Matkins’future at USC/IB
Wife torches Baptist leader’s home/1 OA
Ford has
better idea
with its
peppy
Contour/14B
Cljarlotte
http://www.thepost.mindspring.com
THE VOICE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY
THE WEEK OF JULY 10, 1997
VOLUME 22 NO. 43
75 CENTS
ALSO SERVING CABARRUS, CHESTER, ROWAN AND YORK COUNTIES
Council Democrats ‘on ropes’
Scarborough’s absence may hurt
By John Minter
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Ella Scarborough’s surprise
announcement that she will not
run for another term on
Charlotte City Council has
thrown local politicos into tur
moil.
Scarborough’s decision to end a
10-year council stint has implica
tions far beyond her own future.
In 1995, the Democrats won a
tenuous 6-5 majority on the 11-
member council. Mayor Pat
McCrory, who can veto votes of
less than 7-4, is a Republican.
Losing Scarborough could make
it difficult for the Democrats to
keep their majority.
“The Democrats are on the
ropes,” said Mecklenburg
Elections Supervisor Bill Culp.
Without a strong African
American at-large candidate on
the ballot, black voter turnout
could drop since black district
races are usually settled in the
primary. That in turn could hurt
white Democratic at-large council
candidates. 'The massive school
bond issue and possible contested
school board district races could
attract some enthusiasm - and
substantial voting - among
blacks, according to Culp. But
Democrats will have to work
hard to overcome the odds.
“Some Republicans could excite
black voters to fight against
them,” Culp said.
The Democrats aren’t helped by
the lack of a strong mayoral can
didate. Several names have been
mentioned,inlcuding council
Mecklenburg commissioner
Lloyd Scher, but no one has con
firmed a candidacy.
Scarborough said she has
served on city council long
enough.
“I’ve always believed in term
limits,” Scarborough after her
announcement at the Board of
Elections Hiesday. “People ought
to serve a certain amount of time
and then give it up and let fresh
new energy come in.
“I set a goal in 1987 to serve 10
See SCARBOROUGH on page 3A
PHOTO/PAUL WILLIAMS II
Charlotte city council member Ella Scarborough hugs a supporter
Tuesday after announcing she won’t run for another term - or any
other office.
NAACP,
Caucus
join forces
By Dennis Patterson
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
RALEIGH - In most respects,
the news conference at the
Legislatiire was like dozens of
others held each session - sup
porters of one issue or another
holding forth for an hour about
the merits of their cause.
But the NAACFs news confer
ence last week was different
because it marked the return of
an organization that had all but
disappeared from legislative
debate for more than a decade.
“We should have been here dur
ing the Martin and Reagan
administrations, but we weren’t,”
said Skip Alston of Greensboro,
the new president of the NAACP
State Conference of Branches.
“There has been fnction in the
past with the Legislative Black
Caucus, but we want to mend
those fences and work to help
them,” he said. r
At the news conference, Alston
introduced several members of
the legislative caucus who talked
about issues they have argued in
the budget - money for historical
ly black colleges, black economic
developihent programs and wel
fare reform.
Sen. Bill Martin, D-Guilford,
chairman of the legislative cau
cus, called the news conference “a
momentous occasion,” not so
much for its subject matter as for
the fact that it happened at alt.
“I think it marks a renewal of
the organization,” Martin said
later. “You have new leadership
and a new approach that I think
will be beneficial for the organiza
tion and the people it represents.”
Nowhere was the friction
between the civil rights organiza
tion and the legislative more
apparent than in 1991 when law
makers considered congressional
redistricting.
Many members of the caucus
endorsed a redistricting plan that
created only one district, in the
northeast, that favored a minori
ty candidate.
'Their philosophy was that it
See NAACP on page 3A
AP PHOTO/MIKE FISHER
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan makes a point during an address to the International
Islamic Conference Sunday. He was named an iman, or teacher, and the NOI embraced by the
world Muslim community.
Muslims embrace NOI
By John Minter
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Louis Farrakhan and the
Nation of Islam are no longer
outcasts among the world’s
Muslims.
Farrakhan, the NOI’s contro
versial leader, was bestowed
the title of imam at an interna
tional Islamic conference in
Chicago attended by more
than 4,000. The conference,
titled “Islam in the 21st
Century,” was aimed at unify
ing mushm economically and
politically in the next century.
Robert Muhammad,
Charlotte’s Nation of Islam
leader, attended the confer
ence. Farrakhan’s honor, he
said, legitimizes the NOI
among the world’s Muslims.
“The most profound observa
tion was Muslim leaders in
this conference have recog
nized Minister Farrakhan as a
preiminent Muslim leader in
the world,” Muhammad said.
See MUSLIMS on page 2A
Choir will
stay at WC
By John Minter
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Wanted: gospel choir director. West Charlotte High School.
New West Charlotte principal Tbny Chne said there will be a gospel
choir at the school next year, though he has not found a replacement
for former director Amie Epps.
Epps, assistant choir director at St. Luke Baptist
Church, organized the choir shortly after arriving at
West Charlotte with now-ousted principal Kenneth
Simmons in 1996.
Simmons, a 'Vast Charlotte graduate, was
removed from' the" position by Supt. Eric Smith in
Jime following a year long dispute with white facul
ty members and parents over his efforts to boost the
achievement of black students.
Epps has left his position as dean of students at the
school to take a job with a television station in
Cline
Atlanta. He said last week he was told there would be no choir next
year.
The West Charlotte Gospel Choir has srmg at area churches and
events and last year traveled to Washington, D.C. for an appearance at
the Kennedy Center.
A Post article about the possibility of no gospel choir sparked so much
interest Cline went on the WPEG “Breakfast Brothas” morning show
twice to respond to community concerns.
See WEST CHARLOTTE on page 6A
Multiracial census
debate picks up
steam on both sides
By Robin Leary
PHILADELPHIA TRIBUNE
When 'Tiger Woods said he pre
ferred to call himself a
“Cablinasian,” instead of solely an
Afncan American or Asian, he
became the poster child for the
problem confronting the Census
Bureau in the year 2000 whether
to add a “multiracial” category to
its census forms.
Woods made up the
“Cablinasian” term to describe his
Caucasian, black. Native
American, and Asian heritage.
And while Congress and the
Census Bureau are not consider
ing using this classification, they
are trying to determine whether a
new category would do more
harm than good.
Many civil rights organizations
argue that such a multiracial cat
egory could have a negative effect
on all people of color by decreas
ing their group numbers and
diluting the benefits and protec
tions they receive as a result of
the enforcement of civil rights
laws. 'These groups are also con-
See RACE on page 3A
Joyner visit stirs excitement
By Winfred B. Cross
THE CHARLOTTE POST
PHOTOWBAV
Nationally-syndicated radio host Tom Joyner (right) and Janine
Davis will be in Charlotte for a weekend full of events.
'Ibm Joyner, the self-proclaimed “hardest working
man in radio,” brings his five-member morning
crew to the Charlotte Convention Center Friday.
Joyner, heard locally on WBAV 101.9 FM on his
nationally syndicated “The 'Ibm Joyner Morning
Show,” will broadcast live from 6-10 a.m. Sidekicks
Sybil Wilkes, J. Anthony Brown and Myra J. will be
on hand as well.
“We are very excited Tbrn and his crew are com
ing to Charlotte,” said Janine Davis, WBAVs pro
ducer of the show. “This will be the first live broad
cast in Charlotte. Listeners have been asking for it
and we’re glad to finally give them what they want
- 'Ibm Joyner live, up close and in person.”
'The event is free but participants must have a
ticket to enter the convention center. 'Tickets are
available through on-air giveaways or at V-Stops.
The final V-Stop is 5-6 p.m. today at One Stop Auto
Shop, 4417 N. 'Tryon St. Registration is during the
first 30 minutes, then tickets will be given away to
winners every 5 or 10 minutes.
No one will be admitted without a ticket.
Joyner’s visit is a weekend full of events. A listen
ers appreciation party will be held 9 p.m. to mid
night at Stayin’ Alive, 431 E. 'IVade St., $10 in
advance.
See TOM on page 2A
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