[This text is machine generated and may contain errors.]
Photographer Ts work depicts
more than just provocative
pictures. Greg McNeal seeks
fo provide positive images
and breakdown stereotypes
of the Black male.
by Tim Butler
Tri-State Defender Entertainmenr Editor
Greg MCNpal, an African-American photographer living in
Los Angéfes, will make two appearances in Memphis this week-
end. First up is a poster-signing at Club Allusions on Friday
night at 7 p.m., followed by a series of workshops from 9 a.m.
- 5 p.m. on Saturday. (For more information, contact Anthony
Hardaway at 274-0163.)
McNeal is a Black, gay male, self-taught master of the lens.
Although some of his images drip with sensuality and eroticism,
there is much more to McNeal than simply the remarkable abil-
ity to capture the Black male figure in evocative poses.
McNeal is an ardent believer in the power of photography - art
in fact - that can promote a more positive image of the Black male
to an audience that can use this medium as a way to uplift the race.
Reached by telephone at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday,
Sept. 7, McNeal explained how he was troubled with the images
he found which depicted the Black male. This was when he first
moved to Los Angeles about twelve years ago. oI was checking
out Black images of us one day, ? he said as he remembers
thumbing through magazines and watching television. oThere
were no positive images of us ?
This was during a time period when crack cocaine and gangs
were prevalent in the City of Angeles and were among the main
things which helped shape the media Ts image of Black men.
Everywhere you turned there were Black men in gangs or vic-
tims of gangs and Black men whose lives were ruined by drugs.
Over on the fashion front, things were not much different - there
were virtually no positive images of Black men. For McNeal,
this was unacceptable. ,
Lucky to catch up with the photographer before he was off to
celebrate his 38th birthday on Sunday, McNeal told me he was
subsequently inspired to do something about offering a more
uplifting image of the Black male.
how to shoot pictures and went about his way doing what he
could to change the way the world saw the Black man.
Around 1994, he told me nobody wanted to photograph the
Black man. And when he talked to professionals about the situ-
ation, they told him that nobody was interested in the Black
male. The Black male was not worth it. How could this be?
As a native of South Fulton, Tenn. McNeal said he was
shocked by some of the things he saw when he first moved to
Los Angeles. And he had a perfect vantage point, as he did an
assortment of odd jobs to pay the rent at first. In South Central
he explained it was sad to see how we as Black men saw our-
selves. The lure of getting nioney at the expense of all else was
one of the things that troubled him. Where would this leave the
future of the Black man? oIt was kind of hard getting through
some days seeing the kinds of things I saw. ?
One of the problems was the attitude of some Black men on-
ly caring about what they could achieve financially with little
regard for the rest of the race. oGod blessed some people so that
they could give back, ? McNeal believes; but this was not hap-
pening. The underlying problem as he saw it was that Black
men didn Tt value their own lives - consequently they couldn Tt
care about anyone else Ts. We must change the way the world -
and particularly our own people - see the Black male.
Disturbed by what he saw as stereotypical images of the
Black male in the media, McNeal chose the Black man as his
subject matter. A lot of times, according to this photographer,
when a White man turns his camera lens on a Black man the re-
sulting photograph features poses that are somewhat feminine
and too flamboyant. oI often wondered why we can Tt see a
strong Black man from a Black perspective. ?
As a result, he set about teaching himself how to take pic-
tures. He chose photography as his medium because photogra-
phy depicts real life and is of the moment - unlike sculpture or
" characters. ? McNeal
He PrecefAKs, taught himself,
poe aa
you. Photography has a timeless quality
painting or what have
that he likes.
oWe have to start to see the real of who we are - not cartoon
points out. He taught himself the profes-
sion of: photography because, othere was something I wanted
my pictures to say and nobody could teach me that. ? McNeal
wanted to display such qualities as unity, strength and pride with
his work. And he Ts still learning. oEveryday I learn something
new, ? he says.
In the late 90s, McNeal Ts reputation grew due to a series of
public service campaigns for Los Angeles- and San Francisco-
based AIDS organizations. In July 2000, he was chosen as the
photojournalist to cover the XXIII International Conference on
HIV and AIDS in Durban, South Africa. In addition, he shot a
sepies Of projects for The African-American AIDS Policy and
Training Institute and other organizations, including STOP
AIDS, Minority AIDS Project, Spectrum & Charles Drew Uni-
versity of Medicine and Science.
oWe have to start to see a work of
McNeal says of what he does. oBy doing so, it Ts hard to put a
bullet in the back of someone Ts head ? - as you would then val-
ue that person Ts life. And this is what he tries to convey - the
beauty of everyday, common Black men.
McNeal says most of his subjects are not gay but straight men,
married with wives and children. But they all are everyday, ordi-
nary men that work in the grocery store...deliver packages...de-
liver pizza - whatever. oI wanted to make that person a work of
art. ? They are not professional models. But yet these men deliv-
er star status when McNeal Ts lens captures them on film.
McNeal wants his photos to overcome stereotypes and break
down taboos. oBlack men fear being homo-sexual in art and we
shouldn Tt fear that, ? he says. Additionally, there is a fear of be-
ing too strong...too sexy when it comes to Black men. And we
need to overcome that, too. More than anything, he says, owe
heed to change the way we see each other. We have to give val-
ue back toeachothe ?
His photos help to deliver this message. McNeal admits he
wants his work to be timeless. oWe have to put images our there
that kids can look at 100 years from now and say, Now, that Ts
what unity...strength...pride looks like T. ? As he explains it, oMy
work is a blue print. There will be others to follow that will do
greater things ? based on his work. And that Ts the whole purpose.
In fact, oeverybody should be finding their own way of help-
ing these kids, ? he admonishes. But we are afraid that they will
be better than we are. Which is tragic. On the other hand, oWhite
people always inspire their own future. ? But sadly we don Tt.
What is it like being a Black gay man today? By and large, he
says, Black gay men are facing the same stereotypes as before.
In fact, some men have gone further into the closet, he believes.
Bisexuality has become vogue because it is often easier for a
Black gay man to declare himself as bisexual rather than gay.
oIt Ts more acceptable being bisexual...it Ts cooler. It Ts better than
being completely gay, ? he says some men believe. And this
shottidn Tt be the case.
For some reason, McNeal believes, owe have been trained to
be afraid of that which looks most like us. ? Sadly, the church
plays a big part in perpetuating this image. oMost of us go here
to hide, ? the photographer notes. oBut we need to quit hiding
behind the church because God isn Tt going to allow us to do it
anymore. People can only hide for so long. ?
It Ts time Black gay men stood up for what and who they are.
oThe battle you don Tt fight today your children will fight to-
morrow.
oFreedom can Tt come unless you start to trust each other, ? he
believes. And that Ts what we must learn to do - trust each other
to be who and what we are.
art in everyday people, ?
. The man behind the man -
photographer Greg MeNeal
RANDOM NOTES
by Tim Butler
Entertainment Editor
Football kicks .
off with concert
f ~ "siIt Ts that time again -
i football Ts back! And
the first game of the
new season made a big.
Splash, introduced. with
a pre-Zame music fest
broadcast last Thursday
originating from the
National Mall in Wash-
ington, D.C. But for all
m?"? of the hype - and there
i was plenty - NFL Kick-
off Live failed to deliv- |
er. ,
Looking nowhere near as garish as we Tre
accustomed to seeing, Mary J. Blige provid-
ed a true highlight. Has she lost weight? She
looked much thinner than on previous occa-
sions - and she was better made-up. She prac-
tically sparkled!
Anyway, wearing a pair of killer black
stiletto boots and blue jeans, Blige stirred it
up for the crowd in fine fashion, proving
again there Ts plenty of talent underneath that
rough exterior - which is beginning to show
signs of softening.
Could those itty-bitty micro-shorts Britney
Spears wore underneath her longer pants
have been any shorter? (Answer: No...and no T
have the show still be a family program!)
Attired better than we Tve seen her look in a
long, long time (read MORE COVERED
UP) the always excellent sounding Aretha -
Franklin delivered the goods and.then some.
Sadly, she only sang one song, while all of
the other artists on the program sang more
than one. And Ms. Franklin came on last!
Show organizers are probably to blame. No
one of Franklin Ts stature in the business
should be relegated to only one song and
have it seemingly eclipsed at the tail-end of
any show!! Perhaps, true Aretha fans will get
some satisfaction when.the Queen of Soul Ts.
new album drops soon.
Suit settled over
Aaliyah Ts death?
Though it won t'6fing Aaliyah back, re-
portedly her parents, Michaél and Diane
Haughton, have reached a settlement in
wrongful death suits against her label, Virgin
Records, as well as several video production
companies and the owner/operator of the
twin-engine Cessna plane that crashed with
Aaliyah on board in August 2001.
Word is the suits were tentatively settled
earlier this summer. A family spokesperson
says he expects everything to be finalized
soon and (naturally) filed under terms not to
be made public.
It Ts not much consolation, but it must be
difficult drawing a line that determines a hu-
man being Ts worth when they die premature-
ly. And it Ts got to be more difficult when it
appears the deceased is as popular in death as
she was when she was living...and was mak-
ing movies and records and such!
(The world is such a funny place and when
you throw the legal system into the equation, |
life becomes even more strange!)
Here comes the judge;
there goes the cameras |
The judge says cam-
eras will NOT be al-
lowed in the courtroom
during Kobe Bryant Ts
Oct. 9 preliminary
hearing.
At that time, prose-
cutors will outline their
case against the L.A. -
Lakers star accused of
sexual assault. It will
also be determined at.
that time whether or
not there Ts enough evi-
dence to take the case to trial.
You can be sure of one thing, though, if
it does go to trial the question of allowing
cameras into the courtroom will most as-
suredly come up again. (What Ts truly inter-
esting is the fact that if this was simply
oJoe Blow Ordinary Citizen ? being accused
of sexual assault instead of an internation-
ally known NBA basketball player with
star charisma and a net worth in the mil-
Bryant
lions of dollars - would anybody care about
the outcome let alone-whether or not cam-
eras should be allowed in the courtroom to
cover the action? The answer: NO. Will
celebrity worship ever end in a world
where so much money can be made putting
people up on pedestals and then knocking
them off? The answer: NO)
SEPT.19 2003 pg7
MUSIC WORLD
by Tim Butler
Entertainment Editor
Come taste their
Ice Cream flavors
Once the
background
singers for the
Isley Brothers,
onew R&B duo
JS has a debut
y album, /ce
-Cream, and a
4 concert tour to
their credit. The
sisters, Kandy
and Kim John-
son, are opening
for the R. Kelly
concert tour, which visits Memphis Friday at
the Mid-South Coliseum,
Ice Cream, the first radio track off the CD,
was produced, written and arranged by R.
Kelly - as were the second radio song, Love
Angel, Bye-Bye, Slow Grind, Half, Stay Right
Here, Sister, and Ice Cream (Remix).
While still in elementary school, the two
Los Angeles natives began performing togeth-
er as The Johnson Sisters. Their musical train-
ing stretches back to the church choirs they Tve
graced since they first learned to sing.
__ It was the Isleys T musical director that had
heard about JS through persistent word of
mouth. oThe Isley Brothers needed back-
ground singers for a tour, and we were asked
to audition, ? Kandy recalls. oDuring the audi-
tion, Ronald Isley came into the room. He lis-
tened to us sing for a while, and then he hired
us on the spot. We were so excited! ?
: The Johnsons
a , But having grown a reputation singing
Zospel, the switch to R&B was a bit off-
putting for the girls and their parents. They
got used to the notion and subsequently
§ launched their own careers as a solo act, apart
for background group.
For their inspiration, JS says they looked to
their longtime. idols in the music business:
Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Stevie
- Wonder.
Music that Ts really
out of this world!
5. Humatiity Ts
@ interest in space
|. 7 has been ongo-
ed ing since the
a beginning of
1. time. The
"y dream of ex-
1 ploring space
4. was shared by
oua generations
long before that
first memorable flight:
Greek myths like that Amaia and
Icaruseflyin g-teo-elose to-the.sun, on wings
made ofMe , the adventures of Jules Verne
and the imagination of HiG. Wells have
helped inspire us along the way.
Likewise, the questions regarding life on
other planets, Unidentified Flying Objects
(UFOs) and extraterrestrials have been mysti-
fying us for eons. Stories of the oFoo-fight-
ers ? in the early 1940s to the later files of the
U.S. Government Ts oProject Blue Book ? have
kept our interests piqued. .
Music for Little People is leaving the histo-
ry up to the experts...and is taking the more
humorous approach to the space issue, by re-
leasing the light-hearted Hey, Mr. Spaceman.
Many of these silly favorites are culled
from history itself, including We're Going
UFO-ing (Jimmy Durante), Mr. Spaceman
(The Byrds), Humans From Earth (T-Bone
Burnett), Flying Saucer Attack (The Rezil-
los), Two Little Men in a Flying Saucer (Ella
Fitzgerald), and Planet Claire (B-52s).
Blending jazz
with hip-hop
Nominated for
a Grammy,
trumpeter/com-
poser Russell
Gunn is back
with another
dose of Ethno-
musicology -
this time it Ts
é Volume 3.
"_ Gunn was
born in Chicago on Oct. 20, 1971. In 1980,
the Gunn family relocated to East St. Louis!
Ill. Russell began to play the trumpet in the
fourth grade. His cousin Anthony Wiggins
was the lead trumpeter in the school band,
and he encouraged Russell to join up.
Although he soon developed a yen for the
band Ts jazz repertoire, Russell Ts true passion
was hip-hop, the music of his generation. For
ALVISORY,
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SEPTEMBER 2003
Student
Student leaders speak out,
plan to stage protests
Alison C. Moxley
ss Staff Writer
At emergency student issues
forum was held on campus
last week, and an emergency
press conference was held
Saturday to develop a plan of
action to overturn decisions by
former Provost William Swart.
Representatives from the Pitt
County Coalition Against
Racism, ECU chapter of the
NAACP and the Black Student
Union expressed their outrage
about unethical hiring _prac-
tices, corruption and suspi-
cious raises in the office of the
provost.
The main issue at the forum was
the reassignment of the former
Director of the Ledonia Wright
Cultural Center., Nell Lewis.
Lewis served as director for
three years but was abruptly
reassigned in April by Swart.
"She was given one day and
three hours to pack up years of
tireless service and exit the
cultural center," said Knick
Dixon, president of the Black
Student Union.
§ Ou
Lewis was reassigned to the
position of outreach liaison for
Joyner Library. .
"They put her in a corner on the
second floor. of the library
_~ behind a stack of books, T said
Charmaine Ford, president of
the ECU chapter of the NAACP.
the position of outreach liaison
is a new position that was
created when Lewis was as-
" signed to it.
In April protests over Lewis'
reassignment were heard from
nizations and. professional
colleagues all over the country
who praised her for her accom-
plishments. :
Since she took over as direct
of the Ledonia Wright Cultural
. Center, ECU has been acknowl-:
edged as having one of the
premier centers in the country, T
said Fred Hord, executive direc-
tor of the Association for Black
Cultural Centers.
Lewis remains positive about
her misfortune and hopes to con-
tinue to lead by example.
"I have spent my entire pro-
fessional career as an educator
helping to | shih young le
to successfully experience life's
challenges, and one of the best
process, ? he said.
Black Politics
continued from front page
According to Dr. Jeffries, the
captains of American industry had
begun to realize that Blacks were
turning the corner on achieving true
Black political power, which had
oWe arrived in the 1900s be-
lieving that a vote could get us into
the mainstream of American life,
and that is because our analysis of
the great compromises of 1775,
when Jefferson decided on the side
of slavery, and the compromise of
1876, when during the Hays-Tilden
"very little to do with voting in Black
politicians. oVoting is not politics,
it is just an aspect of the political
When the banks say N
election, there was an agreement
fashioned to take political power
away from Blacks. He said what
ways to teach them is to let them
see me do it,' said Lewis.
g the press conference,
students discussed forming a
truth commission that - would
investigate administrative wrong
doings and meet with the Chan-
cellor to discuss resolutions,
Student leaders were also out-
raged at. the appointment of
Bertus
, Ferreira to serve as the
director of international affairs.
He took Tover after the reassign-
ment of the former director, Rita
Gonzales.
Ferreira T served with the South
African police in the 1970's
during the system of racial seg-
regation known as apartheid.
"Nobody who participated In a
system as awful and inhumane
as apartheid can be expected to
carry out the mission of the
Office oe ee Affairs,"
sai 'Y B. Royal, chairper-
son of PCCAR. ee
Ferreira no longer serves as the
director of international affairs,
but teaches in the criminal
justice department.
Ford also described an incident
where the ECU police stormed a
Students Working Against
Trials and Tribulations meeting,
really happened was that Whites
decided how to fashion our politics
to give them more power, and how
to design our economics, so it
would work for them.
oWe are still not understanding
the political dynamics of Booker T.
Washington, who told Teddy
Roosevelt, give us the means to
eam a living, and we won't argue
for social quality, and W.E.B.
Dubois, who said no way do we
, We say YES!
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eee
blocked all exits, and required
the students to sign their names
before leaving the building.
William Worthington, Jr. who is
on the executive board of the Pitt
County NAACP was present at
theraid)
"They detained me and .Ms.
Lewis for Over 30 minutes,"
Worthington said,
"She was bringing positive ex-
posure to the ECU campus at
time of her reassignment. We
have no one to fear in the
pursuit Of justice in this matter.
Members Of the NAACP and
BSU are looking to reverse the
actions taken by Swart during
his time as provost.
It has been reported that Swart
actively recruited Staff from
ODU to ECU.
During the press conference, it
was alleged that Swart more
than doubled their salaries and
increased his own salary from
$175,000 to $200,000 at a time
en there was no state money
available for raises. UNC sys-
tem. President Molly Broad
approved the $25,000 increase
in Swart's salary.
Swart was reassigned Friday to a
faculty Position and replaced by
take a backseat on the issue of so-
cial equality. ?
oWe aré not understanding the
political dynamic of Marcus
Garvey and the godfather of Black
political thought in America, the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who
said own your businesses, own
your schools, conirol your commu-
James Smith, executive assistant
to the chancellor and philosophy
professor. .
Dennis Mitchell, a senior and
the President Of the
Independent
Independent Thinkers, said that
student leaders will not back
down from the issues.
«We're not going to back down ©
until we get a resolution,
Mitchell said.
_ Mitchell said students have al-
ready sent certified letters to the
vice chancellor of student life
and other administrators asking
for the reinstatement of Lewis to
her former position as well as a
number of other requests.
They plan to stage nonviolent
protests. .
"If we don't get a response from
our request we plan to go to any
means necessary to get what we
want," Mitchell said.
, This writer can be contacted at
o news@fheeastcarolinian.com
Power movement of the early
1900s that led to the political dy-
namics that brought Adam Clayton
Powell Jr. to Congress in 1945, and
later was the driving force to Min-
ister Louis Farrakhan Ts call for the
Million Man March in 1995.
(This article is the first in a two-
part series. Next week: The Insti-
Movement of .
m BEST CASH PRI
tutionalization of the Black
Agenda: Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
to 2003.)
nity and your families, ? Dr. Jeffries
stressed.
He said that it was the Black
\
s
Visit from the Motherland .... pictured above is Pastor James Jamin
ferom A frica,( far left )who delivered an 8am morning message at the
Philippi Church where the Pasto is Bishop R. Royal. ( far right ).
Joining them ( center ) is Sister Helen Bryant who was instrumental
in Pastor Jamin's arrival. photo by Bro Jim Rouse
Our Voices a Guy Simms ( left ) and Lorenzo
en voices of distinction on the air ways of Joy | . Sim
editor of River City News and Minister Bryant, video music Saha
Minority Voice TV Show, are continuing to be dynamic voices for us
as little Ms Dominique ( Bryant's daughter ) gives us a precious little
smile between. Photo by Bro Michael Adams
ae
Z52-FS
|
sta?
252-757-0008
NYWHERE
CEA
Althea Gibson
Tennis Pioneer
Dies at 76
AP Photo
Gibson, a sports pioneer who
broke tennis T color barrier in
the 1950s as the first black en-
trant and champion at |
Wimbledon and the U.S. na-
tional tournament, died Sunday.
She was 76.
Gibson, also the first black
player on the LPGA Tour,
helped pave the way for later
-Stars such as Arthur Ashe,
Venus and Serena Williams,
and Tiger Woods.
"I am grateful to Althea Gibson
for having the strength and
courage to break through the ~
racial barriers in tennis," Venus
Williams said Sunday. "Her ac-
complishments set the stage for
my success, and through players
"like myself, Serena, and many
others to come, her legacy will
live on."
President Bush issued a state-
ment Monday praising Gibson's
spirit, determination, and skill.
"In breaking the racial barrier
in championship tennis, she
furthered America Ts progress in
recognizing individuals for their
character and abilities, not their
skin color," he said.
_ Gibson, seriously ill for several
~ years, died of complications
from a severe infection and res-
piratory illness, according to a
spokesman at East Orange
General Hospital.
As health problems plagued |
Gibson in recent years, she iso-
lated herself and spoke to few
. People. She didn Tt attend.a
ceremony marking her'75th" ?
birthday at last year's U.S.
* Open or the 1997 dedication of
that tournament's new Arthur
Ashe Stadium.
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From The Desk Of Mrs Beatr
10.JOY IS. WHAT YOU FEEL
SEPTEMBER 2003
ine Maye
depression, famine, flood, fire, Do You Know Your A B CS? 19.SELF IS THE MOST . 4. Life's Rules
governmental changes, but . WHEN YOU LOVE IMPORTANT YOU HAVE TO Love yourself.
i when homes breakdown, so do _1. ACCEPT YOUR YOURSELF FIRST! GIVE! Tell yourself the truth.
schools, churches, government, GOODNESS, YOUR BEAUTY, 20.TRUST YOURSELF AND Tell the truth to everyone all of
and everything else that is YOUR VALUE, AND YOUR 11. KNOWLEDGE IS THE . THE PROCESS IF LIFE! the time. Take care of yourself
Habeleers begin wnt of WORTH! KEY TO FREEDOM! . first. Don't stay mad more than:
e is the ning point o 21.UNEXPECTED RS ve minutes. ings i
eating Here life makes up 2. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. 12.LOVE IS WHAT YOU ARE OPEN! ive nner atl things i
its mind. It is not the beginning } ARE, NOT WHAT YOU GIVE When I play by the rules I win.
place of biological life, but of 3. CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF ORGET! " 22. VICTORY IF THE PRIZE!
moral, ethical, mental, spiritual, ONLY THOSE THINGS THAT - 5. Today, I am willing to
and emotional life as well. ARE GOOD FOR YOU! 13.MISTAKES ARE LESSONS 23.WISDOM IS USING WHAT CHILL! To be alone and grow
Parents have the very first . . THAT YOU NEED TO YOU HAVE! in a special way.
forse! rye tied Feelings, 1 rae YOURSELF ' LEARN! .
i ?,? beliefs, the ideas of the ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST 24.X-PECT THE BEST . Chillin T is quiet ti
Mrs. Beatrice Mayee child. Someone has wisely said AND TO DO IT ON TIME! 14.NEVER SAY NEVER! ALWAYS! Von spend sein touch with
ce that parents have done at least NEW DAYS BRING NEW : how you feel, and what you
To the editor, half of all they can do for their 5. EXCELLENCE, NOT IDEAS 25.YOU ARE HE LIGHT OF want. -
Happiness is still home made. child by the time he is six! The EXCESS, IS THE KEY! AND NEW BEGINNINGS! THE WORLD! °
Home is the Polar point of civi- home fulfills many functions, eae 7. Find a quiet place where you
lization around which all else but there are three primary 6. FAITH AND 15.ORDER IS THE LAW 26.ZEALOUSLY NURTURE, know you will not be disturbed
revolves. When home is strong ones: it provides sustenance for FEARLESSNESS FUEL YOUR THAT PUTS YOU WHERE HONOR, AND LOVE YOUR for at least 15 minutes
and vital; schoois, churches, children and teaches them the DREAMS. : YOU NEED TO BE - WHEN SELF! - .
and government will be strong essential art of self- . YOU NEED TO BE THERE! | i 8. The All Powerful, All
and vigorous, But when the _ preservation; it provides the 7, GREATNESS IS THE FROM: DON'T GIVE IT Knowing, Creator of All Life
homes of any community are first lessons in social living; it STUFF YOU ARE MADE OF, 16.PLAN PRAYERFULLY. Away! By lyanla Vanzant sees You just as You are. "
riddled with immorality, lack of gives an education in funda- ACT LIKE YOU KNOW! PREPARE PURPOSEFULLY. Remember: .
discipline, evidence no real _ Mental values. Home is where ; fm PURSUE PERSISTENTLY! 9. Do I see the real me, or.do I
love, depend on material values life makes up its mind. The 8. HONESTY KEEPS YOU 1. Being alone is a special see what others think about
alone, fail to teach respect for home is where love is learned. FREE OF GUILT AND 17.QUIET TIME IS time. - . me?
People oe Pane eo that All people need love, and ll SHAME! ~ NECESSARY FOR A 10. It only takes a Dream!
schools an ches and gov- e want love. It is on the | POWERFUL MIND! 2. Stay in peace, not in pieces, : )
ernment can do. No nation has Pasts of love that the ills of the 9. INTUITION IS THE vines °* pees things i feast eae
ever been able to survive the world and the family will be TEACHING FROM WITHIN; , 18.RESPECT YOURSELF | 3. Where the mind goes, the You, and All Around You!
breakdown of the family. solved. Without love, we lose PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT AND OTHERS WILL DO THE behind follows ,
Nations survive military defeat, the will to live. YOU FEEL! SAME!
Not content with ocornering the market ? on the
funeral business here in Memphis, Wilburn then
set about the business of expanding into other
markets. (Courtesy photos)
| She was all
atout business
by Arthur L. Webb
Special to the Tri-State Defender
Wilburn Ts business was giving the more recognized firm of TH.
Hayes & Sons as well as that of his nephew, S.W. Qualls (Qualls
was the son of Hayes T sister), *a run for their money. ?
The Emma Wilburn trademark was her method of funeral
escort. She owned a beautiful white horse that she personally
ever had any idea that Emma, the eighth born of their 13 chil- rode, complete with full riding habit, in front of each proces-
dren, would go on to become one of the most successful and as- sion as it made its way to the final resting place of the de-
tute businesswomen in the southern United States. The elder ceased.
urrins were tenant farmers who lived just outside Halls, Tenn., In 1932, Ms. Wilburn further broadened her influence in the
d died soon after their youngest children reached adulthood _ funeral business by assisting her daughter, Cutis, in establishing
#- before they could see what adult life would hold for any of the Cutis Thomas Funeral Home that was located on South
them. Lauderdale Street.
¢ By the time Emma, who was born June 27, 1876, reached the In January of 1933 she sold the Emma Wilburn Funeral
age of 35, she had bétome the mother of five children but had Home to National Burial Association, a White-owned insur-
also been widowed twice. Unlike her parents, however, who ance operation which in turn chartered Southern Funeral
ps experienced material prosperity-or owned property, the in- Home and operated at the Mississippi Blvd. location for a few
Liz& Andy Ts
Lamps.
It is unlikely that former slaves, Hudson and Harriet Currin,
ustrious Emma had become proprietress of a small hotel in years before relocation to.the present location on Vance Av-
alls by 1910. enue. For many years, African Americans have questioned
£ Also around 1910, Jacob Currin, one of Emma Ts nephews _ whether this funeral home is Black-owned. Within the lines of
moved to Memphis and soon became associated with the Life & this story lies the answer.
Casualty Insurance Company of Tennessee. Possibly encour- Wilburn then completed her package two months later by
aged by the beginnings of success experienced by her nephew acquiring 75 acres of Jand on Horn Lake Road in southwest
in the big city, Emma, moved here around 1911 with her five Shelby County and established New Park Cemetery.
hildren Hudson, Sadie B. and Curtis Barbee, Minnie and John- " Not content with ocomering the market ? on the funeral busi-
son Rideout. ness here in Memphis, Wilburn then set about the business of
¢ Soon after arriving here, she found employment with the Zion expanding into other markets, In 1935, she helped her son John-
Cemetery Company. The president of the company was Henry sori Rideout, open a funeral home in California. During her
Shepard and the vice president was Harry Wilburn, Sr. As a re- preparation to fly to Los Angeles for the grand, opening another pode
ult of her affiliation with the company, Emma met a relative of side of Wilburn became evident. When she attempted to pur- t- " Mom and Pop
ada Andrew Wilbum. The two began dating and married _ chase her ticket and board an American Airlines plane, she was fd
Mom and Pop, Inc.
in 1912. told that African Americans were not allowed to travel from
Emma Wilburn continued her employment with the Zion or- Memphis on that airline. Refusing to accept this blatant dis-
ganization after her marriage but then tragedy struck again. Her crimination, she immediately wired the airline headquarters
Posband, Andrew, was employed with the Illinois Central Rail- complaining of the racist treatment and was subsequently al-
foad and had been involved in a feud with a fellow employee of lowed to board the flight.
Emma Wilburn died on April 13, 1937, but the family, con-
- tinued to operate their various businesses for a number of years.
In fact, the family even diversified their business interests. A
part of the acreage that was purchased on which to establish the .
cemetery was reserved for the family estate. This the family
converted to what became known as the Barbee Ranch. Locat-
ed on Horn Lake Road this pastoral estate served to accommo-
date (on a rental basis) numerous African-American social func-
tios held by fraternities, sororities, civic and church organiza-
tions and other groups.
During the 1970s the family sold the cemetery to the West-
minister Corporation, a company then headed up by hotel devel-
oper and founder of Holiday Inns of America, Kemmons Wil-
son. As the children of Emma Wilburn began to reach advanced
age and hildren moved away the tragic pattern of ono one
being left to run the business ? had come into effect.
Still, however, New Park Cemetery and even the existence
of Southern Funeral Home both stznd as monuments to the
ocan do ? spirit of this daughter of slavés. Emma Currin
Wilburn, a Black woman, three times a widow, and a single
parent during most of her childten Ts formative years, was a
shining example of ocan do ? " the epitome of strength, in-
genuity and fortitude.
the railroad company. Oh September 10, 1914, the feud came to
a head and Emina Ts husband was shot and killed by the co-
Svorker, Charles Hill. .
* Saddened by the loss of her third husband, but undaunted in
her pursuit of success, Ms. Wilburn combined the insurance
roceeds she received as a result of her late husbands with sav-
angs she had accumulated from her job at the cemetery compa-
fly and in 1918 bought out the interest in the Carson Funeral
Company owned by Samuel Carson. The companty had been in
usiness for ximately 13 years and had become one of the
most successful businesses of its kind in the city.
* Ms. Wilburn acquired a property that had formerly
thoused a grocery business run by Italian immigrant, Frank
Bononcini, at the northeast corner of Georgia Avenue and
South Orleans Street. For the next two years Wilburn oper.
fated her business at that location. Her eldest son, Hudson
Barbee who received his training with the firm of Campbell
ak Wiggins, went to work for his mother as the funeral es-
stablishment' Ts embalmer, | ae
* T In 1920, Ms. Wilburn acquired a property at 913 Mississippi
Blvd. which also served as the family residence.and was joined
vin the business by her ra ryote Sadie Barbee and Minnie,
H. and Cutis Rideout,
By te early 1930s, the Emma Wilburn Funeral Home had be- é
Scome one of the most successful businesses of its kind in Mem- , 2 . ae
*phis. In addition, her son, Hudson, was now operating a related oan 7 phe
TTestasee that she helped him establish, the B Casket Com- SR ee, RE Sint 2F37")
pany, which had become very successful. By all accounts,
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SEPTEMBER 2003
INVEST IN YOUR HERITAGE
SUBSCRIBE TO THE
M'VOICE NEWSPAPER
. pgll
Mr David L. Lawrence Appointed
General Manager
Hamilton Inn & Conference Center of
pce emenbpe Bay, _ Greenville N.C.
; a otateseerb@e bb. pe % Cs "A
re ? Boo. le © ona oe The Hamilton Inn and Conference Center, 702
goa ge ee | Bea Memorial Drive, Greenville, North |
. i orn © owe hh paste arolina is now under New Management. .
© | : ¢ Vine 2k Beg ed { Mr. David L. Lawrence has been appointed the
i REE eee General Manager. Mr. Lawrence is a native of
e
Western North Carolina with ten (IO) years expe-
tg ih ae PO Sy rience in the hotel business, He has served in all
4 1) pine we As (ahha. capacities relevant to the hotel b-qsiness and is
pio Ns | very familiar with introducing change in this in- -
dustry. Mr, Lawrence has served as a Elementary,
Middle and High School Teacher, Employment
Consultant and Coordinator for the Iredell
Statesville School System.
Mr. Lawrence is a graduate of Gardner-Webb -
University, Boiling Springs, North Carolina with
a BA in Social Science and Human Services. He | ee
also is a graduate of Mitchell Community College, with an Associate Degree in Pre-Liberal Arts. He is a
Master Mason and member of the First Baptist Church, Statesville North Carolina. :
He is the son of Mrs. Betty Lawrence of Statesville, North Carolina and the father of two sons, David
Jr., and Arthur,
iad ss Pe.
Saker eae
The Corporate Staff of JAM, Investments, LLC, invite the general public to stop by and visit with Mr.
Lawrence.
To apply for your subscription write:
SPECIAL NOTICE
SUBSCRIPTIONS _ CITY OF GREENVILLE
41)5 Evans Street
een NC 9783. avira diab Whi , " 2 |
Greenville, NC 27834 regs et Bea bo pt a ATTENTION GREENVILLE RESIDENTS
BECOME INVOLVED IN CITY GOVERNMENT
The Mayor and City Council will soon be considering appointments to the Board of Adjustment,
Community Appearance Commission, Human Relations Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, Police
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(EAC). Ile EAC appointees will be considered for the following categories (1) a building contractor, land
developer, or someone familiar with construction techniques and (2) a lawyer. If you live inside the city
limits of Greenville and would like to be considered for an appointment, please call 329-4423 to obtain a
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| | 7207, Greenville, NC-27835.
Li 12 month subscription $50.00 J
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6 month subscription $25.00
&
"YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOLUNTEER YOUR PARTICIPATION IN CITY GOVERNMENT!""
Name:
PACA CS Sie reseesarstte
SAWYER'S LAND-DEVELOPING,-INC.-
Sawyer's Land Developing, Inc. is solicitation DBE
City: State. Zip: Subcontraetor quotations for the 2003 Airfield A
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Items of work include: Trucking, fencing, storm drainage,
| | | erosion control, seeding and pavement marking.
| _ Please forward quotations to Len Hunt @ 252-943-2154,
fax: 252-943-3325.
Employment Qpporitunt
Apartment CEO
NBA T St. John Housing _ in
Washington NC seeks apt. man- neers; ~ "
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propery management/subsidized ?
housing preferred. Computer ex-
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Startin ssalary; $18,000
wexcellent benefits package.
Send resume to: The National
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Recruiting,11780 Borman Drive,
St. Louis, MO 63146-4157:
. &mail resume to:
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