As expected, Andrea Georgsson did not appreciate us analyzing her well-written “Sounding Board” opinion piece (“Education: what Blacks owe themselves”) that appeared in the August 25, 2002 edition of Houston’s only daily newspaper. And boy did she let us know how she felt about our rebuttal in no uncertain terms. Quite frankly, we actually had taken a mini-poll to determine whether she was Black or White before we chose her column for our Publisher’s News Analysis that appeared in African- American News&Issues’ Sept. 4-Sept. 10, 2002 edition.

Since many on our staff, including members of the publisher’s family, certainly were qualified to check the “mixed race” box on the 2000 Census form, it’s not an insult to admit that it was difficult to determine her ethnicity. Especially when her last name is Georgsson. Nevertheless, after talking with her on the phone, we had little doubt that she was not only an American of African descent, but also a full-fledged “sister.” Quite frankly I found myself admiring her spunk and even liking her fiery personality, although it was very difficult to convince her that it’s nothing personal if and/or when we attack what we determine to be insulting media propaganda or misinformation, that misrepresents our people.

Please don’t think that we are still attacking her, but we were led to revisit the point she made in her article-- when she wrote: “A Black American that puts education first would not tolerate a Rev. Harold Wilcox and his pathetic Prepared Table Charter School in Houston.” No truer words have ever been written, but we wish to expand on her ideology. AAN&I, in fact was established because we got tired of tolerating people who disrespect, abuse, pimp and fill their pockets with our hard earned consumer dollars under the guise of serving our community.

In essence, it’s time for African-Americans to have zero tolerance when it comes to people who think they can bull… (well let’s just say exploit) our community. Sure you’re right, if you think that City Councilman Michael Berry popped into my mind. However, I’m sure you agree that it really isn’t much different from politicians who get our votes by promising to serve in our community’s best interest, than a person who opens a school to educate our kids but fails to deliver. Exploitation is exploitation. And we don’t have to tell you that African-American neighborhoods throughout America are at the top of every exploitative scheme or boondoggle’s list.

We’re sick and tired of our young people’s future being ruined by the criminal justice system for the slightest mistake that they make. Thus, a “Black American” that puts equal justice first should not tolerate mean-spirited, soulless judges that routinely sentence Black males or females to three or four times more hard labor, or even probation, than their White counterparts for the same crimes. “A Black American” that puts fair treatment under the law first, should not tolerate zero tolerance, apartheid or “Gestapo” policing in our neighborhoods. “A Black American” that puts economic development first should not tolerate redlining, or restricted banking in America.

Need we even mention that a Black American” that puts the health and welfare of their love ones first, definitely shouldn’t tolerate how our people are being literally butchered and/or even murdered by an inefficient, uncaring, bottom line, public healthcare system that poses a much bigger threat to the quality of the lives of our young and old people than any weapon of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein could be building in some cave in Iraq. It goes without saying that a “Black American” that puts political representation first is absolutely insane to continue to allow greedy, self-serving politicians to play Russian Roulette with the health and welfare of our children, old folks and even us.

Naturally, we could go on and on-- adding new lyrics to the same tune-- but, since we are fortunate enough to have a publication that attracts highly conscious readers, who fully grasp the concept of a Black perspective, perhaps we should start over with education. Lest we forget, Prepared Table is just the tip of an enormous iceberg when it comes to questionable education. Fact is, we can start with America’s entire public school system. Although Prepared Table leaves a lot to be desired, one doesn’t have to walk very far or look very hard to find public schools in minority neighborhoods that are far more inadequate than the troubled charter school.
Hell, poor public schools in our ‘hoods, were the main reason an alleged charlatan like Wilcox was able to prepare a table for our kids’ desperately needed educational needs. Then again, we would not only be remiss (as Texas’ widest circulated newspaper with a Black perspective and Black America’s strongest editorial voice), if we didn’t admit that a “Black American” that puts a free and uncompromising press first would not tolerate the nation’s mass media to continuously brainwash our people’s minds with special interest propaganda, misinformation and often times downright lies to keep us divided and confused.

Finally, a “Black American” that puts truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth first, should not tolerate a media that doesn’t report all news without fear or favor and still represent itself as a creditable, uncompromised free press that’s ideally the backbone of the United State’s Democratic Republic. What I’m saying, without fear or favor is that African-American News&Issues puts truth first and we shall not tolerate anything less from our colleagues. So, suffice it to say, we promise Black Americans that we will put their right to know first, that we fully intend to keep on telling it like it is, because it’s like it is, whether we tell it or not.