- pUsF*] THE CHAl LI ITTE :::
J*±37£0496j__ “Charlotte 8 Fastest Growing Community Weekly” black CONSUMERS
_ _
^_CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28208-THURSDAY. AUGUST 3. 1978
^ _ PKICE 30c
Vanessa And Courtney Johnson
Are “Beauties Of The Week”
Rv HoKra Qtanlov _ ■ it . _ .
Post Staff Writer
Vanessa and Courtney John
son are the Post Beauties of
the Week.
These charming and talent
eif girls were born under the
zodiac signs of Aries and
Taurus. Bom under the sign
of Aries, Courtney has a
strong and imaginative
personality. She likes to keep
busy and active; she gets
well WIUI dll MUUb UI
people.
Born under the sign of Tau
rus, Vanessa has a warm and
dynamic personality. She is a
rather tolerant person and
enjoys peace and harmony.
It’s her nature to be helpful
towards people in need.
Vanessa and Courtney have
had many varied and cultural
experiences. They have tra
veled with their parents and
rocus ()j Urban League
‘‘Crisis Among Black Youths”
NEW YORK, N.Y. - “The
Crisis Among Black Youths"
is the focus of the current
issue of the Urban League
Review, with detailed analysis
of the severe unemployment
problem among black youth
by Esther Piovia, associate
editor of the Urban League
Review, and Dr. Bernard
Anderson, associate' pro
fessor, Dept, of Industry, the
Wharton School, University of
Pennsylvania.
According to Ms. Piovia,
more and more young blacks
are becoming part of the
hidden unemployed."
“The failure to find work is
driving more and more young
blacks out of the active labor
force Into the ranks of the
discouraged \yorkers. In 1976,
for exanple, while an average
of 34,500 black teenagers were
officially counted as unem
ployed, another 36,two wanted
^ jobs, but were no longer look
ing, she says in her article.
Black Youth Unemployment:
A Continuing Crisis.
Citing diminishing work
experience as a factor in the
severe unemployment pro
blem of black voung people,
Ms. Piovia says “With the
passing years, fewer young
blacks are entering adulthood
with any work experience.
Ten years ago, about 70 per
cent of black male teenagers
TUKTIMM*
^ *
and about halt of the black
female teenagers had some
work experience. However,
by 1975, less than half the
males and only about one
third of the female black
teenagers had any work expe
rience. Of those who did work,
39 percent of the males and 31
percent of the females only
worked nart of the year.”
Dr. Anderson in his article
“The Youth Unemployment
Crisis," which is excerped
from his testimony before the
U.S. House of Representatives
Subcommittee on Employ
ment Opportunities, says,
"during the past several de
cades, unemployment rates
for teenagers have ranged 2.3
and 3.5 times higher than the
labor forces as a whole."
He feels the unemployment
problem for young people has
been exacerbated" by the
rapid growth in their num
bers "Between 1960 and 1975,
the number rose by nearly 70
Dercent, or more than triple
the increase in persons over
25,” according to Dr.
Anderson ”
Also in this issue is ar
examination of the youth un
employment and Demonstra
tion Project Act of 1977, sum
maries of NUL youth pro
grams, book reviews, and a
listing of data sources.
The Urban League Review
is published semi-annually by
the Research Dept, of the
National Urban League, and
appears In winter and sum
mo- . Subscription rates are
18 per year for individuals, $10
for institutions and $6 for
Jludents.
Dinners Will Be
Sold Saturday
Dinners will be sold on
Saturday, August 6 at the
Unique Masonic Lodge loca
ted at 2101 Newland Rd
Dinners include a choice of
fish or chicken and serving
will begin at 12 p.m. Dinners
will sell for $2.50 and sand
wiches for $1 75
nave acquired a weaim oi
knowledge.
They attended Our Lady of
Consolation School before
moving to Houston, Texas last
fall with their mother Mrs.
Joan Johnson who is highly
intellectual and holds a key
position with the Exxon Cor
poration, whose headquarters
recently moved to Houston,
Texas.
VanesSa and Courtney
attended Ridgecrest Element
ary School in Houston. Both
‘‘A” students, the girls have
made many outstanding
accomplishments during their
year there, including awards
in track, outstanding school
work, medal for music, and
Patrol, a participant in a
National Spelling Bee.
Courtney wrote a simple,
but interesting book, which
was entitled “My Teacher’s
Birthday Cake.” The book of
stories was published and
placed in the School Library.
At age 11, Vanessa is
already career minded and
has narrowed her choices
down to two. “I plan to be a
model or a lawyer,' she
stated.
Counney at age 10 is career
minded too. She likes reading
books and writing creative
stories. "I plan to be a librar
ian or writer,” Courtney
states.
The girls are spending the
summer with their grand
mother Ms. Ethel Thompson,
1312 Mulberry St. Their sum
mer vacation has been both
enjoyable and exciting with
their many parents and
friend*.
Mr. and Mrs. William John
son are the proud parents of
Vanessa and Courtney John
son.
Gregory : Black Family’s ~
r' r • 7 ■*
_ SHARLOTTE 2111! REKtEOR" SOttWY
T"1 CHARLOIIE. N. C. 2€2U2 • ^->-1
Economic Outlook Gloomy
M§. Riddick
Resigns From
YWCA Post
Mickie G. Riddick, Execut
ive.Director of the Charlotte
YWCA, has tendered her resi
gnation effective November 1,
to assume the position of
Director of Services for Urban
Associations with the National
YWCA in New York,
In her new capacity Mrs.
Riddick will act as consultant
to 30 metropolitan YWCA
associations in the United
States. In the South, only
Houston, Texas, falls in this
category.
Mrs. Riddick will continue
as a resident of Charlotte
while working out of the
National Board YWCA office
in New York. Her husband,
the Rev. Leon C. Riddick, is
pastor of Mt Carmel Baptist
Church. Both the Riddicks
have been very active in
church and civic work in
Charlotte since coming here in
1964.
ruining uui ui *\ew i oik
City while maintaining her
family and home here in Char
lotte presents a fascinating
challenge to Mrs. Riddick. “I
took this step with my hus
band and family's encoura
gement and support,' she
said. "So that I not only look
forward to the tremendous
challenge of this new job, but
an entirely new lifestyle. I
understand that more and
more couples are pursuing
separate careers in this fash
ion, especially as their fami
lies grow up and leave home
We are quite excited,” she
concluded.
It’s Getting Time
To Start Back
To School
It’s getting to that time of
year again when parents and
students have to start making
back to school plans Pupil
teacher orientation day is
August 31, ana me first full
day of school is September 5.
Schools will be open for
registration during August
The best time$ to register or
visit schools are between 9-11
a m and 1-3 p m The Meck
lenburg County Health I)e
partment urges parents of
children entering school to
have the children vaccinated
as early as possible
sjxirkx strike tlere
Firing Of Black Workers
rsy c-neen Hanson
Special to the Post
The firing of two black
workers has sparked a strike
in Charlotte that has brought
the support of 60,000 uphols
tery workers nationwide
The two young men, Timo
thy Harrison and Berry King,
both of Charlotte, were fired in
early July by Thonet - A
Simmons Company, located
on Old Steele Creek Road.
Members of the Upholsterer’s
International Union believe
the firings were for union
activities Both men had been
active in the employees’ cam
paign to elect the union last
May.
The factory produces hospi
tal beds, and is a subsidiary of
a national company best
known for its Simmons
matress.es.
According to union spokes
man Willie Parker, after the
union won the election the
company increased harass
ment of union supporters,
especially blacks.
“The company made us
work an hour overtime every
day. Harrison couldn’t be
cause of his classes at CPCC,"
said Parker “They fired him,
even after he brought a copy
of his class schedule."
Berry King was fired for
allegedly "fabricating a
doctor's slip " He had volun
teered to work during the July
4 vacation, but went home
early on Thursday because of
a stomachache
"Who can afford to go to a
doctor everytime you have a
stomach ache?" asked Park
er. "It was just an excuse to
get rid of two active union
members and to intimidate
the rest of us."
In response to the firings. 52
out of the 62 workers at the
plant walked out on July 18.
They have been picketing the
plant 12 hours a day every
since. The union has filed
unfair labor practice charges
against the company.
General Manager of the
plant. Randy Marks, refused
to commented on the firings
and other union demands. The
company has requested that
the Federal Mediation and
Concilliation Service inter
vene.
According to union repre
sentatives, the company
offered some compromises,
but failed to agree to the
demand of taking both Harri
son and King back with full
pay.
At a rally July 27 at the
Rodeway Inn, union repre
sentatives presented strike
support funds from other
upholstery workers around
the country. Roger Murray,
UIU International Vice Presi
dent, came from Boston to
present a check for $5,000
from the Simmons Council, an
organization inside the union
of 12,000 Simmons workers In
mid-July the council voted to
give its entire sttiuou treasury
to support the Charlotte
strikers "The union is loo
percent with you." said Mur
ray.
The strike in Charlotte has
brought national attention
within the union because the
Thonet plant moved here a
year ago from Munster, Indi
ana. Shortly thereafter the
company closed down the
Indiana plant.
"The move was to avoid a
national contract that Sim
mons workers have negotiated
over the years in the com
pany’s other 22 plants." claim
ed Murray.
The union calls the company
a "run-away shop." They
come to the South because
labor is cheap." said Parker
The strikers are angry be
cause in Indiana the starting
pay was $5 76 and hour, with
top wages at SI 1 In Charlotte
wages start at $3 25. and top
pay is $4 07 "We deserve to
be paid the same for doing the
same work. " said Parker
The union is demanding the
reinstatement of Harrison and
King, with full pay, seniority
and back no v Thev also want
serious and regular contract
negotiations with the
company
Thonel has retained Ed
Dowd of Central Piedmont
Industries to represent its side
in the negotiations The Char
lotte-based organization offers
labor management advice to
its 250-member companies in
the Piedmont Union orgam
zers in the area call it a
"union-busting organization
Dowd could not be readied,
for comnient
Union organizer Jim Newell
claims CPI is using delaying
tactics in an dfort to break the
union The company wants to
negotiate every other week for
3 or 4 hours "You don't
negotiate a contract under
those conditions said
Newell "We want Central
Piedmont Industries out of the
picture so we can deal directly
with the company
Marks said plant production
is continuing with handful of
non union employees and
supervisory personnel Me
admitted the strike is hurting
the company's production
If the Charlotte strike isn't
settled soon. Thonet-Simmons
ma\ face trouble elsewhere
Murray declared at the rally
See FI MING on page 11.
People United For Justice Invites
President Carter To Visit Charlotte
By Eileen Hanson
Special to the Post
Supporters of the Wilming
;on 10 and Charlotte 3 are
nviting President Carter to
»me to Charlotte August 5.
when he visits North Carolina
obacco farmers in Wilson.
At a presss conference last
week, Carrie Graves and
Rev. James Barnett said their
x-gani ration, People United
or Justice, had sent Carter a
ettsr asking him to bear their
tide in the controveaial case.
Recently the White House
railed on Governor Hunt's
»f rice to explain his decision in
the Wilmington 10 case. Car
ter’s human rights aides are
concerned that the case is
hurting the administration's
human rights campaign
around the world
Last January Governor
Hunt reduced the sentences of
the prisoners, but refused to
grant them a pardon of inno
cence
The letter said, “We are
concerned that the President
would not want to examine all
the facts that caused the
Wilmington riots, the role
played by the ‘Rights of White
People' vigiliante group, the
questionable jury selection,
and especially the perjured
’ I
Rev James Harnett
Heads rights group
testimony of two witnesses "
The group wants Carter to
speak to lawyer James Kergu
son, to the families, to North
Caroliniahs who support them
and to the defendants them
selves
Kosalyn Carter visited Dal
ton Village Public housing
project during her husband's
1976 presidential campaign
"She said you were honest and
fair and wanted to give all
people a chance to be heard,"
continued the letter ‘"’'bis is
the opportunity to do jti ,t that
The Wilmington 10 and Char
lotte 3 are political prisoners
l>et any Human Rights project
begin at home "
See PEOPLE on page li
Welfare Of
All Blacks
Threatened?
Special to the Post
A measure of the economic
hardships endured by most
american families, if multi
plied several times over, will
give one an approximate mea:'
sure of the economic impact
on black families says econo
mist Karl Gregory
A professor of economics
and management at Oakland
University, Dr. Gregory des
cribes himself as pessimistic
about the economic future of
the black family He made his
remarks here at Eastern
Michigan University during a
summer colloquium on the
contemporary family.
Although the median in
come of Black families has
risen substantially in the last
3o years - from $1614 in 1947 to
$9821 in 1976 - the concurrent
■'•so in white family income- "-w.
Irom $3157 in 1947 to $15,537 in
1976 - has maintained existing
inequalities
.jiii . uai i j . vjil^ui > a.wv,i
ted, while the number of Black
as well as other families below
the poverty level has decreas
ed significantly, in 1974, 25
percent of all Black families
were still living below the
standard level, while only
seven percent of white fami
lies were in the same
situation
Gregory cited the years
from 1969 to 1976 as a period of
arrested progress, the median
income for white families ris
ing only slightly during this
time and the median income
for Black families actually
decreasing somewhat
These economic facts have
Gregory worried. He
charges that several national
and international tactors
threaten the economic welfare
of all families, but particu
larly Blacks. The astrono
mical increase in housing
cost, the price tag of a house
rising from a median of
$29,000 a few years ago to its
current level at approxi
mately $49,600, has put single
family dwellings beyond the
means of most people And
the situation is getting worse,
claims Gregory
He also blames the oil boy
colt of November, 1973, as the
cause of financial difficulties
for many families The inc
reased cost of energy and
energy produced products has
affected transportation, utili
ties and housing
Gregory sees an irony in the
fact that a disproportionate
number of low income fami
lies live in decrepit, badly
insulated houses and have to
bear high fuel costs, though
they are the least able to
afford the increase
Despite his gloomy viewof
the economic future of Black
families, Gregory claims to
hold a more optimistic opinion
of the strength of the Black
Family
The Black community
would have perished years
ago if not for the exte'noeo
family." he declared, adding
that he has hope that dedica
tion, a return to Christian
values and family strength
will weather the powerful
negative forces working
against the family
VANESSA AINU COURTNEY JOHNSON
"..Charming, talented girls
MIDDLE AGE is when a
person starts thinking about
resigning from the JET SET
and Joining the SET SET.
Thonet-Simmons workers Barney Roberts
and Willie Parker walk the picket line to
protest firing ot fellow-workers Post photo
by Eileen Hanson