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‘Selma’ not just a film
The movie “Selma,” released nationwide on Friday, Jan. 9, depicts events leading up to the celebrated civil rights march from Selma, Ala. to Montgomery, the state’s capital, in 1965. Those events helped persuade President Lyndon B. Johnson to help push through the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the push for the Voting Rights Act, and the movie’s release nearly coincided with the national holiday in his honor. The film has earned rave reviews and done decent business at the box office, but there has also been a wave of criticism, especially from those who object to the way Johnson is portrayed. Critics, including members of Johnson’s staff, say Johnson was not antagonistic toward the march, as they say the movie seems to depict, but actually supported it. “Selma” was nearly shut-out of last week’s Oscar nominations, receiving only nods for Best Original Song and Best Picture, leading some to believe that the criticism took its toll. Lost in all the headlines about the film is a movement that was reported by
Blackprwire.com. African-American business leaders are leading an effort to raise funds for students across the country to see “Selma” for free. The movement has spread to 25 locations nationwide – including Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill – and to more than 275,000 middle and high school students. Current events in the United States surrounding civil rights for AfricanAmericans makes this movie a big deal. When you see that unarmed young black men were killed in 1965, just as they are in 2014, the movie is more than a movie; it is a horrid reflection of America. In the film, an unarmed young black man is shot by an Alabama state trooper. That could have easily been one of the unarmed young black men killed recently by police. “Glory,” the Golden Globe-winning song that is played at the end of the movie, mentions Ferguson, Mo., where unarmed black teen Michael Brown was fatally shot by a police officer. Even if the movie fails to capture the votes of those who decide Oscar winners, “Selma” is capturing and touching hearts.
Remembering Stuart Scott Camille Roddy
Guest Columnist
As a kid I remember always gathering at an uncle’s house after a funeral. It was the place to play cards, laugh, tell family stories and of course, eat more food. The house was small but somehow each generation had their own “space” and I just enjoyed watching everyone. The older women occupied the living room while simultaneously monitoring food and beverages in the kitchen, the younger kids had the television room, my teen cousins held court outside or in a back bedroom and then of course the men played fierce games of Pinochle — loudly, around the kitchen table. The tears and sadness from mourning were replaced by joy readily found in the comfort of being with those whom you loved. And so it was after the services for Stuart Scott. The mother of a Carolina classmate opened her home to those of us blessed to have walked UNC’s hallowed halls in the 1980s, graciously allowing us a needed minute to eat, laugh and love. There we were: Greeks, former Greek sweethearts, members of the Black Student Movement (BSM), Stu’s fellow Radio, Television, Motion Picture majors, and of course his partners in crime on the yard, all huddled in various rooms throughout the house. Only Stuart could bring together such a diverse group. Stuart spoke eloquently about diversity in his commencement address to the UNC Class of 2001. He challenged students to
remember the diversity encountered during their time as students at UNC and embrace it. As the news of Stuart’s death hit the air and social media, I immediately thought of those UNC Black Pioneers who ushered in that diversity. Stuart could speak about diversity because of pioneering Black men from 1950s who made it all possible: Harvey Beech, J. Kenneth Lee, Floyd McKissick and James Robert Walker Jr. Then later in the 1960s with the creation of minority recruitment programs under the leadership of Jim Gariss and State Representative Kelly Alexander, targeting academically gifted Black students. Their stance forever changed Carolina’s student landscape. It is fitting to remember and celebrate Stuart’s life going into the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Not just because he and King shared fraternal allegiance, but because Stuart embodied the promised fulfillment of joy which emanated from the mourning and labor of the Civil Rights Movement. When working on CIAA, I vividly recall sharing about championing the creation of a Black Cultural Center (BCC) at UNC as a student. I was criticized for this by two Black women working with me on the local organizing committee. Both attended Winston-Salem State University. To them, if I wanted Black culture, then I should have gone to a Black school. I got similar feedback from White counter parts as well. But engaging in that experience to fight for the BCC, I along with Stuart honed our ability to represent and defend a culture and race with intelligence and integrity. Stuart could recall his UNC African/AfricanAmerican Study classes, taught by tough but fair
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professors, and his BSM activism to shoulder bruising backlash against transforming a White male dominated vocation. He unapologetically dawned a uniquely AfricanAmerican flare to the craft of sports broadcasting. Because Stuart was Stuart — young, gifted, committed, and Black, others like WSSU grad Stephen Smith could follow with ease. We are not solely proud of Stu’s professional accomplishments; we are proud because he reflected the fulfillment of a promise boldly proclaimed by generations before us. And in the midst of all the negative stories about Black men from sports to police shootings, there was Stu, even in death, illuminating much needed light. Upcoming MLK celebrations across the country afford a good time to reflect on what is good and bad about education, jobs and housing for Black communities and indeed all communities of color. Fewer Black males graduating from high school and college, fewer Black males able to articulate skills and talent beyond that which deepens athletic coiffures equates to fewer Stuart Scotts forging paths for other generations to build upon and emulate. Stuart was loved and will indeed be missed, but imagine how dull and colorless our world would be without ever having his presence. Surrounded by fellow UNC classmates in wistful reflection on our days and time in Chapel Hill, I found joy and most of all I had rejuvenated hope, hope that the light of Stu’s work ethic, character, love for his family and college education would inspire another young Black kid to follow in his footsteps. Camille Z. Roddy is a resident of Winston-Salem.
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system for missing senior citizens and measures that have helped improve the state’s high school graduation rate. She was re-elected to her second term just last November. She represented the 72nd District in the N.C. House for 10 years before ascending to the Senate. Before that, she served on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners for 12 years. Parmon founded the now defunct LIFT Academy, a charter school that is credited with graduating and seeing off to college many youth who had been written off by the public school system. After 25 years as a public servant, Parmon, a mother and grandmother who lost her husband of many years, Albert, last July, said she thought long and hard before deciding to resign, recognizing that residents had come to depend on her to speak up about issues they cared about. Parmon has been vocal about the current climate in Raleigh. Republicans have had a majority in the General Assembly for several years, and in 2012, Republican Pat McCrory was elected governor, giving the GOP carte blanche. A slew of controversial bills have been passed, including ones that will require voters to show IDs at polls and block hundreds of thousands of indigent residents from receiving federal Medicaid. “I will miss some aspects of (working in Raleigh), but I won’t miss the current environment in which it has been operating in,” she said. “I will miss the fact that I was able to draft and enact legislation that made an impact and a difference for the people of
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Middle Atlantic Region in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, Jan. 18. He received a Master of Music in Opera Performance from Yale University and is a resident artist at Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts. At UNCSA he
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sons living with HIV in the targeted Southern states, indicating that other factors contribute to this disparity. Lead author Susan Reif of the Duke Global Health Institute said a
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Sen. Parmon speaks at the local Emancipation Association’s program on Jan. 1 at St. John CME. File Photo
North Carolina.” She said her experiences as an elected official and the trust residents placed in her is humbling. “Certainly, when people trust you enough to give you their vote and to be that voice for them, to stand up for them, and to advocate for them, you can’t ask for more than that,” Parmon said. The Forsyth County Democratic Committee will elect someone to finish Parmon’s current term, which ends in January 2016. She said she would like to be succeeded by someone who is a strong advocate and voice for the people of the district. “Someone who will be able to meet with people and represent all the people of the district, regardless of their political affiliation or any other differences,” she said. “Someone who is going to stand up to make sure our voting rights are not further eroded, that education in the state is progressive and that we take care of our elderly people.”
studied with Marion Pratnicki and Taylor, and was the recipient of a Fletcher Opera Scholarship. “These accomplishments are testament to the caliber of our vocal music program,” said Music Dean Wade Weast. “The sky is the limit for those who are trained and mentored by our talented faculty.” number of factors likely contribute to the differences in outcomes seen among individuals living with HIV in the Deep South, including poverty, lower levels of education and insurance coverage, social stigma associated with the disease, and racism.
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tion. “A lot of people don’t have the advantages I have of being a part of the A&T network and being connected to other HBCUs and to Greek life,” she said. “These are all avenues I can use to connect with other people who want to do great things in their communities just like I do.” Gibbs is a political science major, and she has a family connection to A&T. She’s a granddaughter of former A&T President Warmoth T. Gibbs, namesake of Gibbs Hall. She’s a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Delta GEMS (Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully). She is also a Wabash-Provost Scholar and a member of Toastmasters, A&T Mock Trial Society, Model UN and the Student Union Advisory Board. With just one semester until graduation, she has her sights set on attending law school and raising the necessary funds to get to the national competition in Washington in August. “Almost as soon as I won, it was like people
“These differences are crucial to consider when creating strategies to address HIV/AIDS in this region,” Reif said. “Clearly greater investment and focus are required to address the unique nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the South.”
contribution in its history. Marking their 50th reunion, the class had an initial goal of $150,000. By the end of the fiscal year 2011, the class’ contribution totaled $165,163. Smith said she continues to live by her abiding philosophy, “We must remain committed to the struggle if we are to eliminate the constant threats to our freedom.”
with Bennett. She serves as a mentor to first-year students and is a past president of the Greensboro Chapter of the National Alumnae Association. As chair of the planning committee for the Class of 1961, she was instrumental in the College receiving the largest class American heritage," N.C. NAACP President Rev. from page A4 Dr. William J. Barber II planning sessions that said at the university's Founder's Day have been Convocation in instrumental in October. "Shaw advancing civil is our mother." rights in North In regard to Carolina and the honor, throughout the Barber said, United States. "We do not rec"This is the ognize Shaw birthplace just for its legawherever you cy, what it has talk about done in decades higher educaFaulcon past; we recogtion and leadnize Shaw for ership in the African
Shaw
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came running to me and telling me to start thinking of fundraising ideas,” she said. While she will have some help, Gibbs has been tasked with raising at least $3,500 for expenses, so she started a GoFundMe page, http://www.gofundme.com /missblackncusa15. “After winning and seeing how my hard work paid off, I realized that if I was
what it does today, under Dr. Faulcon's leadership, to train, inspire, educate and nurture student activists. Shaw leads by example. We are honored to bestow this noble award on our mother university – Shaw.” The Humanitarian Award banquet will start at 7 p.m.
For ticket information, call 919-682-4700 or email executivedirector@naacpnc.org.
afforded some of the opportunities that I wanted before, I wouldn't have received what I have now. Ultimately, I was blessed with bigger and better and because of this I want to do everything I can under my title to have an impact,” she said. “I will need an enormous amount of support on this journey to bring the crown home.”
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