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VOLUME 88-NUMBER 12
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2009
TELEPHONE (919) 682-2913 PRICE: 3C
NNPA Award Winners Exhort Black Press
to Hold Friends and Enemies Accountable
By Huzel Trice F.dney
NNPA Editor-iii-Chief
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - The National Newspaper Publishers Asso
ciation Foundation, giving four top awards during its annual Newsmaker
of the Year Awards Gala, was told bs those same honorees that its contribu
tions to Justice in America is \et untold.
"We have not adequateix evaluated the stature of the Black Press and
what it has meant to this countrx." said civil rights dean the Rev. Joseph
Loweiy. who was honored as the Black Press of America's Lifetime
Achievement Award recipient in the March IQ gala.
He recalled how "immediateh following the IQ63 march on Washing
ton. the White press' initial report was that we had about 50.000 people.
But Black radio and other Black media personalities challenged that and
talked about a half million people. And then the White Press then came
back w ith 250.000 people." he recounted. "But. had it not been for Black
media. I'm certain thex never would have reported the truth. We have yet
to uncoverall the ways that we have been served all the waxs that we have
been positiveix impacted bx the Black Press."
Lowery was introduced bx Harrx Alford, president of the National
Black Chamber of Commerce as a "giant" among giants, who during the
pains of Jim Crow and segregation, "didn't kneel to Pharaoh; they didn't
bend over to Caesar, thex made the world change for the better." Further
more. because of the election of President Barack Obama as a result of the
work ot those like Lowery. "Today. African-Americans are the envy of the
world." he said.
Lowerx received a standing ovation as he made his way to the podium.
His 87-year-old frame appeared strong despite a brief illness that caused
him to pass out after a sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church March 15.
Like Loweiy. the Rev. Al Sharpton and Xernona Clayton, also respond
ed to their NorthStar Communitx Service Awards with praise and encour
agement for the Black Press.
"I am honored bexond w ords to receive this award because of who it
conies from." said Sharpton. "If it had not been for your work and your
newspapers, so manx of the things that we fought and so many of the
battles that were won would not have happened."
The threat is now bexond the civil rights movement as some claim
America is now in a "post racial" societx after the election of President
Barack Obama. Sharpton pointed out.
"If thex can make us bux into this whole rhetoric of post-racial Ameri
ca.’thex w ill sax we no longer need civil rights, they w ill say we no longer
need Black Press."
Sharpton. InitialK a New York-based Black activist, whose popularity
and influence is now entrenched across America, listed issues that are re
flective of a lack of racial growth.
"Tlie reason we need Black Press in 2009 is the same reason we needed
it in 1889." he said. "Tonight Blacks are still doubix unemploxed to Whites
in America, tonight we still have health disparities, tonight one of the rea
sons we’re dealing w ith educational inequities is because the achievement
gaps between Blacks and Whites todax is the same as it was during 1954
when we had Brown verses Board of Education. If we do not have the
vehicles to talk about that, it w ill not address itself"
Claxton. founder, president and CEO of the Trumpet Awards, saxs her
respect for the Black Press is entrenched in the everx dax running of her
business and personal life.
"Exerx time I go into the airport or I go into the news store. 1 ask for
the Black paper of that communitx." she told the audience. "And 1 do it
because I kind of know thex don't have it. but 1 have to do it for me ... I
want to let them know that I'm expecting to see the Black paper. I have
enormous respect, indescribable respect for the Black Press." said Claxton.
She added that she once fired a public relations person xxho eliminated the
Black Press from top coverage of the Trumpet Awards.
The petite Clax ton is a powerhouse among cix il rights leaders.
In his introduction of her. Los Angeles Sentinel Publisher Dannx
Bakewell said she had distinguished herself in so manx waxs that when
he first met her. he expected her to "come fixing in or walking on water
or doing something that has been described to me about this little five-
foot woman who has uncharacteristicallx done things that most people
wouldn't even dream of let alone do."
Among those things, he said, was her successfulix campaign to reverse
deep segregation within hospitals in Atlanta and once convincing a grand
dragon to denounce the Ku Klux Klan. '
But. her life has been spent given accolades to others. Bakewell de
scribed the Trumpet awards as "one of the most magnificent and one of the
most acclaimed awards presentations in this country, realtv in the world."
The audience of publishers, civil rights stalwarts and other friends of
the Black Press cheered and applauded each award w inner. They also in
cluded a special "Political Leadership" award to U. S. Rep. Jim Clxburn
(D-S.C.). now majoritx whip of the U. S. House of Representatives, the
highest ranking African-American in Congress.
Political issues on the horizon are crucial to be addressed bv the Black
Press, said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous, who also attended
the dinner.
"There are some big fights coming up in this town." said Jealous. He
listed the Emploxee Choice Act pertaining to the advantages of Unions to
Black people: the No Child Left Behind, legislation and w hether it will de
mand higher ".standards w ithout money” as Just a couple of battles before
Congress that will need Black Press input. He also listed the Anti-Racial
Profiling Act and the Law Enforcement Integrity Act as needed legislations
against the epidemic of controversial police shootings of Black people
around the nation.
In obvious reference to Black Press support of Clxburn and NNPA
Newsmaker award w inner President Barack Obama. Jealous warned the
Black Press to not lose sight of the fourth estate’s (media's) Job to hold
government accountable.
He said. "These are times to be vigilant, to be supportive of friends, but
also to hold them to account."
Norfolk State receives $3.5 million gift
NORFOLK. Va. (AP) - An anoinmoiis donor has bequeathed
S3,5 million to Norfolk State University - the largest gift in the
school's history.
The uni\ersity says it must use $3 million of the donation to pro
vide financial assistance to NSU students. The remaining $500,000
must be spent on faculty support, research and eqtiipment.
The university announced the donation on Friday.
Norfolk State is a historically black college founded in 1935.
Nearly 90 percent of its 6.300 students receiv e some ty pe of finan
cial aid.
Civil Kiglits Dean the Rev. .losepn Lowery, right, receives lifetime achievement award
from NNPA Chair .John B. Smith Sr., at the Black Press Awards Gala held in Washington,
D.C. (Photo by Roy Lew is)
Black Publishers Give and Reeeive Honors During
White House Celebration of Black Press Week
By Hazel Trice Edney
NNPA Editor-in-Chief
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - A
historic delegation of 50 Black
publishers and their guests, who
convened at the White House last
week fora Black Press Week award
to President Barack Obama and his
family, received equal praise from
the First Familx for the w ork of the
Black Press of America.
It was a delegation of the more
than 200-member National News
paper Publishers Association, hon
oring America’s first Black Presi
dent for his NNPA Newsmaker of
the Year selection bv awarding him
w ith a book of front pages of Black
newspaper from his historic Nov. 4.
2008 election.
"The reason that I've been able
and Michelle has been able to do
what we’re doing is because of the
extraordinaiy support and thought
fulness with which you’ve covered
our campaigns and our activities
and so I am verx thankful to xou."
President Obama told the publish
ers during the ceremony in the State
Dining Room March 20. "You are
welcome in this house, the people's
house, and we are looking forward
to continuing to spread, not Just our
stories, but the stories of struggle
and hope and hardships that so
manx people are going through
right now. making those stories real
and putting a face to the numbers
and statistics because that’s how
we end up being able to inspire the
countiy as a w hole to make the kind
of forward progress that we need."
It was a light-hearted atmo
sphere for the president and First
Lady Michelle Obama, dealing
with dire issues, as well as for the
publishers whose daily lives are fo
cused on the long-held mission of
equal Justice for African-American
people. In remarks interrupted sev
eral times with cheers and applause.
Obama and First Lady Michelle ap
peared genuinely touched by the
magazine-styled book awarded to
them, by NNPA Foundation Chair
Dorothy R. Leave, publisher of the
Chicago and Gaiy Crusader news
papers. NNPA’s Newsmaker of the
Year is the highest annual honor be
stowed duriiiii Black Press Week.
the March. 16. 1827. birthday of the Black Press, now in its 182nd year.
"We are so happx to be here and to also congratulate you - and to let
xou know that we’ve got your back.” said Leavell as the room erupted with
cheers and applause from the publishers. Leavell then gave the President
and First Ladx the 80-paged document titled. "The Black Press Committed
to the Cause”.
On the back of the book of Black Press front pages are the words of
Richard Hatcher’s song. "FeeliiT Good" as a reflection of how musical
themes flow ed throughout the campaign.
"We want to honor xou. We hope you will enjox looking at them."
Leavell said.
"Well, that’s beautiful." the President responded, flipping through the
book as he asked First Ladx Michelle to speak first.
"This is such a special award." she began. "When you’re in the middle
of the news making, x ou don’t realize how much news you made until it's
over. But. this is verx special coming from this organization, this member
ship because xou’ve followed us through this journey. And to honor us as
a familx is what makes it special because you recognize that we have been
going through this as a familx. as a community and all of you know the ins
and outs that come along with this."
This is the third Newsmaker award for President Obama. In 2005. he
received it as a Junior U. S. senator and rising star in Black America. He re
ceived it again last x ear as a leading presidential candidate, poised to make
historx. Because he could not attend the annual gala due to Senate votes
last x ear. he promised to receive the award at the White House if he won
(Continued On Page 15)
%
The Rev. Al Sharpton, right, receives the NorthStar community
Service Award from NNPA John B. Smith, Jr., (Photo by Roy Lewis)
First lady tells
students to aim
their goals high
By Darlene SupervHle
WASHINGTON (AP) - First
lady Michelle Obama promoted the
value of a college education and
hard work March 19. telling high
school students that the people who
doubted her when she was y ounger
only encouraged her to aim higher.
"That never stopped me. That
always made me push harder.” she
said.
Mrs. Obama's appearance al
Anacostia High School was part of
a day In which she put an array of
talented, accomplished women in
front of area high school students
as an e.xample of the types of suc
cess they. too. can achieve if they
are willing to work hard for it.
The group included Grammy
Award-winni:ig singers Alicia
Keyes and Sheryl Crow, actresses
and sisters Debbie Allen and Phy K-
cia Rashad. actress Fran Drescher.
Olympic gymnast Dominique
Dawes, basketball star Lisa Leslie
Lockwood and Mae Jemison. the
first black woman to travel into
space. Also participating were Gen.
Ann Dunwoody. the first woman to
achieve the four-star rank: actresses
Alfre Woodard. Kerry Washington
and Tracee Ellis Ross: and Debra
Lee. president and CEO of the par
ent company of the BET (Black
Entertainment Television) cable
t ne iim iau> iiivucu iimi jiiiHip
back to a White House dinner with
local high school students as part
of the her celebration of March as
Women's History Month.
"You guys are future leaders of
this nation." Mrs. Obama told her
guests in the East Room. "And
we're counting on you. In so many
ways, we're counting on you. So
the question is: Are you ready?”
She told the young women
they must respect themselves and
each other, and that each of them
is special and could learn from the
female leaders. She was joined by
her mother. Marian Robinson, and
her tw 0 daughters who "never w ant
to do any thing with me." Obama
joked.
Her message was simple: "Go
for it. Don't hesitate. Don't act in
fear. Just go for it."
During her earlier visit to Ana
costia. one of the city's lowest-per
forming schools. 13 students chosen
by their teachers asked Mrs. Obama
w hether her life is still normal, why
daughters Malia and Sasha didn't
come, what does the family do tor
fun. and whether she does her own
makeup and picks out what she
wears. They also asked about her
transition from high school to col
lege. and how she got to be tite first
lady.
Life is still normal, despite liv
ing in the White House with Secret
Service agents. Her daughters w ere
at school. The family does a lot ot
"kids stuff for fun. She chooses
her own outfits and does her own
makeup, e.scept for special events
like the one on March 19. she said.
Mrs. Obama told them she al
ways worked really hard and that
they should, too.
"1 wanted an A ... I wanted to
be smart. I wanted to be the person
who had the right answer." said
Mis. Obama, a lawyer and former
hospital executive in Chicago. "I
ran into people in my life who told
me. You can't do it. you're not as
smart as that person.' And that nev
er stopped me. That always made
me push harder, because I was like.
I'm going to prove you wrong.'"
She encouraged the students to
pursue a college education because
of the doors it will open. There's no
need for them to know what they
want to be before they gel to col
lege. she said, emphasizing that the
goal is simply to get there and that
it begins with hard work.
Some of the students have al
ready been accepted to college.
"College is teing able to get up
and discipline yourself and get
(Continued On Page 15)