Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / April 7, 1983, edition 1 / Page 24
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Hack FYeadent On The *Ft ^y Ffcm* A few weeks ago I wrote an article entitled “A Good Idea About To Go Bad.’* It examined the possibility of a black person running for the Democratic'no mination for President in 1964 to show the Party that the black vote can no longer be taken for granted. Since the article, fears about the black community missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity have increased. Most conspicuously missing is any widespread involvement of the black community’s Democrats, 90 percent of black voters, in choosing a favorite son or daughter. Although what the 25 or so members of the self-ordained planning group are doing in a series of meetings is admirable, it Is at the same time, in the long term, destructive to the very idea they are advocating. In selecting a black person to run in a democratically de signed electoral process, the process and structure they are employing are dic tatorial. Unless there are state and regional elections in which every black Democrat is invited to be involved, the disunity will overwhelm a good idea whose time is overdue. And unless a significant num ber of candidates are involved and campaigning, the idea will die on the vine of protectionist opportunism. ' which leads me to Jesse Jackson, the acknowledged front-runner for the Job of articulating the political aspirations for the majority of African-Americans. One can conclude that, based on the initial reaction to him as the person to fill this crucial role and his performance thus far, the handwriting is on the wall as it was at King Belshazzar’s feast in the Bible: “Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting." “In a “Speak Out” feature in The Pittsburgh Courier, eight black people were randomly selected and asked who they saw as the strongest black contend er for President. Only two picked Jack son. A similar poll was held in “USA Today, and Barbara Smith of Fremont, Ohio had this to say: “And I wouldn’t vote for Jesse Jackson in a million years. He’s overzealous and two flamboyant I couldn’t take him seriously.” Jackson said that one criterion of the black candidate is to articulate black interests to the interest of whites. If Barbara Smith is a barometer, he won’t get many white votes. Smith is white. The National Leader, a Philadelphia based Mack newspaper, quoted Warith Deen Muhammad, Chief Imam and spiritual leader of the American Muslim Mission, as “sharply” criticizing Jack son: “He called Jackson an unsuitable choice, saying Jackson is a blade leader who has been created by the media.” William Raspberry, a black columnist of the Washington Post, Joined with a media criticism of his own. Citing Jack son is a liability to Harold Washington’s campaign for mayor of Chicago, Rasp berry quoted a Washington supporter as saying: “Probably the best thing Jesse could do for Harold is to spend more time out of town these next few weelu.” Raspberry concluded, “Given Jackson’s love of the limelight, that might not be easy to arrange.” Vernon Jarrett, one of the country’s most reputable and revered black _ journalists, wrote in the Chicago Tribune that “Jackson's thoughtless announce ment that be may be a candidate for President in 19M hasn’t helped Washing ton...” Jarrett also Doin ted to reports that “Washington is being used to launch Jackson’s bid for President.” Another of Jackson’s hometown » ' writers, syndicated columnist Mike 1 Boyko of the Chicago Sun-Times, re marked in an interview when asked if the PUSH leader was a liability to Washing ton: “Jackson acts like a jackass.... During the election night, he almost ■ ■ pushed Harold off camera. I’m surprised be let Harold even get his face on the tube. Nobody really likes a showboat... ' Yes, he is becoming a liability.” Instead of being drafted, it appears that Jackson is in the draft. The New York Voice reports that some in the ad hoc planning group “would not support Jackson as their candidate. Jackson has-. disturbed many Mack leaders.” Milton Coleman wrote in the Washington.Post: “Jackson also has burned several brid ges during Ms career.” Rep. Mickey Leland, Chairman of the Black Caucus of the Democratic Nation al Committee, said: “There is fear that Jesse doesn’t feel accountable to any body but himself.” There were also concerns that Jackson would be viewed as running “to embellish his ego,” the Washington Post quoted Leland as saying. Rep. Walter Fauntroy said, as diplo matically as Leland, that Jackson, “is not a politician” and “has alienated - politicians in many key districts in the black community.” California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown was more can did: “I’m not sure if Jesse’s involve ment helps the consideration of the idea.” It’s a dunk in the sheep-dip for anyone who does not know that the only con stituency for the aspiring leader of black America is his ego’s own need for gratification. And, of course, his interest in federal matching funds is another motivating factor. He wants to represent all Black people, but be is attempting to bypass the black community with his “black leadership family,” as be refers to the 25-member self-selected group. Why not have regional elections to select from among candidates such as Walter Fauntroy, Warith Deen Muham mad, James Lowery, Louis Stokes, Tom Bradley, Shirley Chisholm and any other black Democrat? Why not broaden the base of leadership in order to broaden the base of interest and participation, a participation that binds all Democrats who participate tp the ultimate winner? “Now is the time for talent and faces other than known civil rights activists,” said The Waller Report of Richmond, Va. However, Jackson knows the threat to Ms ambitions that a truly democratic pro- . cess can bring. .. “Tmy Brown’s Jeeraal” TV series eaa be seen on public television Saturdays on Channel 42 at S:M p.m. It can also be seen eu Channel 52 m Sundays at 2:22 p.m. Please consult listings. Guitarist Alexandre Lagoya To Perform At Spirit Square One of the greatest living masters of the guitar, Alex andre Lagoya exhibits his excellence at Spirit Square’s NCNB Performance Place Saturday, April 9, at 8:15 p.m. Tickets to his perfor mance are $9 for adults and 84 for students and are available at the Spirit Square Box Office.'Get your tickets by calling or stopping by the box office, 318 N. Try on St, 378-8883, Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and until 9 on performance nights. MasterCard, Visa and American Express are accepted for ticket pur chases. Giving his first concert at age 13, despite his parents’ objections to his guitar playing, and promoting him self for more than 500 con certs he had performed by age 19, Alexandre Lagoya has been heralded as one of the supreme masters of the guitar by critics and mu Teen Fashions Tots and Teens Fashion on Parade will be present ed April 10, 5-7 p.m., atthe Greenville Center by the Travetettes Social Club. Tickets for this creative event are only $1. The first place prize will be a $25 money tree. You areinvited Ummums out and see these talented tots and teens perform. Support Our - Advertisers! sicians throughout the world. Born in France to a Greek father and an Italian mother, neither of whom were musical, Lagoya per formed his way to success, gathering a large and en thusiastic following. At age 19, Lagoya traveled to Paris to study harmony and coun terpoint Three years later, he married another famed guitarist Ida PrestL , Hie two became a formid able concert duo, and dur ing the 15 years they toured the world, they played some 2,000 concerts and intro duced many brilliant new techniques for the guitar. Among Lagoya’s innova tions are his unique trills and piazzicatos, as well as his approach to the staccato. After Presti’s death in 1967, Lagoya quit perform ing in concert for nearly seven years and taught mainly at the Paris Nation al Conservatory and the In ternational Academy of Mu sic in Nice. Since he re sumed his work as a con cert guitarist, Lagoya has played at least 200 concerts a year and recorded several albums. He continues to teach guitar in France and around the world. ----, ,. For the Best Deal on an Automobile Blanton Motor Co. Inc. 3222 North Tryon St. , \ 3333735 Serving Charlotte for-26 Years L. 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The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 7, 1983, edition 1
24
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