A production of South Carolina ETV.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening, and welcome to Job Man Caravan.

I'm Patricia Bennett.

Just over two months ago, African American men from all over this country came together in Washington, DC.

It was a monumental gathering, the Million Man March, billed as a day of atonement, the men there promised to atone.

And they pledged to do some very concrete things to make our communities better.

>> First, I am going to try and register or get registered at least 20 unregistered voters.

I'm going to be.

I am a part of some local grassroots organizations, but I'm going to see if I can be involved with more.

>> I plan on joining several organizations, such as the AAUC and possibly the NAACP, as well as National Blacks in Criminal Justice to enhance our political, standing within the community.

>> Getting involved with a mentoring program, or one on one contact with folks that are in prison to help kind of reduce the recidivism, rate.

We, we have to do something to put a dent in the number of folks who return to prison over and over.

We have to somehow make a way for them to come out and get back into society is something that the prison system isn't doing right now.

Right now, they, just, punishing folks, but prison shouldn't be just about punishment.

It should be about, making a way for folks to come back into society.

Bennett> So one of the things that Farrakhan mentioned, Minister Farrakhan mentioned was the fact that you actually go in and adopt a prisoner.

Is that something you want to do?

>> That's exactly what we want to do.

I'd like to personally be responsible for someone to write them letters.

And when they get out, to try to help them get back on their feet.

>> Yes ma'am I want to join the Nation of Islam and follow the instructions of the Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Bennett> So why do you think it's important to to join the Nation of Islam?

What does that nation mean to you?

It's positive for us young Black youth in America and I just like the brother, the spirit of the brotherhood.

I'm with that.

>> I would like to clean up our society and help the young men, because, see, now I see that, I see some people just knocking down schools and building up prisons and putting this Black men in the prison instead of teaching us how to learn and help us out and get together, and we'll love one another.

Bennett> So you want to see that change?

>> Yes.

I really want to see that change.

You know, I want to I don't want to see no, like, glass on the ground or nothing because, I mean, everyone at night we drink and liquor and everything.

They smoke and I don't see.

No, I don't see anything, funny about smoking.

I mean, all it does is, kill, mess up your brain cells, and it makes you have cancer.

Bennett> Okay.

Very good.

>> And they always throw it on the ground.

And, I mean, I really don't like that.

And people, people nowadays, they just like getting in fights.

I just don't like seeing that.

(indescernible conversation) Black men, together, in the true spirit of brotherhood and unity.

This is the kind of representation that gives us a new image that the world can look at and rejoice.

The Black man is finally on the rise.

Bennett> We hope to accomplish two things in this evening's show.

One, give you a couple of suggestions as to where you can best volunteer your time, and number two, give you an update on those activities resulting from the Million Man March.

With us to discuss those topics are first of all, Chaplain Larry Bennett Shaw.

He is a clinical chaplain at the Broad River Correctional Institution.

Next to him is Dr.

Andrew Chisholm, director of the Violence and Substance Abuse Prevention Center at USC, and Minister Earl Muhammad.

He is a representative of Minister Louis Farrakhan.

And next to Minister Muhammad is, Janet K. Thompson.

She is the education associate for Community Involvement and Volunteerism with the South Carolina Department of Education.

I thank all of you for being with us this evening.

We're really happy to have you.

First of all, we're going to get to the topic of what is happening now as a result of the Million Man March.

What are some of the things on the drawing board to come as a result of that?

First of all, Dr.

Chisholm, can you give us a brief update on what's happening?

Dr.

Chishom> Well, I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Minister Earl Muhammad and many other, men and women around Richland County and the state of South Carolina to first identify and define the concept of atonement, and secondly, to, logistically and strategically put together a planning process to implement those suggestions and recommendations that were received by the numerous speakers in Washington during the Million Man March.

Bennett> I know it's just been a couple of months, so you are really in the planning process still, you don't have concrete things on the drawing board as of yet.

Dr.

Chisholm> Well, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and I believe that we have come a long way since the March itself.

And there are some tangible things that we can speak to definitively.

Even right now, Bennett> Let's talk about some of those tangible things.

And I'm going to let Mr.

Muhammad talk about those, because the two of you are on that same committee.

What are some of those tangible things that the committee is planning at this point?

Min.

Muhammad> Well, first of all, let me thank you, dear sister for allowing us to come on the show and to represent, those feelings of the Million Man March and what's going on here in this city of South Carolina.

As, Dr.

Chisholm said, I'm equally honored to be on the on the committee with him and such other distinguished men and women.

One major thing that we are about to do, we have identified, several communities that, problems need to be addressed in those communities.

One being the Haskell Heights area.

That is the first, program that we want to start on here on December the 30th.

Bennett> And what are you going to do in Haskell Heights?

Min.

Muhammad> Well, I'm a part of the, process that was already started, by Dr.

Chisholm and other, clergy person and people in that area.

And what we have done have identified certain problems in that community.

We said prior to going to the Million Man March that we wanted to target communities and to begin to redevelop those communities one at a time.

So one thing we want to encourage that, 75% to 80% people who are unchurched to join some kind of church or religious order because it's going to take the spiritual base that we can rebuild the Black community.

In every, struggle that we've been in the spiritual base has already been there.

So the spiritual base has been removed.

So our first aim is to continue the atonement process and to continue the spiritual growth and uplifting of our people, and to implant that in the minds and hearts and hearts of those people in that community first.

Bennett> So you going to do this in each and every community that you go into, the things that you plan to do in Haskell Heights?

Min.

Muhammad> Yes, ma'am, because the problems are the same in every community.

It's just, it's fortunate that we are willing to do something in our communities.

It's unfortunate that we don't have enough manpower to tackle every community at one time.

So somebody has to be first.

And, it has to be decided Haskell Heights would be one of the first, Bennett> you know, one of the problems we do cover the entire state, Dr.

Chisholm.

Do we have people from, for example, the Pee Dee, or the Charleston or the Greenville area involved in this process?

Dr.

Chishom> Absolutely, the dialogue is ongoing.

Later this week, Minister Muhammad and I will spend one complete day visiting several different areas in the state of South Carolina, developing the planning process and including those areas into a statewide initiative, that will demonstrate the fact that African American men, African-American women, do possess the capacity to address the problems in their communities.

And by demonstrating this in one conglomerate site, we will see some dividends that I believe that will be very enhanceable.

Bennett> One of the things that we want to do on this show is really talk to people about some of the things that they can get involved in to really push this Million Man March effort.

And with us is, Chaplain Shaw.

And one of the points that Minister Louis Farrakhan brought out is that we need to go into our prisons and volunteer our time with those people who happen to be imprisoned.

Tell me about your job Chaplain Shaw.

Chap.

Shaw> First, the prison system consists of about 60% African-American.

What we do there is religious programing.

In order to bring about the spiritual base for the inmates.

But we also do religious therapy groups.

We do groups like in, kemetic mythology, groups in reality therapy.

And what we're trying to do is help people get in touch with themselves and also develop a relationship with Christ, because we do think a metamorphosis or transformation can occur, as a result of knowing Christ, that there is power in knowing that.

Bennett> How can people out there help?

How can they volunteer their time?

How do you see them as beneficial to the prison system?

Chap.

Shaw> By coming by the community coming in, it keeps the prisoner connected with his community to keep that link there that someone cares.

We have a number of volunteers that coming to our prison systems to do religious programing, to participate in educational department, recreational department, all of this help of the inmate to understand that he's that someone still care, that he's not just thrown away.

So we encourage volunteers to come into the prison system.

We have an application that is completed in a program orientation that they go through.

And then we bring the person in and they actually do hand on hand, work with the inmates.

We have some churches coming in that do fellowships, like during Christmas.

We have our dorm fellowships where churches would come in and do a sermon and bring some food and inmates and then fellowship together.

That's important because it develops a relationship.

It develops, an attachment to what was going on in the community.

So it keeps a person in touch with their own families, Bennett> Well, Chaplain Shaw, in a few minutes, we'll put up a number for those persons who are interested.

They can call and talk with you and find out more information about how they can get involved.

Another area, of course, that we really need volunteers, especially Black men, I think is to, is the school district.

Our schools, for our men to actually go into the schools and volunteer their time.

Janet, tell me a little about the kind of people and the kinds of talents that you need.

>> Everyone has some type of talent they can offer to our children.

It's not about whether or not you've been to college and you have this spectacular skill.

God has endowed all of us with some type of gift or some type of ability, and we need people who are just concerned about children, who are concerned about making a difference in their lives to get involved.

As our superintendent says, so often it takes the whole community to educate our children, and the Black community must accept that responsibility and realize our children go to school day after day, and many times they don't see a male figure at all.

You can go in many schools and all you see are females.

All of the classrooms, especially on the elementary level.

So for our Black men to come into the schools, their presence will make such a tremendous difference.

Our young men would see this is a man that I could possibly follow after and not be concerned about the role models that some people have decided in terms of our athletes or our movie stars or singers, but the people who work around them every day, the people they see in their neighborhood, those are the role models that our children need to look up to.

And if they're in our schools, these children can see these people must care about me.

Bennett> Jim, again, we're going to put up a number later on for people, though, if they're interested and want more information, can get in contact with you.

Having listened to these areas where we actually we really need volunteers.

Dr.

Chisholm, for example, is the prison system one of those concerns that you're you're pinpointing in your agenda?

Dr.

Chishom> Absolutely.

That's where the manifestation of all these problems, very visible and serve as a repository for a significant number of African-American men.

If we ignore that population, we ignore the fact that 99% of those men are coming back to the community.

So if we do not initiate an activity at this point to accommodate their returning, we are only going to see, a resurgence or a continuation or even a magnification of the problems we see existing right now.

Bennett> So our folk out here in the community going back into the prison system is high on your list?

Dr.

Chisholm> It has to be not only prisons, but criminal justice as a model.

Our young men are getting caught up much more so than any other ethnic or racial group.

And if we ignore this fact, then we ignore, the African American community as a reality and what we need to be working on to change these facts.

Bennett> You know, one of the things that we talk about early is the fact that, you're initiating a march in South Carolina and, and I might be voicing the concerns of other people out there.

You know, a march is nice, but we've already done that.

Why do we need another march?

First of all, tell me about the march and then answer why we need another march.

Min.

Muhammad> Let me make two points on the answer.

One is that, on December the 30th, that march is for that particular community.

That's a Black men, women and children coming together to retake their community.

So there has to have a starting point.

We agreed, you know, that in numbers there's power.

The more of God's people that come together, the stronger the presence of God is in the people.

So there'll be a whole day of activities starting at 10 p.m.. The theme of that march is stop the killing, start the healing.

Bennett> What date is that again?

>> That's on December 30th, 1995.

Bennett> And that's in random communities?

Min.

Muhammad> Random communities.

That's one community, Haskell Height, but it's open to the whole city.

This is the whole city's problem is just in that area, because someone in that area may move to another area and take the same thing.

But if we can regenerate love and unity and moral respect in that community, then someone who moves out of that community can take it to another community.

We're very serious about, you know, the plight of Black people in South Carolina.

Now there's a major march on March the 2nd that is statewide.

Now you say, "Why march?, march is to bring people together.

It is very necessary that we reflect the spirit that was in Washington, D.C.

That was for the National.

We were instructed to go back home now and do things constructive in our area.

So that much on March the 2nd would be a platform that we will present to the state of South Carolina.

This is where my brother and myself will want to travel throughout the state to get ideas from other local organizers and, committees.

And then we bring all of the brain trust together and come up with a concrete plan that can address the ills.

Our aim is to change the social, political, economic and moral views throughout the state of South Carolina, where Black people in South Carolina can share, equally and receive justice and freedom throughout South Carolina.

Bennett> Thank you very much, Dr.

Chisholm.

We were talking earlier about the National Black Leadership Summit, and that was held a few weeks ago.

Dr.

Chishom> Yes, in Washington Bennett> Where people from, from nationally were national leaders from across the country came together.

What do you think the purpose of that was and what came out of it?

Dr.

Chishom> The theme is atonement.

We must atone ourselves and recognize that if these problems are going to be addressed, that we must first have respect mutually from one another, respect meaning that, we can work together, we can get along together, we can plan together.

We can develop together.

That's what happened at that summit conference.

And if you, are familiar with a Hugh Price, had to speak from his perspective, from the Urban League.

Jesse Jackson had to speak from his perspective.

With Operation Breadbasket and the Rainbow Coalition.

The NAACP had to speak from their perspective, show that unity, show that support and this very proactive response to the problems of African-Americans in this country.

Bennett> So, are our national leaders really coming together?

Dr.

Chishom> They have no choice.

Bennett> One accord.

>> There is no choice.

We can ill afford again, to address the problems of African-Americans by secturing ourselves.

We must come up, regardless of being a Muslim, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, whatever our religious denomination may be, whatever our philosophies may be, whatever educational level we may represent, we all must come together and address the seriousness of these problems.

Bennett> Let me ask you, Chaplain Shaw, the process for a person volunteering with the prison system, you don't just throw them in there and just kind of let them wing it.

What's the process?

Chap.

Shaw> No.

First, the person completes an application, and as they, after completing the application, then the person is brought into the office and a discussion is had about the work, and nature of the work that they're going to do.

Then there's an orientation program that's carried out with the person to orientate the person to the prison system, so as they know the rules and regulations and what goes on within the prison system.

I might also mention we have a number of of churches coming into the prison, but we have very few mainline denominations coming into the prison, because it's much better to have people coming in that it looks like you, because you can identify with them.

So we need a great amount of African-Americans from the mainline denominations to come in and volunteer and work, not only within the religious department, but also in other departments like education and recreation, those kind of departments.

Bennett> So what kind of time are we talking about?

Chap.

Shaw> The time.

can vary, it depends on the individual.

The individual can decide their own schedule when they want to come.

We have some people that comes in that, do door to door to door, but cell to cell visitation, they set their own time.

They come and stay as long as they want.

They come when they want because it's a volunteer service.

But it's a very valuable service because the inmate is receiving personal attention.

Bennett> I know we were talking at one point with the gentleman who was talking about actually mentoring, where they write letters and even follow them outside of the prison system when they when they get out.

Do you think the prisoners really want this kind of involvement from the community?

Chap.

Shaw> Of course, of course.

Because yes, as we see now, when people come in, there's a large turnout for various activities like churches, when churches come into the institution, the inmates turn out in great numbers.

So, yeah, it is a need for those people to come in because by mentoring someone, we're doing aftercare.

Not only are we talking to the person inside the prison system, but the effects of it goes with that person.

And that's what's important, because it's been proven that if a person can connect with a church or mosque after leaving the prison system, they're more likely to stay out.

So then it's important that we connect those people together before leaving the prison system.

Bennett> Why don't we?

If we can get that number up right now for people to call, that's with the Broad River Correctional Institution.

If you're interested in volunteering, it would be really beneficial for folks to know where to call That number is, 896-2133 if you want to volunteer your services and indeed you are very much needed.

So please don't hesitate if you have.

If you have any talents or any caring at all to work with the young men and women in our prisons here in South Carolina.

Okay, that again, that number is 896-2133.

And we want to do the same thing for Ms.

Thompson, about the, South Carolina Department of Education, because they're the number two.

Now, give me the total on this.

They have offices in their respective communities.

Thompson> Yes.

Every district and every local school has either a volunteer or a community involvement coordinator.

And this is the person that they should contact first, let them know that they're interested.

Give them some of the background in terms of the skills or talents that they have and what they would like to do in the schools, and then that coordinator can match up the person and the type of job that they would have in the school that they could volunteer to do.

There are numerous things, that people can come in not necessarily with that particular skill, but we need people who come in and read to children or listen to children read.

There may be paperwork type situations that they could assist with, and then if they do have special skills, say, for example, we have an accountant that would like to come in and share with a math class and offer tutoring to a group like that.

They can do something of that nature.

Or if you have a person that they like plants, they could make a big difference in a science class to have someone other than the teacher that's dealing with them.

So there are many types of things.

And then we also have many schools and districts that have begun mentoring programs and are in need at all times of mentors for our children.

So there are various types of activities that people can get involved in.

But again, the mere presence sometimes makes all of the difference.

Our children know that people care.

Bennett> ...one of the things I was thinking, I've often been in schools and you may have a kid that's acting out.

It would be nice just to have a man there.

They could take the kid out and talk to him for a while, and a lot of times you don't think about things that simple, that simple.

We're going to put that number up.

We know that you are not necessarily the first base, but if you want to call and get more information from Janet, call 7348472734878472.

And she can direct you if you need a little direction as to who you should call in your particular area.

So that's, that will help an awful lot in that area.

We're going to try to get some idea of what's going to happen after these marches.

Are you going to sit down and say, this is what we're going to do first, and this is what we're going to do next?

How will people know how they can get involved in the Million Man March activities?

And how will we know what's actually happening as a result of the Million Man March?

Dr.

Chisholm> Of course.

I am a criminologist and a professor, and I am constantly doing this work, in my professional area.

And if there's anyone that has a desire to be involved from my side of the ledger and what we are doing, they can simply call me at my office and express that, desire at 777-0695.

But I want to emphasize that the purpose of all of these marches are not just to make aware, but to also put in place responses that would eliminate the problems.

And let me say, this is a tremendous job.

It's more than just rapping or getting on television and talking about it.

Many hours must go into our ability to do this.

And of course, the state march, is going to be a massive undertaking.

So we need the help of everybody that is watching.

I don't care where they are coming from.

We need help, and all they have to do is call and say, I want to help.

Bennett> And you say, that's 100 thousand, you're calling for 100 thousand Dr.

Chishom> Well, the theme is 50 thousand African American men will come to Columbia, but they must step off with 50 thousand African American women.

This is a joint effort.

We're doing it together.

And then as many others children, you know, and it's not limited just to race.

You know, if other folks, or other ethnic persuasions have a desire to come see the results of the process, from my opinion and expression, they're welcome.

Bennett> Well, thank you very much.

I want to thank all of you for being with us this evening.

To give us all an update as to what's happening with the Million Man March and the results of that march.

Also, talking about the volunteer needs that we have in the prison system and the Department of Education.

We really appreciate that, and we really hope that you will take advantage of these numbers and call these people, because we need people out there to volunteer.

Our children need you and our young men and women in the prison system need you as well.

Again, thank you very much for joining us this evening on Job Man Caravan and join us next time.

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