■JWHt CAROLINA TIMES SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, U7t
2A
S^SSS&BB
The Worth of a Man
Last week there appeared in the
daily press of this nation a photo
graph of one 72-year-old Charles
Clarit of Detroit, Michigan, receiving
» 110,000 check from that great
state. The caption explained that a
bill sponsored by Michigan Senator
Coleman Young "provided the appro
priation out of humanitarian consid
erations."
When one divides the thirty years
Clark spent behind bars in prison,
"for a crime he did not commit,"
into the SIO,OOO given so glibly by
the State of Michigan, one derives a
grand quotient of S3OO per year.
We do not question Clark's reasons
for accepting the check. We do not
know if he has cashed it. We do not
know how Clark perceives his own
worth. We do not know if Clark would
have earned more on the "outside"
had he been gainfully employed dur
ing those thirty long years. We can
not know that Charles Clark would
have manifested honor and virtue
during those 30 years. We cannot
know if in that time he would have
demonstrated good or bad attributes.
We do question the motive and
reasoning behind the gift. Does S3OO
per year compensate the man for
his impugned character and the in
dignities he suffered? Is S3OO per
year the worth of Charles Clark? Is
S3OO per year the worth of a black.
The Value of Life and Death
In Orange County, a high school
student was killed by other youths;
An indisputable tragedy and an in
excusable act whose perpetrators
should be punished.
Earlier, on the campus of North
Carolina Centra] University, a stu
dmt w&s killed by other students:
An equally tragic occurence deserv
ing the full attention of law enforce
ment officials and local citizenry.
The two cases, though simular in
nature and equally appalling in the
useless loss of life of promising
youth, looms before us, reeking of a
haunting breach of responsibility and
vast differences of treatment—a dis
criminatory application of corrective
efforts.
Why? Could it be that because the
Orange County student was white,
having been slain at the hands of
blacks that the suspects were practi
cally apprehended immediately after
being chased as far as Connecticut
and Washington, D. C. ? And the sus
pect at-large has rated the attention
Technology At The Crossroads
For many years, a small but vocal
minority has been concerned about a
national lack of understanding of
economics.
In very recent times, another small
but vocal minority has been urging the
nation to turn its back on technology.
One of the hopes for 1972 in fact,
one of the necessities is that more
and more people, concerned as they are
about the quality of life, will come to
realize that only through technological
advance can we hope to achieve
economic and social progress.
It is not mere coincidence that our
recent alarm over a declining economic
situation has occurred in virtually the
same time fram'e as a decline in our
national support of technology.
The United States is committed to
inventing things first, to improving
existing products first, to making things
better than anyone else. It exports a
host of advanced technology products
because it has depended heavily on
being first with ever newer and better
technology.
However, our standard of living and
attendant labor and materiel costs have
made technology a more necessary
economic tool than ever. It we "opt
out" of technology our standard of
living will deteriorate and there will be
even less money derived through taxes
on the economy to pay for all of the
socio-economic programs so important
to all of us - low-cost housing, health
and medical care, welfare reform, law
enforcement, pollution and urban
transportation, to say nothing of
national defense.
Today it no longer is possible to base
national economic policies almost
solely on the needs and capabilities of
our domestic economy. We are learning
the hard way that we are but one
element in the dynamic structure of a
world economy.
In his economic messages last fall
President Nixon stressed three areas:
Immediate economic problems, such
man in America? Is S3OO per year
the worth of any man, irrespective
of "race, color, creed or previous
condition of servitude"? Is S3OO per
year "shutmouth money" to dissuade
Clark from suing the pants off the
State of Michigan for wrongful de
tention?
We could not agree more with the
philosophy that "to err is human, to
forgive, divine." We do not pre
sume to judge Clark's right to pur
sue whatever course he chooses. But,
for state officials to flaunt the act
of buying thirty years of a man's life
for a paltry SIO,OOO (a pauper's purse
in today's marketplace) over the
front pages of the nation's newspap
ers as something to be proud of, sug
gests that somebody, somewhere in
Michigan has a warped sense of jus
tice. They had to invite the press in
for this momentous occasion.
No amount of money can repay a
man for thirty years lost out of the
prime of his life. Charles Clark can
never recapture what might have
been his experiences as a free man.
We would prefer to trade our sus
picion for trust. We would like to
believe thart Governor Milliken, Sen
ator Young and all of their cohorts
had real "humnitarian" motives, but
we find It difficult to rid our noses
of the smell of "something dead up
the creek." We hope we are wrong.
of the installation of a new IBM
Police Information Network terminal
that will tie in the Sheriffs office
into the State Department of Motor
Vehicles, the State Bureau of Inves
tigation, the State Department of
Correction, and the National Crime
Information Center.
On the other hand, in the caseof
a black student being slain, two per
sons charged with the crime of kill
ing the NCCU students were brought
to trial and found not guilty. All
right, then, who did kill the student,
and why has there been no other men
tion of the fact? The student is dead,
cold dead and buried.
But then, we all know that the value
of no person of color can compare to
that of a "lily white anglo-saxon
Christian boy!"
Don't we?
Are the circumstances surrounding
the aforementioned cases so different
that they engender such diverse re
actions in the interest of justice. Is
that vaunted 'lady" peeking under the
blindfold?
as the control of wages and prices.
The importance of remaining
competitive in the world market place.
The need for government action to
stimulate technological advance, both
to improve the nation's productivity
and to keep the U.S. competitive in the
world's markets farther into the future.
The last is the most crucial point.
Happily there are a few signs
indicating growing recognition of the
vital importance of both basic and
applied research and development to
our overall national well being.
As a nation we are beginning to
realize that only through technological
advance can we hope to achieve con
tinued economic and social progress.
We are beginning to realize the mag
nitude of the threat that foreign
competition is posing to our economy.
We are beginning to realize that the
realities of the 70s may force changes
in the historic relationship between
government and industry in our free
enterprise system. We are beginning to
realize that the solution to many of the
problems confronting the nation will
require new forms of govern
ment/industry cooperation in the fields
of research, development and
production.
If this reorientation process gathers
force and speed the future will be
brighter for the United States because
an intelligent combination of national
Eolicy, resources and industrial
now-how can keep us competitive in
the new economic world that is
evolving.
Where capital growth occurs, where
research and development are nour
ished, where the oneness of a world
market place is recognized, and where
innovative formulae are introduced for
government/industry cooperation, that
is where the new prosperity will take
place.
Such economic factors are no res
pecters of history or geography. They
will produce their result wherever they
come together most successfully.
WHEN DUCMMHUIKNI, POVERTY AND INJUSTICE ARE RESOLVED...
~ I
This Week In Negro History
One hundred and sixty
three years ago (1800) on
Saturday of this week the
President of the United States
who became a martyr of
the Civil War was born. He
was Abraham Lincoln. On
(he 100 th anniversary of bis
birth the National Associa
tion for the Advancement of
Colored People was organiz
ed.
Other events this week of
historical importance are as
follows:
FEBRUARY 7 Peabody
Education Fund of $3,500,000
was established for the South
in 1887.
FEBRUARY 8 The 54th
Massachusetts Regiment was America,, writer Ambrose
organized in 1863. Bierce saidi .. Womah coU ld
FEBRUARY 0 - Paul *• be more charming if one
Ltrwren& Dutftar died St 1 * Could fall Into her arms with-
Dayton, Ohio, in 1906. He out falling into her hands."
Letter To
February 6,1972
2308 Nebo Street
Durham, N.C. 27707
To the Editor:
This letter is a response to
the column Taking A Closer
Look by John Myers, that
appeared in the February 2,
1972 issue of the "Carolina
Times."
As a Black native of Dur
ham and a subscriber to the
"Carolina Times" for many
years, I was appalled at the
blatantly racist article that
appeared in the above mention
ed column. While the contents
of the article is an affront to
the entire Black .community,
one cannot help but be amazed
and utterly astonished at the
gall of the white author. Amaz
ed and astonished not so much
because of the contents and
racists implications were writ
ten by a white writer but ra
ther his audacity to ventilate
these remarks in a newspaper
that has a predominantly Black
reading audience and has wide
spread circulation in Black
Communities.
Myers somewhat cynical
"liberalism" alludes to three
Blacks (John Wheeler, Asa
Spaulding and Lewis Austin)
that made "it in a society that
automatically accepts whites"
and how unfair it is for some
people (white) to be born
equal while other people
(Black) must "earn" their
equality. The article continues
in this vain by using the old
familiar divide and conquer
trick by pointing out that
Bobby Seale, Angela Davis,
Rapp Brown, the Panthers, et.
al., were "determined to beat
the system on their own" and
their failure to do so thus
stifled their chances of ever be
coming "equal". Further, a
misguided quote from singer
James Brown was used as a
distraction tactic in an attempt
to divorce ourselves from real
issues at hand. Myers must
know one's knowledge of the
United States Constitution has
absolutely nothing to do with
was one of the early out
standing poets of the black
race.
FEBRUARY 10 Joseph
C. Price (1854-1893), first
president of Livingstone Col
lege, born.
FEBRUARY 11 Bishop
John M. Walden (1831-1814),
advofcate of Negro education,
born.
FEBRUARY 12 - The
NAACP was organized in
1900.
FEBRUARY 13 Absa
lom Jones (1746-1818), first
Negro Protestant minister,
born.
the acquisition of freedom.
As a people we now fully
understand that none of us
have "made it" and that the
concern at this point is not to
be "equal" (to whites) but ra
ther the ability to determine
our own destiny.
It was made perfectly clear
(in the article) to the reader
that in order for Black people
to achieve "acceptance" (to
whites) it is necessary to obtain
"money, power, and status"
by way of education. "And
education brings these things."
Black folks are sick and tired
of white folks telling them to
get an education. We realize
that educated or not we are
still enslaved and victimized by
the same oppressor be it at the
corporate level or the unem
ployment office. The question
is not "acceptance" but rather
the right for Black people to
be able to maintain a sense of
true identity on his terms in a
racist society.
Let it be understood that
Black people are well aware
that the oppressor comes from
many and varied disciplines, be
he liberal or conservative,
hawk or dove, integrationist
or segragationist, Republican
or Democrat, hippie or yippie,
right-wing journalist or left
wing journalist.
Perhaps it would behoove
Myers to limit his journalistic
adventures and abolitionist
mentality within the confines
of an area of which he is
most familiar and leave the
question of Black liberation to
those of us who are in a better
position to deal with it.
You have the consent of
this writer to share the con
tents of this letter with your
reading audience.
Yours in Blackness
Charsie Hedgepeth
gggg
Colonists were astonished
when they learned that among
the Iroquois tribes, only the
DID YOU KNOW?
• Suicides cost the nation about
sl6 billion annually.
• This is based partly on the
22,000 suicides officially recorded
in this country each year, and re
flects wasted human potential and
earning power.
• Suicide has become this na
tion's 11th most common cause of
death.
• Current estimates are that
there are about 10 attempts for
each successful suicide, or about
a quarter-of-a-million attempts each
year.
• When alcohol is present either
as a primary or secondary diag
nosis, the suicide risk is markedly
increased.
• Suicide rates for married per
sons on the whole are lower than
those for single, widowed or di
vorced.
• Rates for divorced persons
are three to five times the rates of
married persons under 65.
—Health Insurance Institute
Keeping T lie
FAITH
"Know Thyself," the
ancient Greek dictum which
has been quoted for
centuries, remains an almost
Hurculean task. Even though
man has explored nearly
every horizon on earth, the
most unchartered region
remains the same his own
interior.
We still have a great deal to
learn about the processes that
result in our conscious
thoughts and emotions. We
know even less about this
mind which produces visions,
voices, and hallucinations,
and still find ourselves
groping for explanations
today.
Dr. Wilson Van Dusen, a
practicing psychologist, has
discovered that his recent
clinical findings on the sub
ject of hallucinations con
formed to those of the 18th
century scientist-theologian,
Emanuel Swedenborg whose
detailed accounts of parapsy
chological experiences
written over two hundred
years ago have proved quite
helpful to modern day
psychologists. Dr. Van
Dusen's conclusions are strik
ingly similar to those of
Swedenborg and are pub
lished in booklet form
entitled The Presence of
Spirits in Madness. They
have radical implications for
our self-understanding.
In another booklet,
Dreams, Hallucinations,
Visions, Dr. Ernst Benz, a
leading German theologian,
offers an objective study of
such phenomena as recorded
in the Bible, in writings of
mystics, and in scientific
annals.
Both copies of these
fascinating booklets
Dreams, Hallucinations,
Visions and The Presence of
Spirits in Madness are
available for only SI.OO
(postpaid) at the Swedenborg
Foundation, Dept. PP, 139 E.
23rd St., New York, N.Y.
10010.
LONDON . Btr
nadette Devlin, Catholic"
member of British parlia
ment from Northern Ireland,
commenting on the Irish Re
publican Army pledge that
two British . army troopers
would be killed for every
civilian who died in London
derry violence Sunday:^
"That means 3® crf>l|>s ;
coming home to England ;
and I won't shed a *ear f° r '
any one of them."
"""
By JOHN MYERS % ■
One of the most common
terms tossed around today by
everyone from human relations
groups to television commer
cials is 'getting together.'
Everyone is really concerned
about getting together with
someone else. The Klan, the
Panthers, the Black Power
the White Freedom Party; all
are worried about getting to
gether. Political parties want
to get together. Women's Li
beration wants to get together.
I want to get together. The
difference is, when I talk about
getting together, I don't mean
whites get together and blacks
get together. I mean people
must get together.
Where, anywhere, does it
say that because a woman or
a man thinks differently or has
a different political attitude
than yours, that he or she is
le6s or more than you? There is
no such rule.
For those of you who be
lieve in the Bible, look at its
lessons. It says treat others as
you would have them treat
you. Look at the Constitution
of this country. It says all
men are equal. Look at the
religious and political leaders.
They all agree on equality. So
if everyone agrees, what's
wrong? Why is there so much
dissention if everyone agrees
on what is right? To coin an
old phrase ... Some people
do not practice what they
preach.
To Be Equal
Death P
By VERNON E. JORDAN JR.
ON THE VERY DAY THAT the Supreme Court heard
■ arguments in a case that might finally end state
sanctioned lolling in the United States, the highest court In
New Jersey ruled that state's capital punishment law uncoiv
stitutional.
So the long, arduous battle to end the death penalty
is coming to a head. The New Jersey action now brings
the number of states retaining the supreme penalty to 37.
Polls show that half the people would like to end the, death
penalty. Past and present state governors have been out-"
spoken in their desire to do away with it, but in an atmos
phere laden with the fear of crime, it will take Supreme
Court action. '
The Court has ruled on capital punishment cases before,
and has chipped away at some of the legal procedure!
leading to its imposition. But now it is being asked to rule
that the penalty is unconstitutional because the Eighth
Amendment forbids "cruel and unusual punishment."
Unfairly Discriminates
The arguments against the death penalty have become
familiar. It does not deter people from committing murder —
the states with the highest murder rates aU have the death
penalty for the crime. It is a measure that unfairly dis
criminates against blacks, minority groups, and the poor.
Half of the nearly 700 prisoners in Death Row cells are
black and many others are Mexican-Americans or Puerto
Ricans. Nearly all are poor people, although the crime*
attributed to them are also committed by the well-off.
In some states death is the penalty for crimes punished
by imprisonment elsewhere. Rape is a prime example of
a crime that many Southern states punish with death. Here
too, the punishment is a vestige of practices of racial
control. Only blacks have been sentenced to death for
rape; white offenders get jail terms.
Given the dubious reasoning behind the death sentence,
and the discriminatory manner in which it has been applied,
there should be no question that it must be abolished. But
reason doesn't go far enough; there are overriding moral'
considerations that are just as pressing. f
There comes a time in the life of a civilized nation
when it faces the relics of the past and discards them because
offend new, higher standards of behavior. Such is
the present case of the death penalty. The times white
Americans could accept slavery, flogging, public hangings,
and other cruelties are ended. What was once acceptable
official behavior is no longer tolerable.
Once Part Of The Times
Death was a penalty tfiat was once part of the times
and of the thinking of the majority of people. That is no
longer true today. It is now recognized that the taking of
a "fe—no matter how degraded and offensive the individual,
no matter how repulsive the crime—is a matter beyond the
responsibility of a state or judicial bureaucracy.
Britain, Canada, and some other/nations have recognized
this and have ended the death penalty. The state should
not kill. The state should not take lives. It should protect
its citizens, imprison or otherwise isolate criminals, but i*
should not have its' hand on the switch that takes a human
life.
Ending the death penalty is but one way In which the
country can make a start in erecting a new respect for Hfe,
a respect for the sanctity and preclousness of human exist
ence that could then be reflected in other areas of our lives.
So the Supreme Court, in deliberating this issue, will
be taking into account a newer, higher standard of morality
than that which prevailed in the past, w'rn life was held
cheaper and inequities were more easily tolerated.
i * ii
M Editor-Publisher, 1927-1971 J. •_ ''■ J| 9
Bp * Published every Saturday at Dmh«m N. C. "**
■ | by United Publiataeca, Inc.
MRS. VIVIAN AUSTIN EDMONDS, Pti6Uafc«r j §§§
HI LODIUS M. AUSTIN, Aisiatant to the Publisher -I jffll
■CLARENCE BONNETTE Btutnaa* Mmi.n.i'
Hjcr. BLWOOD CARTER .AivrUtkig J M
■ t Second Clau Portage Paid at Durham. N. C. mot H
H: SUBSCRIPTION RATES K
Statea and Canada i v_. Rjl
and Canada '""'"mi, fOU.O© ra
IWncinal Office Located at 4U East Pettigtew 1
... . PurhiMn._Warth c—*77ol
' There is no law that says
you must live your life with
someone you do not wish to.
You do not have to accept
friends whom you do not like.
But you owe it to yourself
and to them to respect each
individual as a human being.
If you do not like a person,
that is your priviledge, but
dislike them for particular
reasons; not simply because he
is white or black or yellow.
Judge a man by his merit, not
because of his color. Hate him,
if you will, but hate him be
cause of what he has done to
you, not because of what his
ancestors did.
It all comes down to the
fact that racism, hatred, bigo
try, or any other term you
apply to resistance between
people can not be legislated by
the government. It is a pcrsonel
thing that must be settled
within each individual. There
are a lot of people I do not
like. There are a lot of varied
reasons for my dislike. But
color, sex, religion, or politics
is not one ot them. I hope it
never will be. When one gets
to the paint of hatred for its
own sake, he is no longer use
ful to himself or anyone else.
And as long as the terms
honkey and nigger are in use
within a vicious vocabulary,
we can never get together. We
must decide which Is more Im
portant: Living together, or
dying separately.