Harvard president supporting
diversity Afro-American studies
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard President Lawrence Sum
mers pledged his commitment to diversity in response to.reports
that three prominent black professors are considering leaving
because of problems with his leadership.
Cornel West, Henry Louis Gates and K.
Anthony Appiah - all of whom are in the
school's Afro-American studies program -
were reportedly frustrated that Summers
had not made a strong enough statement in
favor of affirmative action.
5 IheBoston Globe reported last month
thdt members of the black studies depart
ment were frustrated with Summers, a for
mer US. Treasury secretary who replaced
Neil Rudenstine as president last year.
Summits also reportedly rebuked West Jackson
for recording a rap CD, for leading a politi
cal committee for the Rev. Al Sharpton's possible presidential cam
paign and for allegedly allowing grade inflation in his introductory
black studies'course.
Summers and a university spokesman have called the episode a
misunderstanding.
In the statement. Summers said diversity "contributes to educa
tional excellence by enabling outstanding students, faculty and staff
of all backgrounds to come together and learn from one another."
Summd?C.statement came a day after he agreed to meet with
Rev. Jesse Jackson, who has said the school's commitment to diver
sity and affirmative action needs "clarification."
i .s
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Dorothy 'Dot' Thompson dies at 57
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Dorothy "Dot" Thompson, a Winthrop
University English professor, poet, mentor and tireless advocate for
black students, has died. She was 57.
After surviving breast cancer four and a half years ago, Thomp
son was again diagnosed with the disease, which spread to her vital
organs. She died at home Friday.
Last year was a breakout year in Thompson's literary life. She
published her second book of original poems. "Priest in Aqua Boa,"
-in April. Her third book, "HurTying the Spirit: Following Zora," is
in publication. It was inspired by Harlem Renaissance novelist Zora
Neale Hurston.
Thompson also edited an anthology of poems focusing on
women's issues. It grew out of a writing workshop Thompson con
ducted for unemployed women in Charlotte.
At the time of her death. Thompson was working with a col
league on a book about race in the educational process, titled "The
Elephant in the Classroom: Race and Writing."
A Winthrop University faculty member since 1985, Thompson
was promoted to full professor in July.
She coordinated the university's African-American studies pro
gram and advised Taking Integrity Back, a black student group
focusing on cultural, historical and current issues.
51 members of family killed in accident
SEPHAKU, South Africa - Mass funerals were held Sunday
for 51 members of an extended family who died in a truck accident
while on a pilgrimage to their ancestral graves.
About 120 members of the Chego family were crammed into
the back of an open truck when it overturned on a narrow dirt road
on Dec. 30. Forty-seven people were killed instantly, and another
four died of their injuries while hospitalized.
Mourners wailed and several fainted during the burial of 36 of
the victims at the Sephaku cemetery, about 187 miles north of
Johannesburg. The other victims were buried in the nearby towns of
Tafelkop and Sterkfontein.
Leaders pleased with outcome
of MLK Day vote in Davidson
LEXINGTON - Black leaders say they're pleased to see
Davidson County make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a paid holiday
for employees after a decade of opposition by elected officials.
County commissioners voted 4-3 last Thursday to make the
King Holiday a paid holiday for county workers. The holiday will
be observed Jan. 21 this year.
The commissioners rejected the holiday many times in recent
years, voting 5-1 against the idea back in
i August. Davidson county was one ot only
a few N.C. counties that didn't recognize
the holiday.
"I'm appreciative, but at the same time,
it should've been done a long time ago,"
said Skip Alston, president of the state
chapter of the NAACP.
Commissioner Fred McClure. who
introduced the motion for the holiday last
Thursday, had said the county should end
? controversy and adopt the holiday to
" improve its image in attracting new indus
try.
Commissioner Rick Lanier, who voted against McClure's
motion, said he believed the holiday eventually would be
approved.
Lanier said he would rather that a black American such as
Frederick Douglass be honored with a holiday because he serves a
better role model. Some King critics have cited his stand against
the Vietnam War and allegations of marital infidelity.
"I'd no sooner vote to have a day for (King) than I would to
approve a day for Bill Clinton," Lanier said.
The commissioners' decision will heal resentments within the
community, said Leon Hargraves, president of the Davidson Coun
ty chapter of the NAACR
"It will be a great, enjoyable celebration this year," Hargraves
said. "Now we can work together without this thorn."
- From Wire Reports
The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by
Ernest H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is
published every Thursday by Winston?Salem Chronicle
Publishing Co., Inc., 617 N. Liberty Street, Winston
Salem, NC 27101. Periodicals postage paid at Win- j
ston-Salem, N.C. Annual subscription price is $30.72y
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636
INDEX
OPINION A6
SPORTS B1
RELIGION B5
CLASSIFIEDS B9
HEALTH C3
ENTERTAINMENT C7
CALENDAR J C9
Ruffin: Blacks used to terrorism
i.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHAPEL HILL - All Amer
icans saw the face of terrorism on
Sept. 11, hut thaqchairman of the
* UNC Board of Governors says
black Americans have seen ter
rorism for hundreds of years -
and no one has paid attention.
In a fiery speech at the annual
Freedom Day celebration Jan. I at
First Baptist Church, Ben Rutfin
pointed out that blacks have long
suffered from bombings, lynch
ings and other acts of terror.
"But when that happened to
us. we didn't have a national day
or mourning," he pointed out in
remarks that were frequently
punctuated by shouts of amen.
"We didn't have all America
wanting to help us out."
ConcertC about what hap
pened on Sept. 11, Ruffin said,
should not erase the memory of (
what has been happening to
blacks for centuries, and contin
ues to happen.
"I'm concerned about Sept.
11," Ruffin said. "I love 4fnerica.
I detest what happened in New
York and Washington. But if
you've been up on the wall with
black folks, you've already seen
terrorism."
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
formed a backdrop for Ruffin's
speech as well as remarks by
other speakers at the event spon
sored by the Chapel Hill and Car
rboro Vicinity Interdenomina
tional Ministerial Alliance. The
alliance hosts the celebration
every New Year's Day at the
church to remember the Emanci
pation Proclamation, which Pres
ident Lincoln signed on Jan. 1,
1863.
But even 140 years after the
signing. Ruffin said, blacks in
America still are not completely
free. ? ?
"It is harder to stay free than it
is sometimes to get free," Ruffin
said. Blacks cannot be fully free,
he said, "when we represent 12
percent of the population, but 50
percent of the prison inmates."
Blacks cannot be free, he
added, when 1.2 million black
men are incarcerated and one of
every two young children has no
health insurance. One out of three
children in North Carolina never
graduates from high school, Ruf
fin said, "because they are pushed
out, kicked out or get out."
Despite those problems, "We
still love America despite the fact
that America doesn't always love
us," Ruffin said. "We still support
this country, even when this
country did not support us. We've
loved this country, stayed with
this country. Now is the time for
this country to stay with us."
The president of Winston
Salem's RufTin Group did
acknowledge that some progress
has been made. He pointed out
that 4t) members of Congress are
black and that 25 members of the
state's General Assembly are
black.
"They put us in jail, but they
couldn't keep us in," Ruffin said
to shouts from the congregation.
"They couldn't kill the dream."
For full freedom to be
achieved, he said, blacks in
America would have to do it
themselves.
"We can do better," he said.
"Nobody will save us but us,"
Ruffin said, as he implored his lis
teners to use their power of the
pocketbook and the power of the
ballot box. "People will never
respect us until we respect our
selves,"
Ruffin elicited perhaps the
loudest reaction from his audi
ence when he emphasized the
importance of doing well in
school.
"There's nothing wrong with
getting A's and B's," he said. "But
there is something wrong with
File Photo
Ben Ruffin, a former R.J. Reynolds executive, is known for
speaking his mind, even on controversial issues.
(going lo school) and dropping
your britches down so far."
At the end of his 25-minute
speech. Ruffin pointed out that
the U.S. Senate had no black
members.
His voice rising, his arms
waving, he said, "That's a shame.
We can do better. We have to do
better."
As Ruffin sat down following
his emotional talk, Pastor L. Gene
Hatley, the president of the
alliance, noted that the remarks
might have been different from
those Ruffin usually giveis.
"He can't do that in front of
the board of governors," Hatley
said. "He can't let it out there like
he let it out here."
Holiday traffic fatalities down
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONIC! E
RAI-EIGH - The Highway
Patrol reported that traffic
fatalities investigated by the
Patrol were lower than antici
pated this Christmas and New
Year's holiday season in North
Carolina. Nine people lost their
lives on N.C. roadways this
holiday season compared with
17 over the same period in
2000.
"It saddens us to hear of
any deaths that occur on North
Carolina highways, but it is
encouraging to see that traffic
fatalities have dropped this
holiday season," said Col.
R.W. Holden, commander of
the N.C. Highway Patrol. "I
think the reduction in fatalities
can be attributed to a concerted
effort by the troopers working
the roadways and the safe driv
ing efforts of citizens who were
traveling. The Highway Patrol
will continue to be vigilant on
the highways, but citizens
must do their part by buckling
up, slowing down, and driving
sober."
The Christmas holiday peri
od ran from 6 p.m. on Dec. 21
until midnight Dec. 25. The
New Year's holiday period ran
from 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 until
midnight on Jan. 1.
Troopers are encouraging
motorists to exercise patience
not only during holiday travel
but also throughout their daily
travels, especially with the
threat of winter weather on the
way.
"In this new year, eVeryone
should resolve to do their part
to make the highways safer,"
said Bryan E. Beatty, secretary
of (he Department of Crime
Control and Public Safety,
which oversees the Patrol. "It
takes all of us working togeth
er to improve traffic safety."
Motorists are reminded that
they can contact the Highway
Patrol to report traffic acci
dents, drunk drivers or strand
ed motorists by dialing *HP
(47) on their cellular phones.
This is a free call that goes to
the nearest Highway Patrol
communications center.
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