Respected Senator Has A “Different
Priority”
By AedreyC. Lodato
Pact Staff Writer
Well-respected single
term state senator Melvin
L. Watt, who is not seeking
reelection, said he’s
learned a lot during his
time in the state capital.
“It’s an important posi
tion,” he stated. “I’m not
getting out because I’m
disenchanted, but because
it came at a time of my life
when I need to have a
different priority.”
Watt was asked to All the
vacancy created when Phil
Berry died just prior to the
1984 election.
“I think I have been able
to make some difference,”
he continued. “It's been a
challenge. You never make
the kind of impact you
would like to make because
of the number of people
involved.”
A lot of give-and-take and
compromise is required to
get anything accomplished
in the legislative process,
he pointed out -
Senator Watt noted that
the trend away from
federal control to govern
ments closer to home is not
necessarily bad. 4 ‘It
probably is the best way if
it can be done equitably,”
he remarked. Noting how
ever, that government and
people are far from
perfect there is cause for
concern.
Paul Robeson: “Man Of Conscience” To Air
Paul Robeson: Man of
Conscience" profiles the
controversial international
star whose dedication to
racial justice led to a
career of tragedy and
inspiration. The
biographical film, airing at
10 p.m. on Friday,
February 28, over the nine
channels of The University
of North Carolina Canter
for Public Television,
chronicles Robeson's life
as an athlete, scholar,
concert singer, stage and
screen actor and an early
activist against racial
injustice.
This special presentation
consists of the half-hour
Adacemy Award-winning
documentar-y, “Paul
Robeson: Tribute to an
Artist,” narrated by Sidney
Poitier, as well as
subsequent comments and
recollections of an invited
audience of Robeson’s
friends and colleagues,
gathered to view the film.
Introducing the
documentAry and
conducting the audience’s
commentary is Paul
Robeson Jr., who speaks
eloquently and knowledge
ably about his father’s
special place in black
history.
The senior Robeson's
career began in the early
DELI
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'20s. Eugene O’Neill’s play,
“The Emperor Jones,” in
which Robeson starred in
the title role, was the
springboard to his
performance career.
Acting was a way for
Robeson to pay his law
school tuition.
In a previously-recorded
interview segment of the
documentary, Robeson
discusses his portrayal ot
“Othello” on Broadway.
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Mel Watt
.Noted attorney
“Historically, blacks are
leary of transferring power
to the local level because of
. what has taken place in the
past,” he said. “To the
extent that attitudes are
changing on a local basis,”
he would agree that local
control can probably
achieve better results.
Senator Watt is a native
Charlottean who graduated
York Road High School in
1963. He earned a B.S. in
business administration
from the University of
North Carolina, Chapel
Hill, and a law degree from
Yale University School of
Law.
He is a partner in the law
firm, Ferguson, Stein,
Watt, Wallas and Adkins,
P.A.
Watt served as campaign
manager for Mayor
Harvey Gantt. He is a
former member of the
Executive Committee of
the 26th Judicial District
Bar Association and of the
boards of Legal Aid of the
Southern Piedmont and
Family Housing Service
He is a member of the
North Carolina Public
Education Forum and the
North Carolina Academy of
Trial Lawyers.
Watt commented, “I try
to live, life one day at a
time, i try not to take
myself too seriously. This
world was doing fine be
fore I got here and will
continue after I’m gone. I
try to do the best I can but
not put so much pressure
on myself that I can’t enjoy
life."
He continued, “You have
to stop and spend time with
those people who are im
portant to you. This is what
led to my decision to get out
of the legislature.”
Eulada Watt, the -
senator’s wife, is principal
at TAPS (Teen-Age Parent
Services).
The Watts have two
children, Brian-17, a senior
at West Charlotte High
School; and Jason, 12,
who attends Piedmont
Middle School.
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