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April 21, 2005
A winning attitude
A deadly virus is infecting many African Americans.
It does not cause a malady which can be cured by pharmaceutical
remedies. Rather, it generates the mental attitude of negativity
and defeat which will impede any hope of personal progress.
It is relatively easy to identify those who are immune to the
virus. Consider, for example, the recent convention of African
American alumnae at Simmons College. The alumnae brought with
them an indomitable spirit of optimism, a profound self-confidence
in their ability and a willingness to work as hard as necessary
to achieve their goals.
The successes of the participants indicate that their embrace
of optimism has paid off for them. Gwen Ifill, formerly of Springfield,
has risen to the top in television journalism. She is the moderator
and managing editor of “Washington Week,” the longest-running
public affairs program on public television and is senior correspondent
for “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer.” She also moderated
one of the recent presidential debates.
Ann Fudge is the CEO of Young + Rubicon, one of the world’s
largest advertising agencies. She is at the top of an industry
which has not excelled in developing a racially diverse workforce.
Paula Sneed, an Everett native, is senior vice president at Kraft
Foods. Rehema Ellis from Boston is now based in New York as a
national NBC television news correspondent. And there were many
others with extraordinary records of achievement. It is little
wonder that more recent Simmons African American alumnae would
feel inspired about their professional and business prospects.
By contrast there are still those struggling with their virus
of negativity. For them there is no good news that can be isolated
from their pessimism.
In the issue of April 7, the Banner editorial commented favorably
on a newly published Census Bureau report that in 2003, black
and Asian women with bachelor’s degrees earned more than
white women with the same level of education. While white women
with a bachelor’s averaged $37,800, Asian women earned $43,700
and black women were at $41,100. According to the report, this
is the first time that this shift has occurred.
For those with an optimistic bent, this is good news. It indicates
that the playing field for professional and business advancement
among women of different races has become more level. The editorial
indicated that there is still a gender problem in competition
with men.
A college student called the Banner and complained about the optimistic
tone of the editorial. She stated that “me and my friends
think there has been no change.” Of course this assertion
was not supported with facts.
Of course discrimination still exists but it is no longer the
absolute barrier it was fifty years ago. Fortunately, that time
is in the past. The record of success of the Simmons College African
American alumnae proves that. But those infected with the deadly
virus of negativity will find that their own pessimistic state
of mind will cause many doors to be closed to them.
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