Newspaper Page Text
Page 11
April 30 r 19vi
Anchored Against Racism
By Terrence Johnson
Upon turning on their television
sets, to watch the evening news, the
only African-American males that
Atlantans are likely to see are either
African-American males being arrested
for selling drugs or for assault and
battery, or African-American males
being viciously clubbed and kicked by
police officers.
With three major networks in a
city populated significantly by African-
Americans, citizens of Atlanta will only
see one African-American male on the'
6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news.
His name is Joe Washington and
he is a sports anchor for WXIA-TV
channel 11.
Washington has been with the
station since 1976.
He began as a weekend anchor and
reporter, and he hoped to ultimately
become an evening anchor on the 6
p.m. and 11 p.m. news.
"I came at a time when the station
was growing," said Washington.
Washington remained in that
position for approximately three years
until he became co-anchor of the
"Noon Show."
Although Washington’s possibility
of becoming an evening anchor was
promising, he decided to hire a talent
agent to help him improve his on-air
personality.
"I was working with a handicap;
the value of a black male anchor was
questionable during that period,"
Washington said.
While some proponents of the
media are reluctant to say that
Washington experienced racism,
claiming that he lacked the necessary
qualifications for a promotion,
Washington’s background is quite
impressive.
Washington wai undoubtedly an
ambitious student.
When the average college
journalism student was taking speech
for Broadcasting 214 or Journalism
101, Washington was working for an
ABC station.
As a student at Evergreen State
College in Olympia, 'Washington, he
drove a total of 140 miles a day in
order to work 20 hours a week at an
ABC station located in Seattle.
"As an intern reporter, I used
television as a way of working my way
through college," said Washington.
After graduating with a bachelor’s
degree in communications, Washington
moved to Denver, where he was a
reporter for seven months.’ He then
moved to Atlanta and begaii working
for channel 11.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that
Washington had worked in top 20
affiliate stations since his career began,
the management at channel 11 opted
not to offer Washington an anchor
position; thus, he remained on the
"Noon Show."
By this time, Washington had
begun contemplating the idea of
relocating to another city.
"I made an attempt to leave the
station, but no one was looking for a
black male anchor," he said.
A few months later, the
management offered him an opportunity
to become a sports anchor on the 5:30
p.m. news show.
"Initially, I said no; often blacks
are stereotyped as only sports anchors,"
said Washington.
Moreover, he was not very familiar
with sports and he had never reported
on any sporting events.
"However, over a period of time, I
became disillusioned with becoming an
anchor, so I decided to accept the
position of sports anchor," he said.
"Eventually, I began to have fun.
After three years on the 5:30 p.m.
news show, I switched to the 6 p.m.
and 11 p.m. news as a sports anchor,"
Washington said.
Washington had to become familiar
with sports without the help of anyone.
According to him, "I still do not feel
100 percent comfortable; I am still
learning."
Although Washington has yet to
become a news anchor, he is actively
encouraging teens to realize that they
possess the ability to become
accomplished individuals.
"1 take very seriously that I am the
only black male on television during
the evening news in a city with a
population of 60 percent black," he
said. "I speak at schools and prisons
to inspire hope within the lives of
individuals who feel helpless."
Washington realizes the importance
of having accessible role models.
"My father and my brother [who
has a doctorate] were my role models,"
said Washington. "Also, living within *>-
a small community meant that role
.models were easy to find."
Therefore, Washington realizes the
importance of giving back to the
community which nurtured him by
encouraging teenagers to realize that
they have self-worth.
Washington provided a bit of
advice for individuals who are aspiring
to better themselves: "Realize that you
are an important individual, and learn
to take chances."
Teachers, Tenure, Trust ... Us
Continued from page 10
for Academic Affairs and Dean, a
faculty member may appeal to the
President."
If the President deems it
appropriate, she may request
reconsideration by the Vice President
for Academic Affairs and Dean or the
Committee on Faculty Personnel or
both.
After reconsideration, a final
recommendation is submitted to the
President, who, in consultation with the
Vice President for Academic Affairs
an<f Dean, makes a final decision and
recommendation to the Board of
Trustees.
In that case, the Board makes the
final tenure decision and communicates
it to the President, who then informs
the faculty member of the decision in
writing.
Dr. June Aldridge, professor and
chairperson of the English department,
said, "The department plays a role in
[the process of] tenure/promotion only
in terms of peer evaluation and the
chairperson’s recommendation which
are submitted to the appropriate
committee.
"Sometimes faculty members write
letters for a colleague who is going up
for tenure."
After Stephens’ explanation of the
tenure process, Myers continued the
meeting with a discussion responding
to rumors about a rally that was
supposed to have been held that
afternoon.
According to students’ "word-of-
mouth" plans, during the rally, students
supporting Dr. Reese would have worn
black and students supporting Dr. Cole
would have worn white.
The rally was ultimately cancelled
and students opted to have the
-"community meeting" instead.
Myers said that by wearing those
colors in a rally, "We’re telling
America that we’re having a fight
between White and Black. We don’t
have to say anything about racism; our
clothes said it all."
Omnika Simmons, a freshman
English major, spoke on behalf of
"those who decided to wear white."
She said that she did not realize
the racial implications suggested by
those colors and was disappointed that
a show of support could so easily turn
into something distinctly racist.
Senior Susan Levy, who had made
an appeal to students to support Dr.
Reese during an S.S.G.A. debate, said
that a rally, or demonstration, was not
intended.
She apologized, saying that she and
other students had "no information at
all. We were acting on emotions. We
had only spoken to Dr. Reese and had
only heard one side of the story.
"We allowed ourselves to be
manipulated by the situation. I’m
angry because I feel [that] when the
whole truth isn’t told, you lie by
omission."
Levy said she believes students and
professors have a special bond that is
based on respect and that she "listened
to what Dr. Reese had to say" based
on that bond.
Spelman graduate Dawn Jackson
(’87) reinforced that idea by saying,
"It’s important that the Spelman body
of students understand that there is a
process to everything . . . Before you
get personally involved in anything,
you have to know everything."
Jackson also reminded students to
recognize their obligation to the
alumnae, noting the importance of
networking and using the knowledge
and support of others.
The floor was then opened for
comments and questions from the
audience.
Monty Givhan, a senior at
Morehouse, said, "That (emotion for
Dr. Reese) is personal and this
(whether or not Dr. Reese is granted
tenure) is political. . . Through her
record, Dr. Cole has earned the benefit
of the doubt."
Rev. Joy Browne, Spelman’s
assistant minister, said that we must
learn to separate our emotions in order
to ensure validity in what we say, but
"in honor of our foremothers," she
challenged us to use these emotions
and ask questions when necessary.
"Be proactive," she said. "When
you’re proactive, you’re able to
anticipate problems before they come."
By the end of the meeting,
students’ anxiety changed to curiosity
about how to improve academic and
social life on Spelman’s campus.
Dean Hill noted that students are
"on every [faculty] committee except
tenure" and thus, have a very important
part in deciding "the character, texture
and climate of Spelman."
In a personal interview Monday,
April 8, Dr. Reese said he had "never
heard any students say that," referring
to Levy’s comments at the forum
Friday. "I’m very concerned if students
feel I’ve manipulated them. What
seems to me is happening here is a
very classic case of victimizing the
victim."
Dr. Reese said that he "never told
anybody anything that wasn’t true" and
that he did not know why he was not
granted tenure.
He said that he requested in writing
reasons why he had been denied tenure
and that he had received a letter from
Dr. Cole to his family saying that
reasons will be given after the Board
has met.
The Board of Trustees met April
16-17.
In a follow-up interview, Dr. Reese
cited favorable results from student
evaluations and long waiting lists of
students wanting to take his World
Literature course.
"If it’s unprofessional for me to tell v
you this, I’m sorry," he said. "It’s in
writing. I got these things back;
Students filled them out."
Dr. Reese said that he was unaware
of any personal deficiencies in the
three criteria (teaching effectiveness,
scholarly achievement and college'
service) on which faculty members are
evaluated.
"I deeply, deeply regret having to
leave Spelman and if I’ve caused any
Spelman student any emotional distress
in the six years that I’ve been here, I’m
very sorry," said Dr. Reese.
In a breakfast with outgoing and
newly-elected S.S.G.A. officers, Dr.
Cole noted that information regarding
Dr. Reese is confidential.
She said that she’s learned from
this situation that "we need better
communication."
She challenged S.S.G.A. president
elect Katrina Myers and other officers
to make 1991-92 a "year of
information sharing."
She also urged students to
participate in the S.S.G.A. saying, ’*•
"Spelman is the exceptional experience.
[We] won’t .accept only 10 percent
participation of AN|f group."