OPINION/ FORUM
CHRONICLE^
Eenest H. Pitt
Elaini Pitt
T. Kevin Waleee
PublisherATo-Founder
Business Manager
Managing Editor
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The Womble
Victory
We rejoice with Rep. Larry Womble for his vindi
cation from the misdemeanor death by motor vehicle
charge that he faced after he was involved in a fatal
car crash a year ago that left David Carmichael dead
and Womble severely injured.
Womble is finally able to exhale a sigh of relief,
put the legalities of this tragic incident to rest and
focus on his recovery from the accident. To this, we
are extremely grateful and thankful.
However, there are some issues that have always
troubled us about this case and still do.
Why was Rep. Womble charged in the first place?
This man is an exemplary leader and activist who has
passionately served this city, state and its people for
most of his life. Why this true
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charges is a question that many
of us have. Where was the solid
evidence to substantiate the
charge? Is this another case of
rush to judgment when the facts
are still unclear? Is it all too easy
for black leaders (and people) to
be found guilty until proven
innocent? Let's examine some
points.
The word of eye- witnesses
has been shown to he unreliable
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and even more so when the accident happened at 11:06
p.m. on a pitch black road. Shouldn't there have been
more careful investigation before indicting Womble?
Who can determine anything clearly at night with
moving vehicles on a pitch black road? Furthermore,
given there were no skid marks, how can these wit
nesses' claims be substantiated?
Why would law enforcement at the scene of the
accident choose to focus on Rep. Womble as the cause
of the accident? Toxicology reports later confirmed
that he didn't have any alcohol or any intoxicants in
his system. On the other hand, the other driver had a
blood alcohol level three-times over the legal limit It
should have appeared more probable to law enforce
ment that the level of intoxication may have precipitat
ed the accident. We don't see how they could have
proceeded to criminal charges, particularly without
resolving that "one" question that continued to trouble
' everyone else.
Speculations that Rep. Womble fell asleep, got dis
tracted or perhaps had some sort of medical condition
causing him to lose control of the car should not have
risen above the tested levels of intoxication and crim
inal records available to law enforcement. Rep.
Womble has no criminal record, but records showed
that the other driver pleaded guilty to driving with a
revoked license and was cited for unlawful use of
highways in 2002.
Why would law enforcement focus on the accident
victim who had no criminal record as the cause of the
crime where more logical evidence was available?
Why did the restructure of the accident come only
after a criminal charge was made, thereby forcing the
surviving accident victim to prove his innocence? As
citizens, shouldn't we expect law enforcement to do its
job diligently to protect all of us?
People are rejoicing that justice has prevailed for
Rep. Womble. However, we say that justice was not
served because he should never have been charged in
the first place. Furthermore, the citizens who know
Rep. Womble and also those with the ability to think
critically and without prejudice never really believed
that Womble caused the accident. So, Womble never
lived under a cloud of suspicion in his own community
and we doubt, even in the broader community. The
justice system too quickly and without complete evi
dence judges and condemns African Americans and is
even less cautious when the citizen happens to be poor.
Those charged with the administration of justice in
our community should not deflect it to others outside
our community. They are charged with the public duty
within this community, have taken a pledge to be fair
and just and to administer the unbiased hand of justice.
Unless the citizen is a family member, close friend or
business associate, they should be committed to doing
just that and not defer to others. Rarely does the jus
tice system come back to clear up its own errors with
out being forced to do so by outside circumstances.
Thank God that Rep Womble could afford legal coun
sel. May God have mercy on those who cannot.
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Chief meets
with Muslim
community
lb the Editor:
Police Chief Scott
Cunningham responded
to the concerns of the
Islamic community at a
forum held on Oct. 24 at
the Community Mosque.
This second forum
was the follow up to a ,
forum entilted "One ,
Humanity. One ,
Community. Our ,
Children." Chief
Chief Cunningham
Cunningham responded
to all questions addressed
to him after updating the
community of his investi
gation of the incident
involving a female
Muslim R.J. Reynolds
High School student who
was attacked. His investi
gation to date concluded
that there was not enough
evidence to conclude that
it was a hate crime.
Several attendees, includ
ing Darryl Hunt, asked a
number of questions,
from perceptions of
excess force being used
by the police department
to profiling of African
Americans and the use of
stun, guns to detain citi
zens being arrested.
Chief Cunningham
explained police policy
very carefully in each of
these areas and assured
the community that he
was concerned about the
safety of the total com
munity. He agreed to con
tinue communicating
with the community on
cultural awareness issues
related to the Islamic
community.
Imam Khalid Griggs
extends his appreciation
to the Police Department
for their participation in
this event.
Fleming El-Amin,
event moderator
The Season to be Careful
Julianne
Malveaux
Guest
Columnist
Okay, I'll admit it. I
am truly the Grinch who
wanted to steal
Christmas. It takes me
until about Dec. 23 to get
in the spirit, and I only
feel obligated to find
gifts for children and
close family. I like to
give, which is why I
share with a few charities
that are close to me. I like
to connect, which is why
I have a greeting card rit
ual. But all this crazy
frenzy after
Thanksgiving, before
Christmas sale stuff truly
repels me. And while I
don't want to put a
damper on anybody's
spirit, I want to say that
this is the season to be
careful.
After all, we live in a
consumer-oriented socie
ty. When we spend, other
people get paid. When I
we spend other people
are blessed. But if you
spend what you don't
have then you are sliding
down your own fiscal
cliff, and you won't have
a pillow to protect you.
The average American
will spend about $900
this year on Christmas
gifts and toys, but that
means that half will
spend more. 'Tis the sea
son to be careful.
Some of the biggest
scams come from chari
ties. They will reach you
through email, snail mail,
and even text mail. They
may ask for a little or a
lot. You've got to ask
where your money is
going. Some organiza
tions take as much as 80
percent of your gift,
which means that the
people you want t^o help
get just 20 percent of
your money. Before you
send a penny, ask the
right questions. Too
many charities lean on
this time of year to make
their money, but if the
whole truth is told, they
are really leaning on this
time of year to make a
living. Check these folks
out online, and look for
their annual reports. If
their overhead is more
than IS percent, walk on
by.
Another scam is the
garbled name scam. You
may think you are giving
to a worthy program,
such as the Police
Athletic League, only to
find that you are giving
to the non-registered
Police Athletic Program.
You may think you are
giving to an African
American cause, only to
find that a garbled name
takes you someplace else.
Americans want to give,
and African Americans
are among the most gen
erous, based on the per
cent of income we give.
But give with your head
and not with your heart,
and ask solicitors impor
tant questions.
One of the other
scams is the sale scam. If
you buy it now, you will
get a sale that will never,
ever, in your lifetime be
replicated. So standing
in line all night for the
52-foot TV for $239,
while the store has only
10. Find some furniture
you like only to be told it
is 50 percent off today,
but not tomorrow.
Retailers are playing on
your greed and your
panic. If you take your
time, you might find an
even better deal. And if
it seems too good to be
true, it is.
Scruffy little children
will come to your door
this time of year, asking
for money for their
church, for magazine
subscriptions, for all
form of causes. You may
want to slip the child a
few pennies, but please
know they aren't going to
make more than that with
the magazine subscrip
tion scam, or with the
church solicitation. In
fact, most churches run
their own solicitations, so
maybe ask for the name
of the church and call
them before you make a
donation.
I suppose I am the
Grinch because I am dis
mayed that our holiday
season that supposedly
celebrates the birth of the
Christ child has turned
into a commercial orgy
with people shopping for
a full five weeks. It has
also turned into a solici
tation orgy with almost
every organization you
have ever known asking
for end of year contribu
tions. In the middle of
all this drama, the pur
pose of the holiday is
swallowed.
I am weary of seeing
frenzied faces anxious
for the next sale, or chil
dren (and grown folks)
defining their worth by
what goodies they pick
up. I am weary of the
folks who go into crazy
debt to prove a point, to
buy affection, to shower
folks with gifts when
they should shower them
with love. Can we be
careful with our wallets
and open with our hearts?
I hope that we will all
remember and embrace
the meaning of Christmas
and not the crassness of
consumerism.
Julianne Malveaux is
a Washington, D.C.
based economist and
writer. She is President
Emerita of Bennett
College for Women In
Greensboro.
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