[This text is machine generated and may contain errors.]
fi A surveillance camera is focused on.a cell door at Upstate
Correctional Facility in Malone,
, N.Y. Through the windo in the
cell door, seen from a distance,
two figures dart back and forth.
It is difficult to determine what's
going on until the voices are ©
heard.
"Say uncle, motherf----er, say
uncle," a man's voice demands.
There is a muffled reply. "Say |
win," the voice screams once
more.
Again the response os barely
audible. Then, for the next 15
minutes, the two struggle with
each other, their bodies flying
from one end of the cell to the
other.
Finally, a guard arrives and
watches the altercation through
the window. After several
minutes, he calls another guard,
and the two of them witness the
fight with no thought of inter-
vening. By now, one of the
inmates has been beaten to a
_. « pulp and is almost unconscious.
The cell is splattered with blood.
Minutes later, six more guards
arrive, along with a supervisor.
. But they-refuse*toTenter-the«cell:
until the. victorious inmate slips
his hands through the door to be
handcuffed. Like the other two
guards, they are all white. The
fighting inmates are Black.
While they await a response to
their order, the don white
smocks and plastic gloves.
. They debate the situation,
occasionally laughing about the
carnage on the other side of the
- Steel door. When the rumble is
-completely over, they move as a
group into the cell, grab the
semi-conscious man and flop
-him on a gurney. He is a bloody
Could g
mess, and within a few hours he
will be dead. .
With the injured man removed,
they throw his mattress, pillow
and other bloody articles out the
door. They wait a few minutes
and then the other inmate is
ordered to the door, handcuffed,
searched and taken away.
- All of this happened on May
12, 2000. Last week, via
telephone from the Clinton
Correctional Facility, Donnell
Brunson, one voice on the
videotape, told his version of the
incident during a conference call
with his lawyer, Earl Rawlins,
and the Amsterdam News.
The problem started, Brunson
said, when he was placed in a
cell with a hostile inmate doing
life for murder who repeatedly
made sexual advances. "In our
cell, the toiled and shower are
open and you are not allowed to
hang anything," Brunson ex-
plained. "So each time I used
the toilet or the shower, he
would comment on my body,
telling me I had nice legs and a
shapely butt. I knew of his
reputation for stabbing people,
so I knew. I had to be careful
around him."
The man had often bragged
about his time in "The Box," a
special housing unit comparable
to solitary confinement, Brunson
continued. "He had been sent
there for beating one of his bunk
mates," he said. oThat is what
he told me and during the
hearing following his death,
documents were presented to
show what he said was true.
"He also told me he had been in
prison 16 years without a
woman, and he wanted me to
take care of his sexual needs."
In 1938 their was a man named
Luke Jasper Best that was reared
near Ballard Crossroad on a farm
Owned by his father. Luke
worked in tobacco, cotton, and
com, He finished grade school
and he wanted a business of his
own
So, on weekends he would go to
Crossroad where there
Were four grocery store . At that
sine pearls had few cars, Luke
if wait around the store hi see
anyone needed a ride to
Greenville or Farmville. If so, he
took them where they wanted to
80 for 35 cents per trip and round
tip for 70 cents. For approxi-
' Mately three years this was his
18
ie
oEe
reenville and
Bonners Lane
| Darden and
y area. Later in
life, Luke chose to venture into
Cab business. He never finished
high school, but thatT never
stopped him from wanting his
own business, Later he purchased
a better cab car. The cab number
was no.34, He drove for a period
of time and certain areas in the
city he was not allowed. He was
not allowed in The Riggs House,
East Carolina College, and the
Bus Station, He especially wasnTt
allowed to pick up students that
came in on the 4:30a. m. bus.
Finally, Mr. Best consulted a
lawyer, (Calvin Dish) "
his priviledges. His path was
finally cleared,
Luke owned his own cab busi-
ness in the name of City Cab,
Being the first African American
cab driver in Greenville, he en-. Best,
countered several problems, He
refused to give up! Latler he
moved to Bell Cafe on Albemarle
Avenue, where he became estab-
lished. Luke's business grew by
uards have prevented it?
NEW YORK AMSTERDAM
by-HERB BOYD is
Brunson recalled.T"l told him F |
wasn't with that, that I didn't go.
tha, way. As time went on he
kept making sexual remarks, and:
he even touched me a couple of
times. I told him to keep his
hands off of me."
When Brunson learned that he
had a time cut and would be
leaving soon, completing his
nine-monthj sentence, his cell-
mated became more aggressive.
"He told me he was tired of }
being a nice guy," Brunson said, |
"and that when the lights went |
out, my butt was his. Knowing
this, | decided to keep my light
on until | knew he was asleep.
"It was about 2:30 in the
morning and | had the light on
and I was reading a book,"
Brunson went on to say. "Then
he got out of his bed and cut the
light off. The cell has two lights,
one big one and one night light
near my. bunk. Each time he cut
my light off, I cut it back on.
Finally, he stood in the middle of
the room and said, "It's time to
get it on." I told him if we have
to fight, he'd have to come to
me. He did, and the fight was
on." re ac ¢
Brunson said that when a fight
breaks out in a cell they don't
come in until it's over. "With
this in mind, I knew that if he
knocked me unconscious he was
going to rape me and possibly
give me AIDS that wiuld kill me
anyway. I knew I was fighting
for my life," he said.
"We were fighting and he
penned me down in the shower,"
Brunson related, "and he was
choking me and kicking me. |
was able to get free for a
moment and then he grabbed me
by my hair-l wear dreads-and
ANAFRCAN ANERICAN
MAN
Mr Luke Jasper
Best
leaps and bounds and hired many
drivers and high school students
as dispatchers. The business
excelled and he bought his own
place and became known through-
out the County. He also had
contracts with many businesses,
such as the airport, and American
Red Cross. LukeTs desire was to
go foward! He made a great
success!
The City Cab is still in business
today. They have nine drivers,
ten cars and many dispatchers,
Residing on the corner of
Albemarle and Martin Luther
King Drive. Services are 24 hrs a
day 7 days a week,
LukeTs motto was oA Winner
Never Quits and a Quitter Never
Wins!? On September 30, 1993,
Mr. Best The
business still goes on aay by his
family and one brother,
Even a th Luke had
Hales mec ora
thoughts, and greatly missed.
Neighbor CouncilT that later
Ramada plaza Hotel. At 6:30
ft 3 a li tg atid imine Sih de tice Rk ilies i cael
became the NC Human p.m. to 9:00 p.m., a Banquet
C . . Relations Council. He is also "_will be held honoring "The Life
élebration a former board member of the and Legacey of Dr. Andrew _
of the ws of Governors and East od (a sHayth cet Justice
i Carolina Univeristy. en e, the Banque
pene The planning Speaker. Also, selected par-
Legacy of Committee has scheduled on ticipants will provide 3 min-
Dr. Andrew A. Best "_"_ March 30, Friday afternoon, utes of presentations of Dr.
6:30 p.m. - 9:00p.m. at the Best's achievements of selected
On March 30, 31 and "-Ramada Plaza Hotel of activities. On April 1, at 4:00
April 1, "Friends of Andrew...» Greenville, a teception BOnOt=..c:-PeMs, A MUSICALCOMe gi
Best", coun fegional state "ING UF DESt'and jany Suc- Ceryreng POE
and national health care:par- cesses. Participants will have ; held at Cornerstone Missionary
ticipants will honor Dr. the opportunity to say othanks' Baptist Church honoring Dr.
Andrew Best. A local family and to share their stories and Best's rel accomplish-
practice doctors with 46 years experiences with Dr. Best ments and work,
of medical practice. Dr. Best Music and other entertainment ___ Invitations will be
has provided the county, state "_"_will be provided. On March mailed to s throughout
and nation with leadership in 31, Saturday morning, 9:00 the country to attend the ban-
many human services areas. a.m. - 12:00 noon. The quet. However, the reception =;
As a health/medical care Annual A.A. Best . and saicaleedgaous concert is
leader, he assisted the former | Comprehensive Commuinity open to the public.
chancellor, Dr. Leo Jenkins Health Screening will be con- Contact Persons are :
with the establishment of the ducted. Volunteers from dif- Dr. Donald ?,?. Ensley, 744-
East Carolina University's
medical school. He is known
throughout the country as one
of the founding fathers of the
medical school.
Additionally, Dr. Best served
on the first state "Good
ferent public health programs
and medical students and local
physicians will assist. Saturday
afternoon at 4:00 p.m., a se-
lected exhibit of Dr. Best's
medical and community activi-
ties will be on display at the
1109 (O), 355-9669 (H), Ms
Gracie Vine, 816-7959 (O),
355-6572 (H), Mrs Shonoda
Bullock, 328-4400 (W), 321-
5879 (H)
oHUMANITARIAN?
A TRIBUTE TO
oLillie Reid?
Daughter of the late Mr. and became very active during the School were organized, After
Mrs. Wille Monroe, the mother _time that the church was located _ the church moved to its present
of Charetta Walls and the grand- "_ on railroad street and Rev. Tilllet_- location, Lillie got approval from
mother of Billie Walls, was born _ was the pastor. She was instru- __ then Pastor Griffin to let her run
in the town of Rowland, North mental in helping to organize a day camp to provide a safe ;
Carolina in 1934, She is the and maintain the scouting pro- Christian environment for chil-
oldest of ten children, three boys gram along with the late Bro. dren that became a great success.
and seven girls. She finished James W, and Sis. Magdalene Lillie also got approval to start a
high school at Southside High Grimes with Mr. Ray Parker as Christian environment for chil-
School in Rowland NC and com- the scout master. Lillie worked dren that became a great success.
pleted college at Fayetteville hard to help keep the scout min- _Lillie also got approval to start a
State University with a BS de- istry in focus. She organized the Christian childcare ministry that
in Elementary Education, girl scouts and provided many would provide services to the
She worked in the Greenville outdoor as well as indoor learn- "_ parents in the church and the
city schools as a teacher and li- . ing experiences that taught the community. She named it oThe
brarian for 25 years. students behavior, and survivor ChildrenTs Learning Tree? and
Being a lover and a promoter _ skills many times using her own then it was oBillie After School
of children, Lillie always stayed resources. There were times ChildrenTs Center? nga
willing, ready and able to sup- when she along with some of her . She served her family, friends,
port and encourage children. friends, would go and visit the church and community well. In
She encouraged them to learn "__ boy scouts during the weekend "_addition to all that above, Lillie
and allowed them the opportu- of their camping trips to help out and her husband started a cater-
nity to excel in whatever task if needed, This dedication ' service called Occasional
they tried to undertake. earned her several awards for her ights which was also well re-
After marrying the late hard work. ceived by the community, family
Charles Reid, Lillie took it upon Under the pastroship of the late and friends, She has :
herself to help raise her neph- Rey. O'Kelly Lawson, in the from teaching due to health
si eg cena ane plaka a Aa ntenl problems but that has not
losing their ts, Under n encouraging a group ! }
Taian Ged paidance, cach OF concerned members to attend the
them finished high school and, Nj '
several of them completed their
college educationsT. ha
i ess Ceca
1 0} ae
i - Missionary veer Church, one oe
s leer was to Uncle Brock, 1 saw that 1 was ing.
£ one who loves me dearly, | took advantage of my "
ed me when in frocks, " a ceased " og "
sent me presen yearly.
aid before him every plan, |
| asked him for " I th
He said, oI'll help you all | can, My lo
But you must be persistent.? But ITm determined yet to fly,
Onward.and up forever.
¢ who oe us sly |
Long. remembered it will be,
How my heart rejoiced; IT1l not retreat, I will advance, :
When this answer came to me;_. ITll gain my expectation;
eer te ede chance,
by G.R. Whitfield? | did not eat a meal for days. _IT Il master situations.
Although | was quite healthy;
With mind all raptured and
When a boy my thoughts would amazed.
| packed for Philadelphia. Correction
. Issue / Feb 16th - Feb 23rd "
a 106 Wig MCE bi oe oe
y ;
I longed for education,
But scanty means as we may say,
Had blocked the situation. My yetcome there was a Very 44. GR whitfield's name was .
4 . ; grand, rinted as Mr George Raymon
:went to union to begin, He knew I had no money; Whitf eld. In correction his name
lientered there delighted; Placed $50 in my hand, is recorded as Mr George Roscoe
oThere I made many friends, | felt relieved but funny. Whitfield. Please do accept our
. But found my life w was blighted.
| left for Lincoln full of glee,
_ My progress both i in books and | janded and was greeted,
thought, | found it just the place for me,
While there was ordinary; | here was kindly treated.
most humble apologies.
2 A POEM : fs Tn tones of UncleTs voice. When ig ier ste ll make a
love for them is justa fan,
ladies, A.K.A.Ts
_ A.K.ATs Ball 2001- The Ladies of the A.K.A.Ts shown at their Big Gala Affair at the Hilton Hotel
for this j joyous occassion. Shown is Brother Byron Tyson & his sisters in Princeville- HatTs of to our
staff photo by Jim Rouse
we ws wh hiss ene
a ee ee
I kept a longing to be taught.
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