f
Page 4-The Chronicle, Thursday, Septemt
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Ndubisi Egemon
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Allen Johnson
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In Defense Of J:
The Rev. Jesse Jackson of Operation
PUSH has developed an approach
to dealing with Corporate
America: give back "some of the
billions of dollars you have taken out
of our community or we will withhold
our enthusiasm in purchasing your
products.
This is a sensible approach to a
serious problem. Why, then, are some
blacks criticizing Jackson for his efforts?
The criticism concerns Jackson's recent
visit to St. Louis where he met
with lnpdl KIopI/ klirinnrr. ~
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discuss his "withdrawal of enthusiasm-?campaign
againstAnheuser-Busch.
According to
published reports, the businessmen
became upset because Jackson re
quested that they make a donation to
Operation PUSH. Some, reports say,
called the request a demand and felt it
bordered on coercion. ?~
Furthermore, the businessmen questioned
Jackson's choice of Anheuser?
Busch as a legitimate target.
Both criticisms point to a problem
whose roots run deep in the thinking
of black America.
Ftrstv we live in a free-enterprise
democratic society where money
- basically is the ruler of all things. This
is reality. We must understand the role
that money plays in our society. It
takes money for anything to operate
effectively.
As such, Operatioii^USH could
not operate without fotidsr i^te-mostlogical
place"for these fun^pt^come^
from is fHe people who wittt)enefit the
most from Jackson's efforts. This is
common sense, not coercion.
Secondly, we have been
discriminated against, lynched, lied
to, deceived, cheated and tramoled on
a - ?
for so long that we don't know a
Crosswinds
Frye Will E
From The Carolina Times
The North Carolina Senate is losing
a good man. Henry Frye is retiring at
the end of his current term.
While we understand his reasons for
leaving, we nevertheless bemoan his
going. He will be hard to replace.
A man of outstanding intelligence,
and uncommon patience, Frye went
into the legislative battles clearly committed
to championing the ideal of
In all his years of public service, we
cannot recall any charges against Frye
that he was linked to any particular
special interest group. That is unless,
of course, one considers a special interest
that group of fair-minded and
clear thinking North Carolinians who
think this state and nation should
as A 6op mm of me i
house. backcp w ves* x did
wtm ww?\e$ thb fttoeaep *
nbumpst? rate of rptuft/ i
M
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>er 16, 1982
m Ctinoqicle ft\
ye Ernest H. Pitt
Robert Eller
Sfutrts / i/ilitr
L.Pitt ^
Mil nun i t
N 1 }*? *%% UtlKII
ackson
friend when we see one.
Because some giant corporation
donates a few tax-exempt dollars to
one black organization does not make
that corporation a messiah. If Jesse
Jackson jumped on 10 corporations
and three were innocent, we'd still say
hurrah. A corporation that takes $10
billion out of the black community
and puts $1 million back..;is that
good? No!
This is a problem that exists locally.
We see companies like Food World,
Eckerd Drugs, K-Mart and others
operating in the very heart of the black
community with absolutely no commitment
to it other than making as
much money as possible.
The sad thing about it is that we
allow it to persist. We put no pressure
on these businesses to commit some of
those profits to our community. We
don'4 mean by way of donations, but
simply by doing business with bona
fide black businessmen.
Money is the only real weapon black
people have. If we would stop spending
money with people who do not
support us, we would find those same
people would soon come knocking ?
no, begging ? us for our business.
Then we could tell them how we
wanted them to act and they would be
glad to oblige.
This is all Jesse Jackson is trying to
do. We support him in this effort. We
also support Pat Hairston and the
NAAGP. That's all.he is trying to.da.
'Jftivis^js Mfity or stqpia&tung
y&u rlth" should be^dtiY slogarirl irfthe
80s. And we should support those who
have courage enough to lead the
charge^
Jesse Jackson is trying to do that.
And to those who are against him, we
say lead or get the hell out of the way!
te Missed
stand up and live out its creed of liberty
and justice for all. .
This Saturday past (Aug. 29), many
of Frye's colleagues in state government,
and many of his comrades-inarms
in this never-ending battle for
equal justice, gathered in Raleigh to
say good-bye to Sen. Frye and to congratulate
him for a job well done.
We take this opportunity to add our
voice to the chorus of congratulations,
and urge the citizens of North
Carolina to set their hearts now to
send a strong, staunch replacement to
the Senate this November.
North Carolina cannot afford to be
long without leaders like Sen. Frye in
the halls of government, leaders who,
rather than complain about what the
situation is, roll up their sleeves and
pitch in to make it better.
a/r mmrrott up
AWt> TODptTS ARE DOWM- YKIM
Mjewvmteo? ^
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=0R CAPITAL flORRCWBUON ?
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Is White Bar
We believe in ourselves...
And we are stilt trying
to convince the unbelievers
that this is the right thing
to do...
Met White
City Executive
Mechanics A Farmers Bank
Sept. 19, 1981,is a date that will forever
be remembered by this writer for two
distinct, yet inextricably linked events.
First of all, on that sunny, crisp day one
year ago, my wife, Sylvia, went into labor .
? which less than 24 hours later produced
our first child, Thema, a miracle, a heavenly
blessing, who has brought more joy and
happiness to our family than we eve? im
agined. A Virgo, who shares the same birthdate
as her mother, Thema already exemplifies
strong-willed determination, independence,
creativity and cheerfulness ?
virtues befitting the "queen" which her
African name translates into; virtues which
our woman-child will need in order to survive
and succeed in today's and
-tomorrow's world...
The other significant event which
transpired that fateful September day involved
the "birthing" of a different sort of
baby; a "baby" much needed, desperately
wanted and long overdue!!
1 am referring, of course, to the opening
of the Winston-Salem branch of the
Mechanics and Farmers Bank. A
"miracle" to some; a dream come true to
others. But for most, a monumental happening
which injected the plasma of hope
into the economic bloodline of East
Winston.
Chronicle Letters
~ A"Victory 1
* >
Editor's Note: The following note was addressed
to Chronicle Community News
Editor Sandra Jackson.
Dear Ms. Jackson:
Thank you very much for the article
written-this past week in the WinstonSalem
Chronicle concerning "Sickle Cell
Anemia." You did an excellent job writing
n|- I wish to thank you for your coverage
the events sbbftsoi'&i '
. Sophisticated Gents were very successful.
?Again? thanks! May God bless you!
Dr. Gertrude Brown
Winston-Salem
More Gratitude
This letter also was addressed to Ms.
Jackson...
Dear Ms. Jackson:
I want to personally thank you for the
very insightful, informative and sympathetic
article which you wrote for the
Pediatric Sickle Cell Program at Bowman
i Gray School of Medicine. As you may have
heard, the Sophisticated Gents and their
Women's Auxiliary raised almost $600 for
us with their car wash and fish fry. We feel
Guest Column
The Myth (
By Manning Marable
American politicians and businessmen
often refer to this country as "a free society.
*' Corporate power and exploitation is
called "free enterprise;" elected officials
applaud the "free institutions" of the Congress
and the courts. The Soviet Union is
attacked as "totalitarian" when it restricts
critical COmmentarv ahmit rMimfl
- J wv > V^l 1 I W IbJUl
from the vantagepoint of grassroots
? America, the- dream of freedom has
become a cruel hoax.
How "free" are working people, blacks,
Hispanics, the unemployed and the poor in
America? For every advance in legislation
?piuviding job security, health core and
social service benefits, we<have witnessed
public policy assaults that will increase
poverty, disease and unemployment. Well
before Reaganism. this countrv has been
moving steadily toward greater inequality,
fewer democratic rights and less real
"freedom," especially in regards to the
criminal justice system.
Let these recent events speak for
themselves:
In December 1981, two million
American adults were behind bars or on
probation or parole. That amounts to one
out of every 83 persons over the age of 18.
*
^ ^ /*
I
ik's Money Ai
Like my daughter, 4 Mechanics and
Farmers has had to endure the initial-year,
embryonic pains of growth and development.
Likewise, just as Thema is forced to
depend on her parents and grandparents
for physical support and material needs,
Mechanics and Farmers has had to rely on
its "collective family" to nourish, sustain
CLIFTON
GRAVES
and support the planting of its roots in our
community.
Unfortunately (and unlike Thema),
Mechanics and Farmers has not received
the "love," support and sustenance from
our community that it is due. Yes, 1 realize
that all "babies" must crawl before they
walk. But, given Mechanics and Farmers*
beautiful facility, solid history of solvency
and firm reputation in other North
Carolina communities, it would seem that
the Winston branch's "crawling" stage
could have been drastically shortened ?
with the proper support.
Now please do not misunderstand...The
bank is doing quite well, thank you. According
to City-Executive Mel -Whiter the
financial institution is ahead of its projected
planning schedule, and has recorded
n A ? * _ - -
mute wusiomers 10 aaie man it had anticipated.
However, when we consider that the
bank's coffers contain less than 10 percent
of the estimated $30-$40 million in commercial
bank deposits emanating from East
n Fight Again
? PtCASe/ f1E^?/ PLEAS6 / -
BANKGK... -A ;
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LOOKS LlKE.WEU^ST
that the program is really well underway
now.
We thank you for your interest in us, and
your article, which surely helped to increase
public interest in what we are trying
to achieve.
Christine A. Johnson, M.D.
Director,
Pediatric Sickle Cell Program
Bowman Gray School of
Medicine
~)fAmerica's *\
Three hundred sixty-nine thousand adults
are locked up in federal and state prisons;
157,000 were in local jails; more than 1.2
million were on probation from state or
federal penitentaries, and another 223,800
were paroled.
Two and two-tenths million blacks are
arrested every year, over 8 percent of the
total Afro-American population.
The U.S. death row population, as of
June 10, 1982, reached its highest level in
"There is a direct relationship bet
Southern states have had a long tra<
injustices toward blacks."
history, 1,038 persons. About one-half ot
these men and women are black. Only 13
percent of the death row prisoners had
black victims ? while blacks comprise 54
percent of all homocide victims in the U.S.
There is a direct relationship between
racism and punishment. The Southern
states have had a long historical tradition
of racist lynchings .and legal injustices
toward blacks. Thus, in our times, it comes ^
as no surprise that 693 of the death row
prisoners are currently held in the South.
Southern politicians have turned the
penitentiaries and criminal justice system
,
V
v '
?
J
ly Greener?
Winston, very serious concerns come to the
fore. The basic issue is that we as black folk
are still immersed in the quagmire of selfhate
and self-deprecation. We are still ?
in 1982 ? caught up in the mistaken belief
that white folks* ice is colder than black
folks' ice; that white doctors' medication is
more soothing than black doctors'; that
white lawyers are smarter than their AfroAmerican
counterparts, and that white
banks* money is greener and more valuable
than black banks*.Needless
to say, all of the above is
hogwash (and a few more spicy invectives
?(hat on/vri i?c?? !- J' '
..... Bvw aim cuiiunai aiscretion will
not allow me to print). But the misperceptions
are real, and must be addressed.
Sadly, the most tragic and disgusting fact
is that it is the "middle-class," "intelligentsia,"
"white-collar," "suburban," "made
in the shade" NEGROES who are most .
guilty of this moral and economic crime
against our people!!
Yes, 1 realize that Winston-Salem is
basically a blue-collar, working-class town,
and that many of the bank's customers
.?- <> - .
wuuiu naiurany dc a part ot that population.
However, the bank's records reflect
that very few of the growing number of
professional folk, those with the "good"
jobs in Reynolds, Hanes^ Wachovia,
NCNB, the City, Winston-Salem State7
etc., have chosen to bank with Mechanics
and Farmers!
I mean, what is the problem?!? Does Mel
White's breath stink?! Is it that you don't
like Bank Manager Betty Hanes' shoes?!?
Or is it that you do not want to take or
See Page 5
1 ? _
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st Sickle Cell
WEARC ftoR NO MO0E HX>! FEW
NATIONS TOT fOR YOWSEiMK/
weep MORE MD \ '
TDHEIP PAV OUR x
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PLE^se/ putec/
Fun And Fellowship
To The Editor:
The Sunrise Towers Bingo Club and the
Winston-Salem Recreation Deoartment
wish to extend a hearty thank-you for your
generous contributions to our Senior
Citizens' Summer Bingo Party. Attached is
a copy of our recent affair.
See Page 5
Free Society*
into a virtual "political football'* in order
to get re-elected. Since January 1979,
^ ^ -?
11cm iua vjuvcniur duo oranam nas signed
32 death warrants, and his state's death
row total of 181 is the highest in the country.
This May, the Georgia State Senate
passed a bill to create a "mobile death
wagon." Georgia's electric chair will now
be placed literally on wheels, "so condemned
criminals can be executed near the
scene" of their alleged crimes!
'ween racism and punishment. The
iition of racist lynchings and legal
Mandatory life sentences without the
possibility of parole are now ordered with
greater frequency. This June, for instance,
a 32-year-old black man, Vernon Chapman,
was convicted for raping a Louisiana
white woman. Chapman took a voluntary
lie detector test, which he passed; three
witnesses at the trial swore that he was 10
miles away from the scene of the crime
when it occurred. An all-white jury gave
Chapman "life without parole/'
The vast majority of black, Hispanic and
poor whites convicted for mandatory life 4
See Page 5