THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409160547
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANIE BRYANT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
The Umoja Festival drew criticism this week when it was learned that civic league presidents from most of the predominately white neighborhoods had not been invited to Thursday's opening reception.
Last year, representatives from each of the city's civic leagues were invited to the annual event intended to celebrate African-American culture and promote unity in the city.
After hearing complaints, Mayor Gloria Webb said Thursday that she looked into it and ``found out that it was absolutely the truth.''
Only the Olde Towne Civic League was on the list, she said.
Webb also was concerned that she saw only one white minister's name on the invitation list to the city-sponsored reception. ``All the rest are minorities,'' she said.
``It really concerned me that the Umoja Festival is all about unity and harmony, and we discounted 50 percent of the population,'' she said.
Actually, except for the exclusion of white civic league representatives and clergymen, the invitation list of about 250 included a cross section of black and white guests, , ranging from city officials and legislators to representatives of universities, hospitals and the military.
Webb also was unhappy with some of the categories on the list.
Webb did not know who was responsible for the guest list and had not been able to discuss it with City Manager V. Wayne Orton, who is out of town this week.
``You try so hard,'' Webb said. ``You can take 12 steps forward and a thing like this happens and it puts you back two years. It's sad.''
Webb shared her concern with council members Tuesday during an executive session. A majority agreed and decided to have the city clerk's staff phone invitations to about 30 civic league presidents Wednesday.
This is the first year that the Parks and Recreation Department has handled invitations for the Umoja Festival reception.
Lydia Patton, department head, said her secretary compiled one list from about 20 that were provided to her office.
``Those invitations were sent out based on the number we had and the lists that were made available to my secretary,'' said Patton, who also is Umoja Festival committee chairwoman. ``There was no intent to slight . . . anybody. This festival is about unity,'' she said.
``No one intentionally left any civic league or any group off.''
KEYWORDS: EXCLUSION RACE by CNB