FORUM
Hope for a Misguided Generation
Often one is left to wonder whether taking
a stand to confront our >outh. who are on the
fast track of life, is worth the agon\ that may
have to be endured". Even tnough negative con
sequences often appear more salient, there are
many more benefits to being on the job. espe
cially asH^Christian parent.
My greatest concern is that parents must
become involved in the learning process and
, tec! a responsibility for learning along with our
\outh.
As parents, we must teach and model the
importance and effectiveness of a positive atti
tude to help combat some of the hellish shows
seen on television, in the movies or situations
experienced b> our youth when they are not
and drugs. Communication is the only means '
of liberation. In order to help liberate our
youth, we must communicate to them our love
and concern for their well-being, conscious,
self-realization and self-direction.
This is such a crucial time tor our youth
that we can no longer afford to deal with who's
who in America, who's mamed to whom, who
is eligible for what, or any other triviality of
that nature. As parents we must stop'being pit
ted one against the other in the work place,
home. etc. ? the old divid-and-conquer rou
tine.
To quote David Walker, a revolutionary
black writer of the early 1800s "I call upon you
therefore to cast your eyes upon the wretched
wiin us.
They must
learn to overcome
life's obstacles and
succeed no matter
what the circum- ?
stances. They must
discover how to
make the most of
their God given gifts and unleash their potential
for excellence.
GUEST COLUMNIST
By ANN LITTLE-DUBOSE
ness of your brethren and to do your upmost to
enlighten them-go to work and enlighten your
There are gobs and gobs of forces that entice our youth
with the promises of .. .(sex, drugs, guns, etc.)
As parents we must teach them that there
are no shortcuts. It's a known fact that every
one wants to be successful, but very few people
are willing to do what it takes to succeed.
There are gobs and gobs of forces that
entice our youth with the promises of big
money and wonderful results (sex. drugs, guns,
etc.)
Society, television and the entertainment
field constantly try to convince them that they
can have whatever they want withotot an invest
ment in time, sacrifice, discipline,|morals and
an adjustment in their life styles. |
Man was created in a state oi innocence,
but with the power of choice. Hf was tested
under the most favorable circumstances. He
was endowed with a clean mind and a pure
heart with the ability to do right. Yet, man yield
to the temptation and failed in the test.
We as parents cannot afford to continue to
allow our youth, who were created in a state of
innocence, to be influenced by the likes of
Beavis and Butthead. Bart Simpson, MTV,
some Rap Groups, weapons, peer pressure, sex
brethren"! ^
As a concerned parent. I call upon other
parents to take a stand. The cold realization is
that all the flowery and thrilling talk about
"freedom," "justice." "equality," "inclusion"
and "sensitivity" has meaning only in the Dis
neyland atmosphere if we don't guide our
youth correctly. Knowledge is the key to a bet
ter tomorrow. As we approach the 21st century,
we find ourselves moving in cadence in a
familiar cycle of hope and disillusionment. Our
youth languishes, as yet generally unreached.
They must see that they become what they
behold and what they think. Daily I remember
that trials and tribulations are only opportuni
ties for God to do something great in my life.
Therefore, He will give me the unction to func
tion as I take a stand to help our misguided, not
lost, generation of youth see the light and trod
the path to success and self fulfillment for a
better tomorrow.
(Ann Little-Dubose, a resident of Winston
Salem , is assistant principal at Konnoak
Elementary School)
Freedom School Continues
This summer. 17 Freedom Schools in eight
cities provided hundreds of 5- to 18-year-old
with federally funded meals and academic, cul
tural and recreational activities. Today, two of
the Freedom Schools ? one in Oakland and
the other in Washington. D.C. ? are thriving as
successful after-school programs.
Interns from the Black Student Leadership
Network (BSLN), who coordinated and ran the
Summer Freedom Schools, continued their
work in these two Freedom Schools.
The Fundi Freedom Schools, held at the
Metropolitan Wesley AME Zion Church in
Washington, D.C., meets three afternoon a
week and two Saturdays a month. Sixty high
school students and over 50 elementary and
junior high students benefit from tutoring and
mentoring, snack provided by a local commu
nity development organization and many other
activities. Students participate in their own
the surrounding community. In addition to
working with tutors and volunteers, students
hear from speakers who come from their com
munity to empower them about local issues. In
response to -a recent automobile accident that
happen near their school, the student wrote a
letter to the city about safety measures needed
in their community. And every student 8 years
and older is learning about banking by opening
an account at a local bank. Every Saturday
afternoon. Freedom School students take free
classes in African dance, instruments and
singing, compliments of a local program called
Children in Flight.
On-site coordinator Bernadette Best says
the success of the program is fueled by" the hard
work and dedication of the parents. Every
"Freedom Family," or parent of a Freedom
School student must volunteer two hours per
month. With some parents volunteering as
community service
and advocacy pro
jects and produce a
newsletter for the
surrounding com
munity.
Director April
Coleman says she is
encouraged by the
CHILD WATCH
By MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN
The success of the program is fueled by the hard work and
dedication of the parents.
quality of more than 40 trained volunteers from
Howard University and neighboring high
schools to assist the program. "I really chal
lenge the volunteers to look at what their moti
vation is as they help the children." she said. "
When you're working the kids, they know it
when your heart is not in the right place."
Future plans for Fundi include the addition
of parenting classes for the parents of program
participants and the kids' own theatrical pre
sentation that the school hopes to use as a fund
raiser.
When Margaret Payton, principal of Santa
Fe Elementary School in North Oakland, Calif.,
visited the Summer Freedom Sch<lol that was
j|
serving many of her students, #ie was so
thrilled that she became a volunteer. As the
summer came to a close and parents expressed
an interest in seeyng the program. Today, the
Santa Fe Freedom School meets four days a
week and serves 36 kids in grades K-6.
Students take advantage of a mulii faceted
curriculum that makes wide use of resources in
much as eight hours a week, Best says they
have no problem enforcing this rule. "I am
really overwhelmed by the level of community
ownership of this project," she said. "Even if
we weren't here, the program would still go
on."
These Freedom Schools are just one exam
ple of the ways in which we can combine
human and community resources to make a dif
ference for black children. Their focus on cre
ative learning, family involvement and inter
generational activities will help to rebuild the
black extended community family and bridge
the gaps between children, youth, adults and
elders. These are necessary steps in our work to
Leave No Child Behind.
To learn more about the Freedom Schools,
the Black Student Leadership Network or the
Black Community Crusade of Children, call 1 -
800-ASK-BCCC.
(Marian Wright Eldeman is president of
the Children's Defense Fundand a leader of
the Black Community Crusade for Children.)
bxojsb Mt, pucks,
BUT PO YOU KNOW
UJhBRB YOl!'R? 5TANP
INGRJ6HT t VOW*
YOU CAN F0R6BT ABOUT A
HANPOUT, LAP/' TM NOT
UNPBRUJRJVN6 ANY
MORB SUdSTANCB ABUSB!
/ THAT'S NOT
MB.SlR.eUT
IUNPBR
STANP.
ANY CHANGE-,
SiR* A QUAR
TER? NO* A
P/MB7
V
AUCS!
WHAT A VAV.BL! (T?>
6BTT/NG HARPBfcANP
HARPER JUST TDMBBT
BXPBNSBS! "OU CAN
FB&L TUB CHAN6B
OUT ON THBSTFBBTn,
\
AUCB, ARB iOU ?
YOUSUB&THB HAVBNT
60WBNA6B 5BBNANY
OFHOmBSS- MOWBS
/ NBGSIS ABOUT JS
OVER* LATELY,
HAVE YOU?
_
to
THIS IS 7H5 BUS STOP WHERE
YBTTA APAMS &EPA COUPLE
UZBEKS A60. IMA&NE, A HOME
LESS WOMAN PY/N6 RI6HTHM
Just across the street f^om
THE HUPBUILP1N01 V^l
TM VR3P OF F?EUH6 QUILT/,
TlX&POFd&NGHrrON, tir&p
OF MATCH! NO MY NEI6H0GRHOOP
0BIN6 7RASHBPBY VIOLENT
not cases anppereucts!
\ ? ? I H BAR
you, sir..
I FEEL
YOUR
PAIN.
X
HEY, WBIL, THAT'S UJHAT
PUCKS'. lumTBPTOTALK
HNAU-Y-* TO YOU ABOUT, ALICE.
ONBOF I KEEP REAPING THAT
MYRB6- MOST OF YOU V
ULARS! FOLKS HAVB
USBPTOBBBVBFVONE
6H0LUBPA LITTLE COMAS ?
SfON, A UTTLB CONCERN.
BUT NO LONGER. THBGOLr
PEN A6B0FH0MBU&S
NB&S IS OVER! 60NE!
)OU MEAN, AT ONB
TJME, GUHT RU4P*y m
COMfUS&OHHEU? I mxu
SMAYTOURPTTJ- I Iran
FUL CONDITION I ducks
CASTASPBUT
12-tt
ALSO, CHECK THB BOTTOM
UNE! HOOUGOOPIS THB
PANHANPL/NG NOCU COM
PARBP mj!TH, SAY, 1987?
AFTER. INFLATION?
I'LL CHECK MY
HIES.,.
tr
THAT'S RIGHT, SIR,
THIS 15 The ACTUAL
9ZHCH QNHJHJQi A
SCK ANP NB&L&CTBD
FfOOUJ HUMAN BBIN6
SPBNTHeR
LAST NIGHT!
SiNCB. I PQftfT UJANT TO SUPPORT
PRU6 APPtCTS-ANDfAl NOT
QUAUFta? TDRBC06NIZ3 THE
exCBrnoNs -rvznecicwTO
ST0P6MN6 TDSmmPEOPLZ ALr
T06&TH&. WHAT DO YOU THINK 7
o
P O %&&&&
sbs r> g ? />
U4HATT...
HJ& HAD
OUROU/N
6%j?rN ? UH-HUH.
n -swh
HOLD !T~AR? YOU
TKY/NG TO SAY ? ^ ^
THATUJeUJePZ
ONCBALLTHt IA^'
RA6B-!
Lewe see... 1912...
1939... 1907 1 GOOD
LORP...I lOASHAULr
IM6 DOWN HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS ABAf!
UJHAT&
THG-THZ
D6LUX&
(SUIUT TRIP*
WHAT?... OH,
NO, 50RRY ?
I THOU6HT
YOUMjeREA
TOURIST,
HOWMUCH
NOTTOF&L ?
MY RUN?
mi, WO
BUC&CCNBR&
Mi NUT.
UM,?
ueu...
OH, Her, GOTTA
60! L&V&TGUCH
dASt IN THE
SPRJN6, OKAY?
IT'S U KB
i me
HUNTING
MONEY!
iOUUJZRZ,
PUCKS.
RBMBmR
THAT NICE
SECRET
SERVICE
AGENT 7
Tie a Ribbon Around Your Mind
The city of Winston-Salem has a big problem with a simple
answer, but it will require, unity, time and an infinite supply of
effort to solve it.
The mayor of Winston-Salem has put together the "Stop the
Violence Task Force" and lately we have been hearing people
asking for our support in the effort. They have sug
gested things like tying a ribbon on your arm or
automobiles as a means of displaying our support.
We have even been asked to participate in a march
and turn on lights to demonstration our patronage to
the cause.
These symbolic acts can seem like a futile effort
when compared to the violent causes they are for.
Young kids are killing each other and dying from
| drug overdoses while we tie ribbons around our arms
and march. Somehow these symbolic acts seem to
lack punch to the problem, don't they? What we need to do is
attack the suit-wearing masterminds that finance the vending
networks that bring these destructive commodities into our com
munities. This is the cry we have heard from some voices in the
communities. Yes, maybe that is the answer. But wait. Why
should the drug and gun business operate any differently than
any other business in this counby? The network that provides
the supply is there because there iirft demand. So we hit them at
the top and take out the power structure today only to see it
change hands tomorrow. It's called supply and demand.
So what do we do now? Well, remember that ribbon you
were asked to tie around your arm? Its purpose is to tie a mes
sage around your mind. The African-American community has a
history that has proven the majestic powers of having the minds
of many ban together for a specific cause.
GUEST COLUMNIST
By ART BOONE
Now take a moment and think about our problem. If we tie
the message that the ribbon symbolizes around our minds and
march out into the streets of our communities and gather up our
children to show them the light, the rest will take care of itself.
It's simple economics. If there is no demand for guns and drugs,
then there is no need for a supply.
(Art Bom*, a resident ofWitimn Mini, is mabdtH *hci *
supervisor at RJ Reynolds)
w