Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 January 2002 — Page 6

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 4,2002

EDITORIAL

Education bill is a step in the right direction By ANARg V. HOLMES Recorder Editor Republicans and Democrats in Congress passed a landmark education package before the close of the year that may spell good news for America’s public schools, with its majority Black and poor children. The “Leave No Child Behind Act” will substantially increase funding for public schools without giving one red cent for vouchers to private and parochial schools. The legislation marks the first major update in 36 years to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. The package includes $26.5 billion for public schools in fiscal year 2002 with a goal to narrow the gap between the student academic performance of its majority Black and poor children to their affluent counterparts. Additional highlights of the package include the following: (1) States would conduct yearly tests in reading and math in grades 3-8 in the 2005-2006 school years. Although many states already perform testing, the legislation makes it a > uniform process for all. (2) States are forced to establish a minimum level of proficiency and set annual goals for schools to meet; they must raise student achievement and make steady progress to meet that overall level of proficiency in 12 years. (3) Schools that don’t meet state set goals for two years in a row would have to, let children transfer to better public schools at state expense; if they fail for three years in a row, they would have to provide outside tutoring at state expense. A school that fails for five years in a row would have to reorganize or convert to a charter school or lose its federal subsidies. (4) Parents will receive annual report cards on the schools that shows them how various subgroups are performing and allows them to compare their school’s performance and personnel with other schools. Those mandated performance reports can be the tool that parents and community groups can use to monitor and pressure local schools to improve. Indiana already does this through the annual school progress reports that appear in many local newspapers in the fall of each school year. While many public education critics call this new measure ^ incomplete because it is severely underfunded and does not ! include money that will fully fund special education, de- , crease class size and ensure schools have maximum technological capability it is a step in the right direction as it begins to hold schools more accountable for academic success. Many are even more upset that the bill does not call for funding vouchers, but they will come in due time. For everything has a season. In these tough economic times money is tight all over, from police and fire budgets to health care and library budgets. However, as Blacks in this country many of us should exceed expectations to prosper despite the shoestring budget we are bound by. We are masters at working with whatever limited resources we have at our reach. In looking at yearly performance reports, it is clear that many Black students underperform other racial groups whether they attend inner-city public schools or better funded suburban educational institutions. The key to making this education package work to our children’s benefit will be the degree to which our community organizations, business leaders and social service clubs not just talk the talk about the value of education, but actually form collaborative coalitions and partnerships that support academic achievement. An example of that could happen right here in our own backyard through an outside commission formed with various representatives from our local Black cultural organizations. The commission’s goal could be as simple as taking the time to find out what is required to ensure our children pass the state’s ISTEP exam and then creating outreach efforts and programs that would equip parents and care givers of children with that information along with strategies that would support and encourage their efforts to assist the children learn what is required of them. Stricter academic standards, money and noble educators cannot alone make our children successful. We as the value shapers of our own culture must create an environment that works to support whatever academic standards, monies given and educational programs aimed to better serve our students.

INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER DIRECTORY

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Money, politics and respect are the major themes of New Year 2002

The year 2001 was a quiet year for Indianapolis’ African-Ameri-can community, without a major crisis or issue to agitate, excite, irritate or anger our community. That will not be the case in this third year of the Third Millennium. Three words — money — politics — respect — will impact our African-American community in

2002.

First money. The recession has busted Indiana’s budget. Instead of a billion dollar surplus, we’re a billion behind. Years of spending on prisons, higher education and the social service safety net makes cutting state expenses very difficult. Do you scrimp on colleges, criminals or those thrown out of

work?

The state’s budget isn’t the only one in trouble. While still strong, Indianapolis’ economy is exhibiting danger signs. Without UniGov and suburban taxpayers helping pay for services, Indianapolis would be bankrupt now and property taxes in the old city would be astronomical, with police, fire and basic city services pared to the bare bones. Eight years of Goldsmithism papered over the city’s financial house of cards. Now, Mayor Bart Peterson is trying to address Indy’s financial ills, building bipartisan and community consensus towards repairing the city’s dangerously underfunded police and firefighters’ pensions. But, everyone’s attention will be focused on the impact of the 900 ton gorilla of property tax reassessment which looms over every government unit in Indiana. This year is when these new reassessment rules take effect. Quantum physics is easier to understand than Indiana’s property tax assessment system, especially the change from the current archaic scheme to one based on a

Clerk Sarah Taylor — aren’t running for re-election because of term

limits.

County clerk is a critically important office to our community. It controls the child support mechanism which is an important issue to many. Of greater importance is the clerk’s supervision of county elec-

tions.

property’s or home’s “fair market Afterthe 2000 election debacle, value.” how elections are run is of critical The new tax assessments will be importance to African Americans, a financial cluster bomb for County clerk is an office Demohomeowners living in the older cratshaven’twonindecades.While neighborhoods of Indiana’s cities some think the prosecutor and and towns. Thousands of elderly sheriffs races are important, and homeowners will be hard hit. Many they are, county clerk is essential, living on fixed incomes could lose Democrats must move heaven and

their homes in tax sales.

This is the political time bomb

earth to win it.

Regarding the prosecutor’s race.

of 2002 that terrifies Democratic the two Democratic candidates.

and Republican politicians.

Terry Curry and Jim Osborne so

Buttax reassessmentdoesn’t just far haven’t excited the party faithimpact homeowners; renters will fulorgeneratedenthusiasmfortheir face potentially huge rent increases campaigns among African-Ameri- — putting the squeeze on the al- can activists and opinion makers, ready shrinking amount of afford- One of them will face Republican able rental family housing for work- Carl Brizzi who’s busy raising ing class families in Indianapolis, money — thinking a massive teleWith a few exceptions, like state vision blitz will make him Scott Rep. Bill Crawford, our African- Newman’s successor. American leadership has been Any day, former U.S. Marshal largely silent on how reassessment Frank Anderson will formally ancould decimate Black nounce his candidacy for Marion homeownership and squeeze hun- County sheriff. Anderson is well dreds of Black renters out of their respected in our community, but to homes. win he must get at least a third of One of the challenges in 2002 the white vote while generating a will be getting Black leadership huge turnout from Blacks. (and the community at large) en- Democrats feel positive about gaged in the reassessment fight, the 2002 elections; almost giddy in And making sure our community’s fact. They’re excited about Andervoice is heard and felt. son as well as Congresswoman Politics will also be big this new JuliaCarson’sbidforafourthterm. year as there are several critical But, the Colts were excited and election contests which directly giddy about their chances this seaimpact our African-American com- son and look what happened to

munity.

Three major Republican incum-

them.

Anderson’s sheriffs race will

bents—Sheriff Jack Cottey, Pros- be an uphill fight. Carson could ecutor Scott Newman and County face her most serious and formi-

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dable challenger in Brose McVey, a Republican who right now isn’t coming across as a Pat Robertson/ Tom DeLay-clone. While the election of Superior Court judges are always important for African Americans, the other major political battles of2002 will be fought in the townships. Especially the races for township trustee, assessor, constable and small claims judge. Democrats, with the help of Black votes, have a strong chance of taking some of these township offices in Washington, Warren, Wayne, Pike and Lawrence townships. But only if Democratic candidates actively, aggressively and energetically campaign. And if the Democratic Party seeks out, identifies and gets to the polls the increasing number of Black voters living in white-majority (i.e. Re-publican-majority) precincts in those townships. 2002 must also be the year that African-American leadership and institutions insist on respect from Indianapolis’ white establishment. Americans of African descent have lived in Indianapolis from Day One. That’s 182 years. Our African-American community has paid its dues in blood, sweat and tears. We’ve given our all to this city and community. African Americans are tired of Indianapolis’ businesses, professionals, media and the arts continually treating America’s 16th largest African-American community as an alien nation. It’s time our leadership — political, civic, business and religious — puts Indianapolis on notice that we’re tired of being dissed. And regarding the role of Black media, this observation: 2002 is The Indianapolis Recorder’s 107th year of service. It’s The Indiana Herald’s 53rd year; WTLC-FM’s 35th; WHHH-FM’s 11th; WTLCAM’s 10th. Indianapolis’ Blackowned media have paid their dues and earned respect. This column will no longer tolerate Indianapolis businesses, institutions, media, government and the arts disrespecting Indy’s Black media. This year, whenever Black media’s disrespected by Indy’s establishment, the offenders will be called to ac-

count.

With our combined 216 years of/ service, Indy’s Black media has earned Indianapolis’ respect. See ya next week. Amos Brown’s opinions are not necessarily those ofThe Indianapolis Recorder. You can contact him at (317) 808-0430or e-mail him at A CBROWN @A OL COM.

Ali was not the government’s ^Greatest’

Two days before the Christmas release of the film “Ali,” the Motion Picture Industry Association announced that it endorsed the effort by a Hollywood industry group to recruit Muhammad Ali to film a public service announcement extolling the treatment of Muslims in

America.

While the Bush administration was publicly mute on the announcement, Ali would not have been chosen to be America’s foreign pitchman without its approval

had been the target of the FBI’s super-secret and illegal, domestic spy program that targeted liberal, left, and especially Black groups and leaders. In 1967, the government closed the trap on him. It rejected his claim that he was a conscientious objec-

tor based on his Muslim beliefs, yanked his draft deferment, anddeclared that he was sub-

Since the Sept. 11 terror massacre, a Holly- ject to immediate Army induction, wood group loosely known as Hollywood 9/11 Ali recognized the peril. He charged that the has feverishly worked with the Bush adminis- government had reversed itself in a transparent tration to support the war on terrorism by attempt to get rid of him.

promoting happy images of American life to film audiences in Africa and the Middle East. And who better than Ali to deliver that message of ethnic and religious tolerance. He is still America’s best known, and revered Muslim in the Middle East and Africa.

In April 1967, he refused induction. In the hyper-charged racial climate of that day, when government and public opinion was almost universally hostile to Black militants, Ali was doomed. A federal grand jury in Houston quickly indicted him, and an all-white jury

The choice of Ali was also another sign that speedily convicted him. He was slapped with the government has now shoved itself into the the maximum punishment, five years in prison toprankamongAli’sfans.Butthegovernment’s and a $10,000 fine. His passport was automati-

star treatment of Ali is in stark contrast to its cally revoked.

treatment of him during much of his profes- The FBI gleefully stepped up its effort to sional career. ruin him. In one of its mountainous wiretaps on In those years, Ali’s greatest foe was not Joe Martin Luther King in 1967, it noted that Ali Frazier, George Foreman, or Sonny Liston, it had proposed to donate the proceeds from a was the U.S. government. boxing match to King’s organization. In 1971,1 and other Black students, invited The match could not be held since every

Ali to speak on our campus. Ali arrived on campus followed by a small nest of FBI agents. During his short speech in the campus free speech area, they took notes, and snapped pictures of those in the crowd. Wherever he went, FBI agents tracked his every move. Ali became a prime target of the govem-

state boxing commission in the country had by

then revoked his license.

Still, the FBI was alert for any hint that Ali might try to dodge legal restrictions on him to earn money in the ring. It targeted Howard Coselhonc of the few sports notable to cham-

AfiTAli’s trainer Ang

‘Tonight Show.” FBI agents distributed “anti-violent statements” to counter what it called “the antiVietnam stand of Cassius Clay.” When boxer George Foreman waved an America flag on the victory stand after his Olympic gold medal victory in 1968, FBI officials arranged for him to get an award from the Freedoms Foundation in Febmary 1969. This was an obvious rebuke to Ali. The foundation, closely aligned with the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation, bankrolled a motley assortment of rabid right wing and segregationist groups. Top FBI officials made sure that Foreman got top media coverage for the award. The FBI’s spy and intimidation operation against Ali was finally exposed in legal documents in his draft case in 1970. But an angry and embarrassed Hoover was not about to scrap his secret campaign to nail Ali. He immediately sent letters to President Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell justifying the FBI wiretaps. On June 28, 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out his conviction. It held that the Justice Department had deliberately lied when it told Selective Service officials that Ali’s claim to draft exemption was not sincere or based on legitimate religious beliefs. That did not totally end the government’s freeze-out of Ali. Even after much of the public, and the sports and entertainment world heaped praise on Ali, it took another two decades for some government officials to join the chorus and sang his praise as “the greatest.” Will Smith notwithstanding; there are some that probably still don’t.

pion

ment the moment he publicly announced he even Johnny Carson for survdWance. FBI agents had joined the Nation of Islam in 1962, and was were assigned to watch and record everything pals with Malcolm X. For decades, the Nation that Ali said whenever he appeared oitCarson’s

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and columnist. Visit his news and opinion Website: www.thehutchinsonreport.com. He is the au-

Angelo Dundee, and thor of The Crisis in Black and Black (Middle

Passage Press.)