* Roanoke, Va. Public School System Superintendent, Marvin Thompson, has resigned. It will be interesting to see just how much the Roanoke, Va. school system had to pay to get rid of him, (estimates say around $44,000, golden parachute benefits not included) but, Thompson is gone. The Roanoke, Va. Public School System will be better off for it.
* Some credit Thompson for raising SOL test scores. I don't. Strategies were in place to raise SOL test scores years before Thompson came to Roanoke. SOL test scores went up because of the hard work of Roanoke, Va.'s teachers, not because of Thompson.
* While I'm on this topic, please spare me on the SOL test score talk. Good SOL test scores don't necessarily mean a child is getting a good education. Schools systems across this country spend their entire school year teaching children how to take the standardized tests that pertains to their school systems. Virginia is no exception. If anything, SOL test scores prove that Virginia's teachers are pretty good at teaching our children the material that is on the SOL tests, nothing more. Again, SOL test scores do not mean a child is getting a good education. Want proof? Ask a child about a current event, any current event. If the current event isn't part of the SOL test, that child probably won't know what you are talking about. Want more proof? Simply ask a child to think about something. Most can't.
* I will credit Thompson for two things. First, under Thompson, all school children were treated equally. Thompson never allowed race or economics to be used as an excuse for children NOT to learn. Thompson attacked this ludicrous idea which is THE biggest problem in the American education system. Thompson never allowed the students of the Roanoke, Va. Public School System to tell themselves that they couldn't be good students because of their race or because they were poor. More educators should follow Thompson's example.
* Second, Thompson brought honesty to the statistics concerning the Roanoke, Va. Public School System. For years, Roanoke schools rigged the statistics concerning its schools. As recently as two years ago, the citizens of the city were told 98% of its children graduated. The drop out rate was 2%. Over 60% of the city's high school graduates went to college. There wasn't a problem with school violence. Money to educate Roanoke's children was going where it was supposed to go. All lies.
Under Thompson, we learned that the city's graduation rate was around 58% and the drop rate was around 42%. Why is this important? Thompson's honesty put the community on notice that there was work to be done concerning our schools and everyone needed to get off their backsides to make sure our children got a good education. After decades of denial, the Roanoke School Board followed Thompson's lead. Roanoke's schools will be better off accepting these truths in the long run.
* Other than these two areas, I'd grade Thompson's time as Roanoke, Va.'s school superintendent with a "D." We know the problems concerning Thompson's time here. These problems have been well documented, especially low teacher morale, teachers working extra with no pay, bad community communication, conflict between the school board and city council, no-bid contracts and wasteful spending, among others. And although other problems were never covered in the media, there's no need to talk about them at this time. It's time to move on.
* What now? The three biggest problems facing the Roanoke, Va. Public School System have always been, 1) teachers being underpaid, not being treated as the professionals they are and teachers always being blamed for the problems in the Roanoke Pubic School System; 1A) the racist, elitist assumption that children who are minorities and children who come from poor economic backgrounds cannot learn in the classroom. Again, Thompson attacked problem 1A. However, Thompson treated teachers like children. As a result, teachers left the Roanoke school system in droves. It will take years to undo this damage.
* The third problem? Historically, Roanoke Public Schools have always shut out the community when it comes to improving our schools. Roanoke Public Schools' attitude toward the community has always been one of arrogance and disrespect. Roanoke City Public Schools have always felt they knew everything about educating our children while the community knew nothing about educating our children. The Roanoke Public School System was also backed up by much of the Roanoke, Va. media which ignored many of the problems taking place in the Roanoke school system, problems that the Roanoke media was told about in detail by members of the Roanoke community.
* It's going to get interesting.
* Are there any more classless fans in NASCAR than Dale Junior and Dale Senior fans? And when did Tony Stewart turn into such a baby? "Smoke" needs to change his nickname to "Puff of Smoke" the way he's been acting lately.
I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/27/07
* Alright folks, get your "JEFF ARTIS IS AN UNCLE TOM," buttons ready because today's ARTIS BLOG is about to get heavy. What? Hey, I know the game. I know that whenever a Black man talks about personal responsibility and accountability in a non-religious context, the "Uncle Tom" labels come flying from every direction. But, the readers of THE ARTIS BLOG know one thing about me. You can call me anything you want to. I don't care. Just don't call me late for dinner.
* According to statistics, there was $800 billion in income in the Black community in 2006. No, that's not a misprint. This income is expected to increase to $1 trillion in 2010. No, that's not a misprint, either.
* Revenues for Black businesses for 2002, the latest year these figures were available, was $88.6 billion.
* However, 24.9% of Blacks are classified as poor, the median income for a Black family is only $30,858, there are more Black men in jail than on college campuses, the Number 1 cause of death among young Black men is murder by other young Black men and it is estimated that the Black high school drop out rate in America is a little over 50%, 75% in some communities. Let's not forget about AID/HIV. Now comes a report from the National Urban League called "The State of Black America," to which National Urban League President Marc Morial says, "Empowering Black men to reach their full potential is the most serious economic and civil rights challenge we fact today."
* We know what the negative statistics in the Black community are. We know what the problems in the Black community are. But, what can the Black community do about these situations? Should the Black community depend upon civil rights organizations, community leaders, elected officials, social organizations, the church and other resources within the Black community to solve the problems facing the Black community? Better yet, should members of the Black community get their own personal houses in order? Should the Black community have what I call a, "Revolution Of The Mind?"
If you've read "THE ARTIS BLOG" you will know that I've always said that many of the problems facing the Black community can only be taken care of by members of the Black community. After all, no one knows us better than us. Because of this, no one can help us but us. Yes, there is racism in America. However, if the truth be know, in certain cases, the Black community does a good job shooting ourselves in the foot concerning so many important issues.
* EDUCATION. An educated people is a proud people. It is our responsibility to make sure Black children get a quality education. Instead, we fall into the following traps. 1) Education is for White folks. 2) I don't need an education. I can make money hustling or selling drugs. 3) Why get an education? I won't be able to get a job when I finish school. 4) Why get an education? I can't afford to go to college. 5) I want to get an education, but, I have to get a job to help my family.
We have drum it into the heads of our children that without an education, there is no future. We have to make it clear to our children that getting an education is THE most important thing our children will do in their lives. We must hold our children accountable for making good grades in the classroom. Many of us don't do this.
We must follow this up by making sure the people responsible for educating our children do their jobs. We don't do this, either. Instead, the Black community gives the people responsible for educating our children a free pass. Oh, we complain. I've heard the complaints. But, we don't hold people accountable. The result? Bad schools from top to bottom and high drop out rates.
It's the job of a community to make sure their children get educated. If I were to give the Black community a grade in this area, I'd have to give the Black community a "D".
* POLITICS. There was a time when the American political system took the Black vote seriously. It doesn't anymore. Ask yourself these two questions. 1) When was the last time the Black community scored a major political victory on the national level? 2) Other than electing Black public officials to office, when was the last time there was a serious political agenda that was aimed at meeting the needs of the Black community? The answer to both of these questions is, during the 1960's.
Politically, the Black community has become too predictable for its own good. In any given election, we know the following. Blacks will vote for the Democratic candidate 80% of the time, regardless of the candidate's platform. Fifty percent of those in the Black community who are eligible to vote will neither register to vote or go to the polls on Election Day. In local elections, this number rises to 75 to 80 percent. We know Blacks don't contribute to political campaigns as we should. Nor do members of the Black community work on political campaigns as we should. The members of the Black community who should vote, namely the poor, don't. Once elected, we don't hold elected officials accountable, especially if those public officials are Black. Given this, why should anyone take the Black vote seriously?
Before anyone says, voting doesn't make a difference, let me give you the example of The Religious Right. The Religious Right has been a major player in American politics for over 20 years. Why? They vote. They vote for the candidate who is going to work toward their best interests. They support those candidates who support them. They give money to those candidates who support them. They make noise when they think they are getting stabbed in the back. The Religious Right has no trouble telling politicians, "This is what we want. And if you don't give it to us, good luck on getting elected."
By contrast, today's Black community is more passionate over who gets voted off "American Idol" than over who gets elected to public office. It didn't use to be this way. There was a time when Black people literally risked their lives to register to vote and to go to the polls and vote on Election Day. That's not the case today. If I were to give a grade to the Black community in this area, I'd have to give a "C-." Why a "C-?" America in general is apathetic when it comes to voting. However, the problem with not voting is more pronounced in the Black community.
* THE MYTH OF THE BLACK LEADER. Let's stop the madness. Improvement within any community begins with the individual members of that community improving themselves. Somewhere, somehow, Black folks have been brainwashed into believing a Black leader, a Black Moses, has to rise from the ashes to take Black people to the Promise Land. Stop it. Stop it right, now.
People don't need a leader to tell them to take care of their children. People don't need a leader to tell them who to vote for. People don't need a leader to tell them to check their child's homework or their child's report card. People don't need a leader to tell them to stop killing each other. People don't need a leader to tell them to get a job. People aren't helpless.
Someone once asked me how it felt to be a leader in the Black community. I told this person I wasn't a leader in the Black community. I told this person that the only thing I'm a leader of is the Roanoke SCLC and even in the SCLC I am only one of many leaders.
Fifty years ago, the Black community needed leaders and their organizations to lead the way. Times have changed. Given the make up of America in the 21'st Century, the Black community doesn't need a Moses to lead us to the so-called Promise Land. Today, individuals within the community must lead the way. Organizations and the leaders of these organizations should be there for backup. Everyone needs good backup.
* PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I believe the individual holds the key to their own success or failure. I believe in hard work and perseverance. I believe the only thing keeping a person from being successful is themselves. Too many of us are too quick to blame others for our shortcomings. You cannot be successful if you are not will to pay the price to be successful. You cannot be successful if you are always expecting to somehow fail. Hard work equals success.
* GOD. Do you want the blueprint to success? Follow The 10 Commandments. You can't go wrong there. Success is fairly simple when you simply follow The Word. In far too many cases, money, greed and self importance have replaced God in many communities. This is unacceptable.
It's time we realized that success in America doesn't require an advanced degree in rocket science. It's time for a revolution. It's time for a "Revolution Of The Mind." Until the Black community changes our thinking, I will be able to write this same blog 20 years from now.
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/25/07
* This current debate over rap music is a fraud. Why?
* Certain commentators are only talking about the evils of rap music because one of their boys, Don Imus, got kicked to the curve a couple of weeks ago. All these certain commentators want is pay back, pure and simple. Where were these commentators 25 years ago when C. Deloris Tucker started saying that something needed to be done about rap music? I can respect Ms. Tucker. These other guys? No way.
* Yes, I agree that there is too much cursing, too much degrading of women (the same holds true for blues music) and too much talk about shooting, killing and selling drugs in rap music. (The shooting and killing lyrics remind me of Old School Country music. You know, "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die," Johnny Cash.) I agree with Russell Simmons and Ben Chavis that some lyrics in rap music have gone too far.
I will also say that I've been listening to rap music for over 25 years. I don't curse too much. I don't degrade women. I don't sell drugs. I've never shot anyone. Neither have any of my children who grew up as part of the rap/hiphop generation. Why? I taught my children the difference between right and wrong. I taught my children the difference between image and reality. I take my job as a parent seriously. Where did I learn this? I learned this from my Mom. And where did my Mom learn this? She learned this from her parents.
A lot of parents don't take the job of being a parent seriously, they never have and they never will. Gangsta'ism starts at home. Gangsta'ism doesn't begin with 50 Cent, Snoop Dog and Eminem. If you raise your kids right, rap won't be a problem. And if you are a parent listening to 50, Em and Snoop with a small child, you are an idiot. You are also a bad parent.
* Have you seen the music videos on MTV and CMT? Just so you know, women shaking their boobs, shaking their butts and humping around isn't something that only appears in rap videos. Check out Trace Atkens' "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" video. I'll go you one more. Women were shaking their boobs, shaking their butts and humping around in music videos before anyone even thought about making rap videos.
* In case you haven't noticed, rap music sales are dropping faster than a brick dropped from a tall building. The marketplace is tired of bad music, too. Imagine that.
* I'll say this again. Much of rap music, especially gansta' rap, is born out of hopelessness and dispair, the result of people turning their backs on acheiving The American Dream through legitimate means. When folks start attacking the conditions that cause this dispair, the conditions, which by the way, lead to the lyrics folks compain about in rap music, give me a call. Until that time comes, as far as I'm concerned, people are just flapping their gums and taking the easy way out.
* The one word to describe the cover-up the Army committed in the friendly fire death of former NFL player Pat Tillman is "disgraceful."
* I don't understand why the Army would do something so stupid. The American people understand mistakes happen, especially during wartime. The American people do not like being lied to, never have, never will.
* I'm going to show my age here. I remember when the term, "Made In Japan," meant the product you were buying was made of very low quality and "Made In America," meant the product you were buying was top of the line. Now this. Toyota is now the world's biggest auto maker. High quality, good price, and good selection worked out pretty well for the Japanese auto maker. You hear that Ford and GM?
* Partial birth abortions? There's no need to get mad now. We knew if Bush became President in 2000 and again in 2004 that abortion rights would be limited. People should have gotten off your butts and voted.
* And for those who keep gripping that Bush stole the election in 2000, give it up. If the people who are now crying about the Bush Presidency would have voted in 2000 instead of sitting on their butts watching t.v., Bush would still be in Texas. Like I always say, "Republicans vote, Democrats whine."
SEE YOU FRIDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/23/07
* The "JUNETEENTH," "WHAT UP?," and "THE ROANOKE SCLC" pages on www.jeffartis.com have been updated. Check them out.
* This debate over rap lyrics is silly. America would be much better off if we attacked the reasons why rap is what it is and why rappers say what they say instead of complaining about some rapper using bad language, making bad videos and making songs that talking bad about women.
* As for those kids who want to emulate rappers, where are the parents?
* I hope you got to hear the comments radio guy Neal Boortz made about the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings last week. Boortz's comments were sickening. Boortz felt the victims of the shootings were wimps for not attacking the shooter. Boortz's comments were the dumbest thing I've ever heard on the radio, Rush Limbaugh included. I would compare Boortz' comments to those made by a horses ass. WFIR radio in Roanoke, Va. was correct to take this clown off of the air for a few days.
* As for the Virginia Tech shootings, both sides are correct. I can see why the campus wasn't shut down. I can see why the campus should have been shut down. Still, after the first shootings, classes should have been cancelled for the day out of respect for the victims.
* As you know, I'm a huge critic of President George Bush. But, you have to give credit where credit is due. Bush's comments last week at the Virginia Tech memorial service about the shootings was moving. Bush finally acted like a President.
* Nikki Giovanni's comments at the same memorial service were simply fantastic.
* Don Imus? I challenge anyone to go on their job, say something racist and sexist and not get fired for it. The Imus situation was not a free speech issue. The Imus situation was about someone acting badly on the job.
* The Duke Rape Case? I'm glad the truth finally came out. And no, those boys' lives aren't ruined. Someone will give those boys a second chance. Those boys will get that second chance after they get tired of counting all of the money they will make from televison, movie and book deals.
* The prosecutor in the Duke Rape Case should be disbarred. The girl who made up the charges against those boys should get court ordered counseling. She needs help.
* I'm sorry Sonjaya got voted off of "American Idol." I loved that boy. Sonjaya was better than Elvis.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/20/07
The worst thing that can happen to a parent is the loss of a child. I lost my son 4 days before his birthday and 11 days before Christmas in 2003. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I remember the phone call, the drive to the hospital, talking to the doctor, and seeing my son on the hospital table after being told he was dead.
My family and I have never fully recovered from that day. Holidays and family gatherings aren't the same. Nor do holidays and family gatherings mean the same. My oldest daughter got married this summer. At the wedding we all wished my boy was alive to enjoy that blessed event. I've just found out that I'm going to be a grandfather. I couldn't help but wish my son was still here because he'd be a fantastic uncle.
I've broken down and cried seeing a father and his son playing catch in their yard as I drove by. I've fought back tears listening to a song playing on the radio or playing on a department store intercom that my son liked. I can't listen to "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas," without reaching for my handkerchief. I curse those companies who still send my son credit card applications in the mail. I envy those fathers who complain about their sons forgetting to take out the trash or forget to clean up their rooms.
In the years since my son's death, I've had my arguments with God. I've had my doubts about religion. My faith has been shaken a time or two. I've had guilt. I remember situations between the two of us that I should have handled differently. I remember arguments that we had that were just plain silly. I remember the off the wall comments I made that I probably shouldn't have. I ask myself, "Was I a good father?" I tell myself that I should have told my son, "I love you," more than I did.
In a strange way, my son's death has brought me closer to my two other children. But, I still miss my son. You would think that as time goes by, such a loss would get easier to deal with. In some ways that is true. In other ways nothing could be further from the truth. I know that as my wife and I celebrated our 20'th wedding anniversary, as happy as we were to celebrate this wonderful day, we were equally as sad that our son wasn't here to celebrate with us.
Why am I writing this? On Monday, parents lost their children in the most horrific way imaginable. I cannot imagine losing a child in such a way. Still, I know what it is like to lose a child. And I know that right now, and in the near future, America will be there to support these parents. But, what about in a month, 6 months, or next year? Where will we be then?
I know we live busy lives. I know we all have responsibilities. But, I'd like the readers of THE ARTIS BLOG to do one thing. One day next week, next month or next year, say a prayer for these parents and their families. Ask God to watch over these people as they come to grips with the loss of their child. They won't know you are doing this, but, I know they will appreciate this act of love and kindness.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/18/07
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES
You cannot live in Roanoke, Va. and not somehow be connected to or affected by Virginia Tech. You may love Tech. You may not be Tech fan. You may be like me and chuckle over those who drink the Tech Kool Aid. But, Monday's events have reduced me to tears more than once over the last two days. You have to ask yourself, "How can so much evil happen on such a grand scale at such a beautiful location where such evil events aren't supposed to happen?"
I don't know. I just know this. I believe in God. I believe there is a devil. I believe in good. I believe in evil. I believe God and good are always fighting a pitched battle against the devil and evil. The devil and evil may have won this battle. God and good will win this war. All of us who believe in God and good will be better because of His ultimate victory.
All I ask is as people run from blame, as people play the blame game, and as people worry about how Monday's events are going to affect Va. Tech's reputation, that we don't forget what's most important. Thirty-three people are dead.
If someone is fired over Monday's evil, they will be able to find another job. If a reporter gets a promotion for outstanding reporting on this story, big deal. If Va. Tech's enrollment suffers for a little while, oh, well. The enrollment numbers will come back.
The dead won't. The dead won't come back. They are gone. The victims should be remembered. The shooter should be studied for better understanding. All of their families are going to go through some hard times. They will need our help. They will need our support. Let's not forget the dead. Let's not forget their families.
Let's not forget the victims who lived. They will need our help, as well. The same hold true for their families. Still, they are here. Others are gone. Let's remember what is important. Human life.
SEE YOU FRIDAY.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/16/07
* Man did I get spanked last week over my comments concerning Sherman Lea, Jr. not being granted an interview for a position on the Roanoke, Va School Board. I first got spanked by Roanoke, Va. Mayor Nelson Harris, then spanked by Roanoke, Va. City Councilman Bev Fitzpatrick, then spanked by The Roanoke Times Editorial Board and then spanked by Roanoke Times columnist, Shanna Flowers. There's a link to comments made by Harris and Fitzpatrick on the 4/11/07 ARTIS BLOG, posted below. To read the comments from The Roanoke Times and Shanna Flowers, please click on the following links.
* There's a funny thing about me, however. If you spank me, you better be prepared to get a little somethin' somethin' back. Only my Momma can spank me and get away with it.
* First, let me say that I don't mind scrutiny. I want it. I welcome it. I don't go off crying like a two-year-old because someone publicly says they disagree with me or says I somehow messed up. Nor, do I hold a grudge toward these people. Public figures, elected and appointed officials and organizations and their leadership need scrutiny. As I've said many, many times, there are a lot of frauds out there, especially in the civil rights community.
Scrutiny is what keeps things honest. Scrutiny is what keeps things above board. And unlike so many public figures in the Roanoke Valley, I actually want people to let me know when they think I'm wrong or when they think I have made a mistake. However. . .
* There is no conflict of interest if Sherman Lea, Jr. is appointed to the Roanoke City School Board while his father sits on the Roanoke City Council. Say what? Here's a fact that people, including the media, have ignored. Roanoke City Council, Roanoke City Government and Roanoke City Government since the days of Roanoke City Manager Bob Herbert have always maintained that they have no control over the school board and no control over the Roanoke City Public School System. These folks and Roanoke City Council have always maintained that the Roanoke School Board and the Roanoke City Public School System is an independent government agency that, with the exception of levying taxes, has autonomy in the City of Roanoke, Va.
Roanoke City Council has always said, the only thing it does concerning the Roanoke City Public School System is pick the people for the school board and approve the school budget. That's it. The last person I heard this from was, you guessed it, Mayor Nelson Harris. By the way, this is the same message Roanoke City Council has been telling the citizens of Roanoke for the past 125 or so years.
Now, if Roanoke City Council has no control over our schools other than those two duties and our schools are an independent government body that Roanoke City Council cannot interfere with, how on earth can there be any conflict of interest between Roanoke City Council and the Roanoke School Board by interviewing and/or appointing Sherman Lea, Jr. to the school board? Roanoke City Government set the rules for discussion on this controversy, not me. And why is Roanoke City Council changing the rules now?
* For the record, the Roanoke NAACP and the Roanoke SCLC are not upset that Roanoke City Council denied Sherman Lea, Jr. a position to the Roanoke School Board. We are upset that Lea, Jr. wasn't even granted an interview for the position. How are you going to know if there is the potential for a conflict of interest unless you first talk to the man? Plus, the Lea, Jr. situation is the latest of a long list of examples where Roanoke City Government applied one set of rules for themselves and their buddies and different set of rules for people of color. If Sherman Lea's son can't work for the city, Bev Fitzpatrick's son shouldn't be allowed to work for the city, either. It's that simple.
* Mayor Nelson Harris owes the Roanoke, Va. SCLC, the Roanoke, Va. NAACP and Roanoke City Councilman Sherman Lea, Sr. an apology. Harris played "the race card" in claiming Sherman Lea was going around the Black community trying to stir up the people of Northwest Roanoke in an attempt to support his son. This is a lie. This never happened. Sherman Lea, Sr. didn't come to us, we went to Sherman Lea, Sr. We also went to Sherman Lea, Jr.
Mayor Nelson Harris only made these claims about Sherman Lea, Sr. to scare people, to make Sherman Lea, Sr. look like some kind of big, scarey, Black radical. Harris also made these claims to sure up his Republican base. Yes, Harris is a Democrat, supposed to be anyway. But, historically, the man isn't afraid to play "the race card" to gain a political advantage. Harris has played "the race card" in the past and Harris will play "the race again" when playing "the race card" works to his advantage. And in Roanoke, Va. nothing scares the powers that be more than a supposed "radical, big, bad, boogie man/woman" Black person.
* As usual, when it comes to the Black community and civil rights organizations, The Roanoke Times newspaper doesn't know what it is talking about. First, the newspaper tries to imply that our press conference on Monday was political. On Wednesday morning, as my wife and I were getting ready for work, I told my wife that I'll get spanked by The Roanoke Times today, that since the press conference was on Monday, today would be the day The Roanoke Times would tell me I've been a bad, bad boy.
As for the Shanna Flowers column on Thursday, I like her. I agree with her more than I disagree with her. But, Shanna loves Onzlee Ware, Roanoke City Government and Onzlee Ware and Roanoke City Government. No, I didn't make a mistake here.
It's interesting that I haven't talked to The Roanoke Times editorial folks since 1995. Now, since that time, they have found fault with me and/or the Roanoke SCLC for (and this is a long list) 1) trying to get a proper memorial in Roanoke, Va. named for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 2) trying to fight gangs in the city, 3) trying to run the drug dealers off the corners in Northwest and Southeast Roanoke, Va. 4) fighting against the methadone clinic in Northwest Roanoke, 5) enacting domestic violence legislation in Virginia and several other issues. Plus, The Roanoke Times one the whole treated me like a n*#!*r, (wait a minute, you can't say that word in polite company anymore) in my 1995 House of Delegates campaign while also going after my wife and my Mother. I've forgiven. I haven't forgotten. Liberals, you gotta love 'em.
The crux of Times' editorial and Flowers' column is this. They feel the time of the NAACP and SCLC would be better served if the two organizations spent more time:
"identifying and grooming candidates who can bring race, gender, and geographic diversity to the school board and other city boards and commissions: candidates who are free and clear of family ties to city officials --elected and appointed."
Been there. Done that. Can't do it, anymore. The problem is this. If the Roanoke NAACP and/or SCLC did this very thing, and the Roanoke SCLC once attempted to do this very thing, we run the risk of losing our tax exempt status as a non-profit. How do I know this? In 1999, as Vice-President of the Roanoke SCLC, I attempted to do such a thing by establishing SPE-PAC, a political action committee designed to do the very thing Ms. Flowers and The Roanoke Times says the SCLC should do. I was told in no uncertain terms that due to my connections with and my position in the Roanoke SCLC, what I did was no-no; that identifying and training candidates for any government office, (elected, appointed or otherwise), made SCLC a political action committee and/or a political party. I was told I could do one or the other, but, not both. The same held true for SCLC, that the SCLC could continue to be a non-profit or a political action committee and/or a political party, not both.
How careful do non-profits have to be in the area of politics? Several churches across the country are in trouble for telling their members to vote. These church members weren't told who to vote for, they were just told to vote. Julian Bond of the NAACP gave a speech in which he criticized President George Bush. The IRS was instructed to investigate the NAACP for violating their non-profit status. This case is still ongoing, several years later. Now, do you think I'm going to put the Roanoke SCLC in such a situation? Not on your life.
But, that's the thing about people who live in ivory towers. These people tend to be arrogant. They tend to be arrogant to the point that they think they are so "smart" that they can comment on topics that they know absolutely nothing about. Plus, I know this. The Roanoke Times Editorial Board has yet to write anything positive about strong Black people who stick up for Northwest Roanoke. This is the same paper that wrote that Dr. King got what he deserved when he was assassinated in 1968. Case closed.
* I have to ask this question. Why did the Roanoke Valley media ignore Ms. Beth Brooks, a retired educator, who is White, who spoke at our press conference, who wrote a strong letter of disapproval to Mayor Nelson Harris (which Harris failed to mention) about this controversy, and who had the same concerns we had about Roanoke City Council refusing to interview Sherman Lea, Jr. for the Roanoke School Board? Interesting, isn't it.
* And Bev Fitzpatrick? Bev can do better than the comments he gave to the media that certain people only want to see themselves on television and their names in the newspaper. Bev can call me a media hound all he wants. It doesn't bother me. That's just Bev's getting mad because I'm better looking on t.v. and more quoteable in the newspaper than he is.
Seriously, though. The truth is, when I'm in the newspaper or on television, it's because I'm trying to make the Roanoke Valley a better place to live. Lately, when Bev Fitzpatrick is in the newspaper or on television, it's because he's done something unethical or something that is quite possibly illegal. Bev's been surrounded by a lot of scandals lately. I'm beginning to think that Bev is becoming the Roanoke Valley's version of Pac-Man Jones. Nah. Feel free to e-mail this to Bev. I don't want anyone saying I'm talking behind his back.
* And guess how any applicants have applied for the Roanoke School Board after Dan Hale, President of the Roanoke NAACP, Beth Brooks, Sherman Lea, Mac McCadden and myself raised a little sand over this whole issue? According to the Roanoke Times editorial folks, the number is 28. No, that's no typo, baby, that's progress. The fact is, if we would have kept quiet, nothing would have happened.
Funny thing, though, the Roanoke Times editorial folks mentioned the Roanoke NAACP in today's editorial, but, failed to mention the Roanoke SCLC. Maybe massa be upset with po' little ole' me. I'll get over it. To read this editorial, please click on the following link.
* Whew, that was tough. My fingers are tires. I'm gonna have to take Wednesday off to let my computer cool off. But, like I said, only my Momma spanks me and gets away with it.
I'LL SEE YOU FRIDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/13/07
* A number of you have asked me what I thought about on the two editorials written by The Roanoke Times and Shanna Flowers earlier this week about the Roanoke, Va. SCLC and NAACP. Both editorials contained some very wrong information. Both editorials were, in my opinion, interesting. I'll comment further on these two hit jobs on Monday. Today, I'll talk about something more important than folks who live in ivory towers who can't seem to get their facts straight.
* Sixty years ago, Jackie Robinson played in his first major league baseball game, breaking the color barrier in the major leagues.
* Jackie Robinson is a hero of mine. In fact, I'm honored that we share the same birthday, January 31. I've learned two things from Robinson's example; 1) how to handle adversity, 2) never to give up when so many people want you to fail.
* I've always felt that as an athlete, Robinson is underrated. It's true that Robinson is a Hall of Fame baseball player. But, if you listen to the experts, they will tell you that baseball was not Robinson's best sport. Robinson played football, baseball, basketball and ran track. The experts say that while Robinson was a big star in all of these sports, baseball was actually Robinson's third best sport.
* There is no way I could have gone through the racism and the abuse Robinson went through during his first several years in baseball. A lesser man would have cracked under the pressure Robinson was under.
* There is no way I could have withstood the pressure Robinson was under being the standard bearer for an entire race of people. Robinson had to be successful. He had to be a great baseball player. He had to prove that Black ball players were just as good as White ball players. Robinson had no other choice. For Robinson, failure was not an option. Robinson had to prove what Black people already knew, that Blacks were good enough.
* There is no way I could have withstood the pressure Robinson was under to prove to an entire race of people that Black people were just as good as White people. Many Whites wanted Robinson to fail. Robinson had to prove that White people were wrong in their thinking that Black were not good enough to play professional sports.
* On the whole, today's Black athlete has a lot to learn about real pressure and social responsibility. Many of today's Black athletes fail in this area. Many of today's Black athletes need a reality check.
* Some say the modern Civil Rights Movement began with Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama. I disagree. The modern Civil Rights Movement began on April 15, 1947 when Jackie Robinson became the first Black major league baseball player. Given baseball's hold on American society at that time, the social and political significance of this event cannot be understated.
* Less than 10% of major league baseball is Black. Some teams in major league baseball don't have any Black ballplayers at all. Some people worry about this. I don't. Why? Because unlike the days before Jackie Robinson, Blacks are making a choice not to play baseball in the major league baseball, as opposed to being told we can't play major league baseball. Believe it or not, this is progress.
SEE YOU MONDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/11/07
* Don Imus. Imus should be fired for the statements he made on his show last week about the Rutgers University woman's basketball team.
* For the record, I'm not a fan of Imus. I've seen his show and, quite frankly, the guy bores me. I don't know if Imus is a racist. However, the guy did make very racist and sexist statements on his show. In fact, Imus has a history of making these types of statements on his show.
* And there in lies the problem. If Imus wants to be a racist or a sexist at a bar, in his car, in the park, after dark, at a party, or anywhere else, I wouldn't say he needs to be fired. In a private setting and on his own time, Imus has freedom of speech. However, Imus made his statements on his show. A company was paying Imus for the comments he made on his show. For this reason, Imus has to go.
* I couldn't care less about any apology from Imus. Imus is only saying he's sorry because he's afraid of losing his top paying media gig. If this were an isolated incident, I might feel differently. Again, this isn't the first time Imus has spewed racist, sexist comments on his show.
* As for his suspension? Big deal. Imus is getting a two week paid suspension. In other words, Imus is getting a two week paid vacation for spewing racism and sexism on his show. Forgive me if I don't get all choked up or if I'm not in a forgiving mood. In fact, it a good thing my daughter doesn't play basketball for Rutgers University.
* Yeah, Don Imus should be fired. Liberals who say otherwise, are hypocrites. I guess those liberals have forgotten the outcry they made when Big Rush made those statements about Black quarterbacks and Donavan McNabb of the Eagles when Limbaugh worked for ESPN. Limbaugh got fired for those comments. And Big Rush's comments weren't nearly as bad as the ones made by Imus.
* I hope you got to hear my comments on the Roanoke, Va. City Council refusing to interview Sherman Lea Jr. for a seat on the Roanoke, Va. School Board. For more on this story please click on one of the following links from WDBJ 7 Television and The Roanoke Times. (There are two additional audio/video links on the WDBJ 7 website from the 4/9/04 6 P.M. and 11P.M. Channel 7 News broadcasts.)
* You've gotta hand it to Roanoke, Va. City Councilman Bev Fitzpatrick. Now, I've know Bev for a number of years. In fact, I've voted for him a few times. The Bev I know is a very smart man. I just haven't figured out how such a smart man can get so dumb when he gets caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar. I also haven't figured out how Bev can say such stupid things when someone puts a television camera in front of his face.
* I've always said my critics are mostly liars, crooks, fat cats and their supporters. With the comments Bev made to TV 7 on Monday, that I was someone who only wanted to see my face on television and name in the newspaper, Bev proved my point. The point is, I make my decisions based on the simple concepts of right and wrong. Given Bev's public record of late, I'd say right and wrong are things Roanoke, Va. City Councilman Bev Fitzpatrick doesn't know too much about. Hey, the man's public record of late doesn't lie.
* You've also gotta hand it to Roanoke, Va. Mayor Nelson Harris. O.K., so he refers to himself in the third person. That's annoying, but, that's Nelson Harris. However, to accuse Roanoke City Councilman Sherman Lea of using the Roanoke, Va. NAACP and the Roanoke, Va. SCLC to stir up racial tensions in Roanoke, Va., that's low even for Nelson Harris. Like Bev Fitzpatrick, when it comes to Roanoke, Va.'s Black community, Mayor Nelson Harris' record speaks for itself. Let me put this in a language that everyone can easily understand. Everyone knows that Mayor Nelson Harris of Roanoke, Va. has problems with people of color who refuse to shine his shoes. And I don't shine anyone's shoes. Enough said.
* I got a chuckle reading The Roanoke Times article on the Sherman Lea, Jr. controversy. (The link to this story is posted above.) As I always say, when it comes to the issue of race and racism, The Roanoke Times reporters just don't have a clue. Too bad.
Again. let me put this in a language that everyone can easily understand. It's a racist double standard when the son of a White Roanoke, Va. City Councilman is given a job working for Roanoke, Va. City Government while the son of a Black Roanoke City Councilman can't even get an interview for a job in Roanoke City Government due to a supposed conflict of interest. That's not politics. That's racism.
* When it comes to the issue of race, it would be wonderful if The Roanoke Times Newspaper would rehire Mary Bishop. That would be fantastic. Now, she knew what she was talking about.
SEE YOU FRIDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/6/07
HAPPY EASTER
* Could someone please tell me when we forgot the true meaning of Easter?
* Could someone please tell me when Easter became a second Christmas?
* Could someone please tell me when we forgot that Easter isn't a celebration of kids getting toys, Easter is a celebration of Christ rising from the dead?
* Could someone please tell me when we forgot the meaning of Good Friday? Good Friday doesn't mean the beginning of a three day weekend?
* Easter isn't a paid holiday for many workers in the United States. Silly, isn't it.
* Equally as silly is our public schools not having an "Easter Break."
* There's no need to be afraid of religion. In fact, you should believe in a religion.
* I'm not one to hit someone over the head talking about my religious beliefs. But, I will say this. Society is a much better place when we take the time to remember that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins.
* On Wednesday, we lost Coach Eddie Robinson of Grambling, the greatest college football coach in college football history.
* If you don't believe me, check out the man's coaching record. Compare that record to the football budget he had to work with. Compare that record to all of the responsibilities Coach Robinson had in addition to coaching football. Look at the number of players Coach Rob sent to the NFL, over 200. Look at the number of players he made sure graduated from Grambling. Look at the number of young boys Coach Rob made into men.
I once heard someone refer to Coach Rob as the "Black Bear Bryant." That person was dead wrong. Bear Bryant was the "White Coach Robinson." And if Bryant would have had the guts to play Grambling, Coach Rob and his boys would have kicked the Bear and his boy's behinds all the way back to the University of Alabama.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY, 4/11/07
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/4/07
* Today is always a sad day for me. Today is the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis.
* At the time of his assassination, I was a young Colored/Negro/Nigra/Black (those were the times) boy in Winchester, Va. Dr. King was the man. But, I didn't fully understand what he was talking about. I understood he wanted rights for Black people. I didn't understand he wanted human rights for all people. I didn't understand his preaching of non-violence.
* In fact, I thought Dr. King was crazy for teaching non-violence. I had seen the news clips of that time and I didn't like what I saw. I was determined to do what Brother Malcolm had taught, "If someone puts their hands on you, send them to the cemetery." As I later found out, I misunderstood Brother Malcolm's message, as well.
* America was exploding during this time; Watts, Newark, Detroit, Birmingham and many other places. At the time, I supported the rioters. At the time, I supported "Burn, Baby, Burn." In fact, there were times I referred to Dr. King as an "Uncle Tom." I wasn't the only young Black male to do so. There were thousands of us who just didn't understand non-violence.
* When America exploded again, after Dr. King was killed, I told a friend of mine, "That serves those #*%#!* right. They never should have killed Dr. King. Dr. King never hurt nobody." The next day on my way to school, I made up my mind to hate White people. So did many other Brothers and Sisters. Thank God my mother convinced me otherwise, that hate accomplishes nothing.
* It wasn't until I was older that I fully understood what Dr. King was all about. By actually sitting down and reading about this great man, I found out that Dr. King was, first and foremost, a great man. Dr. King was a man who worked for the common good of the people. Dr. King was a man who put God first and himself second. Dr. King was never worried about self. Dr. King was only worried about doing God's will.
* I came to understand that Dr. King wasn't only a Black leader. He was a world leader. He was a leader of humanity. Dr. King understood that Black civil rights was nothing and meant nothing without human rights being acquired by all races and all creeds of people.
* I came to understand that Dr. King had a keen understanding on economics, that the struggles people face aren't only based upon race, they are also based upon class. Dr. King understood that the right to eat in a restaurant means nothing if the person can't afford to eat there.
* I am saddened that through the whitewashing of Dr. King's struggle and his life that we have lost the true greatness of this man. Today's McHistory of Dr. King tells us that Dr. King helped Rosa Parks, then gave a speech about his dream, got Black people their rights, was then killed and then given a holiday. When the hip-hop generation compares the "assassination" of Biggie and Tupac to Dr. King, you know something is very wrong. Dr. King was much more than that.
Dr. King did what he did in the face of certain death. Dr. King did what he did in spite of the people who were against him. Dr. King did what he did in spite of those who wanted to see him fail out of jealously. Dr. King did what he did in spite of being the most unpopular person, White or Black, in America. Dr. King did what he did in spite of the fact that much of the Black middle class and upper class had turned against him, that the United States Government was trying to discredit him, and the Black Power Movement was calling him an Uncle Tom. Dr. King did what he did in spite of the fact that in the last 3 years of his life, Dr. King had no true friends in the civil rights movement; including the NAACP, which Dr. King was a member of, and the SCLC, the organization he founded and was President of. Through it all, Dr. King kept on keeping on, still another message from this great man.
* Of all of the honors I have ever received, the one I cherish most is being elected President of the Roanoke, Va. SCLC. I can't fill Dr. King's shoes. What I can do is to make sure Dr. King's work never dies. You see, today, as in the days of Dr. King. the civil rights community is full of phonies. The civil rights community is full of people who are out for self first and for the people second. This won't happen on my watch. Why? Because I know and I believe that Dr. King made it easier for guys like me to be able to live free.
I owe Dr. King. I owe Dr. King just as I owe Fredrick Douglass, Brother Malcolm, Fannie Lou Hammer and thousands of others. I'm not who I am because of me. I am who I am because of other people. I am who I am because of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I am truly honored to be the Roanoke, Va. chapter president of the organization Dr. King founded. This is one debt I don't mind repaying.
SEE YOU FRIDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
4/2/07
* On Wednesday, April 4, the Roanoke SCLC will be having a lunchtime memorial service remembering SCLC founder Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 39'th anniversary of his assassination. The program will begin at 12 noon at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge in Downtown Roanoke, Va. I hope you will be able to attend.
* I watched the movie "Flight 93" last night. If you ever get the chance, you should watch it, too. If you remember, United Flight 93 was one of the planes terrorists hijacked on 9/11. The brave men and women on board of this plane crashed the plane. Doing this brave act foiled the terrorist's plans to use the plane as part of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
* It was a good movie. I don't know about the historical accuracy of the movie. You can never be too sure of the historical accuracy of anything coming out of Hollywood. Still, if the movie ever comes on again, I'll watch it.
* After watching the movie and reliving the horrible events of 9/11, I am more convinced than ever that America is the greatest county in the history of civilization. Period. End of discussion. Perfect, no. Greatest, yes.
* Our Founding Fathers were the greatest collection of men ever assembled to form a new government. Think about it. Our Founding Fathers gave us the Declaration of Independence, one of the greatest documents ever written. Our Founding Fathers then formed our government based upon the Articles of Confederation. When the Articles of Confederation proved it wouldn't work, our Founding Fathers went back to the drawing board and wrote the Constitution. When our Founding Fathers discovered the Constitution was lacking, they added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution, making the Constitution more complete.
* Again, perfect, no. Greatest, yes. Slavery, women's rights, voting rights, civil rights, and I could go on, were issues our Founding Fathers failed to address properly. However, though our Founding Fathers failed to address these issues properly, our Founding Fathers put in place a system of government where these problems could be addressed by future generations through Amendments to the Constitution. There are 26 Amendments to the Constitution to date.
* The further genius of our Founding Fathers was shown by their instituting a form of government that is based upon a system of "checks and balances" where all three branches of government are independent, but, equal and no one branch of government can ever become stronger than the others.
* Our Founding Fathers also set up a form of government that gave state and local governments to the independence to do what they needed to do to meet the needs of their people on the state and local levels. Our Founding Fathers put into motion a system of government where people had rights when state and local governments abused their powers and failed to provide for the needs of the people. Perfect, no. Greatest, yes.
* I've been hearing a lot of talk lately about how our government was actually behind the attacks on 9/11. The beauty of living in America is that people have the Constitutional right to say stupid, absurd things.
* To those who doubt America's greatness, if we weren't the greatest country ever in the world, why does everyone want to come here to live? Further more, why do some misguided people want to destroy us so badly?
* To those who are running this great country of our, you have an obligation to make sure the American ideals and rights set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and in the Bill of Rights are maintained and given to every man, woman and child living in this great country of our. And regular folks like me? We have an obligation to make sure the people running this great country of ours do their jobs. That's the American Way.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY.
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY.
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