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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (May 9, 2012)
Opinion Al Sharpton’s Message: Claim Your Destiny One hundred and nine Ben- nett College students shook my hand and received their diplomas last Saturday. With big smiles and a little swagger, they went through the time- honored ceremonies of baccalaureate and commence- ment. And, we were blessed to have phenomenal friends join us. Rev. Al Sharpton was our baccalaureate speaker, and for- mer Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman was our graduation speaker. Between the two of them they offered lessons for graduates all over the world. Rev. Sharpton is an excep- tional leader, brother and friend. He made lots of accommodations (including the taping his show) to get to Bennett on time. He was gra- cious, kind, and took pictures with all my folks. But most importantly, he brought an incredible message to the cam- pus. He told our students to claim their crown, claim their destiny. He reminded them of the many ways that the reject- ed eventually prevail and asked them to claim their crown. Earning several min- utes of standing applause, it is clear that Rev. Sharpton knocked it out of the park. And then we had Secretary Herman whose down home humor and corporate knowl- edge combined to offer sage, B ENNETT C OLLEGE Julianne Malveaux savvy, and humorous advice. She shared that a potential employer said the best job she could get was as a secretary, and she fulfilled his prediction by being Secretary of Labor for the United States. Secretary Herman offered students valuable advice about navigating a sluggish labor market that only generated 115,000 jobs last month. More than 170,000 people withdrew dents to be positive and encouraged, to do their home- work and prepare for interviews, to be focused and phenomenal. It is important to note that she is the woman the late icon Dorothy Irene Height laid hands on, a sister who brings us all together and encourages us all to make a difference. Between Herman and Sharp- ton, my students got a blessing. They were told to persevere, to accept their crown and destiny, and to do their homework to make their dreams come true. While Her- man and Sharpton were simply speaking to Bennett students, in some ways they were speak- ing to our nation and our world. They were reminding The Honorable Alexis Herman reminded us that to win the game, we have to play it from the labor market because they are so discouraged that they think the jobs are not there. But my sister Alexis Herman didn’t dwell on the negative, but encouraged stu- us that despite tough and crazy economic times, each of us can make a difference when we are focused, committed, and for- ward thinking. There are more than 1.7 mil- lion young people, and some not so young, who will gradu- to clam their destiny, even in a tough economy. It’s an inter- esting time. Young people are It ’s an interesting time. Young people are being kicked to the curb with the possibility that Pell grants will be further cut and interest rates may rise on student loans ate from college this month or in June. Not many will have the one-two punch of Rev. Al Sharpton and Alexis Herman. I am glad to have them as my friends. They are luminaries, and visionaries, folks who speak both ebonics and high phonics. They sowed into the lives of 109 Bennett women who have graduated, but they have also sowed into the life of our nation. I have been blessed to have them grace our campus. The essence of the Sharp- ton/Herman message was powerful. Rev. Sharpton urged us to claim our crown, our dignity, and the array of our possibilities. The Honor- able Alexis Herman reminded us that to win the game, we have to play it. Between them, they advised Bennett students being kicked to the curb with the possibility that Pell grants will be further cut and interest rates may rise on student loans. The bottom line is that this is a tough and challenging econ- omy and there are opportunities. At Bennett there were two speakers who urged students to claim their crown, to never give up, despite the challenges of the economy. Their message hit home on our campus, but it also hit home in our nation and our world. Thank you, Rev. Al Sharpton and Hon. Alexis Her- man for coming to Bennett and sharing your wisdom with our students. Julianne Malveaux is presi- dent of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C. ‘Black, Missing’ In the GOP As the Republican presidential campaign trail ensues, there is something obviously missing from GOP campaign activities and primaries—Black people. A look at last month’s GOP presidential primaries reveals that older Whites domi- nated the electorate. According to an analysis by the National Journal, 89 percent of voters in Arizona were White, while Blacks represented just 1 percent. Meanwhile, Hispanics made up about 8 percent of the vote. The findings are a stark increase com- pared to the numbers found in the same state during the 2008 general election. That year, 75 percent of voters were White, while 4 percent were Black and 16 percent were Hispanic. A similar increase was shown in this year’s Ohio primary. In the Buckeye state, a whopping 96 percent of voters were White, compared to 83 per- cent in the general election four years ago. Aside from the primary elections, it is also apparent that Blacks are considerably absent from many GOP campaign activities. While it is no secret that African Ameri- cans have long voted Democrat, the question at hand is whether the GOP is con- cerned with the obvious racial disconnect. Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee said in a recent interview with writer Kam Williams that there are a couple of things that the party can do to attract more African Ameri- cans. “One is to own up to our own failures as a party, when it comes to making investments in the Black community when it counted, like the Civil Rights Movement,” Steele said during the interview. He explained that while Republicans had been the architects of landmark civil rights legislation during the Reconstruction Era, the party hesitated when it really mattered in the 1950s and ‘60s, resulting in a long- standing riff between the GOP and Blacks. Steele added that Republicans should also, “Show up in the community prepared to have meaning- f u l discus- s i o n s a b o u t issues that actually matter to [Blacks] like job creation, in way t h a t m a k e s sense.” “That’s why my very first official act as Chairman was to host a town hall meeting in Harlem. To me, that was a very important step to take,” he said. The National Black Republican Associa- tion (NBRA) has also continuously worked to close the gap. Their organization aims to return Blacks to their Republican roots and enlighten them on GOP ideals and values. In the meantime, the AFRO wants to know if you spot more than one Black per- son at a GOP event. Email your submissions to Blackfolkspotted@afro.com. Week on the Web For The Skanner News on your smart phone go to www. theskannermobile.com or scan this QR code with your app. While it is no secret that African Americans have long voted Democrat, the question at hand is whether the GOP is concerned with the obvious racial disconnect www. The Skanner.com has the latest news from Portland and beyond, on your mobile or your desktop, it’s your go-to place for the news you won’t see in mainstream publica- tions. It’s your community. It’s The Skanner. May 9, 2012 The Portland Skanner Page 5
