Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 November 2000 — Page 32

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2000 ■ PAGE Cl 2

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Maxine Waters: The people’s champion seeks a stronger position from which to serve

Black America must reexamine way its children are educated By BARATO BRITT For The Black Press of America When you control a man's thinking, you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him to stand here or go yonder. He will find his “proper place" and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is not a backdoor, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary. — Carter G. Woodson, The Miseducation of the Negro, 1933 ***** The African-American community enters the new millennium facing new issues for empowerment, but brings with it the baggage of issues unresolved. In this new millennium. Black America finds itself pondering the reason the average Black 17-year-old reads only about as well as the average white 13-year-old, as Department of Education statistics indicate. With the achievement gap widening, Black America must reexamine the way in which its children are educated. In the struggle for true economic and social emancipation, the new movement for civil rights in the Black community starts with the proper education of its youth. A wealth of options has been explored in this new millennium fight for the minds of Black children. Proposals such as charter schools, home schooling, educational tax credits, “No Excuses” public schools and the ever-con-tentious issue of vouchers remain on the table of debate; all the while, Black children continue to fall through the cracks. Testing remains an issue that divides the Black community, as those in favor show evidence of the most impoverished Black children achieving at the highest level in certain environments, while opponents contend bias remains a factor in such a nationwide educational gauge. More importantly, the condition in which our children are subjected has contributed to the community-wide apathy that boggles the minds of education reformers around the nation. Without question, resolution to the education dilemma is the prevailing issue in this new movement for Black empowerment. However, those that broker educational change in the Black community are only as strong as their constituents, or the special interests that lobby their ears \vhen we do not. S The battle for educational equity is a battle for power. In our apathy and reluctance to address different educational options, we have forgotten that ours is the power to change. When we actualize that power, we will move forward to change the system in a manner that is equitable to all Black children. The question facing this new millennium movement for educational equity is simple — how much longer will we accept a system that continually fails our community and our children? Hopefully, the action that dictates the answer is forthcoming.

By HAZEL TRICE EDNEY Special to the NNPA Congresswoman Maxine Waters dumped the contents of the cardboard boxes onto the floor of the packed conference room — thousands of letters from inmates and their loved ones from around

the country.

“These are our children!” she said, slinging the boxes one by one, strewing letters on the floor to dramatize her point for the audience and the media. “This is the mail that I have gotten on this one

issue alone.”

That issue — during the September 1999 Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Legislative Weekend — was mandatory minimum sentencing. The symbolic case discussed at that forum was that of Kemba Smith. The young Richmond woman is serving 24 years in federal prison — the minimum sentence — for her minor role in a

drug conspiracy.

At that time, Waters, a California Democrat, said that Smith, affectionately known as “Kemba,” would be considered for a presidential pardon. A year later. President Bill Clinton is in fact consid-

ering Smith for it.

Waters’ passionate disposition in the Smjifa case is chaMcteristic of hertoufllegislative s0e. which

fyas often produced powerful re- cus membe suits. Known for her fearless ad vo- would beco

if she becomes chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy under the House Banking Commit-

tee.

If the Democrats win a majority in the Housed Representatives in the Nov. 7 eli&JiSi.^^lackCau-

„ Waters,

chairs of subcom-

Maxine Waters ity would be established with the election of six additional Demo-

crats.

As chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Waters and committee members would oversee the work of the Federal Reserve Board, which includes the raising and lowering of interest rates. They would also oversee the work of the U.S. Mint, currency and money laundering issues. Also a member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities and Government Sponsored Enterprises under the Housing apd Comnroiity Opportunity Committee, Waters is nof shy at^ffier intention to stay focused

Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and other federal regulators on a walking tour of an area of South Central Los Angeles to discuss the need for community reinvestment. “Obviously, we need more housing for working people. We need to increase the housing stock in the U. S.,” she said in an interview this month, adding that more Section 8 housing for the low income is also needed — but only in a quality setting. “I’m vitally concerned that we don ’ t bui Id housing for poor people and create ghettos. If you’re going

cacy for women, children, people mittees and committees of Con- issues that affect disadvantaged

of color and the poor, Waters is gress, an unprecedented level of people,

hoping for the same kind of results Black political power. The major- \ Two years ago, she led Federal

areas, hospit rounded communities,” she said. See WATERS, Page C11

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NCNW celebrates 11 years of Excellence In Teaching

The National Council of Negro Women Inc. (NCNW) honored the 2000 winners of its annual Excellence In Teaching Award during a special luncheon and ceremony at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC recently. Sponsored by Shell Oil Company, the Excellence In Teaching Award pays tribute to the legacy of NCNW founder, Mary McLeod Bethune, by honoring teachers for their tireless efforts on behalf of educating African American youth. The Excellence in Teaching Award recipients distinguished themselves among their peers as leaders in the field of education. A group of nationally respected educators selected the winners from nominations solicited by NCNW from across the country. The luncheon highlighted the achievements of one national and six regional winners who were chosen for their skill, innovation and enthusiasm. "Each year I look forward to celebrating the achievements of such dedicated professionals," says Dr. Dorothy I. Height. "It is an honor See NCNW, Page C9

On hand to present the awards were: NCNW President and CEO Dr. Jane Smith; NCNW Chairwoman and President Emerita, Dorothy I. Height; Shell Oil Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Susan M. Borches; and Shell Oil Manager, Constituent Relations, Paula Salzan.

Volunteers make a difference

The FosterCare Luggage For Kids program receiv proclamations from the Governor’s and Mayor's offices. Pictured left to right: Executive Director, Commission on Community Service, Joe Smith; Deputy Director, FosterCare Luggage For Kids, Carol Titus; Director, Julian Center Shelter, Carlene Richadrson; Chief Development Officer, Wheeler Mission, Steve Kerr; President/CEO FosterCare Luggage For Kids Marc Brown; and Assistant Deputy Mayor Policy, Melina Kennedy. (photoa/Rod Ross)

Volunteers collect luggage on Monument Circle for “Let’s Make A Difference Day.” Pictured 'eft to right: Lisa Hollis, Jodie Hollis, Carol Lamberg, Robin Brown, Paul Brown and Blair Brown.

Casket puts focus on your mortality] To me it has as much right toi be in a neighborhood as an adult bookstore. I am talking about the casket store that resides on then same block as my apartment here in Antigua, Guatemala. .: > After all, these are things that we seek to hide in our society! *, although we know they are a part of life. But in a country such as this, I find myself surprised all - the time. The truth is as much as I pretend to be repulsed by the* ! store, I am just as equally M j intrigued. * i Every time I pass it, I cannot j help but look inside. Even when 1 try not to pay the store any mind I find my eyes wandering over there anyway. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. Each time I pass it I find myself studying a different casket. As if in some trance, I remain fixated on the handles, the decorations, the color, the texture, and its length until I pass the store. Sometimes I dare myself to go it I can study them up close -by, but have never been up close to a Casket for any! length of time. It is not the caskets per se, but' what they represent. In lieu of the Halloween season, a casket represents only one thing to me:; mortality. Perhaps I think that my studying the caskets will ' make me more comfortable with, the ideal of death, particularly ! my own. I am not completely ! comfortable with my ultimate | death although I have had to ; evaluate it time and time again ; while on this trip — more so than any other time in my life. ; Just recently I wrote my ; mother informing her that I was ! getting ready to start traveling ; throughout Central America. I have remained put in Antigua since my arrival for almost a ; month now. My two children and 1 plan to visit Honduras and Belize. We are not traveling with a ! tour group. We are backpacking! it and the extent of our travels is> largely dependent upon the experiences that lay ahead of us.; I wanted her to have a rough ) travel itinerary just in case something happens. At the end df my letter, I struggled as to whether I should include an extra line or two in case I met an ill fate. “Why bring that up?” one part of me asked. “You just never ; know,” the other part answered. In the end, I wrote: “Please know that if something should happen, to me, that I died pursuing my j dreams and that makes all the ! difference in the world.” I should have left it at that, but my defense mechanism kicked in. You know the part of you thajt works to protect your psyche. “But of course, everything will be all right,” I added. I told myself that I needed to add that to comfort my mother from such a scary thought, but I know that it was for myself. Everything will be all right and I’ll be back to stroll past the casket store once more. Johnson is a Detroit native. She is currently trying to find herself while exploring Central America. Visit her Web site at www.reportonlife.com. —