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EDITORIAL AND OPINION/C(aclone $o«t
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Graham
Cliarlotte
The Voice of the Black Community
)53 / Camden Road Chartofte. N.C. 28203
Gerald O. Johnson ceo/publisher
Robert L Johnson co-publisher/general manager
Herbert L White editor in chief
EDITORIAL
leTssetan
agenda
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lowardgoal
This weekend’s town hall meeting to address disparities that
plague Afiican Americans is a much-needed dialogue, but
that’s all it can be at this point: dialogue.
From -education to lack of homeownership opportunities,
African Americans in Mecklenbm^ County consistently lag
behind whites, much as blacks trail America as a whole. As a
result, Charlotte Mecklenburg African American Agenda is
tackling those issues Jan. 5-6 at Charlotte
Convention Center. Organizers, led by N.C. Sen.
Malcolm Graham of Charlotte, looked to confirm
500 registered participants in hopes of eJidting
ideas on how to erase those gulfs.
Some of the answers can imdoubtedly be found
in attacking historical biases that make it diffi-
ailt, if not impossible for many black people to
realize the potential and promise of this nation.
But it’s also telling that at this point in our his
tory we stiU trail whites in so many areas despite record high
levels of education and economic worth. The sad fact is, much
of what ails us is fiom our own hands, either finm ignorance or
a commimal mindset that rewards permanent victim status.
For instance, black babies are 2.5 times more likely to die
than their white coxmterparts. Of the 27,075 arrests made by
Charlotte-Mecklenbm'g Police in 2005, 67 percent were African
Aiuericans, more than double the county’s black population. In
the 2004-05 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools academic year, 76
percent of black students were achieving at or above grade
level, yet whites achievement was at 94 percent.
The town hall meetii^ is wdl intentioned, but its success will
depend on the organizers’ and stakdnolders’ ability to move
beyond ideals to bvulchng inroads to comm-unities that are
impacted by these disparities. Tbo often, we’ve been eager to
tell the world about what ails us, yet won’t put in the legwork '
required to actually change it. That, as Sen. Graham puts it, “is
where the rubber meets the road.’’
In the days and weeks to come, town hall participants as a
greup and Afiican Americans as a whole should endeavor to
biing as much pressme to bear politically and economically to
force change. It’s not enot^ for us to demand others work on
our behalf without expecting similar responsibility aniong
oursselves. Collectively bumping our gums won’t fix what’s bro
ken. Tbgether, we’U have to get om- hands dirty to make any
real and significant changes.
Funds still needed for
M.L. King Memorial
By Andrew Young and Gary L. Cowger
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION
On the blustery morning of Nov. 13, thousands came togeth
er to commemorate the life of Rev Di'. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Standing side by side, backs against the wind, people of all
races and backgroxmds celebrated as ground
was broken on the National Mall in Washington,
D.C., for the memorial to this civil rights legend.
Even in death, Dr. King was aUe to unite this
nation.
As co-chairs of the Executive Leadership
Cabinet ofthe Martin Luther King, Jr, National
Memorial Project Foundation, we owe a deep
debt of gratitude to aU of those whose generous
support made the groundbreaking possible.
Howevei; we must keep in mind that amidst the excitement,
and the wonderful media coverage of the historic groimd-
breaking, one important fact remains: Our job is not yet fin
ished. The Washiiigton DC National Memorial cannot be com
pleted xmtil we reach om-goal of $100 million. So far, thefoim-
dation has raised $70.4 million
Thei'e is no doubt that Dr. King is a hero for all of humanity
fi and his ri^itfiil place among om- nationis greatest leaders on
the National Mall is oveitiue. Now, we must not rest until his
memorial becomes a peimanent, physical remindei’ that aU
people ai-e a-eated equal and that racial injustice cannot be tol
erated in a civil and fi’ee society
Dr. King was a staimch defender of such fieedom and equal
ity and he put his life on the line to fi'ee all Americans ft regard
less of oneis race, color, creed oi- national origin - from the
tyranny of inequality Om- nation - indeed, om- world - is a far
bettei- place because of the life he lived and the calling he
answei-ed. His place in the pantheon of American leadership
enshiined on the National Mall is well deserved.
By joining our actions with our intentions, we can ensure that
the construction cair begin in 2007 as scheduled. We hope that
we can continue to build upon the dieam he began so many
yeai-s ago. Tb contribute, please visit www.buildthedream.oig
for more mfoimation. We appi-edate yom- generosity, and we
hope to return to Dr. Kingfs site on the Mall in 2008 to reveal
a fimshed monument, one worthy of his historic and notewor
thy contiibutions to this gieat coxmtry
Former United Nations cunbassador ANDREW YOUNG cmd GARYL.
COWGER of General Motors are co-chairs of the Executive leadership
Cabinet of Martin Uither King. Jr. National Memorial Project
Foundation. Inc.
Young
Quarterbacks and affirmative action
As we approach 2007,
where does the role of affir
mative action sit when
watching our national pas
time?
Sportscasters and histori
ans state that American
sports often serve as a reflec
tion of our society Two of the
most important stories high
lighting this viewpoint are
tile career sto
ries of Jackie
Robinson and
Jesse Owens.
These gentle
men - along
with others
including
Satchel Paige,
Jack Johnson,
and Joe Louis -
were able to create mile
stones for others to build
fiom.
One such person that had
specific relevance in my life
was NFL quarterback Doug
WiUiam.s Mr. Williams’ class,
talent, and potential caused
me - a staimch supporter of
the local Pittsbmgh Steelers
during my childhood - to
approach NFL blasphemy:
having to root for another
football team aside finm the
Steelers despite my home
locale of Western
Penns jivania.
As a young black quai-ter-
back, I felt that much of my
allegiance should go to people
hke Doug Wiliams, \Tnce
Evans, and others - black
quarterbacks that made it in
the best American football
league in the world - players
that made it easier for me to
find acc^tance as a quarter
back.
One can see that a lot has
changed fiiDm tiieir playing
days. The fi:uits of their har
vest - fix)m the microcosm of
society that is sports - can be
seen on January 8 in the BCS
Championship game. It is the
first time that two Afiican-
American traditional-style
(i.e., drop-back passer) quar
terbacks have started for the
teams facing off for the cham
pionship.
If I were still that kid back
in Pittsburgh, it would be
more difficult to choose alle
giances.
One has to ask; are we past
the point of picking sides in
support of underdogs — ath
letes and other sports figures
that hold previously-unat-
tainable positions merely
because of former trends of
racism? If we are past this
point in time, are we past a
point in time where rules and
laws are needed to ensure
that Afiican-Americans
receive opportunities to all
available playing positions in
football?
It is an interesting argu
ment.
It is no longer unusual to
find black quarterbacks.
Schools that had reputations
(fairly garnered or otherwise)
of converting black quarter
backs into other position
players can now be foimd
starting, developing, and sup
porting black quarterbacks.
One must also look at the fact
that the game - as well as
society - has changed in many
ways over the past 20 years.
Is the currCT.t reality of black
quarterbacks a matter of
adaptation to the game’s
demands on the part of coach
es, a change of heart on the
part of recruiters and coach
es, or the result of affirmation
action philosophy making its
mark?
With three Heisman
TYophy-winning black quar
terbacks since 1989, one can
make the case that coaches
simply aren’t looking at high
school black quarterbacks as
“athletes” anymore. If this is
.so, do we as African-
Americans stop looking over
the shoulders of coaches and
recruiters alike, antidpating
a move based on race instead
of talent?
Perhaps we are at a point of
time where allegiances
should go back to where they
belong: to the team playing
versus to the player perform
ing. Perhaps it is time to step
away and live up to the credo
that we have been saying
tiiroughout our radal strug-
^e: give everyone regardless
of skin color an equal oppor
tunity and let the best man
win, enjoying the results
therein.
That’s what Ill be doing on
January 8 when Heisman-
winner Tiny Smith and Ohio
State take on Charlotte’s
Chris Leak and Florida.
It should be one heck of a
game, history aside.
LENNY McALUSTER is the
president of the Uncoln-
Chealham Club of Mecklenburg
County.
FILE PHOTO/WADE NASH
Recipe for the next African genocide
First there is Ethiopia.
This nation, which is second
only to Nigeria in Afidcan
population, is landlocked.
This fimstrates its economic
growth as its exports leave
the nation mostly via air
which, is extremely expensive
l^d-which is very dan
gerous and
unreliable.
Ethiopia wants
a seaport and
has fought its
neighbor
Eritrea
throughout the
decades trying
to seize the
beautiful sea
port capital of Asmara. The
Eriti*eans have proven them
selves to be fierce fighters
and have resisted every
attempt with the last conflict
ending in 2000. Lately,
Ethiopia has turned its atten
tion to war tom Somalia
which has a very attractive
and extensive coast line on
the Horn of Afiica viewing
sea lanes to and fixan the Red
Sea and Indian Ocean.
Somalia is a basket case.
The movie “Black Hawk
Down” detailed just how diffi
cult this can be to a large,
awkward world power likp
us. The wai* lords have drift
ed into two major camps. One
is comprised of Islamist
extremists who are becoming
quite chummy with al-
Qaeda. Osama Bin Laden
has been quoted as saying
Somalia will be the setting for
the next big regional conflict
against the “Crusaders.” The
other camp is Christian,
more or less, and is seeking
protection and moral support
fiom Ethiopia.
Then there is Eritrea. This
small nation strategically
located on the Horn of Afiica
has a violent past with
Ethiopia. Throughout the
last 150 years there has been
massacre, battles, general
conflict one right after anoth
er. If you want to listen to
instilled resentment and
hatred, have a conv^ation
with some Eritreans about
their opinion of the Ethiopdan
governments during the last
few generations. They each
have personal tragedies that
they blame on Ethiopia. If
you really want to see some
excitement attend a cocktail
party in Washington, D.C.
where the room is populated
with both Eritreans and
Ethiopians (Eritreans are the
“high yellow” ones) and
watch how volunteer segre
gation works. Whatever
Ethiopia supports Eritrea
will oppose. Thus, Eritrea
supports the Islamist extrem
ists who have recently
declared Jihad (Holy War)
against Ethiopia and the
Christian Somalians.
The above are the Tuain
ingredients. Two nations of
people who have been fight
ing against each other fiem
generation to generation
joined together with a nation
that has no official governing
body and has become a virtu
al 24/7 battleground for all
inhabitants. What is needed
in this region is sophisticated
agri-business. Water reser
voirs, effective irrigation and
big time farming strategies to
feed the huge populations
and prevent the recurring
famines and medical disas
ters such as mV and malaria
are what we and the so called
United Nations need to do
here. But no the “wild, wild
West” (us) has another plan.
In our infinite wisdom, the
United States has begun to
train the Ethiopian Army for
battle in Somalia. That’s
right, we are about to start a
proxy war. U.S. trained
troops have already entered
into Somalia to fight the
Islamists. This has caused
Eritrea to go on the “nut”.
They in turn are sending
troops into Somalia to boost
the Islamists. As you read
this, a U.S. Thsk Force head
ed by an aircraft carrier is in
route to park itself off the
coast of Somalia. Thus, al-
Qaeda is responding, in kind,
through recruitment and
locating their wildest to enter
into Somalia and assist in the
new Jihad. We are pouring
gasohne on somethii^ that is
already very hot.
According to the Council on
Foreign Relations, “Because
the United States has
accused Somalia of harboring
al-Qaeda suspects, the
Ethiopian-Eritrean proxy
conflict increases the oppor
tunities for terrorist infiltra
tion of the Horn and East
Afiica and for ignition of a
larger regional conflict.” This
is getting ready to blow up.
Meanwhile, the UN is typi
cally pontificating and theo
rizing about the matter.
We need to send doctors,
medicine, educators, entre
preneurs and funding for
modem infrastmcture and
agri-business. Providing
unlimited weapons and fire
power is not going to be the
answer. We have yet to learn
from the Rwanda, Congo,
Sudan, Cote DTvoire, and
Siara Leone. Simply put,
war is not the answer.
Marvin Gaye taught us tbjR
back in 1969. Why do we do
this over and over again
when it comes to Africa?
Maybe it’s an agenda we
don’t really know about.
HAiRRYALfORD is co-founder
and president of the National
Black Chamber of Commerce.