Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / April 25, 1996, edition 1 / Page 2
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2A NEWS/ The Charlotte Post April 25,1996 Knowledge for our self empowerment MELODYE MICERE STEWART In the spirit of Ma’at “We have worked too long and too hard, made too many sacrifices, spent too much money, shed too much blood, lost too many lives fighting to vindicate our manhood as full participants in the American system, to allow our victories to be nullified by phony liber als, die-hard racists, discour aged and demoralized Negroes and power-seeking politi cians.” While this speech excerpt could have been uttered yes terday, Bishop Stephen G. Spottswood spoke these words in 1970 as board chairman of the NMCP. As we have seen various civil rights gains nul lified by sociopolitical and eco nomic policies, our lack of his torical knowledge has con tributed mightily to the prob lem. The toil and determination of our ancestors led to the cre ation of an educated black middle class, more opportuni ties in education, emplo3rment, the arts, etc. Yet if we com pare numbers, African Americans owned more busi nesses during the yesterdays of segregation than the todays of integration. Who told us to abandon our own businesses in pursuit of integration? Our mis-education. In 1933, Carter G. Woodson wrote, “The Negroes of today are unable to employ one another, and the whites are inclined to call on Negroes only when workers of their own race have been taken care of. For the solution of this problem the ‘mis-educated’ Negro has offered no remedy whatever.” Educated African Americans range the spectrum from architects to zoologists, yet it is our most “educated” blacks who are too often alienated (demoralized Negroes) from the masses of black people. African Americans generate $425 billion yearly, yet we have not been able to harness our considerable group eco nomic power to our collective community gain. Who told us to get a good education to get a good job (instead of getting a good education to create our own jobs)? Our mis-education. Again, the words of Woodson, “No systematic effort toward change has been possible, for, taught the same economics, history, philosophy, literature and religion which have estab lished the present code of morals, the Negro's mind has been brought under the con trol of his oppressor. The prob- lem of holding the Negro down, therefore, is easily solved.” With the dawn of a new mil- lenium, it's time to shake off Negrohood and learn the empowering lessons of African American history. Moving on up PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON Five residents of the Charlotte Housing Authority public housing communities recently graduated from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Urban League’s Employability Skills Training Program. Through CHA’s Section 3 program, students received training to prepare them for construction jobs as a part of the HOPE VI/URD Grant renovations to Earle Village. Shown are (left to right) Karyn K. Lindsey, CHA economic development coordinator; Donna E. Krider; Alfred Victor Riley III; Brenda Lindsay; Betty Guy; Evangeline A. Perry and Afdrey Y. Massey, Urban League placement special ist. Students bring international culture to JCSU CEL-TEK COMMUNICATIONS Everyone Qualifies Get A Cellular Phone With Your Oum 800 Number • Cellular Phones NO Credit Required • • Accessories The Air Monthly Bills • • No Additional Charge for Long Distance Calls • Please Call for Details • Ask For Orlando or Kenny 3205 Freedom MaU Suite 14 • (Bus) 704/394-3366 • M-S: 10-9 • Sun.:l-6 Professional African Hair Designer and Stylist from New York Is Now In Your Town BOX BRAIDS • CORN ROWS GODDESS BRAIDS SENEGALESE TWIST • FLAT TWIST • INVISIBLE BRAIDS • MICRO BRAIDS SPAGHETTI BRAIDS CORKSCREW • WEAVE INTERLOCK • BOFRUTO, SILKY DREAD and more. iii Continued from 1A students to new ways of look ing at the world. “This is a learning experi ence for me,” junior Tracy Parker said. “I enjoy having the Russian students here. They’re nice and friendly, and being at a school that’s pre dominantly black, it gives us a sense of diversity.” Shimizu is on the university choir, where she has had the opportunity to travel and appear on a magazine cover. “Having Fumika in the choir is great,” said junior Crystal Little, a junior. “She is a great addition to us and we’ll miss her when she leaves.” For Alexei Denisov, Smith impresses him as a close-knit community. “I like it here, the way the the students live,” he said. “In Russia, many students do not live on campus,” says Denisov’s classmate, Nikolai Tsatsyne. “They live at home. They rather commute. The university (Mgimo) is an hour away from their houses. It’s very comfortable here. I like that students live on campus.” As one would expect, there are major differences in cul tures. Eugene Zhelobanov says Americans have to live with a lot of rules that he hasn’t been able to figure out. “There are too many restric tions in America compare to Russia,” he said. “You are not allowed to smoke in your room, you have to be 21 to enter a club or buy a drink.” The students at Smith are generally nice, although none of the visitors have made close friends. “They do not like to get close. They will wave and say hello, but that is about it.” says Shimizu. Food plays a big part in the foreign students’ experience. They love American super markets because of the variety of choices. “They are so many makers of one brand and that’s interesting.” says Zhelobanov. Mgimo’s cafeterias compare favorably to Smith’s, although Appliance & Furniture 3 Piece Living Room SetT RLP 195 RIXOMMTIOM D APFU AN( I’S i95 ^FREEDEUVERY^ } WITH THIS AD | I IN CHARLOTTE I ! AREA ONLYl \ Ftdl 90 Day Warranty, We Carry New Appliances, Financing Available! 3815 Wilkinson Blvd. • 394-5115 it doesn’t stay open long enough. “When you eat din ner at 6 p.m. you are gener- allly hungry later,” Denisov said. “Our cafeteria stays open until 10 p.m. in Russia.” But the food is good, espe cially those Southern delica cies. “I love grits” says Shimizu. Learning about America and Americans has been a good experience, Zhelobanov said. He encourages Americans to become more worldly and visit other coun tries. “You must visit Russia, how great it is,” he said. “Many students here have not visited other countries and do not know about them.” Everyone is taking a piece of the U.S.A. back home when the semester finishes, Shimizu loves shoes and will take some back to Japan. Zhelobanov will take back a pair of western boots for his nephews, as well as a carton of cigarettes. Specializing In Any Kind Of Braiding, Weaving, Interlock And Any Kind of Short Hair TIRED OF BILI. COLLF.CTORS HARASSING YX)U? Now You Can Know The Laws That Protect You From Repeated Calls From Bill Collectors For A Complete Information Booklet, r Send $10.00 to: CLAUDETTE MILNER INC. 744-F N. Wendover Charlotte, NC 28211 Satisfaction Guaranteed Or Your Money Back. Enclose 60t Sales Tax And $ 1.00 For Shipping And Handling ^ DREAMS FOR SALE. If you’ve always had the dream of awning your own home, your dream may have just come true. For as little as you're paying in monthly rent and a modest down payment, you could buy a HUD Home. That’s right. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development THE DREAM OF OWNING YOUR OWN HOME C?AN COME TRUE FOR ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE PAYING IN RENT. (HUD) has programs that make owning a home easier than you think. Programs that will even help you cover most if not all of your closing costs. If you’d like more information about the home you’ve always dreamed of, contact your real estate agent. Or, for a free brochure on how to buy a HUD home, call 1-BOO-7B7-4HUD. There’s never been a better time to follow your dream, because now you can afford it. WE’LL HELP You OWN A PIECE OF America To qualified buyers, only on homes with FHA-insured financing. Closing costs and fees additional.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 25, 1996, edition 1
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