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Editorials & Comments • , ji-'' -. . ■ Reagan And The Black Voters Emerging from the euphoria of 3,998 convention delegates and alternates, Ronald Reagan gained his moment in the sun by securing the Republican nomi nation for the presidency of the United States. Sadly, while blacks comprise about 11 per cent of the nation’s population, only 3.1 percent (134) of the conventioneers were black; thus they had little voice in selecting the man who may be the nation’s next chief executive. Only one black, Aris Allen, appeared on the podiuijrv af£\ £ Convention official, .'and'there is little evi .,fdencO of black influence in the .Republican Party’s platform. Nevertheless, the Republican Convention was held inDetj-oit, a largely blue collar city under a Democratic,. Party, administra tion with >V Blade mayor, Cole mah Young: Much of the credit for the convention location be- - longs to Republican National Committee Chairman Bill Brock. Brock has been a long time supporter of a greater role for blacks in the Republican Party. However, because he is considered too liberal for Rea gan and his closest aides, the 4L. - -.Ml_41_ 1 kVl 111 VI U1V VlllVV Vi U1C il Cl ill/llCU Chairman has been changed so they can dump Brock in Janu ary, 1981. Yet, in still another interesting move, Reagan and his vice pre sidential running mate, George Bush, launched a campaign al most immediately after their nomination to encourage big city blacks and blue collar Demo crats to support the GOP in 1980. The Reagan-Bush ticket is < hoping to capitalize on the re cession-jobless frustrations of these groups which may be necessary to beat Jimmy Carter in November. Demonstrating the importance of blue collar workers and blacks to any possible Republican vic tory, Reagan and Bush met the day after their nomination with Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, chairman of the Democratic Party Platform Committee and a strong supporter of Jimmy Carter. Following the discussion of such topics as housing reha bilitation and other urban pro blems. Young reportedly left the • meeting and called the Republi can Platform planks “a step backwards” and said Reagan’s acceptance speech “dealth in generalities.” Labor Leaders On that same busy day the Reagan-Bush team met with another strong Democrat, Dou glas Fraser, president of the United Auto Workers. This was. significant because the nation’s labor leaders appear to be set to support Jimmy Carter but many rank and file union members - especially the unemployed - are leaning toward the Reagan-Bush ticket. In a related development, spe culation, not denied by the Re publican Party leadership, indi cates that people who may vote on a Reagan-Bush White House will include a number of blacks. These are: Thomas Sowell, eco nomist at UCLA and Walter Williams of Temple University, Gloria Toote, a New York lawyer and active GOPer, and Arthur Fletcher, a former Nixon ap pointee. These developments, a Repub lican Party Platform tailor made specifically for Reagan and an over-simplified nomina tion acceptance were apparently enough for the Rev. Jesse Jack son to announce, we think pre maturely, that he might support the Reagan-Bush ticket. This raises the interesting question as to just what kind of president can we speculate that Reagan would make and what tasks must be overcome to be elected to the presidency? First, Reagan must overcome the blunder he made by nearly violating the Constitution through compromising away the powers of the presidency in order to get Gerald Ford as a running mate. That causes us to wonder whether Reagan has enough sense to be president of the United States, much less the leader of the free world. Cross-Over Votes Secondly, Reagan must over come the advantages that any incumbent president has. This means capitalizing on the mis takes of the Carter adminis tration. Other factors that will affect the Reagan-Bush quest for the White House are the status of the economy as we approach election day, the attitudes of liberal Republicans, the John Anderson campaign, the Demo crat cross-over vote, if any, and the little talked about issue of Reagan’s age. At 69 many apparently believe that George Bush will actually inherit the presidency during a Reagan occupany of the White House. While Mr. Reagan may be in good health, the pressure and strain of the job are enough to undo a much younger man. Finally, any speculation on a Reagan presidency certainly must take into consideration Reagan’s effectiveness in the eight years he served as governor of California. Spending doubled during Reagan’s admin istration to $10.2 billion annually and taxes rose at a rate faster, by half, than the rest of the nation. On the social front, Reagan signed the nation’s most liberal abortion law; he gained a com promise on welfare reform that tightened eligibility rules, im posed work requirements and yet increased the benefits for those in real need by 43 percent. In addition, he appointed minor ities by large numbers to his administration. BRUTALmflfrJ -UNETIPLOYMENT FRUSTRATIONS—INDIFFERENCE In 1980 The Causes Of Riofag Are Tte Same As I See It Comments And Letters On Articles D.. /« ■> m _ ■*« v. junnson Post Columnist Well, the natives are festless at the Bull pen. :The series of articles on JCSU has got them stir ring. Unfortunately, (but expected) their energies are turned at discrediting me instead of confirming the facts. A rumor has started that I am writing negatively about the insti tution because I was fired from there. The truth of the matter is I quit, partially, because of the problems that I’ve pointed out. Rather than attack me or the Poet for pointing out a problem that exists, it would be wiser to try to disprove or confirm the allegations. Rest assured the facts will fully support me. Ta nKto in 1fnntn ••••11 require getting data from one of four sources. Either the admission records, re gistrar’s records, institu tional research reports, or reports from the computer center. Any of these sources could give you a student profile. Such things as SAT scores, grade point aver ages, attrition rates, and other relative data will show the truth. Hence, before coming to me, the assertion that my facts are incorrect, go get the facts - then come to me. The alumni of JCSU spend too little time inves tigating operational proce dures of the institution. Consequently, any nega tive reports about the school are condemned without reason. The alumni is the most powerful force in guaranteeing the quality of an institution, TTiis is where JCSU’s alumni falls short. The alumni is not actively involved with what’s actually going on within the institution. I doubt if any JCSU alumnus Gerald O. Johnson could tell you what the average SAT scores were for any incoming class. The fact is the JCSU alumni spends it time raising money for an institution it knows little about. Mineola Mason writes about three articles that I wrote. She states that, the March 6, 1980 article ‘‘Pride Lacking Among Blacks,” was good but it left the impression that all Black businesses lacked competence. Well, Ms. Mason, I re-read the article and I must agree with you. The tone of the article does condemn all Black busi nesses, when in fact Charlotte has some good Black businesses. In all fairness I think I should name a few. Alice Dia mond’s “Fancy That” is a very fine female boutique. James Holloway’s Men’s Store is a very well man aged opertion. Also, there is Cousar Realty, Hatchett and Cunningham Employ ment Agency, Stroud’s Florist. McDonald’s Cafe teria, Chambers’ law firm Edmond Johnson’s law of fice, Sam Johnson Lincoln Mercury, and Alexander’s Funeral Home. This list of names shows just a few good Black businesses in this area. So, Ms. Mason, you are right. The article :ould have lefi Ttntf wrong mpression. In response to names just a few good, Black businesses in this area. So, Ms, Mason, you are right. The article could have left the wrong im pression. In response to your other questions, - l) No, I do not live in a predominantly white sec tion; and 2) I am 33 years old. About your comments on the article “JCSU TV show gave a shallow view?” You asked what I am doing on a personal level to help mat ters? Well, there are se veral ways to answer that question. But let me say that writing these articles is one way of helping mat ters on a personal level. Im feel that writing exposes a lot of things that would go unnoticed, otherwise. This exDOSure will nltimntplv lead to change. I’ll see to that. Also, I like to talk to young adults about the im portance of education. I attended predominantly Black schools until I went to graduate school. Oddly enough, I have a good conception of what both Black and white schools have to offer. Hence, I try to communicate my ideas any time I can. I find it odd that so many people are attempting to get away with murder by pleading temporary in sanity. Anybody must be either temporarily or per manently insane to kill in the first place. I don't think it matters much to the victim if the assailant was temporarily insane or not. TemporarV insanity should not be an acceptable excuse for murder. It has no place in our judiciary system. People could pre meditate murder with the intention of using tem porary insanity to lessen the sentence. Affirmative Action •« i x n /I Y\ • •_ new supreme uiun ueceiun . .Fullllove V. Kluthxick (formerly Fullllove v. Kreps) has been decided finally by the United States Supreme Court and has been hailed as a victory by the civil rights community. If you recall, the ca^e involved legislation introduced by Congressional Black Caucus member Parren Mitchell (D-Md.), which called for setting aside 10 percent of government contracts under a particular heading for minorities. Specifically, the Court upheld Congress’ right to “set-aside” 10 percent of a $4 billion public works program for business enterprises at least 50 percent controlled by minorities; this de spite a challenge by a group of white contractors alleging that such constituted “reverse discrimination.” AIIVIV TT Vft V V M IMJV1 * V|/UUVttW til this 6-3 decision, signifying that the Court still is not firmly behind affirmative action and signalling the need for more mass organizing. Inevitably, Justice Thurgood Marshall authored the most clear-sighted, rational opinion. He said in part: “It is indisputable that Congress’ articu lated purpose for enacting the set aside provision was to remedy the present effects ^ of past racial discrimination. Congress had a sound basis for concluding that minority^ owned construction enterprises, though capable, qualified, and ready and willing to work, have received a disproportionately small amount of public contracting business because of the continuing effects of past discrimination. “Today, by upholding this race-conscious remedy, the Court accords Congress the authority to undertake the task of moving our society toward a state of meaningful equality of opportunity of past discrimina tion would be forever frozen into our social fabric. I applaud this result.” Associate Justices Potter Stewart, Wil liam R. Rehnquist and John Paul Stevens voted against Congress’ right to establish affirmative action clauses into government contracts. bui despite me victory of Fullilove, this is no time to rest on our laurels. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” is trite but true. Already the Court has accepted for review a challenge to an affirmative action program in the California prison system, which presents the “state action” absent in Weber. The program set a goal for the hiring of corrections officers of 38 percent women and 35 percent minorities. Two white male officers have sued on the ground that they had lost opportunities for promo- A tion. “ A nnfhnr noon nnAAnln/1 tk*v .1.. - —— MIV \^WU V UlOU potentially endangers affirmative action. The Chicago school board, in the name of “stabilizing” transitional neighborhoods, turned Black students away from two local high schools to preserve a 50-50 racial balance. The Blacks sued, and two federal courts said that the plan was a justified tool for maintaining integration. The case may have widespread impact on the king of “Benign remedies encompassed by affirm ative action. Moreoever, it would be unwise to rest on our laurels because the avowed enemies of affirmative action most certainly have not. The Associated General Contractors of America, undaunted by its stinging kiss in Fullilove is now sueing the United States Department of Transportation over alleged preferential treatment of minority contrac tors. TOE CHARLOTTE POST Second Class Postage No. 965500 "THE PEOPLE’S NEWSPAPER” Established 1918 Published Every Thursday by The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc. • 1524 West Blvd.-Charlotte. NC 28208 Telephone (704) 376-0496 Circulation -9,200 62 Years of Continuous Service BILL JOHNSON...Editor, Publisher BERNARD REEVES...General Manager 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 , become the property of the POST, and will not be returned, National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc. 2400 S. Michigan Ave. 45 w 5th St., Suite 1403 Chicago. III. 60616 New York, N Y. 10036 Calumet 5 0200 (212) 48&_1220 4 From Capitol Hill President Carter Refuses To Be Pushed By Reagan Special To The Post Reagan’s campaign con tributions read like "Who’s in Corporate Ame rica.” The recent Washing ton Post report shows that the Republican Party is largely composed of rich white folks. Its convention delegates consisted of 43 percent of those in the above $50,000 bracket, 29 percent $30,000 to $50,000, 2 percent below $12,000. Only 2 percent of the delegates were black, and there was no black on the platform committee. Women com prised 30 percent of the delegates. fni — x. _st _ a _ i ut vviioci tmiitv cit ment of the Party’s wishes prevailed In the platform. It struck down the Party’s 40-year Equal Rights Amendment support as well as its previous en dorsement of voting rights for the District of Colum bia. The military plank calls for a minimum of a $15 billion increase for the first year which will most likely in Its full implemen tation run around $25 or $40 billion, when they have produced all the weapons Alfreds L. Madison called lor in Uie piaUorm. The platform calls for across the board income tax reductions from a 14 to 70 range to a range of 10 to SO percent. It asks removal of all regulations of gas and oil, removal of the 55 mile speed limit, cut back on federal government regu lations and return more power to the states. The GOP calls for block grant spending, that is that all federal money will be given to the states without any strings or guidelines attached. The platform contains a plank for instituting a con stitutional amendment out lawing abortion. Yet, these right to lifers are for the death penalty, for superior military power, which means having the ability to kill more people than any other country in the world, and for using the CIA to support governments that are friendly to us and to undermine those that are hostile to us. How can the Republicans reconcile a right-to-life policy by saying that a fetus has a riaht to be born and at the tame time de ciding when a human be ing’* life should be taken by the death penalty; boasting of the ability to be able to kill more people than any one else in the world and deciding which govern ments should be allowed to survive, even if they happen to be run by men like Mbuto, Somoza and the Shah; then using CIA means, like we used in the deaths of Lumumba and Aliende? The GOP seems to be setting itself up as God, selecting those who should be killed and those who should live. 4 In judgeship appoint ments to the Supreme Court, the Republicans stated that the judges must favor anti-abortion. The GOP is compelled to have forgotten the function of the United States Supreme Court. The purpose of the Judicial Body is to inter pret the Constitution, not to represent the philosophical and religious whims of a president or party. If that is the case we would never be able to depend on a stable Constitution but only rely on a constitutional meaning that may change every four years. i ncrr were some mo derate Republicans who have for the past years, expressed the hooe of drawing more blacks Into the party, but since the will of the extreme right wing conservatives seems to be in control, It Is evident that blacks are not really weK corned, certainly by the controlling faction. One certainly believes that’s why Reagan didn't attend the NAACP convention. However, Brock and the more liberal elements did succeed in getting Ben Hooks an opportunity to speak. The Washington Post. said the average age of the GOP male delegates was 50. The party, from its actions in congress and at the convention seems to be with a few exceptions, largely composed of frightened up-in-age men. They are afraid if women get equal rights or more bi^lrs loin the party, they (^athoBc Sister Paulette Rose Wil liams, R.S.M. recently was appointed principal of Charlotte Catholic High School A native of Concord, Sister Paulette was chosen by the Sisters of Mercy of Belmont and the Office of Education of the Diocese of Charlotte. She had served as assist ant principal at the school for two years and taught there five years prior to becoming an administra jp will lose their power. Their actions and platform show that they have a feeling that they must boss the world, even If it means killing those who have ideas, and ideologies djL ferent from their own. i™l conservative element ap pears to feel that it can only deal with people and adjust to situations that complete ly embrace their views. If present controlling factions in the GOP truly believe in democracy, they certainly are not proving it. w Principal tor. Sister Paulette received a B.A. in math from the University of North Caro lina and she holds a masters degree in science and school administration from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend. Indiana.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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July 24, 1980, edition 1
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