Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 October 1995 — Page 7

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE A7

SATURDAY. OCTOBER 7,1995 We must repair our broken Black community right now I’m supposed to be on my best behavior, with all the visitors in town for the 12th Coca-Cola Circle City Classic, but it’s time our community confronts some simple truths. Simply put, the Indianapolis African-American community, America’s 16th largest, has become seriously dysfunctional. Structurally, organizationally and spiritually, our community is broken and in desperate need of re- ing on in Black neighborhoods, pair. We’ve got a growing crack coThis in spite of th$ fact more caine problem, a rising Black hoBlacks (181,700) live here than micide rate, a growing gulf beever before; earning more ($25,000 tween Black haves and have-nots, average income) than ever, rank- We’re a community crying out for ing our community third best in leadership, but only receiving platithe Midwest in income. More than tudes and homilies as a leadership 85,000 Blacks are employed, the substitute, most in history, and more than a 0 wasn’t always that way. Not third of Blacks in this city live in a too long ago, there was real “unity” white-majority neighborhood. in our Indianapolis Black commuYet, in spite of our progresses nity. People worked together, re- 1 and successes, we’ve got serious, gardless of what side of town they problems as a community. Prob- lived on, what party they were in, lems we must resolve if our com- and what their stations in life were, munity is to advance into the next Indianapolis’ Black community Millennium, just five years from continues to have great potential, now. Classic Weekend is proof of that. Politically, our Black commu- But, we must stop the jealousies nity is impotent. We’ve failed to and begin to work together, forgdevelop new potential Black can- ing new strategies and solutions didates. We’ve been unsuccessful for the 21st century, just five years in creating new strategies and tac- away. tics to achieve political power and I’ll have more to say about why influence. our community’s dysfunctional, By all accounts, in four weeks, next week, the first Black nominated by a majorpolidcal party for Indianapo- Heard in the Street lis mayor, may go down to the The members of our Indianapoworst defeat in the city’s history, lis NAACP have spoken. For the ThecampaignofZ.MaeJimison first time in a decade, there’s new is on life support, with little money, leadership, as Roderick Bohannan support and workers. Jimison cam- was elected NAACP president paign insiders tell me she’s frus- Sept. 30, succeeding Dr. A.D. trated and hurt over the abject lack Pinckney. of support she’s received from Now, it is time for our commuDemocrats in general and Black nity to coalesce behind the Democrats in particular. NAACP’s new leadership, to help Jimison insiders can’t under- it deal with the problems of racism stand why Black ministers, and discrimination that exist in this businesspeople and professionals, city. Those who supported including our community’s most Pinckney should now join with prominent ones, haven’t rallied to those who supported Bohannan to her campaign. help make our NAACP strong and On the other hand. Black and relevant, again, white political pros tell me Jimison And those of you who have left has made many mistakes. They the NAACP — ministers, profescriticize her for not taking the po- sionals, labor, businesspeople, litical offensive against Mayor grass roots, activists, youth — it’s Stephen Goldsmith. They say she time for you to come back home to has not reached out to key Demo- your NAACP. craticconstituencies like organized Finally, I hope NAACP Presilabor. And they fault her for not dent-elect Bohannan and his new generating enthusiasm for her cam- executive board will decide to paign among Blacks. honor Pinckney at the upcoming But, the problems with the Life Membershipdinner. OurcomJimison campaign pale against munity owes Pinckney a public another abject scandal in our Black salute for his years of dedicated community. The failure of Black service to the NAACP and to our leadership to organize effective, community, fighting against racmodem voter registration and get ism and bigotry, out the vote campaigns. Congrats to George Pillow and For the first time in two genera- his Pillow Express and Delivery tions, there’s no organized voter business on receiving a contract registration campaign of any kind from Nordstrom to prov ide courier in our Black community. No one is service. Nordstrom again delivers telling the community. There is no on its commitment to support mieffort or activism of any kind. And nority business. What’s L.S. Ayres’ Monday is the last day to register, record on minority businesses? No wonder Republicans and white Why do we continue to support Democrats ignore Blacks and our Ayres, when Ayres does nothing to issues. They know we’re political support our Black organizations eunuchs. I can hear them behind and businesses? their closed doors saying, “They Finally, even though Circle Cenwon’t even get behind a Black tre Mall is doing land office busiparty nominee for mayor, so why ness, America Live, the mail’s should we take Blacks seriously?” fourth-floor entertainment comOur Black community is so po- plex, continues its policy of ignorlitically impotent, we couldn ’ t stop ing African Americans by not bool^MarkFuhrman, if he ran for office ing any live entertainment wim here. But political feebleness is Black appeal, one aspect of our dysfunctional Even though there’s a lot on our Indianapolis Black community, reconstituted NAACP’s agenda, I The Black cHbrch is ridden with hope leaders will sensitize America internecine jealousies and warfare. Live, help its management underBlack professionals are more con- stand that Circle Centre is for evcemed about their Carmel, Geist, eryone, not solely trendy whites Lawrence Township or Pike Town- from the Northside. ship homes than about what’s go-

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