Thomas feels black leaders have
maligned him for being different
Thomas
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court's only black jus
tice said last week that he has been wrongly maligned for noi
embracing the views of black civil rights leaders.
Justice Clarence Thomas told a group of students, most of
them black, that he believes the Heath
penalty is constitutional and that there's
more to diversity than skin color.
And he told the students at Benjamin
Banneker High School in Washington that
they don't have to base their beliefs on
being black although "we've reached a
point where people are very comfortable
telling blacks what they ought to believe."
Asked about his disagreements with
civil rights leaders. Thomas said: "I think
they're struggling with me. I'm not strug
gling with anybody."
I have my own opinions and my ideas.
They're mine." he said. "I won't tell you you must believe certain
things because of your skin color or because you're bad fot; not
agreeing with me. That's all I can see. is that people are upset
because I disagree with them."
Thomas talked about his unlikely rise from poverty in rural
Georgia to his nomination to the Supreme Court in 1991 during
the first Bush administration.
"I was a little nappy-headed little kid. That's what they called
me 'nappy-headed little kid,' running around barefoot in Pinpoint
(Ga.). Who would have known what was in there? Nobody knew,"
said Thomas, who considered becoming a Catholic priest before
picking law as a career.
City rejects Million Youth March
NEW YORK (\P) - People involved in organizing the Mil
lion Youth March said they will fight the Bloomberg administra
tion's rejection of a planned 11-block street fair and demonstration
scheduled for Sept. 6.
Organizers accused the'administration of denying the group's
right to free speech and "using Sept. 11 as an excuse to rob people
of their First Amendment rights." the group's lawyer. Malik Zulu
Shabazz, told Newsday.
The city rejected the Million Youth March application for the
event on May 14, citing anti-terrorism efforts have made it too
costly to provide security. .
The Giuliani administration attempted to block the event when
it was held in 1998, but a court allowed it. The march has not been
held since the death of original organizer Khalid Muhammad in
2001.
Shabazz said he would appeal the decision and vowed that the
march would take place.
Jonathan Greenspun, commissioner of the mayor's communi
ty assistance unit said the city also has rejected 48 other fair appli
cations in order to scale back security spending.
"We're not singling anybody out," Greenspun said. "But
we've got to do what we can for the city."
While in S.C., Lee tells students to
boycott businesses that display flag
Lee
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) - Filmmaker Spike Lee
extolled the virtues of a college education during a speech to the
Black Expo here.
Lee also told black parents in the audience to steer their chil
dren toward real role models and awav
from rappers. He said violent images from
rappers such as 50 Cent are damaging the
next generation.
"Forget about the beat," he said Satur
day. "Let's talk about the lyrical content."
Lee. a graduate of Morehouse College
in Atlanta, said education was the path to
success. He lamented that young black
scholars sometimes are ridiculed as fakes
who are "acting white."
"But if you're on a comer, holding a 40,
smoking a blunt and holding your privates,
?n?'n ? ..i ??
The 46-year-old director of such films as "Do the Right
Thing" and "Malcolm X" also urged his audience to boycott busi
nesses that display the Confederate flag, which opponents see as a
symbol of the U.S. South's past ties to slavery.
The flag flies at a Civil War monument on Statehouse grounds
in Columbia. The NAACP is continuing a boycott of the state until
the flag is removed.
"The rest of the world is in 2003," Lee said. "I don't know
what's happening in South Carolina."
U.S. reps to discuss black colleges
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Eleven members of Congress
are expected to gather here next month for a fonim on the state of
America's historically black colleges.
U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., is organizing the June 6 con
ference. where participants will discuss budget cuts jtCKtwercdua
tion. student recruitment, housing, faculty and fund raising.
Clyburn is a graduate of South Carolina State University, and
seven of the state's eight historically black colleges are in his dis
trict.
He was a key supporter of a congressional bill that recently set
aside $10 million a year for six years to pay for building preser
vation and restoration at historically black schools.
However, the schools must come up with a 30 percent match
at a time when budgets are tight.
Representatives of philanthropic groups, including the Duke
Endowment and the Getty Foundation, also are expected to attend
the conference at the Medical University of South Carolina.
It comes a year after Clyburn brought members of the Con
gressional Black Caucus to the university for a field hearing on the
health of blacks in America.
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Ruben's win lifts city's image
KRT Phoio
Ruben Studdard, the "American Idol" winner.
BY ROY L WILLIAMS
[HE BIRMINGHAM NEWS ,
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
Birmingham business leaders say
Ruben Studdard's win on "Amer
ican Idol" has boosted the city's
image and helped it overcome
some lingering negative stereo
types.
Last Thursday, a day after
telephone callers nationwide
crowned Studdard champion of
Fox Network's singing competi
tion. Birmingham Regional
Chamber of Commerce and Con
vention Bureau officials were
contemplating ways for the city to
capitalize on Studdard's success.
; On the TV show, Studdard
wore "205" jerseys designed by
Southside's 205 Flava to show the
area code he represented. The jer
seys and his constant expressions
of love for Birmingham were pos
itive publicity that is priceless,
said chamber President David
Adkisson.
'To have an African-Ameri
can from this community touting
Binninghant on national TV the
way Ruben did. it blows away a
lot of negative stereotypes about
this city." Adkisson said.
An ad on the Super Bowl tele
cast can cost a million dollars, but
it's no contest in terms of what
Studdard has done for Birming
ham. Adkisson said. "The positive
exposure he has provided is worth
millions, with even more to
come." he said.
David Long, a lawyer with
Sirote & Permutt, said: "It's won
derful for people to see the new
Birmingham as opposed to the
images of 1963" when civil rights
protests and police turning fire
hoses on young blacks made news
worldwide.
Last Thursday, Studdard was
in New York to tape an appear
ance on NBC' s 'Tonight Show"
with Jay Leno. His schedule Fri
day included an appearance in
New York on NBC's "Today
Show." the No. I morning TV
show.
Convention Bureau President
Jim Smither said his agency each
day has received more than 100
requests for information after air
ing a commercial during Mon
day's "American Idol" special.
The ad touted Birmingham as a
family reunion destination.
Though the convention bureau
halted its campaign featuring
celebrity Birmingham-arc^
natives over a year ago. Smither
said. "We'd love to do one with
Ruben wearing his 205 shirt tout
ing Birmingham."
Birmingham City Council
man Bert Miller, who heads the
council's cultural arts committee,
said Studdard's appeal transcends
racial, economic and age barriers.
His belting out smooth, uplifting
songs on the show gave Birming
ham residents a welcome respite
from the w ar with Iraq. Alabama's
football coach's firing and Health
South's accounting scandal.
Miller said.
"He (Ruben) brought all of the
See Birmingham on A10
L.A. hires new
'eyes and ears' on
police misconduct
BY GENE C. JOHNSON JR.
WAVE NEWSPAPERS
LOS ANGELES (NNPA)
- In his new job as inspector
general for the Los Angeles
Police Commission, Andre
Birotte Jr. and his staff of 35
will investigate about 4,000
complaints of police miscon
duct a year.
The city's third inspector
general, Birotte is the first
African-American named to
the post permanently. His
office also reviews all officer
involved shootings and
reports its findings directly to
the Police Commission. The
post was created in 1995. a
recommendation of the
Christopher Commission con
vened in the aftermath of the
Rodney King beating.
"Andre is a sharp investi
gator with a vast amount of
experience," said Police
Commission President Rick J.
Caruso. "His knowledge of
the law and analytical skills
are a perfect match for the job
of inspector general."
After graduating from
Pepperdine University School
of Law in 1991, Birotte
became a deputy public
defender here before joining
the U.S. attorney's office,
where he prosecuted fraud
and narcotics trafficking
cases. He was a unanimous
selection of the Police Com
. missioh' for the permanent
inspector general's job.
"The commission relies
heavily on the inspector gen
eral as its eyes and ears,"
Caruso said. "Andre, has
proven that he can do this job
effectively."
Birotte said his typical 11
hour work day and occasional
working weekend have yet to
place much strain on his six1
month-old marriage. He
accepted the position with full
knowledge of the demanding
workload. He was named act
ing inspector last November
and was assistant inspector
See LA. on A5
Photo By Jose Emilio Rores/LA Opinion
Andre Birotte Jr. was selected by the Los Angeles Police Com
mission as the new inspector general for the department.
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INDEX
OPINION. A6
SPORTS 81
REUGION. 85
CLASSIFIEDS 89
HEALTH. C3
ENTERTAINMENT....C7
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