Forum
The greatest gift - Buy Freedom '89
I've been writing a Buy Freedom
Christmas Appeal for three years
now. My message has essentially _
been the same during that time. No
?amount of money from government
programs will relieve the Afro-Amer
ican community of its problems. It is
only through supporting Afro-Amcri
can-owncd businesses that-we shall
Overcome.
Tony Brown should be awarded
the Medal of Freedom for very effec
tively selling the idea that if Afro
y\mcricans spend 50 percent of their
income with AFro^American-owncd
businesses instead of the 6 percent we
do spend, we would create 1 million
jobs in our community. Mr. Brown's
bottom line is that if you spend your
money with a green business, you
create green wealth, stabilize green
families and create jobs for green
people.
One of the keys to economic
growth and prosperity is the number
of times a dollar is spent^or turns over
in a particular community. For exam
ple, the average community turns its
dollars, over five to six limes. Asian
-communities in the United States turn
their dollars over 11 to 12 times. The
Afro-American community turns its
dollars over less than once.
As Tony Brown puts it, "If I am
keeping >-pcrccni or my money and
giving you 95 percent, and I'm living
on 5 pcrcent while you arc living on ting young relatives to read, give
195 pcrcent, how can my house be as them a reduccd-pricc gift subscription
nice as yours, how can my car be^s to the Chronicle or check out the
new as yours and how can my IQ be great selection of books at Special
as high as yours, bccausc it's all rclat- Occasions. On Liberty Street, within
cd to income/4 two blocks of each other, stop in at
ANOTHER VIEW
By VERNON ROBINSON
^ ^ r?
Do all black merchants do right ? TES Fashions, Ideal Fashions, the
by their customers? No. Do all whites Hands of Time and Jane Penny's Gifts
do right by us? No. But how many and Collectibles. Stop in at my
people have you heard say that they favorite; the Collector's Choice in the
have done business with Afro-Ameri- Pavilion Mall or while you're in the
cans once and will never do it again? vicinity, try La Shanda's Boutique on
Do we hold white merchants to that Jonestown Road. Art is also available
same standard? No. In,fact, though from James and Ernestine Huff. If
Afro-Americans make more than you're planning a Christmas party,
$200 billion a year, the ninth-largest check out Johan's on Cherry and the
gross national product of the free Orchestra Pit in the Mercantile Plaza,
world, we have conducted the most This is not an exhaustive list, but I
succcssful boycott of the business in think I've made my point.
the history of mankind against our- Regardless of how you cclcbrate
-selves.?-? :? ? the Christmas-holidays, Tcmcmbcr to
So I ask my brothers and sisters give the gift that keeps on giving,
to begin to throw off this crisis of spend your dollar where it creates a
confidcnce by spending half of your job in your community and Buy Our
Christmas dollars with Afro-Ameri- Freedom.
can-owned businesses. Vernon Robinson is a former can
If you arc conccrned about get- didate for the N.C. Senate.
Chronicle Mailbag
From Page A4
heart and was trying to mend the
fences that had been torn down.
When her motion was turned down a
second motion was offered and
passed -- which to me was the most
sensible one -- a few of the blacks
objected strenuously.
Because Alderman Vivian H.
Burke had the vision to see what had
been done was wrong and voted to
mend the fences that needed mending
then these few black people are ask
ing for a recall on her. This, to me, is
ridiculous.
To think that one of our suppos
edly leading citizens, Dr. J. Raymond
Oliver would take a lead in trying to
destroy one of our best alderpersons
because of the way she voted. That
was her right since none of her con
stituents told her how they wanted her
to vote. Hor constituents trust her
good and sound judgement {sic}.
We black people need to use this
kind of energy to 'save our children.'
They are destroying their minds with
drugs and we are trying to destroy our
community with trivial matters. Let
us pool our resources and get the
black community in focus. Dr. Oliver,
adopt a child and help it to become a
dentist. God knows we need more of
them.
What can we tell our children
when we are scheming to destroy one
another? Let us move on to more
important things than to try and recall
someone because they did the right
thing for the good of our community
and city.
Naomi W. Jones
Winston-Salem
Reader supports Barber
ToThe Editor:
More times than not, I'm very
pleased with the Winston-Salem
'Chronicle's coverage of issues that
relate to the Afro-American commu
nity.
Like any conscious, aware Afro
American, I'm outraged and totally
disgusted at the cartoon printed in
Glenn High's paper. I know it docsnT
portray the activities of the average
Afro American high school student.
They're more sophisticated and artic
-ulate. I do feel Steve Anthony, adviser
to the paper, got off very easily. An
open apology was like administering
?a band-aid for an injury needing 20
;stitches! Not only was the cartoon
unfair, it was incredulous!
I strongly disagree with com
ments made by Mr. Palmer Friende
.concerning the cartoon not being a
"deliberate act." I can't even believe
he thinks those of us who are out
raged arc without reasonl^I am
appalled at that insinuation.
I do feel that Nathaniel Barber
actcd within reason. It hurt to see in
print such an erroneous statement as
the one accusing him of being "one
who has bought into the idea that
their paychecks are more important
than the miseducation of our Afro
American students."
It's evident that the writer of the
article titled "Apology not accepted"
does not know Nathaniel Barber,
whom I've called since meeting him
jn August 1977, Mr. Barber. Iwas 15
years old, a 10th-grader at Anderson
High School. Mr. Barber was my
English teacher.
He was the only teacher to ever
show a genuine interest in me as a lit
tle black girl. I recall staying after
school, receiving pep talks, being
scorned for talking too much, and
pre-wamed of the realities of the "real
world."
Mr. Barber cared about the quali
ty Qf education not only I received,
but the total black student body; it
was no secret to me, neither do I
believe it was to any other student!
Anyone who knows me knows I
am pro-black, and wrong is wrong!
Nathaniel Barber acted within reason;
if we're to discredit or criticize any
one, it should be Steve Anthony!
Veronica Bitting
Winston-Salem
Cartoon evokes outrage
To The Editor:
*
The recent events surrounding the
cartoon featured in the Glenn High
School newspaper have concerned
and offended a large segment of the
Winston-Salem community. This is
not an isolated occurrence that affects
only the Glenn High School students
and faculty.
In light of continuing incidents
demonstrating racial insensitivity, this
issue needs to be addressed
forthrightly and directly by the school
administration.
Principal Carl L. Clark's state
ment, "But this was a little incident
that is over as far as everyone at this
school is conccmcd. Everyone under
stood that it was an error in judg
ment," is an example of the prevalent
attitude regarding race relations in the
community as well as in the country
at large. This statement also suggests
his indifference to the feelings of the
black students, their families and the
community.
*We feel that the adviser, Mr.
Anthony, should not only be repri
manded, but suspended from his
duties as faculty adviser of the school
newspaper. The lack of action on the
part of the principal and the school
administration signals that this behav
ior is acceptable and condoned in our
public schools. We feel that the
administration and faculty of the
Forsyth County school system should
besensitizedLlo.racial* issues and con
cerns.
If Mr. Anthony is an example of
the teachers who are shaping the
minds of our future leaders, then we
are in a state of regression and polar
ization. If we had children wto
attended Glenn High School, *e
would seriously consider altcrnaivc
educational resources,
Marilyn T. 0dom
Von D. Orbett
Winstor-Salem
Thanks from BSA
To The Editor:
On behalf of the Old Hickory
Council of the Boy Stouts of Ameri
ca, I would like to .hank the many
volunteers, the medii, businesses and
residents of the community for the
tremendous support given to the
Scouting for GoodCampaign on Nov.
18.
Food is still coming in; however,
at this time we tave collected approx
imately 110,000 pounds of food that
will be districted to the hungry.
Thanks Again for all the help and
support fron so many caring people.
The Boy Scouts of America are again
proud to Ziave participated in such a
'Good Tim."
Mickey R. Love, Chair
Scouting for Food Committee
Old Hickory Council, BSA
Appeal from ministers
To The Editor:
We, the members of the Winston
Salcm Ministers Conference, view
with profound concern the bitterness
and divisiveness that exist today in
the Afro-American community.
Therefore, we appeal to the black
leaders to come together and work out
a mechanism that will bring about
healing and unity rather than to
engage in an approach that will fur
thcr deepen the bitterness and divi
siveness that now prevail.
Our community is in desperate
need of economic development and
the recruitment of industries to pro
vide more jobs. Businesses will not
locate in a community that is torn by
strife and confusion.
There are now other vital issues
facing the black community that
demand our undivided attention and
our unity.
The officials that the citizens
elected to govern and to serve our
community should be permitted to do
so in an atmosphere of unity. We offer
our services toward this end.
Jerry Drayton, Chair
Political Action Committee
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An Open Letter to Mrs. Vivian H. Burke,
Alderman, Northeast Ward:
As black women we decry your tactics at the December 4th
aldermanic meeting.
We are insulted that you would think that black women would
feel proud and approve of such antics.
Our pride rests in the fact that Virginia K. Newell, a black
woman, chaired the city finance committee. The most powerful
city committee.
Our pride rests in the fact that Larry W. Womble, a black
man, chaired the city public works committee.
Our shame rests in the fact that a black woman, who for her
own selfish reasons, would vote to deny Mrs. Newell and Mr.
Womble their committee chairmanships.
Ouf shame rests in the fact that a black woman could possibly
believe that her being named Mayor Pro Tempore would bf a
cause for pride among black women.
Our sham^ rests in the fact that a black woman would care so
little for the struggle of other black women and men that she
would give aWa^ so much for so little..
Our shame, Mrs. Burke, is you. Our pride would be your res
ignation.
From the Following Black Women: /
Marie H. Roseboro Atty. Willie Annie Alexander Nancy Allen
Dorothy Jones i_ , Kennedy Dorothy Graham- Brenda Brim
Beatrice Stafford Gayle Bullock Wheeler Glenda Little
Constance J. John- Ruth Carter t Denise Adams Ruby Wharton
son Linda Coaxum Wanda K. Stafford Denise Berry
Naomi Fuller Earline W. Parmon Beverly Berrouet
Doris W. Mack Jackie Teal Evelyn A. Terry Eleanora Johnson
Geneva C. Hill Dorine Young Rickey Wilson . Sarah Lou Davis
Yolanda Baker Betty Little Doris Davis Constance Wash
Katrina Reid ? Ora Lee Ingram Frances G. White ington
Joanne G, White - Sophronia Cathcart Marie Burney Elaine P. King
Nettie S. Manning Teresa Dulin