Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 March 2002 — Page 8

The Muncie Times, March 7, 2002, page 8

NEWS BRIEFS

NEWS BRIEFS FROM PAGE 7 long history as a racial slur, people such as Richard Pryor and Chris Rock look like shallow idiots. For example, on the one hand, we have a trial judge describing a defendant, as a “black nigger” as he sentences him to death and appellate courts ruling that use of the term does not indicate judicial bias. On the other, we have Chris Rock giggling, “Niggers have got to go. Every time Black people want to have a good time, niggers mess it up ... Can’t go to a movie the

first week it opens. Why? Because niggers are shooting at the screen ... “ Yep, that balances the slate all right. Kennedy, who teaches law at Harvard, lists what he calls “troubling tendencies” on the part of “eradicationists” and “regulationists,” some of which are justified. He cites cases such as that of Tawana Brawley where people apparently have lied about being the victim of racists. He cites the case of the White public official in Washington, D.C., who lost his job after using the word “niggardly” as an example of African

Americans appearing to be too eager to find racism where none exists. And Kennedy even manages to find a case or two where African Americans have insisted on punishment far in excess of the alleged offense. But the more Kennedy tries to persuade, the more he sounds, to my ears anyway, like what we used to call an “edumacated fool.” No matter how he tries to dissect and analyze the word, “nigger” remains profanity, a curse word. A lot of curse words are malleable. Think about how inflection can change the meaning of “damn.” Think

of how the 12-letter compound word that begins with “m” and “f” can be used as a norm, adjective or verb. It can be a deadly insult or an expression of admiration. I believe our confusion about “nigger” reflects a general confusion in Black America about what is real, a fascination with street culture that almost certainly is imposed upon us. Evidently, Kennedy has been at Harvard too long. The notion that “keeping it real” means dressing, acting and speaking like a thug is more reflective of historic stereotypes about Black culture than the real thing.

Every instance of humor or satire cited in his book would have remained humorous or satirical without the word. Satire that is peppered with profanity is neither more nor less effective than satire that is not. The same is true, of course, of instances of bigotry. Whether we like it or not, the choice to use profanity communicates the respect we have for ourselves and the respect we have for our audience. Some of us respect ourselves. Some of us don’t. It’s as simple as that.

IN COLORED CIRCLES

COMPILED BY HURLEY Goodall Mrs. Louis Day was hostess Tuesday afternoon at her home on East Fifth street to members of the Phyllis Wheatley club. “Love” was the subject for discussion led by Mrs. Bracken Campbell. The next meeting will be held on February 27 at the home of Mrs. Dunn on East Eighth Street. The subject for discussion will be for “Menus for Different Occasions” led by Mrs. O. J. Findley. The Friendship Bible Class will meet Tuesday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Asa Clemens on East Second street. Mrs. Miilicent Carther entertained members of the Millie D. Hoffman club recently at her home on East Second street. The usher board of the Bethel A.M.E. church will give a George Washington tea Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5 o’clock at the Phyllis Wheatley Branch of the Y.W.C.A. The following program wiL be given: Piano solo Miss Rosemary Lamb; ro^, a l g ; Miss Mary

Etta Taylor. Marshal White will be the guest speaker. Presiding at the tea table will be Mrs. M.A Lane, Mrs. Luther Hauze from 3 to 4 o'clock and Mrs. Julia Bass and Mrs. Julia Jones from 4 to 5 o'clock. Mrs. Margaret Russell will be in charge of the music. The usher board will meet Thursday evening at the home of Mrs. Porter Grider on East First street. Mid-week prayer service will be held this evening at 7 o’clock at the Union Baptist Church. The Weaver Missionary Society will meet at 8 o’clock at the church. On Thursday evening the junior chorus will meet at 5 o’clock at the church. The senior chorus will meet at 7:30 o’clock. The Starlight Band will present a program at the church on Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. The W.A.U. of the Union Baptist Church will meet Thursday evening at 7:30 o’clock at the home of Mrs. Myra Gudger on North Macedonia avenue. The VFW Auxiliary 5980 will hold a bake sale Saturday beginning at 11

o’clock at the home of Mrs. George Peelle on South Hackley street. A program in charge of James Grimes will be given Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Trinity Methodist Church. The Rev. J. K. Love, pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker and his choir will sing. The Rev. C.R. Trice is the pastor. Due to the illness of the guest speaker, the services to be held at Christ Temple, 903 South Pershing drive on Thursday evening have been postponed. Household of Ruth 4618 will meet Friday evening at the Odd Fellows hall. District officers will be guests at the meeting. The usher board of Mt. Zion Baptist Church will give a Valentine tea in the afternoon from 3 to 5 o’clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Murphy, 920 South Ebright street. Five Souls quartet of Marion and the Voice of Hope quartet will present a “battle of music” Sunday evening at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, sponsored

Hurley Goodall

by the Voice of Hope quartet. An educational program will be presented Friday evening at the Trinity Methodist Church by students of Ball State College. The Junior and Senior missionary Societies of the Antioch Baptist Church will give a program Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Following is the program: Talk, Miss. Ellen Leavells;selection, Morning Star quartet; selection, Junior Harmonizers; talk, Mrs. S. C. Maynard. The program will be in charge

of Mrs. Della Clark and Mrs. Gladys Powers. A program including selection from the Voice of Hope quartet, Antioch quintet, and other local talent will be presented at the Seymour Street Church of God in Christ Sunday afternoon, February 25, at 8 o'clock. Mrs. Mary E. Blake will be in charge. The Exotic Club will serve Kentucky oysters Friday and Saturday at the home of Mrs. Clara Williams, 220 East Second street. Pulished Feb. 14, 1951, in The Muncie Star.