Newspapers / The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.) / Oct. 3, 1991, edition 1 / Page 4
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TK test with the ^(SmaadSmSrmei^aSc •City Cnk9 seat and srhsri board la District C. Thomas Jarrwtt owner of TJs Enterprise and a graduate af Roosevelt Pmyerrity witfaa degreem Mayor Pro Tern Ralph Campbell Jr.„ who is seeking a fourth term A city council member that seif'belp efforts would be a Wearing to the community, and any other community across the land A leader motivating neighborhoods and their residents to undertake projects themselves can help accomplish a lot more Hmb just those ariuwwMMWa which must come from government coffers. Ota- youth octuuiny need more nexp. senior citizens are miffing mn<* n»*t they could enjoy m their golden ^ears The neighborhoods deserve Oiore attention How muc** lias Campbell contributed to the leadership of the community? What will Jarrett offer”5 Voters must reengn»» the stances of candidates on the issues should take priority over their personalities. The records of commitment to the best interests of the community must have much greater priority than the demographic constituency they are identified with. Their sensitivity to the concerns of the community mast weigh heavily, clearly overwhelming any preoccupation with campaign hoopla. m a for far District 4 race with Harriet B. a retired educator. Frank Roberts seeking a ceat held by two-term incumbent Dr. Charles V Holland. A runaway race oo the part at either candidate could leave the community shortchanged. Competition reportedly is always the community needs the best minds and ideas that can be found. The community needs an exhaustive and thorough reach which will provide the foundation for a strong Hopefully the candidates will understand that the more energy, intelligence and effort they give, the better they * and the community will be served afterward. We must have at the forefront the best elected officials, spokespersons and representatives for community Concerns. Contributions Of African-American Bookstores From the Aquarian Bookstore on Western Avenue in Los Angeles, to the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Atlanta, or Know Bookstore in Durham, to the Liberation Bookstore on Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem, millions of persons have benefitted from the unique and important contributions of African American bookstores established across the nation. In particular, the African American community has been well served by the presence of community-based bookstores that have made available books and printed materials on the African and African-American experience. Very often the books that these bookstores offer cannot be found anywhere else because of the existence of racial discrimination in both the publishing and book distribution industries. This is a "good news” story. On Saturday, Oct. 5, African American authors, storytellers, and leaders from throughout the country will gather at the Aquarian Bookstore located at 3995 South Western Avenue in Los Angeles, Calif. The occasion is toe 50th anniversary celebration of the Aquarian Bookstore, the nation’s oldest continuously running African-American bookstore. Udder the theme, “50 Years: A Legacy of Knowledge," a National Aquarian Bookstore Jubilee Coordinating Committee has been organized. We join with the National Coordinating Committee in paying tribute to the historic efforts of Dr, Alfred M. and Ms. Bernice Ligon, the proprietors of the Aquarian Bookstore, for their outstanding vigilance and commitment to the African-American community. Since 1941, Alfred and Bernice Ligon have worked together and struggled to keep the doors of the bookstore opened. They have witnessed firsthand the constructive role of African American literature in the various “movements” for freedom, liberation and justice during the last five decades. They are also aware of the need to keep the African-American literary tradition alive for future generations. At a time when there is a need to strengthen institutions serving the interest of the African American and other racial and ethnic communities, it is important to draw lessons from the successful experience of Alfred and Bernice Ligon and the Aquarian Bookstore. For example, back in 1941, the Ligons not only had a “dream,” but also they understood the necessity to work consistently to make their dream a reality, despite the hardships and difficulties thrown by society in their path. Dr. Haki Madhubuti, president of the African-American Publishers and Booksellers Association and owner of the Chicago-based Third World Press, confirms that there has been a steady increase in the number of African-American bookstores during the last 30 years. - -- Some of us still remember the profound positive impact of the Drum and Spear Bookstore on the African-American community in Washington, D.C. 20 years ago. Today, Hodari Ali’s Pyramid Bookstores provide the nation’s capital city with writings of the struggle of African-Americans. Thus, the contributions of Alfred and Bernice Ligon go far beyond the city of Los Angeles. The youth of our communities especially need to receive the wealth of knowledge that can be found in these bookstores. When this year’s holiday season begins, let us give more gifts of books and knowledge rather than fall into the traps of mass consumerism. Thank you, Alfred and Bernice Ligon, for the 50 years of service at the Aquarian Bookstore. Thank y u for “keeping the faith.” Letter To The Editor To The Editor: Censorship is on the rise in our public schools. It seems unthinkable, but too often a Kigali minority attempts to dictate what ail students can read. Recently, a national survey revealed 229 such cases in public schools acroti the country. Although compromise* were ottered, in 17 percent of the cases, objector* sought to restrict materials from all students. In North Carolina three such incidents occurred. In Burlington, the parents of a mtn-grader sought to ban a book from the school although their child was not required to read the book. One of the objecting parents stated. "The moral integrity of our children is more < See LETTERS. P. 8) Ite facts are noteworthy tor the week of Sept 290ci 5: Oct. 1: James Merahtb became first Mack student at the University of Miariraippi after 3.000 federal troops qneBed riots against his admission. 19G2 Morgan State founded. 3872 Oct 2: Thurgood Marshall sworn in ar the first black Supreme Court justice. 1967 Robert H Lawrence, astronaut. 182S”967 Oct. 3: Bethunr-Cookman opened in Daytona Beach. Fla.. 1904 Hare you beard the news? * Blacks are overrepresented on death row ” I wouldn't exactly call this a revelation, would you? According to the report, issued by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics, as of Dec. 31. blacks comprised 40 percent of prisoners awaiting death sentences The 1990 Census found that the U.S population was 121 percent Mack Of those condemned to die, 1,375, or 50.4 percent, were white; 943. or 40 percent, were Mack; 24, or one percent, were native Americans; and 14, or 0.6 percent, were Asian. Those of Hispanic ethic origin (the Spanish-speaking people of African descent), totaled 172. or 7.3 percent. In the prison study, as in the Census compilations, people of Hispanic origin were counted in other racial categories; Mack, white or “other.” The Associated Press continues that the 1900 Census found that the U.S population was MJ percent white, 12.1 percent black, 0J percent native American, 2.9 percent Asian and 3.9 percent "other” races. Within the “other,1' nine percent are of Hispanic origin. Stated more accurately, the data shows that 41.6 percent of those on death row are of non-European descent (people of color; while this same group only represents 19.7 percent of the total Ui. population. Just in case you think that this study is a revelation, let me share some more data with you. 1. One out of every 47 blacks in this country is a homicide victim compared with one out of every 240 whites according to a study by the Atlanta Medical 2. Blacks (males and females; comprise approximately « percent of the U -S. prison population 3. There are mare black men in prison than there are black men in college. 4 ’’here are mare black men in U S prisons than there are in the prisons of South Africa 5. According to the Sentencing Project, one in four Mack men in their 20s are in jail, in prison, or otherwise under the cootrolof the courts through probation 6 According to a 1988 Census Bureau report nearly 32 million Americans lived in poverty. Of this number. 10.1 percent were white; 31.6 percent were black; and 26 J percent were Hispanic. The report did not give data for other groups 7. The unemployment rate for blacks is more than twice the rate for whites. 8. Black students in the public school system are twice as likely as whites to be suspended from school, physically punished by school authorities, or labeled mentally retarded, according to a study released by the National Coalition of Advocates for Students This mm# trend was noted recently in both the Wake County and Durham County schools. 9. In the state of North Carolina, Mack and Native American students represent a small portion of die academically gifted students yet make up more than half of the state's mentally handicapped students, according to a recent report issued fay state education officials. Thirty percent of the state’s students are Mack and 1.6 percent are native American. Of 62.580 students identified as academically gifted, seven percent were black and 0.6 were native American. Of the 20,840 mentally handicapped students, 55 percent were black and 2.6 percent were native American. With these kinds of statistics, is there any wonder why so many of our brothers and sisters wind up on death row? In reality, many of them have already died before they get there. Peace! Different Voice BY DOROTHY SHAW-THOMPSON AFFIRMING THE ACTION Watching the Clarence Thomas hearings should have been on every African-American's essentials list, toward understanding the effects of racism on the black psyche of self-hating individuals. The denial that racism is a factor in the persona of the man who has allowed himself to be the center of controversy over the last few months was the menu of those who sat down at the justice table to eat of the fruits of conservative Republicans. What was astonishing to me was that many who sat, calling themselves “independent" thinkers, were spoon-fed by such overt racists as Orrin Hatch, Strom Thurmond and Alan Simpson. The two patted the “I'm like you and not like the others” on the head, as they vomited out the wishes of their masters with the self-effacing individualism that it took to be on what looks like the “winning side." The hearings began with practically every panel member and introducer who favored Thomas, admonishing him not to say anything Don’t give opinions, don't tell us what you will do as a justice. Say as little as you can about anything—boy and we’ll take the ball front here. You’re our boy and if you just keep your mouth shut, laugh appropriately and look serious on the “cue” that we give you, we’ll whip you right up to the Supreme Court and there you can do your independent thinking, as we whisper our words in your ear. Paraded across the camera, in and out of the hearing room, was the myth of "American rise to the top" on the countenance of the good old boys in blackface. We made this country ourselves (notwithstanding slavery) was interchanged with we made ourselves successful (notwithstanding the civil rights movement). This country, love it or leave it was interchanged with Vail's all right with me, suh. cause I s a black Republican conservative. There was so much paradox in the presentations of the affirming paraders, that I was in awe that they had the intelligence to string words together and make sentences. President Jenkins of Elizabeth City State College talked about not wanting handouts and believing that “we have to do It ourselves.” One would wonder if Sen. Biden did, if he wasn’t representing a private versus state of N.C. institution. To follow his thinking. I would exnect that he would from this point request that the state nor the federal government send any more money and that he and his studens would survive on tuition, yard sales and fish dinners. 1 hope I’m around to hear his response when Judge Thomas agrees with the other jurists that aid to predominantly or historically black colleges are race conscious solutions to empowerment. The panel would have grilled and eaten Benjamin Hooks (NAACP), Rev. Amos Brown (National Baptist Convention), and Rev. Archie Le Mone (Progressive Baptist) had they been lesser men. The disdain with which Strom Thurmond regarded his foes was enough to chill a bonfire. Alan Simpson accused them as idd Robert Woodson (an African-American) of being jealous of Thomas because he is conservative. “You ought to be demeaned,” he said, as he suggested that they were more “politicians than preachers.” “A curious insult,” I thought, “since he is the politician.” Most of their grilling was around the issue of affirmative action. What had been interesting earlier was an interview with Ms. Alvarez, a Hispanic American who spoke of her "shame" as an affirmative action employee in Sen Danforth’s office prior to Judge Thomas' joining her there. When, would somebody tell me, did the 'See A DIFFERENT VOICE, P.«) TONY BROWN’S JOURNAL BY TONY BROWN problem is what is the black community going to do about the predicament? In November, I am introducing Freedom *00 Network By baying inrinimt using the telephone., we create another 50.000 small firms in the next five years and increase already in business. How will it work? Businesses and churches are (information: 212/575-0076) to be listed on rats sen-oetp telephone network. And beginning Nov. 6, you can do year Christmas or Black History Month shopping on the Boy Freedom 900 Network. With your touch-tone phone, 24 hours a day. you can command the system to find the business that offers the best bargain on what you are looking for anywhere in the United States. You can select an area code or category and the system will respond in a pleasant and totally individual manner And if you tire of interacting with the finest technology AT&T has to offer, you can select a live operator as your shopping assistant. Although blacks spend only 6 6 percent of their income with a black professional or firm, thousands of buyers are already sincerely committed to the concept of supporting businesses that will benefit their communities, but have no organized way of doing so. This self-help telephone network will connect buyers with businesses, professionals, churches and fundraising campaigns of non-profit community organizations. The Buy Freedom 900 Network will allow callers to choose from categories of businesses nationwide that offer big bargains and in some way support the community through job creation, scholarships or some other activity. But what about the 50,000 new small firms and, more importantly, the loans that will make them possible? How will that work? Profits from calls ($1.99 first minute, 9* cents each additional minute) to the businesses on a 900 number will be used to provide loans to start and expand new businesses in the city/area from which the call was received. That's why this self-help program is national m scope, but local in focus. The Buy Freedom 900 Network, a high-tech, telephone based self-help program, will recycle profits bom calls into the hands of the truly needy segments of our community as business loans, while providing discounts and information to the consumers who call the 900 number. (See TONY BROWN, P.S) KIND’S* EYE by Agatha E. Carroo THE 1818 PAPERS: 4 of 4 The psychoanalytic analysis at radam explicated by Dr. Wealing in “The Us Papers" is mindKapbvatii* and adds a chapter in the annals of the psychology of radam. Her main thesis that fear of genetic annihilation fuels the white supremacy model throughout the world is woD supported. The concomitant black fear perpetuated by the “global white supremacy system” causea an avoidance of problems among blacks which are then never solved. Dr. Wealing views black fear of white racism as haiwg debilitating. The creeping paralysis caused by this deep seated fear, according to Wealing, results in black self hate, black suicide, black-oo-black homicide, rhifaj abuse, spouse abuse and an increase in interracial marriages all being means of escape “from the fear of death at the hands of the white supremacy collective." Further commenting on interracial marriage. Wealing notes that “In the white supremacy societal unit of Nasi Germany, the highest incidence of interracial marraige between Semites (non whites) and Germans (whites) occurred Just prior to the ultimate dee traction of the Semites in the Holocaust.' “The Isis Papers" graphically addresses the anatomy of radam. However, the book leaves something to be desired in proposing solutions. Wealing proposes the growth of self and group-reaped in overcoming fear. She calls African-Americans to get about the business of black problem-solving, beginning with the problem of black oppression under white supremacy. Dr. Wealing further indicates that “All black people must abandon the illusion of integration." She suggests that programs should be developed to foster maximal black male and female development and to promote high-level fUnctioniiw of black males in their role as father. Dr. Wealing proposes that “No black female should become a mother before the age of 30,” and no black male should become a father before as years of age. Wealing in her excellent effort in explaining the dynamics of racism, makes little reference to the straggle of African peoples and their successes. Nor is the miraculous effect of “hope” and spirituality among black people alluded to. Without these antidotes for the fear engendered by racism, African peoples would have suffered extinction many years ago. A careful reading of “The Isis Papers" will certainly help to crystallize any black analysis of racism and its effects on it* Victims. However, the true value of this book to the struggle of African peoples will only be realised when a comprehensive, programmatic thrust is initiated baaed on Dr. Westing's claims, assertions and conclusions. Hopefully, her next effort will All this void.
The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Oct. 3, 1991, edition 1
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