Newspapers / The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.) / March 22, 1984, edition 1 / Page 4
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THE CAROLINIAN—THURSDAY. MARCH 22.1984—PAGE 4 NC NAACP-BARROOM -MEESEGATE Reason has prevailed in the decision by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s national office and the North Carolina office to share the responsibility of operating the North Carolina field office. The NAACP has been too valuable to the people of this state to close its doors because of finan cial difficulties. We have only to dig in our pockets and find the means within our many insti tutions and organizations -to sustain this vital instrument of progress and justice. Next... The publicity being given to the Massachusetts barroom rape case and many other accounts of similar sexual assaults can cause wonder regarding the significant increase of such reports. What is the cause? What are the results of these reports? How can these acts be pre vented? Apparently it is now necessary that our communities take steps in cooperation with local police and other appropriate authorities and institutions to discourage this form of behavior. At the same Hme and of foremost importance, females must exercise extreme caution in their travels, around strangers and in regard to places they visit. Television and other media should be evaluated critically given the too-often-true fact that ideas and behavior are influenced by these. Parents should be careful about the programs they expose their children to, and our responsible institutions, including our churches, must seek to provide alternative guidance for children and adults. Next... Where there is Meese smoke, there is questionable fire. The source of the fire, the nature of it or even the area scorched may be unknown. But, from all indications, there is fire somewhere. The Senate Judiciary Commit tee was right in requesting an in vestigation into Meesegate. Though the investigation was designed to be limited, it ultimately will include the entire scope of the nominee’s activities and philosophies, to determine their suitability ^r the seat of U.S. attorney general. The hand of justice may write slow, but when it does write, it writes well. Media Playing Footsie With Jackson? Much of the drivel which is being bantered about by some in the media regarding the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign would be no more than trivia except that it mirrors the inbred bias and pettiness which are a key part of the American experience. To hear reporters talk of Rev. Jackson “taking the Mondale votes’’ in describing Jackson’s black support is ludicrous. Since when did Mondale, or any other similar politician, own the black vote? It is this kind of thinking on the part of media persons and in the black community which makes the Jackson candidacy necessary. Is it always going to be mandatory for blacks to feel owned by others? Another way of expressing this same short-sightedness is when commentators state that if Jack- son were not in the race, the black votes would go to Walter Mondale. This suggestion that there is no difference between Jackson and Mondale except color—and that blacks are emotionally tied to Jackson—denies the substantive and real issues of the campaign which Jackson has forced the other candidates. Mondale included, to respond to. Absent the Jackson presence in the race, the other candidates could easily take the black vote for granted— and offering little more than tokens. Jackson’s strong showing across America is not necessarily the result of a kinship on the part of blacks to his color, but rather a kinship to his sensitivity to the oppression that continues to be felt by too many in this country, and which traditional and estab lishment politics have yet to ade quately address. The media’s stepchild treat ment of America’s first black presidential candidate to win a primary, representing millions of voters from many states, is highly disrespectful—and in too many instances, purely insulting. But again, the behavior of the TV commentators and other media personnel in this situation essentially reflects the weakness in our society. Too often, the bias and subject iveness of reporters shows as they interview Rev. Jackson, posing questions that would be clearly disrespectful to raise with other candidates. Questions about the insignificant, i.e., naming indi viduals who have not endorsed Jackson, point out that the black vote is only there to be used but not taken seriously. We would think the more responsible line of questioning would be to challenge some of the other candidates on the issues and Compare their positions with those of Rev. Jackson. Evidently, only when America wakes up and finds itself with a black face in the White House will it stop playing footsie with blacks. That is why it is necessary that we continue to say, “Run, Jesse, Run.’’ BIBLE THOUGHT And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them. Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:7-1 n- lA [p®3Qfii1i (cj(F BY BILL MOSES STRATIFICATIONS In the American democracy, the stratification of forces bearing upon the voting process are: a) The millionaires, the rich, the upper middle income people, the poor and the destitute. b) The blue collar and the white collar, and the semiskilled and unskilled workers. c) The professional, business, military, government and institutional workers. In the specification defining those stratifications, white and black Americans are more alike than different. While the percentage of difference between blacks and whites supports the advantage of white Americans, the aspir ations and objectives of the two are parallel. Black Americans—the low members of the American totem pole—are constantly reminded of this difference, and the measure of these differences becomes less and less with the passage of time. In justice to the principles of the founding fathers of the nation, its Declaration of Independence and its Consti tution, most Americans accept and defend the right of black Americans to aggressively seek to join the main stream of American life. In the face of these facts why is it so strange (in some quarters) that a black man is a bona fide candidate for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination? Or that black support or nonsupport for his candidacy may be as divisive as the stratification of black voters and their main interests? Jackson’s declared intention to stick with the nominating process, even to the floor of the Democratic Convention, is to be admired. And depending upon the mood of America and the convention delegates’ usual cornbination of influence, pressure and power could combine to produce an exciting pairing of candidates for the presidency and the vice presidency and a surprising Democratic Party- platform. So what else to say but: “Run, Jesse, Run!” Thinking Beyond Today There is a significant difference in thinking short-term and long term, which difference blacks should benefit from knowing. Ms. Ernesta G. Procope, president of the Wall Street-based E.G. Bowman and Co., a minority-owned insurance firm, recently said at a conference for young business people in corporate America that there is an enormous need for trained peo ple in black businesses where they could help “build a strong black economy that will move us from the darkness into the light of day.’’ Ms. Procope is pointing out that there is great benefit to the black community presently and in the future in building business insti tutions as a part of the black economy. One black institution employing the building skills of many blacks usually can have a much greater and longer-lasting impact on black progress than one position held by an individual. Institutions are more per manent, stronger usually, have a much wider influence and have at their disposal much greater resources than individuals can SEN. hart* WHO? NNPA FEATURE ©©[PM ■' by ' : DR. CHARLES W. FAULKNER '9, BROWN command. The black community if bereft of institutions to stave off blight, to underwrite political causes, to promote education financially or to ensure reasonable employment within our communities. Where are the foundations supported by black private enterprise which would support our causes and projects? Where are the institutes and think tanks wherein ideas and concepts may be explored and developed to further our commun ities? Where are our scholars who are supported by our institutions in their research and studies of subject matter that will advance the plight of the black commun ity? “We have the brains to do it our selves,’’ Ms. Procope said of black America’s ability to grapple with its problems. Apparently, having the brains is not sufficient. Perhaps motivation, vision and dedication are equally required. Even the Scriptures teach: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.’’ DIVISION GROWS AMONG BLACKS This is not an easy time for black civil rights or elected officials. Jesse Jackson’s campaign—now obvious to everyone as a limited grab for black votes—has placed both Jackson supporters-and antagonists between a rock and a hard place. Those who support him are busy trying to put a distance between Jackson’s “Hymie’’ slur and their own public careers while not los ing face with the young activists who support the symbolic candi dacy. On the other hand, the black elected officials who must live or die based on their pragmatism are truly caught in the middle. Mayor Richard Arrington of Birmingham put his political ca reer and credibility on the line and won Alabama for Walter Mondale—and saved his campaign nationally. In fact. Mondale or Gary Hart will face Ronald Reagan in November. As president, Mondale would have to reward Arrington and the citizens of Birmingham. But to those blacks whose logic is emotion, pragmatic politics is the politics of selling out. Smears and pressure tactics are being used against mayors such as Coleman Young of Detroit, Wilson Goode of Philadelphia, Harold Washington of Chicago and Andy Young of Atlanta. They are being threatened with black opposition when they come up for reelection. “Wh:- is it that if some blacks are not for him [Jackson] they are not for the interests of black people?” asked Alvin Holmes, vice president of the Alabama Democratic Con ference, which helped Mondale win 51 percent of Alabama’s black vote on Super Tuesday. “I resent the fact that he [Jackson] implies that Coretta King and Andy Young are Uncle Toms because they didn’t support him. He didn’t support Shirley Chisholm (when she ran for the nomination in 1972).” Coretta King and Martin Luther King, Sr., openly supported Mondale, along with Andy Young who was quiet about it, and saved 28 percent of Georgia’s black vote for Mondale—and gave him another crucial win to salvage his campaign. The pressure on Jackson’s supporters, however, came from other sources. Called “moral cowards” for not speaking out loudly enough—if at all-in condemning the Jewish slur, some of his allies are looking for the high ground. Kenneth A. Gibson, mayor of Newark and head of Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign in the state, has repudiated Jackson’s defamatory remarks about Jews in a letter to Nathan Perlmutter of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith. “It is very, very frustrating to me as a supporter of Jesse Jackson’s campaign to have read and hear of his insensi tivities, ignorance or possibly worse. I have tried to talk to him personally by phone since the admitted derogatory references to Jews but was only able to talk to a campaign leader. “I appreciate your understanding that the utterances of one black person do not reflect the thinking of all black people. I emphatically deplore the Jesse Jackson insulting references to the Jewish people. “I’m sure you realize that black people are able to think for themselves and the great majority of us do not sub scribe to negative ethnic, racial or religious references and speeches. Therefore, the implied threats by Minister Farrakhan do not represent the thinking of myself or other blacks who know the difference between righteousness and rhetoric,” he said. Farrakhan, addressing a Chicago throng with the Rev. Jackson at his side, is reported as saying, “I say to the Jewish people... if you harm this brother, I warn you in the name of Allah, this will be the last one you do harm.” In Charlotte on March 3, Farrakhan is quoted in the Charlotte Observer as saying: “Every leader should be accountable at the cost of his or her life. Death should be the penalty for traitorous activity to those entrusted” with the responsibility for educating young blacks. Jackson, who predicted that he would win Alabama last week, now talks about his campaign in the past tense and uses “crusade” and “conscience” to describe pragmatic political reality. To deny what is real will create more division between the masses of people and the leadership it depends upon to survive. Jackson should think twice about his goals. IMPROVING YOUR LIFE In the past month I have sent hundreds of Career Planning Action Guides to readers. It is now up to you to put them to use and improve your life. You can easily work out your own plan. Utilize the “total person” concept which helps you to improve every significant aspect of your life: your career, your financial condition, your health, your family, your education, your psychological condition and your spiritual life. Each item has a place in the total episode of your life and should be developed simultane ously. Let’s examine each of these important categories so that you may begin to determine how and why they are important to yourself. 1. Your career. It is actually possible for you to be almost anything that you want to be if you plan for it properly and work for it hard enough. Are you satisfied with your professional status? Do you really want to get ahead or simply change careers? Establish an objective for five years from today. Now, work out a logical step-by- step plan for achieving your objective. Choose a career in which jobs will be available when you have completed your preparation. 2. Your financial condition. You can earn as much money as you wish. But you must prepare yourself to earn it by getting the appropriate profession and education, and getting started now. Choose the profession that will allow you to advance. Don’t expect to earn $1(X),000 a year as a clerk. Avoid dead-end jobs. 3. Your health. Is your health; excellent, good or not so good? You can easily improve your health and lift it to the category that you desire. Good health is important in every endeavor. The proper foods, exercise, rest and the ability to cope with stress are the ingredients of a long, healthy life and happiness. Don’t expect to lose weight if you continue to eat the same foods. Prepare a long-range exercise plan and healthful diet. Now is the time to work out a logical plan to obtain good health. It won’t happen overnight, but you can start the process today. 4. Your family. Perhaps you are single and want to get married and raise a family. Or, you are already married and want several children. Or, perhaps you do not want a family of your own, but wish to improve relations within your family. If you are lonely, find out where the people you want to meet congregate and go there. You won’t meet a princess or a prince at; the drugstore lunch counter or at a disco. 5. Your education. The formal education that you have may be suitable for your career pursuits. Usually, however, people who wish to improve their lives can do so, with more education, a high school diploma or a college degree could help you achieve your goal if it is in the profession in which jobs are available. You must plan ahead to get the education that you need. 6. Your psychological condition. You are probably quite normal but perhaps you would like to be more confident, reaxed or' have a better memory. Maybe you want to lose weight, stop smoking or become less; irritable. A stress management seminar or a course on how to study may help you achieve your other objectives. Be honest with yourself. If your temper is a problem, correct it. If studying is a problem, learn' to concentrate. 7. Your spiritual life. Is a Supreme Being important in your life? For some ' people, yes. For others, no. It is entirely your decision. But if this is an important category, you should determine if you want to become a minister, deacon or just closer to your church. You must plan your, future and then act accordingly. Now establish a five-year plan for each of these categories. Set goals for each year in advance of your five-year objective. - What will you do each day to advance yourself toward your five-year objective? Put all of the pieces of your life together as ’ you work out a step-by-step program to reach your goal. A career action plan is a necessity. Once you have worked out your career . plan, stick to it. If you do stick to it, give yourself all the credit. If you don’t stick to it, blame yourself. And try again. LETTER TO THE EDITOR ToTheElftitor: Recent studies now show that one of every four blacks in the United States lives on the poverty level. The poverty level is defined as a family of four now living on an average income of $5,000 a year. But for the white American the ratio is one out of seven. These studies also show that most of the black paupers lived in the South and in rural areas. The CAROLINIAN Publlsninu uo. 518 E. Martin Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 Mailing Address P.O. Box 25308 Raleigh, North Carolina 27611 Second Class Postage Paid at Raleigh North Carolina 27611 USPO 455873 PUBLISHEO SEMI-WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES OlwYsir $25.00 SIxMmtIn $14.00 PiyiblB If) tdvancG. Adarass ill com munications and make ad chocks and money Ofdors payaMf to The CAROLINIAN. Amalgamated Publishers, Inc., 45 West 45lh SL, New York, N.Y. 10036, National Advertising Representative. Member of the United Press Inter national Photo Service. The Publisher Is not responsible for the return of unsoHclted nows, {dctures or advertising copy unless necessary postage accompanies the copy. Opinions axprossad by columnists In this newspaper da not necosserliy represent the poiiey of the newspaper. For address correction, send Form 3547 to Postmaster. 310 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, N.C. 27611. Moreover, tnese statistics should tell our younger, blacks something. As we are about to move into the 21st century, most of our black youths have not made any plans for owning a home or a farm or getting married for the sole purpose of supporting a family, etc. In the past, socio-politico- religious leaders have made the following recom mendations for solving the blacks’ problems: (1) migragion to the North or to a foreign ntry; (2) prayers; (3) advancement in education; (4) enter into the traditional black job markets—criminal law, teaching, carpentry; and (5) to encourage the federal government to promote more job programs. Only history can tell us how suc cessful those recom mendations were to the vast numbers of blacks. In short, the real problems of black plight in America as were studied by a white Swedish social scientist named Prof. Gunnar Myrdal was that “white prejudice and dis crimination of jobs was the cause of the Negro standards of living being so low.” If racial discrim ination could be eliminated in America, millions of poor blacks could easily move up the socio-economic ladder ' and would become middle- class citizens or above. There is no doubt that ad vanced education in the aca demic-vocational areas would enable the future blacks to enter into the job markets of America tomor-. row, but only if they had the marketable skills now being demanded by white employers as are now being required by the affirmative action programs being demanded by the govern ment. But until that day arrives, millions of blacks within the United States of America will still hold the present status of being labeled as paupers. Do you agree? Sincerely, John Thompson Moore, Jr. Raleigh unr* People used to think that the bottoms of the oceans were just about as smooth and flat as the bot tom of a sv/immlng pool. Actually, under the oceans, there are pledns and valleys, mountains and canyons; some of the mountains are even higher than any on land.
The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.)
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March 22, 1984, edition 1
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