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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2016)
Page 2 The Skanner May 11, 2016 Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now Bernie Foster Founder/Publisher Bobbie Dore Foster Executive Editor Jerry Foster Advertising Manager Christen McCurdy News Editor Patricia Irvin Graphic Designer Arashi Young Reporter Monica J. Foster Seattle Office Coordinator Susan Fried Photographer 2015 MERIT AWARDS WINNER The Skanner has received 20 NNPA awards since 1998 The Skanner Newspaper, es- tablished in October 1975, is a weekly publication, published every Wednesday by IMM Publi- cations Inc. 415 N. Killingsworth St. P.O. Box 5455 Portland, OR 97228 Telephone (503) 285-5555 Fax: (503) 285-2900 info@theskanner.com Opinion DeRay’s Mayoral Bid a Victory for Black Lives Matter B lack Lives Matter ac- tivist DeRay Mckesson deserves high props. The young man used his activism as a platform to run for Mayor of Baltimore, and he placed better than expect- ed in the April 26 election. Initially projected to get just one percent of the votes, he ended up with two percent, or 3077 votes. That’s a miniscule number when compared to the more than 45,000 votes garnered by State Senator Catherine Pugh, the winner with 37 per- cent of the votes, or with the 42,000 plus votes (34 percent) scored by her key challenger, former Mayor Sheila Dix- on. Mckesson placed sixth, which isn’t bad for someone who entered the race last (in February) and without prior political experience. He is to be congratulated, and encour- aged to continue participat- ing in electoral politics. Social change happens from both inside and outside. In- side, legislators and leaders make public policy that her- alds change, albeit slowly and imperfectly. On the other hand, from the outside, peo- ple can yell, scream, march, write, and influence. The Black Lives Matter folks have been instrumental in this Presidential campaign Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist in forcing Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to deal with race in ways they might not have. Neither of them has gone far enough, although both have conceded some attention to reparations issues, and talked more ex- plicitly about racial economic “ him as a meaningful voice in Baltimore politics. Presump- tive Mayor Catherine Pugh should figure out a way to use his talents (perhaps on the Police Commission) as Balti- more continues to heal. “While we did not win to- night, what we did was very important, and I want you to be as proud of our work together as I am,” Mckesson wrote to his supporters. “We did something very special, and it sets the table for what else is possible.” Almost any- thing is possible for Mckes- son and the Black Lives Mat- Social change happens from both inside and outside justice. Mckesson says he “chal- lenged the status quo of Balti- more’s politics,” and in many ways he did. He and his team took the pain of the Freddie Gray murder and turned it into the power of a galvaniz- ing campaign. His scant 3,077 votes (with 99 percent of the votes counted) underestimate the impact of his race in that his race is empowering for other young people. Espe- cially young people who are considering electoral poli- tics, and his race establishes ter activists. It is my hope that these activists connect the im- mediate reality of anti-Black violence in law enforcement with the more systemic real- ity of structural anti-black violence that manifests itself through economic oppres- sion, political subjugation, and social inequality. Even with an African Amer- ican president activists need- ed to assert that #BlackLives- Matter because the Obama presidency offered no pro- tection for Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and so many others. The myth of postracialism is insufficient to quell structural and per- sistent anti-black violence. Hopefully Mckesson will not be the last Black Lives Matter activist to involve himself in electoral politics. This 2016 Presidential season has been great in illustrating some of the shortcomings of our electoral system, but also some of its strengths. That Bernie Sanders could enter a race with just a 3 percent ap- proval rating and amass a war chest $27 at a time is amazing. That he could seriously rival the presumptive front-run- ner and push her agenda to the left is commendable. That DeRay Mckesson could go from outside agita- tor to inside candidate is a measure of what is possible. Imagine what would happen if there were more voter par- ticipation and if more people understood how we could accomplish so much more by working inside and outside of the political system. Julianne Malveaux is an au- thor, economist and Founder of Economic Education. Her latest book “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Pol- icy” is available to order at www.juliannemalveaux.com. Follow her on Twitter @drjlast- word. www.TheSkanner.com The Skanner is a member of the National Newspaper Pub lishers Association and West Coast Black Pub lishers Association. All photos submitted become the property of The Skanner. We are not re spon sible for lost or damaged photos either solicited or unsolicited. ©2016 The Skanner. All rights re served. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission prohibited. Local News Pacific NW News World News Opinions Jobs, Bids Entertainment Community Calendar RSS feeds BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION #SkNews The Battle Over Paisley Park is Going to Be One Big Mess P erhaps one of the great- est entertainers of all time suddenly left us April 21. Kay and I were on a plane heading to Los An- geles when it came across the screen. I was in shock and it wasn’t but a few minutes be- fore tears came into my eyes. This guy was supposed to live many more years. But noth- ing in life is guaranteed. It was clear to everyone in the music business: Prince was a genius. He left this earth with thousands of un- released songs in “the vault.” That will become one of the many “crystal balls” that will come into play while family members try to figure out just how much money and value he has left. Since his death over 4 million albums have been sold. On the same day as his death 239,000 albums were sold and over 1.034 mil- lion song downloads were tracked by Nielsen. His estate is growing larger and larger by the day. How do we total it? It is a moving target and the courts, IRS and countless attorneys will be tussling with this big behemoth for years to come. First off, there doesn’t ap- pear to be a will. Prince has one full sibling — his sister, Tyka, who is stepping up to help get a handle on this sit- Harry C. Alford NNPA Columnist uation. There are three half siblings one his father’s side from after the divorce of his parents. His mother, likewise, produced three half siblings. Right now, they all seem to be talking to each other and “ growing day to day. His assets such as his recording studio/ mansion Paisley Park are ap- preciating assets. The whole compound may become a tourist attraction the same way “Graceland” for the Elvis Presley estate, which delivers millions of dollars to the Pres- ley estate each year. His catalogue will be al- most priceless — especially with the thousands of songs they have yet to release. This will be the key to all interest- ed parties. Let me make this [Prince’s] catalogue will be almost priceless – especially with the thousands of songs they have yet to release have not “lawyered up.” Tyka has employed a reputable attorney and has agreed to Bremer Trust Bank to manage the estate funds. Prince had used them for his financial af- fairs so that makes something consistent here. Then there will soon be a bunch of “baby mamas” claim- ing to have delivered a child of Prince’s. DNA tests will be- come an ongoing thing. If one hits that will throw another monkey wrench in the process of dividing up the estate that is at least worth over $500 million and is clear: the most interested and consistent party will be the Internal Revenue Service. The federal estate tax will clock about 40 percent of all perceived value and the state of Minnesota will come in and snatch another 16 percent. Yes, the government will be a very active “partner” claim- ing value and assessing taxes every step along the way of settling the estate of Prince Rogers Nelson. There will be many skirmishes in the courts as different parties will have different assessments. Prince was very philan- thropic, but he kept his dona- tions a very big secret. Will those entities, who have been quietly and consistently re- ceiving funding start speak- ing out and claiming a piece of the future growth? Who will have the authority to de- clare the price on “name and image?” Michael Jackson’s estate has much activity, be- tween Michael’s mother and the IRS. Sometimes they are miles apart on each assess- ment. Keep in mind, Michael had a very thorough will, but debate still lives in the matter of his estate. Get ready. The saga of the Prince estate will become historic. Maybe as they drill holes into the stored vault in his recording studio an au- thentic will may come to light. I doubt it. It was just Prince’s style to be mysterious and cause a little “Controversy,” as documented in one of his first hits. I envision Prince going be- fore St. Peter and shouting, “Baby, you’re much too fast.” Harry Alford is the president, CEO and co-founder of the Na- tional Black Chamber of Com- merce® (NBCC). For more infor- mation about the NBCC, visit http://www.nationalbcc.org or e-mail Harry at halford@na- tionalbcc.org.
