By HoyleH. MantinSr.
P< Kt Editorial \N riter
Considering the uncertainty of the
Bakke dlecision's impact upon
•"affirmative action" puograms and—
the implications of California's Pro
position :13 tax revolt, it is not
surprising; tthat U.N. Ambassador
Andrew Y ouing told the Progressive
National JBajptist Conve ntion recent
ly that "a new negativism" is
sweeping across the nation that
aims to «irocle the civiil rights pro
gress of 'the past 14 years.
On the other hand, extensive
comparative surveys by Gallop As
sociates involving asking the same
set of questions evei*y few years
revealf. that blacks ais individuals
are reasonably well pleased with
their progress, current status and
are optimistic about the future.
Howfiver, when blacks view them
selvfis as a group there is a sense of
pessimism undoubtedly encouraged
by reports that white Americans
give the problems of black Ameri
ca ns a very low status among 31
domestic priorities.
This pessimism is rooted in part,
hη the Census Bureau's 1973 Survey
on the social and economic status of
black Americans. The survey con
cluded that the significant economic
gains made by blacks in the 1960's
had vanished by the early 1970's.
More significantly, the lack of past
economic gains for the masses of
American blacks has hardly
changed five years later and may
possibly be worse. For example, the
income gap between blacks and
whites (black Income about 59 per
cent of that of whites) has chan ged a
Ifftle and unemployment ftmong
blacks remains more than twtce that
of whites. Yet; a reason foi opti
mism that many individual blacks
feel is justified through all this by
the Census data's additional conclu
sion-and its continuation in 1978-that
young black husband-wi/.e families
in the South where both s pouses hold
jobs have mode substantial gains in
narrowing the income gap.
It appears to us that what is most
important in these observations is
not why or where whites rank on any
list of priorities, but rather how
blacks preceive their own progress
on their own terms. It has been the
absence of such self evaluation, self
esteem, and self pride that has led to
the need for blacks to be told by
other blacks that "'you are some
body."
An "I am somebody" attitude, and
the courage to prove it, is the most
underlying factor in measuring and
determing black progress. If
enough blacks adopt positive atti
tudes and a commitment to "I can
do the impossible," progress will
and can be made against the tide of
racism, sexism,, economic exploita
tion and the psychological chains
that limit our true potential.
Progress then for black Ameri
cans should be measured in terms of
our commitment to a positive atti
tude, ethnic, trust in each other and
have faith in. God, with this kind of
perspective progress will be made.
Why students, Teachers Skip School!
One "of the two calamities that
has recently befallen the intellectual
life in America," George F. Will has
said, is the idea "that there is no
difference between the teacher and
the taught, an idea expressed in
bromides about 'both being stu
dents, learning from each other."
' Our initial reaction pjght be to
dismiss this statement, however, a
recent development in our local
public school system gives a fresh
ness to Mr. Will's comment.
We are referring here to school
truancy as practiced by both stu
dents and teachers alike. As school
administrators found that high
school absenteeism on an average
day had risen from 10 percent in
1972-78 to 14 percent in 1977-78, they
also found that over half of such
absenteeism were unrelated to ill
ness or other justifiable causes.
» 1 · · < ·
As school administrators expres
sed a growing concern in student
absenteeism they began seeking a
solution. It became apparent that a
part of the problem stemed from the
absenteeisms among teachers. Sup.
Jay Robinson put the problem into
perspective when he told the School
Board last week, "We're putting a
lot of em£has|sonthe attendance of
children. But if they get to school
and there'.'s no teacher, we haven't·
made much progress.
Students miss or skip school for a
variety of reasons - outside inte
rests, boredom, limited income, fear
~of classmate intimidation, fear of
failure, poor teaching and the home
envirc/nmeqt - to name>afew. While
teacher -absenteeism in one four
mon.th period last school year was
five; percent, the representatives of
teachers' organizations did not take
ki'ndly to Dr. Robinson's charge that
' teacher absenteeism has become "a
serious problem..." no one has
apparently asked why teachers are
absent.
Without being asked, we would
suggest that teachers are absent for
some of the same reasons that
students are - boredom, poor teach
ing,, intimidation (by students) and
hte: inability to cope with various
situations on a day to day basis.
Until tnese issues for both students
and teachers are resolved, grades
will fall, competency test scores for
t>oth students and teachers will
decline and the credibility of public
education will suffer. These are our
schools and our children let's act
now!
BLACK COMMUNITIES
THAT CARS ABOUT THE
BLACK FUTURE, SHOULD
HELP IMPOSE ORDER
WHERE NEEDED.
Stop Hie Fear, Trembling In TTie Streets
LETTERS TOTHE EDITOR
Alexander Says Vote "Yes" Sept· 8
AUgllSt 8, 1978
Bill JohnsoQ, Editor
Charlotte Post
1524 W. Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28208
Dear Editor:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg has
developed into the vigorous
economic center of the Caro
lines, through the vision of its
leaders and the hard work of
its citizens. We have embra
ced planning as the torch
bearer of national develop
ment; the maintenance of
good race relations and the
creation of a multi-ethnic
multi cultural community.
Charlottft-Mncktaiifrmcfr.-M
place that wants and needs
economic growth, but never
wants to get too big to be
neighborly.
Because we are engaged in
a great civic debate on the
merits of an improved method
of alcoholic beverage control,
we must not lose our perspec
tive. The passage of the
September 8 referendum is as
important to the steady eco
nomic, _ social and cultural
development of our commun
ity as was the yes vote on the
airport bonds. The new air
port will help us attract non
polluting industry to the coun
try, while improving the tax
base, and keeping our general
level of unemployment low.
Mixed beverages will gene
rate tax dollars that will help
improve the services received
by all citizens, while helping
hold down the overall property
tax rate. Under the present
system nearly two million
dollars was returned to Char
lotte-Mecklenburg in 1976-77.
This money went to support
our library system; the city
and county general funds.
Some of the money was even
given to the townships outside
of Charlotte in an county
revenue sharing. No authori
tative estimate of how much
additional tax revenue mixed
beverages will generate has
been made. It is clear, how
ever, that we can expect well
over the two million received
in-1978-77 - perhaps twice as
much
A great city. A cosmopoli
tan city needs a lively cultural
and entertainment life. Dis
covery Place, Spirit Square,
restoration of Fourth Ward
are all public-private Joint
ventures to help reinvest up
town with life after β p.m. But
where are our great restau
rants...our impressive
hotels...our renowned private
clubs? A yes vote on Septem
ber 8, will not bring these
improvements overnight. It
will help create the economic
conditionjLjinder which these
positive developments can be
initiated. It will signal to the
world, that Charlotte-Meck
lenburg It not an area basking
in the glories of past achieve
ments, but a forward looking
dynamic place to live, to work
and to invest in.
Invest in our future. Vote
"yes," with me on September
8.
Sincerly,
Kelly M. Alexander, Jr.
Co. Chairman
M^cRlenburg Mixed beverage
Committee
Seminars Set
To Diseuse
Air Quality
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Technical Coordinating Com
mittee an Air Qacttty will hold
the second of two seminars to
discuss Charlotte's air qual
ity. The seminars will be held
in the auditorium of the Main
Library, 310 North Tryon
Street, on August 29 at 3 p.m.
Charlotte has been notified
by the federal government
that certain national health
standards are being violated,
and a plan of action must be
prepared to clean up the air.
Interested citizens and elected
officials are invited to attend
the seminars to discuss the
problem and possible solut
ions. Suggestions and com
ments will be included in a
report to be submitted to local
elected officials next month.
The Technical Coordinating
Committee is the staff arm of
the Transportation Advisory
Committee.
! By Vernon Ε. Jordan Jrj
Myth Of Bî
I'm getting tired of hearing constant comDla-1
ints about so-called. Big Government. Sure,|
there's plenty that can and should be done
to make government more responsive and more
efficient. But the thrust of a lot of today's"
complaints goes far beyond that.
The attack on government actually represents
an effort to shrink the size of the government and
render it incapable of providing the services the
nation, and especially poor people, need.
Further, many of the charges about govern
ment growth are simply not true. The myth that
government has grown at the expense of the
private sector is, for example, just that - a myth.
The share of federal, state and local govern
ment spending as a percentage of the gross
national product, the conventional wayftof
measuring government's size, is actually smal
ler today than it was three years ago. Federal
spending as a share of the GNP continues to be in
the 21-23 percent range, right where it has been
historically in peacetime.
AU the talk about that federal army of
oureaucrais is jusi laus. reaerai civilian
employment has actually declined slightly while
total employment, including the military, is
what it was back in 1961.
Complaints about bureaucratic meddling
should also be taken with a grain of salt. It's
probably true that there may be too much
regulation in some areas of the economy. And
many people, especially businessmen, have their
own horrow stories about encounters with people
in public offices who aren't doing their job.
But that's hardly a blanket condemnation of all
regulation. Some criticisms are inspired by the
desire to weaken gains made by labor, minori
ties and poor people. There have been attacks on
measures designed to cut the loss of life and limb
among working people, and on measures design
ed to protect the environment. There may be
instances of abuse of power or just plain bad
sense in enforcement, but regulation itself
shouldn't be a target.
TkoPo ~~ .1 it
"iUiijr U1 U1C
complaint? relate to federal enforcement
forms they have to fill out to meet EEOC and
other compliance regulations.
They ignore the fact that such regulations have
become necessary because of persistent discri
mination and evasion of the civil rights laws.
When discrimination is no longer rampant in our
society, those forms will wither away. Until
then, the sad fact is that federal regulations
against discriminations and federal, state and
local civil rights laws are not being enforced to
the extent necessary.
The real aim of the so-called tax revolt isn't so
much cutting taxes as it is reducing govern
ment's ability to function. U.S. taxes are lower
than those of any other industrial country, and
other nations provide far more services for their
people.
The drive on big government is fueled by
politicians and government officials themselves
who make a virtue of running against the very
institutions they have to administer. Every
President in the last ten years has campaigned
vigorously against the federal government, even
after wirininD Wu» pWHnn
THE CHARLOTTE POST
"THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER"
Established 1918
Published Every Thursday
Bv The Charlotte Poet Publishing Co., Inc.
Λν>Λ west Blvd.-Charlotte^ N.<T 28208
Telephones (704) 376-0496, 376-0497
Circulation, y,»iâ
60 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE .
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, Albert Campbell....
Editor-Publisher
General Manager
Executive Editor
Circulation Director
Advertising Director,
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Charlotte, N.C. under the Act of March 3,1878
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Deadline for all news copy and photos is S p.m.
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the property of the POST, and will not be returned.
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QS i SCC i C
The Woman's Revolution!
By Gerald Ο. Johnson
Let us go back now to thoae
thrilling days of yesteryear,
when « woman's place was in
the home and the man's place
was wherever he hung his hat.
Yes, the woman of yester
year was s dedicated woman,
a loving wife, and a devoted
mother. She found her pleas
ures in life by satisfying those
she loved, never letting her
own need· Interfere with the
welfare of the home. Yester
year woman was the backbone
of the family and therefore the
backbone of America. Even
though she took a backseat to
publicity, she undoubtedly
was the adhesive to maintain
ing the family institution.
However, time· have
changed. Today has created a
new breed of woman. Yet,
superwoman, disguised aa
Claudia Kent, mind mannered
housewife, figbta for truth,
justice and the ERA. Super
woman, able to leap the cor
poral* ladder in a single
bound, is here to stay. Thank
God, I rrtght add.
Today > woman haa become
somethii | that women of
yesteryea.- couldn't become.
They have become them
selves. They have gained
identity, pride, ego and an
independence all of which has
made them more competitive,
more interesting, and self as
sured.
But along with the achieve
ments many problems have
developed. Some of the pro
blems I am going to address in
this article. But before doing
this let us take a historic look
at the emergence of "super
woman." I think history,
more than any other single
factor, sheds light on any
subject or issue of today.
Historically, the woman's
role in the country developed
from a frontier setting. Dur
ing this period the man was
involved with physically deve
loping and protecting the
household, the woman was
maintaining It.
Since men are physically
stronger than women the rotes
were dictated. The man had
to cut down trees to build his
house, hunt and fish for food
and clothing, and fight Indians
and wife stealers. Theee taak
were best suited for men
because of their physical
strength.
Women were left home to
cook, clean, and raise child
ren. As time passed and
society moved away from the
frontier days to the modern
era, the family lmltltlon re
mained behind. The modern
day· nadt life much easier
from a physical stand point.
The most physical thing that a
man haa to do today is mow
the lawn. The food and
clothing ordeal has boded
down to · montai task
Consequently, the man chose
to delegate this responsibility
to the woman.
Until recently, with no trace
of frontier llfs remaining the
woman has subjected to the
same roles of the frontier
woman. Even though the
make up of society didn't
dictate that tills had to be.
womeri were forant) tntn these
roles bec*use no opportunities
existed outside the home.
Hence, in s manner of speak
ing women were forced to
get married and put up with
domestic duties for the lack of
anything better to do.
But recently, the civil rights
movement in conjunction with
ERA has opened doors for
women. Job opportunities
have developed and women
are turning in their aprons for
a chance to develop them
selves to their fullest potent
ial.
Interesting enough was the
fact that the women move
ment picked un impetus dur
need for money arose the men
turned to the women to aid
with the bringing of money
into the household.
This brings us up to date
Women are here to stay in the
Job market.
Unfortunately, the progress
of women hasn't gone unmud
dled. The divorce rate and
separation rate have increas
ed drastically. Children ars
coming un unrulv. There is a
growing dissension among
men about women. .
The men of today are from
homes whsre the women were
not career oriented. Conse
quently, they (I am sorry) we
are basically spoiled. Today's
men have preset concepts of
how a wife should be. When
she turns out to be something
different then a conflict
arises.
In the past when the opport
unities for women were limi
ted, if a conflict am··) the
woman was almost always
forced to give in. Today,
because she is willing and able
to make it on her own, she
doesn't have to agree with
anything. When and If the
male decidea to leave, she'll
help him pack.
Consequently, today's
women, by being independent,
have become a threat to man.
However, the marriage con
flict la due to man. Becauae
today's men are unwilling to
accept the fact that thla to a
new day and that woman ara
to be worked with and not
dominated. Hua banda ara
uawilling to help do houaehold
choree "but expect a woman to
do (his and work a full time
Job.
Fortunately. I. think the
trouble Is no more than an
adjustment. One· thla transi
tion period paaaea both men
and women will aettle down
and work together once again.
Slowly but surely todajlfll men
are getting use to not being
spoiled. Eventually, he will
come around.
I am, personally, proud of
the women's revolution. What
is least understood is that the
new found independence by
women makes them less vul
nerable to hardship in the
later years.
A female that is totally
dependent on bar spouse finds
herself shortchanged in-, her
later years if her spouse 4ies,
flies the coup, or whatever.
By not preparing thems^ves
for a future for themslves
they find out that If left by
themselves they have m* fut
ur·· Being a mother, beibsi a
wtfe are all lovely things t4 be,
but they aren't caree*
I «ay light on to the "sjiper
Woman." I
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