Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 November 2000 — Page 9

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24,2000

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE AS

Accept truth about our situation

“Blacks continue to ignore an irrefutable truth, namely, that in a racist social system, all institutipns will reflect, protect and sustain values that are consistent with racism. This should not be considered surprising or profound since all institutions serve to perpetuate the social theory of the group that created them. ” — Bobby E. Wright Ph.D. ***** * Africans in AmeriKKKA have succumbed to what I call the delusion of inclusion, meaning we so desperately want to fit in and be treated fairly in this culture; we blind ourselves to the reality that every institution in this nation created by whites (and too many created by us) is designed to reflect ajid perpetuate the notion of white supremacy. Hence Black elected and appointed officials, corporate middle management and even some Afri-can-American executives are constantly frustrated in their attempts to reform or alter public policies, programs, institutions and agencies whose intrinsic and underlying premise is the maintaining of white supremacy and the attending status quo of European power and hegemony. Because of our unique history in this country, most of our institutipns were created in response to virulent racial oppression, discrimination and exclusion. One of our oldest institutions is the Black church. It was formed as a result of the mistreatment and disrespect accorded to Richard Allen and felIqw worshipers at a white church in Philadelphia. They left and subsequently started their own denomination. Unfortunately, they never seriously reevaluated or challenged the values, theology, doctrines, iconography or political agenda of European “Christianity.” They uncritically adopted and imitated the model they were familiar with, adapting and imbuing it with a

Positively

Block

By Mws Horii Startaa

more Africanized brand of music and the call and response idipm of expression. The predominant social theory of AmeriKKKa is white supremacy and domination. No amount of denial can alter this reality. We need to maturely recognize and accept this truth. Once we accept this fact we can then plan, develop strategies and act accordingly. Our greatest challenge, as a people, is to create, build, sustain and support institutions that benefit and nurture us; institutions that encourage us to actualize our innate genius and divinity. This is not an issue of disliking anyone else or any other group. It is an issue of taking responsibility for our personal and collective well being. To accomplish this, we must develop or reiterate a social philosophy and action plan. Looking at our situation factually we have to ask ourselves, what values do we need to develop to foster positive self and group identity and racial cohesion? What will promote self/group individuation (not individualism) and actualization? Uncritically adopting or imitating the social systems of the slave master may not be in our best interests. Despite what we have been led to believe, racial differences do not automatically presuppose superiority or inferiority. People are just different. Other than being classified as fruit, apples are different from pomegranates and pears are dif-

ferent from watermelons. We must give up our preoccupation with the physical differences between Europeans and Africans and concentrate on ourselves, discovering what makes us tick, how we can best bring to fruition our aptitudes, proclivities and talents. We can not do this in systems that deny or depreciate our worth and automatically consign us to a subordinate position. We must be willing to break through the constraints of Eurocentrism. We must alter our frame of reference. Traditional African cultures have clearly defined cosmologies about what it means to be human. Spirituality is much more pronounced in the African scheme of things. We must admit we are different, assess our needs and fashion institutions that service those needs. For example in the field of education. Not only do we have to rethink what is being taught, vis a vis world history, but we have to re-examine how humans learn. We can look at this from a people oriented perceptive rather than an indoctrination perspective. We need to realize there are learning styles that develop more than just mathematics and reading, that the development of spatial relationships, music, art, depth perception, body movement, interpersonal relationship skills and intuition are just as important. We can’t do that if we are wedded to Eurocentric ideologies. We have to be willing to look at our African heritage, to delve into it, examine how the various cultures dealt with and plotted human development from the womb, to the grave and beyond. It is time we reasserted our own will and realized the only way we are going to be free fully functioning humans is by creating and building our own institutions, that foster growth, individuation, self-actualization, group solidarity and cohesion.

Hornet's nest lit up the Bushes

By JOHN WILLIAM TEMPLETON , There was one name that faded from the public eye for most of 2000 — Ward Connerly. Florida Qov. Jeb Bush and his brother, the Republican contender for president, feared that he would so stir up African Americans that they would spoil their family ’ s quest to regain the White House. They were right. An overwhelming Black vote was the primary threat to their goal, but putti,ng Connerly on ice was not enough to keep African Americans from putting up incredible vote counts across the nation. Nine of 10 African-Americans voted for Vice President A1 Gore, giving him a chance to win the top job after numerous fits and starts in the Gore campaign. In addition, they covered themselves from their most dramatic fear by ejecting four of the most conservative senators who would vote on potential Supreme Court judges. It took the energy and enthusiasm of supporters like Stevie Wonder _ who revived the Motown spirit in Detroit the weekend before the election and then fired up Florida voters as well — to create a,50 percent increase in the Black voter participation in that state.

Whatever the ultimate outcome for the White House, those voters have sent once again the message of the last two elections — that, particularly in the South and the urban centers of the North and Midwest — they will not stand by to let their economic and political progress be turned back. That passion was channeled by a new cooperative political machinery by both the Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP Voter Fund, a political action committee led by the leaders of the civil rights organization. It meant that African Americans were able to be more proactive although ignored by most of the political establishment for the bulk of the campaign. Candidates who thwarted the wishes of the Black Caucus like Michigan’s Spencer Abraham were the focus of special attention. As a result, the 80 percent of the Detroit voters who are African American put 92 percent of their votes behind Abraham’s opponent. Democrat Debbie Stabenow, who beat him despite being outspent 3-to-1. Abraham had been the architect of the bill that increased foreign worker visas for high technology companies, keeping the Senate and the House from considering measures to increase hiring of

Why Mor* polk*

Over the past 20 years, the Indianapolis Police Department has learned to work not just harder but smarter. We have economized our resources by civilianizing positions on the police department that do not require essential police powers, e.g., accident investigations, crime lab, communications, prisoner transport and central desk. We have combined support services with the Marion County Sheriff s Department where it was possible to maximize resources. tye have become very good at doing more with less. Rom 1988 to 1997, according to the annual reports from the Indianapolis Police Department, arrests for violent crimes are up 11 percent and arrests per officer overall are up 15 percent. In a 1998 survey of nine cities our size, IPD was by far number one in calls for service per officer per year with 1,147 calls for service per officer. Cleveland was the next closest with692 calls for service per officer. Also, according to that same survey, we will need a total of 1,303 ofiicers to reach the average

LETTERS

runs per officer of the cities studied. To reach the average number of officers per 1*000 population, we should have a department at 1,260sworn officers. To reach die average of officers per squue mile we would need to have 1,339sworn officers. Our authorized sworn strength in the year 2000 is 1,090. This is two more officers than our sworn strength of 1,088 in 1970. A lot has changed since 1970. Our style of policing has changed to a “Community Policing” philosophy. Community Policing is a very officer intensive philosophy, and that alone justifies die inoease in officers. Add to that the crack cocaine problems, amateur sporting events, professional sporting events, two new race events at the Speedway and the burden on our officers becomes unbearable. The numbers speak for themselves. We have an authorized strength of 1,090 in the year 2000. That is a net gain of two officers in 30 years over our sworn strength of 1,088 in 1970. Can anyone seriously argue that we don't need at least 200 more officers? Dave Young, ■w • J ■* rr^siaeiH FOP Indianapolis Lodge 86

Story was pot wrong pog* I am extremely disappointed (

one of the longtime lenders in this dty would receive the distinguished Whistler Award and that news be relegated to the obituary page. Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin Jr. has been a light shining in darkness and a voice crying in the wilderness in this community and this country for many yean. It is my belief that any African American that would be awarded such a high honor should have this good news highlighted on the from page of

“our” newspaper.

I would also would think that Amos Brown could “just tell that” in his weekly column. I realize sensationahsm sells, but our people need to read about someone that serves asapositive role model;ene who is not an athlete, nor an enlertainer, but a preacher/teacher^of the gospel of Jesus Christ ,| I would hope tlut fiiture pyphve newsworthy items can appear where they belong—first page ~- especially for one whoexemplines a first class life—not just fbM&D he is, but for whose be is and What he does! ?

Re’Ntta O’

Educating kids who learn differently

underrepresented minorities in a stealth vote that passed on the night of the first presidential debate. Black voters have been electing politicians for decades, but their issues are often ignored because there is not a feeling that they are organized enough to punish politicians who act against them. Abraham and the embarrassment for Jeb Bush at the razorthin vote plurality in the state he wanted to deliver to his brother are powerful evidence to the contrary. The 2000 elections, if followed up with continuing political organizing, will mark a watershed in which even the most conservative politicians should know that they are not beyond the wrath of the Black vote. That’s a card that legislative advocates like the NAACP and National Urban League can use effectively in the narrowly divided Senate and House that begins in 2001. Whoever sits in the White House will have to tread a narrow path, which usually means our issues are put aside. But both potential presidents will know that this nest of hornets has a potent sting. John William Templeton is executive editorofBlackmoney.com. Contact him at askiatek® Blqckmoney.com

By NANCY R. TIDWELL Does your child reverse letters when reading or writing words? Do you wonder why he can talk about advanced subjects, but he can’t do a simple math problem? Do you wonder if she will ever learn the days of the week or understand how to tell time? Is your child easily distracted? Does he have difficulty interacting with peers? Does she have difficulty following directions? Is your child an under performing student who is beginning to show behavioral problems? Or, is your child I.il/ Lr.i. Children who learn diffqremly often experience lives of frustration, confusion, and unwarranted failure. While quite normal, even above average or exceptional in many respects, these children tend to interpret differently what they see or hear. They are often oriented differently to relationships in space and time, and may show poor coordination, lapses of memory, and disorganized thinking. Although neurological tests, as a rule, show no abnormalities, these children are often far behind their age peers in reading, spelling,* writing, and math. According to the experts, 15 percent of the population in the United States has some type of learning disability. These differences do not go away and yet are often misidentified or undetected because they cannot be seen. Children with learning disabilities can be successful in school and lead outstanding careers. Even people renown for their intellectual ability are said to have faced

this challenge. A few examples are Harry Belafonte, Les Brown, Prince Charles, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Danny Glover, Whoopie Goldberg, James Earl Jones, Michael Jordan, John F. Kennedy, Carl Lewis, Roger Wilkins, and Stevie Wonder. Children with learning differences can learn—it may take them longer and they have to leam how we leara. Unfortunately, many schools are ill equipped to teach children who learn differently. This means that families must educate themselves about “learning differences” and become strong advocates for their own childrcn-as well as be a cUtalystfof thangein«Mching methods'dutt indude ail children. Federal law mandates that all children have available to diem a “free appropriate public education.” Recently, the National Association for die Education of AfricanAmerican Children with Learning Disabilities (NAEAACLD) was founded to increase awareness and promote an understanding of the specific issues facing our children who leam differendy. Research documents that Afri-can-American children are sometimes underrepresented in the special education category of specific learning disability while they are often over identified in the categories of emotional disturbance and mental retardation. (These categories are labeled based on the terminology used in federal law.) Discriminatory practices in diagnosis and placement procedures have led the NAEAACLD to begin a major awareness campaign in African-American communities throughout the United States. Our goal is to provide parents with in-

Your Voice

formation on how to help a child who learns differendy, how to define quality instruction, how to’access an appropriate education, md how to successfully influence die teaching agenda. & The National Newspaper Publishers Association (nnpa.org) has graciously agreed to support pur efforts by promoting this moodily column to its membership of ntore than 200Black community weejdy newspapers. In the months ahead, this i umn will address a variety of t ics which should be of interest to African-American families faring the challenge of ,educating thfcir children has seemingly ptit so little value on the future of its children, particularly those who are economically and socially disadvantaged or cultyrally different. , The NAEAACLD will act as a clearinghouse of information ^pn statistical and research data, effective assessment and testing, mrtel' programming, and resources available. The NAEAACLD has also begun to develop a network of individuals and organizations with expertise in the area of special education as it relates to the AfricanAmerican community. If you would like more information about the organization, please write: NAEAACLD, P.O. Box 09521, Columbus, Ohio 43209. Nancy R. Tidwell is the founder and president of the NAEAACLD. The organization is governed by a board of trustees and advised by the representatives of 14 national organizations involved in special education and/or promoting the interests of children.

What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

“I’m thankful for freedom, family, health and happiness. I’m also thankful that we have the freedom to make the choices that we can in this country including religion, which is very important to us.” Joe Slash “I’m most thankful for Jesus and that he died for us. I’m very thankful for my family. I am thankful for those people who have a roof over their head, because this is such a volatile time of year. So, I'm just grateful for the little bit that I have.” Dorothy Brown “I’m thankful for my home, my family, and my job.”

Shannaine Peden RekwcaHwjW

“I’m most thankful for my kids and a loving wife. Just to be alive, I like waking up in die morning. I’m fairly simple.” Mkhael Hamilton “My family, there is nothing else to be thankful for.” Lu Hamilton

“I’m happy that I’m hoe with my friend Rebecca.” *«•' Chris Leonard

ot*>:

“I’m thankful for Thanksgiv-

ing.

Annie Norwood

“I’m thankful for life, just being able to live and breathe.” Ronald Hicks

“I am thankful for my family ’

Sherri Grabheia

We would like to express tmr sincerest apology to the above participants for not including their photos due to technical problems.

If you would Kkn to report;'., nny nows or shorn your comments, call thSw~

(317) 290-4744.

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