Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / July 23, 1987, edition 1 / Page 2
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Charlotte 10os Bill Johnson, PubBsher Emeritus Gsrald Johnson, Publisher Bob Johnson, Co-PuMMM Jalyns Strong, Managing Editor Jackls Carr, Production Mj Dannstts Galthar, Offlcs Manager Fran Farrar-Bradiay, Advr PubiMhad EtwyTtwadiy Seawright’s Victory Means.... : Who is Toni Seawright? Answer, and sur prisingly, the first Black Miss Mississippi. Toni, a 22-year old beautiful and talented na tive of Moss Point is a 1987 music mqjor graduate of Mississippi University for Wom en. With a positive I can do attitude, Ms. :Seawright says, "I plan on winning. I know that it takes a lot of intense training but I am ready for it." In her first-ever beauty queen contest, Toni won over a field of 36 other contestants. Con sistent with her positive approach, the new Miss Mississippi is expected to perform her winning rendition of "I’m Going All the Way" at the Miss America pageant on Sep tember 19 in Atlantic City, Jew Jersey. Upon Ms. Seawright's selection, USA TO DAY said the obvious, "Black Miss America contestants from the South are as rare as -black pageant winners." This statement is of -course in reference to the one black Miss America Pageant winner Vanessa Wil liams in 1984 in the entire history of the pa geant. Toni is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nor man and Annie Seawright and is the young est of the eight children in the family. For those of us knowledgeable and aware of our nation’s struggles to overcome racism and the hard fought civil rights gains of the 1960s, we must recognize that with all the fri volity and somewhat triviolities of beauty pa geants, Ms. Seawright's victory represents a historic milestone. Why? Because any crack of shattering of the traditionally ideal ized white Southern Bella culture means for many white people, both north and south, in trusion into the lingering socially segregat ed lifestyles of our nation. Such segregation becomes all the more important because ' many business and economic decisions af fecting the jobs and welfare of many people were and are made in such social settings - private clubs and dinner parties. Toni Seaw right's victory may be at least a symbolic be ginning of the end of such social separation of the races. f A 'Dangerous Trend" ' __ Three years ago, the IBM Corporation pro vided $900,000 in equipment to establish and * operate the local Urban League's Job Train '■ »nK Center. In addition, the firm loaned two staff people for a full three-year period to serve as director and teacher. Dan Bowen, vice president of programs for the Urban - League,said that 85% graduation rate of 134 students and job placement of 114 out of 169 students enrolled in ten classes late 1984. Furthermore, IBM officials state that they • have been involved with a half dozen other lo cal businesses two years ago in developing a management training program for over 3Q0 Charlotte-Mecklenburg principals and other administrators. While all of the corporate training sounds very noble, it is indicative «t least in part of a "dangerous trend", says U. S. Secretary of Labor William Brock. He added, "Millions of workers are prevented from getting jobs or moving to better jobs by. their lasJt Qfhasic competency in reading, writing and speaking English, by their poor math skills and by their lack of reasoning and problem-solving skills.’ Brock's words are strongly supported by a recent New York article that says his torically the nation’s corporations "considered it the role of educators to teach young Americans the three "R’s" and to pre pare them generally for life and for work." However, these firms have now come to real ize that 'basic education has become their business, too." Consistent with Mr. Brock's statement, the corporations claim that they have a difficult time locating employees with high school diplomas with the basic entry level job skills. For example, and this is just one of many, the New York report states that this year the New York Telephone Company found that 84% of its applicants ■ , _Ik • ' ! A failed its entry-level exams. These efforts by the corporate community to do what public education should be doing from the University down to the secondary school level, but especially the latter, should not be surprisingly given the status of Ameri can public education. For example, here in North Carolina we can see a mirror image of the nation. In the state legislature, Republi cans and democrats alike, from Governor Jim Martin to Lt. Governor Bob Jordan — there is more a political show of force over the source of school funds than the cost efficient merit of such sources. Locally, Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board member and the County Commissioners are at odds over school construction plans, if aiiy, and related issues, fn addition, questions have been raised about the credibility of student indi vidual scores on the California Achievement Test (CAT), and the continuing controver sies over the teacher development program, school-based health clinics and whether black students are receiving equal educa tional encouragement and recognition. Add to all of this, the apparent assumption that the public schools should assume more and more of the responsibility of the home and family-breakfast, meals and a wide host of social matter, in addition to the health clinics-is there any wonder that the public schools are not adequately preparing young people for entry-level jobs and life^after school generally? This kind of chaos in pub lic education will continue until more par ents assume their rightful responsibilities ■ and then demand that the elected officials, both at the state and local level, begin to act more responsibly to the basic needs of our youth. The survival of public education de mands such a move. , Welcome Habitat For Humanity irm weekend will begin the 5-day Habitat for Humanity 14-house building project headed up by the Jimmy Carter Work Camp of 300 volunteers plus hundreds of local vol unteers including the low income families who will purchase and occupy the 14 homes. We wish for Habitat President Julia Maul den and the host group much success in this bold venture to provide home ownership op portunities for 14 additional low income fam ilies. It is gratifying to know that while the Reagan Administration continues to dis mantle federal housing programs that there are people still committed to helping those in real need. ?<HAN« ^E^*' .J ' \ 'k\\- >f"V '£' I_ j . nmt a nMIJ iMJAJ fypiii/iiAipH ^riwvw«^,KVvlvNvr &4PA i K Al Ata if] v i nM rtf r m- bauoon www ■ normal P0KAKI5 wtake JtPHWr wrer^jgg 42?W»« c«sn<*iwH»*»r«Mruf QMmpemrxMrs*). T-. _ ' . » f, • ' Bell South * • ' ' "'J:,V * • : <• ^ \ «<, •• . ^ t '^’N; © -* * i^.%* /• v / An Investment In The Black Community Lewis H. Latimer (1848-1928) an engineer, scientist, and inventor, patented the first incandescent elec tric lamp with carboa filament Lat imer also made the drawings far the first telephone for Alexander Gra ham Bell, and was the first chief draftsman for General Electric and Westinghouae. He, Also, wrote the first textbook on the lighting sys tem used by the Edison company. Granville T. Woods (1856-1910), inventor, developed an egg incuba tor, a system of telegraphing from moving trains, and improvement in electric railways rfnd the phono graph. General Electric and Bell Telephone purchased many of his inventions, and he marketed many others through his own company. Frederick M. Jones (1893-1961), was responsible for inventing sound on motion pictures. Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), an astronomer, surveyor, inventor, and mathematician, made a clock that struck on die hour. He was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson to develop the blueprints for our Nation's Capitol, Washington, D. C. Banneker published annual alma nacs in 1791. He was one of the first Americans to write a learned dissertation on bees. _ / -• • . a-- ■'s- t' ■» « ■ *- ■ ;» ■ Elijah McCoy (1843-1929), in ventor was granted over 72 patents in his lifetime, most of which relat ed to lubricating appliances for en gines. He was a pioneer in the art of steadily supplying oil to machin ery from a cup which eliminated the need for constant lubrication stops. His inventions are still prevalent in toddy's machinery. He was so good that the term 'real McCoy' came from his inventions. Katherine Johnson (1918- ), mathematician, physicist, and Aero space scientist pioneered space navi gation. Her published works are still used in today's aerospace tech E$' . with Gsrald Johnson i ** I As i See it | nology. All of these great men and wom en have several things in common. They all made major contributions to our country. Their works and achievements have afforded us a lot of the comforts we experience to day. Regrettably, all of them were left out of our history books. Our school systems have neglected teaching our children about the ' great deeds of individuals like these. All of them are Black. The Bell South Corporation, par ent company of Southern Bell and South Central Bell, has undertaken a unique andaiirfegressive advertis ing campaign aimed at educating the Black youth about the contribu tions ofBlack Americans. ' Bell South's campaign emphasiz es the need for educating our youth in science and technology because our world is rapidly being con trolled by technological innova tions. By using Black role models of the past. Bell South hopes that the community will be influenced to direct our youth into taking more of an interest in science and tech nology. The pilot program is being run in Charlotte. N. C., Columbia, S. C., Jackson, Miss,, Tuskagee, Ala., Birmingham, Ala., Jacksonville, Fla., Nashville, Tenn., Louisville, Ky., Atlanta, Ga., New Orleans, la. The promotional radio announce ments can be heard locally on WPEG. For a major corporation to make such an investment in the Black community is indeed inspirational. It is also smart This promotional campaign can be mutually beneficial for everyone involved. The dollars Bell South is pouring into the Black community to promote this campaign helps Black businesses. If the campaign stirs enough community interest to push our ldds into high technology education, then BeU South has a fu ture pool of human resources to draw employees from. Our youth wiU be building a fu ture for themselves that we all can be proud of. The country is utilizing untapped resources that otherwise could end up on some form of entitlement program. My hat goes off to the BeU South Corporation for taking a bold step in the right direction to help our community help itself. It now be comes our responsibility to guarim | tee that BeU South's investment pays dividends. We must begin to use our history to show our children what contribu tions were made by Black Ameri cans. Then help them see that they to can help shape and mold this country's future as well as their own through continued education. Hopefully, the country's history books wUl do a better job of docu menting their successes. In doing all of this, we should not forget to call or write Southern BeU and let them know that their efforts are greatly appreciated. I •hope more businesses wiU be in fluenced by the positive initiative shown by the BeU South Corpora tion. Elections Have Strategic Importance Political pundits often bounce around the adage, "Close only count* in horaosltoea". It is a moti vator for their candidates. Yet, po litical strategists know that to maintain long-term national and statewide power or to circumvent an entrenched political party, the above adage is merely poppycock. A couple of notable examples of the long-term importance of cloee losing campaigns can be seen in Ronald Reagan's first Presidential bid and Bob Casey’s (Democrat) gubernatorial campaigns. Presi dent Reagan's battle for the Re publican nomination against For mer President Gerald Ford evolved into a landslide victory against former President Jimmy Carter. Pennsylvania Governor Boh Casey mads several unsuc cessful tries before finally landing the Governor's office. Thus, we ought to surmise the strategic importance of the 1987 and 1988 elections. Let me do this by examining the Philadelphia, PA mayors race which pits Mayor Wilson Goode, a popular black Democrat, against Former Mayor Frank Rixio, Democrat turned Re publican. Although Goode should win, he will hand the Republican Party a long-term strategic boon, namely, many Americans cities are pres ently Democratic Party strong holde, but white city dwellers, un like black Americans, no longer hold Wind loyalty to the Demo crat*. This kink in the Democratic fop tye armor offers an opportunity for Republicans to establish a beachhead in many Urban White communities. The recent bitter Chicago Mayoral race resulted in the defection of a powerful Demo cratic boas to the Republican Par ty. Ihla chap has no doubt taken a large faction of the Cook County, Rlinoie Democrats with Mm. Ritio got many Philadelphia Democrats to change their regis tration to Republican to vote for him in a highly visible Republican primary. Clearly these Republi eana (Soft Democrats) represent a significant tactical victory for the Republican Party. Do these now Republicans (8oft Democrats) hold blind allegiance to any Party? Earl M. Baker, Chairman of The Pennsylvania Republican Com mittea, partially corroborates my supposition. I asked him if Frank Risso will break the Democratic hold on Philadelphia. "I think It to very possible,'' says Baker. "... I think that Frank will appeal across a wide front." the Democrat stranglehold on the Cities. 1 do not see it everywhere but I certainly see it in Philadelphia." Although Baker says he did not see a nationwide effort underway by the Republican Party to break the Democratic stranglehold in the cities, the Rizzo campaign: in the Philadelphia race can pass for a pi lot program. The Republican Party appears to have two key long range objec tives. First, break the Democratic hold on larga voter blocks in States with large Presidential Electoral votes to prevent the lose of The White House in a does election, second, gain parity in governor ship# and control of Bute Houses and local offices by 1990 so as to negotiate re-apportionment plane after the 1990 Census from the dominant Party position. Baker, however, made it dear that Pennsylvania's Republican Party is not concsding Philadel phia's hugh black vote to Mayor Goode. We are not writing off any group," he declared. "...You might ! consider Prank Rizzo to be an in flammatory figure. I think ha ia a human figure and 1 think he has a lot of support amongst the Mack community." I challenged Baker total) wheth er he thinks the Republican will gain whether Prank Rizlo wins or loess? "Yes! Yes, I db!" replied Baker. "I think we will convert many Democrats to become Republi cans. I think we will attract many Democrats to vote Republican..." Baker was encouraged to tell if dmilar strategies were in opera tion across the country to break up
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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July 23, 1987, edition 1
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