mmm
mmsm
to attract on# of tha
tatfmMrtyln rtc
turad Ox) Uony
-The games people play . Continued from page A1
ana ineir suocuiture tolerates self
destructive behavior and encourages
taking risks."
The report concludes that even
the most heartfelt warning front a
competent and well-loved
spokesman such as Magic Johnson is
likely to be dismissed as being irrele
vant. "Even appeals to their African
American sensibilities are also likely
to be ineffective ? perceived as
being an imposed burden."
Perhaps the most telling obser
vation of the entire report is the con
clusion that "African-American
inner city teenagers are far more
certain of who they are not than
who they are, and their efforts at self
definition, even those they know to
be antisocial and self destructive,
are defended on the grounds that
they are at least authentic. In other
words, they would rather die than be
the hypocrites
Moral mutes
What the report didn't say was
that as adults, we former young peo
ple are in many ways just like the
youth. We are still playing games
with ourselves, still subject to peer
pressure as they are.
Indeed, the irony of all ironies,
our very own inauthenticity is the
very thing that is feeding their rejec
tion of any of our so-called main
stream values. They see us as
phonies and I guess they are right
It is easy to see why they would
think such a thing. One need only
look at just how difficult it is for
many of us to stand up for what we
know to be right Just think of how
we as black folks have fallen away
from the high moral ground that we
once occupied so proudly. Many of
us are living in virtual house arrest
Some of us are so silent on the
questions of what is right and wrong
that we are moral mutes. We don't
see no evil, hear no evil. We are so
blind that we either refuse to, or we
can't see how we as black folks are
being destroyed from within, by our
very own kind.
Like America, we have fallen
into the trap of fearing the Commu
nist meanwhile the real danger is
coming from within.
The report suggests that "many
of our children fall victim to a spiral
of silence which inhibits the free
discussion of controversial issues to
the point that even a majority of
opinions can become suppressed
because the subjects are too danger
ous to broach. Many would rather
risk death than subject themselves to
the hazard of ostracism by raising
the issue such as safe sex or drug
abuse."
In other words, they seem to be
looking for the right thing to do but
want to do it without losing the
approval of group.
Do we have the will power?
It Just may be that the number
one problem facing black folks in
this country is not white racism,
drug abuse, welfare dependency,
lack of education, or a lack of
resources. It may be that our number
one problem is a lack of will power.
For Your Father's Day Gifts
Open Wednesday - July 1"
Closed Saturday - July 4*
Your Accounts Welcomed
No Servtes Charge
Locally Owned and Operated
I52Q N I IBPBTY ?CURTA,NS -ready-to. .bedspreads
ptU M. LIDCn I I .DRAPERIES wear .supcovers 722-7474
Open 9:1 S a.m. lo 5:30 p.m. ? Monday-Saturday ? Closed Wednesdays
Give Hine-Bagby Gifts
For Father's Day Sunday, June 21
30% off
EVERY ITEM IN THE STORE
Today
Through Saturday, June .20
< ?? - . ?'V ? % -
. - ? M-* ;
, I >v -
We as a nation, including us
blackfolks, apparently iack the will
to move beyond the present morays
in which we find ourselves. Indeed,
while the nation is facing a budget
deficit, we are facing a deficit of
willpower. We are falling victim to
the American lure of amorality and
valuelessness. We too have fallen
under the spell of Einstein's relativi
ty ? where everything is relative
and everything is irrelevant
We have been lulled into the
complete state of refusing to accept
personal responsibility. Just as our
children, we have been lured into a
silent war with the truth. We are
afraid of it There is no consequence
for our behavior.
We have adopted the same kind
of silent conspiracy about our own
personal behavior as those who are
in our group. We know what is right
and what is wrong, but now we lack
the will to stand up and say so. We
have plenty who are willing to stand
up and say what is wrong with the
white man, what is wrong with
George Bush, what the government
ain't doing, and what the preachers
ain't doing.
But the question is: when are
we ? you, and I ? going to be
willing to say what we as a people
are not doing? When are we going
to get to the place where we criticize
each other within our own group,
regardless of whether white folks
listen in or not?
Our children need us to be able
to stand up and say what is wrong and
what is right ? to take our lumps for
it; to not excuse everything they say
and everything they do.
We criticraow children for not
withstanding the rigors of peer pres
sure, but yet, we then turn right
around and do the exact same thing
that they have done. We too, are
afraid of the power of peer group
pressure ? of being ostracized.
It is a deadly standoff. Our chil
dren are busy killing themselves,
begging us to help them deal with
peer pressure and we are too scared
to give them the hand that they real
ly need for fear of peer pressure.
I guess it's understandable,
afterall, no one wishes to be called
an Uncle Ibm.
'Fnut SuUiri.
\Xi ns( mi Sa fern's Itest Ansiceri Ser ried
presents grammy award winners
WINANS
FRIDAY ? JUNE 19 ? 8 pm
24 Hour, 7 Days A Week Service
? Courteous, professional service
? Prompt notification of calls
? Wakeup/reminder services
? No connect fees
"If 9 just like having your own
personal secretary I"
BEEPERS AVAILABLE!
723-8400
1215 Link Road
Winston-Salem, NC
SPECIAL GUESTS: SPIRIT OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHOIR
WCTS (WE CAME TO SING) .
1 BUY TICKETS NOW |
417.40 ADVANCE1
$15.00 GROUP (1S+) $19.50 DAY OF SHOW
14 VM COLISEUM BOX OFFICE 919/725-5635
919/852-1100
IN PERSON BY PHONE
All mmb far aarapriaai ad homky ilda iad nvkM mart ba mdk. iltla i imkmmM* tin arior to Ai mi?h.
to tfaa Colinu Baa Offioa at 919/725-5635 or 1^00/735-1262 lor Vain TDD or 1^00/735-2962 for TDD to Vbk*.
GOOD RE AS ON S
TO CHOOSE
PIEDMONT FEDERAL
FOR YOUR NEXT HOME LOAN
1. Piedmont Federal keeps all home
loans. We don't sell your mortgage to
out-of-state investors.
2. Loan Rates are locked in at
application for up to 60 days. If rates
go down before you close, you will
get the lower rate.
3. Closing costs are generally less
because we close all loans in our
offices and since we make the loans
we generally have fewer fees.
5. We approve all loans ? Only our
approval is necessary and no outside
parties are involved (excluding those
loans that require mortgage
insurance).
4. All Piedn|ont Federal offices are
full service. All applications and
closings can be handled at the
location most convenient to you.
6. We have fast service. Our
experienced personnel make the
process move as smoothly and
quickly as possible. In fact, closings
are generally within 30 days of
application.
7. You'll get a mortgage loan account
book with your Piedmont Federal
loan ? You'll always know how
much you've paid and your loan
balance.
8. You'll always have ready access to
all your account information since
we maintain your loan. Plus you'll be
dealing with the same people that
made the loan for you.
9. Escrow accounts are not required
for home loans (except 90% loans).
lO.Piedmont Federal's caring staff is
the most important reason of all.
Winston-Salem ? Kernersville ? Clemmons ? N. Wilkesboro ? Boone
Deposits Federally Insured to $100,000
laJ
ssusr?