also benefit if amnesty were made into law).

But Obama has repeatedly stated that he is President of all of America.  He made this comment last year when asked what he was going to do about the high unemployment rate in the Black community.  His point was that his policies would be “color blind” and that his policies would benefit everyone.  So, can someone please tell me how injecting about 7 million more low and under skilled people into the labor force is going to decrease the unemployment rate in the Black community?

Juxtapose that meeting with the one Obama held in February of 2010 with Ben Jealous (of the N.A.A.C.P.), Marc Morial (of the National Urban League), and Al Sharpton (National Action Network).  The purpose was to discuss with these 3 (who have never created a job), the high unemployment rate within the Black community.  Unlike with the Hispanics, the President had no legislation to offer; but it was more of a symbolic meeting.  Of course, these 3 were more than happy to attend so they could leave and brag about having a meeting with the President.  Nothing was accomplished, but they had a meeting!

I find it astonishing that it was well over a year into his term before Obama met with the Congressional Black Caucus!  Again, it’s about time.  Who the President meets with and for how long, will tell you where his priorities are.  Black folks, are you getting the message?

During the month of April 2011 alone, the President met with Hispanic groups 3 times to discuss amnesty for them and the DREAM Act.  So, in 1 month, Obama has met more with Hispanics than he has with the entire Congressional Black Caucus in 2 ½ years in office.  Black folks, are you getting the message yet?

Obama has never called a meeting of the leading Black entrepreneurs to discuss the state of the economy relative to the Black community!  People like Earvin “Magic” Johnson, K. David Boyer, Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, Michael “Scooter” McGruder, Rick “Doc” Walker, Dave Steward, or Earl Graves (google these names to find out more about them).

Most of the Blacks who have been invited to the White House have been athletes and entertainers.  Black folks, you got the message!

Let’s be perfectly honest, Obama and his team have made a political calculation that they can ignore the Black vote, knowing that we surely will not vote Republican.  They also realize that doing so will anger the Black community; but they also know that we won’t do anything but complain and continue to blindly follow.  There is no fear factor in ignoring the Black vote.

Obama has spent an inordinate amount of time pushing the agendas of the Hispanics, gays, and women.  But, when it comes to Blacks, he is President of all of America.

Black people need to wake up and realize the game that is being perpetrated on us.  We need to do more than get angry.

To the White House, please realize that anger is just one letter short of danger; and if you continue this perverted strategy, your reelection might be in danger.

Hopefully, this column will light a fire under the most ardent of Democrats and cause them to think strategic, not emotional.

Please, it’s about time!

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm.  He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (www.excellstyle.com).

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Tallahassee, FL — In a new report, the Collins Center and Florida TaxWatch reveal how state lawmakers are saddling taxpayers with $1 billion in debt by using a little-known approach to funding prison construction. The report – “A Billion Dollars and Growing: Why Prison Bonding Is Tougher on Florida’s Taxpayers than on Crime” – explores the prison growth that triggered the use of lease revenue bonds to fund construction and the history and hidden costs of bonding to finance prison construction.

”Bonding is one of the ways we’ve avoided facing the consequences of mass incarceration in our state,”  said April Young, the Collins Center’s Vice President for Justice Initiatives, “but we simply cannot afford this.”

Florida’s prison population has increased significantly over the past three decades.  The number of inmates grew from just under 20,000 in 1980 to more than 102,000 in 2010.  This growth was accompanied by a spike in public spending on prisons.  In 1980, the Corrections budget was $169 million. In FY2010-11, it jumped to nearly $2.4 billion.

To fund the cost of prison construction while meeting the constitutional requirement to balance the state budget, Florida – like many states – resorted to a complicated system of borrowing through the issuing of lease revenue bonds – a type of certificate of debt issued by government or other public entities to raise money. Lease revenue bonding has become a common means to achieve a balanced state budget. However, it is not well understood by the general public even as it obligates them to considerable debt well into the future.

“Florida’s taxpayers owe more than $1 billion, or about $200 per household, to pay for recently built state prisons,” saidDominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.  “Borrowing to build more prisons is not the way Florida should be addressing public safety.  Florida needs to enact comprehensive smart justice reforms that keep us safe while saving us money.”

Among the findings detailed in the report:

Ø  There is currently $721.7 million in prison bonding debt outstanding requiring future payments of approximately $1 billion when debt service and interest payments are included.

Ø  The exponential increase in the prison population in recent years cannot be explained by increasing crime rates, since crime rates have steadily declined in the past 20 years.

Ø  Florida leads the nation in incarceration rates and stringency in law and sentencing, making its criminal justice system among the most punitive of the 50 states as measured by more than 40 variables, including average prison sentences, life imprisonment, and prison conditions.

Ø  43 percent of the total cost of prison construction and expansion between 2006 and 2010 was paid for by issuing lease revenue bonds.

The report outlines some of the policy choices in Florida that have led to the increases in the prison population.  It describes the wide range of criminal justice reforms undertaken in other states that are successfully reducing prison populations and saving significant money without endangering public safety. It recommends:

Ø   A moratorium on any new bonding to build prisons until the Governor and Legislature fully disclose to the public the all costs created by the use of prison bonding and give citizens voice in determining whether they want to pay for criminal justice policies that result in the growth of the prison system without increasing public safety.

Ø  Florida legislators seriously review the criminal justice policies and practices which have contributed to the growth of the prison system over the past two decades and have financially strangled the state.

Ø  Florida join the growing number of states that are undertaking a broad range of criminal justice policy reforms led predominantly by conservatives who understand that highly punitive and incarceration-heavy penalties even for minor, non-violent crimes are unsustainable.

To read the report, visit www.CollinsCenter.org. Named after Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins, the nonprofit Collins Center is independent, nonpartisan and dedicated to advancing the understanding of important public policy issues.

Florida TaxWatch is a statewide non-partisan, non-profit research institute that over its 31 year history has become widely recognized as the watchdog of citizens’ hard-earned tax dollars.  Its mission is to provide the citizens of Florida and public officials with high quality, independent research and education on government revenues, expenditures, taxation, public policies and programs and to increase the productivity and accountability of Florida state and local government. Its support comes from homeowners and retirees, small and large businesses, philanthropic foundations, and professional associations. On the web at www.FloridaTaxWatch.org.

# # #

Tracey Lowe

Tallahassee Communications Manager

Tallahassee Operations Manager

tlowe@collinscenter.org
www.CollinsCenter.org

2630 Centennial Place, Suite 2

Tallahassee, FL  32308
Office: 850-219-0082, ext. 1413
Fax: 850-219-0491

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Whites were about twice as likely as African-Americans and Hispanics to be approved for prime mortgages with the lowest interest rates, while members of the two largest minority groups were two to four times more likely to receive subprime loans, which have higher rates. By contrast, the disparities were much narrower for loans insured by the government’s Federal Housing Administration, which has attracted a growing number of borrowers during the credit crunch.

For subprime loans, the number of these loans originated for African-Americans fell 95% when comparing 2004 and 2009. The number originated to Latinos fell by 92%, to whites, 81% and Asian-Americans, 87%.

The number of Federal Housing Administration insured loans originated for whites increased by 238% between 2004 and 2009, while for African-Americans the increase was only 80%, Latinos, 119% and Asian-Americans, 447%.

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