SCENE
COMMUNITY
A look at black Native Americans in history will include a screening of “Buck & the Preacher” at the Wesley ChapelWilliam C. Brown Library. 2
Attorney Dionne McGee has entered private practice after her failed campaign to become a DeKalb State Court judge. 3
Blending of cultures explored
New barrister on the block
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER
Copyright © 2012 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
September 22, 2012
Volume 18, Number 21
www.crossroadsnews.com
Charter schools referendum stirring up controversy By Donna Williams Lewis
Grace Graham works with kindergarten students at Ivy Preparatory Academy, a state charter school on Memorial Drive.
hope voters will revive the Charter Schools Commission through a referendum on the charter school amendment. The referendum would change the state’s Constitution to allow the state to share authority over education with local school districts. Six weeks out from the election, many voters are oblivious to the referendum and the impact it would have on education statewide. Oct. 9 is the last day to register to vote and advance voting begins on Oct. 15. Supporters say that if the referendum passes, students attending poor performing
A state commission would have the power to authorize public charter schools if voters pass a referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot. If this sounds like déjà vu, it should. An appointed body was given that power in 2008, when a law was passed that formed the Georgia Charter Schools Commission. Last year, after legal challenges from school districts including DeKalb County’s, the state Supreme Court struck down the law that established the commission. The court ruled that local school boards have exclusive authority over whether charter schools come into their communities. Now supporters of the invalidated law Please see CHARTER, page 6
Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Window display evokes images of blackface The C&C Beauty and Beyond on Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain removed the window display at left after residents complained that it reminded them of blackface.
Stone Mountain hair care shop removes poster By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
A large window display depicting two women with exaggerated white lips and large eyes is evoking visceral reactions from some, and pronouncements of “ugly” from others. Some say the minstrel-like image, in a window at Asian-owned C&C Beauty and Beyond store at 5300 Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain, harkens to the racist “blackface” era of American theater, in which white performers donned black makeup to create caricatures of black people. Minister Muhammad Abdullah of Decatur called the poster “offensive.” “It’s an outrage,” he said. “It’s despicable. It’s horrible. It should be removed.” Alfanso Mallory, who heard about the window display in the Memorial Bend Shopping Center and stopped by to see it, said it reminded him of the dark days of slavery and segregation when white people dressed in blackface and made fun of black people. “That’s how they portrayed black folks, with big white lips and wide mouths,” he said. “They put the accent on the lips and the eyes. It reminds you of that time.” The poster said “Outre” on one bottom corner and on the other, “Surprise Quality You Won’t Believe.” Store manager Larry Moon, who is Asian and runs the store, said Monday that the poster had been on display for two and a half weeks. He said he hadn’t received any complaints about it and didn’t understand why African-Americans could be upset about the images. Moon said the poster was sent to him by Outre Hair Co., a Carlstadt, N.J.-based company that packages a brand of human
Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
On Tuesday, Peter Chi, the store’s owner, contacted CrossRoadsNews to say he never intended to offend. “I am sorry,” he said. “I just didn’t know our history. If something is bothering our community, we will take it down. ” Chi, who operates eight C&C stores that sell human and synthetic hair, wigs, hair dyes, shampoos and makeup, said he has been doing business in the community for more than 20 years and that the community is very important to his business. “I always tried to satisfy my customers and synthetic hair sold by the store. and have not done anything wrong inten“They just send us whatever they have,” tionally,” he said. “Now we understand. I he said. “If people really think that way, I apologize.” can call the company and have them send Brittany Kelley, who was walking by the us another.” store window on Monday, said the window
poster looked scary. “The makeup is ugly,” said Kelley, who is 24. “I just don’t like white lips. It just looks evil.” Her friend Marquitta Brown, 23, said she didn’t know what the images meant. Brown said she actually liked the store because it always displays images of AfricanAmericans while some other hair stores don’t. “That one is just not cute to me,” she said. Naomi Brown of Lawrenceville, who was on her way from the store, said she didn’t like the makeup on the models but wasn’t offended. Please see DISPLAY, page 10