Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 25, 1980, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Editorials & Comments Christmas Everyday Nearly 2,000 years ago, God sent His greatest gift to man kind. As a forerunner to this gift, the Greatest Event in human history, God commissioned an angel to tell the troubled world, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11). “Suddenly,” the "Living Bible” tells us, “the angel was joined by a vast host of others -, the armies of Heaven - praising God: ‘Glory to God in the highest Heaven; they sang, and on earth for all those pleasing Him’!” (Luke 2:13-14). In spite of this background and these meaningful Biblical words, modern man’s general attitude toward his fellowman is one of scorn for the needy, the in stitutionalization of the op pressed, opposition to the cre ativity of the young, and in general, offering expressions of selfishness, hostility and apathy toward his fellowman for all but probably the few days of the Christmas season. Upon a second look, we should realize that the historical setting from which these Biblical phrases come is one of leading 20th century man to say in this season that recognize the birth of Christ, “Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men.” This statement, in a practical sense, means that during the Christmas season, we give to the needy, sing carols to the oppressed, encourage tne young to laugh, and in general, offer affectionate expressions of togetherness, for giveness and thankfulness. These can be summarized in the word “brotherhood.” “Human brotherhood,” the late John F. Kennedy said, “is not just a goal. It is a condition on which our way of life depends. “The question for our time,” Kennedy continues, “is not whe ther all men are brothers. That question has been answered by the God who placed us on this earth together. The question is whether we have the strength and the will to make the brother hood of man the guiding princi pal of our daily lives.” It is the latter part of Mr. Kennedy’s statement, “the guid ing principle of our daily lives,” that should cause us some con cern during this the 1980 Christ mas season. This concern should center around the fact that true brotherhood cannot be limited to a few days related to the birth of Jesus Christ. Brotherhood must be “the guiding principle of our daily lives.” Thus, in the Christ mas season compassionate feel ings for others must be ex tended to being year-round, that is, Christmas Everyday! To do less is to degrade the meaning of Christmas and to reject the love of Jesus Christ - a love without which there can be no brotherhood, and without bro therhood there can be no Christ mas. Let’s practice brotherhood, let’s have Christmas everyday. Black Economic Plan “Blacks have a hairstyle, a walk, a talk and a handshake, but we have never had an economic plan,” according to Greenville, S.C. businessman L. R. Byrd, as quoted in a POST feature story last week. Realizing the need for such a plan, Byrd began nearly two years ago to develop what he c^ljl the Black Ecopqmic Edu cation or BEE plan.'This plan, Byrd contends, can be the answer for blacks in perilous economic times. “It deals,” he says, “with the concepts of doing business with those who are willing to do business with us. Too much of our money is leaving our community. Black owned businesses are failing because of a lack of partrona'ge ...many blacks are losing their jobs and ending up on welfare. Therefore, we as a group have got to do something to start bringing our dollars back into our communities.” We believe Mr. Byrd is right in that blacks should employ “se lective buying” strategies to promote the business and em ployment opportunities of black Americans. We agree too that an aggressive “Black Economic Education Plan” is a vital part ~ of any “selective buying” pro gram. ^JJemje^leased^TOthatByrd|^ “buying” plan is based on a positive assumption; that is, if a business employes blacks in all levels of jobs and deals with black businesses in its buying and selling program then it is deserving of black consumer dollar support. While Mr. Byrd’s idea is not new, it is the most refreshing thought on the subject since Richard Nixon’s shallow concept of black capitalism in the early 1970s. Byrd offers an ingredient not adequately stressed in pre vious black economic develop ment strategies - i.e., the need for blacks to be educated, to be aware of where they should spend their dollars. Realistically, with small busi ness, and by comparison all black businesses are small, fail ing at an even faster rate due to inflation, mergers and foreign competition, black consumers need to realize that they have a personal investment in the sur vival of black business. Reducing Byrd’s observations to its basic meaning tells us that if black business and black job opportunities everywhere are to survive,-black people must fully support black businesses and engage in constructive selective buying programs. Support of black business in your community will result in support for your community. MUTUAL AID jmiT Blacks Destiny In Own Hands How Hacks Can Survive In The 80’s By Clyde Pulley Special Correspondent The conservative poli tical mood of the approach ing decade looks gloomy, and at best uncertain for Black Americans. Those in high government and in dustry positions who har bor racist attitudes and practice racial .discrimin ation find comfort in tnv new conservatism and can be expected to step up their efforts. Blacks must be on guard and prepared to effectively fight racial discrimination. Following are some helpful suggestions: -Racists, as other op pressors, are reluctant to try to abuse a person if they know they will face a con frontation and lose. Fred erick Douglass, Rosa Parks and American pri soners pf war were i ex amples. \ -Executives, administra tors, and supervisors can not stand up to public scru tiny and keep their posi 41 ___ 1_4^.4 it as__• Clyde Pulley is a criminal justice and political sci ence instructor, atory practices exist in an organization, keep local black community leaders and organizations in formed. These organiz ations and individuals can often exercise influence privately or publicly to stop the practice. -Cultivate a close rela tionship with faur-miaded whites and blacks in the local news media - T.V., radio, and newspapers. Those who discriminate branches of government. While a President exer cises great influence on public policy, his powers art limited. The Congress passes the laws, appro priates money, and is the ultimate body of govern ment - capable of over riding n oresidential veto, a Supreme Court ruling, or even amending the U.S. Constitution. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren showed that con servatives sometime be come ultra-liberals. The political and religi ous makeup of Americans would not permit govern ment to become so insen sitive and irresponsible as to “let blood run in the streets” if blacks continue to be oppressed to the point of rebellion. That was evi dent after the racial up heavals in the 1960s. The United States is not the only countrv with racial and ethnic minorities who suffer discrimination. The problem exists worldwide. IUWVV U MICJ vpciuj practice racial discrimin ation. . -Blacks should acquire an adequate knowledge of the Affirmative Action Plan at their workplace, Equal Employment Oppor tunity laws, and basic con stitutional rights. -Every black employee should not only be con scientious and competent in his or her Job, but be above reproach in their personal and social lives. Double standards of ad ministrative and personnel actions, disciplinary proce dures, and dismissals have always applied to whites and blacks in the work place. -If racial discrimination is suspected or evident, keep timely and accurate records of each incident, and those instances in which whites were treated differently. -When obvious discrimin cannot stand up to public scrutiny of the press. -If discrimination exists and a personal appeal to organizational officials brings no corrective _ action, seek a solution out side of the organization, i.e., NAACP, Equal Em ployment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the news media. -Become invpjyed and be supportive of other blacks who fall victim to discrim ination, and counsel with the few blacks whose per formance is substandard when they unjustifiably al lege discrimination. •Report all cases of ob vious racial discrimination in employment, housing rental and sales, credit and other acts of discrimina tion to appropriate author ities. Racial discrimination is a violation of the law. Constitutional powers are vested in three In many instances the de nial of employment, the struggle for promotions and upward mobility, lay offs, and dismissals are geared to economic and the scarcity of goods and services. But the United States is unique. It is a nation which takes pride in rule by law, even though laws are only as effective as the people who enforce them. The United States Constitution, the commitment to law, the ideals of human equality and the concept of justice are powerful influences. This tradition can lead to further progress of Black Americans. Despite the conservative political trend and actions by some whites to impede black progress, the condi tion of blacks can improve. It cannot be done without personal sacrifices. Vernon E. T*wd*«», Jr. TO BE EQUAL ft The Gift Of Christmas Christmas celebrates nothing less than the gift of life and the birth of fresh hope.'„ That’s why it touches a universal chord, why all of us look forward to the Christmas season with anticipation and joy. For many, Christmas itiesns’HTenewal of"' basic values and of the necessary comnm- _ ments those values imply. Chief among' them is compassion and help for those less fortunate. It is more important than ever before to affirm those values and those traditional Christmas seasonal reminders of man’s brotherhood and the goodwill we should hold for all. Just a quick look around us shows the need for a rebirth of compassion and caring generosity. Millions of people are starving in the famine areas of Africa. Millions here at home are jobless this Christmas. Millions of families will celebrate the traditional Christmas dinner with the only meat tlk^ll eat this month. ^. And many of those meager Christmas dinners are nnssihilv nnlv heeance nf fiwl stamps or welfare payments or other means society provides to supply the barest minimum necessary for sheer survival, and little else. We should think of those people - people in trouble, people who are homeless, people who are hungry - while we celebrate our own good fortune. That’s what this season means - to transcend our own concerns and embrace others in the full spirit of humanity and sharing love of one’s neighbor. But unfortunately there’s another spirit abroad in the land in this Christmas season, - a spirit of selfish hard-heartedness, a spirit of indifference to those who are poor or who are black, a spirit of meanness. I suppose we can call that the spirit ot anti-Christmas, and it is strong, very' strong. It is strong enough to masquerade as part of the season’s good cheer and hearty fun. Just consider one particularly ugly exf, ample of the spirit of anti- Christmas. There’s a nasty board game making fun ot poor people and welfare recipients that will piuuuuiy wmu up unaer some i;nnsunas.; trees - the fewer the better, as far as Pn.‘ concerned. v Players draw cards that read: “Your son is beat up by an ethnic gang while being bused across town to school; pay hospital' $200.” Another is “pitch pennies all day.’/ Losers draw cards like: “working person’s, burden.” Land on a box marked “illegi timate child” and you get to play money welfare grants. It is disgusting that the sufferings of the poor are so callously treated by people making fun of their miseries for profit. The very idea of well-off people playing a game; that reinforces racial stereotypes and de rides the poorest of the poor is obscene, ' especially in this Christmas season. And how ironic to give such a poisonous ; game as a gift to impressionable children^ helping them to learn racism and contempt for those less well-off than their own families, many of whom once were dirt poor' themselves less than a generation or tvlro aao. v From •'Yrtf Hy|y CBS Sets Up Nation Black Network For Action ? ' i niireaa l. maaison Special To The Post The Congressional Black Caucus has emerged from its recent three day meet ing with a strong de termination to get the 27 million blacks around the nation intensively active in the political process. The group has already set in motion an effective plan for seeing that blacks become a viable political force for making all of the country’s leaders responsive to is sues that make for a better life for all Americans with special emphasis on the needs of the poor and minorities. Representative Walter Fauntroy Is the new Cau cus Chairman. As chair man Fauntroy says he wants to fulfill the admoni tion, Ossie Davis gave the Caucus at Its first annual dinner; “Give us a plan for action - a 10 Black command ments; simple, strong, that we can carry in our hearts and in our memories no matter where we are, and reach out and touch and feel the reassurance that there is behind everything Alfred* 4, Madison we do a simple, moral, intelligent plan that must be fulfilled in the course of time, even if all our lead ers, one by one fall in battle, somebody will rise and say, Brother, our lead er died while we were on page three of the plan; now that the funeral Is over let us proceed to page four. It’s not the man, it’s the plan. It’s not the rap, it’s the map." Around the first of the year the Caucus will an nounce its legislative agenda For carrying out this agenda, the Congressional Black Caucus has set in motion a nationwide net work for political action of 1> blacks. In working with the organizations of National Black Councilmen, Nation al Black Elected Legisla tive Officials and National Black Youth Roundtable and other local black or ganizations. Meetings have already been held between the Caucus members and these organizations. Through the Caucus very able staff there will be constant contact with these regional directors on vital issues, and checks on pro gress made by each local group in accomplishing the objectives that have been set up by the joint efforts of these groups. The Congres sional Black Caucus staff members say the youth groups all across the coun try are anxious to begin working. The Caucus membership has increased by two ad ditional members over the last year. Based upon the 1980 census, there will be more areas in many states, that should have black con gressmen in 1982. This, of course, will necessitate fairer reapportionment of congressional districts, in stead of the present gerry mandering which exists in many states. The Caucus is em phasizing very strongly that Blacks must respond to the so-called Christian Right organizations such as the Moral Majority, 700 Club and many other evan gelical groups. These sup port issues that are in direct opposition to pro gress and rights of blacks. These Christians are for increased military spend ing, cuts in domestic pro grams, opposition to abor tion, opposition to ERA, they are for segregated pri vate schools, the death penalty, and lifting sanc tions against South Africa. Congressional Black Caucus members will chair four important committees during the 97th Congress. Augustus Hawkins will chair the House Admin istration Committee, which authorizes and supervises support services for the House of Representatives Parren Mitchell will con tinue as chairman of the Small Business Commit tee, Mitchell was instru mental in getting legisla tion passed that mandates V minority businesses get a share of federal contracts. Louis Stokes will chair the Standards of Official Con dust Committee. This com mittee sets the guidelines for the House members' conduct and investigates alleged unethical prac tices. Ronald Dellums will continue to chair the House District of Columbia com mittee. Efforts will be made to have the Caucus members represented on all major committees. Each member of the Con gressional Black Caucus is * responsible for taking lead * ership in special areas that ? are relative to minorities' and the poor., Mr. Faun-* troy, the new chairman* says that when a spokes-' man is needed on these* specific issues, it wiU be ■ the leader in that pifflcu-:! lar area who will speak,;! instead of the Caucus* chairman. ! As a new feature, the; Caucus is planning to hold monthly press briefings! with the Black Press mem-' bers. ^ * Wrap Water Heater, Cut Coetg ai jrvui wnier nearer is located in a A unheated area, chances are good that, you can cut your energy bill by wrapping it with extra insulation, suggest North Carolina State Uni versity agricultural exten sion housing specialists. If you have a 06-gallon electric- water heater, for example, and decide to wrap it with a blanket of insulation that has an in sulation factor of R-11, you stand to save about 490 kilowatt hours of electric ny a year. . , « If the electricity costs 3'v cents a kilowatt hour, your annual savings would be $15.75. If you use a water heater insulating kit, you would probably save 35d kilowatt i hours of electricity a year ■ or $13.25. THE CHARLOTTE POST_ Second Class Postage No. 965500 ‘‘THE PEOPLE'S NEWSPAPER” Established 1918 Published Every Thursday by The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc. 1524 West Blvd.. Charlotte, N.C. 28208 Telephone (7*4)370-0496 _Circulation 9,200 62 Years of Continuous Service BUI Johnson...Editor, Publisher Bernard Reeves...General Manager Second Class Postage No. 96550 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 p.m. Monday. All photos and copy submitted become the property of the P08T and will not be returned. National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc. 24S0 8. Michigan Ave. 45 W. 'Mi 84.. Suite I4S3 Chicago. ID. SMIS New York, N.Y. 10034 Calumet 5-*200 ( 212) 489-1220 ,_ %
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 25, 1980, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75