16A
LIFESTYLES-RELEGION/The Charlotte Post
Thursday, October 24, 1996
Civil rights activist Williams buried
By Jeri Young
THE CHARLOTTE POST
There was much irony in
Robert Williams Ufe.
Irony is the thing that made
him most famous, even in
death.
A program to be held on Nov.
1 at Detroit’s Wayne State
University at which he was to
be honored, is titled “Honor
your heroes while they are still
alive.”
The program came too late.
The civil rights pioneer and
activist died last week after a
Irmgthy battle with Hodgkins
disease.
Born February 16, 1925 in
Union County, N.C., Mr.
Williams rose from humble ori
gins to serve during the Korean
conflict in the Marine Corps.
After his discharge in 1955, he
returned to Union County
where he became active in the
local NAACP and was eventual
ly elected president. Williams
instituted the use of sit-ins and
other non-violent forms of
protest during his tenure.
Distressed by the random acts
of violence and lynchings per
petuated by whites against
blacks, Williams organized
armed self defense units. His
militancy led the national
NAACP to strip his presidency.
During a race riot in 1961, Mr.
Williams and his family allowed
a lost white couple to take shel
ter. Although the couple left
unharmed, local authorities
pressed kidnapping charges.
Followed by over 500 Federal
Bureau of Investigation agents,
Williams and his family fled to
Cuba, where they spent five
years in exile. They later went
to China, where they spent
three years.
While in exile, Mr. Williams
and his wife, Mabel, published
“The Crusader” newspaper and
broadcast “Radio Free Dude.”
During his years abroad,
Williams garnered the respect
of many world leaders, includ
ing Mao Tse Tung of China.
Mao issued a statement of sup
port for African Americans’
struggle for civil rights after dis
cussions of the plight of African
Americans.
In 1967, Mr. Williams was
named President-in-Exile of the
Republic of New Africa.
In 1969, he returned to the
USA, and successfully fought
Nathaniel Black services held
By John Minter
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Charlotte lost one of its most
dedicated public servants ear
lier this month with the death
of Nathaniel Black Sr., owner
of the Kings and Queens
nightclub uptown.
He died Oct. 15 after an
extended illness.
Over the years. Black was a
supporter of many community
and political causes and con
tributing generously of his
Black
time and money.
“He was sort of laid back,”
said Mr. Black’s wife, Lucille
Ford Black. “He enjoyed doing
it. He wasn’t that type of per
son that wanted to be in the
spotlight.
“But everything he did he
did from his heart. He just
wanted all black people to be
together and to support each
other.”
Mr. Black, a native of
Mecklenburg County, attend
ed Second Ward High School
and Carver College. He began
a building and construction
Get on-line with
Qe CJarlotte |o^t
Our web page
address is
http://www.
thepost@niind-
spring.com
firm after serving in the
Korean Conflict.
Mr. Black’s community
involvement included organi
zations such as the The
Westside Lions Club, Eyes of
Charlotte, the Black Political
Caucus, the Rainbow
Coalition of North Carolina,
the Prime Investment Club
and the NAACP.
Mr. Black was on the senior
usher board and trustee board
of New Emmanuel
Congregational United
Church of Christ, where he
was funeralized Oct. 19.
Rev. Edward L. Holloway
officiated, and many of the
community’s most noted polit
ical leaders offered words of
remembrance. Among them
were Jim Richardson, former
state senator and member of
the Mecklenburg County
board of commissioners; N.C.
Sen. Charlie Dannelly, former
mayor and U.S. Senate candi
date Harvey Gantt; Mildred
Baxter-Davis; N.C. Rep. Pete
Cunningham and AME Zion
Bishop George Battle, a for
mer chair of the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg school board.
The participation by so
many with whom Mr. Black
had worked over the years
was very important to his
widow. “It meant a lot to me,”
Lucille Black said.
Burial was at Forest Lawn
Cemetery.
Surviving, in addition to his
wife, are: two sons Milton
Swift and Nathaniel, Jr.; a
daughter, Ella Lynette
Bridges; four brothers,
Rudolph V. Black, Hiawatha
Black, Paul A. Black and
James Michael Black; four
grandchildren, Donald Dixon;
Marlon Dixon, Nathaniel
Black III and Marcus Black;
one great-grandson, DaShawn
Dixon; and many other rela
tives and friends.
SISTER
MARGO
■ PAST • PRESENT • FUTURE
• GUARANTEED TO READ
YOUR ENTIRE UFE
Sister margo will tell you
what you want to know!
Giving facts of business,
love, health, marriage, and
family affairs. When seek
ing advice and help, it
always pays to consult the
best. No matter what your
problem may be, come to
Sister Margo for advice and
guidance.
Located At
2823 the Plazii
Chariotte, N.C. Phone 374-9160
OPEN HOUSE
Enjo\ free refreshments Saturday, October 26
Genesis Park
3 and 4 bedroom homes in the mid $60’s
Ready Now!
Special Financing
Free appliances and security system
Visit our model home
1820 Rush Wind Drive
Tuesday - Friday, 3 - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
342-0933
Oaklawm Ave
JK
charlotte 'MecMenburg
Housing Ihrtnership
Equal F.mpKnee Opportunity and Affirmative Action Agency
extradition to Union County. He
spent the remainder of his life in
Baldwin, Mich. AU charges against
him were dropped in 1976.
During a well-attended service on
Tuesday at Central United
Methodist Church in Monroe,
mourners from civil rights legend
Rosa Parks to WilUams’ biographer
Aukram Burton gathered to cele
brate Mr. Williams’ life.
“He was a humble man,” says fam
ily friend General Baker. “His was
not an ideological aproach to civil
rights but a practical one.”
Survivors include wife, Mabel of
the home; sons, John and Franklin,
of Detroit; brothers, John and
Edward, of Detroit; grandsons,
Robert and Benjamin, and daugh-
ter-in-law, Melanie, of Lansing,
Mich.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks
that donations be made to The
Robert Williams Memorial Fund,
P.O. Box 611, Baldwin. Mich. 49304.
Proceeds will help republish
“Negros With Guns,” by Thurman
Nelson, a 1962 biography of
Williams.
Subscribe to
The Post
MRBEEPffiSALE
OlEDIT or NO CREDIT
ALL SALES REQUIRE ACTIVATION
AND MONTHLY PAYMENT
PAC^$5.99
1529 West Blvd.
370-0508
Cellular
Phones:
$39.99
I
i I
“Priced- “TfCMcUuf.
Harclu'ood
Flooring or
Ceramic Tile
$6.49
StjH (ISGHmin.)
hue:
UN W INC
522-7787 OPEN SUNDAY 1-5PM Visa, MC, Dis.
4301 South Blvd. Charlotte Mon. - Sat. 10-6
Berber
$12.95
Sq.R
Installed
fteviousOidos
exckxkil
Carpet Any
3 Rooms
$369
Installed Up
To36sq.}ds.
Carpet & Rug Outlet j
AMERICAN DRY CLEANERS
l.MPl.OYEi;
of rm; month
‘t?QD Is Our Vbsx Blest Friend’'
OFF
10%'
Evelyn Huntley
This 21 year veteran shirt
presser, is the epitomy of |
dependability always reli
able and likxi by all
Evelyn has 3 diildiea
“EVELYN”
OnDiyOeaning • *SilkNotIiiduded
Offer Expires October 30,1996
Monday - Saturday
Minimum $6°^ After Discount
We Work Saturdays Too!
Coupon Must Accompany Order
•Full Price After 30 Days . (704)333-6111
1806 N. Graham • Next to Hutchison Shopping Center
Feed
vl^mnd
c/Body
What Every Woman Should
Know About GYN Cancers
(Ovarian, Endometrial, Uterine, Cervical and Vulvar Cancer)
Please join us for dinner and an educational
forum designed especially for women.
Did you know... tumors of the female organs are the third most
common cancer among women in the United States. Many of
these cancers are preventable. What can you do to prevent or
reduce your risk of developing female cancers? What are the signs
and symptoms for these diseases? What
screening tests are available?
Presbyterian Cancer Center presents
Mark S. Gelder, MD, Director, GYN
Oncology. Dr. Gelder will present vital
information on prevention that will
benefit women of all ages.
Presbyterian
Cancer Center
Date
Monday, November 4, 1996
Location
Presbyterian Cancer Center Foyer
Free parking in Cancer Center lot, enter off Caswell
Time
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration
Call 384-5387 (Conference Registration Line)
Deadline
November 1, 1996