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Drayton to Head Human Relations Commission By DAVID L DLLLARD Chrotudt Suff Writer Jerry Dnyton said thai since he last served as chaiiman of the N.C. Human Relations Commission in 1985, race relations in the state have gotten worse. He hopes to stem that tide when he will soon begin his second tenure as commission chairman following his appointment by Gov. Jim Hunt. Drayton, who has been pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church since 1944, previously served as chairman of the commission from 1977 to 1985. Since his previous term, Drayton said "it's obvious" that race relations have gotten worse. "They have gotten worse in Winston-Salem because race rela tions have deteriorated much all over the state," he said. "I have worked here during the 1960s with the Civil Rights Movement to desegregate hotels, schools, and so forth. I'm coining with eight years experience and the expertise in deal ing with racial problems and how to resolve them." Drayton, whose previous appointment also was by the Hunt administration, was surprised by this week's appointment Said Hunt: "Jerry has provided great leadership, as chair of the commission during my first admin istration and in his community. I'm glad to have him on our team again, helping us ensure the equality and rights of our citizens." The 21 -member commission is responsible for promoting social and economic equality in North Car olina. Drayton believes that improved race relations will put the state in a better position to attract businesses. "One of the greatest areas need ing improvement is race relations, because no businesses will want to locate here," he said. "Businesses don't want to go where there is racial animosity and strife." Drayton said he has ideas to^ improve race relations throughout the state and he plans to meet with Hunt this week. He received his bachelor's degree from Morehouse College and his divinity degree from Howard University. He holds doctorates Jerry Drayton from Shaw University and Lynch' burg (Va.) Seminary and College. Drayton also has a certificate in clinical and pastoral counseling from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Group Seeks to Help Make City Streets Safer A Ex-Panthers provide solutions for crime By SABR1NA JONKS CknmieU Staff Writer Airline agent John Moore, con struction worker Robert Greer and city Alderman Nelson Malloy may seem like your average hard-work-' ing citinMia However, these men, former members of the Black Panther Party, are three of crime's most determined adversaries as they combat violence as the founders and officers of Black Men and Women Against Crime. Extending . its efforts to all communities, the organization is resolved to making Winston-Salem a safer and more peaceful city for both blacks and whites. According to Moore,- co founder and vice president of the organization, the group started meeting in June 1990 as the result of a reunion of ex-Panther Party members. Disenchanted with the level of violence among blacks, the members decided to provide solu tions for a very serious problem. MIt didn't seem that there was anybody helping the problem of drags and crime m the bMVE& JXMD m unity," said Moore. Moore, Greer and Malloy formed Black Men and Women Against Crime after viewing a tele vision program about a similar organization called the Ad Hoc Committee Against Crime in Kansas City, Mo. The men traveled to Kansas City to observe the activ ities of the group and to collect ideas for their own organization. - The purpose of the organiza tion is to help the community fight against crime and violence using such methods as tenant associations and crime- walch programs. Recently the group has begun a new neighborhood improvement program in which children ages 8 12 work far three 10 four hours each Saturday to help improve the appearance of the community. Doing such chores as cutting grass, running errands for the elderly and collecting trash, the participants are paid a stipend of $4 per hour. A grant of $7,700 front the United Way of Forsyth County is being used to fund the stipends and to purchase yard equipment along with other needed items. "We wanted to give them [the - .children] something to do instead of turning to drugs and violence," Moore said. The program, originally geared toward having 40 children partici pating, has now increased to 60 par ticipants and includes other actiyi ? ties such aafaajiuet ontccn-^f pregnancy and AIDS, crafts and field trips. Later in the year, the group's activities will include a tal ent show and a play that will be written, produced pnd directed by the children. Black Men and Women Against Crime has been successful in bringing improvements to the community." "Since we have been in exis tence, we have helped nine neigh borhoods form tenant associations and crime-watch groups. Up until the victims of fatal crimes. "It brings to the forefront that everyone needs to focus on the level of vio lence in our city," said Moore. _ JlaclL- Men and Women Against Crime would like to expand its children's programs ! ****** f Alderman Nelson M alloy at a rectnt vigil by Black Men and Women Against Crime following a shooting at Cleveland Avenue Homes. the (Daron) Bines shooting, Cleve land Avenue was a totally different place. It was a zoo," Moore said. Greer, the group's president, also agrees that the organtattfton has had a|tositfre impact upon the lives of city residents. "Everyday someone will give you a good word. People take pride in something different going on. It's a *we* thing. We identify with something positive," said Greer. The organization's activities also include candlelight vigils for using a grant of $1,500 from the Forsyth County Drug and Alcohol Coalition. The group also plans to have the Winston-Salem Rwnf Squad give first aid and CPR train ing 10 10 residents from six inner city neighborhoods. The group's officers are Gail Bumette, treasurer, and Flossie Allen, secretary. Black Men and Women Against Crime is non-profit and is totally supported by contributions. The office is located in the Winston Mutual Building at 1225 E. Fifth St Newell Won't Seek Re-election this decision is that it's been 16 .? years, and having to deal with the 3' kind of things we deal with demands - a new vision." Newell said she does not see "too many things I'm interested in happening" through the board. Specifically, she said the city has not effectively dealt with escalating crime and violence. She said the city should imple ment a task force to study crime and and its causes. "We have taken into considera tion every other task force, and we've spent money and time doing it," she said. "It's not something that I relish, coming out of that office and net having reduced the incident of crime." Newell wrote a June 2 memo randum: to city officials asking for the formulation of a Crime Tasjy Force. The letter was sent to Mayc|F Martha S. Wood, City Manager William Stuart and the other city aldermen. "The crime incident ... has increased 29 percent. Many of us believe that it is time that the City of Winston-Salem, County of Forsyth, and all corporations who are con cerned, make a serious effort in cre ating a blue-ribbon committee to study the root causes of crime," Newell wrote. "It is hoped that this committee will be studied, created and given the power or whatever is needed to re&ice the incidence of crime in our city," the letter further stated. "I realize that in looking at figures on crime in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, large numbers of the crimi nals and victims are minorities, and this needs to be studied." Newell said placing additional police officers in high-crime areas, as the new budget allows for, is not the answer to curbing crime. This is nothing but a band-aid approach," she said. "We ought to be studying the root causes. If we take as top priority reducing the crime and violence, we can do something about it. We can find a task force for everything else. 1 don't think anyone has had the guts or the fortitude to ask for it before." Newell was elected city alder man in 1977. She has seen many controversial and troublesome issues facing this city, including the infa mous "Winston-Salem Four" politi cal scandal, when some politicians were sent to prison for taking bribes. She has also seen the city endure a lot of racial hatred and bigotry. Through it all, Newell said she has always tried to address the con cerns of her constituents. Thus, when members of the African American community called for a Citizens Police Review Board, she supported it But when some members of the black community challenged the mayor's list of appointees to the review board and submitted an alter nate list, Newell endorsed the may or's list The other three black alder men voted for the alternate list, saving there were not moiigh Mark* or women on the mayor's list "I think I've been a good and responsible alderman," Newell said. "If I look at this city from 1977 to now, this city has made long strides." Despite the city's apparent prob lems, said Newell, she said she would have liked the city to have been cited as ah All-American City. from page A1 "I believe with that kind of endorsement we would have been well on our way to addressing some of the problems," she said. "It could have recruited business and eco nomic development.* Newell would not say who she would like to see replace her in the East Ward, although one possible candidate is Jocelyn Johnson. Johnson, a social worker at N.C. Baptist Hospital, said she was unaware that Newell had decided to not seek re-election. She was Newell's campaign manager during her last election. She said several people have asked her to consider running in the fall. "That's what I'm doing," she said. Do you know how lucky you are to be related to an RJR employee? These sisters explored their family connections and took advantage of one of the best deals around- membership in the REYNOLDS CAROLINA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. Membership is open to RJR employees and their eligible family members. Membership in RCFCU can give you lifelong rewards It's simple to join! Just call (919) 741-71 11; (800) 782-4670 or stop by an RCFCU branch office for an application and return it with the name of your qualifying family member(s) and $5 by July 23, 1993. Right now, we will match your initial $5 deposit! Credit unions are non-profit organizations that operate to serve their members only, by establishing loan programs with the lowest possible rates and savings programs with competitive returns. m Ruling intent on weakening the 1965 Vot ing Rights Act-wh>ch was designed ? to protect minority voters against discrimination and under-represena tion. The landmark civil-rights law is credited for making major gains in Congress and state legislatures for African Americans. 'There are a number of rea sons for creating a majority black district that justifies a district of this kind,M said Rep. Mel Watt, who represents the North Carolina's 12th Congressional district, the district addressed in the lawsuit. He said he does think the dis trict will be affected. "I think after this exercise is gone through, I think the district will be sustained," he said. "What it does is it strings the case out, and therefore adds to the uncertainty and whatever clouds there may be hanging over the district. Also, it gives encouragement to people in other states to mount the same kind of attack. Those are the two unfor tunate consequences of the opinion, not that I feel so much that anything will happen to the districts. Ulti mately, the outcome will be the same/' _ Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, ' writing for the majority, concluded that five white Durham County vot- ? ers had valid grounds for challeng ing in a lawsuit the new, worm shaped 12th district, which stretches 167 miles hugging the "thin line of interstate 85 trom Gastonia to Durham. The district is so narrow at one point that drivers in northbound lanes are in the 12th district but dri vers in the southbound lanes are in another district ' O'Connor was joined in her opinion by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy and Clarence Thomas, the only black on the court If the court rules for or against the districts, Watt said, the ruling would likely be appealed back to the Supreme Court. The decision does not affect results of the 1992 elections. Watt and Eva Clayton, who represents this state's 1st Congres sional district in eastern North Car -- - -? from page A1 olina, were the first blacks elected to Congress since Reconstruction. ? Both districts are mostly black. The decision creates a new avenue for challenging mostly black districts. Until now, the court has required white voters to prove that the districts discriminated against their right to vote. "What the court is saying is, 'We just don't care what black vot ers' preferences are, we are not interested in full participation for African Americans," said attorney Dayna Cunningham of the NAACP Legal Defense fund. Before the Voting Rights Act was passed nearly three decades ago, there were fewer than 300 black elected officials in the United States; there now are nearly 8,000. In the House, the number of blacks jumped from 2S to 38 this year, the first class elected after 1990 redis ricting, giving the Congressional Black Caucus considerable power. "It could be a setback, M said state Rep. Warren "PeteH Oldham, who represents Forsyth County's 67th district. "It could open a flood gate of suits. There is a connection (to the Noting Rights Act), but don't see aJly far-reaching ramifica tions." Said Mazie Woodruff, the only black member of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners: "I don't want to lose after all these years two very good Congress per sons," "1 hope they will allow us that option of redrawing district. Black folks have* a hard time getting elected when it's county wide, let alone statewide. I just hope this can be overturned when it gets back die ? state. It could have a domino effect.* Sonia Jarvis, executive director of the National Coalition on Black Voter participation, said: "The court suggests it is no longer impor tant to be concerned about issues such as minority representation." Those taking the narrower view cited language in the decision say ing courts need to apply close scrutiny to district lines when they are "so bizarre" they appear to be "unexplainable on grpunds oiher than race." XtfiiW FLASHBACK FLASHBACK FLASHBACK Do you miss those R8HB Oldies?? Well they're back every Saturday Night 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. on AM 1340 WMQX Only Tune Into FLASHBACK and Groove with the Black Hits from the late 60 s. 70 s and 80 s. Hey not only can you enjoy real music, botyt>u can win FR?E $$$$, music and other great prizes. So make sure you check out FLASHBACK everv Saturdav night onlv on AM 1340 WMQX. To advertise call (919)896-1284 Winstoa^kmOiWtm Tk * 7Ww City's Amari-WmMJtt 617 N. Liberty Street WR\ ? Winston-Salem, NC 27102 1019) 722*8624 Single Copy 75? Mail Subscription Rates '(pcyabi* with order) In County 2 years $40 95 1 year 30.72 6 mos 20 48 3 mos 10 24 Out of County Stat? 2 years $45 95 1 year 35 72 ^6mos 3 mos 15 24 ? Yes. please send me the Chronicle Name Address City St D 2 Mail to: Check endosed for J 1 J 6 month# Zip. J 3 month* Winston Salem Chronicle PO Box 1636 Winston-Salem, N C 27102 The Wlnaton~S*fmn Chronic /? is published every Thursday by the Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co Inc . 617 N Liberty St Mailing address: PO. Box 1636 Winston-Salem, NC 27102 Phone: FAX: (919) 722-6624 (919) 723-9173 Second class postage 051 paid at Winston-Salem, NC 27102 The Wln?ton~Ssl#m Chronicle is a member of: * Audn Bureau of Circulation f ? National Newspapers Publishers Association ? North Carolina Press Association ? North Carolina Black Publishers Association National Advertising Representative: Amalgamated Publishers, Inc (212) 669-5220
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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