editorials
i & comments
I
Consciousness About Race?
A recent editorial in The
Charlotte Observer (Sept. 30)
said that selective voting in the
primary by blacks on the basis of
race “was even more obvious
than usual" because of the re
latively lower percentage of
white voting, when compared to
blacks and the appearance of
two black Council at-large can
didates-Willie Stratford and Bob
Davis.
The editorial then raises the
question: “Is this technique still
necessary in Charlotte elec
tions?” And it answers, “Un
fortunately, it probably is.”
We don’t need to cover the
history of who started selective
voting; however, comments on
some temporary events may
enlighten all of us on some new
aspects of a consciousness of
race or racism. .
First, when Birmingham, Ala.,
reelected its first black mayor
recently with a biracial coali
tion and the largest victory
margin in the city’s history,
“practically no one in the
(White) national media was
watching,” reported the Wash
ington Post, and adds, “...jour
nalists had flocked 90 miles
South to Montgomery, where a
white conservative mayor had
won a racially polarized elec
tion.” While the city of Birming
ham is a long way from being in
full racial harmony, it has and is
showing signs of progress. Why
then did the mass white news
media choose to ignore its
historic event?
Secondly, following being
named Miss America 1984,
Vanessa Williams was inter
viewed by USA Today. Half the
questions asked Ms. Williams
were in one way or another
dealing with the fact that she is
black. In fact, in spite of her
efforts to get the media to focUs
on her winning the Miss Ameri
ca pageant based on her sing
ing talent, swimsuit competition
and interviews, they insisted
upon writing and asking about
her race and being the “first
black” to win.
It was the same thing with the
“first” black astronaut and is
likewise with Hispanics and
other minorities. The point is, it
is the white-dominated news
media that constantly wants to
raise, identify and make issues -
usually negative-about black
Americans.
The Observer editorial frankly
admitted that had there been a
larger white voter turnout in the
primary Stratford and Davis
would probably not have fin
ished first and second in the
Democratic Party primary. If
this had happened, as it may well
in the November 8 general elec
tion, no one would have con
siaered it "more obvious than
usual” that fewer white had
voted for the black candidate.
The media appears to take it for
granted that most whites still
won’t or don’t vote for minority
political candidates which ex
plain no microscopic analysis of
white voting patterns is con
ducted, but is always done to
determine and comment on
black or other minority voting
patterns.
Selective voting on the basis of
race, religion, geographic area,
sex, age, whether one is pro or
anti-labor unionist, and of course
political party is in fact en
grained in our national history.
The talk by both major political
parties of having a possible
female vice presidential candi
date is clearly aimed at getting
the women’s vote since they now
represent over half the eligible
voters in the nation. Until this
kind of bias ceases, and es
pecially such bias against
blacks,- selecting voting on
some basis other than issues will
continue to be a fact of life in
America.
When and if Americans ever
become color-blind and begin to
organize and build coalitions
based on issues of substance,
then and only then will voters
cease to vote based on skin color
or sex.
Decision To Shoot?
In an attempt to strengthen its
retraining policy, the Charlotte
Police Department has designed
a test to assess the accuracy of a
police officer’s ability to hit a
torso of a human silhouette
target. Failure to make a quali
fying score will require an of
ficer to turn in his-her revolver
and be banned from street work
until more practice can be sched
uled and a passing score
achieved.
Writer and economist Dr.
Thomas Sowell reminds us of
just how important accuracy for
a policeman is. Sowell notes that
firing a revolver is often based
on a split-second decision where
life or death, including that of the
officer, may be at stake. Yet,
those who judge whether a
policeman fired his-her gun have
days and even weeks to make a
decision on whether the shooting
was justified.
NOW. IP THE BLACKS £
WANT POWER-THEY S
WILL HAVE TO GET fT m
THROUGH THE BALLOT}
BOX."
***£&»*
Board Acted Without Permission
Dear Editor:
..We are sending you
copies of letters sent to the
Governor of North Carolina
and to the Attorney Gener
al.
We also wish to send you
something that has ap
parently been hard to ob
tain; the facts about the
so-called extended day
extended term experiment
in Polk County.
First, we most certainly
did not volunteer. Our
school board volunteered
us without our permission
or even our knowledge.
Second, the North Carol
ina Legislature stated in
Section 92 of the Ap
propriations Bill that the
program could be imple
mented only after,an open
meeting was held in Polk
County to ascertain that
there was enough populace
support to give this experi
ment a chance to succeed.
This meeting was to be held
by the State Board of Edu
cation. Chairman C. D.
Spangler and only three
members came. This cer
tainly did not constitute a
quorum of a board having
thirteen voting members.
This meeting was called
for 1:30 p.m. on Friday
afternoon, not the best time
to draw a crowd. About one
hundred fifty citizens were
present. At least seventy
five percent were clearly
opposed to this program,
but Chairman Spangler
chose to ignore the man
date of the North Carolina
Legislature and his core
mittee voted nine to two to
disregard our feelings and
forced this plan upon our
children.
Third, and most impor
tant, to single us and Hali
fax County out for special
treatment seems to be
clearly in violation of the
Constitution of North
Carolina and the North
Carolina statutes.
We have hired an out
standing law firm and have
Tiled suit against both the
Polk County Board of Edu
cation and the North Carol
ina Board of Education.
We fully realize that Polk
County is one of the smallest
and probably the weakest
county in the state politic
ally. However, our natural
born stock can mostly
trace their ancestry as
Americans to the Revolu
tionary War or beyond and
we have been too long ex
posed to liberty and free
dom to yield on this mat
ter regardless if our op
ponents are five local little
dictators or a bunch of
political appointees, or the
Governor of North Carolina
himself.
Sincerely yours,
Norman Morgan
President
Spnday School Movement
Dear Fellow
. .Church Worker:
The growth of the Sun
day School movement
across our nation and
world over the years is a
measure of the devotion of
untold thousands of men
and women who have re
cognized the worth of
studying the Holy Scrip
Hires and who have given
themselves unstintingly to
teaching others.
Sunday School teachers
come from all walks of life.
Some of our moat famous
leaders have been Sunday
School teachers-men like
George Washington and
Francis Scott Key. Others
are lesser known, but all of
their contributions have
been significant to the
Sunday School movement,
the sharing of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, and the well
being of our country.
America today has more
churches than any nation in
the world and more devot
ed men and women sharing
spiritual nourishment as
teachers of Sunday School
classos. It is time for in In
publicly and properly
honor them.
Our state and your
church have begun this
worthy project. I thank you
for your continued support.
My best personal re
gards.
Sincerely,
James B. Hunt Jr.
Governor, N.C.
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
Fran Farrer Advertising Director
Dannette Gaither Office Manager
Second Class Postage No. 965500 Paid at
Charlotte, North Carolina
Coder the Act of March 3, 1878
Member, National Newspaper
Publishers’ Association
North Carolina Black Publishers Association
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.
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Chicago. III. SMI* New York. New York I MM
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From Capitol HUl
Solidarity Movement Against Apartheid
Alfred* L. Madison
Special To The Post
President Reagan’s
"Constructive Engage
ment” South African policy
which is simply coopera
tion with South Africa in
perpetuating its apartheid
government, is clearly
seen by black Americans,
many white Americans and
Black African nations for
what it really is - South
Africa’s control of entire
Southern Africa.
There is a solidarity
movement, all across the
country, against the Ad
ministration’s policy
Recently a forum was
held at the Capitol Hilton
Hotel in Washington to in
tensify plans to stop the
Reagan apartheid support.
Issues that were cen
tered around the United
States South African ties
were discussed. These
were: "South Africa out of
Nambia, opposition to the
Reagan Administration’s
effort to link Angola with
the separate Cuban troops
in Angola, divestment''of
funds from corporations
with involvement in South
Africa, opposition to "Con
structive Engagement”
and Imposition of compre
hensive mandatory sanc
tions against South Africa,
freedom for all political
prisoners and end to Pre
toria’s interference in the
internal affairs of the
Front-line States.”
Ways were discussed for
accomplishing the goals.
There must be permanent
a
Alfred* L. Madison
coalitions formed nation
wide, which are alert and
willing to demonstrate
against any attempt to sup
port South Africa. There
have been demonstrations
in some cities against
South African consulates
being placed in them. In
Houston strong opposition
to landing of South Afri
can planes, after the Civil
Aeronautics Board ruled in
favor of apartheid. Mayor
Tom Bradley of Los An
geles incurred the anger
and widespread picketing
when he welcomed a South
African official to the city.
There have been demon
strations in New York in
front of the South African
United Nations Mission. A
large protest march took
place against New York’s
Citibank, which heavily
funds apartheid.
. It was noted that pro
gress has been made in the
campaign to isolate racist
South Africa in the cul
tural arena, with the main
focus on U.S. arrests
Unit in Action Network,
educates, agitates and or
ganizes the masses about
the need to end the cul
tural U.S. South African
collaboration.
In 1981, 50 U.S. artists
performed in South Africa,
15 of whom were black, 22
in 1982, eight were black
and only 8 U.S. artists have
performed there until the
present in 1983. According
to U.N. Center Against
Aparthied, only Devine,
Sha Na Na, Barry Mani
low and Linda Ronstadt
defied advice not to go. The
Jacksons and Floaters re
fused to perform in South
Africa as early as 1977. Ben
Vereen cancelled his per
formance in Sun City, of
Bophutkatswans, the al
leged Black homeland,
which is only a sham. South
Africa controls these
carved out homelands’
finance, foreign relations,
defense, commerce, rail
and postal services. Sun
City is the second largest
gambling city In the world.
It has 250 slot machines,
topless entertainment and
interracial sex, which have
increased crime, truancy,
alcohol and prostitution.
The Black South Africans
refer to Sun City as Sin City
Entertainers are paid enor
mous sums. Frank Sinatra
has been picketed by Ame
rican blacks for his per
formance in Sun City.
The anti-apartheid move
ment prevented a South
African Southern Sun Hotel
Holding Company from
building a casino in Allan
%
tic City. City and state
wide opposition was organ
ized which raised many
questions for Atlantic City.
Proponents of the venture
tried to camouflage the
idea by stating that the
company was a Botphuth
atswans company. That fa
cade was not accepted.
This method was used by
South Africa to sell apar
theid to the American
public.
South African deteriorat
ing policing system causes'
it to attempt to relocate
some of its corporations in
other countries. This
scheme is aided by Rea
gan’s South African policy.
The forum enunciated a
Southern African 1M4 plat
form. It calls for support of
U.N. Council military and
economic sanctions against
South Africa. Place stiff
penalties on U.S. corpora
tions and banks that do
business with South Africa.
Support international
efforts to quarantine South
Africa in sports, cultural,
scientific and education.
Remove U.S. South Africa
military alliance. Oppose
NATO plans to bring
South Africa into the or
ganization. Support major
ity rule. Demand freedom
fighters and grant asylum
on political refugee status
in this country. The U.S. is
asked to support U.N. Re
solution 435, to end U.S.
corporations in Namibia,
prohibit importation of all
gods manufacturered or
exported from Namibia.
i' with i iniiii 11 miirnnrf—a
T<=—a—1
_ M * '
Sabrina
Television And Food
The America diet and American televi
• sion, two of the most talked about institu
tions in today’s society. Why? Because they
work hand in hand. Turn on the television
set, watch for, say thirty minutes, and see
why.
While viewing one will notice that com
mercials are full of cleaning products,
feminine hygiene products, toys and games,
and food. This, of course, is during prime
time and targeted toward women and
children. Unfortunately! On most television
commercials all good things are centered
around eating-both consciously and uncon
~ sciuusly-ball games, outdoor recreation,
love and romance. For example the sham
poo “that put the ooooh in shampoo” slums
a woman touching a man’s hair iri^a
restaurant. What does shampoo have to do
with eating? And the fruit with the bright
light or lite shows folks coming in after
“heavy” competition and having a big bowl
of fruit to cool off. Why?
Food advertisements hit people where
they live - in the mouth: with emphasis on
the sweet area of the tongue. Which can be
tickled best by candies, cakes and cookies.
These advertisements are often created to
-appeal to children. A child sees the com
mercials after school and Saturday morn
ings and are convinced that he must eat that
cookie to be socially accepted or be the best.
Adults and children in these commercials
seem especially happy because they are
consuming a particular product. Kid logic
takes the information, stores it and uses it
as a weapon in the supermarket to get
“mommy” to buy it. Mommy tosses the
___ i A > ■ ■ . . ... . ' _
itvjuL.L imu luc Miupping carx...cima cairns
down; arrive home with product and the
child does not like it! Sound familiar? Why
do parents do this - because they do not want
their child to want for anything. However,
there is the tendency to forget that if a good,
balanced diet is provided - then how can a
child go lacking in the eating department? '
McDonald’s, Burger King, Hardee’s, and
Kentucky Fried Chicken have cornered thig
market on product temptation advertising. •
. All show their food at its best during the
advertisement. All are good commercials
but have a tendency to be shown at the
wrong times - midnight or right after the
dinner hour.
The problem is not the food commercial
themselves, but how they have shaped ’
America’s eating habits. The composition of
the American diet is high in fat content and
calorie rich fast foods. Supermarket diets
include frozen and canned foods processed
foods and foods to just open and eat. While
these foods do contain fair amounts of
nutrition “stuff,” they rarely suggest in
advertisements the use of fresh vegetables,
meats and poultry. Frozen dinners seem to
be the most balanced of fast foods.
It is realized that people do not preare and
sit down to dinner as they once did. People
are too busy to cook full dinners. However,
more emphasis should be put on the kinds erf
quick foods eaten.
The American diet is also shaped by
parents. “Clean your plate and you will get
dessert,” a common phrase to get children
to eat. Parents have confused the impor
tance of what’s on the plate for how much is
consumed. Parents should consider what is
on the plate and how much of it and not '
force a child to stuff its face. If he is full he
is full!
This is not to say that the American diet is
all bad, nor that everything advertised is
bad for you, but that more concern or
emphasis should be placed on eating
healthy, tasty and enjoyable foods. Parents
may consider teaching their children the
importance of striking a happy medium
between fresh and processed foods and
explain to them that one does not have to eat
certain foods to be wonderful. The leaning
of good eating habits begins at home Tso
why not begin today teaching children ancL.
adults that all foods advertised on televiaCr?^
must not be consumed.
Mercy To Check Halmvein Gmdv
Parents looking for
peace of mind on Hallow
een can come to Mercy
again this year for free
X-rays of their children's
candy.
For the ninth consecu
tive year, Mercy Hospital
in Charlotte and Mercy
Hospital Medical Park in
Pineville will X-ray Hal
loween candy to make sure
the candy is free of solid
foreign objects.
Last year, more than 200
bags of candy were X
rayed at Mercy Hospital at
2001 Vail Avenue in Char*
lotte. Nearly 100 bags of
candy were checked at the
Urgent Care Center at the
'S
rftetfical park, n.C. 51 and
Perk Road in PinevUle.
This year, X-raya of
canity will be done from M
pm. at the hospital Emer
gency Department and at
the Urgent Care Center at
the Ynedical park on Hal
loween.
Mercy began offering the
service in 1975 at the an*
gestion of radiology man
ager Joe Haner.
• ♦