Editorials & Comments
IA Break With The Past!
Undoubtedly over the past
week, culminating on Sunday
morning, at about 8:00 a.m.,
many black Charlotteans were
having nostalgic feelings about
Old Brooklyn, Second Ward High
and Myers Street schools, the
fading Little Rock AME Zion
Church at the corner of 7th and
Myers Streets, and many other
structures, institutions and com
munities of the past.
The Nostalgia arose from the
fanfare leading to the seven
seeon<tdemoiition of the Inde
pendence Building at the Square
on Sunday morning. Those who
mourned the demise of the build
ing are concerned that the City
has lost the state’s first and
oldest skyscraper and a symbol
of Charlotte’s burst into the 20th
century. Blacks apparently
shared that feeling as they re
lated this latest break with the
past to a part of their past that
has been similarity destroyed in
the name of progress.
On the other hand, those who
praised the removal of the old
Independence building saw it as
a move consistent with the sym-'
bols of Charlotte’s new steel and
glass skyscrapers that appear to
burst the blue in the heavens
above. Blacks will only share
this enthusiasm to the extent
that they feel a part of the main
stream growth and development
of Charlotte. Lack this feeling,
many blacks are probably apa
thetic or indifferent to whatever
will replace the Independence
Building.
For those who will miss the old
buildingriife-Iong imaginations
will keep it alive just as the
Second Ward High Alumni Asso
ciation keeps that institution
alive. Yet, whether we like it or
not, the invisible hand of pro
gress moves on demolishing
sites if for no other reason than
to have us ask, will our des
cendents in 75 or 100 years call
for the historic preserving of the
NCNB Plaza and Independence
Center or will they too meet the
fate of today’s old buildings,
presumably in the name of pro
gress?
Search For A Black Agenda
As the decade of the 1980s was
ushered in over 20 months ago
there was. considerable talk by
the nation’s so-called black lead
ership about a Black Agenda or
blueprint for protecting and ad
vancing the civil rights and
social and economic gains black
and other minorities have
achieved over the past 20 years.
In spite of all the fanfare we
have heard about such a Black
Agenda, nothing of any sub
stance from a national perspect
ive has occurred. This is evident
by the fact that events at the
national conventions of the
NAACP nor the Urban League
this year did not provide a Black
Agenda or even items for such an
agenda. Major repgrts eyen
from the black media talked
more about the fine liquors, food
and lavish housing accommoda
tions the delegates to these con
ventions had than they did about
Blacky Agenda items.
me lack ofa Black Agenda
has been evident too by a pre
occupation with attacks on the
Reagan Administration when
those energies might have been
better spent on developing Black
Agenda items.
The Congressional Black Cau
cus took a step in this direction
when they developed a budget
proposal to counter the Reagan
budget. However, concern has
been expressed that the program
outline for the annual Congres
sional Black Caucus Legislative
Weekend is characteristic of
more expensive fun and games
with' arsmatler amount of~ time -
devoted to the serious business of
a Black Agenda. It is said that
some of the funds from the
$150-a-plate at the closing ban
quet and other costly gala events
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will be used for the continuing
struggle for justice and equal
opportunity.
However, in the absence of a
planned Black Agenda there is
little assurance that these funds
can be put to a maximum use to
benefit black Americans.
The reportcard on the accom
plishments of this latest coming
together of black leaders is not
yet out, but let us hope that they
have included in their delibera
tions “a plan of action...a 10
black commandments” that key
note speaker Ossie Davis re
quested 10 years ago. Let us hope
they have dealt with how we can
keep more of the reported $140
_ ..billion that blacks earn in black
communities "'Sha^ spent with
black businesses.
Let us hope they have de
veloped strategies to off-set any
attempts of the Reagan Admin
istration to weaken the Voting
"Rights AcT. Let us hope mey
have discussed the merits of
Jesse Jackson’s reciprocity plan
with the Coca-Cola Company for
the possible use of the plan with
other firms.
Finally, let us hope that the
Congressional Black Caucus Le
gislative Weekend ended on a
high note of a renewed com
mitment to build a workable
Black Agenda to serve the needs
of black Americans.
No one, I repeat no one, can
resolve the problems and con
flicts and promote and enhance
the quality of life of blacks but
-blacks- themselves.- Therefore;.
blacks must create a Black
Agenda and then pursue dili
gently its goals for their own
well being. If they don’t do it, it
vvoiVtbe done.
From Capitol Hill
Prime Minister Menachem
t
Begin-44 America’s
Bad Boy”
Alfreds I,. Madison
Special To The Post
Prime Minister Men
achem Begin, America's
bullyish boy who uses two
trumpcards to set his U. S.
parents' support for his
fantasy ways, has just re- :
tin net! to fsiael, happily—
over his successful Ameri
can trip. He speaks of the
Palestinians as a terrorist
group whose aim is the
destruction of Israel and
that Israel must be sup
ported in its military ab_
tacks as a means of
combating communism in
the Mid East. Mr Begin is
playing his ace by using the
American Soviet hysteria,
which emphasizes strong
ly, that just about every
thing that is wrong in this
world is instigated by Rus
sia and the United States is
endowed with the duty to
rid the world of commun
ism through the use of "kill
power."
The Prime Minister ex
acted an increased mili
tary cooperation between
the United States and Is
rael. and his visit to Capitol
Hill won some strength
against the United States
maintaining its promise to
\lfr«*da I,. Madison
sell ACACS to Saudi Ara
bia. He says the safety of
Israel will be jeopardized
by having the AWACS in
the hands of Saudi Arabia.
Yet, Begin has constantly
violated the American
arms sale which was pred
icated on the fact that they
should never be used in
offensive measures but on
ly for Israeli defense Is
rael has made attacks in
I^eha non which has killed
Palestine refugees as well
as Lebanese. Mr Begin
says that he aiding the
Christians in a religious
war that is between Christ
ians and Moslems His ex
cuse for bombing the nucl
ear reactor plant in Iraq is
that they were planning to
use the weapons against
Israel The Prime Minister
has continued to occupy the
West Bank, which is again
st the Camp David agree
ment.
- neLUitlji Mm United lluly
Land Fund held a convent
ion in Washington and
Archbishop Hilareon
Capucci of Palestine was
invited to address the
group, but the U.S. govern
ment denied him a visa,
yet, the Carter AdminST
ration, publicly recognized
the key role that Archbi
shop Capucci played in
assisting in the release of
the American hostages
held in Iran.
The Israeli military
government of the West
Bank denied exit permits to
three Palestinians who
were also scheduled parti
cipate in the convention.
The Post recently reported
that thei*e is great fear
among the Lebanese and
Palestinians of an all-out
war imposed on their coun
try by Israel, which
appears with the United
States support
Since there has been a
number of requests tor
Third World Countries for
reporters of the Black
media to visit their home
lands, because of bias re
porting of the white press,
some Blacks in this country
has organized a Third
ion, nine members of this
organization were invited
to Lebanon for some invest
igative reporting. They
toured the devastated
areas of Beirut and South
ern tebanon The group
cdftrtuded that the Linitad
States government's one
sided policy fosters Israeli
aggression and continued
conflict in the Middle East
This fact finding mission
included observations, int
erviews and firsthand in
formation. They found no
evidence to support the fact
that the Palestine Liberat
ion Organization is a ter
rorist group, but that it is
working tor a free an in
dependent homeland for
the Palestine people - es
pecially since they were
displaced for their home
for the Israeli homeland
These black ioumalists
learned that the F LO
directly addressed the
%
social and economic needs
of the displaced Palestin
ians and other Arabs who
seek health care, employ
ment and education. Tours
to P.L.O. hospitals, schools
, factories and bombed out
refugee camps confirmed
that Israeli aggression ex
TencB lap iwywuj iiniiiury
targets. Defenseless civil
lian women and children
suffer from these relentless
attacks The Rashadiyah
refugee camp, which is ten
miles from the Israeli oc
cupied territory has been
bombed 703 times since
1973. This civillian settle
ment which until 1973 had a
population of 17,000 Palest
inians, now has only 7,000.
The recent July war claim
ed 2,800 casualties in Beirut
and Southern Lebanon.
These raids were carried
out with a wide array of
U S made weapons, in
cluding 3 000 pound cluster
bombs which are internat
ionally banded All of this is
a violation of the U S. -
Israeli weapon agreement
The journalist learned
through discussions with
P L O. ranging from Yass
er Area fat to a teen-age
soft-drink vender in a
crowded refugee camp, all
expressed a common bitt
erness and contempt for
Israel's intransigence.
They also condemned the
United States as Israel's
major arms supplier. The
P.L.O feels that the United
states holds the key to the
soultion o/ the Israeii-Pal
estinian question. This is a
view that is shared by
President Sadat, a^many
Americans. Vk
Even some Jewish peo
ple have expressed the idea
that Menachem Begin
must not have our govern
ment’s full support in his
buliyish ideas. In a conver
sation with one prominent
Jewish official who wishes
to remain anonymous, he
stated very / strongly that
if the United States does
not begin clamping down
on Mr Begin, World War
HI will break out in the
Middle East
—
blackcoHfujHmes shovldhelp impose order
BLA CKSlMUS 7^7?V>ki
JUSTIFYING BLAChM
LAWLESSNESS ONlM
DENIAL OF R/GHTS^U
MUST SPEAK OUT WL
FRANKLY AGAINST
THE CRIMINAL /
Tony Brown's
Journal
Nationally Syndicated
Commercial Television Series
Tony Brown
Black Colleges Get 39.6 Million
we all know the Federal
Government has a trouble
some history of issuing
Federal orders with no
teeth in them,” President
Ronald Reagan said at the
White House luncheon
where he announced the
signing of an Executive
Order directing the govern
ment to help black col
leges and universities ob
tain equal opportunities in
federally sponsored pro
grams.
“Well, this one will be
heard from again," the
President declared. “And
they better pass.”
“In an era of budget
cuts,” he said, “black col
leges and universities will
receive an increase of $9.6
million federal funds.”
This historic landmark
was announced just two
weeks before black College
t5ay“*ffF'and exaenjrone
year from the day that I
first met with him as Co
ordinator of the Coalition
for Black Colleges aboard
his plane, enroute from
Baltimore to Knoxville, to
explain why as a candidate
for president he should sup
port these schools.
“It was then, Tony, that
the president began his
education on this issue. We
come, as you know, from a
Western state where there
are no black colleges.
Thanks for helping to sen
sitize us on this vital issue,
a high-placed White House
source said during the
ceremonies.. .....
But it was really the
20,000 students, alumni and
church people who hit the
pavement in Washington,
D.C., last year for Black
College Day who made the
difference. Since this dra
matic support of the na
tion's black colleges, a
movement to stop the
phony desegregation plans
and budget cuts under
Jimmy Garter from 5.2
percent to 4.0 percent share
of the total higher educa
tion budget has galvanized
itself into a formidable
force.
A major factor in the
success of this endeavor
has been the invaluable
assistance and behind the
scenes manuvering of
White House Senior Policy
Advisor Mel Bradley and
Thelma Duggin, Deputy
Special Assistant to the
President for Public Liai
son, two blacks, who, along
with Dan Smith who wrote
the executive order, have
not forgotten how to be
black and effective.
spontaneous applause
from the black leaders at
the announcement followed
this Reagan statement: "It
is through the education
they offered that indivi
duals can make themselves
into the type of people they
choose to be instead of
what some central planner
says they should be.”
And so strong is the
president’s support that he
told all federal agencies to
submit “report records” on
assisting black colleges.
Secretary of Education
Terrell Bell will supervise
the annual development of
the order with each agency
submitting a mid-year pro
- gress report to. ihe. JSecre:.
tary on its achievements.
Also, each black college
president will be “given the
opportunity to comment”
on the proposed annual fe
deral plan, the first of
which is said to be ready by
March 31, 1982, prior to
presidential approval.
Each agency must “submit
annual reports on their
progress to determine the
extent to which black col
leges have been given an
equal chance to participate
in federally sponsored pro
grams.’’
One factor indicates just
how sold President Reagan
is on this issue. His own
words: “It should never be
forgotten that when educa
tional opportunities were
denied elsewhere, these in
stitutions offered hope to
black Americans...and
they did their job well.”
Another is Ihe backdrop
for his announcement.'JusE '
as he unveiled a harsh,
second round of reducing
federal spending by $16
billion, including deeper
cuts in defense and painful
(nirrndj
slashed by $12 billion or 30
percent) to keep the swol
len budget deficit below $50
billion, Ronald Reagan
made a commitment to
increase funds to the na
tion's 107 predominately
black colleges by $9.6 mil
lion and to strengthen their
participation in federal
programs by assigning
“measurable objectives.”
This is indeed a giant
first step in fulfilling his
campaign promise: “The
plight of our black col
leges reminds us all of the
unfinished work of bringing
all disadvantaged groups
-intohe.. mainstream of
America. These cofleges
exemplify the truly Ame
rican concept of self-help
for those who choose to
work and study in them.
This is the message of
Black College Day. '
■—— By Gerald C. Horne, ESQ.
Affirmative
Action
*
»n v '
Mid-East And Black Equailhy
With every passing day the hostility of the
Reagan Administration toward Afro-Ame
ricans becomes more apparent. Reversing
the trend of past years, the Justice Depart
ment has entered a busing case on behalf of
those opposed to this necessary means of
school desegregation. The Labor Depart
ment has proposed regulations intended fo
gut totally affirmative action gains that
were so valiantly fought for. Spiralling
interest rates have meant that Black
Business-already staggering under the bur
den of Reaganomics-is suffering from the <
most severe reversals since the Civil War.
With all of these domestic ills, one would
think that this would be enough to keep
Blacks totally occupied but such is not
the case. Blacks, as a people, have never
neglected foreign affairs. This was true of
the two Black giants--Frederick Douglass
and W.E.B. DuBois--and it remains true
today.
An epoch making conference on Southern
Africa is scheduled October 9-11 in New
York City that has attracted the support of
Coretta Scott King, Jesse Jackson, Ossie
Davis, et. al. and no Black trade unionist,
student or church-goer worth his-her salt is
expected to miss. Despite cascading do
mestic ills, this conference will spearhead a
fight-back against Reagan foreign policy.
As long as the Pentagon continues to soak
up an ungodley share of the national budget,
Blacks will be forced to pay attention to
international affairs. For every tax dollar
that is spent on a Phantom F-4 jet or a
bazooka or an M-16 rifle is literally taking
milk from the mouths of babies, harming
Black educational advance and delaying
Black equality.
Thus, it was no accident that Andrew
Young was the Carter Administration offi
cial courageous enough to establish contact
with the Palestine Liberation Organization
(PLO), an effort that eventually cost him
his job.
Nor was it accidental that Rev. Joseph
Lowery and leaders of the Southern Chris
tian Leadership Conference (SCLC) broke
Jhe ice, went to Beirut, Lebanon and met
directly with Yassir Arafatr-constantly de
nounced in the so-called major media as a
“terrorist.” Rev. Lowery was following in
the footsteps of SCLC’s founder, Dr. Martin "
Luther King Jn, who sailed into the teeth of
a fierce and contrary wind by opposing U.S.
policy in Vietnam. Another protege of I30)l\
King, .Rev. Jesse Jackson of Operation
PUSH, also traveled to the Middle East and
met with leading PLO officials.
Whv would SCLC and ODeration
PUSH, two of the most prominent civil
rights organizations run the risk of
slander and derisive cat calls, travel at
great risk of life and limb to a major war
zone and confer with the PLO? Their critics
asked, aren’t their hands full of dealing with
problems at home, why must they go
abroad? When the government moved to cut
off certain grants to PUSH, many nodded
their heads knowingly.
But Rev. Lowery and Rev. Jackson did
not reach their prominent and exalted
positions by going along lemming-like with
the prevailing consensus.
Thejrknew that there are Blaek Falestin_
ians, who along with their compatriots,
were chased from their homeland, deprived
of their property and who are now second
class citizens in a place they once called
home.