Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter calls
'Barbershop'jokes an act of incivility
ERIE, Pa - The youngest daughter of civil rights leader Mar
tin Luther King Jr. said jokes about her father in the movie "Bar
bershop" were disrespectful and she took them as a personal act
of incivility.
"A very disparaging, unfounded comment was made about my
father." the Rev. Bemice A. King told a crowd of more than 300
at Penn State Behrend last week in Erie dur
tng ner nour-iong speecn.
Her comments come as the Revs. Jesse
Jackson and Al Sharpton called on MGM to
remove from future releases a scene from
the film that derides Martin Luther King Jr.
and Rosa Parks. While the producers of
"Barbershop" have apologized for the
film's barbs. MGM says it will not remove
the scene.
The flap stems from a scene featuring a
barber named Eddie, played by Cedric the
Entertainer, who jokes about King's alleged
promiscuity and says Parks wasn't the first
King
to refuse to give up her bus seat, but was given credit because she
was connected to the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People.
The character is immediately condemned by others in the bar
bershop for being disrespectful.
Bemice King, who serves as assistant pastor of Greater Rising
Star Baptist Church in Atlanta, said the film "was a personal act
for me of incivility."
She said such behavior usually stems from three factors: arro
gance, selfishness and greed. King urged people to be more mind
ful of how they treat one another and perform acts of kindness to
overcome the "evil spirits" that cause incivility.
"If at the center of our relationships was unconditional love. I
think we'd see much more kindness. I think we'd see much more
politeness." King said.
Lawsuit names AKA sorority in death
The family of Kristin High, a California woman who died dur
ing an alleged sorority hazing, has filed a $100 million lawsuit
against the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority Inc. for the
wrongful death of their daughter.
"It is now turning (into) what we believe is a coverup," attor
ney Mansfield Collins told reporters. "Nobody is talking to us. We
had no choice but to file this lawsuit. This is a very courageous
family. They don't want their daughter to die in vain."
High. 22. and 24-year-old Kenitha Saafir, students at Califor
nia State University at Los Angeles, drowned on Sept. 9 w hile tak
ing part in pledging activities.
The suit in contends that High was led into heavy surf late that
night at Dockweiler State Beach by sorority members.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the drown
ings were accidental and although hazing has not been ruled out.
there is no evidence of foul play. Blindfolds and ropes allegedly
used in the incident have not been found.
"There was some sorority-related activity; that's why they
were at the beach," Lt. Mike DePasquale said. "The actual drown
ings, however, occurred after the activities were over.... Was there
hazing? Maybe. But we don't think so."
Saafir and High were "blindfolded and tied by their hands and
their bodies and led into the riptide conditions of the ocean,"
according to the family's lawsuit. "That night, the waves were
cresting at six to eight feet and creating a strong undercurrent
resulting from riptide."
Officials of AKA. the nation's oldest black sorority, have
denied any connection to the incident and claim the activity was
not an actual sorority gathering.
"We have no chapter of AKA at California State Universi
; ty-Los Angeles. You may recall we suspended the local chapter
? more than two years ago over minor pledging infractions," Linda
M. White, the sorority's supreme basileus, said in a statement
; from its Chicago headquarters. "If any individuals involved in the
incident purported to represent AKA, they did so without the
approval or knowledge of our organization. In fact, we are trying
to determine whether (he individuals involved have ever been
members of AKA."
Producer Suzanne de Passe named
to Howard University endowed chair
Suzanne de Passe, film director and former Motown producer,
has been named AOL Time Warner Endowed Chair in Media at
Howard University's School of Communications.
"We are delighted to welcome Ms. De 1
Passe to Howard University," said H. I
Patrick Swygert. university president. "Her I
outstanding accomplishments and reputa- I
tion as a dynamic mover and shaker in I
I film, television and music mesh perfectly I
with the responsibilities of the position."
Her appointment is effective this fall.
De Passe began her career at Motown n
Records as creative assistant to Berry j
; Gordy, eventually rising to the position of I
president of Motown Productions. In 1992.
! she established her own production compa
ny. De Passe Entertainment.
JSM
De Passe
The recipient of an Academy Award nomination for co-writing
the screenplay "Lady Sings The Blues," De Passe also has won
two Emmy Awards as executive producer of "Motown 25: Yester
day, Today. Forever" and "Motown Returns to The Apollo." She
also was executive producer for the award winning television
! mini-series "Lonesome Dove," "Small Sacrifices," "The Jack
J sons: An American Dream" and "Buffalo Girls."
; "De Passe brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the
program that will benefit the students, enhance the curriculum and
garner increased support for Howard University from the commu
; nications and entertainment industries." Jannette L. Dates dean of
the school of communications, told reporters.
- Compiled from staff and wire reports
IThe Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest
H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published
every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co.
Inc., 617 N. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Peri
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POSTMASTER: Send address Changes to:
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. I????????????????????????????
INDEX
i OPINION. JL6
SPORTS. B1
RELIGION. B5
CLASSIFIEDS. BIO
HEALTH. C3
ENTERTAINMENT. C7
CALENDAR. C9
There she is, Miss WSSU Alumni
BY FELEC1A P MCMILLAN. PH.D.
COMMUNITY C ORRESPONDENT
Beverly Barnes Evans ('70)
of North Plainfield. N.J., was
crowned Miss Alumni 2002-2003
of Winston-Salem Stale Universi
ty Friday evening at Kenneth R.
Williams Auditorium.
Wanda Starke of News Chan
nel 12 served as the master of cer
emonies for the crowning cere
mony, and Ron Hughes was the
vocalist for the event.
Evans competed against Bar
bara Whiting Puryear ('68) for the
crown. Together they generated
more than $78,000 in scholarship
funds for incoming WSSU Rams.
A native of Durham, N.C..
Evans resides in New Jersey and
represents the New Jersey Chap
ter and the Eastern Atlantic Dis
trict of the Winston-Salem State
University National Alumni
Association. She works as a
resource teacher/coordinator for
the Newark Public Schools.
Evans raised more than
$49.(XX) for the cause. She raised
funds for the competition from
June until Sept. 13.
"1 worked super haftt. We had
to do whatever we ccand to get
money for our school. I contacted
over 40 principals in Newark and
four senators and asked them to
give money for scholarships."
Evans said. "I also spoke with
President Bush, but he let me
know that he could not be
involved in this kind of fund rais
er. It was not about winning, but
was about helping the school."
"As a 32-year veteran in the
education area, it is my firm belief
that all students can learn if they
are inspired and challenged. In
order for them to excel, they must
be given the proper tools and
strategies to achieve their goals,"
Evans said. "My former WSSU
professors inspired my motiva
tion to ignite that exciting learn
ing spark in students My mission
and goal is to continue to pass on
the vital knowledge in the way
that it was exhibited to me."
The queen's mother. Lou Suilt
Barnes, 80, was at the luncheon,
and she offered words of wisdom.
"I'm a Ram today. It is so nice
to be in your presence. I ant so
glad that this contest is over for
my daughter. I was there in New
Jersey when Coach Gaines spoke
about the winning basketball
teams." Barnes said. "His speech
resulted in her getting many more
memberships. It is very important
that you keep this group together.
We must save our children."
"I heard you speak about
Louise Smith, who had the stroke
in Houston. Texas. She and Maya
Angelou were very close. She
was a good member and strictly a
Ram. Give her your prayers. She
needs that." Barnes said. "My
daughter, I call her my Mama.
The relationship reversed some
where down the line. She told
everybody on street corners and
everywhere she could think of to
take out an ad to help Winston
Salem State University."
Puryear represented the
Brown Alumni Chapter of Win
ston-Salem State University and
the city of Winston-Salem.
Pury ear has been teaching Eng
lish, journalism and drama since
1968. She raised funds for the
competition front July until Sept.
13.
"I worked very hard for the
benefit of the school. 1 have
enjoyed fratemi/.ing with Queen
Evans. We have carried on a mar
velous relationship." Puryear
said. "I was glad to do what 1
could for the school."
Alice D. McNeil president of
Former Queens Chapter of
WSSU Alumni Inc.. presided
over a luncheon in honor of the
new queen Saturday before the
WSSU Rams met the Fayetteville
State Broncos at Bowman Gray
Stadium.
"This luncheon is designed to
welcome the new queen to our
sisterhood. We can never disband
the luncheon. It is to honor the
queen and her court." McNeil
said. "Both of our candidates
have done a fine job of raising
funds for the university."
The candidates helped to
judge the dormitory contest tor
school spirit. Moore Hall placed
first in the competition. The
dorms were decorated to wel
come the alumni back to the cam
pus.
Gladys Wilson ('79), a mem
ber of the Homecoming Alumni
Committee, and chairman Yvette
Hatcher of the Special Events
Committee were elated that the
queen and her court raised a much
higher amount than was expected
for onlylwo candidates.
"They both worked extremely
hard. The money will be used for
scholarships for the students that
the Scholarship Committee
selects from a pool of candi
dates," Wilson said.
To be eligible to run for Miss
Alumni, a candidate must be a
graduate of Winston-Salem State
University. The person must also
be a current dues-paying member
of the alumni association. The
two candidates used various
methods to raise funds. Jhey
encouraged alumni to updatt their
memberships, held raffles and
baby contests, sold ads in the sou
venir booklet, got patrons and had
a Linle Miss Rain contest.
Wilson has worked with the
Homecoming Committee for
more than 10 years. w
"I like to communicate with
the alumni. We sponsor activities
for the school such as the senior
cookoul in May, and we encour
age alumni to be a part of the
school and watch the school
grow." Wilson said.
i
PhiiId by Kchrcia McMillan
Miss Alumni 2002-2003 Beverly Barnes Evans ('70) and Bar
bara Whiting Puryear ('68) of the court raised more than
$78,000 for W5SU student scholarships.
Come on, Vogue
Photo by Kevin Waflcct
Mozik, Winston-Salem State University's student modeling troupe, brought the runway to
the school's homecoming parade Saturday. Here members of the group strike a pose.
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