Black Conservatives: Cashing In or Selling Out?
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By BRIDGET EVARTS
Community News Reporter
J ? ;
*. ?. "Conservative" is not an adjective one
would ordinarily expect to preceed
"African American." Accordingly, one
would probably not expect an African
American who learned Swahili at
Berkeley University during the "Black
Power" movement to identify himself as
a conservative.
Think again, said Clarence Mason
Weaver, author of It's O.K. To Leave The
Plantation!, to those gathered for the
May IS Kernersville Chamber of
Commerce meeting at Ideal Meeting &
Banquet Center.
A registered Republican who resides
in California, Weaver professed admira
tion for Jesse Helms ("I like any politi
cian with an attitude") and denounces
affirmative action, which he calls "liberal
co-dependency." He elicited laughter
from the luncheon crowd with his self
narrative of "being right and looking
left."
Weaver is one of a number of promi
nent African-American conservative*;
Colin Powell and radio talk-show host
Alan Keyes highlighted this presence
during the 1996 Republican presidential
primary.
Some well-known black conservatives
reside close to home. Businessman Joe
Dudley of Kernersvillc's Dudley
Products built a mini-empire of national
ly successful cosmetic schools. Last fall,
charter school proponent and Winston
Salem resident Vernon Robinson lost the
bid for State Superintendent to
Democrat Michael Ward. Republican
Ted Napper, who was defeated by
African-American incumbent Melvin
"Skip" Alston for the Guilford County
District 8 commissioner seat, recently
announced his intention to run for
mayor of Greensboro.
Weaver is also a member of Project
21, an initiative of the hard-right
National Center for Public Policy
Research that promotes the views of
See Weaver on A6
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About 300 poopie tamo togothor in Greensboro to march for Dudley High School and tho rain statement of Warren Dorsett and
Or. Isaac Barnott on tho Guilford County Social Services board.
March highlights
city's racial tension
B J BRIDGET EVARTS
Community News Reporter
- .Greensboro may be in for one long, hot summer.
Recent public scrutiny of the school system's redistrict
ing process, the conditions at Dudley High School and the
dismissal of two black men from the Social Services board
have heated up tensions in the city.
Approximately 300 people came together May 17 to
show support for children and express outrage at what they
see as racist maneuvering on the part of the school board
and county commissioners. People gathered at War
Memorial Stadium on Lindsey St. to march downtown to
the Phill G. McDonald government plaza.
Marchers trailed behind a banner printed with "The
Whole Village Coming Together For Our Children And
Justice," the gathering's theme. Most carried signs in sup
port of Dudley High School and children.
Others carried placards protesting the recent actions of
the Guilford County Commissioners. In March, the major
ity-Republican board of commissioners voted to remove
fellow commissioner Warren Dorsett and Dr. Isaac Barnett
See Tension on A6
Meeting fails
to address
development
By BRIDGET EVARTS
Community Niwi Reporter
Most people have a hard time sitting
through a four-hour meeting, even a
meeting designated to address the needs
of their community. Those fired with
enthusiasm for the first couple of hours
began to cool off ? and sneak out of
the Town Hall meeting convened May 17
by Winston-Salem's East and North
Ward aldermen.
By the time aldermen Joycelyn
Johnson and Nelson Malloy turned their
attention to economic development, the
audience consisted mainly of politicians
and city staff.
Earlier, residents discussed housing
and crime concerns with the aldermen
and city staff, and listened to presenta
tions on public transportation, recre
ation and the bond referendum set for
June 24.
During a presentation by assistant
city manager Tom Fredericks, a citizen
asked about the use of money for the
economic development section of the
bond package.
Fredericks assured the man that the
money "could be used for suburban
areas and the inner city."
The meeting moved on.
Finally, the list dwindled to the last
item on the agenda. James Grace of the
East Winston Community Development
Corporation (CDC) gave a presentation
on the proposed Eastside Cafeteria, and
a Joblinks representative talked briefly
Joyeolyn V. Johnson
Aldermen Nelson MaJIoy and
Joycelyn V Johnson faded to
sufficiently address economic
development for East Winston
at the Town Hall meeting.
about the summer youth employment
program.
Last, state representative Larry
Womble spoke to the handful of people
See Muting on A6
High Point NAACP holds Freedom Fund Banquet
a Rivers calls for economic empowerment
By CAROLE WEATHERFORD
Contributing Editor
JAMESTOWN ? The High Point
Branch NAACP held its annual
Freedom Fund Banquet on Sunday at
Medlin Center on the Campus of
Guilford Technical Community
College. Appealing for support,
keynoter Nelson Rivers, NAACP
Regional director, likened the nation's
oldest civil rights organization to a
watchdog. "The dog opens the door
for you and you don't even throw it a
bone."
In a rousing address. Rivers assured
the crowd of the NAACP's financial
health and its continued viability. "As
long as there's racism," he said, "there
will always be a need for an NAACP."
He used Fuzzy Zoeller's remarks
about Tiger Woods to drive home the
point that to many whites, all black
males are reduced to stereotypes.
Calling for educational excellence
and economic empowerment, he railed
against Ebonics and urged the old
guard to bridge the generation gap and
reach out to the next generation.
The fund raiser, which attracted 300
people, culminated with awards pre
sentations. Rosetta Baldwin, 97, was
named Woman of the Year. She has
ft
taught kindergarten since 1922 and in
1942 started a school for children in
See NAACP on A6
Th? Km v. fj. Fr?man, proMont of High Wnf Branch NAACP, addrmitct thm Fr?dont Fund
Dinner white regional dlrmctor Maleon Mvan looks on.