Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / July 22, 1999, edition 1 / Page 6
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OPINION ? J 0 ?M? !*??*? The Chronicle Ernest H. PITT PubhsheriCo-Fouruier NOIRISI EGEMONVE Co-Fouruier / Elaine Pitt Busmen Manager Fannie Henderson AJvetnsmg Manager JERI YOING Managing Editor STEVEN Moore Production Manager k K aren J. Olson Circulation Manager - .* ;? Of Or^lauon -?-? ? Pubtohar* AmocmHoei VAACP should carry out its objectives ?Id in New York last week, the NAACP convention announced sev er.-. , norities. from suing the gun industry and providing computer liter acy . fining to pushing for greater black representation on network tele vision. We agree that gun manufacturers need to be held accountable, that minorities need greater access to the Internet and that the big-four television networks need to produce more shows with black characters. These goals are as noble as they are ambitious. No one can deny that NAACP officials have good intentions. However the proof of the pud ding will be in whether the organization actually takes care of business. A former congressman and talk-show host, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume has a knack for grabbing headlines. During its conventions, the NAACP never fails to live up to its reputation as the nation's oldest.and largest civil rights group. When the television cameras have stopped rolling and convention delegates have gone home, the leadership's com mitment to hot-button issues often fades The challenge will be for Mfume and local NAACP leaders to sustain the momentum between conventions. That will mean mobilizing NAACP members to advance the organization's agenda and carry out its objectives. Otherwise, the convention is no more than a revenue stream and an excuse for a party. And the group's annual pronouncements amount to mere campaign promises In the 1930s. Charles Hamilton Houston, a former Howard Law School dean and the NAACP's first legal strategist, announced that the civ il rights group would mount a legal offensive to dismantle de jure and de facto segregation. Houston stressed that the national organization would not initiate cases but offer legal assistance in cases brought by local-NAACP branches. s City by city, state by state, local branches challenged the status quo. Under the leadership of Thurgdod Marshall, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund then an arm of the NAACP fought Jim Crow ? all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. And the NAACP wpn. Unfortunately, time has proved that these victories were not final. ' And nowadays, the enemy is more elusive and the racism, more subtle. The conservative agenda threatens to erode the gains of the Civil Rights Movement. Even worse, violent hate groups are on the rise. These trends compel the NAACP and other civil fights groups to be ever vigilant.-The NAACP has a proud past. But NAACP leaders and members can't afford to simply celebrate, the organization's historic role in the Civil Rights Movement. There are more obstacles to overcome. Will the NAACP remain viable in the new millennium? It will be as effective as we make it. We must not only join the organization; we must join the struggle and demand that the NAACP stay on task. " The battle can't be waged at annual conventions or black-tie affairs. The struggle must Ik fought 24 hours a day, seven days a week, twelve months a year. If we don't do it, no one else will. A ' ' East Winston deserves better v We commend the mayor and the city's aldermen for agreeing to do something about the blight in the Cleveland Avenue/21st Street area of town. | That area, along with some others in our community, deserve to ben-., efit from the city's and the county's phenomenal economic growth and prosperity. East Winston has the dubious distinction of being the only area of the city that, according to the last census count, had negative residential growth. Those who know and understand economic development realize that retail and industrial development follow residential development. Those few houses, along with the other few that have been built in the area, could signal the beginning of a residential stabilization. Once residential development has been stabilized, growth can occur. It is ironic, though, that the people who do not live in East Winston are the ones who\want to ''preserve the culture" of East Winston by not tearing down those old homes for newer, more adequate housing. If you leave it to those people, perhaps shanties would still line Third Street. We agree with Alderman Nelson Malloy tear them down and start all over again. 1 Issue remains at WSSU To the editor: Isn't it amazing how quiet everything has gotten Nrt- Win ston-Salem State University since Phillip Gilley, who is white, has taken over the finances of the university? This is typical of a plantation-minded black. When black people tried to advise him on issues, he appeared to think our advice was not worth hear ing President Molly Broad let you know how much she thought of you. She could have helped rather than sending -a white man here to tell you what to do. Do you expect Molly Broad to look bad because of your " administration? If you do, you had better think again. James Funderhurk Pfaff town Lawrence Meat-hem show concern To the editor: With all the negative press coverage lately about the director and staff at the Winston-Salem Housing Authority, let me say a new leaf has been turned over. The good, the bad and the ugly are over, and we must now con centrate on only the good. Reid Lawrence, the new exec utive director, and A. Fulton Meachem, his new deputy, are two Christian men with hearts of gold. Both have a genuine concern for the health and well-being of every individual living in the many facilities in our city. i Mr. Lawrence, one of 11 chil- i dren, worked and put himself I through college, with a bachelors < degree in business. i Mr. (Meachem), who grew ftp around the project environment, knows and understands the needs of low-income living. Both have let it be known they are only a phone call away, to 9nce again bring honesty and respect back ttf our community. I, for one, look forward .to working with these two outstand ing gentlemen. Shirley Holland President of Healy Tower residents council Coverage of Carver unfair , To the editor: I am writing this letter hoping to initiate a response in the com munity of Winston-Salem and to make readers aware of issues that many may be. ignorant of. It is a shame that as an alum nus I'm still affected by the exploitation' and degradation of Carver High School by the media...of Winston-Salem. In reference to the newscast about the four young African American males arrested for drug charges a few days ago. I personally, along with others, feel that the media approach was distasteful and unfit. Several reasons support my position. First, instead of broadcasting information about the event aJid the four individuals involved, the Fox 45 news station presented an elaborate portfolio of only one individual, Courtney Weaks, a former Carver student who "helped carry the 1998-99 foot ball team to the state champi onship." This information was totally unnecessary and inappro priate, especially since the same attention was not given to the other three individuals. * What relevance does the fact that Weaks was the former "star quarterback for the Yellowjack ets" have to do with the details of the arresCThere is no relevance. Then, to further exploit the name of CHS, the news team dis played a broadcast on the present football .team? coach and other members of the Carver family. For What purpose was this done? These individuals.had nothing to do with the choices made by this one young man. If that were the case, why not do a 10-minute documentary on all arrested per sons in the Triad and the estab lishments they were formerly a part of. The city has repeatedly made it extremely hard for Carver High to exist in this community with out negative coverage and exploitation. The dishonorable media (have) abused Carver every chance they have gotten by blow ing "up negative affairs that are literally present at every school and sheltering the many positive affairs that would gain the respect of the community. Being a former Carver stu dent myself and personally expe riencing firsthand the degrada tion of Carver by the media and the community, it is heartbreak ing to come to the reality that no matter how far we try to advance as a people, community and nation, we will forever be faced with this underhanded way that society has for brainwashing its members with stereotypes of anything African American. Trelya V. Rice Wellman deserves chance To the editor: The wisest thing the Experi ment in Self-Reliance has done in a long time is to select Twana Wellman as their executive direc tor. I know Ms. Wellman to be a gifted, intelligent and dedicated leader. She comes in early, stays late and is focused on the success of ESR. She deserves the respect and the cooperation of the Board of Aldermen. Perhaps if some of the aldermen were willing to work with Ms. Wellman, there might be more hope for our citi zens moving from welfare to work. Dee Ann Smith Clemmons s . V Thanks To the editor: Wc would like to thank you for the wonderful story you did on the Measles' family reunion (in the July 8 issue of The Chron icle)! Thank you so much for all of your patience and understand ing, and your researeh that helped us understand better. Your thoughtfulness meant so much to us and the entire Mooce family. j, . . ( , ? j Cleveland and Shagail Reed To the Editor: The Black Leadership Round table of Winston-Salem/Forsyfli j , County would like to thank all individual citizens, elected offi cials and community organiza tions for helping to make Her ExceHency Rachel Qbenyop Diggs' visit to Winston-Salem very memorable. With your par ticipation the reception turned out to be a very nice'affair, whe^e everyone was cordial and friend ly, but roost of all, everyone had an enjoyable time. The ambassador wa,s over joyed by the overwhelming show of love and appreciation shown to her during her visit with the Roundtable on July 9. Special thanks to the Winston-Salem Urban League, Integon Corp., Otesha Creative Dance aqd Music Ensemble and Goler Memorial AME Zion Church. ^ f v Linda Sutton Reception chairpersop wy , \ As many of you know. The Chronicle is celebrating its 25 th anniversary this year For / the last quarter of this century, this newspaper has been an active and vibrant part of this ? |//\ T/^Tip Pf|/\lif TFTP /^f\ \ II / F71 f?TT7 community. We asked some of the people who work tomake the paper a reality every ; ? ill J fl [j (/Ifflfl [J Jy J | | Thursday why they think The Chronicle has been successful all these years. V Sritka Atbury Accounting Clork "Primarily because The Chronicle has its fingers on the pulse of the African American community" I I HBK I Vickie Warren Circulation Clark "I think we have lasted .so long because of the proud and dedicated employees we have had over the years." Kitrinka Gordon Clauifiedt Account Executive "I think because we have had great support from this community and that has made this paper stand out in the Triad." 1 Stovon Moor* Production Manager "In the years I have worked with The Chronicle I have seen firsthand < the drive behind this newspaper. That ? drive is focused toward the communi- I ty and the people who read this I paper. In my experience, when you .1 focus on the needs of those who care / dhout what you are offering, you will 1 do well." t Damon f. ford Koportor "I believe that The Chronicle has been sue essfulfor the last 25 years because of the hard \<ork of the employees who have worked here in he dijferentfjdrpartments and also because of he support the community has given over the ,ears. Anyone can see how the quality of the xtper has impntved. and that Ls a reflection of hi? hard *\s>rk of the people who have been here ttui those who have put dollars into the paper "
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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July 22, 1999, edition 1
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