OPINION/LETTERS
Winston-Salem Chronicle
* /
Ernest H. Pitt, PubJi?her/Co tounder NDL'BISI EgEMONYE, Co-Founder
Richard L. Williams* Executive Editor
Elaine Pitt, Director of CommumtC Relations
MlCHAEL A. Pin, Ad\ertising Manager MEL WHITE, Circulation Manager
J ?
Loan Review Board
The folks ai NationsBank appear to be taking bold steps _
"in seeking to right many of the wrongs that have been perpe
trated on the African-American community over the years
b\ majority lending institutions. NationsBank has recently
aeveloped two novel approaches to helping the historically
* disenfranchised get a slice of the economic pie: It developed
the Small Business Community Education Program and
. .offered training to the NAACP Community Development
Resource Center staff.
And just this week, a program was launched that should
positive!) impact on two areas where African Americans
have routinely been left out: home-ownership loans and
all -business loansT"
NationsBank has teamed with the National Urban
League to create a Community Loan Review Board here and
? n Charlotte. The new concept is likely to get Grade "A"'
iesults. This program enables NationsBank customers whose
Mome-purchase or home-improvement mortgage are
declined for whatever reason t}o receive a "second look"
- i'om the Loan Review Board. The board here qonsists of
ihree bank underwriters, the local Urban League president
- and three community members, including city employee
Kjtchie Brooks as chairman of the board.
We give NationsBank credit for putting programs in
' ice to Help African Americans realize the American dream
of home ownership. We also applaud jits efforts in other
t. areas, too. including contributing 6277,000 to the Winston
Salem Tandem Loan Pool, which fosters neighborhood revi
! Ji/ation through acquisition and rehabilitation and provides
sortgage funding, for low and moderate-income families.
NationsBank also has made hundreds of calls to small and
minority-owned businesses to solicit new banking relation
! ips in minority communities. Not all of those calls created
.?an opportunities, but NationsBank executives were able tc
(.!?> a needs assessment and determine what is lacking in the
immunity. That is a first step, we hope, in addressing what
in tact is lacking, which is capital. ?
We need more majority lending institutions to be as for
ward thinking as NationsBank. And we ask tjiat African
Americans take .ad vantage of this welcomed opportunity.
Stem the Violent Tide
vVt were glad to see that the Police Department's recent
eui bus -back program was an overwhelming success. This
? especial!} true in light of a recent Justice Department
report that crimes committed by pistols are setting records *
across the nation.
In 1992. there were 13.200 pi stol-related-deathfr tn-the
' ; ;ed States. No group was hit harder than ynnnp Afinanzz
\merican males. Black males between the ages 16 to 19
>?% ere four times as likely to be victims as wnite males their
ape Black men ages 20 to 24 were three times as likely as
white men to be victims.
Locally, of the 17 homicides in WTinston-Salem this year,
i i of the victims have been African- American males and 10
ot those died from gun-shot wounds. Two of the three
?\ii ican -American females killed were by guns.
While many claim to keep a gun for self-protection, guns
'a tact make you far less safe ;inH ynn have a greater chance
? ot endangering your love ones. According to a recent study,
a gun in the home increases the, likelihood of homicide
threefold. A gun in the home is also 43 times more likely to
be used to commit homicide, suicide or an accidental killing
thanji is to be used for self-defense. Some people believe
that more prisons will stop the violence ? evident by jails
?being built across the country. Nothing is farther from the
truth. ?
During the 19H0s. the U.Sl prison population nearly
tripled while the violent crime rate continued to rise. Most
gun violence occurs in the coufse of an argument and not
other criminal behavior, often isJnot premeditated and there
fore not subject to criminal deterrence.
There is a workable solution, however. Violence is a
complex problem resulting from the sum total of other social
ills, including poverty, joblessness, poor schools, disinte
, grating families and communities, a history of family vio
lence and easy access to guns.
The solution to violence will have to be equally multi
faceted and long-term. Gun buy-backs ? removing a few
more guns from the streets and from homes ? are a start.
Student Says How to Reduce Violence in Schools
To the Editor:
What would I like to do to stop
violence in our schools? We have a
lot of problems in our schools, and
if we as a whole could get together
and discuss what we could do to
make ij better, there would be a
great change in our schools. At this
time, violence is increasing at a
very high rate.
For example, statistics show
that there has been a 21 percent
increase on violence in our system
than there was in 1993. We are
rated, lowest in education and high
est in violence.
This should somehow make us
see what the problem is. In order to
stop violence in our schools; I
would call for group mediation ses
sions, appeal to school representa
tives and better school safety.
First, 1 would appeal to coun
selors and teachers to start media
tion classes.
We need a weekly session that
consists of all students in our
schools who would like to partici
pate in discussing what is happen
ing in our schools. Two other
groups that I would like to form
would be an all-male group that
would meet once a week and dis
cuss the problems that they are hav
iifg in school and the problem that
they have out of school. We also
need an all-female group that will
meet once a week to teach them
how to get along ;with each other,
and show the students how to han
dle conflicts.
Second. I would write to repre
sentatives. I would write to mem
Clarence and Clara Gaines "j ?? ? ; '
William Turner's Column was Stimulating
?. # ? r
The column '"Clara" Lucille Berry Gaines: The Virtuous
written by William H. Turner's "Lift Every Voice", in the
vl9 edition, was stimulating and exhibited excellence from the
?r, Readings of this nature can be appreciated because we as
not only glorify those whom are in our limelight; but
also those whom are our shadows. The 'Writer mentioned the impor
tance of the family and the roles in which we must all take 'en and
the need to fulfill them.
the writer, 1 say thank you for your excellent work. You have
once again proven that we as a black race can avoid extensive self
servicing -and the reluctance lies upon njaie-female, father-mother
and brother-sister in order to achieve the unity in whicfe we so des
r^perateiy need. . ,? ?
: ' ?? ' v Vkrlde R. Nelson
swap ? ? I
; ?'& ' . ; , ?; , ?: * : .. . . -y_ F.
weapon on school property, and if
they see anyone with a weapon on
school property they report it to a
school administrator.
The Security Committee will
reduce the violence that occurs in
our schools.
Danyetta Jackson
West Forsyth High
Thanks for Support
To the Editor: '
On May 4 at Miller Park, over
200 hearing-impaired students rang
ing from Pre-K tQ high school from
North Carolina schools participated
in activities developed and designed
for competition, fellowship, making
new friends and renewing old
acquaintances in an environment of
total communication. We would
like to thank all who helped to make
this event ? The Third Annual
N.C. Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Track & Field Day ? a' complete
success.
We al*o thank our guest
speaker. 1985 Deaf Olympian Sil
ver medalist Steve Rash: the Win- -
ston-Salem/ Forsyth County
schools, principals, teachers, inter
preters and parents all of the hard
working volunteers.
We thank the Winston
Salem/Forsyth County Center for
Deaf and Hard of Hearing; the Win
ston-Salem Parks and Recreation
Department; the Chamber of Com
merce and the 7 Days in Winston
I
^Salem photographers; 'Allman
Humphrey & Spry PA; Com Prod
ucts; Sam's Club: Skidmore's;
Wachovia: Pepsi Cola Corp.; Lowes
Foods; McDonal J's: Burger King;
and many others who helped sup
port this event. I
Sharon Agnew & Ellen Loomis
Event coordinators
CHRONICLE MAI LB AG
Our Readers Speak Out
hers of our school board and Con
gress. 1 would" let our schtiot fi&&rd'
members know that we need their
help, and also1 let them know the
-^pi obiem s -w-e-are- - h a v4 n g-. < -I wou Id -
write a letter to Congress letting
them know what we are in need of,
and what we want from them to
help us to stop violence in our
schools.
Last. 1 would try and make
schools safer.; A way that I would
accomplish that would be to form
two committees. They would be
known as the Security Committee
and the Crime Stoppers Committee.
The Security Committee would
make sure that no one conceals a
also be responsible for putting up
private, QAfl)&*as, in the hallways
bathrooms, and locker rooms, so we
can stop violence in our schools.
The Crime Stoppers Committee will
consist of students from all grades
that agree to keep all information
about violence among group mem
bers only. But, they would have the
authority to release any information
on any violence that, occurs or looks
to as if it will occur to the adminis
trator ot our school^
These things 1 have mentioned
in the above paragraphs are what I'd
like to do to stop violence in our
schools.' Everywhere. If everyone
would do these things, maybe it w ill
CLARIFICATION
The name of the author of a let
ter written in last week's issue was
inadvertently ommitted. The author
was Ricky A Jones. The Chronicle
regrets this ommission.
?* ' 4' ^ I k -,?<hV ? ( L.) ? '?1'v "
??*-? ?5,/Mt /HilU) 1/I)I/')<,|(ii tlt? ?? .??>?! !?' r*-IUi'j4l l/V'\
About letters ? s N tu??; k- ? . ??
? ? V ' * ' *? . ^ V
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be typed or legibly printed. The letter must also include the
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Chronicle Mailbag, P.O. Box 1636
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102
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HBCUs are being Challenged to Prove their Value
No one alive today experienced slavery. We
onlv know what it was like through_thp storips
passed down from generation to generation and
from the books and speeches written by aboli
tionists and writers of the day. We know that it
was illegal to educate slaves - even illegal to
teach them to read the Bible.
In spite of such laws in the South, there were
colleges founded in the North to educate blacks
? including Chevney State College and Lincoln
University, both in Pennsylvania and Wilberforce
University in Ohio.
These were among the first Historically
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which
"grew to include a number of institutions serving
the black community in the South, since most
Southern colleges and universities did not admit
black students.
Today, the more than 100 HBCUs are under
attack on several fronts. Some of them are facing
Toss of state funds or are actually being phased
out in an effort to integrate state higher-education
institutions. Some of them are facing charges that
their students are anti-white or anti-Semitic. All
of them are being challenged to prove their value
in the present-day world.
For example, recently the National Associa
tion for the Advancement of Colored People
sponsored a national march on Jackson, Miss., to
support equal funding of all state-supported
HBCUs. HBCUs generally receive a dispropor
tionately lower funding than their white counter
parts. The state of Mississippi is proposing that
Jackson State be downsized, Alcorn State be
merged and Mississippi Valley State be closed.
At the same time, the United Negro College
Fund (UNCF). which raises funds for 41 black
colleges, has been receiving letters accusing stu
dents at black colleges of being racists because of
the recent publicity surrounding the speech of a
Nation of Islam speaker at Howard University.
The irony is that Howard is not a member of the
UNCEr that^aii press-- reports-have indicated that
^Rlv-^malt-Twmber of students actually attended
the speech and that the majority of students at
Howard do not agree with that speaker. In addi
tion, only three of 55 Nation of Islam speakers
have appeared at black colleges: the others have
been at white educational institutions. Neverthe
less, the UNCF is fearful that its fund-raising
efforts will be dampened by these false accusa
tions.
The Historically. Black Colleges and Univer
sities do have a unique and critical mandate and
role to play in the multi-racial society in which
w.e 1 ive- These institutions h ave become havens
for able students who were deprived and rejected
elsewhere.
Often they are able
to provide the remedial
education, self-esteem
building and mentoring
that determine the suc
cess of their students.
Indeed, it is no accident
that 70 percent of
African-American elected officials. 80 percent of
African -A men can lawyers and 85 percent of all
African-American professionals are graduates of
HBCUs. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood
Marshall and the writer. Zora Hurston. are just
three of the more well-known graduates of
HBCUs. ' ' ?'
While virtually all Historically Black Col
leges do have non-black students (including for
eign students), their principal mission is the edu
cation of African Americans. Most of these
institutions also have non-black faculty and staff
members as well ? about one-third of most
black-college faculty members are black, accord
ing to the National Association for Equal Oppor
tunity in Higher Education.
As the Afncan-Amehcan community contin
ues to face a crisis threatening its very survival, it
-wtmteHregrrr thai histoiicatty"btac1r colleges have
a special rule to play in the rpvji*ii>:itinn ni miri
communities. With over a 1(X) years of history- of
designing curricula and programs focussing on
developing self-esteem, raising basic skills
needed for academic success and establishing
role modeling and mentoring relationship*.
HBCL's have a proven track record of working
with African- American youth.
At a time when there are said to be more
African-American men in prison than in college.
HBCL's can play a pivotal role in the lives of our
youth. Just a new elementary and secondary pro
_giamh are Iocu**m^ -on- African-'
American males. HBCL's are in an unique place
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
By BERNICE POWELL JACKSON
to provide higher education for African American
men.
But they need the support of all of us to sur
vive and to find new ways of serving our com
munities. Several years ago Bill and Camille
Cosby donated $20 million to Spelman College,
one of the better-known HBCUs. Most of us
can't do that, but we can give what we can to the
UNCF or directly to the college of our choice.
And we can work to make sure that HBCUs
receive equal funding from federal or state gov
ernments so critical to their survival.
We need the Historically Black Colleges and
Universities ? and they need us.
( Bernice Powell- Jackson is Executive
Director for the United Church of Christ Com
mission for Racial Justice.)