News-Record.com

I'm not sure that the average listner makes any distinction between National Public Radio, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Public Radio International. I certainly couldn't tell you the difference.

Do your readers discern the difference between Reuters, AP, and other sources or is it all attributed to the N&R?

Allen, Smiley's analysis cannot be dismissed as a that of a disgruntled unsuccessful member of the NPR establishment. Too often in the US 'liberal' means 'tolerance' and 'tolerance' means lack of involvement and unwillingness to change.

Years ago during the racial tensions of the 60's, my African-American friends would challenge me to step away from the liberal label and become what they called 'radical'. By that they meant that a 'radical' was became an organic part of change while a 'liberal' simply observed or advocated change from the outside. At NPR, in Greensboro, in many places where we know that systemic change must take place, the liberals advocate and observe that the need is there but will not get their hands dirty and make it so.

Radicals are willing to risk their own comfort and livelihood for the sake of that change. NPR will not do that. Will Greensboro? Will Downtown Greensboro do what it takes to make our renovated downtown a welcoming place for everyone and not just whites? Will the Truth and Reconciliation Commission be willing to sacrifice their comfort for the sake of the Truth? Will the County Commissioners be willing to sacrifice their pride for the sake of the people of the County?

Liberals should learn something from our conservative friends. Many of them are willing to put themselves on the line for what they believe. Until liberals are ready to do the same, nothing will change.

You raise some interesting points, Michael. I have had many African American friends to become more exasperated by the hypocrisy of liberals than by the neglect of conservatives.

You know I never thought about it - but I prefer the PRI shows too. That's a little disappointing, somehow...

Is NPR too white? Why, it's a perfect parody of WASP liberalism (see SNL for documentation). Not quite as hysterical as moveon.org (also exceedingly white) or NOW (also exceedingly white), but white to its core. It's all about having the right attitudes, professing the right values, identifying with the right causes--and then rocking out with Mahler and a dry white wine (the latter not supplied by NPR). Politics as lifestyle, say.

In optimistic moments (as a conservative of the libertarian sort), I see a potential split of the black vote along these lines, but it won't happen until the canard of "conservative neglect" becomes something other than an assumption in the black community. Perhaps Bill Cosby can help.

Aren't you concerned about Tavis Smiley's statement that "It is ironic that a Republican president has an administration that is more inclusive and more diverse than a so-called liberal-media-elite network"? Doesn't that make an unfair assumption about Republicans? Tavis seems shocked that the Republican party, which has been advocating a colorblind society for years, would be more inclusive than liberals. And you don't even blink. The Bush administration is more racially diverse than ANY OTHER in history, yet they get no credit because there aren't any liberals of color. Double standard that is ignored by the N&R. How typical...

No, I am not concerned. Smiley's point was much the same as yours -- that liberals can often talk a better game than they deliver when it comes to the interests of African Americans.
That said, African Americans have a been a one-party voting bloc often to their detriment. The GOP has a huge opportunity to chip away at black loyalty to the Democrats, which has too often been unrequitted. But it will take more than a few highly placed black conservatives in lofty posts to accomplish that.

Being a liberal (I think so, at least) with no power (that, I'm certain of), I find this conversation quite interesting.

I have worked in a local technology company for many years, and the number of people "of color" that have been hired for high-paying work was small for many years. The conservative managers here made no effort to even interview non-white folks... until the feds started talking about affirmative action enforcement.

I can't help wondering just how much this diversity effort from the Republicans is more vote fishing than anything else.

Mind you, this is not to say that the Democrats have an inherent right to any block of votes. Of course, the Democratic Party hasn't always been the "liberal" group, particularly when it comes to race relations, have they?

A question just occurred to me: Exactly HOW "white" is NPR? If they have no programming that is aimed at blacks (or Hispanics, Asians, etc) that's one thing. But do they not have "people of color" on staff? Do they not produce stories that concern non-whites on their news shows? What is the extent of their race problem, do you think? Just wondering.

Eric makes an important point, although NPR programming tends to highlight people of color when they are talking about poverty issues and whites when they are talking economic issues. However, my point earlier is still alive: it is very easy to point the finger at NPR. How about turning on ourselves? When was the last time any white liberal Greensboro resident ventured into East GSO and had a comfortable dinner with his wife and kids? Or, how many bloggers wax poetic about the multi-cultural diversity of the Wendover Wal-mart as opposed to the monochrome Elm Street Empire Room? Our nostalgia for a revitalized downtown may be as much a rejection of the reality of our diverse world as it is an affirmation of the architectural beauty of those buildings.

"When was the last time any white liberal Greensboro resident ventured into East GSO and had a comfortable dinner with his wife and kids? "

Let's see here... being white and liberal, and a pretty steady patron of restaurants, I'm intrigued by this question. Since Red Lobster and Darryl's relocated west from Church St, and the collapse of Carolina Circle, I've not seen any interesting places in that area of town.

Since I LIVE here, it has always ticked me off, having to trek across town to get to a nice place. If you could point out some restaurants I could try out that are sort of comparable to, say, Applebee's or Ham's, I'd count it as a great favor. See you there!

Perhaps you have made my point, Eric. There needs to be a commitment in this city to move beyond lip service to investment in other parts of our community besides the Northwest sector.

Who will subsidize theses businesses when they fail? The N&R did a story several months ago about businessess investing in East Greensboro. Many plans were nixed and many businesses that tried failed for lack of clientele and crime. You have to go where the money is to stay in business. It is not the role of government to subsidize businesses that would otherwise fail to make some liberals feel better.
That said, I had a really good meal at the historic Coffee Cup in Charlotte with a friend of mine who has a financial interest in the business.
The Coffee Cup is one of the oldest historical soul food restaurants in North Carolina. It has been around for more than 50 years and the food is great. However, the Coffee Cup has history on its side where other restaurants will not.
To put this line of comments in context, a better gauge of race relations would be to visit an Applebees, or Ham's or any other restaurant on Battleground Avenue and take note of how many whites and blacks are customers. I think you will find that they are all well integrated which tends to show that as minorities make gains, they too are leaving areas such East Greensboro. Yet, the liberal guilt crowd chooses to ignore the growing black middle class and ignore the integration that we see every day at restaurants and other businesses every day. Why does one need to go to East Greensboro to purge their guilt and prove they are enlightened?

Exactly, Eric. Investment in areas in GSO other than the Northwest side or the Wendover corridor should be a priority for our City Council and County Commission, and I believe that the only way to see that happen is for the white liberal establishment to push for it.

To say that there is a growing black middle class continues to avoid the question. Greensboro has become more than a city divided along white and African-American lines. We have a large underserved Latino population, Native Americans, Vietnamese, Montangards, Bosnians, etc, etc. The white population is still the majority in the area, but that percentage showed a 6% decline to 55% in 2000 and it continues to decrease.

This is not an issue of 'white liberal guilt' as Mr. Spagnola claims. It's a matter of economic and social reality. Unless we recognize that the world of 2010 and beyond will be radically different than the one we are used to, than we willl not be prepared to face its challenges.

Nice rhetoric, but fails nicely to explain how forcing businesses into a proven risky situation is the solution. Actually, it sounds a bit fascist to me in the truest sense of the word - liberals should make government force private enterprises to invest where they otherwise would not. Why not just have the government open their own restaurant there? The previous writer too clearly dismisses the black middle class as not relevant. Further, it is not just the middle class that integrates on a daily basis, and it is not just blacks and whites that interact on Battleground Ave. each day. There are people of all races and income brackets. And why is the burden always shifted white America? Why don't you lament that blacks or other minorities never seem to eat out in Northwest Greensboro? Probably because it's not true, and the reason it is not true is becuase that's where all the restaurants are! So even the people who live in East Greensboro go somewhere else, just like the folks in Stokesdale, Oak Ridge and Summerfield do. But somehow it's the white man's fault for not wanting to visit East Greensboro. No, it's liberal guilt and propaganda pure and simple

Making the statement "Unless we recognize that the world of 2010 and beyond will be radically different than the one we are used to, than we willl not be prepared to face its challenges" has nothing to do with the discussion. How exactly would following this "advice" accomplish something? In other words, let's say we take this advice and "recognize" the world of 2010, what exactly should we DO?

Words mean things, and this sounds like something out of a textbook with no real solution. Okay, we "recognize" it, now what? A restaurant in East Greensboro, or driving through town is hardly a real solution. It's just more phony social consciousness rhetoric from the Left who usually are only out to make theirselves feel better about theirselves from atop their ivory tower of piety.

Mr. Spagnola, reread my posts, and you will see that I say nothing about 'forcing' businesses to do anything. Nor do I claim to be a white liberal as you are the one who is doing the labeling, not me. I am white, and I vote Democratic, but I hate the label liberal as much as I hate all other labels. Please do not pigeon-hole me. Granted in earlier posts I used that term for the purposes of illustration, but I have never really met anyone who fit the bill.

I do have specific suggestions on how Greensboro can respond to the needs of our citizens who are part of our changing city - note how similar they are to the approach taken to attract Dell and others into the area:
1. Tax breaks for businesses that locate in underserved areas
2. Tax incentives for businesses that will employ workers from low income areas
3. Encouragement of businesses to support charitable causes like Habitat for Humanity by raising the limit on corporate contributions
4. Low cost enterprise loans for small businesses in low income areas , etc, etc

These are not new ideas and where they have been tried aggressively, they have worked. To do them takes risk-oriented leadership.

You claim that I have dismissed the African American and other non-white middle class as non-consequential. It is, like all middle classes, not inconsequential to our economy and I am not dismissing it at all. The important and essential difference is that intra-class mobility is severely limited for all but the white majority. This is fact and we all know it. The reason for this is imbedded racism, but what can overcome that is an educated populace and a healthy economy. I believe that the only way to get both of those is through economiuc development in the neighborhoods where the people live. That's why I am an advocate for these kinds of programs.

Mr. Christopher writes:

"The important and essential difference is that intra-class mobility is severely limited for all but the white majority. This is fact and we all know it. The reason for this is imbedded racism, but what can overcome that is an educated populace and a healthy economy."

This is another assumption ("we all know it") with no facts to support it. "imbedded (sic) racism" ? Not only is your assumption about the problem not supported by any facts, neither is your alleged reason for the problem. You can label something any way you want, but until you can establish a significant causal link, it is nothing more than activist rhetoric.

I am not blind to the problems that may exist, but I am sick of the finger pointing and baseless assertions. If it makes you feel better to believe that there is an insidious racism in Greensboro, more power to you. Every one needs a raison d' etre.

Likewise, sir, if you would choose to deny that racism is an ongoing issue in our culture, then your head is indeed in the sand. Embedded racism means racism that is historically ingrained in the culture - through inferior schools, substandard housing and inadequate government services. While opportunities for almost everyone may have improved over the years, historical mistreatment and underspending have left some parts of our community so far behind that it is almost impossible for them to catch up without special and concerted efforts. Such efforts have not been forthcoming because we would rather deny that real discrimination ever happened. That denial, in my mind, in and of itself constitutes a subtle but poisonous form of racism.

I do not subscribe to the notion that because of past ills we should hang our head in the corner and feel guilty. I am not that kind of white 'liberal'. I believe that we need to take action as a community to prevent the pain of racism from returning and create infrastructures in minority communties which encourage education and economic development.

Incidentally, I am not fingerpointing. Saying that there is racism is a statement of fact. If that is hard to believe, then go down to the county courts and count the number of young african americans as opposed to whites who have been caught with drugs. Then go undercover to Grimsley or Northwest for a day and see how many white kids are using and dealing. Frankly, the numbers are staggering at every high school in the city. Why, then, are there more blacks then whites being arrested?

If the current administration has its way, there won't be a Corporation for Public Broadcasting before long, and NPR will go with it.

Hello everyone! This is a very interesting thread.

I have lived and have been apart of NE GSO since 1981. I grew up in Claremont Courts that's off of Patio Pl.

I graduate form Page in 1989 and upon graduation I joined the Marines. I spent ten years in the Corps. I spent my last three years in Japan. I got back to the states in 1998.

When I returned back to the neighbourhood I saw total devastation.

The streets are filled with crime, crack, HIV/Aids and our kids walking the streets when they should have been in school.

I attend the neighbourhood meetings. I'm there when the police officers make statements about cleaning up the neighbourhood, however they don't really have no concerned about making the effort to do so.They state that they don't have the man power. We have had citizen's like Lewis Byers suggested that surveillance cameras be placed in the areas of high crimes. We were told that it would be in the budget to do something like that. This was my statement to them "with all the money that the city spends on BS, it would lead a person to think that there wasn't a budget."

This side of town is really in bad shape and it seem that there's not any of our representatives for District 2 are actually concerned about it. This is a great disappointment. I see it every day.

I feel that it is ultimately the citizens of Greensboro that allow for this to happen. The reason that I say this is because I have attend many of Greensboro's City Council, County Commissioners and Board of Education meetings and I have seen it first hand, that there is a need for change. Our governmental representatives are taking the taxpayers vote for granite not only the vote but the taxpayers dollars also and there hasn't been anyone stand up and say that this is enough. We the people are not going to stand for anymore misrepresentation

Everything has moved away form this side of town. When the business moved out of the neighbourhood that's when the crime rate begin to rise

I've learned that the first thing any person must do is hold themselves accountable for their actions. Racism will always be here. The best way to combat racism is to expose the racists for who they really are, to pressure the Authority to take action, and to not support their "way of life" until fair changes are met. It takes a lot of unity and personal sacrifice. The problem is not always the "other man", the "recession", or the differences between black men and woman.

When you all get a chance stop by Kut Kreations Barbershop located at 2100 B Phillips Ave come and listen to the conversations about the concerns of the community and Greensboro.

We as citizens have to get involved in what's going on. For me it's not about a polical party, it's about HUMANITY!

Tavis Smiley's and NPR ALOL, he talks the talk but does he walk the walk? Don't talk me to dealth.
It's time for action!

Are you part of the solution or are you part of the problem? Let's make that change together! ThatsWhatzUp!

That's what I've been saying, Jerry about embedded racism. Unless we recognize that our spending priorities express our cultural preferences and prejudices we can't make changes. All the rhetoric at Council and Commission meetings is worthless without commitment. We need voices from the Northeast AND Northwest sides saying the same thing: all citizens deserve a fair chance at education, health and housing.

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