Opinion Winston-Salem Chronicle I >??lion of Clf CUlJItlOTIS PtMMn. tw. Policing the Police Over the past few weeks national and local newspapers have run stories of police misconduct. Most of the stories dealt with drug usage or drug dealing. Winston-Salem recently had its own celebrated case where Joy Barber was convicted of conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Barber, as well as other law-enforcement officers, swore to an oath to uphold the laws that a court found her guilty of breaking. She failed to set an example of a good law-enforcement official, a per son who is looked up to by many ? from adults to children. Barber not only shirked responsibility as a law officer, but as j a mother to a 5-year-old girl. Let us hope that her case was an isolated one in the Winston- Salem Police Department and that the department can get on with trying to salve the wound that she inflicted on the department. Zero Stands for Justice District Attorney Tom Keith closed the books on the Sheila Ann McKellar case, but Winston-Salem's African American community should not close its minds to what ' happened to the 33-year-old woman. Blacks should not for JL_ . get because what happened to her could happen to any one . in the community ... , ? - To help you remember the McKellar case, it might be - ? helpful to remember-these numbers :-5^1 -and 0. Five is- for the number of officers widely held to be responsible for McKellar's death. They were the ones who arrested a manic McKellar on last July 18, bound her wrists and ankles, gagged her and placed her on her stomach in the holding cell ? of the warrant office. Lcjss than an hour after her ary^st, another female prisoner aJafted offic?? that McKellar v*yas "h~ not breathing. Less than two days later, McKellar was dead. "Lessnhan a^eai^lateT, the officers can breathe easier and return to work. One is for McKellar, a 33-year-old, crack-using, HIV infected black woman who was headed in a direction of apparent rtesyrar.tinn One Qtanrk for McKellar because she is the victim not only of police abuse, but of a society that offers young black women very few chances to survive the quagmire of poverty. Her criminal record dates back to 1975 and is filled with misdemeanor charges, mainly involving theft. Whatever her reasons for stealing - to support a habit or just feed herself - these problems suggest something was gravely wrong. The zero is for the absence of a state "negligent homi cide" law. Had there been one, said Keith, he would have had the power to press charges. Keith could find no reckless ness in the officers' behavior. Zero could also stand for justice. Breaking Campaign Promises If alFpoliticians who make false campaign promises are forced to resign from their office, as Oregon Sen. Bob Pack wood might be forced to do, there'll be no incumbents in next year's elections. Credo of the Black Press The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from antagonisms when it accords to every person ? regard less of race or creed ? full human and legal rights . Hating no per - son. the Black Press strives to help every person, in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back. ; __ ? - How To Reach Us Production Department Business Office 723-9026 722-8624 Kathy Lee ' Donna Conrad Debroah Holiday-Belcher LaCheryl Mitchell Crystal Wood Emma Jean Pitts News Department Advertising Department 723-8448 722-8628 Karen Hannon Cliff Hunt Mark R Moss Judie Holcomb-Pack Deby Jo Ferguson Circulation Department 722-8624 Walter Mickle Vannell Robinson Todd Fulton Patrick Edmunds Winston-Salem Chronicle Oprah'sVisit to Arbor Road Not Disgraceful To the Editor: I read the Chronicle headline "Oprah disgraces blacks in Win ston." I would like to express my opinion and say that 1 seriously dis agree. Oprah happened to jog on Arbor Road and saw a house with beautiful dogwood trees and a porch. She liked the house and had a desire to sit on the porch and share muffins. I would not characterize Oprah's visit to that house and fam ily as disgraceful just because the family is white and it was on Arbor Road. If you have been keeping up with Oprah Winfrey's career, you will understand that she was not thinking of racial politics. Those of us who have been involved in racial politics for years would probably have acted differently because in our activist struggle, we constantly seek every opportunity to enhance . our black political agenda. To understand Oprah fuilyTwe ___ne#d-to~kn5wmore about her phi losophy and what she is attempting . to accomplish in her life and career. She gTew up poor like most of us in the black community, now that she has achieved recognition of her tal ent, achieved wealth and is a world celebrity, she tries with all her being to promote love every place she goes and in every thing she does. Oprah's love, like that of her closest friends, is universal; it radiates across the country through televi sion media around the world. Her concern for her fellow man touches millions of people of all races, creeds and colors. So, when Oprah visited Winston-Salem, she instinc tively did what she does best: pro mote human relations and commu nity harmony in the city, hoping that our citizens would be proud, work together in spirit of love, and she hoped that industries and employers * would be attracted to move here, thus providing more jobs for our people^ Oprah Winfrey gives millions of dollars to black colleges and other black causes. She concen trates on education and jobs for blacks. So let's be patient and ? understanding of Oprah, a good per son trying to help us. even -though she may go about it differently. I asfk my friends who felt slighted to carefully rethink their position, and I am sure they will conclude what many of Oprah's friends will attest to: Oprah Win frey has a genuine love for all peo ple and that includes all of us in Winston-Salem. J. Raymond Oliver Jr. Winston-Salem Supporting Oprah To the Editor: After reading your article and com ? ments concerning Oprah Winfrey and the attitude some people have concerning her airing of certain footage of this city, my duty to uphold the truth has caused me to comment. First of all, we as black people do more harm to ourselves in this modern time than anyone else, and our rejection of the truth creates that environment. Every other nation of people on this earth accepts the truth of white people and who they are except the black people in America. The living proof of this statement is made manifest in our daily actions, in that we don't help and support ourselves. Every other nationality of people here in America puts forth a unified effort to build and support themselves. Now, these are actual facts: 1 am the host of a T.V. talk show called "Around Town," and it is pro duced by a black man, George Bishop, owner of Reel Tyme Audio and Video Productions of Greens boro. I have interviewed Cecil Rou son and John Raye of Dudley Prod ucts, Alderman Larry Womble, Whitt Lowery, the Rev. John Mendez, the Rev. Carlton Eversley, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and. of course, Coach Clarence E. "Rig house" Gaines. The show comes on television all over the state of North Carolina, except in this area. Why? Black people do not support it g?g| Sauveur Orelus and Fabonor Sainvil , both peasant-union activist , are seen in Port-au Prince . Orelus, Sainvil , and a third union leader , the three alleged victims of police brutality after being arrested for supporting a protest strike, were recently released from custody. CHRONICLE MAILBAG Our Readers Speak Out here, and my main purpose in seek ing to have it on television here in this community was to offer my lit tle help in bringing us together so that we may know ourselves. The show has gotten tremen dous response everywhere except the area it was intended to basically -serve. Dudley^jwas asked to support us, and his response was no, as well as many others in the community. So, no one can disgrace us because we are a disgrace ourselves. We have no faith at all in self. Now, Winfrey is a beautiful sis ter in-my opi^on, yet shf must , adhere to ^ood sense if she wants to be successful. As the media consultants advise her of the fact that the majority of her viewers are white people, and all of her advertisers are also white people, her producers execute in thcir-effonjrnrview-ofihe facts. So quite naturally, her shows are going to cover that which entertains her _ viewing audience as well as coin cides with those who financially support the show.. Air time on television is not free. I know a few celebrities, some personally, and believe me, they work hard, and they address with all due respect that segment of the community which is responsible for their financial success. You must understand that the qualifications necessary 'to have it your way" requires that you support it. So in closing, I would like to say, support me and Mr. Bishop, and we can he rui T V. and show forth our community. Winfrey did not start out at the top; she got better as she went along as a result of the persons who supported her, and it was not the black people of this communfty. We are a fine people, as our history here sixty years ago indicates. So, we have the potential to set an example for the black peo ple throughout the country to take note of. We certainly did it in the past, and we can do it now. Certainly, one cannot do better until they know better. My hat is off to Winfrey; she inspired me to try it, and that in itself was enough for me. Karim Allah Winston-Salem Cigarette Tax To the Editor: 1 am writing to respond to the proposal we hear is under consider ation in Washington, D. C., for a "monster" cigarette tax increase to pay for health care reform. We all think health care reform . long overdue. But raising excise taxes on tobacco to pay the tab possibly as much as S2 on a pack of cigarettes ? is the wrong way to go First of all, the "monster" ciga rette tax would wreck havoc on the economy of our state and put thou sands of tobacco workers out of their jobs. Second of all, tobacco taxes are regressive and just plain unfair to average working Americans. Excise iaxes take a much bigger bite out of the incomes of middle class and .poor people than they do from the rich. After twelve years of making working people foot the bill, isn't it time the rich pay their fair share? Lastly, if we're finally getting serious about enacting national health care so millions of Ameri . cans don't have to go without basic medical coverage, we should pay for the plan with a stable source of revenue. History has shown that when excise taxes are increased, the money they generate goes down. Our national health care plan should have broad-based stable financing so it's still around for our children and grandchildren. In the final analysis, the "mon ster" tobacco tax is bad for our economy, it will cost jobs, it's unfair and it's a poor source f funds for health care reform. Larry B. Carson Winston-Salem AIDS Memorial To the Editor: In 1983, a small group of peo ple with AIDS organized the first AIDS Candlelight Memorial in three cities in the United States. In the following year. Mobilization Against AIDS was formed and made the promise that it would con tinue the tradition of honoring those who have passed away from AIDS and supporting those who are living with HIV and AIDS. Nine years later, in 1992, 200 candlelight memorials were held with a total of over 100.000 participants in 44 nations on six continents. In this very special year of the 10th Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Mobi lization, we invite you to join us in worldwide solidarity to make this the largest and most successful AIDS candlelight ever. The AIDS Candlelight Memorial will be held at Grace Court Park on Sunday, May 23rd at sunset. Individuate should supply their own candles and . protective cups. For more informa tion, please contact the AIDS Task Force Monica Paitsel at 723 5031. > Monica Paitsel AIDS Task Force Winston-Salem Positively Piedmont To the Editor: On May 4, the community of Forsyth County once again exhib ited its "positively Piedmont spirit" and welcomed nearly 40Q students from city/coi^tyMf9^ools of North Carolina to our Second Annual Deaf and Hard of Hearing Track & Field Day. The students were able to come together and meet on common grounds, compete on an equitable - level, associate, and most impor tantly. enhance their social and edu cational experiences. This day also served to sensi tize all our communities toward the need of such an event. It is hoped that the event generate increased sponsorship for its continuance throughout the upcoming years. We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of you that helped to make this day successful. To all the volunteers, parents, interpreters, teachers, principals, administrators . . . thank you. To the supporters, BB&T, Dud ley %s Q, Wachovia, Pepsi Cola Co.* Burger King, Lance Inc. . . .thank you. To our host facility, Wake For est University, and our guiding light. Forsyth County Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, ...thank you. To the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School System, thank you, for believing in this effort and offer ing unconditional support. To the many others that sacrificed time, energy or whatever was required . . . . thank you. Because of your shar ing, caring and contributions, all of the participants were able to spend a day seeding the hope that their dreams can come true. Indeed, it was a day that bestowed on us the gift of gratitude, and united we say "thank you so much." Sharon Agnew~Oliver Winston-Salem About letters , . . The Chronicle welcomes letters as well as guest columns front its ers. Letters should be as concise as possible and should be typed or I ibty printed. The letter must also include the name , address and phone number of the writer to ensure the authenticity ofttte' Columns must follow the same guidelines and will be published ^ are of interest to our general readership. The Chronicle wUI a lish any letters or columns that arrive without this reserve the right to edit letters and columns for brevity and clarity* mit letters and columns to: Chronicle Mailbag P.O. Box 1636 Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102. . - ? k.