Vocational Programs Work
Dorothy Rowley's article, "Vocational Program Honors Youth Who Exceeded Expectations," August 23, 2012 is a fine example of why schools should offer some kind of vocational education to its students. All students should have the opportunity to go to college, but all students may not want to go to college. Learning a trade can be a rewarding experience, and having a marketable skill can lead to a lifelong career or business ownership.
I applaud Toyota Motor Corp., and DARCARS Automotive Group for their Support of this program at Ballou Senior High School. I want to wish all the success to the young men and women participating in the program.
Caleb Johnson
Washington, D.C.
Kudos for Spotlighting Comic Con, Jennings
What great stories on the recent Comic Con in Chicago and artist John Jennings! I just read both stories at washingtoninformer.com and was floored. Too often great African American artists that show their works and make us cringe with fear are overlooked. The Informer got the story and provided tremendous insight. The pictures were also awesome. I love, love, love monsters and crazy looking things! How wonderful that the Washington Informer is the only newspaper to cover the world of science fiction and comic conventions from a Black perspective. Bravo, Derry Sexton and Shantella Sherman!
K. Lynn Brousard
Lansing, Michigan
Marginalizing African-American Businesses
Let's face it, we now have a city government workforce full of individuals with no clue of the struggles African-American businesses had to go through just to be able to bid on city government contracts, let alone be awarded one. Knowing the history of a city's government is probably not a prerequisite for getting a high-ranking, decision-making position in the city government, but knowing the law should be.
Your article in the August 23rd issue, "Informer Fights City Agency's Contract Decision," is just another sign of the beginning of the marginalization of African-American businesses and the African-American community in this city. But there is a much sadder part to this story: we now have a mayor and city council running scared, scared that if they stand up for something that's fair and just happens to be against the new order, they too might be smeared and voted out of office. Well, they might as well stand for something now, because they will more than likely be voted out of office anyway.
Thomas Lockingley
Washington, D.C.
