Special Black History Week/
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Lawyers Condemn
Alleged Racist Attacks
Blankenship
...first female
Walker
...1 of 2 blacks
1 Female - 2 Blacks
Named to Academy
by James Smith
Staff Writer
For the first time in the
Fifth Congressional District, a
young girl has been nominat
ed for appointment to the U.S.
Military Academy. Also, two
blacks have been nominated.
Susan Dale Blankenship,
18-year-old daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Herbert Lee
Blankenship of 1844 Turfwood
Drive, Pfafftown, has been
nominated for appointment to
the Air Force Academy in
Colorado Springs, Colo., and
West Point Academy.
Jerome Linward Walker, II,
17, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Jerome L. Walker of 2617
Raleigh Avenue, Winston-
Salem, has been nominated
for appointment to the Naval
Academy.
Seven other persons have
also been nominated for
appointment to the U.S.
Military Academy.
In a recent interview Miss
Blankenship stated that she
would eventually like to
See FEMALE Page 2
One of Five Pioneers
by James Smith
Staff Writer
Recently, members of the
North Carolina Association of
Black Lawyers passed a
resolution in support of Soul
City and condemned the
alleged racist attacks of Sen.
Jesse Helms and a Raleigh
newspaper for their harass
ment of the founder of Soul
City.
At a press conference
Monday, Charles E. Daye,
president of the association
revealed the resolution which
stated in part: “We pledge to
make our voices heard in
exposing such schemes
wherever they may be found,
and to defend innocent Black
leaders against all such
schemes whenever, however,
and wherever they may occur.
“We publicly condemn
these and all such schemes of
attempted character assassi
nation through misuse of
public office by elected
officials, or through prejudi
cial or biased reporting by the
news media.
The charges stem from a
newspaper article published in
the Raleigh News and
Observer which stated that
over the past year and the
expenditure of millions of
dollars, there was only one
permanent building so far.
After those articles, Sen.
Jesse Helms, R-N.C., called
for an investigation.
However, a General Ac
counting Audit to Soul City
had cleared the founder, Floyd
McKissick.
But, Sen. Helms wanted the
Justice Department to do an
investigation.
The black lawyers, led by
Daye, accused the newspaper
and Helms of trying to
See LAWYERS Page 2
Voter Registration
Campaign Is Slated
A voter registration cam
paign will be held Saturday
(Feb. 14) from 9a.m. until
noon in the lower auditorium
of First Baptist Church on
Highland Avenue.
Mrs. Velma Jackson, chair
person for the Political
Awareness Committee at First
Baptist Church, said the
purpose of the campaign was
two-fold.
She stated that since this is
election year, people must
become knowledgeable of
certain facts and issues so
they can vote intelligently.
“That’s the reason for the
Voter Registration Drive and
Voter Educational Seminar,”
she said.
Four persons from the city
will be on hand to discuss the
See VOTER Page 2
Black Lawyer Began In ’32
by James Smith
Staff Writer
Beginning a law career is
not the easiest thing on earth,
especially if you happen to be
young, black and the year is
1932.
But, somehow, H.O. Bright
made it.
Bright, is one of the first
five black lawyers to open a
law office in Winston-Salem.
Bright recently said when
he opened offices here, there
were very few black lawyers in
Winston-Salem and that
‘‘there weren’t too many
scattered over the state.”
Over the years Bright said
law has changed considerably.
“For one thing, the proce
dures in court have definitely
changed and new laws have
been enacted by legislature
and the Board of Aldermen,”
he said.
Bright also feels that
today’s black lawyers start out
with much more than he did
when he finished college.
“Today the graduate has a
much more broader aspect of
legal work. The colleges and
universities have better librar
ies and the schools offer more
forums and symposiums than
ever,” he said.
Concerning blacks who
need legal assistance. Bright
felt that there is less trouble
today than let’s say-1932.
“And too, the rapport
between white and black
lawyers is better than ever.
One main reason for this
happened when black lawyers
were admitted to the Forsyth
County Bar Association,”
stated Bright.
Before blacks were admit
ted to the local bar
association. Bright said they
(blacks) had their own local
and state association.
Although not as active as he
once was, he is still the oldest
member of the Forsyth County
Bar in active practice.
Bright took the North
Carolina Bar Examination in
1931 and was admitted to
practice in 1932 and practiced
until 1943. For five years after
that, he worked with the
United States Veterans Bur
eau and later returned to
Winston-Salem.
A native of Mount Vernon,
Ohio, he attended school in
Mayville, N.Y. He also
attended New York Business
.School.
H.O. Bright, one of city’s first black lawyers to practice here.
He is a graduate of Howard
University and the Howard
University Law School where
he received his LLB degree.
At school he was half-mile
See BRIGHT Page 2
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