news After the march


character rather than the color of their skin. Yet a few weeks ago, Shirley Sherrod became the latest victim of skin color politics orchestrated by the well oiled race baiting machine that made the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack look incompetent and his department look like a signpost that exists only in name, not in good deeds.


Because of the USDA’s his-


tory of battling with Black farmers, the Sherrod debacle only helped to deepen sus- picion of Vilsack’s USDA in Obama’s America.


Even the national NAACP,


the ought-to-know-better orga- nization under the leadership of Benjamin Jealous, fell for the race-baiting trap in a way that insulted the integrity of other organizations that have long fought Jim Crow, and un- derstood the tricks of those who try to fan the embers of race and racism.


For the first time we saw the


national NAACP in the same bed with the race-baiters, calling on Sherrod to resign before they realized they were tricked into the bedroom of racism. In Catholic lingo this kind of hasty, cowardly and thoughtless way the national NAACP president reacted to Sherrod initially is an unpar- donable sin.


My grandmother warned me


as a lad to always “look before you leap,” good advice for Ben Jealous and his crew next time — that fairness demands hear- ing all sides to the story.


To make a decision without


hearing the other party is anti- democratic, unbecoming of the foremost civil rights orga- nization in this country.


Crucifixion before trial


should not ever be part of our policy. King would be turning over in his grave to learn that a woman who has dedicated her life to the fight for racial parity reconciliation was repudiated by her own — the NAACP — based on false accusation.


The White House, in a


rather dismissive, unthinkable way, dropped the ball, forc- ing the Black president to call and apologize to Sherrod over something his staff should have been schooled on.


That is why diversity and


cultural relations are an ever effective ingredient for top de- cision makers in any govern- ment, company or manage- ment that seeks to enhance its standing among those it serves.


Despite the increase in


hate speech, and the growing signs that racism is not going away anytime soon, I can still say without any qualms that in 2010 we live in Obama’s America that is pregnant with possibilities and opportuni- ties as well as risks — if the right things are done to meet the demands of an economi- cally stricken nation.


It is still not late for the Dem-


ocrat-controlled US Senate to do what is right by Black farm- ers and give them the money they have been owed for ages. These same Democrats expect Blacks to flock to the polls like sheep to the slaughter in November, and yet behind the backs of African Americans they are refusing to move an inch to make what could be a historic economic remittance possible.


The Democratically con-


trolled Congress is acting like the Republicans are in power. Blame the Republicans for ev- erything and you will get the November vote.


No, it is the Democrats that


are in power with a Democrat- ic president who was given a huge and historic mandate in November of 2008 to right the wrongs of the past and the sins of the Republicans.


If the Democrats can’t do it,


or are not willing to act on the charge that King gave on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial decades ago, then they should say that.


Whether they plan to act


or not, Democrats and Re- publicans alike will be re- minded of their obligation to the nation on Saturday when the Rev. Jackson, the United Auto Workers (UAW). Detroit Branch NAACP and a host of civil and community groups stage a mass demonstration for jobs, justice and peace.


In earlier interviews with


Jackson, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition leader said Detroit is ground zero of the urban crisis and the disinvestment the city has endured.


Jackson said on Saturday


that Detroit and the rest of Michigan need to make a bold statement about the deplor- able economy that has left many people unable to provide essentials for their families.


While Jackson and the those who are “sick and tired


What would the slain


civil rights leader have said to President Obama about the current state of our economy? Fol- lowing is an imaginary conversation between Dr. King and Obama.


King: My dear brother and


fellow Nobel Prize winner, your election as president of this great country is a tremendous milestone. While I congratulate you on this achievement, it is imperative that I


remind you


that Negroes across this country are waiting on the might of the federal government to halt the unemployment rate that has gripped every so many Black families in this land.


Obama: Dr. King, thank you


for your powerful, thought-pro- voking words. I took this job not to look back. I believe as a country we can do great things together. That has always been my mantra. I want to make sure that every person in this country understands that Washington will not turn its back on them as far as I’m president. Therefore, I have dispatched stimulus pack- ages to cities across this nation to stem the tide of the economic crisis we are in. I inherited this crisis and I want it to end so taxpayers can get back to work.


King: Mr. Obama, it’s true


you inherited the economic crisis. I understand the chal- lenges you are faced with. But the measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. You have the might of the federal government behind you, backed by the power of the people. Mr. President, act on that.


Obama: Dr. King I have


always admired your strength even in the face difficulty. How do you maintain your sanity?


King: My brother, I have


always learned not to let others define me. There were times when my house was bombed and I was persecuted and called all kinds of names. But I maintained my conviction that


of being sick and tired” are waging a street fight for a res- toration of an ailing economy, conservative talk show host Glenn Beck and his followers will be at the steps of the Lin- coln Memorial for a “Restoring Honor” rally.


Call it a desecration of the


symbolism of the March on Washington by individuals who push divisive politics and have sworn to see Obama fail.


But that will not stop De-


troit where King first gave the “I Have a Dream” speech at Cobo Hall and marched on Woodward Avenue before heading to Washington.


Jackson says it is time to


enact real change for working families and all of America, to call on our national leaders to do their part in rebuilding America.


Doing so, according to


Jackson, means focusing on jobs: economic reconstruc- tion driven by targeted stimu- lus, reindustrialization and trade policy that will create jobs, support manufacturing and put workers first.


Justice: enforcement of the


law regarding workers’ rights, civil rights, industrial regula- tion, and creation of strong urban policy, fair and just edu- cation, economic and healthy policy.


Peace: ending the ongoing


wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, saving lives and redirecting the war budget to rebuilding the America.


Marches are good and based


on time and location can illicit answers from politicians who understand, as Jackson put it, “how to count” numbers.


Democrats are in the “dog-


house” this year as some put it and therefore a rally of this magnitude that also places emphasis on getting the vote out for November has the huge potential of impacting policy.


That is why hundreds of postal workers showed up


America is not far from the right path. With God on your side, you can never be afraid of anything.


Obama: Dr. King, I know


you are critical war, demon- strated clearly by your opposi- tion to the Vietnam War. But as commander-in-chief I must fight to keep America safe with our allies and stop those who want to destroy the world.


King: My brother, my


brother. I criticized the Vietnam War because my conscience left me with no other choice as a minister of the Gospel. If we care about our nation we cannot ignore the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. President, you must endeavor to bring the troops home while finding a global solution the crisis we fight. We cannot go it alone on matters of international conflicts. That is why we have the United Nations.


You campaigned on bring-


ing the troops home and the American people gave you the mandate to do so. You must act on that mandate as would be the case with any leader who listens to the will of the people. I do recognize that the last combat troops from Iraq left last week. The resources that are being spent on foreign wars can be used to address most of our domestic obligations. Your legacy, in part, will be judged by how you handled the two wars we are engaged in.


Obama: Dr. King, I would


like to invite you to the White House for dinner.


King: My brother, I will take


you up on your offer. But first I must go to Detroit on Saturday and join the postal workers, United Auto Workers, and every other person including African Americans who have been left out of the American dream. I want to stand with them just as I did with the sanitation workers in Memphis. If you don’t mind, Mr. President, I’d like to bring some of them to the White House for dinner.


Obama: No problem, Dr.


King. The White House is the people’s house.


with Jackson and Congress- man John Conyers Tuesday afternoon downtown, embold- ened with the same spirit that is asking Washington to pick up the 3 a.m. phone call from Detroit.


Hope is that with the rally


the dismal voter turnout in Detroit during last month’s gubernatorial primary will change for November.


We’ve always wondered if


Detroit is angry enough and if it is, why doesn’t that translate into huge numbers of voters at the polls?


While it may be easy to


blame voters for the lacka- daisical response to voting in cities like Detroit, the indif- ference of politicians to the concerns of their constituents cannot be separated from this sad, self-defeating reality.


How many times has gov-


ernment failed Detroit? How many times have we


seen elected officials not do what is expedient for the bet- terment of the people but, in- stead, focus on what will line their pockets?


The arrogance that some


elected officials have shown, elevating themselves to some sort of god-like position and above reproach, has been a major disappointed for the electorate, helping to fuel the light turnouts on election days. Especially in a climate where some elected officials feel that they have a birthright to political office.


Worst of all, some Demo-


crats in powerful positions fail to push for programs that will alleviate the problems beset- ting the lives of their constitu- ent members, under the guise that the Republicans are the problem instead of their own lack of political and moral for- titude.


The march in Detroit begins


at 10:30 a.m. at 151 W. Jef- ferson Ave./UAW Center. Call Theresa Bullock at (313) 926- 5361.


STANDING-ROOM-ONLY audience at Fellowship Chapel discussed solutions to violence. — Eric Hobson photos


Crime


shooting of 69-year-old grand- mother,” said McQuade.


“We want to improve the


quality of life in Detroit,” she continued. “We recognize that law enforcement resources out just won’t solve the problem. We need to work with the com- munity, not against the com- munity, if were going to solve these problems together.


“We have several compo-


nents. One is prevention. Pre- venting youth from commit- ting crime. We need everyone here to be in neighborhood patrols, to be block captains and provide us with tips when crimes happen.”


Special Agent Tom Brandon


of the U.S. Department of Al- cohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said, “This depart- ment has been working dili- gently to get dangerous weap- ons and contraband off the streets to improve the quality of life for Detroiters.”


Detroit Police Chief Ralph


Godbee said, “The depart- ment wants to reduce crime but we don’t want to do it at the expense of disrespecting our community. Any person that thinks that’s a soft way of policing, they’re totally mis- guided.”


In addition to the agencies


whose representatives spoke, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the FBI, the Bureau of Immigra-


US ATTORNEY Barbara McQuade speaks.


tion and Customs Enforce- ment (ICE), the Drug Enforce- ment Administration, and the Wayne County Sheriff’s were also represented at the forum.


Several citizens in the audi-


ence had questions for the law enforcement representatives, one being the parent of teen- ager shot in Detroit last year.


“I am one of the parents of


one of the seven kids shot at the bus stop. Me as a parent, what can I do or say to make my child feel safe? Most kids don’t trust cops,” whose name was not given.


McQuade said the people


in the community yearn for better public safety and in finding out how they can get involve.


“If the communities, par-


ticular the youth, feel more scared than safe, when they see a police officer it’s our job to remedy that.”


McQuade said she refuses


to accept the alarming crime statistics that have become commonplace in Detroit.


“President Obama quoted


Fredrick Douglass, saying ‘We are not prisoners of our fate. We have the ability to bend history in the direction of jus- tice,’” said McQuade.


DTE responds to economic challenge of consumers


By Bertram Marks Everyone, irrespective of


their station in life, has a right a civil and social right to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect. As an at- torney and minister, I have seldom refrained from being critical of individuals, corpo- rations, and politicians who ignore the suffering of vulner- able people.


Conversely, as an attorney and minister I have consis- tently urged corporations and governmental agencies to adopt programs and policies that demonstrate corporate and civic responsibility to the public.


I applaud the efforts of


DTE Energy for acting on the numerous recommendations provided to them on the strug- gles of vulnerable citizens and turning them into action.


On Wednesday Aug. 11,


2010, Detroiters who are suf- fering from a very bad econ- omy received some relief. Over 3,000 customers of DTE Energy filled Cobo Hall to re- ceive direct assistance with their energy bills. Customers were offered help in the form of shutoff prevention, payment arrangements, home heating credits, and assistance dollars credited directly to their ac- counts.


A host of other providers


were also present and offer- ing assistance. Those provid- ers included, The Heat and Warmth Fund, The Salvation Army, Mission of Peace, and countless others.


One of the most remark-


able aspects of this event was the fact that it was done at the sole expense of DTE Energy as a way of connecting with the pain being experienced by many of their customers. The Detroit area has been very hard hit by “the Great Recession.” Most notably, those citizens who are considered vulner- able — our seniors, disabled people and low-income fami- lies — were made the priority on this day of assistance.


The employees of DTE


Energy, even those who do not work in customer assistance, all pitched in to make the ex- perience at Cobo Hall a great


licly and privately. Everyone needs encouragement, even corporations. We must al- so remember that the goals of the community and the goals of the corporations that oper- ate in that community do not have to be mutually exclusive.


Acknowledgement of the Bertram Marks


one for the public. In addition to employees, executives of the company walked through the lines and greeted custom- ers directly.


In fact, one of the leading


executives of the company actually followed several cus- tomers through the assis- tance lines to make sure they were being treated with cour- tesy and respect and getting the assistance they needed.


The presence of employees


and leaders of the company at an event such as this cou- pled with their expressions of concern and compassion sends a very strong message to the public about the corpo- rate character and conscious of this company.


This was anything but a


fluff event. The customers I in- terviewed as they exited Cobo Hall were unanimous in be- lieving their experience as positive and extremely help- ful.


It is imperative that DTE Energy and other corpora- tions in this area recognize that customers who are strug- gling have to receive immedi- ate help. Reaching out to cus- tomers in a way that promotes dignity and respect is a great way to connect with them and add relief to the daily pres- sures of mounting bills and rising utility costs.


Many lessons can be


learned from the experience at Cobo Hall.


We must be sure to give


credit where credit is due. As corporations display good citizenship, we should be sure to point it out both pub-


difficulties of surviving this economic tsunami by corpora- tions that provide goods and services to the community means a great deal to a strug- gling public. Once acknowl- edged, corporations must include in their planning ses- sions a strategy to help ease the stress of tough economic times.


Perhaps the most impor-


tant message that should be learned from the customer as- sistance day event held by DTE Energy is that one day of as- sistance is not nearly enough. A sustained plan of action to reach out to vulnerable citi- zens is an absolute necessity.


The economic pain being


felt by many Metro Detroi- ters is so great that multiple remedies are necessary to combat it. I am not asserting here that DTE Energy does not have a dedicated and wide- ranging plan to help provide assistance to customers who are struggling.


I am advancing the notion


that the large- scale cus- tomer assistance events that reach thousands of people on a single day sends a strong signal to the community re- garding the commitment and concern the company has for its customers. Events such as the one held on August 11 must become a part of the fabric of how DTE Energy con- ducts business.


Once customers connect


with the notion that a company has caring and compassionate leaders and employees, a trust relationship develops that pro- vides a win for the company and a win for the customer.


Congratulations, DTE


Energy, on a job well done. Bertram L. Marks is gener-


al legal counsel to the Coun- cil of Baptist Pastors of De- troit and Vicinity, chairman of the Litigation Associates law firm, and Michigan Civil Rights Commissioner.


From page A-1


THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE From page A-1


August 25-31, 2010 Page A-3


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