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14 THE CAROLINA TIKES SAT., MAY 23. 1381 Crir,3 fa C!:ck Community Should Be . Everybody's Concern -A .; United Nations U.S. Gets Lesson On African Determination At U.N. By Curtis T. Perkins Black business is suffering from the effects of crime m an un precedented scale, it is struggling to meet the high cost of theft insurance, vandalism, shoplifting, and robbery. The problem centers around narcotics and drug-related crimes. Pious Spectacles: A Closer Look Where Are The Revolutionaries Now? By Ada M. Fisher, When Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X died in the 60's, the inner cities went up in flames at our own hands. Amidst the violence and revolu tionary rhetoric of the day, many lives Jay wasted, many communities were burned not be reconstructed from the ruin, .and many voices of reason were prematurely silenced from fear of the truths which could be told. What happened to the revolutionaries of the 60'and 70's? When the going got tough, some of the tough got gone. Some fled to other countries and con tinents, many went underground, leav ing their troops to catch the fire and their flock to stray. Some bought into the very system they were bent upon destroying. A few have adopted religious purposes which are the very an tithesis of all that the black man was, is, and will be. "'. I heard it said by some, "lay down your life for the cause!" But, when the bullets flew, they were reportedly not around, Black women were implored to jput-out" for the revolution, only to find (heir bodies sexually violated and their person under attack for taking jobs away from black men. The white man's education was taunted as oppresionist; 7 vi iuouj vi in v fjiumiiiviii, ruvoi black leaders had college degrees and credentials at the post graduate level; therefore, if their revolutionary effort blew over, they could always get a job. As the economy worsens, as we .retrench as a nation from the civil rights and civil liberties of black people, be not surprised to see some of the "so-called revolutionaries" from by-gone days resurface. These revolutionaries , will preach in-line with their second coming within thirty years, but they, too, may be only false prophets. Our youth , long on idealism and short on insight and wisdom, may find themselves caught-up in movements with no eye to the future. Communism is be ing threatened from within due to its "Keep them in line" tactics. Socialism breeds a sameness which denies the in dividual representative spirit fostered through democracies. And capitalism threatens to allow the rich to get richer and the poor to become poorer while forgetting about humanitarian democracy. So many were photograph ed, "bugged," and followed during the 60's. So many had careers ruined, lives ' terminated, and dreams crushed in , search of a revolution which didn't hap-, pen. - To those, who would offer us revolu tion, get selfish and ask, ''What's in it for us?" Too Wert revblutihares'haV' ; been fronts tot other causes and served "Caesars" whom they have concealed. Infiltrated and sabotaged, too often from within, the revolutionaries' only certainty and our promise which is a truism is that our lives might get worse before they get better. Black people, wake up! Be under no illusion, there have been revolutionaries who have existed and gone to their graves unheralded, My father, your father, and all the black men who have provided for their families, these men ' are our revolutionaries. The black men who have given their children their names and prevented "their seed" from the stigmatization of illegitimate, out-of-wedlock, or bastards these men were and are our revolutionaries. My mother, your mother, and other black women who have sacrificed their own comforts, the health of their own bodies in working to insure different oppor-' tunities for us, their children t- these women have been our revolutionaries. And the brothers and sisters out there who go out and do their jobs which keep society working they, too, have been our revolutionaries for their small ef forts have added immeasurably to our lives. "-''.:' How long before we see the revolution which daily unfolds before us? How long before we take up the mantle of its cause and act as the honorable people (Continued from Page 15) All of black and Arab Africa; The Third World and several enlightened nations of the West, told South Africa to set Namibia free at the U.N. Security Council last week. The leader of these countries at this historic ses sion of the Council was the Uganda Am bassador to the United Nations, Olara Otun nu. Mr. Otunnu isr-young looking, diminutive and ebony-hued African with a steel trap mind. He is pleasant enough ar ticulate and unusually effective with the English language. As chairman of the Black African Group for April, he put on a stellar performance at the meetings of the Security Council, At press conferences, he fielded the questions from a prejudiced western press media with precision and to their awe. The African effort to wrest South West Africa from the greedy clutches of South Africa was well organized and hefty with reason, conciliation and able speakers. But as usual the leaders of the West all with colonial experience in racism along with our great nation vetoed all the resolu tions presented in behalf of Namibia to press sanctions against South Africa in the Securi ty Council. This bigoted attitude of my country as I watched our Ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick cast her lame excuse veto again sickened me. I had seen such shenanigans before with other U.S. Ambassadors with the exception of Andrew Young and Donald McHenry. Then there were the vetoes of France and the United Kingdom also with their unbelievable reasons not to support the Africans in rid ding their continent of the. last vestiges of racism by a minority white government South Africa. Mr. Otunnu and the Africans had drafted five hard hitting resolutions. They fashioned four of these into an omnibus sanctions pro- posal which urged general economic and : political sanctions; an oil embargo and a more extensive arms embargoagainst South Africa. In the voting they, won with ma jorities between nine and twelve votes against the persistent vetoes of France, Bri tain and the United States. Abstentions were often provided by Spain, Ireland and Japan who were believed to be pressured mostly by America. During almost a week of debate, some twenty foreign ministers spoke in behalf of the South West People's Organization (SWAPO) which has Permanent Observer status at the U.N. and which is recognized as the true representative of the majority of Namibians. But Ambassador Kirkpatrick, our Chief Delegate (although many of the ministers were from friendly nations) ig nored practically all of their appearances before the Council. Peter Mueshihange, Secretary for Foreign - Relatlonsjof SW APOyimpressed meiwith his" i great 1 statement during the debate which summarized not only the significant con tributions of these foreign ministers from - Africa and other parts of the non-aligned world but succinctly emphasized the cause of. his people. He said: "Reasons were advanced, which have further confirmed the ever deepening collusion between racist South Africa" and the major powers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) "which main- tain extensive military, political, economic and commercial links with that racist, ter rorist State". Moreover, he said, it was stressed and repeated time and again that consequently "there is absolutely no need to amend, modify, qualify, or dilute Resolution 435". Nearly all the delegations which par ' ticipated, "with the obvious exception of the ' veto-mongers", called the attention of the : international community and the Council, in ' particular, to the gravity of the situation in Namibia resulting from persistent acts of ag gression, breaches of peace and a serious threat to international peace and security be - ing perpetrated in and around the illegally1 occupied Namibia by "terrorist South 1... Africa," he said. . ' In clear and categorical statements; h? said, the delegated had underscored the ob vious, but often distorted, fact that - "Namibia is. a problem of decolonization and illegal occupation''; and that the Nami bian patriots under the leadership . of SWAPO, their sole and authentic represen tative, "are waging a heroic and legitimate struggle to liberate by all means available, including in particular the armed struggle, their beloved fatherland Namibia" c A He said: "We are fully aware of the dif ficult price that we have to pay for our freedom. This our forefathers did during the period of the Patriotic Wars against the col onial occupation by the forces of Imperial Germany. Today, it is our turn, the present generations of Namibians to make similar sacrifices." The SWAPO itself would not have been necessary, he said, had it not been for South Africa's policies of colonial oppression, political repression and military aggression in Namibia. The . armed struggle was necessitated by the victimization, terrorism and intimidation that his people were daily subjected to by the fascist army and police serving the combined interests of racism and imperialism. "Our people die daily to make Namibia safe from ruthless exploitation of human and natural resources by South Africa and western Powers who are sitting around this table." I am reminded in our struggle for our own equality in America how inspirational many of our leaders have been in yester years and today. We black Americans must join in with Mr. Meushihange and his esteemed President of SWAPO, the courageous Samuel Nujoma, and their Chief Permanent Observer at the U.N., Theo-Ben Gurirab. For what they say makes sense not only for their aspirations but ours as well. I attended a Security Council session were Mr. Otunnu spoke and a press conference conducted by him on behalf of his fight for Namibia. He really summarized the whole mess where the U.S. is the chief culprit in de nying a solution for Namibia. Here are some of his most consistent and sane observations: Mir. Otunnu said the people of Africa in the Lusaka Manifesto had clearly stated that African preference was liberation by peaceful means. But in the event that "other forces" within onputside Africa obstructed peaceful change, there was no choice but to use "other methods", He said Africa had come to the Council to pursue peaceful means of change, having waited for 100 years Africa had tried every . rl measuwoutikla andowithiailhe.Uoited Na-;' tionS. ; 'yijAGe ll'Jlli . . .. He said the neighboring African States suffered from "the fire of the messengers of death sent by South Africa from Namibia". He said Africa had not asked for any military contingents from the Council, even though some Council members had earlier sent troops in an occupation that "lasted less than three years". ' He said Africa had not asked the Council "to spill an ounce of blood". It had asked "for peaceful pressure to dislodge the occu , pying Power in Namibia". He said Africa had come before the Coun cil to present "a clear, unequivocal global - consensus". The Council's majority had : agreed that peaceful pressure should be ap plied. Mr. Otunnu went on to say that "weighted votes" had been cast "to strengthen the hand of -the occupying Power". He said the impact of the vote of ' three permanent members was to assist the j occupying Power. "It gives comfort to the ' forces of intransigence." It did not strengthen international peace and security or independence. ' The representative of Uganda said the people of Namibia had been raped and robb ed. When one had been raped and robbed and came before a court, the court did not say that the victim sought confrontation. As to the suggestion of t1mpatienceMrhe asked ,; what people could wait 100 yeas before ; fighting for independence. He said Africa had come to reinforce uni ty, by collective action. It was the negative votes which had shattered unity, he said. He said it was stated that certain drafts ' had been "imposed". The fact was that : discussion had gone on for months after Geneva. Africa had not "imposed" anything on the Council, he said. Plenty of time had been given to all about Africa's in tentions and grievances. It was said that sanctions would not work, he stated. "Why then have three permanent members cast negative votes against measures which will not work?" he asked. He said he reiterated, on behalf of Africa, the global consensus of the people of Namibia that Namibia "remains the unique responsibility of the United Nations". ' He said Mr. Botha, "racist Prime Minister of South Africa", who had been strengthen ed today, had said South Africa would never hand Namibia to SWAPO. He said all knew SWAPO would sweep any democratic elec tions and lead the people to independence. The representative of Uganda said SWAPO was the sole legitimate leader of Namibia. "History is on, your side." The same momentum that removed the Nazis would remove the occupying Power, he said. Finally, Ambassador Otunnu and his group plan to pursue this cause to the U.N. General Assembly. The U.S. has seen for the first time the true determination of Africa and the world to beat South Africa at its game of racism. ; I think it best, in concluding my thoughts on this injustice on my fellow black Africans, that I quote from my column in the Buffalo Challenger, July 10, 1980: Black Africa has never been treated fairly or with foresight by my country, the United States. So, like others in this concern, I am ashamed and often angry. We need black Africa, not only for humanitarian reasons, but as the inspiration and identity so steeped in us as black Americans. For Americans . generally, black Africa with its unexploited richness in all kinds of natural resources is needed as an ensuing friend. The salvation and fueling of our industrial machine is in , this huge area of diversity. . . . .For the economic rescue of blacks who are mostly outside the "establishment" may very well be in black Africa. J, dp not suggest to immigrate to the continent, but for black Americans to establish meaningful joint ventures, trade and cultural relations with African nations and their peoples. Of course independence for Namibbia is a priority cause. A NATO-American Force in Namibia would certainly start apartheid on a fatal trend and peace and equality for blacks and others could be a reality in southern Africa. America would have a new source of raw material and new trading partners which it desperately needs. Above all we could prove once and for all to black Africa that the United States shares their ambitions to wipe racism from their continent. Most pragmatic Americans know that the dreaded choice for us and South Africa is the coming of the Cubans, the Russians and their surrogates if the United States does not act now for the U.N. andior world peace. All black" Americans must shout fbr all to i hear that the foreign policy of the United States as it relates to black Africa is a con cern of necessity. To Be Equal Targeting Public Schools For Destruction - i By Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. Things You Should Know PRI NCE HALL V FATHER OF FREE MISOMIY FOR US- j V NEGROES, A MULATTO, BORN IN 1748, J HI AniMrmuiu mmiRM aim ;I -f" n jtnuAiC tun i.uwtiMiuduji.Xi - .' KZ COHERE 1765; WAS FUUY UF EDUCATED CYTHf ACE OF TWENTY-CEVEN, AIO A RENOWNED METHOOiST PREACHER ATCAM3RrDCEMASS.! HE FOOCHT IN THE : 0 REVOLUTIONARY WAR, AWDAV!N3 REN TO THE STATION OF HOTTER MAf-CN,FOUCHT FOH A CHARTER FOR A M V ri!3MASaCUXCE!reTNTH Cft'MSfJggjSO AFTER MANY REFUSALS IW AigRICANSj . m a vn mm m miHBt j HAM till n.i V The public school system is in grave . danger. The major push now under way for tax credits for parents who send their children to private schools could be the first step in a tragic scenario that creates a two- , class system of education,' with inferior, resource-starved public schools for the poor and private schools for everyone else.. There, is wide support for a bill in Con-. gress that would take $250 off the tax bill of families with children in private schools. That would rise to $500 later. And in years to come, the sky would be the limit, because once the principle is established the credit is likely to go up in lockstep with tuition rises. ' So an economy-minded Congress that slashed aid to public schools is preparing a $4 billion giveaway to entice middle income families to desert the public schools. The drive for the tuition tax credit got a big boost recently from a highly publicized study by sociologist James S. Coleman that' found private high schools are better than . public ones;--K''v--v?:t:A . The real-world value of sucti a finding is minimal. Why the surprise, that selective ; schools largely drawing children from better- , educated and; motivated families would , come up with better achievement results than public schools that must accept and retain all ' comers? . But the point is whether the national com mitment to quality education will include the ' vast majority of children who will continue to be educated in the public schools. : : t The tragedy is that such mass studies tell us nothing about the many public schools ' with committed' principals and teachers who1 do educate their pupils, and without the pupjls, I resources many private schools enjoy. And it masks the deficiencies of many private schools that are little more than segregation academies pandering to parental prejudice. The fact is that some private schools, like some public schools, do the job they are supposed to be doing, while others do not. . And no one in his right mind would argue that all public schools are fulfilling, their obligations to educate the poor. The obvious need is to make the public schools better, not to abandon them. ' v ; :, p But that is what a tuition tax credit would encourage. Its proponents claim the credit would give poor families an alternative to public education, but that is not4rue. By definition, a tax credit goes only to people whose taxes exceed the amount of the credit. By definition, poor people would be frozen out. v.fV !"... ' - And even moderate income families would not benefit since they would have to make up the difference between the credit and the full amount of the tuition. The kicker here is that once a tax credit is passed,: tuition bills would rise. The credit would encourage in flation in private education. It would also encourage proliferation of second-rate schools out to exploit a newly created market. . ' ; The public schools would be seriously damaged, however, Drained of many middle class pupils, they would be likely to be plac ed on a starvation diet by state and local governments as voters would be reluctant tot .tax themselves for schools their own children ! (Continued On Page 15) "i.e. Austin Editor-Publisher 1927-1971 ' USPS 091-380 ' .' I f" Publishes everyThiirsday (dated Stiturday) at" LDurhanr N.C. by United Publishers, Incor ; fporated. Mailing Address: P.O. Box '3825, ' Durham, iN.Ci 27702, Office located at 923' iFayettevllle Street, Durham, N.C. 27701. Second I Class Postage paid at Durham North Carolina ' I27702. POSTMASTER: Send address change to : :THE CAROLINA TIMES, P.O. Box 3825, Durham, 'N.C. 27702. i ; . . ! SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One year, $12.00; (plus $0.48 sales, tax tor North Carolina i residents).. Single copy $.30. Postal regulations 'REQUIRE advanced payment on subscriptions. 'Address all communications and make all checks . and' money orders payable to: THE CAROLINA (TIMES. , I NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTXtIVE: 'Amalgamated Publishers; Inc., 45 West 45th IStreet..New York.New York 10066. 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The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
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May 23, 1981, edition 1
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