Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson
Used strong, reclemptive mottoes to win big
The greatness of Muhammad
*Ali and Jesse Jackson is not fully
appreciated today, but eventually
.^history will praise them not only
for what they have done but for
the new horizons raised by their
Tcsponses to their problems as
;black Americans.
Each used three simple words
success.
What are the differences?
Whereas Ali rejected Chris
tianity and became a Muslim,
Jackson embraced Christianity ?
the creed of his target audience ?
and became its advocate and min
ister.
And whereas Ali refused to be
MINORITY REPORT
By JAMES E. ALSBROOK, Ph.D.
to shield himself from the blizzard
of negativism black Americans
face, and to unlock mental prisons
that could have frustrated them
just as these prisons frustrated
millions of blacks.
You already know these
words. Ali's three liberating words
are "I'm the greatest!" Jackson's
three liberating words are "I am
somebody!"
Both men realized the urgent
need to reject the dominant, perva
sive and discouraging messages by
which they and other black people
are bombarded second by second
by the larger society. Both know
about the double standards black
people always face.
But one big difference sepa
rates them from the masses of
blacks: they did not accept or
believe the degradating, humiliat
ing messages and signals delivered
by segregation, discrimination,
intimidation and a dominating cli
mate of white superiority. They
simply did not accept the negative
messages from a society that
forced other blacks into hopeless
ness, sharnie, self-hatr6d, fcrid other
anti-social feelings that bring on
anti-social behavior.
Ali and Jackson are the same,
but yet they are different. They are
the same in that they know pride,
confidence and hard work bring
inducted into the U.S. Army and
challenged draft laws and other
rulings he thought degrading,
Jackson obeyed all laws, except in
civil rights protests, and has used
the political system to enhance
himself and gain political power
and millions of followers.
And whereas Jackson
accepts the idea of a white
faced Jesus and the white-faced
Santa Claus, Ali objects to both
and, along with his Muslim
friends, he claims that these two
white role models and authority
figures have been used to per
petuate feelings of inferiority
among blacks because blacks
cannot identify racially with
whites.
But Jackson has built on an
existing structure ? the religious
beliefs of millions of blacks who
were stripped or robbed of what
ever religion they brought from
Africa. These Africans enslaved in
America, however were able to
find some comfort while believing
in a better hereafter through Jesus
as an escape from the injustice and
humiliation bf slavery. '
The nature and severity of the
slaves' problems and their long
lasting damages were shown by
Dr. Kenneth Clark, the famed psy
chologist who produced the doll
experiments with black Children
Thurgood Marshall used to win
the 1954 school desegregation rul
ing in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dr. Clark found, essentially,
that black children attending
segregated schools and living in
a segregating, discriminating
America picked white dolls over
black dolls as prettier, more
intelligent and more desirable
simply because they were white
and represented white people.
Psychological damage to the
black children was extensive,
causing them to experience a
wrong and unjustified feeling of
inferiority and the white chil
dren to experience a wrong and
unjustified feeling of superiority.
Jackson and Ali knew black
people well enough to understand
that they suffered from the same
feelings and problems the tested
children had. The children and
many black adults in the segregated
American society are victimized by
a mindset that cripples their mental
and emotional processes and pre
vents them from functioning at full
potential.
Both Ali and Jackson over
came this problem and their suc
cess shows it.
Some thought Ali was brag
ging when he said "I'm the great
est," but a little bragging goes a
long way when it builds confi
dence and helps counteract nega
tive messages that have crippled .
blacks for centuries.
When Jackson asks his black
audiences to repeat "I am some
body," he is really asking people
to have confidence in themselves,
to walk and talk with pride and
dignity and to break through the
negative mindset that has impris
oned so many black people who
feel hopelessness, despair, Aailund
and depression.
Jackson and Ali are absolutely
correct Please listen to all three of
the words each speaks.
You are really better and more
competent than you think you are!
Helping Haitians
The inspiration, of Katharine Dunham
At the wisdom of age 82,
Katherine Dunham continues to
provide effective leadership and
inspiration for millions of persons
throughout the world for the cause
of justice and human dignity. For
? morc-than four weeks, this strong
African-American woman has sac
rificed and risked her own life to
.protest the inhuman and immoral
.treatment of Haitian refugees by the
.government of the United States.
Katherine Dunham has refused
to eat until the United States
.changes its current policy of
"forced repatriation" of Haitian
refugees from the United States
back to the repressive situation in
Haiti. (The bold determination of
Dunham has won the prayerful
admiration of millions. She has
helped to keep the national and
international spotlight on the plight
of thousands of Haitian refugees
"who are still being mistreated terri
bly by the Bush Administration.
From her hospital bed in St.
Mary's Hospital in East St. Louis,
Illinois, Dunham wrote to President
"Bush appealing for an end to the
Inhumanity toward the Haitian
'refugees, she stated, "I find the
'most recent decisions regarding
Haitian refugees shocking. Please
?believe me, Mr. President, those
returned will receive no welcome.
Having lived in Haiti sporadically
for over fifty years, I find Haiti too
valuable to ignore or allow to disin
tegrate."
Dunham, who is a world
renowned dancer and teacher, is a
living legend. It seems that Kather
ine Dunham is now willing to risk
death in order to wake up this
nation to confront the ongoing
tragedy of our Haitian sisters and
brothers.
Will the African-American
"community respond to the chal
lenge of one of the "mothers of the
freedom movement?" Will the mil
lions of persons of good conscience
in this nation stand up with Dun
ham and others to demand justice
for Haitians?
We thank sister Dunham for
' her courage and for her sacri
fice. At a time when there are
many who are seeking out lead
ership models, we thank sister
parts of the world are praying
for you and stand behind you all
the way."
Dick Gregory journeyed to
East St. Louis to show support for
Dunham's fast and protest. Local
and federal authorities, however,
did not like the fact that brother
Gregory was in town and immedi
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
By BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS JR.
Dunham for her consistent lead
ership for over six decades.
Dunham's life exemplifies the
tyest of African tradition: persis
^nt struggle for the freedom of
all.
Several days ago, we visited
with Katherine Dunham in St.
Mary's, Hospital. Although she
had not eaten food for many
days, her spirit was strong and
vibrant. In fact, we were
impressed with her keen sense
of moral and social responsibil
ity as well as a profound com
mitment and understanding of
African heritage amidst the
pressures of protracted struggle.
Standing at the side of Dun
ham's bed was her physician,
Dr. Lee Blount Jr., who has
been one of the physicians that
has rendered decades of service
to the African liberation move
ment here and abroad. As we
talked in and greeted sister
Dunham, she smiled and said, nI
hope you are not coming to tell
me to stop fasting!" And of
course we said, "Oh no ... We
are here to support you and to
tell you that millions of sisters
and brothers throughout the
nation, in Haitf and in other
ately arrested him for "demonstrat
ing" at a federal building. Once
Gregory was released, he was sub
sequently re-arrested twice to
"harass" him out of town.
{Catherine Dunham remains a
dedicated freedom fighter. The
effort to see that justice is done on
behalf of Haitian refugees deserves
the involvement of millions. Sister
Dunham is making her contribu
tions at great personal risk at the
age of 82. We must not let Dunham
make this important challenge
alone. Let us with one united voice
and joint action demand justice for
Haitian refugees.
We recommend that everyone
take the time to do the following
immediately: (1) Telegram Presi
dent Bush calling for stronger
action by the United States to help
restore the legitimate democratical
ly elected government of President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide and to stop
forced repatriation of Haitian
refugees until President Aristide is
restored back to office in Haiti; and
(2) contact members of the U.S.
Congress to authorize support for
the Organization of American
States (OAS) to oversee activities in
Haiti to ensure the return of democ
racy to Haiti.
WHY, m.
seuows'
kJHATA
SURPRISE
\MtK5, I'LL COME
RIGHT TO THE
FONT. I'M RUN
NING A CON
SULTANCY NOW...
THE BUSH PEOPLE HAVCASKEP ME]
TO PEVBLOP SOME New ATTACK
APS FOR THEM. 6/V&4 WURCAM
PAJ6N tXPeRJtNCa, IV LIKE WON
0QARDFOR THIS, UNLESS YOUR.
PR1PC FORBiPS IT, OF COURSE- .
HI, I'M MIKE
v,c? POONESBURY
y*5? I'VE GOT AN
APPOINTMENT
THAT S NICE. BEUOWS.
WITH y rijR\
WHOM"
HA,HA.HA! %%
HA MM ?.
WK!M- s
ft
T GOT A LOT OF
dosses. JM THE
RECEPTIONIST FOR
NINE DIFFERENT
'CONSULTANTS" WHO
TIME SHARE ONE
EXECUTIVE SUITE !
AN P WHAT
I HAVE TO A HNS JOB
KEEP UP THIS TO/RE POiNG.
complete \yr^
PRETENSE'
NOT UKB TH5 (XP
QAYS, 5H, KJP? U5e9
70 HAVE 7HRB3
FLOORS! NOU/ 1
HAVBONZSUriB
TWotovs>AUjeeK'.?
I'M SURE
VOU'Ur
&OUNC5
BACK,
SIR.. \
tmi, KIP, Heft's THB
PGAL. 7HZ0USHCAM
PAI6N NCePS ATTACK
ADS -LOTS OF '5M!
FROM NOUJ ON, IT'S
GONG TDBePOUN
ANP PfRJY'
r/ w!
mi, LETS
HOPFHJtdOTh
00. l?TM?
seem at
wuve&eeu
(OORKJHG
ONLAmy.
ujeu.sjR.i
P0N7 nm MUCH
TO SHOU). JUST A
LOCAL PRINT
CAMPAIGN...
Htm... i,rmewisuw
INTB&5TIN6. IN6. YOU HAV5
ISTHlSTFUe* TOPAY FCRTH6.
ONLY *39.95 HOWL- ROOM.
SO THE BA6IC STRATEGY
IS THAT BUSH'S EVIL
JUJ/N, SKlPPY, WILL AT
TACK FROM TH?. GROUNP,
ANPJWE'U- ATTACK
it couu? get rough^Ioones
BURY. POLITICS HAS BECOME A
CONTACT SPORT. PO YOU THINK
YOU HAVE THE STOMACH FOR IT p
YES, SIR. I HAVE
A FAMILY NOW. CUHAT IF
I'LL PO WHAT I ASK yOU
I HAVE TO. TOTAKEA
v ? REAL CHEAP
SHOT AT ?
BUCHANAN*
\
I'LL ASK
"HOW LOU'"
SIR.
/
YOU'VE
CHANGEP.
Krp. I
LIKE
THAT
\
BASICALLY, WHAT THE
mm house urns to
PO IS KEEP RETURNING
IDTbEQULfUJAR. THAT$
WHERE BUCHANAN IS
MOST VULNERABLE!
USING 6ENERAL KEU&Y WAS
OKAY. BUT WHAT HJE RBAUy
NEEP ARB SPOKESMEN
THE PUBLIC CAN
IPCNTIFYWITH'
\
MY CONCEPT IS TO FINP TWO
GULP WAR VETS ? ORPtNARY
SOLOIERS FOR. WHOM BUSH'S
WAR WAS A PEFINING, EVEN
TRANSFORMING, EXPERIENCE!
Here is another way
to teach your child
the value of money.
Have him or her sign up
as a
Chronicle Hawker
(ages 10 -16)
Call 722-8624 for details