Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 September 2000 — Page 1

Preparing a conscious co

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RELIGION Be careful what you say

ARTS A EN Fall fashi

************** * *CAR-RT SORT* *0045 58 00-00-0000 INDIANA STATE LIBRARY 140 N SENATE AVE INDIANAPOLIS IN 46204-2207

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BUSINESS ip promotes tech development

105th YEAR ■ NUMBER 35 B FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2000 B PHONE 317/924-5143 fl www.indianapollsrecorder.com B 754

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Congresswoman Carson’s visit to

Africa a success

Congresswoman Julia Carson discussed her recent successful and productive visit Wednesday to the African nations of Nigeria and Tanzania as a member of President Clinton’s offi-

cial delegation. During the press conference, Carson set the record straight about her health amid press reports that she was ill during her African trip. The Recorder will feature a question and answer with Congresswoman ; Carson about her trip to Africa in an ; upcoming issue.

Staff and Wire reports

Mayor signs new city curfew law Mayor Bart Peterson signed the city ’ s new curfew ordinance Wednesday. Peterson was joined by Public Safety Director Robert Turner, Corporation Counsel Scott Chinn, Sheriff Jack Cottey and the ordinance’s Council sponsors. Mayor Peterson called for and proposed the ordinance shortly after the state’s curfew law was struck down in

federal court in July. The state law was ruled unconstitutional because it

did not provide an exception for activities protected by the First Amendment.

The new law prohibits anyone younger than 18 from being in a public place after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday without a parent or guard-

See BRIEFS, Page A3

SouHiil Healthful Living Contact

* the Indianapolis Recorder proudly ; presents the Soulful Healthful living • Contest. Readers must submit a heakhy * soul food recipe by Friday, September 8. Ten finalists will have their entrees ainddeserts judged by local chefs Darrell

; and Lee Marble of Marble’s Southern

> Cooke

leery, along with Recorder staff

* members. Each finalist receives a copy : of Dr. Hilton Hudson’s “The Heart of ' the Matter: The African American’s ; Guide to Heart Disease, Heart Treat- : meat, and Heart Wellness.” The grand ! price winner receives a relaxing visit to ; alocal spa. Adi nnerfor two at Marble's Will be given to the first place winner. ! The Recorder will also select a third ; pftace winner, who will enjoy a sub- ! sbription package including a one-year : subscription, t-shirt and video. Only ; due original recipe per household will : he accepted. Tasting sessions will oc- : cur Monday, September 11 at 6 p.m. Contestants must be willing to have . their redpas and pictures posted in the ; Recorder. All entries should include ’ the recipe, cook’s name and telephone ; number. We encourage our readers to

rdthe Soulfhl Healthful Uv-

; contest, ana enjoy competing tor

s Indianapolis Re- ; confer at PX). Box 18499, Indianapolis, IN 46218-0499, or e-maH at RccoBtereiwfcna.

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Blacks see few of the dollars raised for elections

By ROBERT MOORE First of three parts

The Second Congressional DisUict cuts a swath 250 miles long and 180 miles wide through the deepest, most rural counties of Mississippi. Here the median household income is $15,500 and nearly 40 percent of the population lives in poverty. When the district’s representative, Bennie Thompson, raises funds for reelection, he usually goes outside his district. Few people in the district can afford to give $1,000, the maximum contribution allowable under federal law.

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Race and cami

Thompson has raised $229,774 as of June, according to Federal Election Commission data analyzed by the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Most of the money came from outside his congressional district. Thompson is not alone. Black legislators and candidates across

the country face similar fund-raising challenges. Experts say the financial challenges faced by Black candidates point out the need for campaign finance reforms. But the unique challenges facing minority politicians have been largely forgotten where this heavily debated public policy issue is concerned. To find out just how Black candidates are affected by the current political fundraising system, the NNPA spent months examining campaign funding trends among African-American candidates for higher office. The NNPA also examined hundreds of

financial disclosure records and interviewed politicians, political scientists, voters and others from minority communities around the country. The findings are stark. The NNPA’s report shows: • Blacks in Congress and challengers for House seats have raised a combined total of slightly more than $ 11.7 million as of June, less than 1 percent bf the more than $1.2 billion that has been raised for the 2000 election. • Out of the more than 1 million indi-

Sm ELECTIONS Pag* A6

Jazz festival to heat up Labor Day weekend

By RONNETTA S. SLAUGHTER Staff Writer

As music invades almost every sector of our lives, jazz remains an intense, yet smooth art form whose appeal extends; far beyond the latest musical trends. The third annual North Bank Jazz & Arts Festival kicks off Labor Day activities this weekend. Local and national artists are preparing to deliver an exciting program filled with diverse jazz sounds. More than 500 people attended last year’s event, and organizers hope numbers increase Saturday and Sunday. The event will be held at the Major Taylor Velodrome, located at 3600 N. Cold Spring Road. As the weekend approaches, many residents leave town, taking their families on the road. This year’s jazz festival, beginning at 3 p.m. both days, promises an energetic display of talent that attracts an enthusiastic audience. “We have a huge jazz heritage in Indianapolis,” said Rod Trabue, director and founder of the Urban Arts Consortium of Indianapolis (UACI). “The white community recognizes it, but the Black community does not.” While events such as the Indiana Black Expo and Circle City Classic rightfully receive an abundance of praise, Trabue insists that jazz music deserves applause for its history which incorporates various ethnic traditions. Jazz roots expand into Chicago, New Orleans and New York City among other notable sites across the U.S., even lending its art form world wide. This genre follows in the footsteps of great jazz performers Duke Ellington and Miles Davis.

Saturday’s line-up includes Cynthia Lane, Bill Lancton Quintet, Mary Moss & The Carl Hines Quintet and Yumbabe Salsa Jazz , a Latino jazz group from Columbus, Ohio. The event features Malachi Thompson & African Brass Band as key performers for the night. This widely popular band has played in Europe, and infuses Afri-can-American music with New Orleans style jazz. The North Bank Jazz & Arts Festival traditionally views Sunday night as the homecoming, a conclusion of weekend activities. Jason Curry & Sakitash, a newcomer to the jazz scene, was selected as the night’s opening act. Pookie Johnson and Ray Appleton will be featured in Melvin Rhyne’s Quartet. Rhyne, an Indianapolis native, has collaborated with Wes Montgomery and B.B. King, and released jazz albums including Kojo and Classmates. Jimmy Coe’s Jazz Ensemble and Vida Bole’ round up featured performers. Margaret Floyd, a jazz singer, headlines Sunday’s activities. Food and art vendors will be available fqr*guests. Next year, UACI organizers plan to join forces^with corporate sponsors to assist with financial responsibilities. This year’s media sponsors are WTLC 105.7 FM and Comcast Cable Vision. “We want to bring a true jazz festival to Indianapolis, where people can come out and listen to good jazz music. This city is loaded with talented people in the arts. We must recognize those people around here,” demanded Trabue, envisioning a greater awareness and overall appreciation for the rich history of jazz music. For ticket information call any TicketMaster location or the Urban Arts Consortium at 927-7260.

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Malachi Thompson & African Brass Band will perform smooth Jazz compositions at this weekend’s North Bank Jazz & Arts Festival at the Major Taylor Velodrome.

Arming IPS police debate continues Other districts secure in their decisions

By FREDERICK L. MERKERSON HI Staff Writer

Parent Allean Butts is a member of a Black community weighing the “pros and cons” of a plan that would 4 arm Indianapolis Public Schools police officers while they are on duty in the schools. Security in schools hit the national scene last year during the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado when two hate-filled students walked into their school, killed 12 students and a teacher, wounded 21 others and then killed themselves. The most devastating school shooting in U.S. history and the threat of a reoccurrence might lead Butts to support the IPS proposal. However, Butts and other African Americans often insist law officers often abuse their authority. The idea of those same officers patrolling IPS hallways with guns in holsters, scares Butts, the mother of a Broad Ripple sophomore. “An officer may be trigger happy and take his authority to the head,” Butts said. “If they are trained to protect, why do they have to have guns?” Butts’ question is a topic growing in the IPS commu-

See GUNS, Page A4

Black coalition forms national education reform group

By BARATO BRITT Recorder Correspondent

Blacks, Hispanics growing in Indy, whites declining

By AMOS BROWN HI Recorder Correspondent

White flight continues while the growth of AfricanAmerican and Hispanic populations are increasing. That’s the results of the latest Indianapolis area population estimates released Wednesday by the Census Bureau. According to the census estimates, as of July 1999, the population of Indianapolis-Marion County was 810,946. That’s an increase of 13,787 or 1.7 percent since 1990. However, the city’s white non-Hispanic population has dropped 18,685 or 3.1 percent during the decade. In fact white flight has accelerated during the past few years, according to the census estimates. The city-county’s Black population continues its strong growth. The Census Bureau estimates that in July 1999, Indianapolis’ Black population was 195,119 the highest ever. Its estimated Black popula-

tion has jumped nearly 25,000 or 14.6 percent. In 1999,24.1 percent of the city-county was AfricanAmerican. The 1999 census estimates documents the strong growth of the city-county’s Hispanic population, but not at the numbers Hispanic leaders believe. It’s estimated that Indianapolis’ Hispanic population has climbed to 13,480; an increase of 5,030 or 59.2 percent. Hispanic growth is greater in the Indianapolis metro areas, where Hispanic population has jumped 70.3 percent to 20,378. The estimates released by the Census Bureau this week are not 2000 census data. Between decennial censuses, the bureau estimates populations of states, counties and cities using birth and death records, tax records and other administrative records data. But, the Census Bureau does not use this type of data to compile the official census information that

WASHINGTON—By basic definition, school choice is any mechanism that allows parents, regardless of race or income, the right to choose the schools they think will best serve their child’s academic and social needs. For most advocates of this issue, these schools can be public, private or parochial; any school the parent chooses. Importantly, that mechanism, be it charter schools, vouchers, tax credits or expanded public school choice, will allow parents this opportunity with the dollars the public puts into the education establishment. While many see this growing movement to be a means to redefine “public education,” the issue remains hotly debated nationally. In the African-American community, one of the most common arguments made against school choice is that the movement is being led by rich, white conservatives with little or no stake in the Black community. That argument became pull and void this week. The product of three years of coalition building, information gathering and development, a group of AfricanAmerican educators, legislators, parents, clergy and community activists this week announced the fonnation of a new group that wifi aggressively support parent choice to empower families and increase options in education for

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See CENSUS, Pag* A3 ; sir

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