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Page 4, The Tuskegee News, 19, 1996
Alabama loses
a great leader
in Michael Figures
It wasn't too many months ago that Charles Barkley
let it be known loud and clear that he did not want
and was not prepared to accept a position as a role
model for today's young people.
That's too bad because 98 percent of the time the
former Auburn University basketball and now NBA
star would make an excellent one.
Perhaps he will change and mellow a bit as the
years roll by and he gets nearer to the day when he
says he will run for governor of our state. Sir Charles.
Wonder if he'll really take that pay cut?
Role models are important and no matter the
protestations of a highly visible person such as
Barkley, we are all role models--projecting good or
positive images to those around us, or, in the case of
some, a very negative image.
The Alabama family lost a most important and most
positive role model for all of its young people last
week with the untimely and most unfortunate death
of Sen. Michael Figures of Mobile.
Figures was one of Alabama's most prominent black
lawmakers. He had great knowledge, great influence
and great character. He most likely would have lead
the way for future generations by claiming a
statewide elective office in the years to come.
At the time of his death he was State Senate Presi-
dent Pro Tern, the first black man to hold that posi-
tion. And it wasn't a token, position, either. He
earned that lofty position and he carried himself
extremely well in discharging his duties before the
senate and in representing his constituency.
The senator, just 48, died Friday in the University
of South Alabama Hospital after suffering a burst
blood vessel in his brain. It is most appropriate and
fitting that the flags around our state are flying at
half staff in memory of the fallen leader. Alabama
Gov. Fob James praised him as a "man of consider-
able ability and intellect. He will be missed by the
people of this state he served so admirably," thef~v-
His c~et friends sa~d he liked ~ always play by the
rules. And, always at the top of his ageWtta', v/a~ a
deep concern for and commitment to the the working
men and women of Alabama and those who struggled
just to make it through each day. He had a special
place in his heart for the state's poor.
And he was a special friend to our Sen. George
Clay.
In 1976 he served as President of Alabama Black
Lawyers Association.
His career in the Alabama Legislature started when
he was elected to represent Senate District 33, serv-
ing north Mobile, Prichard, Chickasaw and Saraland.
In 1980, he became vice chairman of Senate Judiciary
Committee and in 1980 he served as vice chairman of
Alabama's delegation to the Democratic National
Convention. He was named outstanding legislator by
the and served in 1990-91 as president of New South
Coalition.
"'He was more than a rising political star," said
Stanley Weissman, a Montgomery attorney who
worked on projects with Sen. Figures which were
designed to aid the poor
"He was a good and decent man who tried to help
the people of the state." As an example, Mr. Weiss-
man cited a bill sponsored by Sen. Figures that
passed during the last regular session. The "Neigh-
bors Helping Neighbors Act set up a fund to help low
income people weatherize their homes.
Yes, he was a role model. The kind we need. It is
tragic that his stay with us was so short He was a
unique individual who sort to serve others in his
every walk of life.'It's so tragic -- such a bright young
man with such a bright future," said former Senate
pro Tern Ryan deGraffenricd Jr., of Tuscaloosa
I
Congrats Comegy, Golden Tigers
For those readers who have participated in sports, you
can understand what Tuskegee University's 21-20 victory
over Morris Brown College meant last week.
It was the first win of the season and the first at
Tuskegee for Coach Rick Comegy in three outings, the pre-
vious one a 56-0 loss at Florida A&M. Special people come
back from such a pounding and that's what TU did last
week. Players and coaches are to be commended for not
giving up. They proved something to themselves and their
supporters.
more characl r
your ddddy
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ee
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Blessed are the peace
By Bernice Powell Jackson
Dear Beautiful and Strong and Patient
and Committed Young Brothers and Sis-
ters:
Just meeting with some of you who par-
ticipated in the 1993 Kansas City Gang
Summit was an inspiration and a hum-
bling experience. For after the rest of the
world gave you your fifteen minutes of
fame and then turned its back on you, you
have not turned your back on the difficult
businesses, your own residential rehabili-
tation and security businesses.
You realized that battling for territory
which someone else owns is useless, so
you try to encourage youth to invest in
houses rather than guns. You have
taught us the lesson of commitment. Even
as state after state has responded to vie-
and on-g0Lng task of working for peace lence by criminalizing youth, you have
~n~ng o~ttu~ .......... ~ ..... stayed the course of prowdmg relatmn-
After the Cameras went away, you con-
tim~ec[ "to Walk the streets, to talk with
young people, to reach out your hands and
open your hearts to them. You have
taught us adults some lessons if we
choose to learn. You have taught us the
lesson of patience. You have refused to
give up on peace and refused to give up on
young people. Even when our brief atten-
tion span turned to other issues, you
knew that you have to be in this for the
long haul if you're really going to make a
difference in our communities.
It took years for this level of violence to
build up and it will take years to defuse
it. You have taught us the lesson of
respect. The word respect comes from its
Latin root which means to see again, to
look back at, and you have looked back at
young people that second time. You have
looked beyond the sometimes hardened
exterior to the essence of the person and
realized that every human being has a
spirit and has worth and can be
reclaimed
You have taught us the lesson of connec-
tion -- the relationship between the lack
of economic development in our communi-
ties and the sense of hopelessness many
young people feel. You realized that to tell
a young person they must give up the
lucrative job of selling dope, you have to
have an alternative for them. So you have
started developing your own silkscreen
ships aii~d alternatives to young people
caught up in the violence of the streets.
You have understood that the answer is
not more prisons, but more caring. You
have taught us the lesson of the power of
love. You have heard the greatest com-
mandment and then you have lived it.
Even .with few resources, you have
reached out to each other in love and
changed the lives of hundreds of young
people in Kansas City, in Boston, in Santa
Cruz, in Chicago.
qO'Ak.k,~i.Nm~ ~kMW
' ~OS ~utl~lN'
o
o
You have taught us
afraid. Not to be afraid of
people. Not to be afraid of the
to be afraid of the cycle
Not to be afraid of fear
we're really honest, you
what it really means to be the
you have understood that the
ing the violence is reaching
youth, like adults, are in a
We in the church have
you, to help you know that
children of God and created
of God. You have challen
accept its real role of
for you -- a place of safet
love.
A sanctuary of safety from
and drugs and violence inside
A sanctuary of caring for
and your future. A sanctul
which is the only way you
May God give us the coura
you, the endurance to stay
power to change you -- and
m~m
.=---
oc
4
0
:©
uskegee
Serving Macon County Since 1865
'The Tuskegee News (ISSN: 644480) is published weekly by
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Alabama, 36083. Phone (334) 727-3020. Second Class
Postage paid at Tuskegee, Alabama. POSTMASTER ~ send
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per year, outside of Macon County, $27.50 per year, outside
state of Alabama, $29.50 per year.
Paul R. Davis, Publisher
Midmal Smdley, A~iate Publisher
Gayle Davis, Vi’’ President and Tt~murcr
Guy Rhodt% Editor
Lizzie Dixon, Office Mmmgcr
Five years ago: Security was beefed
Smiths Station Booker T. Washington football
past Friday as new BTW principal Johnny
was the target of a death threat, according
Police Department Assistant Chief John
Many spectators entering Friday's game were
pass through metal detectors. One gun was
person eludling police by running through
Several knives were also confiscated..Officers
ington who attended the game Friday...
of the United States Peace Corp visited
to mark the 30th anniversary of the or
seek more African-American volunteers.
Ten years ago: Officials from
Macon County Council of Governments
port efforts to defeat a tax proposal by Gee.
lace which would siphon 5 percent from the
parimutuel pool... The Macon County
was dark and without phones after an
mishap caused outages to the structure.