Black Newspaper Stirs National Debate

LOCAL BLACK NEWSPAPER ASKS THE QUESTION "WHY CAN'T BLACKS WORK TOGETHER" AND STIRS COMMUNITY-WIDE DIALOGUE

Springfield, IL (BlackNews.com) - A local black newspaper, the Capital City Courier, has published a provocative cover story entitled Why Can't Blacks Work Together that created a buzz throughout its central Illinois circulation area that is now rippling across the nation. The question, posed to a wide array of local citizens via "man on the street" interviews, has brought to the surface a simmering debate within the local black community related to the seemingly stagnate nature of black progress in the local community which appears to mirror many communities throughout the country. The resulting community-wide dialogue that has been stirred will be followed-up in the Courier's next issue which will be devoted to seeking solutions to this perplexing issue.

"I simply wanted to put into print what was being expressed by blacks almost everyday in a number of ways throughout our community," stated Michael Pittman, the editor-in-chief of the Capital City Courier. "If we are going to see real progress on the issues that plague our black community, we must talk not only about what is being done to us, but what we may be doing to ourselves," he continued.

"Some have accused us of airing the black community's dirty laundry in public, but I say if the laundry needs cleaning then we shouldn't worry about who's watching," Pittman stated. "Especially if that laundry is represented by epic proportions of murder, drug abuse, economic devastation, neglected neighborhoods and sub-standard education," he continued.

Pittman expressed his desire to see meaningful solutions, strategies and commitments by blacks from every segment of the community emerge from dialogue that has resulted due to the article. "In fact, I hope this article spurs similar articles in black newspapers across America with a resulting nation-wide dialogue that ends in real results," Pittman concluded.

For additional information on the Capital City Courier or the Why Can't Blacks Work Together article, contact Michael Pittman at (217) 528-2998.


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good one, its clear that we cant if we cant actually respect differences of opinions and views within the black community. we think we have to all walk lock step with one party, one view point and one type of leadership and that leader hasnt done anything for us, but we refuse to even look at change, so we are stuck.

 

This is an old story. I couldn't agree with him more. The key to our very survival is to begin to look at ourselves first. Like Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror," we have to take a long look at ourselves and make a change. We must begin to set higher standards for ourselves in terms of education, careers, family, etc.

As for airing our dirty laundry, Bill Cosby is still being criticized for that one. But the fact is black people are our own worst enemies. We're the ones who put the "laundry" on the street corners for the whole world to see. So we can't complain one bit. But since it's out, let's deal with it like the good wholesome people that we are. We have to be bigger than this. Bigger than who we are now in order to get over our major issues.

 

why did Cosby catch flack for what is already on the streets, on the news, in the papers, in the schools? Cosby is trying to help us thats why. When Cosby gives money to UNCF, I dont hear black people whining and criticizing, but the money he says, hey we need to stop with the negative behaviors, negroes want to jump him.

I wouldnt give a plum nickel to those folks. I would only give money to organizations that want to see change in the black communities. Try C.O.R.E. or try individual nonprofits, Bill, stop tossing your pearls before swine, bro.

 

Truth is, the problem with unity is the reason why such articles in put into print from the git-go. This ranks up with my question in another thread about being able to rise and overcome with a 'Negro Slave" mentality...

and, yeah, it is OLD NEWS, but it's news that doesn't SEEM to get old, if you know what I mean.