York/tKIje Cljarlotte ^OJSt/Rowan
REGIONAL
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1997
Texaco franchisee fights within system
By Brian Powe
FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST
SALISBURY - An African
owner of a Texaco franchise in
Salisbury says that instead of
letting the recent slanderous
remarks make by Texaco offi
cials cripple him, he has plans
to make more power moves
from inside the company than
running away from it.
Aggrey Achi, who has owned
the franchise for the past five
years, said, “I was taught one
fights authority from the
inside rather than the outside.
This situation has sparked me
to invest more in Texaco, earn
more shares, rather than back
ing up and getting out the
business.”
Achi, a native of Nigeria,
believes that his business may
have suffered a little bit from
the recent boycott of Texaco
called by Jesse Jackson.
“When I first he8U"d about the
incidents, I thought it was
pretty luifair,” Achi said, “And
furthermore, it was unaccept
able.
“But instead of everyone act
ing so hastily about the mat
ter, I would have hked to hear
how the president or the chair-
mem of Texaco responded to
the incidents first. It seems we
did not give him time enough
to comment about the case.”
Achi isn’t just satisfied with
the ceasing of the boycott. He
wants to develop a greater
business sense, so that other
entrepreneurs like himself can
avoid future racial comments
against people of color.
“This event awakened me to
a who new dimension. I have
three boys, and I must teach
them to always fight from the
Some of the most newsworthy regional events of 1996 include President Clinton
praying with members of a South Carolina church (above) after their sanctuary was
burned. Black churches, especially in the South, were the target of vadalism and
arson, some of it racially motivated
WHITE HOUSE PHOTO
, I
■
WHITE HOUSE PHOTO
A look
back at
the year
in pictures
Concord’s Barber-Scotia
College got on the road to
recovery, reducing its debt to
a manageable level and being
removed from probationary
status by the Southern
Association of Colleges and
Schools. Barber-Scotia also
solidified its once-tenuous
leadership with the hiring of
Sammie Potts as president
(second photo)
Operation PUSH
leader the Rev. Willie
Barrow was keynote
speaker at New Home
AME Zion Church in
York, S.C. Barrow
spoke during a con
cert that helped New
Home’s food bank
solicit donations. The
food bank opened in
November to help feed
York County’s needy.
In addition to Barrow,
several musical
groups performed,
including Voices of
Youth Praises Choir
and Beiz Group.
mm
IIP
Ms
*
inside an unjust situation,” he
said. “It does not do any of us
any good to stand on the side
line and try to make decisions.
If we own more shares and
control our own assets withing
the company, we can ehminate
any future segregating com
ments.”
Achi, who arrived in America
over a decade ago at the Los
Angeles Airport with only $50
in his pocket, speaks as one
who has fought many battles.
“As people of color in
America we must reinvest. We
should buy more from any gas
network from Texaco, to
Simoco, to Amoco, and many
others,” he said. “If we would
use our potential with money
more effectively we would not
See TEXACO on page 9B
PHOTO/SUE ANN JOHNSON
MLK killer
out of coma
in Tennessee
By Add Sejonour Jr.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASHVILLE, Term. - Convicted assassin James Earl Ray
remains in serious condition after regaining consciousness last
week and joking about alcohol and women.
“We talked about things like bringing some alcohol up to his
room and getting him drunk,” said his brother Jerry Ray.
“We also talked about a woman that’s crazy about him and
sneaking her up there, too,” said his attorney Andrew Hall.
Ray, 68, the convicted killer of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.,
was admitted to Columbia Nashville Memorial Hospital on
Saturday. He suffers from liver and kidney damage.
He was upgraded from critical to serious condition on Thursday,
said Cheryl Goforth, chief operating officer at the hospital.
“It is still serious, but he seems to be more stable,” she said. She
wouldn’t comment further.
Jerry Ray said his brother couldn’t finish entire sentences, but
he was “100 percent better” than he had been doing.
“He’s in a good mood, laughing with a big grin, and I figure if
he’s in a good mood, he should stay in a good mood.”
“But I don’t get my hopes up because I know he could go right
back to the way he was before,” he said.
Jerry Ray said the change isn’t really a turnaround because doc
tors have told him that his brother would be drifting in and out of
consciousness.
He wasn’t able to finish sentences, but Jerry Ray said his broth
er smiled at jokes about bringing alcohol and a woman to his hos
pital room.
He didn’t talk with his brother about anything serious, but said
doctors have given his brother only a 10 percent chance of sur
vival, even if they perform surgery.
See RAY Page 9B
Livingstone, Hood
prep for annual
week of prayer
By Brian Powe
FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST
SALISBURY - Livingstone College Campus Minister says the
upcoming Annual Week of Prayer hopes to help freshmen students
set their priorities by “seeking firs the Kingdom of God.’
Livingstone and Hood Seminary are sponsoring the Jan 14-17
Week of Prayer for students, faculty and community.
The Rev. T. Anthony Spearman said the traditional Prayer Week,
held a week after the students return from Christmas break, gives
students a place to go and fellowship on the campus.
“We are under new direction in the campus ministry, and we are
trring to offer them (the students) something new as well as strid
ing with the tradition,” Spearman said.
This year, Spearman is bringing back a Livingstone and Hood
Semiemary alum, the Rev. George E. McKain, director of public
affairs for the AME Zion church.
McKain seemed oveijoyed about the opportunity to come home
once again.
“It’s a blessing from God to be able to come back to my alma
mater of Livingstone and Hood to do this Week of Prayer,” he said.
See LIVINGSTONE on page 9B
Hazel O’Leary looks
forward to new career
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Energy Secretary Hazel O’Leary, who
faced a barrage of criticism for expensive trips abroad, said she’ll
start a new life outside government with a vacation - possibly to
South Africa.
O’Leaiy, who will leave President Clinton’s Cabinet on Jan. 20,
See O’LEARY page 9B