"Tiempo v. "Like It Is": Public Affairs ProgramsBy Alton H. Maddox, Jr.

"Tiempo" is an ethnic-oriented, public affairs program for Latinos which is now shown on Sundays for a half-hour before "Like It Is" which once set the gold standard in public affairs. A few years ago, WABC-TV had to renew its license as is required under FCC law. Only two Black groups filed challenges to the renewal of its license due to lack of a substantial budget for "Like It Is" and discrimination against a third party candidate, Ollie McClean, by the local media. These allegations were made by United African Movement. The other group was based in New Jersey. On Sunday, March 22, "Tiempo" featured a public affairs program concerning term-limits for NYC and summer camps. The term-limits aspect of the program had to have been a public relations gimmick for Mayor Michael Bloomberg. A similar program would have never been featured on "Like It Is." What is the future of "Like It Is" without Gil Noble? "Like It Is" has no history of currying favor with white politicians. "People without vision shall perish." Blacks must stand behind "Like It Is". In the second half of the March 22 program, "Tiempo" featured a segment on "summer camps" with an exclusive focus on summer camps in the tri-state area. The sponsor of these summer camps is the YMCA which owns eleven hundred acres of land in upstate New York. The YMCA program cost parents Thirteen Hundred Dollars ($1300.00) for each child for two weeks. The YMCA receives donations of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) annually from its supporters. It is a recreational camp. UAM, on the other hand, receives donations of under Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) annually from its supporters. United African Movement sponsors the only African-centered, sleep-away summer program for children in the nation. The boys' program starts on July 5, 2009. The girls' program starts on July 19, 2009. These are two-week programs for children ages 7-15. Freedom Retreat for Boys and Girls started in 1994 to examine some of the causes of the Central Park jogger case. Among other things, UAM found that the public schools refuse to teach survival skills. Thus, public schools are pipelines to the prison-industrial complex. To be sure, the YMCA summer program is one of the economical summer programs in the country. Another program is the Fresh Air Fund. Neither program, however, teaches survival skills for Black and Latino youth. Similarly, neither program provides for the positive socialization of African children. Brown v. Board of Education and No Child Left Behind have placed our children on a suicide course. Another killer is Mayor Bloomberg's mayoral control over schools. Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu says that the " summer gap" places Black children at disadvantage. Bloomberg stigmatizes Black children with summer school. UAM's summer program is unique. It is more than a summer camp. The program enriches the lives of our children in myriad ways and at a cost of only Six Hundred Fifty ($650.00) Dollars for two weeks. Some summer camps have costs for two weeks which reach at least Twenty-eight Hundred Dollars ($2800.00). Even Thirteen Hundred Dollars ($1300.00) is at the low end of the spectrum. Recreation is only one aspect of UAM's summer program. All of the activities that are normally associated with a summer program are present in Freedom Retreat. A legal program advocacy program is also present. Children learn how to litigate cases. There is an emphasis on Black history and culture. Prof. Kaba H. Kamene(Booker T. Coleman) and Harold Wilbert are among the instructors. Children enjoy an overnight bus trip to the Harriet Tubman House in Auburn, NY and a visitto Cornell University or either to Syracuse University which will offer the children a short course on journalism. They will also play basketball at the Carrier Dome. The head of the journalism school is a person of African ancestry. These visits inspire our children to appreciate the Underground Railroad and to learn that a college education is possible. There is a rich Black history throughout upstate New York. The birthplace of Sojourner Truth in Ulster County is only a few miles from the venue of Freedom Retreat. In two weeks, children enjoy several other off-site activities. They visit a farm. They go horseback riding, roller-skating and also fishing. Children have also gone to places like West Point, for example, to learn about Hannibal. There are also on-site and off-site venues for swimming. Family Day for Boys is on July 12 and Family Day for Girls is on July 26. Parents, families, friends and supporters are able to enjoy a wonderful outing with great food and fun. Hopefully, one day we will be able to say that the annual donor base for UAM is also Three Hundred Dollars ($300,000.00). On April 25-26, UAM will sponsor a bus trip to Baltimore to the Blacks in Wax Museum and an Egypt on the Potomac" field trip in Washington, DC conducted by premiere Egyptologist Prof. Anthony Browder who has not only updated his field trip but has also published another informative book on Kemet. That Saturday night, groups in DC will be sponsoring a major fund-raiser and rally for Freedom Retreat. The keynote speakers are Drs. Leonard and Roslyn Jeffries and Alton Maddox. Dr. Jeffries said that he will be inviting Dr. Patricia Newton. Anthony Browder is also expected. Food and hotel accommodations are excellent. The luxury bus seats 55 persons. Ron Daniels and his supporters will also be in DC. His event is ending on Saturday afternoon, the day UAM arrives in DC. It will be a trip to remember. For further information contact UAM at 718-834-9034.