Page 5 - 2-20-15 Friday's Edition

Editorials
Parks Programming
WFLA Should Do What It Does Best: Communicate
T he people want to know: Why, when their on-air-rat- ings have remained “through the roof,” did WFLA- TV morning anchor Rod Carter get reassigned to doing only Saturday and Sunday evening news-anchor and Josh Thomas (who usually filled weekend news-anchor) get abruptly demoted to a five-days-a week gumshoe gig? The Black Community is interested. Strangely enough,
WFLA isn’t talking.
What is awfully strange for a major television news af-
filiate station that depends on audience-initiated Nielsen ratings, is the additional fact that neither WFLA manage- ment nor its parent company Media General is willing to meet with representatives of Tampa’s Black community, including the local branch of the venerable NAACP.
We could understand if ISIS came calling, or if a mem- ber of the Ku Klux Klan showed up. Indeed, such might even be more of a guarantee that WFLA turtles would come out of their shells since bad news is always good news, according to Journalism 101.
However, what we don’t understand and what we sug- gest that might make us understand is an answer as to why two highly visible Black news anchors who were sup- ported by a very television-conscious Black Tampa Bay community were so unceremoniously beheaded and why the ones who did the deed are as closed-mouthed about what they did as if they were alligator snappers.
In a media community that includes cable as well as FaceBook, it would seem traditional networks would be eager to strengthen their community love-affair. Per- haps, we’re mistaken. But the people who turn the chan- nels would really like to know, before they switch to Channel 9.
R ecent data from the Pew Research Center confirms other previous studies that America’s economic re- covery has not been equal among whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. As with disparities in health, unemployment and education, the disparity in income comes as no sur-
prise.
Comparing the net worth (difference between a house-
hold’s assets, property, stocks, bonds, income, etc.) with its liabilities (debts, etc.), the average white household’s net worth for 2013 was $141,900 compared to $11,000 for Blacks.
In essence, the median wealth of whites was 13 times higher than that of Black households. However, the white median wealth was 10 times that of Hispanic households. Consequently, Black Americans once again are on the bottom rung of the economic ladder.
Now that we know all of the particulars, the question remains, where do we go from here? We believe Back people must first encourage our youth to pursue and excel in mathematics and science courses in school.
Secondly, Black people should become exposed to and pursue careers that pay well (engineers, all medical fields, architecture, financial, attorneys).
Thirdly, no matter what occupation Blacks pursue, purchasing stocks and bonds and savings should be a top priority towards economic stability.
Too long have Black Americans sat on the side of the tracks as affluent freight trains rumble past. Either we can or we cannot move forward. Either we will or we will not do what is necessary as a people to climb up the lad- der of economic unity. Happy New Year, Brothers and Sisters!
Every year as summer ap- proaches, every parent faces the same dilemma: what and where will my children be this summer? Summer can be a time for fun with friends, learn- ing new things, and explo- ration.
Too many kids in our com- munity don’t have the opportu- nity to enjoy that part of summer. I want to work with you to change that, and give more kids the chance to par- take in summer activities.
Three years ago, we cut the fees for Rec Cards - the pass you need to participate in our Parks system. We did that so that more children would have the ability to participate, and now, we want to give them
“You may be shocked by these words coming from me. But on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions. This was not too difficult for me. Despite my firm convictions, I have al- ways been a man who tries to face facts, and to accept the re- ality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds
it.” Malcolm X, Letter from Mecca, April 1964.
There is perhaps no Ameri- can civil rights leader who generated as many divergent opinions as Malcolm X. As the 50th anniversary of his assas- sination passes on February 21, 1965, our nation will in- evitably scrutinize his life, his work and his lasting impact on our country and our continu- ous struggle to address racial inequality and its heinous con- sequences.
Depending on one’s per- spective or politics, Malcolm X was a hatemonger filled with a blind, race-based rage.
Another view paints him as an inspiring figure, pulling himself up from a life of crime to become a leading human rights figure. I would put forth the view that Malcolm X was much more than any one-di- mensional interpretation of his life or its seminal moments and that he was a man who lit- erally and figuratively jour- neyed far in his short 39 years
more options to do so. We want to offer something for every- one, and we don’t want any family’s finances to be a barrier.
That’s why I am proud to announce that in 2015 we are doubling our summer pro- gramming, and we’re quadru- pling the amount of scholarships available to fami- lies.
That means 7,400 kids will be able to participate in our summer programming this year. 1,873 children will be able to do so with financial help.
Our kids will be able to enjoy typical summer camps at a set location with a variety of activ- ities. On a week by week basis, they can participate in specialty camps and learn about technol-
– reinventing himself count- less times along the way.
Born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 to a Grenadian mother and African American father – also a well-known ac- tivist – Malcolm became ac- customed to the cruelties of racism at an early age, losing his father in a suspected attack by white supremacists. His early life was a blur of broken homes, petty crime and incar- ceration.
Introduced to the teachings of the Nation of Islam during his time in jail, Malcolm X traded prison for a pursuit of racial justice and equality for Blacks in America.
While his initial approach may not have always been championed by or aligned with other civil rights leaders of the time, Malcolm X’s later life transition and his embrace of multiculturalism is an impor- tant story to be acknowledged and retold. But often, sup- porters and critics alike at- tempt to isolate the “by any means necessary” civil rights leader to one part of his jour- ney.
In his famous “The Ballot or the Bullet” speech, Malcolm X said, “I must say this concern- ing the great controversy over rifles and shotguns. The only thing that I’ve ever said is that in areas where the government has proven itself either unwill- ing or unable to defend the lives and the property of Ne- groes, it’s time for Negroes to
ogy, how to paddleboard, or produce a radio show.
Here’s how we’re making it possible: by doubling our spe- cialty camps, we can use the revenue to be poured back into much needed scholarships. And, we’re partnering with Hillsborough County Schools to open to new facilities.
Be it cartooning or robotics, nature or sports, we have a pro- gram that your child will love. Your child will learn and be en- gaged. Ensuring that children in East Tampa, West Tampa, and across the city are in an en- vironment that is safe, fun, and under the supervision of caring adults and coaches is the best way to keep them from the temptation of the streets and out of trouble.
Together, summer 2015 will be a great summer for our kids. Summer camp sign-ups begin on Monday, March 2, 2015.
Find out more about what camps are offered, how to apply for financial assistance, and more today at www.tam- pagov.net/parksandrec or call (813) 274-3345.
defend themselves.
Article number two of the
constitutional amendments provides you and me the right to own a rifle or a shotgun.”
Ten days after that speech, Malcolm X left the United States on April 13, 1964 for a life-altering trip through the Middle East and Africa, in- cluding a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the holiest city in Islam.
It was during his experience of the pilgrimage that his next transformation would occur. In letters from his trip, he de- scribed scenes of unimagined interracial harmony among “tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue- eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans.” As he began to see that unity and brotherhood were not impossible realities between “the white and the non-white,” his fight for equal- ity never changed. It only be- came more inclusive.
In a letter to then Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) President James Farmer, Mal- colm, now El-Hajj Malik El- Shabazz, wrote, “I am still traveling, trying to broaden my mind, for I’ve seen too much of the damage narrow- mindedness can make of things, and when I return home to America, I will devote what energies I have to repair- ing the damage.”
Unfortunately, Malcolm X’s newfound approach to the pursuit of racial equality was cut short less than a year later under a fatal hail of bullets in Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom. But rather than end his jour- ney to mend our wounded na- tion, we can each walk a few steps in his remaining miles to ensure equality and justice for all.
Malcolm X To El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz: The Metamorphosis Of A Militant In Mecca
Closing The Wealth Gap: Reality Or Dream?
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5