EDITORIALS & COMMENTS
Power Of The Black Vote
H. M. (Mickey) Michaux fell
short in his bid to become the
first black congressman from
North Carolina in 80 years when
he lost in a run-off election in late
July by 8,398 votes to I T. Valen
tine. Ironically, Michaux bested
Valentine with 44.5 percent to 33
percent in the first primary in
June but did not get the needed
majority vote to win.
Fifty-five percent of the total
democratic registration in the
10-county districts went to the
polls for the run-off. This is
considered good in any election
considering the political apathy
of American citizens. However,
considering too the recent poli
tical fights blacks and liberals
had to engage in, even against
President Reagan, to preserve
the strong Voting Rights Act in
July, you would think that 75 to
90 percent of the black regist
ered voters would have cast
ballots to help Michaux make
'political history.
However, we admonish you to
be not dismayed because closer
analysis reveals that the power
of the black vote has become a
reality that many astute poli
ticians and political analysts
have become painfully aware of.
Ironic examples of this growing
influence of the black vote are in
abundance. Southern senators
who are aware of the time not too
many years past when it was a
“no-no” to support any kind of
civil rights legislation. Yet, it
was Louisiana Senator Richard
Long who co-sponsored the
Voting Rights Act extension le
gislation. Other old-line anti
black politicians who supported
the bill were Senator Strom
Thurmond (R-S.C.), and John
Stennis (D-Miss.). Sen. Long
reportedly has said it would be
( political suicide to vote against
civil rights legislation now.
Morally Wrong
The rewards, too, are evident
for old-line Southern politicians
who have recanted their anti
black votes and rhetoric of the
past. Case in point, George C.
Wallace, who while Alabama go
vernor, used the defiant rhetoric
of “segregation now, segrega
tion forever,” is now seeking the
governorship again. His rhetoric
today is that enforced racial
segregation is morally wrong
For whatever reason, Martin
Luther King’s, “If you just keep
on loving a man ultimately you.
will get down to the God in
him...” the power of the black
vote, or the policies of the
Reagan administration, George
C. Wallace embraced black
voters who gave him the margin
of victory in a primary race and
upon whom he will count heavily
to beat Emory Folmar, a
straight line Reagan Republican
in the November elections.
Other evidence of the power of
the black vote was seen recently
in the Virginia gubernatorial
race in which President Reagan
actively campaigned for the
Republican candidate. In spite of
outspending the Democrats by a
6-to-l ratio, an estimated 65
percent of the black registered
voters cast 90 percent of their
votes against die conservative
Republican candidate who fully
supports Reagan policies that
undermind the welfare, econo
mic and political opportunities of
black Americans.
The impact of the Virginia
election returns, especially with
the prestige of the President
involved, led GOP national
chairman Richard Richards to
make the surprising statement
that “Any Republican who runs
in an area with a substantial
black vote is in jeopardy of being
defeated by that black vote.”
This is a clear cut admission that
the Reagan policies and pro
; grams are and will impede
black progress.
Poor Gomnittnetit
As a result of the clear evi
dence of the actual, and more
significantly the potential, power
of the black vote, many political
analysts have concluded that the*
big question marks in the
coming November 2 general
elections revolve around not how
blacks will vote but how many
blacks will vote.
Recognizing the voting rate for
blacks tends to be about 10
percentage points lower than
that of whites, the despair blacks
felt after their political clout
failed to help Jimmy Carter get
re-elected in 1980, and the pos
sible renewed political apathy
these factors may cause in black
voters, has led to considerable
interest in how big the black
voter turn out nationwide will be
on November 2nd.
An awareness that blacks
make up 20 percent or more of
the population in 86 of the 435
U.S. House districts and aware
that probably 90 percent of those
blacks who vote will oppose
Republican candidates has
caused some Republican leaders
to predict that they may lose as
many as 12 seats in the House of
Representatives and possibly a
few in the Senate.
Aware too of the poor commit
ment the Reagan administra
tion policies offer to the needs
and values of black Americans
has led Republican strategists to
conclude that a continuation of
the historically low black voter
turn out at the polls on No
vember 2 would benefit Repu
blicans. In another insult to the
mentality of black Americans
who should exercise their civic
responsibility and vote, one lead
ing Republican has said, “What
we would like is just no greater
turnout of black voters than in
past years.**
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From Capitol Hill
Blacks Learn Truth About Reaganomics At Caucus?
Alfreds L. Madison
Special To The Post
The Twelfth Congres
sional Black Caucus Legis
lative weekend attracted
an attendance of around
five thousand people from
all across the country. The
weekend began with the
plenary session presided
over by Caucus Chairman
Congressman Walter
Fauntroy, who never
missed any of his duties,
even though his father
passed during the session.
Although grief-stricken, in
his performance he never
lost the Fauntroy zest and
enthusiasm.
Theme of the weekend
was "Salute to Black
Businesses.” Black pro
gress is impossible without
Black economic growth.
Emphasis was on the Rea
gan Administration’s
assault on Black business
Recently, the Small Busi
ness Administration at
tempted to cut 23 of the
most successful Black
firms from the Section 8( a)
programs In FY '81 42
percent of the federal con
tract funds to Black busi
nesses came through the
8(a) program. This Admin
istration has tried to force
Black businesses out of the
program by establishing
A
Alfred* I.. Madison
unreasonable standards
with reference to size.
There were several
workshops on: Foreign Po
licy, Small Business, Edu
cation, Civil Rights, Com
munication, Political
Action, Health and Aged.
The Foreign Policy work
shop was chaired by Repre
sentative Bill Gray, who
serves on the House Fo
reign Relations Subcom
mittee on African Affairs.
Focus was on three points;
United States policy to
wards Namibia, Black
business and international
economic development and
Black refugees in America.
Attendees at this workshop
had an opportunity to hear
and question Chester
Crocker, Assistant Secre
tary of State on African Af
fairs. Some came away
shocked at learning, as one
lady put it, “from the
horse's mouth,” just how
the Reagan Administration
is heavily tilted towards
South Africa.
In the Small Business
workshop, it was empha
sized that SBA can make
loans directly to minority
businesses if funds are
available or minority firms
may borrow from banks
with SBA guaranteeing 90
percent of the borrowed
amount. The workshop au
dience learned that the
Reagan Administration
has failed to enforce law
95-507 of the Small Busi
ness Administration.
The Education work
shop, chaired by Shirley
Chisholm focused on the
Education Consolidation
Act, which is a part of the
Reagan new federalism,
proposed changed in Public
Law 94-142 which affects
the handicapped and finan
cial aid for Black colleges
In the Health workshop
plans and strategies were
discussed concerning vital
health issues, particularly
those which affect Blacks
It also focused on the ef
fects health care costs and
funding reductions have on
minorities in the business
community in promoting
quality and accessible
health care and delivery.
The Communications
workshop emphasized the
need for the Black media to
focus on information that is
of vital interest to Blacks
since the white media show
a complete insensitivity to
Black issues and contribu
tions.
The Civil Rights work
shop explained fully the
Reagan Administration’s
efforts to turn back the
clock on all civil rights
gains. Housing anti-dis
crimination laws are not
enforced, strong opposition
to affirmative is being
waged, tax exemption for
private schools are vigor
ously emphasized, weaken
ing the power of the Su
preme Court is a prime
focus and discrimination
against the Haitian re
fugees
Dr. Wood, who teaches at
a college in Boston, cha
racterized the weekend as
an event where much
needed knowledge was
gained He also told the
reporter, how he uses the
Black Family Plan in his
class program. Richard
Barber, a businessman
from New Jersey said he
always gets information
and inspiration at this
event that aid him in his
business ventures. He also
stated that he has used the
Black Family Plan in his
community activities.
The Congressional Black
Caucus breakfast was a
very inspirational and spi
ritual affair. Mayor Andy
Young, the breakfast
speaker, likened the Rea
gan lack of concern about
Blacks to the time when
hopelessness permeated
the King Civil Rights
movement. He said that at
the point of the move
ment’s lowest ebb, God
made a way and that He is
the same today. Congress
man Parren Mitchell con
tinued the electrification,
when he prayed without
bowing his head, but sim
ply talked to Him as one
does a friend. Parren says
that he always talks to the
Lord in that manner be
cause He is hfs friend. Whe
the breakfast was over an
elderly Black lady said,
“Mr. Reagan should have
been at the breakfast and
maybe he would have got
ten a spiritual awakening.’’
Mayor Coleman Young
received the Adam Clayton
Powell award for his com
mitment and courageous
fight for minorities. Georgy
Collins' award was pre
sented to Lamar Holl who
exemplified service to the
local community. Percy
Sutton received the Caucus
Humanitarian award for
his work in the struggle for
human rights.
In accepting the William
Dawson award for distin
guished service, Repre
sentative Shirley Chisholm
electrified the audience
with her congressional
“swan song. " She repeated
the words of Sojourner
Truth when a white racist
said to her, "I don’t care no
more about what you say
than a flea bite,” she re
plied calmly, "maybe so,
but the Lord willing, I’ll
keep you scratching.”
Shirley said, she has tried
to keep the authorities
scratching. She made it
known that she is leaving
Congress but not the strug
gles for justice, equality
and right, for the people.
I" ' - -
»>«» mux*
To Build A Better Black Community.
COOPERATION
■&/ZV14- *7x
"76e SeUfoi:
Jazz LaDuke Is Multi-Talented
Dear Editor:
How do you do? It cer
tainly gives me a great
deal of pleasure to cor
respond with you at this
time. I am a great believ
er in The Charlotte Post
and the fine works that
your publication produces.
Like always, newspapers
are in search of good news
worthy stories and events.
As far as The Charlotte
Post, being the only blkck
newspaper that exists with
in this area. It gives me an
honor to inform you about a
young man whom I feel
would make for a most
interesting story.
I’m referring to perhaps
the most multi-talented
young man within the
entire Mecklenburg area.
His name is Jazz LaDuke.
Jazz-LaDuke is a profes
sional entertainer-per
former. His impressive ta
lents include acting, danc
ing, modeling, singing,
gymnastics, counseling,
etc. Jazz is also a pro
fessional therapist-counsel
or as well as a wilderness
expert.
Jazz has appeared in
EBONY magazine as a 1981
Bachelor of the Year (un
der the name Joseph W.
Smith, of Gaffney, S.C.).
He- has also appeared in
JIVE magazine, Focus
Showcase, Entertainment
Profile, Styles and Fa
shions. Of course, this does
not include the numerous
appearances on local and
regional television talk
shows as guest and per
former.
What makes Jazz
LaDuke such an important
person are many qualities.
With such a busy schedule
Jazz still finds the time to
devote extreme work into
Boys Town of North Carol
ina. At Boys Town he works
as a resident counselor six
to seven days a week and
on his time off he tours as a
performer and makes
many appearances in out of
state as a night club
entertainer. May I also
state that Jazz has als<.
performed on off-Broad
way and. has been noted
and cited by critics as the
“Ben Vereen of the South.”
Jazz LaDuke is a most
interesting and fascinating
person and there’s more to
his story than I'm express
ing at this point. Please
give him the attention and
Free Press Is A Cornerstone
Dear Sir:
A free press is a corner
stone of our democracy. In
the First Amendment to
the Constitution, our
Founding Fathers affirmed
their belief that competing
ideas are fundamental to
freedom. We Americans
cherish our freedom of ex
pression and our access to
multiple sources of news
and information.
But, as we know, there
are other nations where the
free flow of news is thwart
ed by governments fearful
of letting people know the
truth. In those countries,
where censorship is a
means of containing
thought and action, news
papers are controlled by
the government, and it fol
lows that all human free
doms are limited.
The theme of this 1982
observance of National
Newspaper Week, “A Free
Press - Your Key to
Freedom,” reflects a basic
tenet of American life. A
free press is, indeed, our
key to freedom.
During National News
paper Week, I join with my
fellow Americans in cele
brating our free press and
in paying tribute to the
responsible men and
I’m convinced your read
ers would be delighted to
know that he now lives in
the Mecklenburg area. His
double life style is definite
ly worth reeling. If in
terested, you may contact
him by writing: Jazz
LaDuke, Boys Town of
North Carolina, P. O. Box
240729, Charlotte, N.C.
28224, or by calling
542-3310.
Respectfully yours, a
friend who believes in Jazz
LaDuke.
Mattie J. Lewis
women of the newspaper
industry whose dedication
and commitment to inde
pendent and truthful news
reporting and analysis are
the foundation of our con
tinued progress as a
nation.
Ronald Reagan
President, United States
Enjoys Post!
Dear Bill,
I have just renewed my ^
subscription to The
Charlotte Post and would
like to tell you how much
we continue to enjoy read
ing it. My family and I
would like to take this op
portunity to say “thanks”
and keep up the good work
of informing and advertis
ing in the Black commun
ity. Your paper allows us to
read many things and learn
many truths that are not
printed in the other news
media in our city.
Your editorials and
sports reports are both edu
cational and should be read
and digested by many citi
zens of our community.
The entertainment pages
are helpful in allowing us
(my nieces and nephews)
to know what is happening
in our city as well as when.
Mrs. Willie A Smith
WALK
YOUR
TALK
Rev. Perkins
Walk By Faith Not By Sight
At this point in my life and ministry, I
would say that Habakkuk reflects my mood
more than any other person in the Bible.
Habakkuk was a minor prophet who de
clared a baffling oracle before the people.
He said, “How long, O Lord, will I call for
help, and Thou wilt not hear? I cry out to
Thee. ‘Violence.’”
When Habukkuk looked out in Judah, he
saw violence. The people had turned their
backs to the Lord and they were to be
judged for it. He was perplexed because
God was raising up the Chaldeans, a wicked
people, to be the chastening rod of His own
people. He could not understand how God
could use the wicked against the righteous.
Like Habakkuk I feel pressure from evil
influences. I am becoming more conscious
of the worsening condition of our com
munity. I became acutely aware of it as I
spent one evening at the hospital with a rape
victim from our community. I fear for my
two daughters when they are just two blocks
away from home at night. And there is fear
when you discover your car that was stolen
has been found wrecked and abandoned.
' Sometimes I feel like we are serving a lost
cause. But I know that I have a definite call
of God to minister to the spiritual, social
and economic conditions of our people. I am
committed to that, but a criminal element is
fighting against our efforts. There have
been three major burglaries in Thriftco, our
cooperative store, on Delta Drive
Habakkuk solved the problem of service
and obedience in the face of seeming
opposition. And his solution is also mine
Habakkuk believed God. Responding to
Habakkuk’s question, God said, “The right
eous will live by faith.”
The conditions I seek to alleviate are
getting worse. But God has reassured me
that He has told me to tackle those
problems. I will still work to improve
the quality of life of the people in Jackson
and the rest of the state.
Our attack will remain a wholistic one
rather than a partial one. We will seek to
reach people with the power of the gospel of
Jesus Christ by helping them spiritually
socially, and economically. We will not
dichotomise people into physical and spirit
ual parts.
The long range effects of our work are not
plainly seen. And I thank God that He has
called us to walk by faith and believe that
He will accomplish what He told us to do. He
is going to accomplish His will through us
and so we have to stay faithful to Him even
in the midst of trouble and difficulty.
Voice of Calvary’s concern for meeting
the needs of the poor through a biblical
strategy of community development is not
limited to Mississippi. A number of leaders
from the United States, Africa and Latin
America have visited and worked with
Voice of Calvary. Many of these are
carrying VOC’s experience and vision back
to community projects in their home areas.
A developing agricultural project in Haiti is
one of the fruits of these ties.
Responses to this column may be sent to
Walk Your Talk, 1655 St. Charles St.,
Jackson, MS 39209.