L_. . /Ak::
Charlotte Welcomes
AAU Basketball
Tournament Teams
Professional Women: 80*s Trailblazers
Lifestyles/ Page IB
Blacks Increase Interest In The Arts
Entertainment/ Page 1C
Clje C()arlotte
“The Voice Of The Block Community'
Volume 13, Number 44
Thursday, March 31, 1988
Price: 50 Cents
Jesse Jackson Is
The Frontrunner
One Week After Michigan A New World Has Dawned
Photo by CALVIN FEROUSON
Jackson currently holds the largest total number of delegates in
the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination.
BY DONNA CASSATA
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jesse
Jackson's win In Michigan has
sent a message to the Democrat
ic Party that It can no longer Ig
nore — at the rate he's going,
Jackson Just might wind up as
Its presidential nominee this
faU.
Political analysts say Jack
son's almost 2-1 victory over
erstwhile front-runner Michael
Dukakis In Saturday's Michigan
caucuses Is a clear signal that
the preacher-turned-polltlclan
is a very viable contender for the
nomination.
Jackson, treated as an also-ran
in 1984, has won In eight states
so far this year — Michigan, Al
abama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mis
sissippi, Virginia, South Caroli
na, Alaska — and in Puerto
Rico's non-binding contest.
The string of victories is forc
ing the party to re-examine the
theory that a black cannot be
nominated for president in
1988.
'The Democratic voters are
sending a very strong message to
the party," said Ann Lewis, a
Democratic strategist and infor
mal adviser to the Jackson cam
paign. 'The quality of leader
ship Is something they like and
admire. This Is a referendum on
him and a referendum he's win
ning."
The campaign-watchers also
See JACKSON on page 2A
PAC To Raise Money For Jackson
By Jalyne Strong
Post Editor
The 21st Century PAC recently
announced Its effort to raise
$4000 In three weeks for the
Jesse Jackson for President
Campaign. These efforts will
take place simultaneously In
five states: California, Illinois,
Washington, New York and
North Carolina.
Norma Smith, spokesperson
for 21st Century PAC, said,
"Jesse Jackson has mounted a
historic campaign. I feel It Is Im
perative that all Americans dig
deep In their pockets and con
tribute to this historic under
taking."
Vernon Robinson, chairperson
of 21st Century PAC for North
Carolina, said, 'This drive will
target large contributors: those
individuals who have already
given the maximum contribu
tion which Is $1000 or those
who have given Uie maximum to
Voters
Deadline
April 4
Registration deadline for the
May 3 State & Local Primaries
and School Board Election Is
Monday. April 4, 1988. Any
change of address, change of
name or change of party can be
done at any branch of the Public
Library. Mechanics and Farm
ers Bank, Town Halls In Mat-
tlAews and PlnevUle or the Elec
tions Office at 741 Kenilworth ,
Avenue.
Of special Interest Is the new
law In North Carolina that al
lows a political party to permit
uaaflUIated voters to vote In a
party primary. The Republican
Party has chosen to exercise
this option and unafflUated vot
ers will be permitted to vote In
the Republican primary on May
3,1988.
Absentee Ballots are available
for qualified voters by mall
through Tuesday. April 26. 1988.
Qualified voters may apply for
an absentee ballot and vote In
the. Elections Office beginning
Tuesday, April 5 and ending Fri
day. >Vprll 29, 1988 at 5:00 PM.
For further Information
please contact the Elections
Office at 336-2133.
be matched with federal funds
($250). Those who wish to pro
vide additional financial sup
port to Jackson can do so Indi
rectly by contributing to the
PAC."
In remarks to Macedonia Holi
ness Church in Winston-Salem,
NC, Robinson related a story
about his receiving an Increase
In his allowance when he
brought his parents improved
report cards. In an analogy, he
said, "Last week, Jesse Jackson
brought home straight A's from
Michigan. We ought to make
sure we Increase his allowance."
Fund raising for Jackson is
critical at this time. "Just at the
right moment, too, Mr. Jackson
Is finally breaking Into the fi
nancial big leagues...," reported
the Wall Street Journal Tuesday.
"Mr. Jackson traditionally runs
on the proverbial shoe string,
and until now this campaign
has been no exception. But times
intyc
-i, my
Candidate Janies Baldwin talks with campaign strategist Clayburn
Marshall outside Baldwin's recently opened headquarters.
Baldwin Issues Challenge
By Jalyne Strong
Post Editor
Actions show James Baldwin,
Democratic candidate for Meck
lenburg County Commission,
District 2. Is holding his own on
the campaign trail.
He has opened campaign head
quarters. held voter registra
tion, and Issued a challenge to
another Democratic District 2
contender, Naslf Majeed, — all
wlUiln the last two weeks.
On Saturday, March 19, Bald
win officially opened his cam
paign headquarters at 1014
WHAT'S HOP-N-ING7 Hop-n-ing is an educational
program that combines handicap awareness and
safety lessons and an opportunity for children to
help Easter Seals. In Freedom Park last Saturday
Photo by CALVIN FERGUSON
children hopped to raise funds for Easter Seals.
The children all attend Mama's ICids Daycare on
West Blvd.
Education Cited As Priority Topic
At NAACP Regional Conference
are changing. His campaign re
ported raising $1.4 million In
donations during January and
February."
The 21st Century PAC, an In
dependent bl-partlsan political
action committee, was founded
In 1983 by a group of Howard
University graduates to raise
money to help finance cam
paigns of accountable Afro-
American candidates in both
parties at all levels of govern
ment.
The 21st Century PAC of North
Carolina was established In
1985 and has recently targeted
four State Senate races In order
to double the Black Caucus In
the North Carolina Senate.
Area contacts for this effort
are: Cathy Hughes, Charlotte,
339-7545; Falger Blackwell, Ra-
lelgh-Durham, (919) 229-5600;
Peter Greeu", Wilmington, (919)
768-4871.
By Heih White
Post Staff Writer
Black students aren't getting
the most from education, dele
gates to last week's NAACP re
gional conference said.
But it doesn't have to stay that
way.
The delegates were part of a
three-day conference at the
Adam's Mark Hotel In Charlotte
that drew participants from sev
en southeastern states.
Education was foremost In the
discussion, with topics ranging
from inequity In curriculum to
the discrimination black educa
tors face.
Discussion groups made up of
students, and education profes
sionals met to exchange ideas
and voice their concerns. They
later met with the moderators.
Dr. Audrey Fisher-Brown and
Regional Counsel Paula Bonds,
to suggest a plan of action for the
clvll-rlghts group to address
problems.
'This Is our way of assuring
quality and equity for our black
children," said Fisher-Brown,
Education Specialist for Region
V.
Despite a national push for
quality education, black chil
dren still lag behind their white
counterparts. Several factors
play a role In the problem, from
low teacher expectation to ra
cism, Fisher-Brown said.
"It's terrrlble," she said. "It's
really bad. In spite of all the re
forms, there are no changes for
black children."
Fisher-Brown said throwing
money Into the education sys
tem won't necessarily Improve
black performance In the class
room. Local and federal govern
ments need to Install programs
designed to give every student a
good education.
"Nothing has been written as
far as an equitable education for
¥
wy
Fisher-Brown
black children," she said.
Even If black children do well
In the classroom, there Is a
See NAACP on page 2A
Charlotte Was Major Stop On Cotman's
Alpha Inc. Presidential Campaign
By Jalyne Strong
Post Editor
Ivan Cotman of Detroit, Mich,
was In Charlotte last week to at
tend the Southern Regional Con
vention of Alpha Phi Alpha Fra
ternity, Inc.
He also used this opportunity
to push his campaign for presi
dency of this 100,000-member,
nation-wide organization.
But Cotman prefers not to call
his effort a campaign. He titles It
a "crusade."
"I'm dealing with survival:
strategies for young blacks to
avoid teen pregnancy and drug
abuse," said Cotman. "A crusade
is always about survival."
An Associate Superintendent
with the Michigan Department
of Education, Cotman wants to
lead the fratemity,"to be In a po
sition to focus our resources on
helping young black people. We
can't rely on white resources. We
must do It ourselves."
Says Cotman, "I believe our
Cotman
fraternity Is most-equipped lo
do It."
Cotman also has Interest in
Improving the fraternity's pub
lic Image. The Alpha's have In
cluded on Its roster of members
such Illustrious "brothers" as
Martin Luther King Jr., U.S. Su
preme Court Associate Justice
Thurgood Marshall and Con
gressman William Gray. But
Cotman believes because of me
dia portrayals—he points out
Spike Lee's "School Daze"— the
public has a distorted view of
what fraternities are about.
"I hope to present views to soci
ety, using the public media and
public service time, to correct hi
the public's eyes, blacks and
whites, about the contributions
of fraternal organizations," said
Cotman.
He Is crisscrossing the nation
on his "crusade" for the presi
dency of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.
Yet, Cotman feels his stops In
places like Charlotte are most
beneficial. 'The Southern region
Is tlie most well-educated, stra
tegically placed, effective, large
and resourceful assembly of
brothers In the country. They
must be mobilized first, before
my crusade can be taken nation
wide."
See COTMAN on page 2A
Crime And Arrests Increase In N.C.
South Tryon St., suite 200.
It was during this opening that
Baldwin told the press he chal
lenges Majeed to take a stand on
the Issue concerning the third
District 2 Democratic contender
Bob Walton's record of
"misconduct."
In late 1987, Walton, while
serving as County Commission
er for District 2, was found guil
ty of assault In a case Involving
a young black male.
Baldwin challenged Majeed to
take a public stand on that Is-
See BALDWIN on page 2A
RALEIGH - North Carolina's
crime rate Is up an overall nine
percent, according to prelimi
nary annual statistics released
by Attorney General Lacy
Thornburg.
The survey of crime trends
shows that reported crimes are
up eight percent In the urban
areas of North Carolina, and up
ten percent in the rural areas,
Thornburg said.
Thornburg said that the
crime statistics also reveal a
positive and encouraging trend.
At the same time as the crime
rate Increases, we are seeing an
Increase In the number of ar
rests by law enforcement offi
cers. The police officers and
sheriff's deputies are doing a
good Job of clearing crimes with
arrests, and they are doing their
Jobs In the face of an Increased
challenge," Thornburg said.
The arrest rate for reported
crime Is up eight percent, the
crime report shows. Arrest
numbers Increased the most for
the Climes of rape, robbeiy and
burglary.
Inside T
his Week
Editorials Pg. 6A
GOP takes aim at
the Black vote 7A
Entertainment...Pg. 1C
Nancy Wilson loses out
UNCC's Jazzing 88 4C
Lifestyles Pg. 1B
Sports Pg. ID
Don King s exposed
in Playboy magazine ,5D
Chiirnh Nnws Pg 2R
Free counseling at
Galilean Baptist
Classifieds Pg.SD