OPINION/LETTERS
?Winston-Salem Chronicle
Ernest H. Pitt, Publisher/Co-founder Ndubisi Egemonye, Co- Founder
Richard L. Williams, Executive Editor
? ^ ' - ELAINE PlTT, Director of Community Relauons
> Michael A. Pitt, Advertising Manager Mel White, Circulation Manager
.? * < *
> Economic Initiatives
The Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce's Minority
^Economic Development Group, headed by Chandler Lee, is
to be commended for embarking on a mission of improving
business relationships between majority and minority busi
nesses. '
We firmly believe that only good can come from such an 4
effort. Although this is not the first time it has been
attempted, the ingredients this time appear to be better.^
?Most of our community's problems can be traced to lack
?. of economic development ? both in terms of dollars spent
? v
with minority businesses and dollars spent on bricks and
mortar in the African-American community. The Minority
Business Development Group's initiatives address those
problems...
? Crime in our neighborhoods stem from a lack of cash. ?
Not all crimes, but many, occur simply because you have
poor people who cannot change their lifestyles any other
way, or so they think. Consequently, you have robberies that
often turn into murders, etc.
Our community needs and deserves to share in whatever
- prosperity this city happens to be experiencing. It's good for
everyone. Eventually, things will spill over into the entire
cpmmunity. Our contention is we should not wait until that
happens before, we address the problem. We believe the
Chamber's program is a beginning in that direction.
What must happen now is majority businesses such as
Baptist Hospital, Lowes Hardware, Lowes Foods, Dillard's,}'
Belk's and the like, must commit some dollars toward utiliz
ing minority businesses for goods and services. This is not
something that can withstand lip service. As mentioned ear
lier.! we have attempted this before. If it does not work or
succeed this time, heaven only knows what the end results
will be. J
v ? * *
Minority businesses, must also claim and respond posi
tively to these initiatives, as well. We do not believe that
anyone should be asked to buy less-than-quality gsods and
service^ in the name of fostering better relationships. Minor
ity businesses must commit to improving its level of deliv
er). We believe that if the intent is good on both sides, it will .
succeed. We tru 1 v hope so.
Nixon 's Legacy |
Bob Halderman's diaries certainly sound like they would
make for some interested reading. The details, aired this
week by Nightline s Ted Koppel, talks about hbw former
President Nixon's staff gave him a dog to show a humanistic
side of the President. They also speak of the disdain Nixon
had for Ted Kennedy, a Jewish-dominated media ? and for
blacks.
_ President Nixon, according to the, memoirs, gloated . .
whenever Ted Kennedy's sex-capades would get him into
deep trouble. And Nixon particularly relished in the 1969
Chappaquiddick incident. Up until his death last month,
President Nixon had?a tumultuous relationship with the
press.
And even before Mr. Halderman's revealing memoirs, it
was no well-kept secret that Richard Milhouse Nixon thor
oughly hated black people. In his memoirs, Mr. Halderman
wrote that President Nixon was "fed up with blacks" and that
blacks "clearly are the problem" in the United States and that
"there had never been a "strong black nation." He said blacks
were "hopeless" and that he'd rather work with rXncle~
Toms," but that they "were not much better to deal with."
Although those memoirs were recorded in 1972, the atti
_ tudes of whites toward blacks remain as smug and arrogant
?--some 20-plus years later as those expressed by President
Nixon. Whites continue to feel as though they are superior to
African Americans. And it's unfortunate that some blacks
?rTail to see the forest for the trees ? allowing themselves to
. believe that white folks' ice is bolder. What they do not seem
to grasp, however, is that whites today also state ? behind
closed doors ? that "Uncle Toms" are "not much better to
deal with."
We need to wake up and realize that if we are too suc
ceed. we have to do it ourselves. We cannot depend on token
* handouts from people who do not have our best interest as a
- concern.
Boycott of Boards Should Be Reconsidered
To the Editor:
The purpose of this letter is to
appeal to you to reconsider your
recommendation that blacks who
serve on local volunteer boards and
committees boycott those organiza
tions. As a new resident of this
community and subscriber of your
newspaper, 1 was very disappointed
and disturbed by tHe comments
expressed in your May 5 editorial.
The on-going struggle for racial
and human equality has always
needed and will always require the
direct sustained involvement, lead
ership. direction and understanding
of our very best black and white
f men and women who .step forward
to lead our community. Winston
Salem ? East and West ? desper
ately needs additional black men
and women who are interested and
willing to commit to moving our
city forward through service on
boards, committees and other
social-services organizations. This
community needs the time, talents,
brain power and financial resources
-that all of its community leaders^
bring to their volunteer bddrd and
committees. Countless good works
and deeds. occur in this community
every day that directly and/or indi
rectly move us toward a better
understanding of human dignity and
racial equality. The pace of the
?Struggle for better race relations
within this city could be increased if
more people, both black and white,
step up and take1 a more active role
t on boards and committees through
out the Twin City.
In the short time that 1 have
lived in this community. I have
trulv outstanding communitv-based
v " . -j- . ? ? ? (
organizations, boards and commit
tees that are hard at work, making a
significant difference in the lives of
individuals and families. Winston
r Salem is far from being an ideal
communTt y ; fiow'ev e r . f a n t a s t i c
things are being accomplished. 1
have observed extremely important
initiatives involving housing, pre
school, health care, feeding pro
grams, neighborhood improvement,
the arts, culture, employment, eco
? rrormc development, fain i 1 \ coun
seling. college admissions and
scholarships, teen parents and many
other programs designed to make
Winston.-Salem a better place to
live, work and raise a. family for all
people.
1 beg you to consider using the
influence and resources of your
publication to challenge and encour
age black men and women to fully
participate in all of the volunteer
activities that help to lift our entire,
community. 1 am reminded of a
quote that 1 read sometime ago: ."A
great city is that which has the
greatest men and women."
Winston-Salem can become a
truly great city, when its best black
men and women roll up their
sleeves with the city's best white
men and women and work together
on our appointed boards and com
mittees. A recent visitor to Winston
Salem suggested that our entire
community could be transformed
into a little gold mine. I feel that he
is not too far wrong. Please help the
process.
Patrick Diamond
Unfair Practices
To the Editor:
In 1915, William J. Simmons, a
former Methodist clergyman orga
nized a new Ku.Klux Klan in
Atlanta as a patriotic, Protestant fra
ternal society. The Klan directed its
activities against groups it consid
ered un-American> including blacks,
immigrants, Jews and particularly
Roman Catholics.
Just because aldermen Hugh
Wright and Robert Nordlander had
support from Minister Ronnie Baity
of Berean Baptist Church at the
- May 2 board of aldermen's meeting.
police are called to the "black" sec
tion of town more than any otheT
section. Hear them out. Minister
Baity and others have stated. that it's
time for people to stand up for the
police department and to stop cod
dling criminals.lt is clear in 1994
who coddles, the criminal. It's
lawyers, judges and politicians. Just
read the state and local sections of
the (daily) ne^spapef. You will wit
ness the plea bargaining and the
deals being made. Recently a for
mer president died. He broke the
law and Congress had time to
impeach him. Did they do what was
right? Hell no! They gave him time
to pack his things and resign ? and
appoint someone who would pardon
him. A criminal is a criminal. Look
at what happened recently in-a
North Carolina eavesdropping case;
Gov. Hunt's supporters got proba
tion; the judge said he was embar
rassed for them. Right is right:
wrong is wrong. So until you deal
w ith all criminals alike and Treat
them alTtfie same, watch the com
pany you keep. ?
Last year, I read a book about
Adolf Hitler beq^use I wanted a bet
ter understanding of his power of
influence. For those,, people who
don't understand blacks and others,?
you need to read to enlighten your
self and stop depending on what
someone else told you.
I wa.v very disappointed that it
wasn'uthousands and thousands of
people out supporting a Citizens
Police Review Board, There are at
they are not too interested, it's time
to heal the real wounds.
It's no longer a black-white
issue; it's what right and what's
wrong. If you break the law, you
owe a debt to society. And if the
policeman' is doing something
wrong then he or she should be
dealt with accordingly. The citizens
?'have a right to know. ?
Finally, I would like to suggest
two books to read: The Holy Bible
and "From Plantation to Ghetto."
Then you can see the clear picture.
Thanks for Support
To the Editor:
The Junior League of Winston
Salem wishes to thank all of the
many customers who attended the
1994 Rummage Sale. We are also
indebted to the numerous. members
of the community who donated
merchandise. Because of your sup
port, the Rummage Sale was a
tremendous success!
We are thrilled to report the
l_sale netted; approximately $80,000
which will be returned to the com
munity through our projects and
trained volunteers.
In this, our 71st anniversary
year, we are most grateful for the
long-term support of all of our
friends in the community. Because
of you. the Junior League of Win
ston-Salem has been able to con
I tribute over $1 million and hun
dreds of thousands of volunteer
hours to improving the quality of
CHRONICLE MAILBAG
Our Readers Speak Out
does nothing for me in understand
ing our problem. The blame must
always fall on someone else when
the problem lies. with each and
every individual. It is clear that
those who oppose the police-review
board ^ill continue to do so: I'm
trying to understand those who say
it's not a racial issue. Be realistic!
In America, we are born into a
? systerrr tharrdeniiftes you by your
race. 1 imagine that some people
have difficulty talking about racial
issues (without) becoming emo
tional. angry and upset.
lnJVinston-Salem,JLyouJoQk_
at this city geographically, the
least five housing projects in Win
ston-Salem and this is where the
police spend a lot of time. Since
I
life in our community. Thank you.
Lu Anne C. Wood
President. Junior League of W insiton-Salcm
About letters . . .
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Chronicle Maitbag, P.O. Box 1636
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27)02.
Ben Chavis: The NAACP's Breath of Fresh Air
When the NAACP selected the Rev. Ben
jamin F. Chaviscas executive director, a wave of
optimism and expectancy swept black America.
Black people* were looking for a new direction
-for the NAACP. Chavis has not disappointed. He -
immediately set the tone for his administration by
going directly to the "hood" in South Central Los
Angeles to await the verdict in the second Rod
ney King beating trial. He has been a major inspi
ration for the Urban Peace Movement, which is
across the nation. Indeed, the crisis of black
youth has become major a focus for the NAACP.
The struggle for "economic democracy" has also
been intensified as Chavis scored aTftilestone vic
tor) by signing a $50 million Fair Share Agree
ment with the Denny's corporation.
But perhaps the most important dimension of
the dynamic new direction set by Chavis has
been a niew^penness to reaching out to all sectors
of the National African American Community.
Giv'en the massive crisis ripping at the very fabric
of black life in our communities, Chavis has pri
oritized creating greater unity among the various
leaders, organizations and constituencies in the
black community. Black America watched with
great satisfaction as Chavis participated in a
nationally televised Unity Forum convened by
Cong. Kwesi Mfume. chairman of the Congres
sional Black Caucus. The new executive 'director
of NAACP stood on the same platform with Jesse
Jackson. Maxine Waters and Minister Louis Far
rakhan and entered in to a covenant to advance
the struggle for justice for black people. And, the
masses of black people beamed with enormous
pride when Chavis refused to break the covenant
with Minister Farrakhan over the Khalid Muham
mad affair. Refusing to buckle to outside pressure
(as many black leaders did). Chavis discussed an
agenda and unified approach to solving the crises
afflicting the black community. Chavis made it
clear that Minister FarTakhan would be included
in the summit.
Most recently. Chavis took another bold step
in his campaign to promote unity in the black
community by convening a meeting of national
ist, pan-afncanist and progressive leaders. Hosted
by the 50.000 member Detroit branch of the
NAACP (the largest branch in the association),
among those attending this historic meeting were:
Conrad Worrill. chairman of the National Black
United Front: Charlene Mitchell, chairman of the
National Alliance Against Racism and Political
Repression; Maqlana Karenga. chairman of the
U.S. Organization and the creator of Kwanzaa:
Cornel West, vice chairman. Democratic Social
ist of America; Gwen Patton, director, Southern
Rainbow Education Project: *>djoa Aiyetoro.
director. National Conference of Black Lawyers:
and Leonard Jeffries, chairman oi" the Black
Studies Dept. at CUNY.
The meeting was an overwhelming success.
It is a tribute to the lead
ership of Chavis that_
leaders who would not
have come to a meeting
convened by the
NAACP a year ago sat
around the table
together to discuss ways
and means of working"
collaboratively to cope with the crisis in the black
community. Black leaders, who in some cases
has serious difference with each other, agreed to
set aside their differences to explore creating
operational unity for the safce of the greater good
of the "Black Nation."
It has been this kind of new direction and
bold new leadership that has been like a breath of
fresh air revitalizing our oldest and largest civil
rights organization. During the last year, the
membership of the^ NAACP dramatically
increased from 490.000 to 650.000 as black peo
ple from across the nation have taken a new look
at the NAACP. More than 60 percent of these
new NAACP members are under 30 years old.
Chavis' tenure has not been without difficulties,
however. Some within the NAACP who were/are
comfortable with the old NAACP have consis
tently resisted the new direction chartered by
Chavis. And certain elements of the media, par
ticularly The New York Times, have been
severely critical of Chavis in an obvious attempt
to discredit him and his top associates. Chavis'
refusal to distance himself from Farrakhan and
the Detroit meeting with' nationalist, pan-african
ist and progressives are particularly troublesome
to his- detractorfr nrside and outside of the
NAACP. Joe Madison, a board member who has
emerged as a major critic of Chavis, described
the inclusion of Farrakhan in the call for the ?
Summit as an "extreme move" and labeled the
leaders who attended the Detroit meeting as a
group of "washed-up radicals from the past."
Indeed, the Detroit meeting has caused such con
cern among some of the board members that
Chavis may be in serious jeopardy.
From my vantage point, as a lifetime mem
By RON DANIELS
ber of NAACP, it's time ro rall> around Ben
Chavis! Too many black leaders who have had
the courage to stand up for black people have
fallen pray to forces external to the black com
munity and their apologist^ inside the black com
munity. Black America should not forget that no
less a personage than W.E.B. DuBois was run out
of the NAACP. All to often the black masses
apathetically watch as courageous black leaders
are cut down. Ben Chavis should not become a
victim of our apathy and inaction. The voice of
the masses of black people needs to be heard in a
ringing endorsement for the new leadership and
new direction of the NAACP. Without our sup
port. Ben Chavis and the new direction he has
blazed may be in danger.
Persons interested in working to support
Chavis and his new direction of NAACP should
call the national office: (410) 486-9100.
(Ron Daniels is a national syndicated
columnist .)