mm
2A
NEWS^Q^ CiiaiUitU $at
Thursday, August 18, 2005
How much for reparations?
Barber
Continued from page 1A
leaders in the African-
American community” said
Wachovia Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer Ken
Thompson “We believe that
these special efforts, com
bined with our hi^ level of
ongoing community support,
demonstrate Wachovia’s
strong commitment to serv
ing groups
and individu
als who have
been histori
cally imder-
served ”
That’s not
enough,
argues
Richard
Beirber, a
TVenton, N.C., native and
founder of US Reparations
Group, Barber said repara
tions advocates have sought
a meeting with Thompson to
discuss how Wachovia can
compensate black
Americans for its predeces
sor companies’ slave profits.
“I’m still seeking a meeting
with Ken Thompson,”
Barber said. “He said he
received advice from the
community, but he didn’t
seek the advice in the move
ment. What I’m hoping to do
is propose a long-term rela
tionship that’ll solve this
once and for all.”
Tb others, Wachovia’s ges
ture is appropriate, given
the tenor of the debate over
reparations and raciaUy-
charged issue of slavery
‘T think it’s a step in the
ri^t direction,” said Robert
Smith PhD, a professor of
African and African
American studies at UNC
Charlotte. “It’s also
Wachovia being more
assertive about issues of
race. Most companies, espe
cially financial firms, can
Mediation
ordered in
S.C. biker
dispute
Continued from page 1A
iiyunction earlier this year
against the one-way traffic
pattern.
A federal judge later ruled
that race motivated how the
city handled traffic during the
black biker rally and orda^
the city to use to same traffic
controls for both the black and
white biker rallies.
But that ruling was later
stayed by a federal appeals
court pending the city’s
appeal and the one-way traf
fic pattern was again used
during the Atlantic Beach
Bikefest last Memorial Day
weekend.
The trial is now scheduled
to start six weeks before next
year’s Bikefest.
Paul Hurst, an attorney for
the NAACP, has said the tim
ing makes it unlikely the
issue could be resolved at trial
before next year’s rally
Coretta King
hospitalized
in Atlanta
Continued from page 1A
was only abiding by her doc
tor’s orders to limit her activi
ties, He refused to give addi-
ticnal details.
“1 had a feeling, based on
her cancellation of several
events, that she wasn’t doing
well,’ said State Rep. Tyrone
Brooks, who is president of
the Georgia Association of
Black Elected Officials. “I
have been praying for Mrs.
King every day and I ,uige
Atlanta, Georgia, the nation
and the world to ja^y for her."
The Rev, Joseph Lowery,
former president of the
Southern Christian
Leadership Conference which
King helped found in 1957,
said he planned to visit with
King or her son, Martin
Lutha* King III, upon hearing
the news about her health
Tlieedav
trace their roots to intersect
with slavery”
Wachovia is one of the
largest providers of financial
services to retail, brokerage
and corporate customers,
with retail operations fix)m
Connecticut to Florida and
west to Tfexas, and retail bro
kerage operations nation
wide. Wachovia had assets of
$511.8 billion of Jime 30.
Wachovia is one of two
Charlotte-based banks
linked to slave profits. Bank
of America Corp., the coun
try’s second-largest financial
institution, was built
through the merger of
FleetBoston, which was sued
in 2001 for its role in backing
loans for slave ships. An
appeal is pending against
Bank of America and 18
other corporate giants over
reparations, including
Gannett (media), CSX Corp.
(transportation) and Aetna
(insurance).
Wachovia’s partnerships,
which will be funded over
five years, include volunteer
support, employee giving
and technical assistance to
thfe non-profits.
“We’re pleased to partner
with these highly regarded
organizations to make a
meaningful difference for
African-Americans,”
Thompson said, “These part
nerships are consistent with
our philanthropic priorities
of improving education and
strengthening neighbor
hoods. ”
That position skirts the
issue of compensation.
Barber says. As a corpora
tion that acknowledges its
slave-era past, Wachovia has
an obligation to act in good
faith as well as profit Grom
its community activities.
‘When you acquire compa
nies, you acquire the assets
and liabilities,” Baiher said
“Tb say T’m not responsible
for the past’ is not true I look'
at what he did as something
he should’ve been doing all
along.”
Wachovia touts its commu
nity involvement and
employee volimteerism as
proof it gives back In 2004,
Wachovia provided $25 bil
lion in community loans and
investments to revitalize
neighborhoods, and con
tributed more than $82 mil
lion to charitable organiza
tions. Employees volun
teered more than 600,000
hours in community service.
Wachovia was honored
with the Fannie Mae
Community HERO Award,
which recognizes creativity
and leadership in mortgage
and community lending. In
the NAACP’s most recent
Economic Reciprocity
Initiative rankings.
Wachovia received the hig^i-
est grade in the financial ser
vices industry
The national NAACP also
supports reparations.
Smith said he doesn’t
expect other corporations to
immediately follow
Wdchovia’s tentative steps
anytime soon.
‘Tf s not nearly enou^, but
on the other hand, our gov
ernment hasn’t done any
thing to compensate us,” he
said “You have to at least
acknowledge Wachovia has
done something that
deserves a pat on the back.”
While Wachovia isn’t part
of the federal lawsuit,
Barber said reparations
activists will continue litiga
tion. And, he sa}^, their
goals won’t change.
‘We’re going to appeal as
long as the sim rises in the
east and sets in the west,” he
said We don’t care what
they do in federal court.
We’re going to step up the
pressure in the court of piab-
lic opinion.”
#
Friendship Christian
Academy
Now Enrolling!
6 Weeks - Grade 3
•A BEKACurriculum
(Develop students spiritually and academically)
• Small Teacher/Student Ratio
• Individual Attention • Modern Computer Facilities
• Foreign Language Instruction
• Music Instruction
To Enroll Your Child Today, Contact;
Friendship Baptist Church
221 West Bradley Ave. Gastonia, NC 28052
704-865-9016
www.1riendshipgastonia.org
rMiCCennium 'Dance Studio
scfiooCof tfie CfiarCotte 'Dance Cornpany
ChifcCrerx
'Teens
JActuCts
^rancf Openinfjt
fMitlennium CAeer
& (gymnastics Jicademy
(yp-£Jsi Mfyusi
SeptemBer to, aoo?
Ctasses Start: SejytemBer 12, 2005
Over 30 dance styles ofJ'eretC
J^es 3-i7 * JAdidts tS and'cyver
caO'for Iticatton A cCass information
704-55I MtaUptee 877-f>52-57i2
IV. millenniumcha riot te.com
Minique
Hair Designers & Hair Weeving, Inc.
Minique
Huir Rcplucement Specitilist
We .specialize in cranial pnisthesis
systems Ibr th«.se with special needs
as a result of hair loss. Due to
Chemo/Radiation therapy, burns an
alopecia and women with hair of any
texture or original s tyle. Alsti, we
specialize in children and teen .styles.
Wigs,
Integration,
Extensions
Non-Surgical Hair-Replacement
^pecintizin^ in alt
hait textutes and
those njith special
needs
Men’s Hair Systems
Extended & Daily
Wear
After Photo on Top
Before Photo on Bottom
Private Consultations
4343 N. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28213
Phone: 704.598.8897
Fax: 704.598.6063
go back to ,
school /^/^3^1?style
what’s not to love?
Limited Time Offer!
Available onii^rom Alltel when you
get on any Freedom Plan and add
a Messaging Pack.
Get exclusive
Lil' Flip ringtones
only from Alltel
NOKIA
62551
Find out more at
ailtGi.comAlflip
a Player & FM Radio
il Flash Camera & Video
Bluetooth" Wireless Technology
Cool Stereo Headset Available
come and get your love'
Ful Retail PhC8 $249.99
Y/JIt Sale Price
Vi»i2'iear
Clltel
wireless
servea a^^eement
alltel.com 1-800-alltef9
1 AJItd Retail Stores
1
Aiithorized Agents Equipment & pmnvitiooal offers at these locations may vary.
PMiCtHbitac
Gtaad ftaaenada
Gastaeia
Maoraswiia
Sniby
Gaffaay
(Maaroa
Rockia^laai
Alfciaaric
230E KarroBM
3044E fraoUaBhd
350KW.Pl8nDt
nQ5E OuonSKd.
1537 FM Bate 8M.
Coacard
TattaboutWitates
11budiMotiiie
r»-16H«y.24/?7E
t70«21&.-n66
(TOO 961-3000
(704)6^-8444
(704)480-7400
(8641487.8338
WirstBss Sate
TIISW.RnoseveltBM).
1?20AndungharafU..S(e A
ITtmSOTSS
RaaVtHaea
Kaaaapolis
PaavHIa
Waiasbara
Laacastar
SlilConcordMillsGM.
(803)^1800
{21945V2695
(8092880206
Chartada
11524 PnMdanca Ad
Z228lbna$t
3105Pina«iaeAlBtthewsRd
i009E(;aiwe»l
917Awy 9Byp W.
Piaavila
Gatena BM
{704IM5-2144
inW 293-4850
|7M5(3«C3
(^4) 694-7050
1803) 2864)815
Gastoaia
laftaboutWiQtes
Laacastar
[miU?44EE
tTOiCSoMheM
lonnodiM Martaf
3419roringdonVV^.Sla 108
Uaaotalea
I428LMmS(
ftodtiailmB
l7eBE»oadAw
Saadi Candiaa
Chaster
RadtKil
mtiMumW
TaftatxxftWsates
246 New Hope Rd,
11(S5Caniiaia Place Ftwv
(219451-2695
IteichMobiia
1129CHwygBrp.W.
I704»7I6-3«S
{70(> 295-1000
1704} 748-9729
(910)997-7099
*645 J A. (kdran Bypass
(803)581-7439
(803)324-7729
(219^1-2^
tddii ibb-lUta)
CotMddYligi
Canatws
Uaarot
Sdisbary
^ , .^rrr^
240 Sham Ai^Rd.
SouMata Shoppmg Caaar
ieb7(kteraaR6M.
21]S2StatesMltoaKl
x /r—'"y )
[7M23b-1«0
20619 bawnChapaiAp.
(704)292-7474
(704)6380060
jC
rwxnm
UrrMatf-tm* oH»r at p«r«Ci^bng loctbon*. iMWt suK*«* Iml Ac«vaw>n of • QMWyng Attat ratt pt»n. cr«il approval & approvad handsat raquired. Offan are subtact to ih« Mttal Terms ft Conditions for Communicationt Senneas available at any AMtel store
or iM con. AX ochtr product & sarvict marts rafercncad arc the ftamas. radc names, tridamarfcs & logos o thmr raspecbva owners.