Searching For Leaders
History and the human ex
perience is replete with examples
of leadership and leaders of races,
tribes, nations, movements,
ideologies, struggles, wars and in
surrections.
A casual observation of all that
is around us reveals leadership
and leaders of governments,
businesses, educational institu
tions, foundations, churches and
denominations, organizations,
athletic teams and even the
underworld.
In spite of this human instinct to
develop leadership, the African
American community distracts
itself to engage in the quay:
Should we look to have leaders?
What is the basis of this
challenge to the human order?
More than one speculation may
be appropriate to explain this
phenomenal. The first may be the
realization that leadership in
America comes at a great risk
and danger. Shadows of the Ken
nedy s, Dr. Martin Luther King,
Malcolm X, Vernon Jordan,
George Wallace and President
Ronald Reagan extended over the
African-American community to
remind us that the life of a leader
in this country is subject to be
snuffed out at any moment.
The strain of public respon
sibility is also overwhelming in
the opinion of others, which
causes many to avoid the leader'
ship challenge. Public scrutiny,
controversy, lack of necessary
support and the personal
sacrifices which may be required
discourage some from assuming
leadership roles.
Finally, with the arrival of “in
tegration,” much of the task of
leadership has been shifted to
others in the African-American
community. It is no longer the
task of our community to provide
leaders in local education. We no
longer need to build economic in
stitutions with leadership person
nel. Ih many cases, there is no
necessity to offer community and
neighborhood leaders.
Apparently, the sole setting re
maining wherein leadership may
be developed within the African
American experience is within the
church.
Whether those that lead us are
of us or others, a fact is that we do
follow someone or something. The
someone or something is either in
terested in our benefit or detri
ment.
If this leadership is to our
benefit, we applaud it.
If the state of our affairs and
condition shows* that someone or
something we are following is to
our detriment—woe be unto the
African-American.
Justice Denied
BY CHARLES E. BELLE
Guest Editorial
justice delayed is justice
denied,” deemed Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. John E. Jacob,
National Urban League president,
at a National Press Club speech
early this year, presented the in
justice inflicted upon African
Americans by President Bush
with his veto of the 1990 Civil
Rights Bill. The president’s action
makes it imperative that a 1991
Civil Rights Bill be passed with a
sufficient number of votes to over
ride any potential presidential
veto. Jacob says, "Without
federal safeguards to prevent job
Was and to protect equal job op
portunities for minorities and
women, the very foundation of
black economic improvement is
severely undermined.” 1991 is
already set to be a year of crisis
and opportunity for the African
American community.
A community that must
mobilize to stop violence in its
neighborhoods, get drugs off its
streets and out of its schools, as
well as to provide quality educa
tion and job training for its peo
ple. Jacob points out that a ISO
billion job training program is
needed for a rallying point in the
Ration’s high unemployment
areas. A source of funding that
must come from the federal
government.
Getting trained and educated
orders from America’s work force
is the entire nation’s problem.
James K. Baker, chairman, U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, speaking
before the Commonwealth Club of
California, says, “...If our in
dustry is to be competitive and if
our national economy is to be
viable, we absolutely must have a
sophisticated, highly trained work
force.” Baker believes, “Educa
tion is the most critical miming
link in our national quest for
economic leadership.”
While John Jacob’s job training
proposal is prime for putting cur
rent workers to work, we must
not forget about the new genera
tion. Baker says, “We absolutely
must embark upon a draconian
campaign to reinvigorate our K-12
school systems.” Since one can
only hope that the individual
states will start to take note of this
serious education situation, his
saying It Is so can awaken some
statesmen.
The state of California’s newly
elected Republican governor,
former U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson, was
not at the California luncheon
meeting. Obviously or he would
not have angered the educators
and children in his own state. The
California State Department of
Education said the new
Republican governor’s budget
represented a $1.4 billion loss of
fundi for K-12. The funds he of
fered, “cover only the 200,000 ad
ditional students expected to join
the school systems,” says a
spokeswoman for the Education
Department. Delivering decent
education and job training pro
grams for the 1990s is what the
Civil Rights Act of 1991 is all about
for both business and African
Americans.
A Different Voice
BY DOROTHY 8HAW-THOMMION
Recently. I’ve been asked by many who read a New* and Observer article that
quoted one of our local African-American doctors a* saying that he would need to
move hi* practice to a different part of the dty in order to increase Us present
standard of living, to respond.
What I’ve responded is that “I sincerely would be willing to assist Urn to
move.” I genuinely mean that; however, that is not a sufficient response to all I
believe and feel as a result of Us assertion. The more honest response is that I am
disappointed in Us assertion but I believe that he has the right as an American to
make that decision.
More succinctly, I believe that Dr. Qnigless’ remarks constitute a growing at
titude that is woven into the fabric of American ideology in regards to what con
stitute* success. It is my belief that medical practices in this country represent on
ly a microcosm of what is believed in other areas of our society.
A friend recently had an experience that is quite telling. She happens to have a
medical condition which is balievod to require daily medlcatian for the rest of bar
life. Though the doctor has confidence in (Ms fact, she doss not have a life-long
prescription but rather from time to time she btoid to come in to tbs doctor’s^
flee to be “c
recently that “checking" time was here and dutifully, she went la. Unfortunately,
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COPING
yDr. Charles W. Faulkner
WHY ARE BLACKS LAZY?
Dear Dr. Faulkner:
I was interested in your recent articles
on the effects that myths have upon the
lives (and deaths) of black people. My
name is Ronald F. Mitchell and I am an at
torney in Washington, D.C. It is my belief
that the problems of many black people
can be traced to their attempts to live iq> to
the myths that they have heard about
themselves. I wish that you would say
more about this.
Signed,
R.M.
Dear Attorney Mitchell:
There la a certain illogic about a myth,
especially if one accept* the myth to be
true. A myth is merely a story that has
been retold and retold (much like a fairy
tale). The major problem with myths, for
black people, is that myths about Mack
people have become the basis for the black
negative self-concept and for Mack self
hatred.
One myth about Mack people Is that
“black people are laxy." The truth is that
some black people are lazy. But so are
some Koreans, some Indians, some
Hispanics, and some Caucasians. Our
society has interpreted the statement to
mean that all blacks are lazy. And It has
been repeated so often that many people,
blacks included, believe it to be true.
That’s what turn* a statement into a myth.
It is repeated so often that we assume it to
be true, even though there is a ton of
evidence to contradict it.
For instance, every black person knows j
some blacks who are not lazy. So why do
they continue to believe that all blacks are ■
lazy? Every black parson knows same
blacks who are not good dancers, are not ,
good athletes, and do not like tried ,
chicken. So why do we continue to accept
these myths as being true when our in- ,
telligence tells us that they are not true? ,
Every black person knows sane black peo- ,
pie who are not good in bed, some who are .
brilliant thinkers. Yet we continue to ac
cept these ugly statements about ourselves .
that degrade us. We don’t try to find out ^
who created these myths, and why they ,
created them about black people. ,
If you think that all black people are ,
good dancers, you will try to become a
good dancer or you will hate yourself j
because you are not a good dancer. t
However, so many blacks have such a ,
negative idee about themselves that being ,
e good dancer or being good In bed is con
sidered a wonderful thing. Many accept it
as a compliment when, in fact, it degrades
blacks.
Black people must examine themselves
to find out if they are really as bad aa
society mythologises thorn to bo. Black
people must examine their heritage, find
out the truth about themselves and de
mand an Afro-centric education system in
which textbooks will Ml tbs truth about
the many wonderful contributions that
black people have mads to this world. And,
finally, black people must re-examine
their self-conoepta and throw out the gar
bage. You don't have to be a great dancer,
great athlete, or exceptional in bed to be a
man (ora woman).
Wajid’s Word
&«MfO S3
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BY F. GODFREY
It seems that no matter how hard i try,
my mind always drifts back to the people
of Iraq. I continue to ask myself the same
question: Why? In spite of my continual
search for an answer that might at least
give me some degree of comfort, I seem to
always come up short.
Like others my age, I have lived through
World War II; the Korean War; the Viet
nam War; the little wars in Central and
South America; the other wars of the Mid
dle East; the assault on Grenada; the in
vasion of Panama; the bombing of Libya;
and now the carnage in Iraa. As a child, I
could never understand why people had to
fight, and in some cases to the death, the
convince someone else that they were
right and that the so-called enemy was
wrong.
I was never able to accept the rationale
that during a war the killing of indecent
people was inevitable. I could never
understand how some men are so willing to
destroy a country, only to offer to assist In
the rebuilding of that country when the
killing is done and the so-called enemy is
destroyed.
I could never understand how any one
could call any war a Just war. Who decides
what is just and who decides what isn’t?
Why is it that those who ultimately make
the decision to go to war are never
themselves required to do any of the
Fighting? Why ate those who ultimately do
the killing given the status of a hero?
Whose hero are they?
I can find no reason to Justify what was
lone to the people of Iraq. Estimates are
hat some 190,000 or more civilians were
dlled by the most vicious assault ever
eveled on any country. I wonder if the
»tential victims were of European des
cent if the assault would have been as
Iclous, or if there would have been an
issault at all.
Mayor Dinkins of New York announced
that some $2 million has been raised to
give the troops a ticker-tape-parade
welcome very similar to what is given to
the winner of the World Series or the Super
Bowl. I wonder bow many ot New York’s
hungry could be fed with that money. How
many of New York’s homeless could be
sheltered? How many of New York’s sick
could be made well?
I will attend no parades to honor the
troops. I am glad that they have made it
back home safely, and in one piece, but my
mind still goes back to the people of Iraq.
The troops are not my heroes, for I could
never give that status to anyone who was .
involved in such mass murder without
mercy.
I will fly no American flag on my car’s .
antenna, nor will I wear the red, white and !
blue. I am ashamed of what my country
was involved in and I can find no reason
whatsoever to be proud of what they did, ;
as my mind still wanders back to the peo- „
pie of Iraq.
I refuse to watch or listen to any of our °
so-called leaders as they continue to con- 5
vince the gullible people of America about .
how succeesful this assault was. IrafUseto .
read articles which tend to glorify what „
was done in Iraq. I pity the Egyptiam, Z
Syrians and Saudis for their participation S
in this genoddal assault on their fellow
Arabs. Don’t they ralize that they could be ..
next if they do not continue to fall in line *
and do as r*“Tff says?
I look forward to the smell of spring and *
the sound of young birds eager to test their "
wings. I look forward to a peaceful sum- l
mer and a chance to somehow pull myself 0
together and make sense of things for „
myself. I look forward to a world full of
harmony, peace. Justice and equality, but .
my mind always drifts back to die people
of Iraq. Peace!
Bible Thought
Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rook
bring forth? or const thou mark when the hinds do calve?
Canst thou number the months that they fulfill? or knowest
thou the time when they bring forth? They bow themselves,
they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sor
rows. Their young ones are good liking, they grow up with
the corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
Job M:l-4
Tony Brown’s
Journal
•BLACK” WINS AGAIN
Some weeks ago, the astrology writer for the Buffalo
Challenger sent me a personal note in which he scolded m6
for not using the term "African-American.’'
The only reason that he could _
offer for my persistent and, in his J
opinion, inappropriate usage of !
the term “black." when referring
to Americans of African descent,
was that I "hated" Jesse Jackson. ■
This Afro-centric thought- ^ 9
policeman was referring to 1 vMBBf jr |
Jackson's initiative last year in f I
popularising Africar America: as -\
his self-approved name for 30
million Americans.
What he didn't mention was JL 1
Jackson’s political motive for this ^—■Kii' •
arbitrary action. As presiden- BROWN
dal candidate, he had ignored issues that directly related
to blacks and concentrated on Iowa farmers and blue
collar union workers in order to change his image amou
whites and garner their favor.
“African-American” was innocent, innocuous and
politically meaningless—the perfect non-issue-and, most
mportantly, possessed enough cultural mystique to dazzle
he culturally deprived white reporters. Astho—ytngan^
‘If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with
J.S.”
It was a win-win for Jackson, proving for all who tefhs
xl to think that the politician had once again Us
ittentioo-starved flock.
Of course, it’s that kind of independent thinking that got
ne into trouble with Jackson’s astrology friend in dm lint
dace. He even explained why, after looking at my
strategical chart, that I would be amenable to a change of
ittltude about Jackson if I had the facts.
When the Buffalo astrologer comes back to the reality of
his world, he will discover that I was using—on «h«mi
*V, in columns and in public speeches—“Afro-American”
nd “African-American” as far back as 1970. But I always
sed “blacks” interchangeably, because it is man
manageable for speaking and writing.
It is also more inclusive of all Africans of the Diaspora;
; does not, as does African-American, exclude blacks from
he Caribbean and Africa. Furthermon, it conjures up a
tark contrast to “wUte," fitting our relative economic sad
nriil pofitifllllf
(See TONY BROWN, P. V
Other Viewpoints
BY DR. RODERICK E. EDMOND
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATHLETIC SUPERIORITY I
PACTt BLACK ATHLETIC SUPERIORITY) FICTION
It la utterly a mating bow aalflab motivoa can twtet a
man historical phenomenon into a tool uaod la tha Croatian
ot a biased, llluaary monster callad an opinion.
Tha fact of African-American (North and Booth
Americans with direct African Unease) superiority is ear
tain sports is the piece of “play-dough" in the ongoing war
between racism and the concept of ethnic equaUty. People
leise this phenomenon, distorting It into various
mracognlsaUe, grotesque figures that serve either fates
minioat or tcrambltd locric.
The facte surrounding this issue are ovarwhalmfcwly
convincing. Although African-Americans constitute only
H-14 percent of the U.8. population, Washington,
D.C.-based sports analyst Kenneth Beatrice eetimatae that
hoy comprise approximately 70 percent of active profae
ilonal basketball players, 58 percent of professional foot
»11 players and SO percent of pro baaebaU players. And,
ever since allowed to compete with majority (Caucasian)
ithletes they have dominated the boxing world and most
rack and field events that require speed and quick bunts
>f energy.
On the contrary, due to environmental and y»etetal
imitations, African-Americans rarely participate (and
consequently rarely excel) in sports that require expensive
wraphernalia or that are not "high visibility” sports in
tigh school. African-Americans constitute only about 1.8
tercent of professional tennis players, one percent of pro
essional golfers and 0.2 percent of professional ice hockey
•layers.
On a more scientific level, Canadian researcher Claude
toucharde conducted studies that suggest that African
imericans have a higher percentage of “fast-twitch” mus
ic, which is optimal for bursts of energy performances,
uch as sprinting and jumping; while majority persons
*ve a higher percentage of “slow-twitch” muscle, which
i better for aerobic endurance functions.
Gideon Ariel, founder of the biomechanics division of
be U.S. Olympic Committee and former Israeli Olympian,
mted eight African-American and eight majority athletes
n the University of California, Irvine, he«fa»thaW twmsnH
oncluded that the African-Americans were more ex
losive and efficient jumpers.
In another study a group of 1,200 African-American and
lajority children up to age 8 were tested for development
f motor skills. The study indicated that Africna-American
bildren acquired skills earlier in 15 of the SO tests, while
lajority children excelled in only three tests.
This data suggests a logical propensity for African
mericans to gravitate toward certain sports, and it Abo
iiggests the existence of definite physiological differences
■om their majority counterparts.
The reasons fur this predisposition toward athletic ex
ellence in certain sports is multiplicate, yet quite obvious,
bly a person who has lived his/her life in a cave or whose
Won is hopelessly skewed by prejudice or oversoatous
pinions can deny the reasons for this «i«n»g
benotnenon. Universal genetics is not the >»«»■ for this
Ifforence. The fact of the matter is that relatively reemt
idetolly imposed forces have selected such that African
mericans today are both systematically steered toward
srtain sports and are also physiologically being
igger, stronger, faster, and more agile than other popula
ces (including native Americans)
The combination of lack of accessibility and a> general
ck of enthusiasm by the nation as a whole has resulted in
frican-Amertcans' not participating in some sports. It is
most effortless to post a hoop on a telephone pole for as
any as *M0 youngsters to watch and wait for their "ups"
t they indulge in hours on end of intense basketball action,
ounjpters can casually toss a football to one another in
• street or in a field, and practically all American high
bools have adjacent football and baseball fields.
It takes no paraphernalia or special conditions at all for
boy or a girt to race as swiftly as possible from one paint
(See VIEWPOINTS. P.8)