AC Phoenix, October 1990, Page 3
by
Dennis C. Schatzman
In This Election, What Will
The Black Vote Do?
It’s no use having the ball in your own court if
you’re not going to shoot it. The upcoming U.S.
Senate race involving Harvey Gantt and the
dreaded incumbent, Jesse Helms, should be
enough motivation to inspire every Biack voter to
step up to the tree-throw line comejhis November
6.
Need I say More? Yes, I think i’d better.
Every year, columnists, activists, elected officials
and ministers talk themselves hoarse trying to urge
people to come out and vote. Their arguments are
very sound; their reasoning is always solid. Without
fail, the vast majority of us dutifully nod our heads
in agreement, like junkies telling loved ones they’ll
not take another “hit” on the pipe, and then go
right out on election day and “forget” or refuse to
vote.
That kind of amnesia cost Andrew Young a seri
ous shot at Georgia’s governor’s chair earlier this
year. Countless other important races have slipped
through the fingers of qualified and well-meaning
candidates because we didn’t vote in our commu
nities.
Having looked at the downside of this disturbing
phenomena, let’s look at the bright side. What
happens when we do get out and vote like we
have good sense?
There is no question in any sane person's
mind that Gantt, the moderate former mayor
of Charlotte, is a better candidate to repre
sent the Tarheel State.
For one thing, you get someone like Douglas
Wilder. The 56-year old Virginia governor won by
the closeness of a whisker on a flea’s cheek. Had
just 6,000 Black people forgotten or refused to
vote last November, we would not be talking about
Gov. Wilder as a potential presidential candidate
today, but rather, as a former Lt. Governor “who
gave it the good 'ol college try.”
Looking at it another way, when you vote you
don’t get David Duke. Louisiana, the capital of the
political bizarre, came close to sending the part-
time Klansman and full-time racist demagogue to
the U.S. Senate. Riding on the race-baiting, code
word horse released every election season from
the Republican Party stable, Duke came right to
the point during his candidacy. Instead of dropping
subtle hints like “Willie Horton”, Duke told the elec
torate, and national audiences like ‘Face the
Nation”, that Blacks are habitual criminals and wel
fare cheats.
Having said all that, I again say that the ball is in
our court. Somehow, I don’t think that’s enough.
There is no question in any sane person’s mind
that Gantt, the moderate former mayor of Charlotte
is a better candidate to represent the Tarheel
State. Jesse Helms is an anachronism, a creature
from a bygone era. Even his top aides are out of
touch with modern times.
I remember the time when I sold an NAACP
membership to Jack Hawke, the Republican state
chairman. Carter Wrenn, Helms’ right hand man,
chewed Hawke out publicly for committing such an
unpardonable sin. As the state field director for the
NAACP at the time, I wrote Wrenn and asked him
for a meeting to discuss our “differences and our
mutual concerns.” Thanks, but no thanks, Wrenn
wrote back. He said he didn’t meet with “people”
like me.
If Helms and his political advisors don’t want to
associated with people like me, then I think he’s
talking about you, too. What do you think?
Better yet, don’t tell me what you think. Show me
and the nation what you think on November 6.
We’ll get the message when they report the results
on the 11:00 news.
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Fall Outlook From
‘.it Wm's Menswear
The look this season for the businessman is a wide array of six-button
peaked lapel suits. More tailored with soft shoulders, accented by a tab-
collar or long-point shirt, played up with richly-patterned tie and cap
toed leather on suede shoes. This adds a European look for business.
So says, Tim Jessup, manager of Cir Wm's Menswear that caters
to a corporate clientele. According to Mr. Jessup, menswear attire is
something subtle but jazzy. Pin-stripes are favored this year and ties
bring a vogue look for business.
After the success of LaShanda's Boutique, the Millner family
feg^nized that their popularity with career women could only mean
that rnen also are in search of a store that caters to their special needs.
So they opened up Cir Wm's (pronounced as Sir Williams), formerly
known as Cruiser's located in Centre Stage Shopping Center on
Jonestown Rd. The Millner Enterprise is very excited about the
menswear attire and believe in personal service.
Special luxuries that you’ll find are layaways, private office shows,
alterations, and "special ordering". You can find name brands such as;
Geoffrey Beene, John Alexander. Bugatti, Pierre Cardin and special
European lines for the Big and Tall Man.
Cir Wm's has introduced an exciting Formal wear Line, offering
rentals and sales on Tuxedos and discounts for wedding parties.
Cir Wm's is "strettament personale" and has a complete line of
menswear for the businessman whose looking for better quality work
and leisure clothes.