But while JLo and her agog employers were busy hi-fiving and popping the Champaign and Usquebaugh in salivation for another lucrative season, all hell was breaking loose among fans of the show and others unleashing venom and frowning at that hefty pay check.  The announcement drew the ire of many and instantly stoked a torrent of comments from riled folks spewing outrage over what they decry as her obscene salary.

One fan vented:  “Way too much money for what they do.”  Another griped:  “Too much money for nothing.”  One grumbled:  “So over paid.”  Another whinnied:  “That is disgusting.  $20 million, how can she live with herself, while most Americans are struggling to feed themselves?”  One kvetched:  “This is where our priorities as country lie, $20 million to judge talent.  We under pay teachers, cops and firemen.”

And in an attempt to further underscore the unhinged and irrational scope of JLo’s pay, one angry respondent compared her salary to those our nation’s leaders, decrying the cavernous imbalance she lamented meant that America’s priorities are undeniably warped and needed an emergency overhaul.  United States president, the most powerful man on earth, pulls in a “salary of $180,000 (for life) and members of Congress make about $174,000 (for live),” both, obviously peanuts compared to JLo’s Lollapalooza paycheck.  The average salary of a teacher is $40,065.  And that of a U.S. soldier fighting a bruising battle against the Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan is a pittance of $38,000.

But as I perused down the catalogue of comments streaming from folks venting their rage, I was particularly interested in seeing whether any of the fuming ululants would offer a solution for how to put a kibosh to an entrenched culture of over compensating vanity in America’s entertainment and fashion industry.  It finally came from an unstrung woman who vowed never to watch “American Idol” again.  “They just lost this viewer,” she penned.

Bingo.

Yeah – but for how long?  Will that protest hold?  But even if it holds, resorting to such forlorn protest often ends up being a boondoggle.  Because the core problem, despite her principled stance being the grand solution, is that America in general suffers from a bloated and almost irremediable appetite for vanity and hedonism and they are collectively willing to pay a fortune for it.  They ferociously crave vanity.  Often, it morphs into cultural meme metastasizing across generations.  It kind of brings to mind the popular TV show “Keeping Up with The Kardashians.” That show is vanity galore and a super superficial claptrap.  It teaches young people all the wrong things.  Yet, it hasn’t stopped it from fetching the urbane and swanky siblings millions of dollars with virtually no meaningful services offered to solve any human problem.  Their vaunt, tag-along mother Kris Jenner and step-father Bruce Jenner are pocketing millions, too.  An estimated $10 million was lavished on Kim Kardashian’s celebrrity studded wedding when she married NBA player Kris Humphries.  One wedding.  She recently bought a $325,000 Ferrari.

It aptly begs the question:  Where exactly is all that money coming from? 

You guessed it, from the same grumbling and unstinting herd of viewers assailing the syrup of vanity dripping from these vain shows.  Some viewers decry the show but still remain hopelessly hooked to the habit of tuning in while swooning for the next episode.  And that’s pretty much how the money piles up for folks like JLo and her show.  It is not complicated.  If there wasn’t plenty of money, JLo would not be paid that kind of obscene salary.  That’s the iron-clad fact. 

But having said all that, I must also point out that it is hugely unfair to fault JLo for any of this.  The truth is, as much as we hate to admit it, she is only a lucky beneficiary of a rabid capitalist system designed to thrive on Kleptomaniacan greed.  The incessant search for byzantine, glib seminal gimmickries aimed at hooking and accommodating the untamed cravings of hapless plebes is the lever fueling the demand and supply components of any capitalist system. 

Really, who in their right mind would turn down what comes to them, if that which comes to them is a tsunami of dough?  We already know JLo wouldn’t.  But the truth is, you wouldn’t, either.  The problem is much larger and deeper in scope.  There’s of course narcissistic underpinnings to all of this, fanned by the goofy indulgences of a generation of dangling young people with plenty of free time on their hands.  I won’t bore you with the deep-rooted malady of America’s woeful habit of not living within their economic means that no doubt plays mightily into this.  By the way, that fact was the large pink elephant in the room that everyone, except Russia’s Vladmir Putin, conveniently shirked in the recent partisan debt-ceiling brawl inside the beltway.

Who should get the blame for this then?  You, the viewers.  It’s your hard earned money; you spend it as you wish.  JLo is only cashing in what’s gainfully due to her.  The entertainment world is a factory controlled by a gallimaufry of financial vultures and influential bigwigs seeking gobs of wampum.  She is only a cog in a monstrous money churning machine benefitting a retinue of principal actors, writers, producers, directors and a convoy of drudge workers.

Said differently, JLo’s share of the pie is Leviathan only because it is a monstrous pie.  And you, the viewers, generously pay for the pie by watching her show.

Oh, as for the woman who wondered how a supposedly fiendish and heartless JLo would be able to “live with herself,” that’s nary problem – the same way others in opulent status are living with themselves.  Keep in mind she didn’t pay herself.  Her employer did, on your dime, that is.     

Mgbatogu is a freelance writer and editor of Onumba.com based in Columbus.  He can be reached by email at: Onumbamedia@yahoo.com

Copyright 2011 Onumba.com. The information contained in the Onumba.com news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Onumba Media Group.

It is now up to the Ohio Senate to do the same and make it happen. Will the senate go along?

Columbus City Councilmember Michelle Mills is certainly hoping so. She released a statement last week expressing support for the ban, and hoping that the senate would “say yes” to House Bill 99.

Mills, who was one of the speakers at a rally held last week in front of the Statehouse to support the passage of the ban, is urging Senate lawmakers to pass the bill and “help us save lives.”

“Text and driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving because it takes the driver’s hands off the wheel, eyes off the road and mind off the task at hand, safely operating a motor vehicle,” said Mills.

And safely operating a motor vehicle was precisely why State Representatives Nancy Garland and Rex Damshroder sponsored the bill, which was approved by a House vote of 88 to 10, garnering bipartisan support.

Ohio is trying to pass a law which is already in place in Columbus and in “at least 20 other municipalities” in the state.  Mills spoke about why it was important for Columbus to move forward and pass the law.

“Knowing that the lives of our residents could be at risk, the Columbus City Council did not wait for the state to put a ‘texting while driving’ ban in place,” said Mills.

And she was right. In 2010, Council President Andrew Ginther, then a Councilmember, led the effort to ban “texting while driving” in the city.  At the time, he expressed interest in working with the state to craft a uniform legislation, but state officials said they were not ready.

So Columbus moved forward and passed its own “texting while driving” ban. Now Ohio is pushing to have one too and join 34 other states that have banned the dangerous practice.

The bill has been assigned to the Senate Highway and Transportation Committee and now awaits hearing.  Bill’s sponsor Garland, a speaker at the rally, called it “a no-brainer.”

“Texting while driving is a major safety hazard that makes our roads unsafe for drivers, bikers and walkers,” said Garland. “The numbers tell us this high-risk practice drastically increases the chance of accident, injury and death for drivers who text and those around them.”

And those numbers came from the National Transportation Safety Administration, a group that tracks and monitors road accidents across the country. It said that “texting while driving” is two times more dangerous than drinking and driving. And that the reaction time of drivers involved with “texting while driving” is “35 percent” slower than it is for someone who smoked marijuana and “12 percent” slower than it is for drunk drivers.

A more graphic illustration from the AAA foundation, whose spokesperson Kimberly Schwind was also at the rally, further underscores the perils of this.

The group reported that drivers who text and drive look away from the road by an average of 5 seconds, representing the time they spend typing, sending or reading text messages. That adds up to about the time it would take to travel the length of a football field.

If approved, violation of the law would be a minor misdemeanor to carry a maximum fine of $150. But it would be a primary offense, which would give cops the authority to stop and cite drivers just for that.

The law would not ban texting while in the car. The violation would be “texting while driving.” Drivers who wish to text while driving should pull off the road and text all they want.

Others at the rally were Bexley Police Chief Larry Rinehart; Captain Guy Turner, City of Westlake Police Department, and Tina Yanssens, whose pedestrian father was killed by a texting driver.

Mgbatogu is a freelance writer and editor of Onumba.com based in Columbus.  He can be reached by email at: Onumbamedia@yahoo.com

Copyright 2011 Onumba.com. The information contained in the Onumba.com news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Onumba Media Group.

But still, some young folks are just not getting it.

The message, for what it’s worth, is iron-clad clear: Pulling a gun at cops, even without firing it, is as good as committing suicide.

Dude – there’s no better way to put it. It’s a dumb thing to do.

For Obbie Shepard, an African-American 21-year old, who was killed by the police weeks ago after he pulled and fired a gun at them, that blunt message is obviously ‘too little, too late. But for other young folks out there, there are plenty of lessons to learn from Shepard’s tragedy.

The incident occurred on the South side of the city, where Shepard, after being caught riding a stolen bicycle, jumped down and ran as he fired shots at approaching cops. The cops returned fire, killing him instantly.

As always, shootings involving the police and a member of the Black community make headline news often with racial undertones. This was no different. The incident riled Black folks who pointed the finger of blame at the police for often disrespecting African-American residents. But Coleman, last week, begged to differ, at least concerning this particular case. And he wasn’t mushy about it, either. The mayor did not shy away from saying what he felt needed to be said.

“To any parent who loses a child, it’s a terrible thing,” said Coleman during a press conference held at the police headquarters downtown. “But if you’re going to shoot at police or anybody else, you’re writing your own death sentence.”

Counting the Shepard incident, there were six shootings in the month of August involving the police. In four of the shootings, armed men opened fire at cops who fired back killing the four shooters. That was just in that month. But so far in 2011, there have been 12 police involved shootings in Columbus resulting in five deaths.

Coleman, warning that life is “not a video game” and that officers will “meet deadly force with deadly force,” expressed the view that these deaths are preventable.

“When you have an encounter with police, you don’t pull out a gun – ever. If you do… you will probably be shot. That’s a fact of life,” said Coleman, pretty much calling‘a spade a spade,’ and some would say, rightly so.

The mayor urged parents to do more to protect their children.

“If you know or even suspect that your child is carrying a gun or is engaged in criminal activity, you need to intervene now to save their life.”

In the wake of the Shepard shooting incident, pastors belonging to the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Columbus and vicinity huddled up in a news conference to decry gun violence in the city. That’s really nice. But such populist parleys, though sincere and helpful in its own way, often appear to be more reactionary than anything else, when actually the solution is a sustained effort at intervening, mentoring and changing the lives of young African-Americans dangling dangerously and aimlessly. And parents, most would agree, have a leading role to play in that effort.

Coleman, who has been at the forefront of this battle, wants gun violence to “stop now.”

But while he has been outspoken about this, his main proposal for stemming its tide frustratingly remains a long way from being realized. Coleman has kvetched repeatedly about the torrent of guns flowing into the streets of Columbus and has complained that his “hands are tied” about addressing it.

And he faults the enabling role that government plays in indirectly fostering it.

Years ago, assault weapons were banned in the city and carrying concealed weapons in city parks was illegal. That was when cities could enact their own gun rules.

But that was then. In 2007, the laws changed, preventing cities from being able to enact their own local gun rules. That was because the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that local laws should not supplant state laws on this, and that only the state government should have the authority to regulate weapons in all cities and localities.

That pretty much left Coleman with the same thing: back to preaching the same sermon.

“There are too many damn guns in the streets, and now they are being pointed at police,” said Coleman, at that press conference. It was the same concern he expressed repeatedly last summer when the city was being clobbered by a wave of deadly gun violence. Coleman has long held the view that Ohio is “a gun state”because“ we allow concealed weapons by law.”

His words: “We’re a gun state,” he decried.“We allow the proliferation of guns in all of our communities.”

State Representative Tracy Heard expressed similar concerns.

Not long ago, she introduced a legislation to close a loophole through which she complained illegal guns flow into the community. Coleman praised that effort, calling it an “important piece of legislation” that would require background check before gun purchase.

But still, there are just too many guns in the wrong hands. Coleman’s message is simple, loud and clear: ‘parents shield your children from being around such peril.

Mgbatogu is a freelance writer and editor of Onumba.com based in Columbus.  He can be reached by email at: Onumbamedia@yahoo.com

Copyright 2011 Onumba.com. The information contained in the Onumba.com news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Onumba Media Group.

ONUMBA.COM – Ah.  “Birds of the same feather” flock to defend each other.  

Apparently, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is mad.  Hopping mad.  In his ‘holier than thou’ view, he feels that impertinent treatment is being meted out to ousted Hosni Mubarak by the mean-spirited Egyptian authority now prosecuting him for epic shenanigans and abuse of power. 

From Kenya, where he was attending a clambake with his fellow feckless African leaders, Obasanjo expressed the high-minded view that Egypt is transgressing for not showing disgraced Mubarak the ilk of respect befitting a former leader.  He loathed the 82-year-old Mubarak being wheeled into court in a cage and derided it as an infradig.  Accord him the “personal dignity” “befitting his status,” he demanded.  Worked up about this, he kvetched and fervidly assailed the conduct of the Egyptian authority as unbecoming and worried about this not being “good for the image of Africa.”

Isn’t that comical?  All that keelhaul, coming from a military-civilian hybrid with a pugnacious demeanor, whose glib acrobatic moves to cling on to power beyond his lawful duration blew up on his face and vividly exposed his power-gluttony and self-serving nature.  He and Mubarak probably swapped playbooks and his ranting caterwaul is claptrap and a mighty-bloody joke. 

Of course, Obasanjo is entitled to his sanctimonious opinion when he said that this is not good for Africa’s image.  But he is certainly not entitled to having his remarks go unchecked.  Obasanjo, if I may helpfully point out, still stokes tantrum in riled Nigerians who are still convinced he got away with his own catalogue of shady indulgencies while in office.  Some are still rabidly demanding investigation of his regime, though there’s very little chance of that happening since no one has the balls to go after him. 

What Obasanjo failed to mention in his irrational and unhinged harangue in Kenya was the ugsome truth about the factors really responsible for besmirching Africa’s image.  He should look elsewhere for why the global view of the continent is skuzzy, crummy, depressing and shameful.  The treatment that Mubarak is receiving is not it.  Perhaps, the pestiferous corruption, grand mismanagement by bumbling leaders and systemic ethics morass in Africa are the undeniable culprits.  They are the bunyanesque albatross ravaging hopes, bedeviling and dragging down the continent.  The opprobrious and pervasive culture of marauding and siphoning Africa’s exiguous financial resources into foreign bank accounts by greed-infested African governments, led by mindless byzantine charlatans do more to bedaub Africa’s image than anything else.  And then there are the vicious bloodcurdling conflicts wreaking havoc on folks and battering societies.  Jaw-dropping footage clips of morbidly skeletal-starving children of Somalia dangle as an emblem of infamy staining Africa’s image.

The furious revolt that doomed Mubarak’s monstrous 30-year long dynasty was past due.  Just look at his appalling record. He rained vicious tyranny on the Egyptian plebes while presiding over a regime involved in a smorgasbord of crimes. He is now facing a plethora of charges, some for pilfering billions of dollars from the people’s till, having ruled Egypt as his personal fiefdom.  Media reports variously peg his obscene worth at between “$40 and 70 billion,” safely stashed in Archipelago of foreign banks. 

But Mubarak is not alone.  That kind of notorious canker and perfected thievery is incorrigible in virtually all African countries where you have thriving corruption factories manned by effete Kleptomaniacs and parasitic jackasses.  Yet, you wonder out loud why these wretched countries are mud-stuck in deepening torment and apocalyptic squalor.  African governments are globally known more for pittance than advancement, more for brutal conflicts that innovation, and more for a culture of untamed hedonism than pride in self-reliance.  All of that clearly sums up to a “bad image” for a floundering continent that has become a global laughingstock wallowing in multilayered social malady and economic mess.

But it also adds up to why Obasanjo’s audacious demand for “dignified” treatment for Mubarak is utterly misplaced.  And the suggestion that he is not being treated courteously is a profound departure from basic candor.  How much more respect can the Egyptian authority show him that he is not currently enjoying?  Mubarak is not in a Gulag receiving shabby treatment.  He is facing justice for his crimes, for crying out loud.  It is not supposed to be a leisure walk through a flowery park with canorous songs from crooning birds.  But if somehow, a gold-trimmed Jacuzzi and a plush Benz to ferry him back-and-forth to his trial is what Obasanjo has in mind, then that’s a quixotic wish. 

Stick with me guys as we meticulously examine the treatment that Mubarak is receiving and wrap this up.  He is enjoying a VIP treatment for his array of illnesses.  He is being well fed when he is not on hunger strike.  And since his ouster, they have sheltered him in a cozy country-side hideout.  Anyone else would have been dumped in a tartarus calaboose.  Taken together, Mubarak is being accorded far more succor than the innocent and defenseless pro-democracy minions brutally mowed down by his camorra of butchers on his ukase. 

What’s more, he is receiving far more respect that the Egyptian rank and file he robbed of a better future.  For his museum of atrocities as the leader of power-grabbing and looting corruptocrats that studded his vicious tyranny, Mubarak certainly deserves all that is being hurled his way.  Yep, ‘facingthemusic bologna’ is a sandwich better served cold.  I’m just glad that justice for brutally shady politicians in Egypt is not as mushy and laughable as it is in Nigeria.

My advice for Obasanjo is to go back to his Ota Farms and butt out of it.

Mgbatogu is a freelance writer and editor of Onumba.com based in Columbus.  He can be reached by email at: Onumbamedia@yahoo.com

Copyright 2011 Onumba.com. The information contained in the Onumba.com news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Onumba Media Group.

Ike Mgbatogu – Let me start by asking you to introduce yourself to our readers – your hometown, your background, the district you represent, and of course, whatever else you would like to say about yourself. 

State Senator Eric Kearney – I am a State Senator from Cincinnati, Ohio.  I grew up in a community called Hollydale, which was an African-American community in the Cincinnati area.  I went to college at Dartmouth College.  And I went to law school at the University of Cincinnati.  And I practiced law for a number of years, for two different law firms and subsequently bought and worked for the Cincinnati Herald which is a Black weekly newspaper in Cincinnati.

Mgbatogu – The governor recently signed the $55.8 billion bi-annual budget, cutting funding to education, local government, school districts, and others.  What’s your general take on the governor’s budget?

Sen. Kearney – Well, I think the governor’s budget took drastic and radical steps that are not in the best long term interest of Ohioans.  For example, I think cuts to education were harmful and detrimental.  So, I think that many aspects of the budget we would see that in the long run, it was not in the best interest for the state.

Mgbatogu – Opponents of SB 5 will try to overturn the law in the November Ballot.  How would you assess the chances of SB 5 being struck down by Ohio voters?

Sen. Kearney – I would say that the probability is quite high. Please recall that they gathered over one million signatures in opposition to SB 5.  So I think that bodes well for its prospects. Additionally, I would add that they gathered signatures from all 88 counties in Ohio.  So, I think there’s a high probability that SB 5 will be overturned and then the legislature will likely come up with another bill to address the issue of public sector unions.

Mgbatogu – Gov. Strickland lost the last election to Republican John Kasich by 2 percentage points.  Strickland being the incumbent, that’s rare.  What happened?  What went wrong?  Why did the governor lose?

Sen. Kearney – Well, I think that there were some strategic mistakes at a very high level that were made by people associated with Gov. Strickland’s campaign.  But I don’t think that these were fatal or detrimental; rather I think that the key thing that happened was the economy.  The economy did not improve and Ohioans held Gov. Strickland responsible for the state of the economy and the downturn of the economy.  So, I would say that was the reason Gov. Strickland lost.

Mgbatogu – It’s been quite an interesting 100 days for Gov. Kasich.  During the campaign, he did say he would pursue some of the policies he is pursuing today, and yet folks voted for him, including some who are now angry about his policies.  Certainly, the governor did not get a huge mandate, but he won.  What’s your reaction to that, and what message do you have for the people of Ohio in the next election?

Sen. Kearney – Well, a couple of things.  I would disagree with the premise of the question.  I think that the Ohio Republican Party received a big mandate.  They won two seats in the Ohio Senate, 16 percent gain.  They won one of the historic Black Senate seats, one of the crown jewels of the African-American community.  They also took back the Ohio House, winning over 17 seats there, and then they won all the executive branch, so I think they have a mandate, and what they have chosen to do with that [mandate] is some of the policies that people are seeing right now.  With respect to the African-American community, I think that we need to wake up and work harder and get out and vote.  We have to be engaged in the political process if we are going to have a government that’s fair and represents all people.

Mgbatogu – Ohio law requires the state to set aside 15% of its contracts for minority businesses.  Recently, Kasich hinted he is thing about raising that number.  One thing is very clear.  The goal of 15% is not currently being met.  What should the administration do to meet that goal, which by the way wasn’t met in the Strickland administration, either?

Sen. Kearney – Well, I think you have to follow the law.  The prior administration didn’t meet the law, and I sat on the Finance Committee and I would raise that very issue during the finance committee [meetings], and people would try and tap-dance around the answer.  But you know, we have this law that the state, in buying goods and services, is supposed to utilize minority vendors.  We should enforce the law.  I mean, it’s pretty straightforward.  And our state-run universities and colleges need to do the same thing.  They are under the same obligation.  I think only two in the state have been able to meet that criteria, one of them is Central State University, which is probably not a surprise to anyone.

Mgbatogu – Gov. Kasich appointed the first 23 members of his cabinet before naming one African American.  That didn’t sit well with you and the other Black lawmakers.  But since then, he has named two African Americans to the cabinet, Michael Colbert in the Department of Job and Family Services, and Harvey Reed to run the Department of Youth Services.  How would you assess the governor’s mindset when it comes to question of inclusion and diversity?

Sen. Kearney – Well, I think he has a ways to go in terms of understanding the importance of diversity, both in terms of ethnicity and race and gender.  I have to tip my cap to Sen. Nina Turner and Sen. Shirley Smith and Sen. Charleta Tavares for raising the issue and for making some bold announcements about it.  So, I think they have done a good job of exposing some of the inconsistencies there.  I would also say that, if the governor were to take a broader approach in including people in leadership positions, he would see that the result would be better.  I think that many of the great organizations in our country realize that diversity is an asset and that’s one thing that’s currently lacking in the governor’s cabinet.

Mgbatogu – Do you think that a Black person can win a U.S. Senate seat in Ohio?

Sen. Kearney – Yes.  How do I put it?  I was intimately involved in now President Obama’s campaign when he ran for senate.  And have known him since before he was a state senator. And the thing that I would say is that circumstances have to be right; the planets have to be aligned, to use that analogy.  Ohio is a state where it can happen.  We would certainly need to work together.  I am not going to put a date or timeline on it.  Frankly, I think if the right person had run last year, it could have happened [when Republican Rob Portman ran against former Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher].  I think it can happen and I think it will happen once in our lifetime, and I believe the same is true that we will have an African-American governor of our state.

Mgbatogu – Growing up, did you aspire to be a politician or did you consider going into a different career?

Sen. Kearney – Growing up, I always wanted to be an architect.  That didn’t materialize.  Then I wanted to be a writer.  Some may say that has materialized to a certain extent.  And then I practiced law and following practicing law, I started a company to acquire businesses and do turnarounds.  And then after bought a Black weekly newspaper, the Cincinnati Herald, then got into politics.  So, I did not grow up thinking that I would ever hold a state senate seat, and I am very thankful everyday that people elected me and I consider it a blessing and an honor to serve.

Mgbatogu – Outside of folks in your family, who would you consider your hero(s), living or deceased?

Sen. Kearney – Well, I would say that I have a lot of them.  To a certain extent, I would say President Obama for some of the things that he has been able to do.  Martin Luther King would be an obvious one, for his struggles in the civil rights movement.  George Washington Carver is another one for his innovation and leadership in the areas of science.  Richard Wright for his work.  Kenneth Chenault who is the President of the American Express would be another person. Earl Graves in publishing.  Johnson, obviously, in publishing.

Mgbatogu – Have you been to Africa?

Sen. Kearney – No, I have never been to the continent of Africa.

Mgbatogu – If you get a chance to go, what country would you like to visit?

Sen. Kearney – That’s an interesting question.  My senior year in college, my roommate was from Ghana.  Right now, we go to church with a couple that we are quite close to, and they are from Uganda.  And Egypt being the cradle of civilization is attractive to me.  But to answer your question directly, I would think that I would like to go to Rwanda and the reason is, I have read so much and heard so much about the conflict that’s gone on there between the Hutus and the Tutsis.  My wife and I were at one point thinking about adopting a child from that country.  Despite the conflict, I hear that it is very beautiful there, that the people are wonderful people.  And so, I would be interested in seeing that contrast up close.  And then I just heard today on the radio about a cycling team from Rwanda that’s supposed to be exceptional, so perhaps, that’s why it sticks in my mind so much.

Mgbatogu – Should Blacks do more to acknowledge and salute the life and work of Minister Malcolm X?

Sen. Kearney – Yes.  It’s been something that people talk about constantly.  Yes, I think so.  In my view, Malcolm X is certainly one of the pioneers.  If we were to make a Mt. Rushmore for freedom in America, civil rights movement, he would have to get a very strong consideration as one of the four faces on that wall.  But I believe he gets a great amount of respect.  I think that he is due a great deal of respect, certainly.  This country would not be where we are without him.

Mgbatogu – Kind of a curious question.  If Gov. John Kasich decides to offer you a lofty position in his administration, will you accept it?

Sen. Kearney – One, that would never happen.  And two, no.

[Mgbatogu]  You know, he is a maverick, and you don’t really know what he would do?

Sen. Kearney – That’s true, you don’t know what he would do.  And that’s one thing I do like about his personality; that he is kind of, hey, let’s try it, let’s do it.  That is one thing I do like about his personality.  However, in his broad maverick behavior in the broadest most imaginative moment that he has, he would not pick someone like me.

Mgbatogu – After this gig, what’s next for you as a politician?  Are you eyeing any higher office?  What’s in the future for you?

Sen. Kearney – At this point, if the opportunity occurred, I would certainly look at it.  Right now, President Obama called me a few months ago and asked me to raise money for him in the state of Ohio.  And that is what I am going to do.  And fulfill my responsibilities to the citizens of the 9^th district in the state of Ohio; I have 3 ½ years in my term, and so, that’s what I plan to do.

Ike Mgbatogu – Let me start by asking you to introduce yourself to our readers – your hometown, your background, the district you represent, and of course, whatever else you would like to say about yourself. 

State Senator Brown – I am Sen. Edna Brown.  I am from Toledo, Ohio. I represent the 11^th Senatorial district.  I am starting my 10^th year in the legislature.  Prior to that, I served 8 years on the Toledo City Council.  Prior to that, of course, I was a municipal employee for the city of Toledo.  I served 32 years with the city of Toledo.

Mgbatogu – The governor recently signed the $55.8 billion bi-annual budget, cutting funding to education, local government, school districts, and others.  What’s your general take on the governor’s budget?

Sen. Brown – Well, the governor’s first budget, I must say really was intense, demanding a lot of attention on my behalf and others.  In my opinion, the budgets itself, there were a number of things in that budget, I believe, in spite of what the governor says, that the budget is a job killer, actually.  I think that it rewards the wealthy.  It’s going to cause the local government to increase taxes because of the reduction in funding to counties, cities and townships.  I really think that much of what is in that budget will not create jobs as it has been portrayed.

Mgbatogu – Opponents of SB 5 will try to overturn the law in the November Ballot.  How would you assess the chances of SB 5 being struck down by Ohio voters?

Sen. Brown – I feel confident that SB 5 will be struck down.  The public is very much in support of public employees.  That was shown through their response to the rallies here in Columbus as well as in the number of people who are not public employees who circulated the petitions.  The number of signatures gathered shows that people are very, very much opposed to this law.  I believe that enthusiasm will carry forward to November and people will strike that [law] down.

Mgbatogu – Gov. Strickland lost the last election to Republican John Kasich by 2 percentage points.  Strickland being the incumbent, that’s rare.  What happened?  What went wrong?  Why did the governor lose?

Sen. Brown – Well, I can tell you this, if I knew the answer to that, I would never have to work another day in my life.  Honestly, I do not know what happened there.  There was a lot of negative campaigning.  And I was as shocked as anyone when not only the governor but other Democratic statewide office holders lost their positions.  So no, I do not have any idea, except that he did not get the necessary votes to win.

Mgbatogu – It’s been quite an interesting 100 days for Gov. Kasich.  During the campaign, he did say he would pursue some of the policies he is pursuing today, and yet folks voted for him, including some who are now angry about his policies.  Certainly, the governor did not get a huge mandate, but he won.  What’s your reaction to that, and what message do you have for the people of Ohio in the next election?

Sen. Brown – My advice would be to take to heart whatever the person who is campaigning for the office (now I assume it is going to be Gov. Kasich or whomever) say in the campaign.  I believe, even though Gov. Kasich stated that he planned to bring some of these issues forward, people thought it was just political rhetoric and did not heed that.  But of course we see that is not so.  That he is in fact putting forth the radical changes that he spoke of during his campaign.  He, as a matter of fact, came in and started to make policy changes immediately.  His programs are on the fast track.  I believe that it is because we have so many new legislators, new Republican legislators that he wants to get things done before they really learn their way, and before they have had an opportunity to really get their own agendas.  Naturally, they would follow their leader, anyway, but now, I don’t think he is getting as much push back as he would if they were more experienced. 

Mgbatogu – Ohio law requires the state to set aside 15% of its contracts for minority businesses.  Recently, Kasich hinted he is thing about raising that number.  One thing is very clear.  The goal of 15% is not currently being met.  What should the administration do to meet that goal, which by the way wasn’t met in the Strickland administration, either?

Sen. Brown – When it comes to set aside, that’s a difficult pill for some providers, contractors and service providers to swallow.  What we need is a better monitoring of the procedure being used.  I believe that something along the lines of before contract are awarded, as a matter of fact in the bidding process, I believe that the prime contractors or prime bidders should be required to actually list within their bid who their subs would be and show how they would meet the set aside.  I believe if that’s done upfront and monitored (because I can see where someone would come to Joe Smith and put him on as a sub, and then later after the contract is awarded, not use his services.  So, I believe that’s what needs to happen.  It needs to happen in the bidding process and then monitored later.

Mgbatogu – Gov. Kasich appointed the first 23 members of his cabinet before naming one African American.  That didn’t sit well with you and the other Black lawmakers.  But since then, he has named two African Americans to the cabinet, Michael Colbert in the Department of Job and Family Services, and Harvey Reed to run the Department of Youth Services.  How would you assess the governor’s mindset when it comes to question of inclusion and diversity?

Sen. Brown – I cannot read the governor’s mind.  I did not know the governor prior to him being governor.  So, I have no basis other than his current actions to base my opinions on.  The governor, when he met with the OLBC said to us that he wanted the best.  That he wanted people, who were, I am using my own words, loyal to him.  And that he had offered positions to several African Americans who had not accepted the positions. He called a couple of names, but I won’t repeat them.  That’s up to the governor to repeat it to the press if he would like to, but he did, when he met with us, called a couple of names of persons, either offered positions to or talked about positions, and they had refused.  It did happen.  I was sitting there.  And I remember one name in particular.  I can only take him at his words, and hope that he would look deeper and farther for qualified individuals and there are many out there to put into positions.  I understand what he is saying, the radical changes he is making, naturally, he wants people who would support him and his agenda.

Mgbatogu – Do you think that a Black person can win a U.S. Senate seat in Ohio?

Sen. Brown – I do believe a Black person can.  This is the right time for that to happen – a well qualified person, a person with necessary financial wherewithal, I believe can win a U.S. Senate seat.  We look at this senate seat which I currently hold; I am the first African American from North West Ohio to ever serve in the Ohio senate.  And so, if I can do it, then someone else can become a U.S. Senator as well.  There was a time when there are those who would say that we would not have an African American president at this time in history, but here we are.

Mgbatogu – Growing up, did you aspire to be a politician or did you consider going into a different career? 

Sen. Brown – No, I did not.  It’s interesting that I ended up in politics.  When I was growing up, my ambition was to be able to get an education so that I would be in a position to have a professional job; to have an occupation.  Actually, once I started to think about my career, I wanted to be an educator.  I wanted to be a business education teacher.  After retiring, at the urging of some other people, ran for Toledo City Council, and was elected on my first try.  So, that’s kind of how I got into politics.

Mgbatogu – Outside of folks in your family, who would you consider your hero(s), living or deceased?

Sen. Brown – I will tell you who has had the most influence on me, one person, since I have been in political office, and that’s former State Representative and former mayor of Toledo Jack Ford. I believe he influenced my political career more than anyone else.

Mgbatogu – Have you been to Africa?

Sen. Brown – I have been to South Africa.

Mgbatogu – If you get a chance to go again, what country would you like to visit?

Sen. Brown – I’m really not sure.

Mgbatogu – Should Blacks do more to acknowledge and salute the life and work of Minister Malcolm X?

Sen. Brown – That’s a question that I don’t have an answer for.  It would depend on the individual, what their mindset is, and how much they would want to salute his life and career.  Because he was a religious leader, and so, it would depend, particularly because some denominations do not align closely with Islam, and so that’s why I said it would be more or less individual type of thing rather than a huge overall endeavor.

Mgbatogu – Kind of a curious question.  If Gov. John Kasich decides to offer you a lofty position in his administration, will you accept it?

Sen. Brown – No, I would not, for this reason, and this reason only.  I really enjoy what I do.  I enjoy being as much of a free spirit as the position would allow me to be.  I had a regular 8 – 5 and 40 for 32 years, and although this position utilizes and takes up a lot of my time, I am more or less in control of my time.  That is my reason and my only reason and has nothing to do with Gov. Kasich personally.

Mgbatogu – After this gig, what’s next for you as a politician?  Are you eyeing any higher office?  What’s in the future for you?

Sen. Brown – I do not aspire for a higher office.  I plan to run for reelection for this position, which would mean I have seven more years that I could serve in public office.  By then, I hope to have mentored and encouraged someone else to run for this position, and then it would be time for me to go home and perhaps enjoy the grandchildren and great grand children.

Ike Mgbatogu – Let me start by asking you to introduce yourself to our readers – your hometown, your background, the district you represent, and of course, whatever else you would like to say about yourself. 

State Representative Alicia Reece – My name is Alicia Reece.  I am a state Representative for the 33^rd district from Cincinnati, Ohio.  I also have previously served as the Vice Mayor and City Council member for the city of Cincinnati from 1995 to 2005.  My other skill set is marketing and ad promotion.  I worked in my family’s business several years back and also served under the Strickland administration as the assistant director of Tourism for the state of Ohio, rebranding and marketing the state for Tourism.

Mgbatogu – The governor recently signed the $55.8 billion bi-annual budget, cutting funding to education, local government, school districts, and others.  What’s your general take on the governor’s budget?

Rep. Reece –The governor basically balances the budget on the backs of the middle class and other working poor.  They are the ones who are going to absorb all of these major cuts, cuts in Daycare services, cuts in health care services.  We also give a bad impression that Ohio is in trouble because everything is for sale, almost like a yard sale, we are privatizing prisons, selling it without given appraisals for what the prisons are actually worth.  We are talking about leasing out the turnpike, so all of our assets are at risk in this budget.  It is just a bad budget. 

Mgbatogu – Opponents of SB 5 will try to overturn the law in the November Ballot.  How would you assess the chances of SB 5 being struck down by Ohio voters?

Rep. Reece – I think it has a strong chance of being repealed.  I am confident that we are going to have a strong showing.  It is a matter of turnout.  But also understand that it’s going to go up against big money.  So you are going to have what I call David Versus Goliath [fight].  And I certainly think that the will of the people will prevail.

Mgbatogu – Gov. Strickland lost the last election to Republican John Kasich by 2 percentage points.  Strickland being the incumbent, that’s rare.  What happened?  What went wrong?  Why did the governor lose?

Rep. Reece – Turnout.  Too many folks had gotten out in big numbers for the presidential race, we are still clapping our hands, understanding that the presidential race is important, but you also have to have your local government.  And so the job didn’t get done with turnout.  We had a lot of apathy, and quite frankly, folks are experiencing some hard times. 

Mgbatogu – It’s been quite an interesting 100 days for Gov. Kasich.  During the campaign, he did say he would pursue some of the policies he is pursuing today, and yet folks voted for him, including some who are now angry about his policies.  Certainly, the governor did not get a huge mandate, but he won.  What’s your reaction to that, and what message do you have for the people of Ohio in the next election?

Rep. Reece – I think this is a wakeup call, because you are right, Gov. Kasich, when he was running, he told us exactly what he was going to do, and he is doing it.  So, I am not shocked about it.  Citizens should not be shocked about it.  I think it’s a wakeup call.  There were some who voted for the governor who are getting hurt right now, and they are having a change of heart, and then there were some who did not come out and just stayed home, and they are being affected.  So now they know it’s a wakeup call.

Mgbatogu – Ohio law requires the state to set aside 15% of its contracts for minority businesses.  Recently, Kasich hinted he is thing about raising that number.  One thing is very clear.  The goal of 15% is not currently being met.  What should the administration do to meet that goal, which by the way wasn’t met in the Strickland administration, either?

Rep. Reece – One we got to look at having support from the top, that’s number one.  Number two, we have to look at what are the barriers, what are the barriers that are stopping us from getting to these numbers.  I think we also have to expand beyond just construction.  The third component is what I call personal and professional service contracts, these are the things that don’t get out for competitive bids, for example, the gaming component, nontraditional things, like legal, staffing. 

Mgbatogu – Gov. Kasich appointed the first 23 members of his cabinet before naming one African American.  That didn’t sit well with you and the other Black lawmakers.  But since then, he has named two African Americans to the cabinet, Michael Colbert in the Department of Job and Family Services, and Harvey Reed to run the Department of Youth Services.  How would you assess the governor’s mindset when it comes to question of inclusion and diversity? 

Rep. Reece – As you know, OLBC spoke out against this.  We met with the governor.  Since that time, two have been appointed.  I think that he realizes that we are going to be watching this and we are going to be vocal about it.  This is a diverse state with diverse tax dollars.  Therefore diverse people should have an opportunity to lead this state, to be in leadership role in terms of the state and its direction and should be able to get return on their investment.  That’s been my message and that will continue to be my message. 

Mgbatogu – Do you think that a Black person can win a U.S. Senate seat in Ohio?

Rep. Reece – Well, we have an African-American president.  That’s the highest office, which lets us know that anything is possible.  President Obama won a U.S. Senate seat in Illinois where no one said an African-American could not do it.  After Carol Mosley Braun did it, they said it would be tough, but he did it.  And then two, saying there could never be an African-American President.  So my philosophy is, if we can have an African-American president, we certainly can have a U.S. Senator or African-American governor at some point in the state of Ohio.

Mgbatogu – Growing up, did you aspire to be a politician or did you consider going into a different career?

Rep. Reece – No, I did not consider being a politician.  My goal was to start a communications company.  My thought was I would be Oprah one day, not on the TV set, but behind the scene in terms of owing a media house, that was what I thought I would do.  But I got involved, ran into Congresswoman Maxine Waters, she encouraged me to run for office.  I ran for city council and I have been in it and out of out ever since and now back in it. 

Mgbatogu – Outside of folks in your family, who would you consider your hero(s), living or deceased?

Rep. Reece – That’s a tough one.  I would have to say Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Her and Shirley Chisholm, and I had a chance to meet both of them.  They were both very encouraging.  I met Shirley Chisholm before she passed, and I was just in awe of her. 

Mgbatogu – Have you been to Africa?

Rep. Reece – I have not.  I want to go, but I haven’t been.

Mgbatogu – If you get a chance to go, what country would you like to visit?

Rep. Reece – South Africa, obviously.  I would love to one day just rub shoulders with Nelson Mandela, because I feel like this is the closet I would get to Dr, King.  I only can read about Dr. King and his struggles, I only can read about Ghandi and his struggles, but to rub shoulders with someone who kept the faith and had a vision, and is still living, so that would be awesome if I ever get a chance to do that, and experience and smell the air of what I am reading about.

Mgbatogu – Should Blacks do more to acknowledge and salute the life and work of Minister Malcolm X?

Rep. Reece – That’s a good question.  I do think that Malcolm X and a number of others don’t get the just due of where they fit into history.  My philosophy is always that no one is perfect, but I think what we miss as African Americans is that we look for the perfect hero, no blemishes.  We have this, it’s either Malcolm or Martin, or it’s either WEB DuBois or Booker T. Washington, it’s always this either or, and I think we miss out on our history because we do either or.  So I guess I would say that in some regard Malcolm X does not get his just due in terms of his place in history and what he represents.

Mgbatogu – Kind of a curious question.  If Gov. John Kasich decides to offer you a lofty position in his administration, will you accept it?

Rep. Reece – Wow.  That’s a good question.  I don’t see that actually happening.  If he were to come to something like that, then that means that all the pressures we are doing on the outside is working.

Mgbatogu – After this gig, what’s next for you as a politician?  Are you eyeing any higher office?  What’s in the future for you?

Rep. Reece – What I have learned in my life is preparation and prayer.  I think preparation is the key.  For me, if I can contribute something and make a difference, then I am interested.  But if I can’t contribute something, then I am not interested.  So, I don’t rule anything out.  I think now, we have President Obama, the sky is the limit, and any and everything is possible. He made the impossible possible through the grace of what God set out for him to do.  I am just going to keep preparing, do the best job I can right now for my district and the best job I can for Ohio.  If those opportunities were to present themselves, pray about it, and if that’s what God wants me to do, I will do it.

Ike Mgbatogu – Let me start by asking you to introduce yourself to our readers – your hometown, your background, the district you represent, and of course, whatever else you would like to say about yourself.

Rep. W. Carlton Weddington – Thank you Ike for the opportunity to speak with you. I am W. Carlton Weddington, state representative of the 27^th House district, here on the near eastside of Columbus.  I am a lifelong resident born and raised here in Columbus Ohio, attended Westerville Public Schools, Westerville North High School, graduated in 1988, and went on to Hampton University where I was a political science major, graduated in 1992.  I first gained my interest in politics when I volunteered to work for Douglas Wilder who was a candidate for governor [of Virginia.]  He in fact won that year and became the first African-American governor of the state of Virginia.  That led me to come back home after graduating and helping on a number of campaigns, one being for mayor for the city of Columbus and that was Ben Espy.  Interned for William Bowen who was a senator from the city of Cincinnati and that just continued my interest in politics and grassroots initiatives.  I worked for Les Wright…and with Charleta Tavares and then later was given the opportunity to work with John O’Grady as a manager in the clerk of courts Franklin Co.  After working at the county, I then decided to run for school board in 2005, elected in 2006, served 3 years.  And then ran to replace Joyce Beatty who was the minority leader and became the state representative from the 27^th district.

Mgbatogu – The House recently approved the governor’s $55.6 billion bi-annual budget, keeping intact nearly all of the governor’s cuts, to education, local government, school districts, and others.  The senate approved it, and now it is in the conference committee.  What’s your general take on the governor’s budget?

Weddington – Well, Gov. Kasich had his hands full coming into this administration and the 129^th general assembly.  The state had a $6 to 8 billion budget deficit to attempt to balance.  But I am not quite sure that his ideas and perspective is what Ohio needs…you see drastic cuts to local government, you see cuts to education, you see an attack on the middle class through aspects of SB5 that have also been placed in the budget.  You see attack on labor as it relates to prevailing wage.  You see seniors, minorities and children taking hits as it relates to social services and those who are the neediest of our populations are taking the burden and brunt of this deficit, and so while the governor may say he has balanced the budget and in fact House Republicans passed his budget, I don’t think that it is the right budget for the state of Ohio as a whole. 

Mgbatogu – Senate Bill 5, which eliminated collective bargaining laws in Ohio, and recently signed into law by Gov. Kasich, is one of those instances where the governor offered clear hints about where he stood with organized labor when he talked about breaking the back of the unions during the campaign.  You are opposed to this bill.  Why?

Weddington – I am opposed because once again what SB5 does is, it takes collective bargaining and makes it collective begging.  It is an attack on labor as an institution; it is an attack on the middle-class.  It would hurt police, fire, teachers, correctional officers, nurses.  It is part of the Republican extreme agenda, and I think we need to make sure that when we go to referendum, that we defeat this SB5.

Mgbatogu – Opponents of SB 5 will try to overturn the law in the November Ballot.  How would you assess the chances of SB 5 being struck down by Ohio voters?

Weddington – Oh, I think we are well on our way.  They just put forth the signatures, the petitions with three times the amount of signatures needed to be placed on the ballot.  I think that it has in fact galvanized the Democratic base, the independents; it has galvanized even some Republicans, to make sure that this does not hurt the state of Ohio. 

Mgbatogu – It’s been quite an interesting 100 days for Gov. Kasich.  During the campaign, he did say he would pursue some of the policies he is pursuing today, and yet folks voted for him, including some who are now angry about his policies.  Certainly, the governor did not get a huge mandate, but he won.  What’s your reaction to that, and what message do you have for the people of Ohio in the next election?

Weddington – Well, my message to Ohioans, be they Democrats, Republicans, Independents or otherwise, is they have to pay attention to what candidates say; pay attention to their understanding of what it is to move the state forward; pay attention to those that they have surrounded themselves with.  Gov. Kasich today may have won by 2 percentage points, but he doesn’t have mandate.  It was a win and with that win he is able to do what he wants, but it should be within the understanding that half of those who voted didn’t vote for him.  So he still has to balance his interpretation and his ideas with what the other half was expecting out of the governor or expecting in having Ted Strickland being their governor. 

Mgbatogu – Ohio law requires the state to set aside 15% of its contracts for minority businesses.  Recently, Kasich hinted he is thing about raising that number.  One thing is very clear.  The goal of 15% is not currently being met.  What should the administration do to meet that goal, which by the way wasn’t met in the Strickland administration, either?

Weddington – Well, he has to be realistic.  That would require him to put forth some real effort in reaching those goals.  He can’t just come into a meeting and say, oh, I want to do more than 15%.  Well, you have to start with what you have already set in law, 15%.  Start there.  As you have pushed through many of your achievements, your so called achievements in the first 100 days, do the same thing for this goal.  Honor what’s currently on the books.  Enact the same executive order that Gov. Strickland did.  Have them give you quarterly reports. 

Mgbatogu – Gov. Kasich appointed the first 23 members of his cabinet before naming one African American.  That didn’t sit well with you and the other Black lawmakers.  But since then, he has named two African Americans to the cabinet, Michael Colbert in the Department of Job and Family Services, and Harvey Reed to run the Department of Youth Services.  How would you assess the governor’s mindset when it comes to question of inclusion and diversity?

Weddington – In a cabinet of 25 plus people, he has 2 African Americans, I would say, so what.  What does that really mean?  How is that really showing diversity?  We forced his hand.  He was talking about metrics, about having people that had the same political ideology as he, about people that could move the state forward, that could address the budget ills of the state as if there was no one of color, no one from the African American community or Hispanic community or Asian community or Indian community or whatever other minority population, could assist him.  It’s a good start with the two cabinet positions that he made with two African American men.  [But] You have some mid level positions that could be filled with minorities.  You have people that are surrounding the governor himself that could be filled with minorities.  You only have one woman who is supposed to be the minority liaison, but she is unseen and unheard from.  And so where as you have put someone in a position that says you are the liaison for minority affairs, we don’t know what you do and we haven’t see you do anything.

Mgbatogu – Do you think that a Black person can win a U.S. Senate seat in Ohio?

Weddington – Eventually.  Not yet, though.  As you have seen, all of our African American candidates that have run have been appointed.  Other than Ken Blackwell, who is a Republican, no one has maintained their seat or won their seat outright.  It’s unfortunate.  It wasn’t until Barack Obama who ran for president did an African American win a statewide office on the Democratic side.  Ken Blackwell did it.  Yet when he wanted to run for governor, he did not succeed. 

Mgbatogu – Growing up, did you aspire to be a politician or did you consider going into a different career?

Weddington – Actually, I thought I was going to be a lawyer.  I wanted to be a political science major and go to law school, but as I was going along that path, getting involved led me to being involved in politics.

Mgbatogu – Outside of folks in your family, who would you   consider your hero(s), living or deceased?

Weddington – I would say from a political perspective, it’s the woman who I learned how to be a state person under, and that would be Les Wright.  I think Barack Obama is a hero, how he was able to go from a single parent family not knowing or having spent much time with his father to coming up going to law school, representing in the state legislature, running for the US senate and then running for president.  He is a hero.  I think those are two people that I reflect on.

In Columbus, it is called ‘Red, White and Boom.’ 

It is often attended by a mammoth crowd.  The downtown festivities are usually bunting with colorful parades, fireworks, patriotic songs and other jingoistic expressions of pride for the nation and gratitude for the ‘founding fathers’ who established it. 

But as the city eagerly awaits the celebration of the birth of the nation, one big Independence Day had already played out last week in the city at Franklin Park on Broad Street.  It is called ‘Juneteenth,’ in celebration of ‘June 19^th’, which is the day African-Americans say they were actually freed from bondage. 

“It’s our emancipation,” Rhoda Abdul-Mateen told the Call & Post.  “It wasn’t the 4^th of July.  It was Juneteenth, when they found out that supposedly slavery was over, and it came two years later.”

“So, this is our Independence Day,” she said. 

Abdul-Mateen was expressing the feelings of thousands of people, almost entirely African-Americans, who packed Franklin Park to be a part of a gathering that is widely considered the “Independence Day” for Black people.

The historical underpinnings for this event, which is celebrated in more than “200 cities” across the country, is noteworthy. 

Even though President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves after he issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22^nd, 1862, news of the declaration was suppressed in parts of the South, and because of that many slaves were not aware of it.  The consequence was that slaves in parts of Texas remained in their status of servitude two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had freed them.

On the Juneteenth Ohio website, it stated that “June 19^th, 1865 is considered the date when the last slaves in America were freed.”  That was the day those slaves became aware of their freedom. 

And that’s why Dorothy Greer, a native of Texas, is a true believer in the Juneteenth celebration.

“This day means freedom,” she told the Call & Post.  “It also means that we can have a reflection, a reflection as to how far we have come.”

Greer spoke of being close to the genesis of all of this.

“I am from Texas.  My father is a 100 years ago.  So, he has seen a lot.  So I have first hand history on how it used to be.  So, it’s very important.”

Jermain Scott also reflected on the importance of the day. 

“It means life, evolution, celebration,” said Scott, noting, “We have come a long way.” 

Black people, said Scott, “Went from chains to freedom, liberty, opportunity, and right now, here at the Juneteenth, we are just maximizing the opportunity, maximizing the moment,” he said. 

“It all comes together in one park to celebrate each other,” he said.

Alisa Mbinakar, a Columbus-based web designer, agreed.

“It means coming together to celebrate our African American history, all of us coming together as a community celebrating Juneteenth.”

Shawn Williams took the same view.

“It’s a celebration of us, a celebration of freedom.  That’s what it means.” 

The event featured plenty of vendors selling food, music CD’s, arts and African inspired jewelry.  Scores of LIVE bands played and music blasted all day as thousands of folks mingled having fun, eating and dancing, on a day that was almost ruined by rain.

Mgbatogu is a freelance writer and editor of Onumba.com based in Columbus.  He can be reached by email at: Onumbamedia@yahoo.com

Copyright 2011 Onumba.com. The information contained in the Onumba.com news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Onumba Media Group.

Mgbatogu – Let me start by asking you to introduce yourself to our readers – your hometown, your background, the district you represent, and of course, whatever else you would like to say about yourself. 

Williams – My name is Sandra Williams.  I represent the 11^th House district of Cleveland, Ohio.  I was born in Cleveland, graduated Cleveland Public Schools, John Hay High School, Master’s degree from Tiffin University and Bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University.

Mgbatogu – The House recently approved the governor’s $55.6 billion bi-annual budget, keeping intact nearly all of the governor’s cuts, to education, local government, school districts, and others.  The senate approved it, and now it is in the conference committee.  What’s your general take on the governor’s budget?

Williams – The governor’s budget, I believe, is an insult to the neediest people in the state of Ohio.  We cut the budget for transportation by 39 percent when it left the House…over 11 percent of Cleveland population use RTA for all their needs, as far as going to work, going to the grocery store, and things like that.  I believe local government cuts and the cuts to the libraries will be harmful to those people who use the services.  The cuts to senior services are horrible.

Mgbatogu – It’s been quite an interesting 100 days for Gov. Kasich.  During the campaign, he did say he would pursue some of these policies, and yet folks voted for him, including some who are now angry about his policies.  Certainly, the governor did not get a huge mandate, but he won.  What’s your reaction to that, and what message do you have for the people of Ohio in the next election?

Williams – Governor Kasich got elected by approximately 77,000 votes.  Clearly that was not a mandate.  I think some of the policies that Gov. Kasich is pushing right now; he made clear during his campaign.  I believe, if nothing else, the Ohio voters should start focusing and paying attention to what the candidates say as opposed to their internal feelings about the persons who are in the office at that time.  And many people were unhappy with the way Democratic leadership was running the state, also at the national level, the way our president is running the country.  But he [Kasich] made it clear that he was going to do these things.  And he is running it, as he said, like a business…turning everything into a business.  We are privatizing most of the assets of the state of Ohio.  I think it’s unfortunate.  I think that the Ohio public will be losing out if we keep him in the office.  He is running the state like a business for business. 

Mgbatogu –Ohio law requires the state to set aside 15% of its contracts for minority businesses.  Recently, Kasich hinted he is thing about raising that number.  One thing is very clear.  The goal of 15% is not currently being met.  What should the administration do to meet that goal, which by the way wasn’t met in the Strickland administration, either?

Williams – As you said, neither our current administration nor our past administration of Gov. Strickland has met the 15 percent set aside law.  The fact that he said he is thinking about it clearly is not good enough.  The fact is that this law has been on the books since the 1980’s.  No governor has completely followed it the way it is supposed to go.  We have worked hard in the Black caucus to try and enforce the law.  We got an executive order through Gov. Strickland.  And while he had not come close to the 15 percent, he at least attempted to do so in the interim.  I think they all could do a lot better.  I think also what they could do to get those numbers up is really start focusing on reaching out to minority businesses who are out there.  Really, it is not hard to find Black businesses that can do the job. 

Mgbatogu – Do you think that a Black person can win a U.S. Senate seat in Ohio?

Williams – Yes I do.  I believe if we put the race aside and just look at credentials, there are a lot of African-American candidates in the state who can compete with anybody else that might run, whether they be Republican or Democrat.  And I think if we look at the presidential election the last time, that’s evidence enough that an African-American can win [a senate seat] in the state.

Mgbatogu – Growing up, did you aspire to be a politician or did you consider going into a different career?

Williams – Growing up, I was always interested in the criminal justice system, from my first year law class at Joseph M. Gallagher on the West Side of Cleveland.  From that point on, everything that I did focused in the area of law.  I wanted to be a prosecutor, and I got here to the statehouse and started working here, and realized that there were so much more to offer to my constituents as opposed to being a prosecutor.  This is a beautiful field and I am glad that I am in it.

Mgbatogu – Outside of folks in your family, who would you consider your hero(s), living or deceased?

Williams – I don’t know that I had a hero.  There are a lot of women that I look up to, like Dorothy Height.  Dr. Martin Luther King.  Rev. Ottis Moss, Jr.,  Joyce Beatty.  There are a lot of people that I admire.

Mgbatogu – Should Blacks do more to acknowledge and salute the life and work of Minister Malcolm X?

Williams – I would say yes.  Malcolm X definitely made a great contribution to this country and to the world as a whole.  I believe we could acknowledge his work a little more than we do.  So, yes.