B4
JULY 19-25, 2017
FORUM
Boisterous Black voices Hugh Price’s African have become almost silent American life: Lessons and blessings (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Hugh Price was the seventh leader (from 1994 through 2002) of the National Urban League, the civil rights organization founded in 1910 to help African American migrants assimilate into urban life, to provide opportunities for urban migrants, and to eliminate segregation in our nation. Price, an attorney, activist, writer, and foundation executive was well-suited for that work, for which he may be best known, but Urban League work is only part of his legacy. Price is scheduled to share his reflective autobiography This African American Life (Blair, 2017) during the National Urban League convention that begins July 26 in St. Louis. I’m sure that many of his colleagues will enjoy his reflections, much as I did when I read his book. In his inspirational book, Price weaves his thoughts about public policy with an accounting of his amazing life. His is a life that he might not have imagined -- he came of age at a time when African Americans had access to new possibilities after rigid educational and occupational segregation. So what young man, a product of segregation, would have imagined himself navigating influential and integrated waters, and making a profound difference. Throughout this book, you get a sense that Hugh Price, though well grounded, is also amazed at the many ways our world has changed. This African American Life reads just like Hugh Price sounds, chock full of self-deprecating humor and tongue-in-cheek reflections. And while Price Julianne Malveaux takes African American life quite seriously, he mana g e s to take himself somewhat less so. Thus, even in his laid-back way, he is able to convey the excitement he feels at certain high points in his life, such as when he visits South Africa, or when he first, as President of the Urban League, gets a multi-car police escort. I am struck both by Price’s humility and by his ability to put himself, and important issues, in context. Hugh Price is the product of “good stock”, middle-class Black Washington, D.C. Reading the first few chapters of his book is like taking a romp through African American history. Price is the descendent of escaped enslaved people, and it is clear that he inherited enough of their hunger for freedom to make that hunger his own. The inventor, Lewis Latimer, is one of his ancestors, and his pride in his legacy shines thorough in his book. Price is not reticent probing race and skin color conflicts when he references a White relative of Lewis Latimer, or when he talks about tensions in his own family when his darker skinned father, a physician, pursued his lighter-skinner mother. Skin color discrimination is still, unfortunately, alive and well; few are as forthright in dealing with it as Hugh Price. He deals with it, as he does with just about everything else, with a sage equanimity. It is clear that he is annoyed by the ignorance of skin color discrimination, but he is not so annoyed as to produce a tirade about it. Instead, it is simply a factor to reflect on in “this African American life”. Hugh Price’s book is extremely thoughtful and transparent. While he expresses extreme joy in the high points of his life, for example joining the Urban League as CEO, his tone is not much different as when he experiences disappointment at missed opportunities. The African American community has gained when Hugh Price felt he “lost”, and agrees with his daughter Traer, when she notes that missed opportunities opened doors to new possibilities. Thus, it is engaging to read through his path as youth mentor, New Haven community leader, mayoral appointee, New York Times editorial writer, public television leader, foundation executive, then President and CEO of the National Urban League. In his “back nine” he has been a professor and thought leader, connected with prestigious organizations like Princeton University and the Brookings Institution. Candid about the ways he lobbied for and secured some of the positions he attained, as well as the ways that some opportunities “fell in his lap”; his transparent revelations should be “must” reading for young people with aspirations. Without lecturing, Hugh Price makes powerful statements about the importance of relationships. Hugh Price has been passionate, improving possibilities for young people through his career. As a young law student and paid mentor to New Haven youth, he learned the importance of consistency. There is no place, he learned, for driveby mentoring that takes place only at a mentor’s convenience. This is a lesson for the present; so many well-intentioned helpers feel that they can alter the course of a life with well-meaning, but tenuous engagement. Price used his early lessons to develop programs to combat Black youth unemployment, both through the Rockefeller Foundation and through the military. His commitment to youth continued in his Urban League years with his work on quality education and the achievement gap. He describes his work as “Spreading the Gospel of Achievement” in a chapter of his book; it is a gospel he continues to spread. While I enjoy Price’s policy conversations, I equally enjoy the way he recounts his love of family, and the early struggles that he and wife Marilyn faced as they raised their family while he completed law school. Equally enjoyable is his conversation about baseball, a sport he is passionate about. Reading this book made me want to engage Hugh Price is a rambling interview that dug even deeper into his work than the book does. It makes me want to further explore his love for baseball and the ways baseball metaphors reflect contemporary life. For sure, Price hit a home run with this book, but it makes me want to engage him in another inning, another game, and more reflections from this phenomenal man!
Commentary
(Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Founder of Economic Education.)
I have never There are an believed in co- Louis ‘Hop’ Kendrick unbelievable incidence when number of Black it involves detmen and womrimental action en who have by those in podegrees, perfect sitions of power command of the toward Black language, uncitizens. From derstand comthe time the pletely what first slaves emthe crux of the barked in America, there were those problems are, and what needs to be who sought to be free persons. Some done to correct them. A number of were soft spoken, others prayed, and these persons have done well finanthere were those who openly chal- cially, with expensive cars, beautiful lenged being the property of another houses, travel extensively, and I comman. pletely understand that they are not Over the course of my 85 years, I civil rights warriors. The number of have had the opportunity to partic- persons and organizations that reipate and watch and listen to voices ceive unbelievable, collective sums that attempted to make the kind of of money from the system, political changes that would elevate Blacks to and foundations can’t openly find first class citizenship. fault with those people in positions I will always remember those voic- of power. Too many of these persons es that advocated turning the other frequently cheer for those in the seat cheek and non-violence; it was not of power when they made a positive popular, but it was effective. We of- movement, but never speak out when ten write and speak about national- Blacks are ignored on a multitude of ly-known Black persons, but ignore critical issues. those who live in our own hometowns A perfect example of what transuch as Pittsburgh. It is impossible spires when we keep our mouths for me to list all those Black boister- shut occurred when Governor Tom ous voices that I have known in my Wolf stated six weeks ago that he had lifetime. Webster defines “boisterous” not been made aware of the fact that as noisy or violence. My interpreta- the diversity program in the state tion is totally different. My interpre- was nonexistent. Does that mean the tation is a person who is outspoken, Pennsylvania Black Caucus never inunderstandable, and knowledgeable. formed Gov. Wolf? The late Mal Goode was the personNO BOISTEROUS BLACK VOICES. (Louis “Hop” Kendrick is a contributor to ification of what we no longer hear the New Pittsburgh Courier.) across Allegheny County.
To Tell The Truth
Dr. Umar Johnson, private schools, and systemic responses to racism Dr. Umar Johney. If that’s the son, a psycholo- J. Pharoah Doss case, without gist and public any further speaker, gave a questions, we recent radio incould conclude terview which Dr. Johnson is was heavily scruraising money tinized on social in low-income media. There neighborhoods were questions to purchase a concerning his private school academic credentials, his claim of fam- that low-income children won’t be ily lineage to Fredrick Douglass, the able to attend, and he has no interest money he raised to start a school, and in the only plan on the table to assist his views on interracial marriage. them with the cost. Afterwards, Roland Martin invited But the opportunity to discuss an isDr. Johnson on his television news sue pertinent to the 21st century was program to clear up the concerns and lost because the panelists got into an field questions from the news panel. exchange about White responses to The biggest controversy surround- systemic racism. Dr. Johnson stating Dr. Johnson is the school he wants ed Whites haven’t done anything in to operate. Dr. Johnson raised money the past to systemically equalize the over the years to purchase a school, playing field for Black Americans. but critics have called his fundraisOne panelist mentioned the 1964 ing operation and his school plans a civil rights bill. scam. Dr. Johnson said, “There were two So Martin wondered why he want- words included in that bill that uled to purchase a school when he can timately served to take away from start a charter school. (Before Dr. Black people what the bill was inJohnson started raising money it was tended to deliver…They added genreported in Philadelphia, where Dr. der and sexual orientation and as a Johnson is based, The Imhotep In- result, White women and homosexstitute Charter School was the city’s uals have been able to strip Black most successful high school. It sent Americans from the intended gains 66 percent of its graduates to college of the Civil Rights Act so there was and out of 525 students, 99 percent still racism in that bill.” of them are Black and 87 percent of Now, Title VII of the civil rights them are low-income) bill prohibits employers from disDr. Johnson replied, “…Charter criminating based on race, color, reschools are owned by the state and ligion, sex, and national origin. (But I’m a Pan-Africanist. I believe what the term sex did not include sexual is to be done for Black people must orientation. It wasn’t until earlier be done by Black people, why would I this year in Hively v. Ivy Tech Comwant a charter school?” munity College that a federal court Martin said, “So you want a private of appeals ruled sexual orientation school?” was protected under Title VII, and Dr. Johnson replied, “Exactly, an in- his White woman argument can be dependent school.” made against Affirmative Action Then Martin turned the questions policies, not the Civil Rights Act.) It sounds like Dr. Johnson was trying to over to the panel. One panelist was a Black Repub- convince the panel that the federal lican. He should have asked a ques- government added other identifiers tion not traditionally posed to Dr. to compete against Blacks, stripping Johnson. He should have said a lot of Blacks from equal opportunity. So, low-income Black parents have sup- according to his theory, Title VII of ported “school choice” for years. Then the civil rights bill is actually a dishe asked if Dr. Johnson was in favor criminatory policy towards Blacks, of a voucher program to financially an example of systemic racism. It was once said, “more could be assist low-income parents with the gained by scrutinizing what we ourcost of his private school. I don’t know how Dr. Johnson would selves mean instead of trying to convince and overwhelm others, because have answered, but let’s speculate. If he rejected starting a charter if we understood what we were really school because it’s “state-owned”. saying, we might not say it.” (J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New Then it’s most likely he would reject state funds out of fear of “state Pittsburgh Courier. He blogs at jpharoahinterference” that followed the mon- doss@blogspot.com)
Check It Out
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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER
Raynard Jackson
Commentary
All Americans should learn to speak English (NNPA)--Over the past three hundred years, when foreigners contemplated immigrating to the United States, foremost in their minds was that they wanted to become Americans; sure they wanted better lives; they wanted to attend our universities; some fled oppression in their own countries, but becoming an American was the prime motivating factor in their decision to come to the United States. It was a given that being an American would offer them the opportunity for a better life, better educational opportunities, and an environment with minimum, if any oppression. Italians, Germans, and the Irish came through Ellis Island in New York City and settled there in their own little enclaves; many speaking little to no English. They all spoke in their native languages at home and in their neighborhood, but they understood that in order to take advantage of all that America had to offer, they had to learn English. In those days, part of being an American was learning the new language. They didn’t forget their language or their culture from back home; but they fully understood that being an American citizen meant adopting the American culture, which includes the language. Today, you have foreigners becoming American citizens, who don’t have the ability or the desire to learn English. They have absolutely no interest in adapting to American culture. They are not pursuing the American Dream; they seem only to want the government benefits of citizenship. Citizenship is like marrying a woman. The woman leaves her family, takes the name of her husband, and moves into his house to build a new life together. The woman doesn’t forget where she came from, nor her family name, nor her brothers and sisters, but her new life with her husband now becomes her priority and her commitment. Now, just imagine if the woman marries, but doesn’t take her husband’s name and doesn’t live with her husband, but rather decides to continue to live with her parents. One could argue that she is merely married in name only. Likewise, we are allowing immigrants to become citizens who refuse to accept our culture; they refuse to build a new life, based on American values. When I am in France, I must speak French. When I am in the Dominican Republic, I must speak Spanish. To expect these countries to put everything in English to accommodate Americans, who don’t speak their language, would be the height of arrogance and very impractical. In 1975, liberal Democrats amended the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to “mandate” that all voting ballots be printed in multiple languages to accommodate citizens who don’t speak English. The language provision is part of section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and was meant “specifically” for Blacks who were in the South who couldn’t read or write, because many Blacks, historically, were denied access to an education. This had nothing, let me repeat, nothing to do with people who refused to learn English. But, as liberals are good at doing, they began to expand the definition of section 203. This mandate codified into law that the government “must” make accommodations for any citizens that don’t speak English. Therein lies the problem. How can you be a citizen of these United States and not speak English? This foolishness cannot be allowed to continue. Language is always the key ingredient in defining a country and is one of the defining things that make a person a part of that particular country. You can’t be a Frenchman and not speak French. You can’t be a German and not speak German. So, why, in America, can you be allowed to be American, but not speak English? I am really fed up with immigrants wanting citizenship, but not wanting to become Americans. Being American must include speaking English; knowing the Pledge of Allegiance; and being loyal to America and only America and all of its values. This must be codified in law and enforced. You can’t be a basketball player, but play football everyday. You can’t be a chef, but study to be a lifeguard. You can’t be a preacher and never study the Bible. Likewise, you can’t be an American and not speak English. Just because you are a legal citizen, doesn’t mean that you’re automatically an American. Being an American is about the language, the culture, and the values. That’s what every American should have in common. Until we get back to these principles, we will continue to lose the true meaning of what should make us all Americans. (Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF). For more information about BAFBF, visit www.bafbf.org.)