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October 16,1991
• T h e E y e s and E ars o f the C o m m u n ity ”
V o lu m n X X I, N u m b e r 42
®lj£ ^ n rtian h ODhsenwr
United Negro College
Fund’s Campaign 2000
Kicks Off Regional
Fund-Raising In Dallas
Judge Clarence Thomas Confirmed
As Supreme Court Justice
BY THE OBSERVER STAFF
he main issue has been
decided. Judge Thomas
has won Senate approval
as the ninth m ember of
the U.S. Supreme Court,
becoming only the second African
American to serve as associate ju s­
tice o f the highest tribunal in the
land. But what has not been resolved
is the validity o f the sexual harass­
m ent charge brought by Professor
A nita Hill - and also unresolved are
the allegations that the very process
o f Senate confirmation c f presiden­
tial appointees is seriously flawed.
The entire affair has alternately
been described as “ ugly, distressing,
as revealing the American system at
work, and as a political circus.” What
is evident is that the televised pro­
ceedings have engrossed the nation
to a point o f obsession, with the con­
centration o f interest escalating to a
feverdpitch with the FRIDAY SU R­
PRISE presented by Professor Hill. It
was this unsubstantiated recital o f an
aggressive, raw and obscene solici­
tation of sexual favors that shocked
America. As the scenario took on the
I w asn’t harmed by the Knights of
characteristics of a rather kinky soap
Camelia. I w asn’t harmed by the A r­
opera in the “ D allas” or Peyton
yan Race. I w asn't harmed by a racist
Place” vein, there was a visible re­
group. I WAS HARM ED BY THIS
coil and air of disbelief throughout
PROCESS -- this process which ac­
the hearing room. The sense o f shock
com m odated these attacks on m e.”
was palpable.
At this point the two opposing camps,
It was this mortifying attack and
for and against confirm ation, seemed
grotesque characterizatio n that
to become polarized to a frenzied level,
brought forth from Judge Thom as
the national debate not only pitting
the following m oving comment: “ I
republicans against democrats and
have been harmed. I’ve been harmed
conservatives versus liberals, but men
worse than I’ve ever been harm ed in
against women and generation against
my life. I w asn’t harm ed by the Kian.
T
generation.
The state o f mind and the view ­
point o f African Americans is all this
has proved to be as interesting (and un­
predictable) as the senate process it­
self. Many have departed their earlier
“ firm ” positions. There has not been
a stampede to realign but we do find
that some who earlier were saying they
could not support a naive black who
had first benefited from Affirmative
Action and then rejected it - now
opining that “ the man has more cour­
age and integrity than we thought.”
But we have other African Americans
who are asserting “ W e knew he was a
rascal all along.’ ’ This latter observa­
tion being more of an opposition to
Thom as’ conservative agenda than a
valid assessment o f Professor H ill’s
charges.
If there seems to be one universal
concenus on the matter am ong blacks,
it is given the ten year lapse between
the alleged incidents o f harassment
and these hearings. “ TH E PRESEN­
TATION O F SUCH UGLY, SHOCK­
ING AND UNSUBSTANTIATED
A CCU SA TIO N S BEFO R E TH E
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF A
W O R LD
W ID E
A U D IE N C E
SERVED NO GOOD P U R P O S E -
NOT FOR THE CONFIRM ATION
PROCESS, NOT FOR THE PROTEC-
TIO N O F W O M E N IN T H E
W ORKPLACE, AND ESPECIALLY
NOT FOR MAINTAINING THE
DIGNITY AND INTEGRITY OF
AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND
W OM EN W H A TEV ER TH EIR
STATURE, POSITION, O R OPIN­
IONS.”
It is alm ost certain that it will be
revealed how the breakdown in the
system came a b o u t-an d who was the
deep throat who leaked the FBI re­
p o rt Perhaps, it is too much to hope
that some apparently very deep and
grievious wounds will quickly heal.
But we can hope that those respon­
sible for staging a political circus
without precedent in the annals o f the
senate’s “ advise and consent” role
will be so ashamed o f the spectacle
they have staged that immediate
remedies will be instituted.
250
The Honorable William H. Gray III concludes
first week as UNCF President & CEO
celebrating in the Metropolis
There were a host of celebrations
in the Dallas area last week as former
Congressman W illiam H. G ray, III
concluded his first week as the United
Negro College Fund President and CEO.
Making his first stop in the Metroplex
during UNCF’s regional efforts to
announce CAM PAIGN 2000, and to
celebrate an anniversary for D allas’
Paul Quinn College, M r. G ray’s two-
day mission was to m eet with local
dignitaries. His goal was to raise aware­
ness of the UNCF’s CAMPAIGN 2000:
An Investment in A m erica’s Future, a
$250 million fund raising drive for the
organization’s 41 m em ber schools.
Mr. G ray’s visit was kicked-off at
a reception hosted by President Dr.
W arren Morgan on the campus of Paul
Quinn College. There, Mr. Gray told
corporate donors and local dignitaries
that he left Congress to join the UNCF
in hope o f improving the education of
the next generation o f A frican-A m eri­
cans.
“ W e’re facing a major task,” he
said. “ W e m ust reach a whole new
level. D o I have my work cut out for
me? Yes. But, I ’m excited and looking
forward.
“ By the year 2000, one third of
new entrants into the workforce will
be minorities,” Mr. Gray told the group.
And, two-thirds of that group will con­
sist of African A m ericans.”
The final phase o f G ray’s visit to
Dallas was a cake-cutting ceremony
on the campus of Paul Quinn College.
Celebrating the school’s first year in
Dallas, where its enrollm ent has
doubled, since its m ove from W aco,
Texas, Mr. Gray presented a four-foot
cake to President W arren M organ.
In exchange, a critical needs list
was presented to Mr. Gary Dr. Morgan
said, “ This critical needs list may
serve as sufficient motivation to you
to do all that you possibly can to
ensure that more and more Americans
make supporting the United N egro
College Fund and Paul Quinn College
a habit,’ ’ Dr. M organ stated. * * A good
habit that you repeat again and again. ’ ’
CAMPAIGN 2000, the m ost am ­
bitious effort ever mounted in the his­
tory o f the UNCF, was launched by
its honorary chairman, President George
Bush, and UNCF officials at an April
1990 ceremony during which A m bas­
sador W alter H. Annenberg set forth a
$50 m illion challenge. According to
the terms o f the challenge, U N CF must
raise an additional $146 m illion in
order to qualify for the full $50 m il­
lion.
The United Negro C ollege Fund
was founded by the presidents o f pri­
vate, historically black colleges and
universites in 1944 to encourage sup­
port for their institutions. UNCF does
this by making one collective appeal,
thus simplifying the process for do­
nors and reducing com petition. Since
its founding, U N CF has raised more
than $700 million for its m em ber col­
leges and universities, and has come
to be known by its motto, “ A m ind is
a terrible thing to w aste.”
Center Again up For
Certification
Kicks Off Fall Fund Drive “Operation Boot Strap”
Xerox Corporation Volunteers
need of. “ Operation Boot Strap” is the
kick o ff for several fund raising activi­
Center, after a long struggle
ties and strategies and promises to have
with Children’s Services
a way for any and all interested persons
Division to remain in op­
to participate. The Board, Miss Collins,
eration, is up for an annual certification
staff and our Center Family asks every­
inspection. The two organizations
one to become involved in this under­
continue to work together to make
taking.
improvements throughout the Center
“ Operation Boot Strap” began with
and efforts appear to be successful.
the
assistance
o f the Xerox Corporation.
As the Board o f Directors have
Through
the
efforts
of Derek W arren
worked hard to comply with CSD and
and
several
Xerox
employees, their
County health regulations, they have
children
and
friends,
the
Center received
also been working to bring much needed
a
painting
and
wall
papering
facelift on
financial strength to Grace Collins. The
Saturday,
September
21,
and
Septem­
Fall Fund Drive is a major step toward
ber
28,
1991.
The
classroom
area
and
the financial rebuild the center is in
the gymnasium got some much needed
attention.
Throughout the month o f October
the Center and Board of Directors will
be soliciting various organizations to
follow Xerox’s head and bring resources
into the Center. These needs include
electrical, masonery, carpentry and land­
scaping skills and abilities. Assistance
in setting up a computerized account­
ing, bookkeeping and Center records
system is necessary for the Center to
successfully manage into the future.
The Center is in need of educational
material for children and teachers,
supplies, toys, kitchen utensils, clean-
|
Prince
race Collins
Memorial
G
Perspectives
DARKCompelling
Electrifying
EnchantingEnlightening
llluminatingUGHT
Make Us Your
Clearing House
by McKinley Burt
Page 2
ing supplies, materials and equipment,
new phone system (the present one is
over thirty years old and unable to be
repaired according to US W est Com­
munications) and playground equip­
í
f.
-4*
jaOOTSTRNT l j
ment.
Other fund raising activities will
include a dinner, stay-at-homc-tea,
phone-a-thone, direct mail campaign
and several personal solicitations by
Board M embers to key citizens. It is
hoped that some $75,000 in funds and
in-kind donations will be collected by
the end of the year. The Center has an
operating budget of about $350,000 per
year.
News
Religion
Transitional Homes To Be
Opened For Use By
‘Project Network’
Witness For Christ In
The Tough Places
by Michael Lindsey
Page 4
Page 6
Page 5
EDITORIAL
2
NEWS
RELIGION
ENTERTAINMENT
2
4
5
CLASSIFIEDS
7
BIDS/SUB-BIDS
9