Page 2 The Skanner May 16, 2018
®
Challenging People to Shape
a Better Future Now
Discovering the Best of Black America in 2018
Bernie Foster
Founder/Publisher
T
Bobbie Dore Foster
Executive Editor
Jerry Foster
Advertising Manager
Christen McCurdy
News Editor
Patricia Irvin
Graphic Designer
Monica J. Foster
Seattle Office Coordinator
Susan Fried
Photographer
2017
MERIT
AWARD
WINNER
The Skanner Newspaper, es-
tablished in October 1975, is a
weekly publication, published
every Wednesday by IMM Publi-
cations Inc.
415 N. Killingsworth St.
P.O. Box 5455
Portland, OR 97228
Telephone (503) 285-5555
Fax: (503) 285-2900
info@theskanner.com
www.TheSkanner.com
The Skanner is a member of the
National Newspaper Pub lishers
Association and West Coast Black
Pub lishers Association.
All photos submitted become
the property of The Skanner. We
are not re spon sible for lost or
damaged photos either solicited
or unsolicited.
©2018 The Skanner. All rights re served. Reproduction in
whole or in part without permission prohibited.
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May 23
to
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Opinion
here is an old African
proverb that says, “What
you seek, you will surely
find.” We live in a world
where the news cycle contin-
ues to decrease, because of in-
novations in communications
technology. Yes, we are living
in the fast-paced digital age.
The high-velocity delivery
and transmission of news and
information, however, may or
may not produce authentic or
accurate facts or simply the
truth.
Yet, for more than 47 million
Black Americans the reality
of life’s multiple challenges
and opportunities are not the
primary concerns and focus
of what is popularly known
as “mainstream media.” Thus,
the value and mission of the
Black Press of America today
is more strategically import-
ant than ever before, for Black
Americans and others who
embrace the trend-setting cul-
tural, academic, technological
and game-changing achieve-
ments that are accomplished
daily in Black America.
This is why the National
Newspaper Publishers As-
sociation (NNPA) is pleased
with the continued partner-
ship between the General
Motor’s Chevrolet Division
and the NNPA to sponsor the
2018 Discover the Unexpect-
ed (DTU) Journalism Scholar-
ship and Fellowship Program.
Benjamin F.
Chavis, Jr.
NNPA
President
and CEO
We are identifying and men-
toring the next generation of
young, gifted, talented and
committed journalists and
publishers who will rise to
take their rightful place as
our future community lead-
ers and business owners.
Seeking out the best of
“
Each gener-
ation has a
responsibility
to help pre-
pare the next
generation
Black America, not only in
the field of journalism, but
also in the overall context of
the long-protracted struggle
for freedom, justice, equal-
ity and empowerment is of
the utmost importance. This
summer in Georgia, Virginia,
New York and in Washing-
ton, D.C., six NNPA journal-
ism scholars selected from
Historical Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) located
across the nation will have
the opportunity to work in
Black-owned newspapers.
These outstanding NNPA
DTU Fellows will also journey
together to highlight and file
news reports about real life
stories that are occurring in
our communities. In the cur-
rent national media climate
where allegations of “fake
news” are routinely propagat-
ed, we will welcome receipt
of the news and inspirations
from the writings, videos and
social media postings of our
young, aspiring journalists.
We are also grateful to the
National Association for
Equal Opportunity in Higher
Education (NAFEO) for assist-
ing Chevrolet and the NNPA
to notify and reach HBCU stu-
dents attending 120 HBCUs
across the nation about the
DTU fellowship opportuni-
ties. In fact, over 23,000 on-
line responses were made by
students who were interested
in the DTU program.
Reviewing and evaluating
the numerous applications
that were submitted revealed
the tremendous academic
achievements and commit-
ments of HBCU students, who
fervently desire to serve the
empowerment interests of
Black communities via their
respective journalism skills
and talents. This, in itself, is a
good news story.
Too often we only hear
about the tragic injustices
and systematic racial discrim-
inations that are in fact facets
of the realities that are all too
prevalent in Black America.
We need, however, more bal-
ance and truth-telling in the
media when it comes to the
struggles and plight as well
as the resilience and transfor-
mation of Black America.
For more than 191 years,
since the first publication of
“Freedom Journal” in March
1827, the Black Press of Amer-
ica has continued to be on the
frontlines reporting our tri-
umphs, defeats and our suc-
cessful resistance to oppres-
sion, injustice and inequality.
Each generation has a respon-
sibility to help prepare the
next generation to take the
baton of history and to run to
win by breaking and setting
new records of achievement
and excellence of all fields of
endeavor.
Again, we thank General Mo-
tors – Chevrolet for enabling
the NNPA to award this group
of young, freedom-fighting
scholars to sharpen their pens
and commitments to become
champions of the freedom
and responsibilities of the
press. The Black community
will benefit. All of America
will benefit. The DTU Fellows
will seek and they will find.
They will also exemplify the
good news.
Golfing While Black Is Not a Crime
O
n Saturday, April 21,
2018, I woke up excited,
anticipating a round of
golf at Grandview Golf
Club in York, Pa. I was go-
ing to play with four ladies
from “Sisters in the Fairway”
(SITF), a group of about 15
professional, predominantly
African American women in
York County, Pa., who golf. 
SITF are women of various
levels of expertise from be-
ginner to advanced golfers.
The group was formed in
2008 as a sisterhood of ladies
who golfed with their hus-
bands, many of whom were
members of the York County
Black Golfers Association.
We appreciate the chal-
lenge that golf presents and
the control that golf requires.
Golf lessons are required.
We know and respect golf et-
iquette and rules.
As a single mother, I prior-
itized raising two children,
building my business and
working in the community. In
2010, when my youngest child
left for college, she suggested
I “get some friends.” So, as an
empty-nester, I took her sug-
gestion. I was introduced to
the ladies of SITF.
I began playing around
2011-2012 and found that I
loved the game. SITF normal-
ly travels to different courses
throughout Central Pennsyl-
vania in each outing. Some
Sandra
Thompson,
Esq.
President,
NAACP
York County
also play in other states and
in other countries, when they
travel.  As individuals, we oc-
casionally played at Grand-
view, which was now under
new ownership.
“
The stress
was too much.
Our game was
affected
On this day, there was a
slight wind and I took selfies
on my way to the golf course.
All five of us appeared at our
scheduled tee times. I was
given permission to play as a
fifth member.
We were the only group of
African American women
playing. It began great, even
though Grandview had an
hour delay. We did not com-
plain. We were elated to see
each other since we had not
all been together since the
past season.  We took selfies,
as we anticipated anticipating
enjoying each other’s compa-
ny, the day, and golf.
We hit great drives “hitting
them high and letting them
fly.” We played “ready golf.”
We were excited.
Our excitement did not last.
On just the second hole, for-
mer York County Commis-
sioner Steve Chronister was
pushy and aggressive, falsely
accusing us of slowing down
the other players. He said he
was refunding our member-
ship, so we would leave. We
reminded him that we paid
and wanted to play.
Our group was in shock.
Despite the distractions, we
made up time and finished the
first half in about two hours
as required.
But the stress was too much.
Our game was affected. We
were upset — wondering
whether Chronister was go-
ing to approach us again and
dismayed that he wanted to
refund our memberships, as
though we and our money
were worthless — so three
women in our group left half-
way through the game.
When we, the remaining
two, tried to continue playing
to salvage the day, five large
White men, including Steve
and his son, Jordan Chronis-
ter, approached us and told
us to get off their property. I
became tongue-tied trying to
ask why they were kicking us
off the property when we had
a paid membership and also
paid for the day. They gave
us multiple reasons, each one
proving to be false.
Because we questioned why
we could not enjoy our mem-
bership and play golf, the
police were called. I was be-
wildered. We had done noth-
ing wrong. I was also embar-
rassed and humiliated having
been made into  a spectacle
as White men exited the golf
restaurant area and watched
the events unfold.
We waited for the police. I
was fearful and apprehensive
as to what would occur when
police arrived. What would
be the officer’s attitude?
But I did not want to leave
and have charges filed against
me in the mail, because
Grandview gave a false state-
ment that I had no opportuni-
ty to answer. 
When police arrived, they
heard my name and recog-
nized me. The police were
professional and went back
and forth between Grandview
Golf Club and us, advising us
that Grandview wanted to re-
fund the memberships of the
entire group, even those who
left early.
The officers interviewed the
group behind us and conclud-
ed that we were not playing
slowly and maintained pace,
even with five people.
Read the rest of this commentary at
TheSkanner.com
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