Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 April 2003 — Page 8

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2003

EDITORIAL

We need to stand together in this war

rii

By SHANNON

WILLIAMS

Editor

“It’s

important

that we

remember to

stand

When NBC journalist Peter Arnett was fired earlier tins week, there were a lot of mixed reaetions from people in the eommu-

nity.

Arnett, who provided coverage of the war for NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC was fired heeause he gave an unauthorized interview to a state-eontrolled Iraqi television station. In his interview', Arnett said that the U.S.-led

war plan initially failed and that his reports from Baghdad about civilian victims had aided in protesters undermining

Bush's administration strategy.

The interview was unauthorized by NBC officials. In addition to his firing at NBC and its sister stations, Arnett

was also fired from National Geographic. Alter the news of his termination broke out, a British tabloid newspaper - the Daily Mirror, hired Arnett. The Daily Mirror is a strong opponent of the war and President

Bush.

From conversations with a variety of people. I ’d say most feel that Arnett’s termination

was justified. Those that dis- - agreed said that he was basically cLS 3. fired for telling the truth about • - what's going on in the war, for U.H1L0Q

divulging information that

perhaps the government doesn’t COUllll'V want Americans to know. - # - Those who feel his termina- tfl6S€ tion was warranted say that • • Arnett was in total violation and tllHGS

I agree,

Arnett voiced his personal

opinion about the war which goes against one’s journalistic integrity while reporting the news. I could understand if Arnett was not working and

gave an interview, but the

reason he was in Iraq initially was because he w ;ls on iissign-

ment for National Geographic 99 and NBC. The fact that he even OVCl*•

appeared on an Iraqi television station is a conflict of interest. Another thing, a lot of people

are taking Arnett’s opinion as fact, which shouldn’t be because

it hasn't been proven.

The bottom line is Peter Arnett did something that he possibly regrets and later apologized for, but he still needs to be held accountable for his actions and that’s why he was termi-

nated.

American media have been criticized lately for not “being descriptive enough" as far as coverage of the war. A recent poll stated that many Americans felt that television outlets should have aired entire tapes that showed prisoners of war (POW) being questioned by Iraqi soldiers. What type of people has our society turned into? Perhaps I'm just too slow or something, but w'hat would be the point of showing the whole interrogation? From viewing w hat the media did show of the POWs, it’s obvious that each one was afraid for their lives. During briefing sessions, government officials stated that those captured were asked humiliating questions. What more do we need to know or see? It seems as if people want to be entertained by the war, rather than informed of it. If nothing else but out of respect for the families of POWs, we should be more compassionate. I think the media is doing an excellent job covering the war. Sometimes I feel they tell too much information. Regardless of why we’re even at war is beside the point right now. We need to stop harping on w hy this war began and start dealing with the situations at hand. The war is going on, American and British soldiers are risking their lives everyday and the general public is being informed. It’s important that we remember to stand together as a united country' during these trying times rather then nit-pick on things we have no control over.

rather then nit-pick on things we

have no control

INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER DIRECTORY

George P Slewed Marcus C Stewart Sr Founder-Editor- Editor Publisher Publisher 1925-1983 1895-1924

Eunice Troller William G Mays Editor-In-Chief Publisher Publisher 1990-present 1988 1990

Preaidont/Gencral Manager Carolina Maya Eaoc Admmiatrative Aaant Linda Hobba

EDITORIAL

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Editor

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Sam Jones, our community’s fearless lion and 4 go to guy’ is gone

With the passing of Sam Jones, our African-American community has lost not just another of our community’s lions; we’ve lost our “go to guy." No matter the issue confronting African Americans; be it economic, educational, employment or political disparity, Sam Jones was the “go to guy" our community turned to. For nearly 40 years, Sam Jones w as also the “go to guy" for this city’s white powerbrokers whenever racism’s ugly stain threatened to unhinge Indianapolis’ pris-

tine image.

Sam Jones’ death, while a major loss for our Black community, has a much more profound impact among the white community; because now that community can’t anymore ignore dealing with the new paradigm of Black leadership in In-

dianapolis.

Sam Jones was the last of Indianapolis’“old guard” Black leadership; those w'hose leadership and values were forged in the crucible of the civil rights struggle of the mid-20th century. Now, Indianapolis’ white establishment must confront and deal with a more diverse and diffuse African-American community leadership. Instead of just calling Sam Jones, white leadership must call upon an array of Black servant/leaders, from a variety of organizations and disciplines, in dealing with the problems that confront this

community.

When I say that Jones was an “old guard” leader, don’t think Sam didn’t stand strong for Black people. Sam’s pleasant and friendly demeanor sometimes caused some Blacks to think he couldn’t stand up to the powers that be on behalf of African Americans. I can tell you from personal

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experience and observation that Jones was a strong brother. Behind those closed doors, Sam stood up and stood tall. Sam repeatedly spoke out strongly and passionately against Indianapolis’ racism and bigotry. Jones earned the trust of Indianapolis leadership; atrustthat enabled him to get things done. It wdll take a while for our community’s new, diverse leadership to earn that same level of trust among Indianapolis’ power elite. Sam didn’t win every battle. Like many of us, Sam got frustrated at the intolerance, stubbornness and intrangience of whites (and some Blacks) in Indianapolis. But his love for and zeal to fight for his people never diminished; never wavered! Sam regularly read this column. He’d always tell me that after traveling or enduring a real busy period, he couldn’t wait to catch up on his Just Tellin’ It reading. (Samll catch up on his reading since this column is published in The Recorder’s Celestial Edition.) * * * * * Sam Jones would be livid over last week’s news that Broad Ripple bar owners supposedly agreed to restrict the playing of “hip-hop” and “rap” music. This sophisticated Jim Crow scheme supposedly was hatched by those wishing to preserve Broad Ripple’s image as an entertainment area where Black culture

and money are decidedly unwelcome. The Indianapolis Star broke the stoiy of Broad Ripple’s entertainment apartheid policy. A consultant, Rich Unger, confirmed to the newspaper that he advises nightclubs nationwide to implement racist censorship policies designed to keep Blacks away. “I tell my clubs to stop hip-hop nights ASAP, so they don’t have to face this (clientele).” The revelation of the alleged Broad Ripple racism set off a firestorm of anger in the Black community. Listeners called into hip-hop WHHH(FM96.3) dismayed at the stereotyping of an entertainment and cultural art form that’s popular, not just among Blacks, but among whites, Hispanics and Asians. AfricanAmerican leadership from Indianapolis NAACP President Rod Bohannon to the Black Republican group MBARI were also outraged. Anger intensified when Councilman Jin* Bradford, the Republican Neanderthal who represents Broad Ripple, used racist and inflammatory language, when quoted by the Star as saying, “If you play this (music), it brings in gang bangers. When you put the wrong type of music together, it generates problems. I’m not going to let Broad Ripple get out of hand. I’m not going to wait until someone gets shot.” On our WDNI-TV/Channel 65 recent program, I asked Mayor Bart Peterson if would he use his office to bring the parties in this dispute together. The mayor responded quickly to my (and others) request and convened a meeting Monday in his office. ♦ * * * * Sam Jones would be amused that City-County Council Republicans are seriously considering going to federal court charging

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the Indiana Supreme Court’s council redistricting plan violates the Voting Rights Act. The state’s high court unanimously rejected the Republicans flawed logic; especially the charge that the court infringed on Black voting rights in Indianapolis. In a concurring opinion. Justice Robert Rucker, the court’s only Black, dismissed the Republican’s claims of Black voter discrimination. “At least in recent years, the AfricanAmerican community in Marion County has consistently demonstrated its political sophistication in electing candidates of their choice on an equal basis with other voters, despite being a minority of the population in the overall community. That is not to suggest that racism in Marion County politics necessarily has been eliminated, but it does support the view that the necessity of intentionally creating a particular and discreet number of majority-minority districts may no longer be required.” ***** Sam Jones’ death is also significant since he was the only major Black leader, other than this columnist, who openly criticized Indianapolis media for their lack of hiring and promotion of African-Americans. Unfortunately with Sam’s death, there’s no other African-American leader or organization ready and willing to assume Jones’ role of challenging the racial glass ceiling that exists in the hiring, retention and promotion of African Americans at the city’s newspapers, television and radio stations. Indianapolis will now have to deal with the problems of race and class without the wise counsel and wisdom of Jones. Our community will adjust, persevere and continue to fight racism, bigotiy and intolerance with the passion, dedication and strength that Jones did in a lifetime of work improving the conditions of African Americans. To Sam Jones’ devoted family - wife Prethenia (Free), sons Sam Jones Jr., Rev. Michael Jones and daughter Myra Jones-Overby - my deepest personal condolences. And on behalf of our AfricanAmerican community and our city, thank you for sharing your husband and father with us. And Sam, well keep fighting the good fight here; while you become one of the “go to guys” in God’s Kingdom. Amos Brown's opinions are not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Recorder. You can contact him at (317) 221-0915 or email him at ACBROWN@AOLCOM.

Supreme Court ignores University of Michigan’s racism

By GEORGE E. CURRY action programs. Fearing that it might expose The Su- itself to additional litigation, p r e m e MichigandidnotarguethataffirCourt mative action is needed because heard oral of its racist history. Meanwhile, arguments the Bush administration joined Tuesday on the efforts of the Center for Indiw h c t h c r vitlual Rights (CIR), the rightKJT two ^ n ‘' w ' n K K ro up ‘hat brought both versity of suits against Michigan on behalf Michigan affirmative action of rejected uhite applicants, to programs should be left intact, overturn the programs. But thejustices declined to lis- Had Shaw, the lead affirmaten to the strongest argument tive action attorney for the for continuation of the pro- NAACP Ix-gal Defense and Edugrams:The UniversityofMichi- cational Fund, been allowed to gan has a long history of racial participate in the arguments, he discrimination that continues would have made the points that to this day. LDFandthreeothergroupsmade To its credit, Michigan has in their friend-of-the-court petivigorously defended its admis- tion supporting Michigan, sions programs for under- The brief states that in eargraduate and law school stu- her legal proceedings, the students, a decision that has cost dents had “presented substanmore than S10 million. The tial and uncontroverted eviuniversity has not always been denee that during its entire 185progressive and that’s the point year history, the university has that Ted Shaw, the lawyer rep- repeatedly engaged in racial disresenting Black and brown stu- criminatory and exclusionary dents at the University of practices against (students of Miehigan, had hoped to argue, color) on campus, the effects of Because Shaw is a former which, to this day, are manilaw school faculty member who fested in their continued helped reshape the school’s af- underrepresentation on campus (irmative action program, the and in the university’s reputacmirt excluded him from argu- tion for discriminatory behaving the case. ior.” Blacks are 16.2 percent of Consequently, proponents of all college-aged residents of affirmative action were allowed Michigan, but less than 9 perto make only half of their argu- cent of the university’s student ment before the Supreme body. Court. The University ofMichi- Founded in 1817, the Univergan made its case by stating sity of Michigan did not admit its that a diverse student body ben- first African-American students Hits all students and is reason until 51 years later, enough to institute affirmative “The school segregated its own

campus housing, and allowed stu- nounced (he school’s first mandents of color to be excluded from date, “the Opportunity Program,” fraternities and sororities into the to admit “socially disadvantaged” 1960s,” the LDF brief observes, students. “Despite calls in 1949 by the “While minority enrollment Michigan Civil Rights Congress increased to some degree in the and again in 1952 by the campus years immediately following, stuCommittee on Student Affairs to dents of color still face apathy at alter discriminatory by-laws of best, and often active resistance, campus organizations, university to their presence at the university President Harlan Hatcher and andwerestillexcludedfromcamother officials flatly refused to do pus activities and university soso, leaving university-recognized cial functions,” states LDF. organizations free to continue Itwasnotuntilastudentgroup, their discriminatory practices calling itself Black Action Movewith implicit or explicit univer- ment (BAM), staged a series of sity sanction.” strikes in 1970, that the univerAs, late as 1958 - four years sity “finally agreed to pursue limafter the Supreme Court struck ited admissions and recruitment down the “separate but equal” efforts, only to abandon them in doctrine in the “Brown vs. Board 1973.” of Education” decision - the uni- During the 1970s, there were versity continued to “respect the widespread and well-publicized wishes of a student who said that racial incidents on campus and he or she did not wish to live with Black student enrollment fell by a student of another race.” 34 percent from 1976 to 1985. By contrast, foreign students Following hearings in the state were treated better than native Legislature, Provost James born Blacks. Duderstadt announced the “The university treated foreign “Michigan Mandate” in 1988 to students in a markedly different increase enrollment of students fashion, relying on a ‘Michigan of color. tradition that segregation of for- LDF states, “Although impleeign students by nationality is mentation ol’the Michigan Manundesirable and that contact with date over the last 15 years repreAmerican students is mutually sents a substantial and continubeneficial’ to justify full Integra- ingchangeinthcuniversity’sattitionofforeign students into cam- tude toward minority students pus life and policies, giving them and applicants, it has not in a priority over African-American single generation eradicated the students in both admissions and hostile attitudes entrenched by housing,” the LDF petition states, priordiscriminatoryeonductand In May 1973, the University of indifference." Michigan created the Ad Hoe Advisory Committee on the Ne- George E. Curry is editor-in-gro in II igher Education. The fol- chief of the NNPA Sews Service lowing year, the committee an- and HluekPressUSA.com.