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.___„_ •* -~ -r f i * • »•✓» \\ «.Vj» W • w cpi Fciiii Vote May 2 For Equality I . By Hoyle Martin Sr. Poet Editorial Writer In 1965, 100 years after the end of the Civil ^far, the Voting Rights Act was passed by the U S. Congress in an effort to eliminate the last barriers to voter registration and thus to guatantee to every adult American the right to vote. This 100-year period began with the Reconstruction era that resulted in blacks becoming registered voters in unprecedented numbers. How ever, by 1900 the situation • was reversed as jim crow laws and exploitation by Yankee carpetbag gers had combined to disenfranchise black Americans. Then, as a partial outcome of the civil rights struggles of the early 1960s led by the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Voting Rights Act was passed. Now, in 1978, some 13-years later blacks comprise nearly 4,000 of the nation’s 525,000 elected officials. While this number represents less than one percent of the nation’s elected office holders, black voters nevertheless were a prime force in putting Jimmy Carter in the White House, Jim Hunt in the governor’s chair and Ken Harris in the Mayor’s Office. Furthermore, the black voter turnout in Charlotte last November was vital to placing three blacks on the City Council. While these are modest political gains that blacks have had to strugglejmd die for to achieve, they are nevertheless g«ln« and indica tions that with determination the < democratic process will work for all people regardless of racial and economic differences. Blacks Have Achieved To report, blades have achieved some modest political gain, however ,they could be called remarkable when you consider that only 61 percent of all eligible blacks in the South and 56 in the North were registered to vote in 1976 ycesideqtr election of 1977 a high of 38 percent of the black electorate voted. “The difference in the 1976 presi dential race,” the Rev. Jesse Jack son has noted, ’‘wasn’t Just black votes, but enthusiastic, choice-mak ing black votes.” However, on a distant end from these active partic ipating voters are over seven million unregistered black potential voters. Among the unregistered is the mid dle -aged blade woman who, when asked by WGIV Radio personality Jim Black recently, “Are you regist ered to vote?”, replied “Vote for What?” The occasion for Mr. Black’s question was a drive to get more blacks registered to vote in the local elections this fall called “Operation Clout.” The project was sponsored by WGIV Radio Station and the Iocs chapter of the N AACP. Specified the •Clout" Project attempted attract blacks to register by ged the Elections Board to agred register people at the Soul id Record Store in downtown Chard in February where the Parliand^ Funkadelic, a soul rock- sin^| group, was offering autograd pictures. The musical group d formed at the Coliseum that eveBH where a further effort was mail get those in attendance to regiH§ The effort led Jim Black to say^BIJ a little disappointed" due toBjfH small number that actually r^H We commend the efforts ofBf "Operation Clout” project, butaBI reflect on the gravity of the nrnhMs! it appears to us that it is gnirBi take a total attack on the probleflgf black voter apathy if more poeBg! are to become registered ancf^B actually vote. Black Leadership The Post has said repeat this column that Charlotte’s leadership needs to develop a sophical statement of purpose intent designed as a frame improve the quality of life greater economic and political J portunity for black people. We ' noted that a primary part of such effort should be a pi systematic attack on black-_ apathy, voter registration and vot*. ing. “Operation Clout,” nor any other group, can successfully attack voter indifference alone, a total community . effort is needed. We believe that the black churches of Charlotte probably have the greatest potential for educating and encouraging blacks to register and become active participants in the voting process. ... . It is long past time for the responsible blaick leadership to stand up and answer the^questioo reality, that its the only true meani that blacks have for influencini their own destiny, that better Jobs, housing, zoning and freedom oi expression can only be gained thro ugh political action, that elected officials don’t respond or care about the apathetic, that equality and just ice in reality a reaction to people*! demands for equality and justice/m that the“system” works only foi those who work the system, finally let’s tell the lady who asked, “Vote for What?” that voting Was the power that built the Charlotte Coli seum and voting was the power that allowed her to freely witness that t soul group freely express theii feelings in music. , Volt for What? Vote to present what you have and to gain what you: potential may offer. Vote in the Ma; I 2 primary! hire* newspapers throughout the country mournfully- and mistakenly - reported the “death” of the venerable Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. While it is certainly true that *3 year old union of blaqk Dorters sinned a merger pact with the much larger Brotherhood of Rail way and Airline Clerks, the old Brotherhood is far from dead. At the time of the merger decision last February. A. Philip Randolph, who is o - ed out, “does not signal the end of the Brotherhood. 'Instead, it will provide the union with a renewed stren gth and additional resources to better represent its mem Dens. , ' In deciding to affiliate with a larger and much more powerful railroad union, the . sleeping car porter did not dissolve their historic union. Instead (hay once again dis played a keen understanding of the principMs that have guided their «immensely successful organisation since 1925. For in Unlkng arms with other union members, the porters have reaffirmed their fundamental belief that the Struggle of black workers cannot and must not be sepa rated from the struggle of all workers. ' When Mr. Randolph and his friends proposed this “coal the social and racial attitudes of the time, such a reaction is quite understand able. The old craft-dominated American Federation of Labor, the only significant labor group in those days. had few black workers in its ranks, and it showed the black com munity, both North and South, there was little or no under standing of the tremendous potential of mass orgainzatian as an indispensable weapon to the black struggle fotsocial, ion. t Desj insuri :Wr*' ... brothers todved abend, ignor ing the counsel of the ever present pessimists and defeat ists. During the early days of the Brotherhood, tbq small band of activities pursued their objectives at great per sonal risk. Not only did they face almost certian from their Pullman jobs, they also feared for their personal safety. It was no easy task to organize their brothers spread across the vast United States. Unlike some other unions of the time, the Brotherhood was more than an encomic move ment. It was also a civil rights movement. Although the port ers recognized the importance of unifying workers of all races, they never pulled their punches in criticizing the bothersome racial practices of some AFL unions. At every AFL convention, exceot the Vancouver meet ins port lor resolutions JemanJ ing the elimination of “color ban” and other discrimina tory practices, • used by certian Federal affili ates. On occasion, the charges and counter-charges became somewhat bitter. But, like the porters, the AFL soon came to the realization that a racially divided work force benefited neither white nor black work en. Racial division, the Fed eration and Brotherhood un derstood, only strengthened the position of employers black community. Today, “color ban” have become curious anachron isms, and Jim Crow local and '.“Auxiliaries” have completely dis appeared. Trade unions are as 1 have argued before, the nlast fully integrated insti tutions in America. And, even more important, they have shown themselves to be the most dependable allies of black people in the quest for social and economic equality. The fact that a black union like the Brotherhood of Sleep ing Car Porters has sufficient self-confidence and courage to merge with the predominantly white railway and airline clerks is, I believe, the most convincing testament that real change- and not just superficial change- has been realized in the labor move ment. HBUy Vernon E. Jordan Jr ' * ' . «r c ‘-V -. .*h t'* f\. \ i leave* Dismal Record amp* 0. Eastland of Mississippi is L^n.?L,5?,.W‘,L,h0rp,y • United Stotes Senate. He's retiring. V on«of the Senate s major ► civil rights and other progressive Senator) E astland is leaving public vhan a legislator retires after a long ►comas the occasion for statements s accomplishments. But in Senator cose fhet plain, unvarnished truth of ►ough to bar any warm feelings, nis career on opposition to black 'd "»«9hty rood block to black (bitterly opposed civil rights legisla asures tb help poor people WK«n »►.. •rt handed down the B rown decision reaated schools, Eastland fought it oil. At the time of the University of riots against the admission of block > issued demagogic statements thot lames of racial hotrod. E astland were just another extrem ) off, even from the pulpit of the ► Ight ignore him. B ut he is'one of the ful men in the upper house. His ds from longevity as a force in the oc and, from his strangehold on lointmeats as head of the Seonte ►mmittef. a position that also gives death power over much legislation ick peoples lives. Kt u*Jd *"•* P°w*r1 »o »tock federal courts In fl south with avowed segregationists. E very one I appalled when President Kennedy oppoint- fl segregotlonist William Harold Cox to the fl , b#Pch b?ck in ,96’- bul ^ot was the price I tland forced Kennedy to pay in order to get fl »...ur (udicial appointments out of committee” 1 T hot’s a game he'p still playing. Hi* valedic- 1 tory present to the Cgngress is e measure to split the F ifth Circuit Coart of Appeals In a way ihat would weaken federal civil rights enforcement. Despite his fervent efforts, the South has changed. Over E astland's vehement objections. Congress passed theyoting ft ights Act. blacks In the south used thgir newly won voter and powsr*rn P°l,,lclan» '•et’tffcod black WaUot In fact, the presence of heprly half a million potential block voters In Mississippi and the changing racial climate In that state may hove helped Senator E astland to dec Ida on retirement; T he policies and politics he stands for have crone JflMa lutoda^t Soutfv, end poll tic tans1 Of ayrenratfcwssnonry I if.. «/ zIsomI ss-ricj earl'’' Ur , 6 astland’s reactionary partner! of the old southern bloc realise this. How else do we account for Dlxlecrfct Strom Thurmond s send^ ing his child too Integrated public school, and for other legislators adding blacks to their staffs and moderating their rhetoric? While black and litoral breathe a sigh of relief at the Senator’s retiiiement, we should recognize that there are some Important conclusions to be drown from his carafe. One |s that heis not alone in opposition to progressive* measures. Racists still walk the halls of Congrete and it would be o m (stake to personllzi the work of one m an except - as a symbol of others still octive. !1 Another is the ipiportonce of maximizing Mack voting power: Mississippi's blacks have KlSVf,or dox9n y0arB> now but lf their voter turnout level remain* at only about 30 percent they'll have little protection against another E astland. Another Is the ne*id to continue to reform the in Congrats. It's still strong in ine senate, ana it means that people wield ^♦0h~°lw P°W#f °n ,h* ba«'» of yoor* served rol.TT* * . COmp*,*nc# <" devotion to their constituents. TOE CHARLOTTE POfiTT “THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER” Established 1918 Published Every Thursday By The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc. 2806-B West Blvd. - Charlotte, N.C. 28206 Telephones (704) 392-1306,392-1307 Circulation, 9,915 80 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE Bill Johnson.Editor-Publisher Bernard Reeves.General Manager Hoyle H. Martin Sr.Executive Editor Julius Watson...Circulation Director Albert Campbell.Advertising Director Second Class Postage No. 965500 Paid At Charlotte, N.C. under the Act of March 3,1878 Member National Newspaper Publishers Association North Carolina Black Publishers Association Deadline for all news copy and photos is 5 p.m. Monday. All photos and copy submitted becomes the property of the POST, and will not be returned. National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc. 45 W. 5th Suite 1403 2400 S Michigan Ave. New York, N Y. 10096 Chicago, III 60616 (212) 489-1220 Calumet 5-0200 r* i' I Integration Crunches Role Of Black Colleges \ By Gerald Johnson . The effect integration has had op predominately Black Institutions of higher learning is beginning to surface. Unfor tunately 'the . smell is pot coming up roses The well prepared black students coming out of high school are haaidl* recruited by bettor facilitated white uni versities. After the smoke clears what is left is recruited by the Black Institutions. Black institutions of higher learning have found thsmsel ves with the unenviable task of spending a lot of timo amd energy in preparing remedial programs. I find It unfortunate that many funding institutions have used the above prsblsm ss a reason far discrediting Block institutions bwtoari of a couse to help atrSathai them. Before continuing 1 think a complete desert pi tien of the problem is la ordsr. Sines Blacks have been able to sat at any restaurant, stay at any hotel and all the other goodies that came along with integrat ion, Blacks have baas able to send their children tp tadtltiit ions of higher learning Of tbolr choice. Hence, Blacks With money ultimately sand their kids to the Dukas, Hnrvsrds. Yales, University of Penns, and the like. Those BUck ' parents who were fortunate enough to have children that were academically or athletic ally gifted didn’t even have to worry. The white Institutions supplied ample monlee to cover the cost of an education If you were really Rifted you could even gat a couple of can, girls, the works, thrown In on the dml. Coupling this with the fact that these white Institutions ha vs all the facilit ies, the beet professors, what else can I tall you. So then who is left to go to the Black Institutions? I. thought you’d never ask. The Black Instititutions thereby has to recruit those students that probably otherwise wouldn’t have attend college at all. The average parental income of those students ran ges from 94,ON • 99.0N dollars par annum. The average, scholastic aptitude tadt score k leas than IN. These atudmta ere recruited by Black Instit utions under the name of "open admission," meaning that no minimum criteria is needed to be admitted. So, ttudefrts come to school who can’t afford it. This student needs special educational attention, special counseling - Knams It and to Modi pecUl. Yet be has no money to pay far the special Tharafora, Black InaUtut ions are forced to educate these students from funding Institutions, federal and state government, church aasociat . Ions, sad Industry, i Whenever funding institut ions decided to tighten the old purse string, the Black imtitu tlons are the ones to catch K first. This la odd because total fudding to all Black institut ions is lees than one tenth of one percent of total funds allotted for education by the funding institutions It seems useless In trying to keep an overloaded plane from crash ing by emptying the ashtrays out of the window. Because of “open admission” funding institutions are constantly pressuring Black institutkxw to become lower dhrisiooel schools (two year institutions) or merge with a nearby Instit ution. , It aeems to me that funding institutions ere insensitive to a critical social problem that minimum funding will not solve. Black institutions were born out of a need to educate » Black people. At one tin* they were the only institutions to educate Black people. Even then it was done with a mini mum amount of mooey..The chance in society has shifted the role of Black institution to • a special purpose institution. : Its lob beoomes that of giving those people a chance «4e S years ago. would not have had that chance. But funding institutions must rea lise that an srrilsrallon o( f unde end not a deealsretiaa la what is needed to help those Institutions meet the challen Laws must be instituted to better regulate financial aid to students, e topic I will discuss further at • later date. Tims .Black lasHtutlaps are Just as important dow as they were u the pest. However, the chel Isage that feces theae iastitut iona is a demanding one Fhw are prepared to Mast the cfcaUanse.l win disease this at taafth la «a article titled ‘What Black laattftaHaas Must . Da." ... FH1 Nearly 100 Percent Effective Over the past number of years, oral contraceptives have become the most popular form of birth control. Avail able by prescription from a physician, the pi IT is easy to take, safe and very effective. When taken according to the directions, the pill is nearly lOe percent effective in prev enting pregnancy. If pregn ancy does occur, it is usually because the woman has skipp ed a pill or two.. The pill contains two hor mones, estrogen and proges togen. These act to prevent the release of en egg ceH from the ovary during the cycle in which the pills are taken. Some women experience un pleasant side effects from the pill that are not dat^erous and are not likely to damage hea lth Breasts may (eel tender, vomiting may occur, and there may be either a gain or loot of weight. In addition, menstruol periods may bo shorter end lighter Formation of Mood dots in the Mood vessels of a woman taking the pill it a possible side effect but tie occurence is relatively rare. Should thia happen these dots may throo then life if they break loose and lodge in other vital organs such as the brain About one in 2,000 who is *
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 20, 1978, edition 1
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