Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / March 28, 1985, edition 1 / Page 2
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I 1 Another Plateau At a time when many binlmsu, big and small, including financial institutions, are failing under the weight of economic crisis that are too often hidden from large public : view, The Charlotte Post has reached another plateau, a pew beginning : Ten years ago Bill Johnson, then editor of : the absentee-owner Charlotte post had a vision, a dream, that the black weekly newspaper could be an effective voice in the black community. Stepping out on faith and a $50,000 government loan, Bill Johnson purchased the paper from the Belmont based owners. With limited operating capi tal and a tireless effort, Bill Johnson began the difficult task of building a small : business into a viable economic entity today with even greater potential. : The Post’s attorney, D. G. Martin, called *the newspaper’s growth a success story. ‘‘The paper has had some problems, but it has continued to publish each week.” Among the "problems” Mr. Martin was referring to Was The Post’s filing for bankruptcy in 1978 when its debts were $83,000 and its assets were only $70,000. "It is a badge of achievement to go through this kind of difficulty and come out of it,” Martin added. And come out of it The Post did, when U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Wooten dis missed the 6% year-old legal protection from creditors. This action means the paper no longer needs the Court’s help and direction to pay its bills. Judge Wooten alsq referred to The Post as a success story when he said, "I think the efforts and integrity of (the paper’s) management, the legal advice that followed, ana the coope ration of the creditors all brought about a successful bankruptcy proceeding.” Evidence is abound to indicate that Charlotte’s only black-oriented newspaper is truly a success story and on the threshold of a new beginning. For example, when the bankruptcy petition was filed in 1978 the' paper’s circulation was 2,500; today it’s 7,200. Furthermore, publisher Johnson now plans to hire a circulation director to increase sales to 14,000. In 1978, The Post had only eight employees; today it has 26. A $55,000 loan from the City’s economic development program in 1982 has enabled the newspaper to purchase up-to-date equipment and to accumulate working capital. During this time, too, The Post moved from a 1,400 square facility on West Boulevard into a 4,500 square foot site on Camden Road (at Tryon St.) in February, 1983. Attorney Martin summed up this opti mism that we all share for black-oriented weeklies when he said, “There are sig nals that The Charlotte Post has support from the Community and gets strength from , its readers and advertisers. Therefore, I’m not surprised at how strong the growth has been and how great the potential for future success is.” Finally, a black consumer market media guideline for the Charlotte area, developed by Burrell Advertising, Inc., suggests that as a local marketing and advertising tool The Post is highly useful for reasons of local emphasis, strong black household penetra tion, and a sense of immediacy. Yes, Hie Charlotte Post has a poten tially bright future, but that future de pends largely upon you, the readers and subscribers. The Post is only as good as the people who read it and tell us what they think about what they read. Do this and you will have an even better paper. Minority Job Gains Found a study on employment in the 1970s reveals that minorities and women made significant gains largely due to the impact of aggressive affirmative action programs. The study noted that such programs should continue to assure continued success. The 100-page study entitled, “A Decade of New Opportunity: Affirmative Action in the 1970s,” was prepared by a former EEOC \ staff member. In specific terms, the study found that blacks’ share of the job market increased by 15 percent during the de cade, with the majority of those jobs in .Woman increased Hr 19 percent rose by Fleming, titute, an that pu this the uding the ... mnn*y ueneral and other high government officials — are waging a campaign to strip the program of basic Clements.” Attorney General Edwin Meese said the Reagan Administration is not seeking to dismantle affirmative action but does oppose quotas that have the effect of discriminating against whites (males). i ^ Blacks’ overall share of the job market rose from 10.1 percent in 1870 to 11.6 percent in 1900, with the increase concentrated in higher paid jobs. Black officials and man agers rose from 1.9 percent to 4 percent in 10 years, while the number of black profes sionals rose from 2.3 percent to 4.3 per cent. ' - Undoubtedly, too, this means that blacks were prepared by training and experience to be able to accept these job offices. This should serve as a note of encouragement for many of our black youth that training and preparation are always the first require ments for beginning on a road to success. Affirmative action programs notwithstand ing, blacks must fully prepare themselves for the opportunities ahead. _ * • _• KBPT COMMITMENTS TO CIVIL RIOHTS_ 1 SUPREME ^''xCOURT the SUPREME COURT \ ENDORSED CONOREG - 1 SIONAL POWER TORE- u] DR ESS RACIAL DtS CRIMINATION through AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. NX TIMES I$lacks Becoming Too G Are blacks becoming too complacent? This is a ques tion that has found its way into the minds of leaders, scholars, and business peo ple. One may ask why is this so. Merely because the black unemployment rate is in creasing whereas the nation al unemployment rate is de creasing, teen pregnancy is highest among blacks, not as many college graduates are seeking business careers and key executive positions are not as readily pursued by bl^ck managers. The sdepario is not completely biejyt and dark, it merely creates a major obstacle for those striving to succeed, s - Why have America’s poor black not developed a de sire to rise above and ° achieve? Frankly, it starts in the home. More children of the poor are bom out of wedlock and-or not knowing a father than those of mid dle class. These children, both male and female, oftentimes grow up lacking in security, the spirit of achievement and persis tence. Crude arrogance and the feeling of the world owing a debt to them are the attitudes of many of the youth and the adults. Poor blacks who are able bodied are not so inclined to work as many other ethnic groups are. Many are very Kent receiving various of public assistance such as welfare, Food Stamps, and Aid For de pendent Children (AFDC). Instead of spending the days in quest of betterment, the days are wasted in front of a television set, partaking in drugs or alcohol or just plain doing nothing but complain ing about what “the man”' will and will not do. The government makes grants loans and other kinds of ’ assistance available to those The Charlotte Post i North Carolina’s Fastest Growing Weekly 704-376-0496 - •— “The People’s Newspaper’ 106 Years Of Continuous Service Bill Johnson Editor, Pub. Bernai d Reeves Gen. Mgr. Fran Bradley Adv. Mgr. Dannette Gaither Of. Mgr. Published Every Thursday By The Charlotte Post Publishing Company. Inc. Main Office: 1531S. Camden Road Charlotte, N.C. 28203 Second Class Postage Paid at Charlotte Member, National Newspaper Publishers’ Association North Carolina Black Publishers Association National Advertising Representative: Amalgamated Publishers, , Inc. One Year Subscription Rate One Year-$17.76 Payable In Advance t ram Capitol Hill Kennedy Shows Concern .'--tii ■'■■■■■ ■ V- ;.•' ' ' - i; \ r 3 For The Unfortunate By Alfreds L. Madison Special To The Post At 12: *5, I entered Senate Office number US. I was met by Bob Mann, a short of stature Texan, who la a most charming and delightful person He said, “We'D be ready in a few minutes.” After about five minutes, Bob ushered me into the next room where I was warmly greeted by Senator Edward Kennedy. After the greetings, we sat down to a delicious lunch of New England seafood. Wp talked while eating and I taped the conversation. Senator Kennedy Is the moat sought after person on Capital Hill for interviews, so it is rarely anyone can get one with him. Bob Mann, the press secretary informed me when I requested the interview, that every body wants to talk with the Senator, but hat he felt I would have a high priority Knowing this to be a rare occasion, f had to hit on many different areas. Concerning his South Africa trip, Senator Kennedy learned firsthand thPt our policy "constructive engagement” is not working. He said that sanctions must be placed against that country. He was the guest of Nobel Peace Prise winner Bishop Desmond Tutu, so he stayed in the Bishop's home He said lie slept five feet away from the Nobel Peace Prise Winner. Bishop Tutu lives in the Black town of Soweta. The Senator saw great poverty there and a determination of people freeing themselves of apartheid. This was f' a Alfrrda L. evidenced by Winnie MandeUa, wife of imprisoned Nelson MandeUa who has been in prison for twenty-one years. The Senetor said that Winnie MandeUa, is very strong in her fight / to rid Black South Africans of apartheid. Senator Kennedy talked with Prime Minister Botha and other South African officials, but •aid he aaw no evidence of a change in the country's apartheid policy. He feels that there must be prohibition of new investments by American coporations in South Arica. While the newspapers have reported that •ome Black South Africans, r«*«nted the Senators appearing before them, he said Out was s •mail number, who resent ail American*, because they feel the United States supports the 8outh African grr rrnnap . Senator Kennedy has already introduced in this Mth Congress, the IMS Civil Right* Restoration Act and the Anti-Apartheid Act of IMS. policy is detrimental to many capable students who can’t afford to have a leas educated population. In speaking about our Foreign Policy, the Senator states that we can’t solve the problems by a great emphasis on military solutions. He says that there must be economic aid and consideration for the culture • of the Third World people; things cannot be resolved fat an East-West policy. Kennedy is for a strong defense, but not for placing the abundance of reliance on military build-up, at the expense of consider ation for the unfortunate in this nation. The Senator said the recovery has been for the rich. If one is poor, he has borne the bvrden of the recession, without finding any relief during this great recovery. Senator Kennedy feds President Reagan's attempt at reversal of civil rights has awakened some latent racism, that we hoped waa dead. He sees a linkage between the Administration's civil rights policy and his “constructive engagement’’ South African policy. Interest, which the Kennedy's have for the unfortunate, the Senator credits to his mother who has very strong religious views, as they all have, and the closeness of the family ties. While Senator Edward Kennedy it the patriarch of the Kennedy family he la. for those who are looking for Justice and a better economic life, a paternal father >mplacent? wanting to “make it.” This education system makes learning to read and write an American way of life. No one in this country *is publicly denied an education. People deny themselves. People deny themselves of educa tion, jobs and independent lives. No one is to blame but the personal being. Blind pride and false hopes are other reasons con tributing to elevated unem ployment. Everybody wants to be a chief - well how can one be a chief if one is not qualified? Babies crawl before walking and adults must sometimes.-do-jthe same. Less than one percent of the population can expect all the comforts of life to be given to them without really working hard. The others must pay dues. Getting an adequate and functional education is the start, taking on a not so glamorous or “suity” jobs is the middle and the goals achieved at the end are a matter of personal endurance and sacrifice. It sounds dumb but a person sometimes has to give a little to gain a lot. And gaining independence of total go vernment financial assist ance is a lot. Blind pride and false hopes can only be real pride and attainable hopes if one actively pursues them in a legal manner. Listen to the leaders, scholars, and busi ness people, ask questions. The conclusion will more than likely be that they paid some “dirty dues” to get where they are. me experiences should be shared as advice and not as boasting. Taken in the pro per context it can and will be inspiring. Too often college grad uates take positions that offer exceptional starting salaries and stay in those positions over a period of five years. They wait for a pro motion to come to them in stead of their going after it Question: How is die super visor or manager going to know one wants the promo tion or is qualified for it if one does not tell him or her7 The truth is those who toot their own horns to the key people move ahead at a rapid rate Politics is the name of the game. And, honestly speak ing, blacks have a tendency not to play the game among themselves and among their white counterparts and man agers. 'Til do this for you and you do that for me but you mi»t guarantee X for my cause/' This is how Presi den.t Reagan got elected and reelected and how the na gV'wir'ir politics.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 28, 1985, edition 1
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