Teacher-turned-publisher, Charlotte Clark-Frieson, 53-year old birth mother of a new black weekly newspaper, The People’s Voice Weekly, believes that it can, claiming her publication to be one of the good things coming out of East Alabama.
With the help of a group 24 family members, friends, and supporters, a volunteer corps of writers and contributors, the weekly has been in continuous publication since July, 2005 ¯ taking East Alabama and West Georgia by storm.
“Our part of the country is noted as home to a unique population of blacks who’ve been seriously underexposed to the real issues that are hurting our people today,” says Clark-Frieson. “The area has no exposure to the black press…. and public schools in our area are ignoring the cultural aspects of education that black youngsters need. Black youth need a clear understanding of their history and culture, so they can better conceptualize how they will contribute to the continued growth and progress of our people. We try to make sure they get it in each weekly edition of The Voice.” The group is overcoming resistance and hostility that emanated from both races once the first issue of The People’s Voice hit the streets of East Alabama and West Georgia.
“At first both races labeled the publication as racist and discriminatory. Institutional racism has such strong holds on the minds of black people here in the “Bible Belt;” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, when I learned blacks believed this and questioned the integrity of what we are trying to do. To a greater degree we understand white distaste for our publication ¯ but many of our own people who claim to be culturally oriented have no knowledge of the black media,” explains Clark-Frieson.
Now, after almost a year-and-a-half in print, The People’s Voice has gradually begun to gain acceptance.
“The area has produced many black achievers; there has never been a medium available to blacks to properly appreciate and recognize their achievements and contributions to American society in this part of the south. One resource black people in our area have long been deprived of is information that will empower them to help themselves.” But, Clark-Frieson believes that “By using the liberties that we have …such as Freedom Of The Press, we can change that… that’s why we publish James Clingman’s weekly column, BlackONomics. Blacks here don’t seem to understand the power of collective action. I’d like to see the majority of our people flourish, not perish.”
Esther Brown, Executive Director of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty, an organization that is spearheading the fight for a moratorium on executions in Alabama stated that “The People’s Voice is an invaluable ally in the fight for justice. Race is a big factor as to who receives the ultimate punishment and yet all too often those most affected are woefully ignorant of this. We are very grateful to The People’s Voice for its courage to take a bold stand on this and other issues and its clear understanding of the important role the media must play in bringing about change through education.”
A unique feature of this new publication is commentator, L.C. Thornton’s hard-hitting perspectives on the status of today’s black youth. Each week, Thornton, an East Alabama native who now lives in Stone Mountain GA, raises critical questions in the publication that summon black minds to re-assess the self-destructive choices black youth often make. The point of his pen is sharp. “But, we believe younger parents and their children need to read what Thornton is saying to them,” says Clark-Frieson. In one article, entitled “Rap, Rims and Rump-Shaking” Thornton expresses discouragement with black youngsters’ pre-occupation with foolishness. In a recent issue of The People’s Voice, in a commentary entitled “Holding Up The Wrong Thing” Thornton alleges that there’s more for young men to hold up other than their pants. He writes: “Is it conceivable that their pants are the only things that they feel that they can hold up? I would hope that they would consider holding up the moral foundation of the family. I wish they would hold on to the traditions of their fore parents —traditions of self-reliance and thankfulness.” He continues: “If you are going to hold up something, hold up something that means something.” His comments sometimes hit hard, but Clark-Frieson states, “I have seen African-American school teachers clip and use them in the classrooms so black youngsters can see how they look to the rest of the world.”
Thornton says, “The things I write about are simply events I observe in our community and nation. There is so much to be concerned about ¯ so many questions that demand answers; problems that demand solutions. Most of the situations I address have simple answers: For instance, what is so difficult about pulling up one’s trousers? What is so difficult about keeping a civil tongue in one’s mouth? What is so difficult about getting up and going to school? And the list goes on. All of the things that I mentioned require no outside help.”
In addition to Thornton’s commentaries, the publication incorporates “black historical highlights” a weekly sampling of obscure historical facts about noteworthy black achievements. Clark-Frieson concludes, “We’re striving to paint a true portrait of black life in East Alabama and West Georgia. If we can induce people to take an honest look at the men and women in the mirror, compared to the rest of the world, maybe they’ll be motivated to make a change.”
Note: The People’s Voice is based in Roanoke, Alabama. Despite the publication’s present focus on reaching the more than 80,000 blacks who inhabit the 8-county area concentrated around the East Central Alabama-West Central Georgia, its publishers have a goal of eventually building a national presence for the publication.
L.C. Thornton’s articles are archived at www.myspace.com/lcthornton
Contact:
Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson
322 Wilkie Clark Drive
Roanoke, Alabama 36274
Phone: 334-375-7160