The Chronicle
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Ernest H. Pitt
Ndurisi Egemonye
Sharon Brooks Hodge
Elaine PiTt
Fannie Henderson
Carol Trader
Publisher! Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Editor
Business Manager
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Advertising Manager
Production Manager
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?y EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON
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From the moment that President Clinton announced his race
initiative program, Newt Gingrich and other Republicans pounded on
him to include conservatives in the dialogue. Clinton got the message.
Before the Akron town Hall meeting in early December he said he would
listen to what conservatives like Ward Connerly had to say. While I agree
that conservatives should be included in Clinton's dialogue, my guess is
that the sum of their contribution will be to pawn off the same tired
. litany of racial stereotypes and slanders about African Americana
The nub of their argument is that whites are sick and tired of hearing
Blacks blame racism, economic inequality, and an unjust criminal justice
jiystem for their failures. But these are the realities that many
conservatives don't want to hear. The majority of violent crime in
America is committed by Whites. The majority of drug users and abusers
are white. The majority of welfare recipients dnd poor are White.
Sociologist Joe Feagin in "Living with Racism," has thoroughly
documented the sneaky storehouse of racist dodges and tactics many
bankers, corporate officials, real estate lenders, hotels, restaurants, and
cab drivers still use to perpetuate racial discrimination.
The prisons ate increasingly jammed with poor, young blacks due to
draconian drug laws that target African Americans. The U.S. Sentencing
Commission pointed to the blatant inequity in the criminal justice system
when it recommended that the harsh sentences handed out for drug
possession to black offenders and the light hand slap sentences given to
White offenders be modified "or equalized." Clinton and Attorney
General Janet Reno agreed. Congress refused to make any changes.
And what are the job prospects for those blacks when they are
ipicased from prison? A study by the California Commission on the
Sfatus of The Black Male in 1996 revealed that one-sixth of California's
625.000 Black males age 16 and older were arrested yearly and concluded
that the arrest, "thereby create police records which hinder later job
prospects." v
; Also the perception that blacks are inherently prone to crime and
violence is fed by much of the media's continued obsession with crime
drug-violence-gang-in-ghetto features and news stories. This almost
ftainly makes many employers believe that black communities are vast
itelands of rot, and that blacks are chronic social and educational
ures, and not fit to be hired.
! J? They are not. In 1996, according to the National Urban Leajgue's
ijtate of Black America report, 80 percent of African Americans
l&duated from high school and nearly 30 percent were enrolled in
cNlege (many in historically black colleges). Contrary to popular belief,
t(t high school drop out rate for African Americans was no greater than
whites. But this was back page stuff in the papers, if reported at all.
+The bad news is that many blacks who want college degrees are losing
gp0und. Since 1994 funding cuts, elimination of scholarships, grants and
fnhncial assistance, and the pulverizing of affirmative action have badly
tinned the ranks of blacks and Latinos admitted to medical and law
spools at several University of California campuses. While conservatives
foture blacks to get an education and solve their own problems, they are
sftne silent about segregation and the gaping funding shortfalls that keep
ghetto schools blacker and poorer.
t Conservatives have done everything they could to bully and badger
Cvtaton into packing his town hall meetings on race with anti-affirmative
aofcon hired guns like Ward Connerly. Now that they've gotten their wish
ajul conservatives will be at Clinton's race table, let's see how they hold
Jfwhen confronted with the realities of racism and economic inequality
t|pt they pretend no longer exist.
3/>r. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is the author of "The Assassination of the
^ Blade Male Image" and the forthcoming "The Crisis in Black and
fggek." email:ehutchi344@aol.com
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They were
devoted
To the Editor,
city employee who- have-iusentfy>
retired, each after many years of
outstanding service to our city
Zoning Board of Adjustment and
our community.
Dale Wilhelm has retired after
30 years or service to various city
departments, most recently as
Landscape Inspector at the
City/County Inspections Division.
Wilhelm brought a breadth of
talent to his service to the Board of
Adjustment. Hrs knowledge of
plant materials were a constant
source of guidance on issues
regarding buffer yards and his
thoughtful consideration of special
use permits helped our community
to maintain a high level of quality
in our stock of manufactured
housing. He possessed a unique
combination of savvy and the
ability to work with people that
made it a pleasure for board
members and citizens alike to work
with him.
Carolyn Hodges has likewise
retired after 30 years of Service as
an administrative secretary at our
Inspections Division. Hodges
served as the Board of
Adjustment's recording secretary.
She fulfilled this role with
consummate skill and with a high
level, of precision. Our board
always knew we could count on
her accuracy in recording in order
to review past decisions and
consider appeals for rehearing by
the public. Like Wilhelm, Hodges
possessed a special skill in dealing
with citizens and their concerns,
always bringing a professional and
personal touch to her work.
Our city has lost two fine public
servants to retirement, and I wish
them well.
David E. Gall
Member. City Zoning Board of
Adjustment
Put Martin in
the U.S. Senate
To the Editor,
On Dec. 9, David Grier Martin,
Jr. announced his candidacy for
the U.S. Senate seat presently held
by Lauch Faircloth.
Martin is a native North
Carolinian who grew up in
Davidson where his father was
president of Davidson College.
Martin majored fh history at
Davidson, graduating with honors.
At Yale, he was coordinating editor
of the Yale Law Review. He later
served as a Green Beret intelligent*
officer in the Army.
For a number of years he
practiced law in Charlotte. Most
recently he has been serving as vice
president for public affairs of the
University of North Carolina. He
is well known as a promoter and
fund raiser for UNC-TY and as
author of the column One in One,
carried by newspapers across the
state.
With an eye to North
Carolina's future as well as her
present, D.G. is a staunch
supporter of environmental
protection - no hog farm polluter -
and a balanced budget. In this era
of political sleaze and Washington
influence * peddling, D.G.'s
approach is i "breath of fresh air."
He has consistently refused to
accept even PAC money while
making his commitment to the
individual voter and his welfare the
highest priority.
D.G. is both a common man
and an uncommon individual. He
is very personable and
approachable. Those of us who
have known him long and well
know him to be a person of great
empathy for the common man and
his everyday problems.
We know him as someone who
has the potential to achieve Ervin's
stature in the Senate and who
already possesses in large measure
Sanford's vision and idealism.
D.G.'s very presence as our
representative in the Senate would
give cause again to hold up our
heads forever proud to be North
Carolinians.
" , ? ?
Dr. R.L. Shuford, III
He's no 'Uncle
Tom'
Throughout the editorial on
Alderman Vernon Robinson
written in last week's Chronicle,
the writer used cheap techniques
commonly used to keep black
conservatives silent or to keep
them in line with, what is believed
to be, what most black people
think.
The editorial was about
Robinson supposedly lashing out
at Alderman Vivian Burke, who is
a liberal Democrat, during the
graduation ceremony of police
recruits last week< Throughout the
editorial, the writer communicated
a belief that all black people think
alike, or should think alike. The
writer also implied that the things
black people should believe are
reflected by Burke.
During the editorial, the writer
stated "although Robinson is
black, he is also a Republican."
The writer also stated that if
Robinson had to choose between
being black and being a
Republican, "he will choose his
political party."
The writer is clearly saying that
she believes black people embrace,
or should embrace, the same
political ideology. We should all fit
into the same mold.
The idea that someone's skin
color predetermines his or her
ideas and beliefs is absolutely
ridicufous. But the writer must
believe that the way black people
perceive important issues is
extremely limited and that there's
only one choice for us when it
comes to political parties. Why else
would she say "if Robinson had to
pick between being black and his
party, he will chooses his party."
All black people are not alike.
Black people are diverse within
themselves just like any other race.
We get angry when we are
stereotyped by white people,
however most black people don't
get angry when we stereotype
ourselves, unfortunately.
When it comes to politics, black
people are found throughout the
spectrum just like any other race.
There are liberals, moderates, and
conservatives.
Unfortunately, over the years a
mold has been created by black
people for black people. The mold
shapes and defines your beliefs for
you. This mold is also intended to
direct a tremendous amount of
peer pressure against conservative
black people and restrict all black
people to the liberal end of the
spectrum. If anyone dares to
express ideas that are outside the
set boundaries, the peer pressure is
turned on and they're not
considered a true black person.
The writer also employed
another technique commonly used
against black people who refuse to
?I
conform to the mold. The writer
referred to Robinson as a "good
black." When I saw the term good
black in quotation marks and used
the way it was, it was obvious that
the writer was calling Robinson an
Uncle Tom.
This insulting technique is not
only used to silence black
conservatives, but it's also used tQ
damage their credibility with other
black people.
These methods are cheap and
beneath any editorial writer worth
his or her salt. Robinson and
Burke obviously have strong
feelings about the police
department. During a graduation
ceremony of police recruits earlier
this year, Burke used the occasion
to say something that she believed
was right. This time Robinson did;
The only difference is that
Robinson refuses to allow his
opinions to be shaped by the mold.
If you disagree with him or any
other politician, you should dissect
and dismantle his position with
clear and concise logic-if you can->
instead of resorting to peer
pressure and insults. Your readers
would appreciate it more and
would have a better reason to agree
with you
Alderman Robinson is a black
man with conservative politick!1
views and so am I. The writer of
last week's editorial would be
surprised if she knew how many
black conservatives there really are
in the city. However, a lot of us ,
don't Want to deal with the peer,
pressure and the insults that we get
from our own people so we've kept
quiet.
But that's beginning to change.
?V - i
Ken Raymond
Editor's Note:
Alderman Robinson was not;
criticised for being a black,
conservative but for placing the'
party above all else. There's a'
difference
? Editor
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I
The Law
And You
Public housing prevents homelessness
By MARGARET E. JONES
There are over 1.3 million public
housing units in the United States,
42,000 of them are in North
Carolina. Public housing, when
well managed, provides safe and
affordable living conditions for low
income families, the elderly,
handicapped and disabled persons
Locally- controlled housing
authorities administer these
apartments
Contrary to what many think,
the majority of public housing
residents do not depend on
"welfare." In Asheville, for
example, only 22 percent of the
households living in public
housing get the majority of their
income from public assistance. In m
Raleigh, the figure is 23 percent in
Wilmington, 16 percent.
Most public housing residents
are working in our communities
as nursing assistants food servers
custodians, teaching assistants,
and other workers. The average
public housing household income
is between S7,500 and 8,000 per
year, roughly equivalent to the
minimum wage. In many cases
public housing is the only decent
housing these families can afford
to rent.
Public housingis also part of
the safety net for families of
people with disabilities. Over 7,000
public housing units statewide are
occupied by the elderly,
handicapped and disabled persons.
In Winston-Salem and Elizabeth
City, 29 percent of the public
housing households have a
disabled member. In Concord, that
figure is 25 percent; in Goldsbora
it is 23 percent.
Many people with disabilities
would be homeless or living in
substandard housing if they did
not have the option of public
housing. A public housing
resident's rent is based on the
number of people in the household
and percentage of the family's
income.
This means that a tenant's rent
can be increased or decreased
when income changes or when
family members are added to or
taken off the lease. Unlike non
subsidized rental units, public
housing apartments are inspected
regularly for safety. Also, when
probleitis-atise between tenants
and management, there is a
grievance process which often
prevents costly court actions and
potential homelessness.
Typical fartiilies like Patty
Conners (not her real name) and
her 2 children exemplify the
importance of public housing and
the need for conflict resolution for
the poor. Conner moved her
family out of public housing after
obtaining a steady job.
She and her family did well
until her daughter's health
problems deteriorated and the
medical expenses became
overwhelming. Conner reapplied
for public housing and was denied
because her landlord's reference
report indicated that she paid her
rent late.
At an informal conference
between Conner and the Housing
Authority, she was able to show
that her income was not sufficient
enough to pay rent and utilities in
the private market, as well as her
daughter's medical bills. At the
same time, Conner was able to
provide verification of her usually
prompt bill paying habits, and the
medical expenses that had recently
become so costly. ~ ?
Once her income was adjusted
by 30 percent, thus reducing the
amount of rent and utility bills,
her ability to pay her rent was
more realistic and the Housing
Authority agreed to allow Conner
to move into a public housing unit.
A public housing resident
might also use this hearing process
for disputes involving maintenance
repairs, eligibility for an income
deduction, and disagreements
between the tenant and project
manager. Each Housing Authority
has an explanation of the informal
conference and grievance
procedure posted in the Housing
Authority office.
For Conner and her family,
and thousands more like them in
North Carolina, public housing
fills a real need. Especially for the
elderly, children and the disabled,
there are few things more
important than decent, affordable
and safe housing. Public housing
has its share of drugs and crime,
but for thousands of families it
offers the only realistic alternative
to a life of homelessness.
hi
Margaret E Jones is a paralegal
with Pisgah Legal Services