Newspaper Page Text
The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 13
SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS
Black in America
The Savannah Tribune
announces the second in a
series of articles written by
guest columnist Taquaa
Falaq Saleem. Taquaa is a
2008 honor graduate with
the B.A. in English Language
and Literature from
Savannah State University
where she was also awarded
the coveted President’s
Second Mile Award at the
commencement ceremonies.
She is currently a graduate
student and teaching assis
tant at Georgia Southern
University. She is a member
of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority.
By Taqwaa Falaq Saleem
America made me
proud on November 4th by
showing that change should
not always be considered
some sort of poison but can
be a valuable medicine or
treatment. America asserted
voice and voted for change
in this election. Not since
immediately following the
September 11th tragedies
have I felt such pride in
being American. Everyone
will remember where he or
she was when the announce
ment bellowed through air
waves around 11:00pm EST
that Barack Obama is the
President-Elect for the
United States of America.
Shocked to stillness, I sat on
the edge of my bed to wit
ness history unfolding. I
Taqwaa Falaq Saleem
thought my ears were
deceiving me until emotions
spilled from my eyes. We
had done it and I was and
remain so humbled and
proud.
Being black in America
is the awareness that our
country has regained control
of its trajectory. We as a peo
ple can now tell our children,
without any doubts or reser
vations, that they can be or
do anything, including
becoming president. Being
black now is feeling the
awareness of forward strides
in economic, healthcare,
educational, environmental,
gender, and social issues.
Being black is looking past
color and on to character.
Now is the time where we
are seeing glimpses of
acreage in the Promised
Land that we've not seen
before. Now is the time for
action. Change will not be
instant but I believe change
will be increasingly steady.
Being black in America feels
powerful. There is an exam
ple of finer humanity, strug
gles overcome, grace, and
determination in the highest
position of the free world.
He looks and sounds like me,
the black American.
Moreover, he looks and
sounds like Americans who
are Hispanic, Jewish,
Islamic, Asian, or Native
American because Barack
Obama speaks on the issues
that relate to the masses of
people, regardless of shades,
hues, or complexions. Being
black in America is feeling
the ties of brotherhood and
sisterhood as felt by those on
the front lines of the Civil
Rights movement. A new
day dawns and we have the
responsibility to look onward
and upward. Being black in
America is about broadening
our knowledge and patterns
of thinking by continuing to
actively and attentively go to
work or school. We must
shatter the glass ceilings that
our ancestors cracked. Now
is the time to embrace the
change we prayed for. The
future President and first
family are black in America.
Our country has a new face
to represent us globally.
Being black in America is
looking the world in the eye
and saying, with valor and
dignity, we are rising.
Exhibit...
Continued from page 2
visual talents in a free public
exhibition to win awards,
scholarships and prizes. This
year’s program will involve
84 exhibiting organizations
from 43 states and the District
of Columbia.
Savannah’s organizer,
Debra Zumstein, Arts
Programs Coordinator for the
City’s Department of Cultural
Affairs, says interest in the
exhibition has been strong
among City of Savannah
employees and family mem
bers.
“Our first exhibition
was overwhelming in terms
of the number and quality of
works submitted,” Zumstein
said. “This year's show is
proving to be just as good.
There is an incredible range
of work from a variety of
ages and skill levels. It's
important to recognize the
artistic talents of these indi
viduals, aside from what they
do in their work as city
employees.”
Employees from all
eight of the City’s bureaus
will have artwork on display.
The participating artists’ skill
levels range from youth to
professional.
The exhibition is free
and open to the public.
Gallery S.P.A.C.E. is located
at 9 W. Henry St. Gallery
hours are from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., Monday through
Friday.
For more information,
contact (912) 651-6783 or
visit
www. savannahga. go v/arts.
For more information on the
National Arts Program visit
http://www.nationalartspro-
gram.org.
NAACP's President Responds To
Recent Article Appearing In the News
By Dr. Prince Jackson, Jr.
After hearing from at
least 10 persons who read an
article submitted to the news
media by Ms. Felecisa
Halton, it is apparent that
there is an erroneous impres
sion, intentional or uninten
tional , that I am not a candi
date for reelection to be pres
ident of the Savannah Branch
NAACP. Let me state
unequivocally that I am a can
didate for reelection. This
response was not written ear
lier because all of the time
and energy of the local
Branch was expended in the
efforts to elect the first
African American President
of the United States of
America in the person of U.S.
Senator Barack Obama. The
efforts of millions of
Americans were successful
because by the Grace of God,
what was thought to be not
possible at this time of our
existence, became a reality.
The Savannah Branch regis
tered nearly 1000 new voters
and assist heavily in provid
ing transportation to get many
citizens to the polls to cast
their ballots.
The Nominating
Committee of the Branch
Dr. Prince Jackson, Jr.
made its report to the mem
bers on October 18, 2008 at
Palen United Methodist
Church. Alderman Clifton
Jones presided at the meeting.
The report was approved and
Mr. Jones called for addition
al nominations from the floor.
After no person offered a
nomination, Mrs. Halton
nominated herself. After
being told that self nomina
tions were not allowed, but
additional nominations could
be made via petitions from
members in good standing.
After no one offered to file a
petition for Ms. Halton, and it
was apparent that she really
wanted to run, I offered to file
a petition on her behalf but it
needed additional signatures.
After a brief silence,
Ms. Solona Plaines who came
to the meeting with Ms.
Halton offered her name in
support of the petition.
Although I talked with Ms.
Halton about running for an
Executive Committee mem
bership she was adamant
about running for the office of
president. Since I had com
mitted to file a petition on her
behalf, I went through with it.
In a nutshell, that is why there
are two persons running.
In the election, which, is
being held at the Branch
Office, 918-B Martin Luther
King, Jr., Boulevard, 2:00
p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on November
20, 2008, only members in
good standing can vote. A
member in good standing, is
one whose membership has
been current since September
20, 2008, or is a Life Member
or Subscribing Life Member.
Identification of a voter may
be required. A current
NAACP membership card can
be used to established eligibil
ity for voting.
If the reader of this arti
cle has any questions regard
ing its accuracy and veracity
he/she may call someone who
was present at the meeting. I
will appreciate your vote.
AWWIN.. • Continued from page 3
your career in the legal field.
There will be other great
groups and employers sharing
on “How To”
Area universities and colleges
will be in attendance also to
speak with you about how to
return to school, etc.
Additionally, attendees will
hear from notable motivation
al speaker, Miller Bargeron of
BOAN Consults. Some of the
other notable speakers are
Caroline Keller, an attorney at
Gulfstream, Marti Barrow,
Executive Director of
Savannah Area Tourism
Leadership Council, Lydia
Syed with Cumulus
Broadcasting, Nancy Johnson
with St Joseph's/Candler and
Rose deVries with Darby
Bank. The speakers will share
how they received their start
in the career of their choice
and will share with you how
you can get your start or move
up in your career of choice.
They will also share their
challenges and how they were
able to overcome the chal
lenges they faced.
To register or for more
information call Sarahlyn U.
Argrow at (912) 659-0241, or
visit www.awwininc2.org or
call Kareem Hill at 912-235-
5208. Seating is limited.
Registration fee of $25.00
includes both days of summit
attendance, a wealth of knowl
edge, lunch, goodie bags, etc.
Ynin' Loved Ones Desa've the Very Best
Adams Funeral Services
Beautiful I inal Tribute”
5 10 Stephenson Avenue
Savannah, Georgia 3 1405
Office: (0 12) 354-6260 Fax: (0[2) 354-6261
Mr. E, Bruce Adams, Owner/JVlortician
Mr. Amari "Triple A” Adams, Owner/Apprentice
Mrs. Laura Singleton, Of lice Manager
“Call Us With Confidence When You Truly Need A Friend"
First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church
November 16-19, 2008
MONDAY. November 17, 2008 (7 PM)
" 7 ri tu i ty E wp ft u i is \ !g h t "
Rev. Aiphonso C. Piper
(Goodwill Baptist Chgrth)
TUESDAY, November 18 2008 (7 PM)
■ t It tin h ) tup h it i /1 \ t g h t *
Per, Craig Daughtry
(New 'JenersiiDM full Gospel Church)
WEDNESDAY, November 1 9. 2008
ruuRfi Sight’ 1
Rev Gregory Tyson
(Jar LJ talent B.iplisl ChUfChl
Rev Dr Clarence ‘Teddy" Wild am*. Pastor
fl r 1 .) r d a Lv.i rnrf) tfnfmri r. hti Irmnn nt (letirnn s Mtntxtry
&istir wuit* A N*Jr Church ittpr
(312] 232-SB65
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