Page 5 - Page 1 - Front Page.pmd

The Fayetteville Press December 2020 Holiday Edition Page 5

Editorial / Opinion

The Fayetteville Press Newspaper welcomes letters from its readers. All letters must be signed and must include a home address and a daytime phone number.
All letters are subject to editing. We will not publish unsigned or pseudonymous letters.
Mail or E-mail your letters to: The Fayetteville Press Newspaper, P.O. Box 9166, Fayetteville NC 28311
E-mail: fayepress@aol.com

What’s Your F.Q.?

did the math, he surveyed the land, he
During high school, there is an awareness of sent scouts out to talk to the people. He
independent life at its primary stage. Normally, we was sure he could win with her by his
got our license to drive, we ran errands eagerly just side…he had faith and trust in God. He
to drive, we picked out our own clothes, we focused had been tested many times by God. His
on one boyfriend or girlfriend, we had best friends, deceased son worked with his VP choice. The Fayetteville Press
we wore our hair as desired and taking a TEST was He had been told about her years prior Newspaper
a really important component needed for college, the to his decision to run. He knew that a “Your Community Newspaper”
military, or getting a J.O.B.! The military and col- past decision which affected her would
leges/universities wanted to know our I.Q. (Intelli- be to America’s healing advantage in P.O. Box 9166
gence Quotient). Usually, the IQ is determined by showing the world that people can Fayetteville * NC 28311
the population being tested; an average score has a change, they grow, and they become
range from 85 to 115 percent. Do you remember your more knowledgeable of their territory; (910) 323-3120 - Office
www.fayettevillepress.com
I.Q.? they are willing to fight the good fight. E-mail: fayepress@aol.com
And there you have it; history has been
If you tested today, do you think your quo- by Dr. Mary J. Ferguson made once again, against all odds. The
tient would increase or decrease? Certainly, we know Adjunct Assistant Professor of Leadership & English path has been cleared for yet another un- *Publisher - JJ Jones
a wealth of information now compared to then. We thinkable test for the faithful and faith-
as African Americans faced that test with doubt from their test over; maybe you failed think through the prob- less. It is not an easy path we are em- *General Manager
the very beginning. We were profiled as not being lems presented because perhaps your analysis became barking; it is not two people’s responsi- Chrystal M. Thomas
able to perform as highly as Caucasian students. Later, paralysis when you did not know the answer to a chal- bility. It doesn’t happen majestically. It
a study (The Bell Curve, 1994) was released with lenging question. is a united effort which takes time to heal *Sales Manager
ludicrous information. During the 1970’s there was this country. It starts with just a mustard Dwight Brown
the National Teacher’s Exam (NTE). Many African Joshua and Caleb were sent by Moses to lead seed of faith.
Americans were failing due to not having the train- their army into Jericho. They were against all odds. If *Editor - Jae McKrae
ing or access to practice test. During the primary they did not have faith in God, it would be meaningless For years as an educator to my older *Special Corespondent
stages of the millennium, students were challenged to pursue as ordered. Joshua led his army into the land students, I stressed the importance of reg- Queen Degraphenrei
with the computer skills test and each state had its of the Amalekites. He was up against an army of gigan- istering to vote. Additionally, on the first
own proficiency exam, i.e. EOG and EOC for North tic people, surrounded by a strong wall, and fertile land. day of English class I stood at the door- Public Relations
Carolina; the Palmetto Test for South Carolina. Mi- They knew this information because scouts were sent way and distributed Robert Frost’s Poem: Ms. Roxann Henagan
norities were on edge again. As a former school ad- for what we call reconnaissance. Joshua believed he The Road Not Taken (1916). He wanted
ministrator, I witnessed in a rural high school student could over-power the Amalekites. Later we learned that to express that the unpopular, complexed, *Photgrapher
praying in the hallways to pass their test; they were his belief started at home. He said, “As for me and my and sometimes divergent thing to do is Bruce Carpenter
profiled as ones most likely not to succeed in passing house, we shall serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). The late the right thing to do. I asked the students
the first time around. Conclusively, if you want to U.S. Rep. John Lewis was up against an army of racist to make sure they framed this poem or *Account Executives
hold someone back, give them an unexpected or chal- on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. He and other Freedom slipped it in front of their notebook Dr. Don Reid
lenging test. Riders were in trouble…” good trouble” as he would sleeve. We all recited the poem in uni- Chris Miller
coin it. When my daughter covered his funeral, she sent son; I always got emotional during the ShaDonna “Mo” McPhaul
In retrospect, during the early 1970’s I gradu- me his obituary and two face mask which read, ‘Keep last lines; we all have had numerous tests
ated from college in three years and I failed my NTE the Faith’. I am conscious of where I wear those masks. and I knew they were about to have a
the first time around. I noticed that many African I do not want to be tested. We are challenged now to real-life exam…. *Distribution
American females were teacher aides instead of have faith that we as a house, a community, a city, a Michael Dykes
teachers. Six months later I attended my college state and a nation will come together and ‘do the right “I shall be telling this with a Nero B. Coleman
graduation and returned to take the test again, fell thing’; we can practice more to agree to agree and dis-
asleep on the last part after digesting a heavy lunch agree, lead with exemplification, and trust and believe sigh,
and marked Caucasian as my race. I passed with fly- in good faith, Godly faith. Somewhere ages and ages *Staff Chaplain
ing colors! Because the test was scored by hand dur- hence: Rev Larry O. Wright
ing that time, I did not have the faith or trust that I When POTUS-46 chose his vice president, he Two roads diverged in a wood,
would pass due to a popular-unpopular ethnic trait. seemed to have faith in God and faith and trust in his And I… E-Mail:
These were times when I think others prayed for me choice. Her reputation preceded her, her mother’s I took the one less traveled by, fayepress@aol.com
more than I prayed for myself. I always prayed for prayers, love, and faith guided her. Another minority fe- And that has made all the
others so I guess it balanced out. Little did I know male who previously lost the gubernatorial race decided difference.” Web-Site
that I possessed the intelligence, but I lacked the faith to scout the land, canonize her experience and warn the - Robert Frost (1916) www.fayettevillepress.com
in God and the trust in man to score it. I lacked an people that if your vote is not exercised, democracy
F.Q. (faith quotient). What is your F.Q.? We would would be on a road to destruction. The odds were against For
all like to range in the hundreds but in all reality, we 46’s campaign. Journalistic research revealed that a high
are not aware of our faith-level until it is actually percentage of men were not in favor of a minority or a Subscriptions
tested. Test have been administered since the begin- female becoming VP. Opposing social groups were also Call
ning of time. Many have failed and wanted to take up in arms about this unprecedented change. Forty-six (910) 323-3120

New Year: Happy 2021

By Dr. Shanessa Fenner
Happy New Year and welcome 2021. Things are different this year due to COVID-19, and the last
thing anyone is thinking about is setting long-term goals for 2021. This is a time where it is more feasible
to set short-term goals being that we do know what circumstances will transpire from COVID. Start with
setting a few short-term goals and a plan of action. Be sure to carve time out of your daily schedule to
focus on the goal.
This is the perfect time to reexamine our lives and see if there is something that we should be
doing differently. Are we truly happy? Just content? Just living in the moment? The pandemic has allowed
us to examine all aspects of our lives such as relationships and jobs by spending so much time inside. It
has revealed things that we needed to know about self along with the importance of maintaining your
health and mental well-being during a pandemic.
The pandemic has also shown how we can have our goals planned out and then life takes over. It is
also important to have back up plans and save money because jobs can be shut down in the blink of an
eye.

Shanessa Fenner, Principal COVID-19 cases continue to rise and we have to protect ourselves. This is not the time to relax
from the practices that are routine and in place. As the uncertainty lingers, spend this year being true to
yourself and making the decisions that are best for your life. There is nothing like having peace of mind.
Please follow these 3 important things:
1.Pray. During this difficult and uncertain time we must continue to pray and walk by faith and not
by sight.

2.Be thankful for another year. It is a blessing to be given the opportunity to live and see another
New Year. Know who you are and know your purpose in life.
3.Wear your mask. Wash your hands. Wait 6 feet from others. COVID-19 is real and many people
have lost their lives. We have to follow directions in order to live.
Happy New Year!