ok eis . | nicest Ser vAlil: mec h-paclaal) (ela as Me O87] de) INEWS ANALYSIS by Ralph W. Cooper GREENVILLE,NC - Greenville is on cdge, due to a recent surge in youth/gang violence. Meanwhile, a frightened, disillusioned community awaits solutions to combat youth vio- lence. Oftentimes, during local election seasons, officials sprinkle a tossed salad of public discontent and fear of esca- lating violence with condiments of public relations campaigns (i.e. press conferences) and grandstanding. They organize “feel-good” committees to appease a community thirsty for an- swers. Yet, the violence festers. When Nancy Jenkins was mayor, I gave her a comprehensive crime con- trol and prevention proposal that has yet to be enacted. One ingredient called for a strategic community-po- licing strategy where police officers walk and ride bikes in high-crime ar- eas, check on elderly residents, and maintain a presence of deterrence. Historically, blacks have had tu- multuous relationships with the po- lice. Targeted community policing will help restore confidence in the police, win advocates, and simulta- neously curtail violent crime. Among other strategies, I support a dusk-to-dawn ee indefinnely. Within the past few years, researchers with the National League of Cities J Rap and Hip Hop Diva | Convicted of Perjury Charges stem from gunfight ata New York radio eat NEW YORK CITY - Female rap and hip-hop-ertise.Lil’ Kim was-conyicted on Thursday Mar."17th. of lying to a federal grand juryn that was investi- gating a shooting outside a radio sta- tion. She was convicted of perjury and conspiracy but acquitted of obstruc- tion of justice. Prosecutors accused the 4-foot-11 Grammy winner of telling “preposter- ous’ lies to a grand jury relying on her eyewitness testimony about the 2001 gunfight outside WQHT, the rap sta- tion known as Hot 97. The shootout occurred on Feb. - 25, 2001, when Lil’ Kim's entourage crossed paths with a rival rap group, 1) on of justice Kim Cleared of charges. Capone-N-Noreaga. One man was injured as more than two dozen shots were fired. Lil’ Kim's assistant, Monique Dopwell, was also found guilty of per- jury and both defendants shook their heads as the verdicts were delivered. The rappers supporters broke out in sobs, Sentencing was set for June 24. The defendants had faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted of all the charges. i’ Kim, 29, known for her re- vealing outfits and raunchy hip-hop raps, had testified that the gun battle reminded her of the saying of her leg- endary mentor, Notorious B.1.G., and even the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It was “a heartfelt day — like the day Biggie was killed and 9/11,” she said. “This was a very serious situa- tion,” she testified, “I could not come _ into a grand jury and purposely tell false statements and lie. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cathy SEE LI’ KIM PAGE 11 found that 97 percent of over 534 sur- cities with curfews indicated the following: Curfews help combat ju- venile crime; 96 percent said curfews help fight truancy; and 88 percent said curfews help reduce gang violence. Youth who violate a curfew ordi- nance should be taken to a nearby _ curfew holding center to await a par- ent or guardian. A warning may or may not be given for the first offense, depending on the nature of the viola- tion. However, a second violation should carry a stiff fine that might lead to legal action if the fine is not paid on time. Community service might Tiabs ome illalelan: EERE ES AS AE SRR SITS ARE SR TONERS SOS POS RAN CR RS. SEER SERGI TE: — Sate 8 2 cement mee lion tsar a. _ YEE OTelaslaalt ia also be an option or an ancillary pro- vision. Parents may be held accountable for some violations, depending on the | circumstances and whether ¢ par- sbi may be complicit in any illegal or offensive behavior of their children violatin required to take parenting classes in some Cases. - A reasonable percentage of the curfew fines should be placed in a scholarship fund to help send needy residents to college. This is surely a positive way of giving back”to the community. ities Since 1988] the curfew. Parents might be Complimentary Issue § Please Take One| (Retail Value: §0 Cents) VOL. XVIII NO. 2 March 2005 F OE. * thom Community leaders meet during a press conference at the Phil one young man seriously wounded and another young boy one press, educators, local politicians and the heads of several law enforcement agencies. According to one community activist, there has been as many as 12 gunshot fatalities envoling black youth living in black communities in the greater lippi Church of Christ following a shooting which left dead at the scene. The meeting was in attendence by the Greenville area during the past four or five years. Photo - Guy Sims 4% i #. 4 Js Os a aay Nee ee a akos place in the Black communi And too often itis the innocent bystander 13 Years Old - Jr. High May 19, 1991 - Mar. 6,2005 On Saturday March 12, young Jahmel Rashaad Little was laid to rest six days after being shot in the chest after being called outside his home, where he and his cousin were both assaulted. His life only took minutes to fade away. According to authorities and other published te- ports, Jahmel was a good boy. He was described to be quiet and respectful by his neighbors. He was preceeded in death by his John Henry Little, Jr. and his grandpar- ents John Henry, Sr. and Lizzie Mae Little. who becomes Of this Foolish and Violent Behavior ‘ Jahmel Rashaad Little 5 17 Years Old - Sept. 16, 1986 - Aug. 14, 2003 College intended victim, an day. She attende Someone said that Stacy Marie Cart had only been home for about thirty minutes when she was fatally wounded. Innocently she was Preparing to braid the hair of the as the story the head with a bullet from a hig bullet went through both victims. She died the next d D.H. Conley High School and at the time of her death was attending Pitt Community College. Her presence is continually missed. — Goes she was struck in powered rifle. The Jackie Robinson posthumou By Erica Werner WASHINGTON, DC - More than a half-century after break- ing sport’s color barrier, Jackie Robinson was posthumously awarded Congress’ highest honor, a Congressional Gold Medal. . President Bush gave the medal to Robinson’s widow Wednesday, Rachel Robinson, in a stately ceremony in the Capi- tol Rotunda. The Democratic ames A. Ball, Boeing Co.'s Fire black chicf fnantial ot ficer, was named interim president and CEO this week By: Keith Reed, BlackAmerica Web.com Boeing, the world’s top air- lane manufacturer, tapped its first Black chief executive this week, fol- and Republican leaders of the House and Senate and baseball commissioner Bud Selig looked on. “His story is one that shows what one person can do to hold America to account to its found- ing promise of freedom and equality,” Bush said. “It’s a les- son for people coming up to see. One person can make a big dif- ference in setting the tone of this country. lowing a scandal that saw the company’s former top dog forced out for having an affair with an employee. Now, James Bell, a 56 year-old veteran of corporate America, finds himself thrust in the position of leading Boeing through what could be a tough transition, while Boeing itself has the distinction of being the biggest corporation in the country headed by an African- American. While significant, though, Bell’s reign at the top is destined to be short because he was only named to the CEO's chair for an interim period. In the meantime, Bell is not a candidate for the job permanently and the board is searching for a new chief executive. Officials said Bell was not commenting on his ascendancy. Bell joins a handful of black executives leading huge American companies. Kenneth Chenault, 53, became chief executive at Ameri- can Express in 2001. Alwyn Lewis, 50, became the CEO of Kmart last Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, he was the first black player on a major league team. He died in 1972 and his No. 42 was retired throughout baseball in 1997. “This medal confirms what we know,” Rachel Robinson said. “Jackie Robinson stands as a he- roic role model for all Americans who believe in justice and equal- ity. Speakers extolled Robinson Bocing’ Chief Financial Officer replaces ousted CEO October, a month before the retail giant merged with Sears. He is now the number three executive at that company. Stanley O’Neal has led Merrill Lynch & Co. since 2001, and Ri- chard “Dick” Parsons became chairman and CEO of media titan Time Warner the same year. At least one black corporate heavy hitter, though, has been un- done by scandal in recent months. Franklin Raines, former chairman and CEO at mortgage giant Fannie Mae, was ousted after an account- ing scandal in December. Ironically, Fannie Mae had been the largest company headed by an African- American before Raines’ departure. Alfred Edmond, editor-in- chief of Black Enterprise magazine, told BlackAmericaWeb.com in January that ethical scandals like the one that befell Raines would likely continue to affect African- Americans, who are now deeply en- trenched in the corporate world. “African-Americans are no less vulnerable to temptations and poor ly awarded Congressional Gold as a courageous athlete who suf- fered taunts and slurs from fans and fellow players, ignoring them as he proved both a bril- liant ballplayer and a civil rights hero. The latter role wasn’t one he sought but it became inevi- table after Dodgers owner Branch Rickey bucked much of popular opinion and signed him. “He knew he was a symbol and a barrier-breaker, and that staying the course would have ethics than anybody else,” he said. “As we climb higher, some of us will fall but at least we're getting the chance to climb. I think in 2005, we're going to see a lot of progress that will far outstrip the negative news.” This time around, it was a scandal involving a white execu- tive that put Bell on the top rung. He replaced former CEO Harry Stonecipher on March 6, af- ter Stonecipher resigned when it was revealed that he was having a consensual affair with a female em- ployee. The woman did not report directly to Stonecipher and the af- fair was not against company olicy, but Boeing's board decided tonecipher should step down anyway because “the facts reflected poorly on Harry's judgment and would impair his ability to lead the company,” according to a com- pany statement. Stonecipher was considered a stickler for ethical conduct and was hired out of retirement to help Boeing clean up its image following another corporate scandal in 2002. Keith Reed writes for the BlackAmericaWeb,com Medal Jackie Robinson, : shown here in 1971, spent a lifetime opposing race discrimination. consequences for millions of cople to come,” Rep. Mel Watt, -N.C., chairman: of the Con- gressional Black Caucus, said. Robinson stayed the course, and excelled. He was rookie of the year in 1947, and was voted the league's Most Valuable Player in 1949 when he batted .342 and drove in 124 runs, He played 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodg- ers, often at second base. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1962. Speakers at Wednesday’s cer- emony recalled hearing of Robinson's exploits or watching him play in their youth, proving once again that whatever ideo- logical differences divide them, America’s pastime rarely fails to SEE JACKIE ROBINSON PAGE 9 ; and including having Race, Gender a There is undeniable evidence that African-Americans have made _ impressive progress in Corporate aes On America. Chenault is chairman and CEO of American Express. Ri- ‘chard Par- sons is chair- man and CEO of AOL Time = mee Warner. E. eee Stanley aie holds a similar title at Merrill Lynch & Co. Aylwin Lewis is president and CEO of Kmart. Ann M. Fudge holds the same titles at Young & Rubicam Brands. -_° A report just released by the Executive Leadership Council in Washington, D.C. offers more en- couraging news. According to its findings, African-Americans now hold 8.1 percent of the board seats on Fortune 500 companies. What that means on an indi- vidual level is that some African- Americans are Finally being allowed to advance to a level commensurate with their talent. Collectively, it means that young Black kids can now model their lives and careers after Black cor- porate superstars rather than profes- sional, athletes and entertainers. As much progress as we've made in this area, there is still plenty of room for growth. While it is impressive that Blacks hold 8.1 percent of the board seats on Fortune 500 companies, that’s about double the African-American repre- sentation in the executive suite. In other words, it’s twice as easy to be an outsider elected to set policy for a For- tune 500 firm than it is for a Black to rise to the top from within the com- Pany. A 1995 report by the federal Glass Ceiling Commission ob- served, “At the highest levels of busi- ness, there is indeed a barrier only rarely penetrated by women or per- By Susie Clemons “Free by 63”, and the signifi- cance of 07 ‘and 40. To the naked cye the numbers 63, 07, and 40 are just that, numbers. Upon further in- spection, however, and depending upon one's conversational pursuits, 07 - no matter its low numerical value - looms large when the num- ber 20 becomes its front end com- panion. It's been 40 years almost to Military by Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Amsterdam News NEW YORK (NNPA) - The mili- tary spends about $3 billion each " Year to convince young people that enlistment will give them college money, job training and an alterna- tive to working at McDonald's. In the wake of the growing conflict in Iraq, which has resulted in more than a fifteen hundred U.S. casual- ties, the military has become more aggressive in scouting out high school students willing and able to serve. In many New York City public schools that are predominantly Black and Latino, military recruit- ers are a heavy presence, promisin e financial security an @ fulfilling career. Recruiters roam the halls, set up tables and even pull students out of class. But in recent months, a group of teenagers and anti-war veterans been canvassing the neighbor- have hoods where the recruiters frequent, to convince students to con- options, “We've heard everything up to a desk in the counselors office,” said y¥ Wagner of Youth Activists- Youth (YaYas), a group that -. focuses on counter-recruitment. “When the kid comes in to talk to . the counselor about college, before “ft Your R sons of color. Consider: 97% of the senior n F of Fortune 1000 in- dustrial and Fortune 500 companies are white; 95 to 97% are male. In Fortune 2000 industrial and service companies, 5 % of senior managers are women — and of that 5 percent, virtually all are white.” _ The Glass-Ceiling report ob- serves, *... The world at the top of the working population, is norities, ra pee The oro porte ro year, people r and women will make up 62 percent of the workforce. _ U.S. Census Bureau projections show that over the next 50 years, the U.S. population will grow by 50 percent, with 90 percent of that |. ing among People of | ite population in- | growth occurri color while the y creases by only 7.4 percent. ‘Given these dramatic changes in the pu- lation and the workforce, White. males can't continue to enjoy the vir- tual monopoly they've held on the top jobs in Corporate America. The Executive Leadership Council represents African-Ameri- cans at the senior level in corpora- tions, two or three rungs below the CEO. What is striking about its in- augural report on Black board direc- torships is that while 67 percent of the Fortune 500 companies have at least one Black on their board, a third ~ 33 percent — have no African- There are 5,572 total board seats for Fortune 500 companies. Of those, 449 or 8.1 per cent are held by Afri- can-Americans. Black men hold more than three times as Many seats than African-American women. Black men hold 344 of the total board seats, or 6.2 percent, and Black women hold only 105, of 1.9 percent. Interestingly, there was a major difference between the top 100 members of the Fortune 500 and the bortom 100. Of the top 100 com- ‘ies on the Fortune 500 list, Blacks held 10.9 percent of the seats. the day when, The Civil Rights Act 1965 » the most significant com- of _ prehensive human rights bill, was by congress. years prior to the ruling and in anticipation of which, the Na- tional Association for the Advance- ment of Colored Peoples coined the sum of the Black experience in America with the slogan: “Free by 63”. Two thousand - seven, August | 2007 in particular, is when congress will vote to reauthorize the three . Parts, or sections, of the 1965 Vor- ing Rights Act (VRA) set to then ex- ire. ° But then you knew that right? If not, the following freedoms now taken for granted could very much be on the front burner should the Congressional vote have a hiccup in memory: Section 5- any change to the cannot have the effect of de- nying voting access based on race or anguage in a minority group. Section 203- Bilingual assis- tance must remain in place in poll- ing areas where concentrations of Recruiters Face Resistance want (0 go to college? How are you going to pay for college?” ew York City organizers are educating people about alternatives to enlisting and the realities of mili- tary life. Vietnam veterans and anti- war activists Jim Murphy and Dayl Wise visit high schools, where th recount for the students stories about eit time in the service. In one class of juniors at West Side High School, Murphy told them that before the service, he spent time making money playing seven- card stud. Once he left community college, he was drafted. I wasnt smart enough to have fear about it,” Murphy told the class. "I didn’t have a clue. Wise, who was in the infantry, didn't want to go to war when he was drafted. His father offered to help send him to Canada. “I took the easy way out by re- porting for duty,” he said. “It takes a braver person. | let it happen to me? | didn’t have a plan. | gave up control,” He warned the students: “’Please have a plan. Don't let others make r you. The YaYas, staffed almost en- tirely by high school students of color, work to make sure young id falling into military ser- vice because it seems like the only emt, “It's either jail or thigumilitary,” said Jeannel Bishop, a senior at sd Congest For the 100 at the bottom of the list, Blacks were only 0.6 percent of theit directors. a ; What was surprising was the number of firms that have no Black directors yet expect African-Ameri- cans to continue supporting their products, They include: Safeway, nc., Intel Corp., Kmart Holdin Corp:, Massachusetts Mutual Life ~ Insurance Co., Lehman Brothers ‘Despite Bush's Social Security Pitch to Blacks, Let the Buyer Beware By: Wayne Dawkins Republican and Democrat vot- ets in red - and blue . States can't ‘on the true color of the sky when they wake up ; Security reform, most of them see purple. Numerous polls are reporting that Americans are not jumping en- thusiastically at the Bush plan to privatize Social Security, then dump the 70-year-old system. Since senior citizens were not scared effectively by exaggerated claims that Social Security was about to go bankrupt, and young adults a indifferent about the future of program, the Bush administration late last week announced it was going to step up their sales pitch and launch a rapid response campaign that posts op-ed essays and letters to the editor in response to critical press coverage. Bush's Social Security plan is in trouble because of Bush him- self. He tried a Chicken Little strategy, and most Americans un- derstand that the sky is not fall- ing, and Social Security will not collapse anytime soon. Plus, he at To Vote Be Challe 7 Learners exist. Sections 6 and 9- Federal exam- inees must continue to have moni- toring access to polling sites to avert acts of intimidation (which the men- tally challenged have been known to engage.) *E it the case that “Free by 63” should now become “can't we all get along in 07". No less in anticipa- tion of the best and the worst Con- gress have to offer. It is indeed in- comprehensible to think that basic voting freedoms are at stake within a land where democracy clothes her- self as the Statue of liberty, Capitol Hill, Hollywood and Religion. All this and more while Ameri- can troops are continually inter- spersed through out foreign lands towing tidings of Democracy on the one hand and spent bullet shells, Coca Cola and McDonalds on the other- knowing in the end they'll re- turn home not as hero's bat as has been's also caught in the struggle. But then why bother with thoughts that the Voting Rights Act could be repealed? Furthermore, why think less than perfect thoughts Brooklyn's South Shore High School and a YaYas staffer. Many students at her school think enlistment is the t they can accomplish. en Navy recruiters visited her school recently, students were allowed to leave class to visit with them. Bishop brought pamphlets and confronted the recruiters about their assurances of tuition and training. She pointed out to them and other students nearby that getting college money was a much more compl cated and uncertain process. “I was taking over their whole show,” Bishop said. "|The recruit- ers} were amazed.” Three students who had been “pumped up about the military” had second thoughts after Bishop spoke. It took just a little information for them to have doubts, she said. Besides speaking out in their own schools, the YaYas hold work- shops for teenagers and make pre- sentations to PTAs They encourage students to post literature in the guidance office and set up counter- recruitment tables next to military recruiters. Most importantly, they want young people to make an in- formed choice, Wagner said. For instance, most students t know that: - Two-thirds of recruits don't get any college money, according to the Central Committee for Conscien- tious Objectors. don Holdings, Inc., Rite Aid Corp., Qwest mmunications Interna- tional, Humana, Inc., Whirlpool, Capitol One Financial Corp., Centex Corp., Pulte Homes, Guard- ian Life Insurance Co. of America, American Standard Cos., Boise Cas- cade Corp., Newell Rubbermaid, Inc., the First. American Corp., Apple Computer, Land O'Lakes, Southwest Airline Co., N.G.R. didn’t offer up enough specifics about shifting a reliable retirement program from the federal govern- ment to Wall Street. Conservatives and liberals, Re- publicans and Democrats saw a big problem in accepting such a dra- matic change with such flimsy de- tail. | Blacks, regardless of their po- litical leanings, must eye this policy debate with the skepticism of hawks, then not hesitate to leap into the debate. Jump in, please, because the Bush administration is trying to play us for fools. Bush has sold the private investment accounts proposal as a no-brainer to black self-interest. Blacks on average live shorter lives than whites — goes the admin- istration pitch — so that means most blacks pay more into the gov- ernment-tun Social Security sys- tem and get less from program. Right? Not quite. The Bush administration scheme is mislead- ing. ° Right now, Social Security lev- els the playing field for many black retirees who dont have as much in- vestment income as whites, a dis- advantage that reveals the legacy of legal segregation and job dis- crimination. About 63 percent of whites have asset income for retire- ment; for blacks, asset income is 29 percent, reports the National Committee to Preserve Social Se- curity and Medicare. Thirty seven percent of black beneficiaries rely ge in 2007? about the dethocratie duty of Ameti- can troops in far aWaytlands*: And why shouldn't.thege bgsome degree of comfort in knowing that Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow Push Coa- lition will always ride in on white horses and snatch up the poor, de- fenseless and marginalized from the claws of oppression. Jesse is, in fact, gearing up fora mass mobilization march set to take place in Atlanta, GA this summer. But march for what? The march is to ensure that your voice will con- tinue to be heard at the polls, no matter if some voices have become hypocritically tongue tied to issues attached to the Civil Rights (moral) agenda- and without merit. But apart from that side bar is the very real notion that Adanta, GA will become a hot bed for political oings on this summer. After all facktons march is set to occur the same time that T.D. Jakes will be hosting the Megafest family confer- ence, which is rumored to be larg- est and best yet, August 3-6. The powerhouse mix of Jack- son and Jakes in Atlanta- at the - Most people in the military do not have time te attend college while in the service. + To qualify for college mon recruits have to pay $100 per mont for a year, - The unemployment rate for veterans is three times higher than the national average. - People who sign up with the Delayed uy Program are told they cant change their minds, but getting out is as simple as writing a letter. - The enlistment contract is for eig ( years. ‘ - There are other ways to finance college, like federal financial aid, pri- vate scholarships, going to commu- nity college or joining AmeriCorps. ut educating youth is not just about these facts and figures, r said. The war in Iraq makes their work much more urgent, she said. “They're still telling peo you can go to any, Japan, but the reality is che’ vast majority are going to Iraq,” Wagner said “You risk los- ing life and limb; you risk being a murderer.” Giving young people a complete picture of enlisting rests on the cour- age and initiative of activists, guid- ance counselors and principals. Of- fe the Pesos sales pitches, bro- ures and posters go unchallenged. Many educators fear principals will retaliate if they speak out, Wagner said. Some cian are reti- cent to limit the military's presence a - 99. Caesars Entertain- ment, Dole Food Co., Goodrich Corp., Jones Apparel Group, Levi Strauss & Co., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Ross Stores, Host Marriott Corp., and Gateway. If those companies don’t think \ : J erica... Barnes & Noble, Mattel, enough of us to have an African- American on their board of directors, we should think enough of ourselves not to spend our money with them. And we should let them know why on Social Security for all of their income because of a lack of other income at retirement. _ The government system is also ood to Blacks who have suffered disabilities On average, blacks get more out of the system than they put in. Maya Rockeymoore, the Con- ressional Black Caucus oundation’s vice president of re- search and programs, wrote last year that 17 percent of blacks re- ceived Social Security disability benefits, despite representing 12 percent of the population. Fur- thermore, 68 percent of blacks are Kept out of poverty because of dis- ability benefits. “Aftican-Americans must take care to understand the importance of Social Security and the impli- cations of privatizing the system,” wrote Rockeymoore, words worth repeating in this wrongheaded push by the Bush administration to force privatized retirement ac- counts down Americans’ throats. Black conservatives like Alvin Williams and Star Parker pub- lished op-ed essays in the last week suggesting that blacks and advo- cates like the NAACP either go against their self-interests or are simply knee-jerk opponents in re- sisting the Bush plan. Actually, the skeptics sense a shady scheme. An article in the Wilmington, N.C. Journal this week explained: In targeting blacks — then telling _ George E. Curty is editor-in. chief of the NNPA News Service and BlackPressUSA.com. He ap- ars on National Public Radio {NPR) three times a week as part of Gem sad Notes ith Ed Gordon,” Curry’s weekly radio commen is syndicated by Capitol Radio Nowe . Service (301/588-1993). He can be reached through his Web Site, georgecurry.com. them that Social Security cheats them out of money because of a significant disparity in life expect. ancy — what's not noted is that when you take the high black in- fant mortality rate out of the equa- tion and compare the life expect- ancy of black and white young adults advancing to old age, a nine-year gap shrinks to a compa- rable two years. According to a Reuters dis- patch at the end of February, av- erage life expectancy is now 77.6 ears, but black men live 6.2 years ess than whites, and black women live 4.4 years less, according to the Centers for Disease Control, Right now, Social Securit serves most blacks well. The Bush administration has acknowledged that private retirement accounts are not substitutes for what is fiscally troubling with Social Security, Most Americans right now are not feeling Bush’s private accounts plan. So why are blacks being tar- geted to rally around a proposal that appears suspect? Buyer, beware. Wayne Dawkins is the former managing editor of BlackAmericaWeb.com. Previ- ously he was an associate editor and columnist with the Daily Press in Newport News, Va. and before that newspapers in Indiana, New Jersey and New York. Dawkins is author of “Rugged Waters: Black Journalists Swim the Mainstream,” published by August Press same time drawing hoards of people, and not just Black people- carries whispers of King’s I have a Dream speech at the Washin ton i Monument. Thoughts of which ring on “back’in the days when things were good and we were close” memories. Recall that King foretold much in his speech includ- ing “Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Clarity of mind is necessary when wrapping your thoughts around that, while also making some sense of the bizarre shootin incident inf Atlanta most recent y. The wher, Brian Nichols, appeared to havétost his last good sense. What withgeveral families still in mourn- ing, however, untold scores of friends, acquaintances, business as- sociates and concerned area citizens still in shock, was his act of rage co- incidental or just a blurb on the screen in view of the hit Adanta will take this summer? No need to di- Fess to conspiracy theories, but some things just- well... On the matter of “Free by 63” and the significance of 07' and 40 just how 4 have we traveled, and who's been left behind in the dust of Black Flight into the mindset of “having arrived?” Greater, how many more miles to Freedom and how much more will it cost ‘a3? ~~ I caution that while your Con- stitutional Right to vore i$ not in jeopardy, should any portions of sec- tions 5, section 205 or sections 6 and removed or rewritten to lesser extents, is when Jim Crow awakes from his semi-meditative state rais- ing cain , I'd like to take this time to thank Bev Smith and Tavis Smiley for keeping us all in the loop on very real yet oft hidden issues af- fecting our people and as well sti- fling our collective movement. | am as well deeply indebted to the enius of historian Mr. John Hope ranklin. For without his well written Black history guide- From Slavery To Freedom, 7th edition, McGraw Hill, New York 1994- the succinct comprehension of our beginning, -our collective struggle and our accomplishments would have remained well beneath my fa- dar detector. For comments and additional dialog email Susie Clemons at Opinionsandtalk@yahoo.com because they think they will lose fed- eral funding, she said. No Child Left Behind, the edu- cational policy touted by the Bush inistration, requires that recruit- ers and college representatives have equal access to students. This is of. ten misinterpreted as unlimited ac- cess. Policy on recruiter access in New York City public schools is de- termined school by school and var- ies widely. But some school districts have jaxen a more active role and regu- late recruiters’ visits, In Madison, Wisconsin, recruiters are only per- mitted to be in each high school three days during the school year. Their policy states that guidance counselors can distribute both mili- tary and counter-recruitment infor- mation. rahi is alse hance en- policy in New York City goy- erning opt-out forms, which lest dents choose whether to release their oe information to recruiters, any principals, Wagner said, are hot even aware of the opt-out form. Some schools give out the form, without any explanation and make no effort to collect it from students, she said. Wagner said some students think that signing the forms will mean. their information is not re- to any institutions, including colleges, ther students, often immi- francs, fear they will get in trouble r ll signing, she said. ntly, New York City stu- dents are often only given the opt- out form in the ninth grade, Wagner said. Because recruiters ask for 11th and 12th grade lists, schools should send out the forms each year, she Said. . In Montclair, N.J., the high school sends a fact sheet with the opt- out form. Tenth-graders who have not returned the forms are called. If ¢ form is still not turned in, it will be passed out the followin year. ivists have disc working on a New York City Council resolu. tion to require schools to collect the orms from every student. Members of the YaYas and the New York Civil Liberties Union have met with the partment of Education (DOE) to USCUSs putting together an informa- tion packet for principals about opt- out, agner said the DOE was re- ceptive. Calls to the DOE were not returned. Local counter-recruiters also plan to make use of the recent Third Citcuit Court's ruling that Yale Law School, which has a non-discrimina- tion policy, can ban recruiters from 'ts Campus without risk of losing fed- eral funding, because the miliary iscriminates against pays, However, without zhe help of _ the Department of Education or the ty Council, counter-recruiters’ ef. orts can only go so far. This frustra- tion is evident in veteran Dayl Wise said that givi Nhrowing gue, fecal throwing grains of sand on the beach.” ‘ | Hazel Trice Edney - NNPA, ashington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) - John Lewis will never forget March 7, 1965, which would oom . later be- co me known as “Bloody Sunday. It was the first leg of the 54-mile Selma-to- ontgom- , ery, Ala. ~ march orga- nized to help win passage of a national voting rights law. As chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordi- nating Committee (SNCC), Lewis was in front of the line as it formed at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, snaked through downtown Selma, and pro- ceeded along U.S. 80 en route to the Alabama state capital. “We were walking in an or- derly, peaceful fashion with no one saying a word,” says Lewis. “Tt was like military discipline, more than 600 of us walking in twos. We came to the highest point on the [Edmund Pettus] ridge, crossing the Alabama River. Down below, we saw a sea of blue - Alabama state troop- ers. And we continued to walk. And we came within hand dis-- tance of the state troopers. And a man identified himself and said, ‘I am Major John Cloud of the Alabama State Troopers. _ This is an unlawful march. It will not be allowed to continue. - I give you three minutes to dis- perse to your church.’” In an interview with the NNPA News Service, Lewis, now a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, recalls what happened next. * “He left. And in a minute and a half, Major John Cloud said, ‘Troopers advance.’ And we saw these men putting on their gas masks and the came toward us, beating us wich night sticks, bull whips, trampling us with horses, releasing the tear gas,” Lewis recounts. I thought I was By: Michelle Singleta WASHINGTON — The relentless battle by Republicans in Congress, egged on by the credit card indus- try, to push through a bankruptcy bill reminds me of George Foreman and the rope-a- dope boxing technique ~ Muhammad Ali used on him in their historic fight wae in 1974. For several years now, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (and trust me there's little meaningful rotection for consumers in this Flawed piece of legislation) has stayed in the legislative ring. The fight to get the bank- ruptcy bill passed is the classic rope-a-dope. Despite repeated punches, proponents of the bank- ruptcy bill just keep standing up against the ropes waiting for the time they can claim a victory Purchased Pulpits And by Jasmyne Cannick “L freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves...” - Harriet Tubman Recently, a group of | | Black pastors sjunder the |name of the Hi Impact Coalition, held a press ¢onference and summit in Los Ange- les to an- nounce the kick off for their “Black Contract with America op. Moral Values.” Led by Bishop Harry Jackson of Washington and white Christian ical Rev- erend Lou Sheldon and his Traditional Values Coalition, the press conference and summit gave new meaning to the phrase “Sleeping with the enemy. According to the newly formed coalition, topping the list of issues that Black Ameri the protection of marriage. Never mind the war, access to healthcare, HIV/AIDS, education, housing and social security, the number one prob- lem facing Black America is same-sex need to focus on is — oing to die. I thought I saw death And I sort of said to my- self, ‘I’m going to die here. This is my. last protest.’ I just heard people hollering and crying. And. 40 years later, I don’t recall how I made it back across that bridge, back to that little church.” The graphic violence shown on national television news pro- grams that night helped to win empathy and compassion for the. protesters who retreated to the Brown Chapel, where they had begun the march. | Next Tuesday will mark the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sun- day. While no one questions the effectiveness of the Selma-to- Montgomery March, some ask whether marching is a tactic that has outlived its usefulness. “Dr. King said - and I think after all these years later, it’s still very relevant — he said, ‘There is nothing more powerful than the marching feet of a deter- mined people,” Lewis recalls. Jesse Jackson Sr., who dropped out of the Chicago Theological Seminary to partici- pate in the Selma-to-Montgom- ery March, agrees. “Marching inspires people. It educates people,” ” says Jack- son, president and CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. “When the mass march comes, the camera comes. The to and fro takes place. The anxiety rises. Involvement happens. Mass ac- tion gets mass results. Usually, class action gets class results. Inaction gets no results.” _ Jackson points to his home- town, Greenville, S.C., as an ex- ample of how protest still works. Greenville went for 19 years without recognizing the Martin Luther King holiday Jackson returned to his hometown to lead marches _ around the issue and help oust three council members opposed to honoring Dr. King. On Feb- ruary 1, the Greenville County Council voted 7-5 to begin ob- serving the holiday next year. “It’s litigation, demonstra- tion, legislation and registration. It has always taken that combi- against already financially spent consumers. Proponents of the bill argue that the current bankruptcy system needs a major overhaul because too many people who have the means to repa their creditors walk away from their financial obligations. To hear them tell it, people are jumping for joy when the come out of bankruptcy because they have cleverly avoided having to pay their debts. at's just not so, argue con- sumer groups and others fighting to defeat the bill. In a letter to Sen- ate leaders, a group of bankruptcy and commercial law experts argue that even if the system needs fix- ing, what's in the ring now is flawed. The current bankruptcy system works as it should, the groups contend. Bankruptcy judges and trustees overseeing con- sumer bankruptcy cases do exactly what they are supposed to do. They ferret out the system-cheaters. They make consumers with finan- cial resources pay back their credi- tors. For example, when consum- ers file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy marriage. . - Standing before the press in their Sunday best and eager to get their fif- teen minutes of fame and achievable share of President Bush's Faith Based Initiative, these Black pastors seem- ingly allowed their pulpits to be pur- chased by the GOP and Lou Sheldon, who is to gay people what Strom Thurmond was to Blacks. Sheldon at one ume even went so fr as ° sup. rt the quarantining o e wi Al DS and accused the federal govern- ment of “running a network of whorehouses,” when the U.S. re- sponded to the AIDS crisis with re- sources, Later that afternoon over one hundred Black pastors gathered at Reverend Fred Price's Crenshaw Christian Center, another prominent mega-church, where Sheldon showed his infamous ony fights special rights” video and urged the pastors to have theif congregations lobby Afri- can American legislators who hadn't taken a position on the issue of same- sex marriage. Listenin ae ihe ene one might have t they were listen- ni on a Klan meeting, but after eter ar r thi of Dave e's por- trayal of a blind Black white ieee - highest bi Nat Irvin, founder of Future Focus 220, a futuristic think tank at Wake Forest University in neighboring North Carolina, thinks marching is quickly be- coming a thing of the past. “It will be difficult to find one issue that will cause masses of Black people to take to the streets,” Irvin predicts. “It would have to be really an egregious kind of thing directed at Black eople intentionally to cause Black people to respond.” Jackson is not convinced. “It’s always been those who didn’t want to march and com- plained about. marching, who didn’t understand marching,” he counters. “We're debating a time-tested winner.” John Lewis andgprotesters in- Selma certainly emerged as win- ners. Eventually, more than 3,000 peciettet austcecd across the ridge en route to Montgomery. _ After the rally in Montgomery, violence struck again. Viola Gregg Liuzzo, 39, the wife of a Detroit Teamster offi- cial and mother of four who had gone South to support civil rights, had been shot to death by a carload of Klansmen as she and a young Black SCLC worker were on their way to Montgom- ery to return some demonstrators to Selma. Three of the four Klansmen were charged with murder; the fourth was an undercover FBI in- formant. The first trial ended in a hung jury and the second in an acquittal. The three were finall convicted of violating Liuzzo’s civil rights and each was sen- tenced to 10 years in prison. Moved by the continued vio- lence against African-Americans and their supporters,Congress passed the Voting Rights Act that summer, and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into faw on Aug. 6, 1965, removing many of the barriers to Black political empowerment. Black elected of- ficials increased from 300 in 1965 to 9,040 in 2000, accord- ing to the Joint Center for Po- litical and Economic Studies. Civil rights issues of the 21st century, including the need for Bankruptcy Rope-A-Dope and can clearly pay something, the courts have the authority to switch those people to Chapter 13. Still, supporters of the bank- ruptcy bill say the system is being abused. They want debtors to sub- mit to needs-based testing to de- termine whether they should be al- lowed to file under Chapter 7 or be forced into Chapter 13. Under Chapter 7, almost all debts are erased. Filers are usually allowed to keep certain property, such as some equity in a primary residence and household goods. The majority of individuals filing for bankruptcy protection use Chapter 7. Under Chapter 13, creditors are repaid, in full or in part, in installments over a three- to-five-year period. For many opponents of the bankruptcy bill, the means testing is the most worrisome. It doesn’t al- low the courts to consider whether a debtor is seeking bankruptcy relief because of some terrible circum- stance, complains Edmund Mierzwinski, consumer program di- rector for the nonprofit U. . Public o had never been told he was health care, quality education, anti-war policies, and continued protections for voting rights are more than enough reason to continue marching, says Lewis. Lucy G. Barber, author of “Marching on Washington: The Forging of an American Politi- cal Tradition,” agrees that marching in America will in- crease - but for different reasons. “It used to be somethin that’s done by more libera groups. Now, groups of all dif- erent stripes use protest at the local level and at the national level to publicize their causes and draw attention to it,” says Barber, an archivist and histo- rian for the California State Ar- chives in Sacramento. Recently, conservative groups have taken to the streets to highlight the issues of same- sex marriages and abortion. Carl Mack, a former NAACP chapter president in Washington state and now ex- ecutive director of the National Society of Black Engineers, says marching will remain an effec- tive tool. 7 “You have to sustain it. And, of course, when you do some- thing as dramatic as march on the Freeway in rush hour traffic, it is impactful,” Mack says. He was referring to his NAACP chapter’s response to the 2002 shooting death of a Black motorist by an off-duty White sheriff in Seattle. They marched on the freeway to call attention to the issue, then con- tinued marches and protests over the next two years. On the opposite coast, Damu Smith, chairman and founder of Black Voices for Peace, says his group will join anti-war marches at Fort Brag in Fayetteville, N.C. on March 19 and on Sept.10 in New York during a special session of the United Nations. “We have not been able to compel a fundamental change in the policy, but we have put the Bush administration on the de- fensive about this war.” Smith says. Shanta Driver, a convener of BAMN (By Any Means Neces- sary), the group that organized am | ¢ % 00 mm at least 10,000 student march- ers outside the U. S. Supreme Court two years ago as justices heard arguments in two Univer: sity of Michigan affirmative ac- tion cases. : She is organizing a march for April 1 in Ann Atbor to op- pose Black conservative Ward Connerly’s ballot initiative to limit affirmative action in Michigan. | “We' calling it ‘Operation King’s Dream’”, Driver says. “We believe his methods of. fighting and his vision are one.” Meanwhile, Lewis is prepar- ing to commemorate Bloody Sunday by marching with a group back across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday. “More than anything you have to have a group of people, dedicated, committed with a made up mind that are prepared, literally, to do the extraordi- nary,” Lewis says. “They may not be beaten. They may not get arrested. But, simple, organized marching will appeal to the conscious of the people.” Interest Research Group. Other opponents of the bill have a problem with a requirement that would force individual debt- ors to get credit counseling. On the surface that sounds reasonable. However, recent Senate hearings found some disturbing problems in the credit counseling industry, . as a group of bankruptcy and com- mercial law professions pointed out in a lettey to Sens. Arlen Spec- ter, chairman of the Judiciary Commitee, and Patrick Leahy, the ranking Democrat. “The industry is plagued with consumer complaints about exces- sive fees, pressure tactics, nonexist- ent counseling and education, promised results that never come about, ruined credit ratings, poor service, and in many cases being left in worse debt than before they initiated their debt management plan,” wrote the group of profes- sors, who erie leading authori- ties on bankruptcy such as Eliza- beth Warren of Harvard Law School. I know some of you are already scrunching your face up, ready to pen me a Vetter or shoot off an e- \ Spiritual Exploitations Black pulpits are for sale to the delet and Black Christians are quite possibly being sold to the GOP under the guise of protecting Americas moral values. With claims that gays are “hi-jacking” the civil ights movement and Martin Luther Jr.'s message, Sheldon is bribing’ Black pastor after pastor and ch after church with check after check to take another look at the GOP and partnering with their white Christian counterparts all while using the Bible as a justification for their commonal- ity. Yes, the same book that was used to justify racism, sexism and anti- Semitism has both Black and white Christian evangelicals reading from the same page, Few remember, that there were significant members of the Black church including the Na- tional Baptist Convention led by Dr. J.H. Jackson in the 50’s that vehemently opposed the civil rights movement and didn’t want Progressive ministers like Dr. King to have any confrontations wit the government. So much so, that was one of the major factors in Dr. King’s decision to create the Southern Christian Leadership onference along with Los Ange- les ministers Reverend James Lawson and the late Dr. Thomas Kilgore. . These Black pastors who have aligned themselves with white Chris- tian evangelicals and Conservatives, are the ideological “esoendlens ofthe same people who o r. in 508 and what heels but Ag day want to claim his message as their own in the name of protecting the in- stitution of marriage therefore giving new meaning to the name “Uncle Tom.” ‘ However, don't think that these new partnerships come without strings attached. The Black vote is expected to be hand delivered on legislative that supports discrimina- tion against gays and lesbians and their right to protect their families, denying a woman's right to choose and pushing the President's absti- nence only campaign. In addition, our religious leaders are also ex- pected to remain silent and not be the prophetic voices they should be on issues of critical importance to. Blacks. In exchange for money, they've essen their congre- gations to people who continue to oppose universal access to haathcadel education and housing, mail with outrage. People need to be more responsible and shouldn't be so easily entitled to a get-out- of-debt-free card, you grumble. I'm not suggestin that some folks who file for bankruptcy haven't been financially irresponsible. But it is mote likely the case that a di- vorce, major illness or job loss re- sults in a consumer bankruptcy. The truth is many people are just a paycheck, job loss or uncov- ered medical catastrophe away from bankruptcy. And the fastest growing group of bankruptcy filers is older Americans, according to bankruptcy and commercial law professors. More than 50 percent of those 65 and older are driven to bankruptcy by medical debts they cannot Pay. “Here again, abuse is not the issue,” the professors said in an open letter to senators. “The bank- ruptcy filing rate reveals holes in the Medicare and Social Security systems, as seniors and aging mem- bers of the baby-boom generation declare bankruptcy to deal with Prescription drug bills, co-pays, medical supplies, long-term care, and job loss.” I have spent hours talking to consumers who have filed for bank- tuptcy. The folks I interviewed didn't see a victory in their financial failure. Many people who file for bankruptcy feel ashamed. Most people fle for bankruptcy as a last resort. They don’t go skipping in and out of court gleeful that didn’t have to pay their debts. Many of the provisions in the bankruptcy bill are too harsh. This round, the bankruptcy bill needs to be knocked out for the count. Listen to Michelle Singletary discuss personal finance every Tuesday on NPR’s “Day to Day. To hear her reports online go to www.npr.org. Readers can write to her c/o The Washington Post, 1150 15th St., N.W,, Washington, D.C. 20071. Her e-mail address is singletarym@washpost.com. Comments and questions are wel- come, but due to the volume of mail, personal responses may not be possible. Please also note com- ments or questions may be used in a future column, with the writer's name, unless a specific re- quest to do otherwise is indicated. Ms. Singletery writes for the Washington Post Writers Group the very issues at the core of the Black struggle. There's a coordi- nated religious campaign to get ministers across the state to speak out against gays and the debate is not about religion but more about polities, power and keeping that po- itical power in the hands of people ee stood in the schoolhouse door, ting for segregation and against oe fa oa of Blacks in soci- ety. Zora Neal Hurston once said, “Not all Black skin is kin.” Can I get a witness? h ; Cannick ‘At 27, Jasmyne Cannick is fre- quent presence on television and ra- io and has appeared on numerous media programs, including Black Entertainment Television News, the Tavis Smiley Show, Fox News and the Bev Smith Show. She has also been featured or quoted in articles in the Associated Press, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wash- ington Post, St. Petersburg Times, Africana.com, Eurweb.com and Bet.com. Cannick is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, a board member of the yeti eT Hae Coalition, a y civil rights organization and cor roducer of the new cable series Noah's Arc, America’s first lack gay series, Cannick is the Di- rector of Public Relations for the Black AIDS Institute. She lives in Los Angeles and can be reached via www.jasmynecannick.com The Minority Voice Newspaper is Published by The Mi Voice, inc. Jim Rouse Publisher/Founder 5 See OG. Sims, Ks perations Manager/Editor Home Office 405 Evans St. P.O. Box 8361 Greenville, NC 27835 Phone: {252 757-0365 Fax: Sih 57-1793 IL a@olLcom The Minority Voice is Owned & Operated by Jim Rouse Communications, also dba WOOW Radio Greenville NC. Wm. Clark: Gen. Mgr. and WTOW Radio, Washington, NC. Our Subscription Rates Are A Modest $40/year $20/Halt Year “ onset c aang FE er re USS. attorney has launched a quiet probe into the _By Johnnie L., Roberts tant federal prosecutor in Manhattan, The violence first erupted into Death Row Records (now Tha Row). NEW YORK ooo berwcen is involved. When Scudder was public view in the mid-1990s, That It took on all the bloodiness of a real the trial of a rap iva vie for top head- tion he referred all inqueries to a Coast-West Coast rap wars pitting Shakur, Death Row’s star, and the s - lines recently, federal authorities are oman for U.S. attorney of the Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ New York- ing a few months later of Notorious Pressing a wide-ranging investigation District of New York. Cit- Sane Rin emerainmene spans BIG, Bad Boy's star. Both murders re- into the $1.5-billion hip-hop music ing Justice Department policy, she Suge Knight's Los Angeles-based main unsolved, despite massive inves- industry. would neither confirm nor deny the According to top industry insid- existence of an investigation. ets, federal investigators are digging For some of those caught up into a playlist of crimes, ranging extortion and robbery to the _ industry's persistent violence and mounting casualties—including the unsolved murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG. Investigators are “asking about anyone in hip hop from what I understand,” says a top ‘music lawyer. Another top lawyer and a prominent entertainment business manager also said they were aware of an investigation. In a recent NEWSWEEK interview, one influ- ential executive who was questioned recently by investigators adds: “It’s a investigation of hip hop and the music business and the crimes have come out of it.” Although the probe is months, if not years, old, these sources say, buzz about it began to resonate within hip- hop circles in recent days, fueled by a fresh round of violence when entou- rages for The Game, rap’s latest phe- nomenon, and 50 Cent, perhaps rap's biggest star, allegedly ngage in a shooting match outside New York's top hip-hop radio station on ones The encounter left a member of The Game's with a minor gunshot wound, ie to authorities. Later, several shots reportedly were fired in front of 50 Cent's manager's office. New York police are now taking pre- cautions to try to prevent a rap war between the wwe Sia Raymond Kelly, New York City’s police commis- this week. . se onialy the les shoo 3 test oc- curred on the same day hers Lif Kim went on wil for allegedly lying to a federal ry investigating a shootout in front of | the same tao station in 2001. That firefight alleg- edly involved a lo ite between Lil’ Kim and rapper Foxy Brown. Federal investigators “are pissed off,” especially by the latest shooting outsi radio station, said ‘one music industry insider who was contacted by the federal investigators. As best can be determined, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan is lead- ing the probe, either as part of a Jus- uae Task Force, through volving grand jury thar basicaly fe vo ury ens erent coal aly has Says the prominent entertainment at- torney. ho ing to people familiar with the matter, Scudder, in the current investigation, it’s a . . ° b jarring experience. “It's scary,” says the prominent industry execitive _ who was questioned by investiga- tors. This person, who isn’t sus- pected of any crimes, said he was _ ~asked generally, “what's going on and what's the story” about shootings and unsolved murders. Based on his contact with the au- thorities, the executive said he believes ~ the investigators “have found ary § people who've come forward” wi evidence about artists being extorted and robbed. “They are looking at money coming into the business and going out of tive said. . The executive said he was asked if he knew anything about two indi- viduals in particular. One was Jimmy Henchman Rosemond ho Case Enter- tainment, a prominent talent-mai ment firm whose clients ATE, among others, The Game. Asked whether he was aware that ‘deral te ors were ini ut or whether hed been questonelby the authorities, Rosemond through his spokeswoman declined to comment. “FF there is an investigation, we're not concerned,” said the spokeswoman, Sibrena Stowe deFernandez. “We're legitimate business executives.” During their recent questioning of witnesses, investigators also have mentioned the recent indictment of Irv “Gotti” Lorenzo, cofounder of rap label The Inc. (formerly Murder Inc.). Last month, the federal government Gotti, as he is widely known, with using The Inc. to help launder drug money. (Hip-hop stars Ja Rule and Ashanti record for the label, but neither is implicated in the money- laundering case.) - During their questioning, inves- tigators also expressed a d mila. ity with the case against Lif Kim, sa those who were recently amiervines That investigators alluded to both the Lil’ Kim and Gotti cases suggests that they might be linked to the broader investigation. ¢ hip-hop scene, most notably the gangsta rap music sub-genre, has long been p' by violence. Hos- tility has been a staple of gangsta rap lyrics from the beginning, and many of rap’s top stars acknowledge that they were former drug dealers or gang members. Ow neaerrs € bac ew bes sanvecd business,” the execu- | By Robert Bums | WASHINGTON - Young blacks have grown markedly less willing to join the Army, citing fear of being sent to fight a war in Iraq they don't believe in, according to unpublicized studies for the military that suggest the Army is entering a prolonged recruiting slump. Fear of combat also is a leading reason fewer young women are choosing the Army, the studies say. Although female soldiers are barred by law from assignments in direct combat, they nonetheless have found themselves under attack b insurgents in Iraq, and 32 have died, “More African Americans iden- tify having to fight for a cause they don't support as a barrier to mili service,” concluded an August 2004 _ study for the Army. It also said atti- tudes toward the Arm among all groups of American youth have grown More negative in recent years. “In the past, barriers were about inconvenience or preference for an- other life choice,” the study said. “Now they have switched to some- thing quite different: fear of death or injury.” Statistically, the fear fac- tor is about twice as strong among potential recruits as a whole as it was in 2000, the study said. 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SAALAIPTITICITTITITITO aT T Army Finds Recruiting Young The Army has suffered more of the 1,500-plus U.S. deaths in Iraq than any other service, and thousands have been wounded. Some sokiens peat While Army leaders say soldiers ave shown a strong interest in re-en- listing, the strains of war seem to have become a barrier to first-time enlist- ees. The Army's recruiting challenge is critically important not only to the long-term commitment in Iraq but also to the Army’s goal of ex- panding by 30,000 soldiers. Through the first five months of the budget year which began last Oct. 1, the active Army is about 6 per- cent behind schedule to meet its 2005 recruiting goal. Explaining the overall drop-off, Army officials cite an improving national economy that offers more career opportunities as well as con- cern about the war in Iraq. Blacks make up about 23 t of today’s active-duty Army, bat the share o} Slacks in the recruit classes of recent years dropped. From 22.7 per- cent at the tithe of te Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the share slid to 19.9 percent in 2002; 16.4 percent in 2003 and 15.9 percent last year, accordi ; to figures provided By Ana Rea : ing Co spokesman >= [Don't Mak mmand Smith In fact, we provide it to them, 24/7. And, because of our consistent , we've carned a solid reputation for reliability, nd in the community, So you know you can depend ness running like it should. Powerfully, performance In the business world a On us to keep your busi . rye 20° ind fi a long: “8 and, acconding to sources, a second rap label that is highly familiar to the pub- lic. Since the murders of the genre's two bi stars, a of other kill- i i ings and assaults The slide has continued, drop- ping to 13.9 percent as of Feb. 9. A July 2004 study of parents’ influence on young people of re- cruiting age found that black par- ents have more say in their child’s career decisions than is the case hip-hop music business _ have left hip hop bloodstained. In 2002, Jam Master Jay of the pioneer. ing rap group Run DMC was shor dead. Authorities have yet to charge anyone with his murder. Jobnnig L. Roberts wirtes for Newsweek. Blacks Tougher As recently as 2001, ‘before the global war on terrorism, young people tended to think of military service as less risky. The 1991 Gulf War had ended after only 100 hours of ground combat wi relatively few deaths, and no with white par- S ents. Also, black parents trust the mili- tary less and have more Youth The Branch’s Image Suf- frag Among All Groups o 6 percent behind schedule to meet its 2005 recruiting goal. American soldier died in the 1999 air war over SOVO. Females is about moral objec- tions to military service. The Army isn’t the only service having trouble finding recruits. The Marine Corps fell slightly short of its recruiting goal in January - the first month that had happened in nearly a decade - amid parents’ con- cerns about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the Marines remain on target to meet their full- year goal. . Navy and Air Force have had no problems meeting their goals. PA eRe done shortly after President Bush declared major combat operations in Iraq had ended, concluded, “Combat is the number one reason why” blacks dont want to join the Army. Smith, the Army Recruiting Command spokesman, said Mon- day that the current, reduced level of black recruits is closer to the per- centage of young blacks in the eli- pible nonin “Our strategy of ing representative of America is working,” he said. also are get- ting harder to recruit, with the share of females in Army recruiting classes falling for four years running, from 21.6 percent in 2001 to 19.2 per- cent last year. It has slipped still fur- ther this year to 17.1 percent. “Over time, females are seeing less benefits to joining the Army and more barriers, particularly combat- related reasons,” concluded another study done for the Army last spring by the market research firm Millward Brown. Another study cited a survey that said 50 percent of youth rate the Army as their last choice for a career ° There is a lot of work to be done, and it will eae: to make major changes in the Army experience and ie Ae image,” thar study concluded. Risks of military service, and particularly the Army, are per- ceived to far outweigh the rewards for the vast majority of youth.” By Robert Burns writes for the AP Woria H,Namaz Broker LANDMARK PROPERTIES (252) 756- 1403 BUSINESS (252) 756-7144 FAX (252) 341-3552 CELLULAR 1-888-537-1403 TOLLFREE noria.namaz@coldwellbanker.com Sah Canin npr ome Aas Opens ig A Move We thes tas Meet ? Without Me Around here, businesses have plenty of power, Touchstone Energy’ otNon Can Former Pr 1 if Rev Al Sharpton -_ By Tracy Connor and Bill Hutchinson NEW YORK CITY -The Rev. Al Sharpton is calling for a 90-day ban on radio and TV airplay for any performer who uses violence zo settle scores or hype albums. “There has to be a way to step in and regulate what’s going on with the airwaves and with vio- lence,” Sharpton told the Daity News yesterday. “The airwaves are being used to romanticize urban violence.” oe esidential Candidate The ‘activist minister plans to ask the Federal. Communications _ Commission and the country’s ma- jor radio broadcasters to back his proposal. His call follows last week’s shooting outside Hot 97 radio’s SoHo studios that apparently was _ Sparked by a feud between rappers 50 Cent and The Game. , _Amember of The Game's en- tourage, Kevin Reed, 23%- of Compton, Calif., was shot in the buttocks after 50 Cent bad- mouthed The Game during an on- air interview at the radio station. Bad blood between 50 Cent and The Game continued to boil over the weekend when The Game challenged his former mentor to “Come get me, you little bitch!” during a concert in Long Beach, Calif. Last night, 50 Cent was es- corted through LaGuardia Airport - by Port Aut ority cops “for his own protection” when he arrived on a plane from Detroit about 8 p-m., a Port Authority spokesman said. Said Sharpton, “We may not be able to stop people from shoot- ing, but we can stop people from profiting from the violence.” Sharpton declined to comment specifically on the beef between 50 Cent, who was born Curtis Jack- son, and The Game, whose real * We've Moved!" Heel/Sew 'y Across From Ryan Steak House ‘Suite#24 3400 South Memorial Drive Open Mon-Sat 10AM - 8PM # Quik ey —— Center Telephone (252) 756-0044 Call the fetate name is Jayceon Taylor. _Sharpton said he has no inten- tion of trying to broker peace be- tween the two rap stars, who have both recently released top-selling CDs. . “You can't deal with this on an COMMENTARY: MEMPHIS -Who knows exactly what happened Monday night . | (Feb. 28) in New York City between rappers 50 Cent and newcomer |The Game, but when the smoke cleared } (literally) one ial man was shot in the lobby of radio sta- tion WQHT- FM (Hot 97). It probably doesn’t really mat- ter how it all started, what was said 50 Cent, the Gam By Nekesa Mumbi Mood NEW YORK CITY - By March 9 after selling 1.1 million copies of his new album in four days has softened the heart of 50 Cent. Or maybe he has so many feuds going, he can af- ford to let one go. "On Wednesday, 50 Cent and The Game publicly squashed a bit- ter feud that had erupted into gun- fire last week after 50 kicked Game out of his G-Unit clique for disloy- alty. The two platinum-selling gangsta rappers didn't exactly kiss and make up. When they emerged before a media throng at Harlem's famed Schomburg Center for Re- . search in Black Culture, both looked as if theyd been shoved into apolo- - gies by a stern mother. But they did shake hands, albeit at the end of the press conference, after speaking about contrition and the need for peace. 50 noted that Wednesday was the anniversary of the unsolved mur- der of Biggie Smails in 1997, the culmination of a rap war between Biggie and Tupac Shakur that pit- a East Coast against West. Salary Disputes Nearly Crushed This Group's Reunion Before It Seated “ "We're here today to show that artist-by-artist basis,” he said. “I’m not going to become a mediator between artists. This is a recurring problem.” In a letter Sharpton plans to send to the FCC and. broadcasters, he said the outcry against violence The 50 Cent cost of shooting a Man or not said. All that should matter is that a gun(s) was shot in the left leg and taken to St. Vincent’s Hos- pital, where he was listed in stable condition the néxt day. Sadly, it all sounds like a scene from a mob movie showing at your neighbor- hood theatre. But this is real life and not the movies, so it’s particu- larly sad that this incident oc- curred on the streets of New York _ and in the studios of Hot 97 - would have played out on streets of the Dodge City. At any rate apparently 50 Cent said on the air that The Game was no longer part of his camp (Game was 50’s protégé). That statement was su osedly e Call Foss Fe ae ee March 2005 The Minority Voice Newspaper Page 5 among entertainers should be just as loud as the response last year to Janet Jackson’s breast-baring Super Bowl stunt. “I recall the outrage that the FCC and others displayed in re- sponse to the Super Bowl perfor- in response to Th Game's disre- specting 50 on air at another New York radio sta- tion. ear- lier. (Or at least 50 said he was disre- spected.) As a re- sult, while 50 was on the air with Funk mas- ter Flex, The Game and some of his crew allegedly went to the sta- tion attempting to gain entrance Calling for Ban On Gangsta Rap mance of Janet Jackson,” Sharpton wrote. “Yet, when acts of violence — happen around radio stations that actually have caused bloodshed, there has been a strange and dis- turbing silence from all quarters.” Rappers '50 Cent and The Game appear at the Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture on March 9, 2005 in Manhattan to announce they will end their fued and donate money to the Harlem Boys Choir eople can rise aboye the most dif- feu t circumstances and together we can put negativity behind us," said 50, a native New Yorker. "A lot of people don't want to see it happen, but we're responding to the two most important groups, our family and our fans." "I just want to apologize on behalf of myself and 50," said Game, who's from the Los Ange- les suburb of Compton. "I'm al- most ashamed to have participated in the things that happened in the last couple of weeks." 50 presented an oversized check for $150,000 to the Boys Choir of Harlem. Game donated $103,500. It was not clear why Game chose that amount or whether he had been reinstated in G-Unit; no questions were taken Several nice Realtor © Ne “Serving Eastern North Carolina Since 1946 Call us if you need someone to collect: We handle Conv., HUD, VA, FHA Financing Public ¢ Accounting Greenville, NC 27834 Of (252) 757 - 1162 (262) 787-1692 Fax Number (252) 787-0018 i 2 lots... , The Living Faith is now holding services at their NEW LOCATION 2241 Dickinson Ave Greenville, NC (the former Moose Lodge) SERVICES _ Sunday @ 10:00AM Tuesday @ 7:00PM ANNOUNCEMENT Prophetic Ministeries i with some men in the lobby who’ were leaving the building when the shooting took place. (And there you have it. The good thing is chat in a twist of ate, this f likely play well for 50, who ate about to release his new album, _ appropriately titled, “The Mas- sacre. Is he psychic or what? It also goes without saying that The Game too, will likely benefit from increased sales of his al- ready top-selling CD, The Docu- mentary. In other words, in the rap game this is a win-win situa: tion - if you don't count the man who was shot in the leg. And no doubt, there are a few out there who do count him!) Tim Butler - Tri-State Defender truce, Give Boys Club $250,000 at the press conference. They also both made contributions to the Compton schools music program. Is the truce sincere? "Of course it was genuine," said hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, who was at the event. "They stood on stage together.” At the very least, it was a re- markable concession for rappers who routinely brag about kil ing their enemies. “Tt is the first time we've seen 50 publicly take a step back" from a attle, said Elliott Wilson, editor in chief of the hip-hop magazine XXL. In a statement earlier Wednes- day, 50 Cent said: "I'm launching a new foundation, the G-Unity Foundation, Inc., to help people overcome obstacles and make a chance for the better in their lives .. to help them overcome their situations. I realized that if I'm going to be effective at that, I have to overcome some of my own. Game and I need to set an example in the community." 50 Cent has always set an ex- ample - usually as an unapologetic criminal gleefully wreaking havoc on other rappers. He almost single-handedly dismantled the multi-platinum career of Ja Rule by relentlessly targeting him in songs, magazines and his 2003 debut, the eight-million selling "Get Rich or Die Tryin’." Last week 50 released his sophomore CD, "The Massacre," which including a song attacking trappers like Fat Joe, Nas and Jadakiss for making a record with Ja Rule. But his beef with Game was unusual because it involved a member of his own camp. As 50 was on the radio an- nouncing the expulsion of Game from G-Unit - apparently because Game wouldn't turn his back on some of 50s many enemies - Game's crew rolled up to the sta- tion. Guns were fired inside the lobby and a member of Game's posse was wounded. Game is a protege of superproducer Dr. Dre, who put Eminem on the map, who in turn made 50 Cent a superstar. They're all on the same parent label, See Rappers Page 1 North Carolina's National College Savings Program This 529 plan offers: Tax-free earnings Flexible contributions No enrollment fees Multiple investment options Use at virtually any college, anywhere College 7 Foundation of North Carolina © College Foundation, Ine. 2005. The Program Description for CFNC oorg/Savings 800-600-3453 North Carolina's Nutional College Savings Program provides complete information p berth ‘ lt cael nee j Fi he j . fe Pye ye " ’ ‘ on options, fees, aie riske und restrictions, Pleuse read it carefully befor muking o deeision to fnvest. The features of $2 ) Qualified Tuition Programs are comp ev and involve significant tax issues, and certain tax features are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2010, unless etended 7 oe a eee, orrible situation will - © SPP PERT PPI ‘ Older Unm The newly analyzed census data has received a shocker: The number of men and women 65 and older who choose to live together without getting married had nearly doubled in a decade, says Linda Greider, a freelance writer in Washington, DC. In fact, some 9.7 million unmarried artners were cohabiting in 2000. The census counted 266,000 couples in the 65 plus group. With some couples are reluctant to report their living arrangements, many ex- rts think those numbers are much igher—and expect those numbers to climb as baby boomers age and Americans in general stay healthy and live longer. Nancy (alias), 65 and Joe (alias), 64 met at a dance. After a full year of debate, they decided to set up housekeeping together. “ If someone had told me 10 years ago I'd feel this way, I would have said they were crazy”, said Nancy, a widow who was mar- ried for 39 years. But wedding bells are not in Nancy and Joe’s a What earlier generations used to call “living in sin” has become the Aimuinity Doices arried Couples most reasonable-and economically feasible-way for many older people to have companionship, especially after a divorce or the death of a spouse. What stops many of them flom tying the knot is the prospect of financial loss, a worry that trumps any desire for the religious or social blessings of marriage. Remarriage may mean giving up a former spouse's pension, Social Security and medical insurance. Nancy, who has hepatitis C and is a breast cancer sur- vivor, would lose the health benefits of her late husband, an Air Force officer, that help pay her substantial medical costs. Some older couples stay single in order to avoid the objections of their grown children who fear the will be displaced in their parent's affection-and in their will-or that a new spouse will take advantage of their parent financially or emo- tionally. Bob (alias) 66, com- ments,” I don't want a remarriage. I want a friend and confidante- someone to hike and travel with, someone who shares my values. I’m not against marriage, but it’s not the right choice for me.” While many cohabitation de- cisions seem based on Yi. practicalities, romance can be abig p= _ part of the equation. One geron- tologist referred to the steamy. prime time TV show Beverly Hills 90210 by saying that, “the human drama is the same whether you are 18 or 88." Older people are sexual, too”, he added. Nor that long ago an older woman wouldn't consider romance, let alone sex and cohab- iting, if her husband had died, If she did, it was in secret. But today, both society and religious theory | accord that God wants people to’ be happy and that in Jesus Christ there is liberty, Nancy's priest has assured and enlightened her to this attitude about her relationship.- . Regardless of the judgment of people, she knew that before her hus- and died, he had told her that he wanted her to have companionshi which made her more comfortab in her new relationship. Her friends, who were once “preachy” and judg- mental about her live-in arrange- ment, have warmed to the idea. Her most “judgmental” friend has since developed a relationship of her own. That's a long way from when N: and Joe first got together and friend: » “When are you two lovebirds going to get married?” Nancy’s re- ply, “When I get pregnant.” Note: This article does not necessarily reflect the sanction of, or neither disapproval of the writer nor the publisher of Minority Voice Newspaper. It is for your in- formation only. a dBi na rvs Carolina Uni- versity has n t “Marty” Hackney of Washington N.C. to di- rect the newly organized Entrepre- neurial Initiative. Hackney, age 52, currently serves as the anaes for the Small Business and Technology Develop- went soak dey .) ci ECU. orking through the UNC System's Office the President, and in part- nership with the Small Business Ad- ministration, the SBTDC helps small businesses improve their operations and expand, as well as providing help to serious start-up businesses. The Entrepreneurial Initiative will focus on fostering entrepreneur- ship within the university community and eastern North Carolina. A major goal of the initiative is to help regional entrepreneurial companies develop and grow. The new effort will create part- nerships with public and private orga- nizations to stimulate innovation in the region, and it will coordinate and offer entrepreneurial seminars and Gid Holloman Chimney Sweep he Shee biiky | enn enaenhadinauestuleiieerareneee fy networking opportunities. “This inwrative is designed to build on the talents of individuals in case North Carolina and at ECU to develop and keep companies in east- ern Norh Cn vid Dr. Ron Nowaczyk, associate vice chancellor, who heads ECU's Regional Develop- ment Services. “I am excited to have the rtu- nity to work with university and com- munity leaders to create products and ies that will im our region,” said. “Our ill be to build a $ system from concept to , commercialization that can compete in the economy. Sa Initiative has three primary objectives: feate regional partnerships with public and private organiza- tions that help the university develop companies and take products to mar- et. Create partnerships with public and private organizations to stimulate innovation throughout the business community in eastern North Carolina. - Foster practical experience for ECU students in an entrepreneurial environment. The Entrepreneurial Initiative works with a few select companies each yeat, as well as potential companies that develop from faculty ideas and prod- ucts. These companies will be: “ en ag Sy E | : ial - re-screened by the SBTDC and ECU's Office of Technology Transfer. - Companies may be either “spin- ins” — companies from outside ECU but from this region that need ECU research or technology help — or “spin- outs,” companies developed by ECU faculty that are ready for commercial- ization. Students and faculty from across the different colleges at ECU will have to opportunity to be involved in this development Process as part of their teaching/learning process. Student teams will learn the process of taking an idea from concept to commercial- ization. Hackney, who earned her master’s degree in business adminis- tration from ECU, has more than 25 years of experience in finance, ad- ministration, technology, manufac- turing, retail, real estate and consul- tation. She is active in various civic organizations, including the ECU College of Business Commerce Club, Self-Help Credit Union Re- gional Advisory Board, the Greenville Noon Rotary, Eastern Carolina Research Foundation Board, North Carolina World Trade Association, Pitt Greenville Cham- ber of Commerce and the Pamlico/ Tar River Foundation. Hackney assumed her new du- ties on March 14, 2005. Save the Date — CC a. Bile JA monthly column by East Carolina University rae . i By Dr. Steve Ballard The word “diversity” often evokes Sours and images of dif- erences. In fact, the dictionary de- fines diversity as “the fact or quality of being diverse; difference.” ~ Another way to think about di- versity is in terms of variety, such as having a diverse background, or ex- Ploring a diverse set of viewpoints on a particular subject. . Here at ECU, we yalue diver- sity for all of these points, and even more. We believe diversity means having a wide array of thinking, viewpoints, ideas, ex- periences, cultures, values and philosophies, 7 a Cultural diversity should mean something to each of us, both professionally and person- ally. For us to live together as a peace-abiding society, each of us must be aware of and sensitive to all members of the community. That, in turn, will enrich our lives. Everyone benefits from a society that honors and under- stands all approaches to living. Because we value different approaches, we have taken a se- ries of steps to help us enact our commitment to diversity among faculty, staff and students. One of the most recent steps we've taken is the current set of interviews for a newly created position of Assistant to the Chancellor for Institutional Di- versity. This position will report directly to me. The person cho- sen will be responsible for ensur- ing this university delivers its commitment to diversity. I will look to this person to ensure we are doing everything we can to honor differences and to engage in issues of equality, multi- culturalism and inclusion. These interviews are set for the latter part of March; I hope to have the position filled soon. Look for a public announcement on the successful candidate. Another recent development is the reopening of the Japan Center East at ECU’s Regional Development Services. Follow- ing the untimely death in 2004 of Don Spence, a long-time ECU faculty member who worked to develop economic development ties between eastern North Caro- lina and Japan, the Japan Center East now.is up and running un- der the direction of Chikako Massey, a native of Japan, who. serves as interim director. ‘With her extensive experi- ence in international business and -consulting, Massey comes to ECU with an impressive background well suited for this region. companies, helping business people learn the subtleties and tra- ditions of Japanese customs as they relate to business. It is just this kind of atten- tion to detail that makes her a great choice for the Japan Cen- ter East. Not only will she be car- © ing on the work of economic ryin evela ment, but she will teach the cultural nuances of Japanese business to American companies, and will help Japanese businesses learn more about American styles of business and management. Massey also will be introduc- ing to Greenville a very old Japa- nese tradition called a “bon dance” during the upcoming In- ternational Festival During summers in Japan, people in many communities gather to celebrate and honor the memories of their ancestors. A main feature of the celebration is a com- munity dance that involves men and women, young and old. Participants wear colorful out- fits (many of us know them as ki- monos), and they form a circle in a wide open area. The slow, graceful movements of the dancers are em- phasized by the deep, resonant sounds of large drums, called “taiko” drums. As the drummers keep the beat, the dancers engage in thyth. mic, beautifully choreographed steps, always honoring and remem- bering their ancestors through their movements. While this Japanese tradition goes back hundreds of years, its he has worked in numerous American © ~ Dr. Steve Ballard, Chancellor opularity in the U.S. is just Peginning In cities and communi- ties with sizeable Japanese popula- tions, the bon dance is gaining fol- lowers from many ethnic back- grounds. It’s one way that'people of different and diverse background: can share a cultural event under the guise of a community experience. This year’s International Festi- val, co-sponsored by ECU’s Office of International Affairs and the City of Greenville, is set for April 16 at the Town Common on First Street. Last year’s event attracted nearly 7,000 people who visited booths featuring exotic and deli- cious foods, clothing and handcrafts from 24 different coun- tries. : This year, you can expect a day of entertainment, education and fun activities that will contribute to our community’s efforts to cel- ebrate our differences and make Greenville a city that embraces di- versity and welcomes all those who call her “home.” t; Eb | eLearatine Our Rowiawo Haners Proroseay uray 252-757 0770 Floral Creations Neck, NC (252) 826-5004 “Family Serving Families” - 2 Hemby Fountain, NC (252) 749.3256 Each year during the month of March, citizens across our count pause to honor the many "sheroes” whose diligence, determination, cour- age and vision have made history. This year's theme is "Women Change America/7 Let's celebrate some women or "sheroes" from a wide range who are “firsts” here in Greenville and Pitt County. Dr. Ha- | dl Brown, Black dentist, Velma "Library, Elizabeth Co Harper, Winterville, Alder woman, Nancy Jenkins, mayor, Pattie Elizabeth Kearney, owner. Hat Shop, Dickinson ; Avenue and one of the founders of Carver Library, Lucille Gotham, Board ~ of Education, Mildred Council, - coundlwoman, . principal, J.H. paca J Shirley Carraway, Rose High School, n, librarian. Carver d, librarian, Sh Memorial Library, Carolyn - Edwards, Trustee, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Hannah Brown, Pitt County Public Health Nurse, Bernita Demery, Director, Financial Services, LouiseMcConnell, Supervi- . sor of Pitt County Schools, Laura Marie Elliott, Black graduate of ECU, Shirley Person, Police lady and Beatrice Maye, a park and first to in- tegrate schools. _ There are so many unsung women whose contributions have made life better for their families and their communities. Perhaps you know some "sheroes" that | don't know. If so, let me know for inclu- sion another year. Note - We centered primarily on African Americans. ‘ How to Ju le A Woman By Hos Het You can get a feel for'more than just a woman's hand by giving it a shake. You can get a grip on her per- sonality. “A handshake sends a mes- sage,” says Robert E. Brown, a Cali- fornia management consultant, longtime handshake observer and lecturer on the psychology of hand- shakes. According to Brown, the best greetings engage the full hand and involve eye contact and a brief lin- get, all of which signify sincerity, confidence and openness. Beware of shakes that are: + Half-handed - A fingers-only squeeze may show a lack of’ connec- tion and a fear of intimacy. # Clammy - A cold and indif- ferent shake typically conveys fear or _ervousness. _ #Two-handed - This double grab tells you the woman wants in- timacy too quickly; it may be a sight) that she cant be trusted. + Over-the-top - When her palm faces down in relation to yours; she is expressing superiority and dominance. © The definition of a real man. He is one who has self-confi- dence but does not show it. He keeps his word, his temper and his friends He can be courteous in the face of discourtesy. He wins respect by be- ing respectable and respectful. He * ment of the Ten Commandments re- ligious message, and that such an en- dorsenient violates the Establishment Fae ne ie seagate ose who defend the displays argue that they reflect the pe | stitutionally legitimate acknowledg- ment of the Ten Commandments’ -Signigicant role in the development of American law and government. Van Orden and McCreary County offer the Supreme Court the Opportunity to clarify its approach to A Monumental Decision: a controversial question: Under what Supreme Court & Federal circumstances may the government Court Considers Constitution- sponsor the display of religious mes- ality of Ten Commandments sages or objects? The Court's resolu- and The Official Seal tion of these cases will strongly influ- by Faith May ence future decisions in official seals On March 2, 2005, the Supreme and mottoes, and the use of religious Court heard oral arguments in Van — in otherwise civic ceremonies Orden v. Perry (No. 03-1500) and such as reciting the Pledge of Alle- McCreary County v. American Civil giance, Liberties Union of Kentucky(No. 03- Also, The Ninth Circuit Court of 1693). The two cases involve chal- Appeals, site of the infamous lawsuit lenges to several government-spon- £0, outlaw the phrase “under God” sored displays of the Ten Commang-.., : from the pledge of Allegiance, has been, rhents. whi are bringing’ 0 ieth yecariSe its” "seal bears the’ challenges contend that these displays image of woman representing the amount to governmental endorse- “Majesty of the Law”. The plaintiffs point out that this | ON woman is reading a book resembling _ atablet ooptining een lines, They claim that the small tablet rests at the woman’ feet is a depiction of the Ten Commandments and must _ be removed from the courthouse and the court’s letterhead because it con- stitutes a government endorsement of religion. The attorney bringing the suit complained that the certificate admit- ting him to practice before the Ninth Circuit Court contains the court's seal that he finds offensive. It appears that the purveyors of secularism don't simply want to wipe out all palpable symbols of faith, but also want to eradicate even ill-defined public works of art that may or may Not pay tribute to religious artifacts. If the government were to rule in thei sans cee we eradicate vestiges of religion from the culture would be ni uickened. Matthew Staver, president of Lib- erty Counsel has initiated the “Defend The Ten” coalition at the Liberty Counsel website. Readers are encouraged to visit the website to learn about this new pro- Fe Vip theres os oa. "Resource: ‘March 2005 National Liberty Journal Looking for a CD that fits your terms? Look no further. At First Citizens Bank, you'll find competitive CD rates with minimum deposit requirements we think will surprise you, Because after all, isn't , it time you found a CD on your terms? To leam more, call or stop by your local branch today. \ Serving the financial needs of our al | community for more than 100 years. FARST CITIZENS BANK ee PRIDE IN AMERICA "som einan Yal 0 be ar changed ot omy thee firstcitizens.com Niemrboer FDIC aot Tar he Ps td 0 at rap ne oT 4 oe shims nein, Cosh etecion may sepa be batved Gh wenea 1-888-FC DIRECT = th has a steady eye, a steady nerve, a steady tongue and steady | is silent when he has nothing to say, and he is calm when he judges and humble when he misjudges. That defines a real man and a gentleman. Don't Skip Breakfast! Few of us would dream of leav- ing the house in the morning with- out brushing our teeth, but many people don’t take time to eat before starting their day. Thisis a mistake. Upon waking, your body has been fasting for é 8 or even 10.to 12 hours and needs nourishment. According to numerous studies, a balanced breakfast helps to maintain — health. Nutrients found in a healthy breakfast-including protein, B vita- mins, essential fatty acids, and com- plex carbs-improve concentration, mental performance, mood, and memory. Breakfast is also linked to re- duced risk for diabetes or excess weight in, both by kicking your metabo- ism into gear and by decreasing the chance that you'll grab a high-calorie snack. By eating first thing, you give your hungry body the chance to re- plenish blood sugar levels, burn calo- ries effectively, and maintain more con- sistent enerty all day long. Boost brainpower and metabo- lism with a quick and healthy morn- ing meal. By Devin Alexander, De- licious Living Beatrice Maye p Have The Pitt County 4-H Office has announced that a babysitting work- shop will be taught on April 11th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Cooperative Extension Center, 403 Government Circle in Greenville. The workshop is open to youth be- tween the ages of 12 and 16. It will cost $1.00 per participant. Prereg- istration is required and the class size is limited. The workshop will cover babysitting preschool information related to nutrition, play, develop- mental stages, dealing with siblings, safety issues and rules. The instruc- tors for the class are East Carolina University seniors in Family Life Education in cooperation with the Pitt County 4-H staff. Call the Pitt County 4-H of- fice at 902-1712 to preregister be- fore April “IA. Slots will be filled on a first come basis. Come and leran about the “Ins and Outs” of babysitting preschoolers and pick up some valuable information as it relates to caring for oné or more preschooler. yi abits. He | CAFS Wh it’s the tall va- tte you grab on your way into work, the You 20 on, at your morn- ing meeting or the pizza that your boss orders because there is no time to take a lunch, working can be a very fatten- ing proposition. As CNN Headline News health anchor for more than tive years, my work Touring certainly elped me put on the . I spent eye doing Sediceenrts writing and broadcasting on-air in a busy studio environment. The irony was that as a health re-_ porter, I was coveri weight loss method in the book I tried ee programs but just couldn't find one that fit into my busy lifestyle. Finally, after struggling with my weight for years, I have taken off 41 pounds and feel great. I discovered NutriSystem.com. . Here are some work place tips that I learned along the way that can ben- efit anyone who wants to lose weight and feel great. ° Eat a balanced breakfast Like mom said, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. To make things easier, write out several €asy-to-prepare meals so you don't have to think about what to eat. Better yet, stock up on healthy, prepackaged, “grab & go” t options. Using NutriSystem foods made this real-ly easy for me to do. * Plan your lunches ahead of time. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Whether you plan your lunches the ‘night before, or even over the weekend, having a plan will help you avoid diet-disasters at work. * Keep healthy, single-serving snacks in your o Dont starve yourself during the workday. Make it easy to have a healthy “pick me up.” Ee * Find ways to sneak in extra’ hysical activity. Park further from the uilding. Walk to your co-worker’s. office rather than sending an e-mail. Dont keep a trash can near your desk (so you have to get up each time you need to throw something away). Take a walk around the building during your lunch hour. . * Stay hydrated throughout the y- Keep a large bottle of water at your desk and sip through our the day. Maybe add a slice of lemon or lime. For other great tips and free weight loss counseling, go to NutriSystem.com. * Ms. Carney was CNN Head- ’ line, News health anchor for three years. Former CNN Headline News Health Anchor Kat Carney went from _ size 16 to size 8 within four months. 2005 Greenville-Pitt County Senior Games GREENVILLE - Greenville-Pitt County Senior Games are re- cruiting participants for the 2005 Local Games. The Local Games are scheduled for April 14 - 28, 2005. Athletes and artists age 55 and over will have an opportu- nity to compete in more a 40 sports events, and SilverArts (in- cluding visual, literary, perform- ing, and heritage). Sports events include, shuffl shoes, walking, swimming, bas- ketball, softball, bicycling, bowl- eboard, horse-.. ing, billiards, table tennis . . . and much more. Coordinated by Pitt County Community Schools and Recre- ation and the Greenville Recre- ation and Parks Department, the Greenville-Pitt County Senior Games Program is a leading health promotion and well-be- ing program for the citizens in Pitt County. Join the team for fun and fit- ness by calling Pitt County Com- munity Schools and Recreation at 830-4216 to receive an application. oo a see I * SE sae Foodhoocd (NAPSA)-It’s important that deal- ing with otal stress doesn't become a full-time job. That's one conclusion of a recent study that found stress is becoming a promi- nent fixture in the American work- place, with only half of workers able to deal effectively with it. The study revealed that work- . efs now take up to two weeks of sick time a year to deal with stress-related illness and that many use over-the- counter analgesics in an effort to remedy their stress-related sickness. The study, conducted by the Hadassah women’ organization, in partnership with Aetna and the nited States Tennis Association, polled approximately 1,000 people at companies across the Northeast. It was created by stress expert and author Dr. Deborah Bright, who served as co-investigator with Dr. Mark Popachin, a prominent gastro- enterologist at New York-Presbyte- rian Hospital's Weill Cornell Medi- Center. One in three respondents said are “highly stressed” at work, with nearly four in 10 reporting that they have more stress at work today than two years ago. Only 50 percent rated themselves as “very effective” in handling this stress. As a tesult, 32 percent admitted missing any- where from one to 14 days of work in 2004 due to stress- related illness and just about one-quarter (24 per- cent) disclosed taking anywhere from one to five aspirin or acetami- nophen tablets daily because of stress-related complaints. _ Fifty-five percent said t According to the study, there are numerous factors contributing to on-the-job stress. Fifty-five per- cent of respondents cited their bre. Most stressor as being given more tasks and responsibilities than time to do them. Forty-three percent cited being on the receiving end of criticism as the second greatest source of stress, while having to give criticism rated as the eighth highest stress-producing situation (36 per- cent). “Americans are experiencing higher levels of stress than ever be- fore,” said June Walker, Hadassah’s National President and a health care professional. “The challenge of bal- ancing work, family, and finances in an increasingly more competitive, demanding world is definitely tak- ing its toll.” “Stress has become a health con- cern for people both in the work- lace and home setting,” said Dr. opachin. “It cannot be eliminated from our lives. Our study assesses which coping strategies are bei utilized by those who successf manage their stress, From these fi ings, we hope to identify practi methods for all of us to minimize the negative effects of stress in our lives.” Building “to do” lists seemed to be the most effective way respon- dents managed workplace stress, while smoking was the least effec- tive. Unfortunately, most people said their work-related stress doesn't leave them when they leave work. hey frequently Y TRENDS Handling Office Stress Is Hard Work think about work while at home, and 20 percent said they have difficulty sleeping at night due to stress-related problems from work. Also, people may want to be careful about just how quickly they climb the corporate lad are a manager between the ages of 25 and 44, chances are you are among those who are least effective at handling everyday work-related stress. der. If you Stress Busters In The Workplace... results from a Hadassah survey * Seventy-four percent of people said they build “to do” lists. © Sixty-nine percent break larger tasks into smaller parts, © Sixty-two percent talk to a co-worker, © ‘Sixty-four percent clean and organize their work areas, © Fifty-eight percent establish clear goals. Stress Busting After Work © Seventy-four percent talk to family members, one’s mate and friends. © ‘Sixty-four percent said reading is the most effective way to deal with stress. © Fifty-seven said a pail en hhal © Fifty-six percent soid they listen to music. ® Smoking was found to be the least effective stress-busting method—on or off the iob. mm EE SE LEE ROR ERR Re ee ee « of one unusual woman. Member of the Vietcong Resis- tance, journalist, physician, film- maker, and art dealer, Xuan Phuong has now added “author” to her resume. She tells the story of her fascinating life to journalist Daniele Mazin in “Ao Dai: My War, My Country, My Vietnam” (Emquad International). In Washington D.C. recently, she participated on a panel discussion at the Carnegie Endowment for Inter- national Peace, along with Stanley Karnow, author of the best-seller “Vietnam: A History.” Dr. Phuong iater visited with students at the Viet- nam Center of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. Said Robert MacNeil, former co- anchor of “The NewsHour” on PBS, — “This is one of the most extraordinary [ff memoirs I have ever read: heroic in the scale of human courage and char- acter it describes ...and deeply inspir- ing, . You can learn more at www. emquad.com/aodai.html. tes ev Chine The findings of delegation of North Carolina policymakers, edu- cators, foundation officials and oth- ers who studied education in China have been released by the Public School Forum and the Center for International Understanding, the groups thar led the study. The’ pur- pose of the study was to examine China's approach to education and to identity best practices chat could be incorporated into North Carolina’s school improvement plans. Key findings included: * Education is very much part of China's economic expansion drive. The country’s goal is to pro- vide a high quality education to all if its young people. . From elementary school through high school, China's schools place a priority on the teaching of mathematics, science and foreign languages. * Teaching is a highly respected career in China. Teachers can ad- vance up to as many as six different levels during their careers - each level is at a higher pay level. _¢ There is a clear distinction between academic high schools and high schools that focus on technical or occupational skills. Technical high schools, however, are academi- caly demanding and focus on skills that will be needed as China mod- ernizes, SEE CHINESE PAGE 9 . crease on the $23.2 million allocated By Lloyd Nicholas | . . _ Mother Tetesa may have only seen the color of love in caring for the homeless. Thé. Biblical Christ wanted grown-ups to.embrace the young. So too for many White couples. But according to Robert L. O'Connor, professor of social work, Metropolitan State University, the foster care offefed by White folks to Black children is a mere business venture that chunks away the tax . coffers, “White people who provide fos- _ ter care to children of color make big bucks from special payments— a difficu of ae which is pro- rated on the basis of the level of chal- lenge a particular child presents and it is a very lucrative business, almost an industry, for a lot of European Americans. oO “Some of them do not even work — all they do is take care of these kids [sometimes three or four kids at a time] and rake in $2,000- $3,000 per month per child,” said O'Connor. - Bob Denardo, adoptions and guardianship supervisor, Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), explained that total adoption assistance for all children: adopted from the foster care system amounted to $26.3 million for 2002, and in- WASHINGTON - Middle-age black men are dying at nearly twice the rate of white men of a similar age, reflect- ing lower incomes and poorer access to health care, a study says. But mor- tality among black infants is dropping. While overall longevity for bo ee a whites ke improved Ae le past 40 years, the tween the races has narrowed ligke former Sur- geon General David Satcher said in a paper published Wednesday in the journal Health Affairs. Satcher's paper was one of several in the journal, which is devoting most of its March/April issue to the topic of health care discrepancies between races. Elimination of this racial gap would prevent an estimated 83,570 early deaths annually, Satcher said. Some 10,472 of those deaths oc- curred among black men who were 45 to 54 in 2000, according to research based on a death rate of 1,060 per 100,000 black men in that age group compared with a rate of 503 for white men. In 1960 the rates were 1,625 for black men and 932 for white men in that age group. One reason for the differences is that gains in health care access gener- ally have not included black men un- less they were older or disabled, Satcher said. For example, when Medicare be- - tionately hi " progress for i Black child, White parente during the previous year. nih an interview with the local media, he said, “Financial assistance [to adoptive parents] is offered in the form of a ry cash grant calcu- lated by adding a base assistance rate and a supplemental rate [subject to eligibility], based on the level of the preponderance of difficulties the child presents.” Foster parents are paid an aver- age of $17 to $21 per day per child in addition to fees for providing spe- cial care to the kids under their charge. Basic foster care payments are based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates of the cost of raising a child. : And given this level of gener- osity by the state, O'Connor wants Black families to also cash in on the deal; after all, he says, people of color are more culturally sensitive to the needs of their young, On the point of trans-culture, sychologist John Taborn of J. Fabom Associates psychological ser- vices says he has “seen quite a few kids having coping problems” in his practices and agrees that black kids in white homes will eventually need help. “White parents are just as lov- ing as black parents but whites may have trouble in providing a culture transition for the kids of color in MEDICINE: Satcher . came law, the average black man did not live long enough to become eli- gible, he said Other factors include the rela- tively low incomes of black men com- pared with whites, a rise in gun-related deaths among blacks, their dispropor- death rate from AIDS, and higher rates of heart disease and diabetes, Satcher said. . While a gap remains, there has been ts, Satcher notes. Deaths per 100,000 black males under 12 month fell from 5,307 in 1960 to 1,653 in. 2000, he found. Comparable figures for whites were 2,694 in 1960 and 656 in 2000. For baby girls the infant death rate fell from 4,162 in 1960 to 1,363 in 2000 for blacks and from 2,088 to 530 for whites. Social factors, including neigh- borhood quality and residential segre- ation, contribute to the differences in ealth care, according to a separate paper by David R. Williams of the University of Michigan and Pamela Braboy dadsoon of Indiana University. Additional factors include educa- tion, income and health practices such as diet, physical activity and tobacco use, they report. later life when the kids are older and no support system is available for these parents during this challenge,” said ‘born. | And “at the time of dating or early college years the teenagers and young adults emerge into a world without a living history of them- selves in a race-tinged America and a culture not passed on, so when they experience negative racial attitudes in the ‘real world,’ they end up in a tailspin,” he said. But few white prospective adop- tive parents are now seeking to avoid the trans-culture hassle, says attor- ney Christopher O. Obasi, who is involved in a controversial court battle over the termination of paren- ~ tal rights from an African American mother now serving time at a Shakopee correctional facility. “Some whites go overseas flow to avoid the hassle of adopting black kids,” he noted. | In 2002, Minnesota families adopted 383 foreign-born children but this amount is significantly lower than the 548 in 2001, the 565 in 2000, and 551 in 1999. The DHS is blamed for the trans-culture problems. O'Connor says, “The agencies responsible for aclitating] adop- tions and foster care are the same people who take away your children “Strikingly, the homicide rate of black males in the highest education category exceeds that of white males in the lowest education group,” Jack- son and: Williams wrote. In an accompanyi r, Sen. Edward. M. Kennedy, D-Mass, calls on Congress and the Bush adminis- tration to act to improve health care for minorities. “Tt es the mind that for a generation the United States, with all its wealth and leadership, has been the only industrialized country in the world that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens,” Kennedy wrote. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., that it is crucial to seek the goal of health security for every- one. But his approach would differ from Kennedy’. “The best way to eliminate health disparities is through improvements in the care we deliver to each patient,” wrote Frist, a heart-lung surgeon be- fore coming to Congress, in an accom- paniyirip' paper! 0M To wih Frist said he wants to foster com- ition to lower health care costs and favors proposals such as health savings accounts. 3112 Memorial Blvd Greenville, NC Phone: 355-7133 & 7657- Hours: Tues-Fri $06 ~ the institutions are White, the people who work in these institu- tions are White, and they don’t have healthy connections with the com- munities of color, so they do not do culturally competent recruitment [of adoptive parents].” Human services officials, he claims, wills says “We can't find any black parents, we can't find any Na- tive American parents, we can't find any Hmong parents, and as a result the children are labeled hard to place, when the real deal is the agency is inept and communities of color get blamed for not coming forward. O’Connor also noted that an investigation of 200 African Ameri- . can family prospective adoptive par- _ ents conducted by Robert B. Hill for the National Urban League showed only two of the families were success- ful in their bid. . In a publication titled Dispel- ling myths and Building on Strengthit Supporting African American Families, Hill explainéd that social welfare policies and fam- ily support programs ignore the strong kinship networks among black families, He stated that while some claim that the extended family in the ur- ban areas is declining, the propor- tion of black extended families con- tinued to increase during the 1970s Says Poor Health Care The disparities in health care are unacceptable, Frist wrote, “They are an affront to the U.S. promise of equal opportunity for all.” | The collection of studies echoes a report in 2002 from the Institute of edicine that concluded that minori- ties receive lower quality health care whites for serious conditions and routine services. That report represented a call to action, but “little clarity has been achieved as to who is doing what to and 1980s. During this period, ex- tended families living in single black households tose from 23 to 28 per- cent, and in 1990 two out of five Black households were made up of three generations. | Te is.not known if this. trend is continuing. _- Hill also argued that the Afri- can American extended families of- ten extend beyond a household and may include significant persons who are not related by blood or - marriage. These kinship networks, Hill claims, already provide a wide range of support services such as daycare, services to unwed moth- ers, informal adoption and foster care, Across the United States, some 80 percent of the one million blacks who live in households without par- ents are informally adopted by Lin, the remaining 20 percent are in fos- ter care. Hill concluded, “While the gov- ernment could not find permanent homes for the 200,000 foster chil- " dren, the black kinship succeeded in finding homes for 800,000 children. Yet children of color still account for the majority of children in foster care in many Cities.” This article appeared in Edition 157 of Voices That. Must Be Heard. Hurting Blacks eliminate gaps in health status and treatment,’ according to a forward published in Health Affairs. “Solving this national embarrass- ment will not be easy,” the forward said. It was signed by Rita Lavizzo- Mourey, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; William C. Richardson, president of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Robert K. Ross, president of the California Endow- ment and John W. Rowe, chairman of the insurance company Aetna. and Recreation Office at 830-4216 Tar River Communtry BANp Pops Concerr GREENVILLE - The Tar River Community Band will present its annual Spring Pops Concert on Saturday, April 9, 2005, at 7:00pm at C.M. Eppes Middle School in Greenville. Admission is $3.00 per person, with tickets available at the door. The Band has planned a variety of tunes that are sure to provide something for everyone. This is a family oriented evening with complimentary snacks included in the admission price. or further information, call the Pitt County Community Schools erstone ‘Christian s00kstore op 20 Gospel/Praise & Worship Music Books, Bibles, Greeting Cards, Wedding & Socila Invitations, Songbooks, Tapes, CD's, Gift Churchware, Art, Jewelery, Mugs Ceramics Sunday School & Vacation Biship T.D. Jakes Tapes & Videos, Plus Much Moret! Open Wednesday through Saturday 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Cornerstone Christian Bookstore 1095 Allen Road, Greenville, NC Bus: (252) 752-3846 Fax: (252) 752-4405 Bible School materials 1930 Saturday 8-5 North Carolina's National College Savings Program This 529 plan offers: Tax-free earnings Flexible contributions No enrollment fees Multiple investment options Use at virtually any college, anywhere College 7 Foundation bd of North Carolina © College Toundation, ine. 2005; The Program Desc ription for North Carolina's National College Sav ings Program provides complete information on options, lees, expenses, risks and restrictions. Pleuse reall i carefully before making v decision to invest. The features of $29 Qualified Tuition Programs are comples.and involve significant (us issues, and contain tox features are scheduled loespire on December 41, 2010, unlow extended CFN C.org/Savings 800-600-3453 \ ee eet ee member, March 7, 1965, is a day that will forever be etched in our memo- ries. It was on that Sunday 40 years ago that a courageous group of civil rights activists set out from Brown A.M.E. Church in Selma, Ala- bama, en route to the state capitol in Montgomery to demand voting rights for blacks in southern states, Just weeks earlier another group at- tempted to make the trek but encoun- violence on the way, asa young pro- tester, Jimmie Lee Jackson, was shot and would die days later from his wounds. In Vi a state where blacks lived a subterranean existence under Jim Crow, the simple act of seeking the right to vote could be a Although the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, adopted af- ter the Civil War, conferred the right to vote on citizens regardless of race or color, state and local officials across the country spent the next 100 years find- ings ways around the statute. If poll taxes or literacy tests didn’t work, than intimidation usually did the job. People were killed merely for trying to vote. ~The demonstrators on March 7 were determjned to complete the jour- ney to the state capitol, in part as a trib- ute to Jackson. Their determination was matched and overwhelmed by the SEE CHINESE PAGE 8 This study is the sixth in a se- ties of studies of education in for- eign countries. The studies have been planned by the Public School forum and the NC Center for International Understanding. According to John Doman Executive Director of the Forum, “By exposing legislators, members of the State Board. of Edu- cation and leading educators to the best educational ideas in other coun- tries, we hope to see new and effec- tive approaches incorporated into North Carolina's schools.” “Additionally, as North Carolina is more and more impacted by and: a part of the growing global economy, we hope to create ties be- tween North Carolina and countries. around the world,” Doman added. _ The study of education in China was made possible with the support of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Kenan Family Charitable Trust. Please Note: Previous studies of educational practices in Great Brit- ain, The Netherlands, [#6833 Ja- pan;’Denmark and South Korea are i available-upon request. 8 +: : For those of us old enough to ‘te- the Edmund Petrus Bridge racism of Alabama officials on that day. As the marchers made their way across they were ub wielding state troopers. The brutality that ensued left the activists bruised and bloodied. The beatings the march- ers endured were so graphic that the day has come to be known as “Bloody Sunday.” ; People ae — or trying to voteThe events of “BI Sunday” triggered a culminating oe. ment in the civil rights movement: the greeted by a phalanx of oting Rights Act. The use of clubs and tear gas against a non-violent group of Americans marching to dra- matize the right to vote was broadcast on national television. This finally proved too much for the established powers in Washington. Co President regen chron cliedon to pass far-reaching ion that would ensure the voting i sa all Americans. “The nigh to vote with no ifs, ands, or buts, that’s the key,” said North Carolina’s Business Climate Viewed Favorably by Small Businesses State's business outlook positive but business conditions lag behind. neighbors WASHINGTON - North Carolina’s overall business climate is support- ive of small business, but the state’s . business conditions are lagging against its peers, according to the inaugural North Carolina Small- Business Conditions report. The reports data, which is the first com- pilation of its type, was released to- day by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)/ China begins Several human trials of vaccines are being held globally China has begun its first human trials of a new HIV vaccine, the state news agency Xinhua news agency re- ports. A 20-year-old man became the first volunteer to receive the vaccine on Saturday. He will be followed by seven others, four of whom are women. A total of 49 volunteers aged be- tween 18 and 50 will take part in the tests to be carried out over three stages, officials were quoted as say- in “China says 840,000 people have e fi HIV but experts fear the figure is higher, © ~* “Fhe first seage ofthe test will last _ VALUE MAX WE VALUE YOU AS A CUSTEMER.| RON BRUMMELL Montion the M-Voice Newspaper and I The Voting Rights Act: 40 Years After Johnson. He signed the Voting Rights on ioe 1965, jus ive months The Act outlaws discriminatory practices such as literacy tests, the dfather” clause, and the poll tax t had been used to disenfranchise blacks. The Act prohibits any changes in election laws unless approved or “pre-cleated” by: the federal Depart- ment of Justice. It provides for federal election monitors to be deployed as de- terrence to the use of intimidation to keep blacks from the polls. It also’ re- quires bilingual electoral assistance ere necessary. Impact Beyond Voting _ The impact of the Voting Rights Act extended beyond voting. It created the environment for blacks to seek pubic office from city halls to Con- gress, laying the groundwork for the election of an unprecedented number of elected local officials and a signifi- cant number of members of Congress. Even with the law on the books, North Carolina. It provides an over- view of small-business conditions within North Carolina and com- pares them with neighboring states. A net 36 percent (positive per- cent minus negative percent) of re spondents to a recent survey indi- cated North Carolina is supportive of small business. Comparatively, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vir- ginia registered a net 40 percent, net 31 percent and net 36 percent, re- spectively. However, only a net 38 percent indicated business condi- 14 months, Chen Ji, director of the disease control agency in southern China's Guangxi region, was quoted by Xinhua as saying. No details on the test were given, but the second stage would efforts to deny people of color the vote have persisted. Violations of the Act , continue today across the country. The nation has experienced two consecu- tive presidential elections during which the rights of black voters in some states were subjected to segrega- tionist era tactics to suppress their par- . ticipation. Discriminatory practices against blacks, Latinos, and immigrant groups in the North persisted into the 1960's. New York State's literacy test, which was law until the Voting Rights Act, acted as a barrier to vot- ing among Puerto Ricans as well as immigrants from Southern and East- ern Europe. In New York City, we are particu- larly challenged to secure voting rights . for large segments of citizens of cer- tain language minority groups who comprise an increasingly significant share of the city's population. For this group language and literacy barriers must be addressed in the reauthoriza- tions in their market area are good, which compared to a net 55 per- cent in South Carolina, net 47 per- cent in Tennessee and net 53 per- cent in Virginia. Nonetheless, a net 27 percent of North Carolina small employers said business conditions are improving, which was slightly higher than South Carolina (net 26 percent), Tennessee (net 21 per- cent) and Virginia (net 24 per- cent). “North Carolina's climate for small business js improving, as the HIV vaccine trials tests have received physical check- ups and signed waivers, Xinhua said. The tests were approved by China's drug regulators last November. The Chinese government says 80,000 of its 1.3 billion population have developed full-blown Aids. The UN has warned that the number of people affected by HIV and Aids in China could rise to 10 million by 2010 unless much is done to fight the disease. More than 43 million people around the world have been infected by the HIV/Aids virus and around 25 million people died. Human trials of vaccines are be- cover “immune nature and safety of ing carried out in several countries but € vaccine”, All of those taking, partsin the none have yet proved to, be signifi- cantly effective against the, disease. . WHAT'S IT GONNA TAKE TO KEEP OUR KIDS TOBACCO-FREE? youth populations. Organizations are eligible for funding if they fit into any of these categories: ' * State agency, * Local government or other political subdivision of the state, * Nonprofit organization that has a significant purpose promoting the public’s health, limiting youth access to tobacco products or reducing the health tobacco use, Existing HWTF grantees as well as groups not currently working with HWTF are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is March 29, 2005 at 5 pom. So apply now: When teens’ lives are at stake, we need all the heroes we can get To apply for a grant, visit HWTF's Web site at www.hwtfc.org Health @ Wellness Atomey & Counselor At Law 930 S. Evans St, Suite C $18 MILLION SURE WOULD HELP. ae | he NC Health and Wellness Trust Pund (HWTF) is i proud to announce the availability of $4.5 million annually for four years in grant funding to help prevent teen tobacco use, HWTF is now accepting applications from eligible organizations that seek to: * Prevent youth initiation of tobacco use. * Eliminate youth exposure to secondhand smoke, * Promote cessation among youth. . * Eliminate tobacco-related health disparities among certain consequences of March 2005 The Minority Voice Newspaper 7 Page 9 “Bloody Sunday” tion of the Act. Renew Crucial Sections Three crucial sections of the law - requiring pre-clearance of election law changes, authorizing federal observers to monitor elections, and mandating bilingual election assistance — will ex- pire in 2007 unless Congress votes to renew them. We must work with our Congressional delegation to pressure the Bush Stee and Congress to extend those sections. h As we pay homage to the courage of those activists who stood tall on Bloody Sunday, our moral obligation is to make fain future Beferations are apprised of the | ve inherited and see voting 22 dehnitive cultural statement. Many bridges re- main to be crossed on the path to full voting rights in this country. From the New York Amsterdam News and Community Service Soci- ety of New York * 105 East 22nd Street New York, NY 10010 © 212-254- 8900 * info@cssny.org data indicates, but we've got some ground to make up against our ri- vals,” NFIB/North Carolina State Director Gregg Thompson said. “While North Carolina is viewed nationally as a business-friendly state, we shouldn't be trailing our neighbors by as many as 17 per- centage points when it comes to business conditions.” Not surprisingly, employee health premiums (37 percent) ranked No.1 as the most rapidly rising business insurance cost fol- lowed by vehicle collision and li- ability (14 percent), and workers’ compensation and property and casualty (both 11 percent). As a result of last year’s hurri- canes, 6 percent of responding small businesses suffered signifi- cant damage, 13 percent suffered minor damage and 81 percent said they suffered no damage at all. A net 70 percent characterized the outlook for business over the next three months as good, citin sales prospects (57percent) and greater productivity (17percent) as primary reasons for their view. A net 24 percent indicated that prof- its were “good,” and a net 39 per- cent of those same respondents characterized sales as “good.” Over- all, a net 54 percent of small em- ployers reported that over the last three months their urchasing , Prices rose, which was higher than its peer group, while a net 17 per- cent reported they had increased selling prices. For information on small- business conditions in North Carolina, visit www. NFIB. com/ object/sbcnc0305.html. Visit www. NFIB.com/NC for informa- tion about NFIB’s activities in North Carolina. For information about the Small-Business Condi- tions project and other small-busi- ness research studies conducted by the NFIB Research Foundation, visit www.NFIB.com/research : ion Ts ‘ * www.air-mania.com (252) 757-1307 Wk . (252) 757-3853 Fax JACKIE ROBINSON FROM PAGE 1 unite the country’s political leaders. oe Sh Bush said he hoped fora Robinson baseball card; even” though he rooted for the Giants. = House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-IIL, recalled going to a Cubs: game with his grandfather, and cing told the Dodgers-were playing and he would see history eing made. EE enate Democratic Leader _- Harry Reid remembered listen-~ ing to Pallgame broadcasts grow- ing up in hearing the play-by-play an-. nouncer describe Robinson | come through with a game-win- ning hic. ae “He was so much more than just a baseball player,” Reid said. “Jackie Robinson brought — .the civil rights movement to my ~ hometown.” Born in Cairo, Ga., Robinson was raised in Pasa- dena, Calif. and was a four-sport letterman at the University of California, Los Angeles. The legislation to give him the medal was sponsored by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass. It was awarded on the same day Bush honored the Boston Red Sox at — the White House for winning the World Series last year. The Red Sox, the last major league team to integrate, gave Robinson a tryout before he signed with the Dodgers, but chose not to sign him. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor the legislative branch can bestow on a civilian and must be co-spon- _ sored by two-thirds of members in the House and the Senate. _ Robinson is only the second major league baseball player ever to get the award — the frst was Roberto Clemente in 1973. Ironically, the House ap- proved fegislation in January that could have made Robinson ineligible for the honor by re- stricting posthumous medals to a 20-year period beginning five ears after a person’s death. The legislation, which arose from concern that the distinction was being diluted by overuse and also limited medals to two a year, has not yet been approved by the Senate. earchlight, Nev., and » : Page 10 The Minority Voice Newspaper March 2005 a WHAT ARE WE TO DO... REALLY DO? A Jim Rouse Pictorial The massive turnout to the funeral of yet another young innocent shooting victim once again cappres a somber community with more grief... Jahmel Rashaad Little SUNRISE: May 19, 1991 SUNSET: March 6, 2005 . David Kravets - San Francisco, CA — _A federal appeals court refused: to consider blocking the execution | of Stanley “Tookie” Williams, a founder of the notorious Crips , Street gang who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize while in prison. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to grant Williams . _ another hearing based on his arou- ment that prosecutors violated his rights when they dismissed all po- tential black jurors from hearing the case. Agreement from a major- | ity of the 24 active judges is re- quired to grant a rehearing. Judge Johnnie Rawlinson was joined by eight other judges rehearing. She said Williams, who is black, deserves a new trial _ because his attorney did not object to the unlawful removal of black panelists during jury se- lection. “If our judicial oyuem is toin- 1 spire a sense of confidence among t € populace, we must not, we _ cannot permit trials to proceed in the face of blatant, race-based jury selection practices,” said Rawlinson, a Clinton appointee’ who is black. “The very legitimacy of our © system of justice depends upon continued vigilance against such t Nobel Prize Winner, in a written opinion favoring a. ae in this undated photo “Tookie” Williams Williams Family, File) provided by the family oses for a photo in the visiting area of San Quentin appeals court on Wednesday, Feb. 2, | | 2005, said Stanley “Tookie” Williams, a founder of the notorious Crips | | street gang who was nominated for a can be executed for killing four people in 1981. (AP Photo/Courtesty of State Prison in California. A federal of Stanley Williams, Stanley Noble Peace Prize while in prison, practices.” Williams, who was con- victed in 1981 of killing four people, will appeal the decision. to the U.S. Supreme Court, said his attorney, Andrea Asaro of San Francisco. “If you have a biased jury con- sidering your ‘guilt or innocence, that’s unconstitutional,” Asaro said. “This raises constitutional implications for the fairness of the trial.” She noted a 1986 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting race from being a reason for excusing jurors. The majority of judges who declined a rehearing did so with- out comment. Nathan Barankin, a spokes- man for California Attorney Gen- eral Bill Lockyer, made a brief statement after the appeals court ruling: “A jury determined that the appropriate sentence for Stanley Williams for his crimes was death. We're defending that judgment.” Wednesday's decision was the latest setback for the former Los Angeles gang leader. In 2002, a three-judge panel of the San Fran- cisco-based court approved his ex- If you are a United policyholder and arty apy pa presets HH COMPANY OF A UNIT Contparsy q vos ecnemenacamnares renee RANCE AMERICA ecution but did not fully consider the jury selection process or whether Williams’ counsel was in- effective. Asaro then asked the court to rehear the case, leading to Wednesday's decision. In the 2002. decision, the panel said Williams had run out of legal options but suggested he was a good candidate for clemency. The judges cited the children’s books he has written from prison, in addition to messages of peace he posts on the Internet. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has rejected clemency for the first two condemned men asking to commute their terms to life with- out parole. In Schwarzenegger's latest rejection, just last month, he said an inmate’s model behavior in tison was not enough to sway im to grant mercy. If Wednesday’s ruling survives scrutiny by the Supreme Court, it could pave the way for as many as three executions in California this year. That would be the most since the death penalty was reinstated in 1978 Last month, a Redwood Ci man was executed for killing two women in 1981. A week later, the 9th Circuit cleared for execution the leader of a Fresno crime rin who ordered murders from his cell at Folsom State Prison. Williams and a high school. buddy, Raymond Washington, started the-Grips street gai e in. Los. ‘sonteone who-ye ‘With; it docsn'c op Nou March 2005 The Minority Voice Newspaper Page lI Crip Williams was sentenced to death for fatally shooting Albert Owens, a Whittier convenience store worker in 1979. He also was convicted of using a shotgun a few days later to kill two Los Angeles motel owners and their daughter « during a robbery. _ He claims he is innocent, ar- guing that jailhouse informants fabricated testimony that he con- fessed to the murders. If this is OK with the public for a person to be executed who could not get a fair trial, if that is OK, I don’t know what to say,” said Barbara Becnel, who has co-writ- ten the children’s books with Wil- liams. . She said Williams has received more than 40,000 e-mails since April, when “Redemption: The ‘Stan Tookie Williams Story” aired on television. Many messages came from young gang members who said his life story helped them turn — their lives around, she said. While in San Quentin, Will- iams has been nominated five times for a Nobel Peace Prize and four times for the Nobel Prize for literature for his series of children’s books, Becnel said. Rappers Continues from Page 5 Interscope Records. Those relationships played a hand in Wednes onciliation. "It's pressure for 50 to look at it from a business perspective and not a personal perspective," Elliott said. "I think the press conference was forced by the mainstream media's reaction to the incident. They don't benefit on a business level to be as- sociated with violence." Could the whole thing have been a publicity stunt for two rap- pers with albums in stores now? Elliott doesn't buy it. "There re- ally was a beef. I think there was a genuine conflict that 50 felt The Game was unappreciative of all the work he did on his album ... and Game is feeling like, 'I'm my-own man now." But the two have apparently de- cided that they have more to lose go- ing against each other. "T think (50) will continue to beef with other artists," Elliott said. "But to beef with your own artist and ‘re-in~business robably ay's rec- REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ions. The GHA manages approximately 750 Section 8 units Interested ee btai i ge package by containing: _ y Peterson, Procurement Greenville Housing Authority 1103 Broad Street, Greenville, NC 27834 (252) 329-4025 (252) 329-4026 (FAX) Proposal will be accepted until 4:00pm April 15, 2005 Martin Luther King, Jt. Or. Building. Old GUC Main Office Please enter through the Greene Street entrance: < Our Uptown Offices Have Moved Next Door We are now open for business next door in the Wachovia The move will enable us to provide better customer service, helfialleviate space and storage issues, and allow for future expansion. The Wachovia building is a perfect fit, and it allows Us O maintain a strong uptown presence. Cireenville Utilities drive-thru customers can conduct busi- ness in the Wachovia drive4hru. However, past due payments are not accepted in the drive-+hru. Payments on past due acccunts need to be made inaide GUC's new offices. We look forward to seeing you in our new home! f) et : 4 Js Greenville Utilities 408 Boweh Groene St. 799-7166 were gnecom s Founder — ~ogtreet: inr SEL KIM PAGE Ss Seibel told the Manhattan jurors that Lil Kim, referred to throughout the Ss trial by her real name, Kimberly Jones, had repeatedly lied to them, just as she did to the grand jury. a The testimony was preposter- ) ous. It was insulting. It was insulting 2 to your int pance. kt ve ion a to the adic process,” Seibel told jurors before they returned pr ped Cup justice dict on perjury, obstruction and conspiracy charges. Seibel had belittled the defense that the sunglasses-laden Lil’ Kim did- Not notice two people she knew at the scene of the shootout — her b.. Damion Butler, and a friend, g uf Jackson, both of whom haye since Pleaded guilty to gun charges. = “You would were magic s out your frien people,” Seibel said. ve to believe they. Lil’ Kim defense lawyer Ma. : Sachs had argued that his client had - No reason to protect Butler and Jack- son because she had iminated them from her life. . When Lil’ Kim was testifyi Seibel confronted her with evidence she owes nearly $1 million in back asses that only block ©. who were shooting. taxes. The singer told jurors she leaves decisions about her finances to her « manager and accountant. «<< _—— Among witnesses at the trial ans were Antoine “Banger” S ain and James “Lil’ Cease” Lloyd, Brooklyn Tapers who once teamed with Lil’: Kim in a group called Junior They testified they saw» Butler and Jackson at the radio Ste NE M.A.FLA. a tion with her. The jury had been shown secu- a rity photos taken at the station show- s ing Butler opening a door for her anid the pair outside together just moments. . before the shooting, | F Li!’ Kim had testified that after the shooting she had a falling out with Butler, Banger and Cease be- , freeloading at her.” cause they were New Jersey town house, She saidshe decided to cut off Butler completely after he caused a ruckus outside a | video shoot with Phil Collins’. - (news), the basis of a defense argu- ment that she had no incentive to lie for him. - “I was just fed up,” she said. “They were taking advantage of me.” The rapper also testified at» length about her modest back- °° pround and mercurial career, which. egan with an impromptu audition with rapper Notorious 3.1.G. on the their. world to perform and promote her records. Li’ Kim won a Grammy Award for her part in the hit remake o Marmalade” in 2001. . | PUBLIC RADIO RECLAIMS TAVIS SMILEY 7 Host signs with Public Radio International for weekend show, months after leaving Na- lic Radio following a contract dis- miley will soon return | to the pub- lic airwaves after signing a deal with Public Radio International to host “The Tavis Smiley Show” and produce other programs, Premiering April 29, the show will run two hours and. is slotted to air in the Friday-to- Sunday window. The program will feature newsmakers and - regular commentators including Princeton professor Cornel West and former congressman J.C. Watts. Smiley will continue to serve as host of his late-night PBS talk show “Tavis Smiley” and is creat. ing a series of prime-time specials for PBS. The best, “American As- ROOMS FOR RENT JOSHUA’ CHRISTIAN HOME Has spacious rooms for rent. Safe environment, Utilities included in rent, Central heat, air, 931-0816 GET itt: Interscolastic — Athletic Coaches Needed Pitt County Schools is seek. ing to increase its pool middle school and high school interscolastic athlete coaches in all are interested § fae an 4290) or email bdailey@ ittk12.nc, Us a re- sume to Dailey, : dannii hood. She described’‘ttaveling the “Lady *Three tional Pub- | ute, Tavis | cension,” is set to ait this summer Page 12 The Minority Voice Newspeper March 2005 Preachers Would Le ave Us At the Back of the Bus | marriages. Do you want to laugh ors By Rew bara Reynolds Bush, who has aggressively social programs and tax cuts for the struction Bush Jooks the other way, rich friends on Wall Street. Rev. Barbara Reynolds is the ‘A Coiurnnist affirmative action, including two rich, is so immoral you'd think the but attacked an oil-rich country with ~ Are these well-nealea preacners religion columnist/or NNPA is an There was a time when black preach- cases involving the University of _ preachers would be rising up in out- no weapons of mass destruction that tening me presiucni mul wnnc wu.- author of four books, including ers could be counted on to confront Michigan. . a rage, but little church mice make had not attacked America? iii-ingtonians, many of whom are Af- “Out Of Hell & Living Well: Heat- the ruling of theirdaywhen — I bet they do not talk about the more noise than most religious lead- Since they have so much clout in- _rican-Americans, are dying and Deing ing from the Inside Out” and a the ess were receiving a raw budget, a moral document reflect- ers. ae side the White House, why are the wounded in Iraq, they have no vote in _ graduate of the Howard University - deal. But if black folks had to depend _ ing the values paid for in taxes and Where are the pointed questions _ black not telling the presi- the U.S. House of Representatives nor ool of Divinity and the United . upon sri clergy for seaderahi, in the blood of our daughters ahd coming from those bragging about dent th: since black Americadepends the Senate. Theological Seminary, where she at e i wanes (hey sal Still be confined to the sons in.the U.S. military. The cur- dining with the. paatcat Why more on Social Security in their senior So while so much is threaten- _cafned a doctorate degree in min- ON of the bus. rent budget projecting a $427 bil- when North Korea defiantly an- years for survival than whites, the ing our survival, many of our nation’s _istry. She can be reached at At a time when black America is lion deficit, with its severe Cuts in nounce it has weapons of mass de- tem can not be left to the mercy of his clergy are busy cracking down on gay’ / WWw.reynoldsnews,com. of the black clergy, especially those ‘ ee Oe - — heading mega-churches, are ' either : apolitical or apologists for the status uo. * ; The Rev. Clarence James, a so- cial critic and author of the “Lost Gener-. ation? Or Left Generation,” says the trouble with today's clergy is there are too many priests and not enough prophets. “The priests are the ser- vants of the privileged, criticiz- ing little crimes at the bottom,while ignor- ing those at the top. The prophets remind the rulers they are not exempt from the laws of God, | but the priests are blinded by wealth | and power.” Recently a small group of con- servative preachers (the priests) have * been hotfooting it over to the White House. But these are not the kind to trouble the water. With no agenda'that encapsulates the needs of black « America, they are in danger of being ived as sell-outs. One group is the newly estab- lished Hig impac Leadership Coa- lition, formed by Maryland pastor Bishop Harry Jackson. It has unveiled mah ah 3 ’ wie ee Catch the Madness in High Definition. the Black Contract with America on : eae Moral Values to gain more clout 9) paren 7 TlH, | _ within the ublican Party. Bishop = MITSUBISHI WIDESCREEN TV SON Y LCD Projection am” Charles E. Blake Sr, senior pastor o 7} en TV | _ the 25,000-member West Angeles - 42° wra2315 i 60" | Church of God in Christ and the Z KDF6OWFESS 46" WLPdsesw Rev. Fred Price, pastor of the Crenshaw . - Christian Center are among the West 48" we 8,699" 2,400" Coast leaders of the movement, ac- Ninth) : oi ee cording to the Christian Examiner. *1, 500" 50" scrsowzess 50" SLPso6sw Even the Right wing, anti-black | 2,790" Heritage Foundation is organizing a 5S" wsssais °2.908" group of blacks to focus Aftican- S6631¢ 56" insenw fear ore 7 ne “ue =— EEE on ea semaromaree =_——— mm tion through appeasement or ac- : NY | : | : commodation. Black preachers bril- 1 } Westinghouse. LCD TV |SO | PLASMA TV AVE F LATSCREEN a liantly led opposition to slavery, Jim 4 ST Re ee ee . a af | a“ veotinamanaitiaie | Crow, segregation and fueled the TD 27" AV27E47S q —— political movements resulting in 17" Ey : a x | electing more than 10,000 black CTV-17ViSL - j et t officials, : With so many issues plaguing Af- “Moor | 32" avsorazs rican-Americans, the top issue for Jackson's black contract is fighting : same-sex marriages. This piovision Pte 20" LIV-20V281. ss | ; was a successful strategy concocted by SST SB@er gor. ; Karl Rove, Bush's top gun. to throw a ae iy | * Diaganal Screen Size 32 inch enough red meat at lical Chri — — . — | * Aspect Ratio 4:3, 16:9 Enhanced : , . » Re-engineered plasma TV panel driver || * Display Capabilities for Bush Whie he oon the top 1: Conle Rew * Next-generation Direct Digital Circuitry Il, 1 Sunes Tuner Ta 46" AvaGr475 "Bush. ¢ 7 j ' a inn aj 4} * Aspect Ratio 4:3, 16:9 Enhanced | e he wth of bins in arc + PPNGA Only * New picture-enhancing circuitry _ ye Rares Ca Universal SQ ] plus the booty flowing from Iraqi oi * Auto Programmi : Kia | * Con Filter Digital 3-Line contrac, the lie fol can cay * Flicker Free High Flesoluion Picture 3, A0e* | separa Sra ow Mask with kwer emselves with their butterfly nets —— — , _ —_——~ ) No matter what you think about ESTATE REFRIGERATORS| WASHER « © = |/Fisher&Paykel same-sex marriages (I am against BY a. WDSR20800 o, &§ we Intuitive them), banning them as a top prior- “Whirtpool ET1FHTXM ; oN ee IWLK nan ty for Black fli iiculous, Ar Ray acromechancl ont } * Vas eset Washer led homosexuals responsi r . = * Two gulue washyapin pee draining billions from health, educa: OTT 12004 Energy Star® Quatitied siquemhowe ) |; Asem cai tion and housing for the poor to spend - ,, _. * UilraEase™ Water Filleation Sysiem + fiaach Dispenser * Eco Active ™ wash system on blowing up raq? Are gays respon- « i. 4, ** © Aecu-Chill Temp Management System » Three Water Lovols * 3 Spin Seeds sible for the failure to prevent the mur- a 4 * Adjustable SpiliGuard'™ Glass Shelvas “Sqn ony Onn a der of thousands of black Christians mt . dying in Sudan? No, the genocide aces BET ws . TS25aFXio hey Qos Pai be stopped if Bush used his dout < Water Firion Sy ‘ BY. a DRYER in the UN Security Council to = «2 Aahematto Gaon Coes Bins \. a sprees! : ‘ fan with Temp Control i: . * Autosensi ras San tol hans a at qe OER, | Ae im Smart Gay marriages are something that J -suayoces *” OPQ BOON: Siscenrection onion Load® the presid afford nd ET1 MHRXM * Quiat-By-Dosiga™ * Drum material president can afford to spe at + Fixed End-Ol-ycte & Dryer rhetoric on because it doesn’t cost him ee rab Glass Sholves ; meee : sel Chcaning at filter ‘ dime, but for black ea it is a + EZ-Vue Humidily-Conirolled Crispers ‘ae Sane’ | Lint Bucket DEGX1 iversion we can not umes " When the black ote ata q talk to Bush I bet they do not men- ° . tion access to higher education for ca reay . blacks because that would embarrass ye mchtregmeenrl AERS715 a oy , lle-Pi noma mome o o~ sreenvi Siele tt sibep War Sag 549" — Better Sleep Through Science ounty Senior Games entlee aad erune an ooh wut . 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