Winston-Salem Chronicle
I? t U PiM """ /v%4" Ciiy s Award timing Weekly"
Established in 1974
Richard L. Williams Ndubisi Egemonye
Managing Editor Co-Foonder
Elaine Pitt Michael A. Pitt
Director of Community Relations Advertising Manager
Mel White Vipaporn RatanaUnincheri
Circulation Manager Office Manager
?Ul?
Sort* CMtrm f**iornt Nwnpap* Audit Bureau Am??e*meied ?
PrMt Assooebon Itwcdlion of C Irculat lonj ^ Pgt??har*. Inc.
Mayor Martha Wood at recent press conference.
Respecting the Police
Mayor Martha Wood was on target when she said resicfents should
respect law enforcement officers. We couldn't agree more. Police offi
cers put their lives on the line every day serving the city's residents.
But while her statement certainly should be heeded, her message
would have been stronger had
police Chief George Sweat accom
panied the mayor at her City Hall
Chief Sweat has
refused to talk to
the Chronicle.
press conference two weeks ago.
Many African Americans believe
Sweat has little regard for the black
community. He vehemently opposed. ..
formulation of the Citizens Police Review Board; his department has
had several violent and deadly run-ins with the African- American com
munity; and he refuses to talk to the local black press.
Had Sweat been at the press conference with Mayor Wood, it
would have sent at least a token message that he is concerned about
blacks in this town, since it is the town's black residents who most often
come in contact with the criminal justice system. If he had been there, it
would also have given this newspaper its first opportunity in several
months to question Chief Sweat about his police department. The
Chronicle has not had that opportunity because, for whatever reasons, he
has refused to talk with us. His comments, however, are often heard or
seen on local television stations and in the city's daily newspaper.
Mayor Wood's message, coming on the heels of two shootings ?
one in which a white officer shot and killed an unarmed black man dur
ing a struggle ? was not as powerful or meaningful as it could have
been, simply because she stood alone that Friday afternoon at City
Hall. Perhaps Sweat intended to send a not-so-subtle message.
If Sweat doesn't care about changing his image to the black commu
nity, then he shouldn't be afforded th&rcspect^f the black community,
And since police officers are an extension of the man at the top, well . . .
And instead of respect, when those officers put on their uniform and
strap a firearm to their side, thanks to the chiefs attitudes, they will not
get respect Fear, perhaps, but not respect. Respect, after all, is earned
by consistently displaying integrity, fairness and forthrightness, and
those qualities are highly debatable under Chief Sweat's administration.
George Sweat
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
722-8624
Donna Conrad
LaCheryl Mitchell
Emma Jean Pitts
723-9026
Kathx Lee
Dehroah Holiday -Belcher
C rystal Wood
News Department
723-8448
Advertising Department
722-8628
Cliff Hunt
Karen Hannon
Mark R Moss
Dehy Jo Ferguson
Judie Holcomb-Pack
Circulation Department
722-8624
Walter Mickle
Todd Fulton
Vannell Robinson
Patrick Edmunds
Winston-Salem Chronicle
Opinion
Freedom of Speech is the Issue Under Attack
To the Editor:
The Ministers' Conference of
Winston-Salem and Vicinity loves
and seeks the best quality of life for
all citizens of Winston-Salem. Any
controversy over how to designate .
the current quality of life should
include the central principle that
reasonable people can legitimately
disagree as to how to make things
better. Our conference has no unani
mous opinion on this matter and
neither does the city.
We believe what everybody
should agree upon is the American
constitutional guarantee of freedom
of speech People should he allowed,
to express their opinion, whether
popular or unpopular. Citizens do
not Iose the it democratic rights if
they are also elected to public
office. They should be allowed to
exercise their freedom of conscience
on either side of this question with
out being castigated as traitorous
and treasonous to the well-being of
our city. ? ?
Perhaps what's required in our
community is more substantive dia
logue on the issues raised here and
less anger aimed at those who dis
agree.
Rev. Ronald P. Davis,
Rev. Kelly OJ\ Goodwin
Rev. J. Ray Butler
Rev* Carlton A.G. Eversley
Poor Role Model
To the Editor:
I had been planning to pull for
the Phoenix Suns against the
Chicago Bulls in the National Bas
ketball Association playoffs ? until
I saw Charles
Pro- A ristide senators Firmin Jean-Louis (center) and last week the two legislators called for immediate talks
Robert Martinez at a Port-au-Prince news conference toward establishing a new Aristide government.
talize on the tragic social condition
of so many American families in
such a callous manner...
Well, it didn't quite shock me,
but it certainly is pitiful.
Guess I'll pull for the Bulls and
buy somfii^ecboks.
Bert Grisard
Biff Brothers/Big Sisters of
Forsyth County Inc.
Reforming Electorate
To the Editor:
If Congress is serious about
change ? if it is serious about
to lack of sufficient funds. The
American electoral process is not
working as it should.
Partial public financing will
return citizens and voters to the cen
tral role in elections by telling can
didates they don't have to go to the
highest bidder to compete. Public
financing is the cleanest money in
American politics. It is financing
with "no strings attached."
To pay for partial public financ
ing, we must limit the business tax
deduction available to lobbyists.
Campaign finance reform must
also crack down on PAC contribu
tions. President Clinton's plan
would limit PAC contributions to
appreciation to and deep respect for
the Chronicle for its response to
Salem College's incident of racial
bigotry. You objectively reportedj
the facts in your news story and per
fectly drew the positive meaning of
the story in your editorial.
Students, faculty and adminis
tration were shamed by the incident;
as you said the perpetrator(s)
"undermine everything that Salem
has fought to achieve since 1783
when it educated its first African-_
Americans." We faculty were proud
of our students who one after
another publicly condemned this
cowardly and hateful act, and
expressed their solidarity with their
SKr- CHRONICLE MAILBAG
cial/lL^yTxTa Olif R?3.d?rS Sp68lk U t waltel
? ? ?Xara nn 1 tion? our prcsi
menacing glare on r
the viewer as he states emphatically
that he is ncn a role model. He is
paid, he says, to wreak havoc on the
basketball court; and it is the parents
job, not his, to raise their kids.
Sadly, the wealthy executives at
Nike and their advertising agency
cannot be expected to be in touch
with the real world.
Neither, it appears, can Sir
Charles.
For their information, there are
hundreds of thousands of American
children in the real world who,
through no fault of their own, are
indesperate need of positive role
models. They are especially in need
ot male role models.
To be sure, Barkley has no
obligation to be a role model.
one. But for him and Nike to capi
reforming a discredited electoral
system ? ?_ it must support a strong
and effective plan to reform cam
paign financing. The campaign
finance reform plan proposed by
President Clinton fits the bill and
should be passed in Congress.
Our legislators cannot serve the
public interest while beholden to
special interests. If we are going to
build a better health care system,
reduce the deficit and protect our
environment, the day-to-day influ
ence of special interests on our leg
islators must be curbed. Congress
must put the American people
before big money contributors.
Candidates are lured toward
special interest contributions which
have strings attached. The chal
lengers, are frequently prevented
from running competitive races due
House candidates to 33 percent and
Senate candidates to 20 percent of
totnl spending.
Soft money contributions must
be strictly regulated and the "soft
money loophole" closed so that
existing hws cannot be circum
vented.
We need fundamental cam
paign finance reform to get the
country *s electoral process, linrk nn
track.
Miriam Blackmail
Elizabeth Bohl
The League of Women Voters
Thanks from Salem
I write to express my deep
dent, Dr. Thrift,
and our dean of students, Dr. Farris,
who immediately responded with
outrage about the incident and sup
port for the offended students.
As you implied, Salem College
is taking another step into the mod
ern age. For the first time we now
have enough Black students that we
can now have an act of racial big
otry! Be assured that we will stand
fasi,-p*jblicly-and immediately,
against such acts. Your objective
and positive responses make it all
the easier and more rewarding. It isi
a privilege for us to work with you
for the advancement of our commu
nity.
Sid Kelly
Salem College
r
VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY
Alderman Larry Womble has come under attack recently for a letter he sent to the National Civic League, addressing issues that, in
part, kept officials from naming Winston-Salem an Ail-American City. The Chronicle asked residents whether Womble should have
sent the letter. Here are their responses:
James Blaine Russell, 35
Yadkin County DOT
MIf Womble would con
cern himself with inner-city
problems and do a little
more with black politicians
he would see a different pic
ture. He is using his anger
in a way that is separating
the city."
Clara Stegall, 46
Dillard's di-jKirtmcnt siore
"I'm glad he did. 1
think he told the truth. He
made people aware of
what's going on in Winsion
Salem."
Donna Lineberger, 16
Carver High School student
"I agree that Winston
Salem is racist, but racism is
everywhere. But as a city,
things are getting better. I
don't agree with him down
ing us, especially with us
electing him."
Reginald McKinney, 27
R.J. Reynolds
"In some parts, there is
a lot of racism. If we had
gotten 11 (the All -America
City award), I still would
think we wouldn't deserve
it."
Joy Shannon, 27
Supreme Geaners
"Yes, because it's true.
We all should come
together as a community."