• ~ •***♦*• • * > .. .
»*?-- THE CHA] 11 ITTE P< 1ST ~=™
"The Voice Of The Black Community”
I nemployment:
It Is No
Laughing
Matter!
By Don McKvoy
Special To The Post
I have a new nominee for
the Hall of Shame. In the
sweepstakes to win the title
of Crudest American of the
-^Bar 1 snhmil the annny
mous clod who placed an
ad in two Miami news
papers announcing ficti
tious job opportunities.
Over 300 unemployed job
seekers showed up at two
Coral Gables building sites
in response to the adver
tisements which promised
constructionjobs which did
not exist
Many of the work-des-.
perate laborers came from
a considerable distance
and waited throughout the
night to be near the front of
the line on Monday morn
ing They lined the side
walks of plush Coral
Gables and waited and
waited ... until police
officers were dispatched to
explain to them that it was
all a hoax. Then some of
them broke down and
cried
--My^guess is that the jerk
who placed the ads in the
Miami Herald and the
Miami News probably
drove by the lone line and
chuckled to himself for
pulling off such a ingenious
practical joke. “Wow!
Look at those suckers.
There must be at. least 300
^ of ’em. I can’t wait to tell
the gang arttre ciuirabout
this.”
And some of the men on
the line broke down and
cried. The officer who had
the difficulty responsibility
of telling them that there
were no jobs, that it was all
a. hoax, reported that the
response was not soTmrctr
one of anger as it was
humilation. He said that he
felt like crying, too.
Unemployment is no
IauglmiB matter.—ks—im-.
pact reaches far beyond
the obvious absence of a
weekly paycheck. It
creates a whole interlock
ing network of personal
and social pathology.
Unemployment breeds
problems of both physical(
and mental health. Alcohol
ism increases. Child abuse
and spouse abuse increase.
Emotional disorders proli
ferate. Suicide rates zoom
upward.
One unemployed person
filled with despair and
often a lack of self-confi
dence, (and even self
esteem) affects whole
families. Ten million un
employed Americans
means a minimum of 40
million victims. In a larger
sense it means that every
one of us is victimized.
Some sarcastically say.
“It's really their own fault.
Anyone who wants a job
can find one. Just look at
the pages of want ads in the
papers." Other says, “It is
unforunate, of course, but
that is the price we have to
pay to get inflation under
control.”
(Don Mcfcvoy is senior
vice president of the Na
tional Conference of Christ
ians and Jews. The
opinions expressed are his
own.)
TUrnt-TM*
A handful of good life is
better than a bushel of
learning.
Bernadetta Williams
...Enjoys attending church
Bernadetta Williams
Is Beauty Of Week
By Teresa Simmons
Post Staff Writer
Blossoming into a flower
filled with compassion for
others is our 12th grade
beauty, Bernadette Wil
liams.
~ ~“t—'wish—I—would^see
everyone living together as
one. I would also like to see
crime cease,” she com
mented about the world
today.
Ms. Williums is one who
enjoys attending church
and giving her time in
order to help others. She is
a member of the Junior
Missionary and the Sunday
School of Second Calvary
Baptist Church, 'where
Rev. Dr. Lemar Foster is
pastor
She is also oh (hebasket
ball team of the church,
sharing her athletic abili
ties in the church league
competitions.
—M*—William^’ talents
also benefited Garinger
Senior High School’s
basketball team as well as
their volleyball team. A
member of the Marching
Band and The Equal Op
portunities Togetherness
and Companionship Club,
(ETC), Ms. Williams finds
little time to be idle.
Running track at Garin
ger is one activity Ms.
Williams enjoys also. This
year she was named ' Most
Improved in Track.’* "I
really like running the
440 relay," she expressed.
On the Garinger track
team she ran in the state
meet competition. The
team members had to com
_pgte against local schools
to qualify. ---
Mathematics is our beau
ty's favorite subject to
study and her ambition is
associated with the mass of
numbers. When she attends
college she would like to
major in accounting.
A few of Ms. Williams'
hobbies include playing the
alto clarinet, the clarinet
and the piano. She has
taken piano lessons for six
years. She also enjoys lis
tening to the music of the
group Onmeo. -
Her mother, Deborah
Williams, is one person she
looks up to. “She’s always
been behind me 100 per
cent.’’ Ms. Williams
voiced. She lias one si&tei
Audrey.
Through the years our
beauty has learned persis
tance and the patience to
accomplish her goals. ’My
philosophy is to never give
up. Keep on going until you
reach your goal.”
She is one flower that
God will not allow to fade,
for she has that special
faith - the nourishment for
each existence.
Democrats
Gains
h November
-ov^ll^nf clP^
of candidates, high enthu
siasm and gains in regis
tration, Democrats have a
lot to look forward to in
November.”
This comment came
from North Carolina De
mocratic Chairman Rus
sell Walker (D-Randolph)
following the June 29 pri
mary. “The vote shows
that we had good people
running at every level.
“I look for gains on the
county and state level, and
in our Congressional re
presentation as well," said
Senator Walker, who re
sumed his chairmanship
following his own success
ful campaign for renomin
~atlon. ViceGhairmanBetty
Speir of Bethel assumed
the chair during the cam
paign.
“Our candidai«r'had
good campaigns, and we
can. feel a spirit of unity
following the decision of
the voters in the primary.
Most of us will be straight
ticket Democrats at the
end of the 1982 campaign.”
The Democratic chair
man expressed pleasure
with the registration trend,
including new registrants
that bring the total -- as of
the close of registration in
June - to 1,885,320 Demo
crats out of 2,618,340. “This
means we’re 72 percent
—Democrats.. And with r^ir
enthusiasm we expect a
good turnout. People want
to solve some of the pro
blems that Reaganomics
have imposed."
July Bag Sale
Friday, July 30, and
Saturday. July 31, take ad
vantage of our BAG Sale at
The Wearhouse, the Junior
League Thrift Shop in up
town Charlotte.
Lhurchivoman Contest
Jessie McCombs Continues To Set Pace
LOOKmg ahead to the
general election in Novem
ber, Mrs Smith said that
although a larger turnout
will reduce somewhat the
_impact of the vote in black
precincts, sne—STttl—has
hopes that black candi
dates will be able to
"triple" their successes
"The economy and what
the legislature does to re
solve the problem of feder
al cutbacks could be the
issues that will create even
greater black political in
volvement in November."
—shg-suegestgd
A coalition or coopera~
live effort with politically
compatible white candi
dates, while not a major
influence in the primary, is
a possibility for the general
election. .Mrs Smith con
cluded
Mecklenburg Elections
Board Chairwoman Phyllis
Lynch reported that ‘ tra
ditionally, a large field of
black candidates in various
races serves as a moti
vator" for black voters who
share "a sense of identity"
with these candidates
Local black "political suc
cess stories" such as Bob
Davis, Chairman of the
Mecklenburg Democratic
Party, County Commis
sioner Bob Walton, and
School Board Chairman
Phil Berry, were also
"positive examples" that
produced "a great deal of
enthusiasm" among blacks
for more involvement in
the political process
Ms Lynch explained that
churches in the black com
munity also played a major
role in increasing political
awareness "The churches,
and groups within the
churches,” have been es
pecially active this politic
al year, Ms. Lynch ob
served
Other grassroots efforts -
telephone communica
tions, recruitment of young
people, and good public
relations- were all import
ant in bringing black voters
See BLACK on Page 5
Jim Richardson
...House nominee
t ost Poll Finds
Blacks Make Significant
Impact In Local ection
By Mac Thrower
Post Staff Writer
A considerably larger
percents ge-ofbteek voters. -
evidently found the June 29
primary election to be im
portant than did white
voters.
• The overall turnout in
Mecklenburg was approxi
mately 16 percent, while
the vote in black precincts
averaged about 26 percent,
according to Bill Culp,
Mecklenburg Elections
Supervisor
In one black precinct --
No. 16 -- East Stonewall
_AME--38 percent of all
those registered voted, the
highest percentage in the
county, well over double
the county-wide average.
And in several other pre
—dominantly—black pro
cincts, the turnout topped
30 percent.
Why did blacks exercise
their civic responsibilities
in much larger percent
ages than whites?
That question was put by
The Post to local political
leaders in an effort to
determine what factors
contributed to the com
paratively largo-turnout Jay .
black voters-a turnout that
Mrs. Willie Smith
..Campaign manager
had a significant impact
locally-helping to bring
success to five black can
didates and influencing the
outcome of the sheriff's
race as well.
Bill Culp mentioned that
he felt the “general re
sponse to the importance of
the election was greater in
the black community than
among whites." Culp attri
buted this response to
several factors, including
the presence of strong
black candidates in the
local races, the efforts of
the Black Political Caucus,
and the voter awareness
drive initiated by___the_
SCLG march in Charlotte in ~
May.
Mrs Willie Smith, cam
paign manager for 3«th
District Democratic N.C.
"ttlllise nnminrr lim Jtifh.
ardson, pointed, like Culp,
to “strong black candi
dates" as the impetus for
the black turnout. Richard
son, and Jim Polk, success
ful Democratic 22nd Dis
trict N.C. Senate candi
date. political newcomers
with strong records of ser
vice in the black commun
ity. helped to stimulate
mTeresT“parttmtaHyr-Mrs
Jim Polk
Senate candidate
Smith believes.
In terms of tactics at the
precinct level, Mrs. Smith
mentioned that lists were
- -compiled in-black precincts
of people who usually vote
those lists were checked at
mid-afternoon on primary
day andvolers contacted ii
they hadn't yet voted. Also,
Mrs. Smith revealed, cards
with telephone numbers for
people to call if they needed
a ride to the polls were
distributed by Richardson
campaign workers prior to
the election: this produced
"many calls" on election
day and "helped a great
deal," she noted
By I-oretta Manago
Post Staff Writer
Uncomfortable with the
close margin that was held
by Memorial United Pres
byterian contestant, Jessie
McCombs, and Gethse
mane Baptist contestant
Gale Miller. Mrs.
McCombs has sought to
alleviate that uncomfort
able feeling by widening
the lead between them.
Undoubtedly her efforts
have paid off for this week
not only is Mrs. McCombs
the leading contestant, she
holds that lead with 1,515
points.
Mrs. Gale Miller, making
a very strong fight for first
place, is currently in
second place with 910
points. She is being fol
lowed by Mrs. Gladys
Massey of Mayfield Me
morial Baptist Church with
550 points.
Holding fourth place in
The Post’s second annual
contest is Anne Herron of
Metropolitan United Pres
byterian Church with 400
points.
In fifth place is Grier
Heights' contestant I eat ha
Short, with 185 points.
Other candidates the
churches they represent
and their point values are
as follows: Josephine
Mrs. Jessie McCombs
.. Leads with 1,515 points
Morris, Wall Memorial, 130
points; Bonita Peay.
Greater Galilee, 120 points;
Lula Watson, East Stone
wall. 110 points; Ella
Miller. Greater Provi
dence. 100 points; Patricia
l-eak. Grace Memorial. 80
points; Elmira Polk. First
United Church of Christ. 80
points; Hattie Harris.
Chappell Memorial, 75
points; Florence Glllls,
University Park. 120
points; Viola Buyers. Plea
sant Hill, 1«0 points; Della
Kihler, Catawba Presbyte
rian, 45 points; lx>is Pen
dergrass, Antioch. 40
points; and Cola Gilchrist.
Pentecostal Temple, 10
points.
Featured churchwoman
Post’s Poll Reveals
Too Much Killing In
Black Communities!
Mrs. Gale Miller
. .Holding second place
contestants this week are
Anne Herron and Hattie
Harris.
ANNE HERRON
At Metropolitan United
Presbyterian Church
where Dr. Rev. Reginald
Hawkins is pastor, Mrs
Herron serves as president
of the Usher Board.
Mrs. Gladys Massey
...Has 550 points
The mother of three girls
and three boys and the
grandmother of fifteen.
Mrs Herron enjoys playing
softball in her spare time.
HATTIE HARRIS
If someone asked Hattie
Harris what her course of
study has been she pro
bably couldn't answer that
question. But through her
humanitarian acts and
deeds it is clear to all that
Mrs. Harris is a dedicated
student of helping others
For her hobby, Mrs
Harris works with children
and older adults and she
also works at Dalton Vil
lage Day Care Center
Although she is con
cerned with making life
better for others, she is
particularly interested in
assisting public housing
residents
The mother of two daugh
ters and three grandchild
ren, Mrs. Harris is a
member of the Senior
Choir, president of the
Senior Missionary Depart
ment, member of the
Pastor s Aide Society and
an Adult Sunday School
teacher at Chappell Me
morial Baptist Church
Walker Resumes Democratic Leadership
Senator Kussell G.
Walker (D-Randolph) has
reassumed the chairman
ship of the North Carol
ina Democratic Party fol
lowing his successful bid
for renomination.
He applauded the actions
of Vice Chairman Betty
apeir ot Bethel, who was
acting chairman during the
primary campaign just
concluded "She brings re
markable talents to the
Democratic Party and kept
things moving-including
an enthusiastic state con
vention with excellent posi
tions for Democrats
."We all appreciate what
she did and what she is
contributing,” Senator
Walker concluded
Walker has serve the
party as chairman since
1979.
Killing Of
Policemen 1$
Deplorable
__Bv l.ori Orier
I'osi Mali writer
The phone rings at the
crack of dawn, in the
middle of the night, or at
the stroke of midnight
Some of us might not be
alarmed by the phone
rings, but if you're the wife,
child or parent of a police
officer, those phone rings
could symbolize tragedy
and be devastating
Those phone rings sym
bolized tragedy tor police
officer Edmond Cannon's
family, when he was shot five
times after he walked in on
a robbery at the Handy
Pantry store at Eastway
and Kilborne Drives on
November -aa__4tecently,
-those same tragic phone
rings were diale<n.(rp6tlce—
officer Ernest Coleman’s
familv on .tune an after he
was shot once in the /ole
head as he stood on a
sidewalk in front of Paso’s
convenience store after
ejecting a man from the
store for rowdiness.
Other police officers in
Charlotte have been more
fortunate against harm,
unlike Cannon and Cole
man. and their families are
relieved for it. at least for
now.
Police officer Franklin
Coley, 36. was born in
Wayne County. NX_.to the
late Isaac and Elenor
Franklin He is a graduate
"oT'Johnson —Smith 1 ini
versify, CPCC, and UNCC
He has received an Asso
ciate degree and a B.S.
degree in Criminal Justice
Colev was the 1981 nominee
and 1982 recipient of an
award representing one of
five top. officers^ in Char
lotte He has received nu
merous commendations
from citizens and the com
m u mty'ToFitedlLdled work- —
as a police officer
Why did Franklin Coley
decide to become a police
officer0 “It was one of the
occupational options I con
sidered I decided to be
come a police officer in
1973 and was accepted in
1974," he replied.
The man who loves black
spirituals, wood working,
primitive furniture, car
pentry work and tree
houses has experienced
many good times as a
police officer because of
citizen support and better
benefits in the Charlotte
community
He has also encountered
problems on the police
force “The major pro
blems are promotions of
black officers, education of
black officers, and a need
of policemen to be seasi
tive to areas they work
for ”
On July 19, 1982 the West
over , Hills’ Community
Association will receive an
award for community
service work. Coley is a
member of that group and
his participation is what
enables him to say, “I’m
loved as a police officer I
could go in 3,000 houses in
Charlotte and stay. My uni
form commands a lot of
respect.’’
The deaths of Cannon
and Coleman have made
Coley more cautious. "It’s
a tragic situation. There’s
See POI.I. Page 7