The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 19

THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR WWW.INDYSTAR.COM iro THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2003 B3 DIVERSITY Professor works to free Tibet Larry Gerstein Job: Professor of psychology at Ball State University. tween China and India, it is absolutely essential that Tibetans rule their own country. What's the state of human rights in Tibet? Tibetans have no human or reli betan Cultural Center (in Bloomington), and retired IU professor. His presentation greatly disturbed me and activated a strong, deep motivation to help Tibetans regain their country. About a year later, Rinpoche asked me to lead what was then called the Co-founder and president of the nonprofit Ti gious rights in Tibet.

Indiana Tibet Committee. 1 ii I TALKING POINTS Ball State professor Larry Gerstein has been a student of Buddhism and Asian culture since the 1960s. He co-founded the International Tibet Independence Movement, which helps Tibetans relocate to the Indianapolis area by finding jobs, housing and educational opportunities. IT2M also works for the release of Tibetan political prisoners and advocates boycotts of China's goods. TTIM will sponsor its fifth Walk for Tibet March 6-10 from Bloomington to Indianapolis.

For more information, visit www.rangzen.com or email How did you become interested In the Tibetan independence movement? In the mid-1980s, I was introduced to the work of the Dalai Lama by a friend in Indianapolis. Soon after, I attended a lecture and slide show at the Central Library by Thubten Jigme Norbu (also known as Taktster Rinpoche), the Dalai Lama's oldest brother, founder of the Ti What hope is there for Tibet? Ultimately, Tibet will be independent. Tibetans and Tibet supporters are dedicated, motivated and highly skilled, and they will persist until this outcome is achieved There is growing support for Tibet among world leaders and governments. Finally, the ovemhelming Why is Tibet important? Tibetans have an ancient, rich culture built on the principles, for example, of compassion, wisdom, justice, nonviolence, spirituality and altruism. Tibetans honor their land, environment, animals and other sentient beings.

Since China's invasion in 1949, there has been massive suffer bet Independence Move-ment Background: Gerstein, 50, founded ITIM on March 19, 1995, along with Thubten Jigme Norbu, oldest brother of the Dalai Lama, to "se- cure Tibet's independence through nonviolence." Quote: "It is comforting to know that Hoosiers embrace people from all over the world." majority of Chinese citizens yearn for democracy, and there is compelling evidence to indicate that the current Communist system is very fragile and likely to collapse in the near future. Beth Murphy ing in Tibet Some call China's actions in Tibet genocide. China has many nuclear weapons in Tibet pointed at India and Europe. To stop the destruction in Tibet, to preserve the Tibetan culture, and to assure that Tibet is a peace zone be- COMMUNITY FOCUS OF NOTE Archives spotlight heritage. history A DIFFERENT VENTURE Local black businesses showcased Showcase: The Indianapolis Black Chamber of Commerce will spotlight the products and services provided by its members at the fifth annual Black Business Showcase.

The event will be 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Omega Conference Center, 3110 Sutherland Ave. Connect and celebrate: The goal of the event is to connect corporate and community buyers with viable black businesses that can provide them with products and services and to honor Black History Month by promoting black entrepreneurship.

The chamber: The Indianapolis Black Chamber of Commerce was established in 1995, the successor to the Hoosier Minority Chamber of Commerce. Dedicated to the economic empowerment of the local black business community, the chamber works to develop, educate, advocate and enhance the status of the community by strengthening black businesses and creating an environment that produces more black entrepreneurs. It has about 140 members, including small black-and Hispanic-owned businesses, major corporations and individuals. For more information: Call 1-317-924-9840 or visit www.ln-dianapolisbcc.org Jesse Moore Organization: Indianapolis Black Chamber of Commerce Title: Executive director Quote: "What we are trying to do with the showcase is give smaller businesses an opportunity to show their wares." By Tim Evans of black music Varied styles: The collection holds works from artists such as Mahalia Jackson and M.C. Lyte.

Begun as IU professor's personal collection, project has received national recognition. Jackson and Little Richard to Tupac Shakur and M. C. Lyte. The works fall into areas largely ignored in the past by scholars, who've tended to focus on other forms of music, such as classical, Shonekan said.

"We're taking seriously what other people hadn't," Shonekan said. Each style represented in the archives has helped define popular culture, Maultsby said. Hip-hop, for example, has influenced dress, dance, language, behavior, attitude, "even down to social activities," she said. In addition to music, the archives include radio shows, notes from documentarians even historical artifacts, including a 1950s-era flier warning white parents to keep children away from "Negro" music. Maultsby, who grew up in segregated Alabama and Florida, says the yellowed handout, with a corner missing and faded black type, is her favorite piece from the collection, because it shows how futile such efforts were.

The music changed generations, she noted. The archives also offer concerts, exhibitions and workshops, and have proven a popular resource for researchers like Michael Bertrand from the University of Mississippi, who studied at the archives in 2001 while working on a book about black radio programming. He's looking forward to being able to visit again someday. "(The archives) are a necessary and excellent resource for anyone doing work in African-American popular culture and music," Bertrand said. That access and those opportunities for learning are why Maultsby keeps working.

"It's one thing to have the raw materials," she said. "It's another to bring them to life." Call Star reporter Lisa Renze-Rhodes at 1-317-444-2604. By Lisa Renze-Rhodes lisa.renze.rhodesindystar.com In the segregated South of Portia Maultsby's childhood, black musicians and their works were feared. White parents were encouraged to keep their children away from "Negro music" and to complain to radio stations that played rock 'n' roll Today, Maultsby devotes her days to protecting the history and heritage of that music for future generations. Maultsby is a professor of folklore and ethnomusicology at Indiana University.

She also is director of the university's Archives of African American Music and Culture, a showcase of more than 10,000 pieces of music, interviews, photographs, record jackets and radio and video recordings of post-World War II music. The purpose of the collection, she said, is "to bring into public accessibility materials that are critical to the preservation of African-American culture." Maultsby began collecting the works as a personal project in 1984. In 1991, using part of a $300,000 Ford Foundation grant, she formally grouped them together to open the archives. Today, what started as a one-room display has expanded to a suite in the university's Smith Research Center. Even so, space is running out, and Maultsby is looking for a larger location on campus.

The archives have received national recognition from Columbia University and the National Education Association, among others. And scholars from around the world have visited the vaults. The lure is the uniqueness of the collection, said Stephanie Shonekan, archive assistant director. The collection includes such popular music forms as hip-hop, funk, rhythm and blues, and soul, from artists ranging from Mahalia Mm VI 1l FRIDAY Chinese New Year event to aid Zoological Society Revelers will celebrate the Chinese New Year from 730 p.m. to midnight Friday in White River Gardens.

The event will feature Chinese fortunetelling, Taiwanese tea arts ceremonies, a silent auction, Asian cuisine, a traditional Lion Dance performance, martial arts demonstrations and dancing. Tickets range from $125 to $175. For reservations, call 1-317-630-2188. Proceeds benefit the Indianapolis Zoological Society. SATURDAY Attorney wins honor for advancing diversity Rabb Emison, a senior partner in Emison, Doolittle, Kolb Roellgen in Vincennes, will receive the 2003 American Bar Association Spirit of Excellence Award on Saturday during a conference in Seattle.

Initiated in 1996, the award honors attorneys who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of racial and ethnic diversity in the legal profession. Emison, a past president of the Indiana State Bar Association, created the bar's committee to assist minority law students and minority lawyer job applicants; he also has served as chairman of the association's Committee for Racial Diversity in the Legal Profession. MONDAY Conference is planned on disability programs The Social Security Administration is sponsoring a free one-day training conference on employment support for the disabled. Participants can learn about Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs and efforts to make it easier for people with disabilities to work. The conference will be from 9 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Monday in Indiana Government Center South, Conference Rooms and C. Those who plan to attend should contact Joe Everett at 1-317-226-0360, Ext. 3107 or e-mail joseph.everettssa.gov. MONDAY Nationalities Council to meet at Athenaeum The Nationalities Council of Indiana will meet at 7 p.m.

Monday in the Willkie Room at the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St. For more information, call coun- cil President Gene Maresca at 1-317-786-5788. WEDNESDAY Black History Month lectures to be at YMCA The Fall Creek YMCA will be the site of three lectures as part of Black History Month. Speakers include Gilbert Taylor, curator of the Crispus Attacks Museum, on Wednesday; Joseph Slash, chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Urban League, on Feb.

19; and Everett Freeman, vice president of the University of Indianapolis, on Feb. 26. All sessions run from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the YMCA, 860 W. 10th St.

Lunch is $10 per session, or $25 for all three sessions. For reservations, call Richard Vonnegut at 1-317-237-9348, or e-mail trailsindianatrails.org. Staff Reports Robert Scheor staff photo Of note: Professor Portia Maultsby, archives director, holds two of her favorites, a reproduction of a 1940s poster and a Johnny Otis recording. EEOC FILINGS Indiana Equal Employment the Smith Research Center. Director: Portia Maultsby, IU professor of folklore and ethnomusicology.

Contact The archives are available for viewing by appointment. There is no charge to view materials. Contact Stephanie Shonekan, archive assistant director, at 1-812-855-9960 or via e-mail at The Web site is www.indiana.eduaaamc. Archives of African American Music and Culture What A collection of materials recordings, interviews, photographs and artifacts that preserve black music and culture and promote their study. Where: Located on the campus of Indiana University In Bloomington, In jypuiiuiuiy Commission statistics for quarter ending Dec.

3L 2002 1074 complaints filed, by type: 616 Title VII 100 age 73 Title Vllage 14 Title Vllequal pay 157 disability 32 disabilityage 82 other WHERE WE LIVE: THEN AND NOW 10 LOCAL NEWS CONTACTS Boorie County Where we live: Lebanon Percentage change 2000 Jennifer 0'Mallay, assistant city editorsocial issues, 1-317-444-6018, jennifer.omalleyindystar.com Tim Evans, diversity reporter, 1-317-444-6204, tim.evansindystar.com 18 fjf Population Male Female VT. 7 Here is some demographic information for the city of Lebanon, located in central Boone County. Marion County 1990 12,059 46.7 53.3 11,912 30 45 33 39 NA 119 cause found, by type: 7 Title VII lage 2 disability 200 successful conciliations, mediations and other settlements, by type: 110 Title VII 25 age 17 Title Vllage 24 disability 7 disabilityage 17 other White Black American Indian Asian Other Multiracial 17 57 24 61 110 NA 92 14,222 47.7" J2.3 13,891 47 56 53 82 93 229" 83.0" 14.5 $37,791 INDY8TAR.COM Hispanic 11 1 viebanon lJx I I 139) 100 miie i rV 1 10 High school degree (or higher) 75.0 Bachelor's degree iforjiigjier) 13.0 'Adjusted Median household income $34,370 for inflation. Source: U.S. Census Bureau; compiled by John FHtze See 2000 census data for where you Rve and read The Star's coverage on what the numbers say about the area and state.

Go to wwwJndystar.comnews Greg Nichols staff graphic jam- -acnaiafr 1 SUNDAY: PUBLIC INTEREST MONDAY: COMMUTING TUESDAY: EDUCATION WEDNESDAY: jTHURSDAY: DIVERSITY 1 FRIDAY: PUBLIC SAFETY SATURDAY: ACROSS INDIANA.