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TO w. 2A NEWS/The Charlotte Post Thursday, April 10,1997 Collective work for same goal Mature people take on the responsibility MELODYE MICERE STEWART In the spirit of Ma’at The work of Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility - is the work of a mature people, doggedly seeking equality at the turn of the millennium. The work of building and maintaining our community together, making our sisters and brothers prob lems, our problems and solv ing them together, has become a most arduous task. Or, as influential organizer and activist, T. Thomas Fortune has said, “We have taken on no child’s play...” When it came to the spirit of collective work and responsi bility, there was a time when the most talented and gifted of our people thought about nothing else. That was the time of abolitionists, under ground railroads, anti-lynch- ing campaigns and normal schools. Those times produced the intellectualism of the Harlem Renaissance, the music and poetry of jazz, the ’ steadfast determination of the Civil Rights Era and the defi ance of the Black Power Movement. The unintended result was a tragic misinter pretation of Integration: aban don your own and join with others (who do not want to join with you). The impact of this historical misstep has been felt across black America. Where we once knew and understood the lessons of our history, we've forgotten. Where we once had .a clear understanding of who the enemy really is and how we must stay connected to each other for complete libera tion, we’ve lost it. Where we once owned and supported businesses within our commu nities, we’ve abandoned them. Today, most black communi ties now depend upon out siders to service our most basic needs, from groceries to shoe repair, from dry cleaning and laundry services to the education of our children. We desperately need to oper ationalize the concept of Ujamaa, Cooperative Economics: “To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.” Karenga’s words are not new. In her “Last Will and Testament,” Mary McLeod Bethune wrote, "As long as [African Americans] are hemmed into racial blocs by prejudice and pressure, it will be necessary for them to band together for economic betterment.” For a people who generate over $400 billion dol lars a year, we ought to be doing better. So why aren’t we? The obvious answer seems to be the most overlooked. Until we make a conscious decision, individually and collectively, to learn, understand and internalize the lessons of our history, we will continue to repeat the mistakes, add on new ones and, ultimately, change nothing. Our priorities and the way we spend our money are clear indicators of the problem. For example, did you know that the “blaxploitation” film, "Booty Call," made over $17 million, while the historically accurate (and relevant) movie “Rosewood,” just barely made $2 million? Think about it. Review board called for Continued from page 1A review by the Public Safety Committee, would make Charlotte the first N.C. city and one of about 70 U.S. cities with independent review panels. The General Assembly would have to approve any board. A change in the proposal called the “Cannon Amendment” would allow the board to make its recommenda tion to the city manager, who would have the authority to dis cipline or fire officers. Under current law, the chief of police can recommend officers be fired, but the Civil Service Board most vote to confirm termination. That addition. Cannon believes, could help win support among critics who fear any board’s deci sions could be colored by poli tics. “Now that I have something tangible, the overall support is going to be different before hand,” he said. Calls for an independent panel first surfaced three years ago when Windy Gail Thompson, an unarmed black motorist, was shot and kiUed by Officer Mark Farmer during a stop for sus pected drunk driving. Those demands were renewed last year when another unarmed African American, James WiUie Cooper was shot and killed by white Officer Michael Marlow. Business execs speak up Continued from page 1A ty believes is important to our future — from quality streets to quality social services to quality cultural development.” A date for the forum will be announcec^ soon. The Urban League effort will be coordinated by Joe Martin, corporate affairs officer at NationsBank; Henry Doss, senior vice president for marketing at First Union; Peter Keber, senior vice presid,ent at NationsBank and a former Mecklenburg Commissioner, and Madine Fails, president of the Urban League. Under Cannon’s proposal, the board would investigate com plaints ranging from the use of deadly force to verbal and physi cal harassment. Don Reid, chairman of the Public Service Committee, has said he’d con sider a board that only reviewed incidents of deadly force. Acknowledging that the majority of Charlotte- Mecklenburg officers are profes sionals, Cannon said a citizens panel would be the best way to ensure police are held responsi ble for their actions. “Officers who are doing a good job need not be watching over their shoulder,” he said. “If 99 percent of officers are doing their job, what this would do is work to correct the behavior of that 1 percent.” City council has turned away attempts at a review panel before. Mayor Pat McCrory said after the Cooper shooting that the city has enough boards to investigate police and another panel would be a waste of money and time. In addition to police clearing Marlow in the Cooper shooting,^ District Attorney Peter Gilchrist also said Marlow acted properly. A U.S. Justice Department inves tigation into possible civil rights violations is pending. “I’ve always stated that we do have a review board right now,” McCrory said in December. “The city council has reviewed previous cases in addition to our community relations depart ment. Maybe the question should be ‘Is there a need for another review board or another investigation.’ At this point, I haven’t seen the rationale for five investigations versus four.” To Advertise In tKIje Cfjarlotte Newspaper Call (704)376-0496 Ask For Stephen Days O KINGSPARK Clean, safe, quiet community conveniently located on bus line. Affordable 2 bedroom garden and townhouses. Refrigerator, range, AC and water included in rent- Helpful resident manager and maintenance staff. Call 333-2966 M-F 9:30-6:00 Fund gets a record donation Money for scholarships - Continued from page 1A “In the donors’ eyes, this gift makes an important connection between the life- altering work of the schol arship fund and the donors’ sense of gratitude for the educational opportunities made available by their lov ing parents,” said Velva Woollen, chair of the CHA Board of Commissioners. “The gift is a perpetual way to honor them.” )3 Family is Forever r We Have Everything You Need for your Family Reunion ! Invitations • Napkins Plates • Decorations PAPERTOWN 4420 Monroe Rd. • 342-5815 ACCIDENTS/E\JIMES 25 % legal fee if claim is settled before initiating legal action Automobile Accidents Slip & FaU Injuries Construction Site Accidents Lead Paint Poisoning Medical Malpractice Hospital Malpractice Product Liability Motorcycle Accidents All Serious Injury And Death Cases LAW OFFICES OF HERBERT W. 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The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 10, 1997, edition 1
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