What did 2012 mean to our community, and to you?
Normally, it is easy for the Recorder to place the retiring year into a neat category with a simple label such as “year of change,” “year of progress,” “year of setbacks,” etc.
This year, however, seemed a little more difficult to classify from one perspective. It simply represented different things to different people. What we do know for certain is that the year brought events that sparked a variety of emotions within us. Some made us stop and think, or react with anger and sorrow, while others made us smile and feel better about the world.
This week the Recorder takes a look at some of those events. When we each review these events, as well as the developments in our own lives, we can each better answer the question: “What did 2012 mean to me?”
Major developments
Election 2012
This year was marked by several major political campaigns, the most prominent of which was the presidential race between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. After a hard-fought campaign, Obama won re-election, while Congress remained divided between the two major parties.
On the state level, Republican Mike Pence was narrowly elected governor, and the GOP cemented its hold on the state Legislature. With Joe Donnelly, however, Democrats won the U.S. Senate seat held by longtime incumbent Richard Lugar, who had been defeated in the Republican primary. Democrat Glenda Ritz also gained an upset victory over incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett, whose rapid implementation of school reforms alienated some administrators and teachers.
In Marion County, Democrats swept all of the offices on the ballot. Indianapolis Public Schools and township school districts throughout Central Indiana elected board members, with races in some districts becoming unusually contentious and influenced by political action committees.
World spotlight
on Indy
After nearly five years of preparation, Indianapolis successfully hosted Super XVLI between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. According to ratings by Nielsen, 168 million people, half of the country’s population and a record-breaking total, watched the game live from Lucas Oil Stadium. More than 1 million people enjoyed the Super Bowl Village, the NFL Experience had a record turnout of 265,039 visitors and more than 10,000 rode the zip line that cascaded above Capitol Avenue.
“To see how impressed the mainstream press was with out arts, culture, dining and hospitality, that’s a real feather in our cap,” said Chris Gahl of the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association.
An educational milestone
For the first time, four school districts in Marion County had African-American superintendents. They included Dr. Dena Cushenberry of Warren Township, Dr. Nathaniel Jones of Pike Township, Dr. Eugene White of Indianapolis Public Schools and Dr. Nikki Woodson of Washington Township.
Competing visions
Although Marion County has nine school districts, plenty of attention continued to be placed on its largest – Indianapolis Public Schools. Much of the attention was due to the formal takeover of four IPS schools by private education providers Charter Schools USA and Ed Power. In addition, groups concerned about test scores and overall achievement rates presented three major plans to overhaul IPS, including the Mind Trust proposal, a Local Schools Council plan and a third plan by IPS itself, which released the results of its “What’s Possible Indy? community survey in October.
Richmond Hill explosion
On Nov. 10, Indianapolis residents were made aware of a rare and tragic gas explosion in the Richmond Hill neighborhood on the city’s Southside. Two people were killed and several houses were destroyed in the explosion, which could be felt for miles. Richmond Hill resident Robert Stevenson told the Recorder, “Some say it was caused by a gas leak, but the fact that the utilities were turned back on signals to me it was not a gas leak.”
As it turns out, Stevenson was correct: On Dec. 21, a fellow resident and two other people were charged with deliberately setting the blast to collect an insurance payout.
anger and sadness
Trayvon Martin shooting
On the evening of Feb. 26, an unarmed 17-year-old, Trayvon Martin, was fatally shot by 28-year-old George Zimmerman. Zimmerman had been appointed the neighborhood watch coordinator in the gated community where Martin was temporarily staying. Since the circumstances surrounding the death of Martin were unclear and Zimmerman was not initially charged in the shooting, protests erupted across the country.
In a rare display of massive local activism, more than 2,000 people marched from Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School to the American Legion Mall, and on Monument Circle, demanding justice for Trayvon Martin. Indiana Black Expo gathered community leaders for an urgent forum at the Madame Walker Theatre to discuss, among other topics, the challenges facing Black youth and the controversial “Stand Your Ground” laws that regulate justifiable acts of self-defense.
Some activists said the shooting and the initial police reaction were both racially motivated, while others simply condemned the shooting of an unarmed teenager.
In April, after further investigation of the incident, Zimmerman, who claimed he acted out of self defense, was eventually charged with second degree murder and is out on $1 million bond as he waits for his June trial.
Newtown school tragedy
America was shaken and shocked on the morning of Dec. 14 when Adam Lanza, 20, walked inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., and shot and killed 20 children and six administrators after having killed his mother in her home. Americans joined in mourning for the lives lost and rallied to support the families left behind. Renewed calls were issued for stronger regulations on assault weapons. Locally, Central Indiana schools reviewed and revised their safety procedures.
President Barack Obama spoke for many people when he stated to the Newtown community, “I can only hope it helps for you to know that you’re not alone in your grief, that our world, too, has been torn apart, that all across this land of ours, we have wept with you. We’ve pulled our children tight.”
Abuse of young athletes
In June, Jerry Sandusky, a former assistant coach at Pennsylvania State University, was found guilty by a jury on 45 of 48 of the charges made against him at the conclusion of a high profile sex abuse trial, in which he had been accused of abusing young boys participating in a charity for at-risk youth over a 15-year period. Sandusky, 68, infuriated some observers when he denied wrongdoing, despite detailed testimony from many of the victims. The case brought attention to the need for stronger policies within community groups and educational institutions to prevent abuse.
Stories that gave us a smile
Douglas wins big at Olympics
In July, 17-year-old Gabrielle “Gabby” Douglas inspired many when she and her teammates won the team all-around gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Douglas also won the gold medal in the individual all-around, becoming the first African-American woman, as well as the first woman of color of any nationality, to win the event. She also became the first American gymnast ever to win both the team and individual all-around gold at the same Olympics.
Kyari’s ‘Got Your Back’
In November, the Recorder met an outstanding 11-year-old named Kyari Williams, who has been moved to take action to help the homeless in Indianapolis. She formed “Got Your Back” to distribute backpacks full of toiletries, first aid kits and other basic needs to homeless individuals downtown.
“I remember hearing a man on the radio saying we should help them, but that homeless people choose to be homeless. I thought, ‘people don’t choose that,” Williams said. “Some people don’t have the correct mindset, some are veterans or some people just can’t get a job. Some people are just stubborn. But I bet you if it were up to them, they’d be living in a house with their family and with a good job.”
Protecting and serving
Like many police organizations in major urban areas, the New York Police Department has won both praise for its heroic actions and criticism for cases of excessive force. However, NYPD Officer Larry DePrimo, 25, touched hearts across the country when a tourist shot footage of him giving an elderly homeless man a pair of boots. DePrimo bought the $100 pair after seeing blisters on the man’s feet.
“When you’re a police officer, you’re just out there to help people,” DePrimo said. “And in situations like this, you just do what you have to do.”
Appointments, anniversaries and retirements
n Indiana state Rep. William “Bill” Crawford announced that the 2012 session of the Indiana General Assembly would be his last. During his 40 years in the Legislature, Crawford authored numerous bills related to civil rights, criminal justice, economic development and education, among many other issues. At the time of his retirement, the Indianapolis Democrat was the state’s longest serving and most influential African-American legislator.
n In June, Samuel “Sam” Odle left office after 31 years of service as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Indiana University Health, and president and chief executive officer of IU Health Methodist Hospital and University Hospital. He was the city’s highest-ranking African-American health care executive. Odle pledged to continue to his involvement in the community and was elected to a seat on the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of Commissioners in November.
n The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department experienced major changes in leadership. In April, Chief Paul Ciesielski resigned over the mishandling of an investigation, and embattled Public Safety Director Frank Straub also announced his resignation. Mayor Greg Ballard appointed Rick Hite, a Gary native and former police chief in Baltimore, to serve as interim chief. He was permanently named chief in December. In October, Troy Riggs, a law enforcement officer and assistant city manager in Corpus Christi, Texas, was appointed public safety director. Both Hite and Riggs have won mostly praise so far for being accessible to the community and pledging to give public safety an overhaul.
n After serving as the executive director of 100 Black Men of Indianapolis for more than seven years, Murvin Enders resigned in August, saying that “the time for a change” had arrived. During his tenure, Enders had helped 100 Black Men launch many initiatives for youth, including cultural awareness, financial literacy, history and mentoring programs.
n In November, several special events were held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the historic Madame Walker Theatre, which has long symbolized the spirit of creativity and community pride in the city of Indianapolis.
