Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 25, 1990, edition 1 / Page 5
Part of Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
'[hi Winston-Salem Chronicle JANUARY 25, 1990 Forum a separate history for us? j very few exceptions, iliistorians have never dealt (i Afro-Americans. have written of the four sufferings or otherwise jjgly portrayed us as foot- (for the most part, we have jible or at most portrayed as ijes to American history (part of it. lave cried out against this, , so what happens? We are again. The masters set February as ick/African/Afro-American llonth - another appendage, (the virtual beginning of which was founded ([the quest for freedom of a jlfro-Americans have been the success of America's fllly, when this nation won tendence, Afro-Americans they had just begun to jat the "Americans" who revolutionary war to win joui would just as willingly (il war to deny Afro-Ameri- li. struggle for freedom in a listhe central theme of Afro- ) history, and consequently s of American history, yet (s (including Afro-Ameri- iwtoo little about it. do our children know all torge Washington but not about George Washington Carver? About Benjamin Franklin but not Benjamin Banneker? About H.G. Wells but not Ida B. Wells? About Thomas Jefferson (who called slav ery a "great political and moral evil") full appreciation for the contributions of Afro-Americans to the growth and development of America, the desig nation is by its very nature separatist, and our acceptance of it implies an acceptance of the Jeffersonian notion AGAINST THE GRAIN By ROOSEVELT WILSON but not Isaac Jefferson (one of Thomas Jefferson's many slaves)? The answers to all of the above are deeply rooted in the way tradi tional White America historically has perceived even "free" Afro-Ameri cans - as anything but equal. The paradoxical Thomas Jeffer son once wrote about Afro-Ameri cans: "Nothing is more certainly writ ten in the book of fate than that these people are to be free. Nor is it less certain that the two races, equally free, cannot live in the same govern ment." Historians have exhibited that same attitude in their records, and thus virtually discount or otherwise ignore the contributions of Afro- Americans to this nation. While Afro-American History Month is better than nothing in our quest to help this nation develop a that Afro-American history is differ ent from American history. That is analogous to having biol ogy as an elective for a medical stu dent, or making apples optional for apple pie. It it time we rejected the patron izing attitudd of America toward our history. We should reject the concept of Afro-American History Month and insist on an accurate American histo ry. We should take an active role in the selection of the history books being used to teach our children. We should demand that teachers use only those books that tell the full story, the real history. Afro-American history is not an option. Let’s stop treating it like one. Roosevelt Wilson teaches journal ism at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla. ronicle Mailbag From Page A4 'sthe real reason? Editor: liin Burke has offered iplanations for her Dec. 4, lie. 1: She voted for the per il)] the most capabilities. If son is valid, why did Mrs. lote for herself as Public Committee chair and p tempore? l2: She decided that it fegood for the black com- iind a source of pride for omen and youth to have a Male as mayor pro tem- !ith such dastardly, con ns, outrageous and politi- tocidal behavior, how can irke think that her vote od and would make any Krican proud of her? !: She wanted to promote iiimony. Mrs. Burke, there ibeen this much racial tony in Winston-Salem k 1968 unrest after the Btion of Dr. Martin Luther lYour actions spit in the !ill that Dr. King represent- il: To cover up her inepti- lilcrman Burke then stated ■didn't sit up half the night It) figure out how to do fc in. This is a clear-cut ■"race baiting" (trying to louble between the races), tats incoherent thinking Sponsible leadership. ‘5: She stated that there is ^Power in chairmanships, tte, chairmanships are * of leadership, and lead- ' power and clout. There- 'tien you voted with the fcans to evict Aldermen iind Womble from their •sof political power, i.e., Uships, your arrogant and 'It'ote denied them their * continue to lead. Your ® robbed the Democratic '"'ell as the Afro-Ameri- 'Uniunity of leadership s, dl was the real reason or I for your vote, Alderman iWto-American communi- ®ore importantly, the citi- Northeast Ward, are a rational explanation, ''beast Ward did not elect Pat Republicans in posi- * power and evict Demo- bto-Americans from posi- power in the name of racial harmony, fuel racial fires via "race baiting," and politick for the ceremonial position of mayor pro tempore at the expense of Afro-American leadership. Ricky Wilson Winston-Salem Patronizing "our own" To The Editor: The experience of the lady who pamonized "our own" florist business reminded me of my two efforts to do so with "our own" gasoline stations. I literally hate the self-serve stations, preferring to pay more for the regular services. However, I pacify my guilty feelings about the savings that self-serve offers by making certain that I receive some of the courtesies that full servicing includes. For instance, I wish to at least be asked by an attendant if I wish the insides checked, etc. - though more often I decline such offers. The one thing I do want is to have my windshields washed. Most sta tions render such services gra ciously without being asked. The first of "our own" stations that I patronized — for at least eight years — served me most sat isfactorily because I Pained each attendant to practice offering me the courtesies. The only reason I had to stop paponizing this station was because without fail I repeat edly had to remind an attendant to return my gas lock key. Some times I drove away and had to return to ask for it, and several times I didn't remember to ask for it until I was ready for another fill-up. Never did the attendant think of ways and means of how to break his habit of placing my key in his pocket and forgetting to return it voluntarily. The end of my paPonage came when I could n't find my key and neither could he. I suspected he had at last become too embarrassed to return it to me. I thereupon paponized another of "our own" stations — driving across town to do so. The atten dant made no effort to wash my windshield until I requested such - - and dien only tlie front. When I reminded him that he had not fin ished because the back was to be washed also, he loudly and begrudgingly exclaimed: "Heck, you really want to be sure to get Thursday, January 25, 1990 Wnston-SaJfem C&ntnicfe Page A5 ON SALE! MERCURY LINCOLN! TRADE IN YOUR OLD DOG fOR A NEW CAT! TOWN CAR NAMED MOTOR TREND CAR OF THE EAR! 99 TOWN CAR $ GO AHEAD ... MAKE YOUR DAY AT THE SIGH OF THE CAT! ^Applicable Rebate Assigned To Dealer! 27,990 your money's worth, don't you?" as he walked over to undertake the task. The owner of the station heard him and merely smiled. I smiled also, only to never return. I wonder what was wrong with giv ing me "my money's worth" (what regular service includes) without my having to ask for it. I will not paponize black busi nesses because they are black but because they can render services superior to none. Sure, heck, I want my money's worth. JFK Winston-Salem Thanks for coverage To The Editor: I take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of the members, staff, volunteers, and board of the Salvation Army Boys Club for the excellent coverage the Chronicle has provided our organizaPon over the past year. I feel this has provided us an excellent base of support in the community, enhanced the esteem of the youth we serve, and projected us toward our goal of Increased community aware ness. I pay special tribute to Robin Barksdale who has cooperated fully in covering our activities and special functions. Thanks again and best wishes for a happy 1990. Donald L. Moore Executive Director Salvation Army Boys' Club Mistakes To The Editor: Many times in our lives we make mistakes; some of our mis takes come from not obeying the voice of God. Sometimes we feel that we won't come out right because the flesh be afraid, but with the help of God we can keep down our mistakes and we won't be so uptight. After we make mistakes and realize we made mistakes, we should move from there and learn something from the mistakes. After it's over you can see how foolish you were. You can feel a ton of bricks being lifted out of your heart. Barbara Moore Winston-Salem HURRY! CALL OR COME IN SOON! LIBERTY PETERS CREEK PARKWAY/'WINSTON SALEM 725-0411 LINCOLN MERCURY MERKUR -—— An Open Northeast nf Concerned Citizen reeall of T-v-e committee petitions for ^ g^^ne ttf Sorts" on me Alderman Vivi negotiations. ^^ve failed & "mmon ground m neg_^^^ e“een a frteni of r" norrSo* mat the Peop.-,„,( pohticaUy a a Sast WmaW" vnll bo “7®‘coSmrttee etrong^^J'^S* We me^ '^“rteirte committee ,„ee that rs in. Time will te^ • at tins 1 BconomieOeve-opme end Bust ^ Ra^ond „I concerned cttieenaotl^ Connnttteeotcon^j;- J
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 25, 1990, edition 1
5
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75