Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 March 2004 — Page 1

Preparing a conscious community today and beyond An inside look at a mysterious kidney disease. Page Cl

INDIANA’S GREATEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Volume 109 ■ Number 12 ■ Since 1895 ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2004 ■ www.indlanapollsrecorder.com ■ Four Sections ■ 75C

Dispelling the myths

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Leroy Robinson, coordinator of "African to America: Dispelling the Myths and Bridging the Gap,” discusses common myths with Santana Sabina (center) and Fred Younga of Africa. (Photo/E. , Wheeler)

By ERICKA C. WHEELER Staff Writer Africans and African Americans discuss cultural differences “Africa to America: Dispelling the Myths and Bridging the Gap,” is an upcoming roundtable discussion that will attempt to tackle the many fictional stories that are faced between Africans and African Americans. “I came here (to America) about 10 years ago. I spent my childhood years in Africa and my teen-age years over here. I have seen both sides and 1 want people to see the different point of views. 1 had one point of view before I came to America, now I have a different point of view,” said 19-year-old Sierra Leone

native Fred Younga. Leroy Robinson, author of Voluntary Servitude: Breaking the Chains of Mental and Psychological Slavery, felt compelled to address stereotypes such as Africans disliking African Americans and that Africans who grow up in Africa are the only “true” Africans, African Americas are ungrateful and even that African Americans are all portrayed as being “gangster.” “This is an idea that we are try ing to keep moving. People talk about it and we want people to come out and discuss some of these issues,” Robinson said. When asked about her first impression of what Africans thought about African Americans Chanda King, an African American, re-

sponded, “1 think that Africans do not understand our culture. We live over here (in America) with Europeans and they think that African Americans can not relate to Africans.” King also expressed that her first thought of Africans is poverty. But myths about Africans from Black America are not one-sided, in fact, Africans’ thoughts on Black America tend to be fictional as well. Between both communities, the media plays an important role in the make up of fictional thoughts. “The media are so important in the images that are being portrayed,” said Robinson, who is coordinatingthe seminar. “Talkingto Fred, he did not know that we (African Americans) were his family and that we were connected. They thought that we were just Black Americans not Americans from Africa.” Younga agreed that his assumptions about Black America came through the media in Africa. “My point of view is based on the media that we have over there. I knew about the top stars of African Americans. I knew Tupac and Biggie (Notorious B.I.G.), but 1 didn’t know about Martin Luther King,” he stated. Younga said that he did not realize that the stereotypes between the two communities were a problem that needed to be addressed until recently. “People would come up to me and ask have I caught a giraffe, and 1 used to get mad, but I was like no, this is really what they think,” he said. Among the biggest myths that African ► See MYTHS, Page A3

Simon Property and Pacers link up Simon Property Group and the Indiana Pacers are charting new territory by forming one of the nation's first partnerships in professional sports to market co-branded affinity gift cards, in response to gift card products' mounting popularity throughout the country. The Pacers Giftcard will offer Pacer fans a new way to show their team loyalty, while enjoying the various benefits of the gift cards themselves. The Pacers Giftcard, which will make its debut during the third quarter break of the March 19 home game against the Sacramento Kings, will be sold at the Simon Marketplace at all of Simon's Indianapolis malls - Castleton Square, Circle Centre, The Fashion Mall at Keystone, Greenwood Park Mall, Lafayette Square and Washington Square. The Pacers Giftcard will be introduced with great fanfare as Pacers mascots Boomer and Bowser officiate over Operation Giftcard Drop, Conseco Fieldhouse's first-ever parachute drop, showering lucky fans with free Pacers Giftcards ranging in value from $25 to $500. INHP will host Home Fair On March 20 and 21, the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP), with Mayor Bart Peterson as the honorary chair, will present the 2004 Home Fair- Attain, Maintain, Sustain Your DreamHome Ownership. The fair will take place at Glendale Mall at the corner of Keystone Avenue and 62 nd Street. INHP is a 16-year-old non-profit organization whose primary mission it to enable thousands of residents to achieve home ownership. During the Home Fair, experts in the areas of home buying, home repair, home improvement and finance will conduct educational workshops. Free credit reports and credit analysis will be available. For more information about the Home Fair call INHP at (317) 610-HOME. Got a hot news tip? Want to be heard? If you would like to report any news or share your comments, call the Recorder News Hotline at (317) 924-5143 ext 300

By BRANDON A. PERRY Staff Writer Of course, common sense dictates that it’s hard to make progress with someone you have never met or seen. Because they are unaware of their peers in social service, some AfricanAmerican organizations might

not advance as far as they could. It is, after all hard to support an organization one has never heard of. The Indianapolis Professional Association (I PA) and the Marion County Bar Association (MCBA) would like to rectify this situation by sponsoring what organizers call a “cross-organizational

Left to right: Colleen Smith of the Indianapolis Professional Association, and attorneys Bernard Huff and Maxine King of the Marion County Bar Association are inviting Black businesses to participate in a networking event. (Photo/J. Hurst)

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is creating a healthy community

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By ERICKA P. THOMPSON Staff Writer Founded on the campus of Howard University in 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. was loyal at helping the community’ then and they are still faithful at helping the community now. On Saturday, March 27 at Christ Church Apostolic the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Indianapolis Alumnae chapter, will hold its annual Founders Day event with a health fair and free health screenings. 'Hie theme of the event Ls “A Gill to Action: Creating a Healthy Gimmunity” and to help create a healthy community the Deltas are not only providing free health screenings but they also are offering a chance to hear Dr. Edith Irbv’Jones, the keynote speaker for the event Dr. Jones broke racial barriers in 1952 and made national headlines when she was the only African Americiui in thcscniordassofthe U niversity ofArkmisas Medical Schixil. She was also one of only three female students. In 1985, Dr. Jones became the first woman to le;id the National Medical Association and more impressively, she Ls the sponsor and co-founder of the Dr. Edith Irby Jones clinic in Haiti and the Dr. Exlitli Irby

Starting with the 2005 kindergarten class, students living in the IPS district will no longer have the option to bus to township schools. (Photo/J. Hurst)

Networking event to enhance effectiveness of Black organizations

event.” Representatives from a variety • of Black businesses, civic groups, social organizations and professional societies will meet at a special networking event scheduled for Sunday, March 28 from noon to 3 p.m. at Bonefish Grill, 4501 E. 82nd St. The first hour will be a time for professionals to speak with each other and enjoy appetizers while listening to soft jazz music. During the second hour, representatives from various groups and associations will have a couple of minutes to explain their mission statements during dinner. News anchor Cheryl Adams of WXIN 59 will be the program’s emcee. Organizers of the gathering agree that it will present a wonderful opportunity for various groups to network and discuss the services they provide for citizens. “The ultimate goal of this meeting is to bring many of the Black organizations together into one forum,” said Colleen Smith, corporate secretary for the I PA. “We believe that there must be an un- ► See NETWORKING, Page A4

By JOSHUA COHEN Staff Writer The historic Brown vs. Board of Education court case stirred up unrest and controversy in America that, in 2004, still has not died down. As a result of the case, a federal court order began busing inner-city African-American students to suburban schools. Indianapolis was no exception to this order and I PS schools began losing many of their students to townships such as Perry, Pike, Wayne and Lawrence. What some people do not know, however, Ls in 1999 the injunction was replaced. The new order suited that when these schools reached an African-American population of 20 percent or more, the busing of students out of their districts w ould cease. Warren and Lawrence townj shipsreachedthatnumberandhave already began the phasing out pn>cess. The other part ofthLs requLsition was that even if the 20 percent

number was not reached, the year 2004 would be the last year new students would be bused out of their districts. “SUuting next year, students will no longer have the option to bus to township schools,” said Tom Langd(X‘,directorofschool/community services in Wayne Township. 'Iliis Ls not a total cease-and-desist on busing to the township schools. Students already attending these schools will finish their tenure there. Next year, kindergarten-aged students will begin their education in IPS. ThLs will consist of only about 150 additional children. “IPS is ready,” said Mary Louise Scheid, media relations for IPS. “We’ve known since 1999 and have already accommodated students from Lawrence and Warren. We should easily be able to serve these new' students.” Although thLs has been known about for five years, there are still parents w'ho did not know or forgot ► See BUSING, Page A3

Officials remember fhe lale Gov. Robert Orr

By BRANDON A. PERRY Staff Writer Within six months after the tragic and sudden loss of Gov. Frank O’Bannon, Hoosiers have had to say farewell to another popular state leader who was credited with breaking down political barriers with his warmth, wit and sincerity. Robert D. Orr, the unpretentious and plainspoken former governor of Indiana, died last week at the age of 86. An aide said he was admitted to I ndiana University Medical Center on March 10 due to a kidney blockage, but died the same evening due to an apparent heart arrhythmia. Hundreds of government officials, family members, friends and citizens appeared at the In-

Jones emergency clinics in Mexico and Uganda. “Dr. Jones exemplifies a wide range of things that Delta Sigma Theta stands for ;uid the theme of the event is what she has been doing her entire life. She is a physician, a humanitarian and a member ofthesorority,” said Collette DuValle, director of communications of health iuid hospital/ Marion County’ Health Department. “We want to keep with our missic>n and make sure that we have a healthy community and this event Ls just one way of us expressing that.” Doors will open at 11am. and once iaside participants can take advantage of the numerous health Ixxiths such as bkxxl pressure, cholesterol and lead screenings. There also will be information on health insurance, breast cancer «uid obesity, and the Mother Baby Health line will also he available to provide information to new mothers. DuValle says jxxiple sh< mid come out to the health fair and take advantage ofthe free information ;uid to listen to Dr. Jones because she Ls “a tme legend.” “She has a compelling story and I think just hearing her spe;ik Ls motivation enough to come out,” she said. “She is a trail blazer and she has a message about what we as African Americans as a community should do to come together to have a healthy community.”

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diana Statehouse Tuesday to pay their respects at Orr’s flag cloaked casket, which sat in the rotunda surrounded by an honor guard made up of military and law enforcement officers. After a service that brought both reflective laughter and tears from those in attendance, Orr left the Statehouse for the last time as a lengthy procession took him to his final resting place at Crown Hill Cemetery’. Gov. Joe Kernan described Orr as someone who was “devoted” to service until the very end. Orr, who served as governor from 1981 to 1989 is best remembered for his twin legacies in the areas of economic development and education. In 1982 Orr took the step of passing a plan through the state ► See ORR, Page A2 On Tuesday a

memorial

service was held for the late Robert D. Orr, former governor of Indiana. Before the ceremony Tony Buford signed the friends and family guest book. Buford was hired by Orr to help run the Office of

Minority Business

Enterprise. (Photos/E.

Wheeler)

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