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SA THE CAROLINA TIMES SAT, MARCH 16, 1974 EBITOMALS AND COMMENTS- 13 EA!2 ISADS HI VMHu-AlE l!0::02 COU STRUGGLE MUST COIITIIIUE FOR HUMAN DIGNITY This not the time for Blacks to remain depressed about the continuing pros and cons about impeachment. As more and more investigative Watergate hatchets fall on former Nixon top administrators, blacks and other minorities cannot afford to remain depressed about the sad state of affairs in this nation. We must continue the struggle to hold on to past victories as a people and seek continously to make those victories a reality in our time for all minorities and any individuals that have been denied the right of human dignity and worth. All localities and communities must continue to more politically to elect strong principled leaders. Even though it does seem to appear a most difficult task these days as more and more revelations of fraud and dishonesty continue to surface about and among political figures. Support should be rendered to those who will continue to work for the general urban development in all communities to make individuals more self-reliant, self-sustaining and "self-determined, make coalitions and alliances with those who support our same ultimate goals, seek out those who are truly more concerned with leading us as groups rather than those who are gilding their pockets as individuals, and above all, we must make every effort to consolidate our fragmented people, rather than contributing to further divisiveness among us. It takes real leaders and real people to bring about changes. Remember, it is up to us all of us, REAL PEOPLE, all kinds, to continue to work and ensure that our needs,' desires and aspirations are heard, felt and acted upon in every corner of our government from the smallest village to the Oval Office. America must continue to progress whether- Republicans or Democrats are in power in Washington, D.C. JAMES H. BREWER, BLACK HISTORIAN The sudden demise of James H- Brewer, Ph.D. noted historian, specialist 'in Afro-American Studies and N.C. Mayflower' Cup Awardee, will be felt not only in the nation at large, but by this state in particular. His scholarly research and expertise in the field of history , and hisv later interest in Afiyo-AmecarV; Studies f Ul ; add v much to the mutual ftinderstanding between the races of this state and the nation. Although the full fruition of this mutual understanding, together with the true contributions of minority people to our history and heritage will reach its zenith and be fully realized in the years to come, the mark has been made. There is an old adage that the mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine. Dr. James H. Brewer has made. f his, mirk: and has left his footprints on the sands of time. to Be Equal ) by Vernon E. Jordan, jrf National Director of Urban League LEGALIZED GAMBLING? The Puritans said gambling was a sin and ever since people have passed laws outlawing gambling while placing a bet or two on the side. Today, the gambling laws are usually enforced against the kinds of betting games poor people and black people favor. Even state and local governments are using gambling proceeds by running state lotteries. And the absurdity of making betting on a horse race legal if it's done at the track and illegal if it's done on the street has given way, in New York City, to a string , of city-run horse racing betting parlors. Now that the take from some state-run , lotteries is slipping, a few states, notably New York and New Jersey, are giving some thought to setting up state-run numbers ' lotteries, with small, frequent pay-offs to bettors who pick the right three-digit . number. Such a step would go a long way toward I correcting the absurdity of making numbers illegal, since you can't stop people from , betting any more than you can stop them from drinking - and we tried that one, too. But it also has enormous implications for ' - black people, among whose favorite betting fame is the numbers and who, at present, are faced with discriminatory law enforcement . as police tend, to arrest numbers runners while ignoring high-stake' predominately white betting forms like football or baseball ' : pools. . The question of whether or not to legalize any form of gambling is something local i governments ,wifl have to decide for ' themselves, based on the feelings of their citizens. Whether g overnment should be in the gambling business is debatable, but it is also clear, that .money that often finds its way into the coffers of organized crime can also be used to support city schools and hospitals; And making basic human impulse YLyt gambling, criminal offenses only results Ja contempt for the law, police corruption , aitJiIiniln8toryiifbrcement. When all the pros and cons are considered, if a community decides to go ahead and legalize some form of numbers lottery it must design a system that takes into account . the impact of the numbers game on the black community and its importance to it. In many economically deprived ghetto areas, numbers account for a significant economic activity in salaries to runners and other local costs. Right now most 6f those economic benefits, go outside, the community, to whichever group controls the illegal game. But a legalized numbers lottery will have to insure that the money stays in the community and that profits are used to benefit it. I'm not at all sure that proponents of legalizing state-wise numbers lotteries will take this factor into account; They may be thinking of cutting the state in on some of the ghetto's action to spend on paving upstate roads, in which case decriminalizing '. an activity favored by many blacks will just amount to another form of exploitation. The Washington Lawyers' Committee has produced an excellent study called "Legalized Numbers in Washington" that analyzes local gambling patterns, discusses all sides of the issue, and concludes that a numbers operation could be successfully run by a public corporation employing many of ( the present numbers runners and plowing . profits back into the community. ... It is clear that there is widespread interest j . about the numbers game today, and ; whatever decisions are made, black people .' 1 -A-l-- t- it . II it. , nave a firong raite m inc outcome, h we Itiusi mrm tut UJtaA thawi fit Aiifa motif 1 SB TV m W V SIV1 VUSUlftV) MIVU MV OSWWk VMT to throw!, out cases., thatti reflect discriminatory arrest patterns slhat . make gambling effectively - legal for .whites and illegal for blacks. And if some form of state-run numbers lotteiy b) introduced, it must not be allowed to become, another rip-off of the black community but must be used to enhance its economic prospects. -IF HE HAD NOT BEEN WW k$$0W ' ON DUTY THE NIGHT . J; " 7Mm OF JUNE 17, 1972 AND M JL I ON THE JOB, GOD f$f - KNOWS WHAT WOULD J HJ . gMA HAVE HAPPENED TO , S 1 W$V'MXPC THE REST OF US' ( J ilWMm f ; WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE YOU BECAUSE YOl SAVED OUR NATION-AND PEOPLE HAVE A WAY OF FORGETTING THOSE WHO SAVE THEM AND HELP THEM' SO SPOKE BLACK ANDREW YOUNG -CONGRESSMAN FROM GEORGiA,IN A RECENT WASHINGTON D.C.MEETtNG. 1 NCfr A NEW BLACK FIRST We thought perhaps the time had passed for columnists to continue to illustrate a first in the annals of history where blacks 1 invaded the cloistered inner sanctum of higher education. Not too. long ago, we reported John Hope Franklin's elevation to Phi Beta Kappa's leadership and there have been many others. Last week, this writer received an invitation to a reception to honor the Chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The reception was sponsored by Dr. George Hyatt, Director of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service. Dr. Lewis C. Dowdy was recently installed as president of the prestigious National Association of Land Grant Colleges and State Universities. In this new role, he is the first man of color from a predominantly black college to be elected to head this august body. He will preside over the organizational, political and social activities of a vast segment of public higher education in these United States. He will represent the body before the highest echelons of individual and bodies concerned with higher education beyond the high school. It is rewarding to see leaders, in predominantly black schools take their rightful places in the scheme of American higher education. In his first visit to the meeting of the National Association of Land Grant Colleges and State Universities, this writer was awed at such figures as the president of Michigan State, who is black, and Iowa State and other institutional presidents who held this position in past years. We seldom, if ever, got to know them. It is indeed a fitting tribute to Chancellor Dowdy who during the htter stages of his first decade in office is elevated to this high position. We congratulate Dr. Dowdy and wish him well in this new and challenging role. LETTER TO THE EDITOR By RICHARD JAPPAH SNETTER Responding to the could exist between commentary and or administrators and Black observation made by RadWhimateg and inmates alike, Station WAFR regarding the considering the possible plaque presented to Lee Bounds upon his appearance as a guest speaker on the NCCU campus under the auspice of the . Criminal Justice Club on February 26, 1974, whose topic was "The Role of Corrections in the State of North Carolina," I do undertake to respond not in defense nor to jusify said presentation, neither is it an endeavor to refute WAFR's position a cry for Black awareness and attributing worth where and to he who is deservant of such worth. To assume a disproportionate distribution of miscellaneous items which could undoubtedly result in ill feelings a mark on the club. We direct our attention toward another possible danger for black Inmates the discriminate contribution which could result in even worse differential treatment toward Blacks, on the part of prison guards, with the administrators as no exception. Considering the givings and misgivings that already exist, we prefer not to create another causative much unlike other organizations this is apparently the most rational approach if the urge for reform is in fact a reality. This is where professioanlism takes preferance over non-professionalism the layman's concept. As a tip for caution, let it be remembered that a prison setting or corrections institution is entirely an negativistic approach to the factor for harsher treatment issure pro or con would be '" despite the necessity for like a cat reaching for the tail of another's. The members of the Criminal Justice Club endorse WAFR's concern for ! Blacks, the representative news media for the Black population. In like manner, we can not diesregard her insertion that the State of ' North Carolina has done . little or nothing in terms of corrections and rehabilitation over the past decade when corrections and rehabilitation became a nation-wide undertaking with particular emphasis on Black treatment in prisons, as exemplified in Lee Bounds' speech to his predominantly Black audience. Her critiques are well taken and hopefully will serve as a warning device for this, and other similar organizations. Speaking objectively from a criminal justice perspective, however, we assure WAFR and our Black population that it was with no intention to contribute consciously to an unworthy cause. While the equivalence of the award might have served a worthy donation to ' the Black inmate population it does not insure any degree of modification 1 . the treatment orientation towards the inmates. We address ourselves with the such an appealing contribution. I must say, it takes one who has worked with or has been closely affiliated with such institutions to make such an anology, and I have. And I'm fully aware of what goes on within those walls. Considering what can be deduced from the anology mentioned above, it is our thinking that the Criminal Justice Club has initiated a professional approach to the problems confronting prison institutions in the State of North Carolina compared to other states a call for re-evaluation and revltallzation of the institutions and a more overt approach to corrections in theory, philosophy and practice with rehabilitations as its end result. It is my professional , observation that the failure i on the part of law ; enforcement personnel and the Criminal Justice System to succeed In the deterrence of crime can, in part, be attributed to their failure to deal with the source or the' machinery of crime, Instead, ' all attention is focused on " the peddlers on the street corner. With the hope Initiating the Imprementation of . a change in the system she mim $iiiii N I I Tin Fno:u?.is !, AND . FUTU.1E OF , . ... drTgLORIA E. A. TOOTE 'i ,T ' 1 From my vantage point in the Department of HUD, I see a great opportunity for a consortium of organizational talents. Almost in every major city in America there are vast tracts of land for development. This land is in the so-called minority community, and in many cases the land is owned by government. The business opportunities in the ghetto are tremendous, but to capture and mine the economic fruits of this land calls for a collection of courage, skills, hard work, and sacrifice. New York is amy home, and is a city with which I have great familiarity. It has avenues and expressways, four subway lines, and an artery for railroad and maritime shipping. Harlem, geographically in the heart of the city has more potential for growth than any place in New York. An analysis of each major city will show similar advantages which include large labor markets, proximity to business, technical centers such as financial and engineering, and access to distribution centers and markets. There is subtle opposition to rebuilding or to industrial development in the ghettos of America, where generally the real estate values are lower than downtown or suburban industrial property. The planners architects, builders, and bankers of minority America, must design a strategy for rebuilding and relocating American business in what is now called the ghetto. As Calvin Coolidge said, "the business of America is business." I believe OMBE, SBA, and my department, as well as all other appropriate government agencies, should be challenged by a bold approach to turn the waste lands of urban America into a productive oasis for industry, commerce, and for safe and decent family living. The time is ripe! I also feel compelled to urge increased, conscious, political involvement. This is all relevant and related to government action, and politics is the life blood of government. There is strong feeling for the Federal government to return major programs to the people at the local and state levels. Revenue sharing is just the beginning. Therefore, monies and programs are going to be closely tied to City Hall and the State House. The issues we must face is whether or not we can master the dedication and ambition to become actively involved in the recruitment or minority workers and candidates to represent our interests. We can guarantee our programs by having our own community representatives, local, state or federal. Public and private building, and the jobs that go with them, are much easier to construct with more blacks, chicano, Puerto Rican, and other minority representation in City Hall, the State House, or Congress. I firmly believe our future economic progress is inextricably tied to our political access to policy making levels of government. This will particulary be true if the Federal government relinquishes many of its present controls on site selection and urban development to cities, states and local entities. If we do, not work to gain representation and a voice in planning, program justification, and funding, it is doubtful whether minorities will survive as competitive business and professional men and women. During the coming years, the test of our Nation's strength will be her economic and political viability. A major contribution of minorities in the past has been the expansion of justice .and freedom. Our contribution of the future will depend on how well we utilize the economic tools of liemb'carcyr" 'r onr , , v . , . ' .ass aaa fciia :.vrfu& ' ' ' V '. O Congressman O Hawkins O Column By REP. AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS question, '..how long and! ught it wise to begin under what conditions could, . vuc i"" the club afford such thouk Bounds tent any contribution and the longer Dui roe inuuence unpredictable or does exist. In prison unforeseeable barrier that Institutions which are very SNETTER administrative agency and has all exlusive right for the formulation of administrative policies, rules, regulations and guidelines as may deem necessary for a peaceful prison atmosphere, with the sanction of the Department of Corrections. Until said Institution infringes upon or violates an inmates's civil rights as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution and " does not abridge the state's law, all such other powers are inherent in the institution throughout the state With the awareness of the shield behind ' which these Instlutitions stand, it is only appropriate and I repeat, that the implementation of a reform' in these institutions be approached from a stand point of professionalism a gradual and evolutionary process if this dream must come through. Finally, the Criminal Justice Club applauds WAFR'a concern for Black Inmates and has not disregarded the need for contribution to these Individuals, which she has In ' fact made to the Inmates within the confines of the Guest Road prison ; during her . visitation in October of 1973. We are grateful and we 1 come any iuchv comments. I'm sorry, but I was the least consulted prior to the decision for the said presentation.' ' The Energy Crisis WITHOUT A DOUBT there is an energy crisis. This is obvious for those of us who have been waiting in long lines, for gas recently. . What is not so obvious is why the crisis exists and what events have led the nation into this national (and in, ternational) disaster. . In the middle of this unprecedented catastrophe, stands, the innocent consumer, caught between the charges and counter-charges of the Administration, the Congress, the oil companies, and the oil producing Arab World. ( THERE ARE SOME solid facts however, which all the actors in this drama interpret according to their stake in the. issues. The oil industry, for example, is hard-put to explain its enormous profits for 1973, twenty-one elite American oil' corporations experienced an average rise in profits in 19731, of about 60 per cent above 1972. Fifteen of these corpora tions expect to earn an approximate total of $9 billion for 1973-,' as against $5.8 billion they earned in 1972. One of these giants, Exxon Corporation, rather em harassed by its "windfall" revealed that in 1973 its profit gain in the United States was 16 per cent and that its foreign earnings jumped 8.3 per cent. . . Exxon explains that it didn't do well in 1972 and that: dollar devaluations ballooned their actual foreign earnings.' A LARGE NUMBER of lawmakers in the Congress find Exxon's explanation unsatisfactory. The Congress is also not satUfied with related responses given by the oil industry! in general. - -r! . Serious questions are therefore being raised by key congressional leadership concerning the oil industry's excess profits, depletion allowances, tax credits and sub? stantial subsidies granted by law to the Industry. P. 0. SOX 3tU DURHAM. NORTH CAROLINA VM L E. AUSTIN Editor-Publisher 1927-1971 Published every Saturday at Durham. N. C. by United Publishers, In n imjXff Ay EDMONDS. PuhH.W . CLARENCE BONNETTE BuainMaMm ammo cABm . Sseond Class Postage Paid at Durham, N. C. 27703 tt-i. SUBSCMPTON RATES United States and Canada 1 va mm
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