By Hazel Trice Edney

WASHINGTON - As flags fly in special commemoration and fireworks boom in the streets this week, many people across the nation – including African American newspaper publishers – will not only reflect on the freedoms that have been gained since the July 4, 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence, but also on the promises that are yet unfulfilled.

“We’ve always been a day late and a dollar short in terms of how we relate to how this country has treated us,” says Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of the Washington Informer, reflecting on a question posed by the NNPA News Service.

“It’s a good family time, but we really haven’t – I don’t think necessarily bought into the celebration.”

Abolitionist newspaper editor Frederick Douglass faced a similar dilemma on July 4, 1852, as a speaker in Rochester, N.Y.

“Pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here today? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? And am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?”

In the speech, known as “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” the editor/publisher of the North Star answered himself:

“But such is not the state of the case. I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common.”

Last week, 156 years since the Douglass speech, African American newspaper publishers, editors and journalists who gathered in Louisville, Ky., for the annual summer conference of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, grappled with later stages of this dilemma in response to a question from the NNPA News Service last week, “What to the Black Press is the Fourth of July?”

Most agreed that although ‘Black’ America has come a long way – as evidenced by the presidential candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama - the job of the Black Press of America on this Independence Day is to escalate the plea for justice.

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I thought I tried to interview this beautiful diva from the Barbados but before I did some research. As I clicked into "Lola's" website, Mary J. Blige's, "No More Drama" played. Believe it or not, at that moment I said a silent prayer, I could just feel that they were experiencing a whole lot of senseless hell.

Having been born and raised in Queens, NY, I had heard of the famous "Lola's", that was known for its Sunday brunches and as you enjoyed your late morning, early lunch meal in the company of your family and friends, there would be live entertainment from one of the local gospel churches. This idea of starting your week off in the company of friends/family and praising the Lord sounded heavenly especially in a city that's fast paced like Manhattan, NY. And of course, "Lola's" was also known for its fine dining through-out the week and a place for friends and co-workers to gather after work for drinks and perhaps a bite to eat as classic R&B and/or jazz played softly in the background.

According to "Lola's" newsletter it's the "first location of Chelsea, New York" to be "recognized as a restaurant where soul lived." Because of "Lola's" popularity it's been featured on the hit series, "Law & Order" and on "Good Morning America." It's only fair to say that "Lola's" been treated wonderfully by NYC as she's been an asset and a place to go to, when fine dining or visiting Manhattan.

"Lola's" is owned by husband and wife team, Thomas and Lola-Gayle Patrick-Odeen, who are always there to meet and greet. After a successful run at the Chelsea location, the Odeen's, in 2003, decided to relocate to the Watts Street location in Soho. For those who don't know this area, it's an area known for lofts, celebrities, chic dance clubs and excellent dining.

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Mildred Loving, a black woman whose anger over being banished from Virginia for marrying a white man led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling overturning state miscegenation laws, died on May 2 at her home in Central Point, VA of pneumonia. She was 68.

Mrs. Loving stopped giving interviews and issued a statement in 2007 on the 40th anniversary of the announcement of the Supreme Court ruling, urging that gay men and lesbians be allowed to marry.

At the age of 17-year-old Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving, a 23-year-old white construction worker, drove 90 miles north to marry in the District of Columbia.

At the time Mrs. Loving was pregnant with the first child.

The Lovings’ returned to Central Point, Va., between Richmond and Spotsylvania, to begin their new life together.

In the morning of July 11, 1958, the police burst into their bedroom and shined flashlights in their eyes. A threatening voice demanded, “Who is this woman you're sleeping with?”

Mrs. Loving answered in a confused tone, “I'm his wife.”

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The violence began last week and was directed at houses and businesses owned by foreigners in the city's Alexandra township. But the assaults have now spread to other parts of the city, where properties have been looted and torched.

A police offcer tries to extinguish flames that engulf a man who was set alight during anti-immigrant riots in Johannesburg

Hundreds of immigrants are now sheltering from the violence in police stations and churches where the Red Cross is distributing food and blankets amid reports that 3,000 people have been made destitute.

Johannesburg police said 200 people had been arrested on charges ranging from rape to robbery and other acts of violence. Police had to use tear gas and volleys of rubber bullets to disperse the rioters.

Political leaders, including the former president Nelson Mandela, have condemned the violence.

"The communities should act together with the police and together we should say this is very, very wrong," said President Thabo Mbeki. "It is unacceptable that there should be this kind of violence."

The president has set up a panel of experts to investigate the violence.

His likely successor Jacob Zuma, the head of the African National Congress, warned his compatriots against hatred of foreigners. "We cannot allow South Africa to be famous for xenophobia," he said.

The attacks have dented South Africa's image as a "rainbow nation" that is welcoming towards immigrants and asylum seekers from other African countries.

More than 3 million Zimbabweans have fled violence at home to settle in South Africa alongside many Mozambicans and Malawians. They are often accused of accentuating unemployment, a housing shortage and high crime rates.

South Africa has one of the worst rates of murder in the world, with an average 50 killings a day.

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Thomas Bickerton, Bishop of the United Methodist Church -- another of the more than 12 religious, civic and private-sector partners in the global initiative, agreed: “To think that we can, through a simple mosquito net, give every child in the world a chance to live the same long, sustained life that we anticipate for our own children is a very exciting possibility.”

The campaign, launched two days before the United Nations would commemorate the first ever “World Malaria Day”, aimed to provide nets to 80 per cent of the people at risk by 2010, said Ann Veneman, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ).

Global production of mosquito nets jumped from 30 million nets in 2004 to 60 million in 2006, and would likely reach 110 million in 2008, Ms. Veneman said. Of the 250 million nets still needed to meet the campaign’s goal, 100 million had already been financed. Because the nets were effective for only three to five years, up to 80 million new ones must be purchased annually.

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Information obtained by Public Safety shows patrol officers tased 17 drivers since last fall, 11 of whom are African-American. One of the videos is from a dashcamera that shows the traffic stop of a 24-year old Walterboro woman who disobeyed an officer and was then struck with a taser gun.

In the video, a officer R.L. Hardee and Yolanda Williams get into a verbal exchange. Hardee asks Williams to see her driver’s license after she was stopped for not wearing her seatbelt. Williams then tells Hardee that she is late to work. Afterwards, Hardee tells Williams that “I’ve got to see your driver’s license or you won’t be going to work.”

“Ma’am I need to see your driver’s license,” Hardee says in another request. “I’m gonna call somebody before I do that for you,” Williams replies.

Hardee asks Williams 21 times and after the 22nd and repeated attempts to get her hands behind her back, the taser gun is applied.

“Get off me,” Williams says in the video.

“Put your hands behind your back,” Hardee demands. “Ma’am, put your hands behind your back now.” Hardee then zaps Williams, who screams, with the stun gun.

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Thomas Beatie

The Tranman, Thomas Beatie, used to be a woman, he appeared in the most recent issue of The Advocate  (a magazine for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender readers). According to a national magazine this Oregon man is five months pregnant!!!

Beatie wrote the article and it included a picture of him while he was 22 weeks pregnant. According to the story, he went through a sex change, but decided only to have chest reconstruction and testosterone therapy.

Beatie kept the reproductive organs he was born with. He then stopped getting the hormone injections, which still gave him the ability to get pregnant.

Now the next question is, who is the Father? Wouldn't that be a nice Maury Povich paternity test show?

Babcock shared her cluttered mobile home with her boyfriend, Kory McFarren.

Sherriff Whipple had this statement to say about the mobile home, "The smell was overpowering - a terrible smell about the house, obviously coming from where she was at."

The home of Kory McFarren is pictured on Thursday, March 13, 2008, in Ness City, Kan., where the man's girlfriend was found in the bathroom having stayed there for long enough for her to become stuck to the toilet

McFarren, 36, told police his girlfriend, had a phobia about leaving the bathroom and may not have left the bathroom in two years, although he's unsure how long she was in there.

While Babcock was on the toilet, McFarren reportedly brought her food, water, and clean clothes.

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The survey covered more than 2,500 Scouts from across Europe, aged between 16 and 22, were questioned.More than 80 per cent of those questioned said they were happy to get drunk and almost half said they would smoke marijuana if offered.

Nine out of 10 Scouts and Guides said they expected to have sex before they got married, and almost half said they would be happy to commit adultery.

"There was an open-mindedness about breaking the rules that is common among young people," said a spokesman for the Institute of the Innocents, a government-backed body which conducts research into children and families, and which compiled the results.

Around half the Scouts and Guides who took part were Italian, but British Scouts also responded.

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