Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Sept. 11, 2003, edition 1 / Page 1
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T2?r -- rVii) r\\r" r t? FORSYTH CNTY PUB LIB V B I Not to be taken S&tljw J71M.i7B -xiL Il\\-/1 1 /? j " . from this library 75 cants W INSTON-SAl.EM ? GREENSBORO ? HlUll POINT Vol XXX No I Bobcats scratching their heads - See Page Bl Black cowboys visit Ward Elementary - See Page A10 NAACP opposes TTiurmond memorial - See Paee A2 Church without walls See Page CI News anchor Crystal Thornton is mistaken by many to be white and is frequently questioned about her multiracial ancestry. The Complexities of Color | Two local women share their black experiences This is the second article in a series about the experiences of light-skinned African-Ameri cans and the prejudices they face. BY COURTNEY GAILLARD THE CHRONICLE Crystal Thornton is used to the stares she receives when she's out in public. Viewers often recognize the Fox 8 news anchor from her nightly newscast. But Thornton knows that not all of the stares she receives are looks of recognition. Many times the onlookers are try ing to figure out exactly who and what Thornton is. "I think every time someone asks you, 'Can I ask you a ques tion?' you know what that ques j lion is going to be before they even ask it. Sometimes I go ahead and say, 'I'm black,"" said Thorn- ? ton, who is originally from Tope ka. Kan. At times when she is ques tioned about her qthnicity, TKiym ton said, she will run down the list of races that make up her back ground because some people are not satisfied with her simply say ing that she is black. "I'm very proud of all of my heritage, very proud," said Thorn ton. whose parents are of multira cial ancestry ranging from black, white to Native American. Thorn ton said her lineage can be traced back to an African slave and to a Confederate general. Her mother prefers to refer to herself as an "American" as opposed to saying "black" or "African-American" because she believes that best rep resents who she is. "Because of her upbringing, "(People had said) openly 10 us, 'He's got 'Jungle Fever," and that angered me. There are times when I can tolerate it, and then there are times when it gets to be too much," - Crystal Thornton it's not that she doesn't want to admit that she has African-Ameri can blood, but it's just they went through so much. It was hard on-, them, and it was a different gene A~ ation." Thornton said. Thornton's mother and grand mother were plaintiffs in the land mark civil rights case Brown vs. the Board of Education, which Sec Complexity on A4 Pholo by Bruce Chapman Martha Clavelle is one of five biracial children born to a black father and white mother. The Dean Team * f. Locals work to elect Howard Dean next president BY T. KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONICLE If the Democratic presidential race were truly the political drama that many have called it. then Howard Dean would be c o n s i d - ered the leading candidate. In the last few months, the for mer Ver- Hoirsfon imrnl gov ernor has seemingly come out of nowhere to become the front-run ner in a contest that is growing more and more congested by the week. Support for Dean is on the upswing. A recent poll gives him the edge in New Hampshire, where the first primary will take place next year. And across the country Dean has been drawing rock star-like crowds, even with the presidential election more than a year away. Support is growing here for Dean every day. according to sup porters. Last week, more than 70 people attended a Dean rally/informational session at Central Library, where they were served up campaign literature and given an opportunity to join the local Dean campaign. "Our main job is to make peo pie aware of Dean." said Nancy Wolfe, who along with her hus band. Don. have become the unof ficial leaders of the Forsyth Coun ty Dean team. Although his official Web site describes him as a "common sense moderate." Dean has been labeled an unabashed liberal. Last week's meeting drew a crowd that shares many of the liberal ideas that have become main planks of Dean's platform. The crowd was so left-wing, in fact, that some complained about having to sit on the right side of the room. Bob Law. like many Dean supporters, first became a fan of the former governor after Dean publicly disagreed with President L Stv Dean on A9 ^ WSSU receives grant to improve neighborhood BY T KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONICLE From its brand new dormi tory to its soon-to-be finished instructional facilities, Win ston-Salem State University has cnanged much over the last few years. The universi ty has commit tor) to making Dov(j equally as noticeable changes to the blighted neighborhoods around the campus as well. That effort took a giant step forward late last month when university officials learned the school's S.G. Atkins Com munily Development Corp. had received a $153,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. Carol Davis, the executive director of the CDC, said the money will be used to pur chase 17 vacant or dilapidated houses on East First and Fifth streets and in Columbian Heights. The houses will be rehabilitated and sold to low income families. "The university feels a responsibility to be a part of the economic revitalization of the area." Davis said. The CDC. which is named for the founder of the school that became WSSU, was founded th 1998 and already has some success stories to boast about. The CDC was behind the four new and two rehabilitated homes on Excel sior Street. The CDC also has Sec CDC on A5 Yearbook article stirs controversy at Wake Forest BY COURTNEY GAII.LARD nil CHRONIC! I Jakita Wilkins, a Wake Forest University freshman, was shocked and appalled by an arti cle that appeared in the 2003 Howler student yearbook. In the story, WFU sophomore Nancy Rhinehart questioned the legiti macy of the 14-year history of African-American homecoming kings and queens who have been crowned at the predominantly white school. "It was kind of a tumotf. but overall Wake is a very good school, and this is not going to affect my performance, and it's not going to reflect on any of my peers or teachers or the school because of one person's mistake." said Wilkins, a Greenville native who is black Wilkins was one of many stu dents who attended a public forum Monday night at Wait Chapel. Several faculty and administration members were present to discuss the editorial comment in the article that has offended so many students and alumni. The comment called into question redds as follows from page 1 (X) of the 2(X)3 Howler: "Composed of roughly 11 percent multicultural students, our homecoming king and queen have failed to represent the entire student body." states the article. "Should Wake Forest continue its 12-year tradition of electing a homecoming king and queeji that represent only a small por tion of students, or will we change our ways and elect the male and ?H? JxJM female Oaks that best represent our school?" In reality, the last 14 consecu tive homecoming kings and queensTJlt Wake Forest were black. Neither Rhinehart nor Alan English, the student editor of the See Forum on AS Phmo by Kevin Walker Vake Forest University students sign in at last week's meeting. i HI I he Only Choice for AfricattrAuiericQii and Community NcW&3:%
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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