Friday, March 07, 2008

Co-Opting Or Disrespecting The Dream???

Tha Artivist Writes:

Hey Fam,

I just wanted to provide you all two stories of the same side to show you how our perspectives are shaped and influenced by the media...By the way I am the "local activist loudly attempted to address the departing members"...Lol...

By the way I am friends with Bro. Preston Lauterbach, the author of both versions...Lol...

Both versions were put out by the alternative Memphis media darling known as The Memphis Flyer, one in their weekly print edition and both were available online...I guess even they, players in the local media, couldn't decide which version of the story for the general public to read or rather how they should read it...

However, why put out two almost identical versions of the same story for the general public?

Also peep out the different titles for each story...Are they trying to play both sides of the fence??? Not trying to offend current and potential Corporate ad sponsors who keep their free paper afloat and who currently sit on the NCRM Board???

More importantly I would also like you all to focus on the story itself...

40 years later is "The Dream Dead On Arrival???"

Critical Thinking Is Essential For Mutual Progress...


Civil Rights Museum Board Names New Members At Contentious Meeting


By PRESTON LAUTERBACH

The National Civil Rights Museum board of directors announced eight new members at a public meeting Thursday evening to an audience of 50, including museum founders Chuck Scruggs and D'Army Bailey, and local activist Deke Pope.

The board has been criticized lately for favoring corporate-linked membership over members with civil rights movement experience. The Lorraine Civil Rights Museum Community Oversight Committee, a grassroots group unaffiliated with the museum, offered numerous nominations of its own. Meanwhile, the state of Tennessee -- the museum owner -- included board membership guidelines in the recent lease agreement with the museum board.

The state mandated a 60 percent African-American membership, which the board met with its new nominees, as well as representation from a number of specific categories.

The eight new members: State representative Johnny Shaw from Hardeman County fulfills the state legislator requirement; local director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Dorothy Crook represents labor; former Martin Luther King Jr. speech-writer Clarence Jones represents civil rights scholarship; while Urban Child Institute member Kenya Bradshaw, Southern Christian Leadership Conference president Dwight Montgomery, and Crichton College's Darryl Tukufu represent civil rights and community activists. Additional nominees include FedEx Senior Vice President Cathy Ross and pastor Gina Stewart.

Following the meeting, the board opened the floor to public feedback for 20 minutes, with two minutes alloted per speaker. A number of civil rights movement foot soldiers came forward with prayers and calls to support the museum and its mission despite the outside criticism. "There was innocent blood shed in this city," Dr. Jerry Jones declared, "and it has got to be paid for. It's not going to be paid for with people playing games," he said, in reference to the controversy.

Charles Todd, a former critic of the board's make-up said that the public should look into the work of the museum before passing judgment. "I don't think it's y'all's fault," he told the board members. "A lot of it is our fault as a community. We did not know how this museum worked. A lot of times, when you start talking with each other, you can get some things done. If I can do anything to volunteer and help this organization I would be glad to do so."

"I think it's time for this city to come together," said Robert Harris, longtime local minister and former civil rights marcher, "with the same mind and the same goals. Until we do that, I don't think anything will be accomplished."

Former NCRM marketing director Judith Black added, "So much of the publicity about this place is negative. It"s hard to get the positive word out if you're having to fight the negative."

Laurice Smith, the chairperson of the Lorraine Civil Rights Museum Oversight Committee, ran well over her allotted time-period while criticizing the museum board's reluctance to clear its nominations with the oversight committee.

Board member Maxine Smith (no relation), 79-year-old former NAACP executive director and decorated civil rights veteran, clarified the fact that the state lease makes no stipulation for the board negotiating or communicating with any other body in its internal business.

The meeting adjourned, though a protester approached the board members shouting "This is class-ism," while another local activist loudly attempted to address the meeting as it dispersed.

--Preston Lauterbach


OR


Still A Struggle
National Civil Rights Museum Board Meeting Is Anything But Boring.
By PRESTON LAUTERBACH

In front of an audience that included museum founders Chuck Scruggs and D'Army Bailey, the National Civil Rights Museum board of directors announced eight new board members at a meeting last week.

The board has been criticized for privileging corporate membership over community activists with experience in the civil rights movement. In November of last year, the state of Tennessee — the museum's owner — included board membership guidelines in its new lease agreement with the museum board.

Under that agreement, the state mandated that 60 percent of board members be African-American and that the board represent a number of specific special interests. State representative Johnny Shaw from Hardeman County represents the state legislature; local director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Dorothy Crook represents labor; former Martin Luther King Jr. speech writer Clarence Jones represents civil rights scholarship; while Urban Child Institute member Kenya Bradshaw, Southern Christian Leadership Conference president Dwight Montgomery, and Crichton College's Darryl Tukufu represent civil rights and community activists. Additional new members include FedEx Express senior vice president Cathy Ross and pastor Gina Stewart.

Following the meeting, the board opened the floor for 20 minutes of public feedback, with two minutes per speaker. A number of civil rights foot soldiers came forward with prayers and calls to support the museum and its mission despite the outside criticism.

"I think it's time for this city to come together," said longtime local minister and former civil rights marcher Robert Harris, "with the same mind and the same goals. Until we do that, I don't think anything will be accomplished."

Former museum marketing director Judith Black added, "So much of the publicity about this place is negative. It's hard to get the positive word out if you're having to fight the negative."

As the meeting adjourned, however, a protester approached the board members, shouting "This is class-ism." Another local activist loudly attempted to address the departing members.

*Listen To Judge D'Army Bailey Discuss The NCRM In Crisis On W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Radio:
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