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Cynth'ya Lewis Reed, click here
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In reference to the article in the Muncie (Indiana) Star Press on alternatives for naming a main street after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What did Dr. King mean when he said ''Free At Last?'' Only in a socialistic society does a community have to have everything decided by "the acceptable few." Knowing Muncie''s history of race relations as I do from both observation and personal experience as of late, again, the proposed Martin Luther King Jr. Institute will be just another political skirt that our local leaders and hand-picked followers will use as a hiding place to ditch the real reasons why we are at odds over a street name.
If Muncie really wants to operate as a free and equal community, then why do minorities always have to "jump through hoops" in yet another proposed institution, prompted by federal intervention because people don''t have the intelligence to get along unless an outsider from the government tells us what common sense dictates? Institutes alone never healed racism. Only with decades of change can racism even begin to disappear, for improved community relations cannot be guaranteed with a few signatures on a formal proposal.
Ecomonic acceptance starts in executive board rooms.
Perhaps we should all just look to the lessons and errors of the past to learn what to do next as a city. During post civil war Reconstruction in the late 1800s, the U.S. government under a separatist sympathizer known as President Andrew Johnson dismantled everything that was proposed by General Sherman to heal the split between the north and the south. The southerners never wanted the freedmen to have access to anything unless they controlled the strings.
History proves that empowerment can not be achieved by accept by revolutionary change in attitude and action. Unless the proposed Martin Luther King Jr. Institute becomes more than an ace bandage solution to cover up the boo-boos of Muncie''s masked racial tensions, then like the Reconstruction, it too will be nothing more than a puppet dancing to the whims of the masters.
If that was the case, then tell UPS they can deliver my 40 acres and a mule anytime, next day delivery.
© 2004 by cynth''ya lewis reed
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE IN STAR PRESS:
King Institute Could Help
Empower Minorities
By RICK YENCER
ryencer@thestarpress.com
Authors Den Members Encouraged send Letters to the Editor at letters@thestarpress.com
MUNCIE - As proposed in a federal mediation agreement, a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Institute could offer the minority community a clearinghouse for jobs, education and other opportunities.
George Saunders, director of the Citywide Church Network, offered a genesis of the institute concept last summer when talking with Willie Jackson, pastor of Union Missionary Baptist Church, about ways to honor the slain civil rights leader other than renaming a street.
"Would it not be great to provide minority employment scholarships or an incubator for minority-owned businesses?" Saunders said recently, paraphrasing his conversation with Jackson.
Jackson said he didn''t recall the word institute being used, but said he thought combining all the efforts under one roof would be "a great tribute and effort at reconciliation."
Cynthia Johnson - whose family moved to Muncie a couple of years ago - said she believed more employment opportunities, especially for young African Americans, were needed in the community.
Johnson''s daughter, Christiner, repeatedly tried to get hired at Ball State University and also applied for a teaching job with Muncie Community Schools. The young African American woman finally took a teaching job with Indianapolis Public Schools after failing to find a job locally.
"It is hard for young blacks to come into the community and get a good-paying job," Cynthia Johnson said.
According to the mediation agreement, the local MLK Jr. Institute would work with business and government to ensure minority employment and also help establish minority-owned business.
James Nave, pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church, said he also hoped the institute would a "living memorial" to Dr. King, making the community aware of different cultures locally and addressing their needs.
The institute would be a clearinghouse for employment, education and other programs aimed at minorities, rather than an advocacy group, according to Aamir Shabazz, director of the Muncie Islamic Center.
"The impact could be tremendous," said Shabazz. "This could become the national model for social and educational development."
Mayor Dan Canan, who signed the mediation agreement, said he saw the institute as a stand-alone facility, funded by a mix of public and private funds.
"I hope it will be a clearinghouse for people interested in serving on boards and commissions, besides those interested in being recruits for the police and fire departments," Canan said.
Bringing people together also would be an important part of the institute, city and community leaders agreed.
The first step of establishing the institute will be forming an ad hoc committee by this spring. That group will draft a plan, find a location and obtain funding for the facility.
Ball State University also is expected to be involved in the development of the institute, and Shabazz believed other partnerships should come from community organizations and other groups.
Members of the city and community teams that mediated the agreement will meet Thursday to discuss how the institute and other initiatives will be advanced.
Contact news reporter Rick Yencer at 213-5833.
Mediation agreement
The formation of a Martin Luther King Jr. Institute was an element of a recent federal mediation agreement: Martin Luther King Jr. Institute
The City of Muncie is committed to honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The city and community teams agree that establishment of the Martin Luther King Jr. Institute is important for improving overall racial relations and opportunities in Muncie. The development of the institute will begin in January 2004 and will be a long-range plan and joint effort by the city and community teams.
A. GOAL
The institute will empower minorities to become full and equal participants in the political, economic, educational and social life of Delaware County.
B. OBJECTIVES
Promote educational opportunities for minorities, provide scholarships and other advocacy for minority education.
Empower minorities to engage in the political process
Work with business and government to ensure fair minority employment
Establish minority-owned businesses and provide current businesses with technical help and capital.
Develop an outreach program to identify minority candidates and being a liaison to bring candidates and organizations together.
Work to change attitudes to improve race relations and intervene with all youth to encourage positive race relations.
C. FUNDING, LOCATION, ORGANIZATION
The institute will be funded by a combination of public funds, foundation grants and private donations besides other state and federal funds.
A location will be determined later
A five-member ad hoc committee will be established to determine funding and organization by the spring of 2004.
Ball State University will be asked to evaluate the institute to determine its effectiveness.
SOURCE: Mediation agreement between the city and community teams facilitated by the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service. Dec. 5, 2003
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