«*« Clavlotto Dost BUI Johnson. Publisher Emeritus j&seaevst _ PubUihad Ercry Thqwdpy Jesse Jackson's Realism In our editorial, "On Writing And Writ ers," last week we ooneluded by commenting on how white journalists want to make Jesse Jackson the real "Invisible Man." Ralph El lison began his olassic autobiographic-novel by the same name with these very revealing words, "I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me...When they approach mo they only see my surroundings, thompelvss, or figments of their imagination - indeed, everything and anything except me." Now, 34 years after the publication of "The Invisible Main," 84 years after the Martin Lu ther King led March on Washington and a few lesser years after the passage of signifi cant civil rights legislation, black Ameri cans continue to be "invisible" to a nation that ignores their needs, to a national gov ernment that still perpetuates policies that re sult in poverty and to a news media that vas solates between neglecting and stereotyping them. Jesse Jackson is the latest nationally prominent black personality to be given the "invisible man" treatment. A case in point, as journalists who have tried to ignore Jack son, to make him invisible as o serious polit ieal candidate. Thia caused The Charlotte Observer's Jerry Shinn to say candidly, "If Jssse Jackson were white, all the media fb eue would have turned to him when Gary Hart dropped out." Furthermore, more is written about why Jackson is ignored than about what he has to say. Ironically, Jackson's treatment by the ma jority of the nation's media reflects the real ism of a vital point in his message to Ameri ca. Jackson states forcefully in his book, Straight From The Heart, that the crucial American experience was not the Revolution, or the Constitution or the New Deal, rather it was slavery with all of its evils. Thus, Jack son asserts, the crucial test of our current val ues and policies lies in dealing with the heri tage of slavery - discrimination and racism • neither of which are limited to black people. We had hoped to comment farther on Jack son's Straight From The Heart view this week, however, the book, produced by a small publisher, is temporarily out of print. When available we'll Bay more about Jesse Jackson because his views will have a significant im pact upon the next President, no matter who he my be. Two Ups-One Down Last week's Post page one stories reflected the general way that the nation treats its mi nority citizens; that is, for every two steps of forward progress, one and sometimes two or three steps backward occur. District 3 City Council member Ron Loop Sr's announcement that he will seek one of the four at-large Council seats this November U to be applauded as a progressive step for ward* He said that he decided to ran at-large because the time was right for himTln specif not run. Five terms is mo^e than enough time to serve in one office. I now believe I have the ; responsibility to allow others the opportunity : that has been afforded me." Mr. ZAoper's decision was timely and a : breath of fresh air that should still si me crit ; ios of £10 district system. Such critics, be they ; justified or not, have alleged that district ; seats or "safo seats," as some have called ! them, tend to become the monopoly of a single * candidate for an indefinite number of years » as fow offor to challenge the incumbents. * In the pass of predominantly black dis tricts, the potential for criticism is even greater because of the general reluctance of one black candidate to oppose another. It is past time for the black electorate to rise above this kind of now stalemated politics to on courage more black people to seek public of fice. We wish Mr. Leepcr well because he has served us well in five two-year terms that has benefited not just District 3 but all areas of the city. In another progressive step forward, the Stepping Stone Housing Program was an nounced. This unique program Is designed to turn public housing tenants into homoown trs within a flv# to seven year period. Families seleeted for occupancy of one of the two 60 unit apartment complexes will pay rents under the Housing Authority's normal policy with one mqjor exception. This is, there will be no rental increase as such but families will be expected to make monthly payments to an escrow account The payment amounts will be increased yearly to assure that the tenant will have accumulated approx imately $8,700 for a down payment and relat \sd dosing costs in the purchase of a new ; 1 ore will receive similar opportunities and likewise an equal nuinber of new public < housing rental units will become available. This also means an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty with new outlooks and now hope for many families. ■» ■ • o* .1 '* v’ i * ' .* • i ■ On a sad note, meaning one stop backward, we witnessed the Republican dominated Board of Oounty Oommissionsrs giving themselves a healthy raise in pay while vot In* to eliminate the Minority Affairs Office. While ws don't view this vote by the Com missioners as radally motivated, ws do con sider their action irrational as has been a number of other rsoont decisions. The Com missioners' reason for eliminating the Mi nority Affairs Office was that the Office was duplicating servloes provided by the Commu nity Relations Committee and other County supported community servloes. If this is true, ws have to ask why the Minority Affairs Of floe was ever established or why it had not been abolished before now? Is there any wonder that the Post's headline road, "Blacks Ask What's Coming Down Next?" T*$ SAVS TMAT ONft 6POUP MAWS UP A MA30P»TY OP WHFApfc ptapiuns \ J and 25 rteanT ywicft Gflouf Of TVE* UVf IV Of LOAftBS PrvtfiTY 15 TV AT? v # ■WSV'fife 0€*awdin6... mVBe OlffvOlNT... CHiiDC™ Tp wmaab a | wrrH AT LE*»r 4 T?BAPy T