Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 15 December 2005 — Page 33

The Muncie Times • December 15, 2005 • Page 33

NEWS BRIEFS

continued from page 32 teach them who their real enemy was. Stan Tookie is symbolic to what's going on and should show everyone who the enemy really is," she said. One 16-year-old youngster from Bay view stood up and said, "I learned about Tookie a year ago and I want to save his life because I don't feel its right to kill anybody. I've lost a gang of my homies to stupid violence and I hope God will come through for him and save this innocent man's life." During the panel discussion, Kiilu Nyasha said: "We lost a verypowerful black woman last month, Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks took a stand when she wouldn't get up on that bus, and it was a pretty dangerous thing to do because you don't know, they used to beat your you-know-what for doing something like that." I think this shows us how powerful black people taking a stand can be and it also shows us that the struggle to survive in this white-run world is far from over. Rapper JT the Bigga Figga was one of the panelists. He is also supporting Tookie and the fight for his life. "Don't wait until one of your family members is on death row to get involved. Do something now to save this man's life, because he ain't the first and won't be the last brother to be threatened by the system." An older resident of the Bay view came out to sup-

port Tookie and had this to say: "The system is corrupt and is failing black people worldwide. Look at how the system failed that young Black mother who threw her three babies into the Bay. If you don't see it now and don't get involved, then you will forever be blind and you're right where they want you. "This man is scheduled to be murdered and we as a community have to get involved now. If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." This movement to save the life of Tookie Williams is an everyday movement, and we should do whatever we can until the day of his planned execution. On Nov. 19, there was a "Save the Peacemaker Rally" outside the gates of San Quentin State Penitentiary For more information, email Apollonia @ apollonia @ sfbayview.com. New Wheatley letter goes on auction NEW YORK CITY-A recently discovered and unrecorded autographed letter signed by Phillis Wheatley, the first published black American poet, was recently offered at Swann Galleries' auction of Autographs. The 1776 letter from Wheatley to her friend and sister slave, Obour Tanner, discusses the American Revolution. The auction estimate is $80,000 to$ 120,000. Wheatley was bom in Senegal and brought to Boston as a slave in 1761.

When she arrived, she knew no English. Six years later, she had not only learned to speak but also write English fluently; she had begun to learn Latin and Greek, and published her first poem. Her book. Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, published in London in 1773, was the first book of poetry published by an African American slave. The two-page letter to be auctioned was written in Providence, R.I.,on Feb. 14, 1776, and addressed to Tanner in Newport. It has passed down in the family of economist and abolitionist Amasa Walker, who received it from Harriet Beecher Stowe's sister-in-law Katherine Edes Beecher. Only 19 other letters by Wheatley are known and all are in institutional collections in the United States and Great Britain. "We could not locate a single example of a Wheatley letter appearing at auction and believe this to be the only one in private hands," said specialist Jeremy Markowitz, who has been researching the letter. "Until now, it was completely unknown, making it a truly significant find." The content is extraordinary, providing further insight into Wheatley's support for American independence, while providing the modern reader with an anti-slavery subtext. And the provenance is

an amazing story, bridging the gap between Wheatley's life as a slave and the 19th century movement for abolition. "In many respects, this letter is the holy grail of African Americana manuscript material," says Markowitz, "and would be a highlight of any important collection. A special section of the auction catalogue provides detailed information about Wheatley's life and letters." In addition to the Wheatley letter, the sale featured amore than 300 lots of desirable autograph material, with an especially strong selection of Americana. Congress to fund Rosa Park memorial in Washington, D.C. Rosa Parks will make history again in the U.S. Capitol. After becoming the first woman and second black to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda, when her casket was displayed there Oct. 30-31. Parks is set to become the first African American woman to have a statue in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall. On Nov. 20, the Senate voted to add a statue of the civil right heroine to the 100 other statues of notable Americans displayed in the hall, complementing a House bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., an Illinois Democrat. The Senate bill was sponsored by Democratic Sen. John

Kerry of Massachusetts, but there was a last-minute glitch. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut wanted to place the Parks statue in the U.S. Capitol Visitor's Center. McConnell and Dodd's proposal was unacceptable to Kerry, however. "I am supporting Mr. McConnell's and Mr. Dodd's measure today because I believe it is paramount that we honor Rosa Parks in our Capitol. But I want to be very clear that her statue should be in Statuary Hall," Kerry said. "On Nov. 3, 2005,1 introduced legislation to place a statue of Rosa Parks in Statuary Hall in the Capitol. This is a location of great significance, particularly on this occasion and particularly with this individual." McConnell and Dodd agreed with Kerry and signed on with his bill to put the Parks statue in Statuary Hall. "This is an extraordinarily historical day for Rosa Parks, for her legacy and all who have benefited from the extraordinary achievements of this woman," Jackson said. Kerry and Jackson want President Bush to sign the Parks bill in December which marks the 50th anniversary of her refusal to relinquish her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Ala., bus in 1955.