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Forum 'Naked aggression' in S. Africa Anti-apartheid forces hi the the necessity to continue U.S. eco United States and throughout the nomic sanctions against South world are outraged at the continued Africa. Among the delegation were violence and domination by the Dr. M. William Howard and Ms. racist apartheid regime in South Jennifer Davis of the American Africa. In short, the situation in Committee on Africa, actress Alfie South Africa reveals continued Woodard, filmmaker Spike Lee and "naked aggression" by the apartheid attorney Aubrey McCulcheonof the government toward the people of Washington Office on Africa. Ms. South Africa and the peoples of the Lindewe Mabuza, the Chief Repre CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL By BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS JR. r southern African region. South African military advisors , are still operating in side southern Angola. South African mercenaries are still operative inside Mozam bique. The racist attacks against supporters of the African National Congress in South Africa continue to 'be executed under the color of South Africa's apartheid laws. Does this ruthless and "naked ' aggression' by South Africa consti ' tute the necessity for the United Nations to increase sanctions and 6ther actions against apartheid? ' Does not this increasing racist "naked aggression" by South Africa constitute the necessity for the United States and its allies to dcihand an end to apartheid? Recently, the American Com mittee on Africa (ACOA) spon sofed a special delegation to meet with Congressman Tom Foley, the ' ' Speaker of the House, concerning sentative of the African National Congress to the United States was " also a member of the delegation that met with Speaker Foley. Alfie Woodard stated, "1 am an African and I am concerned about the situation in South Africa." Woodard posed the following ques tion to Speaker Foley: MWhy does current U.S. foreign policy in defin ing and opposing aggression and oppression differ on the basis of color and nationality? Why would our government contemplate relax ing sanctions against aggressive South Africa?" Spike Lee stated, "President Bush acting to ease pressure on' South Africa would be a great act of hypocrisy." Speaker Foley respond ed by saying the Democratic leader ship in the Congress "would not ini tiate any action" to relax the current legislation authorizing economic sanctions on South Africa. But Speaker Foley did intimate that President Bush might attempt to recommend the easing of some, of the current sanctions. All of the suggestions coming from the White House that DeKlerk and the government of South Africa ^should be rewarded-for reforming some aspects of apartheid is actual ly a continuation of President Rea gan's policy of "constructive engagement" with South Africa. During the last eleven years of U.S. "constructive" policy toward South Africa, there have been over one million innocent persons killed in South Africa and in the frontline states as a direct result of apartheid. ' Back in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. asserted, "This is the task ,to which we are called by the suf fering in South Africa, and our response should be swift and unstinting. . . Urge your govern ment to support economic sanc tions." Nelson Mandela last year reminded us that, "27 years ago when 1 went to jail I had no vote. I have come out and I still have no vote. . . To lift sanctions now would be to run the risk of aborting the process of the complete eradication of apartheid." We must continue our united demand to end South Africa's aggression. Keep the pressure on! Keep the economic sanctions on South Africa. Let President Bush know we are not asleep and we will not be fooled by any attempt to falsely cer tify irreversible change in apartheid South Africa. Is 'the system' a racial copout? . , A 19-year-old woman look me |o task a few days ago over my use of the term "the system" when, she said, I should have said "white peo i , 1/ .. \L , I explained to her that 1 use system" because 1 think it is unfair to indict all white people for the. cruelties and injustices suffered . by blacks throughout the history of , t^is nation. Even during slavery th^rc were white people who abhorred that system and wanted it . abqlished as much as blacks, 1 said, aricj today there is . an even higher , 'leyel of consciousness among , whites about the plight of blacks, 'and to indict them would not be "fair. I was surprised when she "would not buy my argument. Unusually wise for her age (she is a junior and is completing her term as editor of her college newspaper) she replied: " 'The system' is peo ple. it really bothers me to hear peo ple talk about the system.' That's just an easy way to get off the hook and not accept responsibility for the sUte of things." She quickly added, "Black peo- _ pie use this system' as an excuse * too. When we don't succeed at something, or when we decide not to' iry, we say it's because 'the sys tem' is unfair or we never had a chance because of 'the system.' We sHould stop complaining about u arid work to change it." Clearly though, her argument is with white people and just as clearly detectable in the tone of her voice was anger, and though not as clearly detectable but there nonetheless, was a bit of hate. She says her best friend is white. "How consistent is that with what you're saying?" I asked. an outspoken 16-year-old freshman anc) product of a Virginia school system in which her contact with other blacks was limited at best, was a supreme racial liberal. '!.<<? "What I mean/ she said, "Is that we talk about 'the system* like it is some force out there doing AGAINST THE GRAIN By ROOSEVELT WILSON She didn't blink. "I tell my friend this all the time. I hate to say it, but just like when I was growing up and was told - and offended ? so many times by white people that I was different from 'them' (other blacks) I almost have to tell my friend that she is different from other whites." We were talking in the school newspaper office and a few other staff members became involved. One man, a sophomore, said, "Oh, -man, does that bug me. I've been told those patronizing things, too: 'You're not like them,' 'You're a credit to your race.'" Two days later I had a one-on onc with the woman and asked her to further articulate what she meant. This was important to me because three years ago this same woman, things to people. The system' is people and only people can change it. "The system' makes it too easy for white people to shun guilt and say: 'I'm not like that. I never did anything to your people. Don't blame me for something that hap pened before my time.' I say just not doing anything to me is not good enough," she said. She also said passivity is unacceptable. "If they don't do something about the system, work to change it, then they must bear full responsibility for it." "Are you saying whites are either part of the solution or part of the problem, and there is no middle ground?" I asked. "Exactly," she said. I'm still not sure who won that argument. Curbing the violence of police ? ? The videotaped police beating of a Los Angeles man aired on the nation's television screens a few weeks ago should shock Americans King should be a catalyst for changes in Los Angeles and for careful reexamination of police practices elsewhere. TO BE EQUAL By JOHN E. JACOB ir!^ the realization that violent racism is a major presence on the American sc^e and must be ?removed from our national life. That's an especially urgent task 'as it relates to law enforcement and ? (he criminal justice system, and it's goes far beyond the outrages perpetrated ? Angeles police. ? ? ? The vicious beating of Rodney While attention is rightly focused on Los Angeles, unneces sary police violence is a nationwide phenomenon. In the widely publicized Los Angeles incident, the facts are incontrovertible. Mr. king was flagged down for speeding, sur fxotmdt with a stun gun, and repeatedly" hammered with clubs despite his i picas for mercy. The police say he was driving at 1 1 5 miles an hour; the car's man ufacturer says it can't go that fast The police say their victim was fighting them; witnesses and a videotape show him lying on the ground being beaten by three offi cers while another dozen watched. The police chiefs response was almost as revolting as the beating. Instead of immediately bringing attempted murder charges against the criminals in uniform, he just gave a grudging, halfway apology. And that was only because the storm of national publicity forced him to say something, however inadequate. This wasn't an isolated inci dent Former basketball star Jamaal Wilkes was recently pushed around f Please see page A6 Prices Good thru April 3, 4, 5, & 6 Roughneck Trash Container G.E. Softwhite Bulbs 40 - 60 - 75 - 100 watts 4 pk $-j99 Shampoo or Conditioner 15 oz 49 $o Regular Strength Ascriptin Aspirin Plus Maalox? For Pain Relief 100 "ablets $499 Pepsi Proaucts 2 liter regular or diet 89' VA'V.-Ss< ?: V. ?* *.! 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Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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April 4, 1991, edition 1
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