aiiioN'iij commcnu
The Paradox Of Blackness
By Hoyle H. Martin Sr.
Post Executive Editor
Last week we printed an editorial
from The Call And Post (Cleveland,
Ohioi in which Benjamin Hooks, the
new executive director of the NAA
CP, was quoted as saying that one
way to revitalize the organization is
to “ask for increased financial sup
port from major businesses, corpo
rations, and foundations.” The edi
torial then said, and we strongly
agree, “We must remember that the
ones who pay the fiddler, call the
tune. The NAACP should never
again be in hock to white support.
The cost of its operation is a black
responsibility and aq obligation all
of us must bear.”
The Charlotte Post’s support of
this viewpoint does not mean that
white controlled institutions have no
responsibility for aiding black orga
nizations. It has in fact been the past
and present policies and practices of
too many white institutions that has
created a need for such organiza
tions as the NAACP, the Charlotte
Area Fund and memorials to such
leaders as the late Dr. Martino
Luther King.
We have mentioned CAF and the
King memorial in the same context
with the NAACP because all three
are currently faced with financial
problems, problems that black Am
ericans could verv easilv resolve.
One less pack of cigarettes, one law
six-pack ot beer or bottle of booze,
and-or one less night-out-on-the
town per year could provide the
financial support that the NAACP,
CAF and MLK Statue Fund
Drive so desperately need. What we
are suggesting is that it is long past
time for black Americans to recog
nize that an over indulgence with
our individual desires and the ignor
ing of our collective needs - econo
mic, political and social equality -
will result in a loss for us collectively
and individually.
4 , »
Black Income
Our pouit is that the NAACP, the
CAF and MLK Statue Fund Drive
should not have to seek any financial
aid from the white community. If the
black community, locally and na
tionally, would take just a fraction of
the approximately $70 billion annu
ally that they have and invest a
fraction of it in the civil rights
movement and community improve
ments, major steps could be made in
creating a more equal society and
improving the quality of life, espe
cially for the poor.
Furthermore, this .Hind -aggres
sive self-heli) wrili motivate the white
commupiity and white institutions to
^ "direr assistance because this is
consistant with their values and
beliefs. This was clearly demon
strated recently by Vernon Jordan’s
stirring speech at the opening ses
sion of the National Urban League’s
annua^onvention^Jor^n^trwi^l^
criticized the Carter administra
tion’s delay in keeping its campaign
promises to provide aid for the
cities, the poor, blacks and the
unemployed. He told the 4,000 dele
gates, and more directly the Presi
dent himself, that blacks who aided
Carter’s election efforts last year
now feel “betrayed.”
When Carter attempted to discre
dit Jordan’s remarks, the Congres
sional Black Caucus, civil rights
leaders, white liberal congressional
leaders and labor leaders joined in
the criticism of Mr. Carter. Jordan’s
speech was an expression of self
help in that black support for Carter
was in exchange for government
support of their needs. Equally
significant, Jordan’s speech and the
support he received led the Presi
dent to (1) consent to a long delayed
meeting with the Congressional
Black Caucus, (2) sign a major jobs
program bill and (3) reveal his
blueprint for welfare reform. Most
important in these developments is
the fact that black people, personi
fied by Mr. Jordan, spoke out for
themselves in a manner that let the
President know that it was time for
positive steps to begin alleviating
the nation’s domestic ills.
Achieve Equality
In summary, if black Americans
truly desire to achieve equality and
justice in all aspects of American
society they must recognize the
major paradox that exists in their
lives. That paradox is in black
people’s failure to clearly recognize
that the value and commitment to
individualism, so prevalent among
white people, cannot and should not
be as prevalent among blacks. Black
people must often be willing to
sacrifice their individual desires for
the collective well-being of their
nearly 22 million brothers and sis
ters. If we can achieve the level of
maturity that will allow this kind of
commitment to the needs of black
people, then our civil rights leaders
and others who struggled to give us
the degree of equality we have,
would not have to beg white people
to aid our causes.
The Call And Post editorial sum
med it up well in these words, “The
Negro must stop buying what he
wants and begging for what he
neeeds.” Think about it!
Get JCriowledge
Syv^cuse University has in its seal
the words, “Knowledge Crowns
Those Who Seek It.” Such words are
a reminder that education has value
in that it can and does enable most
people to achieve a little more of
what is called the “good life.” Thus,
while education in itself is no gua
rantee of anything, it is a necessary
first step to self-awareness, personal
pride and self-help.'.„
'Sv&vjft
— Stop The Fear ^Trembling In The Streets
LEffERSlOTHElDlfOR
Reader Finds Post Unusual
Dear Editor:
I read The Charlotte Po6t
weekly and I find the paper
very unusual, but interesting.
I say unusual because it is
more of a feature paper than a
straight newspaper. Although
features are news, I find no
crime or sensationalism in the
paper as in our daily’s. Being
a weekly and an original
newspaper, I’m sure you could
not (and don’t care to) equate
your content with that of a
daily (or any other weekly).
In light of the news features
in your publication, I read
them to see what is happening
in the Black community as
well as what is happening in
the Charlotte community, for I
know if it is in The Charlotte
Post it will be something of
significance to the black peo
ple. I will admit that most of
the feature news in the paper
will not be found in white
publications in this city, for
they (white publications), do
not expose the good things
about our people. I see the
Post in this respect as a
spokesman for the people that
have not been exposed in other
media. .
I read The Charlotte Post
with a critical eye as I read all
publications and view televi
sion programs. I know your
publication is a growing one so
complaints are not in order. I
do not criticize before giving a
product a chance to develop.
But as I see it, The Charlotte
Post is taking a step in the
wrong direction or shall I say
has not taken a step in the
right direction.
I will express my point in
regards to one news feature in
your paper, The Charlotte
Post’s 10 Best Dressed Men.
Don’t get me wrong, I thought
the idea was a darn good one.
However, when reading the
article of the 10 Best Dressed
men. I sensed prejudice in the
choosing of the men. I also
read the story concerning the
fact that everybody could not
be chosen. . I am sensible
enough to know that. I know,
too, that you can’t please eve
rybody. On the other hand
though, when reading the arti
cles on the men, I found that
eight out of the ten were
college graduates, one attend
ed college and one did not
indicate whether he attended
college or not, but I’m sure he
did. Another point was that
most of the men said they
shopped at Tate Brown, J.O.
Jones, Belk, and Ivey’s. Some
went as far as to say they
prefered certain name brands
and tailor made clothes.
I am not a jealous person
but I see some of the same
things going on in The Post
circles as I do all round the
black community.
I agree that the stores the
Ten Best Dressed Men shop
ped were highly regarded sto
res and if any person shopped
there they more than likely
paid a handsome price for
their attire. I want to bring to
your .attention, as well to
others who are guilty of the
same oversight, that the price
for your clothes or the intelli
gence of a person does not
make that person best dress
ed.
There are many black peo
ple in our community who
have not been to college and
hold laboror jobs. These same
people are the least likely to
shop at Tate Brown, even at
Easter time. They can’t afford
it. I would imagine that if the
category was Ten Best Dress
ed Women, these men's wives
would have been the mo6t
likely candidates. They would
probably be the ones wearing
the furs, diamonds, and the
ones who shop at Montaldo’s,
Harris and Hart, and Lucil
le’s Vogue, to name a few. Not
to mention the lady who was
fortunate enough to have a
Paris original. Don’t get me
wrong, if I had a Paris original
I would be best dressed too.
But what about the men who
shop at Stein’s, The Badd
Man, Mr. Hi Style, National
Hat Shop or the National Shirt
Shop? They too are best dres
sed. They wear their starched
uniforms to the mill when all
the other men are grimy. They
are the best dressed at the
mill. They too would be the
most likely to prepare for
church in a neat conservative
fashion, and very up to date.
Their suits however are not
tailor made, but we must
admit some clothes do fit to
lion even when they are
> not leave the man on
weuare out, even if he buys
form the Salvation Army. My
mother always told me, “It’s
not what you wear but how you
wear it.” I agree.
Need I go on? Keep in mind
that the poor people are the
majority of the community
that The Charlotte Post in
forms. You tell us that your
paper is about the people we
know. Speaking of the Tate
Browners, I don’t know about
anybody else, but I don’t know
those people. .
Charlotte Maddox
TO
BE
EQUAL
Vernon E Jordan Jr.,
Black, Poor, Look For Signal
The speech 1 made to the National Urban
League's Annual Conference analyzing the
Administration’s domestic policies and expres
sing black disappointment with the record to
date was based on my talks and travels all over
the country, and much of what I said has been
said by others as well.
The President appeared before the same
Annual Conference the next morning and gave
an effective defense of his Administration, as did
a number of Cabinet officers and other key
figures in Washington.
That kind of public dialogue is an important^
phenomenon. It put some neglected issues back*
into the field of public discussion, where they
belong. And it informed the Administration that
a significant part of its constituency is unhappy
with its performance to date.
When the dust had cleared and all sides made
their case, the situation facing black people was
unchanged and the analysis I made of the
Administration’s first six months was unaltered.
me uaMi uuuine oi mat analysis is mis: me
Carter Administration was elected largely
through capturing solid black votes. Those votes
were given on the assumption that campaign
promises of full employment and urban revitali
zation would be fulfilled. To date, despite some
significant steps in HUD’s block grant program,
in youth employment, and other areas, black
expectations have not been fulfilled.
A basic reason for this mav be that priorities
are askew. Instead of full employment, balanc
ing the budget by 1981 has become the top
priority. Energy, controlling inflation, and gov
ernment reorganization have all been given
greater urgency than a national urban policy,
national health insurance and other basic human
needs programs.
A case may be made for the importance of the
items the Administration has chosen to make its
priorities, but to the degree that emphasis on
balanced budgets restricts its ability to inaugu
rate needed social reforms, the hopes of poor
people will Jae frustrated. I understand the need •
for balanced budgets, but human needs must
have priority.
And if the price of balanced budgets is
continued joblessness, poverty and urban deteri
oration, then we’re only laying the groundwork
for possibly insoluble social problems in the
1980s
The positive changes that took place in the
1960s were arrested for much of this decade.
To some degree those gains have helped foster
expectations on the part of minorities and the
poor that must now be satisfied.
When Nixon and Ford occupied the White
House many people realized that little could be
expected in the way of social reforms, but that
situation changed in November. A new President
was elected by a coalition of labor, blacks,
minorities, poor people, and others who renewed
their faith in the political system in backing a
candidate who promised jobs and reform.
The President has proved adept at signal-send
ing. By emphasizing human rights, he’s sent
signals to the world’s dictators to shape up By
selling the Presidential yacht and other symbolic
moves, he’s signalled his countrymen that the
. ' TOE CHARLOTTE POST
“THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER”
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« *voiu^uvjr id at an cna. ^
: Yes Or No?
By Gerald O. Johnson
Should a person be required
to retire once he's reached a
designated age? This question
has become an issue recently.
To get the answer to this
question older people have
formed a lobby group to place
pressure on governmental of
ficials. This lobby group is
saying that mandatory retire
ment is unconstitutional be
cause of age discrimination.
A very complex issue, but
one that is easily soluble once
both sides are aired. There
fore, this week I have chosen
to give both sides of the
argument and in conclusion
give the practical solution to
the problem as I see It.
Let us start by taking the
older people's view point. It is
felt and, rightfully so, that to
designate an age when all
people will be forced to retire
is discriminatory. Since we
are all individuals a set age
seem ridiculous One man at
age AS may be senile while
another is as sharp and witty
as he ever was Why then
must one man who still has
productive years left be forced
to retire? Moreover, the reti
ree has nothing to say about it.
He can not choose if he wants
to retire or not, the choice is
made for him.
Taking this one step further,
it seems ridiculous to place an
able bodied individual on re
lief programs when he Is
capSbfe of running s'few more
miles. If age makes one wiser
then we are placing a lot of
wisdom out to pasture.
On the other hand, the argu
ments for mandatory retire
ment are headed by the old
“getting the young into the
work force” idea. Young fami
lies (especially minorities)
are faced with unemployment
because of jobs that are cur
rently being held by older
people This idea has two
prongs both of which are true
and deserve sttention.
The tnmr TI, T edm”
pany can save money by
bringing in inexperienced
young personnel to replace the
older personnel with seniority.
This seniority affords one
higher wages, longer leave
periods, and many other frin
ge benefits that the new per
sonnel will not receive T^usT
if the young personnel can be
Gerald O Johnson
trained in a reasonable length
of time he will undoubtedly
save (he company money once
they oust the senior citizens. _
Finally, the truth is', by
allowing senior citizens to hold
Jobs that could be filled by
younger personnel, you would
possibly stifle the growth of
the country. A senior citizen
being employed generally is
not a case of survival, but
rather one of ego. The senior
citizen has more often than not
only himself and possibly a
mate to support. The children
have gone, the mortgage is
paid, and the bills are less in
comparison than that of the
younger families getting star
ted. The younger families are
in a more desperate need for
jobs than the older families.
More over, the cost for having
the older family on relief is far
less than that of having a
younger family on relief.
Another problem a lot of
companies feel will occur if
mandatory retirement is lifted
is the discrimination involved
In choosing who stays after 65,
bow long, etc.
If there is no designated age
that means somebody has to
be able to tell elderly employ
ees when their time is up.
Obviously, if they felt that
they were not ready for retire
ment at 65 then they probably
won t be ready at age 70. So
then, how is one going to be
told that his services are no
longer needed^ Even more
importantly, what distin
guishing characteristics or
guidelines will be used to tell
one person that he need not
retire at age 65 while telling
another he must retire at 65?
This type of decuun OMuung
will surely open pandora’s
box to all sorts of discrimina
tion charges.
Finally, with age comes a
closed mind. Because of the
years put into doing things a
certain way, it is difficult 6T
succumb to change. Yet our
business society is based on
innovative ideas that are con
stantly changing the way we
do things. Consequently, get
ting younger more up-to-date
minds contributes to the con
tinuing well being of the busi
ness structure.
As 1 see it the arguments are
strong on both sides. But in
careful analysis of this situ
ation the issue boils down to
emotionalism vs. rationalism.
Consequently, I am in favor of
mandatory retirement at age
65
I don’t think that age dis
crimination in this case is
discriminatory kt all. Unlike
being bom black or white,
male or female, where we will
remain in this state until
death; age or growing old is
one bridge we will all cross if
we are lucky. Hence, we will
all go through the same type of
discrimination if we live long
enough. This is why it is so
important that we plan for the
tatter years while we are in
our former years.
Also, I think that more often
than not individuals not want
ing to retire at age 85 are ego
WpPii^. I don't mean this in a
derrogatory sense but 1 do -
think that the stigma of retire
ment is a ever haunting re
minder that we are growing
old. Most of us can not except
this fact gracefully and gra
ciously. We cling on tenacious
ly to the one thing we lone for
so much as life itself; youth. ‘
Believe it or not this issue is
one that has been spearheaded
by those who feel thi| lust for
youth and vitality. Unfortu
nately, this vitality could give
this country a serious Jolt if
mandatory retirement is lift
ed.
Because this issue is one
that faces us all and one that
we all should take a personal
interest in, I would likelo hear
your comments on this issue.
Write your comments to "Let
ter To The Editor" in care of
this newspaper.
Quotes To Live By
You never get a second
chance to make a good first
impression.
BLACK COMMUNITIES r
THAT CARE ABOUT THE
BLACKFUTURE/SHOULD
HELP IMPOSE ORDER
WHERE HEEDED.
S>J A t