Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 October 1990 — Page 2

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

SATURDAY^ OCTOBER 20l Iff

Rushville saves a black institution

Driving around the state, you will find few buildings or landmarks that have African-Ameri-can heritage, though blacks have been here in the state for nearly 300 years. The many churches, schools, cemeteries and other landmarks that were built over the years no longer exist and we did little to save them from demolition. It’s like our roots and heritage were wiped from the map and the process continues, even here in Indianapolis. Such is not foe case in Rushville, however, where the community has pulled together to save the Booker T. Washington School

building. It was the city’s school for Mack people and remained foe only black school for grades one througheight until the 1950s, when foe building was used as a community center. “We (blacks) had never asked Rushville to do anything for us,” said Bill R. Goins, commenting on the impressive amoum of support received from city businesses. Goins called Rushville unique, pointing out that blacks there have enjoyed a tolerable quality of life and most are and have been, property owners. Located in the heart of the black community on the city's eastside, the BookerT. Washington School

was built in a four-month period, openingin 1905 for the200blades in the city at foe rime. Today, only 100 are left Most moved away to bigger cities. The school was not unique in that part of foe state. There were also BookerT. Washington schools for blacks in Carthage and Shelbyville. Neither school building exists today. Booker T. Washington School in Rushville vacant and unused for the past 20 yean, destined for demolition until Goins took charge. Goins and foe BookerT. Washington Community Center Association applied for and received a $221,000 community focus gram

ftom the state Department of gome of the old Rushville Commerce. The grant was pro- families include the Goinses, sented Saturday by Secretary of Davises, Myers. Wills, Englishes. Stale Joseph Hogsett, a native of Joneses. Browns. Millers and Rufoville. Laceys. Blacks there always had a The Associahon was required close-knit community, to raise $22,000, but the group — Goins is president of the Rush comprised of blacks and whites — County NAACP, the only chapter raised over $34,000. Saturday was in foe country that indudes two a day of celebration, with blacks cities, said Goins. Connersville is and whites joining in old fashion also a part of foe Rush County fun and games, music, good food chapter, and lots of good will. Goins called foe effort to save Black people who were bom in the building a “total Rushville Rushville returned from around the effort It was the first time we have state to join in the celebration, all pulled together to do somewhich induded an auction, talent thing." contestcake walk,tour of the stroc- if* an example of what can be hire and the presentatioa done when people work together.

BETWEEN t h • ■! i n a 8 By EUNICE TROTTER Editor-in-Chief

South Carolina gubernatorial candidate here to raise funds

By JIM NELSON SUIT Writer Theo W. Mitchell, Democratic candidate for the governor’s office in South Carolina, was campaigning in Indiana during the Circle City Gassic weekend to raise money and hopefully meet with one of the brightest prospects his party has for recapturing the White House, Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh. Unfortunately, Mitchell was only able to accomplish half of his goals. At a fond raiser at Fitzgerald’s in Union Station held on Sunday, Oct 7, Mitchell, along with members of foe Democratic Party in Indiana, gathered in an effort to generate support for the candidate since he has had difficulty raising funds in South Carolina. Gov. Bayh, however, was not in attendance. Members of the governor’s staff said Bayhdidn’t meet with Mitchell because he had previous commitments that were planned prior to the announcement that Mitchell would be in Indiana. According to Dave Dawson, media spokesman for the governor,‘The Governor had an event, a picnic for the staff and agency

heads scheduled for Sunday afternoon. It was something that had been planned ahead of time.” Dawson admits the governor and his staff did know about the fund raiserforMitchell, but adds, “It couldn’t be fit into foe governor’s schedule.” The fund raising event was organized by the National Caucus of Black State Legislators with help from The Golden Rule Insurance Company here in Indianapolis. Hurley Good all, chairman of the Indiana Legislative Black Caucus, says the national caucus has members in 44 states, including Alaska and adds the group not only tries to help get AfricanAmericans elected, but also helps mother areas, such as the harassment of black elected officials. Charles D. Walton, state senator from Rhode Island, came to Indiana to help Mitchell raise money. He said discrimination is still a very real problem for Af-rican-American candidates. “Most blacks, when we run for offices, have to leave our state and go outside to get financial backing. There is still some discrimination when it comes to candidates who happen to be black,” Walton said.

Real fathers, a scarce commodity

Notes from a father in < !l \Kt.i S HI MR

Young men are very seldom wise men. Somewhere around the age of 15 through 25 or so they seem to fall into a state of mental suspended animation. They can walk and talk but their minds seem to have taken a ride on the space shuttle. . I can talk because I’ve lived through the lost years. Unfortunately, a lot of men didn’t make it Most people are aware of foe fact that young men die in car wrecks, shootings, endure the living death of drugs and prisons, more than anybody else. It is also a time when young men become fathers, and too often commit the quiet crime of abandonment Often young men drink too much, drive too fast, and wind up killing people, because their brains are on ice. When we read or see such gross

tragedy, we are deeply moved and in fact, a positive movement has developed from such tragedies. And more young men have started to leam that drinking and driving real fast is not real smart. Unfortunately, not enough young men are held accountable for fatherhood. Abandonment is much more subtle than driving a car through another object. There are no headlines when a young man denies his offspring. There are just years and years of quiet sadness. I've grown up with people who have become great successes, and then I’ve seen missing fathers show up trying to claim responsibility forthose lost years. It doesn’t work that way.

A few years ago, I talked with an old friend and coach who runs a wonderful program called the Douglas Little League. He said that out of maybe 300 kids, he doubted that lOpercentknew their fathers. As things work, a few of these kids will go cm to great success without these fathers. Then of course, these souls show up. My question is, where are these men now? How can a man even call himself a man if he has left children somewhere for someone else to care for? I know that men and women often can’t get along and cannot live together for all kinds of reasons. But there is simply no reason for a father to disappear. This is one of the stupid things that young men do. It costs so much. These young and faceless men have committed a quiet crime and they are accountable for it There is no excuse, no one else to blame. I’m not promising anything new. I’m only suggesting that we make people more accountable for fatherhood. Paying child support is

the easiest part of being an absentee father. Trying to be a part of your son’s or daughter’s life is much harder and more important The scars and losses visible in our young people from such abandonment are costly, destructive and tragic.

Most children never get over this cruel and too often thoughtless behavior. Look around you. you’D see the victims of this social disease everywhere. Ask them what it feels like to trot have a father. If you’ve been abandoned yourself, have the heart and the soul to not repeat this boyish crime.

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NOTICE The (ollmrini Qtrwral Mtmbership Meeting of ths flreeter Indianapolis Branch NAACP and the election ot otticora. 1. The General Meeting wi ha held on Thursday November 1,1990 at 7.-00 p.m. (or the Reporting ot Nominating Committoe Nominations by Petitions and election of Election Supervisory Committee. 2. December 1,1990(Saturday) Election of Officers The polls will be open from 10:30 am. to 4:30 p.m. The ebwe meetings arid bt held at St. PatarClaear Cantor. Tha St. Pater Cievar Cantor to lecatad at 3110 Suthartand Avanae. A. D. Pinckney, President Ida B. Hayes, Sacratary

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