Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Feb. 3, 1977, edition 1 / Page 2
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cdiioiâii tconcii "Roots" In Perspective By Hoy le H. Martin Sr. Post Executive Editor ABC-TV's 12 hour, eight-part se ries, "Roots," was by any standard a grand success. Based on Alex Haley's dramatic story of a black family from its African beginning through the Civil War, freedom and new forms of economic exploitation, it was without a doubt symbolic of the background of the average black American family. Now that the epic story has been viewed nightly by an estimated 80 million Americans, what does it mean or what should it mean for us both black and white now and in the future? The answer to this question depends on how we react to the story. A story which, like none before it, portrayed how whites raped the spirits of black men and the bodies of black women in their quest to destroy black culture and dreams of freedom. In spite of this despicable past condition of "man's inhumanity to man," for a black viewer to become enraged and engulfed in hatred of whites for what their ancestors did, would be to have missed a signifi cant meaning of "Roots." "Roots" showed clearly that whites who enslaved blacks were themselves enslaved. Congressman John Buc hanan, a white Republican from Alabama reminded us of this recent ly when he praised UN Ambassador Andrew Young for his attacks on white supremacy and segregation. He referred to Young as "one of the people most responsible for setting our beloved South free from th<» shackles of yesterday." On the other hand, for a white viewer of "Roots" to have been overcome with feelings of guilt as a result of his ancestors acts, would be to develop"an Attitude of. "don't ' blame and by exhibiting hostili _ ty toward blacks, a hostility that always destroys its users. In fact, it has been the failure of some blacks and whites to respond to Haley's true-to-life story at the level of maturity noted here that has led to sporadic racial incidents in some places across the nation. Nevertheless, when placed in per spective, "Roots" probably created strong reaction from many viewers as much for what it did not show as for what it did. The realistically portrayed "novel for television" ended on such a high note of hope and optimism that it may have caused many to wonder about the depth and justification for such optimism. No doubt the last episode of "Roots" left joy in the hearts of many viewers as the qff-SDrinfis of Kunta Kinte sought freedom in a new territory. Yet, they found, as blacks are still painfully aware of today, that freedom, justice and equality was not yet theirs. Civil War Removed While Lincoln and the Civil War removed the chains of bondage, freedom continued to elude Kinte's decendents, as it does blacks today, through the economic shackles of sharecropping, high unemployment (twice that of whites) and to many meaningless jobs when work is made available. The point is, in 1865 the black man's body became free, then in another 100 years, 1964, the black man's mind became free as equal educational and economic opportunity became the law of the land. Yet, institutionalized racism, including housing discrimination, limited upward mobility in employ ment and similar forms of social and economic injustice still exist in most areas of American society. This means in essence that within white Americans there still exists a slave mentality. For example, and ironically, the media - television, that so vividly portrayed the cultu ral heritage of blacks and their struggle for freedom in the presen tation of "Roots," is a media caught up in the slave mentality. POST columnist Gerald O. John son eloquently described television's slave mentality in an article else where on this page where he says, "All of the black TV shows are comedies...But because there is no balance, depicting blacks in other areas it tends to make us look like clowns." Johnson continued, "There is a Hûfi ni ♦û nAA^ ··« 1 _LI' Λ laugh at ourselves. But when laugh ter is not coupled with a humanistic viewpoint...the medium becomes de trimental to the depiction of a people." In getting even more directly to the slave mentality, Johnson states further that a lot of television shows involve mixed affairs. "Unfortu nately, and even more unrealistical ly, all these mixed affairs are centered around'a whit# man and a black female. Never have I witness ed the reverse." Is this not a throw-back to the historic period that "Roots" shows with the slave owners molesting black women? Poor Black Male "The poor black male," Johnson continues, "is still a laughing (and being laughed at) figure while all this is going on. One night we see Brenda Sykes (on the recently can celled show "Executive Suite") be come pregnant by a white stud and the next night we see J.J. Walker ("Good Times") acting like an ass. This type of stereotyping has a definite effect on young people who (unfortunately) very seldom read and take television as the gospel." Among the few times that a black man has won the charms and affection of a white woman was in the movie "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner." In that story Sidney Poitier was depicted as a "super nigger." Therefore, black people must éx press their outrage about these suttle forms of racism and the slave ^nentalit^ * RAPE HAS BECOME A BLACK CRIME" A BLACK DETROIT POLICEMAN RECENTLY STATED. HE SAID IN ONE 24 HOUR PERIOD EIGHT RAPES HERE I REPORTED, ALL " VICTIMS WERE BLACK, j SO WERE THE RAPISTS. Crime Is A Pressing Problem In The Black Community Providing Reading Materials since Uie skill of reading is considered basic to the child's educational development, it is essential that children be pro vided with enough printed materials to allow them to devfijpp this 8WI j fiSd tkat the publl an iav*Juable \ taining books as it offers a wide variety of reading mate rials for all ages, and the only requirement for borrowing books is a library card · which is free. Library circulation figures show that people of middle and high incomes borrow books much more than people in low income communities. Part of this is due to the library's traditional image as an institution for scholars and researchers; but another and perhaps more important rea son is that in the past, segre gation laws have barred a large portion of Blacks from this very important source of printed materials. As a result, many parents regard the library as an alien institu tion and are unaware of its vital function in the develop ment of the child's reading skills. In the past few years, the library has made tremendous efforts to change its image and to serve all citizens. Ef forts to extend service to children in low-income com munities have been particu larly noteworthy, ranging from bookmobiles bringing books to children, to publicity campaigns urging children to come to the library. The child ren always respond to this appeal with great enthusiasm, but the response is usually rjihort lived"»» the ' children forget fa) bripfUAi ^ook* back on time; bring back books which have been da maged by the baby or the dog, or lose the books. Often, when they are charged overdue fines or for lost or damaged books, parents prohibit them from further use of the library and the children are once again cut off from access to printed materials. Expenses connected with the use of the library, however, need not happen and very seldom occur when children have the help of their parents in trying to learn how to use a lending system. The following suggestions should help in training child ren to make use of the libra ry's services: 1. Establish a library habit. One day each week should be set aside for going to the library. Even though libraries allow books to be borrowed for two and sometimes three weeks, the child should be encouraged to take out only enough books for one week, bringing them back at the end of the week to exchange them for more. This not only firmly establishes regular library use, but lessens the chance of incurring overdue fines. 2. Help the child to care for the books. The child should be encouraged to keep the books clean and to handle them carefully. One special place in 0» house ; weM Out of the reach This also helps to keep the books from getting lost. 3. Regard overdue fines as an investment. Everyone, at one time or another, forgets to bring books back on time and the fines are very necessary as a means of keeping the books in circulation. When compared to the money spent for things of a less important nature, the amount of expen se connected with the use of the library is extremely small and is well worth it to keep this important channel for printed materials open to the child. 4. Get to know the librari ans. They perform an impor tant function in the child's total education. They are there to serve you, and they measure their effectiveness by the extent to which the community makes use of the library. For parents who cannot af ford to purchase enough print ed materials to give their child an equal opportunity to learn to read well, the public library is a gold mine - take advan tage of it! TO BE EQUAL Vernon Ε. Jordan Jr. · Carter'β Mandate For Activism President Jimmy Carter enters office with the solid backing of the American people, as measured not only by the election results but also by recent polls. And that backing is largely predicated on the expectation that he will actively take steps to introduce important retorms. A recent Newsweek poll, for example, shows that 60 percent of respondents have a more favorable opinion of President Carter than they did last November, and only ten percent thought less of him. At the same time, 76 percent expect him to introduce a tax reform bill this year, 69 percent expect a reduction in unemployment this year, and 54 percent expect him to introduce a national health insurance bill in 1977. Another public opinion survey, this time from Washington-based Potomac Associates suggests that much of the public's backing for then President-elect Carter was due to expectations that he would take risks and be an activist. The study warns that "a lack of action, the pursuit of stability for its own sake...ultimately would lead to political failure." So Jimmy Carter enters the Presidency basking in more than the usual honeymoon period all new Presidents enjoy ; he enters it with the good feeling and support of the citizenry based on their expectations of his leadership and his commitment to change. And that explains some of the disappointment in the economic package he has proposed. It's a grab-bag of tax cuts, ta* rehatec ««h job-creation programs. Despite the expectations of reform programs within the coming months, his Administration indicates that welfare and health insnrance reforms will have to wait for an . improved fiscal situation. But at the same time taxes - the resources needed for the reforms - will, t»e reduced. , for federal programs are so great. A tax cut is not nearly as effective as jotvcreation programs in stimulating the economy. It's been estimated that public service employment programs cre ate two to four times more jobs per dollar than a tax cut. And the job-creation component is limited. Over a two year period it would create jobs for only abouften percent of the officially unem ployed, and by stretching it out there's the probability that any slight improvement in the economy will be used as an excuse to cut back the unfulfilled portion of the program. The economic package is clearly less than what President Carter's supporters expected and less than the economy needs. The most distrubing aspect of this is that President Carter seems to be trimming his sails needlessly, spending undue energy and care on reassuring his political opponents that he is not too radical, instead of meeting the needs and high expecta tions of his supporters. Seeking consensus and taking the middk ground is often advisable, but a new Presiden must be aware that the political honeymoo comes to a fairly early end anyway, and that it' ι necessary to act swiftly and boldly at the start ' f a new Administration THE CHARLOTTE POST "THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER" Established 1918 Published Every Thursday By The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc. 2606-B. West Blvd.-Charlotte, N.C. 28208 Telephones (704 ) 392-1306, 392-1307 Circulation 7,185 58 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE Bill Johnson Editor-Publisher Albert Campbell Advertising Director Rex Hovey Circulation Manager Gerald O. Johnson. Business Manager Second Class Postage Paid at Charlotte, N.C. under the Act of March 3,1878 Member National Newspaper Publishers Association — North Carolina Black Publishers Association Deadline for all news copy and photos is 5 p.m. Monday. The Poet is not responsible for any photos or news copies submitted for publication. National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc. 4^ «. ath Suite 1403 2400 S. Michigan Ave. New York, N Y. 10036 Chicago, 111. 60616 (212 ) 489-1220 Calumet 5-020P ,<3S i SCC it Television Fails Black People By oerald υ. Johnson As more and more integra tion takes place on the idiot tube, I have noticed a distinct pattern developing as to the ' role blacks play in relation to whites. For instance. Blacks are either depicted as buffoons or they are underminded altoge ther All of the black T V. shows are comedies This in itself is not bad. But because there is no balance, depicting Blacks in other areas it tends > to make us look like clowns. "ΑΠ In the Family,' "Mau ed," "Phyllis," and the like are balanced by "The Wal ton's," "The Family," "Rich Man. Poor Man," and many others. There is a definite need for us to be able to laugh at ourselves But when laughter is not coupled with a humanis tic viewpoint as well, the medium becomes detrimental to the depiction of a people Thus. "The Jefferson's,'" "Sanford and Son," " What's Happening" and "Good nmes nave no coupling shows that depict Black peo ple in a more serious light. Hence, television has failed to reflect the true image of a society that it is set up to entertain. Moreover, a lot of television shows have set out to integrate the show by having mixed affairs thrown into them. Un fortunately, and even more unrealistically, all these mix ed affairs are centered around a white male and a black female Never have I witness ed the reverse. Never has there been a case when a white female and a black male had an affair going 1 think this is a vey unheal thy depiction of our society because it tends to make the white male omnipotent It ex ploits us as black males and it even exploits white female* indirectly It is obvious that the white male is attempting to prove his domineering capabilities by being able lo control the female sex both white and black τι in in π Γηϊι—nu The poor black male is «till a laughing figure while all this is going on. One night we tee Brenda Syke s become preg nant by a white stud and the ^ next night we see J J Walker acting like an ass This type of stereotyping has a definite effect on young people who very seldom read, but take television as the gospel The responsibility of chang •■■g mis inaccurate account of Black life in America as seen on television rests on the "Black People of America's" shoulder The need for Black televi sion writers is acute. No white man can accurately describe the Joys and sorrows, hurt and pain, love and hate, of a Black man. Until, however, television can be changed to demon strate true to-life situations of the black lifestyle·, it will fall M a responsible medium in a very complex society. GROCERIES IN BLACK AREAS Have you ever been gro cery shopping in the southeast section of Charlotte? Not that the food is any cheaper on that end of town, but the conditions of the food look much better. The food looks so good you want to eat it. ...The stores are so nice and clean, and very well kept over in the Southeast area I was truly shocked. .. Compare the grocery stores in that areta with the ones in Soulville That same chain, mind you, but on« «tore in Southeast, the other was in West Charlotte. The store on the west side was filthy. Trash on the floors everywhere you look. The meat looks as if it was the southeast's store re ject. It had begun to trun grayish green around the ed ges. The majority of fresh vegetables were on the floor. The can goods looked like the "Schlitz Malt Liquor'' bull had gotten to them. The whole scenario was enough to make you sick. ...It seems to me that since the food was the same price in both stores, both stores should offer the same envirt nent. The meat* in the ac beast area shouldn't look μ more appetizing than the at in the weetaide area. I they do! It Is the job of Um mmu nity to see to it that a food' you spend your har tamed dollar on la of the ear Quality as the food in store ι other areas. ...But what's pv ng me though is that the ι a in th« southeast cater· to itea and the store in the » side ca ters to blacks.. u don't think this might ..NahMt Shucks, we are irst For Freedom ! * naiey le 3L5U Guest Speaker South Carolina State Col lege's Founder's Day pro gram will feature Alex Haley, author of "Roota," as Its guest speaker in Orangeburg on Sunday, March 13 at 4 p.m in the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium Haley, a former chief inter viewer for ' Playboy'' maga zine and the author of "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," culminated 12 yeare j research in October to pro-; duce a masterpeice of history: and fiction which traces his-' heritage from an African vil·: lage. He wUI also be present at: a reception following the pro-· gram A spokesman from SCSC announced that the public i* invited to attend the Fow der's Day activities
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Feb. 3, 1977, edition 1
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