Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 March 1991 — Page 2

PACK A2

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

SATURDAY. MARCH ». 11S1

SPECIAL REPORT

Tony Brown’s Journal

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By AUDREY GADZEKPO Managing Editor Northwest Indiana may be the launching pad for a new economic initiative spearheaded by television commentator, syndicated columnist and businessman, Tony Brown. The nationwide strategic economic development plan, “Buy Freedom Plan for the ’90s,” is a self-help network scheduled to begin in mid-to-late May. According to Brown, the plan aims at re-energizing the economies of many black communities by starting and expanding small businesses through the recycling of money already in the community. “This is a high-tech, self-help program for the '90s, utilizing market-place incentives specifically designed to break the poverty cycle by helping targeted groups become business people,” Brown stated. The plan will give an entrepreneurial boost to welfare recipients, persons under 30, new entrepreneurs, the working poor, black males, existing small businesses and veterans. Designed to link 30 million or so Afiri-’•■oan-American eonsumewv churches and organizations and an estimated $30 billion in %8lack dollars,” Brown’s innovative “1900" national telecommunications service will act as a one-stop-shopping for black businesses and consumers. The Buy Freedom Network will offer discounts of up to 85 percent from self-help businesses; allow owners to list their businesses on the shopper’s directory or advertise on the talking business hotline; allow the public to apply for loans to start or expand business or find money for college; give information on how to buy directly from black farmers to save the land and among other offerings provide a black

history quiz and award cash prizes for members of the shopper’s club. A Buy Freedom TV Network, a home shopping service on cable TV, will also be created from income generated by calls to the 1-900 number. This nationwide TV network will promote the new, as well as existing Buy Freedom Businesses with endorsements and • encourage the nationwide TV audience to buy from them. The objective, Brown said is to create 100,000 new businesses and 100,000 new taxpayers who will break the cycle of poverty. “It sounds a little ambitious, but it can be done,” said Brown. A strong advocate for economic parity for African Americans Browjj js a critic of forced integration. He was quoted in a recent speech as saying “African Americans are unique in their virtual ’boycott’ of businesses owned by their own people.” Other ethnic groups, Brown said, spend most of their money with each other, but in the name of integration, blacks avoid this economic dictate.

The Tony Brown way The result, is a devastating impact on what was once centuries-honed black optimism and resilience. As a way to better utilize black dollars. Brown suggests that instead of holding conventions where they eat, party and decry minority poverty as they spend millions of dollars, African-American organizations could postpone conventions for a year and use the money toward helping spin-off banks, new businesses, social programs and jobs in die AfricanAmerican com-

munity.

Brown to speak at Crispin Attuiks

Newspaper columnist and TV host Tony Brown will be the featured guest speaker at the Planner House Board of Directors Annual Dinner Wednesday, March 13. The event is open to the public and will start with a reception at 5:30 p.m. at Crispus Attucks Junior High School, 1140 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St Brown was the first dean and professor of the School of Communications of Howard University. He is also the writer, director and producer of the PBS television series ‘Tony Brown’s Journal,” the nation’s longest running and top ranked Mack affairs series. His column, ‘Tony Brown’s

Comments,” is carried in several publications across the country, including The Indianapolis Recorder. In 1989, Brown financed, wrote, directed and distributed his first feature motion picture, a $2 million movie with a message about drug use and self-respect tided ‘The White Girl.” He is also writing his first book, entided “No White Lies, No Black Lies, Only the Truth,” to be pub-

lished next spring.

Brown has been an innovator in many areas. He was the founding dean, as well as professor, of the School of Communications at Howard University, where he established a highly distinguished

academic and professional record. Concerned with the shortage of blacks in the communications industry, he initiated an annual Careers Conference at Howard, which was highly successful in securing jobs for qualified blacks in the field of communications. Brown also founded the annu-ally-held Black College Day in 1980 and, as the honorary chairperson of the National Organization of Black College Alumni Inc., spearheads a movement to pre-

serve black colleges.

A civil right’s crusader, he coordinated a march in Detroit which featured Martin Luther King Jr. and drew more than 500,000

Kim (Tioy Boyar) runt away from hor probitmt and tn» lou* Bob •lam (Talmak)m’ThoWhttoQfflrafilmwrltton,directed,producod and dtetrlbuted by Tony Brown. Actor BM Coaby tafta to Tony Brown, right. Coaby wot featured In a two-part aarlae on "Tony Brown** Journal," tha Tony Brown.

people. ‘Tony Brown’s Journal" was selected in the New York Daily News as one of the top 10 television shows of all time which present positive black images. Brown was presented an image award by the NAACP in Hollywood for presenting positive images of African-Americans in film, television, theater and music. At the recent Blade Emmy Awards, he was cited for distinguished and outstanding achievement in the television industry. Harvard University also honored Tony Brown at aspecial threeday celebration commemorating his 20 yean on television, as did the American Univereity of Paris. In addition he received The Economic Empowerment Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for “his vision of economic parity.” Tony Brown Productions in New York, in addition to producing movies, television programs and a magazine, also markets videotapes from a collection called ‘The Library of Black History.” Brown was bom in Charleston, W. Va., where he graduated from Garnet High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in sociology and his master’s degree in psychiatric social work at Wayne State University in Detroit He has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees for his achievements in civil rights, education and jour-

nalism.

For more information about the lecture and how to obtain tickets, call Rostta Layrock at 925-4231