Cbttor tata ■ New Era For Supreme Court The U.S. Supreme Court began its 1986-87 term this week In what constitutional law experts and historians are referring to as the “Rehnquist Era.” William Rehnquist, an associate justice on the High Court was elevated to the chief justice’s leadership chair following the retirement of Chief Justice Warren Burger. Rehnquist’s associate justice seat was filled by Antonin ScaUa. The appointment of both of these men by President Reagan was strongly opposed by civil rights and women’s organizations because of the conservative viewpoints and court decisions rendered by these In their prior cases. While most knowledgeable observers of the Supreme Court don’t expect the conservative leanings of Rehnquist and Scalia to cause any drastic changes in the Court’s direction, liberals, civil rights and women’s groups have reasons for some immediate concerns. These concerns arise from some of the Court’s early agenda cases that will un- N doubtedly be quite controversial. Among these are the historic fact of a relatively percent of blacks who face the death resulting In allegations of racial ‘^tMlMttKdtthe death sentence. In r, the. nation’s highest court will -. decision on whether racial bias continues to exist in the state of Georgia because people who kill white people wind up on death row more often than people who kill Mack people. For blacks who kill a near certainty, ^^^^Jpversed. Since of death row inmates around the natton may be affected, it shows that Gaargia is not the only state engaged in such alleged bias. Preferential Treatment ’•S Another controversial decision the High Court must face deals with preferential treatment for women in the workplace. This is not a “last hire - last to fire“ situation as Macks have sought but is rather an issue of maternity leave and unemployment benefits. Specifically, a case in the state of Missouri wants to know whether a state must pay unemployment benefits to women who are not rehired after taking matern ity leave. In a related case, California will ask as to whether an employer can be In yet another controversial case, George Wallace;* Alabama will argue that state police should not be forced to promote black and white troopers in equal numbers until blacks equal 2S percent of the upper level rank officers. In another affirmative action case, a Santa Clara County, CA, agency wants to be allowed to promote a woman over a more qualified man in order ' to get women into higher-ranking Jobs. While the elevation of William Rehnquist to the Chief Justice chair and* the appointment of Antonin Scalia will add one additional conservative to the Supreme Court bench, most Court analysts doubt that any sweeping changes will occur. However, many people may perceive drastic changes because of the specific nature of some of the pending court decisions noted here. For example, as much as we deplore the historic injustice that has burdened black Americans, we would hope and pray that if and when the death penalty is used, the decisions would be based purely ■ on the merits of the case and not on any attempt to balance in some proper pro portion the number of hlack and white executions based on some sociological • moralistic nation of who to kill. The very idea of human executions is deplorable enough even when it is believed to be fully justified, but to base it on a black-white numbers game is equally as bad as past biases that resulted in disproportionate killings of blacks simply because they were black. It is for this reason that we don’t view this as a liberal-conservative issue and strongly doubt the court’s votes will be decided on such philosophical lines. Career Or Family Secondly, in our way of thinking, women who leave their places of employment for reasons of -a legitimate pregnancy - that within the context of marriage - are riot seeking preferential treatment when they request unemployment benefits if denied an opportunity to regain their jobs after the maternity leave. Likewise, we believe that employers should be required to reinstate a female in her job after maternity leave. Married women should not be forced to choose between their careers and having a family. In fact the U.S. is believed to be the only Western democracy that does not attempt to accommodate the career-child bearing relationship. The lack of compat ibility on this issue Is already affecting when some people get married and ranging many women to delay into their later mid-30s child bearing years before having children and some just don’t have any children at all. This could result in a diminishing number of families and fami lies that can best afford to have children. Such a situation could have a long term negative impact upon future generations in America^ Finally, the Alabama position against being forced to promote black and white state troqpep in equal numbers pntil black , eqdaf 25 peftent of the upper^fevel officer ranM* is, in our opinion quite lbgitimate. It simply meahs that the state will have to make a greater effort to seek out and locate qualified black trooper applicants, some-' thing they have not done in the past simply for reasons of race only. The California case of promoting a woman over a more qualified man simply to put women into higher ranking jobs is. to make It brief, stupid and should not even be heard by the Court. Our main point in these comments on possible early decisions by the U.8. Supreme Court is to note that the nature of these cases does not fall within a philoso . phical mold of liberal versus conservative. IT IS UP TO US JO IMPOSE ^PBR—IIOW * * ARB WE GOING TO $IT ANP LET BLACK COM MUNITIES CRUMBLE AROUND US? GRASS v ; ROOTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, MUST EMERGE, TO FORGE A UNITED EFFORT AGAINST CRIME, NARCOTIC TRAFFICKING, SLIGHT AND DECAY, “We The People...” By Gerald O. Johnson Special TO The Post The Bicentennial kickoff celebration commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution was held this weekend at Disney World. A Bicentennial committee headed by Chief Justice Warren Burger was formed to plan nationwide events to mark this historical occas ion. The celebration is planned to go on for three years to commemorate the writing of the Constitution, the signing of the Consti tution, and the ratifying of the Constitution. The celebration Is as much a revival as tt Is celebration. Thdlptentions are to make us more aware of how fortunate we are as a country be cause of the wisdom of oar forefathers 200 years ago. The history behind the writing, signing, and ratify ing is a very intriguing story in itself. It seems that getting representatives from the 13 states was a major problem. Finally, it was decided that those states represented would draft the Constitution. However, representatives from some states felt that each state Ger«M should be sovereign. More over, smaller states like j Rhode Island felt they were powerless in the whole matter, so they withdrew. Finally a document was drafted, and through much debate It was signed and ratified. I doubt that these gentlemen knew at the time that they would be ratifying the greatest governmental document known to men. This weekend revived my consciousness to the sig nificance of the UJS. Con stitltion. It Is the corner WHB CHAR LOTTE post North Carolina’s Fastest Growing Weekly _376-1* “The People’s Newspaper" 108 Years Of Continuous Service BUI Johnson Publisher Emeritus '•eraid Johnson Bob Johnson Bernard Reeves I/Orrtta Manago Jackie Carr Fran Farrer-Bradle} Dannette Gaither Co-Publisher Co-Publisher Geu.Mgr. Mng. Editor Copy Editor ' Adv. Mgr. Office Mgr. Published Every Thursday by The Charlotte Post Publishing Company, lac. "llain Office: 1581 8. Camden Road Charlotte, N.C. 28203 Second Class Postage I.Paid at Charlotte Member, National Newspaper Publisher. Association North Carolina Black Publishers Association National Avertising Representative: Amalgamated Publishers, Inc f ' One Year " ] Subscription Rate One Year- $17.78 Payable In Advance IMPS No. SMtSS POSTMASTER Send Change of address to Charlotte Post 1*31 Camdsn Rd. Charlotte. N.C.282S3 Miller Says: Blacks Should Be Proud Of Non-African Heritage By Snerma N. Miller Special To The Post Black American History is often portrayed as a horror tale of the humiliation of slavery. Blacks’ culture has become wedded to Africa, yet few blacks today can claim pure African heritage. Should not Black Americans also be proud of their non African heritage? While living in Richmond, VA, I got an opportunity to feel the warmth of my non black ancestry. My paternal grandfather was a Native American Indian from near Catham, VA. His Indian heritage helped me form a very close friendship with an American Indian chap who felt we shared a common ancestry. My Initial Inclination was to give very little signifi cance to my heritage in our friendship. Yet this Indian chap would invite me to come to their Powwows to meet his family. This year I finally deckled to learn more about my grandfather’s heritage, so I attended the Nanticoke Indian Powwow in Oak Orchard. DB. * I Indian people with whom I had grown up » • • Y,r*! i * .V -■*& National Urban League ( ontlnued From Page 1A guidance; academic support, such as tutoring, parental and com munity Involvement; partnership* Business Women’s • •'* f V' f * 'JTT / .{Vf Group To Meet The regular monthly meeting *f the Mint Hill Business and Pro fessional Women's Organization will be held on Monday, October IS, at the Western Steer Family Steak House at 6001 Albemarle Rd Dinner Is at 6 p.m and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. between the school*, parents and the community; and black history and cultural programs. Mr. Jacob stated that 52 Urban league affiliates were already 'f involved In education Initiative activities and that some had already developed action plana with five-year time frames designed to Increase the number of black students In math and science courses and in college preparatory classes. He said that the Initiative is a long term program and .that, “we have no Illusions that a quick Ax can solve the crisis " stone of our democratic society. It lets freedom ring from sea to shining sea. •' u '#• • i’2': ‘ Imagine what could have developed if each state had remained sovereign. Each state would have its own power and it would be a answerable to no one. They would mint their own money. They would form their own military. Traveling to Vir ginia or South Carolina ‘ would be leaving your country if you were a North money could no longer be valid currency when you left North Carolina. You may not even be showed to leave North CarbMna. Just think of " how confined we would be. The very situation that the Constitution prevented from happening in the U.8. is pre valent in other parts of the world. Look at Africa. Israel, and some parts of Asia. Contiguous countries exist in disharmony. This \ could have easily been us. j Another significant point ' about the Constitution is that It was written to be flex . Ible. It provided an avenue to adapt the document to the current needs of society. With Its representative form of government amend .. ments can be added to fit the needs of society. The document was geared to limit the power of govern ment, rather than giving the government power. When the document was drafted we (us black folk) were oonsldtiitd three-fifths of a person. This obvious wrong In the Con stitution was corrected by nslng the Constitution. Its strength lies In is simplici ty .. It is a shame that such a great document is taken for granted. Schools are not pushing the significance of this document. Parents know even less than their kids. Our apathy towards government and nolHift iiir*iuii!the * «L*,rlnc,p,M inis aocumfm inrivw on