NAARPR and NAACP:
life for age old struggle?
"� AACP i experiencing
new life, new en rgy and a new vi­
sio� " S�d Benjamin Chavis, the or­
ganization' w national executive
director.
The NAACP has in recent years
been accused by insiders and outsid­
ers alike of losing touch wi th the
very people it was formed to repre­
se.nt and erve. Alleged alliances
WIth vemment and big busines
drew negative criticism for the
NAACP, along with a call for a re­
vamping of th or anization into a
more grass-roots-based movement.
Chavi believes that he and
NAACP Detroit Branch president
Rev. Wendell Anthony are an an­
swer to that call.
, "Th Detroi t branch ent a ignal
by. electing Wendell Anthony," he
scud. "I knew I bad a chance."
Many believe that recent elec­
tions within the organization s De­
troit chapter and the national search
for a new director represented a
struggle between what has been
called the "old guard" and the "new
guard."
"We won," said Chavis. "If it had
not been for the NAARPR, what
happened with the NAACP would
not have been possible."
NAARPR I the organization
that evolved out of the 200-plus
• "Free Angela Davi " commi ttees
�at sprang up across the country in
DB
A
continued from page A 7
seen patients without adequate health
care existing in inhumane conditions
and poor support systems. Being in
the health care profe ion it i the
responsibility of the the health care
profe ional as a whole to help the
patient identify and resolve problems
within their family dynamic
whether it be phy ical, mental or phy­
cho social", Love aid. The Detroit
Black Nurses As ociation is commit­
ted to as 1 tin th e individual. An
ongoing health creening program i
just one of our projects."
THE 0 IATIO I not
limited to health care profes ionals.
Betty Ware paralegal and al 0 a r i­
dent of Detroit aid while attending
the DBNA membership r eption,
he came aware f th many actrvi­
ti that the nurs were involved In.
:J was imp ed and I am tm nki n
of becomin an ociatc m mber. I
Dr. Jeffries
fights for job
NEW YOR' Y - Dr. Leonard
Jeffri • th City Colle e of New
York prof orwho created a contro­
versy by Charging th re w a "Jew­
i h conspiracy ag inst Black ", w
in court ree ntly ighting to reverse
hi 0 ter as chairman of the Bla k
, tudies department.
The truste tnppcd him of hi
chairmanship in March 1992, charg­
ing poor lead hlp. Jeffri 1. cek­
I ng reinstatement and 25 mi llion.
A court d i ion i expected at
any time.
We are fighting to
get gays and
lesbians Into the
military, and I'm al/
for their right to be
there, but we must
also fight to get
African-American
men out of the
military. There is
something wrong
when the military is
the only way out of
poverlyand
despair for our
young men."
-Angela Davis
the early 1970s. Aft r Angela Davis
was acqui ned and freed, h and oth- ",
ers were determined to maintain the
organization.
In 1973 the NAARPR began an
eight-year truggle to free the Wil­
mington Ten, an imprisoned group
of activi 15 Ial ely barged with
would like to become involved in
orne of the h Ipful project withi n '
the community."
, Pasha Deerin ,It vi e president
and 10 year member of the or aniza­
tion aid ince comi ng a memb r
sh has experienced the gr wth f
health care meed of the community
and say it is till a struggle to get
African Americans involved. "Dur­
ing Healtharama we need tudent
nurses to volunteer. We al 0 need
donations of sh es, clothes, blankets,
any items that can be used."
Anyon eeking additional infor­
mation can call 313 831-4424
continued from page AS
have dive ifled ince 1 79, the cen­
tral emphasis remai ns: t ive young
people an pportumty t expre
their thou hts and fea with their
peers; to think thr ugh their prob­
lem ; and to interact with po mvc
adult role models.
The Valley' uth h v 'Ie m d
h w to articul te their tru le and
experienc 0 well that they are
�ft�n �ed to it n panel and par­
ticipate III forums n uch i u . P r­
hap the be t mea ure of The
Valley' u 1 that the teens t 11
their friend about It.
To learn mor about th e and
other programs give us a call at
1- -ASK-BCCe,
Marian Wright Ed lman i P, l :
dent of the CIl ildr n' Defen e Fund
a national voice for children, and
one of the leaders of the Black Com­
munity Cru ade for Children.
ew
mum r. The Wilmington Ten' most
famous member, Rev. Benjamin
Cbavi .wa ed out of prison in 1980
wh ncharg againsube group were
reversed. .
Cbavi aid tbat, along with the
ra � m and 0PPres ion both organi­
zations wer created to fight, there
are om truggles among African­
Am ricans that have to be resolved
as well.
"I'm talking about class stratifi­
ation "he aid. "I mean those of us
who m ve out of the bottom that
don't care anymor ."
At the conference, Chavis an­
nounced the establishment of an
NAACP branch office in a 1.0 An­
geles neigh orhood.
"It' th filSt braoch office in the
, hood," he said. "And it's only the
beginning."
much as I have admired the
wor of the NAACP," aid Angela
Davis, "I never thought I would see
. the day when I would say, 'Here's
my mon y. Where's my member­
ship card?'"
-Leah Samuel
I
"(P
durin
ing t reve
on Haiti. fulfill
promi ? Are you
him h your a r,"
I D vi , C rpe n Bmert­
tus 0 th tion I Alii nee
A it' t m Political Re-
p ion (NAARPR).
Davi id he is f ting in
oli arity with the H itian r u­
e illegally d tained t Ouan-
tanomo Air B e. Shje made her
rem during the groUp' 20th
nnual conference held in Detroit
thi t weekend.
D vi i iog th public to
_writ President Clin n, Secre­
tary of State Warren Christopher,
and Attorney General Janet Reno
to free the Haitians kin y­
I um and let them enter the U.S.
The Haitia re being de-
tai ned because they or 8 relative
have t ted HIV po itive, Dav'
aid.
Thi policy 0 detention has
been rejected by all major medi­
cal as ociations including the
American Medical ociation,
Davi told the NAARPR confer­
ence.
"The U. S. is the leading ex­
porter of AIDS," Davis noted,
urging her audience to write the
president to allow the ylum
seekers to proceed to th U.S.
and receive medical treatment.
Some 200 Haitians in deten­
tion began the faston January 28,
and the first one died 1 t week,
prompting Davis to begin her fast
in solidarity.
Others around the country
who have joined the fast for a
." t d or Ion r incl
Harry Belaeon and Je e Jac -
son, Davis said. ,
But college students and
many others have demonstrated
their solidarity with the Haitians
and their criticism of U.s. gov­
ernment's inhumane and racist
policy by joining the hunger
trike.
C TER ADDED that the Cor-
poration also purchased and i
renovating a house on E. Orand
Blvd. Carter ays t t even though
renovations are not completed, tbe
house has already been old.
"Improvement in the neighbor­
hood bas a contagious effect," Car­
ter aid. "You have to get something
started at the grassroots level. When
everyone starts improving around
you, you want to improve. People in
the neighborhood can make a differ-
ence." -
"Each department head is performing
2-3 different duties."
MA YOR PORTER SAID he has
done everything possible and notes
his budget was put together by pro-
fessionals. '
Bostic suggests that in carrying
out his slogan "Creating New Possi­
bilities," the Mayor should look at
ideas from citizens and city employ­
ees, who may not have academic cre­
dentials, but have had experience and
"common sense."
Among the administrators listed
in the Mayor's BUdget are,
- Director of the Administrator/
Plannina Director of the Community
Development Department, with a
alary of $55,000. (Bo tic would
eliminate this position and restruc­
ture the department.)
- Deputy Administrator for
Community Development $20,000
(Bostic would change the 'title
to "Program Director, raise the salary
to $25,000 and have this official do
See BUDGET, 810
T CORPORATIO t good
trac record for reh bing buildings
BOO putting the profits back into the
Corporation allowed them to apply
to other sources for grants.
"We tablished a track record of
getting things don ," said Carter.
"We haven't bad any forfeitures, we
D
continued from page A4
t�ted out to outside law yers, the
City should recognize its legal depart­
ment is already "privatized" the way
�yo� �orter would is considering
pnvanzmg other services.
Bo tic's main idea is to consoli­
date different departments. The
workers would all tay and perform a
variety of functions, but under this
arrangement it would be po ible to
hav� less administrators to supervise
them. Administration could be trans­
ferred to more vital functions.
She a1 0 u ted there too
m y deputy directors in different
departments.
Mayor Porter, while not com­
menting on Bostic' ideas specifi­
cally, said that his admini tration
already has tried thi technique. He '
says departments have been consoli­
dated and workers are performi ng
different functions. , .. '�.
"Each member of the staff is per­
forming 2 .. 3 different jobs." he aid.
Part V •• HIGH JOHN
And here I come! High John the Conqueror
Fantastic saviour from a bygone day
The spirit of a mighty warrior
Who made a way where once there was no way
I am the constant keeper of great times
Our Mother Africa found in her drum
Creator of sweet harmonics and rhymes
To tell what was, what is, and what's to come
I have returned with all my spirit might
To join thc.baulc what we now are in
To show my people righteous ways to fight
And by our wits devise new ways to win
High John! p� t master of the ancient trick
Of hilling straight licks with a crooked stick
Now let us pray: for faith do brave deeds
To gather our resources and the strength
To give' our struggle all the force it needs
To carryon intensely, and at length
And let u pray for righteous recompense
To gain a better purchase on the world'
A social order which makes common sense
In which our flags of freedom are unfurled
Let bloody stain thepast exhibited
Be laundered from the linen of our lives
So tanding tall and uninhibited
Black men can claim their children and their wives
Th hour i at hand to make our move
And demonstrate our courage to improve
Oh, yes, High John de Mighty Conqueroo
The singer, dancer, poet, prophet, sage
Cloaked In the spirit of a warrior who
Prevails in any conflict I engage
I am the warrior who never quits
High John, who when hi mettle has been tested
Ha found a way of winning by his wits
And made thc conquered grateful to be bested
High John, who knows the ccret of the rhythm
Witb which the .grcatvibrapon 's bein bea
\Vl\d �e. to vidory'1lH ..,hQ y -'e with Mm
High j�n, who has triumphed over defeat
Oh, yes.High John de Mighty Conqueroo
The spirit that all your ancestors knew
,As we now move against white racist laws
Let us take needed time to analyze
What we have going for us in our cause
The world has changed, and we must recognize
The promise in the way in which it's changed
For there are new relation hipsof forces
And new alliances to be arranged
From which to gain the requisite resources
As we are waging war against oppression
Still mindful we have formidable foes
With dreadful weaponry in their possession
We none the les can trike decisive blows
. To finally re cue us from the plights
Imposed by the supremacy of whites
/
Do not consider this a call to hate
Hatred is not the spirit High John uses
My method i to heal and re-create
And put an end to violent abuses·
Applying the elixir, balms and tonic
Th positive influences we need
To guarantee our motion are harmonic I
Again t the pastic gyrations of greed
Th evil that bedevil with damnation
The injuriou con equence of crime
I counter with th force of good vibration
Developed through the exerci e of time
I know how. we can alter any state
We imply have to move, improve, and wait
Weight, wait, weight, wail, weight, wait
We call upon the roots from which we rose
To flower on our fertile Mother Eanh
Our kings; our Queert �bur ancestor heroes
From whom we had our heritage at birth
We call upon our minstrels and musician
For harmonies and time to celebrate
We call on our high priests and our magicians
To now invoke the pirii to create
We call on all our age-old under tanding
Our primal wisdom and our mother wit
For insight that are constantly expanding
Throughout thi Univer in which we fit
And for a Lord to over ee it all
Upon the God within our Ives we call
. I '
To be continued next w