NAACP: Push to the Polls Dent Achievement
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Unearthed MLK recording sheds light on civil rights struggle THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER he found an audio reel labeled AP. “I found a lost part of histo- moving toward independence,” “Dr. King interview, Dec. 21, ry.” he said. “And I think all of them The recent discovery of a pre- 1960.” In the interview, intend- King, who had visited Africa a agree that in the United States, viously unknown recording of ed for a book project that didn’t month before the interview, we must solve this problem of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has pan out, Tull’s father questions talked about how those on the racial injustice if we expect to scholars and civil rights leaders the civil rights leader about his continent viewed the U.S. civil maintain our leadership in the excitedaboutitshistoricandcul- notion of nonviolence and how rights struggle. “I had the oppor- world.” tural value. a recent trip to Africa informed tunity to talk with most of the RaymondWinbush,directorof According to the Associated his views. major leaders of the new inde- the Institute for Urban Research Press, Stephen Tull was rifling “No words can describe. I pendent countries of Africa and A 1960 recording of an interview with King never before through boxes in his father’s at- couldn’t believe it,” Tull told the also leaders in countries that are heard in public is up for sale. tic in Chattanooga, Tenn., when See UNEARTHED/2A SPORTS Some surprises in store for HBCU season openers this weekend VOLUME 14 NO. 36 WEEK OF SEP SE PTEMBERTEMBER2,2012 2, 2012 $1.00 THE TRIANGLE’S CHOICE FOR THE BLACK VOICE Rally Teaching anniversary North Carolina’s organizers educators seek input By Stephanie Carroll Carson NORTH CAROLINA NEWS SERVICE By Michaela Duckett ASHEVILLE – As North THE CHARLOTTE POST Carolina teachers and their students get into the swing of CHARLOTTE – Organizers of the Nation a new school year, there is of Islam’s 17th anniversary of the Million something missing. For the ManMarchmetCharlottecommunitylead- last two years, teachers have ers to discuss issues important to African done without state-funded Americans. professional development, Charlotte will host the rally on Oct. 14 which was eliminated by at Bojangles’ Coliseum. Nation of Islam budget cuts. So, school sys- leader Louis Farrakhan is scheduled to tems are looking for ways to present“Muhammad’sEconomicBlueprint: privately fund teacher train- Ending Poverty and Want” at the celebra- ing. tion.Inpreparation,theNationalExecutive WiththehelpoftheZ.Smith BoardoftheNationofIslamandtheMillion Reynolds Foundation, the Man March/Holy Day of Atonement Asheville City Schools National Committee held a meeting Foundation has provided Saturday at Greater Providence Baptist morethan$100,000inthelast Church. The meeting, which was open to four years for teacher devel- the public, started a half-hour late after re- opment. porters who had been invited were asked “Having the opportunity to to leave. learn new things, it just ener- InanemailtoThePost,or- gizes me – and that energy ganizerMarkMuhammadof goes back to my classroom,” Muhammad’s Mosque No. saidLauraLane,areadingspe- 36 said the purpose of the cialist at Isaac Dickson meeting was to allow local Elementary in Asheville who community leaders to give has been in the fellowship inputastowhattheybelieve program for two years. “You are the most critical issues have to change with the cur- Farrakhan facingAfrican-Americansin rent research so that you’re Charlotte. doing the best job that you Muhammad’s Mosque No. can.” 36 was selected to host the The Asheville fellowships anniversary event after sub- are in the form of grants to mitting a detailed proposal teachers to fund a project and being interviewed by based on a need they see in Farrakhan and the Nation of theirclassroomorschool.This Islam Executive Council. N.C. NAACP President William Barber said the push is on to get more people to the polls. year, 24 teachers are in the Foluke Other bidding cities includ- program. As part of their fel- edDallas,DetroitandSt.Louis. lowship, they also share what Muhammad said the information gath- theylearnwithotherteachers ered Saturday would be compiled and for- and focus on increasing stu- warded to Farrakhan prior to his arrival. NAACP: Push to the polls dent achievement. “(This) input is critical to establishing Foundation Executive the agenda that the Honorable Minister DirectorKatePettsaysprofes- ed. LouisFarrakhanwouldliketoaddressdur- By Evelyn Howell sional development is impor- “The civil rights community will never turn back in ad- ing the weekend of the MMM/HDOA,” he CORRESPONDENT tant to help teachers keep vancing democracy and fighting for our civil rights,” he wrote. pace with the changing de- said. “Can’t go back because we have seen a picture of Gyasi Foluke, CEO of The Kushite DURHAM – The NAACP held a get-out-to-vote kickoff mands of students and the this in the past.” Institute for Wholistic Development at- rally on Aug. 24 as part of its weekend grassroots mass economy. In 2008, North Carolina and South Carolina led the na- tendedSaturday’smeeting.Hesaidhedoes voterregistrationcampaign.Theorganizationhopessuch “We’retryingtopreparekids tion in voter turnout. Since registered voters in North not believe much progress has been made a campaign will spark more people to register for the up- to work with technology that Carolina don’t have to worry about a photo ID require- since the 1995 Million Man March in coming presidential election. most of us didn’t have access ment and early registration voting closing early, Barber Washington. “We are not here to endorse any candidate. We are here to when we were in our said “There is no excuse for African-Americans, Latinos “BlackCharlotteneedstogetorganized,” to endorse civil engagement,” said the Rev. William J. teachereducationprograms.” and progressive whites to not go to the polls. We fought he said. “As a community, we have a lot Barber II, N.C. NAACP president, to an audience of more According to the Asheville the battles to keep voting open,” he said. of organizations… but we are not organ- than 100 at St. Joseph AME Church. City Schools Foundation, 92 Janechka Nunn of Raleigh helped register new voters Energized and fired-up activists, organizers, leaders percent of the Fellows felt for OBAMA for America in 2008. She came out because See MARCH/2A and members cheered when Barber said “If we ever need- their projects have empow- she wants to see if she can do more for her community ed to vote, we sure need to vote now,” a theme that is be- ered them in the classroom. this time around. ing echoed throughout the organization’s voter registra- Pett says in addition to in- “There’s this urgency, especially now with some indi- tion campaign. creasingteachers’knowledge, Race impacts viduals making it more difficult for others to vote. We Hand clapping and singing songs such as “Victory is the fellowships increase won’t allow them to suppress our vote,” Nunn said. Mine” and “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody,” prayers and read- morale. NAACP member and N.C. Central student Brittney ing scriptures, along with a speech by several ministers, “One of the most important coverage of Cherry said it’s important to get the word out to folks were all part of what’s been called a “political call to ac- strategiesto ensurethatgreat on why they need to vote and why their voices should tion” and a “fall push to the polls.” teachersstayintheclassroom be heard. Historically, St. Joseph has been foundational in social is to provide them with ongo- ‘12 campaign “I’m here to help tell people what’s going on,” she said. progress and political advancement in the black commu- ing professional develop- “There are those who want to roll the clock back where nity. Founded in 1909, the NAACP and its branches are ment,”shesaid.“Itallowsstu- people of color have no rights,” said the Rev. Phillip By Nadra Karem Nittle engaging in voter registration drives across the state and dents to learn more and Cousins, pastor of St. Joseph AME Church. “We are about THE MAYNARD INSTITUTE country targeting neighborhoods, churches, parks, li- makesteachersfeelmoresuc- the business of moving forward. We will continue to brariesandotherpublicspaceshopingtoregisterasmany cessful.” Long before a little-known Illinois politi- push. No one can turn us around.” as 40,000 new voters before November 6. Pett says they’ve also seen cian ran for president, the mainstream me- The NAACP offered several tools to register to vote: “We are going everywhere,” Barber said. a reduction in students’ be- diafocusedonhisrace.Whenheflourished Call 1-866-myvote1 to register by phone or go online at Barber told the audience that every voice should be havior problems and an in- as a presidential candidate four years ago, www.thisismyvote.org. heard and it’s just not enough to get people to register. crease in “on-task” behavior everyone in America knew that Barack The registration deadline is October 12. Early voting “You must get them there (to the polls),” he said. in classrooms taught by Obama was black. in North Carolina starts on October 18 and ends on Barber said some issues black people faced 49 years teacher fellows. ??In the last Have his blackness and extensive cover- November 3. For same-day registration during early vot- ago are the same today. He said voting is the key to fight- fouryears,82Ashevilleteach- age of that fact boosted his political career ing, first-time voters will need to provide proof of resi- ing social injustice and even touched on a recent public ers have received fellowships or made it more difficult for him to win re- dence. outcry against redistricting and proposed voter-ID re- through the program. quirements, which some states have already implement- For more information, contact the N.C.