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Vol^_
—————NORTH CAROLINA 28208-THURSDAV, SEPTEMBER 7,1978 ——»■
^—_Price 30c
I
GOOD-LOOKING MIRIAM THOMAS
"..Livingstone College graduate
Minarn i. Thomas
Is Beauty Of Week
Monica Brown Salisbury in two rnntmitivf
Post Staff Writer
Success and beauty, are the
true ingredients for todays up
and coming Black woman.
Miriam Yvette Thomas, the
Posts Beauty of the Week has
those qualities and more . . .
Miriam, “MiMi", to those
who know her well is a very easy
going yet business like young
woman. As a news reporter for
WSTP-WRDX in Salisbury,
she said, “good looks are vital in
obtaining ones goals, however,
tf.is equally important for one
V be able to prove himself
worthy of the opportunities
granted him, by doing his very
best."
Mimi likes her job as a
reporter, but in her long range
career plans she would like to
become a television news
anchorwoman.
After work it would by no
means be an oddity to find
Mimi in her Salisbury
apartment listening to Roy
Ayers, Lee Ritenour or Gato
Barieri, a few of her favorite
jazz artists. She also writes
poetry. It wars a selected group
of such poetry that won her the
title of First Runner Up to Miss
pageants.
The 22-year-old Montgom
ery, Alabama native is the
oldest of six children. She is a
honor graduate of Livingstone
College in Salisbury and holds a
bachelor of arts degree in
English. She was also named to
Who’s Who Among American
Colleges and Universities
during her senior year.
While a student at LC she
was an active participant in the
Student government Associa
tion. Editor of the Pamojo (the
campus newsletter), a member
of the Conduct and Standards
Committee, President of the
Beta Kappa Chapter of Delta
Sigma Theta Inc., head
majorette, concert band
clarinetist, and has published
poetry in the Bears Tale (the
campus literary magazine.)
“Nothing is your own, but
you life,” she says. “It’s so
important for one to strive to be
happy, because happiness does
not just fali into one’s lap,” she
said. “Fullfillment comes when
the individual is willing to put
out, to get something
worthwhile back."
Carolina Action hays
Commission Fell Short
Carolina Action last week
said that the Utilities Commis
sion has fallen short of their
responsibilities to the residen
tial user of North Carolina.
Responding to the Commis
sion’s decision to give only 5.27
percent of the requested 9.3
percent increase to Duke Pow
er, Carolina Action claimed
that Duke Power does not de
serve any increase at all.
"With a 30 percent overgen
W crating capacity, Duke's con
struction program is costing us
millions of unnecessary dol
lars". said Mary Wells of Caro
lina Action. “We're glad that
the commission did not grant
them the full increase, but even
5.27 percent is undeserved."
Carolina Action also claimed
that the newly established Sen
ior citizen classification does
not answer the issues raised by
Lifeline. The new classification
colls for no increase for senior
HICIIMMK <
t
A good LISTENER to not
only popular everywhere but
after a while he KNOWS
SOMETHING.
citizens and disabled people for
the first 330 Kilowatt hours.
“We’re glad to see the Com
mission doing something for
the seniors of this state. But
this is not Lifeline as wc pro
posed to the Utilities Commis
sion this past lune. It is merely
a first step," said Molly Hopper
of Carolina Action.
Carolina Action blasted the
new “Residential Conservation
Rate" which gives a discount
to people who insulate their
homes. ‘This is a discount for
the rich!" said Mary Wells.
“This will not decrease the
amount of energy they would
u«e. since just be insulating
they will be cutting down.
Gethsemane’s Enrichment Program
Begins Its Fall Session Monday
The Gethsemane Enrichment
'rogram, Inc., a by-product of
he problems of children,
parents and community'
members of the Five Points
\rea, will begin its fall session
September II.
In an effort to combat the
>robtems affecting the children
>f the surrounding communit
es, Gethsemane A.M.E. Zion
"hurch in cooperation with the
City’s Department of
Community Development,
lought to provide the local
:hildren with services,
programs and opportunities
hat they otherwise would never
receive. The areas included this
tession are Five Points, third
Ward, Orier Heights, and
Yorth Charlotte.
The program will extend
through the school calendar
year with students ranging in
age from 5-17 years. Classes
begin at 3:30 p.m. and end at
5:30 p.m.
Aside from the regular
classroom curriculum, students
will engage in recreational
activities such as skating,
bowling and going to the
movies, according to Connie
Pinnock, bookkeeper for the
program.
A Screening Program by the
Supporter Services Depart
Mr Lena Sammons
.. .Staff member
ment for students with dental
and visual needs has been
incorporated into the program
also, according to Iris Rattle.
Curriculum and Public
Relations spokesperson. “Dr
Raleigh Bynum has volunteer
ed to conduct the visual
screening,” she said, “and if a
student(s) has further need for
visual aid. then appointments
will be made at his office ”
The initial screening for
dental needs will be made at the
Central Piedmont Community
College Dental Clinic through
Marilyn Hayes, the contact
person. Further dental needs
for students after the screening
will he made by Clement
Oreene, Coordinator for the
Supporter Services Depart
ment
N. C. Coalition Plans Public
Hearings On Competency Tests
■ i ___
CA Wins
Insurance
Hearings
Carolina Action was granted
their request that public hearing
be reconvened across the state
last week in Raleigh at the
hearing on the proposed six per
cent rate increase for car
insurance. Overriding the
objections of attorneys for the
insurance companies. State
Insurance Commissioner, John
Ingram, accepted the petition
presented by Carolina Action
to hold public hearings at night
in Charlotte on September 12,
Durham on September 19, and
Raleigh on September 21 at 7
p.m. in the county courthouse
in each city.
“We think the public deserves
the right to be heard," said CA
spokesperson Bob Morgan.
“The last increase was April I,
does that mean we will have to
take an increase every six
months?" The April 1 rate hike
meant increases of 10 per cent
for the average Charlotte
driver, and up to 21 per cent for
those placed in the reinsuranced
facility. Even though Insurance
Commissioner tohn Inoram
opposed the rate increase,
according to N.C. State Law
theh'ke goes into effect until it
is appealed in court. Meanwhile
N.C. drivers are paying the
icrease and the case has not
even ma<4e it to court.
“The insurance Companies
have not answered the
questions raised by the last
increase,” said Mildred Nix,
another CA member.
“We think it is very ridiculous
to pay another increase when
these problems have not been
solved,” said Ms. Nix.
Dalton Village Drive
To Close For
Improvement*
Beginning Tuesday, Sept
ber 5, Dalton Village Drive
closed at West Boulevard for
intersection improvements.
The work will be done by the
North Carolina Department of
Transportation.
Residents are advised to use
Farmer Street or Caronia
Street as an alternate route
smce iOca i access win not be
maintained on Dalton Village
Drive. Construction is sched
uled to be completed by Dec
ember 1.
i
Members of the David Miller Defense Com
mittee and People I'nited for Justice gather on
the Court House steps to demand that charges
of first degree murder be dropped against
Miller. The committee has raised $ 1,0110 for
t 'I CS m _
his defense. The next meeting of the committee
Hill he Wednesday September 13 at Gethse
mane Baptist Church. 2670 l)r. Carver Road,
6:30 p.m. (photo by F.ileen llanson)
rur cmpwmoer iz
Steve Biko Memorial Planned
By Eileen Hanson
Special To The Post
A. Steve Biko Memorial
Program is planned for Tues
day, September 12 at Spirit
Square, 7:30 p.m., co-sponsor
ed by the Charlotte Committee
on Africa. A cultural pro
gram and film will comme
morate thq first anniversary
of the death of the young South
African leader
Biko founded the “Black
Consciousness Movement"
and was a dynamic leader in
the freedom struggle of 22
million blacks against the
white-supremist South Afri
can regime. Biko mounted the
Black Consciousness Move
ment believing that only when
blacks become self-conscious
and proud of their cultural
heritage will they understand
that they can resist and defeat
white supremacy
Thus Biko sought to awaken
and mobolize South Africans
through their own culture -
poetry, dance, theology, art
and history.
The Biko memorial pro
gram at the Afro-American
Center will feature African
dances and peotry, and a
film, “Last Grave at Dim
baza." The powerful film was
made illegally by blacks insid
South Africa and smuggled
out. It shows the realities of
life under South African
‘‘Apartheid’’ (strict segre
gation)
The program is free and open
to the public.
Riko died on Sen. 12, 1977
while in custody of the South
African police, his head and
body badly beaten. His sup
porters say he was murdered
by the police, a victim of their
torture.
But a government investi
gation claimed that he died
Irom "beating his head again
st the wall.” No one was tried
for his death.
As the founder and first
president of the South African
Student Organization (SASO)
in 1968, Biko led a decade of
student protest against infer
ior education for blacks that
culminated in the Soweto re
bellion of June 16,1976. Over
1,0000 young people were kill
ed in the protests that follow
ed
Biko's death sparked huge
protests across South Africa a
year ago. A month after his
death, the South African re
gime banned virtually every
black organization in the cou
ntry More than 50 prominent
black leaders were arrested,
and several white activists
who had supported the black
struggle were also banned.
Thousands of black youths
e fled the cuntry to join the
underground liberation move
ments
In South Africa, all political
and economic power rests in
the hands of the minority.
some four million whites of
British and Dutch descent
They control 87 percent of the
land, including all the cities,
ports, gold and diamond mi
nes, and rich farm lands. The
regime has allocated 13 per
cent of the land for Africans
mostly useless land.
The black majority l mostly
Africans, but including Asians
and Coloured- those of mixed
parentage! has no political
rights Blacks cannot move
outside their homes without a
passbook, an internal passport
strictly regulating employ
ment. housing and movement
Incomes for whites average
10 times those for blacks, and
even greater in the mines or
rural areas A rigid set of
apartheid iaws keep black and
white strictly segregated The
laws also forceably separate
black families, husbands from
wives parents from children.
Education for whites is free
and compulsory For blacks it
is neither Opponents ol apart
heid have called it "education
IWI 3vl VIUIUC UtTitUMf II ira
ins blacks onlj for the most
menial jobs in the society.
It was against this system
that Steve Biko mounted the
Black Consciousness Move
ment While mystery still
shrouds the circumstances of
his death, his life has inspired
millions to stand up against
injustice
For more information about
the Biko Memorial program,
call the Afro-American Cent
er, 374 1565
Health Week
Will Be
OhNervecI
Public Health Week will be
observed in Mecklenburg
County from September 10 to
September 17. Dr Charles H.
Miller, director of the Meck
lenburg County Health De
partment. has announced
The health department will
join departments throughout
the state in a series of events
designed to bring public
health services to the attent
ion of all North Carolinians
Hearings Are In Response
To Growing Public Concern
The North Carolina
Caolition for Quality
Education is organizing public
hearings on the issue of the
competency test to be held at
various locations throughout
the state in September and
October.
The Coalition is a mass
organization arising from the
August 12 conference in
Durham to oppose the test.
"The hearings are being
planned in response to grow ing
public concern over the tests
and to the failure of the state of
North Carolina to set up an
apparatus to clarify the issue,"
stated Nelson Johnson, Co
chairperson for the Coalition.
“The state held only one
hearing in July, and that was so
poorly publicized that only two
people attended
The state has not opened
public debate because it does
not want the people of North
Carolina to understand the true
implications of the test It is
critical that people throughout
the state understand the’issue
and what effect it will have on
education and jobs for black,
white working class and Indian
students."
The group denounces the
personal property tax rebate
has been opposed to increased
funding of education in recent
public statements from Gov.
Hunt and the State Board of
Education. Gov. Hunt this
week called for a rebate of
personal property taxes
The Board has complained to
the press that a rebate makes
further expenditure on
education impossible
“Granting a tax rebate and
upgrading educational funding
are not mutually exclusive."
stated Johnson, “as Hum and
his personally-chosen Board of
Education would have us
believe. They ate deliberately
attempting to put overtaxed
prcdominently white home
owners against poor, and
working class blacks, whites,
and Indians who suffer most
from the present low quality of
education in North Carolina.
They are creating a conflict
where there should not be one.
I he coali'ion supports both
increased :undirigfoi education
and the tax rebate The
Public* Hearing
Set For
September I t
The Charlotte Mecklenburg
Technical Coordinating
Committee on Air Quality will
hold a public hearing on
Thursday, September 14 at
7 ■ 30 p m in the board room of
the Education Center, 701
East Second Street The
purpose of the hearing is to
receive comments and
cilOtJiK:f mne on f nrnrwcAH
Charlotte Mecklenburg Air
Quality Implementation Plan
All interested persons are
urged to attend and partici
pate There is no preregi
stration requirement
A draft copy of the Air
Quality Implementation Plan
will lie available for public
inspection on September R at
the Office of Special Projects,
City Hall, 600 East Trade
Street. Charlotte
Kor additional information
contact J R Jones Transpor
tation Program coordinator
.174 2716
increased education money
should come from incresed
taxation of big industry and
the very rich. The industrial
barons in this state, who are
also pushing the competency
test, are the ones most able to
pay. They have continued too
long reaping the benefits of
education of w-orkers while
contributing little to the cost of
that education."
Jim Martin
..U.S. Congressman
Jim Martin Kirks
Off Campaign
For Re-election
Congressman Jim "Martin
officially kicked off his 1978
campaign for re-election last
week.
In special ceremonies mark
ing the opening of his district
wide campaign headquarters,
the Congressman siad he will
run on his 'record of service to
| his) constituents and votes on
the issues facing the coun
tries.1
Martin, who is seeking his
fourth term as a representa
tive for the 9th Congressional
District, said he has 'worked
to strengthen the ties between
this) office and the people of
the 9th District He c'ted his
numerous town meetings in
communities of the district as
an attempt to bring govern
ment closer to the ne.mle
Martin said if re-elected, he
plans to ‘continue regular
town meetings throughout the
district because they offer one
of the best means of communi
cation with the public ‘Mar
tin said,- frequent office hours
will be continued so I can
personally meet with indivi
duals to discuss their pro
blems
THE Congressman said he
is committed to continuing his
annual questionnaire 'because
my constituents have shown
that they want their opinions
heard 'Two way communi
cations are vital- said Martin
He added. -I plan to continue
listening to the views of the
people I work for here in the
9th District.
Martin, who played a major
role in tax cut legislation
House of Representatives, told
his supporters that he was
elected to Congress to cut
government spending and re
duce the federal budget
Now that the taxpayers are
demanding some relief Mar
tin said. ! think I can expect
some help from my colleagues
who have been slow to get the
message ‘
Martin pledged to continue
working for austerity in gov
ernment and against the un
reasonable demands inflicted
on the public by government
regulators
i