Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 17 February 2000 — Page 14

The Muncie Times, Febuary 17, 2000, page 14

PHELPS FROM PAGE 12 lot of reasons,” Phelps said. She accepted the position of in conjunction with working on her doctoral degree, a degree should have purused at either Purdue or Indiana State University also. She selected Ball State University because she has a daughter who’s attending on a track athletic scholarship and Phelps knew she didn’t have to make the lengthy trip back to Indianapolis after a long day at work and long evenings in a classroom. She wanted to attend full-time but decided to work and pursue her endeavors of a doctoral degree on a part-time basis in spring 2000. Phelps said that her family life and church honed her into the person that she is today. She said that her mom and dad stressed the importance of education. Each of her sisters and brothers have some type of degree. She said that her oldest sister led the way by attending Indiana

University and Phelps decided that college was for her because on the day that they took her sister to I. U., she realized that she was able to eat all the ice cream she wanted. Phelps is a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Indianapolis where she’s an active member of the Outreach ministry and Vacation Bible School. Phelps is or has held membership in such organizations as the State PTA Board, NAACP, and Phi Delta Kappa, a service organization. Phelps describes herself as firm and consistent when it comes to working with the students and easy to smile on a personal level. She said that she’s nurturing and caring. “One who, whenever possible, likes to give accolades to others.” Phelps prefers behind the scene action when it comes to doing and taking credit. “Anything that I’ve accomplished, I didn’t accomplish

it by myself,” she said. Phelps gives credit for her accomplishments to the Lord, her family, friends and people that have supported her. In giving advice to the youth, Phelps said, “With your hands you make your success and with your hands you destroy your success.” Phelps quoted this adage from “Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations of People of Color.” “They are going to have to work hard and embrace those people who are trying to help them. . .their attitude is very important,” said Phelps. “I encourage our young people to work on their attitude and listen to their parents. It’s not your aptitude but it’s your attitude that’s going to determine your success in life.” When it comes to reclining, Phelps unwinds by roller-skating and attending Indianapolis Colts games to watch her favorite rookie Edgerrin James play ball.

She also likes to collect angels, music boxes and salt and pepper shakers, but when she really wants to relax, taking a cruise usually brings her the tranquility she desires. Phelps has been married to her husband Marcus for 22 years and they share a daughter Jada and son Marcus II, 14. I’m really happy to be here and I do believe that the Lord puts you in places for a reason,” said Phelps. “A year ago, Muncie Central wasn’t even in my thoughts...” Both Phelps and Muncie School Board president Carl Kizer, Jr., expressed their appreciation for new school superintendent Dr. Marlin Creasy. Phelphs said that he has shown a caring attitude toward her and the school administration as a whole and Kizer, Jr., said that he’s receptive to the fact that “we do need minority role models.”

CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL

Your heritage is my slavery

African Americans have had to be at least bi-cultural and bilingual since our very earliest days on this continent. W. E. B. DuBois, the African American scholar referred to this “twoness” in his writings at the beginning of the 20th century. In order to survive in a hostile environment we have had to learn how to “read between the lines” and to translate the code words, which seemed benign on the surface but meant life and sometimes death in everyday life. Those who misread or ignored the true meaning of words had shots ring through their homes at night or were found dead hanging on a tree. It was just that serious. So when an African American hears George W. Bush or John McClain talk about “states’ rights” when it comes to the controversy around the state flag of South Carolina, our antennas go up and our code-reading books come out. The term states’ rights was used by racist governors of the South to

Bernice Powell Jackson

oppose desegregation of schools and public facilities throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. They claimed that states had a right to determine whether blacks could be educated with whites or whether we could sit down on a bus or at a lunch counter. It was

code language for white supremacy as usual. It was code language then and it is code language now. And when white South Carolinians argue that using the confederate flag as the state flag is just a way of honoring their heritage, we understand that it is

just as much about honoring those days when blacks were enslaved as it is about honoring those who fought in the Civil War. For we know very well what the meaning of the confederate flag was then and what it means now. Just as troubling as the code language used by both of these Republican candidates is the waffling by Senator McCain on this issue. “First you say you do and then you don’t” might work for song lyrics, but it doesnt work in presidential politics. Coupled with the fact that his South Carolina office shares space with the Southern Heritage Association, a vocal proponent for saving the confederate flag, McCain’s words and actions tell African Americans not only in South Carolina but across the nation that he supports racist symbols and those who would use them. The fact of the matter is that the CIVIL RIGHTS SEE PAGE IS