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\ Equality In Housing, When? by Hoyle H. Martin Sr. ; Post Editorial Writer ij On November 20, 1962, John F. 5. Kennedy signed a President’s Exe | cutive Order 11063 Equal Opport \ unity in Housing. The Order’s $ opening paragraph says, “Whereas ; the granting of Federal assistance 5 for the provision, rehabilitation, or l operation of housing and related facilities from which Americans are excluded because of their race, £ color, creed, or national origin is funfair, unjust, and inconsistent with the public policy of the United States $ as manifested in its Constitution and ^ laws...” I As little as it may be known, this Order was a significant break with | the past-especially between 1912 and £ 1947-when many cities moved hous l ing segregation from being a land | lord’s right to public policy and many federally supported housing programs had racism clearly writ ten into their policies. h _ ? rurtnermore, m spite of Order £ 11063, Black Americans today have \ a 75 percent chance of facing discri 5 mination in seeking a rental unit and ? a 62 percent chance if looking for a | house to purchase. These facts are t the end result of major study recent \ ty released by the Department of 5 Housing and Urban Development. : These findings should not be too : surprising if we heed the words of : Martin Mayer, who has written in •his book The Builders, “For housing r is the element in American life • where race prejudice bites most • deep. Blacks in America have never i had a square shake in access to land or housing.” In commenting on the HUD study, frail Executive Orders and com ments like that of Mr. Mayer, HUD Secretary Patricia Harris report edly said the study ‘‘shed harsh, but illuminating light on the state of housing dis crimination today...We have since seen successive executive or deftr proclaiming Quality, but we have seen no diminution of inequal ity.” Mrs. Harris added that “great er emphasis” will be given to break the discrimination practices. We share Mrs. Harris’ concern and wish her well in greater efforts to alleviate the problem; however we are compelled to point out that housing discrimination is much greater and more deeply rooted than the casual observer may realize. For example, even with the pro gress that has been made, blacks have only half as much chance as do whites to purchase their own homes. Furthermore, blacks usually can only afford to buy old houses, and often in neighborhoods already in a state of decline. Accompanying this decline, Mayer tells us, is “the deterioration of schools, police pro tection, street maintenance, and garbage collection.” Ac if tVio t ic n/\t AM/MirrU kln/tlrc often pay more for housing compati ble to that of whites, then too they get a disproportionate share of the public housing units in their neigh borhoods. Finally, while analyists debate the merits and ability of President Carter’s recently an nounced urban policy to improve housing and housing opportunities for blacks, the problem nevertheless remain critical. Where the individual lives reflects the environment that people are reared in, their personalities are molded, and their values toward and about education, the work ethic, self-reliance and integrity are deve loped. Thus, let’s stop kidding ourselves, as long as housing discrimination continues the problems of crime, educational drop-outs, welfare, tax burdens, and urban blight will conti nue. Let us all-policy makers, real estate agents, homeowners and ten ants-leave the past where it is and seek a new housing commitment. Such a commitment means a better quality of life for all of us. Don’t you •agree? The Impact Of Inflation All Americans should have a real interest in inflation. People pay high prices and the middle-income and lower-income people primarily suffer from high prices, that is, poor people spend a higher percentage of their income for food, clothing and shelter. Since most blacks are poor, they suffer greatly from the impact of inflation. A National Urban League study oh the impact of inflation oh blacks revealed that (1) while white pur chasing power kept pace with infla tion in 1973, black purchasing power fell by 2 percent; (2) the 1973-74 inflation and energy crisis widened the gap between black and white family incomes; (3) the failure of welfare and food stamp benefits to keep pace with inflation reduced the buying power of the poor; (4) blacks were affected by public transporta tion cost more so than whites-they own fewer autos and (5) higher child care costs have forced many black females to withdraw from the labor force thus reducing black family incomes. These facts have, since the early 1970’s, worsened. Thus, we encour age organized labor and the corpor ate community to temper their demands for higher wage and higher prices. We further encourage them to work closely with the Carter Administration to curb this cancer on our standard of living. Do your part too by shopping wisely. Blacks Destiny In Own Hands Flight Of Capital. The Making Of Ghettos Washing Ion ReflecIions CONGRESSMAN JIM MARTIN The Tax System-Who Gets A Break There’s nothing like April 15th to raise the level of consciousness of Members of Congress toward tax reform and tax relief. From the increased volume of mail re ceived on the subject, it’s easy to see that irate taxpayers are tired.of being gouged by high er taxes everytime they get an increase in salary or a cost-of Uvlpg „w... My committee on Ways and Means is currently debating a variety of tax proposals. It will take another two months because of all the “reforms “tinkering" with our tax sys tem. Whatever you call it, just remember that everytime Congress “reforms" the tax code, it means it’s going to cost somebody; and that usually means the taxpayer. This legislation includes some modest tax cuts. How ever, Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee and in Congress generally favor providing substantial tax cuts. We believe the current tax structure is op pressive and discouraging to that broad section of middle income America who carries the tax burdens oi the country. We believe a larger decrease in tax rates will stimulate the economy and as it did in 1962, provide more real jobs; and consequently more tax reve nues on a lower rate. A test of wills and economic philosophies is at work in these tax discussions. Presi dent Carter and some of his supporters in the Committee have been pushing to elimi nate various tax deductions. This includes the deductions allowed for sale^ta^real: local govfcaosrifedfifcr taxes and even medical ex penses. Fortunately, most of these ideas have been beaten back, because what the Presi dent is attempting would be the same as having you pay federal taxes on taxes you have to pay to state and local governments. This would not be fair to people who itemize their deductions. Of course, a proposed tax rate reduction would offset part of the loss, but that combination would hurt those who actually have expenses to deduct and bene fit those who do not have the deductions. Some of my colleagues who support the President want to scuttle the entire tax cut pro posal, because they cannot do it his way. It is vital that we provide the taxpayers with a substantial, dependable and permanent reduction in the tax rate. This money will eventually work its way back into the economy through in vestments for business expan sion, which means more jobs for the unemployed and more productive output for the eco nomy. The middle and upper middle-income taxpayers will come out behind if’the Presi dent's tax proposals are pas sed. Only those with no deductible expenses will gain. ready raised future taxes for a large segment of the upper middle-income wage earners and their employers, they are the ones who deserve a break, but instead will bear the brunt of the Social Secu rity changes, and will lose even more with the Presi dent's new tax plan. Our economy needs a stimu lus. Taking more money out of the pockets of more pro ductive Americans, those who provide the essential invest ment dollars for expanding our economy and jobs, is compounding our problems. If we are serious about halting inflation and providing jobs, the best way to do both ift to stimulate business invest ments and restore confidence in the dollar. The w6rst way is the current policy of spending more dollars that we do not have, while "tinkering” a gain with tlie tax code. PY » t!i mill r, .ninmiiui —i —^ TO , EQUAL Urban Aid Endangered A major Administration effort to assist low and moderate income families and to tackle the problems of urban decay has been seriously endangered by the equivalent of an urban “Pearl Harbor attack” in the House of Representatives. The issue is still unresolved, but an examina tion Of what happened and why illuminates the hidden barriers to urban revitalization. The battleground is the Community Develop ment Bloc Grant program, a Nixon-era plan to shovel money to local governments in place of the previous federal practice of assigning money to specific, approved projects. The bloc grants marked a shift in federal aid, from helping cities to improve low-income neighborhbods to other purposes. Naturally, mayors liked the program. They got a maximum of aid and encountered a minimum of red tape. The purpose of the law creating bloc grants for community development was clearly stated “the development of viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportu nities, principally for persons of low-and moder ate income.” Because that mandate was consistently ig nored, the new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Patricia Harris, implemented policies to increase the amount of federal funds going to poorer areas under the bloc grant program; HUD drew up regulations requiring that three-fourths of the grants would have to be used for the benefit of low and moderate income families, in keeping with the letter and the spirit of the law. Announcement of the new regulations was met by opposition from those who oppose federal aid to poor people, and by some mayors who wanted a continuation of the no-strings system. The latter charged their flexibility in use of federal aid would be taken from them, but in fact the new regulations still give local officials ample discretion in the use of the funds. The only “strings” are those in the law itself-that funds had to be used to benefit low and moderate income families. Embedded in spme would effectively change the purpose of the Act. Where the original Act clearly stated the primary purpose was to aid low and moderate income families, the new language of the amendment, by adding “and co-equal” right after “primary”,, would give other purposes, including himrtc restoration projects and land use aims, the same priority now given the needs of low income families. The intent was two-fold. The prime purpose of the amendment is clearly to subvert HUD’s new regulations. The changed language of the purpose of the Act would remove aid targeted at ldw-income families as the sole purpose of the i__.. --j **— “ike HUD’s regulations inoper ion Was to sneak this major a way that no one would notice it. The amendment was placed in the hopper at the last mmhdnt before anyone could realize it was a delayed time bomb. It routinely passed the House Subcommittee on Housing, along with the other purely technical amendments. ; ■ ‘ .¥• The Seed Of Reverse Discrimination By Gerald O. Johnson The Seed of Reverse discri mination is beginning to blos som and soon will flower. A great number of white people, particularly males are filing suits against various affirmmative action program participants The jist of the complaints is based on quali fied whites being ignored for the sake of minorities It appears that blacks are given oreferential treatment when it comes to college entrance, job promotions, employment and etc White's feel they were not directly responsible for past discrimination, and should not have to pay the price for it today. Though I am against discri mi nations of any kind, I feel that the issue is getting out ol hand It is getting out of hand because lower courts are mak ing irrational decisions due tc outside pressure. Let us jour ney back in time to gain a better perspective of this situ ation. Black people never asked tc come to this country, they were forced Suffering from a language barrier in a land which was completely dif ferent. black people were a bused and exploited As a people. Blacks were denied the privilege of participating in the American way of life. The home of the free and the land of the brave denied blacks all the freedoms that it stood for. The rationale be hind this inhumane treatment was that black people were not citizens. Black people were killed for attempting to become edu cated. Whites found to be' helping black people get edu cated were killed. Unemployment was no pro blem for black’s in those days because all black people had jobs They worked for the "Massa". Unfortunately the massa was not paying mini mum wages In fact he was not paying any wages. I brought all this up because it is important to realize that the scales of justice were heavily tilted iif favor of white Americans This tilt has caused black people to be behind whites in many aspects of life The lag is not due to any inate inferiority caused by race, but is due to 200 years suppression which forced blacks to be less exposed to the American way of life. It would be asinine to think that such exploitation and sup pression does not affect how Blacks behave today It is because of the white fore fathers of this country that the majority of Black people are still so far behind. Consequently, so the scales of justice can come into ba lance, it is necessary that the scales of justice be tilted unjustly in the opposite di rection. If not Black people will never be exposed to cer tain type of situations. Let's take an example to demonstrate the point here The Belks', the Waldensians', the Boats', the Burlington's, and the Reynolds’, all are wealthy families today due to the ideas of their fo. efaihers Their grandfathers, and great-grandfathers had ideas about business and were al lowed to participate in the American Way of life to get started. Even though those men probably died poor their ideas lived on and were passed down from generation to gene ration Each generation had less work to do because the idea had nurtured into a busi ness Each generation got exposed to practical experi ence of how business operate. Today’s generations of these companies are on easy street because of the blood, sweat, and tears of their forefathers. Black people never had this opportunity. It is impossible to believe that people with this type of exposure would not be more qualified for school, work, or what have you. Hence, if Black people are not given preferential treat ment, then Black people can not expect to achieve equality. Reverse discrimination is wrong, but there is no right to give Black's a chance to parti cipate in the American Way of Life without anyone getting hurt It is unfortunate but true V V - To those people who fiel they aren't responsible ‘ fdf their forefathers' discrimipa - -• ■> tion, you must remember that you would not be in the posi tion you are in now if not for your forefathers. Moreover, there were never any com plaints about being given pre ferential because of your color in the past. You moat, also, remember that the only rea son that you are more quali fied for the particular position ii due to your forefathers. The lower courts have given • hope to those individuals cry ing discrimination. Within the next few months the Supreme Court will decide on the issue It is hoped that the men of the court realize that In order to achieve equality for all it will be necessary to deny justice to a few until the scales reach an equilibrium. After all it is the American Way. Carter To Receive EEO Award _ij,_> n_/I_i_ I_ j i nniucm tilimit/ vwwi will receive the Equal Em ployment Opportunity Award from the National Association of Black Women Attorneys • (NABWA) for appointing Black female lawyers to key positions in his Administrat ion.. The presentation will be made at NABWA's Fifth An nual Convention May 16-31, at tbeCapiUl Hilton Hotel, in, Washington, D C. " f~ ' In announcing the award, Wilhelmina Jackson Rolartt,1 NABWA founding president, (firomeoded Mr. Carter for " recognising the myriads of skills add talenu that Black femalp attorneys in his Admi nistration bring to beer in their respective positions ", Moat eatable among these appointments, Attorney Ro / J.. i - : Urban Development SeCre tary Patricia Roberta Harri and Eleanor Holmes Nortor chair of the Equal Employ ment Opportunity Com mil sion, who will be NABWA’ luncheon speaker on May 20. ■ We hope that Presides Carter will continue to taki positive steps to seek out an appoint other equally talentec Black female attorneys for positions in his Administra lion,” concluded the NABtV> President. 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, 9,915 60 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE Bill Johnson.Editor-Publisher Bernard Keeves.General Manager Hovle H. Martin Sr.Executive Editor Julius Watson.Circulation Director Albert Campbell.Advertising Directori Second Class Postage No. 965500 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 All photos and copy submitted becomes the property of the POST, and will not be returned. National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc. 45 W 5th Suite 1403 2400 S. Michigan Ave New York, N Y 10036 Chicago. Ill 60616 (212 ) 489-1220 Calumet 5-0200
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