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“The Voice Of The Mach Community" < «
_THK CHAKLOTTE HOST ■ Thursday. August 12, 1982 --
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DIJUANA HARRIS
...she s something special
Thtr Beauty
Harris Gives Impression
Of “Honesty And Grace”
By Teresa Simmons
Post Managing Editor
Like an angel perched
upon a cloud, DiJuana
gives one~theMm
, ..pression of honesty and
grace. A rising eighth
grader at Cochrane Junior
High School, Ms. Harris is
”a special young lady with
high aspirations.
“My ambition is to
attend UNC-Chapel Hill
and become an attorney,”
she began. “I want to help
people.'™.
Her ultimate dream is to
see the populous come to
gether as one. And one way
she sees this becoming true
is by all following that
well-known rule: “Do unto
others as you would have
them to unto you.”
Ms. Harris finds tnat
fMathematics is her most
challenging subject in
school. She also takes
Spanish and is a member of >
the Spanish Club; the band
where she plays the clarin
et: and the sports lovers
league. “I like to play and
watth basketball, baseball
and even football,” she
continued.
According to Ms. Harris
the video game “Ms. Pac
Mari" is an adventure arid
music, especially soul, is
an elevating factor in her
life.
Her favorite entertainers
is the group Cameo. “I am
—a member of theTCntghU of
the Sound Table, a fan club
for Cameo. We have a
credit card and we get
certain amounts of money
off albums. We have
T-shirts and receive news
letters with information
a baht Cameo’s concert
schedules.”
The daughter of Bettye
and Calvin Harris, our
beauty lias found that her
father is her best friend
and her Another is the
person she most admires.
£sets real high stand
and she also sets
examples for me.”
''.Traveling seems to be a
c^im^n interest between
wrtu-w*
Ail Xj _ ^
tell me an optimist
o forget and •
it forgets to laugh
Ms. Harris and her mother.
They both are planning
their trip to the World’s
Fair in the near future.
gant portion of our Capri
corn beauty’s life. She also
enjoys the simple tasks of
life, like watching “Gimme
_A'-Break”—on-- television.
"The star of the program is
funny and she can sing. I
love to hear people sing.
The program isn’t phony
It’s about an all-American
family."
Ms. Harris also enjoys
attending Friendship Bap
tist Church.
She has received numer
ous honors including being
crowned "Miss Rhomania”
by the Sigma Gamma Rho
Sorority. She also received
_ a Hanging trophy from the
Miss Donna'S SufioopTJp
Dance_and a perfect at
tendance award for never
missing a day in elemen
—■Ntry ached.—-——-—
Many accomplishments
come easily for our beauty
But the ones that really
count...the ones that con
tribute to the advancement
of human quality are the
accomplishments Ms
Harris fervently seeks.
And. that makes her an
angel of a lady
Fair Commuters Seeing Troopers
you arive 10 me
World's J’air in-Knoxville.
Tennessee, you are certain
to come under the watchful
eye of the North Carolina
Highway Patrol.
Anticipating an increase
in the number of vehicles
traveling in Western North
Carolina due to the fair, 18
additional troopers and
three sergeants were
assigned to the area May 1.
According to Major Lee
J. Lance, director of the
Patrol’s Western Zone Ope
rations, the special World's
Fair traffic detail is pro
viding round-the-clock
coverage on 1-26 from the
South Carolina state line to
Asheville, and from Old
Fort to the Tennessee state
line on 1-40.
_ ‘‘We are very pleased
with the program," Lance
said. “Although members
of the special squad are
well aware of their law en
forcement responsibilities,
they are providing much
needed services to the
World’s Fair commuters.’’
I .a nee reported that the
squad assisted 325 strand
ed motorists during the
month of June while
making 33 DUI arrests and
issuing more than 300 cita
tions for speeding. He also"
noted that the additional
patrol coverage was a con
tributing factor to the 25
percent decrease in acci
dents on one section of 1-40
during the month.
At Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church
By Karen Parker
Post Staff Writer
Charlotte will be honored
a second time with the
presence of syndicated
columnist Tony Brown.
The public is invited to
hear a special message
rendered by Brown when
he will be the keynote
speaker Sunday at May
field Memorial Baptist
Church. Beginning at 11
a m. Mayfield Memorial,
pastored by Rev. H. S.
Diggs, will observe its an
nual Laymen’s Day festivi
ties. '__ ___
"Male members at the
church will be in charge of
the entire day’s activities,”
stated Rev. Diggs. Accord
ing to the pastor, the men
will serve as Sunday School
teachers, choir members,
ushers and will conduct the
morning and evening ser
vices.
Brown spoke to an im
mense audience at the
Civic Center (Plaza Level)
on July 18, l«ei. He was the
Dr. H. S. Diggs
...Host pastor
guest speaker at the first
annual Churchwoman of
the Year contest, spon
sored by The Charlotte
Post. His topic was "Being
Black." Brown advised his
audience to not anticipate a
large amount of assistance
from governmental bodies
In reference to being
black, he stated, "What we
Against Drin king Drivers -
Governor Introduces
New Safety Program
CBAPOub
Plans Health
Conference
The Cardinal Business
and Professional Women's
Club is sponsoring a hpallh
conference on Saturday,
August 21, at the Ramada
Inn, 600 S. Kings Drive,
_CharWte Registration will
be from 8:30-9 a m
Program includes a dis
cussion about headaches:
"How They Differ: Ways
To Prevent, Spot and Treat
Them," by Dr. Seymour
Solomon, Director, Head
ache Unit, Montefiore Hos
pital and Medical Center,
New York, N Y. A second
discussion will be about
stress management to pre
vent burnout and heart
attacks by Dr Norris B
Harbold Jr., cardiologist,
the Sanger Clinic. P A.,
Estwanik of the M«rtrolma
Orthopedic and Sports Me
dicine Clinic, Charlotte,
will discuss low back pain
gery).
In addition, participants
will have an opportunity to
learn about various ser
vices available to them via
local health organizations.
Paul” Vander Straeten,
associate director. Mental
Health Association, will
discuss mental health ser
vices and substance abuse;
Maribelle Connerat, ex
ecutive director of the
Community Health Associ
consumerism - how this
organization can help you
to improve your health and
reduce health care costs;
Kyle Lewis, coordinator,
Mercy Hospital Poison
Control Center, will review
basic emergency treat
ment for poisons.
There will be a question
and answer period after
each presentation.
Advance registration for
The conference is $10 per
person; on site registra
tion is $12.50. Registration
includes coffee breaks.
Lunch is available at the
Ramada Inn or nearby fast
food places
Tony Brown
Syndicated columnist
have is what we earned and
fought for." Brown also
said. “Politically, (blacks)
are the most powerful
group in the- country and
most important is our sole
power in doing the work of
God."
Brown's topic for Sunday
has not been revealed;
however, he is expected to
Rudy Abrams
F'ormer head coach
Reggie Thompson
East's boys' coach
jgm
Oreg Kichardson
...Speaks out!
Lack Of Black Head Coaches
Is 44An Alarming Situation”
By .Mac Thrower
Post Staff Writer
In last week's first
article in this series about
-the nrnhlemu-... of -44aei«
seeking to obtain head
coaching positions. Greg
Richardson, a former
assistant coach at West
Charlotte Senior High
School, called the lack of
black head coaches at all
levels of sport "an alarm
ing situation.”
He challenged the au
thorities--in major colleges
and universities and at the
high school level as well-to
explain why blacks have so
seldom been able to reach
the top rung in athletics:
head coaching jobs in the
most popular sports of foot
ball and basketball "What
are the criteria for select—
ing a coach?" Richardson
demanded. "Based on re
cord, accomplishment,
character why haven't
blacks been able to com
pete with whites for head
coaching jobs?"
In view of the fact that
only three out of thirty
head high school football
and basketball coaches in
the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
area are black. The Post
has sought answers from"
local churches and school
administrators to the ques
tions posed by Richardson
The answers we have ob
tained are varied, natural
ly Most of them, however,
deliver a message as
striking and meaningful as
the one he shared with
hundreds of people last
year.
After the journalist
speaks Sunday morning,
the “Mayfield Man of the
Year," will be presented to
the congregation Mem
bers of the church, by
secret ballot, voted for the
man whom they think is
worthy of the title
At 6 p m the 1981 reci
pient of “Mayfield Man of
Minority O^nnk Unite
* WASHINGTON - The
First Annual Meeting of the
Association of State and
Local Minority Business
Development Officials
(ASLMBDO) and the first
National State and Local
Minority Business Enter
prise conference will be
held in conjunction with the
American Association of
Minority Enterprise Small
Business Investment Com
Second in a series
reflect concern and some
3mm m uvs. ifiti
perception that although
blacks are lionized for their
athletic skills in our sports
not aspire to positions of
authority and command as
head coaches.
Dave Harris. Director of
Athletics for Charlotte
Mecklenburg Schools,
denies the validity of that
perception and implies that
coaches such as Greg
Richardson are trying to
turn personal disappoint
ment into a racial issue.
Harris says race is not a
factor in the hiring of
coaches in Charlotte-Meck
lenburg and Thai Re
"doesn't think about" why
there are only a few black
head coaches in North
'Carolina.
Rudy Abrams, tile form
er head football coach at
West Charlotte Senior High
School, does, however,
"think about it." And, un
like Harris, he sees a clear
reason why few blacks are
hired as head coaches:
"Blacks are expected to
follow, and not toTiFadr"
Abrams said
"You can count the num
ber of head black football
coaches in North Carolina
on one hand." he observed
"It s obvious that blacks
theYear'' will be the speak
er for the evening worship
service
The public is also invited
to the kick off for the
annual laymen’s Day pro^
gram A reception will be
held Saturday, August 14
from 7:30-9 p m in the
church fellowship hall and
a breakfast will be held at 8
a m. in the activity room of
the church's day care
center on Sunday Mayfield
Memorial is located at 700
Sugar Creek Road. West
panies 12 Annual Conven
tion, October 17-21 at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Miami, Florida
Mrs Elizabeth Dole,
Assistant to President
Reagan and former Feder
al Trade Commissioner
and Mr Emmett Rice, Go
vernor of the Federal Re
serve Board, will be fea
tured speakers <
are kept out."
According to Abrams,
the black head coaching
situation has not been fully
"TOTii!liefn•{
people are just used to
seeing blacks play and
whites coach, therefore
nobody really thinks about
it."
Abrams' ow# successes
and difficulties have been
well-publicized locally. As
the only black high school
football coach in Charlotte
during, the last decade, he
has been a highly visible
figure. At West Charlotte.
Abrams coached teams
compiled the best record in
Charlotte-Meeklenburg in
the last five years of his
tenure there In 1978.
Abrams led West Charlotte
to a second-place timsh 1 n
the state 4A division Our
ing that successful season.
Abrams was lauded in the
media for helping to create
a special spirit of together
ness among black and
white students at formerly
all-black West Charlotte
Now-four years later- he
can’t find a job in the
Charlotte-Meeklenburg
system.
Abrams resigned at West
Charlotte1-"a big mistake
he now admits “At that
time I thought it was the
correct move, but the place
I went to (Garinger) wasn't
what I thought it would
be." Abrams said refer
ring to the problems he had
at Garinger
Since leaving Garinger.
Abrams has applied for
head football coaching jobs
at Myers Park and Inde
pendence He was passed
over for men who, Abrams
states flatly, are less
qualified " One of the
head coaches hired had
only coached for tw'rr years'
and had a losing record.
Abrams alleged
"Apparently they (the
two coaches chosen) had
some quality I didn't
have,” he added acidly
Abrams says he misses
teaching and coaching, and
would like to return to it
He especially misses, he
related, the opportunity to
serve as a guide and role
model
"I think I’ve helper! a lot
of kids-not just in terms of
winning football games -
but in advising and teach
ing them I'd like to think
J've helped them in the
same way black coaches
and teachers helped me
when I was growing up "
Reggie Thompson, the
head boys' basketball
coach at East Mecklen
burg, and one of the three
See PACK on Page 11
Drinking
Drivers Are
T5p Killers
Special To The Post
ItAl.KIGH ■ North Caro!
ina drivers who take to the
road while drinking now
have a lot more to woijry
about than just law en
ftu cement officers
Operatioh RADD. a new
project of the Governor's
Highway Safety Program
GHSP>. is providing mil
lions of responsible drivers
with an easy way >o rep'*;
a drinking driver 1 he
name stands for "Report
All I )rinking Drivers ar.d
that s exactly what the pu
blic is urged to do (There
arc :i,HUo,out) licensed dt iv
ers in North Carolina <
The GHSp hits published
a brochure that contains
acptssthesTat^tProugf"
which anyone can report a
suspected impaired driver,
night or day. and trig’gei
—Jiiii.ciJiau:—Hii.ir
'•Vhtle most ot these phone
are in sheriffs' o/fiees. a
Dl’I suspect could f>c
apprehended In a highway
patrolman or a local police
officer
The person reporting a
car should provide as much
information as possible
such as make, color. It
cense number, approxi
mate location, and direc
tion it is going The'caller
•vtll not have to reveal his
of her name _
In announcing this new
weapon in the fight against
drinking drivers. Col
Kdwin Guy. director of the
CUSP, said ‘Driving
under the influence is the
most ofren committed
criminal act in North
Carolina, and the nation
and drinking drivers are
the greatest killers on our
roads The public can no
longer lake a passive view
of ;his growing problem.'
H:s thoughts were rein
forced by Governor James
B Hunt Jr "IxK'al. county
and state police need the
help of every citizen if we
are to get the drinking
driver off our roads "
Floyd K 'Sam Bass,
information director for
the Governor's Highway
•Safety Program, looks on
KADI) as the ultimate
weapon in the effort to
reduce the number of
drinking drivers
‘‘Concerned people are
the best weapon we have in
this fight and Operation
RADD gives them an easy
way to take direct action
This list of telephone num
bers in the hands of mil
lions of concerned citizens
makes them the ultimate
weapon against the drink
ing driver," declared Bass
He said that 2Sd,(W
Operation KADD bro
chures have been printed,
and "we hope eventually to
have one in every regis
tered car and truck in
North Carolina, almost
four million ”
Col Guy emphasized
that Operation RADD is
different from past efforts
to involve the public in
highway crime reduction
Alcohol-related acci
dents kilt over 400 North
( arolinians every eyar,
and injure over 20,000
These figures are growing,
especially among teen
agers.