NECKBONEOLGY: 
We Just Will Not Vote

In the past 20 years as a candidate for various city and county elected positions, I have had to force myself to accept what is considered a political reality: in the eyes of many the Minorities their vote don’t count. Especially blacks, and more so the young blacks even less.

That probably seems careless to say, but you can only hear the words “black vote” so many times before you realize that this is the essential principle behind most political maneuvering. Blacks are irrelevant.

How did I reach this assumption? Stereotypes, and the kind of apathy towards voting it has driven by both political parties believing it, is making it come true.   Read more>>>>>

3rd Annual Mother/Daughter Banquet

Sharon Perkins performed a praise dance for about 175 people at Christian Faith Fellowship Church-Racine 3rd Annual Mother/Daughter Banquet held at Infusino's Banquet Hall, 225 Rapids Drive, last Friday night.  Right:  Singer Aisha Shakoor, who also performed a solo,  applauds Perkin's dance routine.  

Young ladies and gentlemen from Racine’s African American community put on their formal attire

 Young ladies and gentlemen from Racine’s African American community put on their formal attire for one of the year's most elegant ceremonial event.  Racine’s Christ Church host it's 13th annual Cotillion/Beautillion Ball last  Friday at Infusino’s Banquet Hall, located in Racine, Wisconsin.

This year the participants were: Lady Ayanna Crenshaw, gentleman Chisholm Allen Jr., lady Aryanna Crenshaw. Back row: Lady Shaniece West, Lady Ashley Sims, Lady Haley Urquhart and Hayley Smith.

A touching moment during the formal ceremony was when each participant presented their mother with a rose.

Laticia Howard Crenshaw was the organizer of the annual event.  Rev. Darren Crenshaw, Pastor of Christ Church gave the keynote address. About 150 people attended the event.

Photos by Ken Lumpkin 

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, right, joined Independent, Republican and four democratic candidates seeking election as Wisconsin next governor,  at a forum at the George Bray Center last Monday.  The candidates are all seeking to unseat Gov. Scott Walker in a re-call election in June.  Above: Three of about 250 voters listen as candidates spoke on issues such as jobs, collective bargaining, and the restoring of educational cuts.  The forum was hosted by several local groups, including the Racine Interfaith Coalition,  Racine Branch NAACP, and by Wisconsin Jobs Now, a statewide progressive coalition.

Annie Harrell Celebrates A Century and One Year

Above: Johnnie Harrell, front row,  and his family members hosted a birthday lunch for Mrs Annie Harrell, at 20/and Oaks Restaurant, at the Marriott Hotel last Saturday.  Mrs. Harrell, who now is a now a resident of Racine, celebrated her 101 birithday with friends and realtives.  About 35 of her church friends from Beliot, Wisconsin joined in the noon celebration.

Bellow: State Rep. Robert Turner, who recently announced his retirement from the State Assenbly,  posed with Mrs. Herrall at the Marriott.  Turner's wife is a granddaughter of the Harrell. 

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City leaders and area pastors launch federally funded construction project

Wis. Supreme Court won’t take voter ID cases

Wis. Supreme Court won’t take voter ID cases

Supervisor Kiana K. Johnson, center, a Federal Police Officer, was join by friends and relative after she was sworn-in as a member of the County 2nd Supervisory District. She will replace Gaynell Dyess, who recently retired after serving over 14 years on the Board. She will join a Board that was reduced from 23 members to 21 members.  Johnson will represent 8,2000 individuals who live on the southside, mid-town, and parts of Westside communities of Racine.

Rev. Della J. Buckley, right, founder of Daughters of Zion Ministry, talk with one of about 200 people who attended "Living Legends Celebration," held at St. Paul Baptist Church, 1123 Center Street, last Saturday.
Right photo: The event was held to honor Dr. James Kinchen, a professor of Music at the UW-Parkside campus and Minister Timothy Johnson, Minister of Music throughout the city.

Racine's Mayor John Dickert talks with Keith Fenderson, organizer of "The Drug Bowl" held Saturday at  Douglas Ave. Center.  The quiz contest is held to make the public aware of drug terms andd items.  In addition, the bowl is intended to make people more aware of how to confront their children about drugs.  About 300 people attended the event.

Another Trayvon Martin type shooting?

As the Trayvon Martin case draws national attention, we look at another fatal shooting of an African-American male that has received far less scrutiny. Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr., a 68-year-old African-American Marine veteran, was fatally shot in November by White Plains, NY, police who responded to a false alarm from his medical alert pendant. The officers broke down Chamberlain's door, tasered him, and then shot him dead. Audio of the entire incident was recorded by the medical alert device in Chamberlain's apartment. We're joined by family attorneys and Chamberlain's son, Kenneth Chamberlain, Jr., who struggles through tears to recount his father's final moments, including the way police officers mocked his father's past as a marine. "For them to look at my father that way, (with) no regard for his life, every morning I think about it," he says.
View youtube news report of fatal fatal shooting!

Racine County Board Supervisor Gaynell Dyess, left, was presented a plaque by the board vice-chairman Russell A. Clark for her 16 years of service to Racine County.  Dyess who decided not to run for another term,  for over a year has been suffering from an illness which has not allow her to participate fully as a Supervisor.  During last Tuesday meeting her daughter spoke in her behalf.  A tree in one of Racine county parks will be named in her honor.  

Upper: U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill., spoke at a rally in Racine Thursday, April 12, 2012, criticizing Rep. Paul Ryan'€™s budget calling it a €"the Ryan, Romney, Republican budget for the rich."
About A  diverse crowd of about 150 people stood in Monument Square holding signs for about a hour talking  Ryan budget, and  questioning why members of Congress  shows a great deal of disrespect for president Barack Obama and the First Lady.
Photos by Kenneth Lumpkin
See Youtube pictures video of the event. 

About: 100 people participate in a march for peace down Racine Street towards the Dr. John Bryant Center. The march began in front of Elmwood Plaza, 3701 Durand Ave., on Saturday, April 7, 2012 in honor of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Florida teenager who was shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer.
Left: Elliott Cohen, pastor of Abundant Life Christian Center, and an executive director of Project New Life, call for the coming togather of the community to asure that no one son has to become a victem in order for change.
See additional photos. 

Upper: Racine Police Chief Art Howell is sworn in before a standing room crowd Monday afternoon, April 2, 2012. Howell, 49, was sworn in as the first black police chief of Racine during a ceremony in the City Hall Council Chambers.  Left: Howell is congratulated by Racine County Executive Jim Lidwig. About 00 people attended the event.


Addition Youtube pictures




All photo by Ken Lumpkin
 

Above: Over 175 protesters who march from Collage Ave. to the based of the Dr. Martin Luther King statue shows their cans of Arizona Tea and Skittles candy.  The two items were what Trayvon Martin had bought from a store and was returning home when he was gun down recently.     Right: å protester speaks tothe crowd in the shadow of Dr King's statue.  Yolanda George and Heather Craddock were the organizer of the march/rally. See additional Youtube photo

   

PRATTVILLE, Ala.  — A central Alabama judge ordered a man to serve three days in jail for contempt of court for wearing so-called saggy pants.

Twenty-year-old LaMarcus D. Ramsey was in Autauga County Circuit Court on Tuesday to enter a plea on a charge of receiving stolen property.

Circuit Judge John Bush told Ramsey his blue jeans were sagging too low and gave him the three-day stint. The judge told Ramsey to buy pants that fit or a belt when he gets out of the county jail.

The judge says he finds it disrespectful and a disruption when people wear pants below their waistline in his chambers.

"To me it's not any different than if someone stood up in court and started cussing everybody out," Bush said. "It's disrespectful conduct and I think as judges we're expected to at least have some degree of control and respect for the courtroom the people have given us charge of."

Calls to Ramsey's public defender were not immediately returned.