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The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world from racial and national antago- nism when it accords to every person, regardless of race, creed or color, his or her human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every personin the firm belief that all persons are hurt as long as anyone is held back
2- January 7, 2009The Chronicle
those that are leveled against him for who he is. Becauseof our experience with racism, Blacks often are good at determining when indeed, a criticism has an underlying message that has little relevance to the issue at hand. But some are so good at covering up their criticism that assess-ing the degree of racism that he will attract as a Black president of the United States, regardless of his attempt torun a race-neutral administration, will be difficult.So, being trigger happy will not help, but being vigilant isthe right posture. I recommend an attitude of vigilancebecause of the fact that many of the problems Obama willface have no patent ideological guide and no surefire poli-cy corrective and thus, there are many times when he andhis administration, especially in their attempt to changecourse, will face uncertain choices and failure is almost certain for some.So, the success of his presidency will depend as much uponunderstanding of the difficulty of his challenges, placing expectations of his enormous gifts in some rational per-spective, and sorting out racism from real substance.Given the prospect that he will face a high bar of perform-ance and success probably not expected of any other mod-ern president, it will take all of the 95 percent of the Black community, the 43 percent of Whites and the 70 percent of others who voted for him to become a support base and a safe harbor as he faces the task of turning the historicalcorner to achieve a more enlightened America.So, permit me to say, as someone who has given much of his life work to making the election of a Black manPresident of the United States possible, I join you in wish-ing Brother Barack Obama God’s speed.Dr. Ron Walters is the Distinguished Leadership Scholar,Director of the African American Leadership Center andProfessor of Government and Politics at20the University of Maryland College Park. His latest book is: The Priceof Racial Reconciliation (U. Michigan Press).
The Inaguraiton ------------------------------------------cont. deom pg 1
after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll makethe mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.” “There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created,new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances torepair.” “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. Wemay not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.” “I promise you, we as a people will get there.” Pres. Elect Barack Obama
I was ---------------------------------------------------------cont. from pg 1
state well, and while I am appreciative of the awardsaccorded her, the Crosstown is a landmark and much-trav-eled thoroughfare that should not go unmarked.” Dr. Wilmont Frasier Jr., said although his late fathers nameadorns an elementary school on Charleston’s Westside, “It’s no accident that the area’s most significant structures,connected with high-achieving Blacks, are conspicuously absent. For instance, the enormous contribution to educa-tion made by Mary McCloud Bethune, what is namedafter her? “As many youths in our communities get caught upin criminal activities.” he noted, “its important in their early years for them to see concrete examples of people thecolor of us who have played significant roles in the devel-opment of their communities and world around them.” “Our history has been kept away from us,” said Rep.Gilliard, “and it was good thing to name the new Burkegym after the legendary coach and teacher after ModieRisher, for it reminds our young people of the sacrificesmade in the past and what each of them can do to emulatehim.” In an Chronicle editorial last week, Jim Frenchnoted that no major thoroughfare in the city of Charleston was named to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., except for a street in West Oak Forest with some18 residencies lining the narrow street. French said heerred when he learned that the Crosstown was already named to honor Dr. Septima Clark, although her namedoes not appear on street signs along the Crosstown.
What’s In ---------------------------------------------------cont. from pg 1
eers to refrain from coming to South Carolina as the statefaces a challenging economy. Though the NAACP should do more throughout the year to bring focus to its call for economic sanctions,Scott said yearlong negotiations continue behind thescenes to discourage visitors to the state. As part of thosecontinuing efforts, the goal and mission of King Day at theDome has not changed, she said. “We need to do more visible things to remind peo-ple that we still have a problem that needs to be fixed,” Scott said of NAACP efforts. The effectiveness of thoseefforts is another question, she said. The most recent tourism statistics available show the number of tourists to the state steadily increasing sincethe 2000 legislative compromise was reached.In 2007 tourists and conventioneers visiting the Tri-county area psent some $3 billion annually/ per per-son/per day, accor9ding to the Charleston MetroChamber of Commerce. About 74 percent of hotel andmotel rooms were occupied at an average rate of $150 per day. Individuals spent about $51 per day for food andbeveages, $38 per day to attend attractions and $104 per dcay shopping.In 1995 the rate of occupancy was about 73 percent wehiule the averrage rate for roomes was about $72 per day.In 1999, the year prior to the start of the NAACPsanctions, 2.8 million rooms were rented overnight inCharleston County. In 2000 2.93 million rooms were rent-ed overnight in the county. And in 2003 3.26 million rooms were rented overnight. According to a 2000 survey the average visitor tothe area spent about $60 for food and beverage, $20 for event tickets and $45 for shopping per trip.Rev. Joe Darby Vice president of the CharlestonNAACP said the fact that the NCAA still refuses to holdathletic tournaments in the state is one indication the sanc-tions are effective. And though some organizations,including the AME Church annually hold functions inSouth Carolina, it doesn’t negate other actions taking place, he said.Scott said support for President-elect Barack Obama’s candidacy indicates changing attitudes in thestate is occurring. “Now may be the time to take the issuebefore the legislature again,” she suggests.Charleston Rep. David Mack doesn’t agree how-ever. The legislature requires a two-third majority vote toreconsider legislation and those votes just aren’t there. “Not even close,” Mack said. While the annual march in Columbia may not sway legislators or significantly impact tourism in the state it does serve as an important educational tool teaching young people of their need to stay vigilant in ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect, Mack said.
NAACPConfederate ------------------------------------cont. from pg 1
improve, at least not for the next six months, says former Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce President Wilbur Johnson. But Charleston Minority Business Development Officemanager Theron Snype thinks the potential for Black owned busi-ness growth here is almost incalculable.Some traditional disparities account for the relatively few number of black-owned local businesses compared to those owned by members of other ethnic groups that includes difficulty in obtain-ing lines of credit and financing. But there are other factors,Johnson says.Most local black-owned businesses are in the service area,Johnson said. Black business development locally means theblack business community must become more diversified, he said. There are local Black lawyers and medical professionals, Black owned restaurants, a few clothing stores and janitorial services, “But we don’t have people making anything and only a few whoare building anything,” he said. That could change if President-elect Barack Obama’s stated goalscome to fruition through the creation of government work pro-grams, Johnson believes. That would create the opportunity for consulting jobs, construc-tion jobs and a host of suppliers that Black entrepreneurs can useto their advantage.Snype says the abundance of Black owned funeral businesses isone indicator that the resources to start and develop businessesare present in the Black community. Those resources simply haveto be redirected, he said. While problems in obtaining financing continue to exist, Black entrepreneurs outside the local community are beginning to seethe potential for business here, Snype said citing the recent loca-tion of two successful Black owned businesses to the area - one a medical staffing company the other a logistics firm.Noting that the Carolina Minority Suppliers Council, Inc. whichheld a conference here last August and plans two more in theupcoming year, Snype said locally members of the Black commu-nity will have to reinvest in themselves. To ignore the unfairness and discrimination Blacks encounter try-ing to start and develop businesses would be naive, said Snype.But the potential is here and often it’s necessary to compensate for those disparities with drive and commitment, he said.Using financial and business experience resources already existing within the Black community also can overcome some of the eco-nomic prejudice and discrimination Black entrepreneurs may face,he said.
Blacks Seeking -------------------------------------------cont. from pg 1
support 2010 Census opera-tions in South Carolina andfour other States:NorthCarolina, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. “It’s important that everyonebe included in the census sothat South Carolina and itscommunities get the fair shareof power and money distrib-uted on the basis of censusnumbers,” Hatcher said. The nationwide census that comes every 10 years is used toreapportion the seats of theU.S. House of Representatives among states,to redraw state legislativelines, and to allocate about $300 billion in federal monies yearly. The U.S. Constitutionmandates the census. America conducted its first census in1790, and the 2010 Census willbe the nation’s 23rd decennialcounting of people and hous-ing.LaRoche retired in 1994 fromhis duties at the CharlestonNavy Shipyard after 30 yearsof service. He cemented hiscommunity involvement withaffiliations in many organiza-tions. For three decades,LaRoche carved out localcelebrity status as a disc jockey at Charlestonj’s WPAL. Hecurrently serves as president of Media Services, Inc., a com-mercial radio consulting busi-ness based in Charleston. The U.S. Census Bureau hascharged LaRoche, as a part-nership specialist, with devel-oping partnerships with local,state and tribal governments,as well as community andfaith-based entities, schools,businesses and grassrootsorganizations. These partner-ships will help create a respon-sive environment when censusquestionnaires go to house-holds in spring 2010.
Philip LaRoche-cont. from pg 1
planning, coupled withskills in finance, communi-ty outreach and communi-cation. A native of Columbia, SC, he has pre- viously worked for the Alliance for DowntownNew York and managedbusiness attraction effortsfor the Lower ManhattanBusiness Improvement District. He has also worked for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation andDevelopment, directing the work on 40 projects.
New Director ----------------------------------------------cont. from pg 1Jonathan R. Oakman
About Dr. Septima Clark
Septima Earthaline PoinsetteClark was born inCharleston, SC. Her father was born a slave andher mother, Victoria, was sfree woman from Haiti.She attended public andprivate schools for Blacksin Charleston before enter-ing Avery Institute andbegan a teaching career for Blacks on Johns Island. In1918 she left the Island totake a position at Avery, at a time when there were noBlack teachers in theCharleston County public schools. She then collect-ed over 10,000 signaturesto have the law changed, which resulted in the hir-ing of Black teachers in1920.In 1957 she coordi-nated a campaign to equal-ize teacher salaries andbecame an active NAACPmember. In 1957 her teach-ing contract was not renewed after serving 40- years as an educator but her NAACP membership was the reason. She then joined the staff of Highlander Folk School,an integrated institutiondevoted to helping all peo-ple to achieve first-classcitizenship and equality. Among her students wasRosa Parks, credited tostarting the civil rightsmovement with her refusalto leave her bus seat inMontgomery, Alabama.In 1964 Dr. Clark was selected to accompany Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Norway when he waspresented the Nobel PeacePrize. In 1974 she waselected to the CharlestonCountry School Boardand in 1976 she was recipi-ent of the Humanitarian Award of the NationalEducation Association.In 1978, theCharleston Housing Authority named a day-care center for children inher honor and in 1979,President Jimmy Carter presented her with a Living Legacy Award. In1978 the College of Charleston awarded her an honorary doctorate,making her the first Black person to be so honoredand was later inductedinto the Burke HighSchool Hall of Fame.In 1982 shereceived the Order of thePalmetto from the state of South Carolina and in 1985 was one of five people tobe honored at the 50thconvention of the NationalCouncil on Nergro Women in Washington,D.C.She was united in mar-riage to the late NerieDavid Clark Jr. in 1923 who died two years later,leaving her a widow withtwo children.
By: Corey Williams and Ed White, Associated PressDETROIT - The former top aide and ex-lover of disgraced ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick fol-lowed her old boss to jail Tuesday, the last step in a criminal case that shook upDetroit politics for a year after romantic text mes-sages between the pair
Mayor's Aide GetsSentence of 120 Days in Jail
made headlines.Christine Beatty, once aninfluential figure at Detroit City Hall, waved goodbyeto loved ones as she wasushered from a courtroomto begin a 120-day jail stay for obstruction of justice.She will serve her term in Wayne County jail, whereKilpatrick has been serving an identical sentence sincelate October.
Christine Beatty
Lawyer for BaltimoreMayor CallsIndictment 'Ludicrous'
By. Sean YoesSpecial to the NNPA fromthe Afro-AmericanNewspapersBALTIMORE (NNPA) -Members of the media crammed into the receptionarea of the Clipper Mill law offices of Arnold Weiner where embattled BaltimoreMayor Sheila Dixon madeher first press conference toaddress the Baltimoregrand jury 12-count indict-ment leveled against her last week. The city’s first femalemayor, a 20-year veteran of Baltimore politics, enteredthe reception area flankedby her attorneys DaleKelberman and Weiner andsat down at a table crowd-ed with microphones andrecording devices.Dixon, looking subduedand somewhat shaken reada statement that was sent out to members of themedia earlier in the day.For the rest of the pressconference, which includedno questions from themedia, Weiner, a promi-nent Maryland defenseattorney, vigorously defended his client. “The first thing I wouldlike to say is how proud Iam that the lady to my left—Sheila Dixon—is themayor of my city,” Weiner said. “For more than twodecades she has distin-guished herself as a knowl-edgeable, effective anddedicated public servant.”
Mayor Shelia Dixon
All progress is precarious,and the solution of oneproblem brings us face toface with another problem.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I believe thatunarmed truth andunconditional lovewill have the finalword in reality. Thisis why right, tem-porarily defeated, isstronger than eviltriumphant.”
Martin Luther King, Jr
.
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