WINSTOI CHROl _ ndubsi Pa - CHARLES T. BYRD, JR. Business Editor ERNEST EdltOrWinston-Salem, N.C. V4/ T Perhaps among the last -=^ black Americans who would ^ be wished to be dubbed o "a leader"- at least in the traditional sense of the term of a hand-picked intermediary for black Ameri ?? canr - is the ReverendTurd? Honorable Benjamin L. Hooks designated to succeed Roy Wilkins as National ,director of the NAACP. The 51 year old Dr. Hooks serves presently as the first black member of the Federal Communications Commission where his outspoken and~ formidable presence has brought about the beginnings of immense * n ?- - ?- A* uiuige lur DiacKs in me ^ communications industry. While to many Iwhite Americans, the name of Benjamin, Hooks is relatively unknown, his writings for the black press upon a variety of subjects has made him almost iikea friendly and most helpful weekly visitor in millions of black America's homes. Yet, in his new position which holds 'unpar- . ailed possibilities for enabling and empowering blacks to enter America's mainstream, there are many who will wonder what his directorship will hold in store. By - way of response*. . might recall the remarks oj^ Jesus where questioned^ about the qualifications of John the Baptist, to whom large numbers had gone to his wilderness home to see. ?. IpKIIK cftih' <4who* u/onf ? ??er Building.JLQ2JWL 4th i *ox 3154, Winston-Salem, 14., Second Class postage 27102. /ear payable in advance ? umnist in this newspaper ent l the policy of this % Hum The recent gains in employment following the "white ?recession"?"blackdepression" in the national economy have reflected yet another major set back for black Americans. The current employment figures indicate what,many involved in affirmative action for minorities have suspected or feared would happen. This has been a relatively high rate of female re-employment and a proportionate loss in re-employment by blacks. * * * What is implicit here is the much-heralded myth ~ that women must often suffer the double indignity of being women and members of racial, religious or ethnic minority groups. The implied conclusion is that their circumstance is much worse than that of black males. We need to disabuse ourselves of such folly?which is a costly twist, no matter how one may look at it?that black mates, incTudTng_especially younger adult males, are not the nation's" most hard-pressed and hard core unemployed. Affirmative action programs for fair hiring, rehiring and upgrading cannot i* ' uc ictuisuc wnue nnKing or bumping women's needs? > 7 r . ___________ 0 * MAI HMIHIV r. Nathaniel Wright an Rights Activist? BLACK EMPLaYMENT LOSSES whether black or white? with those of black males. This in no way suggests that women are not victimized sorely Jjy^emplo/ment and upgrading^ discrimination. What is at issue here is the relative acuteness of the problem. Some years ago, both John Dollard (who authored Caste and Class in a Southm * ~ ~ ern l oum) and Uunnar Myrdal (of An American Dilemma fame) suggested that the discriminatory problems of whites could be attributed to class feelings which are relatively flexible. Caste feelings, by contrast, are strongly inflexible and have a kind of a "middle wall of partition" between the insiders and those kept out. Black males are, then, in a caste-like position. In any assessment of the nation's economic woes, we must be clear about the type of position in which blackmales of all age categories find themselves. * * * While the federal government may not be in, a position presently to hire any relatively large number ^>Lthe most beieagured unemployed; it should be evident that whatever jobs that arc available may be directed toward th^se whose ?? " \ry? I i i >*"* . I + - - K -> ^ #> '* i ( mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmrnmi (ERUGIT t? Jr. ^ ' , lack of employ .ent adds most greatly to r he nation's social costs. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, for example, is conducting currently an extensive job advertising campaign for clerks and clerktypists aimed at "all high J school youth who may be" willing to come to Washington." A sound sense of the nation's good, in terms both pf lessening the taxpayers' social welfare and criminal r justice costs and of increasing the possibilities for urban peace, would suggest that black media be utilized to focus this appeal on our most tragically alienated citizens so far as the job market is concerned. jOn-^? ? -? * " ? nivjuu training lor file clerks and for clerk typists would not be any major problem. What is of more immodiatc importance is that the Washington, ' D.C.-Baltimore-Wilming^ton-Philadelphia area has , more than enough unemployed and discriminated against black males to fill at least the F.B.I.'s Rationally advertised needs. * * * * # _ ... f.v - ?" -< " \ J