Unity
prevails
The most critical problem currently confronted by
Boston’s black community is the growing rate of violence and
crime among youth. Everyone seems to agree that the solution to
this vexing problem lies in the concerted effort of a united community.
In the spirit of unity, the N.A.A.C.P., the Urban League, the Nation
of Islam and the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement
Officers held a meeting to announce the formation of Citizens Against
Crime, a hotline to receive anonymous information about criminal
activity. The proposal was well received by those in attendance.
However, the Boston Herald published a front page story in its newspaper
on the day of the meeting that disharmony would prevail because
of the involvement of former Mayor Ray Flynn and former Police Commissioner
Mickey Roache. Rev. William Dickerson, pastor of The Greater Love
Tabernacle in Dorchester, objected to their participation in the
project.
Minister Don Muhammad had invited Flynn and Roache to participate
because of their unique relationship with the black community between
1984 and 1993, which led to the reduction of crime in the community.
But the Charles Stuart murder case also occurred during this period
on Oct. 23, 1989. The police marched through the Mission Hill area
like Gestapo, harassing black men. It turned out that Stuart had
arranged for the murder of his wife and had falsely accused a black
man of the crime to misdirect the police.
Dickerson voiced his objection at the meeting but it went over like
a lead balloon. Those in attendance had no intention of being distracted
from their purpose by an unfortunate incident which occurred more
than 16 years ago. Dickerson and Roache resolved their differences
and there was no rupture in the spirit of unity.
Press coverage of the meeting focused first on the irrelevant and
inconsequential conflict. It is clear that despite the seriousness
of the crime problem, some of the press have decided to be disruptive
rather than constructive. Dickerson and community leaders should
learn from this incident that the major press is not reliable. The
old strategy of “divide and conquer” is very much alive
and well.
A
chance to excel
A recent study on the literacy skills of college seniors
produced disappointing results. More than 50 percent of the seniors
at four-year colleges and 75 percent of the seniors at two-year
colleges were found to be deficient. They lacked the literacy skills
to analyze news stories or comprehend the arguments in newspaper
editorials, and they could not understand documents.
The study, administered by American Institutes for Research, involved
1,827 students at 80 randomly selected two-year and four-year public
and private colleges. Since the enrollment of blacks in four-year
colleges is only 11 percent and only 12 percent in two-year institutions,
it cannot be reasonably asserted that the dismal results of the
study occurred because of the presence of blacks in the college
population.
The inability of college graduates to master the English language
is a national crisis. However, from the perspective of African Americans
it is an opportunity. Parents and community leaders must encourage
young black children to become voracious readers and to write as
much as they can. Major cities have public libraries with a substantial
inventory of books. And there are programs, such as ACT in Boston,
to help develop literary skills.
Just think of the competitive advantage if African Americans are
the ones who have mastered the English language.
|
Melvin B. Miller
Editor & Publisher
Bay State Banner |
