Art show that examines media
stereotypes set to open
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Tomorrow night,
Winston-Salem State
University's (WSSU)
Diggs Gallery will open a
powerful new exhibit that
takes control of the stereo
types and prejudices asso
ciated with African
American men often
depicted in today's media.
High school graduation
rates are at an all-time high
for black students. More
black people are going to
college than ever before,
and the President of the
United States of America is
a black man. But, this is
rarely the image depicted
in the media.
The same racial stereo
types of African
Americans that have exist
ed since the day Dutch
ships docked off the coast
of Jamestown, Virginia, in
the early 1600s, are the
same images we see in the
media today. When we turn
on the news and other
media, black people are
often represented as unedu
cated, criminal- minded,
dangerous individuals.
"Do You See Me?" fea
tures nine emerging artists
of color who are question
ing the dominant narratives
and imagery associated
with black male identity.
An opening reception
for will be held on Friday,
Oct. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m.
The exhibit will run until
March 1,2017.
Diggs Gallery Director
and exhibition curator,
Endia Beal, said, "These
artists are un-apologetical
ly urging the viewer to step
outside of stereotypes and
prejudices that stigmatize
black men and focus on
themes of love, family,
pain and pride.
'The themes presented
in the exhibition are shared
amongst all people and
connect us as one. So, do
you really see me? Do our
differences make you
uncomfortable? Together,
these artists are working
through the struggle and
asking us to acknowledge
the past, work to change
the present, and be hopeful
that in the future everyone
is treated with love," Beal
said.
Dr. James Pope, WSSU
assistant professor of liber
al studies, said at a place in
time where images inform
perceptions of ourselves
and others, "Do You See
Me?" un-apologetically
defies the dominant narra
tive.
"This exhibition is a
clear intentional meditation
on ways to take control, re
insert be, and resist domi
nant narratives of what it
means to be SEEN," Pope
wrote in an opinion piece
featured in The Chronicle
last week.
"Do You See Me?" ,
includes artists Davion
Alston, Jordan Casteel,
John Edmonds, Ivan Forde,
Aaron Fowler, Zun Lee,
Terence Nance, Chris
Watts, and Lamar
Whidbee.
Wells Fargo
from page AT
owners and entrepreneurs
succeed," Dunn writes,
adding, "Wells Fargo has
loaned more dollars to
small businesses than any
other bank for 14 consecu
tive years (2002-2015 CRA
data)."
Dunn continued,
"Through our new Diverse
Community Capital pro
gram, Wells Fargo is
extending $50 million in
lending capital and $25
million in grants to
Community Development
Financial Institutions that
help small businesses get
started and established,
including providing flexi
ble, small-dollar loans."
But the "$50 million in
lending capital" and "$25
million in grants to
Community Development
Financial Institutions..."
are, according Josh Dunn
are "national figures," not
the figures associated
specifically to Winston
Salem/Forsyth County.
He adds, "Wells Fargo
provides funding to the
Carolina Small Business
Development Fund - previ
ously known as the Support
Center - through the
Diverse Community
Capital Fund in support of
African-American small
business capitalization and
technical support for small
businesses across N.C.,
including those in Forsyth
County."
Again, Dunn did not
provide a dollar breakdown
per that funding specific to
Winston-Salem/Forsyth
County.
Chronicle: What role
is Wells Fargo playing in
helping Winston-Salem's
black community grow
and prosper, especially
given our mayor's cam
paign to stamp out pover
ty in our city?
"Wells> Fargo is aligned
with several focus areas
and initiatives of the
mayor's coalition," Josh
Dunn says, " including
through providing informa
tion to the Winston
Salem/Forsyth County
Asset Building Coalition
for underbanked residents
of the Enclave community
on our Easy Pay card as an
alternative to traditional
banking products, as well
as by helping increase the
number of clients receiving
EITC by supporting VITA
centers with funding from
the Wells Fargo
Foundation."
"Our Wells
Fargo/United Way
Financial Capability
Network partnership
directly aligns with the
Winston-Salem/Forsyth
County Asset Building
Coalition, specifically with
support for the operation of
The Point. The Wells Fargo
Foundation has provided
funding and our team
members actively volun
teer to provide financial
coaching and VITA tax
return preparation.
Financial Pathways of the
Piedmont, Experiment in
Self-Reliance, Goodwill
and United Way are all
local partners we support
as they lead the financial
capability network in
Forsyth County," Dunn
said.
Chronicle: Wachovia
had a good working rela
tionship with Winston
Salem's African
American community
prior to the Wells Fargo
purchase a few years
ago? What has Wells
Fargo done not only to
maintain, but enhance its
relationship with
Winston-Salem's black
community since you
took over?
Dunn said that Wells
Fargo has maintained
branch banking offices in
predominately African
American communities,
"including our MLK, Jr.
Drive and Coliseum loca
tions. Additionally, we
maintain a positive rela
tionship with several
organizations that focus on
serving the African
American community,"
including:
"Wells Fargo has sup
ported the Winston-Salem
Chronicle's MLK Jr. Day
Breakfast for two years, as
well as The Chronicle's
31st annual Community
Service Awards Banquet.
Wells Fargo also supported
The Chronicle through an
insert for the National
Black Theater Festival.
(Dunn did not say, howev
er, that Wells Fargo has cut
its budget to The Chronicle
1- \
eacn year;.
?Wells Fargo provides
funding and board leader
ship for scholarships and
programs at Winston
Salem State University,
including significant sup
port for their Student
Success Center to help
increase student retention
and graduation.
?Wells Fargo was the
presenting sponsor for the
installation event that
took place when
Chancellor Elwood
Robinson was elected and
began his
tenure at Winston
Salem State University.
?Wells Fargo supports
Habitat for Humanity of
Forsyth County with bind
ing for new homes and
rehabilitation of existing
homes in the Kimberly
Park neighborhood and
other neighborhoods for
low- and moderate-income
homebuyers and home
owners.
?Wells Fargo team
members provide leader
ship and volunteer support
for Big Brother Big Sisters,
as well as funding for men
tor programs at Cook
Elementary School afid
other low performing
schools in Forsyth County.
?Wells Fargo supports
YMCA after school and
summer enrichment pro
grams and scholarships for
low-income families and
children.
?Wells Fargo ?).team
members volunteer to teach
financial education classes
to minority low-income
clients through Habitat for
Humanity, Experiment in
Self Reliance's [ESR]
Road to Empowerment and
IDA programs, along with
Title 1 elementary schools
in Forsyth County.
?Wells Fargo team
members provide leader
ship on several boards of
organizations serving
African-American and
low-income residents,
including ESR and Habitat
for Humanity.
?Wells Fargo provides
funding and volunteers to
Whole Man Ministries
N.C. for transitional hous
ing, financial education job
placement and wrap around
services for homeless vet
erans.
?Wells Fargo provides
funding, technical assis
tance and team member
volunteers to support the
Prosperity Center and
Goodwill for workforce
development.
?Wells Fargo has pro
vided funding and board
leadership in support of the
North Carolina Institute for
Minority Economic
Development.
?Wells Fargo has pro
vided funding and board
leadership in support of the
North Carolina Community
Development Initiative and
Initiative Capital for
affordable homeowner
education, home preserva
tion programs and small
business/economic devel
opment across N.C.,
including Forsyth County.
?Wells Fargo maintains
a campus card and banking
relationship with N.C.
A&T University, which
entitles students and facul
ty to special services.
?Wells Fargo proves
funding and board leader
ship for Forsyth Technical
Community College's
small business programs.
?Wells Fargo provides
funding to support the City
of Winston-Salem's micro
lending program in partner
ship with city's small busi
ness ecosystem.
?Wells Fargo provides
funding in support of the S.
G. Atkins Community
Development
Corporation's efforts for
homebuyer education and
foreclosure prevention.
Chronicle: In all of
the above, how can Wells
Fargo improve its rela
tionship with Winston
Salem's African
American community?
"Wells Fargo maintains
open and consistent com
munications with
the African-American
community, elected offi
cials and business owners,"
Josh Dunn said, later
adding, "We will continue
to host community conver
sations with the African
American community and
other diverse segments to
ensure that we are aligning
the priorities and needs of
every community with the
products, services and
goals of our company."
HANDWASHING
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FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
WWW.COC.GOV
Forsyth County
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The Cathedral of Refuge
HIT Wi ,1 ?nm i l? mn. II- -
Community Health Fair
Open to the Public!
Main Street Academy Gymnasium
2700 South Main Street
Winston Salem, NC 27127
Saturday November 05,2016
10am to 3pm
Free Health Screenings
Free Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure,
Cholesterol Checks
Free Medical Items
Onsite Health Team and Ministry Team
T '
Prayer, Free Bibles, Ministry and
Spiritual Support Onsite
Family Support
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