- Des Moines: The 2nd Annual I’ll Make
Me a World in Iowa celebration will be held Saturday, February
5, 2000 at the Iowa Historical Building. Sponsored by United
Parcel Service, the program will include dancing, singing, music
and free samples of soul food. Featured guests will include actor
GregAlan Williams, dancer Chuck Davis, and storyteller Reanae
McNeal.
- Des Moines: The Connect Foundation, in
conjunction with the Des Moines Black Ministerial Alliance will
be holding the 5th Iowa African American Honors Banquet on Saturday,
February 5, 2000. The banquet focuses on two priorities: 1) the
Iowa African American Hall of Fame and 2) the Iowa African American
History Month Essay Contest. The induction into the Hall of Fame
and the Essay contest finalists will be recognized at the banquet.
The Essay contest finalists will receive a medal and scholarship
that may be used to purchase academic aids and supplies. For
more information and/or assistance, please call 515-242-3841.
- Cedar Rapids: “Facts That the Government
and the Media Don’t Want You to Know,” a 32-page booklet
published by The Creativity Movement, was distributed in a northeast
Cedar Rapids neighborhood in October. The booklet includes anti-semitic
and racist remarks which are the work of Matt Hale, the 28-year
old leader of the World Church of the Creator. The booklets prompted
complaints to police and the media. The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights
Commission drafted a statement denouncing the booklets. Commissioners
urged people not to be silent about the materials. Louise Lorenz,
commission director, indicated that the commission would consider
sponsoring advertisements to counter the Hale material. Lorenz
stated, “We are proud of our community and its diversity”.
- Iowa City: Obiagele Lake, a black University
of Iowa professor of anthropology, has filed a complaint with
the Iowa Civil Rights Commission for being denied tenure by the
University. Lake alleges that the University’s actions were
racist and cited evidence that other UI faculty members were
promoted although they had fewer publications and student recommendations.
Lake and her supporters have formed a group called The Collective
Movement for Equality to help those who face racism and sexism.
Twenty-seven black faculty are presently on the tenure track
at the University, compared to more than 1355 whites. Faculty
who obtain tenure are generally guaranteed a lifetime appointment.
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