OPINION
Chronicle t
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Ernest H. Pitt Publisher/Co-Founder
ELAINE Pitt - Business Manager
Michael A. Pitt Marketing
T. Kevin Walker Managing Editor
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I Mr i i '
File Photo
Member schools like Hampton are one of the ME AC's greatest
asset. ?
Opportunity
on the Cheap
* The city's winning bid to host the MEAC Tournament for
the next three years was obtained at bargain basement price.
Basically, the city got the tourney for $100,000 cash and
other non-monetary, but revenue-producing incentives. Price is
not the primary issue - opportunity is. This union presents
many opportunities for both the city and the MEAC.
If properly handled, both entities can build a brand that
could attract fans that would eagerly spend the kind of money
that will have a tremendous impact on our local economy.
The city of WinstonjSalem and the MEAC are a nice fit. We
have the ability to help the MEAC create the kind of branding
that can make the tourney unique, and not a carbon copy of the
CIA A, which has managed to become a successful brand-name
over the years. Winston-Salem helped the CIAA achieve that
status a decade ago when our city hosted that tournament dur
ing its lean years. Now, we need to help the MEAC do even
grander things. But we can't do it alone.
The M^AC has to stop running behind the CIAA. hoping to
catch some of its magic. It is no coincidence that the MEAC has
a tendency to hold its tournament in the last city that the CIAA
vacated. We suppose they are trying to reap some of the bene
fits that the CIAA may have left behind. Instead of playing fol
low the leader, the MEAC must create its own identity and its
own flare and its own following.
We have plenty of suggestions on how to accomplish that.
For one thing, the MEAC should do its best to highlight the
great characteristics of its member schools. After all, Howard
University is considered the black Harvard. Hampton is one of
the most prestigious universities in America. The MEAC is a
Division I conference. Its champions have an automatic bid to
the NCAA Tournament. ,
Perhaps the simplest thing that can be done to begin to build
the MEAC's fan base is for them to focus on making the tour
nament convenient for its students, rather than its alums.
The CIAA is so successful because it has built its fan base
over the years. Going to the CIAA tournament has become a
family tradition for many people. The MEAC has to do the
same thing. Very few CIAA fans are going to attend the MEAC
tournament a week after having spent thousands of dollars at
CIAA games and events.
However, students attending MEAC schools are more like
ly to attend the MEAC tournament if it is affordable, conven
ient and attractive to them. Those are the fans that will buy into
this concept and grow the toufnament. It will take time, but it
is doable. We hope the city will make the commitment and that
the MEAC will let us help them.
Ma P&m-ies
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Letters to the Editor
Blacks should
not fear being
called elitists
To the Editor:
Webster New World
Dictionary defines the word
"Elite" as the group or part of
a group regarded as the best,
most" powerful.
During this time of year
when we celebrate the gradua
tion of students from high
school and college, w$ openly
praise them and their families
for the hard work and Sacri
fices made to reach this goal.
It is the beginning of a
process that most Americans
agree is an attempt to pursue
the American Dream, which
should mean that an individ
ual from a difficult back
ground can defy all odds,
work hard, go to the best
schools, get the best possible
education and live a clean
wholesome life.
Then this individual does
not forget where they came
from, and reaches back to
help others pursue their
efforts to share in the
American Dream. By defini
tion, anyone who completes
this scenario would be consid
ered an elite person. For
instance. Tiger Woods,
Michael Jordan, Ted Turner,
Bill Gates and Bill Clinton to
name a few. By any definition
the term elite is a compliment
to these individuals.
Some may agree that the
remarks made by Sen. Barack
Obama (about the people of
Pennsylvania who cling to
guns and religion as a result
of their depressed economic
state) deserve to be criticized.
But to label Barack Obama
as an elitist in a negative con
notation is completely ridicu
lous. Why would an educated
media and public use this
word to criticize Barack
Obama? They must be using it
as a code word or term to call
him an "Uppity Nigger." This
term has historically been
used before when an African
American has become so edu
cated and successful that he
steps out of line or out of his
place.
I implore graduates at all
levels of education to pursue
the American Dream. You
have taken an important first
step. Continue in your pursuit,
it is worthy! Do not be afraid
that you may one day be
labeled an elitist or an 'Uppity
Nigger.*
I ask again, is Barack
Obama an 'Elitist?'
Luther Miller Jr.,
Winston-Salem
Reaves' vision
deserves attention
To the Editor:
My husband, Harvey
Kennedy, and I attended the
recent inauguration of
Chancellor Donald Reaves of
Winston-Salem State
University at the Convention
Center.
Chancellor Reaves' out
standing address was filled
?> with many points and infor
mation, which I believe
should be disseminated to our
local African-American com
munity.
In particular. Chancellor
Reaves spoke about his vision
for WSSU, which includes
increasing its academic stan
dards for admission, among
many other noteworthy ideas.
He spoke about the challenges
facing all historically black
colleges and universities
today.
I strongly recommend that
a transcript of Reaves' speech
be run in The Chronicle so
that our African American
community cair understand
the problems that WSSU and
other HBCUs face in this
"global world" and how
? Reaves' plans to address
them.
Mayor Allen Joines and
UNC System President
Erskine Bowles have pledged
their support to WSSU. I hope
that The Chronicle can help
also by informing the commu
nity at large of Reaves' mis
sion to improve WSSU.
Sincerely,
Pat Kennedy
Remember Katrina!
Marc
Morial
Guest
Columnist
A deadly cyclone in
Myanmar. A devastating
earthquake in China.
Cataclysmic twisters across
the American Midwest. It
seems that almost everyday,
there is a natural disaster that
commands the world's atten
tion and compassion. That so
many have done so much for
people both near and far is a
sign of the basic decency of
human beings in general and
Americans in particular.
Almost three years ago,
when Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita struck our gulf coast, we
saw a similar outpouring of
attention and support. One of
the lessons of Katrina ? that
the needs of people affected
by these horrific disasters per
sist long after the cameras and
dignitaries have moved on.
Significant parts of the city of
New -Orleans, as well as the
coastal regions of Mississippi
and Alabama still need our
help and I am proud that the
National Urban League has
not forgotten.
One of the things that
makes the National Urban
League so unique is our abili
ty to quickly respond to local
and regional crises through
our network of strong affili
ates across the country.
Immediately after the
storms struck, and it became
evident that the federal
response was woefully inade
quate, we joined with the
Congressional Black Caucus
Photo by Tim John*on/MCT
Relief workers try to save lives in quake-devastated Beichuan, China.
and others to call for a Katrina
Bill of Rights, which would
guarantee the tens of thou
sands of displaced citizens the
righ^ to recover, return,
rebuild, work and vote. Those
principles have continued to
guide many of the private and
public recovery efforts that
have sprung up since August
of 2005. *
Part of our long-term out
reach has included the devel
opment of the Gulf Coast
Economic Empowerment
Program (GCEEP). BP
America has partnered with us
to establish the GCEEP that
has helped more than 400
small and minority construc
tion-related firms in the
region participate in redevel
opment projects. With nearly
$10 billion worth of public
and private projects up for
grabs, we believe that small
and minority businesses must
get their fair share.
As part of the OCEEP, we
are conducting a series of
Empowerment Tours, to put
local small and minority busi
nesses directly in touch with
government and private con
tractors in need of contracting
assistance. Upcoming tours
will be held in Lake Charles,
La., on May 21, Port Arthur,
Texas on July 9 and New
Orleans in September.
The noted hurricane fore
cast team at Colorado State
University has predicted a
"well above average" storm
season this year, with at least
one major hurricane expected
to hit the United States. We
hope that the nation has
learned from the lesson of
Katrina that we must be ready
to respond as soon as these
storms hit and long after they
have gone.
Marc H. Morial is
President and CEO of the
National Urban League.
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