| Editorials & Comments |
The citizens of Mecklenburg
County should be pleased with
the election of Sarah Stevenson
to the school board. We have not
expressed this viewpoint be
cause Mrs. Stevenson is the first
black woman elected official in
the county; nor as the third -
black the school board has a
black ratio about equal to the
black population; nor because
we foresee the three blacks on
the board voting as a bloc on key
issues. These would be the wrong
reasons to vote for any candidate
be he or she white, red, Hispanic
or black.
Our statement of joy with Mrs.
Stevenson’s victory is based on
her 30 years of service to our
public schools through her in
volvement in the PTA and the
Quality Education Committee. It
is doubtful if any school board
member, past or present, can
match Mrs. Stevenson’s unique
experiences and, therefore, offer
to the board a perspective on
educational policy and needs
probably not previously avail
able.
It is important to note that her
experience spans the devasta
ting years of segregation, the
.turbulent years of desegrega
tion, if not actual integregation
and the eras of some non-tradi
tional education concepts -
career education, the open
school, competency testing as a
condition for graduation, and
talent development, just to name
a few.
Thus, we are fortunate to have
Sarah Stevenson on the School
Board so that we might all
benefit from her rich, and we are
sure, personally rewarding
experiences.
Police-Black Gtizens Relations
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niwi mu^ii mcuid uduyuuu,
City Police Chief J.C. Goodman
held his long awaited meeting
with 23 mostly black and some
white “community leaders.”
The meeting was initiated by
Goodman out of a concern to
avoid having a repeat of the
Miami riot in Charlotte.
According to comments made
by the meeting participants,
black leaders made it quite clear
to the Chief that a similar riot
could happen in Charlotte. How
ever, there was an apparent
feeling of genuine accomplish
ment on the part of Goodman
and staff and the community
leaders. Therefore, regardless of
who convened the meeting and
regardless of what the motiva
tion for such a meeting, all have
generally expressed a good feel
ing about what took place and
the free exchange of ideas in an
atmosphere void of tension.
The community leaders’ sug
gestions on how to prevent a
Miami-type racial conflict fo
cused on poUct&commumty rela
tions and policies with the police
department itself. These includ
ed the hiring and promoting of
more blacks into upper manage
ment position. Particularly em
phasis here was placed on Chief
Goodman hiring a black admin
istrative assistant to provide a
black perspective and offer feed
back on many issues.
Other suggestions included
creating a civilian review board
to hear complaints against police
and analyze crime reports, ex
pand the neighborhood watch
program, and offer sensitivity
and awareness training in the
area of human relations with
some of the instruction provided
by blacks.
All of this leads to the signifi
cant question asked rhetorically
by some: ‘What does Chief Good
man plan to do with what he
heard from the community lead
ers?’ The question takes an
added significance when it is
noted that some at the meeting
expressed uie ieeung mat many
of the issues discussed represent
a rehashing of issues that were of
concern. 12 to 15 years ago; thus,
how much real progress has
been made? To assure that more
progress is made in the next 12
years than in the past 12, those
same community leaders and
others needs to insist on an early
follow-up meeting at which time
Chief Goodman should be pre
pared to respond to the sug
gestions made.
Lastly, since the tensions that
led to the Miami riot are evident
in Charlotte and many other
cities, why have not black lead
ders - self proclaimed and others
• initiated dialogue and policy
proposals on a continuing basis
to the business, civic and govern
mental leadership in order to
develop long term but effective
solutions to the problems that
have lingered for at least 12
years. It is important fon the
black leadership to ' tckke^'the
initiative in such matters If
positive, lasting progress is to be
made. Waiting until a riot is at
the city’s doorstep does little for
effective community relation
ships.
No-Win Dilemma
The nation’s unemployment
rate rose to 7.8 percent of the
labor force in May; the highest
level since President Carter was
elected in November, 1976. How
ever, inflation (the President’s
No. 1 enemy) has slowed to its
lowest rate in more than two
years. These issues - rising
unemployment on one hand and
a declining inflationary rate on
the other, pose a serious election
year dilemma for President Car
ter. As voters look at the alter
natives, let’s not forget the
nature of this dilemma and
remember it would probably be
evident no matter who the Pre
sident is at a given time.
REGISTE
Be A Part Of The New Awareness
As I See It (i
The Woman’s Revolution ?
ay uerata u. Johnson
Post Columnist
Let us go back now to
those thrilling day of yes
teryear when a woman's
place was in the home and
the man’s place was
wherever he hung his hat.
Yes, the woman of yes
teryear was a dedicated
woman, a loving wife, and
a devoted mother. She
found her pleasures in life
by satisfying those she
loved, never letting her
own needs interfere with
the welfare of the home.
Yesteryear’s 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 main
taining the family institu
tion.
However, times have
changed. Today has cre
ated a new breed of wo
man. Yes, superwoman,
disguised as Claudia Kent,
mind mannered housewife,
fights for truth, justice and
the ERA. Superwoman,
able to leap the corporate
'adder in a single bound, is
here to stay. Thank God, I
might add.
Today, a woman has be
come something that wo
men of yesteryear,
couldn’t become. They
have become themselves.
They have gained identity
and pride, ego and an
independence all of which
has made them more com
petitive, more interesting
and self assured.
But along with the
achievements, many pro
blems have developed.
Some of the problems 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 hi
story, more than any other
single factor, sheds light on
any subject or issue of
today.
Gerald O. Johnson
. Historically, the wo
man’s role in the country
developed from, a frontier
setting. During this period
the man was involved with
physically developing and
protecting the household,
the woman was maintain
nwn are physically
stronger than women the
roles 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. These tasks were
best suited for men be
cause of their physical
strength.
Women were left home to
cook, clean, and raise
children. As time passed
and society moved away
from the frontier days to
the modern era, the family
institution remained be
hind. The modern days
made life much easier
from a physical standpoint.
The most physical thing
that a man has to do today
is mow the lawn. The food
and clothing ordeal has
boiled down to a menial
task. Consequently, the
man chose to delegate
these responsibilities to
women.
Until recently, with no
trace of frontier life re
maining the woman has
subjected to the same roles
of the frontier woman.
>
Even though the makeup of
society didn’t dictate that
this had to be. Women were
forced into these roles be
cause no opportunities ex
isted outside the home.
Hence, in a manner of
speaking 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 con- ]
junction with ERA has t
opened doors for women.
Job opportunities have de
veloped and women are 1
turning in their aprons for J
a chance to develop them- i
selves to their fullest po- |
tential.
— Interesting enough was
the fact that the women's
movement picked up impe- 1
tus during the recession. I
When the need for money
arose t|e 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. i
Unfortunately, the pro
gress of women hasn’t gone
unmuddled. The divorce
rate and separation rate
have increased drastically.
Children are coming up
unruly. There is a growing
dissension among men
ahnnt u/nman
The men of today are
from homes where the wo
men were not career
oriented. Consequently,
they (I am sorry) we are
basically spoiled. Today’s
men have present concepts
of how a wife should be.
When she turns out to be
something different, then a
conflict arises.
In the past when the
opportunities for women
were limited, if a conflict
arose the woman was al
most always forced to give
in. Today, because she is
willing and able to make it
on her own. she doesn’t
see WOMEN on Page fl
——By Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.«=S!^
[Vuth Derails Tax Revolt 0
When Californians voted overwhelmingly
>r Proposition 13 two years ago, the mass
ledia proclaimed the beginning of a “tax
svolt,” a mass revolution against big
overrunent and welfare. Some liberal
olumnists called Proposition 13 a manifes
ition of middle-class selfishness. Conser
atives and business leaders, however,
ailed the referendum result as a long
waited return to common sense and as a
ote in favor of “free market” economics.
But Proposition 13 was neither an orgy of
elf-interest, nor a popular mandate for
aissez-faire capitalism. Rather, many of
he people who voted for the huge cut in
iroperty taxes did so because they were
nisinformed and misled. Doubtless, many
>f them regret having voted for the
neasure, since they have now seen its
sffects on California's school system and
>ublic employees. What is more, voters
inderstand that the principal beneficiaries
)f reduced property taxes were corpora
ions and the wealthy, not middle-income
workers.
Because people are becoming more so
phisticated, they are also more wary of
‘quick-fix” tax cuts, such as the Kemp
Ftoth bill in Congress, and Proposition 9, in
[California, a proposal concocted by Howard
Jarvis, the chief architect of Proposition 13.
In fact, California’s voters defeated Propo
sition 9 by 61 percent to 39 percent in the
June 3 primary.
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a test gimmick has received little or no
ittention. Indeed, two days after the pri
nary, the New York Times, which had
teadiined the victory, of Proposition 13 two
rears ago, ran a brief Proposition 9 story in
in inconspicuous comer of Section B,
juried amid other political news.
Despite the lack of press coverage, the
rote against Proposition 9 is significant for
>everal reasons. First, no one can assert
hat the measure lost because of confusion
>r unattractiveness. The choice was cl4lr
and simple: people could reduce state
ncome tax rates by 50 percent by casting a
vote for Proposition 9. The wording of the
measure was not complex, and the prospect
)f saving 50 percent on an average tax bill
vas certainly attractive. But the measure
lost decisively.
Second, a CBS-New York Times poll
Found that voters who opposed Proposition 9
did so because they realized that its
benefits, like those of Proposition 13, would
Flow primarily to the wealthy. With that in
mind, a majority of voters saw the choice
before them as one of aiding the rich or
maintaining vital public services, like
education, social services, and police pro
tection. Whereas the proponents of Proposi
tion 13 succeeded two years ago in conceal
ing its decidedly pro-wealth, pro-corpora
tion tilt, the backers of Proposition 9 failed
dismally this year in selling the “Big Lie.v
Third, lower-income groups, including
blacks and many trade unionists, united in
apposing Proposition 9. Among these
voters, the tax-cut proposal lost by margiwa
of up to 3 to 1. By contrast, thousands of poor
people and workers had made the mistake
of supporting Proposition 13 in 1978.
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*T 1 ' . ■
r rum me wruie House
All Is Not Rosy In President Jimmy Carter’s Carnn?
Special To The Post
Super Tuesday which
marked the last of the
presidential primaries has
come and gone. While Pre
sident Carter crossed the
finish line ahead of Senator
Kennedy, in the last stretch
the Senator began pacing
more rapidly than Mr. Car
ter and made mileage
gains that caused the pre
sidential camp serious con
cern.
At the White House the
morning after Super Tues
day, all seemed quiet The
staff members had a some
what lengthy meeting
while White House report
ers were sitting around
giving their assessment of
1600 Pennsylvania's feel
ings. One reporter said the
mood was one of anger with
Senator Kennedy for an
nouncing that he was stay
ing in the race. Another
said the White House peo
ple were happy because
they had enough com
mitted delegates to win on
the first ballot. Then there
were some reporters who
expressed the idea that
JCennedy might get enough
Alfreds L. Madison
of the uncommitted Demo
crats between this and the
convention, and that a rule
change might be forced
which will call for the
delegates release.
Indications are that all is
not jubilation in the Carter
camp. He has extended the
olive branch to Mr. Ken
nedy, by calling for an
immediate meeting with
him at the White House. It
is reported that Mr. Carter
is ready for some type of
compromise.
Senator Kennedy's head
quarters said that Ted is
not ready to throw in the
towel now.
Although Kennedy has
been criticized through the
press, especially, by Presi
dent Carter as a big spend
er. Yet, the Senator has
been representing the
liberal views of the Demo
cratic Party, while Mr.
Carter certainly seemingly
switched over to the more
conservative views of the
Republicans.
Senator Kennedy has to
be admired for the great
strength, endurance and
stamina that he has shown
throughout the entire cam
paign. He survived the vi
cious attacks of the Chap
paquidick episode; an
swered all questions about
it without flinching, ques
tions about his own private
family affairs, vicious at
tacks on his patriotism, the
Roger Mudd interview and
Just about every other con
ceivable negativism. Yet,
amid all of these adverse
matters, Kennedy stood up
like a real champ and did
not let any of these really
get under his skin. Even
though the country seems
to be swinging towards
u^-a conservatism, Ted
still holds out for more
liberal views which will
bring the United States
more in line with the real
true meaning of its creed,
"One nation Under God,
indivisible with liberty and
justice for all." That does
not mean justice for the
rich, powerful, certain eth
nic groups and the upper
class.
Surely it was hard for
Kennedy to overcome the
gag rule that President
Carter held over every
one's head of any real
criticism of his foreign
policy, which has us losing
friends and influencing no
one and the President’s
going into devastating ci
ties just before the pri
maries and passing out
little hand-outs. A prime
example is giving a black
minister in Ohio $50,000 for
a project in his church.
Nevertheless in many
places, these little cheap
tokens were not able to
influence a large number of
black voters.
Some of the Carter sup
porters are saying that if
blacks fail to vote in No
vember, Reagan may get
elected and that he would
be worse for them. They
cited Nixon’s win as an
example of black apathy.
However, why blame the
blacks who stayed home
for Nixon's victory? What
about the whites who voted ,
for him? Then, too, blacks
who voted for Carter while
he watched them sink to
the bottom of the heap -
how can anyone make
them sink any lower? What •
whites really seem to for
get is that while a larger
percentage of blacks are
benefitted by the social
programs, a much larger
number of whales are be
neficiaries. The entire
CETA program gave far
more jobs to white youths
than blacks, and other
minorities, as did the youth
training programs.
President Carter's Rose
Garden stay seems to be
catching up with him. If he
had debated Senator Kea
nedy and brought the is- ‘
sues out in the opening, by
now there might have been
a synchronizing of their
ideas, and PresidentXfcr
ter would be altering
more like a Democrat and
jjiere would be a very
M
difference in the ideas that
fie is espousing and those of
Reagan.
VIra. Hill Named
To CPCC Board
continued from Page 1
CPCC campua and the
Monroe office to coordinate
activities and instruction.
An experimental pro
gram was initiated to
broadcast news and music
for the handicapped on
CPCC’s radio statiorMThe
program has been success
ful, according to CPCC
historian R. V. Mason.
The Freedom Drive Col
lege Mart opened to pro
vide instruction at a con
venient location. And
CPCC on the Square of
fered a place to earn a high
school diploma
Donna Patterson, a black
student, receteved the
Richard H. Hagemeyer
award la 1978 for academic
achievement, '
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