WAOD Mailbag: Duke Rape Case, Another Black Woman Assaulted, Good News about Merrick Sklarek

I've been swamped lately, but your fellow WAOD readers are staying on top of the War on Black women and girls in this country in my stead. Here is a tip: If it is something you want me to pay attention to, don't send a 15 page letter, I have too much email to read all that. Get to the point in two sentences or less. Don't just send the link, tell me why you think the story relates to the work we do.

Duke Rape Case Update:
Duke Student Newspaper Calls HBCU “worthless”for Conferring Degree to the Accuser in the Duke Rape Case [Hat Tip WAOD Reader CW]

I just wanted to draw your attention to an article recently published in the Duke Daily Chronicle, written by a white former student, about how North Carolina Central University, an HBCU, is a worthless school because they recently graduated the young lady who accused the Duke Lacrosse Players of rape. Duke Chronicle

Another Black Woman Assaulted:

18 year-Shot Because She Rebuffed Advances [Hat Tip WAOD Reader Sue] Read Story.

BET on NPR:
NPR has been on a tear with its coverage of the Parent's Television Council's report, “The Rap on Rap”. Here is nother segment from the show Tell Me More. [Hat Tip WAOD Reader Venetta]

GOOD NEWS:
Y'all know I love the GOOD NEWS! Thanks to WAOD reader Katherine for passing along this info about Norma Merrick Sklarek[Hat Tip WAOD Reader Kathering]

2008 AIA President Marshall Purnell, FAIA, the first African American to hold that position raised his voice in support of Sklarek, “She made me possible,” Purnell said. “She is mentally the strongest person in this profession that I know. Everywhere she went she was first.” AIA Board member Anthony Costello, FAIA, called Sklarek the “Rosa Parks of Architecture.”

Sklarek’s career has been marked by breaking barriers and expectations of what an African-American woman could do. She was the first African-American woman to graduate from Columbia University in 1950 with a BArch, as well as becoming the first registered African-American female architect in the entire nation. In 1980, she became the first African-American female Fellow of the AIA. Five years later, she was at the head of the first architecture firm to be formed and managed by an African-American woman—Siegel, Sklarek, Diamond.

Congrats Ms. Sklarek

Update on Romona Moore Post

If you are aware of cases where a crime has been committed against a Black woman that has been underreported in comparison with that of another woman, pass it on, with a link and a brief explanation. Do not send a three page explanation. In one hundred words or less, explain the back story behind the link. Put RM in the subject line so I can pull you email out of all the new letters people have signed me up to receive without my permission.

Comments

[Naima]

Please don't be upset by the Duke newspaper opinion. It only one persons opinion and I bet most students don't even read the student newspaper. If I read Gina's post more carefully I would have realized it was a school newspaper & I wouldn't have bother to give it a click.
If people respond and make a big deal about it will only make the authors name bigger and help her get a job after graduation. I don't think anyone should give her any response.
As for Mildred, just like I thought it would be, a case of old men hitting on young girls.

[wisdomteachesme]

the author of the article in the duke univ paper is merely trying to ride the tail of that sad terrible story.

i'm very happy the young woman graduated from NCCU (GO Eagles!).
if she is a graduate of duke this article will not make or break her chances of getting a job- she has a Duke degree. that is all she will need and a few contacts which i am sure she made while there- if her parents don't already have them.

it's a sick way to reap attention from the pain and hurt from another. the author will reap what she sows.
and many people do read that college paper. and not all will agree with her.
Funny how she did not mention how many students from duke do take classes at NCCU, they are less expensive.
she is hurting herself. duke students and Nccu students work together through many org.'s to help the Durham community children they do very good work.

[wisdomteachesme]

this is from the comment section to the duke story--

this is an excellent example-it speaks volumns about how people with integrity will see the author.
*********************
posted 5/22/08 @ 10:57 PM EST
Sommer Murphy
posted 5/22/08 @ 10:29 PM EST

Ms. Butler,

As I sit here at my desk in Washington, DC reading your article so affectionately titled Summa cum loony, I actually do share your exact same sentiments. It seems as if anyone can get a journalism degree today, especially if they graduate from Duke University. In the interest of free speech, I applaud your passion for journalism and promoting a marketplace for the sharing of ideas. However, the sweeping generalizations about North Carolina Central students are unfounded and display a lack of research and diligence on your part. I am a very proud 2008 graduate of NCCU School of Law. I do not do drugs, drink excessively, strip and have certainly never participated in some of the egregious activities you cited in your article. In reality, the majority of NCCU students (both undergraduate and graduate) share the same record.

You conveniently failed to mention the overwhelming number of students who graduate from NCCU who go on to have very successful careers. You also failed to include any statistical data pertaining to the average number of college graduates that are awarded degrees who have a criminal record. Wouldn't it be a perfect world if every college graduate had a clean record? Ah, but this is not the case.

Shame, shame, shame....you call this journalism.

By the way, did you send a copy of your article to Governor Mike Easley, NCCU Law Class of 1975? I'm sure he would love to know how little you value his degree! Or perhaps Calvin Murphy ('77), who was the former president of the NC State Bar and a current Superior Court Judge. I see you also failed to include other NCCU graduates such as George Hamilton, President of Dow Automotive; Bishop Eddie Long, Atlanta preacher; Sam Jones, NBA Hall of Famer; Maynard Jackson, the first black mayor of Atlanta, Georgia; Congressman G.K. Butterfield, or Atiba Adams, senior corporate counsel at Pfizer, Inc. The number of successful NCCU graduates greatly outnumbers those individuals that you cited in your piece who may give our school a tainted reputation. But we can always count on people like you to bring that to the public's attention. As if HBCU graduates don't already have enough uphill battles to fight.

I am aware that as a reporter, you have a right to freely share your ideas, the purpose of which is to incite a reaction in the reader, whether it is positive, negative, or indifferent. However, sometimes, for the greater good of society, we must take off our "career hat" and put on our "civically-minded" thinking caps. What did you hope to achieve by writing your article? What kind of reaction did you expect from the community? Did you just want to reiterate what some of your other like-minded ignorant cohorts were already thinking? You most certainly achieved that result. What about the duty to encourage students to be proud of their education, no matter what school it comes from?

Unfortunately, you were quoted in an article as being a "diligent, caring, and courageous young journalist." Courageous? Perhaps. But I must vehemently disagree with the former two adjectives used to describe your work.

I find it of no use to detail the numerous Duke students that I know who have admitted to using drugs or participating in ethically questionably behavior. Fortunately, they do not have problems finding employment after graduation. Perhaps you will find it necessary one day to highlight the positive things going on at NCCU.

I challenge you to visit our school and speak to the students whose positive voices were strangled by your negative article. What kind of experiences do they have to share? Just food for thought.

I do not usually find myself responding to the well written ignorance that is published and distributed daily, but your article struck a chord with me.

Please respect the fact that NCCU is a school of opportunity--a school having a body of students who seek to better themselves as well as their community. My fellow law school graduates and I will be studying for the bar this summer. We, unlike you, will be catalysts for positive change in the future.

Best,

Sommer Joy Murphy, J.D.