Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / April 13, 1995, edition 1 / Page 12
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I’age 12 Thursday, April 13,1995 Wnston-Salem OironkJe OPINION/LETTERS Winston-Salem Chronicle Ernest H. Pitt, Pubiisher/Co-founder Ndubisi Egemonye, Co-Founder Elaine Pitt, Director of Community Relations Michael A. Pitt, Advertising Manager Mel White, Business Manager Blacks in Corporate America Federal officials have recently discovered what was “old news” to Black Americans. U.S. Department of Labor Secre tary Robert Reich has admitted that minorities and women still are rare in the board rooms and executive suites of Corporate America, despite a “growing awareness” among corporate eaders of the “bottom-line value” of including them in senior management. “Progress has been disappointingly slow,” and barriers to advancement persist, the department’s Glass Ceiling Commission reported to Reich. The report also found that ^black men with professional degrees earn 79 percent of the Isalaries of white men with the same job titles and educational backgrounds. And a study of Stanford University business school graduates found that, more than a decade after gradua tion, men were eight times more likely than women to be cor porate chief executive officers, said the report. The Glass Ceil- ihg Commission, which was created in 1991, presented a report which documented the existence of so-called “glass ceil ings,” invisible barriers that keep minorities and women out of th0 highest levels of business. Reich, a Clinton Cabinet mem ber, says, “The world at the top of the corporate hierarchy still does not look anything like America,” adding that two-thirds of the population and 57 percent of the work force is minority, fpmale or both. The report found that 97 percent of the senior managers of Fortune 1000'industrial companies and Fortune 500 companies are white, and nearly all of them are men. In Fortune 2000 industrial and service companies, five percent of senior man agers are women, virtually all of them white. Secretary Reich advocates increasing awareness of the benefits of diversity in the work place and enforcing the laws against discrimination in places of employment. “If companies are discriminating against women and minorities, they are acting illegally,” Reich said. “The companies have to change. Women and minorities don’t have to change. Narrowing the pool of talent from which they draw is among other things, a blunder in competitive tac tics,” for corporations, he said. Corporate leaders in the auto motive, banking, and other industries, such as Hugh McColl of NationsBank, have stated that they now consider diversity in dreir workforces, and contracting practices, “is a good thing.” Many blacks say that Labor’s report simply shows that most of America’s employers have unfair hiring, contracting and consumer practices. An African-American respondent to a poll on affirmative action stated that such programs are neces sary to overcome the glass ceiling “because of the serious dis advantages that blacks and other minorities have suffered in the workplace and in education. You have white managers in die majority of the high-level management positions and mak ing decisions on promotions, pay raises and management posi tions. In my experience, they tend to hire and promote and ^avor those who are most like them either in ethnic or educa tional background.” In an example of employment, contracting and consumer matters that have a negative impact on African Americans, a part of the NAACP’s national leadership is ask ing that blacks boycott Dr. Pepper and Seven-Up products alleging that the soft drink company, based in Dallas, has unfair practices against blacks and charge that the company has po black executives, even though 22 percent of its consumers are blacks. Leaders of the Southeast regional chapter of the I^IAACP urged the company to start a $500 million, five-year program to improve minority hiring and contracting. Dr. Pep per’s spokesman Gary Rollins acknowledges that there are no black executives in the company’s upper management, but stated that 14 blacks are currently working in entry-level, 7management-track” positions. The company also contends that two blacks rebuffed offers to serve on its board of direc- tOTS, that blacks account for less than 8.5 percent of its sales, while 12 percent of the company’s 950 workers are black. Dr. Pepper-Seven Up also says that the NAACP is “spreading false information” about it and about 15 percent of its outside spend ing is done with minority vendors. Secretary Reich said it was understandable that the white men in high corporate positions feel comfortable hiring and working among people like them selves. “But (the report) is also a very strong argument for extra efforts to cast the net more widely and find qualified minorities and women,” he said. He said persistent stereotyp ing of women and minorities, mistaken beliefs that they aren’t qualified for management and decision-making posts and fear of change keep the glass ceiling in place, although increasing numbers of corporate officers say they realize the need for diversity. Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organiza tion for Women, said the report “confirms the obvious” and that it might be “encouraging” for President Clinton who has ordered a review of federal affirmative action in light of calls from congressional Republicans to end them. “Affirmative action is a carrot and a stick. It's a valuable tool to pry open the doors,” Ireland said. “It's a means to an end.” — William Reed Appreciation for “Taste of Town” Sponsoi To The Editor: Almost 2,000 people got more than they hoped for at the fifth annual “Taste of the Town” on Sunday, April 2. In addition to sampling food from twenty-five of the area’s best restaurants, patrons experienced a taste of hope! While CONTACT was the primary beneficiary of the biggest and best “Taste” ever, everyone who participated was a “winner!” African American and Caucasian, young and old joined in this multi-cultural feast of food, art, and entertainment. Patrons ate their fill while participating food providers wooed future cus tomers. Bidders in the charity auction found some imbelievable bargains while donors advertised their products and services. Attendance and fund-raising goals were exceeded as a result of the combined efforts of twenty- five restaurants who tantalized patrons palates, more than a hun dred businesses who contributed exciting items for a charity auc tion, and sixteen sponsors who underwrote the cost of “A Taste of the Town.” Such corporate generosity allows 100% of every patron dollar spent on admission and auction items to go directly to CONTACT’S life-saving pro grams. Oorf^x^ A 1 1 j F^n^ML.y\l STiWi- ATWt_exe£> - R£^*OW^4el> ATMuETiCS (^.1 Ti-ie Og&ATE&T N/»CTo«^ WA-& niaz.4^ ^ twE: «AC&.Tr4E.t«4A3.ie VMCxauT? Tl-»£ fb CHRONICLE MAILBAG Our Readers Speak Out Best of all, every dollar of increased revenue generated by this year’s “Taste of the Town” will be matched by a challenged grant from the Winston-Salem Foundation! To everyone who made this event possible — foun dations, sponsors, restaurateurs, entertainers, patrons and a small army of volunteers, “Thank You.” People often ask why I con tinue to work in the nonprofit sec tor and, in particular, for CON TACT. “A Taste of the Town” always reminds me of my sn “Because from this positioB. privileged to witness genet both of spirit and substanaj every comer of the comra* love.” Rev. James T. Fatj Get Emotionally Involved “Well, I just don’t want to get emotion ally involved!” How many of us have ever used this reason to get out of some thing we know we should do? It always seems to be reserved for a situation where we want SOME ONE to do something, but WE ' don’t want to be that someone. I noticed this recently while con versing with one of my co-workers he began to think aloud about some of the kids he thought needed big brothers or big CHANGING THE ODDS By WALDO LESTER JR. about the fact that I was a volunteer Big Brother. He indicated that he had just heard this about me and he wanted to know more about the program. Given the fact that I am a member of the agency’s African American Recruitment Task Force (a fact that he was unaware of at that time), I felt this was a golden recmitment opportunity. He was curi ous about the things my little brother, Ralph, and I do together, how often I see him, what he is like, etc. He said that it sounded like a great program and that a lot of disadvantaged children would benefit from such an organi zation. His mood then began to turn darker as sisters: children who craved adult attention and “acted out” to get it, whether the attention was negative or not; or boys he knew when he was growing up, who’s fathers were not around to teach them how to throw and catch a ball; and how, although he knew it was wring, he and his friends teased them because of these shortcomings. He imagined how their lives might have been different had they had more positive adult influences in their earlier years. He went on to say that he admired what I was doing and that I would be rewarded for it later. I told him that I feel rewarded every time I notice a positive change in Ralph for which I know I am the least bit respoa- Some of the things that I take more prii are the little things; like wli;: says “Thank-you” without li asked to do so (something tlii have been working on for theti part of two years). Because of my co-worl seemingly genuine intera thought that this was the opiit time to “pop the question.” “How would you like to become brother too?” “I don’t think I would.” “Why not?” He laughed nervously for a coupled onds, trying to think of an excuse, audo up with those famous words, “Well, I just don’t want to get eraol ally involved!” I replied, “To me, the emotional ind ment is what makes it worthwhile!” (Waldo Lester Jr is a member «/i Brother/Big Sister of Forsyth Cot (910)724-7993.) Who is Doing What for Our Community The Chronicle has afforded us the oppor tunity to have the Coalition on African Ameri can Education name itself, define itself and speak for itself. In sharp contrast, the daily newspaper continuously misnames, mischar- acterizes, misrepresents and/or ignores us. If I ever get the chance. I’ll ask that papers’ “edu cation reporter,” if she’s ever interviewed any school system or school board representative about their “magnet zone redistricting pro posal,” which began in January and was approved at the end of March. When or if she answers “yes,” I’ll ask why in the world she hasn’t interviewed the Coalition, whose pro posal for “high quality, Afrocentric Schools” began in November and was approved by four of the leading organizations in the Black Community (W-S NAACP, W-S Urban League, Ministers Conference, and Citizens United for Justice) by December 1994. Though unreported by the daily paper. I’m sure the four Coalition presentations had an impact on the School Board March 28. Winston-Salem’s African American commu nity has grown beyond individual back door leadership into four cooperative organizations working together. Neither Bill Tatum of the NAACP, “D” Smith of the Urban League, President Joseph Jones of the Ministers Con ference, or Dr. John Mender, Rev. William Fails, Mr. Willie Malone and myself of Citi zens United for Justice, can be isolated into the private “good oP boy” networks. Instead, many of the board members of the NAACP and several supporters of the Urban League and C.U.J. were present on March 28. Vitally important was the pastoral presence of Rev. J.T. Walker of Jones Chapel Missionary Bap tist Church; Rev. Sandy Witherspoon of Spencer Memorial Christian Church; Rev. Sheldon McCarter of Cleveland Avenue Christian Church; Rev. Samuel Stevenson of Grace Presb3d;erian Church and other African American pastors representing thousands of parish homes, so that the lie can’t be told that only Mendez, Fails and Eversley provide Christian concern for public education. Two weeks ago, I told you “unconscious Afrocentism” included high expectation of students confined with “ strict administrative and teacher discipline and the school as a cen tral neighborhood insti tution. Last week, I began discussing “con- ciality. Sincerely interested persons: work. They must read. Dr. Janice Hale son’s book. Black Children: Their Rootl ture and Learning Style, is crucially sis cant, as are all the writings of Dr. Jat Kunjufu: Countering the Conspint Destroy Black Boys; Building Positk GUEST COLUMNIST By CARLTON EVERSLEY scious Afrocentism” by appreciating ancient Ethiopia and Egypt, our West African ances try in Ghana, Mali and Songhay and our resis tance to slavery, segregation and racism from 1619-1995. Some of the books which would be helpful to research this history include The African Origin of Civilization by Cheikh Anfa Diop, The Destruction of Black Civilization by Chancellor Williams; Stolen Legacy by George G.M. James; Black Athena by Martin Bemal; A Glorious Age in Africa by Chu and Skinner; Introduction to African Civilization by Jackson, The Africans by Ali Mazrui; Before the Mayflower by Lerone Bennett and From Slavery to Freedom by John Hope Franklin. More technically and educationally is the conscious Afrocentism that embraces the research that states many Black children have a different (not deficient) “learning style” in comparison to many white children. Ask Sam of the daily newspaper wanted me to summa rize these differences in one or two sentences for him and his audience and I refused to do so. The problem we have in discussing race and/or education in this country, county and city is a rampaging, shallowness and superfi- Image and Self Esteem in Black Motivating and Preparing Black Work, and especially, To Be Popular or Si The Black Peer Group. Dr. Asa Hilli® Georgia State University and Dr. MaryFf of the University of Georgia have! groundbreaking scholarship on BlacF dren and Standardized Testing. Dr. Lomotey of Louisiana State Universf been the primary author of articles on? and strong Black principals. Dr. Eileen! laran is willing to lead Winston-Salem® University’s adoption of these schools ing WSSU’s education majors at these scl and offering them guaranteed contr®* least by their junior year. This could a® the death of Black male elementary ed«d as well as females. People interested in hearing Ray kl** principal of the high quality Afrocentrfc' Robeson (public) School in Detroit on! 20 should contact the Urban Leagued 5614 for details. (Carlton Eversley is pastor oj Presbyterian Church)
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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April 13, 1995, edition 1
12
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