Newspapers / The Charlotte post. / Dec. 28, 2006, edition 1 / Page 5
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5A OPINIONS/Charlotte $06t Thursday, December 28, 2006 Best to ‘watch them dogs’ at agenda summit Watch Them Dogs” is the title of a profound seimon that I heard over a decade ago where the pastor made a bril- traits of church members and behavior among different breeds of dogs-a sermon ■iVi [i - 'X.. ■ replete with spiritual insight and hilarious comedy Equally relevant, the preacher had no spe cific recomm^dations for his congregation, but simply asked them to ‘Watch Them GyaSI Dogs” dosely to discern their predictable FOLUKE of behavior. Clearly this pastoral wisdom may be applied to the primary promoter and one of the major speakers for this forthcoming leadership confer ence on January 5-6 at the Charlotte Convention Center— more specifically N.C. Senator Malcolm Graham and Mr. Juan Wiliams respectively As “Dr. Phil” of television fame often reminds us, “the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior” And the past behavior of both of these soul “brothers” (sic) is best described, in my opinion, as “seU outs” or traitors in relation to black community interests, Hke “kneegro” slave traders in Africa who collaborated with whites finm the 15th through the 19th century Senator Graham, for example, is alleged in certain ctrdes to have “sold out” black interests when he was on City Council, as the dty eliminated its Minority Business Program, with Graham “out fiont,” providing a black face or “cover” for our political aiemies to eliminate this already small, relatively tangential program. For undea* the old eliminated program, as well as the new Small Business Program, black businesses weie-are mar ginalized, receiving only about one percent of governmen tal contracts, although blacks are about 29 percent of oiur local popidation. Ironically and tragically, in contrast to these and other, very wide racial gaps locally black rmli- tary troops in Iraq are dying, as they were in Vietnam, at the rate of 22 percent-about double the death rate of the national black popxilation ratio of about 12.5 percent. Ehetorical question: Why is it so “easy” (sic) for blacks to get more than our “fair share” of dying-sxiffering in war, while receiving only a pittance of contracts and/or econom ic development-prosperity in this country? Apparently Mr. Juan Williams, with no known “ti-ack record” of active-substantive participation in our black lib eration stnggle, is the “darling” of white political conserv- atives-radsts, induding Fox television network where he works, as well as the local “conservative” John Locke Foundation and the apparently pseudo-hberal Levine Museum of the New South that recently featured him as a guest speaker. And THESE facts alone should tell us MUCH-all that we need to know—about Juan Williams Indeed, when our enemies ‘love” one of “us” and consis tently promotes him, ostensibly as a spokesperson for blacks, we should NOT be inviting such a despicable char- acte- as a major speaker for a Leadership Confer^ce, allegedly to create a local agenda for blacks, espedally since we already have a local, written Black Community Agenda that is beirg updated as I write this. In essence, I believe that this forthcoming conference is not about substantive black progress, as initially con- cdved, but rather about Senator Graham, per se, and his personal-pohtical-selfish, narrow-minded ambitions. Indeed, the changed concept or new conference agenda, apparently was designed, secretly and cleverly to please, not overly disturb or to challenge whites, who constitute about 76,000 potential voters in his political District 40, with only about 40,000 blacks in this district. Bottom line; As I perceive it, both Williams and Graham are best described as “poverty pimps seUing snake oil” to our local region; therefore, we should “Watch Them Dogs” at this forthcoming January conference. And while th^e is limited value in “snake oil,” it will not cure or make any substantive positive impact upon serious black-white gaps or disparities in wealth-poverty mis-education, crime and/or prison populations, either nationally or locally Therefore, we should NOT buy any more “snake oil,” as some people did at that so-called “Community Building Conference” in 1997-one that I predicted, in writirg, early in 1997, would reflect another “Race Rdations Game.” Accordingly, this forthcoming conference, predictably also, will be yet another political “game,” metaphorically a “dog and pony show,” producing no substantive change for blacks. Yes, let us ‘Watch Them Dogs,” for Tknow that “than dogs won’t hunt” and therefore these conference pro moters should “give us other dogs” that wiU meet the crit ical-crisis need of our Black masses. GYASI A. FOLUKE. MA DD. is a non-fradifional minister, author and part-time CEO of The Kushite Institute for Wholistic Development in Charlotte. Connect with tltje Send letters to The Charlotte Post, P.O. Box 30144 Charlotte, NC 28230 or e-mail editorial@thecharlottepost.com. We edit for gram mar, clarity and space. Include your name and daytime phone num ber. Letters and photos will not be returned by mail unless accompa nied by a self-addre.ssed, stamped envelope; Commit to being part of community’s transformation Before you resolve to do anythirg else, commit to being part of somethirg powerful and transformational in 2007. ilcohu Graham Just days after 2007 rings in, African Americans and other local residents are invited to an \mprece- dented gathering. Transcendirg neighborhoods, generations, sectors and other difi'erences that can divide, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg African American Agenda (CM3A) will bring together com munity members for a landmark initiative focusirg on local issues that adversely aff^ disproportion- MaLCOLM numbers of black residents. Graham CM3A will laimch with a two-day town haU meet- ing January 5 and 6 at the Charlotte Convention Center. This history-makiig gathering is free to the public and wiU offer individuals an opportunity to become a part of the solution to the issues that trouble them most. Set to draw himdreds of participants, the CM3Atownhall meet ing is already attracting an exciting miy of people and organiza tions. Registrants include business owners, educators, elected offi cials, cormmmity leaders, grassroots organizers, youth and civic- minded people who reflect the rich diversity among African Americans and the citizenry of ow increasiigly mifiticultural region. Nationally i-enowned guest speakers will deliver messages to intrigue, inform and inspire town hall participants. Among the speakers are economist Juhanne Malveaux, Ph.D., hip-hop gener ation activist Sister Souljah and author and journalist Juan Williams. Helping make aU this possible are the collaborative efforts of the Urban League of the Central Carohnas and The Lee Institute as well as a generous state grant. Coming togethea* for CM3A matters for many reasons. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg community is growing and changing at a dizzyir^ pace. Amidst the growth and change, African Americans, as a whole, aie losing ground in crucial areas such as education and housing. The Observer recently reported disturbing trends on racial dis parities that, if left unattended, threaten the quality of life for all Charlotte-Mecklenbuig residents. Chiefindicatore such as income, people hving in poverty and homeownership reveal that many African Americans are failing to reap the full benefits of living in a vibrant region. While gaps are dosing in some areas, on far too many fiunts, progress seems at a standstill and gaps are growing wider. CM3A is designed to set priorities for addressing radal dispari ties, build an agenda and promote collaboration among people and organizations that are alarmed by the statistics and the implica tions for area residents. Though inequities trouble a large share of community people, many African Americans feel a particular sense of urgency to find solutions. African Americans along with others in America today are heirs to the legacy of the dvil rights movement. As its benefidaries, we allmustlayclaimnot only to the wealth of opportunities the stn^- gle bequeathed us, but also the debt we owe to future goierations. Daily police blotters, momii^ headlines, nightly newscasts and ■ yearly school reports suggest that those of us thriving from an abrmdant inheritance have somehow fallen behind on our obliga tions. And in a banking town, I needn't ejqjlain what happens when debts go impaid. Uniting to create and commit to an African American agenda is long past due. CM3A aspires to beccme a catalytic meeting of the minds, where our collective best thinking helps break through complac issues to find bold and transformational ways to improve the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community The town hall meeting is a beginning. Following the gathering, people will have access to vital resources, tools and ideas. What partidpants choose to do afterward wiU influence our community for generations to come. Setting high expectations for what’s possible is essential. As a result of CM3A, I envision leaders who are better positioned to be proactive, collaborative and efiective. I see churches and organi zations - like chapters of business, professional and sodal greups - leveraging their connections and resources to narrow the gaps. I imagine institutions such as Johnson C. Smith University and the Urban League rising higher as centers of intellectual and sodal capital. And I foresee increasing numbers of CMS parents exerds- ing their influence at home and in schools to ensure their children and all students learn and achieve. Public partidpation fix)m every comer of the county is vital. Discussions and dedsion-making during the town hall meeting need to reflect the depth and breadth of perspectives in our com munity Your presence and your voice are important. Our reasons for coining together and building a shared agenda are far too great to outnumber your excuses for staying away Tb sign up for CM3A, register online at www.CM3A.org or call The Lee Institute at (704) 714-4439. MALCOL/vl GRAHAM represents Mecklenburg County in the North Carolina Senate. He is chairman of the Charlotte- Mecklenburg African American Agenda. CM3A is designed to set priorities for addressing racial disparities, build an agen da and promote collaboration among people and organizations that are alarmed by the statistics and the implications tor area residents. New Year provides opportunities to refleet and plan With the holiday season in full swing and 2007 right aroimd the comer, it’s always a time of reflection — to revel in our achievements and analyze our set backs - in order to start the new year with a fi^sh perspective. One of the greatest successes this year for the National Urban Le^ue as well as the civil ri^ts community coincided with our annual conference in late July It is the enact ment of the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks,and Coretta Scott King Votir^ Rights Act Reauthorization of 2006. President Bush’s signing of the re au thorization ended a long and difficult 3-year stru^e to ensure that key pro visions of what is considered the cen terpiece of the 1960s civil rights move ment are extended for another 25 years. Originally enacted in 1965, the act enfranchised millions of African-American citizens by eliminating discriminatory practices, such as literacy tests, poll taxes and other means, to discourage political partic ipation. It also seived to open up the political arena for blacks seeking dected office. The result of hours of hearings and much collabora tion fi'om both sides of the aisle, the reauthorization was an outstanding pi-oduct of leadership and com- mitmait that for the most pait enjoyed bipartisan and bicameral support. It ran into some turbulence the day it was scheduled to hit the House floor when a few vocal dissenters proposed changes that would have undermined the bill’s ultimate intent. The wild card proved to be Corporate America, which rardy wdghs in on social - let alone controver sial - issues on Capitol Hill. A coalition of corporate interests induding The Business Roundtable stepped into the fray at the 11th hour. The next day the leg islation sailed through the U.S. House with 33 votes in opposition before passing the Senate unanimously The week VRA was enacted, U.S. House members, faced with a highly competitive dection season, had a proposal to increase tiie minimum wage, one of the Urban League’s top priorities. But the proposal, which passed, had a catch - a provision repealing the estate tax - a concession to the wealthiest of Americans who would have benefited the most. We argued for a stand-alone bih to no avail, but the House-passed plan eventually succumbed to Senate inaction. During his signii^ speech for the VRA, Pi-esident George Bush vowed to ensure the legislation woxild be duly enforced. However, two months later, the U.S. House approved a bill requiring voters to show photo IDs to cast ballots, potentially disenfranchising thou sands of Americans who cannot afford such identifi cation. Similar laws in Georgia and other states had been struck down as imconstitutional but that didn’t stop the U.S. Congress from trying to get its own ver sion into law just weeks before the mid-term dec- tions. Like the minimum wage bill, the plan died of Senate inaction — fortunatdy The day after Election Day the American public had spoken loudly voting to give Ihe keys to the U.S. Congress over to the Democrats. The change on Capitol HUl has paved the way for the most diversi fied congressional leadership ever, including the first female speaker of the House. Long-servir^ black law makers such as New York Rep. Charles Rangel and Michigan Rep. John Conyers will be heading influen tial committees, and South Carolina Rep. James Clybum will be serving as majority whip. It is our hope that this more diversified group of leaders wfll lead to greater integration of congressional stafiers, who play major roles in craftily national policy The emergence of key black lawmakers in the House naturally fueled more speculation over a pos sible presidential bid by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, a rising star in the Democratic Party It begged the question - Is America ready to have a black president? And according to a Gallup survey the answer was a resomding yes frum 58 percent of Americans polled. Election Day, however, also handed a big loss to sup porters of affirmative action in Michigan, where vot ers agreed to ban the use of race as selection criteria by state agencies, colleges and universities. Ward Connerly architect of California’s Proposition 209, brought his anti-affirmative action crusade to yet another state, three years after the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed the use of affirmative action in its Gratz vs. Bollinger decision, a suit involving admis sions at the University of Michigan. So, it is with optimism that we enter 2007 and faith that we can bring our community at least one step closer toward realizing the dream that our predeces sors laid out for us in the 1960s. MARC H. MORIAL is president and CEO of the National Urban League. Reality, outcomes and education spending in North Carolina By John Hood SPECIAL TO THE POST RALEIGH - It bears repeating, given the central role that public education plays in North Carolina polit ical debate; our schools have vastly more resovuces to work with than they did a genera tion ago. For every school-related problem, there are politicians and commentators who offer a tax-related solution. If teachers are edtii^ tiie pro fession, we should dramati cally increase average pay If students aren’t performing in poorer, rural school districts, those districts should recave dramatic increases in state frmding. If low-income and minority students aren’t performing in urban districts such as Charlotte-Mecklenbuig and Wake, they should receive dramatic increases in state and local funding. If it’s still . not enough, we should spend millions more on universal preschool, class-size reduc tion, technology new facili ties, etc. Education is a good invest ment. It is overwhelmingly the laigest,-single function of state govaminent, spaiding- wise, and has been for decades. A properly struc tured educational system is worth taxing citizens and spending their money to operate, as it fulfills what I consider to be a core state function: ensuring that future citizens have the knowledge and skills neces sary to be informed voters and responsible citizens. But the undei'performance of public education, in North Carolina and in Ihe nation as a whole, cannot be attributed to inadequate funding. Adjusted for inflation and student enrollment, spending on public schools has soared over the past two decades. The American system is more generously funded, ^ain in per-pupil terms, than almost every other educational sys tem in the world. Unfortimately America doesn’t rank correspondingly hi^ when it comes to inter national tests of education outcomes. In North Carolina, spend ing per pupil rose more than 60 percent from the mid- 1980s (when the Basic Education Plan was enacted by the General Assembly and then-Gov. Jim Hxmt) until 2001, a period that included massive increases in funding to raise teacher pay “to the national average.” (Which was bunk, since North Carolina teacher pay was already above the national average when properly mea sured), to build new facilities to accommodate enrollment growth, and to steer more state dollars to smaller and poorer districts (a pohcy that was based on inaccurate sta tistics purporting to show huge disparities in spending across state school districts). JOHN HOOD is president of the John Locke Foundation and publisher of CarolinaJournal.com.
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