SAMUEL LOGAN
Publisher
KAREN LOVE
A Real Times Newspaper
Chief Operating Officer
BANKOLE THOMPSON
479 Ledyard – Detroit, Mi 48201
Senior Editor
cORNELiUS A. fORTUNE
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Associate Managing Editor
Fax 963-8788
JOHN H. SENGSTAcKE
Chairman-Emeritus 1912-1997
LONGWORTH M. QUiNN
e-mail:chronicle4@aol.com
Publisher-Emeritus 1909-1989
December 23-29, 2009
Page A-5
Where do we go from here?
By Jesse Jackson Sr. Twenty years later, that number
It’s been big month. A jobs has risen to a totally unaccept-
summit, the beginning of an- able 45 million. We must do
other escalation in Afghanistan better, and now is the time.
a Nobel Peace Prize speech in
House the homeless by con-
Oslo, a climate change confer-
fronting the home foreclosure
ence in Copenhagen, a possible
crisis threatening to tear the
end game for the Senate on
heart and soul of America’s
health care, and a jobs summit
communities. A record high
and what I hope will be the start
four million families will face
of an effective national jobs pro-
foreclosure this year alone, but
gram that puts America back
another 13 million homeowners
to work. Dec. 10 also marked
‘Black power’ demonstrated
will face foreclosure in the next
Human Rights Day. It is an ap-
five years.
propriate day to consider “where
By Danny Glover and Nicole C. Lee
we go from here.”
To date just 4 percent, or
10,000 of the 728,000 homeown-
There comes a time in the life of a people
In a way, we’ve reached an-
ers seeking assistance, have re-
when the tyranny of their government becomes
other apex in our movement,
Jesse Jackson ceived permanent loan modifica-
too much and they rebel. There comes a time
the culmination of a 54 year civil
tions under the administration’s
when the quality of life is more important than
rights journey from the 1954 Brown decision
Home Affordable Modification Program. We
life itself. That time for Black South Africans
ending legal segregation, winning civil and
need a comprehensive, effective foreclosure
came in the 1950s, when the yoke of apartheid
voting rights in the ’60s, organizing our Rain-
prevention/save our homes program to “save
grew tighter still. Freedom fighters such as
bow campaigns of the 1980s through to the his-
homes for the holidays” - to protect not just the
Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela and others led
toric election of Barack Obama in 2008.
most distressed families in their time of need,
the cry for freedom.
One year ago, people in the U.S. voted for but also to protect their neighborhoods, the
Their civil disobedience in response to the
change and a new direction. But just one year community tax base, the public services which
violence perpetrated against them by the South
after President Obama’s election, stiff winds of depend on having a healthy housing infrastruc-
African government rose to levels that would
resistance are blowing from all directions. It’s ture. Where do we go from here?
force the apartheid government to pay atten-
been some time since we’ve witnessed such
Heal the broken hearted by addressing the
tion to the demands of the Black majority pop-
Nicole C. Lee Danny Glover
a sustained, ideologically inspired campaign
employment demands of the 8 million workers
ulation.
ing number of Black elected officials in Con-
to smear and vilify a president, to drown out
who have lost their jobs in the last 18 months. The rest of the world sat and watched as
gress and across the country. Blacks elected
rationale public debate and discourse, and cir-
apartheid took hold of South Africa. Corpora- to Congress formed the Congressional Black
cumvent the people’s desire for progressive
None of this can happen unless we strength-
tions dared not risk the lucrative profits from Caucus in 1971, and now used their collective
change.
en and enforce civil rights and fair lending
laws.
the South African market and Western gov- leverage to focus attention on South Africa. The
Wall Street has rebounded from the brink
ernments feared raising the question of race third advantage: The media’s interest in the
of collapse. But the sub-prime mortgage crisis
Laws against discriminatory lending were relations in their own countries. The world story. Both the Washington arrests and eye-
ballooned into a full-scale foreclosure crisis.
ignored. Consumer protection laws were dilut- conveniently turned a blind eye to what their witness testimony about the brutality in South
Student debt is soaring and jeopardizing the
ed, as subprime lenders, payday operators and callousness was costing Black South Africa. Africa made for a compelling story; it launched
education of our youth. Unemployment is up,
credit card loan sharks had their way. The ad-
Western leaders failed to see that Black
protests against the South African government
and so is global warming. Hope is up, too, but
ministration has sensibly called for a new Con-
South Africans were now willing to make any
at consulates around the world and on college
unfortunately so is poverty.
sumer Financial Protection Agency, but while
the banking lobby descends on Congress, the
sacrifice to overthrow apartheid and African
campuses throughout the U.S.
Yes, it’s mid-day in our politics, but mid-
administration should be using the powers it
Americans were going to join their fight. The steady list of pension funds, corpo-
night in our economy.
has to enforce the law. Twenty-five years ago, African Americans
rations and governments that divested from
Where do we go from here?
Free the oppressed with a Stimulus II, a new
joined closely with continental Africans in a
South Africa proved to be the death knell to
universal struggle for freedom. The Free South
apartheid. It ensured the release of political
Perhaps we should go to our biblical mis- war on poverty to set the oppressed free. Eight
African movement gave Africans in North Amer-
prisoners — political prisoners that went on
sion statement: bring good news to the needy, million families and 40 million Americans, or
ican a clear vision that their security and free-
the lead South Africa’s first majority rule gov-
to feed the poor, heal the brokenhearted, care 13 percent, live in poverty; fourteen million
dom was inextricably linked to Africans in the
ernment. Civil rights leader Roger Wilkins is
for the sick, and set the oppressed free. children under 18 were in poverty. In 2008, 49
mother land.
quoted as saying, “The Free South Africa Move-
mentis arguably the most important initiative
Bring good news to the needy by creating a
million people lived didn’t have enough to eat,
One advantage was the benefit of both undertaken by Black private citizens since
Stimulus II that targets the zones of pain. Stim-
including 17 million children.
time and history. The brutality facing Blacks Martin Luther King died and it’s one of its most
ulus I focused on the zones of gain. They’ve wa- Where do we go from here?
in South African mirrored the experience of successful.”
tered the leaves of speculation while the roots
The President’s new policy of escalating Blacks in the United States.
of investment have withered.
and expanding the war in Afghanistan is risky
Danny Glover is the chairman of the Board
That reality resonated with people around of TransAfrica Forum. Nicole C. Lee is the
Wall Street now is paying bonuses, but the and expensive, and, despite a projected date
the world. The second advantage: The increas- President of TransAfrica Forum.
big banks still aren’t lending to the real econ- to begin troop withdrawal, there is no end in
omy. We need direct, targeted jobs programs, sight. The war on terror a real one, but it’s a
and the expansion of lending to spur small 21st century problem that cannot be “won” by
business development. It is time to focus on using 20th century strategies of military con-
Heisman Award does not
helping those who are the victims of, not the quest. We hope the President’s plan is success-
cause of, the crisis. ful, and pray for the earliest return home of the
Care for the sick by enacting comprehen-
100,000 troops who will be sent to war in Af- hide Alabama’s past
sive, accessible and affordable health care for
ghanistan, but doubts abound.
By George E. Curry
bach.
all Americans. Republicans have taken a stand Where do we go from here?
to crush the health care bill. Blue Dog conser-
We stay true to the principles that Dr. King University of Alabama running back Mark
In a carefully orchestrated move – and by
vatives have taken a stand to circumvent and
lived and died for, and we rebuild our grass- Ingram was awarded the Heisman Trophy, the
secret arrangement with federal officials – Wal-
undermine it.
roots movement to press for serious change, first Crimson Tide player to ever win college
lace stood in the door of Foster Auditorium and
football’s most prestigious honor.
gave a states’ rights speech deploring action
In our Rainbow campaigns of 1984 and structural reforms, peace and justice. It’s time
taken by the “central government.”
1988, I campaigned from for comprehensive to stand up and be counted, to assert our pro-
The sophomore sensation’s on-field ex-
health care for all at a time when “only” 37 mil- gressive principles, and put a focus on policies
ploits would have never been recognized at the
Malone and Hood were driven back to their
lion Americans were without health insurance. and direction, not personality.
awards ceremony in New York, certainly not as
dorms. Katzenbach placed a call to President
a representative of the Crimson Tide, had it not
John F. Kennedy, who federalized the Ala-
One in 50 U.S. children
been for the efforts of Vivian Malone and James
bama National Guard. Katzenbach returned
Hood, two African Americans who defied Gov.
hours later with Malone and Hood. When Wal-
George C. Wallace’s famous 1963 “Stand in the
lace again attempted to block their entry, Gen.
Schoolhouse Door” at Foster Auditorium.
Henry Graham, the commander of the Alabama
face homelessness
National Guard, told Wallace: “Sir, it is my sad

As Ingram and his undefeated teammates
duty to ask you to step aside under the orders
prepare for the national championship game
of the president of the United States.” A silent
By Rev. Al Sharpton danger of becoming homeless. against the University of Texas on Jan. 7, George Wallace moved out of the way.

Thankfully, she and others
school officials are pondering how best to pay
During this time of rejoic-
I had just completed my sophomore year at
took immediate action to quell
proper homage to Malone and Hood in a reno-
ing and giving, we cannot forget
Druid High School and was overjoyed. The fed-
the frightening and disturbing
vated Foster Auditorium. In Tuscaloosa, Ala.,
the most vulnerable among us.
eral government had finally confronted segre-
trend.
my hometown, the past has finally caught up
with the present. Desegregating the state’s top
gationists in Alabama and sent them a powerful
Earlier this year, the National
But in cities and towns across tax-supported university was no easy task.
message: Brown v. Board of Education was the
Center on Family Homelessness
this nation, not everyone is as
law of the land and even White supremacists
Autherine Lucy was the first African-Ameri-
released a shocking report citing
lucky.
would have to obey the law.
can student to enroll in the University of Ala-
1 in 50 U.S. children currently
No one can deny that we live bama. She graduated from Miles College near
The University of Alabama is in the process
face homelessness and that the
in uncertain and unpredictable Birmingham in 1952. While attending the his-
or renovating Foster Auditorium, which has
situation is only worsening as
times. torically Black college, a friend suggested that
been mostly empty in recent years. President
our economy further weakens. Robert Witt said the $15 million renovation will
As jobs continue to diminish,
they apply to the all-White University of Ala-
The study stated that 42 per-
include a Malone-Hood civil rights memorial
banks fail and the world econ-
bama for grad school. Anticipating a protracted
cent of these homeless children
plaza in front of the building. But many people
omy is unstable at best, Ameri-
struggle, they sought help from the NAACP
are younger than 6 years of age,
– Black and White – are unimpressed with the
cans are wisely saving more and
Legal Defense and Educational Fund and were
and that African American and
plans. After receiving a chilly reception, Witt
spending less.
assigned legendary lawyers Thurgood Marshall,
Native American kids are dispro- Constance Baker Motley and Arthur Shores.
said the university welcomes comments from
portionately represented among
But one place that we cannot
the public.
One June 29, 1955, a federal court issued
these. Home foreclosures,
pinch our pennies is in regards
an order prohibiting the University of Alabama
It got a very public comment from the Tus-
record high unemployment and
to the poor and disenfranchised.
from rejecting the two applicants based on
caloosa News, which said the architectural ren-
a lack of jobs are all contribut-
And if we cannot afford to donate
their race. The ruling was appealed all the way
dering does “nothing to speak to its purpose
ing to this frightening epidemic.
Al Sharpton
money or goods, we can always
– the historic, ground-breaking event it is sup-
donate our time – which is always
to the United States Supreme Court. On Oct.
At the same time, institutions
posed to honor.”
invaluable.
19, 1955, the High Court ordered the university
that these children and homeless families des- to admit Lucy and her Miles classmate, Pollie Some have suggested creating a civil rights
perately rely on like churches, food banks and
During this holiday season, feed the home-
Myers Hudson. museum inside of Foster Auditorium. Others
shelters are all experiencing extreme shortag-
less, collect clothes or books for your neigh-
The university’s board of trustees rejected
favor memorializing the 1963 stand-off with
es.
borhood church or shelter, or just lend an ear
life-size bronze statues featuring Malone, Hood,
to someone who needs a friend.
Hudson’s application, purportedly for reasons
The Giving USA Foundation, a consul- related to her conduct and marital record.
Wallace and Katzenbach. My preference is that
tancy for nonprofit organizations, report-
When homelessness and poverty are on the
But it accepted Lucy, who enrolled on Feb. 3,
the university do both.
ed a 2 percent drop in donations to chari-
rise, we all suffer.
1956. On the third day of classes, however, an Mark Ingram, an African American from
table causes in 2008 as compared to 2007.
Even those that believe they are unscathed
angry mob stormed the campus and university Flint, Mich., has now surpassed all of the stars
That roughly translates to $307.6 billion in-
by the downtrodden must remember that if
officials expelled Lucy, saying they could not on the storied Alabama football teams by bring-
stead of $314.1 billion.
charities do not receive the necessary goods
assure her safety. (She returned decades later ing home the Heisman Trophy. The University
Billions of dollars may sound like a massive
they need, you can bet crime is likely to go up
to earn her master’s degree in elementary edu- of Alabama should erect a memorial to Au-
amount, but not when you take into account
as desperate folks have no other resort.
cation). therine Lucy, Vivian Malone, James Hood and
the extent of our current situation. During one
The American Red Cross itself has experi-
A second major attempt to desegregate the
the millions of Blacks who were prevented from
week in early October, some 50,000-60,000 De-
enced an average 25 percent dip in registering
University of Alabama in 1963 also required the
attending the University of Alabama for more
troit residents stood in massive lines in order
individual donations this year alone, according
intervention of the federal government. After
than 125 years. If it doesn’t, its antiseptic civil
to receive applications for homeless prevention
to its spokespeople.
Autherine Lucy was expelled, hundreds of Afri-
rights memorial will amount to nothing but an-
assistance. can Americans applied to the University of Ala-
other “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door” with-
As the requests for help continue to rise, do-
In a city where poverty and unemployment
bama but were rejected. In 1963, however, three
out the drama.
nations are disturbingly low across the board.
rates hover at 30 percent or more, Detroit is
Blacks with stellar credentials – Vivian Malone, George E. Curry can be reached at www.
by definition a prime example of the desperate
We must have faith that giving to others
Dave McGlathery and James Hood – applied. georgecurry.com
ramifications of our troubled economic times.
always comes back to us in more ways than we
After a federal judge ordered them admitted,

may perceive at first.
only Malone and Hood decided to attend.
Unfortunately, this massive despair isn’t So this season, as you shop for the latest Segregationist Gov. George C. Wallace,
confined to Detroit alone. gadgets or buy gifts for everyone on your list, whose inaugural speech advocated “segrega-
CNN recently highlighted an elementary
don’t forget the ones that have no voice, no
tion now, segregation tomorrow and segrega-
school in Las Vegas where the school’s prin-
place to live and many times no hope left.
tion forever,” decided to he would “stand in the
cipal estimated that 75 percent of her 622 stu-
schoolhouse door” to prevent the enrollment
Remember, we are all in this together.
dents have experienced homelessness or are in
of Malone and Hood, who were accompanied
by Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzen-
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