SOBER THOUGHTS

The question of why a black newspaper is desirable in our community, has come up on several occasions.   Without question, the first reason is to educate and to empower African Americans with the culturally-specific knowledge needed to establish and maintain an acceptable level of political, social and economic progress. 

Those of us who are watching, and understand the reality of black life, recognize the decline in black economic progress for what it is.  It is symptomatic of a grave illness that has infected many African American people resulting in detachment from the struggles of yester-year.  Among our folks― especially youth― there is a shameful lack of appreciation for the struggle that practically every black person went through trying to get ahead. 

One major reason is the intentional failure of the general media to address issues that directly impact black life.  Another lies in the fact that neither public nor private schools are being compelled (either by law or by the citizenry) to incorporate black history, or black newspapers in their classroom curricula, and not apologizing for their attitude about it.  They have never, nor do they currently care that black children are not being properly exposed to information that provides some cultural identity for them.  But, the most discouraging truth of the matter is that a lot of our own folks acquiesce with the long-standing practice of institutional racism, by passively rejecting the idea of black empowerment. 
We believe that because we are committed to taking positive action in that direction, we ought to have the full, complete support of African Americans in every community.    If you are not reading The People’s Voice, we believe that you OUGHT to be reading it.   We don’t apologize for our attitude, because we are finding that black folks by and large, aren’t reading much of ANYTHING.   And it’s frightening!  Are we really that careless and unconcerned?  
Rather than to consider us as an “afterthought,” we want to be considered FIRST.   We should be the first to come to mind, when and if anything important is happening in our culture and community.   But, we find that many of our people are still infected and affected with the slave mentality, thinking that whatever we do will be inferior.  Or just not thinking about us at all. 
It has been said that we are our own worst enemy.  As badly as I hate to believe that…at times, I’m forced to believe it.
Truth is, it will be inferior  as long as our own people ignore us…we create a self-fulfilling prophecy, dooming ourselves to failure, because WE didn’t consider it important, what our own constituency had to say; because WE continued to take our stories to other papers FIRST, instead of bringing them to our own; because WE considered ourselves LAST, after everybody else had gotten ahold of it; then we subject ourselves to harsh criticism because we didn’t have the information early enough.  
After a full year of publication, as a black news media, we ought to be, and could and should be ON TOP OF OUR GAME right now.   But, when somebody recently told me to consider the fact that a lot of blacks are sitting back waiting for The People’s Voice to flop, I was quite taken by shock…. And I thought  “No, not in this day.”    But, I had to re-think my reaction.  Then, I had to think about where we’ve come from.  And I thought again, “Maybe.”
Black folks, we don’t even realize our own power!  However, right now it is more necessary than ever that we USE that power, to liberate ourselves and our youngsters.  Contrary to popular belief, we are not FREE!!  
Our bible tells us “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
We can readily see one example of this lack of knowledge in our youngsters of today, who have more “access” to education than ever before in the history of our country. But, we need to think about how and where they are getting this education?  In the malls; from video games, television, media? 
What are WE AS A COMMUNITY OR AS INDIVIDUALS doing to teach our children?  Who’s telling our children OUR story?   What are the schools doing for our youngsters?  Many of them graduate from high school, and STILL have to take remedial courses in college, before they can even take their first college level course.  They can’t read.  And if they can’t read, their thinking is certainly impaired!   They cannot read CRITICALLY, because they are not really exposed to situations that require them to do it!   But, you can change all of that right now, by exposing them to the People’s Voice Black Weekly News.  Give them something to THINK about! 
In the People’s Voice Black Weekly News, you’ll find timely and reliable information by, for, and about black people from every walk of life or every level of interest. We are committed to being the preeminent print publication designed for the purpose of empowering through information regarding Black life, politics, business, economics health, education, and general welfare.  We are committed to creating and serving as that very necessary platform that is so badly needed, for us to carry on constructive conversations about our collective growth and the progress of our people.
The People’s Voice is committed to telling OUR story from OUR vantage point.  But, if we are to succeed in accomplishing this goal, we must have your undivided attention and support!!

If and WHEN we succeed, it will be because of the overwhelming support of the black communities throughout the East Central Alabama and West Central Georgia Region…
All we have to do is leverage OUR collective buying power.  There are 77,000 black inhabitants in the 7 counties that surround Randolph.  Just by virtue of the mere numbers of black inhabitants in our own and our neighbor counties, we have the potential to be on TOP.   But, what will we do with it?
Similarly, we have that same potential voting strength, to affect the outcome of every election.  What will we do with that?   Use it!  Use that power.  Use the power of numbers!  Use the power of unity!  Use the power of the vote! Use the power of collective action!
It’s no secret.  We can’t do it unless you make a decision to support.  I am asking

you to make that commitment TODAY!   There is a simple roadmap to our success.  

We are a long long way from the 77,000 subscribers that we are looking for.   But we are on a mission to get there.   You can help us to achieve that. 
Support The People’s Voice.   Support by pledging to spend only $.50 cents EVERY week to buy a paper.   Support The People’s Voice by READING it and embracing its message.  
What follows are several things that you can do, to ensure that we succeed.

1.  Start a “Church Readership” Club in your congregation, by encouraging members of your church to buy the paper and read.   We will gladly offer a special rate to church groups who agree to purchase a bulk quantity of papers, on a monthly basis.

2.  Volunteer some of your time weekly, to assist in distributing The People’s Voice in YOUR community.

3.  Volunteer some of your time weekly, to assist in soliciting advertising in our paper.

4.  Start a distributorship of your own.

5.  How many people have you told that YOU read The People’s Voice?  How many other people have you encouraged to read it?   Call at least five (5) of your friends, and tell them about The People’s Voice.  Let them know that YOU read it, and encourage them to do the same!

6.  If you Teach, USE THE PEOPLE’S VOICE in your classroom, to motivate your student’s curiosity.  They love it!  Let them complete the “KidScoop” activity page in the paper.  This will encourage them and teach them how to read the paper.

7.  Of the merchants that YOU trade and do business with, how many have you encouraged to share some of their advertising business with us.
I would like to invite you to go to our informational website, at www.peoplesvoiceweekly.com and browse that site, and get inspired.  Start reading The People’s Voice. 
 REMEMBER, Our success depends on YOU!!

© 2006 by Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson