cmm tcommcnif
Wanted: A New Political Strates
by Hoyle H. Martin Sr.
Poet Editorial Writer
Last week's general elections re
sulted in one of the lowest voter
turnouts in the nation's history. Only
37 percent of the registered voters
went to the polls. IJere in North
Carolina the voter turnout was even
lower at 29 percent.
An apparent coincidental part of
this voter apatny was in the fact that—
the absence of white voter support
was in part responsible for the
defeat of some major black candi
dates. Probably the best known
among these were Mass. Sen. Ed
ward Brooke, seeking re-election;
California Lt. Gov. Mervyn
Dymally, also seeking re-election;
former California Rep^ Yvonne
Burke, running for state attorney
general; and Fayette, Miss., Mayor
rawrlow Ruorg, π «wiring * IT K*»n
ate seat. At the local level, Mecklen
burg County Commissioner Bob
Walton, lost his bid for a second
term.
On the other hand, while a few
. faces have changed, the number of
blocks in the U.S. House of Repre
sentatives remains at 16-Incumbent
Democrat Richard Erwin became
the first black to win a statewide
election in North Carolina, isrwin
defeated Republican Joe Cagle for a
judgeship on the N.C. Court of
Appeals. Furthermore, the rumb
lings and echoes erf bigotry and
racism espoused by Philadelphia
Mayor Frank Rizzo led blacks to
vote in heavy numbers to defeat his
bid to have the City Charter changed
so he could run for a third term.
In addition, skillful ticket splitting
enabled black voters to be key
factors in the eleétion of Republican
governors in the states of Michigan
and Pennsylvania and in the Illinois
Senate race that sent Republic
Percy back to Washineton
These mixed results in the 1978
election appear to indicate that
hlacks are in need of a new political
strategy if they are to receive and
take advantage the rights they
gained in the 1960s. This point was
clearly demonstrated by Atlanta
Mayor Maynard Jackson in a speech
in Charlotte last weekend.
In addressing the first Annual
Awards Banquet of the Charlotte
Business League, Jackson said,
"Economic power for Afro-Ameri
cans is going to follow political
power, not precede it." He urged the
League to form a political action
committee and added, "public
policy controls everything we do...
every facet of our lives. We'd better
understand that politics is serious
business."
Then, as if aware of our specific
local political apathy, disorganiza
tion and ineptness, Jackson said,
"weare^M^whomwtdM^e
our situation. No one's going to do it
for us..." Thus, the Black Political
Caucus can talk about a possible
mistake in endorsing the straight
Democratic ticket in last week's
election or we can talk about a
presumed need for district represen
tation for County Commissioners,
but none of this means anything
unless black people go to the polls
and vote. Vôting-thal is Uie key.
The hard fact is, black Charlott
eans and County residents followed
their usual pattern of failing to
register or if registered just not
taking time to vote. .Until we end this
political apathy, our unemployment
rates will remain high, our neighbor
hoods poor serviced, our children's
education will be less than quality
and racism will remain a constant
evil in our lives.
Political Effort
We have said repeatedly in this
column that black Charlotteans need
to develop a cadre of leaders who
will develop a philosophical state of
purpose and intent designed as a
framework for improving the quali
ty of life through greater economic
and political pffnrj and opportunity
for blacks. We have noted too that
such an effort must begin with a
planned systematic attack on black
voter apathy and vocal support for
voter registration and voting.
What we are saying is the 1980
election is upon us now; now is the
time for hundreds of black volun
teers from every level of the socio
economic and educational level to
begin soliciting voter registration on
street corners, churches, clubs,
bars, stores, doctors' offices and
other places throughout the black
community. Now is the time to begin
the new political strategy if blacks
want elected officials - black or
wfaite-who will respond to their
needs.
A new political strategy is vital to
our survival today and for a better
tomorrow for our children. This
strategy must include (1) long term
planning, (2) an investment of mon
ey and time by blacks, (3) getting
more black businesses and profess
ional people involved in politics, (4)
a warning to black elected officials
not to take black voters for granted,
(5) an awareness that while elected,
officials have no reason to deal
fairly with blacks if we are unorgan
ized, and (β) an awareness that
improved quality of life for black
people must begin and be developed
by black people.
Like a sleeping giant, it is past
time for blacks to awaken and begin
to flex their political muscles for
their own self-interest. To repeat the
words of Mayor Jackson, "we are
the ones who must change our
situation."
Thoughts On The Elections ,
k.. η · »
Special To The Poet
As American politics be
come more and more confus
ed, those of UI who analyze
election results need every
stronger doses of skepticism
and humility. I can still re
member our triumphal mood
back in 1976 following the
election of President Carter
and what seemed to be an
overwhelming liberal Con
grees. But as we soon learned,
initial politicial impressions
especially in today's world
can frequently mislead us.
Thus, to avoid falling into that
trap again, I will limit myself
to a few comments about
several races with special
significance for blacks. —
Any discussion οι uie elect
ion, of course, must begin with
the saddest news at all, the
defeat of Senator Ed Brooke çt
Massachusetts. During his
two terms in the Senate, Ed
Brooke served quietly and
unobtrusively. But even
though he rarely made the
headlines, he was unusually
effective. With his close links
to the moderate wing of the
Republican Party, Ed Brooke
frequently acted as a bridge
between the two parties, con
stantly defending and articu
lating the program of the civil
rights movement. And, unlike
some other contemporary pol
itical figures, Senator Brooke
always understood the differ
ence between compromise
and selling-out. In short, he
was a marvelous Senator, and
we win miss him greatly.
Lieutenant Governor Mer
vyn Dymally and Yvonne
Brathwaite Burke, both of
them outstanding and promis
ing black leaders, were also
defeated, in this instance by a
conservative upsurge in Cali
fornia. But even though these
defeats-aloog with Senator
Brooke's-are quite diacourag
ing and painful, I think it is
important to remember one
important point; ali of these
black political leaders were
rejected primarily for politi
cal reasons, not racial rea
sons. Thus, we should not view
these setbacks as proof of an
anti-black backlash. Instead,
they reflect changing political
trends that seem to favor
conservatives over traditional
liberals.
One very important black
victory-the Missouri "right
to work", referendum-receiv
ed scant attention from the
press, even though it was an
amazing setback for the New
Right and its anti-labor allies.
TTie minority community in
Missouri-which was exceptio
naiiy weu-orgamzea - provea
' once ag§in that a united black
vote is the most effective
forc
economic
blacks. Indeed,
without a strong black vote,
the anti-union measure might
have won, sparking a nation
wide campaign for "right to
work" laws and other socially
regressive measures.
Black voters also had a
decisive impact in several
other races as well. In Michi
gan, for example, blacks help
ed defeat Republican Senator
Robert Griffin, a long-time
opponent of federal programs
supported by civil rights and
labor organizations. During
thé last session of Congress,
Griffin voted against the civil
rights movement on 8 of II key
issues, such as minimum
wage, school desegregation,
and labor law reform. His
replacement, Carl Levin of
Detroit, will hopefully do a
better Job of representing
Michigan's blacks.
In some respects, the elect
ion reflected some disturbing
trends: the steady drift to the
right, the weakening concern
tor me poor ana unempioyea,
and the sometimes dangerous
fetish for irrational .tax-cutt
ing. Yet, there is also an
important pngitiye trend for
blacks. Whereas some elect
ions of the recent past - 1968
and 1970, for instance - focus
ed heavily on racially-divisive
issues like busing, and affir
mative action, this year's
elections had little or no racial
overtones, even in the South.
Such a development, I believe,
is an encouraging sign for
black Americans. And with
the steady decline of racial
issues, we can now focus on
the real issues confronting
blacks - jobs, educational
excellence, decent housing,
and steadily expanding oppor
tunity.
; OU Students
ê?L ρβί. Sl λ '"k *
Participate In
Poetry Workshop1
Sixty Junior High students
participated in a poetry work
shop sponsored the Alpha
Lambda Omega Chapter of
the Alpha Kappa Alpha Soror
ity on Sat., October 28. This
was the sixth in a series of
workshops being offered.
Saturday's workshop was
conducted jointly by a group
representing T.J. Reddy from
the Afro American Cultural
t'cnter called P.A.G.E. (Per
forming Arts Guild Ensem
ble). and the fcbony Players.
The Junior High students
listened to poetry readings
accompanied by a guitarist
. ..w .lutist.
Ί i.e workshops will continue
meeting each Saturday morn
ing from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.ii... at First Baptist Church
.m waklawn Ave. All interest
ed Junior High Students are
invited.
by Vernon £. Jnrrt· η, Jr
TO
BE
f
EQUAL
Corporations And Cities
ι
Many of the more sophisticated, advanced
businesses in America have indicated their
concern with revitalizing the cities. But
relatively few have developed coherent corpo
rate strategies that deal with urban revitalizat
ion within the framework ok corporate activities.
Many have however, and their programs ought
to be more widely known. But perhaps discussion
of some things Control Data Corp. and Sears,
Roebuck & Company are doing will stimulate
wider interest in positive steps being taken by
others. ^
Control Data Corp., the giant computer
company, has joined with a number of other
corporations to start a new company, City
Venture Corp. The aim of the new firm will be to
plan and manage programs designed to imprt&e
conditions in inner cities, and to benefit busi
nesses locating there. The new company will
draw on Control Data's experience in construct
ing and operating plants at a profit in a number
of urban poverty areas.
The significance of the venture is that it is not
designed to be a charitable enterprise-it's
intended to be a profit-making concern creating
jobs where they sure most needed.
American business has not taken full advan
tage of the economic opportunities offered by
innar nity ru»iphivr>rhnnrls Ry stressing technolo
gical breakthroughs, identifying new markets
and products, and by training the neglected
human resources of urban ghettos, corporations
can revitalize the economies of the cities.
Λϋ · «» ■_ Λ ··· ■ λ·»· « ■ - ·
v/njr Tcut4uc win uc wdicucu uiuociy uy uic
black community to see if it follows through on
its potential for creating productive jobs, and by
the corporate community, which is bound to view
it as a test of the profitability of poverty-area
economic development.
Hie positive step taken by Control Data and
other backers of the new company should be
acknowledged. So too, should a different
approach be taken by Sears, Roebuck.
Sears has been faced with a problem common
to many retailers in economically declining
neighborhflpds. Hairing abandonment has regfcl
ted in population ^ralihetf^nat translate into
lower retail volume and financial losses. The
hard facts of business mandate that stores
cannot be carried if they loee money over a
period of years. This has meant that some Sears
stores in inner cities face cloeing.
But Sears didn't do what others have done ~
just walk away. In St. Louis, Sears followed its
corporate policy of seeking other uses for the
doomed store. It embarked on a joint venture
with the St. Louis Urban League to turn its
North St. Louis facility into a Community
Service Center.
- i
Sears financed the necessary remodeling, paid
taxes on the property, and turned the manage
ment of the pew building over to the Urban
League. The building has been turned into a
center, housing businesses and non-profit ser
vices and educational agencies. Community
meeting facilities are included.
nau dears simpiy moved away, the vacant
building would have been a deteriorating eye
sore, dragging the entire neighborhood downhill
and damaging property values in a part of the
city where many black people own homes.
The More Things Change, The More They Remain The Same
I··· rw ta o.ll 9 · * »«_ . ». . . . , .... . *
·»/ ·»■ · ν»«·» aw u. vywtw
Special To The Past
There is a new «rind of
raciam that ia increasing in
velocity on the national scene.
Like ita predecessor it ia
buffeting every national insti
tution that affects living. Un
like other times when the
expertencers engaged in dialo
gue, today only a deceptive
monologue it the protective
survival strategy and atyle.
Whites are talking to Whites
and Blacks are talking to
Blacka. Unfortunately, those
moat buffered are unequipped
to survive or significantly bat
tled the raging gale.
However, some who belong
to this group have been offer
ed, accepted and provided
resources from those with
resources (system) which en
ables them to ride out the
storm, while the maases are
left to continue being ignored,
exploited and-or destroyed.
The word new is italicised in
the description of this wind be
cause in truth it ia not new at
all. but rather the same old
wind of another time, which
from the beginning was calcu
lated to deny Blacks and other
minorities a just and equitable
sharp of national resources
and services : resources with
which to battle the storms of
poverty and the continuing
recession; i.e adequate hous
ing. health care, education
α ι iva uwoc UIUI^B UMl U1IIIUIUM1
and demean personhood and
citizenship.
Unquestionably the aspira
tion of Blacks and other mino
rities are no knger a major
concern of the nation's decis
ion makers and power brok
ers. Minority interests are of
little importance, which is
reminiscent of another day.
Joel oreytuss, the freelance
writer in San Francisco, in
writing for the January 1978
issue of Black Enterprise
makes the following observa*
tion, "The new racism has
changed its form, but not its
substance and is still old and
deadly." Vernon Jordan, Exe
cutive Director of the National
Urban League in his address
to the 1978 National meeting of
the League, called the new
racism "the new negativism".
How right these men are as
they assess the national scene,
and how clearly do they see
that the new monster Blacks
and others battle today is the
same oid monster of yester
day - racism. The difference is
that today It Is called and
described by others words and
by other phrases, such si
quotas, ethnics, ethnicity, re
verse discrimination, racial
discrimination eliminated,
lower standards, crime in the
streets, law and order and
many other words and phase*
whose very under girding il
ucscirueu uy outers woras ana
phases, such as quotas, eth
nic», ethnicity, reverse discri-'
mination, racial discriminat
ion eliminated, lower stand
ards, crime in the streets, law
and order and many other
words and phases whose very
under girding is racism.
What makes the times so
ominous and perilious is that
Blacks and other minorities
stand virtually alone and sin
gular in the ensuing struggle.
Those former allies and
friends (labor, liberals, intel
lectuals, Jews) of another
time have deserted the c*use
of Justice, equality, human
and civil rights far minorities,
which moreover have joined
forces with the abiding foes of
freedom and Justice. They
have provided the
under pinnings for the resur
gence of old feelings and the
new strategy for thwarting
and subverting the full
entrance of Blacks and other
minorities into the main
stream of American life Al
' most every national publica
tton of any prominence feat
ures articles by one or more of
these "friends" at yesterday,
affirmative action, human
and civil rights for all.
There musings can be heard
on radio and television in
increasing abundance and
regularity There are other
evidences that Dreyfuss cites
in nu article that undertake·
the continuing existence and
practice of racism and its
attendant evil in our midst. He
cites a recent survey by Lou
Harris that shows, "a major
ity of Blacks feel they are
discriminated against."
He also cites a report by
Seymour Martin Lipnet of San
ford University, that states
"Whites do not believe discri
mination it the principal
cause of Blacks inequality...
but see Black problems as
stemming essentially from the
moral failing of individuals "
This Dreyfus· perceives in so
many word· as living proof of
the continuing life and vigor of
white stereotypes about
Blacks that is age· old. Given
this perspective, plus an in
nate or acquired physical fear
of Blacks, Whites address that
as the economic crunch coati
as the economic cruch con
cern in the economic and
politièal arena.
Ihèy are centain that as the
economic crunch continues
and expands, they are the
endangered species
The White scholar·, politic
ians. white and blue collar
workers, poet· and peasants
join forces and resist and
subvert the legitimate claims
of Black· and others At this
stage, all minorities have be
come expendable, this is *li>
(he percentage of significant
Black owned businesses is so
pitifully small. This is why
Black housing, health care,
education and myriad of other
human civil rights and serv
ice· continue to erode.
Perhaps the greater tragedy
in this time of peace and the
expanding gale is the non-abil
ity, because of the system, of
Blacks and other minorities to
significantly mobilize and or
ganize themselves to combat
and rise above the storm. It is
unbelievable that thirty to
fifty million mobilized and
organized folk could fall to
protect and advance them
selves from any and all forces
that would destroy them. The
gross national income of these
exploited people of this nation
exceeds one hundred billion a
year, which is a significant
dollar resource. However,
these resources era up oeing
controlled by those who domi
nate and exploit
In addition, throughout the
nation there are many con
gressional districts, senator
ial. local, regional and state
election where a mobilized
and organized minority consti
tuency could determine who
the political decision-makers
will be These things represent
power potential and in spite of
the system it is assured that
the gathered xtorm of racism.
lh.it for ko long has washed
out. swallowed and destroyed
one of God's great treasures,
will continue and be a los^to
the nation and the world.
For now, what can be said is
in agreement with the «ufçoi
another day, "Plw J'a
Change, Plus Cest La Meane
Chose" (The More Thiôus
Change, The More They f.e
main the Same).
Jeri Ingram j
To Edit UNCC !
t
Yearbook
CHARLOTTE--Jeri Ingrim,
8420 Knights Bridge R< id,
Charlotte, has been die* ed
editor of "Rogues 'Ν I as
cals," the University of N< rth
Carolina at Charlotte yfar
book.
Ingram, a junior Eng&sh
major, will serve m editorffor
the 1978-7# edition of RoJnm
Ν Rascals "
/
THE CHARLOTTE FOOT
"THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER"
Established 1918
Published Every Thursday
By The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc.
1524 West Blvd.-Charlotte. N.C. 28206
Telephones (704)376-0496-376-0497'
Circulation, 9,915
80 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE
BILL JOHNSON. ..Editor Publisher
BERNARD REEVES.. General Manager
SHIRLEY HARVIfY.. Advertising Director
HENRY ALASKA Buaine»· Μ,Τ
Second Class Postage No. 888800 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 snd photos is S p.m. .
! Monday. All photos snd 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, 111. 80816
(212)480-1220 Calumet 5-0200
rns UP TO US. BLACKS
WHO CARE ABOUT THE
BLACK FUTURE, TO IMPOSE
ORDER WERE NONE EXIST
TO MY. AND WE HAVE TO DO
!Z FOR OUR LIVES HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN WORTH
LESS THAN WHITE ONES
THE EYES OF OUR COUNTRY,
\—4MP OUR COUNTRY DOES.
NOT REALLY CARE ABOUT
THE CHAOS IN OUR NEIGHBOR
HOODS AS LONG AS THAT "
ANARCHY DOES NOT SPILL
OVER THE LINES OF DEMAR
CATION.
we have Tooorr
BECAUSE WE CANNOT ASK
OUR OU) PEOPLE TO
I SPEND THERESTOF THEK
UVES PASSING THROUGH A
GAUNTLET OF MUGGERS.
sty
I The Level Of Fear Is^Shocking! !