WPEG Shouldn't 'Lie Like A Man'
In a recent edition of The Post, a reader declared his dis
gust over WPEG radio's new game, "Lie Like a Man." I would
like to join in his concern and invite others to air theirs.
This game Is a disservice to the African American commu
nity. WPEG has eliminated the morning talk-back ques
tions and responses, closing off what was a large composi
tion of Charlotte and surrounding areas African American
floor for discussion, and replaced it with this mockery.
WPEG talk-back provoked conversation and thought. It got
people talking about topics that needed to be discussed and
sometimes brought out of the closet.
I was upset when I came to the realization that talk-back
was no longer a part of the morning WPEG regimen that I
had become so accustomed to. But more upsetting than that
is the fact that thought was replaced with games like "Lie
Like a Man."
I am a proud African (only American by birth) woman. I
have witnessed and experienced the plight of not only my
self but of my brothers and sisters. I've studied the predica
ment of my brothers. And surveying these conditions gave
me a wrought feeling in my stomach, as I am sure is suffered
by more people than myself. That feelmg is heightened
when I listen to a game like "Lie Like a Man," making folly
of the African male (as most of the participants of the game,
I Imagine).
I resize that folly Is a part of what makes Interesting and
successful radio programs. But let's not do it at the expense
of our community and the Integrity of our brothers. A broth
er has had to deal, practlcaUy all of his life, with people tell
ing him that he was second class, less than a man and before
your time and mine, that he had no rights to any woman or
his own flesh and blood ... a slave.
Our situation will not change If we make light of it. We, as
Africans don't have a minute, woman, child or man to waste
to senselessness or frivolity.
ANETHAM. GAMBLE
Charlotte
Problems Only Matter For Blacks
Congratulations to The Charlotte Post for 115 years of
addressing the needs of our African American Communi
ty. In addressing the needs of our community, again I hope
The Post's readership Is ever-increasing.
Let's again ask ourselves as we read in The Post, "Does It
Matter If You're Black or White"? It matters only if you are
black. Too many times "They" claim and like to say that
today's crisis is an issue that affects black and white Is
sues. To us that know, this claim Is only to make "Us"
think that "They" really care. We appreciate the fact that
Carolyn Mints and Steve Crump were in front of the came
ras at last Thursday's community forum, we even appre
ciate the forum. We appreciate Carolyn and Steve.
Does WBTV or The Powers That Be really want to hear
what the real problem is? No! A brother had an opportuni
ty to speak but when he spoke the truth of what has hap
pened, he was abruptly cut off. The white community does
not want to hear that they and their ancestors stole and
continue to steal our culture and heritage. It leaves our
people and our youth lost. It is very difficult to teach our
people where to go and how to get there if they don't realize
where they have been.
African Americans need to realize the need to be atten
tive to these types of forums, they are only there to in
crease their own ratings and to project false concerns. We
as .^rlcan American adults should empower ourselves
and in turn empower our children, families and communi
ties to take charge of what goes in our lives. We need to re
educate ourselves, our children and our families, friends
and church members to turn back to our past of pride and
loyalties to concerns of unity of African America. We
should practice love for each other, traits that were beaten
out of us during slavery. These things we should do for the
sake of leaving something to our children and grandchil
dren.
And with Mr. Hugh McColl in the The Post saying the
very same thmg that all advocates of the African Ameri
can community are saying, it Is time for things to change.
Please read the article and hear what he is saying, use our
diversity to become prosperous. If you haven't heard what
many of us have been attempting to get across to you, hear,
please hear what the CEO of NationsBank is saying to you.
It is time for us, African Americans, to start having power
over our dollars, to broaden economic opportunities for
African Americans to see that our diversity comes to an
end.
SYLVIA GRIER
Charlotte
Don't Reverse 10 Pecent Rule
I read with interest and alarm the recent Charlotte Ob
server article quoting three Charlotte-Mecklenburg school
board members (Sharon Bynum, John Lassiter and Susan
Burgess) about the issue of relaxing the 10 percent rule In
setting up new public schools.
This rule states that no new school will be located In any
part of the county that has fewer than 10 percent minority
population. There is a bond issue on the November ballot
requestmg $192 million for new and renovated facilities.
A map has been circulated which shows that two of the
proposed new elementary schools would not meet this rule.
They are both In southeast Charlotte.
As a member and representative of the Black Political
Caucus, we would strongly object to any reneging on this
pledge to the minority community which was made when
the magnet school concept was thrust upon us. Moreover,
as a parent of a young school-age child in the central city, I
personally object to setting up another situation where our
so-called "limer city" children are forced to take longer
and longer bus rides to keep Integration alive.
If you are going to keep creating schools where the growth
is taking place, l.e. the southeast, let some "Irmer city"
schools stay "black" as a tradeoff - something (school
board member) Arthur Griffin called for a few months
back. Mr. Griffin more recently called for a look at placing
more affordable housing in these growth areas so we
wouldn't have to bus central city kids way out there. EJven
though housing is a city/county function, if the school
board took a position, it could greatly Influence their deci
sion-making.
I urge the board to publicly vote once again to support the
10 percent rule and to publicly review the various options
put forth by board member Griffin.
SHERRY SUTTLES BIARSH
Baseball Players Do Often
Serve As Positive Influences
Not long ago In a New York
Times "Forum" article, tele
vision newsman Dan Rea re
flected:
"I learned sociology in a
shoe box. Baseball cards
taught me how to read, do
math, learn geography and
understand life. Baseball
games on back porch radio at
night with those old cards
would lead me through the
lives of players, time and
again showing me that noth
ing—in life or in baseball—is
accomplished without hard
work, and sometimes, great
disappointment."
For decades the game of
baseball has taught many
American children the value
of teamwork, sportsman
ship, dedication and hard
work. Today, as millions of
young people face a rising
tide of poverty, violence and
neglect, this all-American
pastime has endured, provid
ing some youth a field of
dreams and ticket to success.
For others, too little oppor
tunity has left them unable
to comprehend the hidden
values of the game. Despite
the number of black baseball
stars, a black boy has less
than a one in 10,000 chance
of becoming a major league
baseball player, and a one in
four chance of dropping out
of school.
In reaction to the changing
times and needs of youth,
some baseball players have
taken a welcome and more
Interactive approach to guid
ing and helping our nation's
youth. According to Donald
Fehr, Executive Director of
the Major League Baseball
Players Association,
"Assisting children in need
Thursday, September 2,1993 - THE CHARLOTTE POST - PageSA
WHArS ON YOUR
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has always been a primary
objective of the Major League
Baseball Players Associa
tion." Whether fundraising
and participation In pro
grams for the Make A Wish
Foundation or volunteering
in literacy projects, the
members of the Major League
Baseball Players Associa
tion are giving their time
and money to ensure that
more of America's kids get
the message. The message
that with hare work, disci
pline and hope anything is
possible.
This past July the Office of
the Commissioner of Major
League Baseball and the
Players Association joined
together with the Children's
Defense Fund in an effort to
ensure that no child be left
behind. As part of the kick
off to this year's All-Star
game, the players of the Na
tional and American leagues
held an auction from which
proceeds were donated to the
Children's Defense Fund.
The traditional rivals
crossed a time-honored di
viding line in a united effort
that will benefit children.
Don Fehr said, "We know
that the monies raised from
the All-Star Auction will go
to help those children who
need it most and we hope that
this All-Star Auction marks
the first of many future
events between our two or
ganizations." By donating
authentic All-Star jerseys,
baseball gloves, hats and
other All-Star paraphernal
ia these major leagues raised
$200,000 for children.
Baseball's image has suf
fered significantly in recent
years from charges of ra
cism, which they must work
hard to overcome In concrete
and sustained ways. The
Players Association and
Commissioner's office ini
tiative to create opportuni
ties for children today need
more than baseball cards
and games to prepare them
for living on today's America
and world. Baseball's part
nership with us on laehalf of
disadvantaged children Is an
Important and welcome out
reach to our youth.
You don't need to have a
major league batting record
or season baseball tickets to
create a positive Influence In
a child's life. You need to un
derstand that all children
are our children and that you
can make a difference In the
life of a child by simply
reaching out and showing
that you care. Let's return to
using the simple things in
life to teach our children
"How to read, do math, learn
geography and understand
life" and to teach them that
"nothmg—In life or In base
ball—Is accomplished with
out hard work, and some-
tlmes, great
disappointment."
Can AMcan American
Blood Cure Malaria?
Tony
BroYvni
At last, researchers found
something good to say about
the blood of Afrlcans--in
this case the blood of a hy
brid group that I call Americ-
anlzed-Africans.
This group of Americans
has more prostrate cancer,
more heart disease, more
AIDS, more—you name it—
than Americans of European
or Asian decent.
But last week the Laborato
ry of Malaria Research at the
National Institutes of Health
(NIH), a government agency,
reported a link between
blood characteristics of
black Americans and their
ability to resist malaria.
Researchers have known
for decades that Africans
and people of African de
scent over time have grown
resistant to malaria, a lead
ing cause of death on that
continent.
Africans are dying like
flies from not being treated
for malaria and the cases are
being reported as AIDS. And
Instead of the funds going to
flght malaria, it goes to buy
condoms for "AIDS educa
tion," many scientists and
journalists believe.
That's one reason this dis
covery is so welcome. 'This
latest research opens up the
possibility of a way to block
one of the two major types of
malaria," said Louis Miller
of NIH.
Almost all West Africans
and perhaps 70 percent of Af
rican-Americans are resist
ant to the vlvax strain of ma
laria, which mainly afflicts
people in South America and
Asia.
The disease is spread when
mosquitoes Inject the malar
ia parasite Into the human
bloodstream.
The parasite travels to the
liver, where it replicates Itself
over and over, and then re
turns to the bloodstream to
destroy red blood cells and
cause fever and anemia.
Now that the scientific
world is focused on malaria,
we should focus attention also
on 40 million Africans who
will die by year 2000 from
malaria that is called AIDS.
Call 1-800-955-7667 for in
formation on how you can
start your own business for
under $100 distributing hl-
tech products as a part of The
Buy Freedom Network.
Tony Brown's Journal TV
series can be seen on your lo
cal public television station,
(PBS).
Could Color Affect A Jury ?
By James Strong
SPECIAL TO THE POST
Sometimes a question Is
more potent than a state
ment. Like a magic box,
thoughts can suddenly pop
out of it that a statement
could hardly Inspire.
Consider, for example, the
trials of three white former
Detroit police officers ac
cused of murder In the death
of Malice Green. Green was a
34-year old black unem
ployed steel worker who was
savagely beaten on the head
and face with heavy, metal
flashlights.
Separate juries recently
convicted two of the former
officers, Larry Nevers and
Walter Budzjm, of second-
degree murder in the case.
The third officer, Robert
Lessnau, was found not
guilty by Detroit Records
Court Judge George Crockett
III of a charge of assault with
Intent to cause bodily harm.
Detroit is 75 percent black,
with a black mayor, black
police chief and majority
black police force. So the at
mosphere surrounding the
case was hot and humid with
the threat of a riot if the for
mer officers were found not
guilty.
Fortunately, the Nevers
jury consisted of 10 blacks
and 2 whites, and the Bud-
zyn jury 11 blacks and 1
white. I say fortunately be
cause If the trial had been
moved to suburban Detroit,
where more than likely a
majority white jury would
have heard the case, the two
:may not have been convicted
at all or else convicted of a
lesser charge.
I say this sadly because a
courtroom is supposed to be
a flower of justice. But in
America, if a trial Involves
black defendants or black
plaintiffs against white de-
Museum Visit
Was Inspiring
By Paula Newsome
SPECIAL TO THE POST
A few weeks ago, I had an
opportunity to visit the new
Civil Rights Museum in
Birmingham. The experience
was rich and powerful. While
I grew up in the '60s, I had no
idea of the scope of what was
happening In the world dur
ing my child
hood and
certainly
had no ap
preciation of
the trials
and tribula
tions that
our ances
tors went
through. As
my grand
mother used
Newsome
fendants or white plaintiffs,
the courtroom generally be
comes a fungus of Injustice.
The Budzyn trial high
lighted this fact. When
Crockett polled the jury,
only Karl Keeler, the sole
white juror, hesitated to
convict on the second-degree
murder charge, think what
would have happened If the
case were tried before a ma
jority white jury.
The trials, then, mirror
America itself. On the one
hand, you have a white
America quick to find
blacks guilty: on the other
hand, you have a black
America slow to find blacks
guilty.
The former sees guilt be
fore Innocence: the latter
sees Innocence before guilt.
And from that distinction,
the essential question pops
up: Is a majority black jury
more just and fair than a
majority white jury?
to say, we are always stand
ing on the shoulders of those
who have gone before us.
Alan Paton is quoted in the
museum as saying, "To give
us the task of reforming soci
ety is to give up one's respon
sibility as a free man." Truly,
Mr. Paton did speak for most
off the ancestors whose pic
tures line the walls and
whose faces are carved in the
exhibits at the museum for
the feelings of being In a
place where there were some
strong spiritual vibrations
was unquestionable. To un
derstand what I mean, pic
ture, If you will. Bull Con
nors standing in front of the
police force in Birmingham
and making the decision to
turn on the water hoses on
people who were doing little
more than asking for a few
basic rights. Basic rights
like the opportunity to earn
a decent wage. At that time
Birmingham wages were the
lowest in the country. Basic
rights like releasing the
large number of black men
who were Incarcerated be
cause prison labor was even
cheaper than regular labor,
and basic rights like want
ing a committee to work out
plans for the eventual deseg
regation of schools.
To look at the 16th Avenue
Baptist Church where four
young girls were killed by a
bomb that was thrown mto
the largest and oldest black
church at that time In Birm
ingham and then see the vis
ual that followed was chill
ing. Just looking at those
sights conjured up emotions
of hurt, pain, fear, anger, dis
trust, and eventually peace.
Coming to that place of peace
was the hardest emotion on
me because when you look at
the original jail door that
Martin L. King wrote his let
ter from Birmingham jail or
when you see African men
who were hanged because
they committed the crime of
looking a white female In
the eye. it is difficult not to
be angry of even want re
venge.
I believe I was prepared for
these sights because like
grandmom says, when you
carry aroui d a lot of nega
tive baggage, it makes you
negative and does more
harm to you than to the per
petrator of the crime.
I finally understood what
her wise words were refer
ring to because negative bag
gage certainly can take you
down a path of negativity,
skepticism, cynicism and
just plain grouchhood. The
wonderful thing about life is
that you get out exactly what
you put in. The ancestors
who fought, struggled, chal
lenged, questioned, and de
manded that people of Afri
can descent be treated as
human beings with the same
Inalienable rights as other
tax payers In this countiy
were on track and should
serve as models for us.