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California has its second black speaker of State Assembly SACRAMENTO, Calif- Assemblyman Herb Wesson (D Culver City) was un&nimously elected as speaker of the California State Assembly last week, becoming only the second African Amer i<S4n in the history of the state to ever hold that powerful position. Wesson. 50, will be officially sworn into the position on Feb. 6, taking the place of Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzbetg (D Sherman Oaks), who will be forced out by term limits this year. During his acceptance speech, the speaker-elect mentioned the life challenges be had to encounter, growing up in a work ing-class community where gangs and racial discrimination were not uncommon. Wmuon "It's been a long road from the rough and-tumble streets of Cleveland to this hallowed hall," said Wesson. "Ttoo years from now (when the term is up), 1 want people to say Herb Wesson was truly a members' speaker," he added. Wesson will join Willie L. Brown Jr. as the only African Amer icans ever to serve as speakers of the California Assembly. Brown,'J now mayor of San Francisco, held the position for 16 years after being elected in 1980. Black motorist gets $800,000 settlement in assault by New Jersey trooper V TRENTON, N J. - A black woman who said she was assault ed by a white state trooper during a traffic stop has reached an $800,000 settlement with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, The authority's lawyers approved the settlement last week. Kindra Wright was arrested in 1998 by Trooper John loia, who apparently mistook her for one of the people involved in an argu ment near a turnpike rest area. When Wright attempted to return to her car, ignoring Ioia's orders to stop, the trooper handcuffed her, lifted her by the hair and pushed her face first into the ground, according to her lawsuit. Wright said she suffered a fractured jaw, several broken teeth and cuts to her face. John Hagerty, a state police spokesman, said loia was involved in "several incidents" that led to disciplinary hearings and a 14 month suspension. He can return to duty in May after undergoing an evaluation and hearing on his fitness for police work, Hagerty said. The charges filed by the trooper against Wright, including resist ing arrest, were dismissed. "At the height of racial profiling on the New Jersey Turnpike, a member of the state police victimized an African-American female who was guilty of nothing other than being an African-American female on the turnpike," said lawyer William Manns Jr., a member of Wright's legal team, which included Johnnie Cochran and Barry Scheek, who represented OJ. Simpson. Wright, 28 of Newark, said she was glad to settle the matter. "I've been through enough trials with this," she told The Star Ledger of Newark. New Jersey agreed to federal monitoring to review allegations of racial profiling in 1999, a year after two troop ers on the turnpike fired on a van carrying four unarmed minority men, wounding three. A report Jan. 18 found no incidents of racial profiling over a three-month period. Earlier statistics showed officers stopped far more blacks and Hispanics than whites, but found more whites carrying drugs and weapons. I Miss Sierra Leone dies amid controversy I FREETOWN, Sierra Leone - Anniemaude Cole, 22, who was crowned as Miss Sierra Leone in December 2001, died in Freetown last Monday of bums she sustained almost a week earlier under cir cumstances still shrouded in mystery. It is still not clear whether the fire bums resulted from an acci dent, were self-inflicted or whether the beautiful lady was the vic tim of domestic abuse. Miss Sierra Leone had denied in an interview on radio UNAM SIL that the bums, which reportedly covered 62 percent of her body, were the result of a suicide attempt. Things started going wrong soon after she won the crown early last December. Her family complained that the organizers of the pageant had failed to deliver on most of the promised prizes, including a new car, bedroom furniture, a one-year wardrobe, a return ticket to London and money in a bank account. Only one Jackson remains on ballot CHICAGO - The "other" Jesse Jackson, a Chicago track driv er who sparked controversy when he placed his name on the November ballot to ran for the U.S. House, has dropped out of the i ? , race Evangeline Levison, the "other" Jack son's attorney, told election officials late last week that because of the recent deaths of his wife and grandson, Jackson, 68, would abandon his challenge to the seat now held by Jesse L. Jackson Jr. Rep. Jackson (D-Ill.) had filed a law suit against his opponent's campaign and alleges that it was spawned by state Sen. William Shaw and his twin brother. Cook County Commissioner Robert Shaw. The candidacy of the 68-year-old truck driver Jesse Jackson Jr was designed to confuse voters, he charges. The Shaws have denied their involvement in the "other" Jack son's bid for Congress. Rep. Jackson dropped legal charges stating that his rivals had used the man in an attempt to cost him votes in his South Side Chicago District, according to the congressman's attorney, Burt Odelson. 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 ston-Salem, N.C. Annual subscription price is $30.72. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636 Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636 INDEX ; OPINION A6 SPORTS B1 RELIGION B4 CLASSIFIEDS BIO HEALTH C3 ENTERTAINMENT C9 CALENDAR CI 1 Reading chain links city with world Forest Park, Reynolda House join 13th national African American Read-In Chain BY FELECIA P. MCMILLAN COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT More than a million African American literature enthusiasts around the country participated in the 13th national African Ameri can Read-In Chain on Sunday. Feb. 3, and Monday, Feb. 4, as designated by their hosts. Norma Corley, guidance counselor a( Forest Park Elementary School, and Julie Hunter, music teacher at Forest Park Elementary School, served as hosts for the more than 60 celebrity readers who came out to read to the children. At the Reynolds House Muse um of American Art, Kathleen F.G. Hutton, coordinator of edu cation, directed the unity circle of readers to share their favorite pas sages from their favorite books by African-American authors. The purpose of this event is to make the celebration of African-Ameri can literacy a traditional part of Black History Month festivities. The first African American Read-In Chain was sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). In 1991, Nc l b joined in the sponsorship. The Read-In has been endorsed by the Internation al Reading Association. More than a million readers of all ethnic backgrounds and from 49 states, the West Indies, Germany, and many African countries have par ticipated. Dr. Jerrie C. Scott from the University of Memphis Col lege of Education is the founder and national director. Corley and Hunter selected role models from various profes sions to share with the students at Forest Park. "My emphasis was on broad ening their horizon," Corley said. "We often push for special proj ects so that the AG (academically gifted) students can be exposed, but exposure to African-American literature is needed regardless of the level. At this school, some of the kids may not have the money and support to engage in some community activities. We want them to meet some of Winston Salem's finest." "I want to rebuild our village," Corley said. "I want to give the kids a dream. That may seem like a cliche, but the Bible says that without a vision the people perish. By bringing in such high caliber people from the community, I want the students to see that these people are willing to come here and take time off from work, even rearrange their schedules just for the kids." Some of the readers brought special books to read to the chil dren and others selected children's books from the media center bas ket Corley and Hunter provided. Still others were very original and shared with the youths from their wealth of experiences. Storyteller Cynthia Bradger shared various tales and invited the children to repeat positive affirmations with her, such as "I can achieve if I believe in myself." Doria McLaughlin, human resources, Wake Forest Universi ty, read "What Kind of Babysitter is This?" by Delores Johnson. McLaughlin enjoyed interacting with the fourth-grade students. "It was fun. I had the students to introduce themselves, but they really responded when I read poetry by Dr. Maya Angelou and www wschronide. com Homes 1 year and older need to be checked for termites ^ea c*rcus k a good act but it takes termites to bring a S home down.'* Call Triad Pest Control 1535 S. Martin Luther King Drive Winston-Salem, NC muiui ay rcmm rouvuaau Little Miss Forest Park Jocelyn Briseno greets readers Daisy Rodriguez and the Rev. Beechard Maarefield as the school's guidance counselor; Norma Corley, looks on. told them that she was a friend of Oprah Winfrey," McLaughlin said. "They did not know that Maya Angelou lives in Winston Salem and works at Wake Forest University." Wes Leiphart read "When 1 Am Old With You" by Angela Johnson and "Amazing Grace" by Mary Hoffman. Because his wife collects children's books, he only had to reach into her collection of more than 4,000 children's books. Leiphart enjoyed his experience With the second-graders. "They were a wonderful audi ence. 1 spiced it up a little bit as 1 read. They just loved it," Leiphart said. "As a child, I loved it when people read to me. Even when 1 was in high school, there was one substitute teacher who could always get her classes to behave by promising to read to the class at the end of the day. She was such a dramatic reader (that) she had us on the edge of our seats. Children today still love to be read to." Just as the community leaders came out to read for the students, many book lovers came to the Reynolda House Museum of American Art to share their favorite poems and passages. Kathleen Hutton reminded the group of the centennial birthday of Langston Hughes, who was bom on Feb. 1, 1902. She shared his poem "As I Grew Older." She explained her fascination with Hughes' work. "I am fascinated with Langston Hughes. Hp is duly the great American poet. He was writ ing for his people, but he allows me the privilege of insight. I love this poem because he is talking about himself," Hutton said. "Hughes was * so conscious of speaking for his people. He even wrote in a style that was accessi ble to his people; yet the sophisti cation is unhelievable.He used words in all the ways they could reach people. He is a poet I never get tired of." Sharon Turner shared poetry from Robert Hayden's collection. She was particularly impressed with the images Hayden creates in the poem "Frederick Douglass." Hayden describes freedom as "the beautiful, needful thing." Turner also was impressed that Hayden asserted that the writing of African Americans should not be judged any differently than other writers. Bertha Roundtree read from the book "Vernon Can Read" by Vernon Jordan Jr. with Annette Gordon-Reed. Roundtree, a docent (a lecturer or tour guide) at Reynolda House, introduced the idea of the African American Read-In Chain to the museum five Bertha Roundtree listens as Kathleen Huttan of Reynolda House reads a Langston Hughes selection. years ago. Hutton is pleased that t the event fits in so well with the goal of celebrating the arts, music, literature and culture. "It is just pure pleasure to par- I ticipate in the Read-In Chain. 1 Hearing the variety of readings is J such a feast," Hutton said. / Dr. Elaine Carter, 76, drove i from High Point to participate in the chain. Although she is a docent at the Greensboro Histori cal Museum, she loves to come to the Reynolda House for various reasons. "I am a garden nut, and I love to wander in the gardens here. I also love the lectures on history, art and music. When we were in school, we read and learned speeches and essays. When I was in the third grade, I learned "Twas the Night Before Christmas,'" Carter said. "This is all a part of learning. You keep this computer (the brain) going and it will serve you well." One reader shared Margaret Walker's poem "For My People," and Carter recalled meeting Walk er in the 1940s at Fayetteville Teachers College. "We all just rocked when she read along," Carter said. "All of us could identify with playing in the back yard as children." John Hallmark NefT, execu tive director of Reynolda House Museum of American Art, praised the Read-In Chain for its merits. "The Read-In Chain is essen tial. Reading brings people together in a very moving way. At the Reynolda House, we are very tied into the community, and this is one event to punctuate the year," NefT said. "We are not limited to African-American history during a particular month. We try to have African-American art throughout he year, not just in February." On Tuesday, Feb. 12, George Walker, African-American "ulitzer-Prize-wirming composer vill present a lecture and per 'ormance at the Reynolda House 'tee of charge. It will begin at II cm. VOU "AUTO" INSURE WITH U5! j=? F- <?T MET. IT Fkl faiuct- ^53 PEANUTS? United feature Syndicate, Inc. As a direct source for your insurance protection, all you need to do is call us for a free, no-obligation quote today. In just 10 minutes, we'll put you on the road to savings too! Coll uriZbtrerf at 1-888-320-3511 Gordon Wilson Jr., ba Financial Sarvlcaa Rapraaanutlva 10 Coda: 85J-1-012-1 Quick Quote ID I 1 Welcome to ... St. Peter's Heritage Place Do you want to chase away those mid-winter blues? Let us help you! Announcing a new apartment complex for SENIOR CITIZENS Apply Now for Residency at St. Peter's Heritage Place (located off Old Lexington Road) Win ston-Salem. NC. NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, AGE 62 AND OLDER One bedroom, one bath apartments feature Carpeting, Electric Heat and Air Condition ing, Kangc and Kctngerator. Handicap Accessible Units are available. Rem based on income. Additional features at St. Peter's include Day Room. Tenant Stor age, Multipurpose Room. Craft Room, Courtyard, On Site Laundry Facilities, Public transportation within walking distance. Open House February 16, 2002 2 , 10 am - 2 pm . <1 3727 Old Lexington Rd. -, ~ Winston-Salem, NC 771-9028 V ^ For application or information Call: 336-765-0424 Hearing Impaired: 1-800-735-2962 or write: St. Peter's Heritage Place Community Management Corporation P. O. Box 25168 Winston-Salem, NC 27114-5168 o fn Equal Housing Opportunity
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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