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Economic Racism Or Simply Economics?
by Hoyle H. Martin, Sr.
• Post Editorial Writer
The Congressional Black Caucus
demanded, and CBS-TV agreed, to
cancel the new television series
“Mr. Dugan.” The Caucus, reacting
after a private viewing of the show ,
one week before it was to have gone
on the air, complained, “the impact
would be disastrous, showing a
(black) congressman who was a
silly, incompetent man ruled by his
(largely white) staff.” The issue of
the negative impressions “Mr.
Dugan” might have given about
blacks in public office was exposed
when John Amos of “Roots” fame
accepted, then quit the leading role
in the show.
While there are some, such as
Cleavon Little who was to play the
. role of “Mr. Dugan,” who disagree
with the Caucus’ position, the issue
appears to be merely the tip of an
iceberg of what many believe to be is
blatant racism in television pro
gramming. In fact, a recent new
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
study reveals that racial stereotyp
ing in television programming is
fairly widespread.
The study, “Window Dressing on
the Set: An Update,” contends that
blacks, more so than whites, are
portrayed in television as comic
characters and younger people are
given no identifiable occupations.
' On the other hand, white men are
more often portrayed as highly
successful, mature characters with
identifiable occupations that re-in
force a good image.
The Commission’s 1975-77 study
notes that in dramatic programming
all male minorities are used in
comic roles on a 3 to 1 ratio when
compared to whites. Furthermore,
the study review of employment
data for 1977 at 40 major television
stations reveal that whites hold 86.2
percent of all management positions
compared to only 9.6 percent for
blacks and 4.2 percent for all other
minorities. At television network
headquarters and new shows,
whites, particularly white males,
play an even more dominant role.
The irony of all this is that as
blacks gain more at the manage
ment decision-making level, they
may find it necessary to support the
same kind of black stereotyping that
the Commission has expressed
concern about if that stereotyping
will retain high program ratings and
Uius higher network profits and jobs
for black entertainers and techni
cians.
Furthermore, it means also that if
there is any racial undercurrent or
psychological desire to portray
blacks in inferior roles it occurs
largely because of the racist menta
lity of the television viewing audi
ence. the audience that primarily
determines program ratings and
therefore network profits. By “rac
ist mentality" we are referring to
whites that may enjoy heartily
seeing blacks portrayed as dumb
and silly because it reinforces then
biased beliefs and reduces then
presumed fear of the threat of
intelligent, talented black people.
The dilemma here is that for
blacks to gain economically in the
television industry-jobs at all lev
els-they may have to accept and
reinforce black stereotyping in
order to help retain the higher
ratings and higher corporate profits
gained from racially motivated eco
nomic forces-the largely white
viewing public.
Short of a revolution in the thought
process and attitude of most white
Americans, blacks face a difficult
choice in attempting to balance their
sense of self-worth and dignity with
jobs and greater pcnnnmin
L. G Coleman Park A Good Idea
On Monday the City Council re
jected a Public Monuments Commit
tee recommendation and voted to
rename Northwest Park in honor of
west side community leader L. C.
Coleman. The Council’s action was
based largely upon the fact that
previous councils had indicated they
would name the park after Mr.
Coleman and because he was single
handedly responsible for the estab
lishment of the park.
We applaud the Council’s action
but deem it necessary to note that
neither of these reasons fully ex
plains why L. C. Coleman should
have a park named in his honor. It
has been “L.C.,” as he’s affection
ately called, who, through the years,
has successfully championed the
causes of the youth and the elderly
and has led efforts to clarify and aid
citizens’ concerns in such projects
as the McArthur Avenue widening
controversy. Without fanfare, and
often without the support of other
community leaders, Coleman has
often accomplished what appeared
to be impossible. We join others in
saluting L. C. Coleman for a job
well-done in contributing in his own
way to the betterment of all man
kind.
SomedAig On Your Mind?
“Something on your mind” is the
name of a column devoted to you
the young at heart readers of this
newspaper-as long as it relates in
some way to young people, regard
less of age.
Remember it’s your column.
Your article should be at least 250
words, type-written and double spa
ced preferred. Include your name,
age, school, and a clear photo, and
send it to the Editor, Charlotte Post
Newspaper, Post Office Box 30144
Charlotte, NC 28230.
Wanted^Jobs
Horae h Out Of Hie Stable?
Hr. Maggie Lamb Nicholson
“In Touch," which was on TV
Sunday night, was lot of hoop
la. You could read on the
superintendent's face as. he
stumbled through putting one
race up and holding another
race down and ignoring all the
other great people in this multi
race school system. The chair
man of the committee did not
seem to get herself together but
it at least made people who
want to know, try to find out
what they were saying. The
horse is out of the stable now.
The children who failed are
going to need more than some
one to be looking good on TV.
They will have to begin with
kindergarten, then continue to
the first grade, then put more
emphasis on the second grade,
so they will be ready for the
third grade because that k the
determining grade1. That’s
when the child is marked for
failure or success.
van_i _
wwwho nappcuB, me cnna
feels it and begins to try to stay
with the elect or become dis
couraged and feel that they are
not being given a fair shake or
grade. Some never catch up
while there are others who
realize what is about to happen
to them and break through the
educational competency rules
and become what she or he
wants to be. One needs a good i
background before leaving
third grade. Sometimes a child
has to change schools, and ]
sometimes change counties, or (
even states, but if this happens, i
it is worth it rather than let the i
child stay there and jeopardize 1
his future.
Speaking about the people (
who signed up for one hour per 1
week—they are getting all the <
praise. What about those that |
volunteered one and two days t
per week for several years! i
These former volunteers saw j
what was about to happen and c
out of the goodness of their £
hearts pitched in to help with
Dr. Nicholson
our publicity. What Dr. J.
Robinson and Sis are doing is
good, but it’s not enough. More
can be d^ne and it has got to be
dope or this Sailing will'con
tinue for a long time. One race
is not smarter than the other if
the learning atmosphere can be
put in the schools and the
student applies himself or her
Belf. What one child needs to
compete in this age of technol
ogy, the same is needed for all
■tudents; we do not need a dual
Bducational testing. Those who
*re asking for itare saying that
iheir child does not have the
’rains or guts to go get it
;• **»■ what the good people of
-harlotte-Mecklenburg want
or their children?
At the Democratic Womens’
uncheon Saturday, one speak
er said that ERA is here to say.
Veil. I say that there are people
vho are working just as hard to
|eep education before the pub
ic. Another spoke on rape,
issaults, and sexual education,
ilaybe some of these crimes
ould be avoided with proper
raining. Then the speaker who
alked about the governor’s
eading program and the com
etency testing, its pros and
ons, needed to have said more
bout its beginning.
My advice is to become in
volved Start with your per
cents. Learn the democratic
process. Know who you are
putting in office to represent
you. Yes, you do have some
good ones, but you need more
that will look out for all child
ren. Don’t wait to vote to be told
who to vote for, but know what
the person has stood for and
add that to what they say they
are going to do for all people.
Beware of someone that will
pick you out, give you some
cookies and juice, drop a few
dollars in your hand, pat you on
the back, call you a good guy
and you don’t see him any more
until the next election. And you
can’t question their action be
cause they paid for your vote,
yes, you sold yourself cheap.
Well that’s what Jacob did for
this brother. It’s an old story, so
let it not be you. Know who you
are supporting, it’s not always
the one who spends the most
money nor screams the loudest
You still may get the wrong
person but you can be happy
that you tried. Come on every
one, exercise your God given
rights. The Constitution of the
United States gives it to you
also.
Nation Ford
Road Will Be
Closed 2 Weeks
RALE IGH-The Division ot
Highways of the North Caroli
na Department of Transporta
tion (NCDOT) will close
Nations Ford Road (Seconda
ry Road 1136) in Mecklenburg
County to through traffic for
approximately two weeks, ac
cording to Division Engineer
David B. Roberts.
The road, located about 2.2
miles south of 1-77 in Charlotte
will be closed from Monday,
n A_ i J a is
.-By Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
TO
BE
EQUAL
social security Cut Endangas System
The Administration’s budget makers in
search of ways to trim federal spending for the
proclaimed "austerity” budget, have planned
significant cuts in Social Security benefits
These cuts endanger the integrity of the system
undermine the public’s confidence in it and
would deliver serious blows to the poorest among
This ill-advised plan has already suffered a
setback in the House Ways and Means Commit- *
tee, but the Administration ha« vowed to press
forward and it will very likely surface again. It
ought to be buried and forgotten.
One of the ugliest things about the plan jg that
it wouldn’t save much money at all. The cuts
have been called "nickel and dime cuts” and
that ta an accurate description. They’re not
nickel and dime cuts though, for the people who
depend on their Social Security coverage.
»peThaP8 toe meanest, would do away with
the $255 lump sum death benefit. Poor people
depend on that small payment to ensure a decent
burial, perhaps the only thing many people
have to look forward to. How in the world does a
government that manages a three-trillion dollar
economy and spends over $500 billion itself
explain to a poor widow that it can no longer
afford to give her a measly $255 to bury someone
who has been paying into the Social Security
system?
Anouier proposed cut aimed at the poorest
people is the elimination of the minimurp
monthly benefit. Many workers were brought
into the Social Security system only in the past
several years. Most are in low-paying jobs, often
beneath the poverty level. Since their earnings
record and payments record would only qualify
them for extremely low benefits, Congress, as a
matter of equity, instituted a minimum monthly
benefit - only $122 per month.
The official reason given for this cruel plan is
that some people retire from federal employ
ment, work for a short time in private industry
and then collect both federal pensions and
minimum Social Security pensions If the
government wants to get at this' form of
double-dipping” it should do so directly by
targeting measures to end the abuses it wafotiT to
stop.
But in the process of going after a handful of
people who collect multiple pensions the Admin- *
istration s plan would take away the rightful
benefits of the poorest of the elderly.
In reply, officials say it won’t happen, that the
needy could apply for supplemental social
insurance payments.
That is an indication of the confusion in the
minds of policy-makers. The Social Security
system is an insurance system that oavs
retirement benefits as a matter of right. SSIte a
means-tested welfare system. To force people
off the minimum benefit which is theirs by right
and onto the welfare rolls, with the consequent
loss of dignity and respect, is a heartless act that
cannot be condoned.
Another major cut would axe the benefits now
available for dependent children attending post
secondary schools. The rationale is that other
education grants would be available. But those
grants are means-tested and don’t begin to cover
all students who need them.
Another planned cut would discontinue
mother’s benefits when the youngest child
Howard Lee: -to, instead oi is as at present.
N.C. University System Has Failed Its Black Institutions
By i ve«e McCullough
Staff Writer
Winston-Salem Chronicle
FAYETTEVILLE-The con
solidated University of North
Carolina system has not met
the goal of strengthening the
system's predominately black
institution, said Howard Lee,
secretary of natural resources
and community development,
here recently.
Lee. the only black cabinet
officer, said proponents of the
consolidation in the early
1970’s said the move "would
make it possible for black
institutions to have greater
access to resources in North
Carolina and make it possible
for these institutions to have
a greater opportunity for
strength."
"This has not happened to
the degree to which it was
talked about at that time,” said
I-ee to the banquet of the N.C.
Alumni and Friends Coalition,
a grouping of the alumni asso
ciations of the five traditionally
black universities.
I-ee said that blacks have sat
bv in silent tone when the
statement was made thgt "we
should phase out our black
institutions" He said that
black colleges need additional
resources and that the alumni
of the five schools must put
forth a greater effort on behalf
HOWARD LEE
...Natural Resources secretary
of the black institution* the one fared year* ago. except
The struggle we face today it ia a lot harder " I^e said
is basciallv no different than “The struggle we face today is
no different today than the one
faced by Mary McLeod Be
thune and other great educa
tional leader* who tried to put
forth an effort to inaure that
black youngatera would have a
chance to get a viable and
acceptable education.”
Lee aaid that in apite of the
limited black reeourcee, black
college* have turned out "aome
mighty fine black minda." He
aaid that inatead of facing the
failure* of the paat black*
should accept the challenge* of
the future.
^>a ru* w m
The fate of black colleges in
North Carolina, Lee said, lies
not in the hands of HEW but in
the hands of the alumni of the
black institutions.
“We should invest in our
predominantly black institu
tions and strengthen them to
the extent that any student
would be able to participate
within these schools," Lee said.
'Let North Carolina sieze once
again their chance to be first
and let us reject reaction and
take the reigns of leadership.”
The Coalition is made up of
alumni, friends and faculty of
Elizabeth City State, Fayette
ville State, North Carolina
AAT, North Carolina Central
and Winston-Salem State Uni
versities.
The Coalition was organized
in December of 1973 in Greens
boro. The Coalition has as one
of its goals to assure thst
changes coming as a result of
the HEW mandate and state
initiatives to desegregate pub
lic higher education do not
have an adverse impact on the
black community.
3UJ Present* Problem To HcmaJ '
ksvmvra UnilWI
(SCU), a low-income (roup of
elderly and handicapped from
the Charlotte area met this
month with hospital officials
at Charlotte Memorial to see if
anything was being done to
alleviate the problems they
experience in the clinics and
emergency room.
SCU met with hospital offi
cials in January to present
their problems, make certain
demands and to give officials
two months to make plans to
settle their grievances.
The meeting earlier this
month was labelled a success
by the group. Representing
Charlotte Memorial was
Bland Burkhardt, Assistant
Director; Frank Rinker, De
puty Director; and Dr. John
Baker, Chief of Emergency
Room Operations.
According to Johnste Evan,
spokesperson for SCU. group
members and hospital offi
cials agreed that a statistical
study would be done by the
hospital staff regarding the
waiting times in four or five of
the clinics which Impact hea
vily on the elderly.
The staff also agreed to find
ways to improve communica
tions between patients and
hospital staff, which was cited
by the group as a problem that
needed immediate attention.
Doctor-nurse communication
with each patient during the
m«dical examination was a too
discussed.
Members at the group vo
lunteered to participate in
orientation and In-service
training of hospital staff as
one means of aemitizii* staff
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