Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / April 14, 1977, edition 1 / Page 1
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Blacks' Depravation Results From Disorganization? By Ο. Imani Uhuru Aka (V.W.P.) The outrageous conditions that exist in the black com munity, high crime rate, ju venile delinquency, structural deterioration, public disor ganization, and moral incom petence, have been attributed to many causes, among them being the disorganization of the black religious communi ty. In a recent issue υί the Post, Kelly Alexander Sr., head of the North Carolina branch of the NAACH, indict ed the religious community for what he called its, "lack of togetherness, and ethnically distructive teachings." In short he contends that, "the black clergy are brainwashing blacks with the purity of whiteness, and the evil of blackness." Jn an effort to sound out the PlfPI fP ( inninw attitudes of the clergy on this subject, the Post talked with ministers wno represent what many would say are widely differing points of view, Eman Ali Shah. Eman of Masjid Muhammad No. 36, and the Rev. Coleman W. Kerry of Friendship Baptist Church. Both men obliged us in a very informative manner, as to their opinions on the function of the religious arm of the black communily. Both men were in agree ment as to the power of the church in the black communi ty "The Masjid ι mosque) is the center of moral strength for the community," com mented Eman Ali Shah. "It is our responsibility to help the community, the poor, the el derly, and all the unfortunates of an immoral society, these people need help in order to better their condition Rev Kerry offered that. " There is nothing to compare to the religious community as the most powerful force in the society It is the most powerful and the most viable force in the community, and it always has been. In view of the fact that both men agreed on the importance of the position occuoied by the clergy, we asked both men if the black religious community should unite, and pool its resources in order to strengthen the thrust of the upward mobility of the black community "Why should they unite·1" asked Rev Kerry "The whit es haven't united in this fash ion I don't see any virtue in that. You can not measure the effectiveness of an organiza tion by its size. Our job is to serve the needs ol (he people as we understand them to be. We must meet these needs on an economic level not sociolo gically in the potitical sense The dollar that leaves Friend ship reaches all over the world Here at home it pays for the tacilities and the staff, supports missions and educa tion Recently we helped fund $6υυ.ουυ to Shaw University. See Blacks on Page 10 !*ev Coleman W. Kerry Jr Religious leader YOUR BEST ADVERTISING MEDIA IN THE LUCRATIVE BLACK MARKÉf^flr'rl CALL 392-1306 THE CHARLOTTE POST fcPS 10 "Charlotte's Fastest Growing Community Weekly' BLACK NEWSPAPERS EFFECTIVELY REACH BY FAR. MORE BLACK CONSUMERS VOL. 3 NO. 40 Shari Blackwell ' - ι Is Beauty Of Week By Melvetta Wright Poet Stuff Writer Talent, ambition and a fore sight that is rarely seen in young people of her age. Miss Shari Blackwell, the older daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Blackwell of 1834 Haines St., is the Beauty that is represent ing the Post this week. A 12th grade student at West Charlotte's Open School com ponent, Shari is involved in the main counsel, the NAACP, the ^ski Club, and the COO - an "occupational program at the school She is employed at the Plaza Eye Clinic where she performs secretarial duties. A participant in the Open School since her sophomore year, Shari said that it's not for everybody. "...You have to be disciplined and responsi ble. You can fail in open school just like in a regular school." Shari explained why she perfers the open school con cept by saying, "...It's more conducive to learning. It gives students the chance to be creative and to do things they wouldn't régula RLY DO IN A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL." Shari has been accepted at UNCC, where she plans to study business administration and fashion merchandising. Looking forward to her college career, Shari said that being in the open school has prepar ed her for college. A sensitive Gemini (born June 28, 1959) who likes to work with her hands, Shari said that she enjoys sewing, swimming, music (she's stu died piano under Mrs. Blanche Oliver for 11 year), and watch ing old movies, which makes Channel 36 her favorite televi sion station. Shari is enrolled at Trimm Modeling Agency's school where she is now in the professional modeling class She and her classmates are traveling to New York City this month for a week's com petition at the International competition will cover four area· · television commer cials. photographic modeling, runaway modleing. and the Simplicity pattern contest. She made a dress for the competition but says that she doesn't put much hope in winning anything "If it hap pens. that'll be nice,'' she said, but shell be happy with the experience, just to be able to meet and talk to some of the people who are involved in professional modeling Despite her enjoyment of modeling. Shari said that her future plans don't include mo deling as a career possibility "1 wouldn't want to go into modeling because it's a short lived business Shari said that she's const dering trying designing, may be opening up some type of business that deals with art. or even teaching on the high school level as future career possibilities. She is a member of Simpson Gillespie United Methodist , Church Districting Outcome In Doubt? Charlotte Officials Expect Low Turnout For Tuesday's Election Employment Figures Make Good News By Deborah Gates Post Staff Writer The latest report from the Employment Security Com mission (ESC) concerning employment figures for the Tar Heel State was good news, showing that statewide em ployment had increased for February to 2,301,700, an in crease of 10,500 over Janu ary's level According to Dwight Leo nard, Manager of the Char lotte local ESC office. Cons truction trades added 1,200 new or laid-off workers in Feb. service industries added 2.100. and agriculture added 4,700 new employees in anticipation of the spring planting season. In short, the seasonal blow suffered by these very same industries in January was short lived, and there was enough resiliency in the state's economy for each to bounce back in February, said Leonard. In a recent discussion con cerning the Employment Se curity Commission's monthly jobless report for January, Leonard noted that the state wide unemployment had re gistered a 12 month high of seven percent "Not since Jan uary of 1976. had so many-173, 000 to be exact - of our citizens been without work ." He also stated that while a seasonal jump in unemployment is fair ly predictable in the early winter months, the unusual severity of January's cold (ended to push our jobless levels a bit higher than other wise expected. Outdoor occu pations such as construction were especially hard hit in I January, with individual job ! less rates running anywhere between 10 and 20 percent In JCSU Span Plan _ Housing, Academic Programs Two Main Areas Of Concern By Deborah Gates Post Staff Writer Housing and academic pro grams are the two main areas of concern involved in the plan, management and evalu ation of Johnson C. Smith University's five year span planning process According to a spokesman for Dr. Bertha Maxwell. Vice President of Administration Affairs at Smith, a workshop was held recently to introduce all planning components to the planning process for the fu ture of the institution. Involved in the process are six task force teams consist ing of community, staff, ad ministration, students, facul ty, and alumni members who took their ideas to a review board, which included Feter Scoggins of IBM. Sadie Jor dan of Community Develop ment; Vie Taylor of the City Budgeting Department. Co retta Cowan of RTF, Kelly Alexander. NAACP head. Jim Folk of Management and Manpower, and Ben Romine, of UNCC. The next step for the force will be to go to the planning commission soon, so that steps may get underway for the planning process Planning Commission members consist of all vice presidents and a student at Smith and commu nity members "The main concern of the students in this planning pro cess is to see out of state freshman housed on campus if they would like to be." Caro lyn Mason, administrative as sistant for planning, said ΛΙ so. she said the students show ed a great concern in the academic program, including ways to improve it and ideas for new ones In view that the process is still on the ground floor. »he said that newsletters will be available to keep everyone abreast of what's happening and what the\ are doing lo fill the needs of the institution According to Ms Mason, a past problem of (he institution was that there was not enough input from the students and community on such matters, which added problems con cerning past plans made for the institution She said this time. the community and students are involved, as the> should have an input m what direction the college should Ro " Wilson Counts Appointed *·*"" .. . I To Areospace Command Post By Deborah Gates Pott Staff Writer Wilson Ε Counts, who hold· the high rank of Major in the United States Air Force, has recently been appointed Com mander of the Aerospace De fense Command's Non-Com missioned Officers Academy in Panama City, Florida The Academy, which pro vides leadership and manage ment instruction and profes sional development training U students chosen from the » 000 enlisted men and wemer assigned to the command, ii commanded by General Da neil James, the first Black four star general in the historj of ihiscouniry s armeo lorces Major Counts, who ic cur· rently serving as Human Re lations Advisor (o General James with additional respon sibility of managing equal opportunity and drug alcohol abuse rehabilitation programs for ADCOM. will assume com mand of the Academy in Au gust Major Counts, a 1962 gradu ate of Johnson C Smith Uni versity where he studied Busi ness Administration and Eco nomics. is the son of Rev and Mrs Herman L. Counts Sr . of 1604 Patton Avenue Major Counts, who is now stationed in Colorado Springs Colorado is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Inc. Black Apathy May Help Defeat Bond Referendum ByHoylell Martin Sr. Post Executive Kditor An estimated 25 percent or 30,0(H) city residents will vote in Tuesday's bond-district re presentation election, accord ing to William Β Λ Culp. executive secretary ol the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections Kulhermore. Culp said ihat weather conditions are not usually .« factor in bond elects "as those who usually vote will go to the polls in spile ot the weather " Voters will be asked to vote "for or "against tour i tems three bond issues total ing more than Slfi million and a proposed plan lor district representation Ballots w ill be cast at the 78 city polling places use(F3uri7ig the prrsi dential election last year. The polls will be open from fi: to a nv to 7:30 p.m The bond issues are 111 S7.1imi.imhi to purchase the block across the street from the mam library on Tryon SH wl· tuuiixuc t and h jum; .· science jnii natural historv April Ls F air Housing Law Title V Π Month April mark- the ninth anni versaiy of the National Fair Housing Law Title VIII of the Civil Kights Act of 1(H>« The l.aw guarantees equal oppor (unity in housing lo every American It provides that it shall he unlawful to discri minute against any person in the terms, conditions or pri\ ι leges of the --ale or rental of a dwelling or in the provision of services or facilities in con tied ion therewith, because -if race, color religion sex or national origin Just as Fair Housing is a guaranteed right, it is also an idea that is right for our nation We face many pro blems and challenges to the quality of our life, and before we can surmount them we must first remove the barriers that prevent us from acting cooperatively as a people Kach of us should resolve to fight discrimination in our personal, daily lues, as well as in the conduct of govern ment business April i* an appropriate turn for all home buyers, realtors and renters t.» re-examine th< meaning and intent of the Fan Housing Law as well as thi ways in which each of u: relate to the Law We all shan responsibility for assui.n| that the Fair Housing Law ι implemented in personal a well as legal terms Everyon is involved liuseum called Discovery Place; <2i $2,5υυ.ουυ to reno vate Spirit Square. t:i> $6.305. l>00 in sanitary sewer services for 10 areas to be annexed to the city in December and $«75.000 for water in the same Hi areas, and 14 > the proposed 7-4 plan for district represen tation. The bond issue for the areas to be annexed will prohal>i\ pass without difficulty sum present law calls for residents in the annexed area lo assume part of the cost However tin bond issues for Spirit Square and Discovery Place and the districting plan face some difficulty due to voter con terns about higher laxes and an apparent high degree <>l .malhvimiui)g the· voters, who seemingly would benefit tIn most from district représenta tion · Voters will be asked to decide whether to sell $y i> million in bonds for Spirit Square and Discovery Place with pledges to pay back the bond money—with—propei lv— taxes, il deemed necessary The possibility of a higher lax rate- to meet this possible obligation does no! fair well w ith many tax pa\crs who are weary of the current high tax rale However, reports on the city s financial health .ippear to indicate ι hat new taxes w ill not have to be levied to sup port the bond issues Report edly. thecity bonded indebted ness was only 2 95 percent of our tax base as of June last sear a figure that gives Char lotte a good rating among the major rating services Kur thermoro tnone> market ex perls claim that since Char lotte earned nearly $5 million in interest last >ear there is practically no reason to as sume the bonds to support Discovery I'lace and Spirit Square a science and natu T.71 history museum and reno vations for Spirit Square -- will require a lax increase The problem, according to city officials, is that voters are simply not aware of the city's financial good health in spite ol the efforts of the bond supporters to inform the pub lie Voter apathy is a concern lor lh< supporters of district representation because of very |>oor attendance of two recent rallies and the histori cal fact that in bond elections voter I urn-out has been jli percent in Southeast Char lotte. Mi percent in the North east and only l."> to 20 percent in the West and Northwest For Tuesday's election (he expected turn-out for these areas is :1V .mi and IK pervent. ι respectively· Knowledgeable s sources believe that il Ihis s voting pattern holds true the 7 4 districting plan will (ail to get the needed vote* to win / Photo By Jim Black ' ALLURING SHARI BLACKWELL \ Talented ambitious, farsighted IHHn ' "ν· » rrwrrm Photo By Jim Black DR. BERTHA MAXWELL, CENTER, CHATS ~With Tim Harknewt and Mm. Les*ie Deavers [ , τίΚΤΙΜΜ* Wilton Ε. Count* ...Charlotte native ι Your troubles are probably BEHIND YOU · that i», il you're a SCHOOL BUS DRIV ER
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 14, 1977, edition 1
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