fOOP
1 from AI
i
J American voters (8,073) outnum
; ber Republicans. Nationally,
J Republican presidential candi
? dates fare poorly among black vot
ers, who provided the margin of
victory in President Clinton's 1992
win over George Bush.
? "Losing 90 percent of the
J black vote makes it hard for us to
J recapture the White House," said
J Watts, who is considered by some
?^political observers to be a possible
vice presidential candidate in 2000
- or 2004. "It also makes it harder
for us to get conservative legisla
tion through Congress without it
being branded as 'anti-minority'
or 'racist.'"
That's why Republicans strug
gle to win over racial minorities,
Arrington says. Issues ranging
from raising the retirement age for
Social Security to the debate over
a national flat tax has a direct
bearing on African Americans.
The GOP's national stance on
affirmative action and welfare also
leaves many people of color cold,
he said.
"That has to be seen as a direct
affront to people who are trying to
improve themselves and may need
a little boost," Arrington said.
"Most polls indicate middle-class
blaufc^ have a lot in common with
mjddlh^class whites, but college
educate&sblacks are still more like
ly to vote Democratic."
Not Woods, who said the
Republican position on welfare
and affirmative action are more in
line with a self-help philosophy.
More African Americans, she
believes, should hold all politi
cians, regardless of party, account
able.
"African Americans have to
stand up and say, Where are you
on this issue?" she said. "We have
perceived that 'You're against wel
fare or affirmative action, you're
against me.' That's not true. We
should hear them with an open
mind."
Winning more black support
will likely come slowly for
Republicans, Watts said. While the
GOP isn't pushing for a radical
reversal of African-American
votes, initiatives like BAMPAC are
expected to stem the tide while
building support in local elections.
'i won't claim that we conserv
atives will get a majority of the
black vote," he said. "But even if
we take 5 percent or 10 percent
away from the liberals and add it
to the conservative column, it
could tip the balance for us in
close races."
"What they're looking for is
the black middle class," says Duke
University political science profes
sor John Brehm. "They figure the
black middle class has some things
in common with the white middle
class economically, but what it's
going to take is a (national) candi
date with a different appeal."
Retired Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman Colin Powell could've
been a powerful national draw to
blacks, Brehm said. His decision
to skip the 1996 presidential race
and perhaps a run in 2000 ham
pers the party's chances. Because
Powell supports affirmative action
and abortion rights, some GOP
leaders interpreted his politics as
too liberal.
"Colin Powell would've beaten
Bill Clinton," says Arlington. "He
would've beaten Clinton and
would've driven a wedge between
Democrats and blacks. It was an
opportunity they missed."
Republicans face a difficult job
in convincing African Americans
to switch, because of the party's
perception in the black communi
ty, Brehm says. Dominated by
white Southern men, the GOP
can't be seen as moving too far to
the left for fear of chasing off its
largest bloc of support.
"Right now, they can't alienate
their core," he said. "The trick is to
tell a broad message that is not
anathema to the core group."
rv
Second New Bethel Baptist Church
sponsors Soul Food Supper Sunday
BY FELECIA P MCMILLAN
Special to The Chkonicle
After Brenda Chisholm and her family went to see
the movie "Soul Food" one Saturday night, they left
the movie and went directly to the grocery store to
prepare for a family gathering around the dinner
?table.
The following Sunday after church, they met and
ate together for the first time in many years. Chisholm
then brought the idea to her pastor, the Rev. Zavious
Pratt, at Second New Bethel Baptist Church. Pratt
Jcnew it would be a great way to seal friendships and
fellowship among his members He appealed to his
special committee to assist, and it came to pass
Sunday, Nov. 16.
; The church has had many dinners together, but
the menu for this supper was a little different. It
included collards, hopping john (red peas and rice
together), chitlins, potato salad, turkey, fried chicken,
macaroni and cheese, cornbread, pinto beans, pig
feet, fat back, whole ham hocks, and many wonderful
desserts
Shirley Evans was invited to the supper by her
phildren. Evans is a member of Mt. Zion Baptist
Church. She was glad to attend and bring her spe
cialties macaroni and cheese and pot roast. Her
daughter Michon said, "Momma is an excellent
cook, and Sunday dinners are a special tradition. She
puts so much time and care into preparing our
meals"
; Her daughter Crystal said, "Her food has the
anointing on it because she puts that holy oil in every
meals she cooks."
Evans does use olive oil in everything she cooks,
and she always uses fresh vegetables. "No canned
goods for me. I snap my green beans, pick my greens
and cut my corn off the cob," she said. Although her
daughters refuse to eat canned goods from Evans'
table, they will cook them at their own homes, she
mentioned with a chuckle.
Elisha Oliver enjoyed the Soul Food Supper, she
said, because it reminded her of her family. Her
grandmothers cooks scrumptious meals that always
include greens and macaroni and cheese. "It is a good
way for family to come together and fellowship," she
said. She invited her cousins Audrena and Contrice
Archie.
This was the first Soul Food Supper, but accord
ing to Ralph Meadows, head of public relations, it
will not be the last. "We are taking that slogan just a
little farther, The family that prays together stays
together. We say the family that eats together stays
together," he said.
The members of the Pastor's Special Committee,
who prepared the food and organized the supper,
were Carrie Fitzgerald, president; Betty Meadows,
vice president; Alma Barber, secretary; Harlena
Wright, treasurer; Sharon Griffin; Melvin Griffin;
Musette Spruill; Calvin Nesbit; Brenda Chisolm;
Terrence Friend; Teketia Friend; and Coty Becknell.
Shirley Evans said that the Soul Food Supper dis
plays the spirit of the church's motto: Large enough to
hold you, small enough to know you, because they are
"very loving people," she said.
The Patfor't Special Committee mode iure that the Soul Food Supper was organised
and prepared
I
Bmtty Maodowi (loft ) and Julio Qomblo holpod torvo thm Soul food Suppor.
Betty Mcodowi (left ) and family... Julie Gamble helped serve the Saul food Supper.
? ? >?
P sponsored by 1 ?
pBest Choice Centers, Inc.? L
/ UMl /u '?v vriu wvj i.jom ia-hi* i a&ui ^-?ul ]
m/rvnogc f
Sate "J
K^y?l^zS?w4L^B?ttJ iK5v^ I *%pOJ r M I / I f flf^mm w.
i? ?!???!? ? i jl?i i i * ???? ? ?? ^ wf .ryrwhi itnjTi i ?"i dtnra i
Proceeds will benefit the Center's
ongoing programs designed to promote drug-free
life styles for youth and their families through
strong prevention and intervention strategies.