Newspapers / The Charlotte post. / July 28, 1983, edition 1 / Page 2
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editorials & comments The Post 106 Years Of Service! We have observed in this co lumn before that John Russ worm and Samuel E. Cornish pioneered the field of Black journalism in America. These men co-founded the Freedom’s Journal in 1827. In their first issue they wrote, “We plead our cause,” that is, the cause of freedom from servitude to a freedom of self development through education, thrift, and hard work. From these humble begin nings, the Black press in America today comprises about 385 weekly and five daily news papers. These newspapers em ploy nearly 6,000 people and have a circulation of approximately 11 million. Included in this brief historical summary, we are proud to note , the 106 years of service provided by The Char lotte Post. .. Created in 1877 as a church newspaper called the Messen ger, the paper was shorly there after re-named The Charlotte Post and transformed into a general Black-oriented weekly publication. Thus, since before the turn of the century, The Charlotte Post has been a vital voice reporting on the events and activities of special interest groups. However, The Post, like many similar publications, has through the years protested Jim Crow laws and other forms of racial, social and or economic injustice. Through the years, beginning with A. M. Houston, the late Dr. Nathaniel Tross and the current editor-publisher Bill Johnson, The Charlotte Post has continued its commitment to providing news coverage of areas too often overlooked, ignored, misunder stood or distorted by the larger White-oriented daily news papers. Furthermore, The Post has maintained a dedicated commitment to dignity and hu man rights for all people. Black Community When Bill Johnson purchased The Charlotte Post in June, 1974 from the General Publishing Company, he said, “The Char lotte Black community needs a voice that mirrors the opinions of the community. We want The Post to provide services which the daily papers do not offer. These services to the Black com munity will include information, education and entertainment. We hope The Charlotte Post will be able to influence community life.” Thus, as The Charlotte Post celebrates its ninth anniversary under the Leadership of Willie L. (Bill) Johnson and its 106 years of service to the Charlotte com munity, we believe the mission — to mirror community opinion — is being met. Since the success of The Post has had to dejoend upon the efforts of many, we wish to “thank you” - our readers - for your generous support, patience, understanding and constructive criticism. We hope you will continue to contribute to The Post in this way so that we might make a good newspaper a better newspaper. We wish to thank also The Post’s 23-member staff for the dedication to the production of a newspaper of the highest quality. Their untiring efforts are seen in the growing number of subscrip tions, letters-to-the-editor, com ments, and advertising sold that are such a vital part of the success of any newspaper. Furthermore’ we wish to thank those who advertise in The Post because without their inter est and business, there would be no Post. Job Well Done .. Thus, as we pause this week to reflect on our past and say thanks for a job well done, we are nevertheless mindful of the continued existence of injustice such as the 1978 Supreme Court decision that allows police search of newspaper offices. These developments and others like them remind us that The Post cannot and will not sit on its success, but rather must seek to do an even better job of educat ing and informing our readers of those events that will have an impact upon their lives and that of their children. Finally, we wish to note, as we did in this column on the 154th anniversary of the Black Press last year. A newspaper, like any other business, cannot survive on its past accomplishments; it is what it is doing today, and plans to do tomorrow, that deter mines its success or failure. Black people, we believe, must do more to insure the continued existence and success of the Black Press. LEADERSHIP IN THE BLACK COAAMUNITYI Black Dollars Speak Dear Editor: One of the more interest ing ideas to come out of the 73rd annual meeting of the NAACP was the “Black Dollar Day” proposal de signed to indicate the buy ing power of Blacks to the merchants of a com munity. The proposal was set forth that Blacks would convert their money into two dollar bills and Susan Anthony silver dollars, cur rency recently introduced by the government which has not had widespread usage. On a designated day this currency is to be spent for the purchase of all ar ticles by Blacks. This, in turn, would prove to the merchant of a community what impact that Black dollar has on the economy. Members at the national convention in New Orleans last week, with little pre planning, experimented with the idea and the im pact was most surprising. The activity created wide spread publicity and was described by the lone New Orleans daily newspaper as “a demonstration by patronage rather than boy cott and although it was all legal tender it took some by surprise.” The NAACP is planning to stage a national demon stration of Black buying power by using the same technique to underscore its contention that the Black dollar is most important in this nation. Many experts have been quoted on the vast amount of money spent by Blacks. It has been esti mated that Blacks spend in excess of <180 billion dollars annually and that limited recognition is given the fact by the corporate powers. Credit the person who conceived this idea of iden tifying the “Black dollar” as being creative. Let us hope that a message is delivered loud and clear to those who continue to look at the Black community as impoverished and having little impact on the eco nomy. It can be more im pressive than the abortive boycotts that have been at tempted in the past. High Country Mountain Fair Dear Editor: This will be the first year for the High Country Mountain Fair-nine days of everything we could think of that looked like fun. We’re hoping it’ll be a celebration that a lot of folks will enjoy. To let people know what all will be happening, we’ll be sending out stories weekly. The first, enclosed, is a simple introduction. In the next few weeks, we’ll have feature stories on a local blacksmith, en tertainment (Red Clay Ramblers, The Kendalls, John Anderson, The Rex Nelson Singers, Charly McClain, Gene Watson and more), a Volunteer Fire Department Tug-of-War across the New River, 14 ways To Catch a Greased Pig, a contemporary artist who makes handpainted floor cloths, and others. We’ll also be sending photos. We hope you’ll save a corner of your paper for us. And we’re hoping you’ll join us when the fun be gins. We’ll be sending press passes as the fair draws nearer and are planning receptions with the major entertainers. If we can be of any assistance with stories or anything else, please con tact me or Kathy Jones, Assistant Coordinator, at 704-264-5731. Sincerely, G. W. Willis, Gen. Mgr. High Country _ Mountain Fair Something On Your Mind? ..Do you have something to say? Then do so for everyone to read. The Charlotte Post, the only other voice in town, wel comes all letters on various subjects. _1 THE CHARLOTTE POST “THE PEOPLE’S NEWSPAPER” Established 1918 Published Every Thursday by The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc. Subscription Rate $17.68 Per Year Second Class Postage No. 965500 Postmaster Send 3579s To: 1531 Camden Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28203 Telephone: 704-376-0496 Circulation 11,023 106 Years of Continuous Service Bill Johnson Editor, Publisher Bernard Reeves General Manager FranFarrer Advertising Director Dannette Gaither Office Manager Second Class Postage No. 965500 Paid at Charlotte, North Carolina Under the Act of March 3,1878 Member, National Newspaper Publishers’ Association North Carolina Black Publishers Association 1 1 1 - ' . i Deadline for all news copy and photos Is 5 p.m. Monday. All photos and copy submitted become the property of The Post and will not be returned. National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc. 2400 8. Michigan Ave. 45 W. 45th 84., 8nkc 14*3 Chicago. III. 00010 New York, New Yark IMM Columet 5-0200 212-4*0-1220 i From Capitol Hill Is The Senate A Weak Kneed p 1 Alfreds L. Madison Special To Hie Post President Reagan has fired three of the Civil Rights Commissioners. This is unprecedented by any of the preceeding presidents in the 25-year history of the Commis sion. The Senate will take action on this, another blow to civil rights by the Pre sident, by considering the confirmation of the new appointees. When these appointees were introduced at the White House at a press • conference by communica tions director David Ger gen, they all expressed opposition to quotas and re servations about affirm ative action. Civil rights organizations and many congressmen are questioning the Presi dent’s authority to fire members of the Commis sion. There is. much evi dence to prove that Presi dent Reagan maybe ex ceeding his authority. There have been several Supreme Court decisions which make it clear that the President is not pre sumed to have authority to dismiss any and all fe deral officials. In 1033 when William Humphrey, who was appointed by President Hoover as a member of the Federal Trade Commission, was fired by Franklin Roose velt because they did not share the same mind, the Supreme Court overturned \ Alfreds L. Madison the dismissal. The power of the Presi dent to remove a federal official, must be resolved in the light of the congres sional purpose in establish ing the agency or function. It is quite evident that one who serves at the pleasure of another cannot be de pended upon to maintain independence, against the wishes of the appointment official. The primary purpose for creation of the Civil Rights Commission was to con duct investigations of pro blems of discrimination and report the findings to Congress and the Presi dent. Congress did not in tend for the Commission to reiterate the policies of the President. However, Presi dent Reagan has demon strated from the offset that he intends to have a po liticized commission, which carries out his po licies. In early 1982, he removed the chairman and vice chairman and re placed them with Clarence Pendleton and Mary Louise Smith; two political allies. Firing Mary Berry, Blan dine Ramirez and Murry Saltzman, was done at the request of Clarence Pen dleton, stating that he is unable to carry out Mr. Reagan's civil rights poli cies unless these three members were replaced. This marks the first time in the commission's history that a President has at tempted to shape it in his own image. These actions show the President's con tempt for the commission. He wants to make it an impotent agency. Even the office of Management and Budget broke all prece dence and requested that the commission’s report be cleared with it in advance of their transmittal to Con gress. The Administration retreated from this clear ance because of resistance by the commission staff. The Civil Rights Com mission', is regarded by those who are victims of historical discrimination as a federal government's good faith effort to correct these wrongs. The commission, being established by Congress to investigate discrimina tory policies of the execu tive branch would never have given the President control over it. Policies of a President are irrelevant to the fact-finding process of the commission. is The practice of maintain ing the commission’s in dependence during its 25 year existence, fully im plemented by the first four new Presidents; all had been involved in the en actment of the 1975 Civil Rights Act. President Johnson led the fight for Senate approval. Both Pre sidents Kennedy and Ford were members of Congress at the time and President Nixon was serving as Vice President. All of these had first-hand understanding of Congress’ intention that the commission must remain independent of the execu tive branch. Congress has repeatedly renewed the commission because of a felt need; that full civil rights for minorities and women had not been at tained. If replacement of five of the commission members is not for the purpose of supporting the President’s civil rights policy, then why remove them? In 1960 Justice Frank furter said, "The purpose of the commission's cre ation and its true function is to develop facts upon which legislation may be based. It's an investigative arm of Congress. It in vestigates, appraises and makes reports." Mr. Reagan from all available evidence is cer tainly firing the commis sioners because they don’t share his conservative views. -WITH SABRINA JOHNSON =B1. I Sabrina Curls Jerri Curls, Cosmopolitan Curls, Cali fornia Curls and S-Curls; all new ways to look individually alike? The great, new trend among Americans is to have shiny curly hair (since a vast majority of people do not have naturally curly hair). Black Amreicans apply nu merous curl kits and White Americans numerous perm kits; all for the same reason - curls! Curl care for Black people is more involved than curl care for Whites. A one shot non-professional curl application for Blacks averages $25-$35 (which includes the cost of the kit and a $15-$20 application fee by a neighbor or friend). After application the curl wearer must purchase curl 'acti vator, moisturizer spray, wave gel and plastic caps in addition to shampoo and conditioner. Non-professional application of a curly perm for White Americans is approximately $10-$15 (the cost of the kit arid taking a friend to McDonald’s for applying the perm). Professionally done curls are more cost ly. Most salons charge $45-$75 - depending upon the type of curl one wants. The cost only covers the chemicals applications, trim or styling: no shampooing, curl activator - nothing. In addition to the cost of salon application, Blacks must purchase all the extras needed for curl upkeep. Whites make out like bandits since their curl upkeep requires basic shamppo and con ditioner. Who is happy in the end? Everyone. The manufacturers have made mega bucks, the consumer has his or her new curly look and the hair dressers-professional and non professional. Now that everyone is happy - what is the real difference between all the available curl kits? Some offer beautiful, big, soft curls; others offer versatility for work or play and still more offer natural looking curls. Is not the purpose of any curl kit is to give the weaker beautiful curls that are versatile and natural looking? Okay it’s all in how the advertisement is worded: but are the chemicals different? Generally speak ing - no! So why do some people swear by some curl products - becasue it has “been good to them”? Meaning just as some people prefer blue to green - people are individuals who respond to trends? Making the curl trend one of the greatest, quick money making inventions since the bread slicer. Enjoy your curls. Economically Speaking Blacks Ignore An Opportunity . .Blacks often constitute 90 percent of the clientele in many neighborhood grocery stores that are currently owned and ope rated by non-Blacks. Most of the stores hire friends and family of their own racial origin instead of Blacks who live in the very neighborhoods in which the stores exist, yet the lines of Blacks waiting to purchase merchandise get longer and longer. The racially-exclusive businesses get stronger and stronger as the direct result of the large amount of money spent by Blacks. An unfortunate paradox is that many of the stores would not hire Blacks to sell the very merchandise that they depend upon Blacks to purchase. In most of these cases, without signi ficant Black patronage, the stores would be forced to close. Their very existence de pends upon it. If Blacks would threaten to withhold their patronage of the stores until Blacks were hired to work in them, the racially-exclusive proprietors would be faced with two alternatives: hire Blacks or close the store. With this enormous power to enforce such an option, Blacks neverthe less seldom form cooperative alliances to improve their plight. Many Black businesses have ceased to be viable long ago because Blacks competed against themselves instead of against the society at large. If Black entrepreneurs would join together, purchase their goods simultaneously and in large quantity from the same warehouses, they would obtain cheaper prices and would therefore be able to compete with larger companies. But, this is seldom done. Blacks, as a group, spend more money for goods and services here than most countries do. When this negative self-perception is de feated and we join forces economically, racism will begin to recede. And not before then. . , : vummwi UD 'm± 1
July 28, 1983, edition 1
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