In Our 25th Year Issue No. 1962 February 2009
Associate Consultants
Serving the Triad FRF.IC
SO WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW?
by John Raye
It is true. Change has indeed come to
America. It has also come to the rest
of the civilized world. Barack Obama
is the 44th president of the United
States, the nation’s first elected Black
president.
He now controls and has taken own
ership of the most powerful job in the
free world. And it would not be a
stretch to state that his is the most
famous face on earth, the Pope not
withstanding.
So what does this have to do with
you? What will his election do for
you, your household, your friends or
extended family?
I believe it will do two fundamental
things. First, it will change forever the
perception of Black people about
themselves.
Secondly, it will change forever the
perception of White people about
Black people.
As President Obama stated in his in
augural address, “the ground has
shifted”. This shift can be seen most
noticeable in the attitude, mood and
character of Black people themselves.
Much of the psychological baggage
that has burdened the Black commu
nity for centuries is now, and will
become, much less of a burden. No,
his election does not mean a whole
sale end to prejudice and racism.
There will always be a fair share of
stupid people who simply are unable
or unwilling to realize their condition,
which is why they remain in history’s
stupid comer.
You pray for such people. Leave
them alone, and go on about your
business.
Obama’s elevation to the ultimate
power pulpit has given birth to a new
and emerging reality; a steep decline
in the unconscious viciousness of
Black self-hate, and self-destructive
behavior, especially among Black
youth.
Continued on Page 13
A Woman who Loves Her Work
by John Raye
Anyone who knows Renee Rogers
will tell you one thing that best de
scribes her character; this woman flat
out loves to work. And she works ex
tremely hard. She works six days a
week, and sometime, it morphs into a
seven -day work week. Mind you,
these are not your usual nine-to-five
work days either.
She works in an industry known for
its high bum-out rate and rapid em
ployee turnover; fast foods.
If you drive up or walk into Church’s
Chicken at 1102 Bessemer avenue in
Greensboro, mostly likely you’ll see
Renee Rogers behind the counter.
She’s a busy woman, always it seems,
in perpetual motion, doing three or
Renee Rogers
four things at the same time. One
moment, she could be serving cus
tomers at the busy drive-thru window,
ringing up orders from walk-in cus
The Race
for the Title
2009 MEAC Basketball
Tournament-March 10-14
Courtesy of the MEAC Media
Relations
Expect the
unexpected.
That has be
come the rule of
thumb for the
MEAC basketball
tournament,
where being the
No. 1 seed quite
often is the kiss of
death.
Ask Morgan
State’s men and
North Carolina
A&T’s women.
The Bears and
Lady Aggies each
lost in the championship game on
last-second
I Continued on Page 26 j
tomers or giving sweet smiles to fa
miliar faces.
There is little time to relax or to en
gage in small talk. Rogers knows she
has to be quick and fast on her feet.
After all, this is the fast food business.
And most people expect to have their
food that way.. .fast and quick.
She does not show or act like it, but
this 38 year mother of three, is the
boss, the general manager of a store
that sold a whole lot of fried chicken
last year.
About a million dollars worth to be
exact. And Rogers would like to dupli
cated or top that figure this year.
The fast food business is big business.
It’s also a hard, tough and demanding
business with a high turnover rate.
Continued on Page 12
INSIDE...
The Untold Story of Grand
mothers Caring for AIDS
Orphans in Africa 3
Thru My Eyes 4
Local African American
Read In a Huge Success!!... 6
Do You Look Older Than
You Should 14
$4 Generics, Arc They Worth
The Additional Costs? 20
The Upside of Downsizing 27