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President Obama on Administration Plans to End Young Deportations:
"It makes no sense to expel talented young people who are for all intents and purposes, Americans."
When the President is Disrespected, He Shows Civility --Again
After being interrupted the second time by the same reporter, the president added: “I didn’t ask for an argument. I’m answering your question.”
- CNN reports that 54% of the people in Massachusetts have a negative feeling for their former governor, Mitt Romney.
Mandated Life Terms
The high court struck down laws in 29 states that mandated a life term for murderers, including those under age 18. The Court did not categorically ban juvenile life without parole in all circumstances. In 2005, the Court banned the death penalty for juveniles who commit aggravated murder. Then, in 2010, the justices held that juveniles found guilty of non-homicides could not receive life without parole. African American children are 10 times more likely than their White peers to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- Mitt Romney will speak at the NAACP national convention, which will be July 7-12 in Houston.
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The Gambia’s Rodent Slayer
So why did Tyrone Glen Phillips move from his south side Chicago, Illinois neighborhood of Englewood to Kerr Serign, a town south of Banjul, the capital of the West African nation of the Gambia? “It’s more peaceful here,” he says from his office 30 minutes from Banjul.
Phillips’ adventures to the Gambia began as a tour guide in 1992. Besides showcasing the country’s culture, he says, “I just liked the people and the environment.” In 1994, he married a local woman; they traveled between the United States and the Gambia and had children. By 2005, they decided to raise their children in the Gambia. “I wanted my kids to have things that I didn’t have growing up including the ability to speak more than one language fluently, see more of the world and have more discipline and knowledge," he continued.
While the Gambia has had a great impact on his life, Phillips has brought some Americana to Africa’s smiling coast. Phillips, whose legal name is now Macumba Nyass, started a jazz educational program on City Limits Radio (96.3 FM) – Serrekunda, The Gambia (Saturdays from 10p to 12a in Gambia (Sundays, 2a – 4a EST)). “It’s a jazz education program where we feature jazz artists--telling their life stories and featuring their music,” he says with a prideful smile.
Full Story
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Things to Do
Day of Atonement
H Street Playhouse
1365 H St., NE
Washington, DC
Thu-Sat Jun 28-30, 7:30p
Sun, Jul 1, 2:30p, $25
Liberian and American Quilt Show and Sale
Anacostia Art Gallery
2806 Bruce Place SE
Washington, DC
202-610-4188
Sat, Jun 30-Sun Jul 1, 1p-6p, free
 Warriors with Words:
How the Black Press & Freedom Narratives
Fought Slavery & Oppression
C.R. Gibbs Lecture
Greenbelt Library
Greenbelt, MD
Tue, Jul 3, 7p, free
African/Caribbean International Festival of Life
Washington Park
Chicago, IL
Wed, Jul 4-Sun, Jul 8
Noon-10p, except Thu/Fri July 5&6,3p-10p
Black and White Ball
(Cancer Awareness Fundraiser)
Largo Community Church Ballroom
1701 Enterprise Road
Mitchellville, MD
Sat, Jul 7, 6p-10p; $
The Scramble for Africa
C.R. Gibbs Lecture
Greenbelt Library
Greenbelt, MD
Tue, Jul 10, 7p, free
Introduction
to Feng Shui
Workshop 2:
Jul 10, 7p-9p
Workshop 3:
Aug 4,10a-12p
337 Brightseat Road
Suite 220
Landover, MD
301-500-5061, $30.00
Interior Design 101
Workshop 2:
Jul 21, 10a-12p
Workshop 3:
Aug 2, 7a-9p
337 Brightseat Road,
Suite 220
Landover, MD
301.500.5061, $30.00
 Immediate Family
(directed by Phylicia Rashad)
Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn
Chicago, IL
312-443-3800
Through Sun, Jul 8
$20-$54
½ Gary Southshore Railcats tickets
every Mon-Thu home game
U.S. Steel Yard
Gary residents box seats $5
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Fancy Food Show
By Wayne A. Young
More than 15,000 people attended the 58th Fancy Food Show, this year held in Washington, D.C., to visit the more than 2,300 exhibitors at the largest marketplace for specialty foods and beverages in North America. The exhibitors presented more than 180,000 current, newly released and soon to be released products from 80 countries and regions.
The sampling of the food was a feast for the eyes and stomach. The food show donated all the food not eaten during the show to the World Central Kitchen and DC Central Kitchen.
Some of the most intriguing products were from Korea including Jinro Soju, the world’s number one distilled spirit. The drink is lighter than vodka and made from tapioca, rice and other grains. However, the biggest revelation for me was the emphasis Koreans place on healthy eating.
For short video interviews with ten exhibitors from around the African world including: Brazil, Gambia, Jamaica, Uganda and Maryland, New York (Ethiopian cuisine) and North Carolina USA (including a traditional West African drink), click the Video links below:
Another popular Korean product was fermented black garlic that producers age for 45 days. According to the Ui-Seong Black Garlic Farming Association, Koreans prefer it because it has seven times more calcium and twice as many antioxidants than regular garlic, and the process removes its sharp odor. I never knew raw garlic could taste so good.
Also popular was rice bran oil which the Koreans claim is high in Omega 3 and 6, has a high smoke point and is absorbed less by food during the cooking process. Many of the Korean beverages on display were also made of aloe, however, scientist have not consistently confirmed its claimed medical benefits.
An avocado oil producer warned that olive oil can be bad for your health when it begins to smoke and that avocado oil is superior to rice bran oil and like rice bran oil, it also has a high smoke point.
Another interesting product from the east was Japanese aged tofu. One Italian company, Italian Volcano, sold its bottled lemonade and other fruit beverages with the claim that they taste better because they grow their fruits in Mt. Etna volcanic ash. From Bozeman, Montana USA, WayFare had some interesting dairy-free cheese, sour cream and pudding bits that tasted a little bit better than their typical vegan counterparts. The company claims that the difference in taste comes from their adding grains to their products.
From the homeland, Zena, a company whose jelly I often purchase at the Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, was present.
The show also included after parties including one featuring food from Poland. The Polish dishes would look very familiar to traditional soul food lovers - - there were no shortages of pork dishes. One very unusual serving was a dessert called Sekacz or tree cake. Poles make the cake on a grill by pouring batter on a turning spindle as the batter cooks.
While the food show is geared toward restaurants, distributors and foods stores, the producers of the fancy food show also has a consumer website, it provides an insider's look at specialty foods and the companies, entrepreneurs and artisans behind them.
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