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
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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.