Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 This paper can be recycled Vol. 36 No. 36 Website: theaustinvillager.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 512-476-0082 Fax: 512-476-0179 February 6, 2009 BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2009 “The quest for Black citizenship in the Americas” Senate Approves Barbara Smith Conrad: Mezzo-soprano, Holder, Swearing in Civil Rights Pioneer, honored in Austin She grew up singing at home in the piney woods of rural East Texas. In 1957, as a RAPPIN’ sophomore voice student at Tommy Wyatt The University of Texas at Austin, she won the lead role in the Purcell opera Dido and This Black Aeneas. But she was African- American and her leading History Month man was white. In one of the notable episodes in U.S. civil is special! rights history, Barbara Smith With the election of Barack was told by University ad- Obama as President of the ministrators that she could United States, Black History not perform the role. The de- takes on a whole new meaning cision was personally devas- this year. It further empathizes tating to her. The controversy why it is important to study and reverberated throughout the observe the history of a people. campus community. Harry Who would have believed that Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, and in just over a century and a half Eleanor Roosevelt rallied to after African Americans were re- Attorney General Eric Holder her support, but the decision leased from slavery, with many remained final. of them unable to read, that one Over the next 40 years By. Dorothy Rowley of the “weighty” recommen- of their descendants would oc- Special to the NNPA dations of former FBI director Barbara Smith Conrad be- cupy the highest office in the from the Afro-American Louis Freeh, James Comey, came one of the premiere land? And it was done with a Newspapers who served as a deputy attor- mezzo-sopranos in the coun- military revolution. There are ney general for President try. She performed with both very few countries on the planet WASHINGTON George H. W. Bush and the Vienna State Opera and who have not undergone at least (NNPA) - Despite earlier ef- former Transportation Secre- the Metropolitan Opera Com- one military revolution on its forts by Republicans to hold tary William Coleman. pany, each considered among way to forming a democracy. up his confirmation, Eric Barbara Smith Conrad Prior to Specter’s the most distinguished opera And even when that democracy Holder met Senate committee change of heart, Holder’s companies in the world. She tion) honored her with a Dis- cital Hall. While she’s in Aus- if formed, there is always a approval, approval of the full confirmation had been held remained understandably es- tinguished Alumni award. tin, Conrad is being followed threat that the system could be Senate and was sworn in on up to demand more time to tranged from The University This week, the Texas by the folks at Alpheus Me- overturned. Tuesday. question him about harsh in- of Texas for many of those Legislature honors Barbara dia who are in the process of But., while it is exciting to keep He becomes the nation’s terrogation techniques and years, until UT President Pe- shooting a documentary film our eyes on the activities of chief law enforcement official Smith Conrad and she will Guantanamo trials, as well as ter Flawn reached out to her on her. President Obama, we must also and America’s first Black at- make several appearances, in- issues pertaining to some par- in 1984 and brought her back And from the looks of a pause to see how others have torney general. cluding a community event at dons of President Clinton, in- into the UT family. That year, six-minute trailer, ‘When I played a role in making his elec- Holder, who served as the George Washington Mu- cluding the last-minute par- Conrad returned to Austin to Rise’ promises to be a com- tion possible. And much of that deputy attorney general in the seum and Cultural Center, a don of fugitive financier Marc debut in the premiere of Earl pelling film. The trailer was activity starts on the local level. Clinton administration, es- recital on Wednesday when Rich, whose wife was a ma- Stewart’s opera Al-Inkishafi. shown at the Carver event. People from all walks of life, in caped the GOP lions den af- she’ll sing spirituals. The free jor Democratic donor. The following year, the Texas The movie is due to be fin- cities all across America, have ter Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) concert was in UT Bates Re- Senators asked Holder Exes (Ex-Students’ Associa- ished later this year. played a role in this historic ac- decided not to withhold his why he backed pardoning complishment. We must remem- vote for confirmation. Rich and questioned his rec- ber that government begins on Both Democrats and ommendation to commute the local level and goes up, Republicans have described Berl Handcox elected Austin’s first Black the sentences of Puerto rather than the other way Holder as experienced and Rican nationalists who be- around. willing to admit his mistakes, longed to a group that car- Council member since Reconstruction How many times have we seen as well as tough on crime. He is also opposed to torture. ried out murders, robberies a politician start out in the low- Berl Handcox was born dent of a group called the It had been correctly and bombings, according to est elective office in the commu- in 1932 and grew up in Young Men’s Progressive anticipated that Holder’s AP. Holder acknowledged nity to later hold one of the most Denton, Texas. As a child he Club, and this exposure in- confirmation would be the his mistake in the Rich case powerful ones? Many start out spent summers in Wichita, spired some of his associates toughest of any of Obama’s but defended his decision on the local school Board, City Kansas, where his father lived to suggest that he run for a cabinet selections. in the case of the national- Council, or some County office. and worked. In 1951, he en- seat on the Austin City Coun- Specter said he came to ists, saying they did not They later run for statewide of- listed in the Navy and shortly cil. In 1971, Berl Handcox be- his decision largely because commit the violent acts. fice and later national office. after was assigned to the air- came the first African Ameri- During this month we will be craft carrier U.S.S. Valley can since Reconstruction to featuring some of our local Afri- Steel becomes first Black Forge. serve on the Austin City can Americans who have laid the Mr. Handcox attended Council. He was re-elected in foundation for others to follow Prairie View A & M, where he 1973, and resigned the post in our foot steps. We are start- GOP Chair met his wife, Ruby. In 1967, Mr. Handcox and his in 1975 in order to head the ing out with one of the least cel- Steele takes over a be- he moved to Austin and took family challenged the un- Office of Equal Employment ebrated of the group, former City leaguered GOP as Repub- a job at IBM in the education written rule that forced Afri- Opportunity for the State of Councilman Berl Handcox who licans seek to rebound department. A short time later, can Americans to live almost Texas. Since his tenure, Place was elected to the Austin City from back-to-back defeats he was named Equal Employ- exclusively in East Austin. 6 on the Austin City Council Council in 1971, reelected in 1973 in national elections that ment Opportunity Coordina- He became known within the has traditionally been filled and served until 1975. gave Democrats control of tor for IBM. Black community as presi- by an African American. Handcox paved the way for the Congress and the White next six council members to fol- House. Council Mem- low him. His election was as big The Washington Post of a risk as the election of reported that the decision bers and incoming Obama. Austin had not had an came after a series of bal- Fire Chief Cel- African American serve on the lots that displayed a level council since the 19th Century. of drama rarely seen in na- ebrate Wear Red I do not know of any type of tional politics. Day Proclamation building, street or other public By. Alan King With the historic elec- Austin City Council acknowledgment of Mr. Special to the NNPA from tion of President Barack Members Randi Shade, Handcox’s service to this com- the Afro-American Newspapers Obama serving as the first Sheryl Cole, Laura Morrison munity. I want to go on record Black president in and Austin’s incoming Fire BALTIMORE now by calling for that to be America, the Los Angeles Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr are (NNPA) - Defeating the in- changed. His election and ser- Times reported the move encouraging everyone at City cumbent party chief and vice is one of the great accom- as an interesting play to Hall to join them in wearing three other challengers af- plishment of African Americans corral minority voters who to mark the proclamation of ter six rounds of balloting, in Austin and he should have a will be crucial to a Repub- Feb. 6 as National Wear Red former Maryland Lt. Gov. women to take charge of their City Hall for a photo oppor- permanent acknowledge of that lican comeback.