Septima Clark Had A Great Vision
now quicKiy we forget While
allying past Sam Johnson's car
dealership the other day. I
beard on the radio that Septima
Clark had died, it jolted me
but not for the reason you might
think. Without the work this
little old lady did many of our
i successful minority business
' BtlU be working for
j Driving Into the dealership. I
i got out and asked a salesman, a
ammg black man. If he'd heard
about her death. Septima
-Clark? Wasn't she the English
singer who recorded
"Downtown?" Well, she had a hit
- record all right—a long one. And
pit's still playing.
In America, the dog that barks
the loudest gets the biscuit Ask
somebody about Rap Brown. El
d ridge Cleaver or Angela Davis
and they never contuse them
with Peter. Paul and Mary. Sep
tlma Clark never barked as loud
as some. She gnawed at the
bone of social Injustice.
Like Miriam, the wise and pa
tient sister of Moses, she stood
at the side of Dr. Martin Luther
King during the turbulence of
the 1960's civil rights move
ment. While Rev. King stormed
the bastions of segregation,
SepUma Clark trained demon
strators In techniques of nonvi
olence. And registered voters
after teaching marry of them to
read, so they could know who
Main i
Street
■ ' *
by Jinuay Brock 1
was on the ballot.
What did she care? Well,
she was the daughter of par
ents who had been slaves. And
she was fired. In 1958, from a
position as a school teacher
after 27 yean. Just for bring
a member of the NAACP.
Septlma Clark had been there.
She knew that people of color
would never be safe in the sys
tem unless the system could be
changed.
ur. King Knew her value, both
to the movement and to posteri
ty. That's why he took her with
him to Stockholm, where he was
awarded The Nobel prize for
peace. He said it belonged to her
as much as to him. Jimmy Car
ter and a host of others would
come to know and honor the
quiet works of this amazing
woman.
- So what? Well, without the
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foundation laid by Ms. Clark. Dr.
King and others, many minority
entrepreneurs would not yet be
free to maximize their opportu
nities.
It has not been too long ago
that there were no black car
dealers In Charlotte, for in
stance. The publisher of this
newspaper Is a vice president
with one of our biggest banks.
Without the pioneer work of the
civil rights activists, he might
have had to remain in his origi
nal. and more traditional, field
education.
What most people call God.
the American Indians call Man
ltou. Tto have Faith, they say. is
to have a Vision. They call car
ing for fellow humans "hearing
the Song From the Earth." As a
Kiowa. I will pay Septlma Clark
our highest compliment. She
served Manltou.
Though she will not be with us
this Christmas, she gave us the
greatest gift of all. She advanced
freedom. And think what she
will receive at Christmas. Shell
see Jesus face-to-face. That is
the gift, gift she always wanted
most.
Say Amen, somebody.
^VieWs On ®
cDental Healtti
MICHAEL GIVENS, D.D.S.
THUMB-SUCKING SYNDROME
Does thumtuuddng lead to crook
ed teeth? Most experts donl think
occasional twnbeucking In Nancy
causes any protean wtth teeth.
But tore is a general agreement
among denists tat prolonged and
Intensive tuitoeuckfcg pest the
time the first permanent teeth erupt
•atagestot years of age-can lead
to rriaahapen mouthe and dsplaced
teeth.
Actualy, the position of tndvfduai
teeth displaced by thunb-suctdng Is
of teas concern to orthodontists tan
the effect on the bony support of the,
teeth • and the development of abnor-'
mal, deforming muscle activity. If, for
example, the habit persists past two 7
years, It could alter the child's swallow
Ing pattern. Once this happens, the
youngster may develop a protrusion of
the upper front teeth; a narrowness of
the war eternal arch; and an obvious
malocclusion (Improper bite) problem.
As long as frwre are Infants, frwre win
bethumbeucfcsrs. However,Nfrwhabit
confrnues longer frwn usual, It's best to
have the chfld checked by a dentist be
fore It causes any problems.
* * * •© 1987 CCS * * * *
Prepared as a public service to promote
better dental health. From the office of:
Michoel O. Givens DPS,
COMWiHtM$IV( CXNIAC C<»(
'021-G Newell-Hickory Grove Road
Charlotte. NC 28215
(704) 536-2299
Committee To Study Housing
Raleigh - Representatives
Anne Barnes of Orange County.
Pete Cunnlhgham of Mecklen
burg. Milton Finch of Wilson,
John Tart of Wayne and Betty
Wiser of Wake will help conduct
a study of housing discrimina
tion and the need for a separate
State Department dealing with
housing.
They have been appointed by
House Speaker Liston B. Ram
sey to the study to be conducted
by the Legislative Research
Commission.
me group will consider
whether the various State agen
cies with responsibilities for
housing programs should be
consolidated to form a North
Carolina Department of Hous
ing. It will also "study discrimi
nation In housing In North Car
olina. Including sexual
harassment In the rental of
housing, discrimination against
families with children, discrimi
nation against persons with
handicaps, and other areas of
unfair treatment In the sale or
rental of residential housing."
Representative Barnes, chair
man of the House Corrections
Committee, was selected as co
chairman of the study.
Want A Credit Card?
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Available to You in 30-60 Days!
To Redeve Applications
C ALL: 24 Hours A Day
__
Cunningham, a Charlotte car
dealer, represents a portion of
Mecklenburg County In the 59th
House District
Fitch, a Wilson attorney. Is
chairman of the House Commit
tee on Housing.
Tart, a resident of Route 1,
Goldsboro. Is president of John
ston Technical College.
Mrs. Wiser, a Raleigh busi
nesswoman, represents part of
Wake County In the 64th House
District.
20% to 50% off at
G and I Enterprise
■ ■■ ' ■ ■ .
We Have The Best Buys In Town!
Music Boxes Stuffed Animals
Children s Books QChristmas Decorations
_ And Much More!
Come in today and register for the $250.00 Toy Give-Away.
No purchase Necessary! Winner to be Announced Sat., Pec. 19th
• Free Gift With Every Purchase
Come By Today
.4620 A SOUTH BLVD.
[Behind Frame Warehouse
CALL
522-7308
LOSE WEIGHT!
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PROCRASTINATE^
NO MORE!!
CALL
(704) 598-6214
For: Joe Land
Subliminal Tapes!
No Diets, No Pills!
_No Instructors!_
f HichQlogy gflmfiil
Mr. Charles, RE
lr>?> *«’ Stfsj"; ^ *
> ■** - yw*4 > -'
QUESTION? Ah! Christmas
With all of Its fanfare, what
style should I Wear?
ANSWER: Upsweeps, waves,
French rolls, twist braids, Lots
ot ponsn with a own n€anny
took; More of the Spanish end
French tailored high fashion
dok aesignea ror canaw iignT.
Merry Christmas!
Tht House of Charles
***•" 0OU eon* enough,
LTto Look Your Very Beef .
Wfrt (Zfjavlotte st
- . ... • - . ^
k • j4) 1 * . *
and
* •; ••* t
WestFest, Inc.
Will Sponsor The First Annual
-■^4 1.£>A_
■■■!■■■■ —■ ■»■■■ .HI.— M. HI ■ .LI ■■ ■■■ ■ ■■■■■■■■ ■ — ‘
Martin Luther King People's Celebration
ri January 18,1988
4 '-OuAry >|HLT’‘ar ■ ™
From 11-2 p.m.
For more information on how you and your organization can participate,
Call
Sam Young
.35 v
336-6860
I T*ffT ^Kn iViil i ^1*1 111 Wii & ■— V .^Ki TZjf , ~ /<*■ ^ 4 r ■ ^ ><•* •! '