ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230052
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
Once again, lawmakers are trying to rip the "old darkey's heart" out of the state song.
The Senate General Laws Committee voted Wednesday to change racially offensive words in "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," which has been the official state song since 1940. The song is about a slave's memories of Virginia.
The proposal would substitute the word "dreamer's" for "darkey's''; "my loved ones" for "old Massa''; and "Mama and Papa" for "Massa and Missis."
That wasn't exactly what Sens. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, had in mind when they introduced the bill. They sought a legislative group to commission a new anthem and gracefully retire the old one as "the state song emeritus."
But Lucas, who is African American, said she was willing to accept any compromise if "it would make those lyrics go away." Newman said he will still pursue a commission to solicit a new song.
Attempts to change the state song have been unsuccessful for more than 20 years. The efforts have usually wound up as a standoff between the Senate, which has wanted to preserve the old song and remove the offensive words, and the House, which has insisted on a new song altogether.
Scholarship plan proceeds
In a unanimous vote, the House approved a bill to provide full scholarships to second-year community college students who earn at least a B average in their first year of technical training programs.
The program is part of Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Beyer's legislative agenda. Beyer is his party's likely nominee for governor this year.
The proposal would cost about $4 million in the first year. It passed 100-0, with no debate, and now goes to the Senate.
What's next
Floor sessions start at noon today.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee will conduct a brief public hearing on Sen. Mark Earley's parental notification bill on abortion next Wednesday.
Who's coming to visit
*A group of fifth-graders from Boones Mill Elementary will be in the Capitol today to see the actions of the General Assembly, tour Capitol Square and visit Del. Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount.
*Also, the girl's basketball team from Lord Botetourt High School, two-time state champions, will visit the General Assembly and Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, on Jan. 28.
*United Methodists and retired school teachers will gather at the General Assembly on Jan. 30. The next day, Lutherans will come.
Want to be heard?
To leave a message for state legislators, call (800) 889-0229 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays. To track the status of bills, visit our General Assembly web site at www.roanoke.com
Staff writers Warren Fiske and Jane Evans and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997by CNB