Demonstrators' at the
Detroit of Arts (DIA)
Saturday, Y 6, dwged
the DIA . .. to
the racial and ailtUral up
of the city.
A group of approximately 2S
picketer 'carrie� ips which
demanded that die DIA adopt
an aflirmatiYe action program
to change the character and ad-.
ministrative oomposition of the
institution.
Consisting of local artists,
former DIA employee and
their upporters, the
demonstration came in the
aftermath of 1 ui filed in
March by African-American
employees the institute 0
re charging the D lA with
blatant racial di aimination.
Eleven African-American
employees filed suit against the
city of Detroit, e DIA and the
non-proflt museum society of
the Detroit Institute for $20 mil­
lion dollars, aUedging that the
majority of Black employees for
the· titute �e confined to
maintenmce and security guard
positions.
Acmrdiag to. spo person
for the group, .0IIIy ODe out ol33
employees· African-American
you examine the profes­
sional curatorial po itions
. in the DIA·.
African-American employee
po perso also called for an
effective oommunity outreach
program in order to enoourage
more African-American to
visit the museum. "Peop need I
to see the role of art in social
development", said a former
DIA employee, who claimed
that he left the organization
se' ral years ago because of r -
cial discrimination. I
Additional complaints were
made in regard to the way in
which African art is collected
and displayed in the museum.
The African art collection only
deals with art which originated
from sub-saharan Africa and .
exclusive of art which was
developed in the northern por-
tion of the continent. '
Sta e focuses on
limo e t an money· -
CoatiD fro 1 '
I school and putting them into an
accredited school, we cou Id
change the admini tration of
that scchool or, third, we could
close 'that school down," he said
Another program that ould
be imp mented in the fan of
1990 would b the testing of
teach r to ee if they meet min­
imum requirements.
Although thi is an important
pr Berni commented that
it wasn't important as som of
the oth r programs.
"Content h s n ver been a
probl m in ichi an schoo
academic now ledge has not
been a severe problem in
Michigan schools. Mo t
teacher have proble be­
cause they can't h ndle stu­
den ts, he said.
Bern' add d that in hi year
as uperintendent of Utica
schools he never had a pro lem
with teachers b cause of
acad mics but rather becau e
they didn't kno how to teach
effectively.
In order to as ure quality
educati n in Michigan, many
also feel that more money must
be brought into Michigan's'
educational system.
Bemis agrees and hopes to
see a school finance proposal on
the b Dot by late' summer or
early fall
RE ALES TAX FOR
DIG
"But if not, there will be
something on the ballot of the
gubernatorial election in 1990,"
said
Bemis said the best way to
bring money in the school sys­
tem uld be a proposal ing a
combination of sales tax,
property tax and inoome tax'for
school funding.
Bemis feels that there is now
an overreliance on property tax
for school fmance and an under­
reliance on sales tax.
"The direct route have to
go is decrease property tax ana
decrease sales tax. The question
is how much," he ide
Bemis said the proposal he is
supporting a sales tax plan that
would nd a half-cent to assur­
ing quality education and a half­
cent to property tax releif.
Although B mis is not sure if
the plan he is supporting will
pass the Legislature, he did
predict that any school finance
plan that does pass will most
likely be one that is combined
with property tax relief.
"I think it'll be very difficult
to g t out of the House and
Senate a quality package
without it being connected to
property tax relief. I think
would have to have property tax
relief on the ballo for anything
to come about," he said.
Bemis said he feels this way
because many members of the
Hou and Senate think the two
must tied together for either
to be successful. .
Bemis id the move toward
more money for quality educa­
tion has come bout a reac­
tion to changes in society.
With the information age
upon us, education in Michigan
will become increasingly impor­
tant since today's children will
compete not only with other in
Ohio and Indiana but also with
youth in Germany and Japan.
"Our wor force has to be
better and smarter if we're
going to maintain the standard
of living that we bave and I think
that's rth tigbtio& for," Bemis
said.
Public aiticism of tim ap­
proach recently came to light
when the Cleopatra vn e,xhi).
was brought to the DIA. Many
Afri�-American and African
academia, artists and cultural
critics fel that emphasizing �
Greek and Roman ruled period
of Egyptian history was giving
Credence to the racist notion of
Egyptian civilization being a
part of European or mediter­
ranean cultures.
These ideas, which are no
longer advanced even by
credible European historians,
caused tremendous controversy
within artistic circles in Detroit.
Egypt is a part of Africa", was
one of the slogans u�ed by
DIA
LE OJAXSO
demonstrato on Saturday.
Other co rns were raised
about the wa in which African
art is present at the museum.
-'The majori of African Art in
the museu is set up to il­
lustrate ho these particular
forms inn enced modern
European especially con-
temporary essionism·, said
the fOl'lller D employee.
Consequ dy, the art does
not convey the essence of
African art stic expression
based on its ctual history and
aesthetic tra tioos', the former
employee co tinned,
Despite e overwhelming
African-Am iean population
of Detroit, tb DIA, acccording
DIApr
1990's foreca t
CoatiDue rr P 1
also would be ,lowered
However, decr in city
taxes mean decrease in city
revenue.
Bu said 0 troit is already
workin to negotiate the census
fmdings. The city i conferring
with the Southeast Michigan
Council of Governments to ad­
just the figure to account for the
unaccoutabJe.
"The enh need djusted
figure ould be the counted
plus some number, Buss siad
LaDrant said because the
Michigan Legislature will no
reduce th size of the Ho or
Senate, Detr it's will be a
gain to other ea in the tate.
LaBrant said area near
Traver City, Grand Rapids,
Holland and Livingston County
have incr d in popula . n.
"It's likely to expect perhaps
an increase in I gislative repre­
sentation," LaDrant said of
tho area.
GOPB E
LaB rant pointed out tbat
most of the representatives
Crom Detroit re Democrats.
The I area with increeased
'population' re largely
Republican.
. According to LaB rant, the
Democrat-Republican split in
to an· African-American artist,
. not receptive or upportive of
this oommunity. City govern­
ment offici have yet to make
a public statement in upport of
the employees, who they are os­
tensibly in charge of overseeing.
"Thi i not something
abstract", said Oil! marcher.
-Art is not a luxury b neces­
ity hich represents and
pro ects every culture", he eon-
tinued "
The plantiffs and their sup­
porters are working to form a
board based coalition to effec­
tively chieve their goals. They
announced 0 Saturday that
another demonstration would
be held on y 20, at the DIA.
of Mricn eriea art.
the House after reapporti n­
ment could be 56-54. rrently
the split is 64-46., .
LaBrant id with changes in
the Senate, The Republican
majority could gain on or
seats. Currently, the en te
a Republican majority of 10-18.
"With (Hou e) election,
some votes would be controlled
by the Democrats and ome by
the Republicans," LaBrant .
"The state Legislature in e
19905 will be extremely com­
peri ive: La Brant id, "It'
SO-SO shot of control of both -
daambers.·