"Unbossed and unbought news and information you can use"

Volume 2 Issue 33……. Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race…… August 27, 1999

The Tavis Saga Continues!

M. Brandon Johnson, Editor-in-Chief of Uplift Magazine, wrote a fairly scathing criticism of the Phantom Scribbler in last week's The DISH. Basically, the Scribbler annotated published reports that Tavis Smiley is being forced out by BET's white-controlled Board of Directors. According to Scribbler sources, "the board wants to vet guests and issues," as well as "cut the program's length" and alter the black advocacy bent of Tavis' program. Johnson feels Tavis is safe, because Robert Johnson controls programming at BET. "So, what if the white guy who loaned Robert the money to finance BET sits on the board of directors?"

M. Brandon vigorously attacked The DISH as a "rumor mill," spreading "half-truths and using "piss-poor research" by "ignorant and paranoid people," who "receive their information from the street." He praised "Robert Johnson, who is getting mad cheddar for his hard work and vision." Robert's programming is predominantly music videos, infomericals, giggle sit-coms and other advertisements that exploit blacks.

Phantom sources close to several members of the Board believe Johnson and Johnson are only concerned with making money, and not product impact. Furthermore, BET's strategy is to mount a media campaign, which makes Tavis seem unreasonable, while their demands appear as good business decisions. Tavis' show places BET too close to the edge on black issues. Consequently, certain advertisers are complaining and threatening to drop advertising on BET. Judging from Mr. Johnson's terse comments, he supports BET's marketing gimmicks and the shoddy "bullshit" sold by shady characters to black people. Other Phantom Scribblings

by Dot Smith

The DISH is unbossed and unbought news and information you can use. How you choose to use it is up to you; our core readers are intelligent people. In general, they do not rely on a single source for all their information; they know that most of what we are exposed to is somebody's opinion. Who believes everything in the local daily? When our readers disagree with an opinion or object to the way some information is presented, they express it; their opinions and comments frequently appear in The DISH. The DISH makes no bones about its practice of using the exchange of free ideas to form a weekly must read. The DISH is different, both powerful and succinct; it is a filling morsel that makes you T.H.I.N.C. The weekly's primary contributors bring over nine decades of experience on being black in America to the table. For other credentials, check us out on-line at http://www.thedish.ws/

In each issue, our primary focus is to promote the dialogue on race. Race is important, because of slavery and the role it played in the accumulation of wealth. The continued unequal distribution of wealth in this country suggests a need for reparations to address the inequities created through slavery and Jim Crow segregation. As African Americans, we are dedicated to obtaining reparations and an apology in honor of the sacrifice made by our ancestors. From the death penalty to local issues, the international weekly brings information and news neither big business nor the government dictated. It is food for thought to help awaken the conscious. On the streets, people are asking, have you heard of The DISH? More Hot DISHes

by John Burl Smith

For most baby boomers, youthful indiscretion meant writing one's prom date's name on the town's water tower, getting caught climbing through your girlfriend's bedroom window by her father, or worst caught smoking in the church basement. George Bush's statements regarding illegal drug use reveal a cynical hypocrite asking for what he consistently denies others. Accepting that he is no longer a spoiled frat-brat whose parents have the money and friends to get him where he is today, his decision-making shows a lack of maturity.

It is not enough to simply admit wrong. One must atone with physical actions supported by a mental conversion. The magnitude of a mistake is based on one's perception at the time. The important thing is one recognizes and acknowledges a mistake has been made. Such a catharsis brings to consciousness a desire to express the emotional change. Speaking as one who is continually evolving mentally, emotionally and spiritually, Jr.'s inability to point out such moments of clarity makes his statements ring hollow.

The Governor has a record long on conservatism and short on compassion. Even if he never used cocaine, on a human level, he should recognize that, for his kinds of youthful indiscretions, first offenders are serving inordinately long sentences for very small quantities of drugs in Texas. Some of these offenders who committed youthful indiscretions are mothers. As the sole providers for their children, most will never see their children again as free women.

The most cynical aspect of Bush's actions is that as a man portrayed as one who asks no quarter, and therefore, gives none, he pleads for the benefit of doubt. Karla Fay Tucker rose from the lowest depths of depravity and worked to reflect her conversion. Her request for clemency was not a request for freedom; it was a plea to live. Although Governor Bush says he knows the healing power of change, he found no reason to believe Karla Faye could do the same. (Chastising Karla Faye, The DISHv1no2) Other essays by Mr. Smith

Disgruntled offered the first realistic analysis of Newt Gingrich's actions. Disgruntled surmised the former speaker of the House had a reason for his relative quiet during Clinton's impeachment. Gingrich, who toned down his rhetoric, worked diligently behind the scenes to discredit Clinton and defeat Democrats during the mid-term elections. Disgruntled knew something beyond the ensuing mid-term GOP losses forced Gingrich from Congress. Political expediency dictated Gingrich's action; he gave up his seat for a choirgirl mistress. Kudos Disgruntled for calling Gingrich's hypocrisy. Other Kudos/Blahs

Disgruntled wants to know: How does a majority black city, which is headed by majority black elected representatives, discriminate against it majority black citizenry?

Disgruntled says: Sometimes, information only available via "street sources" is far more viable and real than anything found in the overly vetted mainstream media.

Disgruntled feels: obliged to represent. Even More Disgruntled

The Dark Knight/Batman/White Ninja/ Zorro returned to school on Monday. Clean and pressed for his first day, the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro promised, "I'll make you proud." More from the Bat Cave

You Know You're in Trouble When! Watching the press trying to get specific answers or policy statements from George W. Bush, Jr., I am reminded of an old WWI joke my great-grandfather, Rev. Burl Lee said was popular among the men in the trenches. It seems troops were awaiting orders to go over the top at the Battle of the Marne, when a battle-tested Sargent turned to his young captain and asked, " What's the battle plan, my Captain?" As he gave the order to fix bayonets, with a Jethro Bodine air, the confident young officer said, "I'll tell you, when the general's staff tells me. Charge!"

"Bootlicker" described blacks who spoke positively of slavery and segregation at private meetings for business and political groups, like the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis club, Elks, etc. Re-emerging in the 1960s, civil rights era "bootlickers" castigated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for being a philandering trouble making communist, who beguiled ignorant Negroes to enrich himself. Many white males in those audiences today sit in Congress, occupy Governors' seats, sit on boards like GRTA, ARC, County Commissions, direct private companies, etc. "Minority business: Crusade for share of everyday commerce" (AJC 8-18-99) by Cynthia Tucker continues this "bootlicking" legacy. She attacked Mayor Bill Campbell "for a decades-old initiative," because he refused to end affirmative action. However, Tucker offers no solutions. She assumes, in their hearts, whites really want to do the right thing. The trouble is, people like the Mayor, who are not willing to change. Ipso facto, blacks are the problem.

For a supposedly intelligent individual, Tucker learned little in American History 101. Dot M. Smith's paradigm, Chasm of Inequality, identifies institutionalized racism as the problem. Smith's research shows that the gap between white medium family income and that of blacks has widen since the 1940s. Using U. S. Department of Labor statistics, Smith's paradigm reveal that race explains disparities in resources and welfare of black and white Americans. There is no support in the public or private record for assuming whites ever yielded anything to African Americans without a fight. While Dr. King, black men, women and children were being attacked by dogs and police with clubs and water hoses to exercise basic human rights, "bootlickers" were telling whites "blacks are happy with things just like they are, those are just a few troublemakers!" Only those seeking to ingratiate themselves continue to peddle such tripe about change. The only thing that has changed is, Tucker does it in public. "Bootlicking" is alive and well at the AJC. Other Kudos/Blahs

ALL COTTON UNBLEACHED TAMPONS

by Donna C. Boisseau

Makers of tampons, a feminine hygiene product, include asbestos in them, because asbestos makes you bleed more. If you bleed more, you use more tampons. Asbestos in tampons is not against the law because tampons are not viewed as being ingested, and therefore are not illegal or considered dangerous. Women are not being informed about the dangers of tampons. Recently, it was learned that tampons are dangerous for reasons other than toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Tampons contain two potentially harmful ingredients: Rayon (for absorbency) and dioxin (a bleaching chemical).

The dioxin produced in the bleaching process can lead to very harmful problems for a woman. Dioxin is potentially carcinogenic (cancer-associated) and is toxic to the immune and reproductive systems. It has been linked to endometriosis as well as lower sperm counts for men; it breaks down the immune system of men and women.

What we must do: Inform everyone that we are being manipulated by the industry and the government. Let's do something about it! Please write to the companies Tampax (Tambrands), Playtex, O.B., Kotex. Call the 800 numbers listed on the boxes. Let them know that we demand a safe product. More News You Can Use

SAVING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

by Lisa C. Moore

A bill will be heard in Congress next week to prohibit affirmative action in admissions for ANY institution of higher education that receives ANY federal funding (Pell grants, loans, etc.). This would end affirmative action in EVERY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES! Rep. Frank Riggs (R-CA) Chairman of the House Education Subcommittee on Children, Youth, and Families is planning to offer an ANTI-AFFIRMATIVE ACTION in admissions amendment when the Higher Education Act is voted on the floor NEXT WEEK. The amendment would prohibit all institutions of higher education from using affirmative action in admissions decisions. If even one student at the institution receives federal funds (i.e., Pell Grant or Student Loan) they would be violating federal law under this proposal. Affirmative action would be illegal even if the school believes it is necessary to insure a diverse student body, or to remedy past or present discrimination. Call members of Congress (202) 224-3121 and the President (202) 456-1414. They need to hear from us on the importance of affirmative action. Email: lcmoore@mail.utexas.edu. Other Hood Notes

"Dot, ending the drug war is a prelude to ending racism ... TOO MUCH MONEY TO END THE WAR ON DRUGS. Maybe the politicians are required to adhere to the party line of prohibition because law enforcement, Customs, the prison industrial complex, the drug testing industry, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the CIA, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the politicians themselves can't live without the budget justification - not to mention the invisible profits, bribery, corruption and forfeiture benefits - that prohibition affords them. The drug war also promotes, justifies and perpetuates racist enforcement policies and is diminishing many freedoms and liberties that are supposed to be guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. MYRON VON HOLLINGSWORTH Ft Worth, TX" Email: Scott D. scottied@mindspring.com

l

"I was driving to Cincinnati and drove through Atlanta; I saw law enforcement waiting in the car with a K-9 unit, but no radar. This told me something. Who is the Law enforcement officer looking for with no radar gun? It is obvious to a person driving on I-75 that these areas need extra money, some more than others. Where there are new Walmart's, Targets and New Krogers, there are happy smiling faces; where there are none, I saw anger and anxiety, in the peoples' faces. I also saw their homes. I saw black kids picking cotton; that was a sad sight. No kids should have to pick cotton, not even on a bet. Some blacks have gotten to better ground, on there own, with no help from the state. But, to the folks still stuck, stuck in the prejudice and stigma of having a past that they had not ONE BIT OF CONTROL OVER, they need help. Folks in areas of Georgia that do not get government money and do not get a break need to SCREAM and be that wheel asking to be oiled, and we need to make sure that we GET THEM HELP. We can email Congressmen and other representatives. This is not a losing battle because one man can made a difference, and that one man is still helping us to see. Email: APEHANGMOM@aol.com

l

"If Glavin (Matt Glavin) files his lawsuit, look for me to seek to enter as a plaintiff. I will seek to enforce, not minority participation, but the majority participation, neither Glavin, nor Billy cares to see, i.e., that of the vast majority of this city's poor Black workers, who get nary a whiff of the riches that go to the rich Black contractors and the white ones. Matter of fact, when I again run for Mayor of this city that may be a principle plank in my program. Program? What's that? Try the basic principles that every candidate should advance as evincing his political position as opposed to the garbage of personality and absurd generalizations that now prevail." Email: Jack Jersawitz bigjack2@bellsouth.net

l

"Dear DISH, Why all the shootings in Buckhead, Littleton, Co, the pornography, rape, murder, gangs, etc.? Why the chaos in our country? The reason is because our country has drifted further and further away from the Christian values that our country was founded on, and things will only get worse, much worse. Jesus Christ was either who he said he was-the son of God- or he was a liar. There is no in-between. Our founding fathers accepted and believed that He was exactly who He said He was. As we turn our backs to God, expect more and more unthinkable evils to wash over our American society. Whatever happens, we can never escape making a decision about exactly who Christ is. Even by making no decision at all, we still have made a decision---one of unbelief. I, for one, choose to believe that He is the one and only way to heaven. John 14:6. Email: Troy inertiafilms@juno.com. More from the Mailbox

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