Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Oct. 26, 1978, edition 1 / Page 2
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aioflflii tcomiMJ jNAACP Seeks Excellence I by Hoyle H. Martin Sr. * Post Editorial Writer Be active in your schools, avoid the "politics of indifference" and set meaningful priorities for yourself. That is the underlying message the Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of PUSH (People United to Save Hum anity), a national human rights organization, has been traveling across the country telling youth, specially black youth. He adds that t's time to" become more disciplined ind thus more able to take fdvantage of today's opportunities, lecently, Jackson said, "as for (lacks, we must be superior, just to >e equal." As if taking a page from Jackson's ote book, Dr.3W. Montague Cobb, ne of the Keynote speakers at the jur-day NAACP state convention )ld the 300 delegates in Charlotte mst week, "blacks should emphasize self-discipline, intelligence and co operation." Cobb, national president of the NAACP told his Radisson Plaza Hotel audience that blacks should emphasize education-with particu lar support given to elementary school students and their parents. "Where does the motivation to excel begin? In the individual. And there is no better force to accomplish this than the family." He added, "unless we motivate children while young... they will likely not develop to their full potential." State NAACP President Kelly Al exander Sr., may have set the stage for Dr. Cobb's remarks when he hold the delegates earlier, "we are facing an unfinished agenda in civil rights." Because of the major role of the NAACP in completing this agenda, Alexander said that the state organ ization should seek to double its membership and raise $100,000 in 1979. "It is important," he added, "for the organization to remain strong in the continuing struggle, particularly for equal education and housing opportunities and more black public office holders. In order to achieve these ends, it will be necessary for blacks to exercise self-discipline, intelligence and co operation." These comments by Jackson, Cobb, and Alexander are consistent with the views of many of the nation's black leaders who contend that a "new negativism," that is, a basic abandoning of the civil rights promises of the 1906s is evident. Thus, there is a need for blacks to pursue excellence through self-disci pline, educational achievement and political involvement. These pur suits and membership in the NAACP should reverse the trend of the "new negativism." Yes, the civil rights agenda is unfinished; join up, help finish the fight. If you don't, we'll all lose. Do your part! Mergers Threaten Black Business ~'ie principle of "black ethnicity" major key to the survival of b i.f business and black economic self .sufficiency, according to George E. Johnson, president of the Johnson Products Company. In a speech to the National Beauty Culturists League's annual conven tion held in Detroit, Johnson said giant corporations^ conglomerates f. and multinationals are vigorously competing for and seeking every (vailable dollar in the black com l unity. Black business has, in effect, goffered from the onslaught of Competition but not exclusively from îe forces of free market competi on. Johnson illustrated this in his î >eech when he said, "the free « iterprise system in this country is ι ïtyet a two way street for blacks." \ ihereas, white firms vigorously < >mpete for the black consumers ( )llar, whitè people traditionally < wi't buy anything from blacks that t ley can get from whites. The competitive disadvantage re ferred to here deals with the elimin ation of competition through giant corporations, conglomerates and multinationals-or mergers as they are often called. This results in the lessening of competition and thus higher prices. Black business is hurt by this practice too, however, most blacks are unaware of the existence of and impact of mergers. Such activities are supposedly controlled by the anti-trust laws but this does not adequately protect so-called free enterprise competition which, as we've noted, also hurts blacks. In order to cope with this two pronged attack on black business, . Johnson said, "black business lead ers, community, church, and politi cal leaders all need to understand that the principle of enthnicity is the key to our survival, and we must sell the entire black community on this principle." Johnson concluded, "We must stop our dollars from leaving the black community to build the eco nomy of other communities. Until free enterprise is a two-way street the only market we have is the black consumer market." Reducing Johnson's observations to its basic meaning tells us that if black business is to survive, black people must fully support such ' businesses. We wholeheartedly support this _ viewpoint because economic growth and independence are closely rela ted to political freedom and ad vance. Support the black businesses in your community so your community can support you! ' Μξ HAVE BEEN AWAKENED TO JUSTICE BY SOUND Of SONGS AND SERMONS, SPEECHES AND PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS. BUT THE NOISE LESS SECRET VOTE. WILL THUNDER FORTH A TIMES MORE LDUDL y .} il ι! ,:l i ί i' J :itiiMi! *MSto*NT LYN90H$.MHH*0h Blacks9 Destiny In Own Hands... LETTERS TOTHE EDITOR Democratic Unity Rally Mr. Bill Johnson, Editor The Charlotte Poet Charlotte, N.C. Dear Editor: At the October 13 Democra tic Unity Rally 13 members of People United for Justice de monstrated their unity and dedication to the human rights of the Charlotte 3 and Wilm ington 10. We held a prayer vigil in front of Governor Jim Hunt during his speech. We blocked the view of some in the audience and maybe we owe an apology. But we owe no apologies to the many Demo cratic hypocrites in that room who were afraid to take a public stand for human rights in front of the Gwrynor. We owe no apology to me many members of the Democratic Party who support Jesse Helms. We owe no apology to the Blacks that were present and did not have the courage to stand with us in support of our young Black men who are political prisoners of this state. In the struggle for equal and human rights for all, we pledge our allegiance to the poor and oppressed, not to any political party. We wear one face, not two. 1 wanted to scream out to all of those present who stood and applauded the lies being told, but could not applaud human rights. Unity will be when on Nov. 7 all good Democrats will throw out their personality hang-upe and support ' John Ingram instead of Jesse Helms. Unity will be when the poor, oppressed and minorities see what's happening and stop being used for an edge. We must stand together publicly for those same people and issues that the fearful want to discuss only behind closed doors. We will not alienate ourselves from being involved and being true believers in our people. We know we have supporters that are true and sincere. Our true supporters will continue to have respect for us. I found out through my bout with the Housing Author ity who mine were. I will always cherish those folks wno neipea Keep a rooi over my family by giving us moral, spiritual and financial sup port. Charlotteans, be for real! Stand for something, even if you have to stand alone. Just ice is going to be made a reality. Sacrifice, hope, love and faith are the answer for today, tomorrow and always. Sincerely, Carrie Graves People United for Justice Scouting For The Handicapped Dear Sir: In-school Scouting for the handicapped is now part of the program of the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System in a very real way. Endorsed by the State Board of Educat ion, the local council of the Boy Scouts of America has already formed a pack and a troop to meet the needs of those for who Scouting might not have been possible other wise. Plans are underway for the program to be introduced in eight other schools where both physically as well as mentally retarded young people might participate. The program calls for a one hour in classroom session per week wherein Scouting is off ered to those wishing to parti cipate. Approved by the Sup erintendent of Schools, Jay Kobinson, this program sup . P'MMflty "Main Stream'' Scouting where the youth is a member of a regular pack or troop and "Special Scout Units". Teachers and aides who are involved in this program will be participants in a seminar on November 13, 1978 at the Staff Development Center. As part of their "In Service" training and because of their extra participation in this pro gram "Special Service*" has matte tf possible for those who are assisting in this program to receive additional recertifi cation credits. The seminar will be conducted by trained volunteers of the Boy Scouts of America. Bob Bartlett, Field Director for the Mecklenburg County Council states that there are about 4,000 handicapped boys in our area who could and should become a part of this program either in a troop or pack nearby their home or , through the "In-School Pro gram." He invites concerned parents to contact mm and encourages those who would like to help in this program to do so. He stated that when these teachers return to their schools to begin this program, thai approximately 125 young boys will be involved in a program that only began with the first training last April for local leaders. For further information, contact Thurston St. Clair at 377-9611 or Bob Barlett at 333-5471. —By Vernon E. J< TO BE EQUAL Black-Brown Election Turnout The case is clear for the absolute necessity of a massive voter turnout by minorities this election year. Congressional intransigence has meant that many federal programs essential to urban revitalization and to improving the opportunities for minorities and the poor are in deep trouble. Congress has compiled a record awesome in its neglect of the interests of the nation. It has been unresponsive to popular feelings. Tax revolt, for example, is a popular response to an unfair and inequitable tax system. Congress' answer is to broaden the loopholes and make the tax system even more unjust. On a whole range of issues, Congress has become a barrier to progress. Energy and other key issues have been left to wither on the vine. And instead of acting constructively, the Con gress has gone out of its way to bring up deceptive issues such as the tuition tax credit ^ J L — -1 A. _ A* _ uiivt u**ivimiitviiu3 w uj anu mauve atuuu compliance. Congressional committees are gutting the Administration's urban policy and welfare re form is nowhere in sight, a year after the Frésidénf announced his welfare reform plans. — One remarkable aspect of Congress' callous behavior is its persistent and willful neglect of the interests of its minority constituents. Last spring, for example, the Joint Center for Political Studies analyzed the voting patterns of Congressmen whose districts include sizable black populations. The JCPS found that 59 members of the House of Representatives represent districts in which over 25 percent of the population is black. One would expect people representing such districts to be more responsive to black needs than other Congressmen. After all, blacks form a sizable portion of their district's population. Few politicians would dare ignore the interests of a quarter of their constituents. Well, the arrogant disrespect some politicians feel toward black people and their interest becomes evident in this JCPS STUDY. The JCPS identified key legislative issues in which black people hajcr etake, issues such an child nutrition, VrecBam-éra veterans benefits, the minimum wage, and others. The Black Caucus position on these issues was tai en .is the standard against which the Congresspersons would be judged. The basic result-21 of the 59 voted against the Black Caucus position more often than not on . G key roll call votes. Since 14 of the Black Caucu. members are included among the 59. that means that 21 out of the remaining 45 representative with significant black constituencies vol against black interest most of the time. And some of them voted against the Black Caucus position all of the time. The message to black people is clear. We havn to assume the responsibility to reward our f r ids and punish our enemies. We have to register in massive numbers, and then turn out to vote. Any group that constitutes a fourth of a Congressional difitrict'g-pnpnlatinn, might fry ho able to influence the way that Representative votes. At the very least, it should be able to make sure that Representative votes right on key issues. So long as blacks register and vote in lower than average proportions, this sort of Congress ional misrepresentation will continue. THE CHARLOTTE POST "THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER" Established 1918 Published Every Thursday By The Charlotte Poet Publishing Co., Inc. 1524 West Blvd.-Charlotte. N.C. 28208 Telephones <704)376-0496-376-0497 Circulation, 9,915 60 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE BILL JOHNSON....Editor Publisher BERNARD REEVES.. General Manager SHIRLEY HARVEY...Advertising Director EDISON SEARLES.. Circulation Director 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 ρ m ι Monday. All Dhotos and copy submitted becomes the pro® Henth* ?5POST, and will not be returned National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc. 4S W 5th Suite 1403 2400 S. Michigan Ave. New York N.Y. 10036 Chicago, III 60616 VaUitt&OO Calumet 5-0200 ay Denjamin u. nuuns Special To The Poet Recognizing that a primary cause of his pre-Camp David summit slide in the polls was due to the public's perceiving him as weak and indecisive, President Carter resolutely moved to shore up his image. He took on the powerful military establishment by ve toing the $37 billion weapons procurement bill because it contained $2 billion for a nu clear aircraft carrier, which he felt was inflationary; he hauled President Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Begin of Israel up to Camp David to hammer out a Mid east peace agreement frame work ; he scored a very impressive legislative victory when the House sustained by a comfortable margin his veto of the $10.1 billion public works appropriation· bill be cause he felt it too was inflat ionary. Given this show of strength, many of us had thought Mr. Carter would have followed through and held firm to his avowed desire not to give Rhodesia's Ian Smith and oth er representatives of his ille gal, breakaway government visas to visit the United States After all, it was a foregone conclusion that Our New Day Begun Smith's U. S. Victory Benjamin hooks NAACP Executive Director Smith and his black coterie were only coming here to stage a laat ditch lobbying effort to gain a privileged position for Rhodesia η whites under black majority rule. For these reasons, the NAACP expressed its strong objections to Smith's visit in a telegram to President Carter. We explained that: (1) The granting of such visas would be clearly illegal and violative of present United Nations pol icies to which the United States ascribed U N Resolu tion No 2S3 explicitly states: "All member states shall pre vent the entry into their terri tory save on exceptional hum anitarian grounds of any per sons traveling on .Southern Rhodesia passports or on a purported passport issued by or on behalf of the illegal regime in Southern Rhode «to." (2) Freedom-living nations a round the world have applau ded your strong commitment to human rights and the incor poration of such principles into the Carter Administra tion's foreign policies. Any move, therefore, that would pretend to grant, or actually grant, recognition to the ille gal Ian Smith regime would be violative of these policies. (3) The granting of visas to the illegal Ian Smith regime lead ers would be a clear, unmis takable signal to Africa and the rest of the world that the United States has turned its back on its avowed policies of supporting the principles of majority rule for Southern Africa. Such an ut by the Carter Administration would be an open invitation to the Soviets to enter the rapidly escalating conflict in that re gion. No action, we stress, would more invite commun ism into Rhodesia, Namibia and South Africa than such recognition of a government which, until now, no nation has seen fit to recognize by Charles Ε. Belle Special To The Poet Poets claimed in the spring a young man's fancy turns to love, pundits proclaim old men in the fall turn to just ■ plain fantasy. Some weduf' ago, A. W. Clausen, president of Bank of America, biggest commercial bank in the world, spoke to the 1978 National Urban League Conference, held in the far west. Los Angeles, long known as "plas tic city" was the right place for the proper banker to blow off about both economic dis parity and when Black Ameri can· could expect something to be done about their despe rate condition. The American economy in general...not just the black population within It. has fared poorly, claims Clausen. "One important reason why is most Black Americans have not grown enough" continues the chief executive officer of the <81 billion bank. The ivory tower office of its officers must indeed be in the clouds, because this country is at a record and climbing employ ment level, while Black Amer · ■cans are caught at the bottom of the ladder with unemploy ment. In spite of the big bank s ιΛΛ# \r~U > Λ . Business In The Black Bank Of America, Bull And Blacks home base in a city with over 100,000 Black Americans, it employ· no black middle or senior management loan offi cers. In fact, until recently, no Black American served on its heard- of directors. See this column one year ago, "Cor ruption in Capitalism." Andrew Brimmer was placed on Bank of America's boad of directors shortly after this column hit the scene. However, in spite of Mr. Brim mer's expense paid monthly meetings in San Francisco, he hasn't seen fit or been allowed to meet with the Black Ameri can community in the city. Both Mr. Clausen and Mr. Bell, Senior Vice President, have been personally inform ed of the requests since Febr uary The onee only high ranking black has been run out of town and is now attorn ey for the port of Oakland. Another Black American fort unately found a job with Bet chel since Brimmer has been put on the board. Local Black American com munity organizations receive none of the millions of dollars doled out each year by either of the bank's charity arms. The bank's lending policies to the oitv's black population is reiuinwcent of redlining with flare. Any Black American junior loan officer found find ing a way to work out a loan for Black Americans is either dismissed or diverted to anot her department. Loans to any ethnic requires creative banking skill which has a sense of the people provided to loan. This sensiti vity has too soundly been censored by the chiefs at the nation's biggest bank. Black Americans agree with Mr. Clausen incentive· for private enterprise can go along way toward aiding everyone. Clausen is quoted as saying, "I'm certainly not questioning the need for government pro grams to help the poor, we should use our public resour ces to help solve social prob lem». Chet K the ads in the CtarWte Post each week
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 26, 1978, edition 1
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