Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 December 2002 — Page 12

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2002

EDITORIAL

It's sad when an HBCU loses accreditation

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By now, many of you have heard

about the two Black schools that re-

cently lost their accreditation. Morris Brown College in Atlanta and

Mary Holmes College in West Point, Miss., are the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) that are no longer accredited. This means that these schools can no longer assure academic quality, nor can they qualify

for federal funds. If a school doesn't qualify for federal ftinds, then its students won’t be able to obtain financial aid assistance. Nearly 90 percent of students that attend

H ECU’s are on financial aid.

Need I say more to illustrate the severity of this situation? As a graduate of Jackson State University, an HBCU, this whole thing hits pretty close to home for me. While I was saddened by the lose of accreditation, I was also disappointed, particularly at Morris Brown. It is estimated that Morris Brown is neariy $ 23 million dollars in debt There are allegations that this school has misused funds which contributed to the debt Another factor is that enrollment at Morris Brown increased in

recent years, but additional housing did not Therefore, the institution was forced to pay for students to be housed in hotels as well as pay to bus them back and forth to campus. In late2000, students at Morris Brown complained to the stateofGeorgia about inaccurate financial aidawards. Less than a year later, assessments turned up numerous duplicate financial aid to students. As if that weren’t enough, it was also discovered that disbursements were given to people that weren't even enrolled at Morris Brown College! I don't know how some may look at it, but to me it was an obvious inside job. If people would just stop trying to get things the quick and easy way in life, the world would be so much better. I do however, find it very interesting that Delores Cross, Morris Brown president since 1999, and financial aid director Parvesh Singh both resigned earlier this

year. It’s sad to think that the 117-year-old school, which happens to be the only college in Georgia that was established by all African Americans for African Americans, has fallen to such an ugly demise. Last week it also was announced that Grambling State University in Louisiana will remain on probation for at least another year because of its accounting lapses and confusing financial records. Other HBCUs that are on probation are Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C,. and Talladega College in Talladega, Ala. I recently watched a segment of a news station that questioned whether or not traditional Black institutions are even necessary in this day-and age. Let me just say this. They are absolutely necessary. The knowledge and the experience one can get at a Black school is that of no other. At Jackson State, not only did I learn academics, I also learned about life, I learned about experiences that my people had. My professors told me things in a very in-your-face kind of way. There was no sugar coating. There was no lack of acknowledgement about my ancestors. It felt good to get educated in so many different areas, by people that were just like me. I’m not putting down traditional colleges or universities, and I’m not against going to any of them. I do believe that a Black child should at least experience going to an HBCU. They aren’t for everyone, so maybe somebody could try it out for a year - if they don’t like it they can always transfer. Or they can go to an HBCU throughout their entire undergraduate life, and then go to a traditional school further their education even more. If a person opts not to attend an HBCU altogether, then they should at least acknowledge and respect the institutions. Oftentimes I run into people who assume that because a college is predominately Black, it is not as good or creditable, which is so untrue. Even with the lose of accreditation from Morris Brown and Mary Holmes, I still have a deep love and respect for Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country.

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With Kernan gone, who wants to be governor?

I’m the last of Indiana’s media pundits, but the only African American, to comment on the last week’s stunning political developments that began with Lt Gov. Joe Keman’s announcing he would not run for

governor.

I take the lieutenant governor at his word that he and his wife Maggie sat down over the TTianksgiving weekend and de-

recessionary future would be a crave him so?

daunting task for the Great Bayh More critical to African AmeriHope. cans is Daniels’ record. What did A possible Democratic guber- he do to improve employment and natorial candidate is former promotional opportunities for House Speaker John Gregg. The African Americans while at Lilly? folksy-talking, politically cunning Does he silently endorse Trent Gregg is the strongest hopeful, if Lott and other Republican NeanBayh doesn’t run. Unfortunately, derthals? Has Daniels’ publicly

demned

cided they couldn’t afford the has seemingly

sacrifices, personal and otherwise, a campaign for governor

would have meant

By running, Kernan would have had to spend inordinate

as O’Bannon’s political cunning

abandoned him.

Keman’s announcement was a political train wreck, creating turmoil and havoc in the Indiana Democratic Party. Party Chairman Peter Manous proclaimed

and emphatically cone

Republican racism?

Here’sthebigquestion Daniels, Bayh, Gregg, Hill and other gov-

Gregg made many enemies during his speakership, including most African-American legisla-

tors.

Every Black legislator I spoke emor hopefuls, of both parties, with last week was livid at the must answer in the coming thought Greggwould ran for gov- months: What will theydo as governor. That opposition spells emor that will materially improve trouble for Gregg. Without strong, the lives of Indiana’s 550,000

time raising $15,000 a day to that the party has “an experienced visible and vocal support from African Americans; what will they fund a campaign expected to bench” ofcandidates,butcouldn’t Black legislators, Gregg wouldn’t do to fight employment bigotry cost $15 million. The Kemans’ name more than a half handful, get many Black votes in India- and improve education, health

would have been committed to In their leadership vacuum, like napolis. And without our campaign 24/7 for almost two damsels in distress, Democratic community’s support, Gregg can’t years; and if he won they’d be leaders pleaded for their “Great win the nomination and he’d be committed to the office for eight Bayh Hope” to rescue them again doomed in the general election, more years. from the political wilderness. Congressman Baron Hill is Since this man of decency Instead of dismissing the pos- another Democratic gubemato-

and integrity has already given sibility outright, as Mayor Bart rial possibility. Hill has good rela- What I’m hearing

to his country, as a veteran, a Peterson and Congressman Tim tionships with Black elected offi- in the streets

Roemer quickly did, Sen. Evan rials and organized labor. Though Bayh toyed with Democrats’emo- many Blacks here don’t know Hill, tions, by considering a re-run for his positive attitude, sincerity and governor. ingratiating personality, coupled

Bayh staffers and loyalists with strong support from Black Neanderthal, has been stewing in planted this trial balloon to the politicians, could win over our thejuicesofhis racist rhetoric the state’s majority media; pointedly community. past two weeks. But what galls me

While Democrats waitfortheir more than Lott’s pining for the Great Bayh Hope, Republicans days of segregation was allowing hope Santa wraps Mitch Daniel himself to be used by a Black Neup for Christmas. The former top anderthal, Bob Johnson, head of

Eli Lilly executive and President George W. Bush’s budget director is the GOP’s Great Hope to

win the governorship.

As Bush’s budget director, Daniels has enforced Bush’s draconian budget priorities of slashing funding to help working

of political opportunism and con- people while increasing spending ished from BET by Johnson and tracting the disease of presiden- on corporate welfare to oil com- his corporate puppet masters, just

panics and corporations. Is that

POW, a mayor, none dares publicly criticize his derision. But, politicos and pundits are dying to know why Kernan dropped

out

Kernan and Gov. Frank O’Bannon have a relationship oftrustand mutual respect But, that hasn’t extended to their staffs who’ve been fussing and fighting worse than the Hatfield and McCoys or Whitney and

Bobby.

The staffs of both men are relative lightweights. During his six years, Kernan’s staff has been light on African Americans and heavy on political inexperience. The governor, who when he entered office had a

care and employment opportuni-

ties for Blades?

Those are the real issues African Americans want answers to from the candidates for governor.

About the continuing travails of Sen. Trent Lott and Sheriff Jack

Cottey.

Lott, the original Republican

ignoring Black media; even though African Americans are intensely interested in who becomes the Democratic candidate for governor. But, I’m not surprised, since for years Bayh staffers have gone out their way to ignore our African-American

community.

If Evan Bayh returns to run for governor, the media and Republicans will attack him on charges

Black Entertainment Television. BETs Johnson invited Lott to appear Monday on “BET Tonight with Ed Gordon” so Lott could publicly atone for his racism to

Black folks.

Unfortunately in two weeks Gordon and his show will be ban-

politically savvy and experi

enced staff, is now served by an tial-itis. And after eight years away

apparently ineffectual chief of from the nitty gritty of state poli- how Daniels would govern Indistaff and like-minded minions tics, dealing with Indiana’s ana? Is that why Republicans

as Tavis Smiley was. AfricanAmerican ire should be directed properly at Lott’s racism and Johnson’s incompetent stewardship of the country's only Black

TV network.

It’s fitting justice that Sheriff Jack Cottey got caught on audio and videotape acting a fool after his car wariegally towed from the ^Circle. Now Cottey knows! Blacks feet when cars are during Expo and Classic. Cottey’s public embarrassment is punishment for the outrageous treatment by sheriffs deputies of Pacers coach Isiah Thomas, who was unnecessarily handcuffed and subjected to abuse by deputies

two weeks ago.

Cottey has embarrassed Indianapolis and the Sheriffs Department long enough! Indianapolis can’t wait for his departure and Sheriff-elect Frank Anderson’s arrival on Jan. 1. See ‘ya next week. Amos Brown’s opinions are not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Recorder. Brown can be reached at (317)221-0915or by email at [email protected].

White nationalist political leadership

, By RON WALTKM political position is such that he mained there ever since. holds the key to many things The Republican Party then is a The comments made by Mis- they want. How did he gain such partyoftraditionalNorUiemecosissippi Sen. Trent Lott, Major- power? There were two critical nomic conservatives who are marity Leader of the U.S. Senate, points. ried to Southern social conservahave been politely rebuffed by First, Strom Thurmond fives and the Southern bloc has Democrats and Republicans walked out of the Democratic leveraged its power inside the alike, but few have the courage National Convention in 1948 party to the point that it exercises to look underneath this prob- when Hubert Humphrey called disproportionate leadership, lem. for the party to finally recognize Trent Lott was the leading edge I recently finished a book that segregation as a problem that it of this trend, becoming Republitries to do this, titled, White had to confront. Thurmond ran can Party Whip in the House in Nationalism, Black Interests for president that year on the 1980, moving to the Senate and (Wayne State Press), which will States Rights Democrat Party positioning himself to take over be published early next year, ticket, winning over 1 million when Bob Dole ran for president When I talk about the subject of votes, most of which came from in 1996. But a host of others folwhite nationalism, most people Alabama, Mississippi, South lowed him, such as former Rep. immediately think that the book Carolina and Louisiana. This sig- Newt Gingrich of Georgia, Rep. will be about the Ku Klux Klan naled that the South would not Tom DeLay of Texas, or the Aryan Nation. But white go along with the North on civil And they brought their ties to nationalism has long since left rights, a fact that was again made racist organizations right along these comfortable moorings when the 1954 Supreme Court with them in their leadership in and has graduated into the halls decision on education was op- the House and Senate. For exof power: the U.S. Congress, posed by the South. ample, Trent Lott shared with the Supreme Court and the The civil rights movement Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia a fondWhite House. brought George Wallace, gover- ness for the racist Conservative Now, there is a conflict of nor of Alabama, to public atten- Citizens Council, an organization political ethics. The good folks tion as an opponent of desegrega- that, like these two, opposed afwho wouldn’t think of saying tion ofthe University of Alabama, firmative action, big government the things that Trent Lott said and he promptly used this notori- and increased immigration and — that Mississippi voted for ety to run for president on the supported gun ownership, vouchStrom Thurmond for presi* American Independence Party era and a belief system which held dent in 1948 and if he had ticket in 1968. Although he did that Blacks were mentally infewon, America would not have not win, he attracted more than 3 rior to whites, had many of the problems it million votes, mostly from the So, Lott was crowning the had since then — have to give South, and in the 1972 election, achievements of Strom him a polite rebuke, but ulti- this Southern block went into the Thurmond, who like himself had matety protect him because his Republican Party and has re- achieved the security of respect-

ability and power that insulates them from serious harm even when they express such views. The picture in the newspapers of Lott, standing beside Thurmond, uttering racist statements was shot as many in the room were applauding. It should be noted that neither Lott nor Thurmond have suffered for their outrageous stands against racial fairness, nor will Lott suffer serious reprobation for his statements, because so much of their own party and beyond it, the American people, tacitly or openly approve. What worries me is that the day the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) chose its new leadership, this issue didn’t appear to even be on its agenda. While CBC leaders since have called for formal censure of Lott, they must be prepared to fight as never before. The only meaningful apology is for Lott to undo the damage to Blacks that he has done by supporting public policies against their interests. Ron Walters is Distinguished Leadership Scholar, director of the African American Leadership Institute and professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland His latest book, with Robert Smith, is African American Leadership.

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