OPINION/LETTERS
Winston-Salem Chronicle
Ernest H. Pitt, Publisher/Co-founder NOUSES! EGEMONYE, Co- Founder
ELAINE Pitt, Director of Community Relations
Carol Brooks-Daniel, Director of Promotions
KaTHY C. Lee, Production Manager
Rally for D.C. March
Last week, about 200 people marched from Winston-Salem
State University to the Winston Mutual Building on Fifth Street
to demonstrate their support for the upcoming Million Man
March in Washington, D.C. on October 16. Most of the protest
ers were black male and female students from WSSU.
We wonder why there were not more African American men
at the rally! Their support is vital if the Local Organizing Com
mittee is going to reach its goal of transporting 5,000 black men
to Washington from Winston-Salem next month.
Some have suggested that many people are not participating
because the Nation of Islam and its leader, Minister Louis Far
rakhan, are a driving force behind the march.
This march is not about Farrakhan or even Rev. Ben Chavis,
the former NAACP executive director who called for the march
last year. *
The march is about African American men standing up for
themselves, and making a statement of support to African Amer
ican values.
The rally will also give black men an opportunity to present
their grievances to the federal government and demonstrate to
America that blacks are not satisfied with their status in this
nation.
March organizers want to register 10 million African Ameri
cans to vote as independents after the rally has ended. This is a
wise move because neither major political party has fully
addressed the problems of black America. This strategy will put
the Democrats and the Republicans on notice that our votes will
not be taken for granted nor will we be ignored at the polls.
We must emphasize that the march is not excluding black
women, but the rally is supporting our sisters. Throughout our
history, black women generally have shouldered many burdens
of our race.
A million black men in Washington next month will show
the world that we are determined to foster positive changes in
American society.
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Chambers' Speech
Julius Chambers, a former civil rights lawyer and chancellor
of North Carolina Central University, reminded us last week of
the racial segregation that* was prevalent in America only 30
years ago.
"I remember the racial and gender apartheid in North Car
olina and America. I remember how limited America was when
they kept blacks down," Chambers said in a speech at Wake For
est University's 161st convocation.
| Chambers' remarks were a necessary reminder of the nation's
dark past and how African Americans have progressed in society
Since the days of Jim Crow.
He correctly urged us to maintain our vigilance to protect the
gains that we have made.
His message is important to blacks and whites alike.
Chambers' speech should serve as a guidepost for people of
all races to make equality, justice, and human rights a permanent
part of American society.
t
I President Colin Powell?
I
.1
It seems likely that Colin Powell, the first African American
Jo serve as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will run for
the president in 1996. At least, Burrell Haselrig, Jr., chairman of
the Exploratory Draft Colin Powell for President Committee,
believes that the general will run.
Powell will test political waters as he travels on a 22-city
tour to promote his autobiography, My American Journey .
?j; We strongly urge Powell to run for the White House. His
candidacy will bridge the divisive party and racial politics that
have long divided this country.
' "You know, I hope Powell gets elected president," said
George Hammell, a white, retired Army command sergeant
friajor from Columbus, Ga. "He's the only one I know who could
bring this country together. Hell, even the rednecks would vote
jfor him." The November 1996 elections are a long way off.
^lany tfiings can happen. If Powell does decide to run, he will
Undergo severe press scrutiny and likely character assassinations
jfrom his political opponents.
But this scenario should not deter Powell from running. His
leadership qualities overwhelm the Republican and Democratic
challengers including GOP front runner Bob Dole and President
Clinton .
Many compare Powell to the late President Dwight D.
Eisenhower, who led the American military to victory over the
lAxis powers in World War II. Powell helped orchestrate the
{American victory in the Persian Gulf War five years ago.
[ Just as Eisenhower's military successes carried him into the
IWhitc House in 1953, the same can be true for Powell in 1997.
?We hope so.
VOICES IN THE COMMUNITY
Are historically black colleges still important today? The Chronicle asked this question to several residents recently.
. George Townsen
Yes, we need tradition. We
need something for out ^
own. Its good for the kids
to see that we have some
thing.
Keyanna Cannon
They are improtant because
it keeps black people
together and it gives us a
chance to find out about
black people and how they
act.
Talitha Mazyck
They are important because
black people can stick
together and help each
other and learn from each
other.
Chris Jones
Yes, because it teaches
more about black history
than white colleges.
Joe Westberry
Yes, because it starts a
. foundation.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
To the Editor:
October is "National Breast
Cancer Awareness Month. The
Forsyth County Cancer Screen
ing Project (FoCaS) would like
to solicit your support in spread
ing the word to the African
American women of our com
munity. As a major source ofv
news for our community your
newspaper is a vital vehicle for
educating our women.
According to the National
Cancer Institute, only half of all
women ages 50 and older have
had a mammogram in the past 2
years. Even fewer minority
womeij have dp, n<? sp,? Medi^,
found the Winston-Salem Chron
icle to be an excellent method of
educating African-American
women 40 and older with its
advertisements. Because of the
loyal of African-American read
ers of the Winston-Salem Chron
icle, it is an excellent place to
share this lifesaving information.
Please seize this opportunity to
educate your readers!
' Alma H. Wilson
Not "Politically Correct"
To The Editor:
The nation's largest prote
<4
CHRONICLE MAILBAG
Qyr Readers Speak Out
professionals agree that early
detection could reduce the breast
cancer death rate by more than
30% among women over 40
years of age. It is for these rea
sons that we make more infor
mation about breast cancer
screening available.
The FoCaS Project has
saint denomination apologized
for being bom of slavery and
failing to fight racism ever since.
"Now comes the hard part," say
members of the Southern Baptist
Convention: Transforming an
apology for the sins of the part
into a promise to build a more
racially harmonious future. How
inept this all sounds. What has
happened to the Southern Bap
tist, who for years preached from
the pulpits that integration was
wrong and that interracial mar
riages were not to be tolerated.
What happened to the pastors
text warning us not to be blown
to and fro by the winds of
change. As a Southern Baptist
for most of my 55 years, I find,
we are living in times of change.
Take a good, close look at our
inner cities, our schools and our
courts. We send our kids to
school in areas we would not
even be caught in. What a
shame, the Southern Baptist over
looked the American Indians
trial of tears. There's hardly an
ounce of soil that did not belong
to the American Indian. I know
for a fact Southern Baptist
churches are setting on Indian
land. I hear no apologies. I hear
no apologies for Japanese Amer
icans internment in World War
II, nor do I here apologies to the
Irish Americans. As you can see
this guilt trip coukl go on and on.
This time in Southern Baptist
history is interesting to say the
least. I wonder now, how long it
will be before the Southern Bap
tist are apologizing to the women
for not allowing them to pastor a
church (i
How long will it be before
the Southern Baptist apologizes
to gays. Southern Baptist have
embraced the teachings of the
scripture, they say, they strictly
follow the scripture, would that
be scriptures for, 1776-1860
1960-1995, and winds of change
go on and on.
Wayne Schaefer
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Winston-Salem , MC. 27102. ,
Yet Another Chance To Embrace The Dream
\ "What if we returned to a segregated
America?" Julius Chambers began his
address at Wake Forest with this query. He
recalled for his audience the memory of an
"all White Wake Forest" to which he did not
apply. To what end? ? the doors were
closed to the African American. Yet encour
aged by Wake Forest's historical role in race
relations, the speech continued in a positive
direction reiterating the dream of an Ameri
can freed from racial and gender discrimina
tion.
In his soft-spoken yet eloquent voice,
Chambers moved quickly over many aspects
of his topic: "The Future Of Race Relations
In American." We did not hear ai* emotional
address, but one in which suggestions and
hope for the future was offered.
By the way of analysis and clarification,
Chambers suggested that Americans ?
especially those faculty members, students,
and other individuals who were present at the
convocation ? should acknowledge the
diversity within our nation and the discrimi
nation that is present "across the spectrum"
even today.
Chambers told us that individuals within
minority groups need not feel "inferior" if
' they receive assistance in obtaining a posi
tion for which they are obviously qualified
because it is history that has made such cor
rections necessary. We cannot escape his
tory. Realization of "how we got here"
should lead us realistic solutions to our prob
lems. To say we are "all equal now" is to
fail to see life as it is. Further warning
instructed us to beware political actions that
would deny "decent" housing, education and
health care for the poor.
By presenting the audience with various
engaging questions concerning minority rep
resentation, Chambers reminded us that their
answers "indicate a broader trend/' The gen
eral public needs to see the logical end of our
present actions. "Who in American cares?" ,
we are asked.
In a statement that expressed great hope
for our country, Chambers declared that,
contrary to some others, he believes "that
most Americans want ALL people to have a
chance ... to do what s
right ... to reject inten
tional and uninten
tional practices that
harm others."
Vision encour
ages; analysis enlight
ens. On this dav we
received both. Cham
bers presented concrete examples to remind
us that we have not yet arrived; he gave clear
evidence to portray what America can return
to if we do not heed the warning signals. Yet
he spoke of what America can become if
enough people desire to make it so. The
"color line" of the twentieth century need not
be carried forth into the twenty-first.
One thing that I am learning through my
studies is that African Americans are
impressed with the actions of White people
(in race relations), not with our theories. It is
one thing for us to speak of equality and
quite another to demonstrate one's belief in
it. Chambers addressed his remarks to a
racially mixed audience, yet it is evident that
Wake Forest has large White majority. His
remarks should be heeded by all of us
although I believe their implications are
somewhat different for White people than for
Black people. It is no secret that I believe
that White people need to become more
aware of the effect of our actions upon
Blacks.
Chambers spoke to us of learning by
associating with each other in an integrated
society and of gaining from the contributions
of each other. My own life has been
enriched significantly due to personal rela
tionships with African Americas. I would be
GUEST COLUMN
By HELEN LOOSE
lessened as an individual by the return of a !
segregated nation, and I feel that society as a -j
whole would be greatly diminished. An "all !
White Wake Forest" ? one from which I ;
would swiftly exit ? is an institution that I j
do not believe I will ever see.
Yet there is truth in Julius Chambers j
statement: we "never seem to be really seri- j
ous" about finding permanent solutions to j
the racial problems that we encounter time j
and time again. Would that our strife could |
end on a note as positive as Chambers I
speech! Too often all White Americans hear
is the dream; we ignore the warnings that ;
speak realistically of the consequences of our
failure to pursue it.... And we have yet
another chance to embrace the dream.
(Helen Loose is a student at Wake For
es/).