Youthful View

It was mid- 2007. I was an eighth grade student at Fairview Middle School. I had long considered the “man behind the baton” to be one of my most treasured heroes of Florida A&M University. I was always an avid reader of local newspapers when I came across the obituary of Mary Ann Foster, the wife of Dr. William P. Foster and a dedicated employee of Florida A&M University, who was long considered the university’s “band mother.”

Dr. Foster, known to many as America’s “Dean of Bands Directors,” and the founder of Florida A&M University’s famed “Marching 100,” passed away on the morning of Aug. 28. Dr. Foster was the director of bands at FAMU from 1946-1998. He was 91-years-old. After Mrs. Foster’s passing, I decided to wait a few months to visit the icon, who’s projected genius has long been a widely used household epitome. He had been a resident of the Centre Point Health Center for quite some time. I phoned Doc to insure it was ok. “You may come to visit me,” he responded in a weakened voice, though still in excellent health.

When I arrived in his room, Dr. Foster sat comfortably in his wheelchair, sporting a designer FAMU jacket. I explained to him that I was his biggest fan. He quickly responded: “Are you making good grades?” “Yes sir,” I said. He signed a photograph for me that I still have in my room. Suddenly, during our long and spirited talk, he began to cough uncontrollably. “You may have to come back when I am done with my coughing spasm,” he said. And that I did.

Dr. Foster’s passing, though at a very fulfilling age, is personal for me. He stormed onto the scene and for 52 years, he transformed the “Marching 100” into the number one collegiate marching band in America. A deep loss is being felt not only in the Tallahassee community but throughout the nation, as we are saddened by the answer of his heavenly father’s call, though satisfied that the 91 cherished years that he spent here on earth were filled with commitment and joy.

As a successful high school student, Dr. Foster became interested in musical education. His desire to become a director of bands, stemmed in part from the determination of the man himself, who wouldn’t take no for an answer. After being told that he couldn’t join his college marching band because of his color and to forget about his dream of directing because there were no such jobs for African- Americans, Dr. Foster quickly proved his teacher wrong.

He became director of bands for Fort Valley State College after earning recognition as a choir director in Missouri. Later, he became director of bands and orchestra at Tuskegee Institute, before matriculating to Florida A&M University. Highly recognized on the national level with Dr. Foster at the helm, FAMU’s marching band has appeared on several nationally syndicated television programs, been mentioned in magazines and newspapers, performed in France for the French Bicentennial and at three presidential inaugurations, including that of President Obama, under the tutelage of current director Dr. Julian White.

Perhaps his fame originated when Dr. Foster coined the 90-degree knee-lift marching style, which is imitated throughout the country. Dr. Foster is the author of a college textbook for band etiquette and “The Man Behind the Baton,” the story of his life. He has been given numerous awards and honors, including induction into the National Association for Distinguished Band Conductors, the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, the Afro-American Hall of Fame and the Florida Music Educators Association. Other honors include the naming of the Foster- Tanner Fine Arts Complex and Foster-Tanner Drive.

He is survived by sons Anthony and William P. Foster, Jr.

Ricardo Lewis

Associate Editor

The Marching 100 will carry heavy hearts onto the field tonight as the FAMU community mourns the passing of legendary band director Dr. William P. Foster at the age of 91.

Foster is credited with revolutionizing marching bands in America with the innovative marching styles, and mouth dropping dance performances. The manifestations of Foster’s genius have been exemplified through Florida A&M University’s Marching band since he became the director of bands at the university in 1946. Other marching bands often duplicate the 90 degree marching style Foster created as a part of the Marching 100’s performances. According to a press release issued by the Florida A&M University, Foster created more than 30 techniques that have now become standard procedure for high school and college bands nationwide.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Foster,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “As a visionary leader, he built America’s greatest band by departing from the standard routines and maneuvers to showcase band pageantry. I can attest to the fact that what he created was magical,” in the press release issued by the university.

Dr. Foster retired as in 1998 after serving 52 years in the FAMU music department. He received numerous awards during his tenure including winning the Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy in 1985 becoming the first and currently the only Historically Black College and University band to win the coveted award.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, September 3, at 6 p.m. The FAMU music department will perform a concert of musical tribute to Dr. Foster on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. The funeral for Dr. Foster is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4, at 11 a.m. all three events will take place in Lee Hall on the Campus of Florida A&M University. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the “William P. and Mary Ann Foster Endowed Scholarship Fund” at FAMU in support of FAMU band scholarships.

Band members often use the term “Hubba” to recognize outstanding performance and in describing their beloved Dr. Foster. On behalf of the staff of the Capital Outlook, for all of your hard work and efforts in helping to mold the standard for marching bands, helping to shape Florida A&M University and leaving a lasting impression on the city of Tallahassee and the world, HUBBA DOC!!!

JAYLEN CHRISTIE
Contributing Writer

Senators and congressmen are a dime a dozen. What began in 1789 has now surpassed 200 years and has become something of a calling card for the United States government. Named after the ancient Roman Senate, the U.S. Senate is the current home of 59 Democratic members, 41 Republican members and if Kendrick Meek has his way, it will soon become his domicile as well.

Meek, a 1989 graduate of Florida A&M University, has been a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2003. Succeeding his mother, Congresswoman Carrie Meek, who retired from the seat, Meek represents Florida’s 17th congressional district and is now a candidate in the 2010 Senate elections for the Senate seat which is no longer occupied by Mel Martinez.

While the eventual outcome of the election is uncertain, some locals think that Meek is the ideal man for the job. Alfonso Lowry, a Tallahassee native, said he thinks Meek is pretty solid. “Kendrick Meek is definitely a really strong Democratic candidate,” said Lowry, a graduate of Morehouse College. “He’s pretty much toeing the line for all of the issues that are pretty hot right now [such as] off shore drilling. He’s against it. He should do a really good job if he’s elected. He’s really going to have to kick it up a notch, if he wants to win in the general election because he hasn’t been as effective in getting his message out.”

Kiffani Jones couldn’t agree more. A local English teacher and graduate of FAMU, Jones said Meek needs to learn how to get out there and meet people. “You just can’t be a senator and tell people to vote for you. You have to talk to people–and not just people with money. Look at Barack Obama. That man spoke with everybody and secured his position in the White House.”

Meek’s definitely has the experience to become the state’s next senator. Born in Miami, he served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1995 to 1998 and in the Florida Senate from 1999 to 2002. He has a strong interest in issues pertaining to education, energy, and immigration. Meek has gone on the record saying he is against offshore drilling.

“It’s time to put an end to any and every misguided attempt to drill offshore and put Florida’s coasts and economy at risk. Any effort to revive offshore drilling needs to be stopped dead in its tracks,” said Rep. Kendrick Meek in a statement on his website. In the last month, Meek has traveled across the state by bus to get his message out and drum up support for this campaign, even bringing out former President Bill Clinton to persuade voters that he is the right person to represent Florida in the U.S. Senate.

Meek faces stiff competition from Independent candidate and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Republican candidate and state Senator Marc Rubio. Historically, voter turnout during midterm elections has been low. Less than 25 percent of the electorate has turned out to vote in the last five primary election cycles, African- Americans comprise 25 percent of Florida’s voters.

“It’s going to be hard for him to win in Florida because we tend to be conservative,” Lowry said. “I think he is on to the right ideas. He just has to get his message out there and tell people,” he said. Today’s victory will put Meek on a historic path that few blacks have accomplished. If Meek succeeds in winning Florida’s U.S. Senate seat in the general election, he would become the state’s first African-American to represent the state in the Senate.

REGINALD ALCEUS
Outlook Staff Writer

Late into Tuesday evening, Sen. Al Lawson (D)-Tallahassee appeared before the dozens of rallied campaigners, students and local supporters to deliver the news of his defeat in the race for U.S. Congress. Although his faithful constituents were disappointed by the loss, Lawson, demonstrating true poise and strength of character, conceded to former opponent Allen Boyd, who will now assume the Democratic ticket

“We ran a hell of a race,” said Vincent Evans, Lawson‘s campaign scheduler. “It looks like we lost by about 2,400 to 2,500 votes. Allen Boyd has been in Congress for 14 years and we sent a strong message tonight that you have to be real about the issues and stand tall and when you don’t, there will be people out there who will be willing to stand on them. The voters that supported Allen Boyd will have another opportunity at Congress and that’s what they decided.”

Lawson was narrowly defeated in a 49 to 51 percent outcome after the more than 82,000 votes were counted. Upon concluding his address to his tearful advocates, Lawson personally called his victorious opponent to congratulate him on a race well fought. Lawson stated he would advise Boyd to work for the people in the district. He also recommended he fight more for campaign reform and not to be identified so much with the Washington insiders but to be more focused on Main Street as opposed to Wall Street. To that end, Lawson said that Boyd will have to run on his record when the time comes to run against the Republicans in Congress.

“I don’t think it’s a vote against Al Lawson or what he’s done,” Evans said. “Most people agree that he served this area well for 28 years. As Democrats, we have to come behind our party nominee Allen Boyd and we have to do all we can to get him elected to in turn push our president’s agenda forward.” During the campaign trail, Lawson and his supporters visited over 15,000 homes and contacted approximately 60,000 people in hopes of gaining their vote. The efforts made by his dedicated staff and volunteer support gave him something to be proud of, Lawson acknowledged.

“Of course, we’re disappointed but we’re still proud of our candidate and the campaign that he ran,” said John Reid, Lawson’s campaign manager. “He ran a positive campaign and was outspent 12 to 1 and still came as close as he did. It’s a testament to his strong record in North Florida and his many years as a leader.” In particular, Lawson said he hoped he was able to motivate the young students so they would be inspired to do something positive in the future.

“I’m a Democrat at heart, so basically my energy and support now is going toward Allen Boyd,” said Nadine Benjamin, 20, an English student attending Florida A&M University. “I’m sad but optimistic at the same time. I’m very supportive of my Democratic party no matter what so I really feel this is the right way and was God’s plan so I’m really happy at the outcome of this election and will be supporting my fellow Democrats because I’m optimistic about the future.”

Lawson admitted that money played a part in the campaign’s outcome, wondering if he could win with the approximate $200,000 in raised funds he had. Lawson said he chose not to return the negative ads against him which ran for about eight months because he did not have the funds to do so. Many of his supporters, including Reid, praised his decision, asserting that Lawson ran his campaign based on character and integrity.

“It’s really sad after 28 years, we now close the front door on my dad’s political career but like he said in his speech, ‘when one door closes, another one opens,’ so we as a family are very proud of him and he will always be a role model for my family and I,” said Lawson’s daughter Shani.

Reginald Alceus can be reached at realceus@capitaloutlook.com

RICARDO LEWIS
Associate Editor

Tuesday marked the end of primary elections in Tallahassee and the surrounding areas, but for some local politicians the campaigning is not quite over. In one of the most spirited races of this election season, political newcomer Krisitin Dozier managed to receive more votes than her incumbent opponent Bob Rackleff in the race for Leon County Commission District 5. The two candidates are headed to a runoff in the upcoming November election because a candidate must receive greater than 50 percent of the vote to win the election outright.

Dozier only received 46 percent of the vote while Rackleff received 35 percent and the third candidate for the seat received 19 percent of the vote. In the race for Circuit Judge, Circuit 2 District 9, Karen Gievers and Barbara Hobbs will continue their competition in the November elections. Gievers finished the night with around 29 percent of the votes and Hobbs finished with 27 percent. Gievers and Hobbs were the top two candidates in the race for the Circuit 2 District 9 Judge’s seat. Three other candidates were also vying for the post, but only the top two will compete in the runoff election.

Nick Maddox will continue his quest to challenge incumbent Cliff Thaell for his seat as Leon County Commissioner, At- Large. Maddox came in second in the race which had four candidates, with 23 percent of the vote. Thaell led the voting with 41 percent. Early results from the myflorida election watch website showed that Rick Scott had edged out Bill McCollum in his bid to be the republican representative in the race for governor. Scott and McCollum have been in a heated battle for the Republican nod in the past several months. Scott edged out McCollum, who currently serves as Florida’s Attorney General by a margin of three percent of the vote; McCollum having 43 percent to Scott’s 46 percent. Scott will face Democrat Alex Sink in the general election for governor.

Sink won the primary race for the Democratic party by obtaining a landslide 77 percent of the vote over Brian Moore who finished with only 23 percent. Bill Montford beat out former state representative Curtis Richardson in the race for the state senate seat being vacated by term limited Sen. Al Lawson. Montford will face John Shaw and David Abrams for the District 6 senate seat in the general election.

Kirk Headly-Purdue won the Republican primary for state representative District 9 beating Ann Yorko. Purdue will likely face opposition from a Democratic candidate in what is considered to be a democratic favored voting district in the November elections.

Marco Rubio received the republican nod for the U.S. Senate general election. Rubio’s win coupled with Kendrick Meek’s defeat of billionaire Jeff Green in the Democratic primary, sets up one of the most anticipated races of the general election. Both Rubio and Meek will face current Florida Governor Charlie Crist in the general election. Crist decided to run as an independent earlier this year.

THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS
Special to the Outlook

The U.S. Education Department said Tuesday that nine states and the District of Columbia will get money to reform schools in the second round of the $4.35 billion “Race to the Top” grant competition. Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C., will receive grants, department spokesman Justin Hamilton said. The amounts for each state were expected to be announced later.

The aim of the historic program is to reward ambitious changes to improve schools and close the achievement gap. The competition instigated a wave of reforms across the country, as states passed new teacher accountability policies and lifted caps on charter schools to boost their chances of winning. Tennessee and Delaware were named winners in the first round of the competition in March, sharing $600 million. The applicants named winners Tuesday will share a remaining $3.4 billion. Another $350 million is coming in a separate competition for states creating new academic assessments. The historic program, part of President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan, rewards states for embarking on ambitious reforms to improve struggling schools, close the achievement gap and boost graduation rates.

“New York’s schools have made strong strides toward excellence and this grant will accelerate that progress,” said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), who met with Education Secretary Arne Duncan on New York’s proposal. “This is great news for parents, teachers, and taxpayers across the state.” Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia applied for the second round of the competition. The Education Department named 19 applicants finalists in July. More than a dozen states vying for the money changed laws to foster the growth of charter schools, and at least 17 reformed teacher evaluation systems to include student achievement. Dozens also adopted Common Core State Standards, the uniform math and reading benchmarks developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association.

“The change unleashed by conditioning federal funding on bold and forward-looking state education policies is indisputable,” the Democrats for Education Reform said in a statement. “Under the president’s leadership, local civil rights, child advocacy, business and education reform groups, in collaboration with those state and local teacher unions ready for change, sprung into action to achieve things that they had been waiting and wanting to do for years.”

In a speech announcing the finalists last month, Duncan called the change a “quiet revolution.” Between both rounds of the competition, 46 states and the District of Columbia applied. While the program has been praised for instigating swift reforms, the competition for many states was an uphill battle, with teacher unions hesitant to sign on to reforms directly tying teacher evaluations to student performance on standardized tests, and education leaders concerned winning meant giving up too much local control. A number of states that did not win the competition said they still planned to proceed with the reforms they had proposed, though they acknowledged change would take place at a slower pace.

ANGELA CORLEY
Florida A&M University

Wilhelmina Jakes Street is highly celebrated for her role in initiating the Tallahassee Bus Boycott of 1956. At the age of 80, she passed away due to natural causes, August 17. Funeral services for Jakes Street are scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Saturday, August 21 at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Central, 499 Northwest 27th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Mrs. Jakes Street was born September 14, 1929 in Hardeeville, S. C. As a result of her father’s untimely death, she moved with her mother and siblings to West Palm Beach, Fla., where she was raised. She attended Florida A&M University and completed coursework for a bachelor’s degree in education. As a student at FAMU, she and Carrie Patterson, a 20-year-old English major from Lakeland, Fla., were arrested for refusing to move to the back of a crowded city bus.

This courageous act sparked what is known today as, the “Tallahassee Bus Boycott.” Many prominent figures such as the Rev. C. K. Steele, the Rev. Herbert C. Alexander, Dr. C. U. Smith, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others were actively involved in supporting these students through a systematic approach to integrating the city’s public transportation system.

Jaes Street was a pioneer in the city of Tallahassee’s civil rights movement and in the field of public education. After graduating from FAMU in 1956, she went on to fulfill her professional aspiration as a Florida school teacher for 33 years. She was an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Federated Women’s Club of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., FAMU Alumni Association, and a life-long member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

She was a dedicated servant of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She was married to the late Neopoleon Street. She had one daughter, Priscilla Lewis (now deceased); two grandsons, Curtis and Carnell Lewis; and one great-grandchild.

At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation in the memory of Wilhelmina Jakes Street by calling (877) 494-6890. For more information about the funeral services, call Roderick Stevens, director of Shuler Funeral Home, (561) 882-4255.

GAYLE ANDREWS
Special to the Outlook

Reapportionment is not a sexy issue…no one knows what it means or cares for the most part. And that’s why politicians from both parties have taken advantage of that fact. But the end result of this unfamiliar process essentially determines whether our children have a fair shot at equality in the realm that governs our daily lives.

Every 10 years, the Census tells us how many people, what race, how old and where they live in order to “reapportion” or divide communities into districts. One man one vote kicks, in and candidates “stand for election” allowing us to tell them what to do for us. That’s how it’s supposed to work in our great democracy.

The Census and the handing over of information functions well enough, but the dividing up of districts is totally compromised because it’s done by the people who have everything to lose and everything to gain. That would be the state Republican legislative leadership. The political party in power draws their own state legislative districts and congressional seats for everyone. The process is clearly flawed, and the safeguards protecting our interests have disappeared. For the African-American community, it becomes an enormous problem.

Often times representation is brokered and minimized, because blacks are not a constituency of the folks in charge. So the current reapportionment process, not the people, controls the future, and the public has no say, least of all blacks. When constitutional amendments five and six made it on to the November ballot earlier this year, through the difficult petition process no less, well, that caused a very large implosion among the legislative leadership. It was very large indeed because voter approval will change the rules significantly.

Since the state Constitution Revision Commission began in the late ‘60s, non-partisan organizations dreamed of doing what amendments five and six would do: minimize the political influence that envelopes the reapportionment process. With the advent of amendments five and six that fair reapportionment process could be realized. The reapportionment process is so essential to maintaining power that the legislative leadership will launch a media campaign like no other to kill Fair Districts and protect their status. That’s because these amendments for change are an enormous threat to their control over who’s elected to the Florida legislature and the Congress. So be ready for the deluge to come.

Gayle Andrews is a former member of the Capitol Press Corps and was the former press secretary to Senate President Gwen Margolis during reapportionment in the 1990s.

Roger Caldwell

Outlook Columnist

Many African – Americans remember the quote, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste,” but don’t remember the organization that was responsible for the message. The United Negro College Fund has been around for over 60 years and currently awards funds to an estimated 55,000 students each year, and 6,249 of them are from the Sunshine State.

There is a crisis in higher education, and many minority students are having problems finding money to finance their education. With the slow down in the economy, more students and supporters of higher education must become more involved in higher education issues in their communities to ensure that these students will continue to have access to a college education.

A week ago Sherry Paramore, area development director for the United Negro College Fund’s north and central Florida branches, held an inspiring event at the Orlando City Hall rotunda. Young people who participated in the event shared stories about the value of UNCF in helping them to obtain a college degree. Paramore noted that UNCF has planned four major events in Orlando to enable the organization to continue its financial support of minority students.

On Nov. 6, UNCF will hold its third annual Run/Walk for Education. Next year, the organization plans to hold a viewing party for its annual fundraiser, An Evening of Stars, January 29, 2011. Two other events that will help to promote the organization and increase awareness of its programs are a mayor’s black history month luncheon (February) and a UNCF/Orlando Magic All-Star basketball classic in March.

Education is the key to opening doors that have been closed because too many African- Americans are ill-prepared, lack adequate knowledge and technological skills, have less educational achievement and have failed to meet licensing standards for some fields. Overcoming obstacles, being resilient, determined and working with a mentor will help guarantee success for many of these students. As UNCF makes dreams and aspirations a reality, they need more funding to give our young people this opportunity.