THE BETTER WE KNOW US ...
by Albert A. Campbell
MOORESVILLE - Often
when members of this
American society think of
individuals as being com
munity pillars, we usually
think of a male. Perhaps
there are valid reasons for
encouraging that conclu
sion. However, the case of
Mrs. Helen Byers is
certainly the exception.
A housewife and the
mother of four children
Mrs. Byers still finds time
to give of herself and
support countless commu
nity needs.
The first priority on her
list of course is her family
and that includes helping
her husband Joseph with
the family business. The
operate a television sales
and service company. Mr.
Byers is one of the few
Black authorized “Zenith”
dealers in North Carolina.
They are in sales as well as
repair. Their performance
has awarded the two of
them trips over the country
and abroad. When quotas
are set by the parent
company, the Byers have
constantly met the chal
lenge.
Mrs. Byers, when listing
her many outside activities,
quickly pointed out that she
was an active member of
Reids Memorial Presbyte
rian Church and is also an
Elder in her church.
Among the others, she is
a member of: Democratic
Women of North Carolina;
Mooresville Coral Society;
she’s on the board of I
Care, Inc.; Irredell County
Health Care; and just
recently appointed to Coun
cil on the Status of Women,
by the County Commis
sioners.
She was elected Mother
of the Year of The
N.A.A.C.P., has served as
president of the Dunbar
High School PTA and
president of the Moores
ville Boosters Club. She has
been secretary of the PTA
of both the South School
and the Junior High School.
Sometime ago she plan
ned the fund raising drive
to purchase instruments for
the Dunbar School band.
Mrs. Byers also found
time to run for elective
office - Town Board and
School Board. However,
she admits that too few
Blacks participate in the
elective process.
She is affectionately
referred to as the “Neigh
borhood Taxie," because
she often delivers elderly
persons to and from
doctor's visits, pays their
bill and even does their
shopping. All of which she
does without any compen
sation. She would not have
it any other way.
Mrs. Byers said that the
people have developed a
dependency on her, and
she is just happy to be able
to help others.
When one thinks of good
neighbors, the mind should
drift to Mooresville and
Mrs. Byers - for the better
we know her. The Better
We Know Us.
THE TRIBUNAL AID
A VIABLE, VALID REQUIREMENT
RESPONDING TO
BLACK NORTH CAROLINA
VOLUME m, NO. 45
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14,1976
$5.00 PER YEAR
24CENTS
PRESS RUN 8,500
MEMBER: North Carolina Black Publishers Association —. North Carolina Press Associationj Inc.
Black History
Flashbacks
APRIL 1
On this day in 1965 Francis S. Rivers became
president and chief policymaker of the NAACP
Legal Defense and Education Fund. He graduated in
1922 from Columbia University Law School. First
World Festival of Negro Arts officially opens in
Dakar, Senegal, 1966. Augusta Baker, innovative
librarian, winner of numerous awards for library
work with children; author, The Black Experience in
Children’s Books, born in Baltimore 1911.
APRIL 2
In 1895 black inventor J. Lee received a patent for
a bread crumbing machine. The Second Brigade,
Second Division of the all black 2Sth Corps was
among the first union troops to enter Vicksburg,
Mississippi on this dav in 1865.
APRIL 3
James Madison Bell, famed poet, born 1826. In
1883 black inventor Jan E. Matzeliger revolutionized
the shoe industry with his invention of the shoe
lasting machine which sewed the upper part of the
shoe to the sole. Thus he initiated the mass
production of shoes. Birmingham Manifesto, issued
by Birmingham community following a peaceful
demonstration in 1963, was written in the hope that
law, order and peace would somehow prevail. Carter
G. Woodson, author historian, founder of the
Association for Study of Negro Life and History, died
1950.
APRIL 4
Assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in
Memphis, Tenn., 1968. Adam Cayton Powell was
elected to Congress in 1944 from New York’s 18th
District and served on the House Committee on
Education and Labor.
APRIL 5
Capt. Robert Smalls, Civil War Hero; served
through five Congresses as representative from
South Carolina, born 1839. Birth of educator Booker
T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee', Institute, 1856.
APRIL 6
Black explorer Matthew Henson, a part of the
Admiral Peary expedition, was the first to set foot
on the North Pole, 1909.
APRIL 7
Booker T. Washington 10-cent stamp goes on sale,
first U.S. stamp to honor a black person, 1940. On
this day in 1925 Roland Hayes was presented the
Spingarn Medal in recognition of his outstanding
achievement as a concert singer. William Monroe
Trotter, civil rights leader and editor of the Boston
Guardian in 1902, born 1872.
The 1976 Editions of THE TRIBUNAL AID
will be dedicated to America’s bicentennial
Celebration, with emphasis on contributions
our Race has made in the making of America,
from birth to the present..
In 1976 there should not be a need to lift
these contributions from isolated sources. Our
past should be interwoven into the fabric of
our civilization, because we are, except for the
Indian, America’s oldest ethnic minority.
We have helped make America what it was,
and what it is, since the founding of Virginia.
We have been a factor in many major issues in
our history. There have been many misdeeds
against us, yet we Have been able to live
through them and fight back. This is living
proof of our history.
Our role in the making of America is neither
well known or correctly known. Many positive
contributions have escaped historians and
have not found their way into the pages of
Fay Ashe, Black History Editor
many history books.
We will strive to give readers, Black and
white, many little-known facts about our past
and it is hoped that a proper perspective of our
history will be of value to persons who may
believe that as Black People we have an
unworthy past; and hence, no strong claims to
all rights of other Americans.
Dr. W.E. Du Bois’ Affirmation Of Faith "CREDO”
The Du Bois “Credo” of
1904 appeared everywhere
in the Black press.
“Credo” reached out and
deeply touched the op
pressed Blacks across
America. Dr. Du Bois’s
Credo is a statement of
Black pride in Black people,
and of Black leadership
shown to the Black
community.
I believe in God, who
made of one blood all
nations that on earth do
dwell. 1 believe that all
men, black and brown and
white, are brothers, varing
through time and opportu
nity, in form and gift and
feature, but differing in no
essential particular, and
alike in soul and the
possibility of infinite deve
lopment.
Especially do I believe in
the Negro Race; in the
beauty of its genius, the
sweetness of its soul, and
its strength in that
meekness which shallyet
inherit this turbulent earth.
I believe in Pride of race
and lineage and self; in
pride of self so deep as to
scorn injustice to other
selves; in pride of lineage
so great as to despise no
man's father; in pride of
DID YOU KNOW THAT:
No more substantial testimony to the role of the Black
In the growth and development of America can be
found than the numerous historical landmarks In
various regions of the country which are associated with
Black Americana. Many of these-Ilke the Alamo and
Banker Hill-are not conventionally known as sites
Involving chapters of Negro history.
JOHN CHAVIS (1763-
1838) wasfreeborn near the
borderline between VIR
GINIA and NORTH CARO
LINA. He obtained an
unusually fine formal
education as a result of an
experiment conducted half who has
in jest by some white curiosity,
gentlemen of means. Out of
curiosity, they sent him to
Princeton in order to learn
if a colored youth had the
capacity to take higher
education. At Princeton.
CHAVIS prepared himself
well in private studies
under President Wither
spoon. CHAVIS also stu
died at Washington Aca
demy, which was once
called Liberty Hall Aca-
successfully passed his Willie Mangum were a-
siudies was once filed in mong his more famous
ihe Manuscript Order Book pupils. In 1832 when
of Rockridge County Court- CHAVIS was approaching 3
in Virginia but has since
been lost. It may have been
placed there bv gentlemen
satisfied their
score and ten in age, a law
was passed which forbid
Blacks either to teach or to
About 1805 he migrated
to NORTH CAROLINA
where he preached to both
white and black congrega
tions. CHAVIS knew Greek
and Latin among other
subjects and was asked to
teach sons of prominent
white people. He establish
ed his school in Raleigh,
N.C., and there under this University
Black scholar sat youths
who were to be among the
preach. Thereupon, de
prived of his means to earn
a living, CHAVIS wrote a
sermon entitled "THE
EXTENT OF ATONE
MENT". Sales of the
sermon and donations from
friends and former pupils
supported him until his
death in 1838. Today, the
of North Carolina cohtain
many letters from former
, ; ■ r 1 j ft,,. pupils to CHAVIS and more
demy and late became future leaders in the state ,
arp in fnp filpc of (he
Washington and Lee Uni- and nation. Governor , .
the files of
Library of Congress.
versity. A certificate that he Charles Manly and Senator
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race so chivalrous as
neither to offer bastardy to
the weak nor beg wedlock
of the strong, knowing that
men may be brothers in
Christ, even though they be
not brothers-in-law.
I believe in Service-
humble, reverent service,
from the blackening of
boots to the whitening of
souls; for Work is Heaven,
Idleness Hell, and Wage is
the “Well done!” of the
Master, who summoned all
them that labor and are
heavy laden, making no
distinction between the
black, sweating cotton
hands of Georgia and the
first families of Virginia,
since all distinction hot
based on deed is devilish
and not divine.
I believe in the Devil and
his angels, who wantonly
work to narrow the
opportunity of struggling
human beings, especially if
they be black; who spit in
the faces of the fallen,
strike them that cannot
strike again, believe the
worst and work to prove it,
haling the image which
their Maker stamped on a
brother's soul.
I believe in the Prince of
Peace. 1 believe that War is
Murder. I believe that
armies and navies are at
bottom the tinsel and
braggadocio of oppression
and wrong, and I believe
that the wicked conquest of
weaker and darker nations
by nations whiter and
stronger but foreshadows
the death of that strength.
1 believe in Liberty for all
men; the space to stretch
their arms and their souls,
the right to breathe and the
right to vote, the freedom
10 choose their friends,
enjoy Ihe sunshine, and
ride on the railroads,
uncursed by color; think
ing, dreaming, working as
they will in a kingdom of
beauty and love.
I believe in the Training
of Children, black even as
white; the leading out of
little souls into the green
pastures and beside the
still waters, not for self or
peace, but for life lit by
some large vision of beauty
and goodness and truth;
least we forget, and the
sons of the fathers, like
Esau, for mere meat barter
their birthright in a mighty
nation.
Finally, I believe in
Patience - patience with Ignorant and the ignorance
the weakness of the Weak of the Blind; patience with
and the strength of the the tardy triumph of Joy
Strong, the prejudice of the and the mad chastening of
Sorrow;
God!
patience with
From Dark water
DR. WILLIAM EDWARD
BURGHARDT DuBOIS
1868 - 1963
1776 Honoring America's Bicentennial 1976
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