A production of South Carolina ETV.

♪ >> Hi.

We're happy you've joined us.

I'm Bill Terrell, and this week on the Caravan.

The importance of knowing and embracing our roots, our heritage.

>> When I was in Africa, Africans were very cordial and very friendly.

They, they would stop and just talk to you, touch you.

I think we have a problem in terms of identifying with Africa.

We don't want to do that.

We are so indoctrinated with this Eurocentric kind of thinking that, most of us don't want to admit that that's our heritage.

>> I think the African gods.

would want, their sons and daughters, wherever they are, to know exactly who they are.

Bill> Also making the dream of owning your home come true.

>> Conventionally, we look at the amount of money that you've been able to to maintain in your checking or through savings account.

And, also, we look very strongly upon the credit.

>> The processing was, a little more cumbersome than we thought.

Just a lot of paperwork.

We didn't realize that it was as detailed as it was.

>> There was another home that we wanted.

Well, that I fell in love with.

But then we came to find that someone else had a contract now, so we didn't get it.

Bill> And we'll hear from the Temptations.

and have a flashback with Stokely Carmichael We do trust that you're doing well.

You know, we thank you for joining us.

In addition to those features, we'll also explore ways to help to keep our youngsters on the right tracks to success.

And we'll take it to the street to find out from some of our viewers how they feel about racism.

But first, on the Job Man Caravan.

It's no secret that most of us dream of owning our own home.

In this first segment, Patricia Bennett takes a look at buying a home for the very first time.

♪ ♪ Patricia Bennett> Dreaming of a little place of your own.

Tired of paying the rent, man, when all you had at the end of the year is a drawer full of receipts.

First time home buyers.

Glen and Shawn Manning had gotten to that point.

Glenn> We're paying rent, and we're about.

We needed a larger place to stay.

And, instead of paying higher rent with no return, we decided to buy a home.

Bennett> Owning a home of one's own is part of the American dream.

It says you've put down roots, says you've made a commitment.

But because of today's economic situation, home ownership is not available to everyone.

But home ownership is very possible and very desirable for many reasons.

>> It's still a good idea to purchase a home because, in the financial planning area, we feel that it's a sound financial investment.

What I mean by that is basically they will be building wealth, through the ownership of real estate.

And one of the reasons it's still a good idea is because instead of putting money into renting an apartment or a home for that matter, they can be, investing in an asset that will appreciate over time.

And one of the extra benefits that you get from purchasing a home would be that they can reduce their tax liability through deducting the home mortgage interest.

Bill> Now, you know, for most of us, home ownership is a good financial decision.

Next you need to decide what you need and want in a home considering your financial ability.

>> Normally, the first time I'll have them come to my office and we sit down in the conference room and I discuss with them the basics to help you find what you want.

You probably contact someone like Karen Smith.

Karen spends lots of time in her car getting potential buyers through the neighborhoods of Columbia, South Carolina.

We look at a number of areas, and once we have narrowed down the particular area that they're interested in, we start selecting homes.

That meet the criteria that they've told me they're looking for.

Bennett> In addition to the task of finding that almost perfect home, there are some other possible obstacles hopeful home buyers should be aware of.

>> Most of the time, the problem is credit.

Bennett> To be more specific, bad credit.

But Gloria Weston, president of Mid-State mortgage, says a little bad credit isn't an insurmountable obstacle to buying a home.

>> But when I say bad credit, though, I don't mean that they can't have any debts that are currently, let's say, outstanding.

You know, they need to have been paid off, or perhaps they need to have been reopened and payments need to have been made on those for at least six months, so that we can see that it is in their interest that, you know, they're going to pay off these people like they promised.

Bennett> Glenn and Shawn were well prepared.

They saved enough for the necessary down payment and prepaid items.

They'd ask questions of people they knew in the business.

Still, there were a few surprises.

Glenn> The processing was, a little more cumbersome than we thought.

Just a lot of paperwork.

We didn't realize that it was as detailed as it was.

The time factor, we knew it.

It would take, approximately four to 5 to 60 days.

There just so many things that happen in between there that you're not, aware of or you don't expect.

And you just kind of take it as it comes and tough it out, so to speak.

Bennett> There are basically three types of mortgage loans VA, FHA, and conventional.

>> If a person is a veteran, then they can actually get into a house with no money at all.

There's no down payment required.

And also the VA would allow the seller of the home to pay the prepaid items for the veteran so they can they can purchase the home with no money at all.

On your FHA loans.

If a person is purchasing a house for at least $50,000, then there's only a 3% down payment.

If it's over 50,000, then it's broken down into a two tier down payment, whereas you pay 3% for the first 25,000 and then 5% for the difference Bennett> For a conventional loan, the rules are a little different.

>> They would need at least 5% down, sometimes 10%, depending on the lender and how the applicant actually looks.

We conventionally we look at the amount of money that you've been able to to maintain in your checking or in savings account.

And also we look very strongly upon the credit.

Bennett> To decide what a potential buyer can't afford.

The lender looks at income and debt structure.

>> Well, as a rule of thumb, we look at and this is just before we get a person in to actually get some figures okay.

We look at their annual income.

Okay we take that and multiply that times two and say, well, we know that this person can only average afford if they make $30,000 a year, is $60,000 home.

But of course, we need to know what their debt outlay is, because if they've got a $300 car payment, then, you know, they might not qualify as well on a $60,000 house.

They may have to buy a $50,000.

Bennett> Have buying a home for the first time makes most people a little shaky.

Glenn says these suggestions will make things a bit easier.

Glenn> Certainly try to establish, good credit and, once you put in your application, it is best to, have all the addresses and account numbers and all that kind of stuff on the front end, because they're going to need all that, and that'll save you some time.

Feel free to ask whatever questions you might have with your loan officer.

And of course, ask whatever questions you might have of your realtor and, want before you sign a contract or anything.

Feel comfortable with what you're getting yourself into, because once you're in it, it's, you're pretty much in it.

Bennett> Also, be prepared for some possible disappointment.

>> There was another home that we wanted.

Well, that I fell in love with, but then we came to find that someone else had a contract on it, so we didn't get it.

And then it was hard to.

Once I found this one, even though I liked it, it was hard to make up my mind about it because I was just so in love with the other home.

Bennett> But keep looking.

It's worth it.

And perseverance pays off.

Shawn> Well, this was just perfect.

♪ Bill> You're watching the Caravan, and we're dedicated to serving you the greatest viewers in the world.

With 21 years of helping to build a better community.

Coming up, the tantalizing temptations.

And also, we'll take it to the street to get some views on racism.

And we'll also find out why it's important for us to connect or reconnect with the motherland, Africa.

But now on the Job Man Caravan, the importance of the entire community rallying and helping to keep our youngsters on the road to success.

Each generation of young people has its own set of problems.

But amazingly enough, those basic problems never change.

A need to be accepted among friends wanting to do well in school.

Unwanted pregnancies, getting summer work and drugs seem to head the list.

Dinah McLain, corrections officer of the year for the South Carolina Department of Youth Services, has seen what young people go through when these problems are not faced.

Overall, the black teen of today has a keen sense of what it takes to make it in this world.

But sometimes they veer off course because of a lack of direction, McLain says.

That's where adults can make a difference.

Dinah McLain> I think today's black youth has got a lot of hopes.

They are really reaching out.

They're seeking and they are questioning everyone not parents, not teacher, not one person.

But in order to live in a better world tomorrow, our kids needs us today.

Bill> Years ago, the black neighborhood took an active interest in the welfare of all of its children.

However, times have changed.

Individual families, in many cases have isolated themselves.

That sense of belonging in many cases is no longer felt by black teens.

And because they know the lady of the street is not keeping a watchful eye while mom or dad is at work.

Many young people end up running with the wrong crowd and generally doing things they know are wrong.

McLain>Within each community, there should be a leader and form the group wherein as they grow in their recreational area.

If there is one, not maybe a church community action program is say, look, we will engage in a family in every two weeks or every week.

Maybe the neighbor's grass is cut by 3 or 4 kids the following week allowed 3 or 4 other kids to do this.

This is giving the child something to do, something to look forward to, and some hopes too.

You know, a dollar earned by a kid on his own at an early age sometime encourage that.

Bill> As we've said, community support and understanding of our young people is important.

Learning the realities of life at a young age could prevent problems later on.

One big problem now facing black teens is illegal drug use.

>> Drugs is everywhere.

I mean, it's hard for the teenagers not to say no, but, you know, they take a lot of courage for them to say yes, not to have drugs.

You know and, I admire the people who don't go for drugs.

>> I've seen a lot of my friends destroyed by drugs because, like, they always, you know, peer pressuring you to try to, you know, get into drugs and alcohol and stuff like that.

And you lose a lot of friends dealing with, drugs because they always trying to, you know, say it's good for you, man.

You should try it.

>> I don't use drugs.

I'm really against it.

I really don't see why other people use it.

Because it doesn't.

It doesn't do anything.

But you know, make you not want to do the right thing.

So I'm against it, and I don't use them.

And I don't like people who do.

Bill> Even though black teens have a responsibility to their families and themselves to do what is right.

Parents and other adults must make clear what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

>> If an adult would put up a good just actually be themselves a role model as an adult, you have to find that balance with kids and educate them.

You wouldn't have as many problem as you've got today, but you have so many adult who age as an adult, but their action and behavior is that of a kid.

I see a lot of kids who is confused.

Made a lot of mistake in life and some of them with good potential and some of them who has been discouraged or a lot of trouble and not motivated enough some time to change, and they're really searching for someone to help them to change.

Bill> But in order for that change to be effective, those of us who are older need to be aware of the kind of image we project to our young.

You're watching the Job Man Caravan and we are ♪ taking it to the streets ♪ taking it to the streets ♪ taking it to the streets >> Where our viewers respond to questions of community interest.

>> It just puts a lot of fear in it that it might be coming back from what it used to be, you know.

>> This young woman has only read or heard about the restrictive and sometimes brutal prejudices African-Americans had to contend with not too many years ago.

But some recent occurrences have brought the realities of overt racism clearly into focus.

The question is why now?

>> Maybe it's out of fear on their part.

Maybe it's out of envy.

Only a supreme being could tell us the real reason.

>> I don't think they realize what we went through before.

I don't think they.

They're being taught that now.

About the civil rights struggle enough.

And they're, I think they're feeling that they don't owe us anything, which they don't.

But still, you have to have some type of consciousness about what's happened in the past and how it can cause disturbances presently.

>> Number one, blacks are moving up.

They are scared of it.

And I guess we just a lot of us just went take the knowing, just going about our business that's holding us down and we are moving up.

They just can't.

They just don't want to see that.

>> Possibly ignorance.

>> This is the Caravan.

And just between the two of us, all we want from you is for you to stay with us each and every week, right here on this station.

Coming up, the importance of knowing who you are from whence you come.

Also, we'll flashback with Stokely Carmichael.

But now let's take this caravan entertainment break with the tantalizing Temptations.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Bill> And now here's a Caravan flashback from 1976 with Stokely Carmichael.

Carmichael> I understand.

I know that the only way the black man in America, the only way the African in the Caribbean and South America, in America will be freed is through Africa.

Africa is our only salvation.

Now, of course, many brothers and sisters living in America may not understand that.

That's understandable.

I say in America we have one sided view of history of Africa, Africa.

We don't even want to look to Africa.

But since all of us know we're Africans and all we have to do is look at ourselves, because Mother Africa is so strong that when she puts a stamp on you, 500 years of soap or water cannot wash it away.

So when we look at each other, look in the mirror, we see Africa.

At least brothers and sisters must decide what is their relationship to Africa.

In this country, we have Irish people.

The Irish people take money and collect money and send it to Ireland to fight, British, colonialism.

Not only will they collect money, they will break into the United States armories and steal guns and send it to Ireland, even though they were born in Ireland.

If the when the Greeks have a problem here in Cyprus, the Greeks in this country, even though they don't speak Greek, were born here, they will rise up and do everything to push for Greek.

We Africa are in trouble and we just said we're the only people without a home in this country.

But our home is Africa and the quicker we wake up and realize it, the quicker we will find our path to our liberation.

(drum sounds) ♪ Bennett> Many of us seem to be getting in touch with and indeed embracing our Africanity.

Still, there are those who come over from the homeland who don't receive the warm welcome they expect.

>> It was very cold, contrary to what I expected.

Bennett> Kenyan Daniel Gatabaki.

>> I kind of expected, warm welcome probably.

My expectations were a little too much.

All right.

But I was basing it on what I had read about the Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Angela Davis, and all those great human beings.

Bennett> Why is it that we sometimes grudgingly relate to our African brothers and sisters?

>> I think it's a threat to our Eurocentric kind of behavior patterns.

We are so engrossed in this thing of me, I, trying to accumulate things that we get lost in them Bennett> Because of our long time disconnectedness from Africa, both physically and mentally.

Maybe we've lost that sense of community, which is a part of us as a people.

William Dunn said he appreciated that familial camaraderie while traveling in Africa.

>> When I was in Africa, Africans were very cordial and very friendly.

They, they would stop and just talk to you, touch you.

I think we have developed probably, more of your Eurocentric kind of behavior patterns than, you know, the African countries, Africans in Africa, on the continent of Africa, I think we have a problem in terms of identifying with Africa.

We don't want to do that.

We are so indoctrinated with this Eurocentric kind of thinking that, most of us don't want to admit that that's our heritage.

Bennett> Possibly one way for more of us to regain that connectedness is to travel to Africa.

Gunn says his travels in Africa changed his perspective.

>> Like many of us who are struggling for Afrocentric kind of thought and behavior I definitely won't say I'm struggling because it's, I'm indoctrinated every day like everybody else, and I was looking for ways and means.

I wish to understand who I am, where I came from and to identify with some of the people.

It helped me to begin to look at what my strengths are.

One of the things I was looking at specifically was dance patterns, and movement.

And one of the things I found is that we we're not doing anything different over here.

So, I began to ask questions about melanin and about the pineal gland and about that influence on our neurological systems and our intuitive abilities.

If we understood these kinds of things in the school system, our kids would probably, learn much easier because teachers would understand how to develop methods that would get at that learning style right now.

We approached them purely from a Eurocentric point of view, but I thought I would I have to gain a better sense of who I, also, you know, I have to, I had to do what a lot of us have had to do.

How do you consciously determine what beauty is?

And we don't want to talk about that.

But I had to consciously, you know, begin to look at people and understand what real beauty is.

I began to appreciate blackness.

I think all black Americans need to go back to Africa just to have the experience of walking on the continent.

I think that it would be all of us must go to Egypt and then start there and come back That's where you begin to understand, you know, the origin of civilization that that was us.

Bennett> Gatabaki has been in the States for 12 years, but he says he will go back to Kenya and take something very important with him.

Gatabaki> A ton of knowledge, and... Bennett> What would you like to do with this knowledge when you get back to Kenya?

Gatabaki> What would I like to do?

There's a whole lot of things I would like to do, use the knowledge that I have gained (indiscernible) And then continue, continue, advocating for that dialog between the American, no African Americans and Africans.

Bennett> There is much for us to learn from each other, while at the same time appreciating our similarities for exploring the oneness of African people can only enhance us all.

>> The African gods would want, their sons and daughters, wherever they are, to know exactly who they are.

Which I believe is, part of the problem today.

It is not so much a question of what they can be back to the motherland, because that that's going to be meaningless, until they understand why they're doing it, to start with who they are and be proud of that.

♪ Bill> Remember, for those of you who are interested in doing some good in your neighborhood, we invite you to encourage others to watch the Caravan.

With 21 years of helping to build a better community, well, I'm afraid that's all the time we have for this week's program.

Until next week, I'm Bill Terrell on behalf of the staff of The Caravan, reminding you there's nobody in the world any more important to us than you are.

We love you and we thank you for joining us.

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