If I hear that expression one more time, I'm afraid I might explode. I am a 79-year-old wife, mother and grandmother. During my lifetime, I've been called Colored, Negro, Black, Afro-American and African-American.
Although born in the heart of Mississippi during the reign of Gov. Theodore Bilbo, I have always possessed a healthy portion of self-esteem. When I was growing up, even in the segregated South, I was taught to have personal convictions and dignity.
We never heard the words "when you finish high school." It was always "when you finish college." I've been working all my life to get beyond labels and stereotypes.
Then a statement written and signed by Louisville's black elected officials appeared in The Courier-Journal. How dare they charge that some of our pastors voted for the Congresswoman just because of a few dollars used to secure their votes? Federal appropriations are our tax dollars returned to our community.
How dare they accuse intelligent, educated men and women -- with the guts to vote their convictions -- of having sold out? The officials who attacked Northup and her supporters will have to work overtime to produce the funding so desperately needed in the underserved, underfunded West End . I am proud of those ministers who boldly showed their support for Northup, even though many of their parishioners disagreed with them.
I believe they did so not for personal gain, but because of her advocacy on behalf of community organizations and projects through the entire Louisville community, including the West End . My vote was not bought. It was a vote for continued and increased funding of educational initiatives, family enrichment and community advancement.
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