Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 2 June 1994 — Page 1

Editorial: Let’s join in celebrating June as Black Music Month 2 Former Muncie activist Harry L. Gudger heads Arlington, Texas NAACP. 6 Belinda Thompson is this week’s "fyoutA. O* 74e “WCave 7 7* S<t<*<U: TV news impugns President’s character. 8

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7* (ZinctM. Hurley’s history lessons continue 10 givil {lowuuit: It’s time for black men to become role models for our youth 11 T£cU?i*m:. Dr. Duncan explores the mysteries of the Godhead ^ .18 *2W<s*j>:Have chicken your way, fried, baked or Southern style 25

| '1k6<m&4,'1teaK60i 11 -2 June 1994 “ Whatewrycni(b, strive to chit somkU that mmmljvmgcmdm mm ckadcmdmmcmyet to be bom could do it any better’’ j

Renee Conley becomes city’s only African American lawyer

by T. S. Kumbula She’s shy, even self-effac-ing. Her aunt describes her as a sensitive young woman who is more interested in helping people than making money. A family friend calls her “an outstanding person, a sweet young woman, the kind of daughter any mother would like to have.” She is Renee Conley, 27, probably the only African American lawyer in Muncie. She’s also a granddaughter of the late Vivian Conley. Typically, she downplays the significance of what she has achieved. “I don’t regard myself as unique or

having done anything spectacular. Anyone else who was willing to set goals and work hard could have done this,” she said the other day. Attorney Conley was born to Aamir Shabazz and Carol Upchurch Conley. However, her parents divorced when she was young, leaving her mother, she said, to raise the family. “I saw how hard my mother had to work to support us. My mother struggled. She got a job at General Motors. I said to myself when I was young that I would have to get a good education so I could give my children a better chance in life,” Conley said. “I knew that going to

Renee Conley

college would make that possible.” She said she was raised in an environment where an interest in education was nurtured and encouraged. It has paid off. Of her three brothers, Anthony, 31, the oldest, is working toward a doctorate in history at Pur-

due University. Her second brother, Jerome, 28, who has a master’s degree in library and information sciences, is in his second year as a visiting professor at Miami University of Ohio. The baby of the family, Marq, 20, is in his second year at Grand Rapids College in Michigan. “I always knew when I was growing up that I was going to go to college. It was emphasized by my parents and grandmother that my brothers,and I would go to college. I decided when I was in the ninth grade that I wanted to be a lawyer,” Conley said. “There were too many things wrong in Muncie

that had to be righted before blacks could achieve equality. I wanted to be an advocate for the people. That’s why I knew I had to go to law school. “I don’t think that the law is always equal. But everybody should have the right to representation. That’s what is supposed to present balance in the judicial system.” Conley is a Muncie native who has returned home. She attended WashingtonCarver Elementary School, then McKinley Middle School, before graduating from Muncie Central High School in 1984. During her days at Muncie Central, See CONLEY on Page 3

Ivy defies odds to become a nurse

by Deborah Banks No matter how far blacks have come, they still have a lot of pain, prejudices and political interferences to endure. However, some of them are overcoming those odds and obstacles. A case in point is Renee Ivy, a licensed practical nurse at Parkview Nursing Center, who recently completed a two-year registered nursing degree at Ball State University. She will receive her RN license at the end of July or the first week in August. The two-year degree pro-

Renee Ivy gram is new at BSU. Ivy was the first African American to graduate from the program. Because of her difficulty in getting admitted into the

program, graduation was a milestone for Ivy and a path for others to follow. “The first year I applied, I was told I didn’t have the required science credits that I needed,” Ivy Said. “And, my advisor didn’t tell me that I should have already taken these course before applying.” However, Ivy was determined to become a RN, she managed to take the required science courses and was admitted into the program. But this was only the beginning of Ivy’s other problems. See IVY on Page 5

Muncie Black Expo offers two $500 scholarships by The Editor The Indiana Black Expo, Muncie chapter, is sponsoring two $500 scholarships for this summer’s graduating Muncie high school seniors. The initial $1,000 for what is expected to be an annual scholarship program was donated by attorney Barbara Gasper Hines, an MBE member and recent judicial candidate. Applications, which must be postmarked no later than June 13, should be sent to IBE Scholarship Program, Indiana Black Expo, Muncie Chapter, P. O. Box 386, Muncie, IN 47308. A panel of three judges, Carl Malone, Tracy Edwards and Dr. Tendayi Kumbula, will judge the applications beginning June 15. The scholarship recipients will be announced at an MBE corporate luncheon June 23 at The Hotel Roberts. See SCHOLARSHIPS on page 6