Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 August 2000 — Page 2

PAGE A2

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25,200^

DO YOU KNOW , YOUR HISTORY ? Who was the first African American to earn

a college degree?

Who was the first African American McDonald’s franchisee? Who founded the first Black newspaper? To find out the answers to these questions stop by McDonald’s Restaurants and purchase your copy of “LITTLE KNOWN BLACK HISTORY FACTS” by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as featured on the Tom Joyner Morning Show From August 25 through September 14, McDonald’s Restaurants will offer “Little Known Black History Facts”. Each of the two fact books include 16 short stories about African Americans who have impacted history. Books are $1.29 each and available while supplies last. Or you could win a set of books from McDonald’s. Simply complete the registration form and mail it to: Bandy*Carroll*Hellige Advertising Attn: Little Known Black History Fact Books 111 Monument Circle, Suite 882

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Entries must be postmarked no later than September 21,2000.

Fifty winners will be selected.

Name Address

City

State

Zip

Telephone (h)

(w)

Answers: Alexander L. Twilight; Herman Petty; John Brown Russwurm

?■ !*

it M i we love to see you smllef

> i

The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and invites you to attend an advance screening to the Biggest Rap Concert Tour of all time.

HERE'S HOW:

To enter, send this original advertisement (No PtiotocoptM Accoptod) with your name, address and daytime phone number to: Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper 2901 N. Tacoma Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46218

NAME

PRIZE:

ADDRESS

PHONE#

* 50 entries chosen at random, will receive a ticket (admit two) for an advance screening on Tuesday, September 5,7:30 at Lowes College Park.

RULES:

Ovw antry par paraon. DupMcaia awtriaa will ba diaQuatifiaO. No purchaaa oacaaaary. Seraaning ttckat winnara wM ba choaan by random draarinf and nadMad by pbona. Entrtaa muat ba racaivad by Thuradey, Auguat SI, 1000. tcmawbig dcbata valid only tar tho advanca acraaning oi BACKSTAGE an Saplambar 5,2000.

OPENS IN THEATRES EVERYWHERE SEPTEMBER 6

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***** * «

An audience member enthusiasUcally steps alongside Groups Afric Azolou, a talented ensemble of

West African musicians and dancers performing at last weekend’s AfricaFest

AFRICAFEST

Tariq Robinson, AfricaFest coordinator, admits that planning encompasses selecting entertainment and program activities. Some Nigerian artists ran into complications with obtaining their visas to attend the event, says Robinson, but passes were eventually granted. “We’re celebrating the arts and culture of Africa. It opens people’s eyes as to what Africa has to offer, and the important contributions that Africa has made to the world,” he

added.

Organizations such as Indiana Black Expo Inc., Hoosier Healthwise and Madame C.J. Walker Theatre Center supported the event while distributing pamphlets and free materials with company logos and mission statements. Shola Ajiboye, a native from Africa, helped create the African Community International Center, and recognizes the importance of AfricaFest events. “This (festival) is the beauty of

choice in abortion, support for public schools, labor rights in trade deals, support for working families and being the champion of the little guy over the fat cats. Although Gore still did not exhibit much charisma in his presentation, except for having copied Clinton by coming on stage with the high noon, prize fighter video, he appeared to trade empathy, or connecting to the hearts and minds of the public, for connecting with their sense of what public policies were important to both individuals and families. And although one is tempted to present a picture of the policies that attracted the most applause, that is virtually worthless, because the reaction of activists in the convention hall could be a bad guide to the reaction of the American people as a whole, and thus, the contribution of the speech to the status of the campaign. Nevertheless, it might be said that based on an immediate reading, he appeared to meet the challenge of the speech to move the party faithful. Nevertheless, the reception of his speech by the media was mixed, as many of those who had urged him to include his governing agenda for the nation, characterized the speech as being too detai led, or i ssue- laden. This reception is important because the media reaction has increasingly become part of the dynamic of the bounce that a candidate gets from the convention. So, for the media to pronounce the speech as lukewarm is almost the kiss of death. To place this speech in greater perspective, coming into the convention. Gore was behind Bush, not only in the national polls, but also in the state polls. In fact, Charlie Cook, one of the foremost analysts, had Bush firmly ahead in 18 states and Gore was comfortably ahead in only four states and given those states lean-

Continued from A1 Africa and you can share in it. The diversity draws people beyond the .racial line,” said Ajiboye, urging African and African Americans to combine efforts towards an appreciation of differences and similari-

ties.

The music of Groupe Afric Azolou, who represent dancers and musicians from Cote d’Ivoire (Western Africa), along with numerous native performances entertained guests throughout theday. Tyour Gnaoua interpret African rhythms and religious Arabic songs into their music, utilizing visual aspects such as glass beads and cowrie shells. In connection with AfricaFest activities, the Eiteljorg Gallery of African Art made its debut. The gallery houses more than 4661111 pieces. This monumental display of African ait unites diverse aspects of the vast continent without dividing areas such as Ethiopia, Mali and Egypt into separate areas GORE Continued from A1 ing to either Bush or Gore, they were given 223 electoral votes or 124 electoral votes accordingly. According to Cook, there were 114 electoral votes up for grabs and 270 were needed by a candidate to win. This daunting look at Gore coming into the convention has changed according to some polls, as he received a bounce from the convention ending. However, the magnitude of the increase in his poll numbers will not be known for at least a week as the polling stabilizes. Then, a continuing shadow over Gore is Clinton. Clinton’s speech on Monday of the convention was addressed to his legacy as leader of the country and the party and Gore’s speech was inevitably compared to it negatively. But the biggest potential Clinton drag on the Gore campaign comes from the decision which was leaked on the day of Gore’s speech, that a new grand jury had been empaneled by the special prosecutor who had taken over from Kenneth Starr, to determine whether Clinton had lied in his statements that he had not been alone with Monica Lewinsky and had not had sex with her. Since Gore will also need Clinton to shore up his base with Black and Hispanic voters and some Reagan Democrats whom he brought back into the party, it will be interesting to see how close the Gore campaign actually lets him

get.

A final challenge is clearly the Joseph Lieberman issue, which has been given such expanded coverage. The fact that CNN reported that Lieberman’s appearance at the Black Democratic Caucus session made their initial objections water under the bridge is far from cor-

rect.

One piece of evidence in this regard is that during the week of the convention, it was being reported that a critical editorial was placed in the important Black news-

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• • « of specialty. Lamidi Olonade Fakeye demonstrates highly skilled : , expertise in Yoruba traditions through his sculpting, and his m^s-,. terpieces are featured in the gal-: lery. Another artist. Twins Seven-, • Seven, brings forth his interpretation of Yoruba culture in his paint- ] ings and collages, which can be ! seen at IMA’s “Contemporary Af- \ rican Art: Five Artists, Diverse ! Trends” exhibition. ,! As participants tasted popular;! African food, burekas were eX*;! tremely popular dishes, which fe4~ * •' hire puff pastries filled with se4*;! soned potatoes or beef. Guests alst>i' sampled baba ganush, an eggplant 1 spread and pita bread. Designers displayed colorful \' beaded jewelry and ethnic cloth£;' ing, including dyed dashiki’s and j sisal bags. Art Exhibitions included i wood carvings, oil paintings and African masks, all individually capturing the essence and beauty of African culture.

paper, the New York Amsterdam ; News by its publisher, questioning the decision by Gore to seleqf ; Lieberman as his ninning mate. S£<; this issue is far from over. ; C;; In any case, it must be said that;; Maxine Waters’ demand thAt. 1 ' Lieberman present himself to th<:> Black Democratic Caucus and e*£-' plain his positions on issues suclj i as school vouchers and affirmative! action actually put the party in a stronger position (o go out anc{~ campaign, than if Lieberman had not come before Blacks and ex* £ plained his views. Traces of his new positions were found in his speech to the conven- _ tion and in Gore’s speech as welj* * reflecting their sensitivity to the concerns raised. If they had not; been raised, however, uncomfort*' able they made Gore political operatives at the time, it would have placed Black leaders in a far more awkward position to sell him to the Black community. This will be a; continuing challenge because Lieberman’s speech was also criticized as being too directed toward traditional Democrats, rather than the Independents and conservatives that he was brought into the campaign to attract. . ’ In his speech to the Black Demon cratic Caucus, Rev. Jesse Jackson, used the football team analogy tp. great effectiveness. He said thag. come fall, there will be only twp. teams on the field and the choice for Blacks is which one will they support. The natural emphasis among the party core activists is in winning, even winning at all cost. I also believe that it is better for Democrats to win, but not at any cost. I believe that it is better to lose having fought a great fight for what you really believe, than to win and thereby empower an agenda that is largely indistinguishable from that which the conservatives put forth. That is our challenge in matching those which Gore has before him.