Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 17, 1987, edition 1 / Page 7
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Black Women's Is Alive And Growing the medla talks about tne "women’s movement, what movement, especially as repre sented by organizations such as the National Organization for Women. But there Is « whole purer women's movement that Is diverse, very alive and growing, snd In touch with those It repre tents - that la the Black wom en's movement 'Black women have been left Wt Ignored, excluded, from the political system. The two-party system that controls public pol icy 111 this country serves the In terests of white, corporate, male America. When we have tried to work in the system, we have bfcsn used either as tokens, de nted any power — or have been shoved behind the scenes, where we can do all the work without getting any recognition whatsoever. Organizations for the empow erment of Black women are, be cause of the experience of Black rM 1 women in this country, based on * fundamental commitment to inclusion, of fairness - because we have never received It In this racist and sexist society. Let me give you an example. The National Political Con Black Women, founded In 1984 by Shirley Chisholm. **• a response to the series of insults meted out to the Black community in general and Black women particularly by the Dem ocratic Party throughout the course of the 1984 campaign of Rev. Jesse Jackson for Presi dent. The Democrats were deter mined to make clear that, al though Jackson had registered tens of thousands of new voters into the Democratic Party, and although Blacks — especially Black women — have consis tently been the party’s most loy al constituency, we would get nothing - not the changes In the discriminatory party rules that Jackson had fought for, nor any other acknowledgement or con cession. What small gesture the Demo cratic Party did make was to the establishment - (read white) - women s movement. NOW had made no contribution to the Democratic Party in 1984 — ex cept one. It refused to endorse the only pro-woman candidate m the race. Jesse Jackson, who happened to be Black, for that. Presidential candidate Walter Mondale rewarded It with the nomination of New York City Congresswoman Geraldine Fer^ raro for Vice President. True to Its lily-white traditions. NOW never even suggested that the nomination should go to a Black woman. So Shirley Chisholm de cided that Black women needed our own political organization and the NPCBW was bom. In talking to Black women around the country I see a hun ger for outspoken, militant, pro gressive Black leaders who will stand up to the political estab lishment in ways that are not exclusionary, that don't keep other people out. but that don't rfty - Lenora Fulanl m ▼ ♦ . BLACK EMPOWERMENT compromise who we are. I want to rnfAglon a few of these lead ers here. They include Shirley Chi sholmjwhb In 1968 became the llrst Black Congresswoman and in 1972 became the first Black woman to seek the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party: Barbara Lett Simmons, another founding member of the NPCBW, a leader in education and a militant advocate for statehood for the District of Co lumbia; Dorothy Height, presi dent of the National Council of Negro Women; Dr. Cloria Toote and Ona Weldon, respectively, the presidents of the New York City and Philadelphia chapters of the NPCBW; Marian Butcher, former executive director of the Alaska American Civil Liberties Union, now In the midst of a fight with the civil rights organi zation she helped to build; Ozell Dean, founder of Top Ladles of Distinction, the national organi zation concerned with senior citizens, youth, the status of women and the environment; and Edith Asklns. long-time South Carolina political acti vist. These Black women, and many, many more — middle class and working class, young and old. Republican. Democrat and Independent - have opened their organizations up to me to speak on the Issues that I have become a spokesperson for. the Issues of concern to Black peo ple. to poor people and to the dlsempowered. I speak to them about building a new Indepen dent movement In this country based on the majoritarian val ues of peace, decent Jobs and health care, an end to racism and sexism and homophobia. And they say. 'Teach, sister, teach." These are women who have taken risks. They know about working hard. They know what It is like to have people walk all over you and and around you and through you. And they know how to fight, not only for them selves. but for all our people. Dr. Lenora Fulanl is an Execu tive Board member of the New Alliance Party and director of Community Clinics of the Insti tute for Social Therapy and Re search. She can be contacted at the New Alliance Party. 2032 Fifth Ave., New York. NY 10025. *1. . ,• WE'fte not AGAINST THE HOMELESS SHELTER—in awS^x,e «« "HIM i— 's— -v 'OpTDWP LVVE (f OR L&^ve rr. ■ cuec^ jVoting For Change In Keysville, Ga. American citizen* plantation ays _ In their town running water. Blacks -Most whites have a sew age system; Blacks don't And [Jnost Blacks are dependent on |}he whites who control the town | for their livelihood. II Now the African American ^community of Keysvllle has or ganized to change all that. On '•January 4. 1988 the town will 'bold an election. It will also be |the first local election In Keys ;.vl]le in 55 years. It will also be ithe first local election in which African Americans of this town bave ever voted. The power rela tionship of the town could thus be changed forever. I It all started back In 1985 {when the home of the Streetman •family caught on fire. As mem bers of the African American {community frantically tried to •put out the fire, they also called Jthree county fire departments. {The first department for their ♦county was 20 miles sway. The .other two, though closer, re fused. saying Keysvllle was not •in their Jurisdiction. The Street jman home burned to the ground ♦while the Black community Swatched, helplessly. J That's when the African Amer ican residents formed the Con Icemed Citizens of Keysvllle. {spearheaded by Mrs. Emma •Gresham, a retired teacher. At loomni unity meeting* the group talked about their situation; about the outhouses and the lack of Indoor plumbing: about having to haul water from their -A churches, from those few Afri can American residents with wells, or from the creek because the African American communi ty had no water supply. They talked about going 18 miles to the nearest clinic because there was no doctor In Keysvllle, and about sending their children al most 20 miles each way, every day. because the African Ameri can school was closed down af ter school desegregation. They also talked about the white-owned nursing home which ran Its sewage — Includ ing the waste from Its patients — Into an open ditch and through the African American communi ty They also talked about the economic and political stran ild which the Marshall . the owners of that nurs ing home, had on the town. And about the changes the. African American community could af fect If that nursing home weren't the only game In town and. thus, able to get away with paying barely minimum wages. Some even recalled how old Mr. Mar shall. the white patriarch of the town, used to say he was the mayor of the town, even though no election had been held since 1033. ; Administration of the town had been turned over to the county during the Depression. Now African Americans, who are 80% of KeysvUle’s population, want it back. With the help of Herman Lodge, the county com missioner and Rep. Tyrone Brooks, their state representa tive — both African American — they began to reactivate the town government. Now Mrs. Gresham Is running for mayor. She articulates her platform like a practiced politi cian: "a government for all the people... a water and sewage system that the poor and elderly can afford ...new Jobs,an A-l city.' Mrs. ^Gresham. Mrs. Turetna Neely, who Is Keysvllle's African American Superintendent of Elections, and others active In the struggle face heavy opposi tion, however. The Marshalls and other local whites haven't paid local taxes In 54 years and they dbn't want to start now. The Marshalls are even said to have threatened their African American employees with dis missal If they support the move toward self-government. Then, too. many white residents won der why the Black folks want to change things: after all. If they need anything, all they need to do Is ask. Gayle Korotkln of the Christie Institute, a public Interest law firm which has provided Invalu able legal assistance, said It best: "Rights without power Is meaningless. This election would mian real political power for the Black community." Letters To The Post Black Parents Need Child Care Aid r'vr» Jn_ Dear Editor: Black people have been at the forefront In the struggle for civil rights and economic op portunity In this country. As part of our ongoing struggle for equality, we need to turn our at tention to a very pressing prob lem being faced by many of us nationwide. It Is a problem that has the potential to significant ly retard the gains we have struggled so hard and so long to make. Tills problem Is the grow ing need for child care assis tance. According to the Children's Defense Fund, for Black families with children, wives' contribu tions to family Income In creased from 19.4 percent In 1967 to 30 percent In 1985. while the average Income of two parent families with children dropped 3.1 percent between 1973 and 1984. The decrease would have been more than three times greater had mothers not Increased their parttctpa economic recessions and the In flation of the 1970's. But the di rect result has been removal of the previously reliable network of relatives and neighbors that parents depended on to care for pre-school and early school age children. Likewise, continued federal cutbacks have eviscerat ed much of the child care that had been available for low In come families. It is becoming increasingly evident that many Blacks and other minorities must work In order to either rise out of poverty, or to keep from slipping Into It. The Council on Economic Pri orities found that across the country, businesses and local governments are merging funds and resources to address this societal crisis. Though only 3.000 out of six million U.S. em ployers have undertaken child care Initiatives, many of these pioneering efforts now provide models for successful programs and help Illustrate the range of approaches that are available. They Include: on- and ofT-slte day care, resource and referral services to help parents find quality care near their home. fit plans that allow parents to pay on a pre-tax basis for either child or dependent care. Howev er, companies cannot and should not be expected to shoul der the full burden of addressing the child care dilemma. Child welfare themes are likely to assume center stage In the upcoming presidential race. Of particular Importance to Blacks and other minorities In the en suing competition as to which party really speaks for family. Is that the needs of the children and parents be served. A comprehensive child care bill Introduced before Congress November 19 (House: HR3660. Senate: S1885) would make child care more affordable for low and moderate Income fami lies, and increase the accessi bility of quality child care for all families. We should use letters, phone calls and all means at our disposal to make sure the Act for Better Child Care receives both the candidates' and the country's critical attenUon. Alexia D. Watts. Research Assistant Council on Economic Priorities NOTE- 1 newsletter on corporate child care Initiatives should send a self-addressed, stamped enve lope to Child Care. CEP. 30 Irv ing Place, New York. NY 10003 or call our toll-free number. 1 -800 U CAN HELP. Facts About Sickle Cell Sudden Deaths Dear Editor: I wish to comment on a recent study linking sickle cell trait to an unusually high risk of sudden death in Black recruits during basic military training. The study was an examination of unexplained sudden deaths among recruits during basic military training between 1977 and J982. The study found 12 suddep. deaths in 37,300 Black recruits with sickle cell trait. 5 unexplained sudden deaths among Slack recruits who did not have sickle cell trait, and 11 unexplained sudden deaths among 1.6 million recruits who were not Black. The investiga tors concluded that the risk of unexplained sudden death was 28 times higher for Black re cruits with sickle cell trait, that for other Black recruits, and 40 times higher than for all other recruits. For two reasons this study should not be interpreted to mean that individuals with sickle cell trait in civilian life are at a similar risk/ Firstly, there are aspects of military basic training that recruits undergo that are quite different from cir cumstances that Individuals en counter in civilian life. These in clude rapid conditioning of poorly developed muscles, se vere exposure to conditions that cause heat stress and loss of water from the body during exer tion. and frequent and pro longed exertion. Secondly, in the military there is no evidence that after basic training the risk of sudden death is greater for in dividuals with sickle cell trait. Therefore there is no need for civilians with sickle cell trait to take precautions during exer cise that are different from what is recommended for the general public. Everyone - whether they have sickle cell trait or no - should take adequate fluids when exercising, and should rest at reasonable Intervals. Also everyone should be sure that the extent to which they ex ercise is In keeping with their physical fitness. Since persons with sickle cell trait are not at greater risk for "sudden" death In civilian life there would be absolutely no Justification for Individuals with sickle cell trait to be disqualified for Jobs or to be required to pay special insurance premiums. If you are aware that either Is oc curring please report this to our national office (800) 421-8453. We want to remind the readers that sickle cell trait is not a dis ease. In some individuals the red blood cells can be changed from a round to a sickle shape. Individuals who inherit this ten dency from one parent have sickle cell trait. Persons with sickle cell trait do not have sickle cell in the blood stream under usual living conditions and do not have a disease. In some individuals with sickle cell trait, sickling In the blood stream may occur under condi tions which severely decrease the amount of oxygen In their red blood cells such as high alti tudes (10.000 feet) and extreme exertion. About 8% of the Black American population have sickle cell trait. By contrast In dlviduals who have Inherited this tendency from both parents have sickle cell anemia, they al ways have sickle cells in their bkx>d stream and they do have a disease. Sickle cell anemia Is present In about 0.2% of the Black American population. Charles F. Whitten. M.D.. President. National Assocla tlon for Sickle Cell Disease, Inc. lake Buy Freedom Campaign To The Movies, Share In The Profits munity hands. This allows me to not only break Into the movie business, but to Implement my Buy freedom philosophy of turning our mon ey over with one another more than once. Even when looked at purely from an economic posi tion. It makes good sense. My community buys over half of the tickets to movies each year. This year, we epent $2.1 bUbon of the M.S-bihlon. When my people get Inside the thea ters. we are much heavier con sumers of the popcorn colas, hot dogs. etc. Would you believe that we eat and drink another $2.1-billion? And on Monday night, the slowest night of the week for movie houses, my peo ple an the only ones who faith fully show up. Obviously, we are experts at consuming movies. With Just a little effort, we can also learn to profit from our consumption. As a producer. I cant make it in the movie business without my peo ple. But I can't make it with them In the shape they're in. ei ther. So here's my deal. I've got a $2-million movie called "The White Girl," a love story about the dangers of drug addiction and racial anxiety. The plot Is rooted in truth. It re volves around a Black college student (or "incognergro," as the Black Student Union president In the movie calls her) who pre ferred white dolls when she was little and prefers White people now that she's a big girl. Add a cocaine problem to that one and you’ve got Kim Barnes. I hired about 100 people to make the movie; 80 percent of them were from my communt ty.are not only people from my community, but people who are loyal to my community, all of whom are very talented, but usu ally very unemployed. Here's Tony Brown's I Commentiir1 I where you come in. We want you to consume "The White Ctrl" the same way you • consume the trivia that Holly wood serves up. But we also want you to share from the mil lions of dollars you will spend. In 100 cities, we will rent a the ater and bring The White Otrl." You sponsor a night as a fund raiser premiere and sell the tickets. Your group makes a fi nancial guarantee and meets our criteria for being able to sell an agreed upon number of tick ets at an agreed upon price schedule. There are no profit guarantees. What you earn de pends on how hard (and how smart) you work It Is not easy, but anything will work If you wllll And you wlH have approximately five months to pull It off. You can write me for details at Tony Breton Produc tions. Inc.. 1801 Broadway. Suite 2014. New Yo<k NY 10096. Self respect to based on self reliance. Members of other groups hire people from their community to work on thetr mo vie* - creating themselves as Superman. Jesus. Cleopatra, etc. Black people are presented as updated derides (the comics) and fist mammies. Ingratiating themselves to a superior race. That's why two-thirde of Black children In a study this year pie ferred White dolls over Black dolls. Our movie Is a breakthrough because we provide economic opportunities for Blacks in the motion picture Industry and Im prove our image while address ing the significant problems of drug abuse. Dr. Ralph T. Grant, Jr., a Ne wark. N. J. city coucliman. Is In terested In sponsoring a benefit premiere because his group shares that dual objective: "Fathers Against Drugs serves a twofold purpose. We are prlmar lly committed to fighting against drugs. However, we are also fighting the stereotype America has given Black fathers." We can turn our money over with each other from 5 to 12 times -the way other ethnic groups do. We can present our selves truthfully and honestly. And we can teach our precious babies that Black dolls are just as beautiful as White dolls.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 17, 1987, edition 1
7
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