ACTION Racism is 'No. 1 unfinished business in America today,' speaker says

The civil rights leader was disappointed there weren't more blacks in the crowd.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Rev. Dr. C. T. Vivian, an expert on civil rights and nonviolent protest, told members of ACTION that racism and poverty are the underlying causes of many of America's problems.
Vivian, who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was keynote speaker Monday evening during the fourth annual banquet for the Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods at Our Lady of Mount Carmel hall.
He also told those in attendance that ACTION was "the best thing since the civil rights movement under Martin Luther King," but that he was disappointed there weren't more black people in the audience.
'Unfinished business'
Minorities have the right to be heard and must make themselves heard, he said. And because "racism still abounds, we must talk about it as the No. 1 unfinished business in America."
To emphasize his point, Vivian cited several statistics:
UMinorities represent only 25 percent of the general population but 75 percent of the population on death row, he said.
UMinorities also are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, are more likely to be sentenced to longer prison sentences and are less likely to be hired, he said.
U"A black man with a master's degree makes less than a white man with a four-year bachelor's degree," he said.
Minorities are no longer struggling for the right to vote, he said, but for the right to be counted.
Awards given
Awards also were presented during the event.
The Rev. Joseph Fata, pastor of St. Luke Church, Boardman, received the Frances Kerpsack Award.
Mickey Fata and Deborah Johnson, co-chairwomen of ACTION Core Team Assembly, were presented with leadership awards. Dr. David Sweet, president of Youngstown State University, and John Reardon, Mahoning County treasurer, were given ACTION 2003 To Do What is Just awards.
kubik@vindy.com