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A Tribute To The Black Press
Five late outstanding black journa- cent graduate of North Carolina Cen-
lists will be enshrined in the newly es- Pl(&S
tablished Hall of Fame along with the National ,Twntag j
establishment of a Black Press Archives as Sports Editor for the Standard Ad-
....... . T ..5. ; .tinti kofono tViA awr was intended
distingeopioperjournaimswiuin-
elude Jonn o. Kusswurm, aamuei c
Cornish, Frederick Douglass, Philip Bell
and Dr, Martin Defcney. "
The Black Press has been an organ
of protest and reform since its early be
ginning, March .1 6, ' 1 827, with the
appearance of the Freedom's Journal
edited by John Russwurm and Samuel
Cornish. Philip A.;! Bell founded the
Weekly Advocate in 1.837 in New York
City. It was later named The Colored
American. In, 1843, Dr. Martin R.
Delaney, the first black to graduate
from Harvard University, founded "The ;
Mystery", when the, regular Pittsburg,
Massachusetts dailies refused to run the
contributions . by blacks. Frederick
Douglass published his great . anti
slavery addresses in his 'paper, The,
North Star, in 1 847. This was his paper,
and his method, .along with his dis
tinguished debates, to let all the nation
and world know that slavery was an
outrageous institution. -
These outstanding fore-runners of
early black journalism well deserve to
be among the first so enshrined. Other
outstanding journalists will come in the .
future.' , 7" - ',V fH'"J
Perhaps it may be . the Jervays of
the earlier Cape Fear Journal and what
is now known as the Wilmington Jour
nal of Wilmington, N. C This paper re
cently celebrated its 50th:year of ser
vice. Or ; perhaps it could !be bur own
late Editor-Publisher, Louis E. Austin,
Of The Carolina Times, V ; ; - -J r '
The Carolina Times was . begun in
August, 1921 by a:nnt and
was called the Standard Advertiser. Up-
onhisdeathin 1922, E.C. Harris took
over the paper. Working with Mm at
that time also was Louis E, Austin, a rc-
rh
1817-1879
.oDcsx cr&n.t in north
CAnOUNAtZCAMI ONI OF THE NATJONS
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MARCH-Si
to serve North Carolina, but now serves
- - XSta
throughout the nation and abroad,
Austin assumed control of The
Carolina Times in 1927.
Throughout the years the paper has
carried on its crusade which has sought
to destroy the chains of oppression on
minorities and to assert just and equal
rights for all mankind as guaranteed by
4Jthe .Constitution- and; Bill; of. Rights.
. f The niottoiThe Truth Unbridled" was :
.. Austin'sd is, the the paper?s trade-
mark. ' i
During the years, editorials of The
Carolina Times have shown that it has
sought fairness and justice for all citi
zens through those channels which .
would lead to continued friendship,
rather than rancor; yet always per
severing in the cause of justice," dignity
: and the worth of all mankind. ; V.
The special role of The Carolina
Times has been always to focus on the
problems of North Carolina and the
'j nation's black citizens. It has pushed
the philosophy that as long as one seg
ment of society is denied basic rights,
it was folly or foolishness to think that
other segments were much better off.
The Carolina Times has weathered
and endured some terrible storms and .
will continue to endure some more be
cause of its deep faith.
But come what may, The Carolina
Times and other Black Press will con
tinue ' to serve as a battleground for
justice and equality which can and
7 the world has
icrnnnrtunitv to rise to the fullest
:mW?$S
must never cease unurevwy uuuwwr
him.
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I , ; , 1 A
The Dlach Press' Birthday
This March marki the 150th birthday of one
of America'! most important institutions - the
black press. , ,r .
In Marcy, 1827, fifty years after an Ameri
can Revolution dedicated to freedom and liberty
but based on slavery and exploitation, two black
-men launched the first black-owned newspaper in
the country. They were John Russwurm, Ameri
ca's first 'ilack college graduate, and Samuel
Cornish. Their paper bore the appropriate name,
"Freedom's Journal",
Especially after watching "Roots" we can
appreciate the courage it took, not just the
financial risk, but the very real obstacles placed
in the way of black activists by a national power
structure that endorsed slavery and viewed free
blacks with distaste.
Why a black newspaper? John Russwurm
answered that in hi first editorial, r.d it's worth
quoting: , ;. .
"We wish to plead "our -own cause,' he
wrote. "Too long have others spoken for us. Too
long has the public been deceived by misrepre
sentations in things which concern us dearly.
And in what still describes many sectors of
the nation, Russwrum pointed to those 4who
make it their business to enlarg upon the least
trif n, which tends to the discredit of any persor.
of color; and pronounce anathemas and
denounce our whole body for the misconduct of
the guilty one." . ' .
"Freedom's Journal" had a short-lived ttfev
ConnrossDan
Almost everywhere one gofest these days he
is apt to hear discussion of ABCTVs recent
blockbuster series which was adopted from
author Alex Haley's best selling book of the same
namMost of the discussions are positive, that is ,s
to say, they center around favorable scenes, or
deal with the overall dramatic theme of a re
markable black family's perilous odys?y toward
freedom - frorr 18th century Africa to the post
Civil War era in the United States. -5 .
It was compelling drama, the kind not often ;
seen on television (or in the movies, for that
matter), so there is little wonder Hie series has
triggered a continuing dialog, often heated, that
is ongoing in our schools, churches, barbershops,
comer taverns, pool rooms, playgrounds and Uv-
tag rooms 1 wherever a group of black folk may
happen to congregate.
,There are some among us, und that inciuaes
blacks, who' feel the series should not have been
- aired. It will only stir up more trouble between
V blacks and whites, they say, and to what positive
purpose? . v , , j
Others argue that the series was hammed up
by Hollywood, that the serotypes were too
bioad and cliched - good black folks, bad wliite
folks i or that t he series took too liberal a hcense
i" with the factual elements of ,tke book which in
any case, they say -Was much richer in detail and
" human inter-actiori than the TV series.
Still others gripe that the series did not dwelt
on Kinte's African beginning, on his tight, family
Benjamin L. Iloofis
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Hon To
I read a letter in the Los Angeles Times
the other day, written by a retired, Jewish
teacher, who concluded that the black
community has not significantly pushed for
academic excellence among its youth. And
that it's not busing that is needed (to help
improve the education of black students,) but
rather a "re-definition of the yalue of educa-
tion by the entire black cornmunity .
The writer of the letter was sincere in his
beliefs, based on his own cultural heritage and
his own experiences within that culture, but I
think it takes a lot of cheek to blame the
victims of racial prejudice for the things that the
greater society" has perpetuated in our educa
tional institutions.
The very naiure of the society within the
school systems of this country have existed, has "
unfortunately caused some black youth to abhor
formal learning of any kind. And in spite of the
strong and forceful admonitions of their parents,
who they have seen dehumanized by the racism
here, these black youth are intelligent enough to
see through all the racist "put-downs'. Exactly
what have they seen?
I think the school teacher knows; since he
taught at George Washington Carver Junior High
School, he must be aware that it took years be
fore the Los Angeles uty
black teacher to teach there - or in any or tne t
other schools in the black conmunity.
He must also be aware that not only were
black educators refused jobs in schools in their .
own communities, they were totally absent for
- years in so-called white schools in this city, be
cause of school board employment discrimirm-
i tion. , . - . ' ' -v .
' " Even today, pockets of this kind of bigotry
'still exist.'
The major point here - is not to argue
against the black community taking a fresh
asse fiment of its educational viewpoints, but
! but from ft$ humble beginnings grew, one of :
: Mack America'i .major resources - a vigorous
'. press that exposed the conditions forced upon
black people and a press responsive to their needs
L and aspirations- . , i J '
, The black press became a central factor to
the abolitionist movement, wid , Frederick:
Dough:s founded and editi the major news
SpcMi the pre:ivil War era, the "North Star."
The paper's object, Douglass wrote, wfll be to
attack slavery in all its forms and aspects, advo
cate universal emancipation, exact the standard
of the colored people; and to hasten the dty of
freedom to our three million enslaved fellow
countrymen." ... . .
Since those days, the black press has becot
a natural source of black leadership, with such
: giants as T.' Thomas Fortune, William Monroe
Trotter, Carl Murphy, A. Philip Randolph and
Roy Wilkin emerging from its ranks. .
Their publications and others englned Wack
civil rights protest, foughy lynchbg and peonage,
opposed segregation, and spurred black efforts to
gain a foothood in the economic mainstream.
The black press still performs those func
tions, as wefl as providing the community with
1 news of local and national importance. As in the
past, it provides a forum for black expression,
a haven for unpopular ideas fated to triumph,
mid acts the role of a sentinel against injustice.
It's vigor can be seen in the publications of the
'" Johnson Publishing Company; the. Sengstacke
Haulifos' Colcpn
More About "Roots"
and extended family structure, c:v the deeply in
grained religious beliefs held and practiced very
day by these soalled "primitive" peoples: !
beliefs that shaped their lives and attitudes
about themselves and others which on the whole
were much more healthy and wholesome than
the beliefs held by their captors and oppressors.
Then, there was just too much violence, they
MiPWell, I shared many of the same reservations
held by the critics. For example, I felt there was
a potential for worsened race rektions following
the presentati..i of the series. It has not turned
out that way. Indeed, from all reports received
by ABC network, and other competent obser
vers, there was surprisingly little, rancor generat
ed by the television series' rendering of this pain-, ?
ful prt of our history on this continent "
. Like nany others, I was griped by the
drama. It hue at physical and Mj"
most excruciating ways. It
tluobbed at the temples, burned Whtady
eyeballs, ripped at the gut, tugget at Uw chest
At times, I.woiild have to shut off the set
and walk out of the room, ears burning, knees
wobbly. But back I would come for more en
thralled at the television rendering of this
wnotionally scsring drama which had '.ever
fore been dealt with in quite this way on tele
vision or in the movies. .
And thai is just the point: Sure, there were,
dieted scenes, stereotypd Hollywood drama,
FCC
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End Busing Crisis
jlEltllQ TO THE EDITOR
society
But on a much broader scope, the majority
society also needs fo Icok at the role irhas
SfSd to blacks in this culture. It .stands to
rean you cannot -consciously assign Wacks the
roles of second-class citizens in every regard on
the one hand, and then 'J "".fJj
exemplary citizens on th other hand. It just
wS work and in large part it hasn't worked.
Well where do we go from here?
It's almost axiomatic. Those blacks who the
school teacher believes do not strive for aca
demic excellence, and who have a "basically ,
negative attitude toward education", would y
change almost overnight, if every opportunity
for advancement in this society was opened up,
and laid bare for them to grasp. '
In other words, put back the hope, and you
re-kindle the dream that Martin Luther King so
eloquently defined in the 60's March on Washing
ton. v "'-
Now that is a ;oughle, 111 admit, but there is
no sense in arguing over the issue of busing and
its merits or demerits, unless you are willing to
consider alternatives - which will best provide
the solution to all the controversy. 4
And the best solution to all of this - is to
see to it that equal employment opportunity is a
reality, that black and white ghettdes are de
clared null and void, that, gerrymandered school
boundaries are outlawed, that all educational
rrsources (local, state and nationwide) are
equitably shared, that we put back the term
"justice" in the phrase "law and order" - so that
it reads "law and order with justice", and finally,
that we live up to the Constitution.
When bUck youth knows i that someday
heshe can become President of this land, then
we won't need to bus anybody, anywhere, un
less they want it that way,
Til then, well continue to be in pain.
. vW: Mm.. . '
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IXICUWI CIXICTM, ;
' LEAGUE ' J
-at1,
newspaper chain, and may others too numerous
to mention here. - . " - -' ', '
Now, In Its maturity, the black press faces
great chenges tt respond to a new
readership; increasingly more sophicated and in
tegrated into the mainstream in a greater tegree.
than ever before. And on the business front, it
faces mounting costiaftd competition for the ad
vertising dollar.
Corporate advertising flows to mass media
outlets, especially television, often ignoring
black purchasing power despite the fact that
blacks are major consumers of certain pro
ducts, forming hicher percentage of the market
than their share of the population. . . ; J . J
I'm confident that the courage and crea
tivity that founded the black press and sustained
it aU these years will enable it tc .ccntinue i to
flourisli, serving community needs, its taw
far t't jf1
condones high unemployment, fights affirmative
action, arid neglects widespread, poverty, an acti
vist biack press setting forth alternatives to such
selMestructive policies is crucial to, our
national well-being. aM . m nnt
150 years is a long time, but age has not
diminished the black press' vigor or importance
so t loud happy birthday is in order.
F.
poor story plotting at. times,
plex characterizations throughout. But aU this
overlooks lie strengths of the pxgrain and they
were many: fine characterizations by Cicely
Tyson, Maya Angelou, LeVar Burton, as the
youthful "Kunta Kinte", JoluvAmos, as the
Jdutt "Kinte", Ben Vexten as "Chicken George
Leslie Uggams as "Kizzy" and, of course, Uovd
Bridges and Chuck Corners as tlw evil andor
treacherous white folks. .
It was compelling dramatization that tran
scended weaknesses, and the renderings of a
stark and ugly page in the nation s history that
has not been told in quite that way before. The
violence was always in contest, never gratuitous.
ABC-TV roust be complimented for taking
the risk of putting this program on the air and
doing so te such a way thit interest heightened
until at the end of the eight-day serialization,
more people were glued to their TV setswutch
Ing than had eve? turned into a single T pro
gram in history. ,
And something exciting has emerged from
this showing: instead of heightened racial tension
there are reports that more whites are now more
- sympathetic to blacks, havng witnessed tiuougjx
. Roots, the depiction of thV heroic .famflys
struggle toward fwedom. And blacks, especially
the younger generation, are seeing older blacks
through new and more respectable eyes.
For all of us, it has been quite an emotional
experienf and I do not believe American will
ever be toe same, indeed, can ever be the same
again.
TO THE EDITOR:
Dear Sir:
Many thanks for printing
the Human Relations Day Arti
cle referring to Mr. J. William
Becton. It helped our program
tremendously.
Very truly yours,
RufusE.Hackett
United Methodist Men
Asbury Temple United
Methodist Church
- LE. AUSTIN 1
Udttor- PubUsher, 1927-1971
i
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1 i
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