If you go
* What: The Rev. Jesse Jackson visit
* When: Doors open at Olivet Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Wednesday
* Where: The church is at 740 M.L. King Blvd., and the address begins at noon.
* How: RSVP at 423-266-8709, ext. 221. Attendance is free.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson will visit Chattanooga on Wednesday, and is expected to talk to Volkswagen manufacturing officials about his hopes the plant will benefit the city’s minority community.
Glenda Gill, a spokeswoman with Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, said the visit and meeting with VW officials is “part of our scheduled meetings with all of the automakers” in the country. “It’s something we’ve done for 11 years,” she said.
Also, beginning at noon, Mr. Jackson will talk with Chattanoogans about the economic climate here and the high number of foreclosures beginning to impact the community — especially the minority community, said the Rev. Kevin Adams, visionary of Olivet Baptist Church in Chattanooga.
“He’ll be speaking on a national level about the economy and the foreclosures — that there are options available with grants and stimulus money and Small Business (Administration),” the pastor said. “His meeting with VW is separate and I can’t really speak to that.”
Volkswagen officials have said they want 10 percent of the new plant construction to be placed with minority suppliers when production starts by early 2011, and the company also is aiming for 5 percent of components to come from minority outfits in 2011 and up to 10 percent by 2015.
Although there has been an undercurrent of concern in the community about VW’s follow through on promises to hire locally and to hire minorities, Ms. Gill said that is not the reason for the visit.
“No one has reached out to us,” she said. She also said neither VW nor labor groups are underwriting the cost of the visit.
VW spokeswoman April Wortham said the automaker participated last fall in the annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Automotive Symposium held in Detroit.
“At that meeting, Rev. Jackson expressed interest in paying a visit to all auto manufacturers. This is his visit to Volkswagen, and we join the community in welcoming him to Chattanooga,” she said, confirming that VW is not paying for his visit.
Mr. Adams said the community discussion at Olivet Baptist Church, which is free and open to the public, will be in the church sanctuary at 740 M.L. King Blvd. He said he expects about 1,800 people to attend.
Immediately after Mr. Jackson’s public address, he will serve as the keynote speaker at the private Fellowship Luncheon for the Kingdom Center, hosted by Olivet Baptist Church for area ministers and community leaders, Mr. Adams said.
Staff member Mike Pare contributed to this report.
Pam Sohn has been reporting or editing Chattanooga news for 25 years. A Walden’s Ridge native, she began her journalism career with a 10-year stint at the Anniston (Ala.) Star. She came to the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 1999 after working at the Chattanooga Times for 14 years. She has been a city editor, Sunday editor, wire editor, projects team leader and assistant lifestyle editor. As a reporter, she also has covered the police, ...
During his presidency, one thing Bush tried to warn is that blacks need to give up that "minority" term. In that one sense he was truer than ever before. The term "minority" hass become a trick even trap word for blacks many don't yet realize and will be used against them. As America becomes more and more racially and ethnically diverse, the term "minority" has come to be all inclusive. Even for those America has never persecuted, discriminated against and oppressed on its own soil. Whose descendants were never held in bondage, segregated, lynched for simply the color of their skin. Now, the term "minority" is being slying used and has come to represent almost anyone. Even those from European countries, Middle Eastern countries and even some African countries America and local communities readily embrace of America's black population. I hope that the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others of his status realize this. That again, they're working overtime so that others will come to enjoy the fruits of their labor. That those intended to benefit will be left behind in the dust.
I wonder if the words "contribution" or "boycott" will come up at VW?
How would Volkswagen or any other company know if a person is a minority as by Federal law it's no longer on applications. People should get positions by their abilities not the color of their skin. That's true equality.
I think it shows that VW has more than just automotive savvy.
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