Has anyone been listening to Tavis Smiley on Tom Joyner lately?
Sorors and Friends,
Do any of you listen to Tavis Smiley on the Tom Joyner Morning Show each week? Lately he has been discussing a topic which affects us all...the future of HBCU's. For those of you who don't get Tom Joyner, the following is a summary of what's going on:
(From the Tom Joyner website)
"Historically Black Colleges and Universities have come under direct fire by Congressional Republicans.
As Tavis Smiley has pointed out in his last few commentaries Republican Congressman John Boehner and Education Committee Republicans have restructured the committee in a way that is detrimental to the future of HBCUs. Currently HBCU issues are determined by the Education Committee. Republicans now want HBCUs to fall under a new committee which focuses on social programs.
First of all, Historically Black Colleges and Universities are not social programs. Secondly, taking into consideration the Republicans' record on social programs, placing HBCU's under this category almost guarantees their demise. And this is only the first attack on a series of things that are near and dear to the hearts of African Americans in this country, like Affirmative Action, voting rights and representation in the U.S. Census count.
We have to let our voices be heard loud and clear on this issue. We cannot listen to the rhetoric. Congressman Boehner's office is telling some callers that Tavis and I are giving out the wrong information on this issue, yet he refuses to come on the radio or on Tavis' television program to set the record straight. As Tavis has said, if the Congressman believes so strongly in this new committee, why won't he publicly defend his beliefs? Instead, he proposes that we speak to black Republican Congressman J.C. Watts about the issue, even though Congressman Watts has absolutely nothing to do with the Education Committee or the newly created committee! It seems that he's insinuating that we'll take the news easier if we hear it from a black man, even though he is a conservative Republican.
Let's keep trying until we change some minds on this issue that is so crucial to the future of HBCUs. Tavis and I have contacted the presidents of each HBCU and asked them to get behind this issue by personally writing Congressman Boehner.
By the way, the number to Congressman Boehner's office is (202) 225-6205. Keep calling! And while you're at it, call J.C. Watts too and tell him to urge Congressman Boehner to come on our show. Congressman Watts' number is (202) 225-6165. "
For the past week, Tavis has been doing a roll call of HBCU's who have sent letters to this particular Congressman. Out of over 100 schools, roughly 20 have sent letters.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you support these efforts, or have HBCU's outlasted their purpose?
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The Women of Zeta Phi Beta...Simply Irresistible!!!!!!!!!!!
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