Volume 2 No 49…Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race…December 17, 1999

Venue for an Artist

by Deborah Williams

While golfing with a friend, he related a childhood story about his grandmother, who raised chickens. On occasion, snakes would get in the chicken house and eat eggs. Resourceful, she placed a white porcelain doorknob in the nest. When a snake came for his next meal, he would choose the doorknob instead. Unable to crush it, he choked and died. In a few days, she would find the dead snake, retrieve the decoy and save it for the next uninvited guest. Moral of this little story: Be careful what you swallow!

At this time of year, we see things we "must have," until we get them. Many look appetizing, but, when you look inside, they are not what we expected, i.e., the automobile, that career move, the relationship, etc. This week, we would do well to make sure the eggs we swallow are really eggs. Doorknobs, no matter how much they look like eggs, are not healthy. "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophies, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8) Be careful what you swallow! Other Artists in the Venue

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro says he "must clean his room, listen to grandma and not whine about doing homework." According to the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro, "growing up is complicated!" To the Bat Cave

by Gordon Bass

From ataylor@cc.gatech.edu comes this PC Computing article that is a must read; check it out at http://www.zdnet.com/pccomp/stories/all/0,6605,2386403,00.html. According to its author, "exposure to radio frequency radiation (RFR) may have serious health consequences, " based on research prompted by a 1993 lawsuit filed by a Florida man, who claimed his wife's brain tumor was caused by her mobile phone. Research reveals "evidence of genetic damage in human blood, excessive mortality from brain cancers among wireless phone users and clear evidence of a statistically significant higher risk of neuroepithelial tumors." These researchers see similarities between the industry's response to their findings and the tobacco industry's "decades of denial in the face of mounting scientific evidence that tobacco was harmful." They advise limited exposure. Check PC Computing for more, especially if you plan to give or receive a cell phone for X-Mas. More News You Use

Disgruntled says: Chitterlings or chitlins must be highly addictive like nicotine or crack cocaine, because black folks keep coming back to buy pails of diseased hog guts!

Disgruntled wants to know: Now that we know Dr. King's assassination was a conspiracy involving our own government, will the civil rights leader's children continue the struggle or is it already a lost cause amid the effort to sell the dream?

Disgruntled feels: X-mass-ed! Other Disgruntled Moments

by Latonya McNeil

Who can we trust? You never know the power of people. But, I say more power to the people, while encouraging blacks to be especially cautious this New Year's. Word is there are groups calling themselves Y2KKK will commit horrible crimes against blacks. It is rumored these are KKK members. So, what are we, the chosen ones, to do?

Randomly selected, our boss breaks out in tears, while informing us of what she has known for some time. "You're laid off. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!" What had taken years of hard steady work to accomplish is torn down in a moment, a single day and without notice. All because of the entrepreneurial spirits, which can cause companies to lose contracts and go bankrupt. Loyal employees get separation notices. So, whether it is Y2K or Y2KKK that shoots blacks down, it does not matter. The important message is be aware crimes are committed and more may be committed against people of color; so safely welcome in the new millennium! Peace! Other Hood Notes

The Democrats' New Year's bash on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is producing considerable tension among White House staffers. An intense tug of war between black and white personnel over whether or not the President should attend the Renaissance Retreat is raging. Held in the heart of the Confederacy, the retreat is white only. Vastly out numbered, blacks want Clinton to honor an African American boycott against South Carolina for flying the Confederate flag. White staffers feel not to attend would offend Vice President Al Gore's Confederate flag supporters.

The First family is split. Thus far, the First Lady has not weighed in on the subject and is keeping her distance. But, having pledged her fealty like a devout Cardinal, Chelsea backs black staffers. The independent-minded First daughter firmly opposes flying the Confederate flag. The latest whispers say Cabinet members and their staffs are being drawn into the flag fray pretty much along racial lines. None in mainstream media dares ask questions of anyone publicly. It's all supposed to be hush, hush! Shhh! Phantom Scribblers

Christmas foreshadows taking stock with a less ominous opening scene. Unlike Santa Claus's list checking, The DISH's assessment is not about naughty or nice. Symbolizing President Clinton's commitment to solving America's greatest problem, the Dialogue on Race confronted the effects of slavery and institutionalized racism. The President challenged America to move beyond self-interest to level the playing field for African Americans. However, somewhere between Monica Lewinski and impeachment the President's dream went up in smoke.

The Clinton administration refuses comment on unanswered letters addressed to Attorney General Janet Reno and Labor Secretary Alexis Hermann regarding a Walton County lynching, denial of Family Medical Leave and empowerment zone fraud in Atlanta, etc. Like the Gingrich who stole Christmas, the President refuses to discuss employment discrimination and federal agencies' active attrition policy to remove blacks from government payrolls.

President Clinton is big on symbolism, making safe appointments and touting diversity. However, the gap between black and white unemployment rates, median family incomes, educational access and achievement, as well as, economic and community development remain stable. Inside the gap, more African Americans are in prisons under Clinton's watch. More children are in poverty, foster homes, youth detention centers and one-parent families than ever before. Infant mortality and malnutrition rates are up. Prenatal care is virtually unavailable for many homeless families kicked off welfare. Clinton, as Santa Claus, leaves empty stockings and ashes for even good little boys and girls.

Circuit Rider Rev. Burl Lee taught, "The difference between the Presidency and Congress is: Presidents can act, then seek consensus, whereas, Congress must gain consensus before it acts." Retrospectively, Presidents Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and Lyndon Johnson's affirmative action were "Executive Orders," which forced Congress to enact laws that changed the status of slave descendants. At the moment of his best opportunity to impact our history, President Clinton resists using his executive power to fulfill promises made during the Dialogue on Race. Empty promises are like empty gift-wrapped boxes; they offer the unsuspecting false hopes. Other Essays by Mr. Smith

Emory student Charles White III and Centennial High 10^th grader Crystal Clemons are this week's Kudos recipients for taking a stance on the Confederate flag issue and making a difference. Charles' letter to the Atlanta Journal Constitution intensified the debate at Emory University, which led to Kappa Alpha fraternity's removal of the Confederate flag from its house. Kudos Sir Charles!

Crystal is the only student in her class who believed Georgia's flag should be changed; 69% opposed it when she took on the challenge of convincing them of the opposite. Her efforts led to the creation of a web page and the coming together of The DISH, Ed Sebesta, an expert on the Confederacy, and others around the world who are engaged in the flag debate. See the Flag Campaign page at Georgia Flag Campaign. Crystal so inspired her classmates that 69% agreed after her presentation that the flag should be changed.

Charles and Crystal's experiences highlight a problem in the public education: our children are not taught their history. Without their history they have no sense of themselves, which is why Jews study the Holocaust. Kudos to Crystal and Charles for discovering their heritage. Special thanks to Ed and all those who take the extra time to help students who make a difference. We appreciate your dedication and willingness to share useful information. Other Kudos and Blahs

"I found this edition most interesting. I am English, and until recently knew very little about American history. I am taking an evening class in American history, and just finished writing an essay about whether it was secession or slavery that caused the Civil War. You will be pleased to know that the difference between anti-slavery, abolitionism and anti-racism was explained, and that we now know that Lincoln was neither an abolitionist nor anti-racist, a point which I have just made in my essay. I feel very cheeky in commenting to Americans about their own history, but I had to write to say that the version we've just been taught fits in with what was in The DISH. Best wishes to all Susan Baines Essex, UK." Email: sbaines@netcomuk.co.uk

Other DISH Mail

For most of the year, American society

Turn deaf ears, blind eyes and its fat ass

To the plight of the poor and homeless.

Few notice the contrast of so little amid plenty.

In cities with high standards of living,

Unethical entrepreneurs compete against

The poor and homeless begging pennies,

Stealing sleep on concrete in cardboard boxes.

In makeshift homesteads violating city ordinances,

Homelessness distorts America's image of seamless prosperity.

Destroying our quality of life,

Wretches sprawl on public lawns,

Wrapped in all their worldly possessions.

In the capitol, some reside on public grass, others squat vents

Eyes glazed over when we pass,

We could care less about this huddled mass.

Caught like bits of paper, whipped by whirlwinds of chance,

Their suffering is impossible to miss,

For all save the blind and heartless, yet, we manage.

For most of the year,

From New Year's day to Halloween night,

There is little coverage on the poor and homeless' plight.

Like magic, mere days before Thanksgiving

America develops a conscious. "Christmas is near!"

Conservatively filled with compassion,

We remember the poor and homeless.

For public consumption and political correctness

We feed and give them a bed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Human kindness, caring and compassion

Take holiday for most of the year. Other Hot Dot DISHes

Infinite Currents presents THE CIPHER - Central Alabama's Premiere Underground Open Mic. Don't miss this final episode of the century, Thursday, December 23, 1999. DOORS OPEN AT 7:00 PM at the Historical Foundation, 331 52nd Street in Fairfield, AL. Featuring spoken word artist, The Seventh Sun, "Full Mental Jacket," poets, singers, story-tellers and MCs. RSVP for the Open Mic List. A $4.00 donation to get in the door. Call (205) 806-8030 or e-mail i-currents@yahoo.com for more info. Proceeds benefit Infinite Currents and Historical Foundation projects. More from the Vibe

Bits of Black History

The South has never educated blacks. Slaves learned to read and write under the penalty of death! The deal that bought Rutherford B. Hayes' Presidency (1876) was removal of Union troops from the South. Armed with Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution and Plessey v. Ferguson, whites plunged slave descendants into a "Dark Age" of virtual slavery. Tied to the land by debt and clubbed into submission by segregation, not until Brown v Board of Education (1954) did blacks hope to escape the chasm of inequality.

Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education released its research findings Friday, December 10, 1999. Georgia, Texas, Montana and Ohio examined whether school size impacts learning. "Using data on 29 state tests and poverty rates at 1,626 schools, preliminary results indicate, as school size increases, student performance in poorer communities fell on all but the science tests in grades three and five." The analysis shows "smaller schools are better for poorer kids." More than 100 smaller schools have been closed under Georgia's funding formula since 1986. Current policies show why Governors want block grants. Funding, based on school size, favors the expanding existing schools and tearing down smaller ones. Renovations get half as much money as capital outlay for new construction. Land purchases for new schools, new home construction patterns and the building of high-tech schools, where price range controls racial balance, reintroduce segregation. For blacks, larger schools means trailers not additional classrooms.

Gov. Roy Barnes supported segregation, as he supports flying the Confederate flag. Dragged kicking and screaming to the bar of justice under court order of "all deliberate speed, "schools were integrated. Barnes and his ilk opposed busing, open housing, equal employment and access to higher educational institutions. For their children, they created exclusive public schools and supported private ones in churches. After destroying public schools to keep blacks ignorant, do Georgians think Barnes and cronies are going to fix them to educate black children? More Bits of Black History

Politics 2000

Texas leads the nation in executions with 100. Its governor really supports state killing. Sporting a boyish grin, he asserts, "I support the death penalty because I think it prevents people from killing people; that's compassion." In an Iowa debate, Bush declared Christ his greatest "philosopher," because "he changed my heart." How black it must have been before Christ entered that it could remain so dark that Bush presides over the "killing state, " where people get nursed back to health just to be pronounced fit for death. America is the world's greatest hypocrite on crime and punishment. G.W. and the "war on drugs" represent the worst aspects of that hypocrisy. He favors zero tolerance for actions no worse than his youthful indiscretions. It is time to end the death penalty and the criminalization of a generation of American youth; killing is a sin, and so is hypocrisy. Politicians like G.W. give compassion and Christianity bad names; let's end the hypocrisy and this barbaric practice! Bush is like a kid playing video games, he signs death warrants to score political points with the ease of moving his joystick, and therein lies the killing of Karla Faye Tucker!

Politicians are great for making promises, especially to African Americans. Grand promises made on the campaign trail are quickly broken once in office. It is a tradition for Democrats and Republicans to make promises to African Americans to secure their votes. Of late, Democrats have courted them better and more successfully, consequently, they have told bigger lies than Republicans, who discount blacks as insignificant or already bought by Democrats, hence, their lukewarm courtship of Hispanics.

Democratic Presidential frontrunner Al Gore personifies this tradition of making easy promises to the black community. With a few nickels, he pockets the concerned black clergy and "blacks of consequence." He paid homage to this time-honored tradition recently in Atlanta. Making easy promises, Gore's scenario for gaining the black vote is flawed. While busy taking credit for things he did not invent, such as the Internet, VP Gore deserves and will get credit for government reinvention and its downsizing, which left hundreds of African American families without gainful employment - jobless. Never again! More Politics 2000

Seasons Greetings! Your gift is "A Christmas I Remember," a short story by Dot. I hope you enjoy it! To pick it up, click on Short Stories by Dot. Happy Holidays! The DISH

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