editorials o_
Hooks: Where Do We Stand?
Rewritten from
The Michigan Chronicle
By Horace Sheffield
Special To The Post
Last week in discussing here
Ted Koppel’s November 3 ABC
Nightline program on Jesse .
Jackson’s announced bid for the
Democratic Party’s presidential
nomination, space permitted
only the response of the distin
guished black Chicago Sun
Times columnist, Vernon Jar
rett, Koppel’s seeming insist
ance on the “Black Messiah”
concept as the only salvation for
“America’s Blacks.”
Ben Hooks, NAACP executive
director, was also on that post
midnight Koppel show - which
I’m sure most of you missed -
and. jig also had some very
thoughtful things to say. In a
kind of summation, Jarrett told
Koppel, “There is a (Black)
grassroots activity on the
ground-swell in this country,
Mayor Washington (of Chicago)
has noted it. And other people
(had) noted it long before there
was talk of a (Black) Presidency
“But now all we hear is a
Black man running for Presi
dent.’ And it seems...Ted, it’s
being done (by the white media)
for the entertainment of televi
sion viewers and (printed
media) readdfS. Because it is
assumed, I would suspect even
by Mr. Jackson himself, that he
is not only not going to be
nominated by the Democratic
Party, but that he is not going to
win one state.”
Koppel picked up Jarrett’s bit
about “for the entertainment of
television viewers,” and then
said to the NAACP executive
director: "Benjamin Hooks is
that all we’re talking about, a
1984 version of Amos and
. Andv?”
Jackson Critic
(Hooks) “No. Let me put it this
way. The NAACP does not con
sider itself a Jackson critic. Let
me make that clear in the outset.
In April, 1983, the (NAACP)
Board met. We had been study
ing this problem of a Black
presidential candidate for a
number of months. I had been in
other groups’ meetings on this
-preWemv- -W-e —-(-the—NAAGP
Board) came to the conclusion
that there were many positive
aspects to a Black presidential
candidate and many negative
aspects. Our judgment was that
the negatives outweighed the
positives.”
(Koppel) “Why?”
(Hooks) “We were trying to
achieve more Black voter regis
tration, liberalization of the De
mocratic Party platforms, rais
ing of issues and choosing of
candidates. Of course, there can
be negatives associated with
(voter registration). You may
register more Blacks. But at the
same-time, depending on how
you go abouf it, you may regis
^tenmorp Mnti-Black) whites.
Black Voters
“Everybody talks about how
many Black voters could have
been registered. But what about
all the white voters who are not
registered to vote? Secondly, if
you are not very careful, you
may wind up with (Black and
White) polarization. Thirdly, you
may end up with a candidate who
is less sympathetic to the Black
agenda. It is for those reasons
that we decided not to push for
the Black presidential candi
date. Out decision was not aimed
at Mr. Jackson. It isnot aimecTar
him now. This declaration of the
NAACP was made in April, 1983.
...Now Mr. Jackson has an
nounced. That’s a fait accompli.
We now have to deal with the
reality of his running, however,
I don’t want to be sitting here
portrayed as a (Jackson) critic.
We (the NAACP Board)...came
to the conclusion that Ronald
Reagan’s form of government
was very dangerous to our com
munity. Therefore it was im
portant that we try to support
a candidate who has a chance of
unseating Reagan.”
“I do not believe that...this
country with all its overtones of
^racism is prepared to elect a—
Black president. And it was be
cause of that belief that we (the
NAACP) have taken the position
we have. We were not aiming at
Jesse Jackson and we are not
now. A great speaker, he brings
charisma, some brilliance, dedi
cation and some achievement in
the civil rights field.
“...What we are saying is we
think there is some inherent
danger. We will be spending
some time with Mr. Jackson and
the other candidates trying to
keep this whole campaign on an
upward bend so as not to polar
ize thecommunity, ...
It seems to be the good,
Reverend Doctor Benjamin
Hooks and the NAACP make a
good case and a lot of good sense.
Right on, Ben! Right on,
NAACP!
Letters To:
flie BdHor.
Adc Congress To Sinxxt kneadmient
Dear Editor:
— Eight members oL Con- _
gress have sponsored a
resolution to impeach Pre
sident Ronald W. Reagan
on the basis that the in
vasion of Grenada violated
the U.S. Constitutional pro
vision that states that only
Congress has the. right _to_
declare war.
The resolution also calls
for impeachment on the
grounds that in barring the
press from reporting on the
invasion, Reagan violated
the Bill of Rights provi
sion- of freedom of the
press.
The media were prohi
bited from covering the
invasion on the flimsy ex
cuse of military security
and the safety of media
The/fttedia has covered
many more dangerous mi
litary operations without
a hint of breach of security,
and they have never asked
the military to be respons
ible for their safety.
The impeachment reso
lution is also based on the
United Nations Charter, a
treaty which is part of U.S.
law and which prohibits
military intervention in the
internal affairs of other
countries by member
nations. .'
When Reagan took office
he swore “to uphold the
Constitution against all
enemies .. foreign, .end
domestic.” The eight mem
bers of Congress are say
ing that the Constitution
needs to be protected from
the President.
Another reason for im
peachment, which is not
included in the resolution,
is the war Reagan is
waging against Nicaragua
by means of mercenaries.
I urge that letters be sent
to our Congressman re
questing their support for
_the impeachment resolu
tion.
Mike Sletson
The Day After
Dear Editor: t
The recent television
movie The Day After
serves to remind us that
the danger of nuclear war
is the greatest peril con
fronting humanity. It
threatens the destruction of
human civilization and the
mass death of a large
portion of the earth’s popu
lation.
There can be no more
important political objec
tive than the avoidance of
nuclear war between the
nuclear superpowers.
We believe the foremost
political priority of the
United States must be to
achieve an agreement with
the USSR on the control,
limitation and destruction
of nuclear weapons, begin
Jesse Jackson
Dear Editor:
The year 1984 promises
to be an interesting elec
tion year with Jesse Jack
son in the race giving
straight-forward answers
to questions and issues as
he id to Mike Wallace on
60 Minutes.
If the other candidates
continue to sidestep issues
with their bland, patented
and traditional responses,
we just might end up with
a black Mr. America.
Hezekiah Nickelson
ning with the mutual ces
sation of nuclear weapons
development
Arnold J. Stiver
Reader Finds
Charlotte Post
Interesting!
22 Union Ave.
Mt. Vernon,.NY 10550
November 21,1983
The Charlotte Post_
Circ. Dept.
P. 0. Box 30144
Charlotte, NC 28230 _
Dear Circulation Mgr.
Please find enclosed a
check (No. 2160) for seven
teen dollars and sixty-eight
cents ($17.68) for renewal
of one year subscription.
I have found the publi
cation interesting which
has reflected or voiced the
problems and goals of the
black ethnic people and
also that of Hispanics. The
crises are pandemic.
Wishing you a successful
New Year.
Sincerely,
Hattye M. Cleveland,
. OTR, MABI, LFABI
P.S. I wish to congratulate
the citizens of Charlotte for
their stance and unity in
electing the most qualified
candidate for mayor, the
first black to be so hon
ored'in Charlotte, NC.
THE CHARLOTTE POST
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From Capitol Hill
Jackson fc Candidate For AH People
Alfreds L. Madison
Special To The Post
Jesse Jackson, the presi
dential candidate, “should
not be judged by the color
of his skin but by the con
tent of his character,’’
which is an outgrowth of
his experiences.
Rev. Jackson endured
the dangers and turmoils of
the civil rights movement,
which resulted in ridding
Americans of the guilt of
ignoring the mandates of
the Constitution, to imple
mentation of them. The
struggle not only gave the
ten percent black citizens
constitutional freedom, but
many whites, Jews, women
and other citizens who
wanted to be able to stand
up for constitutional rights
for all citizens, but who
were afraid to do so. They
were given the freedom to
contend for their beliefs. It
was through the movement
of which Jesse Jackson was
a prime factbr that afford
ed blacks better education
facilities and opened up
jobs that had been closed to
them - given the nation a
more educated and profit
able citizenry. Jackson has
been a strong force in
proving that civil rights
violations were not just
confined to the South and
blacks but that they are
nationwide and cross-lines
of ethnicity, sex and caste.
No presidential candi
date, including Ronald
Reagan has awakened the
public to the civic duty to
Alfred* L. Madison
register to vote as has
Jesse. So Jesse Jackson
has a unique position of
people concern which
towers above all those who
are now running for Presi
dent.
There has been great
criticism that Jackson has
had no political experi
ence. The seven Demo
crats and Ronald Reagan
have all held political po
sitions. First term Presi
dent* and Congress per
sons place more emphasis
on getting reelected than
they do on what's, general
ly, best for the public This
is a stigma that has not
saddled Jesse.
We’ve also had several
U S. Presidents who had no
previous political experi
ence; George Washington,
William Henry Harrison,
Tyler, Wilson and Eisen
hower, Just to name a few.
John Chancellor stated
that Jesse Jackson will pull
black voters away from the
other Democrats and Rea
gan will win by a land
slide. Are blacks going to
be blamed for Democrat
losses? What about the
white voters? Aren’t they
interested enough in the
issues and what the politic
al parties and their candi
dates stand for to register
and vote?
It is reported that Coret
ta King, Julian Bond,
Rev. Lowery, Bep Hooks,
Coleman Young and Andy
Young are not supportive
of Jesse Jackson. The same
blacks who, along with
others, largely, through
Jesse’s efforts in getting
blacks to register, caused
fruition of the King holi
day and the election of the
present black elected of
ficials and they are mem
bers of NAACP and SCLC.
So those black elected of
ficials and organizations
would act wisely, if they
will board the Jackson ship
or remain silent.
In his presidential an
nouncement speech. Rev.
Jackson's title was, “The
Quest for a Just Society
and Peaceful World.” He
said, ”...we are here to
fulfill our mission to de
fend the poor, make wel
come the outcast, deliver
the needy and be the source
of hope for people yearn
ing to be free everywhere.”
He stated that he wants to
provide that leadership
which seeks to ensure jus
tice, equality and see that
freedom and liberty re
main the common heritage
and reality of all.
Jackson spoke of the ten
million unemployed per
sons, loss of homes and
farms, plight of the home
less who sleep in the
streets, the large welfare
rolls, students unable to at
tend college because of
cuts in grants, schools
closing, teachers losing
jobs and more jails being
built. He related his con
cern about the unjustifiable
tax code, our govern
ment's support for oppres
sive regimes in El Salva
dor, Philippines, and
South Africa, the unfair im
migration policy against
Mexicans and Haitians,
while welcoming refugees
from Poland and the Soviet
Union. Jesse deplored
treatment of American In
dians, discrimination
against people because of
sexual preferences, failure
to enforce civil rights laws.
Jackson said he seeks the
Presidency because he
wants this nation to again
become the hope of the
free world, to affirm his
belief that leadership is
colorless and genderless,
and because he is disturbed
that our nation is in Jeo
pardy when half of the
American people feel
voting is worthless.
If American hasn't ma
tured to the stage where it
can accept a black Presi
dent, Jesse Jackson will
certainly open the eyes of a
lot of people and their
innate intelligence will be
stimulated.
* \
Along The
Campaign *
Trail—
Karen
Hunt Is Focusing
On Drug Addiction
The American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) is
one of few organizations to
publicly denounce the sen
tencing of three major
league baseball players to
three months in prison for
attempted possession of
cocaine:-__
ACLU doesn’t condone
cocaine usage or usage of
any other drugs, but
executive director Ira
Glasser, made a significant
point when he stated:
“Even if these individuals
were addicted, putting
them in prison makes as
little sense as putting an
alcoholic in prison for at
tempting to buy liquor."
Drug addiction, whe
ther the drug is alcohol or
cocaine, is a personal tra
gedy,” Glasser added.
Willie Wilson, Jerry Aikens
and Jerry Martin, the
players mentioned above,
-have a health-problem that
should be corrected
through counseling and re
habilitation programs. Ac
cording to Glasser, the
judge was unfair and hy
pocritical when he noted he
was sending the men to
prison because “they were
an example for the youth of
America." '-—
Everyone is an example
for the youth of America.
Youth should just be taught
right from wrong, primar
ily in the home. After all,
by the time they reach
adulthood if not by the time
they reach their teens, de
cisions will be made strict
ly by themselves anyway.
Everyone must be mature
enough to decide if a par
ticular practice is a good or
bad influence upon their
lives.
Meanwhile in North
Carolina, Gov. James Hunt
is focusing on alcoholism
and drug addiction and how
it’s affecting North Carol
inians. He believes alcohol
ism and drug addiction is a
serious health problem in
NortlrCarolina and across
the nation.
Instead of throwing
everyone in prison who
seems to be suffering from
the problem, the governor
is publicizing the problem
to get everyone, including
YOUTH, to face the reality
and try to do something
about it. As a result, Gov.
Hunt has proclaimed No
vember and December as
“Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Prevention Months.’’
“An estimated one mill
ion North Carolina child
ren and families suffer
from the pain and heart
ache connected with alco
hol and drug misuse and
abuse, and that North
Carolina has made the pre
vention, intervention, and
treatment of alcohol and
drug abuse a top priority,”
the Governor commented.
Steve Hicks, deputy
director of Alcohol and
Drug Services for the
North Carolina Depart
ment of Human Services
pointed out, "approximate
ly ISO alcohol and drug
programs are provided
across the state through
community mental health
facilities and alcohol reha
bilitation centers." This
system of treatment is ad
ministered by Human Re
sources’ Division of Mental
Health, Mental Retard
ation and Substance Abuse
Services.
Dr. Bob Hannon, the only
black candidate thus far to
announce for the North
Carolina gubernatorial
race recently outlined his
platform which covered is
sues and problems dealing
with energy, environment,
economy, agriculture and
education.
Dr. Hannon told a Young
Democrats organisation, •
"Education is a crisis be
cause of the low salary
North Carolina teachers
are getting.” Dr Hannon
feels teachers should be
making $20,000 annually;
experienced teachers and
administrators should be
entitled to more than
$20,000.
A graduate of AfcT State
University, Dr. Hannon
favors tax increases on
alcoholic beverages as one
way to increase the salar
ies of educators. He op
poses the merit system in
education because it "pro
vides opportunities for sex
and race discrimination."
“If I’m elected I will ask
the General Assembly to
increase the budget for the
community and technical
college system so it can
provide more current re
training programs for
younger and displaced
workers, preparing them
for newer jobs in 0
high technology or in more
stable industries," he said.
Yesterday, at noon, the
Charlotte Housing Author
ity went on record as the
first agency of its type in
the Southeast to receive
certification in the Main- '
tenance Apprenticeship
and Training Program.
J1While it-has long been
recognized that the quality
of maintenance services
directly impacts on the
livability of apartment
complexes and the satis
faction of residents and
managers with their com
plexes, few, if any, man
agement firms have struc
* lured apprenticeship pro
grams for their mainten
ance staffs,” stated John
Hayes of the Charlotte
Housing Authority.
The Charlotte Housing
Authority will seek to re
medy the situation by
establishing a two-year
structured apprentice
ship program which com
bines on-the-job training
with classroom instruc
tion through Central Pied
mont Community College,
and the Charlotte-Meek
lenDurg Area Fund.
Indentured apprentices
registered with the North
Carolina Bureau of Ap
prenticeship will undergo a
two-year program. After
ward, the apprentices will
be awarded certificates qL
completion from both thdV
N.C. Bureau of Apprentice
ships and the U.S. Bureau
of Apprenticeship and
Training and will be cer
tified as Maintenance
Mechanics.
The program is expected
to provide more jobs and
job training for low-income
Charlotteans. Commis
sioner John Brooks of the
North Carolina Depart
ment of Labor, and Frank
Steagale, Region IV Direc
tor of the Bureau of Ap
prenticeship and Train
ing for the U.S. Depart
ment of Labor were in
Charlotte for the certifica
tion.
Packaging
Tips For Safe
Mailing
“The Postal Service
wants to help mailers get
the best service,” Post
master W. E. Crowe of
Charlotte said today. He
offered these tips for safe,
timely delivery of your
holiday packages.
-Address your package
correctly and completely
and use the right ZIP
Code
-Use a sturdy container
such as a corrugated box
for items of average ^
weight.
-Cushion each item In
the container using crum
pled or rolled newspapers,
plastic chips or plastic or
fiberboard inserts.
-Seal your parcel with
reinforced filament tape.
-You don't have to use
wrapping paper on boxes;
simply cross out old ad
dresses and clearly print
the new address on one side
of the parcel.
-Ask your postal clerk
■bout delivery items and
prices for parcel post,
priority mail and express
mail Then decide which
combination of fast deliv
ery and economy best
mects your needs.
Reaching the public la
only a phone call away.
Post Classified Ads
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