Locals with HIV to get mental health support with grant
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Winston-Salem foundation has
awarded AIDS Care Service a grant of
$51,183 to begin mental health support
groups for H1V+ individuals and their
families. The grant is made possible by
the Harriet Taylor Flynt Fund of The
Winston-Salem Foundations.
"AIDS Care Service (ACS) has
always sought to add to the quality of life
of those in our community living with
HIV/ AIDS," says Christine Jolly. ACS
President. " We are grateful to The
Winston-Salem Foundation for this gen
erous support."
Seale
frvm page AT
before the founding of the
Panthers, during which Seale
discovered he was a good
public orator. The protest,
however, ended in a fight w ith
police, and a sentence of one
year of probation for Seale
and Newton.
The two men together
would conceive the Black
Panther Party as a way to push
for social change in a turbu
lent time. They wrote a ten
point program, demanding
things for "black and
oppressed" people such as
free health care, access to
education and an end to police
brutality.
In an attempt to stop
police abusing their authority
in minority communities, the
Panthers would observe
police. They carried a law
book, tape recorder and visi
ble firearms with them. Seale
described the great lengths the
Panthers went to follow every
firearm law on the books.
They carried their rifles in the
open because to conceal them
was illegal. They
kept the rifles
pointed up because
it was against the
law for the barrel to
ever point at any
one.
This controver
sial patrolling by
the Panthers
brought them into
conflict with police
and even the FBI.
Then-FBI Director
J. Edgar noover ueciareu
them "the greatest threat to
the internal security of the
country."
Seale said many of the
Panthers' activities were dis
torted by the media and law
enforcement officials. He said
the widely-held notions that
the organization aimed to kill
all white people and harbored
weapons such as bazookas
and grenades, were pure myth.
"I get people that say 'You
know, in the 1960s. Mr. Seale,
you scared a lot of people.' I
said 'Actually, the FBI with
their press releases and distor
tions really did the scaring,""
Seale told the audience.
Seale said the Panthers'
knowledge of the law often
unraveled police officers. He
Study
from page K2
from the late '80s, just
prior to the most extensive
round of redistricting that
resulted in large numbers of
African-American officehold
ers, to the late '90s, the end of
major redistricting overhauls.
During that period, the total
number of African-American
state legislators increased
almost 31 percent, from 438
to 573. The number of
African-American committee
D.C.
from page A2
Cropp, who once worked
for former Mayor Marion
Barry and now teaches public
policy at George Washington
University.
Cropp said
such an election
would be signifi
cant ?
Washington hasn't
had a white mayor
since Congress
passed legislation
in 1973 allowing
D.C. residents to
choose their own
mayor and city
council.
Kenneth
Carroll, 4/, a writer wtio nas
lived in Washington his entire
life, said the changes mean
the loss of what be believes
once defined D.C. ? a sense
of self-determination and
self-confidence among black
residents that stemmed from
Huey P. Newton
Fenty
The mental health service has been
Jolly
created in
response to a
community
needs assess
ment. The ACS
board, staff,
clients as well as
other local serv
ice providers and
community lead
ers identified the
need for mental
health support
directly focused on the needs ot H1V+
individuals. The support groups will pro
vide safe and confidential meetings to
share information, experience, and
knowledge and to build mutually sup
portive emotional and social networks.
All groups will emphasize sharing and
well being with possible topics such as
"Why is Disclosure (telling family and
friends about being HIV+) So Difficult?"
or "Coping Skills: Depression and HIV".
Groups will be led by certified, licensed
therapists with experience concerning the
many complicated factors for those
infected with HIV, their families, care
givers. Transportation will be provided
by the ACS van.
Bobby Stale signs books for students.
Photo by Todd Luck
schools today.
Seale has penned several
books and is popular on the
speaking circuit. He is deter
mined to keep the Panther
legacy alive and to not let it be
dictated by other people. In
many ways, he is the last per
son who knows the complete
legacy of the organization.
Newton died in 1989, shot and
killed by a 24-year-old sus
pected drug dealer. Seale says
the Panthers are an important
part of American history.
"We were about constitu
tional, democratic, civil,
human rights," he said. "It's a
profound piece of history."
Seale was introduced last
week by Larry Little, a WSSU
professor and lawyer, who led
the Winston-Salem Panther
chapter in its heyday. Little
traveled to California when he
was 19 to be trained as a
Panther in order for the city's
chapter to become an official
part of the organization. Little
met Seale while he was
behind bars in connection
with the Rackley murder.
Little said, even in jail, Seale
took the time to mentor him.
For more information on
Seale, or to order his books,
go to www.bobbyseale .com .
talked about a confrontation
that Newton once had with an
officer during in which
Newton explained all the U.S.
Supreme rulings that made it
illegal for police to monitor
him.
Seale proudly described a
time in 1967 when he led a
small group of armed Panthers
into the California Legislature
to state their opposition to a
proposed gun law
that would've pre
vented members
from patrolling the
streets. Their action
was condemned by
the state's governor
at the time, Ronald
Reagan.
"Ronald Reagan,
J. Edgar Hoover,
everybody who was
racist and an idiot
would can us nooaiums ana
thugs," said Seale.
Seale said word spread
about the Panthers standing
up to police. After the death of
Martin Luther King in 1968,
he said the the national mem
bership of the party exploded
and chapters sprung up in
cities and towns throughout
the nation.
But as the Party grew, so
did opposition. Not all of the
organization's conflicts with
the authorities were wars of
words. By 1969, Seale said
fights with law enforcement
officials had resulted in the
death of 29 Panthers and 14
police officers. Many charges
were brought against mem
bers of the party. Seale, him
self, was famously tried for
inciting a riot at the 1968
chairs, however, remained
practically constant; there
were a total of 115 chairs in
1989 and 116 by '99. Of that
total, 19 at one time or anoth
er chaired committees that
dealt mostly with social serv
ices "because it was likely in
the best interests of their con
stituents," Overbysaid.
He said the lack of addi
tional chair appointments,
despite overall election gains,
resulted from a nearly simul
taneous increase in
Republican control of state
their majority status. That
pride was instilled in every
thing from the community's
political activism to the rich
music scene, which included
homegrown artists like Chuck
Brown, the godfather of funk
based go-go.
"A lot of blacks saw D C.
as sort of the
mecca," said
Carroll, who is
black. "You came
here for education,
to get a good job."
It was in those
years, however, that
many black neigh
borhoods fell into
decline. Businesses
and residents fled
when rioting broke
out in 1968 after Martin
Luther King Jr. was assassi
nated. That was followed by
the cocaine epidemic of the
1980s Buildings also were
razed to make way for a sub
way line.
Many neighborhoods are
now booming. In Columbia
Democratic National
Convention in Chicago. He
and his co-defendants became
known as the "Chicago
Eight." Seale was cited with
contempt for his frequent out
bursts during the trail. At one
point, the judge even had
Seale bound and gagged to
keep him quiet.
In 1970, Seale faced even
more serious charges when he
and other Panthers were tried
for the murder of Alex
Rackley, a member of the
Panthers, in New Haven,
Conn. The charges were seen
as bogus by many, and the
defendants received a
grobndswell of support from
Yale University students and
even the schools president at
the time. The trail ended with
a hung jury. Seale boasted that
the Panthers won 95 percent
of their court cases.
Clashes with police and
the legal system are but a
small part of the Panther lega
cy, Seale insisted. Black
Panther chapters were
required to implement social
programs to help improve
black communities throughout
the nation. To that end, chap
ters started sickle cell anemia
testing initiatives and free
breakfast fer children. The
Winston-Salem Panther
Chapter, one of the nation's
most prolific, even started a
free ambulance service to
transport poor residents to
city hospitals. Seale said
offering a free breakfast to
poor children was so success
ful that it was eventually
adopted by the government
and has become a staple at
legislatures during the '90s.
Few African-American legis
lators are members of the
GOP, Overby said, which is a
"reminder that we still have a
polarized party system and
that black Americans continue
to be heavily Democratic at
both the mass and elite lev
els."
The study, "African
American Committee Chairs
in American State
Legislatures," is being pub
lished in the September issue
of Social Science Quarterly.
Heights, cranes dot the sky
line as workers finish con
struction on a massive retail
complex. Condos nearby are
advertised at $300,000 and
up.
There are indications of
growing frustration. Some
new residents have com
plained about unsupervised
youths targeting them by
throwing rocks. And a local
blog has posted complaints
about graffiti that reads: "Go
Home Rich White People."
Meanwhile, at Ben's Chili
Bowl, Ali said she is pleased
to see much of the city recov
ering after years of decline.
And Ali and her sons, who
now oversee the restaurant,
welcome both newcomers and
loyal customers alike. She is
nostalgic, though, for the way
things were when U Street felt
like one big family.
While diversity is good
and is change inevitable, she
said, "you lose the closeness
of an ethnic community."
Smiley's HBCU Tour is
coming to A&T tomorrow
? Oal to the cwtowy r
Nationally-known talk show host and commentator Tavis
Smileyyill be on the campus of N.C. A&T State University tomofc.
row, Sept. 21, presenting the Talented Tenth HBCU Tour.
On the tour, which is being sponsored by the U.S. Navy, Smiley
pushes the importance of future of Black leadership and aims to
inspire new leaders trom
five of the nation's univer
sities. The tour kicks off
this evening in Tallahassee.
Fla., at Florida A&M
University. Stops are also
planned at Tennessee State
University, Morehouse and
Prairie View A&M
University in Texas.
At each of the campus
es, Smiley will lead a two
hour interactive discussion
on the characteristics of
successful role models in
the areas of business, public
service, religion and acade
mia. And, he will challenge
the students to develop their
leadership guiding princi
ples. The Navy will host a
special session to examine
how leadership skills devel
oped witnin its organization ^ NpR pho|o'
has helped many achieve a j-aws Smiley will tour schools
lifetime of success. The throughout the country.
special session will be open
to students on each campus.
"I created this tour to enlighten, encourage, and empower stu
dents to think about what their own leadership legacy will be," said
Smiley, who was influenced by the teachings W.E.B. DuBois while
planning the tour. "That is what they can do today that will echo
throughout their communities, careers, and ultimately throughout
history."
The event, which will be from 7-9 p.m. in the Harrison
Auditorium, is free and open to the public, however, attendees must
register for the event by going on-line to www.tavistalks.com.
Registrants should print the confirmation page and bring it with
them to the event.
"I'm convinced that the students who attend these institutions of
higher learning are the scholars, the exceptional - the leaders of the
future. They possess the courage and talent to set the standard for
the next generation of leadership for our country," said Smiley, a
best-selling author who also hosts "Tavis Smiley" on PBS and "The
Tavis Smiley Show" on PRI.
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