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NBA playoffs reach
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Tracker
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The Voice of the Black Community
Oe Charlotte Bost
1
VOLUME 21 NO. 34
MAY 16, 1996
New political direction?
Black Caucus to pick new chair
By John Minter
THE CHARLOTTE POST
The schism in the African
American community between
Democrats and Republicans
will be highlighted Sunday
when the Black Political
Caucus picks a new chairman.
Current caucus chair Anna
Hood, who replaced long-time
chair Bob Davis two years
ago, is stepping down, leaving
the position open.
Hood appointed Darryl
Broome, a Republican, to head
this year’s nominating com
mittee and Broome has
included several Republicans
on the committee’s slate,
including the Rev. Jewett
Walker, a fellow Republican
who wants to chair the cau-
Broome said Troy Watson,
another Republican and presi
dent of Charlotte Metro
Minority Chamber, will be
among the nominees for sec
ond vice-president.
But, with several prominent
Democrats threatening to
break away from the Black
Caucus to form another more
friendly to Democratic candi
dates, Davis announced at the
Tuesday Morning Breakfast
Club that he’s again seeking
the chairmanship.
Davis said he has heard that
“some Democrats planned to
form a new caucus.”
“They were concerned that
the Republicans are trying to
See CAUCUS on page 2A
Class of 1996
ready to step
into future
By Tammie Tolbert
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Benita Dillard is leaving the safe and familiar sur
roundings of college to venture out into the real
working world.
“I know that it is going to be a struggle, but I was
very active in school and I have prepared myself for
the challenges that I face ahead,” said Dillard, a 21-
year-old Johnson C. Smith University graduate.
Dillard said that she started sending copies of her
resume out early and that she has already been
interviewed for a job in her area of study.
“I majored in English because I knew I could use
See GRADUATES on page 2A
PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON 0
Benita Dillard (center) graduated from Johnson C. Smith University
Saturday.
Charlotte will
stand for U.S.
children
By John Minter
THE CHARLOTTE POST
The planned Charlotte contingent to
the June 1 Stand of Children at the
Lincoln Memorial in Washington is
growing, with more than a dozen local
organizations and groups participat
ing.
As many as 500 people from
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
will make the trip to Washington,
including five buses and dozens of
cars and vans, said Diane Wright of
the United Way of the Central
Carolinas.
According to Theresa Williams
Bethea, president and founder of
Class Project 2000, “Participation in
the National Day of Committment for
our children will give us an opportuni
ty to celebrate children and those who
struggle every day to raise them well.”
“By standing togeher, we can show
our commitment to making children
Stand For Children
will gather support
for America’s
young people
June 1,1996
Lincoln Memorial
Washington, DC
first in our local communities and
nation,” Bethea said.
Class Project 2000, a community-
based mentoring program for African
American adolescent females, is shar
ing a bus, which is already filled with
Grier Heights community, Bethea
said.
“They are bringing a lot of youth,”
she said. “We wanted to make sure we
brought a lot of youth with us to expe
rience the excitement of the day and
what it is all about.
“A lot of people are calling, wanting
to be involved,” Bethea said.
Class Project 2000 is one of the
groups coordinating plans to take a
busloads of students, parents and
child advocates to the demonstration,
sponsored by the Children’s Defense
Fund.
Other organizations joined in the
Charlotte Children’s Action Team are
the United Way of Central Carolinas,
Cities in Schools, Youth Homes, Inc.,
A Child’s Place, Hornets Nest Girl
See STANDING on page 2A
75 CENTS
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drive wherever they like,
or a source Reid^nce argue idm tkfjr are
Anchor Samantha
Thompson leaves
WSOC-TV news
By John Minter
THE CHARLO'TTE POST
Weekend anchor and
reporter Samantha Thompson
has resigned from WSOC-TV
news, according to a memo
sent to station employees
Wednesday.
The memo said Thompson
resigned to “pursue other
career interests,” but followed
a dispute with her bosses over
story assignments, one station
source said. -
“Nobody knows what’s going
on,” the source said.
Thompson, who is married
to attorney Charles Holland,
is a Johnson C. Smith
University graduate. She
worked for a time at WPEG
radio as news reporter before
moving to WSOC.
She joined WSOC’s news
team about five years ago,
according to news director
Mike Kronley.
Kronley wouldn’t discuss the
reasons for Thompson’s depar-
THOMPSON
ture because “it’s a person
nel issue,” he said.
He said the resignation
was effective immediately.
Sources said the resigna
tion followed a one-day
suspension last week, after
Thompson missed a morn
ing news meeting. That fol
lowed a dispute over an
assignment Thompson
refused, sources said.
“She was asked to do
something,” one source
said. “She didn’t think it
See THOMPSON on page 2A
EDITORIALS 4A-5A
STRICTLY BUSINESS 7A
LIFESTYLES 9A
RELIGION llA WHAT’S UP 4B
HEALTHY BODY 15A REGIONAL NEWS 6B
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT IB SPORTS 8B
CLASSIFIED 13B
AUTO SHOWCASE 14B
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