The Soul of New Orleans Celebrating Black History 2007
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Lighting The Road To Freedom Data Zone Mardi Gras Parade Schedules Page 8 “The People’s Paper” February 10, 2007 40th Year Volume 36 www.ladatanews.com The Soul of New Orleans Celebrating Black History 2007 Page 2 Community Rallies Inside Data | To Right a Wrong Newsmaker | Spike Lee Returns Page 6 Page 4 Page February 10, 007 New Orleans Data News Weekly www.ladatanews.com COVER STORY Black to the Future: African-Americans’ efforts to build on a glorious past fountains, restaurants, restrooms and the like. Therefore, the fight is not the By: Eddie Francis same. Whereas protests were once a It is another Black History Month; surefire way to affect change, they are and speakers, historians and other now looked at with cynicism by the noted community figures are gearing descendants and beneficiaries of Civil up address pockets of black folks Rights warriors. across America. Churches, schools and community centers all over the country Relevance will reverberate with spirited renditions Perhaps the most argued point of of old Negro spirituals, Martin Luther African-American history is whether King, Jr. speeches and other staples of or not the current generation truly the African-American historical diet. understands it relevance. Dr. Dorothy Black History Month 007 has Smith, a professor of African History at delivered a “twofer” to Black America. Dillard University, lived the Civil Rights While African-Americans begin to Movement. While she was a student celebrate one of the most recognized at the Freedom School in McComb, heritages in the history of the world, Mississippi, she saw Malcolm X speak. the biggest sports event of the year She definitely feels that today’s student featured two African-American coaches needs a better understanding of the for the first time. The bonus is that significance of African-Americans’ Tony Dungy’s Indianapolis Colts will achievements. square off against a Chicago Bears “As a teacher I’m far more radical team whose coach once worked under than you are,” she tells her students. Dr. Dungy---Lovie Smith. This year seems Smith explains that she comes from a to be an especially good time to be an time that has taught her to question the African-American. Despite the major issues put forth by mainstream society. Pop Culture success of Dungy and She is concerned that today’s youngster Smith there are those who agree that takes too much at face value. “For many there is much more to accomplish in of them, if it is written it is gospel,” Black American than having two black laments the professor. coaches featured in Super Bowl XLI. \That circumstance presents a Today’s African-American is faced quandary for Black America. Because with the daunting task of honoring African-American leaders achieved so his or her history while battling the much in the 0th Century, Black America racial inequities often not visible to the has more opportunities. The irony is common eye. In 1st Century America, that more access to opportunities has African-Americans no longer have the created a generation of young African- pain of dealing with segregated water Americans who are more trusting. Local radio personality and author Hal Clark. Continued next page. On our Cover... A few of our distinguished ancestors, (l-r) Frederick Douglas, Mahalia Jackson, Shirley Chisolm, Carter G. Woodson DATA NEWS WEEKLY INSIDE DATA Mailing Address: PO Box 5033, Atlanta, GA 30302 (404) 223-5958 Fax (404) 223-5491 [email protected] Editorial & Business Office: 170 Northside Drive, Suite 506, Atlanta, GA 30313 Newsmaker Opinion Terry B. Jones Contributors Art Direction page 4 CEO/Publisher Edwin Buggage & Production Glenn Jones page 10 Hazel Trice Edney Cover State & Local News VP Advertising Paul Mainor for page 6 In The Spirit & Marketing Eddie Francis MainorMedia Edwin Buggage Dr. Aaron Harold page 1 Contributing Editor-in-Chief Dr. Calvin Mackie Story National News Photographers Cheryl Mainor Dollars & Sense Donald Smith page page 14 Managing Editor Avery T. Brewton page 1 Marc Morial Data Zone Distribution Glenn Jones page 8 Glenn Jones James Wright Glenn Summers Please call (404) 223-5958 for subscription information. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com New Orleans Data News Weekly February 10, 007 Page COVER STORY Cover Story, Continued from previous page. Trust is a good thing except when through additional sources such Century is commonly regarded 1970’s black elected officials have of past leaders while constructing it comes to reading between the as “Sunday Journal” on WYLD as the voice of a proud people, reflected the tenacity of those a progressive political paradigm lines. FM and endless web sites. music since the ‘80’s has been citizens who followed through on in the need of black leadership. Dr. Smith believes that the key Created specifically to address criticized for its lack of depth. the struggle for representation Senator Shepherd made history to progress in Black America is issues in New Orleans’ black Lebron Joseph of “Old School in local, state and the federal in Louisiana by becoming the first for adults to expose young people community “Sunday Journal” 10.9” knows about these trends governments. However, black black state senator from Jefferson to several angles of every issue. has been an important part of the first hand. Although he is known elected officials have been Parish and also through his “They should read books that are Crescent City’s black information for his work with “Old School” criticized in recent years for work to push a bill for the State network. “Sunday of Louisiana to recognize Martin Journal’s” current Luther King, Jr. Day. host, Hal Clark, insists Whereas the role of the black that black media has elected official has traditionally to do more to keep I feel that it is now been viewed as giving voice to the progress of Black underrepresented black folks, America in the front our jobs to be the Senator Shepherd feels that the of listeners’, viewers’ role of the black elected official and Internet users’ best elected official has changed. “I feel that it is now minds. our jobs to be the best elected “I believe it’s official as opposed to (being imperative that black as opposed to (being recognized as) the first black media promote Black elected official,” says the senator. History Month all recognized as) the first Like all African-American leaders Popular monring show host Lebron “LBJ” of KMEZ Old School year long,” says in his position, Senator Shepherd 102.9 FM Clark. He says that it shows reverence for the work of is the responsibility black elected official those who have come before him of black media outlets such as Avery Alexander and diametrically opposed,” says Dr. to continue to introduce their “Dutch” Morial. He continues, Smith. She feels that is one way audiences to black history facts “We have to look at things from more young African-Americans and personalities. Like Dr. Smith, Joseph once worked at Hip Hop merely riding the coat tails of a global perspective so that we will recognize institutional racism, Clark believes that there has to be and R and B powerhouse, “Q9”. those who represented Black enfranchise all people. Vote for namely in the critical areas of a balance in the information that A child of Soul Music from the America’s new found influence. me not because I’m black but public education, housing and job people consume. In his case Clark ‘60’s and ‘70’s, Joseph has Senator Derrick Shepherd because I’m the best.” equity for African-Americans. Dr. looks for influential figures from seen an attempt to return to is one of scores of black elected Smith maintains that the name of both the past and present in order music that positively expresses officials, who sees the need to the game is still equality; therefore, to provide that balance of views the motivating and progressive recognize the accomplishments Black America’s strategies to gain and accomplishments. spirit of African-Americans. equality must change. Clark, however, seeks to do that Joseph introduced New which is viewed as impractical Orleans to the Neo-Soul genre as This Is Not a Test nowadays. Commercial radio, in a program director at WYLD FM. Senator Landrieu Celebrates One of the major forces in particular, tends to let its content While local black radio basked in uniting Black America throughout be dictated by its audience. Clark the rapture of the “Gangsta Rap” the 0th Century had been the says, “We should . make these genre, Joseph took the initiative to Black History Month maturation of black media. In lieu facts come to life by encouraging serve those listeners who longed of Frederick Douglass’s North our audiences to adopt and to hear the positive expression Star African-American media had practice the principals that these of Black America’s spirit. Still he been nothing new but black voices accomplished individuals stood has been stuck with the difficult From citizens quietly working in several avenues of media grew for.” position of having to “give the by leaps and bounds during the people what they want.” each day to make a living and Civil Rights Movement. Expressing Change “(Black music has) continued raise their families, to world- The importance of black A major creative barometer of to make some pretty good stuff, representation in the media had the trends of African-American and ironically some of it gets renowned religious, business, certainly been realized in New history has been the music. airplay.