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Thursday, November 9, 1989 - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Page 6A Lonise Bias' Tragedy, Hope EIQ Martin One-On-One ^oShe looked like a teenager. ''"'But her grown-up son died three years ago. Lonise Bias. *Do you remember her son? Len Bias? Len Bias. Almost eveiybody remembers Len Bias. /--•The picture of the happy first draft choice of the Boston Cel tics: That bright smile flashing ^across the photo showing him holding his new team's Jersey. Prospects of a multi-million dol- ^ lar contract and a long career as •a professional basketball £'player. Role model. We remember. 'The crazy, stu pid death. Drugs confirmed. Bias gone. Dead. Cold. It settled In on us like a quiet winter snowstorm—the realiza tion that drugs were bringing down our best. We understood, at that moment, that the drugs that killed Len Bias could kill our country, too. We have not forgotten Len Bias. But why would his mother come to North Carolina to talk to a group of college students and administrators at a recent conference on alcohol aware ness sponsored by the state ABC commission? Mrs. Lonise Bias answered that question. "I didn't come to eulogize Len Bias. But God took one man to save millions. Len Bias has done more In death then he could have ever done In Ufe." "Get to the root of the problem" said Mrs. Bias. The problem of drug and alcohol abuse on col lege campuses Is not drugs and alcohol, according to Mrs. Bias. It Is the negative feelings and low morals of many college kids. Their low valuation of their own selves makes them susceptible to believing the big lies that bring down so many young peo ple. What are the "big lies?" Here are some of those she men tioned: If you can just get new clothes (or a new hairstyle, or a new car, etc.) you will be happy. If you join the right group, you will be happy. If you do what the rest of the group Is doing, you will have a good time. You have the worst problem In the world. If you have sex you will feel so good. These are the big lies, accord ing to Mrs. Bias, that college kids often believe. Seeking pop ularity, kids begin a path of self destruction that often leads to alcohol abuse and drug use. What does Mrs. Bias suggest that the kids—and the rest of us- -do?"If you want to be popular, first love yourself. Get to know yourself. And don't believe the lies." TTie kids loved her. They lis tened and gave her enthusiastic responses. And If they really be lieve what she said, maybe Len Bias and all his dreams wUl not have died In vain. U.S. Iminigration Policy Needs Change •w Now that a new Commissioner of the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has finally been confirmed. It Is hoped that the cries of thou sands of persons seeking Immi gration or an adjustment In their INS status wlU receive timely and fair responses. There have been many allegations concern ing racism and discrimination Involving the process of Immi gration to the United States, particularly for those persons from Latin American, African and other nations from the de veloping world. In addition, there has been gross discrimi nation aimed particularly at un documented workers who labor throughout the nation under of ten difficult and Inhuman stan dards. The news from the city of Los Angeles concerning current U. S. Immigration laws and the plight of undocumented workers sheds a ray of hope for thousands. Los Angeles has taken the lead on this Issue by establishing a for mal program to help find jobs for day laborers, most of whom are undocumented workers whom the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service would like to dep>ort. Most of the work ers In this pilot program are Hispanic. Having a job Is critical to mak ing It In this society. Despite the myth of laziness of the Immi grant community, thousands of persons come to the United Civil Rights Journal By Benjamin Chavis States not to steal, not to loathe, but to make an honest day's work and to make a contribution to society. The whole concept of "Illegal aliens" has been used to systematically discriminate against certain Immigrants, again particularly those Immi grants who are non-European racial and ethnic. According to the New York Times the city of Los Angeles plan to facilitate the finding of jobs for day laborers "Is techni cally legal despite Its clear challenged to the 1986 Immi gration Law, under which It Is Il legal to hire illegal aliens." In many cities the INS has carried out raids on sites where day la borers gather. To be sure, the present policies and laws on Im migration need to be made more humane as well as the enforce ment of present Immigration re strictions needs to be done even handedly and fairly without ra cial discrimination. Many cities particularly In Texas, Illinois, Florida, New York and In California will be monitoring the Los Angeles ex periment. The success of this project may provide a unique bridge to change some of the other discriminatory practices of the Immigration and Natural ization Service. We agree with many Immigra tion rights organizations that all laborers In this nation should be treated with dignity and re spect. We caution the INS not to attack the outreach of the city of Los Angeles to members of Its community who simply want to work and have decent living conditions. We agree with the Coalition for Humane Immigra tion Rights based In Los Angeles as they have challenged the hy pocrisy and racism of current U. S. Immigration procedures. Ms. Linda Mitchell of the Coalition has stated, "you can either hunt them down or you can Integrate them Into your community .... If you deny them health care, schooling and the right to work, you will just further Impoverish them." Now Is the time for all Ameri cans to work harder to make this society not a place divided by racist stereotjrpes and Insti tutionalized alienation but a place where we all can work to gether and live together to Im prove the lot of all humanity. Strip Deceit From The Budget Deficit By SEN. TERRY SANFORD Special To The Poet The aimual Increase In the na tion^ debt Is the deficit: all else Is cover up. It Is necessary to remove So cial Security from budget calcu lations because this prevents our knowing the true amount of our deficits. Deficits have not been going down. The amount of Social Security reserves have been going up each year, giving Os the Illusion of debt reduction. Social Security also needs the protection that separation will provide. Right now we are spending the reserves for gener al purposes as fast as they come In, jeopardizing future pa5mients to Socled Security beneficiaries. It Is Imperative to remove Social Security from our budget calcu lations. Taking Social Security off bud get, however. Is not enough. We will still not reveal the full size of the deficit. Adjusting the Gramm-Rudman-Holllngs re duction goals by the amount of Social security removed wUl stUl leave a sizable amount of the deficit covered up, and wUl not get us to a zero deficit — not ever. If we want to eliminate the def icits, we must have the back bone to chip away at the fuU def icit figure. We must stop the funny business we have used to cover up the deficit. It Is not deficits we are trying 0^ Letters To The Post Encouragement For Gantt To Run Dear Editor: It was a pleasure to read Tony Brown's column (Oct. 26) regarding the newest evidence that we're all descendants from black "EX^e", symbolic, I suppose, of the commonality of men and women--whether we like It or not. I hope to do observational research In Africa If I live long enough and I'm glad to know I'm returning, so to speak, to the "Garden of Eden," the cradle of us aU. I've always suspected there was some strong genetic evi dence lurking around, trying to tell us what we already know and feel—our "dlffreaces" are largely the result of eco nomic Inequities. It's good to read and hear about changes In Charlotte, even when so much remains the same. I was grateful Har vey Gantt didn't Involve him self In another mudslinger with Sue M3nrick- He ought to Involve himself with a real pro—that other Jesse, Mr. Helms. You'd have my vote because you think globally. Just go to the people, especially the little folks who don't know you. 'Hiere's 35 p>ercent of the white vote out there. If you know how to find It. You charm white women, and you are less threatening than many black men to white establishment males. Even If you lose, remember: Jesse Helms Is largely re membered all over the U.S. for destroying character. Eventu ally, he'll reap those evil seeds. In some ways. I see his oppo nents as rei heroes. So If you think and feel the time Is rlght--"Do the right thing." MAGGIE BRAUN Carbondale, Illinois An Apology For TV Comments The writer is principal at J.T. Williams Junior High School. Dear Editon During a recent Inter view with Tom Brokaw of NBC News and In the pres ence of a reporter from The Charlotte Observer, I used an Inappropriate word In re sponse to a question. Although I realized my mis take Immediately and apolo gized to my superintendent and area superintendents In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, to the staff of our school, to our PTSA Board and to our school committee, I be lieve It Is also necessary for me to apologize to the com munity. I deeply regret my choice of words and wished as soon as they left my lips that I could erase them. I also regret any embarraassment that I have caused my school community, former educators at J.T. Wil iams Junior High, and parents of our students. 1 have Invested my heart and soul In our students and staff and take my position as a role model very seriously. I assure the community, our staff and our students that they can count on me not to let them down In the future. VICKI HAMILTON WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND? Let us hear your comments, ideas and opinions. Write to: Letters To The Post P.O. Box 30144 Charlotte, N.C. 28230 Please include name, address and phone number. We edit letters for clarity and grammar. HOLIMSf Guibb.. HAVDYHlMTS FOR THE BEPlfDOLED T/iXft^ER... SfNKCA-mD WRiltRSiARnSB I/-67 to reduce, as such. It Is the pil ing up of debt — secret debt -- that we are trying to stop and then to reduce. In a year or two we will be pay ing more for Interest to service the debt than we pay for nation al defense. I do not know how we will get the debt under con trol, but I do know that the first step Is an honest report of how much It Is. My amendment, already pre pared to be added to the debt limit legislation, will strip all of the deceit from our budget pro cess. It will define "deficit" as the "annual Increase" In the debt subject to limit on which we will vote. TURKEY (600DUS EATV^>) ^01'H NOf!TH/\MERiCA,TriiS ONEfWJTiCAL OROEFfCE . FORTUWATEW, rr TvlSTtS GREAT AJDJ5M0RE FiUiM V^lrJD0N0T '* -T CONFUSE THESE TWO, ASiTCOWD cause serious DAMAfiETUTHE, ECONOMif AND/ OR YOUR KCTCHEN/ ' WOMIBUFBKE , JS/WfKFFEROtfV T (SPaJpUS FOOA/DWWASHiWW.THiS PECUU/\R SPEdiES SPENCE MOSTOF iTs 7IWE HiDiW6 AOroMATfC PM RAiSBS, IGNORING Deficit spending, and PMiSm iiXJR WES'USUAU^ leaves A BAD mSTB IN '/m fAOi/TH.. - The Seasons Have Changed, But Little Else In Warehouse Workers' Complaint By TERRY WALLACE and BILLY RODDEY Special To The Post Last spring we contacted you about our problems at the Char lotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Supply Warehouse. The Char lotte Post gave excellent cover age to the entire story. Including the history and half-truths In re- Spionses by members of the school board and the adminis tration. We have been asked over and bver again by readers, "What fi nally happened?" We have also been given verbal support and encouragement by blacks who work In the system who know the unfairness of this situation and have often experienced sim ilar treatment as employees of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. At every employment level there have been blacks who shared their mistreatment, and encouraged us to "hang-ln- there and pursue the matter." This group Included principals, teachers, assistant principals, central office administrators, and even former principals and administrators. E:ach had a sto ry to tell of racism. Intimidation, and discrimination that de stroyed their faith and trust and placed them In a helpless, hope less, and demoralized state. Because The Post was such a strong voice In Investigating and reporting all of the facts, we wanted to tell the Post "what fi nally happened" In hopes that you will share this with the reac ive shown much con couragement. Tc question, "What finally happened to our request to app>eal to the school board," the answer Is NOTHING. As the Post pointed out, Ashley Hoge- wood. School Board Chairman, made a decision to deny us a hearing, sa}rlng that we used the wrong procedure. We knew that this was Inaccurate because Mrs. Thelma Johnson handled our complaints and the Investi gation, and we used the same procedure that others have used who requested and were granted an appeal. He later told the school board that no report was made on the Investigation and that our complaints were settled by the Equal Employment Op portunity Commission. He further stated that when workers file a complaint with Equal Emplojnment Opportunity Commission, the In-house pro cess stops. All of this was false. Our conclusion was that be cause we are black Wcirehouse workers rather than black pro fessionals, he has no Intentions of being bothered so he misled the board and distorted the truth. We questioned why Mr. Hoge- wood took It upon himself to deny the hearing In the first, place, without ever bringing It to' the other board members. Nev ertheless, In a memo from him on May 18, 1989, sent after we wrote him a memo on May 12, 1989, and told him that our Is sues had not been settled, he agreed to discuss our situation with Dr. Relic, Superintendent, and Mr. Battle, Vice-Chairman, and let us know about the hear ing. WE ARE STILL WAITING for Mr. Hogewood. He has not re sponded or granted us the hear ing we're entitled to although five months have passed since his letter. He has Ignored us and lied to us, but the problem has not gone away. We remain second class work ers with nowhere to go to bring a change to the oppressive condi tions which have been known to administrators and board mem bers for years. We are dismayed and confused by Mr. Hogewood's actions and leadership. We expected an elected official to represent all citizens fairly. For us, this did not happen and there has been an abuse of power. Power In the wrong hands Is dangerous and detrimental to goodwill and or derly processes. We have con cluded that racism, and a desire to hide the truth and support the true culprits, motivated the pro cedure violation and distortion of a procedure previously used many times. The Inaction of ad ministration Is also Inexcusa ble. How can they be fair to chil dren and teach them to be good citizens who respect each other and live together In peace, when they respond to adults with such Indifference to racism. We do not put all associated with our plight In the same cate gory of Indifference. We remain appreciative of the diligent ef forts and response by Arthur Griffin. His concern made Mr. Hogewood reluctantly put the request for an appeal before the board. Although his plea for fairness and moral Integrity were no match for the distor tions and untruths advanced by Hogewood to deceive the public and some board members, he earnestly tried. The support giv en by Mr. Battle and Mr. Martin, combined with Mr. Griffin's ef forts are the only positive and redeeming feature of our en counter with this board. The community has also been supportive although a few react ed that we should be happy that the white folks let us work here so "grin and bear" It. We do not accept such an "Uncle Tom" po sition although It has long been thought that unless you played that role, the system made It dif ficult, If not Impossible, to ad vance and work without Intimi dation and discrimination. Many In the community have en couraged us to sue the school system. That was never our goal, although we think there Is plenty of proof that discrimina tion exists. We know that only court action has brought about changes, but why should our tax dollars be used by the system to unfairly fight tax payers. Also, there are enough lawyers on the board to know that they are wrong. The trouble Is they also know the expense and the financial difficulty we would suf fer, so they break the law, fight us with conspiring lawyers, us ing our tax dollars for a correct able Issue that if handled prop erly, would involve little expanse. The community, black and white, should not allow this. The black community was seemingly outraged by our treatment, but there was no outciy for the truth and no pressure to grant us the hearing we deserved as others have received. Now other blacks are fearful that they will be treated the same, and suffer re percussions If they use the pro cess designed to handle race discrimination problems. We have been told that Incorrect In-’ formation, calling blacks super-i visors who are not supervisors, have been shared to make liars out of us and pretend that there, are no problems. The cause for' fairness and eliminating racial prejudice has been set back 20 years. Our special appreciation to The Charlotte Post. You are tru ly the "Voice of the Black Com munity." Because of your efforts, the situation was exposed and now certain leaders may grin lii our (blacks) faces and then stab us In the back, but "The Post has exposed them and raised our awareness. 1 hope that our memories will serve us well when we need to elect leaders for our community. We don't need to give power to and sup port those who trample the powerless so mercilessly.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 9, 1989, edition 1
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