The News Argus, February 2003
JONES
From the Editor
Inherent problems
need solutions
Sometimes it is hard to see inherent
flaws in one's race, and it takes an out
sider to expose those
flaws. Recently there was
a letter circulating by e-
mail that offered an inter-1
esting perspective about
black people from a non
black.
Throughout the letter,
the writer candidly ex
posed some inherent
flaws in the black race.
The writer said physical slavery is no
longer necessary to "reap profits from
the blacks" because blacks contain them
selves through ignorance, greed and self
ishness. Out of these, the writer asserted
that ignorance is the most important. The
writer explained that because of igno
rance, blacks have fought long and hard
to be able to read books but still refuse to
read consistently.
The writer also explained how black
people have been fighting to reach eco
nomic equality and that there are plenty
of books "in their own black bookstores
that provide solid blueprints to reach
economic equality," but they still do not
read them.
Secondly, the writer said that through
greed, blacks place little emphasis on
saving and investing. Black people
would rather buy a pair of shoes and put
rims on their cars than start a business.
The writer concluded that anyone could
use blacks as a target market because
they will buy into anything.
Lastly, the writer asserted that selfish
ness does not allow blacks "to be able to
work together on any project or endeav
or of substance." The writer added that
ego gets in the way of goals when blacks
do work together and, as a result, the
goals are never achieved.
What the writer said is debatable.
However, it is a fact that blacks have yet
to address many problems that exist in
contemporary society. Let's assume that
the writer is accurate in his or her per
ceptions. Will we continue to let our
selves fall victim to the open hands of ig
norance, greed and selfishness? Will we
continue to suffer from the evils of mise-
ducation and misinformation? Will we
continue to allow other people control
our thoughts, our investments and our
livelihoods? Let's become more intelli
gent in our ways and actions and begin
looking at things under a critical magni
fying glass, rather than continue to let
others exploit us. Remember, the hand
that provides for us rules us.
& EDITORIALS
Portraits of Black Americans
Argus illustrations by Jamil Steele
Paul Leroy Bustill Robeson was
born in 1898 in Princeton, N.J.
Robeson was a singer, actor, civil-
rights activist, law-school graduate,
athlete, scholar and author. In the
1930s and ’40s, he was one of the
most respected blacks in the world.
Robeson accomplished many
things throughout his life, including
starring in plays and movies;
singing in America and Europe;
writing books; and winning many
prestigious awards.
Phillis Wheatley was born in Sene
gal and was the first black to be
published in America. She was sold
into slavery around 1760. At the age
of 17, she published her first poem.
A volume of her poetry was pub
lished in London about three years
later. One of her many admirers was
President George Washington. It
was for him that Wheatley wrote this
poem: “A crown, a mansion, and a
throne that shine. With gold unfad
ing, Washington! be thine.”
M.
to the editor
1 am an American. My skin
pigment could be identified as
light, or the term white or
Caucasian. I am personally of
fended by the term African-
American being thrown
around like it is completely
meaningless.
The color of your skin does
not automatically entitle you
to consider yourself a part of
such a rich culture. If you
were born in America, you are
an American. Too often the
term is used to further segre
gate and give way to excuses.
Diversity? I think not; this is
segregation. You do not need
a special title to be different;
you need different titles to
separate. The main reason I
become offended at this word
is that Africa's history, cus
toms and culture are so won
drous that if you do not un
derstand and adhere to them,
you haven't earned that
name.
It is shameful that many
whites know more about the
"Motherland" than blacks,
isn't it? I know a true African-
American who can tell you
his lineage from memory all
the way back to the 1200s.
Amazing, yet it is his duty.
Family and the family name
are of incredible importance
there. If you know anything
about African music, the
name Keita should ring a bell.
Mamady Keita is probably the
world's most famous djembe
player. That name has en
dured for centuries.
Another interesting note is
that Keita is a Horon name. A
Horon would have drums
played for him, not play them
himself. That is one reason
Mamady sticks out. The Jelis
would have played for him.
But he can quote his lineage
back to 1200. This is a stan
dard there. Learning any
thing, yet?
Now one of the most irritat
ing things I hear about is slav
ery is 439 years of captivity.
Well, I can really tell you did
your research. Slavery has ex
isted worldwide since the
dawn of time. And yes has
existed in Africa since the dif
ferent classes formed.
In Africa there are essential
ly three different classes: The
Horons, the Nyamakala and
the Jon — the slaves and ser
vants.
Africa has always been less
then wealthy, and when the
French came to trade in the
1530s and the British in the
1550s, the Horons would sell
them many of their Jons. Yep,
really ripped from your peo
ple weren't you? So slavery
had existed in this country for
439 years, but wait a minute ...
America is only 226 years old.
Hmmm ... the math isn't
adding up. Before you blame
America for over 400 years of
slavery, why not study some
history?
Let me conclude by saying
that if you didn't already ,
know everything I have stated
here, and so much more, you
are not an African-American.
You are an American. It's time
to be proud of who you are
not who you like to pretend
you are. Stop trying to perpet
uate even more segregation
and hatred.
Sincerely,
Abaddon [Chris Hathcock]
'Revelation' is
an in-depth look
at Betha's life
By Nakida McDaniel
ARGUS ARTS EDITOR
Mason Betha —
“Revelation”
Former platinum rap
artist Mason Betha
(Mase) recently entered
the writer's market with
his biography titled
"Revelation."
Although many may
think that it's filled with
Book Review
Enron bankruptcy taught a hard lesson
By Nicole Ferguson
ARGUS NEWS EDITOR
It's practically impossi
ble to,turn on the news
and not hear headlines on
the latest Enron develop
ments.
The multimillion-dollar
company and its former
CEO, Kenneth Lay, seem
to be at the height of busi
ness and consumer
news.
Enron, the once power
ful oil company, literally
crashed late last year
Analysis
The company filed for
bankruptcy protection
Dec. 2 and was finally
suspended from the New
York Stock Exchange on
Jan. 15.
This unexpected down
fall left innocent investors
and employees with noth
ing financially.
Hundreds of Enron em
ployees lost their jobs and
were left with little to no
retirement to fall back on
due to the untimely crash.
Or was it really untimely?
Speculations suggest
that the downfall was
foreshadowed by a series
of events that are current
ly under investigation. If
found to be legitimate, it
is likely that Lay and
Enron's former account
ing firm, Arthur Ander
sen, destroyed documents
that would have shown
the gradual downfall of
the company.
It has been said that An
dersen audited Houston-
based Enron's books
when they overstated
profits by hundreds of
millions of dollars.
As a result of the Enron
scandal, employees and
investors have lost a life
time of savings, the Big
Five accounting firm
Arthur Andersen is under
investigation and compa
nies with financial diffi
culties raise suspecting
eyebrows toward their ac
counting firms. A full
criminal investigation is
under way as announced
by the U.S. Justice Depart
ment.
Several questions con
cerning the entire ordeal
include, "Was there an ac
tual crime committed?"
and "Were there favors re
ceived?"
So what are investors
saying about the "Enritis"
plague? Like mama al
ways said, "Don't put all
your eggs in one basket."
in-depth details about his
relationships with P.
Diddy and Bad Boy En
tertainment, Betha goes
deeper by discussing his
personal journey back to
Jesus Christ.
In "Revelation" this ex
rap guru turned pastor
and inspirational speaker
counts all the joy he's
had since leaving the
fame, money and drama
of the music industry be
hind. For those who
knew him as a flashy
rapper, it may be surpris
ing to read the many
Bible verses and informal
sermons between the
pages of "Revelation."
As the founder of Sav
ing a Nation Endangered
(S.A.N.E.), a nondenomi-
national ministry, Betha
feels he is answering
God's calling, which is to
be his prophet and bring
young people into his
ministry.
"Revelation" offers
hope, love and under
standing to its readers
who may find them
selves in spiritual con
flict.
It also delivers the
strong message, "every
thing that glitters ain't
gold."
V