SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2005 ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES African-American scholar comes to controversial conclusions CHOICE BooKs tation, piercing analysis and personal testimony. The only part that falls short of his standards is the prescription what to do? "Silent Covenants" (the title refers to unwritten law) begins with the applause that a mention of "Brown v. Board of Education" gets at a 2002 Yale commencement ceremony. The response elicits a In 1961, Bell had been in Jackgroundswell re of doubt within Bell. son, trying to prevent the university there from barring James Meredith from admission.
Leaders from a nearby AfricanAmerican community approached him to help get their Harmony neighborhood school re-opened after the white school board had closed it for harboring civil rights meetings. "Sadly unaware of the value of a black school in a small community," Bell recalls, "I told them that our crusade was not to save segregated schools but to eliminate them." The organizers listened to him. A countywide desegregation effort ensued, followed by drive-by shootings, job losses and loss of credit at stores. Finally, A.J. Lewis agreed to let his daughter, Debra, enter the white elementary school.
Bell provided transportation for some of the marshals who acted as escorts. "I decided to show I was not afraid of honking onlookers," Bell writes. "I got out of the car, took off my jacket, opened the trunk, put my jacket inside, and then closed the trunk." When it came time, to leave, Bell realized that his car keys were in his jacket pocket. By 1964, Bell notes, he had begun to feel that the Brown decision wasn't working. "I was now supervising three hundred school A postcard from England gift- giving A needs, thoughts Black about inspires a review American history.
A thing, but what kind triumph, a story of sampling of spirit study? I have chosen attracted by Derrick Covenants: Brown v. ucation and the Hopes for Racial states, means American has bility, self from issues. civil Rob Brown Neufeld Education, for Rob Neufeld holidays inspire loved ones' History Month of Africanbook's the a story of anguish, a or a deep the last tack, Bell's "Silent Board of EdUnfulfilled Reform." Racism, Bell has been the by which society maintained stadistracting iteconomic Advances in rights, such as v. Board of than justice (for example, public relations in a fight against Communism); and are soon re-interpreted to restore inequality in new forms. To make solid advances in civil rights, Bell says, fellow AfricanAmericans need to look at what will also serve mainstream self-interest.
Bell's credentials ring loud. In 1957, he graduated near the top of his class in the University of Pittsburgh Law School. While white classmates easily found placements in law firms, Bell searched for a job for more than a year. Then, Thurgood Marshall hired litigate for the Legal Defense Fund. Later, he worked for the government, supervising Title VI enforcement.
He has taught at Harvard, served as dean of the University of Oregon law school and written several books. The strongest parts of Bell's book are the historical documen- Book reviewed "'Silent Covenants: Brown V. Board of Education and the Unfulfilled Hopes for Racial Reform" by Derrick Bell (Oxford University 2004, 240 pages, $25.00) Other recent books "Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Black America's Struggle for Equality" by Richard Kluger (Knopf, 1976; Vintage trade paperback revised edition, 2004, 877 pages, $24) "Sons of Mississippi: A Story of Race and BE its Legacy" by Paul Hendrickson (Vintage tip trade paperback, 2004, 355 pages, a look at the lawmen who opposed James Meredith, and their descendents "Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson" by Geoffrey C. Ward (Knopf hardcover, 2004, 510 pages, $26.95) followed, in publication, by a 2005 PBS video ands DVD; and a CD of Wynton Marsalis' score for the movie "The Secret Epidemic: the Story of Aids and Black America" by Jacob Levenson (Anchor Books trade paperback, 2005, 314 pages, $14) desegregation cases all across the South," he reports.
"I felt I doing God's work and yet I was filled with doubt." "Silent Covenants" is an excellent history of great moments in civil rights progress as well as of the adjustments that American society has made to weaken those advances. One year after Brown v. Board of Education, there was Brown II, in which the Supreme said that local districts could" take their time in instituting changes. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing citizenship to all, had led eventually to the "separate but equal" interpretation of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 and six decades of Jim Crow.
The Compromise of 1787 had committed the otherwise freedom-loving new union to recognize slaves as property and uphold property rights. In the 1987 case, McClesky vs. Richard and Jackie Vaughn of Arden went on a tour of Europe recently. Among the sites they visited was the famed Stonehenge in England. The Vaughns first flew to London and spent four days there, visiting the museums, Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and London Tower.
They then took the Euro Star to Paris, where they visited the Louvre, Notre Dame, Pont Neuf. Then they boarded a train to Brussels, to Koln and Dusseldorf. They also visited Frankfurt, Germany. In all, their European tour lasted 15 days. "We did not go with a tour group, just made it up along the way, with Perry Travel helping us book the hotels and train tickets," writes Richard Vaughn.
Kemp, the Supreme Court accepted the evidence of the death penalty bias against AfricanAmericans. It then added that discrimination in any individual case was not provable. Bell pleads for a deep understanding of the workings of racism and for skepticism about legal solutions. In contemporary schools, he points toward white flight, black concentration in urban schools, unfair student tracking, and curricula and I teaching methods not consonant with the needs of black youths. He barely mentions No Child Left Behind.
Controversial and, to some extent, open-ended, "Silent Covenants" serves as one of the texts that should inform any debate about equality and national priorities. Rob Neufeld writes about books for the Citizen-Times. His "Choice Books" column runs in the Sunday Arts Living section. Contact him at 768-BOOK or Send in your postcard Tell us about your recent vacation, and we may run it on the Travel Page. Send a photo or postcard along with a brief note to: Travel Page, Asheville Citizen-Times, P.O.
Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802. Or e-mail your digital image to Please include caption information and make sure your image is at 300 dpi. Civil War novelist Garren to speak, sign books at Asheville Community Theatre ASHEVILLE Terrell T. Garren, author of "The Secret War, A Dramatic History of Civil War Crime in Western North Carolina," will speak and sign copies of his book at 5 p.m. Thursday at Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E.
Walnut St. Admission is free. The novel portrays grim life during the Civil War in the mountains and throughout the South. It's based on the life of the author's great grandmother, Delia Russell Youngblood, and reveals how the crimes of war affected families for three and four later generations. Garren is an eighth generation Western North Carolinian.
Born in Asheville in 1951, he's a 1969 graduate of Roberson High School who earned degrees from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. He currently resides in Henderson County. Copies of his novel will be sold for $25 at the ACT event. Workshop schedules classes ASHEVILLE A new round of Bob Terrell's 26th tour of The Holy Land Nov. 2-11, 2005 Visit the Land of the Book from Dan to Beersheba and on to the Red Sea 10 Days, $2,359 32257-112 including air all meals 712-6589 or 236-2120 for details, brochure RAVEL GUIDE BOOK NOTES classes has been scheduled by The Writers' Workshop, a nonprofit literary center founded in 1985.
Classes meet at 387 Beaucatcher Road. Advance registration is required by calling 254-8111 or e-mail Writr Feb. 26: Creative Non-Fiction Articles with Marie Bartlett. The class offers tips on writing for magazines and newspapers: how to get started, tools of the trade, capturing ideas, and writing the query letter. Meets from 10 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., $70. Feb. 28-March 28: The Journal as Wellspring with Veronica Fisher. Students learn to transform personal experiences into a journal. Meets from 10 a.m.
to noon Mondays, $130. March 1-April 5: Creative Writing Class with Daniel Presnell. The class covers various devices, techniques and theories about the creative process. Meets from 7 to 9 CARNIVAL HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 3 MONTHS OF FUN! It's unseasonably entertaining every day in January and February during 2005 Winter Carnival and during the 21st Annual SpringFest in March. Great Room Rates and Temperatures Entertainment Outdoor Activities Arts Cultural Events Request your free Calendar of Events now! Head 800.424.3387 a South Carolina Springiest Smiling Faces.
Beautiful SAC TE North Myrtle Beach Rentals Spectacular oceanfront view homes. 1-8 BR, fully furn. equipped quality assured. Special season rates. Over one million happy families served! rentals.
Super Rates, Free Brochure, Call Today! Elliott Realty 1-800-525-0225 www.northmyrtlebeachtravel.com Charleston, SC Largest selection of vacation beach rentals on Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. Golf, beautiful beaches, outdoor adventure equipment rentals and activities. Guest Discounts. Island Realty 800-876-8144 www.islandrealty.com E-mail: The Wildes at Chunns Cove Non Homes trom the Mid $200. to the Beautiful Arts Crafts Design Just 1.5 Miles from Downtown Asheville 31301-200 Elegantly Appointed Throughout Space is Limited -ACT NOW! THE A CHUNNE WILDES 828.296.0220 Today! Marketed Prudential Exclusively by Call Visit The WildesatChunnsCove.com Lifestyle Realty p.m.
Tuesdays, $140. March 12: Writing for Children and Young Adults with Beth Dellinger. Students get an overview on writing for various age groups, from picture books to young adult novels. Meets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
p.m., $70. March 19: Intro To Playwriting with Steve Hunt. This workshop offers writing exercises, exploring ideas for plays, and tips on getting your play performed. Students may bring three pages of work or a syn- Two Locations to Serve Ton Spa FULL SERVICE NAIL SALON Announcing CiCiN New Southside Salon 18280 271:001 1550 MENDER Ito 144 1 (828) 902 ME is in: Pawleys Island and the Litchfield Beaches Family cottages and condominiums nestled along our beautiful beaches and salt marsh creeks. Plan your fall vacation today.
Low rates for a long weekend, a week or a month. Call now for our Vacation Brochure! PAWLEY'S ISLAND REALTY CO. 1-800-937-7352 www.pawleysislandvacations.com Over 14,700 adults read last Sunday's Asheville Citizen-Times looking for advertising information about travel and Source: Schulma Ronca Bucuvalas. Inc. 2000 opsis to the class for review.
Meets from 10 a.m. to 4. p.m., $70. April 9: Writing Your Memoirs with Gayle Price. Participants will discuss memoirs by writers as Russell Baker and Annie Dillard, and engage in writing exercises to bring their own memoirs to life.
Meets from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., $70. April 16: Poetry Revision Class with Dannye Romine Powell. Poets learn techniques for shaping and revising their work, and may bring Chalet Cabin Rentals Pigeon Forge in the Smokies Free Brochure. Winterfest Specials.
Fireside Chalets. View our cabins www.firesidechalets.com Toll Free: 800-834-6018 one poem to the class for evaluation. Meets from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., $70. April 23: Editing and Revising Workshop with The Renbourne Editorial Agency.
Writers of fiction and nonfiction will learn to revise and polish their stories, and may bring five pages of work for inclass revision. Meets from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., $70. FROM STAFF REPORTS FLORIDA Disney World Villas The area's finest villas. AAA 3-diamond-outstanding amenities: 2 3 bdrm, some web.
Full cable, video, heated pool, jacuzzi, tennis, sauna, fitness room, playground. Free Disney Shuttle Great value- rates begin at $99. Theme park tickets, golf packages too. Just mins. to all area attractions.
Book online: www.holidayvillas.com or Promote your getaway in the Asheville Citizen Travel Guide. For more information, call Carla Hardin 828-232-2926.
