Jt. was to blacks to vote. VOTE May 2ND in the Primary r After centuries of slavery and segregation, the reason for the © — Voting Rights defend the right of - granted By: Demetrius Patterson It’s a misnomer to think that African Americans are a poor group of people. With steady growth of Black Americans receiving college degrees — and many getting higher paying jobs, African Americans wield a whopping $762 billion in buying power, according to a recent report by a New York based market research firm. By 2010, that ‘amount is expected to juixp to $981 billion. But even with the strong spending power that the African American community exhibits, many companies and mainstream (White) advertising agencies still pay far less attention to the Black market than they do to the white-hot Hispanic market. The purchasing power trends of African Americans were researched and put in a report by Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch. com, which is a provider of industry-specific market research reports. The Packaged Facts study looked at Black spending power from a regional perspective. According to the study, African Americans in the West and Northeast havehigher average incomes than those in the Midwest and the South. Black consumers will s advertisers that they matter? The serving Eastern North Carolina’s As a result, the West and Northeast account for a disproportionate share of the aggregate income of African Americans. Don Montuori, publisher of Packaged Facts, told the Chicago Defender _ that perception plays a big part as to why the African Americans community is ignored by some companies, compared to the amount of care those firms show in courting the Hispanic community, “African Americans (and other minorities) are subjected tothe whims of the marketing _ community, and since 2003, ‘C Buying power of Blacks taken for pend $981 billion by 2010, so why do they have to keep proving to ee when the Census Bureau revealed that Hispanics outnumbered African Ame- ricans, the focus of marketing and advertising efforts has shifted to be more Hispanic- focused, or in an attempt to be inclusive, multicultural,” Montuori said. “Media stories played up the _ growth of the Hispanic market,which is dramatic, no question, and the consequential growth in Hispanic buying power. I don’t think there was a conscious effort to dismiss or ignore Black communities. Instead, it’s an attempt to go Judge Glenda Hatchett Yields — Record Attendance at 5" Annual College Round-Up By Susie Clemons Staff Writer Whoever said opportunity does not land at your feet is clearly misinformed. Just ask any Edgecombe County high school student or neighboring learner, for want of a college opportunity, about College Round-Up or about Bob Whitehead. This year, on March 18 and for the 5" consecutive year, Tarboro, North Carolina native Robert “Bob” Whitehead yet again proved — that nothing is: impossible as TV’s Judge Glenda Hatchett, anationally recognized authority on juvenile and social issues, HBCU admissions and financial aid personnel traveled not to Charlotte or Washington D.C. to meet potential campus scholars and future leaders, but to the tucked away city of Tarboro, NC. And this year was no exception, as a record crowd in excess of 1000 filled Edgecombe Community College (ECC) Mobley Atrium for a chance at on the spot interviews with HBCU Reps. Also available were offers of scholarships from Ms. Iris Settles of Atlanta, application fee waivers, enrollment guarantees for qualifying students, SAT information, and special assistance provided to those needing help closing the gap to college enrollment. Colleges and Universities on hand for the event included Livingston College, Laurinburg Institute, A & T University, NCCU, Elizabeth City State University, Shaw University, Benedict University of South Carolina, Winston Salem State University, Fayetteville State University and Virginia State University Later that morning larger numbers spilled into the aisle of the ECC’s adjoining Keihin Auditorium to hear Judge Hatchett’s key note address. Respectively, Princeville and Tarboro Mayors Elect and Tarboro School Superintendent were on hand , for the welcoming address, following Hatchett’s escort through the standing room only auditorium by local area Judge Milton “Toby” Fitch. Judge Hatchett In addition to her televised judgeship, the former Delta Airlines lead counsel is also the national spokesperson for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and for eight years also Georgia’s first h 4 African American Judge of a state court, and the department head of one of the largest juvenile’s court systems in the country. _ I believe I can fly...she told the captivated audience. You all know the song. I love that song but I have issues with the songwriter, startling all to attention with her commanding voice and frankness. For no less than twenty minutes, the fiery Judge, adorned in a well appointed black pant suit, openly attacked the troublesome truths about modern day parenting issues and misbehaving youth. She spoke to trends that some parents purchase hotel rooms on their credit cards for their sons and daughters after prom parties, to admonishing teens about the hazards of gangs and parental disobedience, and especially about the importance of an education. You parents should set high standards for your - children, they’ll one day thank you for it, said Hatchett. Be Clear about your rules. As for you teens, I want you to meet with destiny not with death, failure, disease or incar- ceration , let’s rewrite history. Further cementing her position on the relationship between children and elders, she insisted that anyone under 21 get up and give their seat to any standing adult. And most if not all did. Many of whom, at the Judge’s invitation, joined her on the Stage seating themselves on the floor in a half circle about her feet. “T’'m ole’ school and that’s how we did it. RESPECT for my elders is why I’m here today. I gained access to my incredible journey upon the shoulders of praying parents and a community of wise elders, They believed in giving back to community and they passed the torch on to my generation.” [We want continued pg10 ; | | i om NOIdWVHD GIYOM ft — om a ¢ : ‘ | >| RAS ia as ray ‘or aA Al 4 Minority Communitie | 2 N@aQ Please Take One SEES et Cre i ool i Vaiue: 90 Cer . The Silent Epidemic By George E. Curry If you listen carefully, you still can’t hear it. It’s the sound of a third of high school students dropping out before receiving their diploma. For people of color, the figure is almost 50 percent and that has profound implications not only for the students, but for the society that failed them. “The Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts” is an important report on the dropout problem told from the viewpoints of true experts — the students themselves. The study, which focuses on polling and focus groups, is a joint project by the Civic Enterprises and Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2003, about 3.5 million youth 16 to 25 did not have a high school diploma and were not enrolled in school. The report begins with “An Open Letter to the American | People” that gets directly to the point: “There is a high school dropout epidemic in America. Each year, almost one third of all public high school students — and nearly one half of all blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans — fail to graduate from public high school with their class. Many of these students abandon school with less than two years to complete their high school education.” And society has plenty of reasons to care. “The decision to drop out is a dangerous one for the student,” the report continued. “Dropouts are much more likely than their peers who graduate to be unemployed, living in poverty, receiving public assistance, in prison, on death row, unhealthy, divorced and single parents with children who drop out from high school themselves.” The report on this silent epidemic allows us to listen to what those who quit say about their predicament. “The central message of this report is that while some students drop out because of significant academic challenges, most dropouts are students who could have, and believe they could have, succeeded in school,” the study said. “This survey of young people who left high school without graduating suggests that, despite career aspirations that require education beyond high school and a majority having grades of C or better, circumstances in students’ livesandan inadequate response to those circumstances from the schools led to dropping out.” We tend to think of high school dropouts as being — incapable of handling the academic workload and there is some evidence that supports that view. For example, 35 percent of those polled said “failing in school” was a major factor in the decision to drop out. And 32 percent had repeated a grade before dropping out. Nearly half of the former students — 47 percent - quit not because of the academic challenge, but because they found classes uninteresting. “These young people reported being bored and disengaged from high school,” the report said. “Almost as many (42 Judge Greg Mathis By: Judge Greg Mathis, Special to BlackAmericaWeb.com Rising tuition rates and cuts in the federal Pell Grant and state aid programs have caused more students to rely on student loan debt to pay for their college education. As such, the average student's debt increased by more than 50 percent over the last 10 years. With an increase in pent loan interest rates ming — rates are schedule to go up July 1 — current and ‘e percent) spent time with people who were not interested in school. These were among the top reasons selected by those withhigh GPAs and by those who said they were motivated to work har ” . An even larger number of students — 69 percent — said they were not motivated or inspired to work hard. In fact, two-thirds said they would have worked harder had it been required of them. Naturally, there were other real life factors that caused some students to drop out. Approximately a third said they had torget a job and make more money, 26 percent said they became a parent and 22 percent said they had to care for a family member. There was also a significant number of students who fell behind in the early years and never felt they caught up — or could catch up — with their classmates. “The majority of parents were ‘not aware’ or just ‘somewhat aware’ of their child’s grades or that they were about to leave school,” the report said. “Nearly half of the respondents said their parents’ work schedule kept them from knowing more about what was happening at school and 68 percent said their parents got more involved when they became aware their child was on the verge of dropping out.” Clearly, we all need to be more involved. George E. Curry is editor-in- chief of the NNPA News Service and BlackPressUSA.com. To contact Curry or to book him for a speaking engagement, — go to his Web site, WWW. georgecurry.com. future student loan borrowers will see large percentages of their future income go towards repaying their education debt. With the increasing cost of higher education, one would expect that a college degree would guarantee a secure future. That is no longer the case. As more and more American jobs are taken overseas, we will see more of our young people invest in a college education that cannot guarantee them a job in a rapidly changing global economy. We can blame congress-ional budget cuts for the pending rise in student loan interest rates. The increase will result in payments that are 20 percent higher than those made on loans locked in under lower rates. A drop in direct aid — money that doesn’t have to be paid back — also contributes to the rise in student debt. Congress eevee reer ees ys ooo! THis IS for! Local Citizen Sounds off on tate of Black Males in Black merica by Susie Clemons Local citizen Jeff Savage is not only a dear friend but an old high school buddy, whose opinion though often critized merits moe mention. No matter he and I butt heads on varying social and political issues, still I find his current comment on the state of Black America, in particular the Black male, is noteworthy of serious consideration. The following is an unedited reprint (by permission) of his recent e-mail. By way of background, Jeff was responding to a suggestion. about recent news headlines I made in an e-mail to him: Hey, Sue, Shouldn’t we also be asking ourselves why the condition of the blacks in America worsens! This is consistently the case with the blacks all across America. The 2006 ° National Urban League’s State of Black America report conclusions, too, are consistent with that thought. Conversely, the conditions of every other racial group in America, as a whole, improves...again! I am unable hasn’t increased the Pell Grant, the most common direct aid for low-income students, since 2003. As a result, low-income students are carrying a disproportionate amount of student debt. Not surprisingly, people of color are carrying more than their fair share of student debt. According to the Project for Student Debt, one- fourth of low-income students, many of them African- American, have more than $27,000 in loans. The numbers will increase as rates go up. A country’s economic growth is significantly impacted by the number of adults that have a college degree. By making it difficult for its citizens to pay for higher education, America is jeopardizing its chances for continued success in the global marketplace. Countries with large populations, like China and India, that educate a large numbers of students, are to conclude that an absence of this or that program that’s geared toward helping black (males) is the problem or holds the solution. The delilmma facing the blacks in America can only be addressed and satisfied with Reparations. We (blacks) tend to expect white America to wantingly embrace our race as an equal. We somehow believe that one day there will be “a” black president of this country and then something is proven. What? It’s almost as if we don’t notice the, to use this word again, the consistently 99.9% white US. Senate. It has been that ' way throughout 99.9% of this country’s history. There are 535 members of the U.S. Congress. I believe history will show a maximum number of blacks in these chambers at 41 (during all congressional terms.) That’s 41 out of 535 members. Negro leadership is wrong to suggest that if we just do this or do that everything then will somehow be alright. They should stop it and shut up if they are not going to tell the truth. The truth is: reparations. Reparations, posing a serious threat to the way. the U.S. does business. Already, nearly half a million Americans have been laid off because their jobs were outsourced to foreign countries, where the labor force is educated and much cheaper. Experts expect the number of outsourced U.S. jobs to grow to 3.3 million by 2015; causing about 250,000 layoffs a year. While discussing the outsourcing trend, President Bush recently remarked, “Let’s make sure people are educated so they can find — fill the jobs of the 21st century.” There is no doubt that an education increases an individual’s ability to compete in the workforce. However, as it currently stands, America is asking its citizens to invest time and money in an education that doesn’t guarantee sustainable employment. Susie Clemons Sue. Reparations. You see, a lack of self respect persists amongst us as long as, we as a group, wronged by the U.S. Government, fail to demand reparations since this is rightly owed us because this government devised policy to deliberately oppress the slave’s descendants up to this present moment. (Whew! that was a long sentence!) Thanks for listening while I vented. Hope to talk to you soon. Keep up the good work, Sue. Top of the morning to ya, Jeff Savage College aid decreasing as graduates Job worsen With the cost of education so high and no relief in sight, it’s no wonder that more young people are putting off college. If policymakers want to ensure America’s place in the marketplace, they must enact legislation that controls the cost of higher education while increasing aid to students. This country’s future as an economic powerhouse rests on its ability to ensure a college education is within financial reach of its citizens. oe Judge Greg Mathis is national vice president of Rainbow PUSH and a national board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Minority Voice Apr 1 - 15, 2006 pg3 COMMUNITY NEWS _ COMMUNITY VOICE. mos oeseor us exrnice nav The Art of Marriage A good marriage must be - created. In marriage, the little things are the best things. Never being too old to hold hands. _ Remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day. Never going to bed angry. 10 Way ys to Avoid Road _ Having a mutual sense of Rage values and common ( Here are some suggestions objectives from th ; ; imine AAA ) Standing together facing the 1. Be courteous behind the world. heel. | me Forming a circle of love that 2. Don’t honk your horn gathers in the whole family. ively. emeessINe'Y Speaking words of appre- ciation and demonstrating 3. Don’t block the passing gratitude in thoughtful ways. lane. Having the capacity to forgive and forget, and then forgetting what you forgave. 4. Don’t switch lanes without signaling first. 5. Don’t take up more than one parking lot. Giving each other an atmosphere in which to grow. 6. Don’t let the door hit the car parked next to you. Not only marrying the right person, but being the right 7. Don’t tailgate. partner. 8. Avoid the use of high beam lights, - TO: Black Girls in Particular I. God has given you only one temple; therefore, you are required to take care of it — the interior (your heart and spirit)“as well as the 9. Don’t inflict your loud music on nearby cars. 10. Allow plenty of time for every trip... os, 2 e © exterOR.. 90 00 15. guuG ‘oN . fd ‘ St Jd eto . . . © 2. So, learn to do just that: To love, respect, honor, and take pride in your temple. 3. Turn that stuff from — the media off (especially that raunchy music on TV and the radio!) and get enough sleep. 4. Learn to exercise your body. 5. Learn how to keep a healthly and balanced diet. 6. Drink lots of water. 7. Keep your body clean. 8. Keep your surroundings (like your room) neat and clean for your own sense of order and peace. (You need to think in there!) 9. Learn how to properly care for and pamper your skin, hair and nails. 10. Be mindful of what you put in your body that harms it physically (including cigare-ttes, alcohol, drugs, and junk food). I. Rise early (yes, early) and appreciate the dawn of each and every day, first buy thanking God in prayer and reading His Word. 12. Praise God for thinking enough for you to choose (yes, choose) you to see another day, another é Og i ies 3 ¥ GREENVILLE, NC 27834 (252) 758-0065 KAT’S KITCHEN | $60 SOUTH EVAN STREEK YT week, another year. 13. Breathe long and deeply the air that God has provided. 14. Be quiet, attentive, and awake in your classes at school. 15. Be respectful of authority, of your parents and your elders, and of your peers, for they have much to teach you. 16. Practice self-respect and self-control. 17. Take time for yourself to think and reflect about yourself, your world, and your place within it. 18. Walk in the sun, run through the rain, and play in the snow. 19. Rejoice and be thankful for God’s goodness, grace, and mercy to you as you pull yourself up to the table that the Lord has provided. 20. Thank God for the movement of your limbs and brain matter, for laughter and tears. 21. Show care and concern for the things you put in your emotional, physchological, and spiritual temple by monitoring what you read, listen to, and 22. Surround yourself with “what is true and good and right.” 23. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. 24. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about (Philippians 4:8) . Avoid things that pollute your spirit (Matthew 15:19) (Galatians 5:19- 21), as Well as the people who bring such pollution into your personal space. 25. Go to the library and begin to read good books on African American history and literature. 26. Listen to all kinds of music. 27. When given the Opportunity, go to recitals, concerts, the ballet, the opera, art galleries, and museums. 28. Take mental notes so that you learn to recognize good things (as well as garb-age!) when you see and hear them. 29. Pay attention to how broad and sweeping God’s creativity is in humans.....how God’s gifts and talents in us are not narrow and one- dimensional. 30. Ask God to show you your own creative talens, whether those be music, drawing, sewing, cooking (learn how to do that!), knitting, gardening, writing, acting, Whatever! God has given you those things. The Spirit will reveal them to you if you ask. 31. Value your talents and use them in service to others. 32. Develop pride and respect for your family. Thank God for them. 33. Talk to members of your extended family and try to track down your physical features through your family tree. 34. Choose to believe that God loves you and wants only the best for you. Suggestion: Read Luke 15. What does this passage teach you about youth? About wisdom? About repentance? About God’s grace? An old Negro spiritual says, I’m working on a building, It’s a sure foundation I’m bolding up the blood- stained banner for my lord. As soon as I get through Working on the building, I’m going up to heaven to get my reward, Build sure. Build solid. Build joyfully. The Holy Family awaits occupancy, From: “The Real Deal”, A Spiritual Guide for Black Teen Girls” by: Billie M. Cook APPLY FOR THE NEW CLASSIFIED SECTION OF | | THE MINORITY VOICE NEWSPAPER (252) 737-0365. 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We handle Conv., | HUD, VA, FHA Financing Realtor. Notary Public, Accounting Tarboro, NC (252) 823-5129 i (252) 749.3256 rask- 606 Albermarie Avenue Mutts J 4 Floral Creations Greenville, NC 27834 Scotland Neck, NC fa Neck, NC (252) 757-1692 or (252) 757-1162 (252) 826-4406 (252) 826-5094 Fax Number (252) 757-00 18 Minority Voice Apr 1 - 15, 2006 pg4 REF LECTONS, EXPRESSIONS & VIEWS father (the late Clyde Albritton) talk about his two years. in attendance there (circa 1911) where he was studying to become a doctor. After graduating from Albion Academy (a private Presbyterian School) in Franklinton, NC (now defunct), he entered Leonard. 4 After two years of study, he © withdrew to enter Renouard Mrs Suejette Jones The Leonard Medical School at Shaw University There are many people today — especially the younger generation and and probably the preceding generation — who never heard of the Leonard Medical School (for blacks) in North Carolina. Rightly so, as it existed from 1882 - 1918. Even being an octogenerian (80+) I, too have no recollection of its existence except through hearing my ) School of Mortuary Science in New York — the only Black in a class of 25. He completed the course, became a licensed mortician and opened the first black-owned funeral home in Kinston, NC (circa 1914). It still exists today as Albritton-Carraway Funeral Home. I can vaguely remember, as a child, riding with my parents at various times to exchange visits with his former schoolmates and their families: Dr. Furlong of Smithfield; or Dr. Riveria of Mount Olive; or Dr. Codrington of Dunn; or Dr. DuBisette of Goldsboro; Dr. Lemuel DeLaney (of the famed DeLaney family of Raleigh) was the chief surgeon at the St. Agnes Hospital in Raleigh (a training facility for Black nurses) would travel to Kinston to visit with Dr. J. P. Harrison who at that time was on the Board of Directors for St. Agnes Hospital (now defunct). It was unusual at that time to hear of Blacks having last names as some of the above. I might note that many medical students at Leonard were from the islands like Jamaica, the Bahamas and others in the West Indies. They came to Leonard to pursue their careers. So much for my personal interjections. My interest in searching for more detailed information was sparked when I attended (about 3 years ago ) a forum at the Brody School of Medicine on “Black Physicians in the South”. The lecture was facilitated by Dr. Todd Savitt who is an associate _ of humanities in the School of Medicine and associate professor of history at East Carolina University. His research focuses on black health in the US. After the lecture, I introduced myself and informed him of my interest and why I was in attendance (not being a . medical student). He pointed me to one his writings that was published in a book, “Black Americans in North Carolina and the South”. | immediately went to Sheppard - Library to retrieve it. Afterward, I contacted him by phone to get permission to extract his article on , “Black ~ Physicians at Shaw University”. He wholeheartedly granted me the privilege. Leonard Medical School (hereafter written as LMS) was established by Northerners for freedmen following the Civil War which ended in 1865 and was the beginning of the Reconstruction Era. LMS was founded for the purpose NABOB *** THE NATIONAL AS BLACK OWNED SOC BROADCASTERS of providing medical care to a generally poor, undereducated racial minority in the late 19th and early 20th century. These black doctors were to severe mostly rural areas of North Carolina primarily; however, many went elsewhere. LMS was named after Judson Wade Leonard (White) who was from Massachusetts and a great contributor and financier for Shaw University. LMS was an addition to the already established Shaw. During the period from 1865-1920, Shaw offered college preparatory, college- level, and theological courses, as well as, for various lengths of time, legal, pharmaceutical, medical, and missionary courses. Henry Tupper White, as Massachusetts minister, engaged in missionary work in Raleigh under the auspices of the _ American Baptist home Mission Society. In 1865 he established Raleigh Institute later named Shaw University for Elijah Shaw, a woolen manufacturer from Massa- chusetts who TA" 4 financial resources to begin a collegiate institution. Tupper served as its first president and had decided as early as 1866 to add a medical school at Shaw. He quoted: “The colored people at present are without educated Physicians, and thus are subject to all ’ manner of quackery and impositions, and inay suffer and die for want of medical attention.” Charles Meserve (White) who succeeded Tupper in 1895 recalled how the Governor of Alabama wrote a letter which quoted: “Please send us Physicians. We have a county with 22,000 colored people with no physicians among them of their own race.” To be continued in my next article Acknowledgement to: Dr. Todd Savitt for allowing this article to be published (with my own personal interjections) Respectfully submitted, Suejette A. Jones ATION of ey r- es es ew wn ee we Be ew Be www ew ow ow ew ee ee ewe wwe ee, ae ee eew ene ew ee = een e @ www we « = = $ - Pwr ew ewreeecn een ee ee = = eee ae _— Relics keep black history alive By: Micheal Barret Community Journal "Tarboro —— Unmila Smith’s collection of ‘artifacts and souvenirs < detailing the history of blacks in the United States isn’t all for the faint of heart. But then again, neither is the history itself. A pair of replica wrist shackles in her home evoke the bondage forced onto slaves brought from Africa. For a Black History Month display Smith made some time ago, she affixed a noose — purchased and fashioned herself from a " length of hemp rope. She even has a bag each of rice and cotton to signify “the reasons we were brought over here.” “This was for real,” she said, dangling the rope in her living room. This wasn’t no joke.” The darker items — the ones ) calling to mind the horrors of slavery and the Jim Crow South — are far outnumbered by positive ones. Collectively, the mementos prove her determination to remember everything that has brought blacks to their current place in the United States. Airmen and black sports heroes such as baseball Hall “T’ma pack rat,” she said of Famer and Rocky Mount with a laugh. “I’ve always _ native Buck Leonard. saved stuff.” The collection “A variety of pins, including one from the March on Washington, decorate one of Urmila Smith’s hats. is as large as it is impressive. Collectable butions, tins and We came from kings and photos commemorate queens, Smith said, renowned jazz musicians handling a jar of soil a such as Rocky Mount native riend Sansa her from Thelonious Monk, Miles Africa. “Our history goes Davis and Louis Armstrong. back long before slavery. Other pictures pay tribute to Smith even has her -icons like Rosa Parks and program from Aug. 28, SEE TSU te 1963, when she attended Greensboro lunchcounter jp, March on Washington in sit-ins of the 1960s. the nation’s capital. -It’s one There are African inspired _-°# the many things she on instruments, candles, lose herself in when going artwork, flags,and dolls. through the collection and reminiscing. Tribal figurines are 7 countered by modern ones — It i nas no rhyme or honoring the Tuskegee reason,” she said. “I find BROWN SEEKS DISTRICT 8 POLITICAL BNE 3 aaa ‘ies TEE athe ag A ei imi id ga by staff writer Derek Brown Runs for House Seat 8, Strong on Education, Jobs, Community Growth With less than a month before the state wide primaries, the bulk of North _Carolina’s House Seat 8 candidate Derek Brown time is spent not only rigorously campaigning against incumbent Edith Warren, but making sure that while on this historical journey he opens the door wide enough for others to pass through. Historical in that the district itself was redrawn to ensure majority win ina minority district. When first established, the district voting bloc included all of Pitt, Greene, Martin and Edgecombe counties. . The late Linwood Mercer was the first to occupy this seat carved out specifically for under represented historically Black voting districts. For the 2006 election, District 8 has been reapportioned to include all of Martin county and portions of Pitt county. On an interesting note, the result of a 1984 meeting between the North Carolina State Board of elections and the U.S. Justice Department and Jim Rouse, owner of WOOW and Minority Voice News, resulted in the establishment of District 8 and the seats now occupied by Pitt County Commissioner Melvin Mclawhorn, District A of Districts 1 and 2; and respectively Pitt County Commissioner Dave Hammmond, District 1. The campaign has up to now been mostly quiet, given that it’s off season and that most candidates are running unopposed. Moreover, perhaps because the bulk of voters relied upon for this campaign win reside in Martin County and that each R “ate Hines. vA pepe candidate has name recognition on Pitt County home front. Brown is the son of area veteran dentist Hazel Brown and attorney Earl Brown. . His professional experience includes that of practicing attorney since 1996, business entfepreneur and legislative counsel to former Congressman Frank Ballance. In a recent interview with the Candidate, he spoke on the matter of having been legislative counsel to the since indicted and imprisoned Congressman. Specifically, Brown offered that his professional affiliation with Mr. Balance was his most important business association to date as Ballance proved for him a knowledgeable and altruistic mentor. And too, Brown added that he wholly served his district and the peoples of North Carolina well, no matter the fall out of events following. To that end, Brown vows to avgressively represent the people down east should the people elect him to office. Furthermore, he is passionate about ensuring that down east youth have a fair chance at equal education and career employment options. To accomplish that he looks to sponsor legislative bills that increase jobs creation, _ community resources and infrastructural opportunities that will assist in building better educational facilities. _ In our estimation Brown will serve eastern North Carolina and its constituents well. Y IN HOUSE myself going from one thing to another.” A native of Jamaica, NY., Smith is a licensed practical nurse who moved to Tarboro in 1988 to _ becloser to her mother’s family. Her knack for collecting things originated as a teenager, when she sought to broaden her horizons by reading everything she could about black history. Over the years, she has been asked to use her keepsakes in school and cultural center displays. Her oldest son, Chy Davidson, said her passion rubbed off on the rest of the family. - “T think it did have an effect,” said Davidson, now an assistant prinicpal at a From The Archives of The Minority Voice Newspaper Pictured above is Mrs Taffye Clayton and Husband Rueben Minority Voice Apr 1 - 15, 2006 pg5 * with their children. Mrs Claytton is currently the director « of Diversity and Equity at East Carolina University. school in New York who was visiting with his family. “I learned the importance of telling young people about our struggles and our history. Though she still gets enjoyment out of her collection, Smith would like more people to benefit from it. “I would like to share it more,” she said. “I’ve always said, someday I’m gonna have a museum.” Eddie Jones & SO NING CONSTRUCTION COMMERCIAL NDUGTRAL- METAL BLN PC) Box 127 ® Farmville, North Carolina 27828 (252) 753-2008 # Fax (252) 753-2267 Mobile (252) 902-5511 ¢ eddie@tarrlorandsonscom the previous calendar-month in the Money ‘maybe required. External appraisal, if requi or changed at any time without notice. Normal c Current APR* as low as /. | Pri To learn more, call or stop by your local branch today. | fitstcitizens.com ..1.888,FC DIRECT i = PRIDE IN AMERICA 4.50% APR (current as of 3/1/06) Is for'the first 4 complete bjiling cycles and Is available for credit lines of $5,000 or more. 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Equal Housing Lender f@ yOuwe AL ECU Interior Renovations for Downtown — Rocky Mount - East Carolina University’s 7 Capstone Studio, senior interior design students, began their coursework this semester 4 by planning for the renovation — of Rocky Mount’s unique Main Street,.which is divided down the middle by the New Top 20 gospel/ praise & worship Music, Clergy/Choir Robes, Church Supplies, | | Books, Bibles, Greeting Cards, Gifts, Wedding & Social Invitations, Songbooks, Sunday School & Vacation Bible School Materials and much morell! Suriday School Commentaries Now Available! se a arany Gerongh Friday 13pm ..» Saturday 10am-dpm _ track. The area under proposed renovation is known as Harambee Square. The designated area consists of fire-damaged and dilapi- dated buildings. Students will present their ideas to Rocky Mount community leaders on April 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the City’s newly opened Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences. VOTE IN THE MAY 2ND PRIMARY " Mi-Bast Regional Housing Authority is secking | ‘ ot talidings and maintenance, upkeep and repair grounds for five public housing complexes apartment in Pitt County... eis diednen dents Bane the work as weil as 1 8: Peto 208 yt tes blow } sponsored by the Men’s Where “R” The Black Males sponsored by Deborah Andrews A workshop titled, Where “R The Biack Males Em- powering Black Male _ Leaders took place on March 24,2006 at the Pitt Community College. it was spearheaded by Mrs Deborah Andrews and co- Resource Center at Pitt Community College. The workshop opened the door for African American males to pursue an acdemic carreer’ and social success. It facili- tated conversation among » African American males of jr. . high, senior high, college _., Students and young profes- _ sionals around some of the issues currently affecting the quality of life in our commu- nity. The workshop estab- | lished a foundation to join and mentor merging African American male leaders. After the success of this workshop, Mrs Andrews certainly has another leadership workshop scheduled for the near future. Empowering Black Males .. To the Editor. Re “Across the U.S., Protests for Immigrants Draw Thousands” ; Illegal immigrants came to the United States knowing that they could have a life here that was better than the life in their home country. Who could _ blame them for coming? | Exclusive To First Time Home Buyers,Refinancers,2nd Mortgages, Or Simply Those Who Want Personal Or Business Loans. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY THE LOWEST INTEREST RATES AND CLOSING COST. ABSOLUTELY NO We could have enacted and enforced very tough laws with stiff fines and jail for any who: would hire them. We did not need physical fences to keep out immigrants. If they clearly could not have earned a living, they would not have come. That was and is the best fence. We should accept the fact that the current situation is unambiguously our fault. The illegal immigrants are here now. We should now define a « path toward eventual + legalization and citizenship for ¢ Current illegal immigrants « While sending a strong message to potential immigrants: new illegal immigrants will not find work here. The United States will determine the conditions and limits for legal entry and assimilation. PPP APRS SY BAO PePys. Eugene I. Gordon Letter Policy: The Minority Voice Newspaper welcomes your com- ments and letters and reserves the right to publish and or edit for length, clarity and matter relating to (Fax) 252-7571793 EXPERT DUTCH LENDERS CORP. UPFRONT FEES. GOOD OR BAD CREDIT ACCEPTED | TEE EP EO SEES fF a ooo oe ee ee ee ee ea a er ee a“, f? 2 © one _NOCREDIT puyge-TRADELOCATOR SERVICE BAD CREDIT OR | | YOUNEEDTo “*"°" JOHN DEAVER BUILD YOUR °n GEORGE RIGHTMYER PR aa ae Pt SY KF Re CREDIT 1456 D, WoRTHINGTON Ro GREENVILLE, NC PHONE: (252) 821-1296 FAX: (252) 321126 WOOW JOY1340AM PRESENTS NEW ARTIST OF THE MONTH a a a a ee oe ee PS ST a a a a OBS POE AM EE k.. by fre Common 6 Elect Derek K Brown The Anointed Ones Ministries presents Convocation 2006 _ THE SET TIME TO FAVOR \ ZION | Monday, May.22 - Sunday, May 28 Special Guest: _ Co-Pastor Susie Owens Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, Wash.DC Co-Pastor Susie Owens is the Co-Pastor of Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church in Washington, DC. She has been in the hy ministry for over 30 years and her gift hass made room for — her,allowing her to minister on platforms to tens of thousands. 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Black consumers will spend $981 billion by 2010 and First Nation peoples all have more rapid population growth than non-Hispanic Whites,” Olvera said. “These groups also have a larger and more youthful population, which should, in- theory, make~ them more attractive than the general market. Why then is this not the case? “And how has Hispanic marketing taken off over marketing to African Americans who command such a hugh buying power, or Asian Americans who also command a very high buying power? Then again, if you are Native American, you already know that there are few if any corporate marketers, trying to knock at your door.” Olvera has her theories as to why advertisers point their dollars more toward the Hispanic market than it does toward African American and other minority groups. In her opinion, the rationale behind those marketing techniques isn’t just because of Census figures. “Let’s look at what’s happened with Hispanic marketing first,” Olvera said. “Hispanic marketing has its roots from the time Cubans first came to the US . Many of these Cubans were established marketers in Cuba and had large agency contacts in the US. When they came here, they educated these contacts and created a need for corporate America to look at marketing to Hispanics as a special group. “There’s also a color issue. Hispanics are portrayed by the media as generally white Hispanics, or mestizo (spanish and indian). Most of all programming that originated through Telemundo BEV SMITH SHOW and Univision that carrid Latin American programming also was heavy on these two groups and minimally, if ~ anything, on lobos (hispanics of mixed African and Indian descent). When marketing to Hispanics, I doubt that-most marketers are thinking of Afro-Cubans, Afro-Puerto Ricans, Afro-Brazilian, etc.” Robert Dale, owner of Chicago’s RJ Dale Advertising and Public Relations, said he and other Black advertising firms seem to have to educate some companies every 10 years about the importance of focusing ad dollars toward the African American community. “T’ve been in this business since 1973, and I’ve found that we have to constantly re- educate companies on our sophistication and our brand loyalty,” Dale said. “Part of this problem is racism, and some companies don’t value the Black community. “The other thing they (companies) say is by in large we speak the same language as White people. They see the: language difference as a culture difference.” Jetta Bates, associate director of public relations for E. Morris Communications in Chicago, agreed with Dale’s assessment. | “T think it’s about educating the marketing departments at. some of these corporations,” Bates said. “I don’t think they have a good understanding of how we spend money, or what appeals to us.” Bates described a recent commercial for a hair product tht she found disturbing. She said the commerical had one token Black in it, and it ‘through involved characters living in a trailer. “Now, there is nothing about a trailer that appeals to me or my friends when trying to get us to try a hair product,” Bates said. “You have to take into count the - cultural differences, and the differences in the regions also.” Some commericals, like to recent Dove advertisement that shows different shaped womenof various ethnicities, do register with a broad group of people, Bates said. But she stressed those are far and few in-between ads. Although it seems to be clear that companies aren’t paying the same attention to Blacks and other groups as they are toward Whites and Hispanics, is there anything African Americans should or can be doing to get more of a focus on them? “T don’t think the African-American community is doing anything wrong,” Montuori said. “For that matter, I don’t think any group that marketers ignore is doing anything wrong, particularly if that group has and spends monéy. It’s more of a failure or neglect on the part of marketers in not recognizing that all people llike to be marketed to in a way that resonates — be it messaging, context, etc. “ But Dale says that Blacks are not effectively leveraging their buying power. imagery, - WwOOow JOY 1340 AM RADIO Mon - Fri 7pm MORNING TALK SHOWS LATIN PROGRAMMING WwoowW JOY 1320 AM RADIO Greenville, NC 27834]] Washington, NC 27889 phone: (252) 757-0365 phone: (252) 975-1320 GOSPEL MUSIC SUPPORT BLACK RADIO “We've just never been educated in terms of group economics, if you will. We have to have greater control over the curriclum in elementary and high schools so that we can teach our children about leveraging our buying power at an early age,” he said. Olvera sees the issue of non-leverage from a different vantage point. “Are we leveraging our buying power? I don’t really See FACIALS 6 Hairstylist Nail Tech. Jewelry Designer Tattoo Artist PERMS Booth Rentals Available for == apply it person —= anything overt that says that we are,” Olvera said. “The only time I see it is when groups boycott companies, like when Nike had problems with child labor. “I don’t think any minority ethnic group is really leveraging its buying power, Olvera continued. “With marketing, there is segmentation. Everything is segmented. Like if you go to Beverly, there’s a different thing going on there than in Hyde Park, -MIRROR,MIRROR SAL! 2536 Railroad St. Winterville NC,28590 Email: mirror_mirrorsalon@yahoo.com (252) 717-3838 cl A} & Cutting Edge Training Proficient Hairstylist Proms, Weddings, Special Occasions Wedding Planner Available even if we are speaking of Blacks who live in those communities. So a lot of times when people -are doing marketing they look at that. “] think minorities know that we have a huge buying power, but I don’t think many of us know how to leverage our buying power. It’s mainly . because people in ethnic groups have individual styles and tastes.” \ \ \ \ Your cuts your way Shampoo/syle Perms Frosting Spiky styles Color . Make-up Facials Relaxers Waxing _ Hair extensions Quick weave Signature Cuts Wigs styled & cut Ponytail Styles Hard styles In business, its all about connections. ' Our connections run deeper than a smile a they translate into reliable power, The ind firm handshake. Around here, kind that isn ¢ confined to an Shour day. The kind thar has enough energy to keep up with you. And as always, we te here when you need us. Juse like a good connection shouldbe, Minority Voice Apr 1 - 15, 2006 pg9 Presumed Dead And Answered Phone By J. ERICECKARD | F ake suicide leaves Van in river WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A | Sa Aree Mount police Sgt. Mark Hunter told police thatthe van Branch spent ime in prison in 1 — )OLLARS PER HOUR TWO CN Rose im Falsy omer Neen coviionsincudngiogen, | HOURS A DAY THREE TIMES A Rocky Mount police are . a.m. Friday from her North Soho , including forgery, ) looking for a man accused of A passer-by ber ie “ pda ye rian ane an fi of stoler oroperty, resisting WEEK / NO EXPERIENCE ‘morning an abandoned For etectives began searching for | | ) nea van ae Windstar in the Tar River near Branch, who apparently dated fest and larceny. NECES SARY START IMEDIATELY fake suicide note on the river the Nashville Road bridgein Hunter at some point, Anyone with information about CALL TODAY bank. Rocky Mount. When police authorities said. Branch’s whereabouts call the police 204-951-6233 OR 204-962-1804 _ and firefighters arrived at the department at 972-1411 or the Twin Arrest warrants have been «Scene, they foundasuicide Police reached Branch by County Crime Shepgens at 977-111. issued for Mitchell E. Branch, Hote on a wooden boat ramp Phone Friday afternoon, but 33, of the 2000 block of ‘near the minivan’s ingressto _ they had been unable tofind a Jarrett Drive, charginghim the water, Rosenfield said. him by presstime to serve | ss 1 warrants against him. He is nclding felony iting for Divers from the fire _ charged with vehicle theft, department searched the river, littering, damaging the boat putting the van in the river. but no body was discovered. ramp and filing a false police “Investigators have talked to Investigators also talked to: ——_report for leaving the suicide mS Til Muh | | ( ie i] him on the phone, so we the van’s owner, 3t-year-old note. | a _ know he’s alive,” said Rocky Makella Hunter, | Woman i-* | p | ] ih t Hip Hoy Honors LaenaRenwickTily with Jaouelin Thoma Bob aoa | | ~4 by EbenGregory a | HONDA VH1 is set to pay homage | 3300 8 Memorial De to Hip-Hop’s biggest legends and visionaries with its third annual ‘VH1 Hip Hop Honors’ show. Derek sea eg Ice T, host of this year’s , “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” _ AUTOMOTIVE CONBULTANT : * and NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, announced on Friday (Mar. 31) the first-ever “VH1 Hip Hop _ Honors Week” in connection with the third annual “VH1 Hip Hop Honors,” which will be held again in New York City. The VH1-created and pioneered awards special honors Hip-Hop’s pioneers and luminaries who have transformed Hip-Hop into a cultural phenomenon. Full ¢Half Soles. _- Heel Replacemnet Rockport Shoe Care | os Made Since its inception, New _ the hct Grate a | mm grt ri Sites pa ora trek a's tra by ume wh ba | {hare and how God baaled her. , ___ Available at Barnes and Noble “Hip-Hop music was born n Sgrty BE pot nye » right here in our city,” said Pick UP Your oF UF WIS WW TURV EPS COM Liiiaays Mayor Bloomberg at the M’VOICE NEWSPAPER , | press conference. “During AT Mo’s Tradin our first ever “VH1 Hip , Hop Honors’ Week New 2 ,y N OW ALSO Yorkers will have exciting de new opportunities to —_. | - WATCH celebrate an art form that Bryan set Terrence Melinda has influenced generations : HAIRCUT ! and reached the farthest grap bg MINORITY corners of the world.” EYE-BROW ARCH is year’s honorees Rodney $00 VOI CES = te Wu-Tang Clan ) Ne mae inc u - ’ $5.00 hi LaLa) BOY'S HAIRCUT $8.00 ‘WEDNESDAY Simmons, MC Lyte, BEAUTICIAN’S PRICING VARIES _—— Rakim, Beastie Boys and ) ACCORDING TO HAIRSTYLE , Eazy E. Gervis two LOOATIONS roo Chester NIGHTS ,' SERVE YOU: The star-studded event is UNIVERSITY SQUARE-EAagT ° | lated to take plea the ae 9:30pm CABLE7, fed Hanmer sancti exci ounce GreenvilleNC Ballroom on Saturday, suiTs #8 | October 7, 2006 and will Johnny (90m) 999-1617 r eenvl e be broadcast on VH1 on , Tes, ce. YOUR HOST: JIM ROUSE 2006 at 8PM. Minority Voice Apr 1 - 15,2006 pgld yearly event but also flew in Judge Glenda Hatchett. Robert Whitehead, in an earlier message to a packed house, set forth the reminder that his College foundation is cont. from pg.1 to pass the torch to you, it’s your turn.) Turn those headlines around, let them be about a generation driven by success, she said. Teens having cheered throughout were noticeable quieted by their tears, perhaps brought about the jolt of reality calling for unarguable change and focus if they are to participate in a global economy. Closing out she reminded youth, since claimed as her own, hold on to their dreams she shouted, hold on to your dreams! Following resounding ovation and an amazing performance by a local high school gospel choir, the Black Heritage Museum of Atlanta, GA. presented roses and service dedication awards to Judge Hatchett and Tarboro, NC native Fay Smith, College Round-Up Chair and the local brains behind this year’s event success also cousin to founder Robert Whitehead College Day Round-Up Founder). Robert Whitehead too was presented with an award from Tarboro area citizens for his commitment to community and youth. I caught up with Judge Hatchett as she headed for her personal SUV and driver, L.T. Bundy, who awaited her further instruction. Of all that she’d said that morning, I especially wanted to know what our communities could do to help youth— during their brief but all too important transitioning years— stay out of harms way. Then with a huge smile and a waving of her index finger she began, communities need after school programs between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 pm. Those are the hours during which most youth crime and other problems happen. We have to get them off the streets away from predators and gang activity and out of homes where they are often alone as latch key children and prime targets for internet predators. That’s start. I recommend letting the children design their own programs. There’s notable success with inner-city programs where this has occurred. Let the youth tell you what they want...they know. More specifically, we adults need to do more of what we tell them to do, listen. I also highly . recommend the Boys and Girls Club... she said stopping momentarily to sign the autograph of an elderly lady who said she'd traveled a distance just to see her... As a side bar, Marion Edelman Wright’s Children’s Defense Fund Website, childrensdefensefund.org, cites that on any given school day, a uniformed police officer is Safer during the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 pm than a child under the age of sixteen. Robert ‘Bob’ Whitehead Mr. Whitehead’s organization, The Black Heritage Museum and Cultural Center of Atlanta, GA, not only organizes the about ensuring that each teenager who wants a college education gets that and more. Mr. Whitehead implored school administrators and teachers to get better about the business of educating ' Black children. There’s no such thing as a bad kid! And as for you \_ teenagers, time out for dropped pants and knot head rags, you can’t go around like you just left nowhere—you have to bring something to get something, he stated. Accordingly, Mr. Whitehead said that he’d like to see even larger numbers at next year’s events. That includes Pitt County, Beaufort and Martin Counties, From what I understand Black - youth living-east of the 95 corridor need what College- Round-up offers. Unlike the door slam in your face to ANNUAL COLLEGE ROUND-UP which many of these kids are accustomed, we at College Round-Up don’t discriminate based on parental income or zip codes. Furthermore, he added, I, Bob Whitehead, aminthe business of providing opportunity; but I’m worried that the greatest minds of this generation are being sidelined, not by that which is insurmountable, but by design at the hand of a few who perpetrate the status quo of an social isolation ‘ism’ that no longer fits into the scheme of a global society. These are youth I claim as my own. I love these kids and I’m outraged by the pittance of love and care they receive. We can only look to two places for what’s going on, that’s at home and in the classroom. Therein lies a disconnect that must be Minority Voice Apr I - 15, 2006 pgll healed and renewed if we want our youth to progress in greater numbers...grown folks have got to do better. College Round-Up is about giving back to youth often overlooked as. candidates for a college education or for having the potential of acquiring any degree of measurable success. My point, you see, is that local television media was not on hand to record this day; however, had this been the scene of a huge ‘hip hop dance down’ (surely destined for an undercover investigation of drug money involvement) or a gang member shoot out we’d not only be morning headlines but evening start up with live footage and all. College Round-Up is a histéric event for Black youth and for eastern North Carolina period. Clearly, I want all to know that Black America is still in the business of giving back to - its own, especially its youth. ...Meanwhile, I'll be back every year until someone somewhere gets the message that preparing kids for college and sustainable lives with careers, not detention hall or prison, is the right thing to do everyday of the year. Mr. Whitehead ended his conversation with a forward nod of certainty and dedication while being pulled away to meet yet another parent wanting to talk about what else, college admissions. Event filled weekend The March 18" weekend of events began on Friday night at Tarboro’s Stacks Restaurant with a fund-raiser dinner and star-studded entertainment that included Jacksonville’s Oletha Sloan’s Motown Review. A catered affair for family and friends was held on Saturday evening, and the Melrose Place Mansion in Rocky Mount, NC was the site for Sunday’s brunch and the kick off meeting for 2007 College Round-Up events. Special mention to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Hewlett, Mr. Joel Glastnight; Mr. and Mrs. Finney Greggs, owners/ curators of the Jacksonville, North Carolina Montford Point Marines Museum; Mr. Picard of Columbus Ohio, Dr. John Bradshaw of Louisburg, NC; world traveler and international art collector Mr. Leon Freeman of Memphis, Tennessee; Mr. Potts of Detroit, Michigan and Ms. Caroline Smith, News Reporter from St. Louis, . Missouri and a host of others, each of whom found the time within their hectic schedules to travel east in support of this event. Richard Joyner (left) and Melvin Muhammad (right) thank Sen. Clark Jenkins for his efforts to help young people succeed. “When Clark Jenkins learned we needed help getting ‘The Factory Road Project’ started, he rolled up his sle and got to work —for us! Now, to our Senator, we are helping young “Senator Jenkins is always ready to listen. He is an effective leader, and that's what we need in Raleigh.” - Rev, Richard Joyner, Pastor Conetoe Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 4 > ry ,