In our 3 years of existence, RiverCity Xaminer has unquestionably deepened the dialogue regarding what we as Black people should expect and accept from those who are charged with the duty of representing our interests. We have been open and candid, and have maintained an uncompromising perspective on what has been deemed "Black leadership" in our community, and expressing how we feel that this "leadership" has largely contributed to the ongoing difficulties of Blacks as a collective making measurable gains in the St. Louis society. We feel that it is a necessary duty of this publication to share our insight with those who, like us, have grave concerns about the future of the Black community on its present course. RCX will continue to deepen that dialogue, and do so with unapologetic Black intellectualism, as we examine matters of diversity, racism and our enemies within our ranks.
Normandy Schools are not making Adequate Yearly Progress, but the Superintendant is: in terms of his salary
by Terry Artis President/Publisher
According to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Missouri Assessment Program's (MAP) Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Summary, none of the Normandy Schools have met the state's AYP goals during the tenure of the current Superintendant, Dr. Stanton Lawrence (2008 - present). Yet, from public records obtained by RCX through a Missouri Sunshine Law request, we ascertain that Lawrence's pay has progressed from a starting point of $175,000 in 2008-2009 to $194,855 in 2011-2012 (an increase of $19,855 or 11.345% over a 3 year period).
Expanding the Canvas: Robert Powell and Portfolio Gallery
An RCXclusive
By Byron Lee
"I still think I represent my people. I still think that when people look [at me], they say, 'Shoes are shined. He's standing upright. Not splitting verbs"... You know? I'm trying to be the myth fighter."
For the last 23 years, Robert A. Powell's Portfolio Gallery & Education Center (3514 Delmar Boulevard, at Grand, phone: 314.533.3323, http://portfolio\gallerystl.org/) has been the reflection of his aforementioned principle. Now, Mr. Powell is working to forge the Gallery in a new direction.
Powell's creation has showcased many noteworthy exhibitions, such as the Hewitt Collection (home of works by Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden), the Gordon Parks Collection, the Ernest C. Withers-Selected Civil Rights Collection (which includes Withers's well-known post-mortem photograph of Emmitt Till), and the work of Dean Mitchell, the artist responsible for the image on the Louis Armstrong commemorative stamp. (Mitchell is also the winner of the $50,000 "Arts in the Park" prize given by the National Parks Service and has sold one piece of work for $80,000. "In art, you can tell your story," says Powell, "and determine what your work is worth.") Lastly, the Gallery was commissioned to paint the portrait of then-St. Louis Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. (Next month, the building will host the "Dark Girls" exhibit, which, true to its title, champions the beauty of dark-skinned girls and women. It runs from Friday, May 11, 2012 (the unveiling is from 5:00 to 9:00 pm) to Tuesday, July 31, 2012.
"I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole..."El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)
Because Malcolm X was strategically painted as an American villain by White oppressors and their selected Black "leadership," there were and still are very few Whites that could fathom the sort of depth of reasoning that lies in the aforementioned quote. Certainly VERY few Blacks would realize this balanced thinking from a man that we were directed by our White oppressors and their selected Black leadership to repulse and even revile.
What is obstructing the vision for the Normandy School District?
by Terry Artis President/Publisher
I am a "Viking" a.k.a. a "V. I. King," (Very Intelligent King), which is an alternative denotation created by one of Normandy's illustrious alums. I attended and graduated from Normandy schools. During the years that I was there, I was fortunate enough to be in a district that was one of the jewels of Missouri's public school systems. Normandy is still a phenomenal school district, in that it still has the same type of young people who have an incredible capacity for excellence. I still live in the Normandy School District, because I've always loved it so much. The difference between Normandy 30 years ago, when I graduated, and Normandy now comes down to what I believe to be a lack of sound and reasonable leadership.
by Terry Artis
by Terry Artis
