It's become my biggest habit. After daily searching for my name on the Obit page in the News and Observer, I check my pulse for accuracy. Then, if the headline seems misleading enough, I'll read an article.Like the one in today’s edition entitled Blacks Voices Quiet regarding next week's Wake County School Board election.
This title is meant to alarm. And is another in the continuing saga of the N&O to stifle some voices, whenever possible. Once again, noting my heartbeat, I felt it was strong (and safe) enough to laugh.
The idea that the News and Observer thinks that my voice has been quiet.
Perhaps with a different reporter they are trying to put another spin on the outcome of next week's school board election. Today they insinuate that parents like Ms. Coleman (the black mother who fought to have her children NOT bused to Cary nor Apex from Southeast Raleigh) are of the minority opinion.
Actually, Ms. Coleman's speaking up is very courageous.
Remember former school board member Beverly Clark (still angry for never being chosen by her peers to chair the school board)? And Wake Ed Partnership head Ann Dellinger (former Wake School staffer who failed as Superintendent of Durham Schools)? Their well-heeled buddies have insisted that black parents don't mind where or how far their children are bused! That they are, indeed, happy for the twice daily journey!
N&O reporters really need to send out reporters who black parents will comfortably talk to. There are many more parents who care about where, and how far, their children are bused to school. Unfortuntately, they know the sting of being targeted when they disagree with the 'leaders'.
Today's reporter also, unwittingly, included the black North Raleigh parent whose child benefits from attending a school in Southeast Raleigh. Benefits because it was the parent’s CHOICE! Not forced!
So, the first I told you so is what I've portended for months: all black parents do NOT favor excessive, unnecessary busing!
The second I told you so, goes to the issue of the newly formed Citizens for Good Government and Dean Debnam's Public Policy Polling. Dean, who supposedly has polled voters apparently didn’t like the numbers. After all, he hasn't released any. Which led him to setting up this last minute political action committee (PAC). His political ads tells viewers not to vote for Prickett, Goldman nor Malone.
The PAC doesn’t require a campaign report until after the election. Which he’ll write up after he probably collects enough money to pay himself back.
While the N&O doesn’t recognize me as having a ‘black voice’ (despite our 25 year relationship with reporting), perhaps they will accept this blog for the words that they can’t hear from others.
Blacks in Southeast Raleigh did not appreciate the Democratic Party pretending to hear their voice in the selection of former Representative Dan Blue to replace the late State Senator Vernon Malone.
Blacks were equally appalled that former Wake School Board member Rosa Gill was ‘chosen’ to replace Dan Blue in the NC House.
Massive numbers of other blacks are dutifully angry that Keith Sutton, who had not done anything in SE Raleigh was ‘chosen’ by a full panel of all ‘white’ school board members, while they were behind the other eight of us candidates.
Remember how I was the first to announce seeking Rosa’s seat on the Wake School Board? That my voice was the most reported from the assignment mess to the school board meetings? Yet, the N&O was the first to say that my selection didn’t stand a ‘snow ball’s chance in hell’.
And neither did theirs.
One thing remains certain about election day, Tuesday, October 6:
This title is meant to alarm. And is another in the continuing saga of the N&O to stifle some voices, whenever possible. Once again, noting my heartbeat, I felt it was strong (and safe) enough to laugh.
The idea that the News and Observer thinks that my voice has been quiet.
Perhaps with a different reporter they are trying to put another spin on the outcome of next week's school board election. Today they insinuate that parents like Ms. Coleman (the black mother who fought to have her children NOT bused to Cary nor Apex from Southeast Raleigh) are of the minority opinion.
Actually, Ms. Coleman's speaking up is very courageous.
Remember former school board member Beverly Clark (still angry for never being chosen by her peers to chair the school board)? And Wake Ed Partnership head Ann Dellinger (former Wake School staffer who failed as Superintendent of Durham Schools)? Their well-heeled buddies have insisted that black parents don't mind where or how far their children are bused! That they are, indeed, happy for the twice daily journey!
N&O reporters really need to send out reporters who black parents will comfortably talk to. There are many more parents who care about where, and how far, their children are bused to school. Unfortuntately, they know the sting of being targeted when they disagree with the 'leaders'.
Today's reporter also, unwittingly, included the black North Raleigh parent whose child benefits from attending a school in Southeast Raleigh. Benefits because it was the parent’s CHOICE! Not forced!
So, the first I told you so is what I've portended for months: all black parents do NOT favor excessive, unnecessary busing!
The second I told you so, goes to the issue of the newly formed Citizens for Good Government and Dean Debnam's Public Policy Polling. Dean, who supposedly has polled voters apparently didn’t like the numbers. After all, he hasn't released any. Which led him to setting up this last minute political action committee (PAC). His political ads tells viewers not to vote for Prickett, Goldman nor Malone.
The PAC doesn’t require a campaign report until after the election. Which he’ll write up after he probably collects enough money to pay himself back.
While the N&O doesn’t recognize me as having a ‘black voice’ (despite our 25 year relationship with reporting), perhaps they will accept this blog for the words that they can’t hear from others.
Blacks in Southeast Raleigh did not appreciate the Democratic Party pretending to hear their voice in the selection of former Representative Dan Blue to replace the late State Senator Vernon Malone.
Blacks were equally appalled that former Wake School Board member Rosa Gill was ‘chosen’ to replace Dan Blue in the NC House.
Massive numbers of other blacks are dutifully angry that Keith Sutton, who had not done anything in SE Raleigh was ‘chosen’ by a full panel of all ‘white’ school board members, while they were behind the other eight of us candidates.
Remember how I was the first to announce seeking Rosa’s seat on the Wake School Board? That my voice was the most reported from the assignment mess to the school board meetings? Yet, the N&O was the first to say that my selection didn’t stand a ‘snow ball’s chance in hell’.
And neither did theirs.
One thing remains certain about election day, Tuesday, October 6:
Blacks voters all over Wake County will show that they do not speak with one voice. They have individual opinions. And a strong willingness to no longer be taken for granted.
Here's my future I told you so:
News and Observer publisher Orage Quarles has a choice. Either replace his editorial staff, which has lost the public's confidence.
Or continue accepting a dwindling subscriber base.
Here's my future I told you so:
News and Observer publisher Orage Quarles has a choice. Either replace his editorial staff, which has lost the public's confidence.
Or continue accepting a dwindling subscriber base.
2 comments:
Oh Venita, don't you know that according to Chuck Dulaney and Horace Tart low income parents won't participate in their child's education no matter how close they are to a school? See, they know best.
Here's another Black leader that doesn't support the current WCPSS diversity policy, Bill Randall, candidate for US Congress, NC-13th district.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CNiIj-EzeQ
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