section
VLI)£ Cljailotte post
Thursday, October 5, 1989
LIFESTYLES
Africans Get a Taste Of The Charlotte Life
By GWENDOLYN DANIELS
lifestylea Editor
Charlotte recently rolled out
the welcome mat and gave visi
tors from the Motherland, Afri
ca, a little taste of how people
and businesses operate In the
United States.
A group of four distinguished
African businessmen and their
two Interpreters visited the
Charlotte area from Sept. 10
through Sept. 17. Koftl Victor
Afagnlbo, Nebll Ben Yedder,
Gregolre Owana and Jean Tslre-
sy Tlla got a chance to visit sev
eral small businesses and com
panies during their brief tour In
addition to taking In some cul
tural activities. Miriam Lutz and
Latlf Ndlaye accompanied the
group as Interpreters for the
French speaking visitors.
The visit Is part of a six-week
project entitled
"Entrepreneurship and the U.S.
Economy." The tour was spon
sored by the International Visi
tors of the U.S. Information
Agency In Washington along
with The Council for Interna
tional House In Charlotte. The
program will allow the visitors
to visit a range of small and
mid-sized businesses, such as
franchises, cooperative busi
nesses, and family and minori
ty-owned businesses.
Some of the businesses visited
were Frlto-Lay. Ecos Interna
tional, Pepsl-Cola Bottling Co.
and Sam Johnson Lincoln Mer-
cuiy.
One of the main observations
that the group made was that
the United States encourages
small businesses to develop
and group. Owana said he was
struck by the fact that the
'I i
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Photo/CALVIN FERGUSON
AMcan businesamen tour Frito Lay to observe
the production of the company's products dur
ing their visit to local businesses. The visitors
were in Charlotte for a week as part of an inter
national tour program.
American system Is very liberal
and capitalistic.
"It Is such an open system,"
Owana said.
Owana also said the African
Country on a whole works to
gether, unlike Americans who
place Importance on the indi
vidual.
"The African Country thinks In
a collective mind set," Owana
said. "Americans concentrate
more on the Individual and the
'me' generation above all else."
Afagnlbo said he was sur
prised by the diversity of Ameri
can people and he also believed
that Africans work together In
one direction more so than
American.
However, he added that the In
dividualistic attitudes and di
versity of Americans does not
always stand In the way of unity.
"There's not just one type Ameri
can," Afagnlbo said. 'Yet, some
of the population live and work
together to succeed."
When asked what he thinks
about American people, Owana
said there hasn't been enough
time to spend with the people of
the country and get to know
them very well.
"We haven't seen them In their
natural state yet," he said.
Owana also said that he would
have liked to have had more so
cial and business contact with
the black community during his
visit also.
Owana Is from Douala, Came
roon and he Is one of Douala's
representatives to Cameroon's
National Parliament. He Is the
director of Berlac, a computer
consulting firm. He speaks
Ewondo. French and English.
Yedder Is from Montfleury, Tu
nis and Is the director of La
Generale Allmentaire, General
Foods. He speaks Arabic and
French.
Afagnlbo Is from Niamey, Ni
ger and he Is the director of Nl-
gercar, a car rental and travel
agency. He Is a member of the
Nigerian Industries and Em
ployers' Association and of the
Professional and National As
sociation of Tourism. Afagnlbo
speaks Zarma, Hausa and
French.
TUa Is from Mahajanga, Mada
gascar and Is the head of the re
gional office for the Ministry of
Industry, Energy and Mines In
the Mahajanga Province.
Lutz said she lived In Africa for
about five years and said the
country feels like home to her.
She said she loves the excite
ment of being exposed to many
different cultures through the
program. Lutz spends seven
months out of the year traveling
with International groups.
"It's a big challenge," Lutz said.
"It allows me to live In the U.S.
and with Africans."
The program started out In
Washington, where the visitors
stayed for two weeks. They then
traveled to Colorado before
coming to the Queen City. After
leaving here the group traveled
to Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and
New York. The project will close
with a farewell dinner In New
York City and the group will
leave on Saturday, Oct. 7.
The Council for International
Visitors Is a program of Inter
national House. CIV hopes to
bring In 250 visitors this year.
Raleigh Is the only other city In
North Carolina that has a CIV
and serves more than 400 visi
tors In the Research Triangle
area each year.
Jackson To Speak In Rock Hill
Former presidential candidate
Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson
will deliver the kejmote address
at the 50th anniversary conven
tion of the South Carolina Con
ference of Branches, NAACP.
The convention will be held Oc
tober 12-15, 1989 at the Rama-
da Hotel, Rock Hill, South Caro
lina.
Jackson's remarks will be
made during the Freedom
Awards Banquet which Is
scheduled for 7:00 p.m., October
13,1989 at McBiyde Hall on the
campus of Wlnthrop College.
The banquet Is the highlight of
the convention celebrating 50
years of civil rights activities by
the South Carolina Conference
of Branches, NAACP.
Dr. W.F. Gibson, Chairman,
National Board of Directors,
NAACP and President of the
South Carolina Conference of,
Branches, NAACP will deliver
the State of the Conference ad
dress on Thursday night, Octo-
Jackson
ber 12, 1989, 8:00 p.m. at Cross
Roads Baptist Church.
More than 400 delegates from
across the state are expected to
attend the four day convention
In order to establish goals and
set agendas for 1990.
Panelist Include: Earl Shln-
hoster. Regional Director,
whose Atlanta office was re
cently bombed, Rev. H.H. Single-
ton, President of the Conway
Branch, NAACP, whose dismis
sal has has sparked cries of ra
cism In Conway, Fred Rasheed,
NAACP National Director for
Economic Development, Kelley
Alexander, Jr., National Chair
man of "Operation Fair Share"
Committee, L.R. Byrd, founder of
the Black Economic Education
Plan, and Jondelle Johnson,
NAACP National Director of
Special Projects.
Jesse Jackson, who was
awarded the NAACP highest
award, the Splngam Medal, this
year In Detroit Is the founder of
People United to Save Humanity
(PUSH). He has met with major
dignitaries and Heads of State
throughout the world.
All workshops are open to the
registered public. For addition
al lnformatlon;n contact Nelson
B. Rivers, III at 803-754-4584.
Arizona Honors King's Birthday
By BRIAN K. JOHNSON
Special To The Post
PHOENIX - Arizona Governor
Rose Mofford, before a jubilant
crowd on the Capitol Mall, has
signed a measure designating
the third Monday in January as
King Day.
Arizona now joins 46 other
states with an ofllcial day of rec
ognition to honor slain civil
rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Lu
ther King Jr. Idaho, Montana
and New Hampshire have not
established the holiday.
"Today, we stand tall In the
knowledge that we have done
the right thing," Mofford said.
Sen. Carolyn Walker, the south
Phoenix Democrat who emerged
as the Legislature's most hard
working King bill advocate, said,
"Arizona has come to recognize
one of the great Americans of
this century. This says we know
King
that citizens of all colors make
contributions to this country."
King Day will replace Colum
bus Day as a state-paid holiday.
King Family Response
Upon hearing the news of Ari
zona's passage of the King holi
day, King's widow, Coretta Scott
King, issued the following state
ment:
"Throughout the nation, the
King holiday has become an oc
casion for bringing people to
gether across raci^ lines. It Is
my slncerest hope that It will
help unite Arizonans of all races
and provide the opportunity to
educate young people In partlc
ular in the vedues and strategy of
nonviolence as taught and lived
hy Dr. King."
Martin Luther King III phoned
Mofford from Atlanta proclaim
ing, 'Victory has arrived. I look
forward to being Involved In your
future celebrations."
immi
BuUetiri
m
• The 'Wllmore Student Recognition Picnic scheduled for Sept.
28 was cancelled due to the hurricane. There will be an Infor
mational meeting today for participants and their parents In
the sanctuary of Calvary United Methodist Church on West
Boulevard. Cookies and drinks wtU be served afterwards In the
fellowship hall and students will receive their gift packets of
school supplies. The picnic wlU be rescheduled for the spring.
• Former employees of Charlotte Community Hospital will
have their 5th reunion on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
at the Woodbrldge Apartments Club House at 6619 Yates-
wood Drive. For more Information, call Magallne Gibson at
372-1906 or Hazel Byrd at 376-3735.
• "The Clergy Connection: Reaching Youth", a conference for
clergy, religious educators and youth ministers will be held to
day at the Myers Park Baptist Church In the Shalom Hall on
1900 Queens Road. A $10 registration fee Is required. Call Kate
Gordon 332-6721.
• Planned Parenthood of Greater Charlotte and the YMCA will
sponsor a brown bag lunch discussion today at noon on "AIDS:
V^at Everyone Needs to Know" at the uptown YMCA In the
First Union
• The Charlotte Chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians
and Cays will hold their regular second Thursday of month
meeting on Oct. 12 at the Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Provi
dence Road.
• The fall enrollment event for the Charlotte charter chapter
of American Business Women's Association will be held on
Oct. 11 during the regular monthly meeting at the Holiday Inn,
3815 N. Tryon St
• Community Health Services, 1401 East Seventh St., will hold
Its monthly Cholesterol Elducatlon classes on Friday, Oct. 6.
There will be two cholesterol education classes held and the
cost Is $5 per person. The available class times are 11 a.m. to
noon or 2:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call 375-0172 to reserve your
place.
• The Afro-American Children's Theatre, Inc. will perform the
play, 'When I Thing Of Harlem" , at 8 p.m. Oct 5 at NCNB Per
formance Place, Spirit Square. Tickets are $12 and $8 for stu
dents with discount group rates available. For more Informa
tion. please call 364-8883 or 372-7410.
•.
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111
Haze Moore and Dr. Benuud Franklin stand in
the background as Veronica Cherry, Addie
Photo/CRYSTAL KYLER
Moore and Shiriey Franlklin join in to congratu
late Dr. Franklin, the Bth Livingstone president.
Livingstone Announces New President
By Fran Farrer-bradley
Atmosphere fit for the captain
of the ship flavored through
Windows on Trade Sunday as
Dr. Bernard W. Franklin, Living
stone College's ninth president,
was Introduced to Charlotte.
Terri Henry, soloist, captivated
the hundreds of guests as they
mingled and enjoyed hors d'
oeurves.
Wilson Cherry, Livingstone's
public relations director, for
merly Introduced Dr. Franklin
and the lovely First Lady Shirley
Franklin.
Franklin received the Ed.D. de
gree from the Teachers College -
Columbia University in New
York (1982); M.Ed. degree from
Western Maryland College, Ma
ryland (1978): and the B.A. de
gree from Simpson College In
Iowa (1974).
Franklin assumed his jxisltlon
on July 1 and Is a native of
Montclair, New Jersey, where he
was educated In the public
schools.
Prior to assuming the presi
dency, Franklin was assistant to
the president, vice president of
student affairs at Virginia Union
University and an ACE Fellow of
the American Council of Educa
tion. He has also served as as
sistant vice president for stu
dent affairs, Johnson Q. Smith
University: assistant professor.
Miami TJnlverslty: student devel
opment coordinator. Greater
New York Council of Boy Scouts
of America: guidance counselor.
Montclair Public School System;
and residence hall director,
Iowa State University.
Dr. Franklin is a published ac
ademician, holds membership
in various professional organi
zations and has been featured In
several editions of Who's Who.
HE has received numerous
awards for his service to hu
manity and contributions to ed
ucation. His civic duties Include
serving on the Board of Direc
tors of the Sallsbury-Rowan
Chamber of Commerce and
membership in the Rowan
County Klwanls Club.
Although he has served in
many roles, some of which are
speaker, lecturer, panelist, pre
senter, and consultant, he still
maintains his humbleness and
deep humility for mankind.
He Is married to the former
Shirley Lee of Cleveland, Ohio,
who Is a school psychologist
and they are the proud parents
of one child, Jacorl Estelle.
Dr. Franklin shared the pride
he and his family felt with this
appointment as well as plans of
Improved academic excellence
and community Involvement.
The evening ended with spe
cial guest musicians, Duncan
Gray, ban director, Johnson C.
Smith University; and Joseph
Jones, tenor, accompanied by
Ms. Lonnie Miller.