3?.'
il
i
Duke University Library 'f - ; -Newspaper
Department i,
UUI lldlll tv '-, wl
Atlanta Children
Death Toll. . . , .21
Missing . 4 : 2
Murderer(s) Still Not Found
Wear A Crien Ribbon
Apr: 3 isar
Words Of Wisdom
Tkc more yon we yout brain, the more brain
yo win have lo use. .
C.& Dof'iey
Patience is bitter, bat if frail is sweet.
VOlUMt- 59 - NUMBER 14?.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1981
TELEPHONE (919) 682-2913
PRICE: 30 CENTS
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.'117 1 ' Ji Lji'' - j riur 4 if' !
Oinference On
Or
osTnizing
Foi' 80's Well Attended
Rep.Spaulding Introduces
Bill To Allow
Tenant Representation
State Representative
Kenneth B. Spaulding has
introduced legislation;-
the N6rth Carolina House
of Representatives ;that
would allow a public
housing tenant to server on
a Public Housing authori
ty Board.'' ry
Currently, an Attorney
General's ppihion in
dicates that the present
lw in North Carolina
prohibits a tenant from
serving on the Housing
Authority's Board.
Spaulding's bill would
make it possible for a
housing authority tenant
to serve on the Housing
Authority Board.
Spaulding said that he
believes tenants should be
allowed to serve on a
Housing Authority Board
and that the input given by
a tenant would be
beneficial to the Board's
decision making process.
500 Persons Jam
St. Joseph's Church
REP. SPAULDING
Call Issued For "People
Answer To Duke Power
power
Joins Search For Clues
r An -elderly .lady Jhas a wistful look as she holds, two daffodils she picked in the
woods last week while helping conduct a weekend search for clues in the mystery of
..Atlanta's disappearing chiiaren. Thls marks the 25th weekend search conducted by
J J
Citing Duke Power
Company's 1980 neti in
come as being substantial
ly up from 1979, the
Durham Chapter of the
National Council of
Senior Citizens as issued a
call to "answer Duke
Power with People
Power" at the Durham
City Council meeting on
Monday, April 6, at I
p.m, Duke Power Com
pany has requested a
iy."o rate increase.
are already suffering hard
ships, and unable to make
ends meet. And now, it
seems that Duke Power
wants to add to our
economic plight", he con
tinued. Reed said that Duke
Power's "reasoning in
arguing for a rate increase
is faulty".
Duke Power Company
reported net income in
. 1980 of $311,091,000, an
i increase pt $36,331,000
Utilities Commission per
forms an important func
tion of research and fact
finding. But in the final
analysis, there is no
substitute for the role and
influence of the tax payers
and consumers."
"We of the National
Council are ready to
cooperate with City Coun
cil, and with all people of
goodwill, to help improve
the living standards of all
citizens, and especially to
(Continued on Page 3)
Trellie L. Je tiers'
More than 500 persons
representing civil rights,
labor, low income groups,
women's rights and en
vironmental interests jam
med St. Joseph's AME
Church on Saturday,
March 28, to attend the se
cond day of a conference
on "Organizing for the
80's". Saturday's group
consisted of all races,
ranging from senior
citizens to young people
who had come to develop
strategies to create a coali
tion of groups from across
the state the deal with
what many expressed as
"major concerns" about
the direction of the
Reagan administration.
Six persons began the
conference after a
welcome address by Rev.
W.W. Easley, St. Joseph's
pastor, all stressing their
perception of the need for
"those concerned about
democracy" to come
together for greater
strength.
Ms.' Barbara Arnwine,
N.C. Co-Convenor for the
National Black Indepen
dent Political Party and
told the group that racism
has been used in this coun
try to divide people who
have common interests.
"It (racism keeps peo
ple ignorant by making
some believe that a certain
race or group is superior,"
said Ms. Arnwine.
She said that racism is
unconscious, conscious
and institutional. "An ex
ample of institutional
racism is the use of power
to exclude certain groups
or races. When you look
at CETA, you see so many
whites controlling the pro
gram. The program is set
up to help many low in
come blacks and there are
no blacks making any
decisions. Racism is in the
right, center and the left."
Ms. Arnwine said.
She called upon the
group to form a coalition
against racism.
Art Martin of the Inter
national Ladies Garment
Workers Union, another
of the speakers, told the
group that the U.S.
Department of Labor has
changed sides, and stan
dards on occupational
safety and health will be
beararicg of two Others.
UPI Photo
DHA Commission Assures
In Changes
Communication
By Donald Marable
The Board of Directors
of the Durham Housing
Authority, in its monthly
meeting on Thursday,
March 26, adopted and
approved a resolution
revising maintenance
charges that will be assess
ed to tenants when repairs
are made.,
Mrs. Pat Rogers, direc
tor of the Tenant Steering
Committee, felt that the.
eligibility.
Benjamin S. ' Ruffin,
chairman of the board Of
commissioners, had to
gavel to order residents
and representatives who
were disturbed about not
having received copies of
the proposed policy
changes. Ruffin confirm
ed that the commission is
dedicated to informing
and receiving information
from the tenants and that
resolution was unjust 'ihe would assure a two-way
unless abuse, deliberate f communication for future
damage, or neglect was ; news in the Authority.
found among residents.
A resolution to adopt a
revised Statement of
Policies also came before
the board. Included was a
rent rate increase from
22 to 25 based oh in
come, and an annual reex
amination ' for rent
l enants . and represen
tatives agreed with nod
ding heads as the resolu
tion was tabled until the
next meeting, during
which a survey of tenant
feelings may be presented,
with a proposal to revise
the grievance procedure.
The Com mission f urr
ther considered a concept
of Organizing resident;
councils. The Tenant
Steering Committee sug
gested that such a move
would weaken that com
mittee. But DHA Ex
ecutive Director James
Tabron said the policy is
being urged by the Depart
ment of Housing and Ur
ban Development and it,
would call for a more ef-'
fective use of community
funds.
In this same vein, the
commission went on to
approve a HUD applica
tion that would seek
money for a Section 8
Moderate Rehabilitation
Program. This would give
money to tenants who
refurbished and renovated
their houses. :
people, but, especially
among the retired people;
living on fixed incomes,
this literally caused a
shock wave", said Sam
Reed, president of the
Durham Chapter, in a,
presentation to the Com
munity Services Commit
tee in behalf of the NCSC
on Wednesday, March 25.
"We are already living on;
a tight budget. Many of us
were . $3.08 - as compared
with $2.88 in 1979.
Dividends on common
stock were $1.95 and
$1.83 in 1979.
Reed contended that
"the voice of the people
must be heard an con
sidered, before the State
Utilities Commission acts
on, this case. That is the
democratic way. The
Public Staff of the
one or ine six soeaKCTv rcrmtimiod nn Pa
Housing Authority Director
Reviews Termination Decision
Never Too Late Too Learn
By Donald Marable
There are 25 million
adults in this cduntry who
cannot read this article.
An illiterate is defined as a
person who is unable to
function in today's society
that is to read or write
above the eighth grade
level.
In Durham County
alone, of males 25 and
older, 662 had no school;
2,904 completed one to
four years of school, 5,053
completed five to seven
vears. and 2,292 com-
oleted eight years of '
school. For females, 25
and over, 616-no school;
2,193-one to four years;
5,419-five to 7 years, and
2,707-eight years.
And these statistics have
changed by 14, accor
' ding to the 1980 census.
The Durham Literacy
Council held a two-day
workshop for volunteers
-ft
Ms. Mary Whaley,
director of the Illiteracy
Program at Yates Baptist
Association, and Ms.
Mary Collins, teacher
trainee, beamed like the
sunshine on methods of
helping those who want to
help themselves.
The Durham Literacy
Council started at Yates
Baptist Association
made up of churches in
Durham and Orange
counties 1 with head
quarters on Chapel Hill
Street. '
W.W. Sprouse, com
mittee member of com
munity ministers, said, .
"The biggest problem is
that people will not come
of. call for help. It is the
people that don't want to
admit they can't read that,
we are most concerned
about." He further said,
that this service is at no
cost to the student, but we
interested in 'teaching do like them to buy the in
adult non-readers on ' a
one-to-one basis.on Friday
and Saturday, March
27-28, in the Durham
County Library on Rox
boro Street
And what better place
' an vviiuiioi uvvm moi will
aid them in learning to
read.
. After the students finish
the series of classes in
i structed by. the tutors,
: they will be able to read at
a fifth grade level, with a
knowledge of English
grammar. From there, the
student can take a class at
Durham Technical In
stitute. Sprouse mentioned
that, "As a result of the
CBS movie, "Pride of
Jesse Helms," starring
Johnny Cash, which
characterized the hard
ships of a man being a
non-reader in today's
society, many people are
coming forth."
There are 25 volunteers
from all walks of life, in
cluding a writer of
children's books who
completed the workshop
and became certified
teachers.
The program is co
sponsored by Yates Bap
tist Association and Pro
ject LIFT at the library,
and anyone wanting help
may call either of those
places. A volunteer will be
assigned based on the
specific needs of that stu
dent. A schedulers then
worked out between the
tutor and student. Tutors
are available for in-home
service and are trying at all
angles to start turning the
pages in life for a non-reader.
Don King Tells Students:
"Give Back To
Community"
World-renowned boxing promoter Don King visited
Howard University recently and delivered more than a
message. He set the example by donating some $140,000
to black and other charitable organizations.
"Some of our successful blacks are such that as soon
as the wrinkles get out of their bellies, they proclaim
they have done it alone," King told the students.
"We must deal with the fact that we are our brother's
keeper, whether we want to be or not."
Then, King said he wanted to pause for a moment to
"practice what he preached.'' From his pocket he pulled
checks payable to the NAACP for $10,000. the United
Negro College Fund, $10,000; PUSH, $10,000; Con
gressional Black Caucus Foundation, $10,000;
American Cancer Society, $10,000; Africare, $5,000;
Howard's School of Communications, $2,500; and to
several other organizations, When he finished, the total
donated amounted to almost $140,000.
Calling his philanthropy "tantamount to a mere pit
tance," and quoting (he late John Kennedy, King said
he was taking the "first step" of the "longest mile" by
giving back to the community from whence he came.
"Our plight will not be changed, until we help
ourselves." Education and economics, King told the
students, arc the best keys to self-help.
"We must, he economically independent, unless we
want to be in another form of subordination. I feel that
economics will be our savior. But right now. we're 99
per cent consumer."
"We need minds like yours to get the cducaiton this
fine institution can provide so you can work lo deal with
productivity and other problems that face our nation."
"As blacks., we must come together to work with our
communities, and institutions; Then we can have the
strength to bring about change."
Saying his own strength lay in his "ghetto ties," his
mother afid friends, King told the students how he made
four years - of incarceration for second-degree
manslaughter work in his favor. "I read Voltaire,
Chaucer Gibraii, King, Kennedy, Dante, and all those
cats. Wlidi I came out , I was armed with ait atom bomb
of knowledge." ,
His jailhousc education and a relentless "desire for
affluence,'' motivated King to. try his hand at pro
moting local boxing matches in Cleveland. From here,
he went up the la''W of success, promoting the last
Muhammad Ali bouts in the U.S. and Africa, as well as
the recent Duran-Lconard showdowns.
Despite his success itt the American marketplace,
King is an humble man. recognize that I am nothing
without. yoii. Everyone dealing has to deal from a con-'
stitiicncyV You must have someone with you."
By Donald Marable
As a result of an appeal
by Ms. Cloyce Lassiter,
former Deputy Director
for Operations at the
Durham Housing
Authority, James Tabron,
Executive Director, is
began accumulating heat
as council for Ms. Lassiter
pointed to facts in his
clients ' file on being a
valued employee and that
Tabron had promoted her
in the two weeks that he
had been there with advice
reviewing his decision that fr0m the interim director
terminated her on January and team at the
26
Daniel K. Edwards, at
torney for the Housing
Authority, said, "The
purpose of this hearing is
to give Ms. Lassiter an op
portunity to be heard by
the commissioners. She
feels that her dismissal
was improper and
therefore we are affording
the director an opportuni
ty for consideration of
keeping that decision or
setting up a meeting for a
later hearing."
Tabron said, "As
Deputy Director for
Operations, Ms. Lassiter's
duties were three part,
which mainly concerned
an overseer maintenance,
management, and in
charge of community ser
vices." Tabron stressed
that he released Ms.
Lassiter after consulting
her on late and inefficient
reports. He had con
sidered her experience at
the Authority for the ap
pointment, but was fin
ding through the proba
tionary period that she
was slowly losing her grip
on handling the position.
Ms. Lassiter has heldj
positions with the
Authority since 1969,
annd has been promoted
at a yearly rate since 1972.
She formally assumed the
position of Deputy Direc
tor for Operations in May,
1979. Ms. Lassiter was
placed on a probationary
status for a period of four
months in October, 1980,
which was to end by
January of 1981.
William A. Marsh, Jr.,
attorney for Ms. Lassiter,
made reference to Tabron
putting Ms. Lassiter in a
"Catch-22" position by
evaluating her and exten
ding fier probationary
period at the same time.
The smoke-filled room
Greensboro office. Marsh
stressed the inconsistence
of Tabron's decision to
promote her to this posi
tion and then fire her
within a year, and then
not seek another position
at the Authority for her.
Ms. Lassiter said that
"Tabron did not appoint
me to the position of
' Deputy Director for
Operations, the manage
ment consulting team at
the Greensboro office had
appointed me." Ms.
Lassiter also contended
that the six areas that
Tabron Used to fire her
listed in a termination let
ter were not the same
areas he had consulted her
about in October.
Tabron strongly
reiterated that, "In the let
ter sent to Ms. Lassiter, I
stated that the items were
not all-inclusive of her
duties and that her posi
tion entailed a broader
spectrum as Deputy Direc
tor for Operations."
Edwards said that be
did not hear any conten
tions on sex or race
discrimination and
assumes this will not be
part of the case. However,
Marsh stated that,
"although there were no
direct contentions, Ms.
Lassiter's termination
brought forth the hiring of
two males of a race that
we all know of."
Jack Preiss, board
member, stressed that he
hopes that in terms of
discrimination, "all the
cards are on the table,"
and that 'there will be no
(Continued on Page 3)
EOC Office Open
At Warren Library
By Donald Alderman
The Roxboro-based
Educational Opportunity
Center has opened a
satellite office. in
Durham's Stanford War
ren Library, according to
Ms. . Shelia Smith, EOC
Outreach Counselor.
The new satellite office
will provide interested
Durham residents with in
formation on types of
educational financial
assistance available and
application procedures.
The EOC encourages
individuals interested in
enrolling in diploma pro
grams, trade or technical
schools, two or four year
colleges, or graduate and
professional schools to use
these services.
The new Durham office
" will be. open every Tues
day from I to 4:30 p.m.
The EOC provides all ser
vices free of. charge.
April 511 is National
Week. In observance, the
Stanford L. Warren
. Library will stage the
following activities:
Wednesday, April 8,
7:30 p.m. A viewing of the
black history documen
tary, "Dark Night In
March" produced by
WTVD Public Affairs
department. The film ac-'
counts the life of
sharecroppers on Stagville
Plantation during the
1920s.
Saturday, April ll.
Comic Book ' Swap for
children and youn adults,
11 a.m. Amateur Radio
Operators Demonstration
by Mid-State Amateur
Soceity, 1 p.m. All per
sons interested in ham
operating or joining the'
society are encouraged to
attend.