Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Feb. 1, 2001, edition 1 / Page 4
Part of Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Payback? Trans Africa founder says blacks should receive reparations BY T KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONICLE Randall Robinson told a crowd at Winston-Salem Slate University Tuesday night that African Americans continue to carry the scars of slavery and oppression, but many are too preoccupied with other issues to realize it. Robinson founder of the Washington-based group TransAfrica. an advocacy agency that works on issues of economic and political empow erment for blacks in Africa and the Caribbean said one of the most devastating effects of slav ery that is still carried by blacks today is an almost total igno rance of African history and cul ture. "1 was taught that it all began in Greece." Robinson said, commenting on what he said college professors told him about the dawn of civilization. It was not until later, he said, that he learned about the great African civilizations that predat ed Greece and Europe altogeth er. Robinson told students to study history on their own and not to take what a professor says as gospel. "Study your history." he said, waging a finger toward the crowd, "so that you will know that you have been great before and you can be great again." But Robinson also criticized history courses, saying that they were much too linfited in their scope, starting black history with slavery and ending it with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. "Next month is black History month," he said. "You will talk about Sojourner (Truth), you will talk about Harriet (Tub man), but you will likely not (touch) history that goes back more than 100 years." Robinson said the the legacy of poverty that has been passed down, has been equally as devas tating to blacks in this country. He pointed out many prominent institutions that became pros perous through the dollars they made in the slave trade; he then juxtaposed the wealth of those who benefit from those compa nies with the plight of a great deal of blacks. He said regardless of the few blacks who "make it," too many start life at ground zero and end it the same way. "Poverty, like wealth, is inherited," he said. "And do not tell me about Michael (Jordan) and Oprah (Winfrey). That is statistically insignificant." Robinson has been one of the leaders in the nationwide repara tions movement, in which blacks and others are trying to lobby Congress for some type of pay ment for the century of unpaid work slaves did. His latest book, "The Debt," focuses on why African Ameri cans are owed back pay. Robin son said reparations is a very small price to pay for all that African Americans have lost. "We lost our language....We lost our customs....We lost any trace of what we had been before and we were fitted with an alien culture that was not ours," he said. Before wrapping up his remarks and taking questions from the eager audience, Robin son lashed out at the prison sys tem, and increasing efforts to privatize it more. He called the prison system a modern form of slavery, an institution where blacks and other minorities perform ser vices and produce goods but see no profit. He criticized towns for lobby ing for prisons so that dead economies can be rejuvenated. He singled out Malone, N.Y.. which he described as an all white town that was on the brink of economic purgatory before landing several prisons. "The all-white town of Mal one got their economy (turned around) by a prison population that is 82 percent black and His panic. Il is the new slavery," he said. Robinson said that he and a group of high-profile black attorneys and educators are in the process of trying to sue the government for reparations. Attorneys Johnnie Cochran and Willie Gary are among those involved. Robinson said. Randall! Robinson tells students and faculty at Winston-Salem State that blacks have lost sense of self. Big names dominate WSSU Black History Month events sl't i I \l [() ng CHRONICLE The senior editor of Ebony mag azine. a Texas clergyman, a former convict turned millionaire and a movie star will be among the list of speakers, seminars, performances, exhibitions and films for the Black History Month celebrations at Win ston-Salem State University in Feb ruary. Free and open to the pub lic. Black History Month activities begin on Thursday. Feb. 1, with a 9:45 a.m. lecture of Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes III. pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas. Texas. He will present the third in the year-long James A. Gray Religion and Ethics Lecture Series in Dillard Auditorium of the Albert H. Ander son Conference Center. A gifted and flamboyant speaker. Haynes has lec tured extensively across the United States and abroad. "Health Issues Confronting the African-American Community" will be the subject of a panel discus sion during Black Health Awareness" Day Friday. Feb. 2. at noon in Room 207 of the Cleon F. Thompson Stu dent Services Center. In addition to the panel discussion, health care professionals will be conducting health screenings throughout the day in various locations on campus. This event is a prelude to the "Love My Body Fitness Breaks" scheduled for each Saturday during the month of February in the uni versity's Fitness Center from noon until 4 p.m. On Saturday. Feb. 3. at 4 p.m., Diggs Gallery presents WSSU: A Legacy in Fine Art to honor the artists and instructors who have contributed to the study and cre ation of fine art on the WSSU cam pus. The exhibition will feature the works of more than 30 faculty, for mer faculty, students and alumni, including works by Selma Burke. Hayward Oubre. Eva Miller and James T. Diggs. the former art department professor for whom Diggs Gallery is named. Jazz Night is scheduled for Sun day. Feb. 4. at 7 p.m. in Room 207 of the Cleon F. Thompson Student Services Center. The program will feature local jazz guitarist Charles Green and his trio. Dan Narvaez, assistant to Win ston-Salem mayor Jack Cavanagh. and Art Malloy. WSSU associate director for student affairs, will lec ture on the subject "Embracing Cul tural Diversity" on Monday. Feb. 5. at 7 p.m. in Room 207 of the Thompson Center. On Tuesday. Feb. 6, at noon, stu dents participate in a panel discus sion on "Civil Rights vs. Civil Wrongs," which will focus on some of the positive and negative out comes of the Civil Rights Move ment. The Black Inventors Tour will move into the Thompson Center on Wednesday. Feb. 7. at II a.m. This exhibit is a touring tribute to the artistry and innovations of African Americans who exhibited extraordi nary genius in the face of extreme adversity. More than 100 authentic inventions. patent designs, rare pho tographs. biographies, and docu mentaries comprise this amazing presentation. On Friday, Feb. 9, a Black Film Festival will begin at noon on the third floor of Thompson Center. That evening, beginning at 7 p.m. in Kenneth R. Williams Auditorium, a Gospel Extravaganza Benefit Con cert will be held. Several local church choirs, soloists and WSSU's Gospel Choir will participate. This event is not free. Proceeds from the concert will go to the Sickle Cell Foundation and the Samaritan Soup Kitchen. A scholarship ball sponsored by the Beta Iota chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. will be held Saturday, Feb. 10. at 8 p.m. in Kennedy Dining Hall at the Thompson Center. This event is riot free. Proceeds will benefit the Andrew A. Means Scholarship Fund. Uchendi Nwani. a former convict who is now a 28-year-old millionaire, will lecture Monday, Feb. 12. at 6 p.m. in Room 207 of the Thompson Center. He will discuss his life and how he became a multi million-dollar entrepreneur. The gospel play "Order My Steps." starring actress Starletta Dupois. will be held at 7 p.m. in Williams Auditorium Wednesday, Feb. 14. Dupois played the mother of Whitney Houston in the film "Waiting to Exhale," co-starred with actress Cicely Tyson in the USA Television Network movie "The Road to Galveston." and has appeared in the HBO movie "Strapped." and the recent Martin Lawrence blockbuster "Big Mama's House." Internationally acclaimed novelist, playwright, historian and poet. Dr. Jan Carew will make Humanities Lecture Series presenta tions at 9:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in Room 228 of the Hall-Pat terson Building on Thursday. Feb. 15. His topic will focus on links among the Caribbean. African and African-American cultures. WSSU's international students will participate in a "Shades of Color Around the World" panel dis cussion on Friday, Feb. 16, at noon in Room 207 of the Thompson Cen ter. They will discuss the cultural dif ferences they have experienced in the United States as persons of color compared to their experiences in their own countries. Bryan Beatty, recently appointed N.C. secretary of crime control and public safety, will be on a panel dis cussing (he subject "Driving While Black" at noon in Room 207 of the Thompson Center on Tuesday. Feb. 20. The following day. Wednesday, Feb. 21, Tom Morris, senior corre spondent on "America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back." will deliver the Joseph N. Patterson Lec ture at 10 a.m. in Room 228 of the Hall-Patterson Building. His lecture will focus on African Americans, the media and the importance of having excellent communication skills. That evening at 7 o'clock. Lerone Bennett, senior editor for Ebony magazine and acclaimed his torian, will lecture in Williams Audi torium. Bennett will also discuss his newest book. "Forced into Glory: Abraham Lincoln a Racist." Politics will be the subject of dis cussion among African-American representatives of the Winston Salem Board of Aldermen, the Forsyth County commissioners and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board. Their panel discus sion will be held at noon in Room 207 of the Thompson Center on Thursday, Feb. 22. On Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m., Williams Auditorium will be the site of a concert featuring several gospel recording artists. An admission fee will be charged for this event. The month will culminate with C1AA Tournament activities in Raleigh Feb. 26 through March 3. Police chief from page A J "The feeling is (the decision to leave Culler in charge) stems from Assistant Chief McCoy support ing the demoted officers and other disciplinary decisions made by (Davis) that he has not backed." said a department employee. Sources also said Davis' deci sion is seen as a major sign of dis respect to one of the most respect ed people in the department and one of its longest serving African American members. "The relationship between black officers and the chief is strained in my opinion." a source said. "But it's not just blacks; every body is on pins and needles when it comes to the chief." Davis dismissed the talk that she is holding some sort of grudge against McCoy because of the demoted officers saga. "I discussed that with (McCoy) at the time. That's over with; I have a department to run." she said. As for her relationship with African Americans in the depart ment. Davis said though there are differences of opinion, to her knowledge the relationship is "cor dial." Stuart would not confirm whether or not he is looking into a grievance filed by McCoy. He did say Davis under the Police Department's general orders has the ability to chose anyone she wants to act as chief while she is away from the department. "The police chief can designate whomever she wishes to designate as acting chief...Most instances that would be an assistant chief, but not all instances." he said. Maintain $25,000 or more in any combination of deposits, mutual funds or annuities**and receive these UltraQuest benefits. UltraQuest Checking Interest Tiers 4.08% APY" 3.05% APY' .50% APY' Checking Balances Balances Balances $10,000 $50,000 $0 to $9,999 to $49,999 and above ? Unlimited checking with interest. ? No-annual-fee VISA* credit card. ? ATM daily withdrawal limit of $1,000. ? Free Financial Plan. ? Low Prime rate on EquityLines of $50,000 or more. ? Online tax preparation with Turbo Tax. ? Special rates on CDs. UltraQuest . ?} Here's the first checking account of its kind that pays money-market-like yields on your checking balance with round-the-clock FDIC insurance* UltraQuest from First-Citizens. Besides unlimited checking, UltraQuest qualifies you for some terrific perks-better than any you'd get with a premium checking account. It is the ultimate banking value. And nobody has it but First Citizens. ^^ Irst Citizens Bank 1-888-FC DIRECT (1-888-323-4732) firstcitizens.com * Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) accurate as of 1/1/01. Rates may vary after account opening. Refer to First Citizens' Disclosure of Products and Fees for specific restrictions and pricing. Normal credit approval applies. FDIC Insurance up to $100,000. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. {?> ** Investments in securities and annuities: ARE NOT FDIC INSURED j ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED I MAY LOSE VALUE 1 BROKERAGE SERVICES ARE OFFERED THROUGH FIRST CITIZENS INVESTOR SERVICES. INC MEMBER NASO/SIPC
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 1, 2001, edition 1
4
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75