Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 2004 — Page 8

PAGE A8

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2004

EDITORIAL

JUST TELLIN' IT

Final look back at a momentous year

African Americans still need to become more united

By SHANNON WILLIAMS Recorder Editor

n

In writing this first editorial of 2004, I’m amazed at how quickly the last year has come to a close. I guess time really doesn’t wait for anyone. Over the last 12 months, there have been a lot of accomplishments and disappointments within the AfricanAmerican community. Blacks across the country have progressed in a lot of ways, yet as a whole, there are many areas that we can improve on significantly. .

One of the first things I discussed in my initial editorial of 2003 was how Blacks need to become more united. Unfortunately a year later, this is still something that needs to be

addressed.

Our race is one of only a few others that is so divided. It amazes and scares me how we hastily tear one another down without attempting to resolve any conflicts or even discuss compromises. African Americans not only tear each other

down on a personal level, but also socially and professionally. It’s a shame at how trivial we can be. As a complete entity, we have got to become more united. If not, the results will be even more detrimental than they have been

in the past.

Another area Blacks need

to improve on is self-motiva-tion. I’m so tired of seeing people not maximizing their full potential. As an adult it is your prerogative to be responsible for yourself and your dependents. There is no reason why anyone who has the mental and physical capabilities should not provide forthemselves and their family. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand that different circumstances occur and situations vary from person to person, but generally speaking more Blacks need to become self-sufficient. It is my sincere hope that during the next year, we will all initiate a positive change

within our own lives.

The condition of our public school system was a concern of mine in 2003. Although it has been slow, I do recognize some positive changes with our urban schools. Something that will aid in the reconstruction of the public school system is to get more qualified teachers to teach our children. But the responsibility doesn’t stop there. Parents need to take more of a proactive role in their child's education. Educating the youth is a joint effort that shouldn’t fall on only one pair of shoulders, we all need to collectively contribute to the enhancement of

our children.

The number of Black men in prison still surpasses that of any other race. Most of our brothers are incarcerated for selling drugs, robbery or murder. The distribution of drugs along with the robbing and even killing of people is most often done to another Black person. This fact only illustrates what I said previously as far as tearing one another down. We need to stop looking for the easy way out in life. Rather than selling drugs these criminals should have been working a legitimate job. And who gives anyone the right to take the life of another human being? When we stop trying to play God, well be much

better off.

Other issues of concern that I have, but won’t dig too deeply in are the teen-age pregnancy rate, the lack of visible community leaders and the increase in the AIDS epidemic. All of’these issues are of major concern and should be further addressed, but since I’m writing an editorial and not a book, 111 leave it for you guys to ponder on. In future editorials, I will address each of these. Hopefully it will impact someone to make smarter decisions for themselves. Call me the optimist, but I do believe a cohesive change can be made for African Americans. We just need to make it.

INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER DIREQORY

“It amazes and scares me how we hastily tear one another

down

?

without

!

attempting to resolve any conflicts or

f • • • , ;

even discuss campromises. ,,

Gtorq* P. Sttwart Marcus C. Stewart Sr. Foundar*Edltor* Editor-Publisher Publisher 1925-1903

1895-1924

Presldent/Gf^eral Manager Carolent Mays Exec AdrrWnlttretlv# Assnt Linda Hobbs

EDITORIAL

Editor .....Shannon Williams Staff Writer - .Joshua Cohen l.Brandon A. Perry ..Er^cha P. Thompson eke C. Wheeler Copy Editor .\... Jack Sales ART & PRODUCTION Production Manager JeanajMarle Lewis Advertising/Production..; Ttfran James

Chris Castle

Senior Designer ^afTn l. Hurst Jr.

Eunice Trotter EdItor-in-Chlef Publisher 1988-1990

ADVERTISING

Sales and Marketing Manager^ LeRoy Lewis Classified Advertising Sharon L. Maiey Local Display Advertising .Lisa Shoemake Rita J. Wise C. Denise Petty BUSINESS/CIRCULATION Business Office Manager ..-Angela Kuhn Interim Controller.....“ ArthurCarter Business Office Crystal Dalton Kay Toliver ; Shlrl Williams Circulation Brucell Mays Receptionist Tracey Miller

f/ie lndlsnspoll9 Recorder encourages short, concise letters to the editor and opinion articles from the public. Letters and opinion articles will be used at the editor's discretion and are subject to editing. We will not guarantee publication of material received. We cannot guarantee dates of publication. Letters containing libelous or untrue statements will not be published. All letters and opinion articles must Include a verifiable full name, address and telephone number. This Information will not be published at the request of the writer. Letters and articles should be typed but will be accepted If handwriting Is legible. (317) 924-5143 P.0. Box 18499, Indianapolis, IN 46218-0499 newsroom9indyrecorder.com

By AMOS BROWN III In 2003, Indianapolis’ economy, which had been the state’s bulwark, weakened. There was the Iraqi war, a conflict unpopular in our African-Ameri-can community. But the biggest event was the power struggle between Democrats and Republicans in Indianapolis as Republicans stretched, strained and broke the law desperately trying to maintain their hegemony over the unified city/county government they created 32 years ago. The year 2003 began with the Republican-controlled City-County Council trying to implement a partisan council redistricting plan, over Mayor Bart Peterson’s veto. In an unprecedented mass trial, all 29 Marion County Superior Court judges tried to decide the issue. At the trial, Republicans testified that Indianapolis is a heavily segregated city, even though 37 percent of Indianapolis’ Blacks live in a whitemajority neighborhood; and despite a January 2003 University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee study and M ilwaukee Journal Sentinel articles documenting that Indianapolis is America’s eighth most integrated city. Instead of applying the law, the Republican majorityjudges OKd their party’s redistricting plan. The battle moved to the Indiana Supreme Court, which unanimously reversed the Superior Court’s partisan decision. To the politicians’ chagrin, the state Supremes drew new council districts and ordered elections. Marion County Clerk Doris Anne Sadler set a new nadir for elected officials. Under her supervision, numerous state election laws were broken as polling places in Black neighborhoods opened hours late; precinct officials refused to let a

Black candidate vote and counting absentee ballots took days. But, Sadler’s most odious election action was trying to affix the Republicans’ fall campaign slogan “the A Team” on every ballot. Last week, Sadler gave Christmas bonuses to her underpaid employees, though the bonuses could’ve been larger if Sadler hadn’t squandered hundreds of thousands hiring lawyers to defend her illegal election actions. Despite the Republicans’lying and cheating, Democrats captured the council’s majority, garnering nearly 13,000 more council votes than Republicans, with a record 10 African Americans elected to the 29-member council. Mayor Bart Peterson was reelected in a Hudnut-like landslide while Lawrence elected Deborah Cantwell its first Democratic mayor, humiliating Tom “Jack Cottey’s boy” Schneider. In a direct slap to our community, Republican Neanderthal Councilman James Bradford wanted hip-hop and Black music banned from Broad Ripple nightclubs. Despite Bradford’s bluster, Broad Ripple’s clubs now regularly feature hip-hop. President George W. Bush spoke to a virtually all-white crowd at the State Fairgrounds, located in the Black community. The president’s visits were part of Republican efforts to win the governor’s office and gain legislative control behind the candidacy of Bush’s budget czar Mitch Daniels. Joe Kernan’s refusal to run for governor and Daniels’ candidacy put Democrats on the defensive. State Sen. Vi Simpson vied to be Indiana’s first woman governor while former state and national Democratic Party head Joe Andrew wanted socialite Bren , Simon as Indiana’s first woman lieutenant governor. Simpson, Andrew, Simon and Democrats were facing political Armageddon when God intervened. The sudden death of Gov. Frank O’Bannon, the first in office in 112years, radically changed Hoosier politics. Within one month, Simon dumped Andrew at the political

altar and a woman, Kathy Davis, was sworn in as lieutenant governor. And the man who had said no, said yes. Moving into the governor's chair with verve and energy, Joe Kernan swiftly united Democrats and enters 2004 ready to stand up to the Daniels’ juggernaut; though the dark clouds of scandal and mismanagement will dog Kernan’s year. Last year saw- some firsts and new African-American leaders emerged. . Dr. Adam Herbert became the first African American to head namesake Indiana University or any state university. Former Evan Bayh aide David Lewis became clerk of courts, the first African-American statewide elected official since Attorney General Karen Freeman-Wilson. Nathaniel Jones became Pike Township’s first Black school superintendent, Dr. Patricia Maryland now runs the St. Vincent Hospital system and a former Black college president, Dr. Bernard Franklin is a top NCAA senior vice president. Larry Bird returned to the Indiana Pacers as head of basketball operations and w r eeks later coach Isiah Thomas was fired. If Bird had been visible in our community, the firestorm of anger and disappointment by Blacks over Isiah’s firing wouldn’t have been as pronounced. Last week, Thomas returned to basketball running the New York Kiiicks (talk about jumping into fire), while Bird still isn’t visible in our Black community. In media, haughty, insensitive Indianapolis Star Editor Terr)’ “your community didn’t grow enough” Eberle w'as replaced by Dennis Ryerson. While the personable Ryerson’s been visible in our Black community’, Blacks are becoming invisible in Ryerson’s newsroom with sports columnist J. Jemal Horton’s departure, top Black editor Leisa Richardson demoted to bureau chief. In television, only one Black was hired this year for any on air position «at Indy’s four top TV stations and investigative reporter SandraChapman left WISH-TV/

Channel 8. Indy Jazz Fest was rescued by the American Pianists Association which banned Black-owned radio and TV from the event. The result; record poor jazzfest attendance. In an insult, the Indianapolis Museum of Art cancelled Africafest on the flimsiest of pretexts, and the Children’s Museum is building an ugly four story parking garage in its neighboring Black community. , Besides the beloved Frank O’Bannon, we lost other community’ lions in 2003. Just last week, we lost Spurgeon Davenport, who held many “firsts,"-including the titld “first” chief, in a distinguished Indianapolis Police Department career; and Dr. Frank Johnson, the consummate health professional, former Marion County health chief and the Gaither quints’ doc. We-also said goodbye to Jim Sears, first African-American Indiana State Police officer; Carl Stubblefield, Indy’s first AfricanAmerican television reporter; community builder Carl Lile; religious leader Dr. F. Benjamin Davis; renowned former Attucks High School basketball coach Ray Crowe and our community’s “go to guy” Urban League President Sam Jones. Changing demographics and lack of African-American interest in inner city institutions killed the Fall Creel' YMCA along with indifference from a YMCA sys-> tern seemingly more concerned with serving suburban whites than inner city Blacks. Will 2004 be a better year? It. will be challenging as the Iraqi war’s casualties increase. A bitter, angry election year looms as I ndiaha’s weak economy and anemic tax receipts hampers needed decisions locally and statewide. Hang on, 2004 will be a wild ride. See ‘ya next week. Amos Brown’s opinions are not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Recorder. You can contact him at (317)221-0915 or e-mail him at [email protected].

Republicans are trying to ‘fool’ Blacks

By GEORGE E.CURRY NNPA

ONh

Krl

William C. May* z\, Publisher 1990-prasant

The Republican Party, after receiving only 8 per-

cent of the

AfricanAmerican vote in the 2000 presi-

dential election, has established a goal of winning 25 percent of the Black vote in next year’s con-

-ytest.

Instead of making that announcement when most people were preparing to make their New Year’s resolutions, the GOP should have delayed that announcement for three months. Then, it would be clear that this was some sort of April Fool’s joke. What has George Bush done to quadruple his Black support? Let’s ignore the rhetoric and look at the record. First, Bush pledged during his 2000 campaign that he would govern as a compassionate conservative. As has been observed, he has been compassionate toward conservatives. For example, most of his tax cuts benefited the wealthy, the majority of whom vote Republican. Meanwhile, Bush did not seek to fully fund his No Child I .eft Behind education law, he has proposed changes in programs such as Head Start that will be detrimental to Black children, and the president has no significant domestic policy that will uplift African Americans. Bush had a chance to show some compassion by supporting affirmative action in a pair of U niversity of Mich igan cases that came before the Supreme Court in 2003. Instead, Bush ordered his solicitor general to oppose the cases and had the

insensitivity to announce his decision on Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. That’s a strange way of showing compassion. A conservative Supreme Cou rt - with seven of its nine members appointed by Republican presidents - upheld the concept of affirmative action in the case involving the University of M ichigan’s Law School. And true to form, Bush praised the virtues of diversity after the ruling while neglecting to point out that his position would have made that goal more difficult to achieve. Ina movethat will makecourts of the future more likely to reflect his politics, Bush has packed the federal courts with right-wing judges. One of them, Janice Rogers Brown, is so far out of the mainstream that she is a frequent dissenter on the Republican-con-trolled California Supreme Court. Bush wants to elevaft* her to a seat on the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The Black conservative is so extreme that the white chiefjudge in California, also a Republican, says she minimizes the harm of racial discrimination in older to make political points. Bush has displayed his disdain for Black America by meeting only once with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, despite repeated requests for meetings. Like them or not, Black members of Congress were fairly elected by voters - and that’s more than we can say about Bush. When Bush thumbs his nose at them, he thumbs his nose at all African Americans. By disrespecting authentic Black leaders, Bush seems to be subscribing to the thinking of Newt Gingrich, the former I louse speaker. In 1983, Gingrich said, “I t is in the interest of the Republican Party and Ronald Reagan to invent new Black leaders, so to speak...” The GOP has “invented” sev-

eral Black front organizations that they are propping up with money. But money can’t buy credibility and these groups that oppose affirmative action and favor school vouchers have little, if any, influence on African-American thought. In one sense, Bush’s problem is a GOP problem. Republicans have established a clear record of hostility toward the interests of African Americans, yet they want todupe us into believing that they are our friends. That’s an insult to our intelligence. One of the best barometers of legislative support for issues important to Black America is the NAACP’s annual report card on civil rights. Year after year, it is difficult to find Republicans in the House or Senate who earn a C-grade or higher on civil rights. Most earn Ds and Fs. But Bush and the GOP don’t want us to get confused by the facts. So they are targeting young

Black voters they feel are more likely to be receptive to their message, they are planning a barrage of commercials on Black radio, ads in Black newspapers and parading their Black Cabinet members before us - all of whom except Colin Powell opposed the University of Michigan affirmative action programs - to say why we should vote for George Bush in 2004. It won’t work. George Bush began his administration by putting on a minstrel show in Philadelphia. He should realize that no amount of buck dancing by Black entertainers or tiying to replace legitimate Black leaders with his hand-picked Black appointees will blind African Americans to his sorry record on civil rights. George E. Curry is. editor-in-chief of the NNPA News Service and BlackPressUSA.com. He can be reached through his Website, georgecurry.com.