Celebrating the 38Th Anniversary from May 13, 1973 to May 13, 2011 Huston-Tillotson Graduates Largest Class
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Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 This paper can be recycled Vol. 38 No. 52 Website: theaustinvillager.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-476-0082 Fax: 512-476-0179 May 13, 2011 Celebrating the 38th Anniversary From May 13, 1973 to May 13, 2011 Huston-Tillotson graduates Largest Class RAPPIN’ Tommy Wyatt Thank you Austin! With this edition, we cel- ebrate our 38th Anniversary of The Villager. Little did we know when we started in 1973 that we would be around this long. But, we could not have done it with- out the help and cooperation of the Austin community - both the citizens and the business com- munity. The life expectancy of a minority business is six month to one year. But, since we al- ready had an insurance agency, we were not concerned with our longevity. We just wanted to provide a much needed service to the community. However, that Huston-Tillotson University’s 120 member 2011 Graduating Class is the largest in the school’s history. would not have been possible Radio personality and sons learned from events impacted African American a hug and a crisp $5 bill as Tillotson University’s Com- without the community’s accep- mencement Convocation. tance and support. philanthropist Tom Joyner such as the anniversary of communities dispro- they crossed the stage. reminded the 120 members the freedom riders who portionally into his words Joyner, acclaimed by Joyner, known as ‘The Hard- Newspapers are based on est Working Man in Radio,’ advertising support. But adver- of Huston-Tillotson fought segregation laws, of wisdom. Joyner wanted many as one of the most in- University’s Class of 2011 of President’s Barack HT’s largest graduation fluential and inspirational has distinguished himself as tisers will not support commu- one of the most recognized and nity papers without knowing the historic events around their Obama’s strategic plan to class since the 1952 merger personalities in the country, Mother’s Day graduation. capture Osama Bin Laden, to start making money im- will render the keynote ad- revered media personalities in number of readers that they the country. have. It takes time to have a firm Joyner integrated life’s les- and weather disasters that mediately. He gave each one dress during Huston- estimate of the readership. We were in business for five years with the support of our African President Obama American business community. The Villager has moved Their immediate acceptance shows love for Austin gave us the courage to go on. The community gave us feed back on a daily basis, both good and bad. And we took all of our comments to heart. Dur- ing these 38 years, we missed only one week of publishing and that was because I was out of , town and the editor dropped the ball. Since that time, I have made it a practice to see that our pa- per was at the printer, before leaving town. And we continue to do that today, because that is what you expect of us. It was not too long before the paper took up all of my time. The Villager has moved. The new location is 1213 N. IH-35, Austin,TX 78702. So much so that we closed our All of our other contact information remains the same. Insurance Office and focused all of our attention to the paper. It th has been a labor of love and a In honor of the 50 anniversary of the Freedom big responsibility. We know that you expect no less. Rides, LBJ Library opens a new exhibit As we embark on the next (Austin) – Freedom Rid- decade and beyond, we face new ers is a national traveling ex- challenges. We, like the entire President Barack was one of the presidents hibit that tells the powerful, media business, are facing an harrowing and inspirational uncertain future. The internet has Obama came to Austin this most supportive cities during week on a fundraising stop his first campaign. civil rights story of six months encroached on the editorial side in 1961 that changed America of the business. Another chal- to raise money for his upcom- The Democratic party ing 2012 reelection campaign. is anxious to recapture Texas forever. Organized by the lenge is coming from cable televi- Gilder Lehrman Institute of sion. But we feel that there will There were two events as they did up to the early heldduring the visit, Tuesday, 1980’s when the democrats American History and PBS’s continue to be a need for news flagship history series, from the perspective of our com- May 10, 2011. The event for controlled the state politi- the general public was a cally. Since that time, the AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, munity that is not being serviced this exhibit combines photog- by other media. $1000 event and later, the atate has been in the hands President atttended a dinner of the Republicans, who are raphy and news coverage of As we go into the future simply traveling together on This exhibit examines the in his honor for $35,000 per determined to hold on to it atg the Rides, as well as first- we are happy to welcome my Son buses and trains as they jour- 1961 Freedom Rides and its person or $50,000 per couple. all cost. hand audio accounts of this Thomas and Grand Daughter dangerous experiment in the neyed through the Deep legacy today. “I love Texas,” Obama President Obama took Angela to the business. We all fight for civil rights. From South. Deliberately violating The LBJ Library is lo- said. “And I especially love a jump in the polls after the look forward to continuing our May to November 1961, more Jim Crow laws, the Freedom cated at 2313 Red River, in Austin. Love this city. It was elemination of Osama bin service to this community for a than 400 black and white Riders’ belief in non-violent Austin. The exhibit is open always one of my favorite Laden and he is trying to take long time. And with your contin- Americans risked their lives activism was tested as mob from 9 - 5 daily and the places to visit during the immediate advantage of his ued support, we will continue to – many endured savage beat- violence and bitter racism sdmission is free. The exhibit (2008) campaign.”Austin new found popularity. succeed. ings and imprisonment – for greeted them along the way. will run through June 6. Page 2/THE VILLAGER/May 13, 2011 EDITORIALS/COMMENTARY Editorial, Commentary or Letter to the Editor Fax to 512.476.0179 Email to [email protected] Mail to 1223-A Rosewood Avenue, 78702 The Class of 2011 – More Debt, rights movement. lenged students to commit them- I have to believe that all selves to lifelong learning, and HBCU graduates of the Class of to giving to their alma mater. 1961 are reflecting on their expe- Indeed, she described our More Chances riences, on the way the world has higher education, and yet we students as LAMBA Belles, with has still not recovered from the school, car purchase, or even may be less able to deal with the changed since their graduation LAMBA an acronym for life- recession, and the class of 2011 nonprofit sector employment. financial challenges because we 50 years ago, on the importance long learning, ambition, manag- won’t have as many opportuni- Indeed, while the federal govern- come to them without the strong of HBCUs then and now, and ing resources, belief systems, ties as the class of 2007 did, they ment offers some loan forgive- financial foundations that other supporting their alma maters and alma mater. In her inimi- are entering a labor market that ness for those who accept public By. Julianne Malveaux colleges have. with energy and enthusiasm. We table fashion, the first woman looks better than it did in the past service jobs, including class- NNPA Columnist And yet we are buoyed need the Class of 1961 to reach to lead the NAACP Legal De- three years. room teaching, many graduates and supported by the energy back to embrace the Class of 2011, fense and Education Fund chal- It’s a good thing the Class feel challenged to earn as much and spirit of our alumnae. At the young people who have Shortly after I began my lenged students to continue to of 2011 will have more chances as they can so that they can pay Bennett, the glorious class of more challenges, chances, and tenure at Bennett College for grow, to give, to be discerning, at employment, since they’ll off their loans and get on with 1961, the women who were an choices, who enter a labor mar- Women, the class of 2011 arrived and to believe. Her managing need everything they earn to deal their lives. integral part of the sit-in move- ket improved but not yet vibrant, on campus. And on Saturday, resources point was especially with the mounting student debt African American college ment in Greensboro, returned for shackled by debt and, at the same May 7, Bennett’s first class to provocative, as she described re- they face. This class is graduat- graduates, more likely to be first their Golden class reunion with time, armed with a rich HBCU spend their entire four years sources as health, reputation, ing with more debt than any of generation and working class a record-breaking gift to Bennett. experience that will shape and with me as their President and energy, not just money. their predecessors – an average than others, carry more debt than Two of the special members of direct their lives and careers.