THE CHRONICLE
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(843) 723-2785Fax: (843) 577-6099Email: Chaschron@aol.comJ. JOHN FR
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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- February 11, 2009The ChronicleFord ----------------------cont. from pg 1
so much, don’t respect meenough to ask me directly what this legislation is intend-ed to do.My criticism is aimed squarely at these pseudo black journal-ists in South Carolina who dis-covered their blackness just yesterday. I am also taking aimat the heads of some African- American organizations who, just a few years ago, noticedthe Confederate Flag flying over the State House anddecided to wage an effort toget it removed. That flag was placed atop the StateHouse in 1962, but I was thefirst person to picket in 1967 for its removal. I have thelongest record of anyone whenit comes to dealing with theold Confederacy and their flag. Anyone else who comesto these issues is a Johnny-come-lately and they do not have the right to question meabout my blackness on thesetopics. All of this led to a planned meeting with some of these so-called black leaders soI could discuss my bill. But before I knew it they publicly criticized me about my bill. At that point, I didn’t see any need to have a meeting.Rep. WendellGilliard and I work every day of the week on issues, prob-lems and concerns that affect our community. We work onbehalf of people who’ve beenleft out of the mainstream of life in South Carolina. No one,can question our commitment to correct the wrongs that wesee.Given what we havedone, these pseudo black jour-nalists and their cronies needto get a life and stop pretend-ing they care about black peo-ple because everything they dois self-serving. As a trainedcommunity organizer my job isnot only to work toward thebest interest of people andtheir communities, but I amalso equally equipped toengage in verbal confrontation when necessary. So my detrac-tors shouldn’t assume they cango one-on-one with me.sleeping late and doing odd jobs around the house.General election day was the only paid day off when most people observed the day by going to the polls, but youeliminated that mandatory day when you pressed for theConfederate - King days. You said in the media coverage of your legislativeinitiative that “a black person needs to know what a whiteperson goes through in South Carolina and vice versa...weneed to know what made southern whites do what they did, secede from the union and fight a bloody, four year war.” I share the reported sentiments of Bill Miller, a member of the Fort Sumter Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans: “It does bother me that we wouldmandate anything like that. It takes away from the dignity of it.” Those who truly want to appreciate history and her-itage cannot be forced to do so, but will choose to do so.I’ve chosen to do so, and that’s why I don’t observeConfederate Memorial Day. The average poor southerner was simply fighting for his country and defending hishomeland, as do the foot soldiers in every war. The intent of the elected officials who led secession, however, was well stated by Confederate Vice-President Alexander Stephens: “Our nation is founded on the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man.” SouthCarolina’s Articles of Secession make it clear that our stateseceded from the union to maintain the right of people toown people. I know the history, but I cannot and will not embrace the heritage as you do. Your press release also referred to and criticized “pseudo black journalists, black detractors, African- American organizations who, just a few years ago, noticedthe Confederate Flag flying over the State House...,Johnny-come-latelys, and so-called black leaders,” andexpressed your outrage that those so labeled “jumped toconclusions, hate (you), don’t respect (you), question(your) blackness,” and “don’t respect me enough to ask medirectly what my legislation is intended to do.” Let merespond, in case I fall into any of those categories.I had not publicly spoken about your Confederate- King Day legislation until now. I did question your leg-islative proposal to deal with sagging pants and hip hopmusic while our state faces weighty issues like unemploy-ment, health care access, and quality education. TheCharleston Branch NAACP was sufficiently concernedabout your Confederate - King Day legislation andrespectful enough of your position to ask that you meet with Rev. Nelson Rivers, Branch President Dot Scott andmyself. You agreed to meet on Monday, February 9, 2009at 4:00 pm, but called me at 3:10 pm to postpone the meet-ing until you could bring a “mediator” along. I found that to be a novel request and suggested that you call President Scott, because no black elected official has ever refused tomeet with the NAACP in Charleston unless there was a “mediator.” Ms. Scott and I went to the NAACP office incase you still chose to meet, tried to call you from the officenumerous times with no response, left voice messages for you, and then left at 4:30 pm. You have chosen not torespond to those calls.I commend your 1967 stance against theConfederate Flag, although the first African-Americanlegislators elected in the early seventies introduced thefirst legislation to remove the flag. I also commend your work as a community organizer and your community out-reach. My concern, however, is with your introduction of the aforementioned legislation. You were elected and sent to Columbia by those of us in your District not to be a community organizer, but as a State Senator who enactsstate laws that have a positive impact on those whose qual-ity of life requires the unofficial outreach that you do as a community organizer.I suggest that you objectively survey your con-stituents to see whether we want mandatory Confederate -King holidays. You can then represent your constituentsand not craft legislation on sketchy, anecdotal informa-tion. I also suggest that you open yourself up to new pos-sibilities. The coming Civil War sesquicentennial in 2011offers an opportunity for all South Carolinians to reflect on the history of that War in a new air of mutual respect. Iknow that you’re an old civil rights warrior and think that some things can’t be done without coercion, but peoplehave an amazing capacity to unexpectedly do the right thing in new ways. As one who predicted that Barack Obama would never be elected President of the UnitedStates before you grudgingly became one of his “Johnny-come-lately” supporters, I’m sure you can now appreciatenew possibilities.Finally, I assure you that the Charleston NAACPis always willing to meet with you in an air of mutualrespect, if you come with an equal attitude of mutualrespect and a willingness to talk and not, as you said, “engage in verbal confrontation” or “go one-on-one.” Ithink that can be done if you take the advice that one of my preacher-uncles offered me when I went into ministry: “When you start acting like you’re as great as people say you are, you’ll run into trouble.” Best wishes,Joe Darby
“I will not ---------------------------------------------------cont. from pg 1
Citing the increasing number of whites moving onto the peninsula and fail-ing public schools that have existed for decades,Jones added, “They (thegrowing white community) want to create their ownschools and city council issaying they’ll go along withthat and to hell with public schools.” Leroy Connors, a found-ing member of the Friendsof Burke, but who also was a proponent for thedevelopment of the pre-dominantly white new Math and Science Charter School at the Rivers cam-pus said he has similar con-cerns.Connors said he thinks theconcept for the Meeting Street Academy is a goodone and he’s all for pro-grams that raise the bar for African American students,but the money being spent to develop a new schoolcould have been used toenhance programs at Burke and other underde- veloped Dist. 20 schools. The concern that Meeting Street Academy ultimately will serve a predominantly white student enrollment is valid, he said. “Some folks often do thingsthat seem to benefit theBlack community, but asgentrification displacesmany of the residents whonow live in that community the school could accommo-date the new residents. We’ve seen it happenbefore,” he said. To insure the school’scommitment to African American students,Connors suggests city council find ways to pre- vent their displacement through the development of more affordable housing in the area. “Most Blacks who ownhomes in that area don’t have children in school andthe only housing that’savailable to Black families with children mostly ispublic housing,” he said.Jon Butzon, director of Charleston EducationNetwork said he thinks theproposed school is a won-derful idea, but he under-stands the suspicions of theBlack community. “Given the long (disparate)history of education in thiscommunity, I can see why things that some say aregood for the African American community may not really be good. But inthis case I think that con-cern is misplaced,” he said. “Aside from doing goodthings for children, I hopethis initiative provokes thequestions about our public school programs.”
Land Deal ---------------cont. from pg 1
The management respond-ed to requests for more bal-anced views by hiring Richard Todd who is con-sidered a moderate talk show host. “But Todd is worse,” Johnson says. The programs promote fur-ther racial division in thelocal community, Johnsonsaid, and while he feels hisrecent meeting with man-agement was productive,said he will encourageoffended listeners to boy-cott the program’s adver-tisers.June Connors listens toRocky-D’s programbecause of its frequent focus on public education,she said. “Rocky is arrogant, loudand boisterous, but I think he does it to sell the show.I like the program becausehe has guests on who bring a lot of information. But then Rocky goes off on hisloony tunes thing. I just don’t take him seriously,” Connors said.Still offensive remarksmade on the programsshould be challenge, sheadded. “I’m not going tolose sleep over the thingsthey say, but they shouldbe held accountable. Their station is owned by a con-glomerate that airs Black music. When a shock jock is offensive we should go totheir bosses to let themknow our community won’t support their other sta-tions if they don’t take ethi-cal responsibility.” The same sentiment was voiced by a retired Senior Navy Chief living in West Ashley. Chief James Powesaid radio stations WMGL-Magic 103.7 and WWWZ-Z93, are CitadelBroadcasting’s numbersone and two-rated stations which feature rhythm andblues and hip hop formatsrespectively, are the con-glomerate’s cash cows which pay the salaries of the offending shock jocks. “In essence Black listenerspay to be offended. Andthe only thing the Black community gets in return isone public affairs programthat airs 7 p.m. Sunday evenings when the chancesof attracting listeners arelimited at best,” he said. “I tune into WTMA to hear local and national news. Ilisten to Richard Todd inthe mornings then NealBoortz and Rocky-D in theafternoons and find Rocky-D to be the most offensive.Rocky-D always raises therace issue to attract conser- vative white listeners wholove him. In one show three weeks ago there wasan issue about parking attendants and in his vile way described them as ‘rough neck little women’,” Powe said comparing Rocky-D to Imus.In another instance a whitesubscriber to this newspa-per said she was offended when part time announcer Jack Hunter, AKA TheSouthern Avenger, saidanyone supporting Denmark Vesey is the sameas a terrorist. At the timethere was a discussion con-cerning the placement of a memorial to Vesey inMarion Square.
Elder Johnson --------cont. from pg 1
ried couple leading twolaw enforcement agenciesin neighboring jurisdic-tions. They have been mar-ried for 20 years."This is something that isunique," said Fred Wilson,director of operations for the National Sheriffs' Association in Alexandria, Va. "It may very well be a first."Not everyone thinks it's a good idea to have theheads of the two largest local law enforcement agencies in the Orlandoarea married to each other.During the campaign for sheriff last fall, Demings'Republican opponent,John Tegg, warned of thepotential for conflict of interest and lack of inde-pendence in such anarrangement. Jerry Demings, who will earn$159,000 a year in the job,ran as a Democrat, and his wife was appointed to the$139,000-a year job a year ago by Democratic Mayor Buddy Dyer. Tegg didn't respond torepeated phone calls for comment.Family ties among locallaw enforcement headsisn't unheard of in theOrlando area. Outgoing Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary is the son of a former police chief of Winter Park, an Orlandosuburb, and his brother isthe former police chief of Lake Mary, another sub-urb. But a married coupleis a first for this theme park mecca, where the percep-tion of crime is taken asseriously as actual crimegiven the economy'sreliance on tourism."In an optimal world, youprobably would want tohave cooperating agenciesoperate fully at arm'slength because they repre-sent different constituen-cies' interests," said Lew Oliver, chairman of theOrange County Republican ExecutiveCommittee in Orlando."They're both very fine law enforcement officers withgood reputations, so Idon't think it's a big deal."Dyer saw no potential con-flict of interest with hischief of Orlando's 1,000-employee police force mar-ried to the Orange County sheriff, who oversees 2,400 workers."Certainly, it's a unique sit-uation," Dyer said in an e-mail. "But nowhere is it written that a married cou-ple cannot hold leadershippositions in law enforce-ment at different agenciesin the same geographic area." The Demings dismiss any concerns. Val Demings said their past behavior is the best indicator of how they willoperate. Val Demings worked for her husband asa high-ranking captain when he served as Orlandopolice chief from 1999 to2002."No one can point to any instance when there wasever a conflict of interest ... when we abused our authority in the agency," Val Demings said. "If wecould exist within the sameagency as husband and wife, certainly we can exist in two separate and dis-tinct agencies as heads of those agencies." With a stylish haircut andbroad smile, Val Demingscuts a glamorous if no-non-sense figure. The mus-tached Jerry Demings has a mirthful smile that sug-gests a politician morethan a police officer. They have the somewhat comic routine of many longtime couples. They laugh at each other's jokes,suggest that the other onetell a particular story andinterrupt each other to set the record straight if they disagree with the way they story is going. To relax,they ride Harley-Davidsonmotorcycles together."She has followed me inmost of my jobs," Jerry Demings said. While he says it as a joke,the statement isn't off tar-get since the two havetrodden the same career paths. Both came fromlarge families of modest means and lots of siblings.One of Jerry Demings'brothers died young fromthe ravages of heroinaddiction, an event that gave the sheriff-elect first-hand knowledge of theimpact of drug abuse onfamilies. They both studied at Florida State University in Tallahassee at the sametime, although they didn't know each other. ValDemings, 51, majored incriminology, while Jerry Demings, 49, studiedfinance. Jerry Demings joined the Orlando policeforce in 1981, while ValDemings worked as a social worker before mov-ing to Orlando to attendthe Orlando Police Academy in 1983.
Married 20 Years --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------cont. from pg 1
their children to either toJames Simons or Mitchellelementaries, both failing schools, he said.Charleston Progressive’sseventh and eighth gradestudent’s parents have theoption of sending their children either to BurkeMiddle or Sanders/Clyde which also are failing schools.Former constituent boardmembers Pam Kusmider and Henry Copeland alsoare assisting parents.Copeland said the adminis-tration is moving childrenaround like widgits toeliminate as many failing schools as soon as possible. “Their not interested inthese kids’ educations only their own report cards,” Copeland said noting that school districts are ratedbased on the number of failing schools they have. “The administration is try-ing to get rid of its failing schools, but our childrenare not commodities.” Numerous programsimplemented by the admin-istration over the years allhave failed, Copeland said.Kusmider agreed. “I’veseen the administrationimplement plan after planover and over and nothing has improved education inthe peninsula’s schools,” she said. “We’re just mov-ing kids around and never properly implementing a program. What’s taking place in the classroom is what needs to be fixed,” she said.
Parents to --------------------------------------------------cont. from pg 1
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