Complimentary to churches r: and community groups pnorittj ©wartunity |kw* 2730 STEMMONS FRWY STE. 1202 TOWER WEST, DALLAS, TEXAS 75207 gtoON VOLUME 4, NO. 9 September 1995 TPA MONs Bachelors/Bachelorettes Reception The real deal Publishers Column, pg3 Start Saga on United We rhomas Muhammad, pg5 Cheryl Smith, pg7 Continues Stand America From The Publisher Thurman Jones .....^ fhota k]/ Derrick VafUri Farralklhisuil lack Folk SIHOMM Osaly Jo iaiB amid tine Cops Are After "Esm •f Bjr Don Ross butt itched. I wanted to scratch. Too again. I looked over my shoulder. It was Revisited many women around. Before this day, this old man, two days from his funeral, To say that controversy and Jogging isn't a sport for Blacks or any­ the only exercise I had was pointing my easing up on my heels. There must have Minister Louis Farrakhan go together is body with good sense. Somehow, I finger at the mashed potatoes. But I been ten gravediggers behind him probably one of the understatements of tliought it was different. Blacks are just knew reverse psyche. When a friend awaitng his fall. This superstud turned the decade. In the midst of all the heated natural athletes. We have thighs and the who knows you very well asks, "Aren't on the after-burners. I gave all of me. It noise however are points worthy of our rump for running. And I have much you losing weight?^' ifs time to pull was for my people. As we reached the consideration and follow thru. Two rump. If Blacks can break world your face out of that plate. pedestrian bridge, a cool breeze hit me examples of these significant comments records in the 100-yard dash, loafing Blacks who want to run should in the face. That was all I needed. The are the focus of my comments this along for a mile or.two...no big deal. I never go to River Parks. Thaf s where gods were with Him too. This old man month. - went shopping for the running uniform; White people run. They're crazy- Run in passed me in a hail of energy and had There are probably very few I got one with devil red and yellow and the ghetto. You may get shot, but you the audacity to say, "Good morning." African American men Uiat have not blue... those loud colors that all blacks won't get embarrassed. I had pranced I bet the world knovre what I whis­ hean3 about the "Million Man March" look good in. I was too cute. I could about 500 yards with great form...a cred­ pered. Can we ever win? Some White scheduled on October 16, 1995, in hardly stand myself. it to my race. I was about to take a break folks just ain't gonna like Black folks no Washington, DC. The brainchild of When you're a runner, the first and pat myself on the back. I heard matter what we try. I stopped. Tued. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, thing you do on SatunJay mornings is some soft lapping behind me. It was a Nearly dead. It was me who would White man somewhere between 75 and this gathering is set to be a time for go to the Williams Center and drink car­ have hitched a ride with a hearse. I dying. He was so thin he wore sus­ African American men to focus on the rot juice. Afterwards, you move outside walked to my car. Showered. And went penders to hold his shorts. This man issues and opportunities we face and to and take stretching lessons. Of course, I to the gym to play basketball. didn't do that. As I said. Blacks are nat­ looked like the husband of a widow. He make a very significant statement to the Baskelball...now thafs a game only ural athletes. Plus, you look a bit silly was gaining on me. I felt the surge of powers of Washington about our senti­ Blacks play well! Any While boy who ments regarding the steps attempted trying to push down a building. One energy. In all his years, at one time or thing I did notice: White boys have no another, he must have done something plays that game well had a Black daddy. against those concerns that are central to Now that I've tried jogging, there is our convnunity. Minority Opportunity knadc for style. I was the best dressed bad to a Black. I would get even for my jogger there. I had to do something people. I would run him to death... I only one conclusion. Black folks should News (MON) wholeheartedly supports only try jogging when the cops are after the march and will provide more dis­ about my weight. I was pushing 200 took off. I was Jesse Owens and all those Black bucks taking on Hitler. There was 'cm. The next time you see me running, cussion of it in next month's paper. At pounds. Thaf s a lot of pork to pack. I'll be dribbling a basketball. this time however, i seems to be appro­ I started running—slow, at first, no master race. I would prove it again. I took off. I ran flat out. I felt like a cham­ Don Ross is a fofjner vice president and general man­ priate that I speak to some other initia­ and at the second and at the end. Eveiy ager of the OSdahoma Eagle, an African American pion. I felt superior. I was a winner. I can tives that Minister Farrakhan has raised pounding against tthe pavement sound­ Newspaper based in TUIsa, He is now an Oklahoma slow dovm now. Must have left him in for our community. While making a ed like an explosion. The carrot juice stole legislator. my dust. Then I heard that tapping speech at the DaUas Convention Center was sloshing around in my stomach. My -IMONl- back in 1990, Minister Farrakhan made the following statements: • "So now, here we are in1990. There are over 21 and a half million black people in the inner cities. We have 500 black mayors While we all know that it happens, it is he provide for us a breakdovm, by race, rule on the request of the t)ank. MON presiding over a tax hose that is either not rare that we actually see a corporation gender and position, of their Texas was concerned that there has not been there or shrinking; 500 black mayors who or government agency contradict them­ employees. It was our thought that if sufficient opportunity to gather the ' are being put into office to prove that folk selves in writing. Ironically, Minority they cared so much that we understand thoughts from the African American can't govern; 500 black mayors-that are Opportunity News (MON) wimessed their,hiring philosophy, then they ^^^j^^^^^^jy ^^^^j the proposed First • nothing more than ^managers of white this occurrence twice in the last few should not have an issue with sharing Interstate branch. While the claim of the affairs, according to their dictates; 500 days. MON received what appeared to what must be stellar hiring and promo- OCC is to truly get feedback from the black mayors that may mean good for us be a fairly innocuous letter from the vice lion statistics. Well, you probably have but can't do good for tis^because they don't president of personnel of First Interstate sensed now that no such information community, they nonetheless summari­ have control. Bank. The letter shared their policy was forthcoming. Quite to the contrary, ly dismissed the matter, saying essen­ about non-discrimination in hiring and we received an equally iimocuous sec­ tially that the original period was suffi­ That's not our black political leaders' job promotions. While we had no par­ ond letter that said the requested data cient. fault. That's our fault. We send our people ticular reason to have suspected that was "proprietary." Our concern wilh both of these into the state legislatures and the city there was an issue with discrimination ^ for the second case in .point. episodes is simple. They arc founded in councils, but wedon't make them account­ and since we had not requested a state- MON had sought an extension of the a slightly modified version of that old able to us. And therefore they submit more ment of their policy, we were intrigued public comment period for a branch ^^^^^^ ./pgy attention to what I say to the demands of others." as to why the letter was sent in the first request submitted by (again) our fnends a^dj^ot what Idol" Tlic fact is that both These words of Minister Farrakhan place. at First Interstate Bank. Our request was . ^ , , , r- . ,._ suggest a two-way relationship that Because of the letter from the bank forwarded to the Office of the instances reflect a level of superBaality exists between African American polili- and our interest in finding out more ComptroUer of the Currency (OCC), the t^* gives us all good cause to be suspi- about their personnel practices, we governmental agency charged with the cious. Continued on page 6 wrote the vice president and asked that responsibility to solicit public input and . -[MONl- fMri^ftv(gra>CTamito o jiHg^ £- o 1 li^ui<or?©ofti • • • Cover Story Dear MON, 1&-20 Rage to Redemption 'fi' Recently I picked up a copy of your July OULfiMSST Editorials 1995 edition of Minority Opportunity 02 Black Folk Should Only Jog News entitled, "Spare the Rod?" Serving Up 02 First Interstate Bank Although I don't generally agree that Nouvelle Soul Cuisine Features stealing is acceptable behavion I definitely with Live Jazz 10-11 United We Stand America don't agree with beating children either.