The Westside Gazette

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 - FEBRUARY 11, 2026

VOL. 55 NO. 1 $1.00

How Black-Run

Newspapers Bolstered

the Abolitionist

Movement

THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY:

COURAGE, CULTURE, AND

A QUIET REVOLUTION

A MESSAGE FROM

THE PUBLISHER

Nineteenth-century Black newspapers helped

broadcast African American diversity and agency,

lighting the way towards a post-slavery era.

Greensboro Sit In Rosa Parks Lanston Hughes

By the Westside Gazette Editorial Team courageous students strolled from the campus

By Nadra Kareem Nittle

of NC A&T to sit at the counter of Woolworth.

As Black History Month unfolds, this Their stroll was not fortuitous but divinely

At a time when anti-literacy laws prevented the vast week reminds us that progress has never orchestrated so sixty-six years later we as

majority of enslaved people from reading, a group of free been accidental. It has always been pushed people of melanin pigmentation could walk

Black New Yorkers launched the nation’s first Black newspaper

forward—by students who refused to accept with heads high and sit without encountering

on March 16, 1827.

second-class citizenship, by writers who told codified discrimination in any establishment

Aptly named Freedom’s Journal, as it started the same the truth about Black life, and by everyday for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.”

year that New York outlawed slavery, the publication people whose quiet resolve shook the nation. That legacy, Powell suggests, is not

helped shift the characterization of Black Americans, whom

abstract, it is lived daily in freedoms once

the mainstream press typically portrayed through a racially When Students Sat Down—and a Nation denied.

biased lens.

Took Notice

“Black people were really the subject of racist attacks in On February 1, 1960, four freshmen The Black Press as Witness and Archivist

New York’s leading newspapers at that time,” says Trevy A. from North Carolina A&T State University The Greensboro Sit-Ins also underscore

McDonald, associate professor of broadcast and electronic sat at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch the essential role of the Black Press in

journalism in the School of Journalism and Media at the counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and documenting, preserving, and honoring these

University of North Carolina.

refused to move. Their action—now known moments of transformation. Dr. Benjamin F.

Freedom’s Journal, which published current events, editorials,

as the Greensboro Sit-Ins—ignited a wave Chavis Jr., President and CEO of the National

classified ads and highlighted issues around the civ-

of nonviolent protests across the South and Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA),

il rights and liberation of Black Americans, paved the way energized a new generation of young activists. reflected on the movement’s enduring impact

for other Black newspapers.

Reflecting on the mindset of that moment, and the responsibility of Black-owned media:

By the time the Civil War began in 1861, more than 40 sit-in leader Franklin McCain later said, “We “The National Newspaper Publishers

Black-run newspapers were in circulation. These publications

were tired of being treated as second-class Association not only reports the news, but

humanized Black Americans to readers worldwide citizens.” It was not recklessness but resolve we also salute those freedom fighters who

and put pressure on the United States to end the “peculiar an insistence that dignity could no longer be helped us on the pathway to freedom, justice,

institution” known as slavery.

deferred.

and equality. As we approach the 200th

“One of the arguments in support of slavery was that Bishop Staccato Powell placed that anniversary of the Black Press, we recognize

Black people were not capable of living independently and historic moment into a broader spiritual and that the Black Press has been the depository

autonomously, that they needed the control and ‘benev- generational context:

and the archivist of those bold, courageous

(Cont’d on page 5) “On February 1, 1960, those four

(Cont’d on page 9)

Ben Crump And Barack Obama

Are The Most Mentioned Black

Newsmakers In The 21st Century

17th Judicial Circuit Announces

Investiture of Judge Pascale Achille

55 Years Rooted.

55 Years

Responsible.

55 Years

Because of You.

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.,

Publisher

As we embark upon

another celebration of Black

History, it is both fitting

and necessary to pause and

reflect on a living chapter of

that history, the Westside

Gazette, now marking 55

years of continuous service to

our community.

This milestone is not

simply about longevity. It is

about purpose.

For more than five

decades, the Westside Gazette

has stood at the intersection

of community coverage,

national recognition, and local

responsibility. From city halls

to church pews, school board

meetings to family reunions,

civil rights struggles to

cultural celebrations, this

newspaper has been a mirror,

a megaphone, and a memory

keeper for Black life in South

Florida and beyond.

But let us be clear and

honest about one enduring

truth about the history of the

Black Press:

Black newspapers have

always survived because

Black readers believed in

them.

From the very first Black

newspapers published

in America, it was the

readership, working people,

church folk, families,

organizers, educators who

kept the presses running. Not

corporations. Not political

power. The people. That truth

remains unchanged today.

At this pivotal moment

in the history of Black


Find this article and more

at: thewestsidegazette.com

The 17th Judicial Circuit Court has announced the upcoming investiture of Circuit

Court Judge Pascale Achille, marking a significant milestone in her judicial career. The

formal ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. on February 13 in Courtroom 17150.

An investiture is a longstanding judicial tradition that formally recognizes a judge’s

entrance into office and honors their commitment to upholding justice. The ceremony

celebrates Judge Achille’s dedication to public service and her role in serving the court

and the broader community.

Thursday

Feb. 5 th

Chance of Rain

Sunrise: 7:04am

Fri

65°

42°

72°

49°

73°

54°

74°

54°

71°

48°

Sunset: 6:05pm

Sat Sun Mon Tues

74°

55°

The Westside Gazette Newspaper

@TheWestsideGazetteNewspaper

WESTSIDE GAZETTE IS A MEMBER:

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA)

Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)

PAGE 2 • FEBRUARY 5 - FEBRUARY 11, 2026

www.thewestsidegazette.com

B-CU

Celebrates Day of Service with

has a purpose for our lives gives us hope.

Depot’s “Retool Your School” #1

Professor Clarence

Thousands To

Glover Jr. On

okman University

gnificant day of unity

Thursday, Jan. 18,

l and Libby Johnson

Civic Engagement

momentous occasion

er students, faculty,

, and friends to

the University’s

lishment – securing

position in Home

igious “Retool Your

ition and receiving a

,000 grant dedicated

ancement.

ler temperatures and

, the collective spirit

ost 135 participants,

epot Daytona Beach

r Therese Watsonforces

in yesterday’s

ort. Their mission

, involving projects

ssembling bookcases

tdoor dining sets to

rcade games, foosball

ball hoops, hockey

tennis tables. Even

er conditions couldn’t

ication, with the only

We’s Be Southerners

iveness after

ated service.

e to 30,000

have been

or at least

ut receiving

ncome-driven

will now see

n.


American chains on our bodies

African drums beat within our souls


Gumbo seeds and black eyed peas

Watermelon and collard greens


Pickin’ white cotton on black land

Indigo blue and Mississippi Blues


Black skin in da’ hot sun

Working til da’ day is done


Building white mansions

on plantations

For other folks


Cooking food we can’t eat

Walking miles barefeet


Singing spirituals in a strange land

Praying Da’ Lawd take our hand


Saturday night dancing in Junk Joints

Sunday mornin’ praising God in Church


Looking to the North

for the Freedom Star

Underground Rail Road can’t be far


Sees a ban all dressed in red

Looks like da’ ban dat Moses led


Sees a ban all dressed in white

Looks like a ban of Israelites

concession The Declaration being of the postponement of painting and

Independence and

stripping the basketball On February court – a minor 26 hiccup until

40th Anniversary of

more In Remembrance favorable of weather For prevails. Broward:

Martin Streaming on

Amazon Dr. William Prime Berry, Provost and Acting President,

expressed excitement

Read

and gratitude,

For The

stating, “We are

excited about this project and grateful to all those who

participated in the vote of children for and B-CU. adults across These the enhancements

county to read the same book

will help create more on the vibrant same day. and The initiative engaging spaces for

is led locally by the Children’s

our students to retreat

Services

on

Council

campus

of Broward

for a brain break or

find inspiration through County the (CSC) downtime.”

in partnership

with Broward County Public

Home Depot’s Schools “Retool and the Your Early Learning School” program,

Coalition of Broward County.

established in 2009, has Together, been these a beacon partners for work positive change,

to spark early literacy, nurture

providing over $9.25

a love

million

of reading,

in

and

campus

highlight

improvement

grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

(HBCUs). Beyond the competition, the Office of Alumni

newspapers, support is not optional, it is essential.

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

We’s Biden Be Southerners credited the success

Oh say we can see

of these relief efforts to the

The Land of Liberty

corrective We’s Be Southerners measures taken

to Ancestral address dreams broken student

And Sankofa memories

loan programs. He asserted


that these fixes have removed

barriers preventing borrowers


from HALLELUYAH accessing ?! the relief they

were entitled to under the law.

The labor pains of Freedom

America, born again in us

Professor Clarence Glover Jr. aka Professor Freedom. Take the chain off your brain,

so your mind can work. Google: glover cotton

copyrighted 2026

America’s 250th

Anniversary of

A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER from Front Page

The president outlined the

broader achievements of his

administration in supporting

students and borrowers,

including achieving the most

significant increases in Pell

Grants in over a decade, aimed

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com

From One Teen to Another:

Why Giving Up Is Not an Option

By Jabari Bovell

Today’s youth face constant pressure

from school, expectations, and social

media. It is easy to feel overwhelmed

and tempted to quit when life gets hard. But giving up is not an option

because every challenge we face is building strength, resilience, and

character within ourselves. Faith reminds us that we are not alone in

our struggles. Even when the future feels uncertain, trusting that God

Read Together

Record Day

By Cindy Arenberg Seltzer

BROWARD COUNTY,

FL — On February 26, 2026,

families, educators, and

community volunteers across

Broward County will come

together for Broward: Read for

the Record Day, a countywide

celebration of early literacy and

the joy of reading.

This year’s featured book

is See Marcus Grow, written

by Marcus Bridgewater and

illustrated by Reggie Brown.

Bridgewater — known to

millions as the social media

sensation Garden Marcus —

shares the lessons he learned

growing up in his grandmother’s

garden in a story that introduces

young readers to gardening

while exploring themes of

curiosity, discovery, nurturing,

and growth.

Broward: Read for the

Record is a beloved annual

tradition that unites thousands

The Westside Gazette has told your stories.

the importance of early childhood education.

Through its ongoing investments, CSC

supports a wide range of early childhood and

literacy programs that strengthen school

readiness, support families, and improve longterm

outcomes for children across Broward

County. Read for the Record reflects CSC’s

broader commitment to ensuring children

have the skills, support, and opportunities

they need to succeed in school and in life.

The event is part of Jumpstart’s Read

for the Record®, the world’s largest shared

reading experience, now in its 20th year.

Each year, millions of children and adults

nationwide participate, raising awareness

about the powerful role early literacy plays

in long-term academic success.

On Read for the Record Day, volunteers

We have announced your graduations, weddings, and homegoings.

We have covered your churches, your children, your neighborhoods,

and your victories.

We have challenged power, lifted voices, and preserved truths that

might otherwise have been ignored or erased.

And now, we ask respectfully and unapologetically that support for

the Black Press not be an afterthought.

Our newspapers should be at the forefront of community support,

especially during milestone anniversaries like this one. Subscriptions are

not just transactions; they are commitments to visibility, accountability,

and legacy.

When you support the Westside Gazette, you are supporting news

about you, for you, and because of you.

This 55th anniversary also calls us to honor the shoulders upon

which we stand.

We are reminded of the sacrifices made by our parents, Levi and

Yvonne Henry, who gave of themselves time, resources, energy, and

Hard seasons are not meant to break us but

to shape us into who we are becoming. Our voices

matter, and our lives have meaning. Setbacks do not

define us, and failure is not the end of the story. By

choosing to keep going, today’s youth show courage,

purpose, and faith. The future is still unfolding, and

it is worth pushing forward towards it.

By a Teen, for teens

visit classrooms across Broward County to

read aloud, connect with children, and help

place high-quality books into the hands of

young learners. A single volunteer can make

a meaningful difference by sparking a child’s

interest in reading and building confidence,

vocabulary, and a lifelong love of learning.

Community members, businesses, civic

groups, and families are invited to participate

by volunteering to read on February 26. It’s a

simple and joyful way to give back, one that

creates a lasting impact for both children and

volunteers.

Sign up to volunteer at HandsOnSouthFlorida.

org.

For more information on Broward: Read

for the Record and how to get involved, visit

CSCBroward.org or contact 954-377-1000.

faith so that this newspaper could exist not only for

their generation, but for generations yet unborn.

Their vision was not short-term. It was rooted in

the “very, very, very deep future.”

As the current keeper and recorder of our

history, I offer a heartfelt salute to everyone who

has contributed to the Westside Gazette’s journey.

To those who have written, advertised, read,

debated, prayed for, talked about, supported, and

stood with this paper through every season.

This anniversary belongs to you.

Fifty-five years later, the mission remains the

same:

We are deeply rooted—and we shall not be

moved.

College

Prep

conformist

adjective

(noun)

Word of

the Week

a person who conforms to accepted

being

behavior

at

or

rest;

established

inactive

practices.

or

motionless; HOW TO USE IN quiet; A SENTENCE: still: a

“He was a complete conformist; always following

the quiescent rules and never questioning mind. authority”

quiescent

[ kwee-es-uhnt, kwahy- ]

HOW TO USE QUIESCENT IN A

SENTENCE

It’s possible that other volcanoes with

long quiescentperiods may also have

subtle but protracted warning periods

as well.

List compiled by Kamar Jackson, a junior at Dillard High School


Ain’t That A VHIT

When Paper Prevents Production

By Von C. Howard

There are moments in life when staying quiet,

though comfortable, is no longer faithful. Times

when reflection alone is not enough. When prayer

must be matched with posture, and conviction must

finally find its voice. These are the moments when

the world is not asking for a melody; it is asking for

clarity. When the world needs a trumpet, a flute will

not do.

I value peace. I believe in patience, gentleness,

and listening. There are seasons when softness

heals what harshness would only wound. But I

have also learned that there are moments when

silence becomes permission, when restraint becomes

avoidance, and when protecting peace begins to cost

us purpose. In those moments, I must ask myself:

am I being patient, or am I being afraid?

We are living in complicated times. Division is loud. Uncertainty is heavy.

Faith is not only being tested; it is being questioned. Long-held values are

challenged. Truth is debated. Integrity is often negotiable. And true leadership

feels increasingly scarce. Families are stretched. Communities are hurting.

Institutions are strained. In the middle of it all, many of us lower our voices just

to keep the tension down. But whispers cannot guide people through storms.

Scripture reminds us why clarity matters. “If the trumpet give an uncertain

sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8). In biblical

times, the trumpet was not background music. It warned, gathered, directed,

and prepared. When Joshua stood before Jericho, it was not negotiation that

moved the walls; it was obedience and the sound of the trumpet. When the

trumpet sounded, something shifted. Barriers fell. Direction was given. Change

began.

Being a trumpet today does not mean being loud or abrasive. It does not

mean forcing opinions or chasing attention. It means being willing to tell the

truth with love. To stand for what is right when it is unpopular. To speak when

your heart is racing and your hands are shaking. Courage, I am learning, is not

fearlessness. It is faithfulness.

I know how easy it is to soften convictions to protect relationships. To stay

quiet to avoid misunderstanding. To water down truth so it fits comfortably in

familiar rooms. I have done it myself. But every time I do, something inside me

feels smaller, as if I am slowly forgetting who I was created to be.

Lately, my prayers have changed. I am no longer asking God to make my

life easier. I am asking Him to make my life useful. Not louder, but braver. Not

more visible, but more faithful. The world does not need more arguments. It

needs more integrity. More courage. More leaders who are steady, humble, and

anchored.

There will always be a place for gentle melodies. But there are moments,

quiet, sacred, defining moments. when only a trumpet will do.

Call to Sound Your Trumpet

This is one of those moments.

If you have been holding back your voice, speak with wisdom and courage.

If you have been standing on the sidelines, step forward with purpose.

If you have been waiting for permission, understand that obedience is your

assignment.

Our children are watching. Our communities are listening. Our future is

waiting.

Sound the trumpet with your life, your leadership, and your love.

When the world needs a trumpet, a flute will not do.

FEBRUARY 5 - FEBRUARY 11, 2026• PAGE 3

Florida City elects former FHP Lieutenant as its

first new mayor in four decades

By Staff Report

(Source: South Florida Times)

FLORIDA CITY, FL – Florida City, a small South Miami-Dade

community has elected one mayor, Otis T. Wallace, a former assistant

Public Defender for the past four decades. On Tuesday, the residents

elected one of four candidates as their new mayor. Former Florida

Highway Patrol Lieutenant, Charlotte Thompson will be sworn in as

mayor.

Thompson’s win yesterday, makes her the first new person at the

helm of city government since 1984. Outgoing mayor Otis Wallace

served 42 years leading the city. He is retiring.

Thompson won nearly 40% of the vote over four other candidates,

according to preliminary election results.

Commission seats were also won by candidates Ronda Ferguson

Cobb and Trina Wilborn. Of about 5,000 registered voters in Florida

City, only 1000 people voted.

Broward County Commission honors Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

By Broward County Commission

Hazelle P. Rogers of District 9 (Source: Facebook)

“Today, I had the privilege of presenting an official

proclamation to Mr. Bobby R Henry, Sr., For those

who may not be familiar with him, Mr. Henry has been

a steadfast and influential voice in our community for

decades, serving in a pivotal role as the owner and

publisher of the Westside Gazette. Mr. Henry expressed

his appreciation for the recognition and encouraged us

to continue our work to ensure that our community is

consistently and accurately represented.”

The State of

Cannabis

In florida and the U.S.

A conversation on the proposed

changes to cannabis laws

Shaping History

Through Service

Watch a Conversations on Cannabis

virtual forum to hear experts delve into

recent initiatives aimed at expanding and

reevaluating cannabis laws at the state

and federal levels, including efforts to

protect children and reclassification to

advance research.

“As the first African-American

Sheriff in Broward County’s history,

it is a great honor to lead such a

diverse and dedicated workforce.

Every day, the men and women of

the Broward Sheriff’s Office provide

exceptional public safety services to

the residents we serve. This is how

history will continue to be made.”

Watch Now

Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony

Follow ‘Conversations on Cannabis’ on

CH MPIONS WANTED!

The Broward Sheriff’s Office offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits,

generous time off and so much more. Visit jobs.sheriff.org and apply today!

@MMERIForumRadio


Westside Gazette

Calendar of Events

Deeply Rooted

LOCAL HAPPENINGS IN

BROWARD MIAMI-DADE

AND PALM BEACH

COUNTIES

HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS

PLACED ON THIS PAGE

email:wgproof@thewestsidegazette.com

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Westside Gazette Newpaper

Recognizes February As

Black History Month


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FEBRUARY 5 - FEBRUARY 11, 2026 • PAGE 5

Caring For Your Heart With All Of Ours

By Lineth Fernandez

Heart health is often overlooked

until warning signs appear.

According to the National

Institutes of Health, atrial

fibrillation (AFib) is the

most common heart rhythm

disorder, affecting about 1

in 22 Americans and serving

as a leading cause of stroke.

AFib occurs when the upper

chambers of the heart beat

irregularly and often rapidly.

Warning signs may include

a racing heart, fatigue and

chest pain.

As American Heart Month

is observed in February,

it serves as a reminder to

schedule regular cardiac

screenings, such as an EKG,

and to manage controllable

risk factors, including

high blood pressure, high

cholesterol and smoking.

Listen to Your Body, Early

Detection is Important

Last year, Coral Springs

resident Owen Creighton, 38,

was driving to work when he

noticed his heart racing. He

became dizzy and lightheaded

and drove directly to the

Emergency Department

at Broward Health Coral

Springs.

Under the care of

Jonathan Nieves, M.D., a

cardiologist specializing

lence’ of the slave institution to guide

them,” says Jane Rhodes, associate dean of

the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and

professor in the Department of Black Studies

at the University of Illinois Chicago.

“Well 10 percent or so of Black people

in America in the 19th century were freeborn,

and they did live independent lives,

incredibly difficult lives, but certainly independent.”

‘Freedom’s Journal’ Trendsetting Coverage

Dr. Jonathan Nieves, M.D., and Owen Creighton

in electrophysiology with

Broward Health Physician

Group, Creighton became

the first patient to undergo a

left-sided ablation at Broward

Health Coral Springs.

“Following my procedure, I

feel great and have not had any

cardiac episodes,” Creighton

said. “It’s reassuring to know

Black-Run Newspapers from FP

Samuel E. Cornish, a Presbyterian minister,

and John B. Russwurm, the third

Black American in the United States to earn

a college degree, edited Freedom’s Journal.

The paper functioned like many others,

offering news of the day, as well as local

perspectives. The newspaper’s reporters

covered stories on the plight of free Black

people who numbered in the hundreds of

thousands and who faced discrimination in

housing, education and employment.


I no longer have this nagging

and debilitating problem.”

Diagnosed with AFib a

decade ago, Creighton

initially tried blood thinners

and medication, but negative

side effects prevented longterm

use. When doctors

recommended a minimally

invasive procedure known as

cardiac ablation, he agreed it

aAAA

This Week in Health: Staying Safe in the Cold

Sudden drops in temperature can catch

anyone off guard, especially in areas such as

South Florida, that doesn’t often experience

severe cold. Preparation goes a long way

toward keeping yourself, your family, and

your neighbors safe. These steps help reduce

risks and keep everyone comfortable until

warmer weather returns.

PROTECT YOUR HOME

• Keep indoor temperatures steady. Aim

to maintain at least 65°F indoors to

prevent pipes from freezing, especially

if older adults or infants are present.

• Open cabinets under sinks. Allow

warm air to circulate around pipes.

• Use space heaters safely. Keep them

on flat surfaces, at least three feet from

anything that can burn, and never leave

them unattended.

Dress for the Weather

• Layer clothing. Several thin layers trap

heat better than one bulky layer.

was the best treatment option

for him.

“AFib most commonly affects

older adults, but it can occur

in younger patients as well,”

Nieves said. “That’s why early

screening is so important.

Detecting heart rhythm

abnormalities early can save

lives.”

For more information on

Westside Health Brief

Marsha Mullings, MPH

February 2, 2026

• Cover extremities. Hats, gloves,

scarves, and warm socks help prevent

heat loss.

• Stay dry. Wet clothing chills the body

quickly, increasing the risk of

hypothermia.

Stay Safe Outdoors

• Limit time outside. Even short periods

in extreme cold can be dangerous.

• Warm up your car safely. Never run a

vehicle inside a garage, even with the

door open, due to carbon monoxide

risk.

Look Out for Your Health

• Know the signs of hypothermia.

Shivering, confusion, slurred speech,

and drowsiness require immediate

medical attention.

• Check medications. Some health

conditions and medicines can make it

harder to regulate body temperature;

consult a healthcare professional if

you’re unsure.

Support Your Community

• Check on older adults, neighbors living

alone, and those with limited mobility.

• Bring pets indoors. If it’s too cold for

you, it’s too cold for them.

Source: CDC; www.cdc.gov

Broward Health’s cardiac

services, visit BrowardHealth.

org/Heart.

PAGE 6 • FEBRUARY 5 - FEBRUART 11, 2026

WESTSIDE

GAZETTE

NEWSPAPER STAFF

Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

PUBLISHER

Sonia Henry-Robinson

COMPTROLLER

Tawanna C. Taylor

ADMINISTRATIVE ASST.

Pamela D. Henry

SENIOR EDITOR

Arri D. Henry

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Carma L. Henry

COMMUNITY NEWS

EDITOR

Sylvester “Nunnie’

Robinson SPORTS

Editor

Elizabeth D. Henry

CIRCULATION

MANAGER

NoRegret Media

WEBMASTER

Carma T. Taylor

DIGITAL SPECIALIST

Eric Sears

IT SPECIALIST

Ron Lyons

PHOTOGRAPHER

Levi Henry, Jr.:

PUBLISHER (Emeritus)

Yvonne Henry: EDITOR

(Emeritus)

WEBSITE:


Broward County’s

Largest African

American Owned and

Operated Newspaper Serving

Broward - Miami-Dade

and Palm Beach Counties

545 N.W. 7th Terrace

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 5304


OFFICE (954) 525-1489

FAX: (954) 525-1861

E-MAIL ADDRESS: MAIN

wgazette@thewestsidegazette.com

EDITOR

pamlewis@thewestsidegazette.com

COMMUNITY DIGEST

wgproof@thewestsidegazette.com

PUBLISHER

brhsr@thewestsidegazette.com

PROUD MEMBERS

OF THE:

NATIONAL

NEWSPAPER

PUBLISHERS

ASSOCIATION (NNPA) AND

FLORIDA

ASSOCIATION OF BLACK

OWNEDMEDIA

The Westside Gazett

Newspaper is

Published Weekly

by Bi-Ads. Inc. DBA

Subscription Rates:

$50 Annual $1.00 per copy

CREDO -The Black Press

beieves that American

best leads the world away

from racial and national

antagonisms when it

accords to every person,

regarless of race, color or

creed, full human and legal

rights. Hating no person,

feaing no person, the Black

Press strives to help every

person in the firm belief

that all are hurt as long as

anyone is held back.

LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR GUIDELINES

We welcome letters from

the public. Letters must be

signed with a clearly

legible name along witha

compete address and

phone number.

No unsigned letters will be

considered for publiction.

The Westside Gazettere

serves the right to edit

letters. Letters should be

500 words or less.

America’s Hate

and Bait Syndrome

MUST DIE

“HATE AND BAIT CANNOT BOTH LIVE IN AMERICA.

THEY BOTH MUST DIE.”

JOHN JOHNSON II O2/ O2/26

By John Johnson II

America is confronting a familiar

and dangerous pattern: a population

repeatedly told it is a victim, then

invited to act like a conqueror. This is the

essence of Hate and Bait Syndrome—a

psychological and moral trap in which

grievance is weaponized, lies are

normalized, and cruelty is justified as

self-defense.

The bait is always the same: You are

under attack. You are being replaced.

Your suffering is intentional. Once that

lie is accepted, hatred becomes permission. The individual

no longer sees himself as accountable, but as entitled—even

authorized—to violate the rights of those he has been taught to

see as enemies.

History offers a chilling precedent. Adolf Hitler mastered

this syndrome by convincing ordinary Germans that they

were victims of a Jewish conspiracy. Economic hardship was

reframed as racial theft. National humiliation became moral

justification. Millions of people did not pull the trigger—yet

they turned a blind eye while it happened. Silence became

complicity.

America is not immune to this disease. It has simply updated

the language.

Today, angry white supremacists are routinely told—by

officials, media figures, and political movements—that they are

the real victims. Demographic change is described as invasion.

Equality is recast as persecution. Lawlessness is excused as

patriotism. Once convinced they are victims, they believe they

have the right to punish anyone labeled an enemy.

This is not new. During Jim Crow, white men raped Black

women, lynched Black men after Sunday church services, and

posed proudly for photographs beside charred bodies. Those

images were mailed north as souvenirs of dominance. Terror

was not hidden; it was celebrated.

What has changed is not the impulse—but the packaging.

For years, Black Americans said they never thought they

would live to see a Black president. Today, many say they

never thought they would live to see white Americans claim

they are being treated as “fifth-class citizens.” That narrative—

absurd on its face—has real consequences. It fuels fear-based

enforcement, dehumanization, and abuse of power. When

federal agents can detain, assault, or kill with perceived

immunity, Hate and Bait Syndrome is no longer theoretical—

it is operational.

The syndrome does not create bigotry; it activates it. Those

who fall for it are already carrying the rotten seeds of bias. All

that is required is a leader willing to harvest resentment and

redirect it toward a target.

The late Elijah Cummings once said, “America is better than

this.” It was a hopeful declaration—but hope is not evidence.

America has often proven itself frighteningly efficient at

becoming worse, not better, when hatred is politically profitable.

Even dissenters are punished. Reverends are silenced.

Whistleblowers are dismissed. Public servants receive

termination letters or cryptic calls. Fear replaces law. Loyalty

replaces conscience.

This is what Hate and Bait Syndrome looks like in real time:

grievance elevated to virtue, cruelty framed as courage, and

silence mistaken for safety.

Voters must recognize this pattern—not after the damage

is done, but while it is still being sold. Democracies do not

collapse from invasion. They collapse when enough people are

convinced that their hatred is justified—and that their victims

deserve it.

The cure begins with refusing the bait. Remember, Tuesday,

November 3, 2026, IS the day of ‘RECKONING.”

YOU BE THE JUDGE!

Crossing the border . . . Into sanity

By Robert C. Koehler

And here I am, an American, staring at the

border again . . . and slowly coming to realize

the paradox of it. Borders don’t actually exist.

They’re invisible lies. They’re also virtually

everywhere.

Consider the border Alex Pretti crossed

on Jan. 24, on a street in Minneapolis, as he

stepped between some U.S. Border Patrol

agents and the woman they had just pushed down. He crossed

the border that separates ordinary people from the federal

Proud Boys (or whoever they are), the masked invaders who

were occupying the city to enforce The Law. Pretti interfered

with them! He dared to try to protect the fallen woman, who

herself had just crossed the same border. In so doing, they both

went from being ordinary citizens to “domestic terrorists.”


The Minneapolis and

Boston Massacres

By Kary Love

When government lies about killing its

own people, it is because the government

knows the truth is so repulsive, so

despicable, so outrageous, that no decent

human being will tolerate the degeneracy

displayed.

The Boston Massacre was known in

Great Britain as the Incident on King Street. To the rulers and

occupiers, it was a mere “incident.” To American patriots it

was evidence of tyranny. As we approach the anniversary of

the Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770, once again governments

are murdering—not only in Iran but in Minnesota—their own


Deeply Rooted


The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves

the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers that

may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of

The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the

responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this

Stop Corporate Consolidation

Silencing Local Media Voices

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The National Newspaper Publishers

Association (NNPA) and other local print and television

news media organizations take an urgent exception to

the current attempts by huge corporate consolidations to

effectively silence local media voices and businesses. Millions

of Americans rely on local TV stations and local communityowned

newspapers as their most trusted news sources.

iStockphoto / NNPA.

By Dr, Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President and CEO,

National Newspaper Publishers Association

American democracy is under siege across the board in

different industries. Diversity is good for business and diversity

is good for American democracy. Exclusive corporate policies

and regulations erode democratic principles.

Local journalism is indispensable to the protection of

civil rights and equality for all Americans, and in particular

for Black American communities and other communities of

color across the nation. Local-owned news media is crucial to

community empowerment and civic participation.

Today we are facing another pivotal moment: huge

corporate TV station groups seeking to weaken or eliminate

the 39% national audience reach cap, alongside Nexstar’s

proposed takeover of TEGNA. The cap is set by Congress and

is not the FCC’s to discard. Media consolidation on this scale

threatens the diversity of viewpoints, the independence of

local newsrooms, and the public’s access to locally grounded

information.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

and other local print and television news media organizations

take an urgent exception to the current attempts by huge

corporate consolidations to effectively silence local media voices

and businesses. Millions of Americans rely on local TV stations

and local community-owned newspapers as their most trusted

news sources.

Consolidation among the big station groups has already led

to: shrinking newsrooms, fewer reporters, and worse working

conditions; must-run corporate segments displacing locallyfocused

reporting: and, word-for-word duplication of newscasts

across stations held by the same owner. The steady erosion

of localism means fewer culturally relevant perspectives,

diminished investigative reporting, and weakened community

accountability.

The growing devastation of the print journalism ecosystem

offers a stark warning: corporate roll-ups prioritized margins

over missions; local newspapers were hollowed out by distant

ownership; and, communities lost vital watchdogs and trusted

sources and valued generational businesses.

The same consolidation playbook is now being deployed in

local television. The country cannot afford another collapse of

local journalism—this time in local TV news, where so many

families rely on freely accessible information every day.

Absorbing TEGNA would give Nexstar control over 265 local

TV stations reaching 80% of American homes. Such a combined

entity would far exceed Congress’s 39% cap—making this not

only a policy concern but also a legal one. This merger would

trigger newsroom reductions, more content duplication, and a

dramatic narrowing of editorial independence across dozens of

cities.

Excessive consolidation gives a handful of corporate

headquarters disproportionate influence over what the nation

sees and hears. Communities of color are hit hardest when

local storytelling disappears or when editorial direction is

centralized far from the communities being covered. Local TV

stations and other local journalism have long been essential

entry points for young journalists of color; consolidation shrinks

those pathways and reduces the diversity of the newsroom

workforce.

Consolidation reliably drives up retransmission fees—

costs that cable and satellite subscribers ultimately bear.

Retransmission fees have risen over 2,000% in the past

fifteen years. Nexstar has explicitly told investors that nearly

half of its projected merger “synergies” come from raising

retransmission revenues—effectively guaranteeing higher

bills for millions of families without providing any new content

or service. For households struggling with rising costs of living,

these increases are especially burdensome.

The nation should not repeat the mistakes that allowed

corporate consolidation to decimate local newspapers.

Preserving strong, independent, community-rooted local print

and television journalism is essential to democracy, equity,

and civic life. The FCC should uphold the 39% cap, reject the

Nexstar–TEGNA merger, and recommit to protecting localism,

diversity, and the public interest. America’s airwaves belong to

the people—not to a handful of corporate conglomerates.

Democrats Should Lead By

Example on Gerrymandering

By Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel

Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel

Redistricting has once again pushed the nation to a crossroads,

and Virginia Democrats now find themselves at the center of

it. With strong legislative majorities and Governor Abigail

Spanberger’s leadership, Democrats in Virginia face a

choice that will echo far beyond the Commonwealth. Should


A Century of

Celebrating

Black History

By Tameka Bradley Hobbs,

Ph.D.

One hundred

years ago,

in 1926, Dr.

Carter Godwin

Woodson established

the first

Negro History

Week. Woodson

chose a date in February that

encompassed the birthdays

of two individuals who were

incredibly significant to Black

History — former US President

Abraham Lincoln and

the renowned abolitionist,

orator, and intellectual Frederick

Douglass. With this

observation on the calendar

Woodson intended to ensure

that Black history would be

studied, celebrated, and passed

on—especially to Black

children. His vision made

space for public recognition of

Black contributions to civilization

and the continued assertion

of Black humanity.

Woodson dedicated his life

to ensuring the dissemination

of research and writing

that documented the full

experience of Black people

worldwide. This started with

his founding of the Association

for the Study of Negro (now

African American) Life and

History, an organization that

celebrated its 110th anniversary

last September, to promote,

research, preserve,

interpret, and disseminate

knowledge about Black life,

history, and culture worldwide.

ASALH and Negro History

Week represent Woodson

belief in the need for Black

people to control their own historical

narrative as a source

of inspiration and pride.

More importantly, as stated

by bibliophile and collector

Arturo A. Schomburg, “The

American Negro must remake

his past in order to make his

future.”

Woodson’s vision for Negro

History Week was realized

through the groundwork

laid by Black religious, civic,

and fraternal organizations.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,

of which Woodson was a

member, took the lead in

disseminating educational

material and holding

Black History programs

in communities across the

nation. Negro History Week

also became an important

occasion in segregated schools

and Black churches, which

used the week to foreground

stories of Black people of

exceptional accomplishment.

Fifty years ago, in 1976,

during the bicentennial

celebration of the United

States, the US Congress

designated the entire month

of February as “Black History

Month.” This legislation

represented a significant expansion

of Dr. Woodson’s

vision for Black history education,

not just for Black

people but for all.

As we prepare for the

observances of the 250th anniversary

of the United States

this July, it is important that,

in the spirit of Dr. Woodson,

they we tell the whole truth of

the American experiment with

democracy and the critical role

that Black Americans have

played in pushing this nation

and its leaders to become

the “more perfect Union”

referenced in the preamble

of the US Constitution.

While the liberty promised

to Americans in 1776 didn’t

become a possibility for

most Black Americans until

1865 (and would not become

fully tangible for another

century), it is impossible to

tell the complete story of

the United States without

acknowledging the persistent

efforts of generations of Black

Americans to call the nation

to the true fulfillment of its

democracy promise. These

histories are as important, if

not more, than they were a

century ago.




BUSINESS

UNITY IN THE

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

Deeply Rooted

Get Ready For Tax Season!


Jessie Trice Community Health

Foundation Honors Student

Innovators at 15th Annual Science and

Engineering Fair

133 N. State Road 7

Plantation, Fla. 33317

(Corner of Broward Blvd. & State Rd. 7

(954) 587-7075

FRED LOVELL, Lic. Opt.

(Over 30 Years in Optics)

* $29.50 - Single Vision

*$44.50 - Bifocal * $89.50 - Progressive

* (-+400 sph+200 cyl/add + 3.00)

FRANCINE

Your Tailor

Alterations For

Men & Women & Kids

Cell: (754) 274-8537

A: 784 NW 91st Terrace

Submitted by Antony Brunson

P.A. Certified Public Accountants

& Business Advisors

The 2025 tax filing season

reflects one of the most

significant sets of changes

in recent years following

enactment of H.R. 1, P.L.

119-21, commonly known as

the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

While the law permanently

extended many provisions

of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

(TCJA), it also introduced

new deductions and reporting

requirements that increase

complexity for organizations

and their employees.

Although many changes

apply at the individual taxpayer

level, nonprofits, governmental

entities, and businesses will

be directly affected through

payroll reporting, employee

communications, benefits administration,

and tax planning.

Permanent TCJA Provisions

Now Locked In

H.R. 1 permanently extended

the TCJA’s individual tax rates

of 10% through 37% and the

higher standard deduction

amounts. For 2025, the standard

deduction is:

• $15,750 for single filers

• $31,500 for married

filing jointly

• $23,625 for heads of

household

The personal exemption

remains eliminated. Mis-cellaneous

itemized deductions are

permanently disallowed, and

higher alternative minimum

tax (AMT) exemption amounts

remain in place and indexed for

inflation.

Why it matters: These permanent

rules provide long-term

certainty, but they do not reflect

newly enacted deductions in

2025 withholding tables, raising

the risk of employee under- or

over-withholding.

SALT Deduction Increase

Beginning in 2025, the federal

deduction for state and local

taxes (SALT) increased

to $40,000 ($20,000 for married

filing separately (MFS)), subject

to income-based phaseouts

beginning at $500,000 of

modified Adjusted Gross

Income (AGI) ($250,000

MFS). The deduction cannot

be reduced below $10,000

($5,000 MFS).

Passthrough entity tax

(PTET) elections remain

unchanged, which is relevant

for business owners and

taxable subsidiaries.

Credits and Deductions

Affecting Employees

The child tax credit was

permanently increased

to $2,200 per qualifying

child, with $1,700 refundable

in 2025. Phaseout

thresholds of $200,000

(single) and $400,000

(joint) were made permanent.

New rules require the taxpayer

(or at least one spouse on a

joint return) to have a valid

Social Security number to claim

the credit.

Mortgage interest deductions

remain limited to interest on up

to $750,000 of acquisition debt,

while the moving expense

deduction remains eliminated

for most taxpayers.

Business-Related Tax

Provisions

For business clients and taxable

subsidiaries:

• 100% bonus depreciation

applies to qualifying

property placed in service on or

after January 19, 2025

• Section 179 expensing

increased to $2.5

million, with a $4 million

phaseout threshold

• Domestic R&D

costs may again be deducted

immediately, while foreign R&D

must still be capitalized



Building on Success


NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (NOFA)

BROWARD COUNTY

GAP FINANCING FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OR ACQUISI-

TION AND/OR REHABILITATION OF MULTI-FAMILY AFFORD-

ABLE HOUSING RENTAL UNITS

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

Broward County announces the availability of funds and is requesting applications for proposals to be

funded with Broward County GAP financing.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OR ACQUISITION AND REHA-

BILITATION OF MULTI-FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTAL UNITS

Governmental entities, For-Profit organizations and Non-profit organizations authorized to transact

business in the State of Florida with 501(c)(3) status with a successful history of addressing unique

housing needs of the affordable housing market by producing multi-family rental affordable housing

units. Eligible applicants shall provide evidence of site control, land use and zoning approval for the

project.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OR ACQUISITION AND/OR RE-

HABILITATION OF MULTI-FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTAL UNITS

Multi-family affordable housing rental units to eligible tenants with incomes at or below 80% of the

Broward County Area Median Income (AMI) as established annually by Florida Housing Finance Corporation

(FHFC). Projects may include units above the required AMIs, but these units may not be financed

with GAP funding. Broward County Median Income is $96,200 as of April 1, 2025.

FUNDING AVAILABILITY

$22,000,000 is available for the new construction and/or acquisition and rehabilitation of multi-family

affordable housing rental units with a maximum of $7,000,000 available per project. These funds require

the use of non-County revenue sources. Projects that have received Broward County GAP Financing in

the last three (3) years or are utilizing Florida Housing Finance Corporation (“FHFC”) 9% tax credits

are not eligible to apply for funding under this RFA.

SUBMITTAL DATE

All applications must be forwarded to the attention of: Lisa Wight, Project Manager, Broward County

Housing Finance Authority, 110 NE 3rd Street, Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 between 8:30 a.m.

and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; but no later than the deadline of 12:00 P.M. on March 20, 2026.

Applications received after 12:00 p.m. will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

The RFA will be available Monday, February 2, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 110 NE 3rd Street,

Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 or can be downloaded from the website: http://www.broward.org/Housing/Pages/RFAs.aspx

Questions concerning this RFA should be directed to Lisa Wight, Project Manager at lwight@broward.

org.

4780 North State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319• (954) 739-1114• Fax (954) 497-3726• TRS/Florida Relay Service 711• www.bchafl.org

PUBLIC NOTICE FOR COMMENT

Public Housing Agency (PHA) Annual Plan

2026

Broward County Housing Authority (BCHA) is soliciting comments regarding the PHA Annual Plan for the 2026-2027, Fiscal

Year in accordance with Section 903.17 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This public notice is posted for a

minimum of 45 calendar days beginning Saturday, March 7, 2026, to all for public review of the proposed plan. BCHA must

receive all comments by the close of business on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. This document is available for public review on

BCHA’s website (www.bchafl.org) no later than Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the central administration office located at 4780

North State Road 7 Lauderdale Lakes, FL. Written comments can be submitted via facsimile to (954-497-3726), electronic

mail to Eleonor Acosta (Eacosta@bchafl.org), or mailed to the Broward County Housing Authority located at 4780 North State

Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319. A public hearing will be held to discuss the plan on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the

Broward County Housing Authority located at 4780 North State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319 at 9:30 a.m.

Persons with disabilities that require a reasonable accommodation to effectively participate in the Public Hearing should

contact Eleonor Acosta at 954-739-1114, ext. 1210, or via email at Eacosta@bchafl.org, at least 7 days prior to the meeting.

NOTIFICACIÓN PÚBLICA PARA COMENTAR

Plan Anual de la Agencia de Viviendas Públicas (PHA, por sus siglas en inglés)

2026

La Autoridad de Vivienda del Condado de Broward (BCHA) solicita comentarios sobre el Plan Anual de la PHA para el año

fiscal 2026-2027 de acuerdo con la Sección 903.17 del Título 24 del Código de Regulaciones Federales. Este aviso público se

publica durante un mínimo de 45 días calendario a partir del Sabado, 7 de Marzo de 2026, para todos, para la revisión pública

del plan propuesto. BCHA debe recibir todos los comentarios antes del cierre de operaciones del Martes, 21 de Abril de 2026.

Este documento está disponible para revisión pública en el sitio web de BCHA (www.bchafl.org) a más tardar el Sabado, 7 de

Marzo de 2026, en la oficina de administración central. ubicado en 4780 North State Road 7 Lauderdale Lakes, FL. Los

comentarios escritos pueden enviarse por fax al (954-497-3726), por correo electrónico a Eleonor Acosta

(Eacosta@bchafl.org), o por correo a la Autoridad de Vivienda del Condado de Broward ubicada en 4780 North State Road 7,

Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319. Se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública para discutir el plan el Martes, 21 de Abril de 2026 en

la Autoridad de Vivienda del Condado de Broward ubicada en 4780 North State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319 a

las 9:30 a.m. alojamiento para participar efectivamente en la Audiencia Pública debe comunicarse con Eleonor Acosta al 954-

739-1114, ext. 1210, o vía correo electrónico a Eacosta@bchafl.org, al menos 7 días antes de la reunión.

AVI PIBLIK POU KÒMANTÈ

Plan Ànyèl Ajans Piblik pou Lojman (Public Housing Agency, PHA)

2026

Otorite Lojman Konte Broward (BCHA) ap mande kòmantè konsènan Plan Anyèl PHA pou Ane Fiskal 2026-2027 la ann akò

ak Seksyon 903.17 Tit 24 Kòd Règleman Federal la. Avi piblik sa a afiche pou yon minimòm de 45 jou kalandriye apati samdi,

7yém mas 2026, pou tout moun pou revizyon piblik plan yo pwopoze a. BCHA dwe resevwa tout kòmantè anvan biznis la

fèmen madi, 21 avril 2026. Dokiman sa a disponib pou revize piblik sou sitwèb BCHA a (www.bchafl.org) pa pita pase 7yém

mas 2026 nan biwo administrasyon santral la sitiye nan 4780 North State Road 7 Lauderdale Lakes, FL. Kòmantè ekri yo ka

soumèt pa faks nan (954-497-3726), lapòs elektwonik nan Eleonor Acosta (Eacosta@bchafl.org), oswa voye pa lapòs bay

Broward County Housing Authority ki nan 4780 North State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319. Yo pral òganize yon

odyans piblik pou diskite sou plan an madi, 21 avril 2026, nan Broward County Housing Authority ki nan 4780 North

State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319 a 9:30 a.m. aranjman pou patisipe efektivman nan Odyans Piblik la ta dwe

kontakte Eleonor Acosta nan 954-739-1114, ekst. 1210, oswa pa imèl nan Eacosta@bchafl.org, omwen 7 jou anvan reyinyon

an.


CHURCH DIRECTORY

Deeply Rooted

Have Your Church Announcements Placed

In Our Church Directory


First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc.

4699 West Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313

(954) 735-1500 - Fax (954) 735-1999

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Church Website: www.fbcpineygrove.org

Dr. Ezra Tillman, Jr. Senior Pastor

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday ..... 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM In Person Virtual

Sunday School.......9:30 AM In Person

Bible Study on Wednesday.......11:30 AM & 7:00 PM In Person & Virtual

"Winning the World for Jesus"

Harris Chapel Church, Inc.

Rev. Stanley Melek, M.Div

e-mail: harrischapelinc@gmail.com

2351 N.W. 26th Street

Oakland Park, Florida 33311

Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520

SERVICES

Sunday Worship........................10:30 AM

Church School................................................9:00 AM

Wednesday (Bible Study).........11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Living Waters Christian Fellowship

Meeting at Central Charter School Building #5

4515 N. St. Rd. 7 (US 441)

(954) 295-6894

SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 AM

Iwcf2019@gmail.com (Church)

lerrub13@gamil.com (Pastor)

Rev. Anthony & Virgina Burrell

Jesus said, ‘‘let anyone who is thristy come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)

Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church

Reverend Henry E. Green, III, Pastor

401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Phone: (954) 463-6309 Fax: (954) 522-4113

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Email info@mthermonftl.com

SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES

Worship Service....................................9:00 AM

In person/www.mounthermonftl.or/YouTube Live/FaceBook

Church School.............................9:30 AM

BIBLE STUDY: Wednesday........................10:00 AM

Bible Study Wednesday ...............7:00 PM via Zoom

Meeting ID: 826 2716 8390 access code 55568988#

Daily Prayer Line.............................6:00 AM

(716) 427-1407 Access Code 296233#

(712) 432-1500 Access Code 296233#

New Mount Olive Baptist Church

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor

400 N.W. 9th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Office (954) 463-5126 - Fax: (954) 525-9454

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday- Thursday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY

Sunday Services: In Person

8:00 AM and 10:45 AM

Virtual..................9:00 AM

Sunday School....................9:30 AM

Wednesday Encountering Truth

Noonday Bible Study...........12:00 PM to 12:30 PM

Where the Kingdom of God is Increased through:

Fellowship, Ledership, Ownership and Worship

As we F.L.O.W. To Greatness!

Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church

Rev. Danny L. McKenzie, Sr., Senior Pastor

2251 N.W. 22nd St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

P.O. Box 122256, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Church: (954) 733-3285 - Office: (954) 733-3606

Email: mountnebobaptist@bellsouth.net

Website: www.mountnebaptist.org

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

Sunday School ..........................8:30 A.M.

Sunday Worship ....................10:00 A.M.

Tuesday Night Bible Study..............7:00 P.M.

"A Great Place To Worship"

Celebrating 100 Years of Blessing!! 1925-2025

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher

1161 NW 29th Terrace; Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311


(954) 581-0455 - (FAX) 581-4350

mzbc2011@gmail.com - www.mtzionmbc1161.com

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday - Friday 11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday Worship...................................................10:15 A.M.

Communion Service (1st Sunday) .........................10:15 A.M.

2nd & 4th Tuesday Night Prayer Workshop/Bible Study................7:00 P.M

Wednesday Night Prayer Service.......................6:30 P.M.

Wednesday Night Church School ............7:00 P.M.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength"

New Birth Baptist Church

Catheral of Faith International

Bishop Victor T. Curry, M. Min., D. Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher

ORDER OF SERVICES

Sunday Worship.............................9:30 AM

Sunday School ..............................8:30 AM

Tuesday Bible Study...................7:00 PM

Wednsday Bible Study..................10:30 AM

(305) 685-3700 (0) * (305) 685-0705 (f)

www.nbbcmiami.org

St. Ruth Missionsary Baptist Church

145 NW 5th Avenue

Dania Beach, FL 33004

(954) 922-2529

WORSHIP SERVICES

Wednesday (NOON DAY PRAYER.......................12- 1 PM

Sunday Worship Service ...................................10:00 AM

Website: www.struthmbc.org

"Celebrating 115 Years of Service"

Victory Baptist Church Independent

Pastor Keith Cunningham

2241 Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Church: (954) 284-9413

Sunday School .................................................9:45 AM

Worship Service Sunday Morning..................................11:00 AM

Sunday Evening Service.........................................6:00 PM

Bible Study...................................................7:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Bible Study & Prayer ........................7:00 PM

Saturday Morning Soul Winning/Visitation..............10:00 AM

Men’s Fellowship (Every 2nd & last Tuesdays)................6:00 PM

Ladies Fellowship (the last Saturday of each month)..........................5:00 PM

Youth Fellowship (Every Friday)...............6:30 PM

Discover GOD Let Us Help You Find The Way To Jesus Christ

We STRIVE to PROVIDE Ministries that matter Today to Whole Body of Christ,

not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”!

“Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR!

Come to the WILL.....We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ”

The New Beginning

Embassy of Praise

The Most Reverend

John H. Taylor, Bishop, Sr. Pastor

Dr. ML Taylor, Executive Pastor

4035 SW 18th Street, West Park, FL 33023

Sunday Worship Service ..................... 11:00 a.m.

Conference Line - 848-220-3300 ID: 33023

Bible Study - Tuesdays......................... 7:30 p.m.

Noonday Prayer Wednesdays..........- 12:00 noon

Come Worship With Us For Your New Begnning!

Pastor David E. Deal, Jr.

Every Christian's Church

SUNDAY @11:00 am

Phone (313) 209-8800 Conference ID 1948-1949

Bible Trivia

‘Test Your Bible Knowledge'

How well do you know your old fashioned Hymnals? Name

that hymn:

1) We should never be discouraged- Take it to the Lord in

prayer.

2) When the darkness appears and the night draws near,

and the day is past and gone…..

3) From the waters lifted me- Now safe am I.

4) Jesus loves me! Loves me still, Tho’ I’m very weak and ill.

5) Work thru the morning hours; Work while the dew is

sparkling, work mid springing flow’rs.

6) And then one day I’ll cross the river; I’ll fight life’s final

war with pain.

7) Purer are the joys up yonder than the halls of mirth,

grander are the songs eternal than the songs of earth.

8) Through this world of toils and snares, If I falter Lord who

cares.

** Biblical Note*** American Negro Spirituals are folk songs

created by enslaved Africans after their arrival in North

America between 1619 and 1860. The songs created and

sung by enslaved women, men and children were born in

North America and recant with dignity, resolve and sometimes

joy, their stories of life, death, faith, hope, escape

and survival. “National Association Of Teachers of Singing”.

Answers: 1) What a friend we have in Jesus; 2) Take My

Hand Precious Lord; 3) Love Lifted Me; 4) Jesus Loves Me;

5) Work, For the night Is Coming; 6) Because He Lives;

7) Angels, Get my Mansion Ready; 8) Just a Closer Walk

With Thee.

Who Is Ruby Bridges?

As a first-grader, her image became an emotional

symbol for civil rights and educational equality.

By HISTORY.com Editors

At 6 years old, Ruby Bridges became the center of a

landmark event in the civil rights movement as one of the

first Black children to integrate an all-white public school in

the American South. The image of Bridges—a first grader—

escorted by federal marshals on her way to school among hostile

protesters, became emblematic of racial tensions throughout

the country.

Racial segregation was once legal in the United States,

upheld by the doctrine of “separate but equal” established

through Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. As a result, Black children

often attended segregated schools with fewer resources and

opportunities. However, the landscape of American education

began to shift in 1954 when racial segregation in public schools

was declared unconstitutional through Brown v. Board of

Education.

Many states were slow to comply, and it wasn’t until 1960

that Bridges and three other students would integrate the New

Orleans school system. But while the other three students were

enrolled together, Bridges enrolled alone.

Amid intense opposition at William Frantz Elementary

on November 14, 1960, Bridges’ first day of school became an

emotionally charged moment that endures as a symbol of the

struggle for civil rights and educational equality.


Alamy Stock Photo


Dr. Walter Smith, former

FAMU president, dies at 86

(Source: Daytona Times)

Dr. Walter L. Smith,

Florida A&M University’s

seventh president and

president emeritus, died on

Thursday, Nov. 25, in Tampa.

He was 86.

Dr. Larry Robinson,

FAMU’s former president,

issued the following

statement:

“I was saddened to learn

of the passing today of

Florida A&M University’s

seventh President and

President Emeritus Walter

L. Smith, Ph.D. Dr. Smith

left an indelible mark as

the University’s leader from

1977 to 1985, developing

new academic programs and

steering FAMU in the right

direction,” said Robinson,

FAMU’s 12th president.

“We’re thankful for his

leadership and celebrate

his legacy and join the

Smith family, friends and

Rattlers around the world in

celebrating a life dedicated to

service and one well lived.”

In 2002, Dr. Smith

converted two of his family’s

homes in a predominantly

Black Tampa neighborhood

into his library, which

includes a treasure trove of

masks, drums, books and

By Chloe Veltman

(Source: npr)

Demond Wilson, the actor

best known for playing

Lamont Sanford, the

son in the popular 1970s

NBC primetime comedy

series Sanford and Son, has

died.

The actor died from

complications related to

cancer Friday at his home

in the Palm Springs area of

other memorabilia.

In his early years, Dr.

Smith attended the historic

Gibbs Junior College in St.

Petersburg.

The Tampa native later

wrote a book about Gibbs and

other segregation-era Black

two-year colleges titled “The

Magnificent Twelve: Florida’s

Black Junior Colleges.’’

After his time at Gibbs, Dr.

Smith earned bachelor’s and

master’s degrees at Florida

A&M and a Ph.D. from

Florida State University.

He became provost of

Hillsborough Community

College, president of Roxbury

Community College, then

went on to become the

seventh president of Florida

Deeply Rooted

A&M University.

Smith was appointed

president of FAMU on Aug.

11, 1977, by the Florida

Board of Regents. He was

inaugurated on April 22,

1978.

“The major infrastructure

improvements under Dr.

Smith’s tenure as FAMU’s

president will remain selfevident

long into the future,”

Leon County Commission

Chairman Bill Proctor said in

a statement on Friday. “Dr.

Smith was a superb orator

and brilliant storyteller.

His spellbinding command

of meticulous historic

details made him a walking



‘Sanford and Son’ co-star

Demond Wilson dies at 79

Demond Wilson (right) in a still from a 1974 episode of Sanford

and Son. The actor played Lamont Sanford, the disgruntled

offspring of Redd Foxx’s Fred Sanford (left), in the hit 1970s

NBC sitcom. NBC Television/Getty Images/Hulton Archive

Southern California. He was

79. Wilson’s publicist, Mark

Goldman, confirmed the

death in an email to NPR.

“I had the privilege of working

with Demond for 15 years,

and his loss is profoundly

felt,” said Goldman. “He

was an unbelievable man,

and his impact will never be

forgotten.”

Wilson was in his 20s when

he landed the role of Lamont

Sanford, the put-upon

Dr. Walter Smith

offspring of the cantankerous

Fred Sanford, played by Redd

Foxx. The dad got all the best

lines, but junior held his own

in their frequent disputes.

Wilson reminisced about

his time on the series in his

2009 memoir Second Banana:

The Bitter Sweet Memoirs of

the Sanford and Son Years.

Producers Norman Lear and

Bud Yorkin based Sanford

and Son on the well-known

1960s-early 70s British

TV comedy series about

a blue collar father-son

relationship, Steptoe and

Son. Sanford and Son was

groundbreaking in offering

a glimpse into Black family

life rarely seen on network

television at the time. “The

character between the son and

the father was very interesting

to me and to Norman in the

sense that, despite the fact

that they lived together and

complained and so forth,

they couldn’t live without

each other,” said Yorkin in a

2008 interview with NPR.

Wilson went on to star as

a struggling gambler in the

sitcom Baby…I’m Back! in the

late 1970s, and as the more

laid-back of the divorcees

in The New Odd Couple, a TV



THIS WEEK IN BLACK HISTORY from FP

acts by a few that brought

relief to millions.”

Dr. Chavis emphasized

that the Greensboro Sit-Ins

led by four students from

the nation’s largest HBCU

sparked a movement that

spread rapidly across the

Deep South, engaging some of

the sharpest young minds of

the era.

“Those four courageous

students four brothers went

into a Woolworth store in

Greensboro and refused to

leave when they were denied

service because they were

Black. That single act started

the student sit-in movement

that spread from North

Carolina throughout the

South. We must always be

grateful and mindful of those

four heroes whose courageous

action benefited millions of

our people.”

As the nation prepares to

mark 200 years of the Black

Press, the sit-ins stand as

a reminder that history

survives because someone

chose to record it and to tell

the truth.

The Poet Who Taught

America to Listen

This week also marks the

February 1, 1967, passing

of Langston Hughes, one of

the most influential literary

voices in American history. A

central figure of the Harlem

Renaissance, Hughes wrote

about Black life with honesty,

humor, and unflinching

clarity.

Educator and poet Katrina

“Poettis” Sapp reflected on

Hughes’ lasting impact:

“Langston Hughes was

the first poet that I formally

studied in school, and the

first poet that I would expose

my 6th graders to when I

began teaching middle school

English. He gave us comedy

and tragedy in poetic form.

From his witty rhyme scheme

in Ballad of the Landlord*,

to his commentary on Black

life in the United States

in* I, Too, Sing America*,

Langston Hughes’ literary

legacy influences readers and

writers to this day.”

Her words echo what

generations have experienced

Hughes did more than write

poetry. He taught Black

children to see themselves in

literature and taught America

to hear voices it often tried to

ignore.



Obituaries

Death and Funeral Notices

A Good Sheperd's Funeral Home

& Cremation Services Central

Casey Myers Love And Grace

Funeral And Cremation Service


VIEW OBITUARIES ONLINE


Announcements:

*In Memoriam *Death Notices *Happy Birthdays

*Card of Thanks *Remembrances

Samuel Dingle-

Celebration of

Life will be held

February 14th at

Macedonia

Missionary

Baptist Church.

at Worldwide

Chrisitan Center

Elouise

Jackson -

Celebration

of Life

was held

February 7th

at Word of the

Living God

Ministries.

Anthony Brown

Ernest Eugenet

Ceasar, Jr.

Funeral

Service

was held

January 31st

at Gospel

Arena Of

Faith.

Johnnie

Lee

Davis.

Willie

Davis

Funeral

Service

will be

held

February 7th.

Rosa

Fernandez

(954) 525-1489

Elianise

Francois.

Deborah

Sullivan -

Funeral

Service

will be held

January 10th.

Reginald

Grant - Golden

– 65

Funeral

Service

was held

January

28th at James

C. Boyd’s

Memorial Chapel.

Catherine

Harley – 96

Funeral

Service

was held

January 31st

at First Baptist

Church

Piney Grove

with Rev. Frank Johnson

officiating.

Queen Ester

“Tina” Harris

- 66

Funeral

Service

was held

January 31st

at New Birth

House of

Prayer for All

People, Inc., with Apostle

Amos Benefield officiating.

Pastor

Yeberton

Harrison – 78

Funeral

Service

was held

January 31st

at James

C. Boyd’s Memorial Chapel

with Pastor D’Wayne Louard

officiating

Brandon

“Bigga”

Pemberton – 34

Funeral Service

was held

January 30th

at James C.

Boyd’s

Memorial

Chapel with Overseer

Thomas Jackson officiating.

Leora

Walden

Reese – 71

Funeral

Service

was held

January 31st

at Gospel

Arena of

faith Church

with Pastor W.L. Johnson

officiating.

McWhite’s Funeral Home

Cedieu

Apollon

Funeral

Service

was held

January 31st

at McWhite’s

Funeral

Home

Chapel.

Marie Jose

Doucet

Funeral

Service

was held

January 31st

at McWhite’s

Funeral Home.

Nathaniel

Forrest -

Funeral

Service

was held J

anuary 31st at

New Hope

Baptist Church.

Chad “Raw”

Kittle

Funeral

Service

was held

January 31st at

McWhite’s

Funeral Home.

Audley

Philip

Ramsay

Visitation

was held

January 31st

at First

Baptist

Church of

Sunrise.

Celebrating Black History

"Twant me, 'twas the Lord.

I always told him, "I trust

to you. I don't know where

to go or what to do, but I

expect you to lead me,'

and he always did."

--Harriet Tubman


US judge halts Trump plan to end

protections for 350,000 Haitians

displaced more than 1.4 million people.

The Reuters Inside Track newsletter is

your essential guide to the biggest events in

global sport. Sign up here.

Reyes, who was appointed by Democratic

former President Joe Biden, issued the ruling

in a class-action lawsuit brought by Haitians

seeking to stop the administration from




NOTICE OF APPLICATION ACCEPTANCE – SENIOR HOUSING

Provident Place, a newly constructed 100-unit affordable senior housing development located

in Pompano Beach, Florida, will begin accepting rental applications on Tuesday, February 24.

2026. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to eligibility and

availability.

Program Requirements:

All household members must be 62 years of age or older

Household must meet applicable income limits and screening criteria

exposing them to deportation by ending their

legal status.

Reyes said in the ruling that Homeland

Security Secretary Kristi Noem likely violated

the procedures required to terminate the

protected status of Haitian immigrants in the

U.S. as well as the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth

Amendment guarantee of equal protection

under the law.

“Plaintiffs charge that Secretary Noem

preordained her termination decision and did

so because of hostility to nonwhite immigrants.

This seems substantially likely,” Reyes wrote.

Immigrants from Haiti who recently arrived in Boston from other parts of the United States listen to instructions from

representatives of La Colaborativa, a non-profit community services organization based in Chelsea, as they arrive at

temporary housing in a hotel in Everett, Massachusetts, U.S., July 10, 2023. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

By Nate Raymond and Andrew Chung

(Source: Reuters)

Protected status would have

ended on Wednesday

Feb 2 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday

blocked the Trump administration from revoking

legal protections for more than 350,000 Haitians

in the U.S., preventing their potential

deportation to a country that has been

ravaged by gang violence.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in

Washington, D.C., halted, opens new

tab the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security’s effort to terminate Haiti’s

Temporary Protected Status. The move

would have taken effect on Wednesday

despite spiraling violence there that has

70 Project Based Vouchers (PBV) will be available for eligible applicants. Current Gross

Rents for units without PBV are; one bedroom $ 1,296.00 and Two bedroom $1,555.00

“Rents are subject to change based on Fair Market Rents (FMRs) as published “.

con-

Preference will be provided to eligible Golden Acres Development residents 62+,

sistent with the approved Tenant Selection Plan.

Application Guidelines:

• Applications will not be accepted prior to February 24th

• Mailed applications must not be postmarked before February 24th

Applications are available on or after Monday February 9, 2026 via picking up at the Golden Acres

Office, requested via emailed or downloaded at https://goldenacres.nelsonasc.com/provident-place

Black-Run Newspapers from 5

The publication also reported on events in

countries throughout the African diaspora,

including Sierra Leone and Haiti. Freedom’s

Journal was circulated in Haiti, Canada,

Europe, 11 states and Washington, D.C. It

cost $3 annually to subscribe to the paper.

The Black-owned publication may have

been a trendsetter, but it was short-lived.

Cornish resigned from the paper after six

months, leaving Russwurm its only editor.

Russwurm became heavily involved in the

movement to return Black Americans to West

Africa, an effort the paper’s readers largely

opposed. Two years after it began, the

Freedom’s Journal ceased publication.

Frederick Douglas Founds ‘The

North Star’

Determined to press on with the

newspaper, Russwurm restarted Freedom’s

Journal in May 1829 with a new name, The

Rights of All, but the new version of the

publication fizzled months later. Prominent

abolitionist Frederick Douglass would

eventually take up the mantle.



For further information contact:

Shvondra Butler

Senior Property Manager

Golden Acres Development

1050 NW 18th Drive

Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Office: 954-972-1444

Fax: 954-970-9235

Shvondra.butler@nelsonasc.com

“This institution is an equal opportunity provider, and employer.”

It’s time to put your heart first.

In just 30 minutes, a non-invasive heart scan could uncover

risks you didn’t even know existed. Talk to your doctor and

see if a heart scan is right for you.

Visit BaptistHealth.net/HeartScan or call 833-596-2473.

Scan QR code

to learn more.

*A prescription is required. If you don’t have a referring physician or

medical professional to write a prescription for you, call 786-596-2464.

Any abnormal findings will be sent to your referring physician.


SPORTS

Nunnie on the Sideline

By Nunnie Robinson, WG Sports, Editor

By now, most readers have either seen

or heard about the disturbing incident

involving Tuskegee University men’s

basketball coach Benjy Taylor, who was

handcuffed and escorted off the court

following the January 31 game between

the Golden Tigers and the Morehouse

Maroon Tigers in Atlanta.

According to reports, Morehouse football

players infiltrated or joined the postgame

handshake line—an established

tradition meant to symbolize sportsmanship

and mutual respect. Coach Taylor

immediately identified the situation as

a safety and security breach, one that

clearly violated SIAC conference protocol. He protested forcefully,

demanding that the breach be addressed.

Instead of correcting the violation, game officials chose to

handcuff Coach Taylor, seemingly concluding that his objections

posed a greater threat than the breach itself.

Shortly thereafter, my close friend, former teammate, and

fellow Tuskegee alumnus Thomas Ballard contacted me to ask

if I was aware of the incident. Even without all the details, my

initial reaction was straightforward: Was Coach Taylor’s conduct

so egregious that it justified being handcuffed? Ballard’s

response was immediate and unequivocal—absolutely not.

Coming from someone not given to theatrics or exaggeration,

that assessment carries weight.

Here are the facts: No formal charges were filed against Coach

Taylor. He was released from handcuffs and returned to Tuskegee

with his team. Because his actions were motivated solely

by concern for player safety, he has received full support from

the university’s administration and Athletic Director Reginald

Ruffin. Coach Taylor has also retained a civil rights attorney to

protect his reputation and interests.

The SIAC conference, along with representatives from both

institutions, must address this matter with clarity, urgency,

and resolve. Failure to do so risks future far-reaching and serious

consequences.

This incident also fits within a broader, troubling pattern in

sports—particularly when it comes to authority, accountability,

and race.

The NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview

Deeply Rooted

LEGAL NOTICES

IN THE CIRCUIT

COURT FOR THE

SEVENTEENTH

JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,

IN AND FOR BOWARD

COUNTY, FLORIDA

CASE NO: 26-0001415

DIVISION: 41-98

GRACIELA STREICH, Petitioner

and

BILAL AHMAD SHAH, Respondent Respondent,

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR

DISSOLUTION OF

MARRIAGE

(NO CHILD OR

FINANCIAL SUPPORT)

TO: {name of Respondent} BILAL AHMAD

SHAH {Respondent last known address}

UNKNOWN

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for dissolution

of marriage has been field against

you and that you are required to serve a copy

of your written defenses, if any, it on GRA-

CIELA STREICH, whose address is 8781

Holly Ct. Apt. 203, Tamarac, FL 3321 on or

before March 12, 2026 and file the original

with the clerk of this Court at 201 Southeast

Sixth Street Room 4130, Fort Lauderdale

FL 33301before service on Petitioner or

immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so,

a default may be entered against you

for the relief demanded in the petition.

The action is asking the court to decide

how the following real or personal property

should be divided: {insert “none” or, if applicable,

the legal description of real property, a specific

description of personal property, and then

name of the county in Florida where the property

is located} NONE

Copies of all court documents in the case,

including orders, are available at the Clerk of

the Circuit Court’s office. You may review

these documents upon request.

You must keep the Clerk of the CircuitCourt’s

office notified of your current

address. (You may file Notice of Current

Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved

Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in

this lawsuit will be mailed to the address on

record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family

Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain

automatic disclosure of documents and information.

Failure to comply can result in

sanctions, including dismissal or striking of

pleadings.

Dated January 26, 2026

Brenda D. Forman

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Bjan Craig, Deputy Clerk

February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 2026

minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operations positions, should be radically

redefined or abolished altogether. It has failed in its stated mission. Of the ten NFL head

coaching vacancies this year, not a single Black coach was hired. The process has become little

more than a “good ol’ boys” network, mirroring American society at large—despite the fact

that Black athletes comprise the majority of NFL players. The message is unmistakable: good

enough to perform, but not trusted to lead.

When opportunities are finally granted, the margin for error is razor thin. Black coaches are

often dismissed after one season—David Culley and Lovie Smith in Houston, Jerod Mayo in

New England—or, at best, two, as was the case with Raheem Morris in Atlanta, despite a strong

finish. He was replaced, notably, by Kevin Stefanski, who was afforded six seasons in Cleveland.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals allowed Jonathan Gannon three years, and the Miami Dolphins

gave Mike McDaniel four.

Quarterback decisions in Minnesota and Miami ultimately sealed the fate of minority general

managers Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Chris Grier. The lingering question remains: did they truly

possess full autonomy in those decisions?

Turning to the field, with Super Bowl LX upon us, I believe Seattle will defeat New England

in relatively dominant fashion. That confidence is rooted in quarterback Sam Darnold, a formidable

rushing attack led by Kenneth Walker III, a fast and aggressive defense, and head coach

Mike Macdonald, a product of the Harbaugh coaching tree.

Finally, the fact that both New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and longtime head coach

Bill Belichick were passed over as first-ballot Hall of Fame selections reeks of collusion rooted in

past grievances rather than merit.

Bobsledder Azaria Hill writes next chapter

in Family’s Olympic History

By Lois Elfman

THE

WESTSIDE

GAZETTE

RECOGNIZS

FEBRUARY

AS

BLACK

HISTORY

MONTH

18

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4

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JUNE

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NUMBERS (2-DAY

RESULTS) Send Self

Addressed Envelope and

$10.00 to:

C.L.HENRY or S.H. ROBINSON

P.O.BOX 5304

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

For Entertainment

Purpose Only!

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Bobsled brakeman Azaria

Hill of the U.S. Olympic bobsled

team grew up the proud

child of two Olympic medalists:

mother Denean Howard-Hill,

a three-time Olympian

and winner of a gold and

two silver medals, and father

Virgil Hill, an Olympic silver

medalist in boxing. In addition,

her aunt, Sherri Howard,

is an Olympian with gold

and silver medals.

“I’ve dreamed of being an

Olympian since I could understand

the meaning of the

Olympics, since I knew my

parents and my aunt were

Olympians,” said Hill, 27,

who will be the brakeman

for pilo0t Kaysha Love in the

two-woman bobsled. “Every

‘What do you want to be when

you grow up project’ was ‘I

want to be an Olympian.’

Twenty-two years I’ve been

dreaming of this moment.”

Much like her mother and

aunt, Hill was a track athlete,

establishing school records

at Long Beach State University.

She finished her college

career at the University of

Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV),

where Love was a teammate.

After finishing school in 2021,

both found their way into bobsled.

Hill is in the U.S. Army

World Class Athlete Program

(WCAP), which she joined in

2024, saying it has been integral

to her Olympic pursuit.

She went through 10 weeks of

basic training and six weeks

of job training, after which she

was stationed at the Olympic

Bobsled brakeman Azaria Hill (l) with pilot Kaysha Love

celebrate after a World Cup race. (Credit: IBSF)

Training Center in Lake Placid.

Soon after arrival, she had

to achieve a qualifying time so

she could make that season’s

World Cup team.

Four of the six women named

to the Olympic bobsled team

are African American. “It’s

nice for young kids to see that

representation, especially in

winter sports,” Hill said. “It’s

wonderful to see the diversity,

and it’s growing.”

Hill said track athletes now

have bobsled as an option for

continuing to pursue their

athletic dreams. While she

picked up bobsled quickly,

achieving this level has taken

time, patience, persistence,

and careful planning. Over

time, she developed confidence.

USA Bobsled and Skeleton

likes to have the brakemen

pair with different pilots,

and Hill has learned from

each pilot. Her work ethic

reflects the Olympic mindset

that has surrounded her since

childhood.

“For the dream finally coming

to fruition, it validates

all the hard work, sacrifice,

sleepless nights, and sometimes

the doubt,” said Hill,

whose family will be in Milan

Cortina. “It shows never giving

up on your dream; you can

achieve those things.”

Pick 2

288/522

24656

BLACK HISTORY

T-SHIRTS

On Sale Now

at 545 NW 7th Terr.,

Fort Lauderdale, Fl

33311

Call -- (945) 646-0330

or (954) 525-1489

T-SHIRTS PRICES

*KIDS - $13

( ADULTS SIZES)

*SM-$13.00

* MED-$14.50

* LG $15.20

* XL-$16.00

* 2X-$17.00

* 3X-$18.00

* 4X-5X - $20.00

CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES ARIES TAURUS GEMINI

12-31-51 02-05-61 27-39-25 70-24-35 13-34-34 45-64-78-

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49-32-59 37-38-28 25-18-07 37-21-45 17-57-37 39-28-62-

WHAT HOTS? 69-61-02-09-65

LATEST LOTTERY RESULT as of Tuesday, February 5 at 5 p.m.

POWERBALL

03-08-31-60-65 4 2x

DP 04-08-22-40-61 16

Pick 3

8528/0022

JACKPOT Triple Play

02-12-16-25-26-41

Pick 4 Pick 5

28568 /42452

244098/277362

FANTASY 5

Mid Feb. 3) 13-18-20-31-36

Evening. Feb 2) 12-18-19-30-33

CASH APP

(954) 646-0330

IN MORE STYLES

AND COLOR

CASH4LIFE

17-31-34-36-40 2

44

99

Doublues

LOTTO

04-08-16-22-27-36

16-17-33-39-48-50

FLORIDA MEGA MILLION

11-34-36-43-63 13

FRUITS, FRUITS & FRUITS

SOFT SHELL SWEET & OIL

PECANS $7 a bag

ALSO BEE HONEY -- $5 A PACK

AND THE BEST BOIL & ROASTED

PEANUTS ON THE PLANET,

PERIOD! QUART BAGS $10.00.

I am sorry it had to come this No

more FREE:

Onions, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes

and Potatoes.

Prices increase as of Jan. 1, 2025

CALL FORD -- (954) 557-1203.



Know it

by heart.

This Black History Month, we honor

the many ways legacy is shared and

preserved, from cherished recipes and

timeless wisdom to the moments that

become unforgettable memories.

“Food is our history on a plate. It’s the

creativity, resilience, and love that

carried us through generations.”

– S. Daley, Florida

“Tradition was passed down by being

included in the cooking process,

from a young age until a young adult.

I am writing down the recipes in a

cookbook to share with my children

as they get older.”

– Christina S., Georgia

“My grandmother cooked with hlots of love.

Her food brought the family together—

nourished the soul. Watching her

prepare and cook was almost

magical to me as a kid.”

– M. Moses, Georgia

The Westside Gazette

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