THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 19, 1994 TAG: 9408190602
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN JOLLY DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ACCOMAC LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
African Americans on the Eastern Shore are asking: What's wrong with this picture?
They opened the local newspaper last week and saw a large photo of the Regional Economic Development Council appointed by Gov. George F. Allen. Of the 22 people pictured, not one was black.
Of the two Eastern Shore counties, nearly 50 percent of Northampton's population is African American. In Accomack County, about 35 percent of the residents are black. Why, many ask, have the leaders of so many people been ignored? And is this an indicator of the black community's future relationship with Allen?
``I am disappointed that no one in the governor's administration took the time or made the effort to discover that there are African Americans on the Eastern Shore,'' said Ava McMillan, executive director of the Northampton Economic Empowerment Corporation.
Alice Brown, the mayor of Cape Charles, was among those upset by the photo in the Eastern Shore News.
``I read the article in the paper and immediately I said, we need some minorities on there,'' said Brown, who is African American. ``It's a little slap in the face if none are appointed.''
By Thursday, Allen's staff was scrambling to fix things.
``That oversight is being remedied as we speak,'' said Boyd S. Richardson Jr., director of the gov ernor's regional economic development councils. ``There has been no official action yet, however.''
Richardson said that the Eastern Shore's council will be expanded soon from 20 to about 30 members, and will include African Americans. Other regional councils have 20-25 members.
Allen appointed 18 economic councils across the state. Their mission is to provide an informational ``snapshot'' of each region that will become part of a statewide jobs strategy. Reports from each region are expected to be filed by Sept. 15, and the governor should have a completed plan on his desk by Nov. 29, Richardson said.
The late appointments may salve the anger that has spread through both counties. But for some, the damage is already done.
``I was insulted that there was no African-American representation on the council. There was plenty of opportunity if anyone had been even the least bit sensitive,'' said Darlene Burton, community development coordinator at the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission. ``We need to be represented, and they need to expand their definition of who needs to be brought to the table.''
Richardson said that members of the bipartisan councils were chosen because they are ``players'' in the region's economy.
But critics worry that the governor's oversight happened precisely at a time when African Americans on the Eastern Shore are doing a significant amount of work in economic planning.
African Americans head the Northampton Economic Forum and the Northampton Economic Empowerment Corp. And the black community turned out in force to develop a plan for the federal enterprise community grant.
George McMath, chairman of the local council, said he did not present the governor's office with a list of potential members.
``I made some suggestions, like anyone else would,'' said McMath. But, he said, the governor's office did the appointing.
Some other groups were overlooked as well. For example, said McMath, there is currently no representative from Chincoteague on the council.
``That was just a mistake,'' he said. ``That will be corrected, I'm sure. It's probably unfortunate that the picture was taken, and the article written, before all the members of the committee were appointed.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
A spokesman for Gov. George F. Allen says ``the oversight is being
remedied.''
Photo
SONDA DAWES
This photo of the economic council, published in the Eastern Shore
News, disturbed blacks who saw none of their own among its ranks.
by CNB