To the Editor


Is the Mayor stealing Chicago?


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Robert S. Abbott (Founder) 1905-1940 John H. Sengstacke (Publisher) 1940-1983


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Guest Editorial ‘Occupiers’ have more courage than Blacks


During a brief conversation at an event last week two apparently well-educated African Americans tried to carefully “explain” to me that President Barack Obama has no choice other than to ignore Black political issues because he wants of course to be re-elected and “there are more white voters than Black vot- ers.”


I was deeply disappointed by their easy acceptance of what has become a predictable pattern of second-class economic and political treatment for the Black community over the past few years. Not only did they seem willing to endure 16.2 percent Black unemployment levels (as long as it didn't include the loss of their own jobs, I guess) but they were also apparently resigned to having four more years of the same if that’s what it will take to return the Obama family to the White House. There are “more white voters than Black vot-


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1. Prejudice and racism in all of its forms must be eliminated and destroyed.


2. Racial profiling and police brutality must be removed from police practices. 3. Reparations, or remediation, must be the final chapter in the arduous ordeal of slavery and legal segregation. 4. Opportunities for inclusion and advancement in all unions must be unrestricted.


5. Full access to government contracts for all.


6. Representation in all police and fire departments must reflect the communi- ty they serve.


7. Increase access and availability for quality, affordable housing for all. 8. Establish a living and fair wage as a fundamental right for all Americans. (Revised January 1966, May 2001)


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ers?” Is that what went through Harriet Tubman’s mind as she fought to navigate the Underground Railroad and free Black slaves? Did the fact that there were virtually no “legal” or unharrassed Black voters in many of the Southern states prior to the passage of the Voting Rights Act stop Blacks in those states from speaking out for what was fair and reason- able and for social and economic inclusion? Did their lack of a voting majority ever stop


Black Americans from expressing their outrage over having their men lynched by Klansmen? Have African Americans ever had a voting majority in any national election in the history of this country anyway? Did that ever stop us from pressing our political issues? What has happened to us? Why the recent complacency? How dare we try to characterize this curious new brand of self-defeatism and cowardice as “political sophistication?”


Have Jewish Americans ever “bitten their tongue” when they sought support for their issues - here or in Israel- simply because they represented less than 2 percent of the U.S. pop- ulation?


Where did we learn this new politically spineless behavior?


As much as I and others have been critical of the “Occupy Wall Street” organizers for their lack of true inclusion of Blacks and other diverse economically desperate people, at least the “Occupiers” have demonstrated the courage to stand up for what they believe to be right. Do you think they took a headcount to deter- mine if they were outnumbered before they put up their tents? Probably not.


So where do we get this from? A. Bruce Crawley is president and principal owner of Millennium 3 Management Inc.


Michael House President


Carol E. Bell


Exec. Dir. of Fin & Bus Op Frances Jackson


Director of Advertising


Dear editor, Is that guy’s name Rahm Emanuel or “Rob


A Man As Well?”


Just asking, cause its possible to get con- fused around here, lately, with all the licens- ing fees, camera cops, shoveling scofflaw ticketing plans and other thinly-veiled efforts to politically pick-pocket the electorate. I thought there was honor among thieves. All in the name of maintaining the status quo on property taxes, however, by the time you do the math on all these hidden taxes, you’ve effectively accomplished a double-digit property tax increase. Just keep it real Mr. Mayor (i.e. “call a spade a spade”) because, after all, to para- phrase the Great British Bard, “A tax by any other name…” While it’s too early to speak of legacies, Mayor (Richard M.) Daley definitely “sold” Chicago. Will future generations say that Mayor Emanuel “stole” from Chicago? Michael E. Moore Chicago


Learned behavior goes both ways


Dear editor,


I am so happy to see such a well-written, honest, and NECESSARY article on the behavior of our youth. As a community member and as a school employee, I am often disturbed by how accepting and approving some parents are of this unruly behavior, appalling language, and unwilling- ness to make education a priority. I was deathly afraid for my mom to be called by the school. However, sadly, this generation fears nothing. I believe this “learned behav- ior” is the primary downfall of education and of the Black community, no longer can we fully fault the system.


Though it should not be used as an excuse, parents are statistically much younger nowa- days, many as young as 16 years old and we would be naïve to assume that their priorities are the same as their elders. For this reason, we need to see more teen-parenting pro- grams in the schools, churches, and commu- nity centers. The problem is much much deeper than just priorities and requires much more than a one page article.


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10 Chicago Defender • ChicagoDefender.com • November 9-15, 2011


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Only the few who maintain those old school ways and values will succeed. I could go all day and it would be great to see this conversation had a larger scale. You've done us a great justice by putting this out in the open and allowing people, like me, who’ve been seeing and thinking these same things to themselves, to know that they aren’t alone. Thank you. It’s nice to know other people are keeping the lessons alive of our mothers, grandmothers, and of all the great people with good values. Thank you. Janay Clyde


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