Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Jan. 10, 1985, edition 1 / Page 14
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Benjamin Hooks —.NAACP Executive Director Alexander * ; ^ Continued From Page IA "But the NAACP is a noo-partisan organization,” comments Alex ander. ‘‘And we are encouraging blacks to start to look at both Parties objectively.” Perhaps this information has come a little too late but it is reinforced by several black leaders across the country. As a Rev. E. V. Hill, of Los Angeles, was quoted in the National Leader (November, 1984), "No other ethnic group, other than blades, delivers all their votes to one Party.” “My message,” says Alexander, “is we can no longer afford to be captlye of one political Party only. We have to begin to make political decisions based- on' proven track record of commitment. “If folks believe they cannot get your vote unless they do something for you, they’d be more willing to do it. If they take your vote for granted, they don’t feel they’ll have to do anything.” v * He*. Hill illustrated Alexander’s statement when he wrote, in An Open Letter To Black Americans. “If 20 percent or mere of the pre sent black voters would march away from the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party would do every thing it could to atop them; and as they approached the Republican Party, the Republican Party would do everything possible to get them.” Black involvement in tw»party politics is something that several black leaden are espousing and Alexander and the NAACP count themselves among that group. However, hot all blacks agree, as Mayor W. Wilson Goode, Demo cratic Mayor of Philadelphia, states in the National Leader (November, MM), “I believe id the basic temtt of the Democratic Party. I thjnk that we need programs like public bous ing for those who can’t afford housing or are discriminated against in search of housing. We need job training programs for those who are discriminated against in preparing and searching for jobs. It was the stalwarts of the Republican Party who let those discriminatory practices continue in their busi nesses,” Goode says, “and they would like to see things continue along those lines as way to con tinue enriching themselves.” I Who are blacks to believe? Alex ander says, “Public housing would not exist if not for the NAACP.” Yet Goode maintains that public housing is enforced by the Democratic Party. And if Alexander proposes that Macks infiltrate both Parties, how do they reconcile themselves with facts such aa that. Plus, blacks have always been admonished, “united we stand, divided we fall.” If the race becomes divided into two opposing political factions how will the chips fan then? "Be Mack fimt,” emphasizes Alexander. “Political parties are just icing on the cake. To be Mack transcends liberalism or conserva tism. The advancement of Mack folks won’t depend on either the advancement of the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Advancements for blacks are not party tied. “The overriding issue is civil rights,” points out Alexander, side stepping the political entangle ments. Alexander suggests that if the icing on the cake Is Demo cratic. or Republic, or mixed, if tbs cake doesn’t change then nothing has been accomplished. Tfflr twnr mmk for freater Alexander - ... ‘ . Hack have an not barred by race.” deal with comhtfhalittaa/'jJ Alexander. He sssimts that no matter how many factions the black community divide* into a* they assimilate into American society, the NAACP will be thaw to strengthen end uphold, what Alex ander term*, “The common 1 thread.” jA \ So what will the NAAQP be doing in 19*5? Alexander offers, There are no clear trends Our tatersst in North Carolina are emerging In the political and economic areas. We < ->»*ynw.wu - i public Mcfon And w% win inffiifn ly be looking at the black family aad the educational system. tough year," remember* Alexander. "But it’s like Warfare: You're going to loae some battle*. The key isn’t in winning every battle ft'* winning thenar" * . Black-owned commercial banks and thrift institutions will bass a good year in 1985, according to Dr. William Bradford, Chairman and Professor of Finance with the College of Business and Manage ment at the University of Mary land and a member of the DM Enterprise Board of Economists. Yet Mack financial Institutions will dot grow as much as their white counterparts, he warns. “The traditional black banks are going to have alow growth and higher risk assets, lower cost de posits and higher operating costs," Dr. Bradford notes, "but they are going to survive, became com munity orientation ia still strong in certain black areas." Bradford’s predictions are part of “The Annual Economic Outlook for Black America: 1905" in the Janu ary issue of Black Enterprise. The _ . - - ■ - - -- - :;____11____i 'Outlook," produced by the maga zine’s nine-member Board of Eco nomics, looks at overall economic prospects for black America and analyses such specific components of the economy ss income, employ ment, trade policy, the soaring federal deficit, and the stability of the dollar worldwide, ' With the deregulation of financial institution, black banks will have to develop innovative services to com pet* with the larger, majority owned Institutions, says Brad ford. His advice is for black fi nanciers to specialize.. “Specialization is a good strategy because black banks to some ex tent can operate in the mainstream market, but at the same time it does not require that the president and Us top officers wear, too many bats and that the bank offer too many services.” - 4—— -!-I-—. Bradford also suggests that finan cial instil lutiond expand Mto seme non-banking activities, such as rent ,ing space to agents who sell In surance, securities or tfx shelters. Black insurance companies, on the other hand, are plagued by more widespread problems. The health of its financial iatfMu dots is vital to business develop ment in the black community. V: ' -:-i I | IISPA Choice Beef Lein Steaks I
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Jan. 10, 1985, edition 1
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