Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 January 2003 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2003

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE AS

Folks, we are fast approaching a disastrous state of existence

The influence that the media has on minds of the American public is steam rolling out of control. There is no doubt that the media has the power to influence thoughts and actions. From the fast food restaurant commercials, to the latest video game craze, the general public is being held at bay by these strategic and tantalizing marketing schemes. Currently we are being influenced to support a war against the Iraqi people due to their “weapons of mass destruction,” while seeking a peaceful resolution with the North Koreans for admittedly committing the same crime. We are bombarded daily with pitches by underdressed and overly exposed females hawking products from exercise equipment to car wax. I n most cases the message that the advertising company is attempting to convey is very clear. However, in the case of the current list of music videos, the messages are more subliminal ... and destructive. A very large segment of our African-American youth population is entrenched in the rap and hip-hop culture. Journey down any public elementary, middle, or high school in large metropolitan areas, and you would feel as if you are on the set of a music video. Far too many females come to the educational environment as if they are auditioning for a role in one of the Cash Money videos. Today’s fashions consist of being very tight, provocative, and revealing. Ifthe school does not have a dress code, the fashions have bold titles, such as “69,” and “FLIRT,” or they have glitter, handprints, or dye on the seat of the pants. The boys are a different story altogether. Their clothes have to be three sizes too big, bulky, and sagging off their bodies. Name brands are not as popular with the boys, but no belts are allowed, and boxer shorts are a must. The large oversized platinum diamond studded medallions, watches, and bracelets, although poorly designed imitations, are much-needed accessories. The subliminal message that these videos are sending through the airwaves is what is causing the most harm to our community. First and foremost, one must understand that many of our young people from the lower-in-come urban communities have a very strong desire to live the lifestyle of these over-hyped entertainers. They are often showed

Education Does

Matter

By Leroy Robinson

“livingthelife”: large homes, fancy cars, lots of money and jewelry, and all of the women. Never are these “hip-hop heroes" shown working a job to provide for this type of lifestyle. The work that is promoted in the video culture is that of“grinding,” pimping, or hustling. Getting paid the fastest, easiest, and in the most illegal manner is the order of the day. Murder Inc. Records, home to pop diva and multi-award winner Ashanti and 2001-2 leading hip-hop/rap entertainer Ja Rule, is a case that exemplifies our current dilemma. Credit is due to these very talented artists and to their very knowledgeable owners, who are able to get hundreds of millions of dollars from these media conglomerates to put out a variety of projects. Currently, the most recognizable and successful record label Murder Inc., creates videos whtrp iheir artists are burglarizing h :aes and stealing diamonds. When they produce hit-movies like “Crime Partners 2000” (which feature more of their recording artists) and name their recording studio “The Crackhouse,” it is no wonder our young people are being manipulated, misinformed, misguided, and miss-educated. Record label names like Murder Inc., Death Row, and Crime Syndicate, create dreams and illusions for actual events as those performed by the now infamous, “The Get Money Clique.” Is it possible that the young men from this local “real life” criminal organization got their ideas from one of these “straight-to-video” movies that are highly popular in our community and very profitable for those that produce them? Life imitating art is not a new experience. Unfortunately, the new experience is in the wide array of avenues that these destructive messages are able to reach and influence our young people. It is no longer just the television and radio. Now the Internet, movies, magazines, and newspapers are marketing this current trend of rebellion to our young

people. How can white rapper Eminem be so popular and break records with his movies and music, when he raps of killing his exwife, raping his mother, and harming gays? More than that, how can he receive rave reviews for playing the role of an aspiring white rapper, when in fact he is... an aspiring white rapper. To promote a lifestyle of value, character, substance, hard work, and honesty is not for sale. Media outlets will not sponsor, promote, or market an African-American experience that incorporates a healthy lifestyle. And ifby chance, one of these experiences were to ever make it to the general public, no sales records will be broken when the final receipts are counted. Honestly, this is our fault. As a community, we allow these unhealthy influences to penetrate the very fabric of our community. The horrific shooting death of a 14-year-old youth by another, the unthinkable criminal activity of the GMC, the low-academic performance by a majority of our young Black males, and the misguided attempt by many in this culture to imitate “art,” should send us a strong message. We are fast approaching adisastrous state of existence. This culture that has been promoted to us, is far off from our true form of existence. Those who came before us would cry a river of tears if they were to tune into BET, MTV, or UPN. The knowledge of self is the first step towards self-preservation. We must learn to eat, think, and live for the preservation of our people. “The first thing we are doing is trying to get into every school, private, public, or otherwise, Negro literature and history. We are not trying to displace any other literature or history. But trying to get all children of the country acquainted with the Negro... I think you will be surprised to know how many schools, north and south, even our own schools where our children are taught nothing except literature of the Caucasian race. The first law of nature is self-preservation.” — Margaret James (Murray) Washington (1865-1952, American educator, suffragist, and civil rights activist). For speaking engagements or education workshops, contact me at: educationdoesmatter@ hotmail.com or write me at: 9701 E. 63rd St., Indianapolis, IN. 46236. My contact number is (317) 502-0272.

Ill summer programs fargel minority students

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Each year Indiana University Bloomington offers an array of summer programs for high school and middle school students and incoming freshmen to help them succeed in their areas of interest and prepare them for the college experience. Many of these programs focus on areas of study on the IU Bloomington campus. Some are aimed at minority students, such as Junior Executive Instituteand the Jim Holland Summer Enrichment Program in Biology. “These programs highlight Indiana University’s commitment to diversity and pre-colle-giate minority aspirations. I am proud that IU has set this model of concern and responsibility,” said Frank Motley, associate vice chancellor for academic support at IU Bloomington. Junior Executive Institute Junior Executive Institute is a program offered through lU’s Kelley School of Business. It targets African-American, Latino and Native-American high school juniors who show interest in the business field. There are openings for 30 students. The program consists of workshops that focus on applying tocollegc, making the transition from high school to college, financial aid,

time management, goal setting, note-taking and study skills, and success in studying business. According to William Lewis, director of diversity recruitment, retention and outreach in the Kelley School, at least one-sixth of participants from the summer 2002 program have applied to IU Bloomington and plan on majoring in business this fall. To qualify for the Junior Executive Program, students must be high school sophomores or juniors with a grade point average of 2.7 or higher (on a 4.0-point scale). The program takes place during the last week of Ju ne. M ore information and applications for this program can be found on the Webatwww.kelley.iu.edu/ugrad/ diversity/jei/apply.html. Jim Holland Summer Enrichment Program The Jim Holland Summer Fairichment Program in biology is aimed at minority eighth- and ninth-grade students. This program gives students the opportunity to explore the field of biology. It is a one-week residential program in which students are exposed to different subjects in biology. Students participate in hands-on laboratory work and are instructed by teams of IU faculty and high school teachers.

Orchard trustee chair continues work on school's diversity

By JOSHUA COHEN Staff Wrltar In 1994, Deborah Nicholas was a concerned mother looking for a good school to send her then 4-year-old son. Her neighbor mentioned The Orchard School on 64 th Street where she was teaching at the time and Nicholas decided to investigate. What she found was a solid school to send her son with one problem: their diversity was almost non-existent. However, instead of taking her son somewhere that al ready had a multi-cultural population, she enrolled her son and began to help bring more AfricanAmerican students and faculty to the school. Eventually she became a trustee, and in 2001 was elected as the first AfricanAmerican chair of the board of trustees in the school’s history. “It is a challenge,” said Nicholas. Since she began working with the school, the AfricanAmerican population has increased, but it has been harder to diversify the faculty. The board has held focus groups to speak with parents and faculty members concerning interaction with other cultures. “There are some families that don’t want it,” said Nicholas. Nicholas says she is not onlyworking to change the faces, but the curriculum as well. So far she has increased the AfricanAmerican population from under 10 percent to 26 percent, but there’s “still a lot of work to be done.” Joe Wynns, director of IndyParks and Recreation and a trustee at Orchard School, came to the school the same time Nicholas did. “Deborah made sure the mission set forth as it relates to diversity and the cultural aspect continued and people stayed on track,” said Wynns. “She didn’t just want you to send your child there.” Wynn says Nicholas made sure Afri-can-American parents felt they could be involved with the

to look up to someone like them. Even though this is her hist year on the board, Nicholas says she will continue to he involved. "I still have a daughter in the 4"' grade," said Nicholas. The school goes through grade n, so she still has four more years there. The work won't stop after Nicholas leaves, however. “This never stops. It cannot stop if you want to be successful. People change all the time, the minute we feel we’re done, progress stops."

Deborah Nicholas school, and that they should be involved. Currently, her greatest concern is the diversity of the faculty. According to Nicholas, the hardest teacher to find is an AfricanAmerican man. She wants for the young men like her son to be able

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A New Year, A New Look, eck It Out!

Students are evaluated by the work they do and even the notes they take, which will help them in their future college careers. Students also participate in social and entertainment activities, interact with current college students, and can use the campus sports facilities. According to Margi Lockhart, administrative manager for the biology department, the summer 2002 program offered the opportunity for students who had already completed the program to return forasecond time. Thisyear, returningstudents will spend two weeks in the program instead of just one. Last summer, the program had an enrollment of 44 students(22 women and 22 men). This summer, program organizers hope to have 100 students (80 first-time students and 20 returning students). Applications are sent to select high schools, but students interested in the program who are not enrolled at these high schools can get the application from the program’s Web site. The tentative schedule for the program is July 13-25 for returning students and July 20-25 for first-time students. More information is available at http://www.indiana.edu/ - s u m m er/pro grams/ biologyminority.htm.

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