Opinion
Winston-Salem Chronicle
Tkt Twin City's Award Winning Weekly"
Knot H. Pitt Ndubki Ecmooyt
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Rkhard L. Wittkuns
B^DtPItt Mtehwl A. Pttt
Mai White ^ VUwporn RstimetimlBcIwi
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Office Mtamgcr
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P?I * -T, p wMfm Ammw of Ckxuuttons MMtai, Ire.
Black Politicians
and Black Media
Alderman Virginia Newell
and Virginia Gov. Douglas
Wilder have nK>re in common
than being African-American
politicians. Within the sf an Of
one week, both gave stories to
the black media announcing
major decisions about their polit
ical careers. Gov. Wilder told
_ Black Entertainment Television _
(BET) on June 24th that he ^^*7.
would nin for United States Sen
ate, and Virginia Newell last
week told the Chronicle that she
would not seek re-election to the
East Ward seat she has held for
16 years. Neither announcement
should be taken lightly; both
were coups for black media,
locally and nationally, respec
...... - lively. - ~ V .1. i
For years, black politicians
have ignored black-owned media, opting instead to give
stories first to the white-owned media for a wider audi
ence. Ironically, it's the white media that has destroyed
the career of many a black politician, chasing him to
black-owned media for soothing and reparation. Black
politicians have long thought that by giving white
owned media the "scoop" that they can later depend on
endorsements come election time. They also have long
thought that in order to be taken seriously, they had to i
be validated by white media. That's nothing new; a lot
of black folks have long sought approval from whites.
Let us hope that the recent actions of Virginia
Newell and Douglas Wilder are indications that African
Americans are beginning to realize that they do not
have to be validated by whites to be taken serious.
Whites will never have at heart the best interest of black
people. They perceive that as a threat to their liveli
hood; a threat to their smug assumption of superiority.
African Americans must take renewed interest in them
selves ? not individually but collectively as a people.
And one way to do that is to recognize the importance
of yourself and African-American -owned media.
Blacks must again adhere to the principal upon which
the nation's premier African- American newspaper,
Freedom's Journal , was founded by John B. Russworm
and Samuel E. Cornish in 1827: That we cannot depend
on the white race to accurately tell of our plight
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 ? regardless
of race or creed ? full human and legal rights. Hating no person , 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
722-8624
Circulation
Bill Moser
Waller Mickle
VameU Robinson
Todd Pulton
Patrick Edknundi
Production
Kathy Lee ? Supervisor
Business Office
Donna Conrad
LaCheryl Mitchell
Emma Jean Pitts
Crystal McNair
Deborah Belcher
Crystal Wood
Karen Harmon
Doug Ritz
Reporters
Mark R. Moss
Deby Jo Ferguson
David Dillard
Advertising
Cliff Hunt
Judie Holcomb-Pack
Hunt Murder Conviction Just a Setup
To the Editor:
In my opinion, the Darryl E.
Hunt murder conviction is just a
set-up. 1 don't think that he killed
Deborah B. Sykes, and 1 feel his
innocence will soon shine in the
eyes of the beholder. When looking
at the heart of the case, her spouse,
Mr. Sykes, has really not been con
centrated on too much. The short
periodbf time of their marriage and
the enormous amount of insurance
policy taken out should say some
thing. If both of them would have
had a mutual policy with the same
Amount of coverage, it wouldn't be
so obvious. Was that the case here?
Did he pay someone (Johnny Gray)
to murder her, pay detectives to
hush up and have Mr. Hunt set up?
Think sbout it
I understand Mrs. Sykes prac
ticed martial arts, was very good at
it, and could have (in my opinion)
easily fended off someone like Mr.
Hunt
Danny E. Llndsey
Leave Guns at Home
To the Editor:
I am sure most of you agree
that our major concern in the com
munity is how to stop the violence.
One suggestion to save lives would
be to appeal 10 every one to, when
going out, leave your gun at home.
When some young adults
decide to go out casually to a party
or night club, they carry a con
cealed handgun for security. As a
result, they go places they would
- not ordinarily go and say and do
tilings they may not ordinarily do.
They may find themselves in a hos
tile situation/ which they feel
requires them to remove the gun
from concealment. Thus, at that
point, they are probably in a no-win
situation. If they use their gun first,
they wQl end up in prison. Far too
many of our young men have
proven this scenario and are in
prison or dead.
Emphasize that guns are made
Benjamin P. Charts Jr., I he n$w executive director of the NAACP, stands among participants of the National
Urban Peace and Justice Summit In Kansas City recently . Charts, a one-time political prisoner, psalm-writer
and an activist since he was 13, Is traveling the country reaching out to corporate America to help raise a $100
million endowment for the NAACP.
CHRONICLE MAILBAG ?
Our Readers Speak Out
ID kill. If you fed thai going some
particular place requires you to
have a gun, then elect to go else
where, and leave the gun at home.
In our present environment of
drags and violence, I think it would
be better if only police officers car*
ried guns and the rest of us support
them and depend on them for our
security.
J. Raymond Oliver
Dividing the City
To the Editor:
We are an All-American City.
There is no doubt in my mind about
it! Whether it's an All-American or
just a small, country town, each has
its shared of problems. There are
people working hard to resolve
these problems on both sides. Then
there are these people who don't
want change or progress in any
fashion, shape or form.
On reporting the news, I
always fell (hat ii should be
reported fairly and not showing any
partiality toward any one side. It*s
my opinion that the media had bet
ter check themselves. You know
and 1 know that the way the media
reports on an issue: If it's not fair
and impartial, it can divide this city.
Think about it!
Charles L. Thomas Jr.
President Clinton looks on ?s
Judge James Watson administers
the oath of office to Lee Brown as
the nation's drug czar, in the Rose
Garden of the White House.
Brown , former New York City
police commissioner, promised to
fight America's addiction to what
he called " an Implacable,
Whhi Hm Coming From By Barbara Brandon
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