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Has White put Hurtt on Blacks?

African American News&Issues’ distracters and critics either want to discredit our uncompromised Black perspectives, or just don’t get it. And our patience is growing thin with both mind sets. I don’t know how many times we’re expected to explain our prime directive and primary mission, but here we go again. First, and foremost, every Black newspaper’s prime directive is the same-- in 2004 America-- as it was in Freedom’s Journal’s March 16, 1827 inaugural edition, i.e., “In presenting our first number to poor Patrons, we feel all the diffidence of persons entering upon a new and untried line of business.

“But a moment's reflection upon the noble objects, which we have in view by the publication of this Journal; the expediency of its appearance at this time, when so many schemes are in action concerning our people-- encourage us to come boldly before an enlighten public (sic). For we believe, that a paper devoted to the dissemination of useful knowledge among our brethren, and to their moral and religious improvement, must meet with the cordial approbation, of every friend to humanity, We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the public (sic) been deceived by misrepresentations, in things which concern us dearly, though in the estimation of some are mere trifles for though there are many in society who exercise towards us benevolent feelings.

“Still (with sorrow we confess) there are others who make it their business to enlarge upon the least trifle...and denounce our whole body for the misconduct of this guilty one...It is our earnest wish to make our Journal a medium of intercourse between our brethren in the different states of this great confederacy: that through its columns an expression of our sentiments, on many interesting subjects which concern us, may be offered to the public (sic): that the plans which apparently are beneficial may be candidly discussed and properly weighed. Useful knowledge of every kind, and everything that relates to Africa, shall find a ready admission into our columns; and as that vast continent becomes fairly (sic) more known, we trust that many things will come to light, proving that the natives of it are neither so ignorant nor stupid as they have generally been supposed to be….

“In conclusion, whatever concerns us as a people, will ever find a ready admission into the FREEDOM'S JOURNAL, interwoven with all the principal news of the day....” You got that? Yes, I agree that as lofty as Black newspaper’s prime directive is, the response from our estimated 2 million readers, in five major Texas cities and unfathomable millions accessing our Web Page www.aframnews.com, we will venture to say that we’ve got that part covered. On the other hand, since we’re once again explaining the concept of editorializing from an uncompromised Black perspective, we’ve also satisfied our mission (to be a different kind of newspaper), that sadly is far too easy to do.

Quite frankly, we’ve achieved our mission simply by asking questions and reporting news and issues that the politically correct media refuses, or don’t know how to address without alienating the movers and shakers that swill from the public troth. So, if our editorial policy to, “Report all news without fear or favor” is unusual, it’s only because the other media don’t, or won’t objectively do what a free press is ideally obligated to do. Nevertheless, as I’ve explained many times, Publisher’s News Analysis is just what it implies it is…. My personal opinion--after coming to a conclusion-- about the news and issues that I’ve analyzed. And if you can remember my editorial, when Dr. Lee Patrick Brown became Houston, Texas’ first Black mayor, you know I called it dead right.

Race card aside, I have been watching Houston’s politics far too long to go for the diversity okay doke that Greater Houston Partnership tries to sell the nation. Just as I said, the same conservatives (that ambushed Rep. Sylvester Turner, with the help of it’s watchdog media), teamed up to make sure that Brown wouldn’t be a “strong mayor.” I even said that they would return to a City Manger government, before they allowed Brown to wield too much power. And I assure you, I still have the same insight into power politics, therefore I “ain’t,” stuttering when I say that it’s obvious (to me) that Bill White was handpicked to be a one-term mayor. Much like the western legend Wyatt Earp, the movers and shakers needed an effective, cold-blooded man to clean up a bad town.

And, like Earp, White assembled his own team. In case you don’t keep up with news-- that so greatly impact you and your children’s lives--as your watcher on the wall, I would be remiss not to share White’s team (“Task Force”) with you, which includes: Ed Wulfe, a builder and land developer; Lee Hogan, an Economist, the V.P. of Reliant Energy and first president of Greater Houston Partnership; David Saperstein, a transportation czar; Bill Sharman, one of the nation’s top hotel developers and John Walsh, a land developer and a past president of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, before it became Greater Houston Partnership. One could suggest that the high-powered “Task Force” represents Wyatt’s brothers, so all he needed was a Doc Holliday, a cold-blooded hired gun to watch his back.

However, he also needed one who could think like the city’s outlaw element (i.e., Black crooks specifically), sans a conscience. One who had no shame in his game when he has to abuse and misuse his own people. And where better to look for a cold-blooded lawman than Arizona, where Earp became a legend cleaning up Tombstone? Okay, I’m having a little fun with this, but I’m very serious when I ask the question: Why did Bill “Wyatt Earp” White go to Arizona to find the nation best available lawman to head HPD? That’s a hard question? But, asking hard questions (that no other media asks) is what African American News & Issues is obligated to do. So, I’ll ask again: Has White put Hurtt on the Black community?