PUBLIC LIBRARY CF
sbs-w"THE CHARLOTTE ^
CHARLOTTE and MEMlENBUlt COUNTY ***
*IJU “77m- JoiVp Of TI,C Muck Community"
—y*1Ume 9> N°‘ 12 The Charlotte Post - Thursday. September 1. 1983 Price- 40 Cents
CALL
To Teach
Illiterates
Seventy-five percent ot
the unemployed have in
adequate reading and writ
ing skills; 85 percent of
juveniles brought before
the courts have the same
®Ti) to face, and so does 90
&R*cent of AFDC mothers
and half or more of all
prison inmates.
A nationwide study by
the Ford Foundation in 1979
revealed that 23 million
Americans are illierate
and it is estimated that 44
percent of black teenagers
cannot function properly
unless someone reads cer
tain signs, instructions
and passages, etc., for
them. These facts are
data from an article
authored by free lance
writer Roger Williams en
titled ‘•Illiterate? Who,
Us?”
It is time for not only the
country but for Charlotte to
stop hiding behind closed
book covers. At least 50,000
people in Mecklenburg
County alone cannot read
or write well enough to fill
out job applications. Who
cares? The Charlotte Area
Literacy League does and
people like Nancy M.
Campbell are concerned
about finding tutors for
those wanting to learn or
improve their reading
skills.
“The Charlotte Area
Literacy League (CALL) is
a group of volunteers who
tittee illiterate adults on a
one-to-one basis, teaching
them to read and write,"
Ms. Campbell explained.
The league will hold a
workshop to teach volun
teer tutors how to teach
, Wading and writing Fri
day, September 9, from
7-10 p.m. and Saturday,
September 10, from 9 a.m.
until 5 p.m. at the Char
lotte Area Literacy League
Office, 1520 South Blvd.
(across , from Harris-Hart
Clothiers).
The league is a volun
teer, non-profit group.
Prospective tutors don’t
need any experience teach
ing. “We will show them
everything they need to
tutor effectively,” Ms.
Campbell concluded.
For more information,
call 375-3433
County Offices
To Close For
Labor Day
All County offices and
agencies will be closed
Monday, September 5, in
observance of Labor Day.
This includes all units of
the Department of Social
Services and the Health
Department, the Tax Su
pervisor’s Office and the
Tax Collector’s Office,
the Elections Office ,and
The Register of Deeds Of
fice. The Food Stamp Of
fice will also close.
The County’s two land
fills, Harrisburg Road and
, ■ftolbrooks Rd , will remain
open The fields will close
at 4 p.m., and the boxes at
Harrisburg Road will re
main open until 7:30 p.m.
1UKUMM4
^ *
, Improve your time and
your time will improve
you.
Altavia Floyd
.Articulate and poised
Altavia Flpyd Is
Beauty Of Week
By Teresa Simmons
Post Managing Editor
Being articulate and
poised are certainly attri
butes of our beauty
Altavia Floyd. The scoop is
that our beauty is putting
her talents to good use and
is presently in the process
of building her career
, Now a freshman at Ap
palachian State University.
Ms. Floyd plans to major in
pommunications. “My
immediate ambition is to
become a summer intern at
"WBTV and after grad
uation I hope to anchor or
co-anchor at a local station
...at least within five
years.”
“I enjoy watching the
news,” Ms. Floyd con
veyed. Of all the news
casters she is impressed
tremendously by anchor
person Meg McDonald.
During her senior high
school years at Olympic
High School our beauty’s
favorite subject was
English. “I get a kick out of
speaking and writing. I
think that is why I chose
communications as my
major.”
. Success may come easily
for some but Ms. Floyd is
not expecting it to easily
befall her. “My philosophy
is not to wait for success to
come to me, but to reach
out and grab it and to live
life to its fullest.”
She is the daughter of
Zorita Floyd and James
Floyd. Ms. Floyd shared
her growing space with two
brothers, Derrick and
Patrick. “The person who
has had the most positive
influence on my life has
been my mother. Many of
my friends did not reach
the goals they had set for
themselves. I am thankful
that I had my mother to
guide me around. I’ve
made it this far because of
her guidance.”
Ms. Floyd enjoys swim
ming, bike riding, writing
and speaking. She attends
University Park Baptist
Church.
School activities for Ms.
Floyd were numerous As a
10th grader she was a
Junior Varsity cheerlead
er and a member of Pro
ject Aries. In the 11th grade
she became a member of
the Junior Executive
Council; vice president of
the Junior Class and Var
sity Cheerleader.
Port Office WiB Be
doited I^abor Day
In observance of the
Labor Day holiday, The
Charlotte Post will be
closed. The office will re
sume operations on Tues
day, September 6. Have a
safe holiday! k
In the 12th grade she was
a Keywanette, head Var
sity cheerleader; cor
responding secretary of the
Student Body; the morning
and afternoon announcer;
and attended the ECA
cheerleader camp at the
University of North Carol
ina at Charlotte.
She was alsu vb..v1 Car
rousel Princess of the
school, voted into the Or
der of Trojans, served on
the year book staff and was
a member of the Home
coming Court. She also
attended Project Uplift, a
program held in Chapel
Hill during her junior year.
A freshman communica
tions major, Ms. Floyd is
aware of current events.
Her main concerns are
crime and unemployment
which she feels go hand
in hand and a probable
assassination attempt on
the outspoken Jesse Jack
. son..
I here me many years of
studying and discipline
ahead for Ms. Floyd, but
her strong character and
desires for success will
allow her to straddle the
hurdles and emerge a true
winner
Mrs. Mary Selden Tells What
It’s Like To Be In Political Arena
action to Smith'.'
“I had imagined it as
being very big,” Holder
said. "I thought you'd have
to run as fast as you could
to get to your classes and
still be 20 minutes late. The
brochures made me think it
was larger and I was kind
of surprised when I got
here But I’m glad that it is
smaller Everything will be
easier to find.”
Morris expressed her
views. "It's a lot better
than 1 expected. Maybe I
expected the worst. It's
really nice and I’m not
disappointed.”
After arriving and in
specting the campus, it was
time to settle in.
"The first thing I did was
unpack," Morris said. “1
bought some things from
home A lot of Michael
Jackson posters, some re
cords and a T-shirt from
the Diana Ross concert in
Central Park
"I only brought personal
items and necessities,"
Holder explained "I didn t
have the room I’ll bring
some other things later "
Morris and Holder
agreed that bringing items
from home does not get rid
of homesickness and
doubt of being in new sur
roundings What will be
other ways to dispel their
fears'1
"I realize as soon as 1
look around and my
mother's not here, I'll pro
bably cry," Morris said
“But I realize that I have to
use my freedom wisely It's
good that the people here
are so friendly That will
make things a lot easier “
Morris looks at her re
sponsibilities of being on
her own, “I’m just going to
try. I'm looking forward to
being on my own This time
will be a growing experi
ence for me I get to try
things out on my own So I
know I have to be wise,"
Holder gave his view on
his newly found indepen
dence “I know I'll miss
home I'll mi4s Chicago
But I have a new home
now. I'll adjust I plan to
get into and stay into my
books This will be a social
and educational experience
for me Besides. I know
home is always there if I
really need it."
Adjusting will not be left
entirely up to the freshmen
alone Each year an
orientation committee is
fdrmed to introduce the
new students to the cam
pus
Sylvester "Scipio"
Williams, a junior at
Smith, is a member of this
year's orientation com
mittee He explained his
role as committee mem
SEE FRESHMEN Page 2
Reagan To
Strengthen
Enforcement
Special To The Post
Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development
Samuel R. Pierce Jr. told
the National Association of
Real Estate Brokers that
voluntary efforts alone
"cannot effectively com
bat the unworthy and too
often subtle" practice of
housing discrimination.
That is why, he said to
some 350 members and
guests attending the 36th
Annual Convention of the
Association at the Capital
Hilton Hotel that President
Reagan has proposed
amendments to the Nation
al Fair Housing Law that
will greatly strengthen its
enforcement
■ “I have been working on
the initiative since taking
office,” he said, adding, “I
am proud that the amend
ments we propose keep the
burden of enforcement
where it belongs: on the
Federal Government, ra
ther than the individual
victim."
Under the proposal, HUD
will investigate and at
tempt to conciliate a com
plaint filed by an indivi
dual. If the conciliation
effort fails, the Depart
ment would be authorized
to refer the complaint to
the Justice Department
with a recommendation
that the Attorney General
commence a District Court
action for equitable relief
or civil penalty. The pro
posal authorizes a civil
penalty of up to $50,000 for
a first offense, and up to
$100,000 for a second of
fense
The Secretary thanked
the Association, recognized
as the oldest and largest
minority trade group, for
its past support in further
ance of fair housing, par
ticularly for its contribu
tions to HUD’s first confer
ence on Community Hous
ing Resource Boards which
aided the Department in
meeting its objectives He
also complimented the As
socation for the role it
played in the recent series
of symposiums designed to
encourage and support
public-private partner
ships for Fair Housing
HUD earlier this month
awarded nearly $2 million
in grants to 87 Resource
Boards in 31 states to pro
mote the rental and sale of
housing on a non-discrim
inatory basis Secretary
Pierce said the Association
was "a vital part of this
process "
“We must also work for
equal opportunity that goes
beyond housing and em
ployment,” Secretary
Pierce added. “It is im
perative to encourage and
promote equality of oppor
tunity for minority busi
ness, as well." He said
HUD had established mini
mum goals for minority
business participation in
the Section 202 programs
for the elderly and hand!
capped and noted that the
Department it seeking a
minimum minority partici
pation goal this year of
about 17 percent.
By Karen Parker
Post Staff Writer
This week The Post in
terviewed another woman
who is married to a may
oral candidate She is Mrs
Mary Selden, wife of Re
publican candidate
George Selden.
Following is Mrs Sel
den’s story of what it’s like
to be in the political
arena She began, “I must
be available to go with
George to various func
tions; I must meet peo
ple," and laughing, she
added, "I must also help
George remember
names."
Admitting those are just
a small number of her
responsibilities, Mrs. Sel
den explained she enjoys
the responsibilities that
come along with being a
politician’s spouse. Since
her husband has served as
a Charlotte city council
man for six years, Mrs
Selden believes she is ac
customed to the many ac
tivities to which she must
contribute.
‘‘I must be as knowledge
able of George's issues as
he is," Mrs. Selden ex
pressed "Some people will
talk to me about their con
cerns. I like people and I
Mrs. Mary Selden
.Cares about people
like to try my best to help
them,” stated the record
ing secretary of the Re
public Women organize
tion.
Because of a personal
concern for the welfare of
all Charlotte Mrs Selden
has developed a few of her
Third In series
own issues which she would
like to see ad
dressed "1 don't want to
see Charlotte experience a
growth spurt as rapidly as
Atlanta did," she stated
' 'That ci ty wasn 't prepared
for the rapid development
that is underwent."
Mrs Selden projected
Charlotte has grown con
siderably since she first
moved here shortly over 40
years ago. She hopes the
city will continue to pro
gress; however, she wants
to see it occur through
accurate city planning An
other issue which attracts
the attention of Mrs Selden
is public housing
“Public housing is not
always a provision for
those who should have it,"
Mrs. Selden insisted She
believes that before a fa
mily of four with an an
nual income of $20,000 or
more receives public hous
ing, it should be made
available to the poorer
people
"I care about individuals
and I just want to see them
have what they need to
survive," assured Mrs Sel
den Mrs. Selden usually
helps others basically
through church work r
Christ Church of God
and through the Cr'sis
Clothing Ministry
Sewing is one of Mrs
Selden's biggest hrbbies,
apd since the three Selden
gee MARY On Page 18
Volunteers Needed To
Combat Housing Bias
“Meet The
Candidates*
Rally Set
The Democratic Party of
Mecklenburg County will
be hosting a “Meet the
Candidates” Rally and Hot
Dog Supper on Sunday,
September 25, at 5:30 p m.
The function will be held
at Veterans Park on Cen
tral Avenue. (Shelter
available, so it will t>e hela
rain or shine.) Tickets are
$10 for adults, $5 for child
ren under 12
Candidates and elected
officials from the local and
state levels will be invited
to attend.
This function is being
sponsored by the Young
Democrats, the Democra
tic Women’s Club and the
Democratic Men's Club.
Proceeds will go towards
acquisition of a Democra
tic Headquarters. This will
be the first time in recent
history that these Demo
cratic Clubs have pulled
together with the senior
party for a major project.
Tickets are available
from board members of the
three Democratic organ
izations, party officials,
precinct captains, or by
calling Terri Byrum, 527
0360, 9-5 weekdays.
Chairwoman for this
function is Karen Combs.
For more information,
please contact Terri
Byrum, 527-0360.
information
on the CWOY
Banquet page IB.
Jackquelyn Morris
.Needs small school
Sylvester Williams
.Committee member
Gerald Holder
.From Chicago
Classes Begin September 6
JCSU Freshmen Arrive Early
By Angela Alston
Special To The Post
Classes for Johnson C.
Smith University will not
start until September 6, but
for approximately 300
freshmen, school has al
ready begun.
Many arrived this past
Saturday greeted by empty
dorm rooms and blue and
gold banners that wel
comed the Class of 1987.
This entire week will be
spent getting used to
Smith’s campus and the
city of Charlotte before
starting classes next week.
Most of the first arriv
als were from the larger,
more distant cities.
Jacquelyn Morris and
Gerald Holder were among
the first to reach the
campus Saturday morning
Morris, 18, is from West
chester, N Y and Holder,
17, is from Chicago, 111.
Neither had been to North
Carolina or Smith before
this weekend. Both had
similar reasons for choos
ing Smith to attend
“I went to a high school
that had about 2,300 stu
dents,” Holder said. "And
it was predominantly
white. I felt that I wanted to
go to a black college “
Continuing, he said,
“Chicago was about two
steps faster than here 1
welcome the change of a
smaller school. I kind of
like the slower pace. ’
Holder also feels being at
a black college could pos
sibly help in his studies
“I think I will be more
comfortable here. I'll be
more open-minded and will
perform better.’’
Though she attended a
much smaller school than
did Holder, Morris had
similar reasons for choos
ing Smith.
"I went to a school of
about 400 students I mean,
that was grades one
through 12 Smith is a small
school and that’s what I
wanted I didn’t want to
undergo the drastic change
and go to a large univer
sity.”
She continued, “I feel
that a small university
would care about its stu
dents more, encourage
them in their studies."
What was the initial re