Newspaper Page Text
8
January 19, 1995
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On the road to equality
he waning days of 1994 brought
T news of the selection of a leading
African-American educator, Dr.
Ruth Simmons, as the new president of
Smith College.
Dr. Simmons thus becomes another
“first” —the first African American to
lead a top-rated, predominantly white
private college.
Her selection tells us that, while dis
crimination is still a strong factor in
American life, African Americans with
the skills and credentials for success are
penetrating the highest levels of many of
society’s major institutions.
Dr. Simmons certainly has all the req
uisites for the job of guiding Smith Col
lege into the next century.
A graduate of Dillard University, she
was a Fulbright scholar and holds
master’s and doctorate degrees from
Harvard. She’s been an outstanding
teacher and an administrator at the his
torically black women’s school Spelman
College, and elite Ivy League school
Princeton University.
In order to maintain its position in a
diverse, competitive world economy, our
society will have to draw its future lead
ers from those who, like Dr. Simmons,
demonstrate the ability to cross artificial
boundaries and be comfortable in a vari
ety of cultural settings, whether
intragroup institutions or mainstream
ones.
Small wonder then, that Smith’s trust
ees brushed aside the possibility of race
based negative backlash from alumni and
offered her the job.
There’s a similar openness among the
best corporations to seek the best people,
regardless of race, in fulfilling key posi
tions including those at the very top. For
example, Time Warner, Inc. recently se
lected Richard Parsons, the African-
American chief executive officer of The
Dime Savings Bank, as its new Presi
dent, the second-ranking position in the
Fortune 500 company.
That appointment broke with two tra
ditions — by going outside the company
to find the best person, and by going
outside the traditional white male mana
gerial pool to hire an outstanding black
executive.
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f The energy (o march in Washinglon
/7 G Wi sl ad e bear iy
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/ . To fight for all our rights
{”};j ‘ What gives black successors
e The will to get up
Vs O ENadE The will to go on
The will to fight for what's right
o . And the will o strive
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el E Black Pride
i by Evern . Sruggs
A o Ms Soruggs is in (he ninth grade at
i S % Immaculate Conception School.
AUGUSTA FOCUS
Hugh B. Price reveals African
Americans are a major force in
academic institutions and
major corporations around
America. Various professions in
our nation are becoming less
discriminating and more
objective in terms of skills.
Such corporations as Xerox, American
Express, GM, Ford, and others also have
black executives who run key operations
and are in line for future promotion to a
corporate presidency or chairmanship.
I believe we'’re going to see a lot more of
that as major institutions, whether pres
tigious colleges or giant corporations,
pursue people who can help them meet
their goals, regardless of race, religion,
or ethnicity.
The name of the game these days is
competitiveness,and all institutions need
the best people they can get if they are
going to be able to compete effectively.
Many of those leaders will come from
humble backgrounds far removed from
the privileged class from which our insti
tutional leadership haslong been drawn.
Dr. Simmons, forexample, was the young
est of the 12 children of a Texas share
cropper and attended segregated schools
in the Jim Crow South.
America has always expanded oppor
tunities to bring formerly disadvantaged
groups into the mainstream. The system
still works, if only fitfully when it comes
to African Americans.
It has to work better in the future, for
if America listens to those who peddle
myths about black intelligence deficits,
foreclosing opportunities for children in
poor families, it will lose the contribu
tions oftomorrow’s Ruth Simmonses, with
terrible effects on our society and our
competitiveness.
Before accepting her new post, Dr.
Simmons asked the college’s trustees: “Is
Smith ready for this?” It was.
Now, we have to ask: “Is Americaready
for more of this?” It has tobe ifis toretain
its world pre-eminence.
Editorial
Local role models recognized
gain, happy Dr. Mar-
Atin Luther King
Birthday. We have
noted good and expanded
thrust in the media, elec
tronic and printed, all over
our nation.
And we were glad to see
two "sheroes.” During the
heavy storm on Jan. 14, 1
p.m., preceding the annual
NAACP parade, muchofthe
volunteer participants had
to“fall by the wayside.” But
it was Dedra Griffin who
courageously mounted one
ofher WJBF Channel 6 pro
gram buses, steered it out
toward the front of the un
certain parade organiza
tions and leaders. This ac
tion by Ms. Griffin brought
cheers and applause from
others, thereby encourag
ingNAACPleaders tomove
the parade forward, down
Broad St. Many NAACPers
shouted, “Full speed ahead
—ahead for M. L. King and
the NAACP!” Darn this
storm ... Ms. Griffin was
thereby able to get her own
photographic coverage,
highlighting the valuable
and skillfui T. V. program
action that this veteran has
taken on this station since
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
R R .
Honor must be restored
t was one of my worst
I nightmares. Whenlre
ceived an envelope
with a Las Vegas casino re
turn address I thought it
strange since I've never
been there and have no de
sire to go. It was an invita
tion to a special Martin
Luther King, Jr. week-end.
What a way totrivialize the
legacy — by gambling in
Las Vegas.
This time last year I was
in South Africa, where a
whole nation was focused
on rebirth and rebuilding a
just and peaceful society
despite a terrible history of
war and brutality, racism
and a governmental system
of separation, incredible
poverty and unbridled
greed. And despite all that,
South Africans of all races
and classes were proclaim
ing a year of jubilee and
calling for “Peace in our
Land.”
As we pause this year to
celebrate Martin Luther
King, Jr’s birthday, why
can’t we do like our South
African brothers and sis
ters and call for Peace in
our Land, Peacein our Com
munities, Peace in our
Homes? On that one day,
why can’t the brothers and
sisters put down the guns
to honor one of the greatest
African Americans, one of
the greatest spiritual and
moral leaders of all time?
Why can’t the drug dealers,
J. Philip Waring commends the heroines of
last week's Martin Luther King day parade .
Ms. Dedra Griffin's and Mrs. Lessie Price's
actions were inspiring to many who
participated in the festivities. Mr. Nelson B.
Rivers 111, a well known speaker, gave Q
speech at the NAACP Freedom Fund
dinner which was truly enlightening.
returning to her native
Augusta. And may Going
Places also congratulate
Channel 6 on being selected
as state TV station of the
year!
Another “shero” was our
Mrs. Lessie B. Price, presi
dent of the CSRA Classic.
She heard of the disap
pointments expressed by
hundreds of people who
called arrangements forthe
Dr. M. L. King annual holi
day leaves as shoddy and
irregular compared with
many other states and re
gions. Whena TV reporter
asked Mrs. Price about this
widespread public com
plaint, she courageously
said it should be reviewed,
discussed and changed for
a better stance. Well done!
Bernice Powell Jackson challenges the
entire nation to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther
King's holiday with a decree of honor
peace and understanding of our racial and
social diversities. Jackson stresses that
Martin Luther King did not die for racial
justice so blacks could commit cultural and
social genocide.
the bullies, the neighbor
hood terrorists drop the AK
-47s and uzis for just 24
hours?
And on that one day, as
we honor the life of Martin
Luther King, Jr. in our
churches and mosques, why
can’t we open their doors
and go get these young
people and bring them in
and really talk with them
about their lives and about
Dr. King and non-violence?
Why can't we listen to their
pleas for help and caring in
a world that, too often, is
deaf? Why can’t we start
recreational and tutoring
and after-school programs
for our children? Why can’t
wemaketheworld Dr. King
dreamed of for his children
a reality for all our chil
dren? Why can’t we adopt
parents who need help in
learning how tobe parents?
And on that day, as we
honor the life of Martin
Luther King, Jr. in our
schools across the country,
why can’t we do the maxi
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An adventure with
Nelson B. Rivers 111
Those who attended
Monday night’s annual
Augusta NAACP Freedom
Fund dinner at the
Radisson Riverwalk Hotel
found themselves in for a
rare treat.
This 47-year-old South
east Regional Director is
dynamic, well-experienced
in the life and times of the
NAACP movement, with a
proven and successful track
record therein, coupled
with being an excellent
speaker.
Here were some of his
highlights.
Myth: A group of promi
nent large American cor
porations and foundations
holds internal power over
mum for each child? Why
can’teducators and admin
istrators re-commit them
selves to save every child,
not just a precious few?
Why can’t parents become
involved in their children’s
education? Why can’t the
rest of us do something to
make our schools centers
oflearning and excellence?
And on that day, as we
honor the life of Martin
Luther King, Jr. in our fra
ternities and sororities and
ourservice and social clubs,
why can’t every single
member commit them
selves to finding one child
to mentor — one child to
call or visit every week so
that they might not be lost
to the gangs or to the hope
lessness that stalks our
children and our future?
Young black men were
almost 14 times more likely
than any other group in
this nation to be murdered
during 1992. Martin
Luther King spent his en
tire career and ultimately
Sugen (JeYdIS
Charles W. Walker, CEO and Publisher
Frederick J. Benjamin, Sr, Editor-in-Chief
Dot Ealy, Director of Marketing
Sheila Jones, Account Representative
Rhonda Jones, Copy Editor, Reporter
Rhonda Y. Maree, Reporter
Derick Wells, Art Director
Joseph L. Smith, Layout/Graphics, Distribution
Emma Russ, Layout/Graphics
Jimmy Carter, Photographer, Distribution
Xavier Jones, Distribution
Faye Davis, Office Manager
.
the NAACP. “The latter is
in their hip pockets,” it is
said.
Please discard this myth
and unfair rumor. The total
national operating budget
is $9.7 million. Some sll.B
million comes from founda
tions, large corporation
gifts, etc. Eighty-two per
cent of the NAACP’s finan
cial base comes from within
the Black Community, said
Mr. Rivers. There’s always
been scores of resources on
this, such as annual mem
bership dues; life member
ship programs; fund-rais
ing activities from local and
state branches; churches
and many, many self-help
and grass roots NAACP
sources. “Does that 82 per
cent look like the NAACP is
in anyone's hip pocket?"
asked Mr. Rivers.
Another myth: The
NAACPis about toroll over
and die.
The associationis over 84
years old. Despite the prob
lems we had last year, the
audits have been com
pleted; new regulations and
business controls, new over
all operational procedures
are in place.
lost his life so that our chil
dren might be free to reach
their god-given potential.
He could not have imag
ined a world where an 11-
year-old would kill a 14-
year-old and then be killed
by two other teenagers. He
could not have imagined a
world where a 5-year-old
gets pushed out of a win
dow by two teens when he
refused to steal. He could
not have imagined a world
where children plan their
own funerals because they
do not expect even to live.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
did not die for us to cel
ebrate his birthday gam
bling in Las Vegas. His
legacy calls for us all —
children, teenagers,
“buppies,” baby boomers,
senior citizens, Christians,
Muslims, Jews, sorors and
brothers, rich and middle
class and poor, and African
Americans, white Ameri
cans, Hispanic Americans,
Asian Americans, Native
Americans — to make his
dream more than a beauti
ful speech. A beautiful real
ity.
Gambling on our future
by not getting involved per
sonally is no better than
gambling in Las Vegas on
Martin Luther King Jr.’s
birthday. We know that old
African proverb about it
taking an entire village to
raise a child. Let’s start liv
ing it.