August 4, 2001

Dr. Michael V. W. Gordon

Executive Director, International Panhellenic Council

International Headquarters

Bloomington, IN 47405

Sir:

Panhellenic societies have a dubious reputation with some, while others believe they represent true familial relationships outside maternal connections. Recent Panhellenic experiences at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia displays this duality.

Nationally recognized as a liberal art institution, the untimely death of a black student, Charles White ended a nasty controversy surrounding Panhellenic groups and the Confederate flag. More recently, Emory received the pictorial record of James Allen, author of "Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America," depicting lynchings many of which took place in Georgia. The "Women of Walton County" are examples of Georgia lynchings that terrorized entire communities. This ugly controversy is over when, where and how to display photographs depicting racism in action. These photos and the Confederate flag controversy reflect the dualism of the 3/5ths Compromise written into Article 1 Section 2 of America's Constitution.

This divide splits the Panhellenic community along the same black/ white fault line dividing America. The point is, even though black Greek organizations developed in response to white Greek's refusal to allow blacks to join their organizations, most Greeks are outraged at any suggestion, this was due to racism. The inability of whites to make a connection between access and opportunity, when it comes to slaves' descendants, is related to the American slave master mentality. This mind-set denies responsibility for slavery and the existence of institutionalized racism. Their defense is "since slaves and those whites that enslaved them are dead, black people today have no claim of reparations against them because they did not enslave anyone." Therefore, slavery and reparations should not even be discussed.

Regarding reparations, I want to make one thing perfectly clear, although slavery was a horrendous experience for which America should want to atone, our reparations' demands are not based on the nearly 300 years of legal human bondage suffered by African slaves. Instead, our claim is based on U. S. Labor Department data going back to 1947, which show that slave descendants today still suffer the economic welfare loss mandated by the 3/5ths Compromise. Dot M. Smith's chasm analysis identifies a stable relationship between race and median income. The income gap between blacks and whites mirror the 3/5ths Compromise. This income difference is equal to the 2/5ths blacks are, by law, not allowed to receive in earnings, goods or services. More specifically, this is the amount slave descendants can readily identify as the reparations owed as a result of the legal racial discrimination written into the U. S. Constitution.

Fortunately, the United Nations is providing an excellent forum to debate these issues during its World Conference Against Racism, Xenophobia, Racial Discrimination and Related Intolerance (WCAR) to be held in Durban, South Africa August 31- September 7, 2001. If Panhellenic groups truly reject the Emory image conveyed by Kappa Alpha and would like to dispel any false impressions, you are invited to join Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney's educational effort regarding WCAR. A consortium of Atlanta artists, Poets for Peace has called for an "International Speak Out" on August 16, 2001. Everyone is asked to send e-mails to WCAR demanding blacks be allowed to speak on racism in America. Their action was prompted by the Bush administration's plans to block American blacks from speaking at WCAR. Poets for Peace are asking local groups throughout the Diaspora to develop venues that educate people about racism and provide access to e-mail for those who want to make their voices heard.

Sir, we are trying to connect with groups on both sides of the racial divide. We hope you will support Rep. McKinney's efforts by encouraging Panhellenic group to participate in the "International Speak Out" in support of blacks telling their story in their words. We hope also, they will communicate with other about this event. Send e-mails to Secretary@state.gov, vasic@un.org, tshiawl.hchr@unog.ch, saragon.hchr@unog.ch or lwiseberg.hchr@unog.ch and be part in the conversation.

Sincerely,

John Burl Smith