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Volume 3 Issue 2 ….Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race… January 21, 2000

Note: The DISH is based on themes from T.H.I.N.C. (Teaching Humanity In New Consciousness): The Chrysalis of Evolution. According to the President's Initiative on Race, "The issues that this book brings to the forefront are important in our efforts to achieve the goals set forth by the President for the Initiative. This work will serve as a solid resource for us as we begin to examine these critical issues." For your copy of T.H.I.N.C., The DISH or to submit comments, contact ICIM, Inc. at (404) 244-6023 or email us at icim@bellsouth.net. All rights reserved The DISH © 1999

Confederate Clinton/Gore

by John Burl Smith

Saturday, January 8, 2000, men, women and children gathered on the steps of South Carolina's Capitol with a huge Confederate flag as their backdrop, providing evidence that John Rocker is not an anomaly. In Georgia, Gov. Roy Barnes favors keeping the Confederate-battle emblem in the state's flag. Showering America's children in war metaphors, S.C. State Sen. Arthur Ravenel and Ron Wilson, Sons of Confederate Veterans, declared "war on both the NAACP and South Carolina legislators who try to remove the flag from atop the State house. If they vote to bring down this flag, we will destroy them. We will take them out. If South Carolina falls, Georgia and Mississippi will be next." Sounding strangely like "Ashley Wilks," in "Gone with the Wind," he romanticized "the noble cause of the South."

Obviously, Clinton/Gore are hypocrites about threats of violence. These statements go far beyond school kids venting, e-mailing sick pranks or even John Rocker's tirade. Flag supporters advocate warlike actions against a legislative body. High school students who did and said far less are presently facing adult prison terms. Children in this audience are future John Rockers. They are being taught Rocker-type rhetoric and behavior. From an elected representative, such comments and behaviors are acceptable, admirable and rewarded. It encourages children to emulate the very behavior Clinton/Gore claims to deplore.

Clinton/Gore's silence does America a grave disservice. Not using the bully pulpit to address the flag issue encourages the idea that treason by Confederate States was honorable. Comparable to the German swastika, the Confederate flag symbolizes cowards stabbing America in the back to preserve slavery. World leaders would rise up in arms, if Nazis unfurled the flag representing their heritage on the steps of a state Capitol, while making threats against its legislative body. Hindenburg ignored Hitler, James Buchanan ignored an increasingly belligerent South during the 1850s, and Clinton /Gore ignore today's would be Jefferson Davises. These sons are just like their treasonous fore parents.

Sprawl: Tax-Supported White Flight

Since the 1930s, tax dollars financed sprawl. Disguised as aid for the poor, conservative estimates indicate the federal government's role in the growth of suburbia is substantial, ranging in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Federal programs to end urban blight and poverty became more popular after Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which struck down "separate, but equal." In a reverse Robin Hood scheme, tax dollars aided white flight, circumventing integration. Urban deterioration coincided with suburban expansion. Having financed sprawl, the federal government is responsible for its pollution, traffic gridlock and strain on services and resources

Urban renewal, revitalization, redevelopment and revenue sharing were all aimed at eradicating poverty and blight in urban areas. Pea and shell games, they did just the opposite. With traffic gridlock, inferior services and dwindling resources, some suburban castles are albatrosses their owners would love to dump. Reality is sending them flocking to the city. To facilitate their return, Clinton is using traditional tax schemes, which redistribute income to the haves under the guise of aiding urban have-nots. Look for more of these reverse Robin Hood plots.

A Case of Urban Imitation

Not surprisingly, areas most harmed, as a result of federal programs to improve urban communities, have been black centers of culture and commerce, such as Beale St. in Memphis and Broad in New Orleans. Check the record; it is dismal. These urban areas deteriorated under urban renewal and revenue sharing. Federal block grants helped cities raze "blighted" areas and buy cleared land, which was then sold to white entrepreneurs, completing the transfer of land ownership from blacks to whites.

Case in point is Beale Street, the most famous thoroughfare in Memphis. On Beale, the blues were born; it is where father of the blues, W.C. Handy, played his horn. His statue stands on a tiny spot called a park on the street his music made famous. A former center of black commerce and culture, Beale's revitalization is classic re-gentrification. Now, dedicated to Elvis and all things plastic, rather than W.C. Handy and the sounds of blackness that made the avenue famous, the new Beale is a genuine imitation. It epitomizes federal programs aimed at ending poverty, chronic unemployment and urban blight. All should recognize these programs for what they achieved, which is the destruction of black cultural awareness and commerce so that Rocker-type entrepreneurs could erect tawdry tourist traps, offering cheap commercial imitations of black art.

Disgruntled says: Confederate flag supporters declare the rebel rag symbolizes their heritage. Retards, these Rockers are ignorant of their history and the role slavery played in laying the foundation for the way of life their "noble" but treasonous ancestors "fought so valiantly to preserve."

Disgruntled feels: like "a work in progress." (AWIP - T.H.I.N.C. 1997)

Disgruntled wants to know: Rocker powwowed with Andy Young, Hank Aaron and the "blacks of consequence company" on the art of dealing with blacks. They taught him how blacks of consequence and other Mfumes creflo a dollar. When will Rocker buy that BMW from Hank's dealership and give a "contribution" to one of Andy's many nonprofit organizations?

"And the Boy Cried for Wolf"

These days VP Al Gore looks a lot like former President Ronald Reagan, especially his hairstyle and mannerisms. Obviously, the VP practiced projecting that Alpha male image. Ronnie is considered the great communicator; his speechwriters were good for those one-liners. Ronnie knew how to deliver them to an audience. A Democrat, Gore is a Ronnie copycat; he even imitates Reagan's cute little head twitch, something he should quickly get rid of, because it makes him look retarded. Ronnie looked adorable, even valiant, struggling to keep his thoughts together. Does Gore have Alzheimer's? Good question, since he forgot "the boy who cried wolf."

In his most recent debates and campaign appearances, he pledged to "fight and fight" for all kinds of things. After nearly eight years of combat in the trenches as the Number 2 in command, some battles should have been won and something accomplished. Moreover, the war should be over on some fronts; what did Gore accomplish? Apparently, gore's war of attrition accomplished little, because he is still pledging to "fight...fight" for everything.

There is already too much violence in America. Fighting for the hell of it is counterproductive. Forget that alpha-male garbage. Voters are looking for a change! The prospect of Gore fighting to maintain the status quo just won't cut it for the majority anymore. Gore failed to realize what voters learned early on, and that is, the country cannot afford more Teflon-coated Milquetoast running the country. Where's Naomi Wolfe? Gore deserves a refund on his reinvention!

The Atlanta Vibe and Creative Loafing's best Spoken Word artist, Yohannes Sharriff will ignite One Mind, Inc. Echoes of My Soul. An explosive up-front in-your-face new consciousness blow out, hosted by Saul Williams of SLAM fame, this fusion of Jazz, R&B, spoken word and other creative arts spotlights ATL talent. The DISH talked with Starr about the show. "It's great. We can be positive, getting some needed exposure will establish our place on the spoken word scene." Check it out 6 PM @ the Atrium 5479 Memorial Drive, January 22, 2000. Be there!

by John Burl Smith

Building suburbs, Atlanta Regional Commission's (ARC) unbridled growth policies are responsible for air, water, traffic and other quality of life problems. The DISH's exposé on sprawl shows ARC-type boards and commissions are catch basins, which siphon tax dollars out of Atlanta. Pushing "smart growth," ARC's "pie in the sky" approach looks for new ways to bake the same old fondue.

Recipe for a "smart growth" pie, Clinton/Gore's main ingredient is $690 million for housing. Unlike "Little Jack Horner," plumed thumbs do not make great fellows. Worm-riddled fruit fillings pucker lips and sour stomachs. According to Clinton, "two-thirds of the jobs are in suburbs that are difficult for unemployed, inner-city residents to reach. Families can move closer to jobs with vouchers, reducing commuting time from city to suburbs." Secretary Andrew Cuomo called it "a cruel irony that in a strong economy, 5.3 million families need affordable housing."

A tart, this $9.5 billion will serve 1.7 million poor households, provide vouchers for 32,000 welfare to work families, 10,000 homes for poor families through low-income tax credits and 18,000 homeless people will get permanent housing. Clinton said, "vouchers will lift 120,000 poor families out of poverty by paying their rent." Magpies for every failed housing gimmick from the "New Deal" to "Enterprise Zones," Clinton/Gore is using poor families to funnel funds to the same old poverty pimps.

Mulling cruel ironies, Atlanta Housing Authority spent six years throwing families out of public housing and selling the property. Believing public housing wasted money, Renee Glover has virtually eliminated affordable housing, rent subsidies and other programs, which prevented homelessness. Chasing votes by privatizing public housing, Clinton/Gore has now flip-flopped on the issue.

Even harder to swallow is the irony of moving poor families from inner cities closer to jobs that cannot be guaranteed will remain where they are. Without automobiles and mass transit, isolating poor families in hostile suburban communities is definitely cruel. "Smart growth" is code for shifting tax money to the suburbs. "Sing a Song of Sixpence" the Clinton/Gore team bakes pies that are crusts without filling.

Rocker and the Rockdale Teens

Kudos to John Rocker for showing us a real American. Simply saying his name invokes institutionalized racism. Thanks John for moving us along in the dialogue on race. Kudos too, to the horny Rockdale County teens for clueing the world in on things white kids do that go unpunished. When black children are subjected to prison and zero tolerance, white kids engage in youthful indiscretions. Treated like pariahs, black kids are the unforgivable; they don't deserve the same consideration given John Rocker! Moreover, society does not have to treat them like it does white children. Compare the treatment Rockdale teens in Panama City Beach received with the police state zero tolerance mentality that greets black kids coming to Atlanta's Freaknik; it's a 180 difference.

Rocker's bigotry mirrors the alleged racial bias practiced at Lockheed and in Coca-Cola. The white management teams in these companies are suspected of employment discrimination. Minorities have filed lawsuits against them. Microcosms of America, one suspects institutionalized racism is rampant in these work environments. These lawsuits indicate the Rocker mentality is the norm. So, if Rocker is not off his, then what is wrong with his world and those who mis-educated him? Normal holy rollers on Sunday, on Monday through Saturday, they are garden variety dirty Rockers acting out their biases while creaming for dollars. Kudos Rocker for making it transparent!

Mailbox

Several unresolved matters remain in The DISH mailbox. One concerns the 411 on black commemorative stamps. Another involves Kentucky Fried Chicken; is it really chicken? Do you know? Could they be headless organisms? Then, there is the question of black colleges in Texas; are they being closed? Does Texas have head start or kindergarten? Finally, several readers are curious about the Publishers' Clearinghouse Sweepstakes Prize Patrol. Having never seen it, all watching the game on TV look for the patrol; some doubt its existence. Have you seen it? If you have info on these or other topics you wish to share, send it to icim@bellsouth.net .

Mouth of the South Silence

"Braves owner Ted Turner's silence in the Rocker matter speaks volumes. His quiet is an atomic blast heard around the world. Thanks to his stalwart support of Rocker, the world sees Atlanta and America's true colors. Ted is silent in public, but his private tirades are notorious. According to TT insiders, the "Mouth of the South" is livid over being called a racist homophobic bigot. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on whether or not you own stock in the Mouth's enterprises, Ted can't speak honestly from the heart; it is too dark! Stockholder confidence is sensitive to public perception. The public would be shocked if the Mouth unleashed his Rocker, Sr. narrow perspective!

On Atlanta's Playbook

by Dot Smith

If you believe the ad campaign, "Atlanta is the city too busy to hate." A southern metropolis, Atlanta is home of the Braves and Coca-Cola. It is where South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu makes his home and from where CNN paints the globe. Renowned for racial reconciliation, the races harmoniously mix and mingle in the Mecca; Atlanta is steeped in tradition. Everybody has a role, and southern mis-education keeps the masses in character.

In 1968, on the night of Dr. King's assassination, Mayor Ivan Allan hugged, rubbed and kissed Coretta Scott King, convincing the young widow to revert to her traditional role, rather than continue the economic revolution begun by her deceased husband's dream. Coretta continued that time-honored tradition established in 1906, the year whites lynched blacks in Atlanta streets, then called on "blacks of consequence," such as millionaire Alonzo Herndon. Whites told the "blacks of consequence" what to think and what lesson to preach from the black pulpit come Sunday morning. Blood still red in the streets, blacks around the city gathered in churches to hear the lesson of forgiveness, understanding and reconciliation.

Like Coke, there is something closer to the truth than the slick commercials. Atlanta is famous for its successful bid for the 1996 Olympic games. Employing a playbook guaranteed to colorize anything, Atlanta is whitewashing its image to downplay Rocker's revelations, which mar the Mecca's commercial appeal and expose its soft underbelly of corruption and institutionalized racism. Only the brain-dead do not recognize Atlanta's media savvy well-choreographed playbook when fully engaged.

Since Dr. King's assassination, Andrew Young, Jesse Jackson and other Mfumes have been doing the Nike/Texaco thing to smooth things over or muddy them up so badly, the real issue is never seen again clearly. Didn't Andy come to Rocker's defense on cue PDQ (Pretty Damn Quick)? Next, Archbishop TuTu will advise a forgiving reconciliation. Jesse will jump into the fray supporting something, and we'll forget the topic is institutionalized racism. Don't be fooled by the playbook being thrown at you!

Tutu's Do-Do

"There is not a dime's worth of difference between the two political parties." Like Bullworth, Gov. Roy Barnes is a showman; he supports the Confederacy, and preaches to blacks in Ebenezer. Democrats treat blacks like America treats its Native sons. Blacks buy into their lies; there is no alternative in a two party system, where Republicans do not recognize blacks' exist. Race is mentioned only in passing, a flag is more important. No longer fiscal conservatives, their interests are big business/campaign contributions. Neo-fiscal conservatives, they hear money talk, then walk all over voter concerns to dispense federal tax dollars to special interests.

Given this Catch-22, what do we do? Forgiveness is the advice of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu for all wrongs committed against people of color. Notice, rather than staying to deal with his country's transition from brutish apartheid to democracy, Tutu is ensconced at Emory University, advising blacks mired in neo-slavery. It is difficult to imagine his countrymen accepting the status quo, which is what he advocates by participating in the Atlanta/America playbook of race relations run on us

Accepting Tutu's do-do offers only superficial change, even if elections place Africans in "control." This pseudo-control is the dilemma black US mayors face. The power structure does not change, just the figureheads. Case in point is Buckhead, which is not even a Georgia city, just an Atlanta neighborhood. However, Sam Massell, head of the Buckhead Coalition, is mayor of Atlanta's power structure; he is Atlanta's mayor for all intents and purposes, though voters elected Bill Campbell, Massell's houseboy.

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