Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 November 1998 — Page 7

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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Opinions

Another Fatten Warrior

There have been a few giants in the straggle for human rights and Kwame Ture was one of those giants. When we lost Kwame Ture to prostate cancer recently, we lost a charismatic, articulate brilliant warrior in the struggle for the rights of black people the worid over. Many remember Hue, who was once known as Stokely Carmichael, as die originator of the phrase “Black Potoer." Many remember him as a fearless soldier in the battle for civil rights,, first as head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and then as prime minister of the Black Panther Party. Many remember him as one dedicated to the pan-African vision, which ultimately caused him to move to Guinea in West Africa and to change his name to honor two of his heroes, Kwame Nkramah and Ahmed Sekou Toure. I remember him as the handsome, outspoken voice of young Blacks who had become disillusioned with the slow progress of the non-violent civil rights organizations and fed up with what we now would call internalized racism. He also did not like the fact that Blacks often allowed white Americans to take charge of our organizations. “We want control of tire institutions, of the communities where we live. And we want to stop the exploitation of nonwhite people of tire world,” he said in one interview. Rev. lesse Jackson, who visited with Ture three times diving the last week of his life, said “ He was one of our generation who was determined to give his life to transforming America and Africa... He was committed to ending racial apartheid in our country. He helped to bring those walls down." Rev. Jackson also said that Hire died at peace with himself, adding that he wanted to spend his last days in Africa. The young Stokely Carmichael was a fiery leader in the early days of the student civil rights movement. He joined the early Freedom Rides, bus trips which were designed to challenge racial segregation on public transportation, and was arrested dozens of times. He said he lost count after 32 arrests, including being held in the notorious Parchman prison in Alabama. He worked as a field organizer for SNCC’s voter regis-

tration campaign, where they registered 2,600 Blacks in

In 1966 Carmichael was elected national chairman of .£NGG*nd4tjvas shortly thereafter that he coined the phrase “Black Power," which was beautiful music to many young African Americans’ ears, but which was misunderstood and misused by many others. That term “raised the consciousness of people, but it frightened a lot of people," said John Lewis, who preceded Carmichael as chairman of SNCC. In 1968 Carmichael left SNCC for the Black Panthers, but left the organization the next year, citing his opposition to their commitment to work with radical white Americans because he believed that such alliances led to “complete subversion of the blacks by the whites." It was then that he moVed to Guinea, to continue his work in a different venue. A self-proclaimed socialist. Hue traveled the worid lifting up Black power and condemning the evils of capitalism. He married South African singer and activist Miriam Mikeba, working against apartheid in Africa and in America. Kwame Hire never backed down and never compromised in his total devotion to his people. Even while sick with cancer, his speeches did not lose their fiery tone or their brilliant critique of racism and economic injustice. Kwame Ture was a warrior for justice. The worid will miss his voice, but we trea-

sure his legacy.

Mack congressman feels the Hyatt*s touch

Perhaps this is why the Republican National Convention chose the City of Brotherly Love over the City that condones Racism. On Circle Oty Classic Saturday, at 7:20 p.m., in the 2nd floor Champs Sports Bar of the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis Hotel, 67-year-old Congressman William Clay of Missouri was embarrassed and humiliated! Clay (a member of the Congressional Black Caucus), his wife sad another couple entered the bar. Their waiter told them they’d have to pay in advance, untess they were hotel guests. Clay, who’s been in the finest hotels in the world, was puzzled by this unusUal request, since four other customers (whites) had been allowed to pay after their meals. Clay asked to speak to the manager. A bartender came over and told Clay that since people had left the bar earlier'without paying, this policy was in effect This 30-year veteran of Congress, representing St. Louis, was still puzzled and insisted on speaking to the manager. She arrived and said since large numbers of people (Blacks) were expected, this was the hotel policy, which took effect at 7 p.m. Congressman Clay, who fought racism in the Army and in St. Louis, was angry, humiliated and outraged; emotions he conveyed in a letter to Doug Geoga, President of die Hyatt Hotel Corporation. On the WAV-TV Channel 53 daytime Amos Brown Show last week. Congresswoman Julia Canon was livid that her congressional colleague was mistreated. She was miffed at the continued disrespect Blacks receive from downtown hotels. Carson wrote Mayor Steve Goldsmith demanding action, but told us he hadn’t replied. After I publicly chided the Mayor for two days on our program, his Minims called saying Goldsmith had sent Carson and Congressman Clay letters of apol-

African-American consumers and events pump millions into downtown Indianapolis. Yet the .lily-white managers of the city’s downtown hotels and nightspots continue their attitude of contempt, hostility and overt racism towards African-American visitors and consumers! ' We’ve heard the horror stories of mistreatment and double standards shown Black visitors during Classic and Expo. Our community won't accept a whitewash of the mistreatment of a member of Congress by one of the city’s leading hotels.

Just

TellinTt

By AMOS

BROWN

If Hyatt staffers took it upon themselves to create a double stan-

dard for Congressman Clay and other Black visitors, those staffers should be terminated! If the Hyatt created special racist policies just for Classic time (and not every convention and special events) then the ownership of die Hyatt should sack their local managers and publicly apologize to our community! There are plenty of ballrooms, meeting rooms, restaurants and bars downtown. If the Hyatt con- . tinues to disrespect our AfricanAmerican community, maybe our ei|pnunity should take a hiatus from the Hyatt!

long and that its time for achange! Republicans rule Indianapolis like a Middle Eastern Sheikdom with an arrogant and insensitive attitude. Rom inner city-neighbor-hoods to outer city subdivisions, Indianapolis citizens feel that Republican rule has been good for wealthy corporate fat cats and sports franchise owners, not for those in the neighborhoods. City-County Council members behave as if Indianapolis is their little fiefdom. Councilors, of both parties Blade and white, are aloof, uncooperative, inaccessible to local media, and out of touch with the communities that elected

What I’m hearing in the Streets... By tire time you read tins, Secretary of State Sue Ann Gilroy will have decided she’s running for Mayor. Though a formidable candidate, Gilroy must confront die major issues of the 1999 M^otal Race. Many in our city feel that 28 years of Republican rule is too

them.

hi 1999, we need changes in those representing the 813,670 citizens of Indianapolis. Just because someone has been on the Council since the 70s; or that Republicans have occupied the Mayor’s Office since Nixon’s presidency doesn’t mean they must stay time. Behind Bart Peterson, Democrats in 1999 have their best chance to capture the Mayor’s Office and add City County

ticulate his vision for Indianapolis. How will Peterson find jobs for those who can't find work in the Indianapolis economy of plenty? How will he combat rising crime and put more cops on our streets? How will a Peterson Mayoralty make die police department truly accountable? Would Peterson as Mayor continue to make deals for the wealthy, while working and middle class neighborhoods suffer? Gilroy must defend Goldsmith’s record. That means answering for the rising homicide rate and a police department in constant rebellion. She must answer charges that the Goldsmith administration has mortgaged the future creditworthiness of Indianapolis in aquixotic effort to hold the line on property taxes. Finally, the mayoral campaign must include a serious debate on die merits of privatization. How has it improved the quality of life in old city neighborhoods and outer city subdivisions? Next year’s elections we a battle over the soul of Indianapolis. Peterson, Gilroy, independent John Gibsmi and the expeded Libertarian candidate must publicly discuss the issues with our citizens.

in community meetings and in s broadcast debates and

Council seats. Peterson, a busi-

numerous broadcast interviews, hi 1999, paraphrasing Joe Louis, those running for Mayor and Council can run, but they can’t hide from the people! See 'ya next week!

nessman and former Chief of Staff to then-Governor Evan Bayh, can be elected Mayor. But he must quickly and forcefully ar-

Amos Brown's opinions necessarily those of the h Us Recorder. You can at (317) 293-9600 or e -mail [email protected]

Congressi

ormed me of

your unpleasant experience

ingyour recent visit to Indianapo-

lis”

Goldsmith added, “Mr. (Earl) Nightingale (Manager of the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis) has informed me that he intends to personally apologize for your embarrassment and humiliation." Time’s no confirmation from either Congresswoman Carson nor Mayor Goldsmith that Nightingale’s apology has been delivered to Congressman Clay. The continual disrespect shown to African Americans (whether Congressmen, visitors or citizens) by downtown hotels like the Hyatt won’t be tolerated!

Society is bitterly polarized on many fronts

offensive to many groups of Americans, and that ft won’t

INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER DIRECTORY

OStoMitar. ims-isas

There are many tilings I liked about the elections, such as the stem backlash against the Republicans who were trying to exploit a sex scandal to stage a 1 bloodless power coup. And the 1 clear demand that our lawmakers focus on the basic human needs

of tile people.

But there were also some

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things that disturbed me -— nom more than the evidence that tills

l|hrits, winniiig 86 percem of

social issues such as education, health care and Social Security,

women's priorities tend to be matter who is in the party’s

much the same as those of Blacks iwxWnhip if Republican goals and Hispanics. remain an abomination to large

A shocked Republican Party is groups (tf citizens,

now sinking into fratricide as The truth, though, is that so some factions. blame House many in the “power ranks" of the leaden for what tipey see as a wing, racist, elitist views of the

statis- world that they can never wel-

come wholeheartedly to the GOP

■vumwna a ami wiias uiwj < political disaster. But the tics above make it brettv <

society is bitterly polarized on their votes to only 13 percent for that the defeats arise from more the people who gave Schumer Ms many fronte.Itbecamecleartr D’Amato. His advantage among than the views and die incompe- triumph. So the social pofuiag^

that Black and hispanic hispanics was 82-to-17 percent tence of a few leaders. The votes tion that drives the political strife

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