European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 21, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Reliving Woodstock helps you grow old by Kevin Cowherd the Baltimore Sun the loud music the crowds the mud the drugs the nudity. Sure it sounds like the Preakness infield right before the fat Guys Start acting  this was Woodstock the seminal Rock festival of 69 that helped define a generation or so they say. Woodstock 94 promised  considerably differ ent As this Chart indicates dominant theme Woodstock 69 peace love. Woodstock 94 piece of the action percentage of / Gate album and film rights $49.95 pay per View broadcast Etc. How times have changed Woodstock 69 tickets were $6 Iron curtain firmly in place. Woodstock 94 tickets were $135 Young Lena Home look alike Michael Jackson toured Budapest in full planet Romulus get up. Unifying Factor in crowd Woodstock 69 mass opposition to Vietnam War. Woodstock 94 All ticket holders receive 2-for-l drink coupons at Bennigan. Biggest hassle Woodstock 69 monumental traffic jams. Woodstock 94 shuttle bus Var malfunctions during Ace Ventura pet detective. Urgent warning to crowd Woodstock 69 the Brown acid is bad Man a journalist faces the heat from fellow Blacks by Larry Conley Atlanta journal Constitution we had been talking for several min utes when she finally said the magi words. The angry Black woman had called to complain to me As the Edi Tor of the City Magazine in Memphis about an article we had done that reported criticisms of a predominantly Black Community College. It s bad enough to get it from them the woman said. But to get it from one of our  i just signed. It was a familiar tune i had heard it before. A. Being a journalist is always Tough but being a Black journalist in the mainstream Media often brings an extra wrinkle. It s a juggling act Balanc ing your role As a journalist with your role As a Black person trying to heed the dictates of your profession while heeding your kinship with other Black people. I m reminded of these issues by the Unity 94 con Ference last month in Atlanta. The first combined conference of minority journalists Unity 94 Drew 6,000 journalists of hispanic asian american american Indian arid african american descent. A common thread running through Many of the conference sessions and in conversations with the journalists themselves was the difficulty that we All face in reconciling the sometimes conflicting de mands of our profession and our people. All of us Nicole Klinge of Iowa shares a moment with new Friend James Szabo of Florida during Woodstock 94. Woodstock 94 the North Gate atm closes in five minutes biggest Security risk Woodstock 69 Gate crashers. Woodstock 94 ugly mob protests 10 . Closing of Low fat Yogurt stand. Embarrassing old Guy incident Woodstock 69 Max Yasgur flashing the peace sign. Woodstock 94 Bob Dylan attempting to sing. Overheard in the crowd Woodstock 69 pass that joint Over  Black yellow or Brown walk a Tightrope. For me that has included Fielding accusations of having sold out to the Man. Like the time i received a letter addressed to Uncle Tom Larry  the letter was in response to a column i had done in Detroit suggesting that residents of that City which is 76 percent Black were too defensive about Media criticism and at any rate they could better spend their Energy trying to solve the City s problems rather than constantly rail ing at the Media. The Anonymous letter writer accused me of Selling out to my White  then quiere was the time while i was still a Grad uate journalism student when a Black woman publicly embarrassed me at a news conference for a drug rehab program in new York. The woman stood up r and accused me wrongfully by the Way of Smirk ing during testimony of one of the Young rehabilitated addicts from the program. Then my accuser went on to say something like i m tired of Black re porters from the White Media coming Down Here criticizing our  that was almost 20 years ago but i can still feel the sting of that moment. What Hurt the most was the implied accusation that i did t care about the problems of Black people that i was Well a traitor to the race. _ that s one of the dilemmas you face As a minority journalist particularly when it comes to reporting stories that May present minority communities in a negative Light. I remember a conversation i had with one Black newspaper editor in Memphis who agonized Over a Story he was preparing that showed Blacks committed a disproportionate number of Vio Lent crimes. It Hurt me to put that in the paper he said. V i suspect most minority journalists would under stand his anguish. I know i do. You see minority journalists know that the main Stream Media have often done a Lousy Job of covering Woodstock 94 As i was saying to my recover group " prevailing fashion statement Woodstock 69 tie dyed shirt Bell Bottoms love beads. Woodstock 94 nipple piercing turn the juice Loose to shirt. That loud noise you heard was Woodstock 69 Jimi Hendrix s feedback fuelled Star spangled Banner. Woodstock 94 Elvis Rolls Over in grave at news of Michael Jackson Lisa Marie Presley wedding. Minority communities. Now Many of us including Many White reporters Are trying to change that. The goal is to present All readers and viewers with a clearer truer picture of their world. We Haven t got ten there yet we May never get All the Way but we Are trying. Some people though will never be convinced. One Young Black Man for example spent several minutes haranguing a roomful of  at the National association of  convention held in Detroit two years ago. You re making these big salaries driving Nice cars and you forgot where you came from he said. You need to get Back into the Community. You re out of touch you re out of touch How can minority journalists like those who Gath Eredi in Atlanta respond to such criticism from their own Well i know what i d say. Look brother i Don t need lectures from anybody about How to be Black. I be been Black All my life thank  experience has Given me an acute and often painful understanding of what it Means to be Blackin a country where color still counts. Becoming a journalist did t change that. Nga a nor 3n?-this ivmp0rt3nt bother i refuse Tolet others White or Black Tell me what being Black Means decide that on my terms. _ that Means i will not knowingly or willingly Par tic Pate m Media coverage that i feel degrades or misrepresents Blacks and other minorities but it Byco Black corruption violence deception stupidity in competence and just Plain wrongheaded Ness , and All minority journalists re port and write on such matters because has Tiido Job. But they should also do so for a greater re on it is the Only morally responsible behaviour for any. One who truly cares about his or her race. Cox news service. Page 20 sunday August 21,1994