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Urban League: African-Americans responsible for parity in the 1990s
By PATRICIA SMITH-DEERING
Chronide Statt Writer
For African-Americans to achieve parity by the
year 2,000 they are going to have to develop the
leadership that will take them beyond the political
and economic gains made to date by some in the
African-American community. That was the message
that Mike Espy, Democratic congressman from Mis
sissippi, brought in his keynote address to over one
thousand3 guests attending the Winston-Salem Urban
League's 11th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Din
ner, Thursday, Sept. 6, at the M. C. Benton Conven
tion Center.
Espy, the first African-American congressman to
represent Mississippi since John Roy Lynch was
elected during Reconstruction, told the group that
bridging the gaps that exist in education, income,
opportunity, and economic development for African
Americans in the 9-1/2 years that remain before the
year X000 was TTa tall order." He said, "While Amer
ica enjoys the continuation of its longest peacetime
period in history, black Americans remain mired in
recession^
Photo by L B Speas Jr
Rep. Mike Espy drives home his point during
the keynote address at the annual EOD dinner.
Referring to the advances that have been made
politically with African-Americans as governors,
mayors, and other elected officials, Espy cautioned
against resting on those achievements. "We've come
a long way, but we have a long way to go. We are
here, but we have not arrived." To achieve parity he
stressed that it would take everyone rolling up their
sleeves and using their consciousness, mentality,
good will, and spirit to make things happen.
"It's going to take more than the politicians...,"
Espy said. "It's going to take you," he added, point
ing to the group. One of the first places he said
change needs to take place is with African-American
youth, particularly the males. "We have seen on the
news the tragedy of blacks killing blacks in tlye
homeland of South Africa," he said. "But, in cities all
across this nation black males are doing the same
thing to one another."
Espy said that parity would take African-Ameri
cans doing what it takes to obtain what they want
becausc the "peacetime dividend" that was supposed
to result from the country's improved relations with
the Soviet Union have been eroded by the military
respond- in ihc Middle Rast. "Thanks to Saddam
Hussein, the peace dividend is now in Kuwait,. ..in
Saudi Arabia. ..we have to do more because the pie is
shrinking," he emphasized.
"If we want to reach parity in the I^Hs, we will
have to do more, and that requires something from
each one of us," Espy advised. "We've come a long
way from slave ships to championships; f hen in a
bid for a candidate for 'whom he had provided sup
port at an earlier rally, he added. 'We ve come, tins
far despite the other Jesse (Helms But . 1 know
you're all going to do something arvmt (hat on
November 6. 11
Four awards were given at the dinner to recog
nize individual and corporate effort exemplifying
the Urban League's mission of improving the quality
of life for all citizens. Honorees were: Velma
Friende, president of the Winston Salem Urban
League Guild, Achievement Award Hirie.t f! Piit.
publisher of the Winston-Salem ( bj oniric. Achieve
ment Award; Morris Robertson retired assistant
police chief, Comni unfty^Semce Award; and Rrlr
Reynolds Tobacco, Corporate I e j-!er -n.p Award,
accepted by James W. Johnston, ?he * ?.mpany's
chairman and CEO.
Retro-fit modifications to homes of the elderlv make life more comfortable
Chronicle Staff Report
A news conference by city gov
ernment at the home of a citizen
who lives in Winston-Salem isn't an
every-day event. But that's what
happened Tuesday, Sept. 11, as offi
cials from city, state and federal
governments met at the home of
Eddie and Hattie Vaughn to tell
about the benefits of Retro-fit, a
new program to help the elderly.
D. Ritchie Brooks, director of
the Winston-Salem Housing Ser
vices Department, said the city tried
to incorporate the Retro-fit modifi
cations into the ongoing rehabilita
tion programs. When the Vaughns'
root and ceiling was repaired,
Retro-fit modifications were also
done.
A tour ot the Vaughn home was
given by Ronald E. Carter, rehabili
tauon project supervisor. Improve
ments included rails added to the
bathroom to make it easier to get
out of the bathtub, and a telephone
jack Installed in the bathroom so
that if someone did slip, they could
call help. Other rails were added on
the front steps to make them easier
to clifnter In the kitchen, cabinet
handles were lowered to make them
easier to reach and throughout the
house, doorway thresholds were
lowered to reduce the possibility of
tripping.
Other housing modifications in
the Vaughn home include installing
door knobs that are turned by a
lever rather than having to turn a
handle (a problem for arthritics) and
installing mailbox slots in the front
door to keep the Vaughns from hav-~
ing to go outside for mail and to
provide security for social security
checks and other mail.
The Vaughns live at 2333
Booker Street in Winston-Salem.
Brooks, Mayor Martha S. Wood,
Lenny Rickman and Jason Rottr
representatives from the National
Research Center, and Harry Weiler
from the Winston-Salem Home
Photo by L B Speas Jr.
Eddie and Hattie Vaughn pause as they descend their front
stairs with the aid of Retro-fit handrails.
v' "-v .
builder's Association, attended the
press conference.
The program is designed to
make cost-effective physical modi
fications in the homes of elderly -
people so they can stay in their
homes in old age rather than relo
cate to special housing, such as a
home for the elderly
The Vaughn home is one of
three houses in the city now com
pleted with Retro-fit modifications.
The other houses are located at
1600 19th Street and 1879 Ken
tucky Avenue.
Brooks said after the Retro-fit
modifications on the Winston
Salem houses are completed and
evaluated, he hopes to recommend
they become a part of the ongoing
rehabilitation program.
Winston-Salem is one of only
three cities in the United States
program. The other cities are Tuc
son, Ariz., and Miami, Fla. The
National Association of Home
' ' a i? ii
-builder's National Research center
is under contra/?' Ait*. ;hc U.S.
Please s'^e page 1 13
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Winston- Salem Chronicle Publishing
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address: Post Office Box 3154,
' Winston Salem. N.C 77102
Phone: 722 8674. FAX: (919)
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paid at Winston- Salem. N C 27102.
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Newspaper Publishers Association,
the North Carolina ^sor.atiori
and the North Caroh: ;a Black Pub
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