Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 April 2000 — Page 1

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Meet the Indianap

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RELIGION Acts of Faith explores the power of tithing Pag«B1

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Dance Kaleidoscope reprises Carmina Burana Pag* Cl

BUSINESS How to deal with workplace discrimination PagaDI

105th YEAR ■ NUMBER 14 ■ FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2000 ■ PHONE 317/924-5143 ■ www.indianapoli3recorder.com ■ 750

David Kelly Kelly named IWC president David Kelly has been promoted as president and chief operating officer of IWC Resources and Indianapolis Water Company (IWC). Kelly is currently the chief financial officer of IWC Resources Corporation, president of Utility Data Corporation, and president of IWCR Management Services. He will continue to serve as a vice president of NiSource. The promotion will be effective May 1.2000. Movement continues 32 years after King’s death In 1966 Dr/Martin Luther King Jr. led a march through Chicago's West Side to protest poor housing conditions and segregation. Some three decades later his protege Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. continued that legacy by leading a demonstration on the anniversary of his murder to call attention to a pattern of racial profiling, inequities in school funding and economic apartheid. Jackson was joined by hundred^ of demonstrators who commemorated the slain civil rights leader by taking a day off from work, marching, donating a day’s pay to a civil rights organization and registering people to vote. Census help available If you have not received or have questions about the census call the local census office at (317) 2260402 or visit the census web page www.census.gov. The Indianapolis Recorder receives journalism award The Indianapolis Recorder received the Indiana Journalism Award See BRIEFS, Page A3

Holding the award from Ball State University are William G. Mays, Recorder publisher, and his niece Carotene Mays, Recorder president and general manager.

Newman addresses claims of racism By BARATO BRITT * racist," said Newman. “But of the African Americans I arrest, Fager was released on a $5,000 bond made through Recorder Correspondent always meet and greet that is not the case. I don’t expect the automated bail system. Although Newman is sure the to be loved, but I do expect people to understand that I am office will get a conviction, the prosecutor said that MarionCounty Prosecutor Scott Newman understands fair. leadership was misinformed as to the prosecution’s inthat he has likely made more enemies than friends since “This job is supposed to be difficult,” he added. “I volvement. becoming the county’s prosecutor in 1995. don’t mind discussing issues of fairness, but it is a lot What the community did not know, he said, was that Hehasheardtheclaimsmadeby many African Ameri- easier with all of the facts.” during the initial pre-trial. Pager’ s bond was raised to cans arguing possible prejudice, particularly in his pur- Recently, the prosecutor took time to answer critics’ $20,000, of which he also made. Currently, Fager has suit of the death penalty for murderers. most recent claims, including those that believe Newman been incarcerated for over 300 days and is awaiting trial But what he says are claims without merit, Newman to be more lenient on white offenders than Blacks. Such on April 24. cares less about outspoken objections and more of what was believed to be the case in the matter of Joseph Fager. “Every time I’m on a talk show, this issue comes up,” he feels the true community’s pulse to be. A repeated drunk driver, Fager is facing charges for That is, that he is doing his job fairly and justly. the deaths of two African Americans in an incident that “There are some people who are vocal and say I’m a has caught the ire of local Black leaders. Upon his initial See NEWMAN, Page A7

Michigan State Trojan pride was center stage, during this week’s Final Four.

MSU faithful in full force for NCAA conquest By JAMES M. KEOUGH JR. Sports Writer They came. They saw. They conquered. Michigan State University was crowned National Collegiate Basketball Association National Champion earlier in the week and they are probably still celebrating in East Lansing, MI. If the celebration has indeed carried over from earlier this week, raise the roofs at MSU. In other words, it’s on. The faithful Spartan followers were dancing in the aisles, streets, parking lots and along the highways as the collegiate spirit permeated the air and Michigan pride was center stage. Earvin “Magic” Johnson, arguably one of the greatest players in the history of professional basketball exhibited the peaks and valleys of the Michigan State title run with every gesture, facial expression and emotional outpour imaginable. Where did the National Basketball Association great sit throughout the Final Four climax? Not in a luxury suite, courtside or surrounded by See NCAA, Page A3

Michigan State alum Earvin “I faithful at the RCA Dome.

” Johnson joined the Trojan

Black health care may require focus

By RONNETTA S. SLAUGHTER Staff Writer Two Indianapolis physicians have raised concerns over the current state of African-American health care as they examined the roles of primary caregivers within Black communities. “African Americans are disproportionately treated in the health care system,” said Dr. Ann Zerr, clinical associate professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. “I don’t think as a society, we’ve addressed that we’re doing something less for the African-American community.”

Dr. Zerr says medical research fails to focus on racial issues, which accounts for the distrust of health care providers by some African Americans and discrepancies among services delivered to one racial group versus another. Dr. DaWana Stubbs, clinical assistant of medicine at the IU School of Medicine, said, physicians “must give the same amount of respect and courtesy,” regardless of a patient’s race, color, or creed. Our job is to help patients, and “make their situation better.” Both doctors agreed that the most prominent health concerns for African Americans include sexually transmitted diseases

(STD), hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, coronary and artery disease. The doctors said specialized African-American health care would properly diagnose factors associated with recurring symptoms such as high blood pressure in Black patients resulting from a diet higher in salt. Certain medicines may also work more effectively in Blacks than in whites. “Here on lU’s campus, we have a very broad range of experience. We serve a lot of the lower economic population,” said See HEALTH, Page A3

Indiana Black Expo seeks to dispel myths By ANNETTE L. ANDERSON Recorder Correspondent

Indiana Black Expo recently held a meeting to dispel the myths that it only does something for the community once a year, and that it makes lots of money, according to IBE President Rev. Charles Williams. Additionally, an annual report for 1999 was distributed, highlighting the organization’s programs and financial status. Revenues, gains and other support for 1999'totaled $4,299,805.84, with total expenses of $3,984,323.00, figures in the annual report Tc assets were $315,482.84, a iams said is quite minimal con economic impact that IBE has on 1 Circle City Classic “brings in! lion, and the Expo another $251 noted Williams. “But the city doesn’t give anything back to us. Taxes on hotel rooms, car rentals and restaurants go to the Capital Improvement Board to build things like the Conseco Fieldhouse, and to expand the Convention Center,” he said. “We have consistently been working with the city to receive portions of those taxes to keep Expo afloat,” the Black Expo president said.

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COMMENTARY

Citizens’ police complaint issue revisited

Editor's note: Citizens interested in the police review process are encouraged to attend the 7:00 p.m., April 10 meeting of the City County Council in the 2nd floor public assembly room of the City-County Building.

Though Shakespeare was not the first to acknowledge the thought, he certainly expressed it most eloquently when he said that it is an ill wind indeed that profits no one. The thin optimism extracted here is that even out of the worst of circumstances one ought to be able to find some good. Such was the necessary attitude brought to the table in 19% by over 30 Indianapolis citizens responding to the invitation of the Mayor and the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee to participate in the assessment and review of our police complaint process. This Citizens’ Complaint Process Working Group was cochaired by Rabbi Dennis Sasso and Indianapolis Urban League Director Sam Jones. Indianapolis was reeling from the local impact and the national and international very negative publicity of the August 27,1996 “Meridian Street Brawl”. The Meridian Street Brawl, so dubbed by the press, was the downtown verbal and

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