VOLUME 88 - NUMBER 16
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009
TELEPHONE (919) 682-2913 PRICE: 30
First 100 Days: Key Civil
Rights Leaders Give Obama
A’, With 'Incompletes’ on
Grassroots Economics
By Hazel Trice Edney
NNPA Editor-iii-Chief
WASHINGTON (NNPA) - This Sunday, April 26. will mark the 100th
full day since the inauguration of America's first black president. January
20 was a da> mai-ked with teai-s of Jo\ and pairrfu! reminiscing. But it will
be most remembei-ed for the ovei'w helming glory of the historic moment.
President Barack Obama's initial accomplishments have included:
* His immediate confrontation to the nation's failing economy
amidst which he now sees "glimmers of hope":
* The reversal of a string of anti-union executive orders issued by
the Bush Administr-ation:
* The establishment of the Middle Class Working Families Task
Force:
* The closing of the contr’over'sial Guantanamo Ba\ lockup for al
leged teri-orists:
* His tour of Europe with Fir-st Lad\ Michelle Obama, which r'aised
good will for America abr oad during the G-20 economic confer-ence:
* His trip to Mexico with hopes of stopping violent drarg cartels and
preventing them from entering the U. S.
* His reaching out to (Tuba for the renewed r-elationship. supported
b\ the Congr'essional Black Caucus.
* A new commitment to pour millions of dollars into the pi'evention
and awar'eriess of HIV AIDS in America.
But. specifically, how is the new president doing on issues pertaining to
African-Americans from a civil rights per-spective? Pointing out that 100
days is simply not enough time to tell, some civil rights leader's give him an
A so far: most also noting an 'incomplete' on the grassroots economy.
"There are some A's and a couple of incompletes." says the Rev. Jesse
Jackson in a phone interview fi-orn Thailand. "1 think the position against
loinrre. an A: the G-20 conference, putting a credible face on America's
foreign policy wliei'e he has trust capital arid Bush had ii-ust deficit disor
der."
Jackson also listed Obama's reaching out to Cuba. Venezuela and the
oveiiur-e towar'd Iran as ail A's along w ith his dealing with the student loan
industry, which Jackson described as a ”$95 billion a year rip off."
But. the incompletes - mainly in the area of economics - ar-e clear', he
sa\s.
"There's an incomplete on the stimulus because it must be mor'e tar
geted to get to the bottom. As the slates get it. they're using the term shovel
tend). But. shovel-ready for those w ho don't have a shovel because of the
lack of capital and lack of credit means thev mav not be ready. That could
be seen as boot straps w ithout the boots.
To be fair. Jackson conceded that the President could only demand that
the money gets out of Washington.
"But. we must demand that the states get it down to w here the people
are." he said.
"We have to be cenain that it gets down to the most unemploy ed the
most in need of ti'aining. the most in need of business development. That's
an ongoing struggle ther-e."
As black unemployment sui'ges toward 14 per'cent. National Ur'ban
League President Marc Morial agrees.
On a scale of I-IO. Morial gave the Pi'esident a 9 for his first 100 day s.
In the black community Moi'ial cited a need for greater civil rights enforce
ment and the need for help with Job developitient.
"The cr'eation of an agency taskforce to assist Afi'ican-Americans in
securing construction Jobs and gr'een Jobs: and the hiring of Afi'ican-Amer-
icans in subcabinet positions at Education. HUD. Labor and Health & Hu
man Sei'vices." Morial say s.
Like Jackson, he says African-Americans must press local and state
government to do right by stimulus money.
"We need to remain engaged and hold mayor's, governor's and local
school districts accountable for the stimulus dollar's to ensur'e that African-
Americans ai'e included in its benefits." Morial say s.
Morial also praises Obama for getting oft'to a fast start with the passage
olthe stimulus bill, the expansion of the Stale Children's Health Insui'ance
Program (SCHIP) and the appointment of Attorney Gener'al Eric Holder.
Hai'var'd law pr'ofessor Charles Ogletr'ee also applauds the Pi'esideni's
appointment of Holder. America's first black attorney gener'al and lists a
str ing of observations that have impr'essed him w ithin the fir'st 100 day s,
including "his symbolic and substantive decisions evince a level of matu-
iity and calm Judgment rarely seen by someone so early in their term as
President."
He gave Obama a 10 for adopting a sii'ingent ethics code for his admin
istration and for suspending the pr'osecution of suspected terrorists who
have been detained, but not charged w ith offenses for nearly seven years:
lor outlawing water boarding as an interrogation lactic and for appoint
ing tormer rival and new York Senator Hillarv Clinton as the Secreiarv of
State.
However. Ogletree's w ishes for the next 100 days are just as strong as
he also points to the need to connect with those at the bottom of the eco
nomic ladder.
"I would like the President to do a tour of America and ascertain the
^Vent and the causes of poverty in America and seek a bipartisan set of
Pi'oposals. comparable to a modern day American Marshall Plan to rebuild
America and energize its people from the bottom up." Ogletree say s. "Fur-
ihennore. I would^hope that President Obama w ill continue to work with
HBCUS to create our next veneration of leaders in business and indus-
liy."
^hile civil rights leaders across the board applaud the new president.
Ihey almost consistently stopped short of the highest rating of 10. noting
Ihe incomplete on the issues pertaining to grassroots African-Americans.
"Piesident Obama has tackled some of the critical issues affecting this
coiiniiy. reversed some of the w rongs of the previous administration and
has offered hope for all Americans." says NAACP President and CEO
“‘^'ijamln Todd Jealous. But. he quickly notes criminal justice issues that
need w ork.
Forty percent of the prison population is African-American while Af-
ijican-American's only make up 13 percent of the counti-y 's population."
salons says. "We would like to see the President pass a series of laws that
Would do away w ith racial profiling, eliminate the excessive use of force
> law enforcement and enforce strict guidelines on prisoner treatment."
(Continued On Page 4)
Legendan jazz artist Jimmy Heath taught a master elass at North Carolina Central University prior to the annual
jazz festival at the school. Related photos on page 4. (NCCU Photo hv Lawson)
Analysis: Week of change for Obama
By David Espo
WASHINGTON (AP) - In a whirlwind week of change. President Ba
rack Obama Jettisoned Bush administration policy on greenhouse gases,
shone an unforgiving light on its support for torture as an interrogation
lactic and eased its restrictions on Cuba.
But there are limits, even to this new president's power, and a campaign
pledge to seek a ban on assault weapons is an early casualty as a result.
And while the promise of change was arguably Obama's single most
powerful asset in last year's campaign, the week demonstrated anew how
carefully he calibrates its impact.
"We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history." the
president said in a statement that accompanied the release of once-secrei
memos outlining torture techniques the Rush administration allowed.
"But at a lime of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will
be gained by spending our time and energy lay ing blame for the past."
That was designed as a reassurance to the CIA employees who carried
out waterboarding, which simulates drowning, and the other harsh inter
rogation techniques that former President George \\. Bush once .sanctioned
and that Obama has now banned - much as his decision to leave combat
troops in Iraq a few months longer than he once promised was a bow to
the Pentagon.
"I will always do whatever is necessaiy to protect the national sectirity
of the United States." he said in a statement on the torture memos that
could easily have been written about the troop w ithdrawal.
Attorney General Eric Holder added one more assurance, announcing
the administration would pay legal expenses for any one in the intelligence
agency who needs a lawyer as a result of carry ing out interrogations cov
ered by the memos.
Holder also formally revoked every legal opinion or memo issued dur
ing Bush's presidency that Justified interrogation programs, a largely sym
bolic step since Obama had already said his administration would not rely
on them.
The release of the documents had been the subject of a long, fierce
debate, w ith a deadline looming as the result of a lawsuit brought by the
American Civil Liberties Union.
No lawsuit drove the timing of the new Cuba policy, which was re
leased in the run-up to Obama's first presidential trip to Latin America and
the Caribbean. And here again. Obama went further than some wanted and
not as far as others had hoped.
Under the new policy, the administration lifted restrictions on Cuban-
Americans who want to travel and send money to their island homeland
and freed U.S. telecommunications companies to seek business there.
Some of the changes specifically undid what Bush had imposed; tight
ened travel restrictions on Americans wishing to visit relatives in Cuba:
limiting payments to immediate family: and bans on seeds, clothing, per
sonal hygiene items, veterinary medicines and - later - cell phones from
humanitarian parcels.
But the broader embargo remains in place as it has since the Kennedy
administration, its existence meant now as then to prod the Cuban govern
ment into democratic reforms.
In response to the announcement. Cuban President Raul Castro said he
is ready to put "every thing" on the table in talks with Americans, including
questions of human rights and political prisoners. If so. that would mark a
change from decades of Cuban insistence that those issues were not sub ject
for discussion.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pronounced Castro's com
ments an overture, and said. "We are taking a veiy serious look at how we
intend to respond."
Still, despite sentiment w ithin the 15-member Caribbean Community to
lift the U.S. embargo. Jamaica's prime mini.sler. Bruce Golding, said the
organization had agreed not to push Obama too hard on the issue.
By contrast, there was little that was nuanced about the Environmental
Protection Agency 's announcement April 17 that carbon dioxide and five
other greenhouse gases emitted by cars and many industrial plants "endan
ger public health and welfare."
It was prompted by a Supreme Court ruling two years ago that said
greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Clean Air Act and must be regu
lated if found to be a danger to human health or public welfare.
Confronted with the high court's decision, the Bush administration
stalled, leaving for Obama an issue he was only loo happy to seize. EPA
Administrator Lisa Jackson said w hiie the agency is prepared to move for
ward with regulations under the Clean Air Act. the administration would
rather defer to Congress.
"The (EPA)decision is a game changer." said Rep. Ed Markey. D-Mass..
who is involved in drafting legislation to limit greenhouse emissions.
For all the changes Obama has piled up since taking otfice 87 days ago.
his retreat on assault weapons is hardly unique. He has already yielded
on other relatively minor issues, giving in to veterans groups during the
budget debate, for example.
NC lawmaker, educator
Vernon Malone dies at 77
RALEIGH (AP) - North Carolina Sen. Vernon Malone, who was known
for his passionate work in education, died April 18. Fie was 77.
Flis son. Rod. said he died of natural causes at his Raleigh home. The
Democrat had represented District 14 in the General Assembly for four
terms.
A graduate of Shaw University. Malone held public offices in Wake
County over three decades. As school board chairman, he presided over the
merger of Raleigh city schools and Wake County public schools in 1976.
He served as a Wake County commissioner from 1984 until his election
to the Senate in 2002.
In the Senate. Malone continued to work in education, co-chairing the
Senate's higher education committee and education budget subcommit
tee.
In a statement, fellow Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue praised Ma
lone's dedication to the state's students.
"Vernon Malone was one of my closest personal friends and was a pow
erful voice for North Carolina's future." said Perdue, who ordered stale
flags lowered to half-staff. "He fundamentally believed that every kid
should have a shot at success, regardless of their background and dedicated
his life to making that belief a reality."
As he watched President Barack Obama's inauguration earlier this year.
Malone recalled indignities of the Jim Crow era in his childhood - his
mother had to go to the bathroom on the side of the road during a family
car trip because there were no restrooms for blacks.
"1 don't look back on that, but you can't forget it." Malone, who had
three television .sets on his southeast Raleigh home so he wouldn't miss
anything, told The Associated Press. "If you spend too much time on that,
it creates a kind of resentment that will psycholc ically destroy you.
"Our best davs are still in front of us."