The News Argus, April 2003
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From the Editor
Black men are
behind the times
Brothers, why are we letting women
take over?
Well, there does appear to be one rea
son. We're not stepping to the plate with
bats swinging.
It seems that while
we're on the basketball
court playing games and
dreaming of the NBA,
sisters are finding alter
natives. They're spend
ing their time in
libraries, bookstores and
coffeehouses devising a
life plan. And we are
reduced to being cavemen who used to
clobber women over the head and drag
them back to the lair.
Today, these women are beginning to
learn that they can earn as much money
as their caveman counterparts. They can
be successful without the help of a man.
They are putting themselves into posi
tions where they are becoming the boss.
Needless to say, there are some black
men who are working toward financial,
personal and spiritual goals. But the
majority aren't.
ITie game has changed, so why aren't
we stepping up?
Brothers, for real, we know how our
daily conversations are toward women.
We can almost describe them by their
bodies more then we can remember their
names. So while we're stuck on hedonis
tic tendencies, these women are getting
paid. In the job market, it appears that
women are taking over more and more
of the positions once occupied by men.
Not surprisingly, black women are step
ping into the positions that they could
have only dreamed of a few years ago.
This is because of one simple reason.
While we spend our days watching
Sports Center or drooling over the
videos on BET, a lot of these women are
out there hustling. And while we don't
have a clue as to what we are going to
do the next day, they already have their
five-year plans developed.
Women are nice to look at, but how
much of our time is spent on dreaming
about things we possibly won't ever
have? It's like that term "survival of the
fittest," but what these women seem to
be telling us is, "Step up or shut up."
Challenge these women, give them
something worth fighting for, challenge
the stereotypes. In order to change this
trend, we must start focusing on the big
ger issue.
The player, player days are getting old.
The educated black man days are in. Be
what you are about to become, because
the only thing that can stop you from
doing big things is your attitude.
Downtown will come alive this
summer with music, films, food
By Anthony L. Nelson
SPECIAL TO THE ARGUS
I have always believed that the
most attractive area to any city
should be its downtown area and its
after-hours atmosphere.
Cities around the world capitalize
financially because they are able to
lure their population into their cafes,
sports bars, restaurants, art galleries
and other attractions. I have lived in
Winston-Salem since I was, oh, for
life. When I was small, there were
outings such as the Street Scene,
which made me want to go down
town to enjoy the festivities and go to
work with my mom. I even liked the
little shop that served breakfast next
to my mom's job on Liberty Street.
For some reason, walking the
streets to see the hustle and bustle of
the business people was of interest to
me. As I grew older, the excitement
for me began to deteriorate with the
livelihood of the area. I went away to
school for a couple of years, came
back and the same scenario existed.
But now there's a special movement
that has created a probing and imagi
native nature in me. I believe it will
be something for all of us to be proud
of, especially if you plan to stay in
the area.
Supporters of Winston-Salem have
been working tirelessly to ensure that
our future scholars, businessmen and
women, teachers, lawyers, doctors,
athletes, and artists have pride in
their hometown. These leaders are
regenerating economic development
and interest in the downtown area.
There has already been work done in
the Arts District, and now it's time
for everyone to reap the benefits of
the dedication of people such as Phil
Hanes Jr., Glenda Keels, Lynette
Matthews-Murphy, Stacie Brenner
and several others who have invested
their time and money.
Numerous activities have taken
place to rekindle visitation to the
area. The Artslgnite Festival was a
12-day event produced by the
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Arts
Council that showcased a series of
contemporary, classical and popular
productions that drew patrons to the
Stevens Center, Winston Square Park
and other venues downtown. It fea
tured local, national, and internation
al actors and actresses. On Fridays,
Photo courtesy of the Winston-Salem Journal
visitors browse at Realls Art Gallery during a Gallery Hop on Trade Street.
ON THE COVER: This colorful mural is also on Trade Street.
there are also events such as the
Downtown Arts District First Friday
Gallery Hop on Trade and Sixth
streets, which gives persons interest
ed in the arts the opportunity to
explore numerous shops and galleries
while enjoying entertainment and
refreshments.
The Music in the Streets series
begins May 1 with features such as:
Alive After 5 (held in Corpening
Plaza), Summer on Trade, and Fourth
Street Jazz and Blues (May 9). They
provide live music and, of course,
food in the parks.
The majority of these events are for
the entire family at little or no cost. If
you're interested in films, the River
Run Film Festival (April 24-27) will
screen feature-length and short films.,
as does Films on Fourth.
One of the latest and most exciting
pieces to the downtown area's resur
gence is Rock the Block. This is a
more improved version of the Street
Scene, but it has an assortment of
activities for various ages. Rock the
Block provides outdoor and indoor
activities such as games for children,
an area for extreme sports, a classic
car show, music from the different
decades, a cyber area for remote
Internet use and vendors who sell
everything from crafts to food. This is
the perfect opportunity to catch all
the new cafes and shops primed for
sidewalk dining.
If you missed the event last fall,
which generated the largest gathering
of people for one evening of music,
art and pure fun in decades, you will
again have the chance to go to this
all-out block party. On May 2, down
town on Fourth Street, from 6 to 10
p.m., there will be another party in
the streets that doesn't require dress
slacks. The only requirement is that
you enjoy yourself. The room for
excuses concerning boredom and
restlessness is being packed with
happenings that extend themselves to
you. Every so often, things do
change. Many times we are not
responsive to those changes, and we
miss the action. Now, as a young and
energetic dweller in Winston-Salem,
you have the chance to claim that
you were there when the music was
on and people were dancing, eating
and having a grand time in the
streets. You have the chance to show
that you are open-minded and sup
portive of the city's escalation from
lifeless evenings and weekends to
stimulating occasions that you'll
relay to your neighbor, co-worker
and kids. Most importantly, you have
the chance to be a part of the city's
largest block party no matter what
zip code you reside in.
If you would like to volunteer to enlist
in the Urban Army as a volunteer to pro
mote events such as Rock the Block,
please e-mail Katie Pepper at
katiep@wrcp.com.
Though strides have been made, affirmative action is still needed
It is a pleasure to spend time
with you once again with this
edition of the Chancellor's
Comer. As discussed at the
onset of the first edition, one of
the goals of the column has
been to discuss areas of con
cern for you, the students.
Based on candid conversations
and observations, a recurring
area of interest, particularly in
recent weeks, has been affirma
tive action. Given the current
public focus on affirmative
action, I thought it would be
appropriate to take a closer
look at this important policy.
The depth and breadth of
affirmative action has been
chancellor’s
comer
with Dr. Harold L Martin
vehemently discussed since the
early 1960s. Through Executive
Order 10925, President
Kennedy in 1961 issued the
order requiring that govern
ment contractors must "take
affirmative action to ensure
that applicants are employed,
and that employees are treated
during employment, without
regard to their race, creed,
color, or national origin." Yet,
many in the modem era would
argue that there is no longer a
"compelling interest" for affir
mative action. In the minds of
the more conservative in our
country, the 21st Century pro
vides a "fair playing field."
There is little question that
advancements have been made
for minorities. Yet, when
women continue to earn 76
cents for every male dollar for
the same job and African
Americans continue to have
twice the unemployment rate
of White Americans, it is diffi
cult to argue that equality has
been reached.
Given the perspectives on
affirmative action, how will
this initiative shape our future?
Well, in preparing yourself for
graduate programs and careers,
you must recognize that the
growing debate serves as a
stronger polarization of differ
ing perspectives. Given this
realization, WSSU is fortunate
to have informed students like
you. We were proud that many
of you chose to voice your sup
port of affirmative action by
participating in the rally in
Washington, D.C., with thou
sands of affirmative action sup
porters. A special note of
appreciation is given to Kristie
Swink, our SGA President, who
organized the trip.
I am also thankful that you as
students realize the importance
of performing at high levels of
excellence, such that regardless
of one's view of affirmative
action, you are the clear choice
for adding value to any organi
zation. Your quality education
al experiences here at WSSU
will prepare and position you
to fulfill the university's motto,
"Enter to Learn, Depart to
Serve." In so doing, 1 am con
vinced this will be your great
est safeguard to those who
oppose affirmative acfion.
Send all questions and comments
to chancellorsoffice@wssu.edu.