Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Aug. 9, 1984, edition 1 / Page 14
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Opinions On The Street D° Area Blacks Support NAACP’s Boycott Of Food Lion? By Audrey C. Lodato Poet Staff Writer Just how effective the NAACP’s boycott of Food Lion stores will be rewine to be jmml; According to local NAACP director Kelly Alex ander Jr., the branches are just beginning to get information on the boycott. The first step is to create community awareness. So far, over 30,000 flyers ipve been circulated in dressed various groups concerning the matter. “In general, we’ve met with a positive response,” be re ported. “Volunteers have called and joined in the effort.” roinung to the supermarket chain’s recent “I Love Food Town” — ^arrlP‘‘if|n nit evidence, Alexander believes Food Lion executives are worried about the effects of a boycott. “If they didn’t believe it would have an effect, they wouldn’t be doing that,” he insisted. Calls to the eight area Food Lion stores elicited little more than “no comment” from most of the chain’s managers. The two who did respond to questions about the boycott’s effect on their stores’ sales saw none. -■ Bill Nivens, manager of the Delta Road store, reported “no effect whatever. None at all. I wouldn’t b*ve known a boycott was going on if . I hadn’t read it in the newspaper.” Ms store generally does net attract a large percentage of black custom en._ Eastway Drive Food Lion mana* ger Donnie Jackson claimed there has been nodecrease in blade trade at his store. “We haven’t seen any effect at all.” ,-i. In an effort to find out what local "blacks think of tbe boycott, an informal survey was conducted at several shopping centers. No claim is made to the scientific reliability of this survey, and no conclusions concerning the effectiveness of the boycott are drawn from its results. Several people queried had not heard about it. When informed, they ' had mixed resnonses. Firefighter Daryl WUe, of Roaeridge Place, hadn’t heard of the boycott. On learning of it from 11m **oat’a reporter, he replied, “I agree with it; I think it’s fair.” Wise does " not shop at Food Lion, ao any boycott will not affect his shopping habits. Another respondent, who r. preferred to remain anonymous ” because his Job brings him into' ^contact with Food Lion managers and because he is employed by a > ' company that is also being boycotted by the NAACP, said, “I’m - really in a fix!’’ He went on, Vl’ve never seen any black Food Lion managers." He thought another food chain “was just as bed’til recently,” “ when they started hiring some blacks into management positions. This respondent occasionally shops at Food Lion. He was unsure whether he would continue, but added, “If a Food Lion is close, I .i ■rae-T Miss Gaddy, a housewife from Kentland Lane, had Just beerd about the boycott on television the day before. Her companion didn’t know don’t have I__ _ . A woman in the Food Lion perking lot on South Blvd. didn’t know anything about the boycott, adding “I Just spent 9M there.” Breeda Graham, a S. Tryon St. housewife, responded, "I don’t know much about it ao I’d rather not comment.” She does shop at Food Lion and said she will most likely continue. Danforth Lane secretary Betty Petty didn’t know too much about the boycott, either, but thought it was a good idea. “It needs to be done,” Ma. Petty commented, "Especially when we’re not evenly represented. Minorities heed an opportunity.” She has shopped at Food Lion in the past but does not plan to continue to do ao. Jeha Boyd, a retired resident of Cheater, SC, hadn’t thought much about it. “I shop at Food Lion,” he responded. “I get better bargains, ; the store is cleaner, food is fresher.” His pickup sports an “I love Food Lion” bumper sticker. Boyd plana to continue shopping the aBHT l 1 1 1 ■ ' ■ ! i ■v / ,*• --- - _ _ Miss Gaddy ‘ f Betty Petty O^ier respondents were more supportive of the N^ACP’s campaign. Ralph Steadman, a Carrysbrook Lane retiree, stated, “I think the boycott will alert officials of Food Lion of our community’s impact on their stores and the necessity to hire in accordance with that.” Steadman haa been an occasional Food Lion shopper but will honor the boycott "to see its effect.” Marie Cherry lives on West Park Avenue and works in the shipping i^R«aHMU^nce. “I think Food lion isn't fair because blacks have to work just Uke everyone else,” she said. "I haven’t seen any blanks working there at all.” Ms. Cherry is not a regular Food Lion customer, r .Afienug housewife should be fair to blacks just like they are to whites,” she contended. Ms. McKinney does not think the boycott is a good way to make the point, but. asked “How else can we get what we want?” Although there are no black managers in any of the sight local Food Lion stores, there are elsewhere. Some opposition to the boycott Was raised by blacks in Winston-Salem because one of the storm in that dty haa black manage ment and provides employment for the local community. Winston-Salem was the only dty where the NAACP was picketing Food Lion stores. Picketing was called off last week because of a bomb throat. The boycott, however continues - and continues to be debated, both in Winston-Salem and elsewhere. Fewer DWI Arrests RALEIGH - Highway Patrol Commander L'61orie7 David L. Matthews announced DWI arrests for June were fewer than those made in June last year. “This was the 17th consecutive month DWI charges were less than those for the same month of the previous year, but the gap is narrowing," Matthews said. “Only 91 fewer DWI arrests were made in June as troopers removed 3,283 Impaired drivers from the #9 1 ■ 1 w.— Matthews pointed out that the decrease in June was less than in any month since the Safe Roads Act went into effect on October 1, 1983 Figures released by Matthews showed a decrease of 1,046 in October; 1,349 in November; and 1,063 in December. The trend has continued in 1984 as decreases of 1,041; 878; 376; 1,018; and 719 were reported in January through May, respectively. Matthews had only praise for his troopers. "There are some very dedicated people in the Highway Patrol, and they are doing an outstanding Job,” he daid. "There are Just not as many impaired drivers on the highways. ” Ralph Steadmaa ‘ Daryl Wise SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS I John Boyd i \ •. 4 ■ ■ : ■ f V - X, %'7 f —« ■ .*< 15= •;r $ X? ils £ I i . y . jfew 6.99 Men's Dress, Knit And Sport Shirts Short sleeve solid dress shirts, solid or striped knit shirts and blald sport shirts In S,M,L,XL and 14V4-17. No Iron. Ladles’ Blouses 99 And KnitTops ~~ ““ sleeve ’ ^ . 'i . -_i tenqlhs. 'fteguiaf sizes. Regularly 1.39. More power per cup of _detergent. Limit 2. . jg Compare Up 2^1 Aluminum ■ ForB Foil Reoularly 57* Each. 12"x25' I multi, purpose aluminum fdi.1 599 Trapp«f w K—pm V«lcro* ctoi* r> Mto«. no» pod Me#* Good At AN Family Dollar StorM Through Thto Wookond Whilo Guantmot ia*t. OuanttttM llmltad On Somo Morchandlso. No SaiM To Daolan. SMS WUklMSMi Blvd. IMS W. Trade ft. MIS WUkhweB Blvd. - MM K. Indayradwice BM. tm N. Graham SI. «M N. TryM St.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Aug. 9, 1984, edition 1
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