Preserving Black Communities
By Hoyle H. Martin, Sr.
Post Editorial Editor
The story on page one concerning
a petition of 762 names opposing the
construction of a county vehicle
maintenance garage near Beatties
Ford and Hoskins Roads is one of
millions in America that remind us
that the U.S. Riot Commission Re
port of 1967 continues to be a fact to
the extent that "our nation (re
mains) two societies, one black, one
white-separate and unequal."
When, for example, a black family
seeks better housing that happens to
be in a white neighborhood,whites
flee in panic, often selling their
homes at a loss to unethical real
estate speculators who promote se
gregated housing and then engage in
blockbusting practices that result in
underpayment to the panicing
whites and overcharges to blacks
moving in. Here in our city, Hidden
Valley was some years ago all white,
now it is more than 65 percent black.
Was blockbusting a factor?
The request to build a garage in a
black neighborhood reminds us too
that even when blacks live in sepa
rate neighborhoods there are institu
tionalized forces that tend to destroy
J * * · · - - -
uociujjcu, wen preservea DiacK
communities. Studied show that
roadways which cut through or
block-in communities often contri
bute to their eventual decline.
What effect, in the long run, will be
boxing-in and slicing up or north
west Charlotte by 1-85, 1-77 and
Highway 16 have on the retension
and up-keep of three of the most
impressive black communities in
Charlotte? Add to that the danger of
jet aircrafts flying low overhead to
and from Douglas airport.
These facts about black communi
ty life are well known to blacks but
little understood by whites whose
knowledge of black neighborhoods is
too often limited by the quick obser
vations made as they drive hurried
ly in their air-conditioned automo
biles through overcrowded low-in
come housing areas that ring the
center city. How many whites in
Charlotte have seen a black neigh
borhood other then Earl Village or
Fairview Homes? How many whites
have seen, or gotten out of their
automobiles long enough to visit
someone, in the neighborhoods that
may be affected by the proposed
garage at Beatties Ford and Hoskins
Roads? How many of our County
Commissioners have seen these
neighborhoods?
Black neighborhoods have carried
the burden of most low-income hous
ing units, of most crosstown "bus
ing" for younger school children, of
less police protection, of less ambu
lance service, of no hospital, of less
fire protection, and of instances of
higher prices for inferior quality
food items in chain stores. Have not
the black neighborhoods been asked
and-or given enough of the city and
county's burdens without adding a
garage?
The Northwood Estates Communi
ty Affairs Association and its sup
porters favor establishing a park on
the site for the proposed garage.
However, since Commission Chair
man "Liz" Hair has said, based on
a Park and Recreation Study, that
"the area appears to be fairly well
served with parks", it seems unlike
ly that the Commissioners will ap
prove the idea of a park. Neverthe
less, the POST believes that the
Commissioners should look beyond
the park report to the human situa
tion. As the report says, three of the
parks are each within a lVfe mile
distance from the Beatties Ford and
nusMiis rvuaa îniersecuon, nowever,
the report does not point out that
children going to such play areas
would have to cross the overpasses
at 1-85 and 1-77 and streets with
heavy traffic, some with possibly no
sidewalks. The other park is four
miles away without sidewalks on the
main route. How many parents any
where would permit younger child
ren to travel such great and hazar
dous distances to reach a play area?
The POST strongly urges the
Mecklenburg County Commission
eres to reject any proposal to build a
garage on the site at Beatties Ford
and Hoskins Roads and that they
seek a more suitable location away
from any residential area. Further
more, the POST suggests that the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning
Commission seek more creative and
complementary uses for public
lands in or near residential areas.
We think, for example, that a park
would be ideal for the Beatties
Ford-Hoskins Road intersection. Let
us endeavor to preserve our commu
nities, not destroy them.
Blacks, Bicentennial And Priorities
As we approach the 200th birthday
of our nation some debate exists
over whether black Americans
should participate in the Bicenten
nial which, at its worst, is a remind
er of black enslavement in 1776, the
abandonment of reconstruction in
1876, and the continued existence of
social and economic discrimination
against blacks in 1976.
At its best, the Bicentennial cele
bration offers us the opportunity to
enlighten the nation and to educate
our children to the extraordinary
role that black people have played in
building America.
We applaud, for example, the
newly formed Concerned Black Citi
zens for a Better Bicentennial, how
ever, before pressing to rename
Beatties Ford Road "Martin Luther
King Boulevard," we believe that
the road should be worthy of such a
great American's name.
Blacks need to concern themsel
ves with the high crime rate, high
insurance rates for businesses, traf
fic congestion and the current effort
to locate a county motor vehicles
maintenance garage on Beatties
Ford Road.
RETURNING TO BUILD
A BETTER BLACK
COMMUNITY.
Blacks' Destiny In Own Hands
REPORT FRO M
;^AfrtWoshingtoû
I
Bicentennial Washington
JIM MARTIN, 9th
District Congressman
There will be many exciting
opportunities this year to take
part in your Bicentennial ce
lebration. A visit to our Na
tion's Capital would be a me
morable way to do so.
Two hundred years ago,
there was no such city as
Washington, but today it is one
of tbe prime points of Bicen
tennial interest, a living sym
bol of our heritage This week
I want to use this time to offer
some observations and sug
gestions to make your visit
easier and more rewarding.
Every part of Washington
has made special plans for the
Bicentennial, from the popu
lar Smithsonian Institution,
which has 23 separate Bicen
tennial oroiects, to the U.S.
Capitol. There are many new
developments, such as Consti
tution Gardens, a beautiful
park and rest area near the
Lincoln Memorial. The Natio
nal Zoo has been completely
renovated.
The crowds started arriving
a month ago so if you plan to
come in the next three
months, be sure you have
confirmed reservations. Also,
you should plan to come on a
weekend when business and
convention trade is lightest If
the hot weather is discourag
ing you. why not wait until
Autum, one of the choice times
of the year to visit Washing
ton. October is usually a dry
and mild month. You will
spend less time waiting in
lines, find better accomoda
tions and get more personal
attention.
When you make your plans
to vacation in Washington, let
me know. I'll send you a
packet of useful literature and
a good map of the city. You
might want to circle the places
on the map that you want to
visit. When you get here, drop
by my office for passes to the
(Hduse arid Senate galleries.
My advice is to forget about
driving in Washington. Traffic
in the downtown area is con
fusing enough for those of us
who work here, much less the
visitor. To make it easy on
yourseii, try taking one of the
fringe-parking shuttle-buses
being operated from huge
parking lots at R.F.K. Memo
rial Stadium or the Pentagon.
The bus ties in with the regu
lar bus system called Metro
bus. Beefed-up bus service is
planned for the bicentennial,
so visitors will be able to park
their- cars at large shopping
centers, or leave them at their
motel and ride Metro. The
National Park Service spon
sors an open-bus service that
offers the ideal solution to
seeing the favorite sights in
the city. This Tourmobile ser
vice allows you to get off and
on at will, at your own pace,
for a nominal fee. The Tour
mobile is one of the bargins of
Washington, and I recom
mend it to everyone who
spends a few days here. If yu
are short on time, there are
charter bus and limousine ser
vices available as well as taxis
for hire. If you enjoy bike
riding, at least a dozen bike
ways wind over 50 miles
through beautiful parks along
the Potomac River.
If your feet tire quickly,
there are some sit-down sights
in Washington, including the
Supreme Court, congressional
committees or the House and
Senate sessions. And while
you are here, take time to
view the Capitol as not only
the seat of the greatest legisla
tive body on earth, but as
mammoth museum of history
and art.
The question often arises,
"What about crime in Wash
ington? Is it safe?" Despite
the general assumptions to the
contrary, it is safe to visit in
Washington, a lot safer than
years ago. Lighting is much
better and there are more
police. Yes, you can get mug
ged, robbed or have your car
stolen if you're careless, but if
you use common sense and
stay alert, nothing will happen
to you. Lock your doors. Don't
wander into neighborhoods
you know nothing about. In
other words, don't do things
you would not do in any other
large city.
Thousands of people come to
Washington each year to visit
historic places, explore galle
ries and museums, take in
exhibits and cultural events. If
you take part in these reward
ing experiences as others do,
in all likelihood you will be as
safe here as at home.
TO
BE
EQUAL
VKKNOX Κ. JORDANJR
Replacing The Welfare System
Given George McGovern's experience of hav
ing his 1972 presidential campaign run aground
over his plan for an income maintenance system,
it's unlikely that welfare reform will play much
of a role in the current campaign.
But whether a Republican or a Democrat is
elected in November, one of the first orders of
business will have to be a plan to replace the
present welfare system.
Part of the reason is that welfare costs are
rising sharply, straining federal and local bud
gets, without however, providing adequate assis
tance to all in need.
Last year welfare costs rose by over 21
percent, largely because of the rise in unemploy
ment that left many families without resources.
Continued high unemployment will mean inceas
ing numbers of people forced onto the welfare
rolls.
The impact of these costs has already led to
calls for federalization of welfare as states and
cities, already strapped financially, face the
need to find money for welfare benefits to the
victims of our economy. Four big-state govern
ors have come out for federal take-over of
welfare costs and many others would look
favorably on such a development.
As an interim measure, federal take-over
makes sense. It would relieve local budgets,
impose fair national standards, and provide
assistance to the most hard-pressed cities and
states.
But it could only be an interim solution
because the present welfare system, even with a
federal take-over of costs, would remain an
inefficient, degrading system that grudgingly
aids some while ignoring the needs of others.
There would still be a means test to separate
"us" from "them", and the program would
remain political football, a vehicle for condem
ning the poor and circulating myths and stereo
types.
It would be best to start from scratch and
devise a system that recognizes the existence of
poverty, the necessity to insure minimum Ηνϊησ
standards for all, and the need for a universal
system designed to aid, not punish, people on the
margins of a shaky economy that cannot now
provide jobs for all.
aome twelve million people are now on the
welfare rolls, nearly all of them too old or too
young to work. That's only about half the people
officially designated as poor, and if you take into
account the way the official poverty level has
lagged behind inflation, there may be as many as
40 million people who are actually poor.
By constructing a system that aids only those
who manage to<hurdle the barriers of stringent
welfare system requirements, aid is denied to
other people who are poor and to the millions just
above the poverty line but who are also in need.
It also creates conflicts between those who work
for salaries not much above the welfare allot
ments and welfare recipients.
The answer to the welfare dilemma is a new
income maintenance plan that would consist of a
universal refundable credit income tax Tti"i-«ld
work this way: Everyone would get a basi^cash
grant. The poor would keep it all, the near-poor
would keep some of it, and middle and upper
income families would have the grant taxed
away. #
THE CHARLOTTE POST
'THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER"
Established 1918
Published Every Thursday
By The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc.
2606B West Blvd.-Charlotte, N.C. 28208
Telephones (704 ) 392-1306, 392-1307
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Bill Johnson
Gerald O. Johnson
Rex Hovey
.Editor-Publisher
Business Manager
Circulation Manager
Second Class Postage Paid at
Charlotte, N.C. under the Act Of March 3,1878
Member National Newpaper Publishers
Association
North Carolina Black Publishers Association
Deadline for all news copy and photos is 5 p.m
Monday. The Post is not responsible for any
photos or news copies submitted for publication.
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Amalgamated Publishers, Inc.
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Calumet 5-0200
Pride Lacking Among Blacks
By Gerald Ο Johnson
Post Staff Writer
I have noticed a lack in
black professionalism in
Black business in Charlotte.
Those businesses catering to a
Black clientele seems to be
non chalant about how they
present their product to the
customer Let me give you an
example When 1 first moved
to Charlotte I bought a house I
wanted the sun room on the
I wuse remodeled I called a
black construction company
to give me an estimate. The
owner came out looked over
what I wanted done and said
he would write up an estimate'
and get back in contact with
me Three years and one room
addition later and I haven't
heard from him yet I called a
white remodeling agency that
came in and did the job Ironi
cally enough the white agency
subcontracted the job to a
black carpenter who did an
«-xcellent job The point here is
that Blacks are undoubtedly
qualified to do a professional
job. yet they lack the profes
sional diplomacy to contract
jobs It is inexcusable for any
business to ignore a potential
customer
My wife started seeing a
black gynecologist for her
medical services, but switch
ed after feeling1 that the doctor
was to insensitive She wasn't
the only defector. Over hear
ing conversations my wife
would have with friends it
became apparent that many
felt the same way.
Again professional diploma
cy, overshadowed professional
ability.
Clubs, restaurants, insu
rance agencies, and the like
all lack the professional aire
Therefore the mood of skepti
cism about doing business
with Blacks is real
But how real is it? As Blacks
needing services rendered we
help add to the unprofessiona
lism of Black Businesses It is
a fact we as black customers
give black busiesses a hard
way to go Black workers pro
duce less when working for
blacks. Black customers are
less willing to pay black col
/ ΒΜΜΒΙΗΙ
lectors, black customers are
less willing to pay a black
company for services render
ed the same price that they
would pay to a white company
for the same services. Taking
all this in consideration and
realizing that a Black busi
nessman's primary clientele
is the black public where as
the White businessman's cli
entele knows no color, the
black business is hurting
Moreover, jealousy play» a
dominate role in black busi
ness, black customer relation
ships. A lot of blacks refrain
from helping black businesses
because they don't want
blacks to get ahead. In other
words there are those who
purposely anchor black busi
nesses The reason for this is
my theory of "Failure Ratio
nalization". It works like this;
These blacks can rationalize
their failings simply by using
race as the reason By saying
that whites have had all the
opportunities, they can relax
with their shortcomings. But
as more Blacks succeed in
business it begans to put the
reasons for failure where it
belongs; in the lap of the
individual.
It is obvious that black capi
talism suffers because of the
skepticism between black
business and black customer.
With a limited customer base
a black business has to be
understaffed The necessary
revenue is not forth coming.
This causes a situation where
by the owner of the business is
likelv to be the sales man, the
worker, the bookkeeper and
etc. This obviously limits a
person's ability at diplomacy.
All small businesses lack pro
fessionalism for this reason
As members of the black
community we all should try
to help build pride and profes
sionalism in our community
As businessmen we should
not use the lack of personnel
as an excuse for not giving
customers the very best ser
vice we can offer.
As black laborers for black
businesses we should do our
jobs the best we know how and
not try to take advantage of
the business because it is
black.
As consumers of services
rendered by black businesses
we should try to give our
support. We should under
stand the shortcomings and
handicaps of the bm-.-k busi
nessman and realize that with
our support most of these
shortcomings can be over
come.
Remember, North Carolina
Mutual, Johnson and Johnson,
and Johnson Publishing Com
pany, didn't start out as large
corporations. All of these
companies started as one man
operations much the same
way as small businesses are in
Charlotte now.
With support, hard work,
and pride In ourselves as a
community we could turn
mountains.
NEWS FOR YOU!
Do you have a topic that you
would like my opinion on?
Write to "As You See It" In
care of The Charlotte Post
You may include an opinion of
your own if you like for print
ing along with my opinion I
will give you my honest and
candid opinion on any topic.
Just think of it, you get my
opinion for exactly what my
opinion is worth' Absolutely
nothing '