Editorials & Comments All Blacks Lumj)cd In Same Basket Reprint from the Jackson Advocate Those blacks, who have up to • this time, felt that they no longer • needed to support black causes ;and institutions, have come to a rude awakening. The sweep of the presidential and congression al elections by conservative and ■ racist forces in this country has brought about changes which are hitting hardest at black elitists. — -Consequently, this group no longer has the “problem" of identifying with the black under class. The conservative element now in nominal control of the governing apparatus of the country, clearly lumps ALL blacks in the same basket. There are a few who have escaped this fate by personal friendships among the new ruling class, and do have some limited access to power. ' * The issues remain clearcut. The black elite has foolishly squandered away a period of relative empowerment during which they had a chance to unite with working class blacks on a common agenda. Instead, they have embittered and neglected the black underclass to such a degree that efforts to re establish black unity and solid arity around issues affecting ALL~hIacir people are -being - met with disdain and suspicion i« by many of the underclass. That underclass was not permitted to participant in the planning of, nor share in the rewards and benefits of those agendas established by middle class blacks. ' Black elitists have played a dangerous game, the benefits of which have accrued to a few white politicians. Those politi cians have, in turn, developed programs and policies which have kept blanks in the under class, enslaved and dependent. Some_black elitists have retard ed black political development by “fronting” for these same white politicians by leading their political campaigns in black communities. They have for gotten, as some German Jews forgot, that when the rights for any black is eroded, so are their rights. It is also true that “...No man is an island, entire unto himself.”._ Black Agenda The development of a truly black agenda requires the input of, and participation for its development by all blacks, what ever their social situation. There can be no black agendas that do not relate to securing freedom for all blacks. Marcus Garvey asked, “Where are our men of big affaris?’ more than forty years ago. Sadly, it is a question for which we still must seek an answer. Too often, that question Has not dean witn its substance, but rather the meaning on its surface. Men of 'big affairs’ ought to refer to those who can point out a path which can lead to resolution of the myriad of serious pro blems which we face here in America. True men of ‘big affairs’ have no time to concern themselves with the election and or re-election of white politicians _ who fail to respond to our concerns. --- Some black elitists continue to object to and question the advis ability of blacks engaging in the traditional methods of economic redress of grievances by those who nave rntie political ana mm-" tary strength. Freedom cannot be ‘free.” And, if blacks are to become free, it cannot be without pain. We must be prepared to face the pain, and the danger of facing up to situations which % work to prevent us from acquir ing our long-delayed freedom. BLAKING THE POLICE FOR THE ILL-TREATMENT OF BLACK JUVENILES DOESN'T ^ SW’JVMFMH KILLING ► ttas r^HELP EITHER, ^ _ Blacks1 Postiny In Own Hands | Tony Brown’s Comments Hack Underclass Today, despite the heralding of ‘‘progress” which is trumpeted in the white controlled media, there are twice as many blacks unemployed as there were in the sixties when—the ghettos—of_ America were lit by the fires set by their frustrated inhabitants. Today, warnings are Demg cir culated that it is lower class whites, rather than blacks who will give America its latest round of ‘long, hot summers.’ Their immediate target will be blacks, not just members of the -Wack—underclass^anv black available at the time willdoTThe leadership of the country is currently encouraging the devel opment of this trend in the white community as a way of distract ing attention from its failing policies and programs._ A dark and ominous future looms for blacks in this country unless a force emerges which can forge a new black agenda. it will be necessary to heal the rupture which curreptly divides the black eommujHtyi-No longer can the black^ middle class retreat to “suburbia” and hope to survive. If for no other reason, they would be hopelessly out numbered, isolated and fair game for any racist who sees the destruction of blacks as an answer for everything that is wrong in their lives. If blacks can unite around a common agenda, beneficial to all ‘classes of blacks,’ we will de velop a formidable new force which can educate, organize, and direct the divergent ener gies of the black community toward a single focus: Freedom. ---»■ ' Hack W3d West Not White WM Wert me son 01 a triend of mine came home one day crylngr^He said that his white friends would not let him play the role of the cowboy because there were no black cowboys and there never had been. For anyone who under stands children, it is obvious that this kind of denial can have a debili tating effect on a child’s self-image. It also under scores the need for a re examination of the history of the old West-one which omitted a lot of true heroes. The West was the nation's last frontier and, rgpro^pnts what could be called America’s adolesence. There is a growing interest in recap turing this earlier period in the country’s turbulent hi story and can be seen in today’s fashion, record and —mn«ip Imllltela — in lact, America seems to be undergoing a western cultural renaissance. But, as in many areas of American history and folk lore, the presence of black Americans is excluded. As a result, most Americans know only of-white WesL However, one third of all cowboys after the Civil War were black. One of the West's rough est men was Nat Love, a former slave in the Dakota territory, who won the title "Deadwood Dick” at a rodeo in 1876 because of his superior marksmanship and riding ability. He was captured by ah Indian tribe, escaped and rode 100 miles on an unsaddled horse. He made famous the barroom cliche, “One for me, one for my horse.” And at one time, he even at tempted to steal a U.S. Army cannon. James Beckwourth was one of the nation's most outstanding frontiersmen. This famous Indian fighter and trapper became the chief of the Crow Indians and discovered the lowest point across the northern -Sierra-Nevaria Mountains. the BeckwourtiTPasirirTr came to be known, which led settlers during the gold rush. Beckwourth is also remembered as a co-found er of the city of Denver. It is a little known fact that Beckwourth was a black man. Black outlaws also roamed the plains of the western frontier. The Rufus Buck gang’s crimin al recofdTfn only three-days was longer than that of the notorious Starr and Dalton gangs. women too played a major role in shaping the West. When Aunt Clara Brown settled in Central City,'ColoraddTrrthe-t86e!s^ she opened a laundry, or ganized the first Sunday school and nursed the sick. She was instrumental in bringing wagon loads of blacks to the western fron tier following the Civil Biddy Mason, as a slave, had to walk from Mississ ippi to California to safe guard her master s cattle. A hard'worker and clever investor, she gained her freedom and acquired huge amounts of land which she donated for the building of schools, churches and nurs ing homes. Six feet tall and rugged was another heroine of the West: Mary Fields. She was well versed in the art of shooting. When in her 60 s, she gained a reputa tion for delivering the mail under any adverse condi tions and later took a job driving a stagecoach. In spite of the many achievements of these great black pioneers, they remained the victims of a racially segregated America. The Jim Crow laws, for example, followed them into the new land. Laws were passed to~fiair~ black migration to the West. These enforced legal re strictions, however, did not stop blacks from journey ing westward in the thou sands. There were several western towns founded by blacks. For example, a. black named George Wash ington founded the town of Centralia in the state of -Washinglonjnj872. In fact, a black. George Bush, is claimed to be the real founder bf Washington State. 1 To meet the demand of troops needed to keep peace in the West, four black units were dispatch ed to the new frontier: the ,24th and 25th Infantry and the 9th and 10th Calvalry. These men were vital in maintaining law and order in the Wild West. Along with controlling Indian uprisings and pro tecting settlers, black soldiers guarded the mail. As America celebrates Its western heritage, it must recognize that the West is a product of the nation's multi-racial herit age. Not all American heroes were white, so the black cowboy should not be forgotten in American history. Tony Brown's Journal.” the television series, can be seen on public television Sunday, on Channel 30 at 2:30 p.m. It can also be seen on Channel 42, Satur day at K p.m. Please con sult listings. f——-Py Hey. John Perkins--—--—-—a I * f » , t_ . : • « * Walk Your Rev. Perkins What Is The Gospel? Many times I meet people on their way back home from church or I may see them on Monday and they tell me that they have been to church. I’ll say, “What did the preacher preach about?” They will reply, “He preached the gospel.” And then I’ll ask, A “What is the gospel?” “ Now if they are theological, they will say the gospel is the deathf burial and resur rection of Jesus Christ. But if they are not, they will say that the gospel is telling us how we should live. But what is the Biblical definition of tHe~gospeI?- -----__ What is the gospel? The gospel is the proclaiming and the making visible of God’s love. It’s making God’s love visible in a way so that humankind can know that God loves them. The first manifestation of God’s love for man is the fact that God created man. He created the earth and all things in it and He created the earth for man. The earth was made for man and not man for the earth. ~ The gospel is the continuous revelation of God’s love and concern shown through His provision for man. _ The apostle Paul writes in the Book of Romans, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth,~to the , Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written, the just shall live by faith/’ Now why would the apostle say that he was_not ashamed of the gospel? Well, the gospel was making God visible, and Jesus Christ was the manifestation of God. He came in human form to reveal the heart of God to man. And so He lived on earth doing good deeds being concerned for the poor and the sick and the agonizing in society. John wrote as he considered the miracles of. .Jesus, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” Jesus’ love was so immense that it could not be measured even in words. M unce a lawyer challenged Jesus saying, “What is the great commandment?” Jesus replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and . with all thy mind.TT” And the second is like it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.” The gospel is the revelation of Jesus Christ to man which is revealing God’s heart of love to humanity. So then, to love God is to love humanity. God s heartbeat is His love for humanity But as I listen to people and as I see how the church is organized, it seems that our churches are organized to do religion and to offer comfort instead of displaying the love of Jesus Christ to an aching world. The second manifestation of God’s love is Jesus’ death on the cross for us. Jesus said Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” What Jesus said has powerful implications toward a ministry to the poor and the - powerless. He proved His love through His life and in his sacrificial death, the crown mg glory of God’s love to us. the gospel is more than its theological implications. • THE CHARLOTTE POST Second Class Postage No. 965500 "THE PEOPLE S NEWSPAPER” ... Established 1918 Published Every Thursday ■ by The Charlotte Post Publishing Co.. Inc. Subscription Rate $15.60 per year Send All3579’s'io: 1524 West Blvd.. Charlotte. N.C. 28208 —-Teleph6ne(7047376-O4 • 2121 IMM22W . From Capitol Hill Congressional Black Caucus Has The Viable Budget! -Alfreds L. Madison_ Special To The Post At a recent National Press Club luncheon, the Congressional Black Cau cus Chairman. Represent ative Fauntroy gave details on the Caucus’ FY 1983 Alternative Federal Budget. He stated that theirs is th* only viable budget It is riot a blacIT budget but it is a peoples' Fauntroy said the Rea gan budget instead of hav ing a deficit of $90 billion in FY 1983, it will have $183 billion deficit as stated by the Congressional Budget Office. The Caucus budget will have an actual deficit of $91 billion, and it is projected that for 1985 the Caucus budget will be only one-fifth of the projected Reagan budget Realizing that social pro grams must remain a federal priority the Caucus budget, instead of cutting funds as the Reagan budget proposes, it restores the funds The Alternative Budget restored $3.3 billion to Title I; $1.6 billion to grants and loans for disad vantaged college students; an increase of 16,000 more Section 8 housing units; $4 billion urban infrastruc Alfrrda L. Madison luie wnicn win create around 80,000 jobs; $1.02 billion in social ser vices and $4.2 billion for mass transit. The center piece of the budget is an $8 billion fund for the creation of federal jobs, vocational education and training package The Caucus budget will restore revenue loss by the Reagan tax give-away to the rich It will propose a tax that really benefits the middle class, which earns $50,000 or less This budget will increase standard in come tax deduction for single people with $2,300 to $2,700 and for married couples from $3,400 to $4,200 In this budget the cost-of-living increase in social security is main tained, 52 weeks unpmplnv ment compensation, $3.2 billion more than the Rea gan budget Tor assistance to the poor, $5 billion more for food stamps and a total of $11.5 billion more than the Reagan budget for health care. Fauntroy ex plained that the support funds increase are neces sary in these times when ^unemployment is rapidly i ncreasTngTBtrncaltli lusts sky While the Alternative Budget recognizes the need for a strong defense, it provides for continued funding of conventional weapons, increase pay for military personnel and operational and mainten ance. To reduce the deficit the Caucus recommends, that instead of the astro nomical Reagan defense increase, that defense spending be held at the FY 1982 level. This alternative budget, realizes that new legisla tion is required to support the Caucus' strong convic tion that the nation's re cord unemployment man dates a comprehensive federal response, which H R 5320 introduced by Representative Augustus Hawkins develops an ef fective jobs program. This budget states specific pro grams that will put the country back to work and increase productivity. Mr. Fauntroy strongly emphasized that predic tions made by Mr. Reagan and swallowed wholly by Congress- that unemploy ment would be greatly re WtMiari inttanf) (|i.« has been an on-going rapid in crease in joblessness, tax incentives for the rich would increase invest ments, which will give rise to employment and pro ductivity, have been instead a failure, and in stead of a tax decrease for the low income people, those making 115,000 or less actually received an increase. The Reagan bud get has only caused infla tion to decrease, because many people have not had money to spend, and mil lions are afraid to spend because of the downward plunge of the economy. Mr. Fauntroy stated that the Reagan budget de clared war on the elderly, poor, lower and middle income citizens. R killed Comprehensive Employ ment Training Act (CETA) in action, left welfare » * * ,>4 seriously wounded, health care dangerously ill and cuts in student loans and grants caused thousands of students casualties. The Reagan budget has shot down the aims and aspir ations of many young peo ple The family assistant programs are missing In action. The Congressional Black Caucus Alternative Budget lias specify immuiijllun that is capable of winning the recovery war that has been waged by the Reagan Budget it only needs both the Administration's, and congress caretui analysis, coupled with a strong will to improve the economic conditions in a fair, sane and just manner for all Americans. This Alternative Budget will be sent to the Execu tive Office of Management and Budget with a covering letter reminding the Presi dent that they accepted his challenge, that anyone with a better budget should produce it. Mr. Fauntroy said that while there is much talk about a budget comprom ise. there are grave doubts that such will be accom plished, because the Presi dent has taken a strong stand in support of Kemp Roth 5-10-10 tax bill and he is only consenting to a very small reduction In hts de fense proposal. Since going back home and facing their constitu ents, during the Easter recess many Republican, and boll weevil Democrat hsve ret tailed somewhat wobbly on the President s budget So one Caucus -mpiniiw ..i i U|,| finnalu might come forth with some type of a budget that the House won'tn predicts that no come out of fore the summ there will be resolutions. The Caucus feels strongly i_ tentative Budget more considerate year than the budget received last year. Rotate Rug \ To stretch your house furnishings budget, folate ru®* for more even wear.