LETTERS/OPINIONS
Winston-Salem Chronicle
Ernest H.Pitt, Publisher/Co-founder NDIBISJ EuEAIONYE, Co-Founder
Richard L. Williams, Executive Editor
ELAINE Pitt, Director of Community Relations
Michael A. Pitt, Advertising Manager MEL V\ HITE, Circulation .Manager
i
Editorials
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Leaving the Legislature
" P ! /) / Z
We were surprised when Rep. Annie Brown Kennedy
announced to the Chronicle this week that she will not seek
re-election to a sixth unin
terrupted term to the state
legislature. Mrs. Kennedy
has walked the halls of the
Legislative Building on
Jones Street in Raleigh
since 1982.
She has not treaded
lightly. Over the years, she
has valiantly fought many
wars, always thoughtful of
how best to serve all of her
constituents. She has many
victories to show for her
effort.
To wit, she spearheaded
Rep. Annie Brown Kennedy
efforts to bring racial diversity to many of Forsyth County
governmental body's, recognizing that all segments of the
city should have a voice that can accuratelv express their
concerns.
She was co-sponsor of legislation that created an addi
tional district that added two more members to the Forsyth .1
"^County board of commissioners?Two African Americans ?
? now fill those seats. Her action, in part, brought much
needed diversity to a board that was overwhelmingly domi
nated by white men. Similarly, two African Americans now
claim seats on the city/^ountv school board in essence due
tb her legislation.
Mrs. Kennedy has also made an impact on Raleigh poli
^ .. tics.
Among many other things, she was instrumental in get
ting members of the General Assembly to elect its first ever
African American as House Speaker in Dan Blue.
We are sorry that after December 1994. she will no
longer be in Raleigh fighting battles. But we are pleased that
? Forsyth County will have her full time. True, there is no
quick fix to many of the problems in Winston-Salem. But if
Mrs. Kennedy continues to have here the type of impact
she's had during her tour of duty in Raleigh. Winston-Salem
will be much better off than it would be with her on a part
time basis.
Illogical Options
If most people had their choice of a bullet from a .38
caliber semiautomatic revolver or a jet stream of pepper
; spray, most would opt for the latter. That is the option Police
' Chief George Sweat says is available when law-enforcement
; officers go to apprehend some suspects.
1 Those options that were outlined by Chief Sweat
? recently at a public forum on the use of pepper spray sug
gests that pepper spray and bullets have replaced civility and
common courtesy. Community policing, which Winston
Salem seems to want to have, works only if law-enforce
ment officers are committed to resolving disputes without
allowing them to tum into violent confrontations. It will not
work if a person suspected of shoplifting or trespassing
turns belligerent, and the officer responds in kind.
Law-enforcement officers should be trained to be peace
keepers not conflict escalators. Until they work toward that
. ? aim. there is likely to be more violent conflicts than peaceful
resolutions.
How To Reach Us
Business Office
Lexie Johnson
Tamah Gray
Tamika Hicks
Crystal Wood
Advertising
Carol Daniel
Judje Holcomb-Pack
>U ?
OS '?c
Production
Kaihv Lce.Supervisor
Charlotte Newman
Scarlett Simmons
Karen Hannon
Doug Ritz
Reporters
Mark R. Moss
Michael Johnson
David Diilard
22-8624
Circulation
Walter Mickle
Varnell Robinson
Todd Fulton
Patrick Edmunds
Pr**? Attocar-o*
Nat"?"*
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45
Audit Burt
of OrcuUtU
Paper Credits Wrong Source for Turnaround at Easton
To the Editor: ^ | ^ ^ W~
During the past several decades
there appears to be a continuing
effort by those in position of power,
and the media to not publish or
acknowledge the contributions
made by an important segment of
^he leadership of the public school
system.
The latest "reminder" of this
effort was a news article on the turn
around that has taken place at Eas
ton Elementary School. After many
years of toil, seat, and love for the
students at Easton Elementary
School by Mr. Norman King, the
recently retired principal, feature
article in the Sunday's edition of the
Winston-Salem Journal, gives, all
the credit to the present administra
tion has only been in place since
July of this year, and had nothing to
do with the changes that have taken
place. Nor need I sav that the pre
sent administration is made up of a
black female and principal and a
white male as an assistant principal.
The many years of work to get
the support and resources in place
for a change in achievement levels
by the students, the change in how
the school was perceived by the par
ents and neighborhood, and the nur
turing and inspiring that caused stu
dents to view themselves as students
who could learn, and development
of an innovative educational pro
gram all came about under the lead
ership of Mr. Norman King, the
principal there for eleven years.
Need I say he is a black male.
It is good to know that things
are continuing to go well at this
school and h^rs itie^fiope^oTthls
community that somehow and
Diana Ross, left , with Regis PhUbin and Kathie Lee Gifford during the "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee "
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CHRONICLE MAILBAG
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Our Readers Speak Out
somewhere the creative ability of
black males be used to address the
problems of the schools and com
munity, and whatever measures
exist for not making full use of this
valuable resource be placed under
the microscope of rational thinking
and radical surgery be performed
and remove this bias so that this
community can be healed and
restored
Peyton T. Hairston
Retired Principal
About letters
The Chronicle welcomes letters as
ers. Letters should be as concise
legibly printed. The letter must
telephone number qfth^writer fl&jjj
Columns must J ail
are of interest to our general
lish any letters or columns that *
reserve the right to edit letters
Submit letters and columns to ^
y?
r t columns from its read
and should be typed or
fite^name, address and
m tenacity of the letter.
aiiblisked if the\
1 Chronicle wiU not pub
m this information. We
for brevity and clarity.
Chronicle Mailbag
P.O. Box 1636
isto#Salem, N.C. 27102 .
The Michael Jackson Story ,4
The Michael Jackson story
has been on every tabloid, talk
show, newspaper and radio sta
tion through the world. This
story seems to be never ending.
The allegations that he
i molested al3- year- old has
caused the news media to have a
field day with this story.
I feel that enough is enough!
What about a person being inno
cent until proven guilty in court
of law?
Jackson has been very gen
erous with his Jackson Founda
tion and many charitable organi
show that We ls'iTtrue humanitar
ian.
The King of Pop has thrilled
us all with his videos, world
tours and numerous No. 1
albums.
He has fans world wide that
continue to support him through
w-m
this incredible barrage of nega
tive press reports.
We should all
vering and unconditional
for this sensitive mega star. ? ? ?
April A. Jeter
Michael Jackson
Immigration Policy is For Whites Only
Blacks called George Bush a racist for his
Haitian immigration policy. Bill Clinton made
massive campaign promises that as president he
would give Haitians the same treatment we give
other immigrants and implied that Bush was
racist for not doing so.
Since Clinton's campaign strategy of suck
inp up to the white middle class with lies about
no taxes and intimidating black (the Jesse Jack
son-Sister Souljah ethnic spanking) succeeded in
getting him into the White House, no further pre
tense is necessary.
Clinton has openly and lamely adopted the
very same immigration policy (keep blacks out)
that Bush advocated. The policy under Clinton,
in fact, has grown an even uglier racist dimen
sion.
For example. Clinton's immigration pattern
allows Cuban refugees (3,000 thi^ year already)
to enter the U.S. for economic reasons and
refuses to admit Haitians who are clearly fleeing
political persecution.
If you recall, U.S. policy is designed to pro
vide sanctuary for those fleeing political persecu
tion in their native land, but not to allow immi
gration to become an economic jobs programs.
That policy was strongly defended as long as
the politically persecuted were white and the eco
nomically deprived
were black. Clinton's"
white-only policy is
just another of his
deceptive acts.
A recent episode is
an example of this
stark contrast Thirteen
Cubans stole a plane t
get to Miami. They
received a hero's welcome. A group of Haitians
who came by boat were immediately hustled
away to a Florida detention camp.
This is bad enough, but an independence
study reported that thousands of Haitians, espe
cially babies, are dying as the result of the U.S.
led trade embargo.
Not only is our foreign policy a blatant dou
ble standard based on race, it is genocidal in its
effect.
Where are the black in Congress and the
"black leaders" during this crisis? Helping Clin
ton plan an invasion that will murder more
Haitians.
TONY BROWN
Syndicated Columnist
These black politicians resisted the Gulf War
where the threat to American was clear and
imminent But they want a war against penniless,
starving people who are Black.
Tony Brown's Journal TV series can be
seen on your local public television station,
(PBS.)
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