MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT THE NEWS MEDIA!

Tammie Campbell

WHO NEEDS THE PRESS FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE?

A Call to Action

By:  Tammie Lang Campbell

February 28, 2011, the last day of Black History Month and the first day of the Texas State Black Caucus' Summit will remain embedded in my mind.  This was the date that I ignored conventional wisdom that says a press conference can't be held without the press and preceded with my press conference on the steps of the Texas State Capital.

I had planned to announce to the world that the n-word is not in dark skinned people's DNA or Newsouth Books' revised edition of Mark Twain's Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn; however, I was thrown a curve ball when the press didn't show.  Apparently, a proactive black denouncing the n-word and promoting school literature sensitive to all children's cultural needs didn't interest the media. 

The media's no show would've devastated most, but I remembered that God:

• Called me to petition Merriam Webster and Random House dictionaries to remove or redefine the n-word in 1991(view petition)
• Chose me to hold a symbolic n-word burial that was featured nationally on CNN (view story), in Manhattan City Council News and all local/state media outlets including the Houston Chronicle's front page
• Moved to get my anti-n-word campaign op. ed. featured in the Houston Chronicle on 10/31/10 called, "N-word Remains far too Pervasive"
• Urged Dr. Gribben to take a stand for humanity and appeal to Newsouth Books to replace the n-word with slave
• Appealed to Rep. Dr. Alma Allen and had her to enlist the support of Texas Black Caucus Chairman, Rep. Sylvester Turner, for Newsouth Books' revised edition of Mark Twain's Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn  
• Inspired Friends of Humanity to help sponsor 100 of Newsouth Books' revised edition of Mark Twain's Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn to be donated to  schools and youth organizations

With these aforementioned blessings in mind, I proceeded with my anti-n-word declaration on the steps of the Texas State Capitol.

(View Event Video) 

"Good afternoon, to God goes all the glory and praise in His precious Son's name Jesus Christ.  I'm pleased to join you with Rep. Dr. Alma Allen; my husband, Dennis Campbell, Sr. and our children; Shar-day and Dennis Jr.  I thank all of you for being here today in support of Dr. Gribben and Newsouth Books' revised edition of Mark Twain's Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, which replaces the n-word with slave.

To the curious who may be wondering why we are here, well an event like this one that has a profound effect upon the lives of people doesn't just happen.  It is an accumulation of events.  For 20 years, I have been working to reclaim blacks' good name.  During this journey, I have heard the cries of my foreparents urging me to let everyone know who we are and who we are not.  I have been encouraged by the words of Solomon in Proverb 21:1 that states, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches..."