Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 September 2000 — Page 12

PAGE A12

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2000

1

OPINION

Strategic leadership: A new style for urban America By PROFESSOR SIDNEY MORSE As massive migration by African Americans from the former farm plantations of the South to urban centers in the North occurred early in the last century, a new call for leadership was sounded to change the conditions of those who had been the objects of intense racial discrimination and bigotry. The response would ignite a movement of concern for the civil rights and socio-economic uplift of all Americans. Dr. W.E B. DuBois, himself an early strategic thinker and a great visionary, saw higher education as the technology that could fuel progress among “the Negroes,” being the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University and made it the hallmark of his message as a founding member of the NAACP. Marcus Garvey could easily be called one of the earliest proponents of globalization, organizing Africans throughout the Diaspora into one of the largest collectives of its kind the world over, emphasizing trade, economic empowerment and self-determination through the United Negro Improvement Association. Later, names like Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would not only create their own historical legacies but drive the movement for civil rights into the modem era. Throughout these two generations of leadership the strategic thrust of their efforts was to overcome the adversity that hatred prepared and create some sense of racial parity. Debate and disagreement about the correct path to achieve those goals was often intense and public, but clearly in its way, helping American democracy to grow. . Those models are being duplicated today by newly emerging ethnic groups whose ambition is also to carve out some portion of the so-called “American Dream,” adding a new dynamic that, heretofore, African-American leaders have not had to consider. But time and conditions have changed. The essential question to be answered now is whether the demand for a new style of leadership in urban America will be recognized and answered. The recent rash of heinous crimes of hate in the North, South, West and East, as well as attitudes exemplified by the Confederate flag issue, indicate that the “genie” is still “out of the bottle” as we move from the 20th century into the new. As a result, quick soundbite slogans like the “digital divide” win favor, if only to provide photo opportunities and to present the impression that longterm neglected communities are finally getting some attention from those outside who care. And while noble intentions are often attached to efforts to address this phenomenon, leadership is not buying into trends that generate excitement when they are new and then fade into distant memory. 1 And so, when we speak of “strategic leadership” wheh it comes to technology transfer to urban communities, we can’t just talk about putting computers in schools, creating access and then thinking when that goal is achieved we can all go home and celebrate. The critical questions requiring strategic leadership and vision in this new “knowledge economy” are deeper than just computers in the classroom. First, how will urban communities reshape the value paradigm so that respect for achievement, respect for property and respect for human life are raised as guiding principles such that the conditions for technology to exist can be fostered? Second, in sight of stiff resistance from institutions controlling public learning environments, can education really be transformed so that its quality, with the assistance of technology, is equal to more affluent delivery systems? Third, will technology providers like the major software development companies, Internet service firms, broadcast, broadband, entertainment behemoths and telecommunications giants alike — all of whom will ultimately extract huge amounts of revenue from urban center—embrace “strategic mentoring models” for urban entrepreneurs to create businesses, jobs and real economic empowerment or will they continue to rely on the “donation to schools” model as the cover for being a good corporate citizen? Fourth, will there be leadership to facilitate the delivery of interest from private capital sources, lessening reliance on government and stimulating technology growth through entrepreneurs in the same way it occurs in other areas? Finally, will real leadership infrastructure be built in urban communities as part of strategic succession that is less concerned about personal celebrity and more focused on profoundly changing the conditions of those that call cities their home, mostly African American and Latino? The answers to these questions will also determine whether or not previously economically isolated communities will enjoy the bounty of a newly emerging global paradigm or remain deprived. Professor Morse is president and CEO of the Institute for Strategic Thinking and Technology Development and is also an adjunct professor at National University's Los Angeles Campus. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

Oaorga P. Stewart Marcus C. Stewart Sr.

Eunica Trotter

William G. Maya

Foundar-EdNor- Edltor-Publlahsr

Editor-in-Chiaf

Publlshar

PubUshsr 1925-1983

PuWisttar

1990-praasnt

1896-1924

1999-1990

PrMMwrt / OMwral Managar CaretonaMay* INTERNET EdNor .Anart V. Holmaa Wab SMa/Contant Manager Kan Skelton Production / Art Managar .Jeffery SeHera Oanaral Salee Manager .Jeffrey A Clark CIRCULATION •ualnaaa Office Manager Angela Kuhn Circulation Ebonl Llndeey

ADVERTISING

Claeeifled Advertlelng Sharon L. Maiey Local Dfeplay Advertising Uaa Shoemake RHaJ. Wise ... C. Denise Petty

BUSINESS

Interim Controller Arthur Carter BualneesOffloe Cryetal Dalton Jo Ann Hunter ... Ooahla Plfer

The SidlanaRaas Ascender encourages short, oondee Mlera lo the edNor and opinion artlctee from the pubBa. LaMars and ogMon arttdee wM be ueed at the adNor's dtocrehon and are aubtect to editing. We adS nor guaransea publication of male rial received We cannot guar antes dates of publication. Letters eeMakiMg Nbatoue or untrue armaments wM not be published AS letters and opinion articles must btshiBa a verifiable hdl name, addraei and tslaphans number. This ktSotmotion adH not be published at Bis teguael at Bte tsrBer. Laltere and artMae should be typed but adS be accepted If handwriting Is leglbie.

(317) 924 5143 P 0 Box 18499, Indianapolis, IN 46218-0499 Retarder «indy.net

EDITORIAL

Staff Wl Re IS Frederick L. Merkeraon M —AonnsBaS. Slaughter SdHorlat Aaalatanl/Photographer Rod Roes Copy Idttor Jack Seles

ART B PRODUCTION

Advents In gfPi oduetton Tarran James PremssMen... Jeana Lewis

For four years, Indianapolis’ majority media has perfunctorily covered the congressional activities of Congresswoman Julia Carson. Many in our community, including me, believe the media’s token coverage is because Carson is Black. Think I’m too harsh? Here’ the latest example: Aug. 25-29, Carson traveled with lawmakers, mayors and the president of the United States on state visits to Nigeria and Tanzania. If a white Hoosier congressperson had traveled overseas with the president. Indy’s TV stations and the Indianapolis Star would’ve had daily updates. Instead there was a coverage blackout of Carson’s trip until the morning of Aug. 30. On that morning’s WTHR/ Channel 13 newscast, anchor Pat Carlini breathlessly reported: “A news item out of the Washington Post this morning. Indiana Congresswoman Julia Carson left with President Clinton on a trip to Africa. Apparently something didn’t agree with her along with other members of the delegation. She became seriously ill, we’re told. No word yet on her condition. But one congressman from New York was taken to a Tanzania hospital and flown back on Air Force One. We hope she’s OK.” Carson was never “seriously ill”! The “news item” wasn’t a front page or lead story, but the 12th paragraph in the Post’s In The Loop political gossip column, written by A1 Kamen and published that morning. He wrote, “Several members of the congressional delegation accompanying President Clinton on his Africa trip appar-

Just Tellinlt

By AMOS BROWN

ently ate or drank something that didn’t sit well with them. Some, including Rep. Julia Carson were seriously ill and one. Rep. Gregory Meeks, was so sick he was taken to the plane in Tanzania in an ambulance and flown back on Air Force One because White House physician Connie Mariano wanted to keep an eye on him.” Carson later explained on our WAV-TV/Channel 53 program that what made her slightly ill was eating a piece of chicken offered by a woman in a Nigerian village on Sunday, Aug. 27. If Carson or any other member of the presidential party had really been “seriously ill” the scores of reporters accompanying the presidential trip would’ve reported it. They didn’t. Carson had returned home late Tuesday, Aug. 29 and was asleep when Channel 13’s story broke. Immediately her home and office were flooded with calls of concern. At 11 a.m., Carson called a news conference to talk about her Africa trip and show that she was looking good and feeling great. Even though every media outlet was informed, the only ones there were Channel 13’s Kevin Rader, a WXIN/Fox 59 cameraman, Star reporter Kristina Buchthal and me. Carson spent most of her press conference discussing the sub-

stance of her trip to Africa. She described how pending congressional legislation that would forgive African debts to America would help improve the economies of African nations and increase efforts towards more democratization in Africa. Carson also told us about meeting former South African President Nelson Mandela, her observations of the peace talks Mandela held with 10 African nations and her impressions of her first African visit. Rader reported on Carson’s trip and the health non-issue on Channel 13’s newscasts that same day. But, in the most egregious example of biased and racist news coverage since Gannett’s takeover, the Indianapolis Star totally snubbed Congresswoman Julia Carson’s explanation of her African visit and the Post’s bad reporting. Though their reporter attended Carson’spress conference. Star editors suppressed publication of any story about Carson’s health and spiked publishing anything Congresswomah Carson said about the substance of her trip. The only thing the Star published was Sunday’s Behind Closed Doors item rehashing Carson’s health problems the past four years. WTHR/Channel 13 showed journalistic laziness broadcasting a column gossip item without checking if it was accurate. The Washington Post makes mistakes too. (You think this means Channel 13 will have John and Ann or Mark and Andrea broadcast political gossip from my columns?). Channel 13’s sin is excusable; the Star’s isn’t. Their refusal to publish an account of Congresswoman Carson’s

explanation of her African trip is indefensible. Publisher Barb)ifa Henry and Editor Tim Frankjyi should apologize to our community for the Star's incompetent coverage. . * What I’m hearing .j, in the streets • There were fireworks in l^»t week's televised debate betwe0n Sen. Richard Lugar and Democrat David Johnson, when Johnson told viewers “Senator Lugar has votod with Senator Jesse Helms 85 .petcent of the time". . v An angry Lugar denied tile charge, lashing back at Johnson) Despite the verbal jabs. Johnson is far behind. Sunday’s St^r poll reported that 37 percent of Den>etcrats favor Lugar, 33 percent Johnson and 28 percent undecided. That echoes what I wrote hejo weeks ago, that Johnson has donp nothing to excite and energize thg Democratic base. ,<v ■ Johnson needs to take some d|f those million bucks in campaign cash he’s hoarding and get his message out to Democrats immediately, or this Senate race can.ijp declared, over. .rv. Two years ago, over the objections of me and other media exeuti. the United Way of Central Indian^ decided to buy advertising time and space with the city’s medifi. My objection was rooted in ,th£ fear that the United Way wo(ukd fall victim to the bigotry existing in some sectors of the advertising industry. 1 My fears were realized this year with the United Way ’ s ad agency’s deliberate initial exclusion of tfoe city’s Black-owned radio and tel6-: vision stations from their paid advertising campaign. Seems thd United Way neglected to infocm the ad agency of the United Way is firm commitment towards utilia-f ing minority-owned businesses; < , The United Way advertising fiasco isn't the only example ofito-: cal companies deliberately excluding Black-owned media. Wishitf'd Hospital, owned by the taxpayeis of Indianapolis-Marion County, has for a year refused to do bi*| ness with Black-owned statiorfs® As part of his race relations initiatives, Mayor Bart Peterson should immediately insist that,the Health and Hospital Corp. regularly include Black-owned media in their advertising budgets ar^cl demand the United Way prohibjt excluding Black-owned media from their paid ad campaigns.'' See ‘ya next week! Amos Brown's opinions are hot necessarily those of The Indianapolis Recorder. You can contact liini at (317) 293-9600 or e-mail him at [email protected]. V.'

Teaching the truth and the new school year

By DR. CONRAD W. WORRILL The movement to implement an appropriate African-centered curriculum in predominately African-American inner city schools is critical to the on-going struggle for the liberation of African people in this country. With the opening of a new school year across America, we must continue to examine the importance of the movement that has now become popularly known as the African Centered Education Movement. Simply stated, this movement focuses on teaching the truth concerning the contributions of African people to the development of civilization in all subjects. Throughout the country, African Americans are now becoming more sensitive to challenging white supremacy and the racist basis of the American public school curriculum. Through the National Black United Front (NBUF), and its World African Centered Education Plan, more African Americans are beginning to see the need for massive curriculum change in the public schools of this country. There is not a day that goes by that someone does- not call our office seeking information and help on how to start the process of changing the curriculum in their school. Parents are becoming more and more dissatisfied with what their children are being taught. They are also beginning to realize how much isn’t being taught. It is clear that the public school system is the place where African-American children receive a significant portion of their view of the world and the history of the world. And, it is also a place where large numbers of AfricanAmerican youth are miseducated under the system of white supremacy through the ideas and interpretation of history that is presented to them.

Let’s turn to Carter G. Woodson’s great book. The Miseducation of the Negro, to get some furthers insights into this problem. Woodson observes, “... the so-called modem education, with all its defects, however, does others so much more good than it does the Negro, because it has been worked out in conformity to the needs of those who have enslaved and oppressed weaker people.” For example, Woodson says, “... the philosophy and ethics resulting from our educational system have justified slavery, peonage, segregation and lynching. The oppressor has the right to exploit, to handicap, and to kill the oppressed.” Continuing on, Woodson explains, “No systematic effort toward change had been possible for. taught the same economics, history, philosophy, literature, and religion which have established the present code of morals, the Negro’s mind has been brought under the control of his oppressor.” Concluding on this point, Woodson states, “The problem of holding the Negro down, therefore, is easily solved. When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions.” Therefore, it is inspiring to see so many of our people waking up all over America and seeking the truth concerning the real contributions of African people to the world. Through study groups, conferences. Black talk radio, and information network exchanges, African Americans are coming into a new African consciousness that seeks to reclaim the African mind and spirit. Through the Portland Model Baseline essays, the work of the Kemetic Institute, and other writings and curriculum materials, Africans are much more aware of the following points that must be incorporated in the curriculum:

(1) Africa is the home of early man. (2) Africa is the cradle of modern man. (3) Africa is the cradle of civilization. (4) Africa once held a position as worfd teacher, including the teacher of the Western

world.

(5) There was and still is a continental wi^Ie cultural unity in Africa and in the African communities around the world. ’ ^ (6) The first time Africans left the continent was not on slave ships.

(7) Africa and African people all over the world have been under siege for nearly 2,0^0 years and only recently by European slavery and colonization. (8) There is an African diaspora all over the world today. ‘ ^ (9) African people have always resisted domination on the continent and all over the wofl^f. (10) Even under the systems of slaver/, colonization, segregation, and apartheid. African people have made monumental contributions to the arts, sciences, technologies ar^d politics. These 10 points and others have become thp basis upon which we can judge the white supremacy public school curriculum content ^n textbooks and other learning materials. In other words, these points have become the basis of determining whether the truth is beir^g taught in the public schools of this country: * The truth will set us free!

ri

Dr. Conrad Worrill is the National Chairman of the National Black United

Front (NBUF) located at 12817 S. Ashland t ‘ Ave., Fir. I, Calumet Park, III., 60827, 708- ‘ 389-9929, Fax# 708-389-9819, E-mail: ' '

[email protected], Web page:

nbufront.org

•rt'k’