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Ron Jackson's Perspective
The Sunday Journal -
Think
Kankakee, Illinois
March 3, 2002
Headline needs no
apologies |
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The 2002 Winter Olympics are
over and I did not watch one second of it. I don't know what
event, but I know that Vonetta Flowers won a gold medal. Why
do I have that information? The media told me over and over
again that Ms. Flowers is black and she is the first black American
to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics.
Why was it so important that Ms. Flowers' race was the
main issue? Because February is Black History Month in America
and everything is about being black during this month. In
February, if you are not black, your contributions to this country
are not noteworthy. Blacks are the only race in this country
that has a month-long, public period of acknowledgment based
entirely on race. Irish is part of my ancestry too, but the
Irish only get one silly little day in March.
During the past month I attended a couple of Black
History Month events. I even participated in one. I
heard about every contribution blacks have made to America from the
invention of the ironing board to peanut butter. I saw a book
titled, Black Firsts, that listed 3,000 black accomplishments from
the first black dart champion to the first black rodeo champion and
2,998 other firsts. That is too much irrelevant information
for me. But it's Black History Month, so it's OK.
Now we are in the month of March and I am confused.
Why did this publication apologize for a February headline about a
positive black person in our community? I read the story about
Mr. Hollice Clark's appointment to the BBCHS board only because of
the headline.
The "BBCHS board selects black" headline was factual.
It was positive. It was effective. The story proved a
lot of people wrong.
On several occasions, I have heard from many blacks in
this community about how racist the Bradley and Bourbonnais
communities are towards blacks. I was informed that Bradley
and Bourbonnais didn't want blacks involved. Disputing those
claims alone made the headline very relevant. It didn't demean
Mr. Clark's accomplishment. It caused me to read on to find
out how a black man achieved what I was told was impossible.
Had the headline read, "BBCHS board selects Clark", I
would have missed the opportunity to learn about an upstanding,
community-involved and caring citizen. I would also have
missed the chance to prove to some folks I know that blacks are
welcomed and participating and doing well in Bradley and
Bourbonnais.
I am confused as to why anyone would be offended about
a story that shows racial progress is still being made in our
community. I am more confused why the Journal apologized for
doing the right thing.
I am only a guest columnist for the Daily Journal.
I regret I was not the receptionist that fielded the irate calls
from those offended by the Clark headline. Had I been, it
would have been history making.
"Hello. Thank you for calling the Daily Journal.
This is Ron Jackson. Are you calling about the Clark headline?
What do you know about Jackie Robinson? He was the first black
what? That is what I thought you said. Good-bye."
"Hello. Thank you for calling the Daily Journal.
This is Ron Jackson. Have you called the U.S. Winter Olympic
Committee and TV networks about Vonetta Flowers?"
"Hello. This is Ron Jackson. Are you
offended about all the black crack babies being born and black kids
that can't read?"
"Hello. This is Ron Jackson."
"Hello?" |
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