N.C. groups aim to cut crime in black community

WINTON, N.C.

A coalition of regional African American organizations critical of black leadership in politics and churches announced plans Wednesday to change the culture of poverty and crime in the black community in northeastern North Carolina.

A list of eight objectives included making more capital available for minority entrepreneurs, ending violence among young black men, calling for more black history lessons in public schools and challenging blacks to resolve problems.

The list also included plans to oust some of the current black leadership.

"So many of our leaders are just pimping the black race," said Tee Ferguson, founder and chairman of the African-American Policy Council. "We intend to step in and try and replace them."

Black political leaders, Ferguson said, do not address problems of their constituency and black ministers live well off donations while not helping the poor in their congregations. One of the goals is the "redirection of black church revenues."

"We feel these kinds of accusations will withstand scrutiny," Ferguson said.

A summit is planned for July at the Elks Lodge in Winton where Wednesday's news conference was held. The coalition calls its effort the African American Economic Rights Movement.

Ferguson was joined by five other black community leaders and businessmen, including Carl White, regional director of the North Carolina NAACP District 11 and Tony Riddick, chairman of The Righteous United Through Harmony, known as TRUTH, an organization of black businessmen.

Three reporters and two others sat at tables in the large open room during the news conference.

"We stand firm in holding black politicians accountable and we stand firm in holding black ministers accountable," Riddick said.

Riddick and members of TRUTH have patrolled streets in some parts of Hertford to reduce crime, he said. He challenged other young black entrepreneurs to join the coalition.

Two black leaders who did not attend the news conference have mixed views of the group's objectives.

"I agree that whites should not be our saviors," said Fred Yates, mayor of Winfall and chairman of the steering committee for The Alliance of North Carolina Black Elected Officials. "We should save ourselves."

But he disagreed black ministers and politicians are generally corrupt.

A summit of black elected officials addressing poverty, crime and other issues in the black community was held in Raleigh last month. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton was one of the main speakers. Yates took part in planning the summit.

Charles Foster, a minister, former mayor of Elizabeth City and member of the NAACP, agreed.

Most ministers work on behalf of their membership, he said. "I know I'm trying to help people have better lives," he said.

The coalition remains unnamed, but will work under the auspices of the North Carolina Minority Support Center based in Durham, Ferguson said.

Through help from grants funds and in partnership with the coalition, Generations Community Credit Union branches will be able to make loans to minorities trying to start businesses, said Paula J. McCoy, president of the North Carolina Minority Support Center.

Plans include going on international trade missions to attract industry to northeastern North Carolina, Ferguson said.

Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com