Cbitonals ■
A Tribute To Pete McKnight
Less than two months ago the quiet, shy
but perceptive publisher of The Charlotte
Post, William ‘‘Bill” Johnson, died at the
age of 68. Last Saturday C.S. “Pete”
McKnight, who served as editor of The
Charlotte Observer for 21 years, also passed
from this life. Thus, th’e heavens above have
become enriched with two of the best
journalists it has been our privilege to have
known and admired.
We have been pleasantly surprised to
observe some previously unknown simi
larities between ‘‘Bill” and “Pete.” While
coming from quite different backgrounds,
both men were shy, intense men with keen
insights to human behavior and the drift of
human events. “Pete,” Jack Claiborne
wrote in The Observer (August 17)
“was a man who understood the racial
changes that began sweeping the nation
after World War II and urged his readers to
accept and even welcome them.” Because
Pete spoke out on racial issues as much as
20 years before the civil rights revolution of
the 1960s, “his views ... were often
denounced in corporate offices and the halls
nt government, but his influence was
Important in promoting the peaceful
transition to equal rights in this part of the
Carolinas.”
. in a like manner of courage and de
termination, Bill Johnson was forceful in his
editorials over the past 10 years to remind
and encourage black people, especially
those in positions of leadership - political,
_civic and religious - of the responsibilities
they had to assume with the privileges and
new opportunities that the new civil rights
laws and the moral changes that had begun
in. the 1960s. While not nearly as publicly
known as Pete’s conflict with the white
power structure, Bill endured a measure of
opposition too from different black leaders
at various times for not endorsing or
supporting certain viewpoints of such
leaders.
McKnight’s influence did not end with the
printer’s ink, he was a force in the creating
or founding of several organizations in
cluding the Chariotte-Mecklenburg
Planning Commission. UNC-Charlotte. and
the N.C. School of the Arts.
However. McKnight will undoubtedly be
test remembered for the fact that he was
constantly on the cutting edge of social
change and racial justice when it was not
only unpopular in the white community to
express such views but was in fact
dangerous. In editorials as far back as 1951,
“Pete” supported decisions by the U.S.
Supreme Court that ended segregation in
railroad dining cars, the Oklahoma Uni
versity graduate school and the University
of Texas Law School. Getting closer to
home. Claiborne quotes from a McKnight
editorial that said, “And let us not be lulled
into thinking that our public school facili
ties for Negroes are equal to whites...No,
North Carolinian with any sense of justice
can be happy over that...Segregation as an
abstract moral principle cannot be defend
ed by any intellectually or spiritually
honest person.” Let me remind you again
that while such rhetoric may be considered
the norm in 1986, in 1951 such talk was
considered radical and down right un
American by many people.
McKnight’s crusading pen personifies the
power and influence of the individual and he
the value of a free press. It is said that his
v ^Plce andjyiewpoint influenced the powers
that be to avoid a lunch counter sit-in
confrontation in 1*61. Then, undoubtedly
influenced by the slums and blight he saw in
old Brooklyn from his office window in the
_ old Observer building. Mr. McKnight made
urban redevelopment an election year issue
after the City Council had expressed oppo
sition to slum clearance programs.
. .Thus, as the history of our city over the
past 40 years is recorded, we should be ever
mindful of Pete McKnight, a man of great
courage, insight, commitment and a
passion for social and racial change.
Charlotte is a better place because God
allowed “Pete” McKnight to live among us.
Say No" To Sex And Drugs
in a one-hour segment of “Phil Donahue
Examines The Human Animal," a five
Pat-t special aired on' NBC-TV last weak,
attention was given to the conflict in values
we have as Americans about sex. The
segment, while moving at a pace that
offered little depth to Its issues, did,
nevertheless point out our conflicting
values about sex, particularly as in
nuencea f>y the commercialization of sex.
Everything from automobiles to cigar
ettes, motor oil and men’s shaving cream is
advertised on television and in color news
paper ads with a long-haired, beautiful
woman provocatively half-dressed. The fact
is, the ads are more preoccupied with
selling sex than the products they claim to
be talking about.
Jane Brown, a 35-year-old Ph.D., has
watched a lot of music videos and has 112
such shows on tape. A UNC-Chapel Hill
journalism professor, with a concern about
the impact of televised “sex” on children,
believes television may be merely a scape
goat for society at large.
She says, “While it’s taboo tottalk about {
sex in many faiqily situations, we ailbw our
media to talk about it. to show ft to us all the
time. If we are going to allow (this to
happen) we need to educate our kids about
the potentially dangerous effects of sexual
behavior.”
unfortunately. Dr. Brown suggests that
TV contraceptive advertising would be
helpful. This in our view is equally as '
ridiculous as placing so-called health clinics
in the public schools. Such approaches to
the solution of sexual behavior or the use of
drugs don’t appeal to moral values of
what Is right, but rather sends the message
if you can’t contain yourself at least use
protection. The best protection for our youth
against uncontrolled or uninhibited sexual
behavior is home and church training in
moral values and value judgment. Let us as
adults begin to provide by example and
lecture this kind of leadership.
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Constructive Engagement” Is Unconstructive
Rewritten From
The Carolina Time*
By John E. Jacob
There are plenty of rivals
for the title of the world's
worst nation - sad places
where tyrants oppress their
people either through excess
devotion to ideology or to
pure greed for money and
power.
. But South Africa is the
clear winner. It Is different
from all the others.
Nowhere on this globe are
the elementary principle* of
decency, civilization and
freedom more trampled
upon than in the racist state
of South Africa. Nowhere
else Is the majority denied
citizenship. And no other
country Is in Imminent
danger of terrible racial
warfare.
The Administration’s
policy of constructive en
gagement has given South
Africa’s rulers a blank check
to continue their racist
policies and to destabilise
their region.
After years of construc
tive engagement we have
nothing to show for It.
Nelson Mandela Is still
behind bars. The govern
ment refuses to negotiate
with the opposition and
Issues emergency decrees
that throw even moderate
Sherman
leaders into Jail.
Constructive engagement
has failed. It b now time, for
constructive pressures.
This Administration has
not hesitated to impose
sanctions on Poland, when It
oppressed its workers; on
Nicaragua, when It threat
ened our Interests In
Central America, and on
LyMa. when it engaged in
terrorism.
So It now should im
pose sanctions on South
Africa, which the Secretary
of State says Is a moral,
strategic, economic and
political burden on the West.
The claim that sanctions
are unworkable It not
"While the rising incidence of crime has 1
been a source of embarrassment to many I
buck leaders, far too many have
remained ambivalent toward the pro-1
blem Perhaps through fear of providing *
comfort to racisU masquerading behind
a mask of Uw and order, 1 recognise
these risks. But falaoracognize an even
greater risk that blacks themselves may
confuse the right of black people to
protest their unsatisfactory condition in
the United States with the opportunity for
criminals to prey on exposed citizens.”
-Dr. Andrew E. Brimmer
As l aee It
Should More Blacks Consider
Becoming Republicans?
**_***_ ■ « _ .
ay ueraia u. Johnson
Special To The Post
. Since the 1984 Republican
landslide victory over the
Democrats, black folks have
found themselves pretty
much out of the political
arena. In fact, for the last six
years we have been isolated
from the political process.
The Republican party seems
insensitive to the needs of
minorities and as a con
sequence they legislate
accordingly. Hence, I have to
question, is our loyalty to the
Democratic party with the
isolation when Democrats
are not in power?
A good question to ask.
indeed. I feel (remember,
however, that my opinion
and a quarter will get you a
cup of coffee) that being so
committed to the Democra
tic party is playing a game of
political Russian roulette.
The Democratic party has
begun to take the black vote
for granted. The best game
In town these days for
Democrats seeking office is
to go after the black vote
during primary elections.
However, during general
elections it is assumed that
Gerald
the black vote will support
the Democratic party.
Therefore, Democrats ignore
blacks during general
elections. Statistics have
proven that Democrats can
successfully apply this
theory. No other group
supported the Democratic
party like the black voters.
Jesse Jackson's running for
office somewhat blurred the
truth of this fact, but it Is
true.
persuasive, since sanctions
have worked in the past and
can cripple a target nation’s
economy. Sanctions also
register moral indignation
and demonstrate support for
the victim’s of oppression.
The British Common
wealth’s Eminent Persons
Group tried to negotiate but
South Africa refused. They
conclude that sanctions are
the only alternative - that
unless the West acts boldly to
put maximum pressure on
South Africa, that country
could go down in the flames
of a race war that leaves It in
the hands of those hostile to
our interests.
The stakes are high. Our
government has the moral
stature and the experience of
a pluralistic multi-racial
society to take the lead in
bringing a peaceful solution
to South Africa.
By falling to exercise its
leadership It has left U.8.
corporations swinging In the
wind. Washington's failure to
Identify America with the
aspirations of black majority
permanently endangers our
economic Interests In that
country.
In effect, the Adminlstra- '
tion is forcing U.S. com
panies there to choose
between voluntarily with
drawing from South Africa
now or being expelled later.
Time has run out on South
Africa. U.S. corporations
should now leave that nation
and the U.8. government
should align Itself with the
black struggle for freedom
there.
If our nation is to remain
true to its Ideals, if it is to
fulfill its world leadership
responsibilities, if it is to live
up to Its traditions of
liberty - it must change sides
and support the struggle for
freedom in South Africa.
We can no longer celebrate
the symbols of our liberty -
as we did at the centennial of
the Statue of Liberty - while
being neutral In the fight
for the liberty df black
South Africans.
. .Sherman N. Miller’s
column will return next
week.
Charlotte Transit
Servile Improvements, addi
tional buses during peak
hours, and a fare increase went
into effect on Charlotte Transit
busea recently. ipkSivv.™.' t
Thirteen of Charlotte Tramit's
22 routes will have improvements
to existing service. Service
expansion will be possible by the
addition of 10 buses to the peak
hour fleet, bringing the total to
N busea during rush hours
In spite of our undying
loyalty to the party, Un
political issues of concern to
the black community are not
taken seriously during the
drafting of the party plat
form. Still, we vote straight
ticket on election day. In
terestingly enough, the
support is beginning to have
a negative effect on the s
Democratic party. TheV'
political support given by
blacks to the party gives us
political clout thathas fright- 1
enfcd many whites to either
switch parties or vote
Republican. Our strength is
becoming the party's weak
ness.
The Republicans on the
other hand have no alle
giance to the Mack com
munity once they get in
office. Just by the mere fact
they got In office without any
black support is a mandate in
itself to ignore issues of
black concern. They have
clearly used the overwhelm
ing black support of the
Democratic party to sway
white voters to vote
Republican. Black support
carries the stigma of liber
alism with it. Liberalism is
associated with entitlement
programs. Entitlement pro
grams are associated with
higher taxes. Higher taxes
loses votes. After per
suading whites to the
Republican side of conser
vatism, It wouldn't make
sense for the Republicans to
be sensitive to the black
community.
Consequently, black folks
are left in the cold when
Republicans take office.
Whose to blame for all this?
The Republicans? No. The
black community? Yes. We
have aligned ourselves
politically to one party. The
treatment we receive from
both parties is a conse
quence of ns allowing It to
happen. We need to become
smarter with utilizing our
voting power.
_ I am a firm believer that
black political strength can
only be maintained If we
participate In the two party
system. We cannot afford to
be taken for granted by one
party and completely
Ignored by the other. We
cannot afford to sH on the
sidelines for so many years
until the Democrats can
come back In fashion. It Is of
vital importance that we
have a strong voice In both
parties. We need to partici
pate at the primary level for
both parties. Some of us need
to register as Republicans.