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I „ ^ \ffiDICiSDAY, JANUARY 23, I974 PAGE 4 the tribunal AID IK VIEWS OF THE WIIITE«’S ARE NOT tLWtVS THOSE OF THE PtPEH'S You’re A Part Of The Solution, Or You’re A Part Of The Prob em THE POINTER by Albert A. Campbell What A Happy Birthday (It Would Have Been] City Officials Must Be Aware Of ‘AH' People It appears to me that by now city officials would soon learn that actions taken by them should have the entire citizenry in mind. Likewise, department heads should be similarly aware of the same. With this in mind, the two (city officials and department heads) could render the best possible service to its community. Not so in High Point! Most often in High Point, many of the actions taken by the powers-to-be usually appear to have only a select few in mind, ‘even though a carefui disguise has been planned. The lastest recreational proposal'-presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission is no exception. Yet it looks as though another trick is going to run over the people of this community, especially the Blacks and the poor whites. A number of years ago, the city of High Point made plans for the construction of two multi-purpose recreational center's, and at least one of them was to have an indoor swimming pool. It was later decided that the cost of the swimming pool was too high. Afterwards, that portion of the facility was eliminated...because of money? Now after years of waiting, the centers are at last under construction; one on Taylor Street on the sjputh side of town, and the other on the former Leonard Street School'campus on the east side of town. However, neither will be equiped with a swimming pool. Again, money is the reason given. These facilities are much needed accommodations for the city of High Point, and also because of their locations, swimming pools would further serve the needs of their surrounding communities. Granted, if funds are not available, some expenditures will have to be cut, but cutting and transferring are two different things. Just this past week, the High Point Recreation department presented a new proposal to its commission for study and hopefully .approval for the construction of a third recreation center - which includes an Olympic size swimming pool - to be located in the northwest section of High Point. The total cost of the complete recreational package is approximately $2 million, according to one spokesman. No^'-l.ask, is this what happens when funds are nof"available, or should the question be, does the location suddenly create previously unavailable funds? So often, these kinds of activities influence citizens to distrust and avoid governmental functions. Its no wonder the people of this country arc losing wha little faith they once held for the government. The proposed new center is first of all far removed froni those who most need it. Like the new stadium, the center is to be located in probably the most affluent area in High Point. The question then arises, is it for the rreed or for privilege. Certainly there are other areas in town that could better utilize an indoor swimming pool because of financial deprivation. If the present trend continues, all recreational facilities will be located in the northern areas of High Point, and the poorer persons will have to do without, or spend extra funds to get to the locations. Additionally, the plans are to present the proposal to the citizens in the form of a bond issue. In other words, they are asking you to cut your own throats. Will you sit back and continue denying yourself of privileges you deserve? nAYHARD H. JACKSOn MAYOR ATLANTA,GA mu. ANDREW V0UN6 , CONORESSMAN. ' ATLANTA. GA HEHADA ORBA/^ I929-I96S TO BE EQUAL by Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. Gerald Ford Opens Lines At Luncheon For Blacks THE TRIBUNAL AlU 1228 Montlieu Avnnue (919) 885-6519 P. O. Box 921 High Point, N. C. 27261 Published Every Wednesday By Tri-Ad Publicatioiu, Inc. Mail Subscription Rat> $6.00 per year, Payable In Advance (Add 4% N. C. Sales Tax) Albert A. Campbell, Managing Editor A small breach was made in the iron curtain surrounding the top leadership of the executive branch of the government the other day when Vice President Gerald Ford held a luncheon meeting, one of a projected series, with a represen tative sampling of black leaders. Over a year ago I called on President Nixon to meet with black leaders to get a feeling for our problems and concern and to open the White House to our views. There was no answer then, but now the Vice President is doing just that. In ordinary times this would be nothing special, but at a time when rumors of the President’s impending resignation are rife and impeachment proceedings are under consideration, such a meeting has significance. It means that the man who may succeed to the Presidency is striving to understand the position of minorities whose cause he has often opposed in the past, and that he feels national leadership must be open and responsive to key segments of the population. At the meeting Mr. Ford impressed me, as he’s impressed most people, as a decent, earnest man anxious to do right and concerned that the public’s trust in government and the stability of our institutions be recovered. He seemed to be concerned with the difficulties faced by black people today, and especially to the economic hardships we face. At this point, it is doubtful that his concern and responsiveness can be translated into aggressive leadership and innovative pro grams. More important than anything that transpired at the meeting, which was more in the nature of a general discussion, was the fact that it took place at all. The meeting, and those that are planned to follow it. represents a first, major step, in the education of Gerald Ford. Most blacks are wary of him. His years in the HouSe, representing a largely white, middle class district, were marked by conservativism and opposition to scores of bills that would THE ROY WILKINS COLUMN Certain School Testing Is Disturbing To Blacks advance the civil rights and economic and social conditions of minorities. The excuse for these votes has been that he was reflecting the conservatism of his district and now that he has a national constituency, he will change. The problem with that is that as minority leader he had a national constituency, and also had a safe enough seat that he could afford to risk a few votes that his district wouldn’t like. But the minority leader’s real constituency is the party member ship of the House and the will of the President. So there is a case to be made for a change of attitudes based on the new constituency a President or Vice President has. Under such conditions past votes in the House are not as important as a man’s character and his view of his responsibili ties. And in this regard, it is worth quoting Representative Andrew Young’s statement when he became the only black Congress man to vote for Mr. Ford’s confirmation: “Out of my own southern experience,” Congressman Young said, “I have confidence that people can overcome past parochial views and develop a broader perspective which takes into account the interest of the people. Decent men, placed in positions of trust, will serve decently. 1 believe that Mr. Ford is a decent man." Even political foes like Young agree that Ford is a decent man. His personal integrity is his strong suit. But now he will have to put some substance behind it in the form of real moral leadership. Right now he is a relatively unknown quantity in people’s minds but if he can demonstrate that he cares, that he listens, that he will act on behalf of the poor and the voiceless as he has acted in the past on behalf of the wealthy and the powerful, then he will have gone a long way toward easing people’s fears about the possible major transitions in our country’s leadership. Black Americans are either gluttons for punishment or they get the worst breaks. Just when they are battered by the happenings in Washington, just when they are among the last hired and the first laid off when any excuse like the energy crisis, or whatever, comes along, and just as Dr. William Shockley comes out of hiding with his genetic inferiority thesis, there appears another so-called test, only this one is literally out of the mouths of babes. It is needless to mention that whenever black Americans take it on the chin, white Americans do likewise. The two are so bound up together (although whites, thus far, manage to keep ahead) that misfortune to one means misfor tune to the other. When Negro Americans are out of a job, whites are not far behind. The philosopher was not wrong when he said: “In order to keep a man in the ditch, you have to stay there with him.” What disturbs blacks had better disturb whites. Just now blacks are disturbed by certain tests given to little school children by the Department of Health,, g^ucatiqn.^nd Welfare. School children , arp,^^sked what they think about children of differing colors going to the same school! In addition, pupils in the elementary grades are asked to indicate whether they believe all their classmates should look like they look. Here is the question asked of elementary school pupils, 3rd to 12th grade: “How do you think your parents feel about black and white students going to the same school together? If both kinds of students don’t go to your school, how do you think your parents feel about the idea of black and white students going to the same school together?” If this were a probe to find out, before any law or opinion existed, how pupils “think” about pupils of different races going to the same school, such an inquiry could be called a public relations effort. But the Supreme Court’s opinion, delivered in 1954, was that racial separation by law was unconstitu tional. The Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Yet we have in the school year 1973-74 a lot of racial hocus-pocus by a department of government (H.E. W.) as though no law existed and as though the Supreme Court had not spoken. Moreover, this department is charged with enforcing the national policy of desegragation. Instead, H.E.W. is asking questions which New York City has called “highly inflammatory and racist”. An official threat has been made to cut off funds for school districts which refuse to distribute the questionnaires. Congress passed the law calling for evaluations and President Nixon signed it on June 23, 1972. Mr. Nixon’s sup^iHer's' for re-election were in the midst of collecting the largest fund for re-election in history. The President was to announce in 1972 his personal opposition to the busing of school children. The purpose of the questions is said to be “to eliminate or prevent segregation.” Rather than this Orwellian language was the true purpose wrapped up in the question: “Do you think black students in this school cause more trouble than other kinds of students?” PIEDMONT PROFILE BY CECIL BUTLER 'V Most Not Wait For Edict I’ve tried very hard to stay away from the energy crisis,'bedause-we have heard a lot about it. Still one thing we have not heard enough about is how this crisis will effect this town specifically. We have aU kinds of speculations, up-to-the- minute news reports on ups and downs, and even the report on the newly-formed group commission ed by industry and government. Still no one or groups, has sat down and composed any local blueprint for action. The group that has been commissioned might be able to provide some leadership in this matSer - this is the car pool group that Andrew Shinnick is chairman of. However, before than can happen, the group must examine its composition very carefully, for it will be to our detriment if we fall into the same traps that similar national commissions have fallen into. A few areas of concern in this are: (1) not being broadly representative of a producer- consumer population (2) not being willing to call the shot straight down the line because one of the member industries would get the brunt of the decision (3) the program’s being mostly show with little substance. In short we do not want the government to go to the energy producers to get the answers to the energy problem. It seems to me we can learn from the mistakes that have been made on the national level, and surely we can avoid the biggest mistake of all, waiting for Washington to hand down an energy edict to solve our local problems. The local leadership can be the vanguard in this state and take the bull by the horns as the state of Oregon did in making a series of rather unpopular decisions in limiting state growth, managing the distribution of gas in a fairer manner, and facing up to the crisis. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: There is an old saying, “Misery loves company”, and within the context of the energy crisis, if the people who are in misery (suffering discomforts) feel that they have company, they will be more inclined to cooperate with fair plans than if they thought a privileged few were well taken care of and/or profiting by the plan.
The Tribunal Aid (High Point, N.C.)
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Jan. 23, 1974, edition 1
4
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