Sticks, Stones and Hurtful Names

by Mary F. Patel

A taste of what could become a personal battle occurred on Sept. 6, during a forum hosted by Neighborhood Networks and Philly for Change at Lucy's Hat Shop in Old City.

The organizations co-hosted the event to protest the special elections that will be held this November to fill three City Council vacancies. The City Charter mandates that party leadership pick the nominees that will appear on the ballot; the groups want voters to decide the candidates.

Local NAACP president and Philadelphia Sunday Sun Publisher J. Whyatt Mondesire dropped in and it's no secret that he is supporting Evans for mayor. While Mondesire was talking to this reporter and former Councilman Angel Ortiz, self-proclaimed hip-hop political activist Will Mega confronted Mondesire, demanding to speak to him.

When Mondesire ignored Mega, who was flanked by two other burly men, Mega became aggressive.

"I'm a member of the NAACP so why won't you talk to me?" Mega demanded. "You're nothing but a house n--ger!" He repeated this until Mondesire warned him to not call him that anymore. Mega then strode off to join his friends at the bar.

"Mega just wants to be somebody and make a name for himself," said Mondesire, who appeared unconcerned. Not a fan of Fattah's, Mondesire designed the less-than-flattering Web site, www.fattahxray.com. "He's mad because I won't talk to him and because he doesn't like my Web site about Fattah."

When reached for comment later, Mega claimed he is mad because he had not received his NAACP membership card after he joined the organization last fall. He said he made numerous calls to Mondesire who, he claimed, cursed at him over the phone when Mega finally reached him. Therefore, he said, his actions were justified.

"I only got my card after I called the national NAACP," said Mega.

Mega, who made his national debut on the first season of CBS's reality show, Big Brother, where he was the first to be voted out of the house, also ran unsuccessfully for a City Council at-large seat on the Education Party ticket in 2003. He said he attended the event at Lucy's because he was thinking of running as a Republican for an at-large seat next year at the suggestion of Kevin Kelly, chairman of the Philadelphia Federation of Young Republicans.

Mega said he is not supporting Fattah or any other mayoral candidate, "declared or undeclared."

"I support Mondesire's right as a journalist, but I do not support his cartoon on the Web site showing a black man with a noose around his neck that's supposed to be Fattah," Mega said. "I can't believe he is doing that as head of the NAACP."

Mondesire said that the Chakatoons portion of the Web site was borrowed from the Public Record.

"Mega should call Jimmy Tayoun, owner of the Record," Mondesire said. "And it's not a noose, it's a lasso."

The cartoon, under the heading "Mayoral Rodeo," depicts Mondesire, wearing his trademark cowboy hat and boots, standing over Fattah holding the end of a lasso that is around Fattah's neck. Mondesire is saying, "Oh no ... Not in this race."

However, there were signs of a potential reconciliation this week. After the confrontation, Mega sent Mondesire an open letter apologizing for "my angry delivery. I hope that we can work together in the future to achieve what should be our shared goal — helping people of color to advance."

Meanwhile, forum organizers Jennifer Murphy and Mark Stier said they were aware of the City Charter stipulations allowing each party to nominate a candidate. They are calling for all candidates to file as independents on the ballot so voters have a choice.

While the event focused on the City Council candidates, it was also an opportunity for other candidates and supporters to network.

The sheriff's seat was a big topic, with speculation that Sheriff John Green would not seek re-election next year. Green has been the subject of controversy since State Treasurer Bob Casey demanded Green turn over all revenue from home foreclosures before 1999 that Green's office could not account for.

Michael Untermeyer, who worked for former Attorney Generals Ernie Preate and Michael Fisher, said he is running whether or not Green does. State Rep. Jewel Williams is also said to be interested in the job but, according to his chief of staff, Kevin Lamb, he will only run if Green does not.

(rcpatel@aol.com)