Civil rights leaders and corporate donors broke ground on the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. The $100 million facility will focus on nonviolence, history, and human and civil rights. Former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin said the groundbreaking symbolized the vision and perseverance of civic leaders to establish the center. The Atlanta Voice newspaper won multiple journalism awards, including for commentary, features, and general excellence. A civic group is taking over 30 students from Atlanta and Baltimore to Ghana and Ethiopia for an educational excursion to learn about African cultures.

1. June 29 - July 5, 2012 Volume No. 47 Issue No. 07
www.theatlantavoice.com
See CENTER page 14
The Atlanta Voice“A People Without A Voice Cannot Be Heard”
Obama’sancestorhonored
BY KALIN THOMAS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ATLANTA – Civil rights legends
Wednesday in a long-awaited ground-
breaking for the National Center for Civil
and Human Rights, a 90,000 square-foot
facility focused on non-violence, history
and human and civil rights.
FormerAtlanta mayor Shirley Frank-
lin, who chairs the center’s board, said
the groundbreaking ceremony symbol-
residents have for getting things done.
a long-range vision,” said Franklin, who
Women founder Evelyn Lowery and for-
mer Atlanta mayor Andrew Young some
six years ago.
when all elements work together in a
heavenly moment,” she added.
agreed, saying city and civic leaders
-
ter built.
this Atlanta’s signature issue.”
The groundbreaking, initially sched-
uled for last fall, had been delayed due to
BY MONICA THORPE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Voice,
the St. Louis American and the Chi-
winners at the 22nd annual A. Phil-
Association’s annual conference.
The Atlanta Voice won four
commentary, two for features and
-
-
senger awards is both a thrill and an
honor.
to the Pulitzer Prize, in the same
year is a major feat,” Ware said. “It
Leaders break ground on civil rights center
Atlanta Voice
wins honors
at newspaper
conference
Curt Emerson
Atlanta
“It makes me
feel good that we
now have a com-
care bill and that
we also have a
that I feel a lot
-
dent in...”
Bernard Chatman
Augusta
“I am ex-
with the ruling to-
that it has some
-
shadowing and
Obama will be voted into another
Sonya Leary
Marietta
“I am very
much interested
as far as the im-
decision. I want
to know what the
difference is be-
what’s out there now.”
July 5, 1975
In a stun-
tennis star
Arthur Ashe
d e f e a t e d
world No. 1
-
nors 6-1, 6-1,
5-7, 6-4 to
tennis title.
This Week in
Black History
– Compiled by Vincent Christie
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, civil rights legends and corpo-
rate donors broke ground Wednesday on the National Cen-
ter for Civil and Human Rights, a $100 million facility fo-
cused on non-violence, history and human and civil rights.
PHOTO BY KALIN THOMAS
Clayton County board chairman
Eldrin Bell (top left) joined civic
leaders and family members Tues-
day in Rex, Georgia in unveiling a
Michelle Obama’s great-great-
great grandmother Melvina “Mat-
tie’” Shields McGruder. A former
slave, McGruder lived in Rex from
1850 until 1938.
– PHOTOS BY VINCENT CHRISTIE
Culinary Camp : Page 7
“What do you think about the
mandating affordable health
care for allAmericans?”
YOUR VOICE
See AWARDS page 4

2. June 29 - July 5, 2012
T H E A T L A N T A V O I C E 3
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Miles Martin
Mendez Dion Elder, Jr. of Atlanta
each received a $1,750 “Own Your
Georgia’s Own Credit Union.
-
inner-city young men.
The graduates will attend Tuskegee
University and Savannah State Univer-
Julie M.T. Walker of Atlanta re-
-
the State Bar of Georgia.
a lifetime of commitment to the legal
Georgia, through local and voluntary
bar associations.
law, and was nominated by the Geor-
gia Association of Black Women At-
torneys.
Carver School of the Arts seniors
Frederick Sands, Shomari Willis
and Tony
Wright,
among 16
Georgia
students
who are
winners
of the Colored Rocks Prize.
The annual Prize is given by the
Colored Rocks Foundation and rewards
Georgia high school senior males of
– Compiled by Kalin Thomas
“Cheers!” is an Atlanta Voice feature highlighting
the everyday accomplishments of everyday people—
things like special honors, awards, job announcements,
graduations, promotions and other achievements.
If you have a “Cheers!” item you would like to
nominate, please send item and photo (if possible) to
cheers@theatlantavoice.com.
Underground to host
‘Heritage Festival’
ATLANTA – Under-
ground Atlanta is hosting its
17th Annual Heritage Arts
at 50 Alabama St. The fes-
tival will include more than
50 national and international
booths featuring African ar-
tifacts, jewelry, and beauty
-
sic, book signings, storytell-
For more information,
visit www.underground-at-
lanta.com.
Fred Hammond
stars in gospel tour
ATLANTA – Grammy
Fred Hammond will headline
-
the Georgia
World Con-
gress Center,
Young In-
ternational
Blvd.
The con-
Annual Conference.
For more information, visit
-
ference.org.
AKAs to host
health retreat
will host a “Healthy Retreat”
Stone Road.
The event will include
Zumba, healthy fare, health
screenings and information
on nutrition and exercise.
For more information,
Black college run
slated for June 30
ATLANTA – The alumni
-
5th Annual Atlanta HBCU
Alumni Alliance 5K Run/
Ave.
-
health fair after the race.
For more information,
call 404-260-7404 or visit
www.hbcualumniatlanta.org.
Job interview fair
slated for June 30
DECATUR – The Wade
-
terview Fair” from noon to 7
Academies of South DeKalb,
For more information and
9622 or visit www.ymcaat-
lanta.org.
Organic festival
slated for June 30
ATLANTA – HABESHA
Inc., an Atlanta-based urban
agriculture organization, will
host its 10th Annual Organic
The festival will include
live music, gardening, a chil-
dren’s corner and a healer’s
For more information,
www.habeshainc.org.
Girls conference
slated for July 11
ATLANTA – Sisters of
will host its 5th Annual Lead-
-
enue Research Library, 101
Auburn Ave. and Big Bethel
Village, 500 Richard Allen
Blvd.
-
ference, targeted at girls ages
-
munication skills, career ex-
For more information,
www.sistersoftodayandto-
morrow.org.
– Compiled by
Kalin Thomas
d d h
Metro Digest
HAMMOND
BY MONICA THORPE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
-
blacks in Africa and blacks in America.
ordinary teenager.
an educational excursion coordinated by a southwest Atlanta
-
A home-schooled 10th-grader, Vassall could scarcely con-
tain herself when asked about her feelings about traveling to
can’t wait to visit Lalibela where the churches are carved out
of rocks.”
their culture,” she added. “Also, I want to learn how they feel
-
ca and Africans in Ghana.”
Vassall’s mother, Zelda, shares her daughter’s enthusiasm,
framework for our history,” she said. “It’s good for her to be
-
my other kids.”
introduce students to various African cultures and customs,
-
est cities, Lalibela.
While in Ghana, students will travel to Takoradi Beach
-
“historic and monumental.”
Civic group sending students to Africa
More than 30 students from Atlanta and Baltimore will
travel to Ghana and Ethiopia next month as part of an
educational excursion coordinated by a southwest At-
lanta civic group. Pictured here are students from last
year’ excursion. COURTESY PHOTO
See HABESHA page 14

3. T H E A T L A N T A V O I C E4
June 29 - July 5, 2012
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staff, the writers, the edi-
singled out nationally by our
Voice family.”
Executive editor Gregory
-
the highly regarded awards.
“Obviously, we don’t
write stories to win awards,
we write them to make a dif-
ference in the lives of our
readers,” Huskisson said.
“Still, it feels good to be
among the best in the busi-
ness.”
Named in honor of the
late civil rights activist A.
-
senger award celebrates out-
standing work done by jour-
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
event, donated $5,000 each
winners. The Atlanta Voice
-
-
than 50 years later.
– one for a story about a doll
and another for a story about
a black AIDS organization in
Atlanta.
-
ity” category for her feature
about urban gardening efforts
in Atlanta.
CrossRoads News (breaking
-
and the St. Louis American
The Dallas Weekly, The
Skanner News, Our Weekly,
the Houston Forward Times,
and the Houston Defender.
-
gram, the St. Louis American
-
-
American as the nation’s best
from general excellence to
best layout and design for a
AWARDS
continued from front page
See AWARDS page 14

4. T H E A T L A N T A V O I C E10
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CONYERS – A healing
retreat for veterans is sched-
212 SW.
The healing retreat is in-
tended for veterans suffer-
ing from the trauma of war.
The retreat will offer several
-
naling to Heal,” “Anger and
Forgiveness” and “Strength
Through Suffering.”
There will also be a heal-
ing ceremony and meditation
For more information,
True Light Baptist
hosts fashion show
ATLANTA – True Light
Sanctuary fashion show at 4
Anderson Ave.
The fashion show will
include church members as
models and several ministries
selling food items.
For more information,
Word of Faith
to host talent show
AUSTELL – World of
Faith’s “Got Talent” talent
show is holding auditions at 9
212 Riverside Parkway SW.
The talent show is look-
members with talent in danc-
ing, singing, and comedy.
The winners will showcase
their talent at the WOF Un-
der the Stars/Unity Day event
For more information,
com.
Faith Christian Center
to sponsor book sale
Bookstore will have its sum-
mer book sale every Wednes-
day, Friday and Sunday in
Books, CDs and other
material will be on sale to
enhance your faith walk, or-
ganizers said.
For more information,
Cascade United hosts
summer camp
ATLANTA – Students
in grades 2 through 6 will
Church.
in archery, tree climbing,
Bible stories, arts and crafts,
-
For more information,
org.
First Baptist to host
citizenship classes
ATLANTA – Citizen-
second language courses will
North Peachtree Road.
Attendees will re-
ceive a voucher for a free hot
For more informa-
Mountain West
to host youth night
– Youth service night will
Road.
The night’s festivities will
include live music and food.
For more information,
– Compiled by
Monica Thorpe
Church Digest
say, making him sit in his naughty corner or
-
-
rican descent. As children, many of us got
wasn’t that long ago that teachers and ad-
ministrators at most of our schools were al-
lowed to lay hands on us.
also invoke that age-old Biblical admoni-
child.
But is it effective?
-
-
in the New York Times a year ago.
-
ing violent behavior, which young children
in my own studies have described as unfair
and ineffective,” he added.
-
formance, lower self-esteem and, some-
times, bruises and broken bones.”
Sounds a lot like Peter and Paul.
Independent journalist Lekan Oguntoy-
inbo is a veteran of several daily newspa-
pers, including the Detroit Free Press and
the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Contact him at
oguntoyinbo@yahoo.com.
LEKAN
continued from page 6
‘Healing’ retreat
scheduled for vets