Trey Bankhead discusses the total lack of sanity involved in becoming a parent. Pdigt of View Tyson King-Meadows ex- plores the similarities of chess and politics Study finds women still under-represented Florida affirmative action under attack Like It Is Stephen Johnson explores structure of Black America Dr. Lenora Fulani discusses the weaknesses of the Black leadership Telling It| Faith Tae piradans Mrs. Beatrice Maye gives rules of church etiquette Pastor George Hawkins gives spiritual guidance. | : "The Path to Healthy Wving| _ Thirteen of SORE TE 4 1) rN 4 ViRG >} aN NEW YORK, (Reuters) --Amid a charged climate due to the shooting death of African immigrant Amadou Diallo, less than 25 percent of New Yorkers blieve that the police treat Blacks and Whites evenly, the New York Times re- ported. Citing a new poll it conducted, the Times said about nine out of ten Black residents in the survey said they thought police often engage in brutality againsy Blacks, and about two-thirds said that the police brutality against minority group members was widespread overall. Diallo, 22, was hit with 19 I of NC bullets after 41 sots were fired by four White police offices in the Bronx. Diallo was unarmed and had no criminal history. The survey's results suggest New York City's Black and Hispanic residents do not think Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has done enough to control the police or ameliorate the city's race relations, the paper said. The poll surveyed 915 adult residents of New York City. A third of the Whites surveyed said the police use excessive force, while 75 percent of the Blacks said. the same thing. Cenqesomen ares at Dl pot NEW YORK (AP) -- Two con- gressmen and former Mayor David Dinkins were among 14 people arrested as they protested last month's fatal police shooting of an unarmed West African immigrant. Reps. Charles Rangel and Gregory Meeks, both Democrats, as well as the Rev. Al Sharpton and two members of the City Council, were arrested at police headquarters Monday and charged with criminal trespass. Demonstrators have demanded action against four police officers involved in the Feb. 4 shooting of Amadou Diallo, 22. Police fired at him 41 times; he was hit 19 times. The shooting is under investigation by a grand jury. the 14 arrested were given summonses and released after about two hours. One man was detained after police found an outstanding warrant against him from 1989. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani called the arrests a ‘‘publicity stunt." According to a New York Times poll published March 16, fewer than 25 percent of New York residents say they believe police treat blacks and whites equally. Nearly nine out of 10 blacks questioned said they thought police often engaged in brutality against blacks. The telephone poll of 915 adults, conducted by telephone last week, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. die racist | Despite calls to order from New York City Mayor Ruloph Giuliani, many NYC residents continue to protest the shooting death of African immigrant Amadou Diallo by four White police officers. Pictured above is a motorcade of over fifty cars from Harlem carrying peaceful protesters to a rally in front of the home of one of the White officers that shot Diallo. (picture by Cash Michaels) ra pia MRR en. a ean Safer cigarettes patented but not made Study links smoking to crimes committed by adults Is your child's pre-packaged lunch healthy? Ho Come Sty Guest writer D. Hector McKEachern explores the need for family preservation Local writer Wren Locke discusses the major problems with today's relationships Arts & Entertainment NABOB Annual Awards Dinner held Will Smith still the essence of "jiggyness" The Mincrty Vic Jim Rouse Trey Bankhead Stephen Johnson Layouts: Chris White Marketing: William Clark Brenda Rouse Publisher: Editors: Jim Rouse Communications Home of AM Radio Stations WOOW & WTOW (JOY 1320 & JOY 1340) and The Minority Voice P.O. Box 8361 405 S. Evans Street Greenville, NC 27834 (252) 757-0365 (252) 757-0425 Fax: 757-1793 SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS! Former Kla Taal ep ipa 0 By Jua Nyla Hutcheson BATON ROUGE, La. (Reuters) - Outlaw Republican David Duke, a “white rights" advocate who once led the Ku Klux Klan and is trying to revive a flagging political career with a run for Congress, details his beliefs in a new 736-page book that calls for an Aryan resurgence. Duke is making the rounds of radio talk shows to jump-start his run for the First District seat vacated by former House Appropriations Committee chair- man and Speaker-elect Bob Livingston, who resigned after admitting to several sexual indis- cretions during his 21 years in Congress. A decade ago, Duke declared himself a Republican and was elected to the state House from a virtually all-white suburb of New Orleans on a platform of conserva- tive populism, despite vehement denunciations of his past from the national Republican Party and then-President George Bush. But leaders of the state Republican Party, controlled for years by the conservative religious right, would not repudiate him despite efforts by moderate party members. Duke now is chairman of the St. Tammany parish —_ (county) Republican Committee in part of the First Congressional District north of New Orleans. In his first and ensuing cam- paigns as a Republican, Duke described his Klan and neo-Nazi affiliations as ‘‘youthful indiscre- tions," maintaining he was not a racist when he railed against affirmative action, welfare and crime, positions held by many conservatives. But minorities and liberals were outraged by his Lain rags and what they considered thinly veiled ill campaign} racist attacks, and the embarrassed national Republican Party dis- owned him. The next year, 1990, he won 45 percent of the vote in a hard fought race for the U.S. Senate against then-incumbent J. Bennett Johnston, a Democrat, but six years later did not make the runoff after Johnston retired. In 1991, Duke pulled in enough votes in the governor's race to face former Gov. Edwin W. Edwards in a runoff, Edwards was elected to an unprecedented fourth term by a landslide. Although most political analysts give Duke little chance of winning -- recent polls show him with only 5 percent of the vote -- in the race against four other Republicans and one Democrat, he often has re- ceived far more votes than polls would indicate. In an interview with Reuters this week, Duke called his self- published book, ‘‘My Awakening," a “thesis in the form of an autobiography -- the story of my political and racial awakening that ‘oes into the philosophical, socio- ogical and scientific ... (reasons for) what I believe and how I came to believe it, as to what the liberal media claim I believe." Duke says he is not a white supremacist, writing: ‘'I'm opposed to any sort of racial supremacy, and I believe the races should co-exist peacefully ... (with) optional sepa- rate homelands" for minorities. But he asserts that African- Americans are intellectually infe- rior to whites and that a ‘‘physical revolution may be required some- day to free our (white) people and secure our survival, and such is justified by the highest laws of Nature and God." Duke's critics maintain that in his book he finally has shed the cloak of mainstream conservatism and revealed himself as racist, virulently anti-Semitic and homo- phobic. ‘This book marks a significant departure from his old strategy of camouflaging his political goals," Lance Hill, director of Tulane University's Southern Institute for Education and Research, told Reuters. ‘This indicates he is more concerned with establishing his credentials with the extreme right- wing than with winning electoral office in the future," said Hill. Jerry Himelstein of the Anti- Defamation League said Duke was finally coming clean about his racial hatreds. **] think it's very clear confirma- tion that David Duke is finally, openly embracing the hatreds he has no doubt held continuously throughout his career," said Himelstein. on By MELISSA B. ROBINSON WASHINGTON (AP) Lawmakers are renewing their campaign for an expanded federal hate crimes statute, hoping public outrage over recent killings will spur passage. ‘No one says hate crimes are overblown now, not after this year of savage crimes," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a co- sponsor of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999, a replica of last year's bill. Last month in Texas, John William King, a white supremacist, was sentenced to death for chaining sep remy fares peel ind a pickup t ng him to his death. Two men have been charged in ing of gay ra Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., who is sponsoring the bill in the House with Reps. Connie Morella, R-Md., Michael Forbes, R-N.Y., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., the first openly gay woman elected to ngress. In a positive sign for support- ers, Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has sched- uled hearings on the legislation for next month. But it still faces a difficult road. Some ‘congressional Republicans have suggested the legislation is unnecessary because dozens of states have laws protecting the groups identified in the bill. As well, backers are concerned that social conservatives may construe the legislation as extending special protections to homosexuals. This is not a bill that will, in one way, advantage one over another,” said tic Sen, Ron who is sponsor ing the in the Senate with Massachusetts Democrat Edward and Pennsylvania an Arlen Specter, ‘'I can't any members of the United States Senate want to be soft on violence." Specter said he wasn't as opti- mistic as some of his colleagues. **A lot of opponents ... pick out hate crimes legislation for a great deal of criticism," he said. ‘This is a tough bill to get very much support. Under the bill, current law would be expanded so the Justice Department could prosecute crimes based on a person's sex, sexual orientation or disability. Now, the statute only covers crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin. Also, the bill would make federal prosecution of hate crimes easier. nt law limits prosecu- tion to situations where the victim is targeted for engaging in certain federally protected activities, such as serving on a jury, voting or| attending public school. More than 40 states have hate crimes ' laws but only 21 cover sexual orientation, 22 cover gender jf}: and 21 cover disability, according }}}'\ to the White House, which supports ff t the bill. Kennedy said the bill wouldn't | undermine states in prosecuting } hate crimes, just bring investigative and other government to bear where neces-| sary. TT wel &@ ‘Opening recently in Greenville is the all new Culture Closet! Specializing in hand-crafted jewelry, framed pictures, reggae and resources of the federal I] hip-hop gear, Culture Closet is the place to go! Pictured: Owner Ras Lidj | (center), Nicole Anderson (left), and Roy Speight. Wh ENY Die es 2733 By DAVID A. LIEB "LITTLE ROCK, Ark.,'(AP) Prosecutors. their suspect likened Jews and Blacks to Chevie Kehoe, 26, of Colville, Wash., and Danny Lee, 26, of Yukon, Okla., are also charged with racketeering and conspiracy. Kehoe and Lee are accused of using a campaign of violence to set up a Whites-only nation in the Pacific Northwest and could get the he has left the Waste he joined Kehoe in the Northwest. "We would make such comments as “The Jews are nothing but maggots. The Jews should be exterminated.’ ... Black people were the beasts of the field, how they were meant to be lower than the White man, how we used them for caretaking,” Shults said. Members of the mostly Black jury were expressionless. Shults also said Kehoe spoke of executing judges to spark a revolt. wey" jing a Coty Hall in § t shootouts with Ohio police; the pl t include a 1996 bomb- , Wash.; slayings of two people in Idaho; and the drownings of a Black Arkansas family of three. _ U.S. Attorney Dan Stripling told jurors that Kehoe's beliefs were - based on those of Robert Mathews, the founder of The Order, an offshoot of the Aryan Nations White supremacist group, whose members robbed banks and ar- mored cars to finance a planned violent overthrow of the govern- ment. Mathews was killed in 1984 when Washington state. The prosecutor said Kehoe and Lee robbed the Arkansas family in 1996 and killed them by taping plastic bags over their heads, weighing them down with rocks and throwing them into a bayou. Later, the defendants told Kehoe's parents that the family was on “a liquid diet," Stripling said. The judge has issued a gag orde in the case. SHideout caught fire during | a shootout with federal agents in |] Jersey State Police has agreed to IL.A. undergoing image change By MICHAEL WHITE LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The City of Angels has been handed a golden chance to erase a decade of nightmarish images that began with the Rodney King beating and persisted through the 1990s. If all goes as planned, the re and journalists at next years Democratic National Convention will look past the stories that have shaped the city's image in recent years: police brutality, race riots, drive-by kill- ings, earthquakes and the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Instead, they will see a bustling city of culture and energy. City boosters will point them toward such civic accomplishments as the $1 billion Getty museum completed last year. Steel girders of a partially completed Disney Concert Hall will be visible on the downtown skyline, and a new NFL team will be preparing for its first game in the nation's second-largest City. ‘tyou've got 5,000 delegates and 15,000 media. For any city that manages this well, it provides a marvelous platform to present their city to a national and international audience," said Michael Collins, executive vice president of the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau. Like the rest of California, Los Angeles has always held a place of ambivalence in the American psy- che -- a city of opportunity where newcomers can make their wildest dreams come true and a city where - urban nightmares of poverty, big- otry and violence are fully realized. But L.A. appears to be on a roll. More than $8 billion in big new construction projects have been completed or are under way. The list includes trophy buildings, such as the Getty, and the Staples Sports Arena. Scheduled for completion in October, the $350 million arena will house the Los Angeles Lakers, hockey's Los Angeles Kings and, next August, the convention. The recession prompted by de- fense cutbacks in the early ‘90s is over. The vacuum left by the decline of the aerospace industry has been filled in large measure by growth in the entertainment indus- try, software development and mul- timedia. Booming international trade has created thousands of jobs in the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The last really big earthquake to shake the city came in 1994 when the Northridge quake killed 75 people and caused $25 billion in damage. The last devastating wild- fire season in Southern California was in 1996. And people seem to be doing a better job of getting along. Racial tensions exacerbated by the police beating of black motorist King, by the riots that followed and by political debates over immigration and affirmative action appear to have relaxed. "At least L.A. is beginning to shake off its status as a unique dystopia. It always fought this utopia-dystopia image. It had to be the best place in the world or the worst place in the world," said Joel Kotkin, a senior fellow at the Pepperdine Institute of Public Policy who writes about America's Cities. The last time the Democratic convention was held in Los Angeles was 1960, when the party nominated John F. Kennedy for president. Los Angeles will present a new face to the world when Democrats arrive next year, Collins said. The consequences are significant. A successful renovation of the city's image could mean more conven- tions, more tourists and more new businesses for years to come. Minister Farrakhan ill, takes sabbatical CHICAGO--(AP) Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is recover- ing from a recurrence of prostate cancer and will take a four-month sabbatical from leading his group, his physician said March 19. "There is no need to expect the imminent demise of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan. He isn't going anywhere," Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad said at a news confer- ence. Farrakhan, 65, was first treated for prostate cancer in 1991. Farrakhan was quoted as saying the illness "took me down so fast, that it concerned me greatly be- cause, though I'm nearing 66, I have never been sick like this in my it e." But Farrakhan also said he was feeling better at the time. "I thank Allah, the healer, for gradually returning my health and strength to me," he said. Farrakhan has sometimes ran- kled U.S. officials with his outspo- ken support of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and his nega- tive comments about Jews, Christians, White people and the government. to tabi § } aaa TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The New pay $225,000 to a black. woman who said she was pulled over because of her race, beaten and spat at. "This was a classic New Jersey State Police profile stop based strictly on the type of vehicle and the race of the occupants and nothing else," said Ronald Sage, a lawyer for Dorothy Cobbs. State officials did not admit any wrongdon in the settlement, say- ing 17's agreement was made to avoid the cost of litigation. The settlement comes as the state fends off allegations that State Police target minority motorists for stops. Gov. Christie Whitman recently fired State Police Superintendent Carl Williams, who said minorities were responsible for most of the state's cocaine and marijuana traf- fic. Ms. Cobbs, 52, of Wyandanch, N.Y., sued in December alleging false arrest, false imprisonment, Via. rt ¥ 19 - March 31, 1999 assault and battery, malicious de- struction of property and conspir- acy to commit perjury. She said the mistreatment hap- pened when she was returning from a trip to Atlantic City on Jan. 4, 1996, while driving her black Porsche. She contends Patrick O'Dwyer -- a two-time state trooper of the year -- pulled her over saying she had a broken tail light. She says O'Dwyer swore at her, grabbed her by the wrist, punched her in the face, sprayed her with Mace and later tackled her after she ran across the highway to a median. After being taken to the State Police barracks, she was slammed against a wall, spat at and verbally abused, the lawsuit said. O'Dwyer said Ms. Cobbs was driving slowly on the parkway and he pulled her over to offer assis- tance. He said he smelled alcohol on her breath and asked her to get out of the car. He said she became irate and unruly during question- ing. During an asthma attack, the muscles that wrap around the airways leading to the lungs tighten. At the same time, the linings of these airways become swollen and congested, blocking them even more. Breathing becomes very difficult. Asthma is the number one chronic childhood disease and there is no cure. The symptoms leading to an asthma attack, however, can be controlled. And the Pediatric Asthma Program at University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina in Greenville helps doctors develop action plans for asthmatic children, so that those kids can grow up as healthy and happy as their friends. The results, so far, have been nothing short of dramatic: Fewer hospital visits, lower school absenteeism and shorter hospital stays. But because the health of all children RE A RD CE CR Em Sem HEALTH TIP _ Learn to recognize carly signs that your child may have asthma and seek medical advice from your physician. Symptoms include frequent respiratory infections, coughing episodes ul night, wheezing, tightness in the chest, an itchy, sore throat, watery eyes and dark circles under the eyes. The good news ts, with proper management, these symptoms can be controlled. CHILDREN’s HospPITAL University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina in the area is important to us, University Health Systems’ Children’s Hospital offers many other services and outreach programs as well. From Education Nurse Specialists who visit schools, emergency rooms and daycare centers, to the only Level III neonatal intensive care unit in the region. It’s all part of a dedication to excellence and a commitment to providing the right care at the right place through a network of outstanding hospitals. For more information on the University Health Systems hospital nearest you, Pitt County Memorial in Green- ville, Roanoke-Chowan in Ahoskie, Heritage in Tarboro, Bertie Memorial in Windsor or Chowan in Edenton, call 252-816-4526. Or, if you prefer, visit us at www.uhseast.com. Oh, almost forgot, you can breathe out now. The Minority Voice: March 19 — March 31, 1999 “The An In- It can be argued that having small children is an act inherently devoid of logic. They are tiresome, ae and Reaper? require amounts of money to feed and clothe. Finally, they are messy, loud, and habitual expel viscous fluids at high velocity through a variety of orifices. In short, no sane being would ever want to have a child. Still, because it might be equally bad for the human race to become extinct, there is, perhaps, some justification of the human sufferin: that goes hand in hand wit parenthood. But, I must wonder: Despite all the drawbacks to having children, is it worth it? Over the last several months, I've become convinced that the secret as to why children survive so Icag among adults is that the children have an advantage over us that they cultivate in the womb. Mental telepathy. I wonder if their ability to influence and take over our minds is what keeps people having kids, despite the obvious problems inher- ent in that decision. Babies are usually considered to be cute and cuddly, no matter what their species. Since I've actually observed my wife watching the Discovery c el, saying, "Look at those cute baby snakes," there must be some reason other than simply perpetuating our species. I believe my theory of mental domi- nation explains it. It is only through observing recent events -- and doing laborious late-night re- search -- that I have been able to Ding, Gong, the Sandmants dead, Some people personify sleep as a man who creeps into your bedroom, sprinkling some magical sand that weighs down your eyelids, thus sending you into dreamland. While I, myself, have never actually see the Sandman, one thing that I do know is this: every baby does their best to assassinate him. Every night, we try to sleep. and, every night, our daughter (we're naming her Maia Elise) makes certain that we get as little as possible. It started with the changing shape of my wife's body. Because her breasts and stomach are grow- ing exponentially, there is now added stress and strain on her back assemble any proof of the true nature of babies. I'm a normal guy. So, when I found that my wife was pregnant, I did what most males do: the "victory strut" (see page 105 of The Men's Handbook}. My wife has been extremely amused, watching me strut about like a peacock, effectively saying to the world, "Look what I did, look what I did!" She says that I've been acting as though I am the only man in existence to have ever impregnated a woman. Although I suspect that it has, in fact, happened before, that doesn't stop me from feeling as though I can bench-press a bus. Actually, it's the alien nature of the baby that makes me do it. They have these telepathic powers that allow them to control the actions of those around them on a subcon- scious level. Don't believe me? A friend of ours, Amelinda (not her real name), has sworn time and again that she has no interest in having children. When she found out my wife was pregnant, she abruptly wanted to see and feel the baby, even though there was, at the time, no outside proof. She's al- ready buying baby clothes, and wants to go to the next ultrasound, is delighted when the baby kicks, walks around with a oddly goofy grin on her face after she's felt the baby kick, and...... Another example is Bernie, an- other friend of ours. Although he's not really the outgoing or demon- strative type, like Amelinda, he has also been acting out of character. His fingers have developed a type Der I move. Finally, there is the proof of the | mother's state of mental integrity | (or lack thereof). My wife is the | type to remember the most minute } details of any conversation. S| wife; it doesn't st until he's felt | the baby °° tell me what I was wearing the day we met, and also call to mind my exact words from any conversation we've ever had. So it seems strange that she, suddenly, will have forgot- ten her brother's name, or what time she's supposed to see a client, or even what clothes she wore the before. She, who was the epitome of grace, has become clumsy: dropping things, tripping over invisible objects that she swears are there, that type of thing. Thankfully, this type of mental influence is temporary, rarely last- ing beyond the time that the bay emerges from its human host. Still, perhaps the threat of their influence does not end there, for they can still wrap people around their finger by simply "being sweet and adorable." Most people think that children learn how to speak by emulating others. Not so. The truth of the matter is that their mental abilities are slowly transforming into vocal abilities. While the effects are not as subtle as their former mental abilities, they are often times as effective, as is demonstrated to any parent who has watched another besieged by screaming children in a toy store. This would explain why most experts on the art of child-raising never have any themselves! ; muscles, which have begun scream- ing in protest. As the baby has assumed more and more control of my wife's body, sleep has become an increasingly faded memory. The baby has made her displeasure at the way my wife normally sleeps well-known, forcing my wife to entertain herself most nights in trying to find a comfortable posi- tion to sleep. Generally, she suc- ceeds, if only for a little while. The baby has some stopwatch that sfie uses to decide how long her mommy allowed to rest in any given position. Once the time is up, she kicks up a storm, forcing her mother to again try to find a comfortable position. Olvera I-GOO0-32 1-34 Gel on the Road (0 Hnanctal Freedom! "The Debt- (ree and Properdus ag Base Cause" \ step-by-step course in taking control of your finances. C7TQ (I) & shipping \ ‘a 8:30 - 5 (OO RM. ravenna Anlareliiare H Z NI\ \ > ACC BUILDING HOMES,, BU TEDING HOP Habitat for Humanity of Pitt County is seeking applicants Ea for housing. Persons from all Pitt County areas are encouraged to apply. There is an immediate opening for 1 - or 2 - family household in Greenville. Qualifications for applying are the need for better housing, the abilityto repay the Habitat mort- age and the willingness to work in partnership with Habitat. Please call the Habitat office at (252) 758-2947 for more information ix: While most might find these antics amusing, it is not until our cats get involved that these sadly comedic events really get going. We have two cats, Sam and Twinkie. Sam, the more rambunc- tious of the two fur demons, loves to ambush Twinkie in the wee hours of the morning, creating a loud racket that usually only ends when I toss a book at them. While this is normal cat behav- ior, baby Maia has decided to join her brothers in bringing us early- morning misery. When they begin to play, she hears them and wants to play too. She usually does this by attempting to kick’field goals with my wife's bladder, or by beating the inside of my wife's stomach until my wife is forced to move around, trying to find a more comfortable position, and this waking me up, as well. She said once that she'd like to kick all three of them out, and let them amuse themselves downstairs, but Maia's unborn condition defeats that idea. So, almost every night from midnight to 2:30, four to five, and 6:15 to 6:45, we know that the were all going to be awake, thanks to baby Maia and her brothers. Most times when Maia's feeling playful, nothing will calm her down. Recently, night we discov- |] ered a sure way to calm her down in the middle of the night. Baby Maia was simply not letting us rest, refusing to settle down, no matter what we did. Sam, who usually loves to hop into bed with us, jumped in as usual, settling be- tween my wife and I. He kneaded the blankets, issuing an orgasmi- cally content purring as he did so. Since this is normal for him, we ignored him, until my wife got a funny look on her face. She's calmed down, she said, amazed. Naturally, we were ecstatic! We might be able to sleep! Needless to say, we were extremely happy with this turn of events. _ Then, a problem was revealed to . Sam, apparently sensing my dden change of sae regard- ing his being in the bed, decided to be contrary and left! I've generally been opposed to allowing the cats in the but, since the cats make up their own rules, I'd given up that fight long ago. Now, I want them there, they won't do it. Figures. us su ook WTOW INA Aside from their mental babies have demonstrated the abil- ity to reduce any woman (and by connection, the man) to a state of horror. My wife has clothing that has been desi as "My Favorite." For example, she'll be looking for "My Favorite Bra" or “My Favorite Jeans." If those objects of her affection can not be found, she will sink into a slight level of depression until the objects are found. (Personally, I think a study should be commissioned on this: "Clothing and the Addiction Cycle: An Investigation into the Fashion Habits of Women.") Ordinarily, this is not a problem. After all, any man develops a sixth sense related to wear these items of clothing are at any given time. My wife can start to ask, "Baby, have you seen My....," and, without looking up from what I'm doing, I can reply, “It's upstairs in the closet.” Of course, then follows the struggle for dominance in who will be the one to journey ALL the way upstairs to retrieve the item. A smart man will give in nearly Quest for Sanity: {ES a ea SN | EE SE NS SS oe F ” ~ a ron ~ in - a nn —- rey mn " n have secret mental Beloved's heart (see page 27 of The Men's Handbook). to put on what she classifies as "My Favorite Jeans." She had worn them only three days earlier, and, abruptly, they're fitting more snugly than before. She is outraged, of course, over this turn of events, which is the result of the baby's growing influence upon its surrounding environment. The next day, just to test my wife's sanity, the jeans fit perfectly. Then, the follow- ing week, she can not get into them at all, thus ensuring a rampage that last about 48 hours (and is due, no doubt, to the baby's growing mental influence). Aside from the clothing issue, there is another matter which must be addressed when dealing with the effect of the baby on its host. One morning, we noticed a significant change in my wife's appearance. To put it delicately, her “cups runneth over." The baby had decided it was ounce bottle. It didn't stop there. Aside from - her being more fleshy than before, her hair and nails are growing at an exponential rate, making sleeping in the same bed with her an exercise in pure courage and daring. I've lost count of how many times I've moved in close to snuggle her, only to be choked moments later by her hair, which seems to have developed its own will, and keeps trying to run down my throat For that matter, the nails are equally dangerous. Since they've grown, they try to lacerate my ankles every chance they get. All parents, at some point, curse their children. It's the ultimate in curses, existing back through his- tory, all the way to the Garden of Eden. God, disappointed in His kids, tossed them out of the house and doomed them into having kids. Effectively, what He said was “I of it for hours, and it simply was becoming unbearable. In agony, | asked my wife if I could put my head in her lap, and let her rub my temples to ease the pain. She agreed, so I lay my head in her lap, the back of my head snug against her belly, and let her fingers go to hope you have kids just like you" -- work. After about five minutes or in other words, willful, stubborn and disobedient. Once upon a time, my wife said "Parents are means......1 cant wait to be one!" She said that reflecting on the apparent power a parent has over their children. What we did not understand at the time is that parents don't have any power over our kids. They, on the other hand, have power over us. They have so much power, in fact, that they get away with abusing us. Not long ago, | had a blinding headache. I'd been trying to get rid The terrifying aspects of chil- dren notwithstanding, there actu- are benefits involved with having children. During this preg- nancy, we've really discovered who will be involved in our childs life. Many people have united in their desire to help us make this child's entrance into the world a joyous and loving one. Our families are taking the opportunity to get in- volved, as Maia will be a stronger dedication to the unity of our so, I noticed that the ache in the back of my brain had changed to a kind of subtle pulsing sensation. Normally, I'd not find that strange, except that this pulse had nothing to do with my own heart rate! I was just trying to figure out what was going on when I realized that I was actually feeling something strike the back of my head very lightly, but firmly. Just then, my wife asked, laughingly curious, "Is she kicking you?" Yes, our innocent little daughter was trying to use my head as a families. Despite all the sleepless nights, having to make late-night runs to the grocery store or Burger King to satisfy my wife's evil cravings, or even the cats flashing us attitude because we pay the baby more attention than we do them, | still wouldn't trade this experience for the world. There has been nothing I've experienced in this world that even compares to the feel of my baby's movements under my hand, football. Apparently, she had de- cided that she didn't feel like sharing her mother, and so decided to get rid of me. Either that, or she'd decided that I was invading her territory. In any case, she's become far more active since. _ Her favorite thing to do when I'm sleeping is to kick me in the back. She'll make her mother fid about in bed until she snuggles behind me, and her belly is p against my back. Then, Maia will roceed to kick the heck out of my ack until either I move, or her mother rolls back over---in which case, waits a bit, then starts all over again. Needless to say, I'm a bit concerned about the ways in which she amuses herself. After all, if this is how she is now, what will she be like after the birth? hero is hope for the futune or that is like the light in my wife's eyes when she feels Maia move inside her. These moments will endure forver in my memory, and will get me through the bad times that might come later. Like when our daughter decides to give the cats haircuts, or feeds oatmeal to the VCR. Trey Bankhead, a former educator and syndicated columnist, is the editor of The Minority Voice. IS THERE AN ISSUE YOU FEEL NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED? LET US KNOW! Send your opinions to: The Minorit "An In-Dept Voice Look" 405 South Evans Street Mall Greenville, NC 27834 Providing ‘oviding Quality Financial and Services to‘Individuals‘and iBusiness’ dreams reality. We can assist you, as individuals and busi- nesses in establishing and implementing: Retirement Plans «Benefit Packages w Estate Planning «Key Man Insurance «College Planning # Employment Retirement Plans GIVE US A CALLI!! Electronic Filing WILLIAMS' MARKETING P.O. Box 1907, Winterville, NC 28590 (252) 321-2970 Our motto is "Give a man a fish and but teach him how to fish and feed him for a lifetime" Let Williams' Marketing assist in making your (252)321-8017 him for a day by Tyson ‘ King-Meadows Like Maurice!!! When Jordan retired from bas- ketball (again), fans of his athletic ability, entrepreneurial spirit, and public relations savvy feared that Black youth would turn their attention to destructive role models - gangster rappers, athletes in denial about their explicit responsibilities-- or worst, engulf themselves in street corner cultural. Not to worry, parents, Maurice Ashley, newly honored Chess Gran et, has stepped into the spotlight. This 33 year-old chess player achieved the highest rank in this game of strategy on March 14th, and became the first Black to achieve the title, despite the 470 Grandmasters worldwide and the 5 United States Grandmasters. Far from a scene out of the movie Fresh, Maurice Ashley's recent accomplishments provide some ad- ditional insight into Black Americas collective culture and political practices. First, this achievement lets the world, but particularly Black youth, know that the premium paid for merely focusing on improving their athletic ability comes at a very high price. Only a select few make it to their respective sports professional level in America. But playgrounds are filled with dreamers. No, not MLK-style dreamers, but those M.J. dreamers who wear Nikes, trash talk, and shoot from beyond the arc. Some, however, have not learned to harness that same fire and. intensity to drive through a long division problem, or under- stand the geometry behind measur- ing the angles that intersect an arc. Maurice Ashley's talent was not displayed on a basketball court but on a chess board--perhaps mixing the defensive strategies of a Box- and-One with Queens Indian Defense (Paris Open) 1989, or exchanging drives to the hoop for high screens set with Bishops and Rooks that eventually would check the King. If Michael Jordan did someth..1g for Black youth through basketball, Maurice Ashley can do that for Black youth through the game of chess. Second, the game of chess is a lot like politics. Pieces are allowed to make only specified movements, rank in power, and have definite value once captured. The objective of chess is simple: checkmate the King. Pawns, Knights, Bishops, Rooks (castles), and a Queen are all used in a variety of strategic moves designed to force the King into capture. Politics assigns value to pieces: Black voters, White voters, Hispanic voters, | Democrats, Republicans, governors, senators, and mayors. The objective of this game: capture the White House. Unfortunately, like chess that as- signs Pawns the lowest numerical value, politics assigns Black voters (political pawns) the lowest value in coalition building. Like Pawns, Black voters are moved to divert attention from more aggressive, higher valued pieces like Bishops (governors) and Queens (former vice-presidents), and to set up the White House for capture. In fact, skilled chess players like myself are familiar with pawn promotion-- where pawns that move across the board six squares can become promoted to another piece of your choice. The f Relationship problems? Depression that never seems to end? Feeling scared? Alone? Confused about where your life is going? Let's face it: Life can be rough. And sometimes, everyone needs a little help to cope with that. Get the help you deserve. ECU Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic 612 East 10th Street, Greenville, NC 27858 1998 midterm elections allowed Black voters (previously with defi- nite attacking and moving limita- tions) to be maneuvered by the Democratic Party in protection of the White House. Maybe the 2000 presidential elections will deter- mine whether Black Pawns will become more maneuverable and hence valuable Knights or Bishops. Interestingly enough, in chess there is a move called castling, in | | | | | | which the closest Rook to the King } can be placed on the immediate opposite side of the King. Castling Queens Side gives the King more room to move behind the wall of protecting Pawns protect the King from vertical or diagonal attacks, the Rook protects the King from both vertical and horizontal at- tacks. When opponents attack, the Pawns and the Rook are dispensed to give the King opportunity to move and escape capture, some- times they are sacrificed for that specific p . Remember how Clinton and the Democratic Party used the 1992 Black vote to claim the White House, used the Black vote in 1998 to send a message to posturing and attacking Republicans. Clinton (the Grandmaster) distanced the White House (the King) from the interests of Black voters by attacking Jackson at his own convention, withdrawing the nomination of Lani Guinier as assistant secretary for civil rights, mishandling nomi- nees Henry Foster and Jocelyn Elders, and\by not aggressively countering the (now unproven) allegations made against former Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy. Let us not forget how Clinton deformed welfare, diminished the office through a sex scandal, used Vernon Jordan and Betty Currie as possible scapegoats, and used Rosa Parks, the CBC, and Sammy Sosa as draws for Black and Hispanic America. Maurice Ashley clearly follows the tradition of Harold Washington, a Black Congressman from Chicago who became the mayor in a racially charged, political ma- chine versus Black grassroots or- ganization contest in 1983. Washington and his followers cre- ated an independent political party, the Harold Washington Party, testament to the political sophisti- cation necessary for Black voters to secure policies amenable to their interests. By 1986 Washington and his allies had defeated many of the machine politicians and secured a majority of the seats on the city council. He died abruptly after winning reelection in 1987. For i and Ashley, be Black whether in politics or chess. Indeed, Maurice Ashley is an example that the expressions of Black youth do not have to be segregated into athletic facilities or rap videos. Not only is chess a thinking game, but an opportunity for youth to learn about politics and life. The games of politics and chess do not have to be the sole province of white Grandmasters re! Black Pawns become Bishops, Rooks, or Knights in the year 2000. | Women sari largely denied & mn voice in i icy in No Carotina—from ool boards to corporate boards. ~ That's what is revealed by a recent study on gender bias on the boards of 40 of North Carolina's most important corporations, non- profit foundations, and state gov- ernment. and commissions important? Just i how male-dominated are these boards? The study, conducted by the North Carolina Women's Forum (NCWF), sheds new light on the i under- representation of women in y the boardroom. Women in this country own some 8 million business enterprises--about one third of all U.S. businesses. These women- owned enterprises employ about one quarter of the country's work- force, roughly the same as all of the Fortune 500's workforce combined. yet women make up only ten percent of the boards of America's Fortune 500 companies. The NCWF study shows that women represent an even smaller share of the trustees of leading companies in North Carolina. Four of the leading companies in our state--R.J. Reynolds Tobacco ‘Company, Burlington Industries, - Family Dollar Stores and Jefferson Why is gender balance on boards Pilot Insurance Company--have no women serving on their boards. Of the 11 = traded companies muver only Lowe's Companies and Food Lion match or exceed the national average. The same pattern of gender imbalance can be seen on philan- thropic boards. The 18 North Carolina foundations in the NCWF study include the largest and most influential philanthropies in the state, together they account for approximately 75 percent of all foundation assets in North Carolina. Although women consti- tute only 30 percent of the trustees of private foundations nationwide, they are significantly worse in North Carolina's nonprofit organi- zations. —. Eleven of the 18 important foundations in the study have fewer women on their boards than the 30 percent national average, and two-- Janirve and Wachovia--have no female trustees at all. Only Bank of America Foundation, with women in 62 percent of the directors’ posts, can be congratulated for completely removing barriers to board mem- bership for women and giving them the opportunity to fully share in the foundation's policy-making proc- ess. Looking at state government, Governor Hunt appointed 840 women to 400 state boards and commissions between 1993 and Florida's affirmative action | Black conservative leads attack O ed| dominated. For example, the study notes that women, who make up roughly half of North Carolina's workforce, hold only 19 percent of the seats on our state's Economic Development Board--even though North Carolina law provides that intments to that board "should reflect the ethnic and gender diversity of the State as nearly as possible." hold only 6 percent of the seats on the State Banking Commission, only 16 percent of the seats on the University of North Carolina's Board of Governors, and 30 percent of the seats on the State Board of Community Colleges; only 31 per- cent of the seats on the state Board of education, the governing board of North Carolina's public school system. North Carolina women are being denied their rightful voice in the policymaking process. Boards and commissions are making critical decisions every day about how to spend large sums of public dollar, about who has access to credit to start a business or build a home or get an education, and about what areas of the state get resources to support development and attract new jobs. Talented, qualified women are available for appoint- ment to the boards that make critical decisions. Consider these facts: ** Almost half of the law and business from North Carolina's colleges and universities are awarded to women. Why aren't more of these women on the State Banking Commission or the Economic Development Board? ** More than half of North Carolina's college graduates are women. Whey aren't more women on the governing boards of our state colleges and universities and our public school system? Clearly, North Carolina has a long way to go if it is to tap the talent of all of our citizens. Appointing women to powerful state boards and commissions would help change the unfair mix of policymakers--and contribute to - wise decision making Florry Glasser is chair of the research committee of the North Carolina Women's Forum. (This article, originally publihed under the title "Women in the Boardroom," was provided by the North Carolina Editorial Forum.) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The California businessman who helped lead successful initiatives to end affirmative action in California and Washington state says he will make Florida his next battleground. "Florida is going to be a target for our national movement," Ward Connerly told the St. Petersburg Times in a telephone interview March 13. "I have concluded there is a problem in Florida." Connerly, a Black conservative, is a member of the University of California Board of Regents, which in 1995 voted to end racial preferences in college admissions. He also pushed for Proposition 209, a 1996 ballot measure ap- proved by voters that eliminated race and gender preferences in state hiring, contracting and education. A poll commissioned by Connerly within the past five weeks shows 80 percent of Floridians support his belief that college admissions and the awarding of state contracts should be color- blind, Connerly said. Connerly said he plans to lead a Frans CITIZENS BANK under $15,000 is 9.75%. Equal Housing Lender. (@Y www.firstcitizens.com ballot initiative drive in either 2000 or 2002, but he faces opposition from many prominent Black lead- ers who complain he has become a tool of Whites who want to tear . down affirmative action. His movement appears to be gaining momentum. In November, Washington became the second state to ban racial or gender preferences in government hiring and contracting or in college admissions. Connerly helped plan and fi- nance the Washington campaign. 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Limited time offer and may be withdrawn or The Minority Voice: March 19 — March 31, 1999 g It L By Dr. Lenora Fulani I just got back from a trip to Minnesota where I had the opportu- nity to speak to a student leadership conference about Black empower- ment. My message was that far from it being the case that Blacks should remain loyal to the Democratic Party, as most Black leaders (mostly Democrats) are advising, it was time for the Black community to join up with the independent movement. In Minnesota that meant the Reform Party whose candidate, Jesse Ventura, was just elected Governor. You all know the Ventura story. A major upset on the Democrats and Republicans. Ventura got 46% of voters ages 18 to 29. Forty percent of those with an income of less than $15,000 annually, and a similar percentage from all but the top income group. Thirty-three percent of Democrats voted for him and 28% of Republicans. He drew most heavily from voters who consider themselves to be liberal, 44%--or moderate, 40%. Black leaders in the state have told me that Ventura got a significant portion of the Black vote, though I ve seen no exit polls which give a percentage. Ventura was the populist candidate who united di- verse constituencies behind an anti-establishment, pro-political re- form message. I got to Minnesota just several weeks after a controversy between some Black leaders and the new governor had hit the news. Leaders of the Coalition of Black Churches in Minneapolis had requested a Randolph Staten. ately got into an intense discussion. Rev. Staten was upset with Ventura. He felt that he was being hostile to the Black community by refusing to meet. I told Rev. Staten, with all due respect, that I didn't think that Gov. Ventura was hostile to the Black community. I thought we weren't even on his radar screen. I asked whether he and the other Black leadership had done any- thing to support Ventura's run. He said no they hadn't taken it seriously. They thought it was a joke. I told him that Ventura's candi- dacy and independent politics was not a joke, and that at least some portion of the Black community didn't think so either, because they had voted for him without the endorsement of Black leaders. He said that Ventura had to meet to show his interest in the Black community. I told the Reverend that his concept of doing politics was how Black leaders do politics in the Democratic party--demand to be noticed, get some token ac- knowledgment, a few jobs for Black Democrats, but no real power for the Black community. I welcomed it. This is just what the Black community needs to be talking about. At the end, 25 students signed up to join Reform. For Black folks, i Minnesota and nationally. If Black leaders want to get Jesse Ventura's attention, how about announcing they're going i about going out and joining the Reform Party, signing up their congregations to leave the Democratic Party and join the Reform Party and launching a voter enrollment drive to bring young Blacks into independeat litics. I guarantee you if Rev. Staten did that, he'd have 15 meetings with Gov. Ventura. But more impor- tantly, the Black community in this state would have made a leadership move to bring us into a new political coalition that has the potential to take us somewhere. I shared this conversation with the students at Mankato State and as soon as the discussion period opened, a fight broke out over my posture toward the Black leadership and Ventura. The dialogue was heated and intense (and included several barbs at former Minnesota Congressman Tim Penny who was my guest at the event, and who is an informal advisor to Ventura) and creating politics for us and all Americans. of gesture and places--hasn't helped the must be our goal. Lenora B. Fulani twice ran for get on the ballot in all fifty states. http://www. Fulani.org. WOOW Radiol] GOT AN OPINION? WANT TO SHARE IT? The Minority Voice wants to hear from you! Send your opinions to: The Minorit "Telling It Like It Is" 405 South Evans Street Mall Greenville, NC 27834 Voice CHARLOTTE HORNETS Network | March Schedule TEAM GAME Toronto 7:25p Phoenix 7:25p Utah 7:25p at Milwaukee = 7:55p at Orlando 7:25p Chicago 7:25p Orlan 7:25p Cleveland 6:55p Open 9 - 5, Monday - Friday Since 1949 | SAAD RE NTALS 1-, 2, and anecoon housing units Real Estate 907 Diekinson Ave. Greenville, NC related services." 1999 Fall Enrollment for ch "health impairment, emotional/be disorde r t hearing impairment/deafness, orthopedic impairment, visual impairment/blind, learnin autism, traumatic brain injury, and other impairments for children who require special Head Start is a comprehensive developmental pr rogram is based on the premise that children share ce ice in particular, can benefit from a program desi nine (9) months of the year: September through May. The centers are open Monday through Friday, and the hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Head Start has been operating in the Martin County area since 1965. children enrolled in the program. Seven (7) classrooms are comprised of 4-5 year olds and three (3) classrooms consist of three year-olds. Beaufort County has been operating since 1977 and present! serves 96 children. Four (4) classrooms consist of 4-5 year-olds, and one (1) classroom consists of year-old children. Pitt County originated in 1985 and serves 229 children in ten (10) classrooms accommodating 4-5 year-olds, and two (2) classrooms accommodatin | Funding for Martin County Community Action, Inc., Project Head Start is received from the Administration for Children, Youth and Families Unit, Department of Health and Human Services. In order for children to qualify , they must meet the family income guidelines. Below are the guidelines. - Martin County Span, Action, Inc. Project Head Start is now accepting applications for the ildren and including children with disabilities. Eligibi HHS Income Guidelines, family needs, disabilities, and/or special conditions of the child. Children who will be enrolled will be exposed to a broad educational curriculum that will prepare them for preschool social and educational experiences. Health, nutrition and mental health are also important factors in the development of these children. These areas are also facilitated in the daily routines of the children. Parent Involvement and other program services as mandated are required and are fully utilized by this program. Ten percent (10%) of Head Start enrollment is identified as: avior disorders, speech/language impairments, mental retardation, 1998 FAMILY INCOME GUIDELINES FOR HEAD START PROGRAM 1998 FAMILY INCOME GUIDELINES FOR ALL STATES (EXCEPT ALASKA AND HAWAII), THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND PUERTO RICO [_] $8,050 $16,450 (} $24,850 Size Family of Unit FAMILY S FAMILY ogram for children ages 3-5 years old. This certain needs and that children from low-income ned to meet those needs. Head Start operates lity is determined by disabilities, ucation and Currently, there are 188 3 year-old children. Please contact the Family Service Worker at the Head Start Center in your area. y 2 FAMILY | 1 FAMILY FAMILY Income $10,650 ff) $13,650 ["] $19,250 $22,050 ($27,660 For family units with more than 8 members, add $2,800 for each additional member. Martin County: North Everetts 792-5353 Pitt County: Beaufort County: 264 Washington 946-5632 St. Gabriel 752-9755 Ayden 746-4298 Farmville 753-8036 Aurora 322-5543 Belhaven 943-3006 politics isn't just about creating a new political party, it's about a new way of doing Token representation, the politics symbolism--like putting a few Black faces in high Black community advance for the last 20 years. Changing the nature of politics--from issue and constitu- ency manipulation to a genuine democratic and inclusive process of depoliticized decision making-- President of the United States as an independent, making history in 1988 when she became the first woman and African-American to Dr. Fulani is currently a leading activist in the Reform Party and chairs the Committee for a Unified Independent Party. she can be reached at 800-288-3201 or at} book definitions, it is a person of What does it really mean to be African American? As Black Americans, we have undergone more name changes than any other nationality. Yet we still seem to lack a certain identity. Once we were Colored, Negro, Black, and now African American. But what is an African American? I realize that, according to text African decent, and I'm equally sure that when deciding to change our name to African American, someone thought they were restor- ing a type of pride and dignity we lost during slavery. But are we really African American? Many young men and women don't think so. When asked the question, "What do you know about Africa or Africa's history," many did not respond to the question, often being too embarrassed to admit their lack of knowledge concerning their African heritage. Others simply didn't care. One of our country's greatest strengths has been our open door policy concerning other nationali- ties. We have allowed a mixture of people to come take part in the i] wealth and growth of this country, allowing them freedom of religion, grants and citizenship. As their I] children are born in this country, ‘Wy they too are considered American, iW] whether it be Mexican-American, :}] Japanese-American, etc. They en- 1 Joy the same affirmative action Hi tights as African Americans, yet HH] have a strong realization of who they are and, more ‘importantly, where they come:: from. Most nationalities have a country to which they can trace their roots with full knowledge of their history and understanding of their culture. What about African Americans ? Unless you are truly an African, as in from Africa, there is no other country in which African Americans can return with knowl- edge and understanding of, or even a place where we can maintain the same culture and heritage we have Sie Are African- — Americans _ i | product of White America? come to know here in America. This has prompted several con- troversial questions. Are African Americans a product of White America ? Will Black America be able to maintain a separate identity in America? Most importantly, what type of heritage will future generations embrace: the one we realize extends from Africa, or the one only we have come to know? In talking with several people some of older generations and others of Generation X, it is clear that there is a difference of opinion. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, younger Black American realize that we are Blacks living in America; even with obstacles such as racism and prejudice, we can still accomplish most anything. Although no one believes themselves to be a product of anyone else's culture, the influ- ences of White America on Black America go without saying. Whether it be the type of food we eat, our education or even our values, the impact of White America is clear. But what is the fate of future generations? As our country grows and as we continue to embrace other nationalities, the future will no longer involve a Black or White America. As our children's children take leadership, I strongly believe the heritage they will embrace will be that of this country, with perhaps a thought of the racism and we endured to build it. Also, being that Generation X is truly a unique generation being brought up in the aftermath of the civil rights move- ment, not having to endure segre- gation and many of us enjoying the benefits of affirmative action, our way of thinking is dramatically different from past generations. So I have to wonder, how will future Black generations view themselves? When all is said and done, what name will they feel best describes our race, our heritage, and our culture? How much of that will they think is truly a reflection of Africa? ECU Thespians of Diversity Presents "BLACK VOICES FROM THE PAST: A Celebration of History and the Black Woman" Written and Directed By: Dr. Reginald Watson (Behind Every Good Man is an Excellent Woman) WHERE: Mendenhall Rm 244 WHEN: Tuesday March 30,1999 TIME: 7:30 P.M. COST: $3.00 $2.00 (for children under the age of 12) NEW OR USED—— Sg = * No Credit * Bad Credit * Established Credit Use your tax return money toward the purchase of nv ; | “Winning the World Over’ L DIXON, JR. SALE REPRESENTATIVE HASTINGS FORD 3013 E. 10 TH Street Greenville, NC 27834 your Dream Car! Bus: (252) 758-0114 Toll Free: 1-800-654-3429 Fax: (252) 353-9229 “The Minority Voice: March 19 - March 31, 1999 By Mrs, Beatrice Maye (information provided from Etiquette by Emily Post) America is made up of many ethnic groups and many religious faiths. Inevitably this causes a certain amount of strife and tension at times, which can almost invaria- bly be traced to lack of knowledge or to misunderstanding. If we only had the wisdom to recognize that, and the tolerance to accept other people's religious practices in the same spirit we exhibit toward our own, our lives would be greatly enriched. If parents understood the importance of instilling the Golden Rule deep in their children's hearts much of the belligerence and selfishness in the world would sappear. Since all religions seek to im- prove man's condition and to achieve the ultimate good, children should be taught that every other religion, as well as their own, merits not only the devotion of its followers but the respect of people of other faiths. A knowledge of the information contained in this arti- cle will help you with problems that you encounter in your own church, and also in your contacts with members of other religions. SUNDAY SERVICE CLOTHING: Although clothing restrictions for church have been greatly re- laxed in recent years, the correct dress is still conservative. Even today women do not wear slacks or shorts to conventional church serv- ices. Hats are no longer required in: any of the Christian churches, but in Orthodox Jewish synagogues married women are required to wear some form of head covering-- even a wig. Many women still fell more at ease wearing a hat or veil at regular services, and older Catholic women, who grew up on the days when the hats were required, rarely enter a church without at least a scarf over their heads. In any case it is always to wear a hat to church, and if you like to wear them and feel that they are becoming to you, by all means do so. Don't let the fact that you are in the minority make you uncom- fortable. Men never wear hats in Christian churches--they always do in synagogues. Gloves are worn less often than they used to be and generally only when the weather is cold. However, even in summer, light cotton or nylon gloves “dress up" your costume, and they are always correct. In the past gloves were kept on all during the church service-- today they are removed. It is far easier to turn the pages of the hymnal or prayer book without gloves on, and in those faiths where the communion wafer is placed on the palm, gloves must be removed before going to the altar. SEATING: When there are ushers at a service, all members of the congre- gation are escorted to a pew, although the women do not take the usher’s arm as they do at a wedding. The usher leads the way to a vacant seat and stands aside while the arrival--whether single or a couple--steps in. Women precede their husbands into the pew, going in far enough to allow room for him--and for children or others who may be with them. Early arrivals at a wedding or first communion keep the choice seats on the aisle so that they can see the proceedings, but at weekly services, those who are already in the pews should move over to make room for later arrivals, rather than force the newcomers to climb over them. When a couple leaves their pew to go to the altar for communion, they need not "switch." The hus- band steps out and walks to the communion rail; his wife follows him. They return in whichever order is most practical, although, again, the man lets the woman go into the pew first. THE OFFERING Although there is no fixed rule about it, a husband generally puts the offering into the plate for both himself and his wife. When a man takes a girl friend to his church he contributes for both of them, but when a woman asks a man to go to a service with her they generally each make a contribution. BEHAVIOR .IN CHURCH OR SYNAGOGUE Reverence is the quality that ides one's behavior at all relig- ious services, and while it is expressed in various ways, in most faiths quiet, attentiveness, and dig- nity are the ingredients. It is perfectly correct to nod, smile, wave at acquaintances before a service starts, and if a friends sits down next to you or in front of you, you may certainly lean over and whisper "Hello." You should not, however, carry on a_ prolonged conversation, giggle, gossip, or otherwise make yourself objection- able to others around you. Introductions, too, should wait until after the service. Occasionally a group of young people sitting together will forget themselves--and their neighbors. If their whispering and laughing becomes distracting and annoying, you have a fight--in fact an obligation--to remind them of where they are. If they refuse to listen or pay attention to you, you should, after the service, report their behavior to the clergyman. The roof of the church, in somewhat the same was as does a hostess's roof at her home, provides an excuse for strangers to become friends. Although you are not expected to speak to people you do not know at each service, those who attend regularly and recognize each other should feel free to chat casually after the services. Also, in small congregations it is both proper and friendly to greet a visitor who you know is not a regular member of the congrega- tion. parish church of one faith to another, 4t is only courteous to inform the clergy- man of your old church, or at least the parish secretary. In some de- inati parish is assessed according to the number of regis- tered members, and therefore its financial condition can be harmed if a member who moves away is stilled enrolled but not contribut- ing. If your desire to make a change is due to the fact that you are not getting what you think you should m your particular faith, or perhaps your views are not com- patible with those of the clergyman, your problem is more difficult. You owe him an explanation of your reasons for changing parishes, either by letter or in person. Although it may be difficult try to be very honest and clear, because while he may be hurt or upset at the time, your criticisms and comments may help him to see some of his failings and to serve his congrega- tion better. ATTENDING A SERVICE OF ANOTHER FAITH When you have an opportunity to visit a church of another faith, or a synagogue if you are a Christian, do so. It is a broadening and enriching experience, and you will come away with more understand- ing of people whose beliefs are different from yours. If you are secure and sincere in your own beliefs, attending another service with an open mind will strengthen, rather than weaken, them. Unless some part of the service is opposed to your religious convic- when they stand, sing when they sing, pray when they pray. If there part in which you do not wish participate, simply sit quietly til that portion of the service is tr. A Protestant need not cross himself nor genuflect when he enters his pew in a Catholic church. No one must kneel if his custom is to pray seated in the pew. All he need do is bend forward and bow his head. But insofar as the proceedings are not objectionable to you, you will get more from the strange service, and perhaps be more comfortable, if you do as the others are doing. Christian men keep their hats on in synagogues--there are yarmulkas available to visitors who come without a hat. If you are taking communion in a church that is strange to you, watch what the congregation does and follow their lead. You will derive the same comfort and strength from the Host whether you receive it at the altar rail as do Catholics and Episcopalians and certain other communicants, or it is passed to you in the pew as in Presbyterian and some other Protestant churches. When you attend church while you are away from home, you should make a contribution when the offering plate is passed. Even though you have contributed your full share to your home parish your donation is a way of saying "Thank you" to the church you are visiting. Also, while the larger part of your offering may go to that particullit church a percentage goes to the church as a whole and helps in its support. <=>, i @liiae your mind has an new idea, I by Dr. George A. Hawkins The Apostles, although un- learned men, were evidently of strong character, and, under the ' Lords teachings, their lack of worldly wisdom and education was more than compensated for in the spirit of a sound mind. The duty of the Apostles was one of service--- they were to serve one another, to serve the Lord, and to lay down their lives for the brethren. These services were to be rendered especially in connection with the promotion of the Gospel. They were partakers of the pre- anointing that had already come upon their Master-- the same anointing which pertains to all of the Royal Priesthood, and is de- scribed by the prophet, saying: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek....to bind up the broken- hearted..... (Isiah 61: 1, 2; Luke 4: 17-21). Although this anointing did not come directly upon them until Pentecost, they had previously had a foretaste of it in that the Lord conferred upon them a share of His Holy Spirit power when he sent them out to preach. But even in this, special opportunity for pride was taken away when later on our Lord sent seventy others forth to do a similar work and empowered them to perform miracles in His name. The real work of the Apostles did not, therefore, begin in the proper sense of the word until they had received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. There, a special manifestation of divine power was conferred upon them-- not only the Holy Spirit and gifts of the Spirit, but also, and especially, power to bestow these gifts upon others who distinguished themselves from all others of the church. Other believ- ers were counted in as members of the anointed of Christ, and made partakers of His Spirit to the newness of life. However, none could have a gift and special manifestation except as conferred through these Apostles. These gifts of miracles, tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc., in no sense took the place of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, yet they did mark the Apostles as special servants or representatives of the Lord in the work of founding the church. (First Corinthians 12: 7-10; 13: 1-3) Dr. George A. -Hawkins is the pastor of the Tabernacle Church of Deliverance in Greenville. Hole Rave ultimate brain Read the Worod of God ano know the truth NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION The Greenville Housing Authority complies with all federal and state housing laws. Th not knowingly discriminate with regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, handicap or familial status. Compliance with 504 e Authority does HELP WANTED: BOOK-KEEPER Local CPA needs book-keeper familiar with payroll and income taxes, financial statements and bank reconcilia- Program is observed. TDD tions. WI | never be service is available for the deaf. { he same. (252) 329 - 4009 EE SOR INI gooey Please send resume to : _ nein = Yay Stephen Newkirk,CPA f a%y oy al P.O. Box 1814 © tr. Yan ~_ &% ize i By oR Winterville, NC 28590 Thank You ; comme! ; Seams Unique fr om The F amily Of as Alterations & Sew Much More as d Banks Road CANDY CHEVELLE GARDNER Bs Greenviie, NCTE . 321-2367 CM aah Ae é ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS aS © 2 Sealed proposals will be received until 3:00 PM. on Thursd Ai ie ae ae April 15, 1999, in the Administrative Conference Room at Beaufort County Hospital, 628 East 12th Street, Washington, @BHHHSHHHSHHHOHBB®eQ 89 for the construction of: ® @ . Beaufort County Hospital ® Faith & Victory Church ®@ Kitchen Renevaticn ille NC ae ® Stale @ _ |jat which time and place bids will be opened and read for Single ® Presents @ Prime work. A Pre-bid Conference will be held April 9, 1999, o) hb & at 3:00 PM. in the Administrative Conference Room at Beaufort ® ngetvo & @ |{County Hospital. Complete Plans and Specifications for this ® Dervonica Project will be available from The East Group, PA, 324 South LVI - 1999 @ jjEvans Street, Greenville, North Carolina, 27834 (252-758- ® Sunday @ 3746) during normal office hours on and after March 22, 1999. They will be open for inspection in the Greenville office of The | | Acknowledgement ® April 4, 1999 ® We ae , and in {is Raleigh ices of Ge following: Maybe you sent flowers, maybe you sent a card, ® . . @ Ilraleigh, CMD-Carolinas Branch’ in Raleit: ECE Plann or maybe you contributed financially or just said |] @ Special Music @ Rootes tse raleigh ECC Planning } a prayer for us. We would like to thank everyone for 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM Services ir love, kindness, and sympathy that you expressed | ® Nurseries & Children's Church Provided Birth-4th Grade @ |}Plan Deposit: $100.00 for our amily vsericne of Perea * Y Green Thank you ° IN CONCERT ® mone reserves the unqualified right to reject any and all ) 3 . Weyerhauser Lumber, Bishop Parker and Zion Family I 6:30 PM (Doors open 5:45 PM) ® - The Family - ® Nurseries Provided Birth - 3 Years Old ® Signed: ® Admission Is Free @ Bill Bedsole : Beaufort County Hospi ® Love Offering Will Be Taken @ 628 East Twelfth Stre pital ® | For More Information Call 252-355-6621 ® Washington, NC 27889 ® Faith & Victory Church Is Located On Fire Tower Road ® @ lust Off Hwy 11 S In Greenville NC @ ee eee ee a a a ee ee ee a ee a eee pee ee ger ee, Tec Lae eee arog; Z : , . ay , a : ; e . : B : ; a ‘ . firms could By Patricia Reaney LONDON (Reuters) - Tobacco have safer cigarettes that would have cut the health risks of smoking and pre- vented thousands of deaths, re- searchers said March 3. A new report from the rial Cancer Research Fund (I and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) showed the international tobacco industry had 57 US.f patents approved for modifications }] | (* But the tobacco companies neverfi | that could have reduced the chemi- j cals in cigarettes that cause cancer, ff heart disease and emphysema. | | made them because producing safer jf ° cigarettes would have been expen- f sive and an admission that the f existing ones were "unsafe." "The cigarette is like a dirty inge for taking the drug nico- tine. What we now know is that the | tobacco companies could have j made it less dirty," said Dr Martin j Jarvis, of the ICRF. He told a news conference to launch the report that all smokers want is nicotine, but what they get are about 4,000 other compounds in the smoke, many of which are dangerous. "The tobacco companies are failing to deal with the many toxic compounds in the smoke," he said, adding that even a small improve- ment could save thousands of lives. John Carlisle, of the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association, said the allegations were unsubstanti- ated. He said the industry would look at the report to see if there were items that needed further investigation. "We don't believe there are any further developments that need considering at the moment," he told Reuters. "What we do refute are the allegations that we are trying to keep anything secret. We are an open industry. We talk to the government regularly. Patents are published and so is much of the scientific evidence." The British Medical Association said the tobacco ind has a moral obligation to their products as safe as possible. "There are many toxic emissions which technology can eliminate from tobacco smoke and the to- | by pting that the Bill O'Neill, the BMA's science and nsafe’ and research adviser, said in a state- So The report reviewed 25 years of on preg for designs to reduce some _ illnesses. to . of the cancer-causing compounds "Introducing technologies that leveloniiade of 1 » Coeapanies considered adding the tebeove cotepans plage! , in stomp ing fs a ‘safe’ os an ueaniine wane oat muons es a series of cigarette, you are, icati ng! : catalysts, similar to those on cars, headaches,” said Clive Bates of in’ danger of be eed pi ear para pec caaa By TAMMY WEBBER f CHICAGO (AP)-- Researchers ex- amining the relationship between mothers who smoke and their child's adult behavior say babies of smokers could be at a higher risk of turning into criminals. Although such links have been studied in children and teen-agers, researchers say a study published in this month's Archives of General Psychiatry is the first to examine the relationship between mothers who smoke and the actions of their mature offspring. While stopping short of saying that babies whose mothers smoked while pregnant will become crimi- nals, researchers say their findings are significant. “Our results support our hy- pothesis that maternal smoking during 3 preenancy is related to increased rates of crime in adult offspring," the authors wrote, add- ing that the results “suggest an additional critical reason to support public health efforts aimed at improving maternal health behav- iors during pregnancy." However an expert not involved in the study said there is not determining the effects of smoking on the brain of developing fetuses and to see if specific agents in tobacco smoke can be more directly linked to antisocial behavior, they said. A spokeswoman for Patricia Brennan, the study's lead author and a researcher at Emory's Department of Psychology, could not be reached for comment. But David Fe Nn, a psychi- atric epidemiologist at the Christchurch School of Medicine in New Zealand, said there is not enough research to add prenatal smoking to the list of established risk factor for adult crimes. Fergusson, who wrote an edito- rial accompanying the article, said the study did not rule out the possibility that genetics - not smoking - caused behavior prob- lems. "Mothers who smoke during enough research to say that prena- tal smoking can be risk factor for adult crimes. The researchers from Emory University in Atlanta, the University of Southern California and the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Denmark based their findings on data for 4,169 males born in Copenhagen between September 1959 and December 1961 and studied the men's arrest histories at age 34. The number of cigarettes their mothers had smoked during the third trimester of pregnancy af- fected the men's arrests for nonvio- lent and violent crimes as adults, even after factoring out other possible causes such as alcohol use, divorce, income and home environ- ment, researchers said in the study, which was released Sunday. Only one other risk factor - delivery complications - was found pregnancy are often young women who have previous misconduct problems and there is quite an inheritability of misconduct prob- lems," Fergusson said in a tele- phone interview. ; to be significant. Researchers found that more than a quarter of the men whose mothers had the highest levels of smoking and delivery complica- tions were arrested for a violent crime as an adult. Further study should be aimed at "Lunchables" may not be "eatable” (CBS News)--More than 300 mil- lion prepackaged lunch meals like Oscar Meyer Lunchables were sold last year, at a cost of almost $700 million. Kids like them and moms buy them. But do they know that these packaged meals are high in fat, sodium and sugar? Shari Bilt, a dietician with New York Weill Cornell Center in New York City, points out that meals like Lunchables are convenient, require no preparation, and they're appealing to kids. and it's not very healthy." Claire Reegan, of Oscar Meyer, which makes Lunchables, re- sponds: “Lunchables make lunch easy for busy moms and fun for kids. They should be eaten in moderation. No one suggests they should be eaten every day, no more than an adult should eat a steak dinner every day. But as an occasional choice, they're perfectly fine. All foods should be eaten in moderation. For moms who want to go that route we do offer low fat But, she says, if you look at them versions." more closely you'll see that their portions of meat and cheese are small. That will leave many kids hungry in the afternoons, so they'll go for junk food. Even more important, Bilt also notes these lunches are high in saturated fat, the kind that's bad for your heart. They're also high in sugar and salt and provide no dietary fiber or fresh fruits or vegetables, all things kids should be eating. Says Bilt, "A baloney and cheese Lunchables has as much fat as a McDonalds cheeseburger and fries, as much sugar as three peanut butter cups and as much salt as six individual size bags of chips." Some of the lunch packs come with a drink and desert, that also poses a problem. The drinks in- cluded are usually high in sugar and low in nutritional value. Worse yet, it means kids aren't having milk with their lunch. Milk is an important part of a child's diet. And they're not cheap, either. The ones with a drink and candy cost between $2.39 and $2.79. The calorie range of 350 to 550 isn't. bad for elementary school kids, Bilt says. But, she adds, it's where the calories are coming from that matters. As an alternative, Bilt suggests a turkey and cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread, carrots and some low fat cookies. This meal has about 450 calories but only 7 of fat and and it includes 8 of fiber. Bilt suggests you use plastic containers _ like Tupperware that are divided into sections, much ike those pre- ckaged lunches have. pe wThe truth is,” says Bilt, "if you want your child to eat a healthy lunch. you'll have to spend some ene preparing it. Prepackaged food is ail processed, mostly with salt, Bilt says the low-fat versions are , better, but you can take it a step further by adding some items of your own, "They have some tuna salad pre-packaged with crackers. You can add your own whole wheat crackers. If your child likes some- thing crunchy and sweet, add low fat granola with raisin or other dried fruits, prepackaged yogurts or pudding snacks. They're healthier for kids." Candid Portrats, Ltd di 2377 April Lane, Greenville © (252) 830-0487 ¢ Lonnie & Ruby Perkins For all of your Photography needs * Weddings * Baby Showers * Family Reunions * Portraits Bring This Coupon and Receive a 10% Discount such as: Do you believe the family can become stronger? Are you searching for more effective coping strategies? Can you r i i i i i I i I I i i i i Greenville Blvd S. M * * Best Beauty Supply Sc Webave oth syntheti and 100% human bat) pk count on community institutions to help? We are here. As a second-year sponsor of the National Black Family Summit, we're helping provide a forum for interested and involved people to address these and other issues and take new answers back to their communities. Under the leadership | of the University of South Carolina College of Social Work and Fire Tower the Columbia Urban League, the 1999 Summit theme ts, “Countering the Impediments Against Family Integrity and emorial Dr. (Rt. 903, Rt. 11) Kinston }) Stability: The Family Fights Back ” For registration infor aun, Pitt Sam's Community College Community Square Mall * Best Beauty Supply* Farmville (Rt. 264 Alt, Rt.13) We Carry A Full Line Of Beauty Supply & Accessories: - Wigs & All Kinds of Hair (Silky, Yaki, Deep.....and Braiding Hair) - Jewelry - Nail Polishes - Loop Handbags - Hosiery .....etc. contact Dr. Augustus Rodgers at 803-777-4309 or visit www sc.edu/cosw/nbfs99_ html 4062 South Memorial Drive, Winierrle Fs" Sat" $0 - 6:00 om Fri. - Sat. (Commun Sure Mal, ute F) Se TB (2) 5360 Closed 9:00 - 8:00 p.m} \VACHOVIA “Sirted. ace The Minority Voice: March 19 - March 31, 1999 abuse. At least 7 million children have alcoholic parents. Alcohol abuse and violence typically are manifestations of stress in families to paycheck with- resources tO meet living out emergencies. More and more households are | finding the need for both parents to | work in order to meet financial | obligations. According to the =——— (Census Bureau, 9.9 million chil- By D. Hector McEachern dren under 5 years old require care ; while their mothers work. An An Ashanti proverb states, "The additional 22.3 million children. ruin of a nation begins in the between 5 and 14 years old have homes of its people.” working mothers--many of these This West African saying was youngsters require care during crafted on a theory that rings true today. Families are the backbone of our country because of the critical role they play in the physical, spiritual, emotional and social de- velopment of children--who grow up to raise families of their own. With this in mind, it is understand- able that civic, religious and politi- cal leaders fret over the dramatic social, demographic and economic changes society has endured. Families today are confronted by challenges that did not exist a generation ago. Consider that the non-school hours. The increased time spent at work has reduced the time parents can devote to their families. For African Americans, more children are raised by a single- nt than in homes where there is th a mother and father to share the burden. Research from sociolo- gists indicates that the likelihood of a young male to engage in criminal activity doubles if he is raised without a father. Similarly, the prevalence of delinquency among children from broken homes is 10 no guarantee that a child will be raised in a nurturing environment. Marriage alone does not ensure that a budget appropriately, | ; lems, deal with the special needs of adolescents, or make good choices every day. Regardless of the structure, fam- ily stability can be strengthened if parents develop strategies and a network of resources to cope with the demands placed upon them. Providing such a network is the objective of the National Black Family Summit. For. the past 13 years, the University of South Carolina's College of Social Work and the Columbia, S.C., Urban League have endeavored to raise awareness about the depravation under pressure. Since 1986 these two entities have been the driving force behind the annual summit. The National Black Family Summit is built upon a foundation that recognizes that the importance of family is not new to African Americans. The crises that chal- lenge families usually are the result of external pressures, not from any inherent weakness. That is why the summit is such an important event. The National Black Family Summit has as its goal educating participants about critical problems and issues imped- ing the survival and progress of economic i for mountable obstacles are shared. Consider the National Black The National Black Famil Summit, which will be held Marc that deserves _ this the Summit's home http://www.csd.sc.cosw/nbfs99.ht- at (803) 777-4309. ment, overcoming adversity and stability. Vital resources lowering--and —_— possibly eliminating--the seemingly insur- Family Summit a gatherin g of the extended family, where a powerful network strives for a common goal. '31-April 2 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is an event that should be attended by as many black families as possible. In addition to providing the tool necessary to restore the nuclear family, the summit . organizers again will honor a family that has successfully persevered despite the overwhelming obstacles society has created. Perhaps you know a family tribute. Nominations for "Family of the Year" will be accepted. Anyone seeking more information about attending the summit should visit ge at mil or contact Dr. Augustus Rodgers I have come to the conclusion that there is a major problem in men and women's relationships and commitments today: God has taken a back seat in most American families. I believe the average American family has no morals, no standards. Without standards, we have no foundation to build rela- tionships with others. It all begins with love for the immediate family. If a man or women doesn't have a good founda- ‘tion with his parents, sisters and brothers, then it is literally impossi- ble for them to have a good relationship with their spouse, or whomever they fall in love with. I believe that, until men begin to gain respect for women, it will be hard to ey and harmony of a happy y. Over the years, I have often heard women say, "Where are the good men?" My answer to them is, Be a good woman, and a good man will find you." Likewise, if a man says, "I want a good woman", then I would suggest that he prepare himself as a good man. The only path to being a good person is to be honest with yourself, and recognize where you are within yourself. It's funny when someone thinks they are always right, but it takes real courage for one to admit when they are wrong. As a man, I sometimes find it hard to face my own failures, shortcom- ings, and feelings of inferiority. But tram responsi Thi is what the "Tl am " is. is what American woman is looking for today in men: that sense of rR thin Another thing a woman looks for in a man is security. Whether it's mental or physical, both men and women want to be secure, but one has to be secure within ones self first. One such example involves one's attitude. I personally believe that 90% of a person is his/her attitude. I've seen the wrong attitude make or break an individual. The wrong attitude will ra Mar relation- ship, whether it's family, friends, whatever. I'm speaking strictly from a personal standpoint. | remind myself that this is the beginning of success or failure of a relationship. You may think the word “attitude” is a very inconse- quential word, but it is the differ- ence between success and failure, or love and hate. It takes virtually no effort to love. Love means that when there's nothing for you and me, will we feel the same way towards any situation, as if we had everything? But I have come to another conclusion, that love in the '90's is based on the two-story house with the picket fence, the poodle, and the Lexus in the garage. To make a long story short, our society has become too materialistic, contrary to what we think or believe. For example, losing your $30,000 a year salary; not being able to sport average American child watches percent to 15 percent higher than : , vec: on ion Spe: OR sare tone pvdes | Casha | Seks a craeciso Tony ig ais ou Alpe ST ‘he 6lb.- $2.50 $4.95 REG. tarting al OW. ° know your purpose. If you do not shoes and Rolex watch. But I » 3b. - $1.99 / YD - level loops know your Purpose how Goa you em ae there's nothing wrong >. . ° ; say to a woman, "Man is pilot wi ese materialistic ° PRIMERICA FINANCIAL SERVICES $2.95 REG. EoACTIZS to the family?" I do not boast in this sions, as long as you earl them, HOME MORTG AGE, INC - 15 ft. widths statement. But in any situation, and not let them control you. Let us show you how a $.M.AR.T. Loan Can Help!! Starting at $3.29 / YD. MIN ORI | 1 , We'll help you turn that pile of monthly bills into one Reg. $8.95 affordable monthly payment by using the equity in your home. Home Health Care CORPORATION 104-A East Victoria Ct. Greenville, NC 27834 90 DAYS ees AS CASH . WITH APPROVED CREDIT \Visae Mastercarde Cash or Check . JOY 1340-AM NOBODY DOES JOY LIKE WE DO!!! For more information contact: Ren'iee Wheaton (252) 754-9950 @ Representing Primerica Financial Services Home Mortgages Inc. Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m. - Sp.m. 1009 Dickinson Ave. Greenville (252) 758-0057 , (252) 931-0486 Fax (252) 931-0422 AME 3005 South Memorial Dr. Post Office Box 8025 Greenville, N.C. 27835 Phone: (252) 355-7100 Fax: (252) 355-3978 4-800-927-9478 ®Do you need CeAeSeH / Auto Financing / Payroll Advance? ®American Credit Company can help! ®They are your local finance EXPERTS making loans for over 20years. ®They can fulfill your needs for most any request specializing in ®3 businesse under 1 roof. EEE 1) PERSONAL CASH LOANS from $500 to $5000. 2) AUTO LOAN financing for any local dealership. 3) PAYDAY ADVANCES from $100 to $255. also Repossessed cars, trucks & sport utilities for sale Fast & friendly service 24 hour loan approvals The Human Race is a community fundraising event sponsored by the Pitt Volunteer Action Center - a division of the United Way of Pitt County. The event features a 5k walk/run, children's games and activities, entertainment, a picnic and great prizes for the top fundraisers. Walkers/runners sign-up participate, select the agency they would like to raise funds for, collect contributions and enjoy the experience of building a stronger community. If you like to sign-up to walk/run please contact Nancy Pierson, Volunteer Services Director at 830-6271 © ‘a Who Is Phil Higgs? WHO IS PHILLIP HIGGS? Phillip Higgs was born to Mr. and Mrs. William and Addie McCarter . Higgs, on March 12, 1956, in Beaufort County. He attended Pitt County Schools and obtained a _ degree in Auto Mechanics, special- izing in transmission repair. He left the North Carolina area to reside in Union, New Jersey, where he started his first transmission repair shop. He expanded two transmis- sion shops in New Jersey that are presently being managed by his brothers. He then returned to North Carolina and opened American Transmission. As a single parent, he didn't only raise his children, but adopted other children. He became a mentor for many. Mr. Higgs is a hard working man with strong family values. Soon after relocating to Greenville, he met and has grown to cherish the friendship of the outgoing SCLC president, Mr. Bennie Rountree; Mr. Rountree became a father figure and a mentor to Mr. Higgs and Mr. Higgs loves and respects him dearly. Following in the footsteps of Mr. Rountree for many years took him many places, including the White House. For the past fifteen years he was a faithful armor bearer sup- porting in any and every way he could, working to make this com- munity a better place for all citizens. He has led two iMmpéortant” marches for civil rights--one in Wilmington, N.C., and the other in Goldsboro, N.C. Both of these marches proved to be very success- ful. He has also won settlements in the courtroom, one for $275,000.00 and the other for’$554,000.00. He is also the recipient of the prestig- ious "Thurgood Marshall Award" presented to him by the SCLC. Mr. Higgs’ work speaks to us to inform us that he is a very capable leader. Mr. Higgs has a passion for racing cars and motorcycles. He took a lot of his earnings to help the elderly and children. Mr. Higgs is looking forward to serving the community as President of the Eastern Regional Pitt County. HIS STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: ** To help make people of all races a successful people, particularly our youth. ** To develop a "Youth SCLC". ** To promote economic develop- ment (low income housing, career development, programs for the elderly. ** To promote Christian Principles within our membership and our communities. ** To educate youth and adults in the area of social responsibility, leadership potential and commu- nity service. ** To ensure economic justice and civil rights in the areas of discrimi- nation and affirmative ac- tion. ** To eradicate environmental facism wherever it exists. Ladies and gentlemen, The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is proud to present to you, a man of grace, a man of honor, a man of power, our president-- your servant, Mr. Phillip E. Higgs. Be, ¢ military, Fletcher, were reunited Dan Worthington (standing) and his long-time brother-in-arms in the celebrating the life of the late Gratz P. Norcott. | when they attended the funeral Homeowners ¢ Home Buyers _° Refinance ¢@ Purchase MAN LIKE PHILLIP E. HIGGS By Sylvia Isler Well, first of all, describing the many attributes about this man goes far beyond words. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Higgs for only a short time. I believe if you observe and listen to a person's conversation they basically tell you what they are about. In this man, I perceive servitude, honesty, and openness, much patience and long-suffering, blended with a spe- cial love for all people, regardless of race or gender. He is a leader, an entrepreneur, and a teacher. A parent, counselor, and just a "down right good friend." Thank you, Mr. Higgs, for doing God's will, and leading the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to many victories in the near future. Sylvia Isler is the Secretary for the local chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. 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I would like to take | this time to congratulate Mr. | Phillip Higgs, Sr. on bein ap- pointed the President o e Southern Christian Leadership Conference. With his vision and zeal, I believe that he will take this organization, as well as this com- munity, to new heights. of the "Who's Got Game?" 5-ON-5 Pamela Foreman is the co-founder Basketball Shoot-Out. | ecm e nares Mrs. Janie Parker (top photo, center), widow of the late Reverend John Henry Parker, is holding a plaque of that recognizes Rev. Parker's services and support to the Phillippi Missionary Baptist Church in Simpson. Rev. Parker gave to the mid-day prayer and fellowship services Mrs. Parker is surrounded by her family and friends (bottom photo).. anaes READ. Te || Standing here, looking into the lens of the MVoice camera, is the top -salesperson for Hiks Fashions. 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Mariah Carey (right) looks on as singing sensation Smokey Robinson gives a stellar perform- ance for the attendees of the NABOB Awards Dinner. 1340 and WTOW 1320 are part. Also attending the Awards Dinner were M'Bulu Rouse (left) and her father, Jim Rouse, who is the President of Rouse Communications, of which The Minority Voice newspaper and AM radio stations WOOW Smiling for the camera are NABOB President Peppy Sutton (Coates) | his son, Percy Sutton (right), who is the Chairman of the Inner City Broadcasting (which owns New York's WBLS-FM); and their family. by Trey Bankhead WASHINGTON, D.C.---The National Association of Black- Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) held their 15th Annual Communications Awards Dinner on March 18. The dinner was organized in order to recognize and honor various individuals who have made significant achievements in the broadcasting communications field. Honorees were actor Danny Glover, who was honored with the NABOB Mickey Leland Public Service Award; Syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner, who was awarded with the NABOB Pioneer in Broadcasting Award; singer and community activist Lauryn Hill, who received the NABOB Entertainer of the Year Award; Hal Jackson, who received the NABOB Lifetime Acheivement Award; Carl Franklin, who was presented with the NABOB Oscar Micheaux Award for Excellence in Film; and gospel singer Shirley Caesar, who received the NABOB Pioneer in Music Award. The Master of Ceremonies at the black tie affair was comedian and actor Cedric "The Entertainer." A special performance was provided by William "Smokey" Robinson. The National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters was or- ganized in 1976 as a response to the abysmal under-representation of African-Americans in the com- munications industry. Since its inception, NABOB has grown into a major trade association represent- ing the interests of 165 Black- owned commerical radio stations and 21 commercial television sta- tions. Additionally, NABOB counts among its associate membership: law firms, station brokers, narional rep firms, financial institutions and a variety of other organizations involved in broadcasting, cable television and common carrier services. As the voice of the African- American broadcasting industry, NABOB has been instrumental in shaping national government and industry politics to improve the opportunities for African-American and all other minority station owners. Will Smith stars in movie remake of "The Wild, Wild West" Now this is a story all about how his life got flip turned upside-down and I'd like to take a moment, just sit right there, I'm going to tell you ‘bout how he became the Prince of Bel-Air. Or, perhaps that should be, "the artist formerly known as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Mr. Jiggy, perhaps? Whatever you call him, one thing is clear about the 30-year-old actor/rapper/song-writer.....his middle name must be "superstar." While growing up in Philadelphia, Smith was seen as a pretty much good student student on the path to becoming a computer engineer. But, as he describes it, one day he discovered something amazing: he could get girls to like him if he was funny. So, he started hamming it up. Of course, he didn't just need to use his sense of humor to woo the ladies, of course. It helped that his first album had sold while he was still in high school, rocketing his popularity in school straight to the top. "There's nothing like being in high school with a hit record," Smith says. "You can really chill at the prom." The next few years were a roller coaster ride of Grammys, expensive cars, and money to burn......until the money ran out. The first million dollars that Smith had earned had all been spent. "Suddenly I had six cars but I didn't have enough money for gas," he says. Smith regrouped. When he was offered the chance to do The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, he vowed to be smarter this time around. He learned about money management. As The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air gained in popularity, Smith's money was managed wisely. But his career, as impressive as it was, didn't end there. Starring in the hit movies Bad Boys, Independence Day, Men In Black, and Enemy of the State, took his career even further. Not that he's given up on his music: his latest album, Big Willie Style, was a huge Mis latest project, the movie remake of the old television series Wild Wild West, stars Smith in the lead role of Federal Marshal Jim Kline West. Kevin and Shakespearean legend Kenneth Branagh round out the cast for the movie, which is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (who also directed Men In Black, The Addams Family, Addam's Family Values, and Get Shorty). The planned release date for Wild Wild West is July 4. But, stardom aside, how does Smith translate from the big screen to the real world? After his first marriage ended in divorce, Smith is now happily married to actress Jada Pinkett-Smith. But, when it came time for their son to be born, was The Fresh Prince still "jiggy with it?" "It was 11 p.m. when her water broke and I just lost it," Smith laughs. "Oh, it was bad. The flop sweat stared pouring off of me." "We live an hour outside the city, which is a little tough. I'm going, like, 120 miles per hour down the freeway," he says. "I'm scouring the dashboard trying to do that Men In Black move where I hit that little red button that makes the car drive sideways between traffic. How did the big movie star hold up when his son actually arrived? Smith actually looks sheepish as he responds. "No, I didn't exactly faint. Come on, I've seen Alien and Aliens." He immediately puts out a message to his wife: "Honey, I am still really sorry, but I only took a nap because you were so busy!" Even though he ended up stretched out flat on the floor of the delivery room, Smith's meteoric rise to success still continues. "I might want to become the President of the United States," he says with an evil grin. "I am the most confident man you know and I think I can do anything." How would he handle his oppo- nents? "Back off," Smith acts out the debate. "You don't want to get crushed under the foot of Big Will." a "I'm truly jigged out. I possess a jiggy essence | that's beyond human comprehension. I'm| | gloss. " ~-Will Smith, on balancing parenting and stardom. Kev i _ WOOW The Mincrt’ Vcice xewspaper lresent WE FINANCE ANYONE’ DATE: May 15. 1999 TIME: 10:00 A.M. = 3200 BM. PLACE: Thomas Foreman Park comet of Memorial Drive & MLK Drive) * SPONSORSHID PACKACES AV ILABLE 1991 Hyundai Excel 4 Dr. Auto. Sale Price "2,995.00, 499 Down + Tax + Tag + Doc Fee. 1988 Chevrolet Corsica 4 Dr. Auto., V: Sale Price "2,905.00, 499 Down + Tax + Tag + Doc Fee. ‘ 1991 Geo Storm Auto., A/C Sale Price 3,495, 490 Down + Tax +Tag + Doc Fee. 1990 Nissan Pickup CD Player, Bedliner Sale Price "3,405, '499 Down + Tax +Tag + Doc Fee. 1989 Ford Mustang Convertible Sale Price °3,495.00, 490 Down + Tax + Tag + Doc Fee. 1992 Mercury Grand Marquis 4 Dr. Auto. Sale Price “4,205.00, '909 Down + Tax + Tag + Doc Fee. 1993 Ford Musta Sale Price 4,295.00, "999 Down + LX ‘ax + Tag + Doc Fee. 1992 Pontiac Grand Am 4 Dr. Auto. Sale Price “4,208.00, '999 Down + Tax + Tag + Doc Fee. 1991 Pontiac Sunbird Convertible, Auto. Sale Price “4,296, "900 Down + Tax +Tag + Doc Fee. 1992 Isuzu Rodeo V-6, A/C Gale Price "6,495.00, "1,409 Down + Tax + Tag + Doc Fee. All cars subject to prior aap dean + NC ina tiage +00" cave fit O9% © 78 weeks’ Down Payment May Vary VALUE MAX TS | ee es GREENVILLE, N.C. Evans St. Ext. Across from Kroger and Chick-Fil-A 353-5191