Governor's Role Questioned ^ C76}1
Federal, State Policy Angers Workers
BY MARC LEE
Staff Writer
. On Jan. 18, the local community
will be taking part in activities which
will celebrate the birthday of leading
civil rights activist Martin Luther
King, Jr.
According to Bruce Lightner, co
chairman of the Raleigh-Wake Mar
tin Luther King Celebration Commit
tee, there will be a prayer breakfast
at 7 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18, at Pullen
Memorial Baptist Church, and the
v speaker will be Dr. Grady Davis.
Dr. Davis, pastor of Union Baptist
Church in Durham, will speak on
“The Dream Re-Lived.” Others par
ticipating in the prayer breakfast in
clude Ms. Betty Hargrove, William
R. Windlev, Rev. Mahan Siler, Rev.
G.A. Jones, Rev. Morris Hudgings,
Ms. Sonia Barnes, Father Martin
Carter, the Rev. W.W. Finlator and
the Rev. Clitton Buckrham.
Following the prayer breakfast, a
memorial march will follow, leaving
the grounds of the Capitol Building
and proceeding to the Civic Center.
Following the inarch will be a noon
observance featuring Bishop John
Hurst Adams of Washington, D.C.
The Rt. Rev. Adams is the
presiding bishop of the Washington,
D.C. AME Church conference. Also
featured in the noonday observance
will be greetings from local and state
dignitaries, including Raleigh City
Council member Ralph Campbell, the
Hon. James G. Martin and the Hon.
Robert Jordan, and Rep. David
Price.
Also featured on the program will
be Wake County Schools Superinten
dent Robert E. Bridges and N.C.
House member Dan T. Blue, and the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Children’s
Choir, as well as the Rev. Gregory
Edmond. This noon-hour observance
will be aired on “Open/NET,” and
can be seen from 8-10 p.m. on Tues
day, Jan, 19, on cable channels 4 in
Chapel Hill, 9 in Durham and 13 in
Raleigh.
At first, it appeared that the gover
nor would not appear at the celebra
tion, but in a recent decision, Martin,
who is at the beginning of a re
election campaign, changed his
mind.
Lightner said, “We have agreed to
The Carolinian
, __ , . SWGLECOPY AC
^Monday" NC'a Semi-Weekly BSWS
JANUARY 18, 1988DEDICATED TO THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRISTVOL. 47, NO. 15
Bizarre Confession
Blackman Receives Life
v^onviciea
For Murder
Of Student
A mental patient pleaded guilty to
second-degree murder Thursday in
the 1979 slaying of a female St.
Augustine’s College student in her
dormitory bathroom.
James A. Blackman, who gave
police a bizarre, often rambling con
fession to the killing in 1983, was
sentenced to life in prison by Wake
Superior Court Judge Henry V.
Barnette, Jr. of Raleigh as part of a
friea bargain agreement. Barnette
also ordered that Blackman continue
to undergo psychiatric treatment at
Central Prison, where he is being
held.
The woman, Helena Pay was
stabbed in the neck in the early morn
ing hours of Sept. 28, is.9, as >
entered a bathroom stall in her dor
mitory. She died at'out a month later.
Under the arrai ement, Blackman
will be allowed to appeal an earlier
ruling allowing his confession to be
introduced at the trial. Defense at
torney Thomas C. Manning had
sought to have the statements sup
pressed on the ground that
Blackman, 34, a drifter who had been
committed to Dorothea Dix Hospital
on numerous occasions, was not com
petent to understand his rights when
questioned by police.
Manning said in an interview that if
the N.C. Court of Appeals reversed
the Aug. 21 ruling by Superior Court
Judge Wiley F. Bowen of Dunn, the
charge against Blackman would be
(Sto^ONVICTEDkP^)_^____
FACING ALLEGATHJI
holds a news conference answering reporters questions about an earter report on
pain-killer drug addiction. Rev. Jackson is on a 2-day campaign swing through the
first primary state. This nows conference took place shortly before her opened his
Concord, n.h. campaign office. (UPf)
PACE Endorses Malone,
Stout As “Impeccable”
me wane county ronticai Action
Committee for Education, the
political arm of the Wake County
Association of Classroom Teachers,
announced last week the endorse
ment of Vernon Malone and Herb
Stout, two incumbent county commis
sioners. In making the announce
ment, Linda Liles, chairperson of
■ ' I
GEORGE L. FOXWELL
Dr. Bridges Recalls
Career Of Foxwell
Wake County Public Schools Superintendent Robert E. Bridges
Inst week reflected on his personal experiences with the late George
L Foxwell. a longtime Wake County school administrator.
* “George Foxwell was one of the earliest true models for mo In the
of tfn,yu administration. His confidence, his assertiveness,
and his preparation were his standout characteristics. He was a solid
leader in the Raleigh City Schools and In the Wake County Public
School System for nearly 25 years. I personally wIB greatly miss this
truly Inspirational leader and mentor.*’
Foxwell. a native of Chowan County near Edentoa, was aa assis
tant principal and principal with the school system since l|5g, first
serving as assistant principal at Ligon (at that time a high school)
and then principal of Carnage Middle School. He was previously a
teacher and coach at Ligon. He retired from the Wake County Public
School System in I Ml. His total educational career spanned 23 years.
(See GEOUOE FOXWELL. P. 2> __
rAUE, saia, i nese two county com
missioners have demonstrated a high
level of commitment and advocacy
for our public schools, and Mr.
Malone and Mr. Stout deserve to be
the consensus candidates of all
citizens of Wake County.”
Both incumbents were elected four
years ago, and Wake PACE worked
actively for their election at that
time. Malone and Stout have a record
of advocating quality educational
programs and appropriate facilities.
Ms. Liles said, “With the
challenges facing the Wake County
Schools, Including the need for new
and renovated facilities, attracting
teachers, and meeting the educa
tional needs of all children, the Wake
County Board of Commissioners will
be in desperate need of experienced,
informed commissioners. Malone
and Stout know what it takas to meet
those challenges.”
The recommendation was based on
the incumbents’ records, interviews,
and continuing commitments to the.
public schools. Malone and Stout
were interviewed by the PACE Steer
ing Committee that consists of SO
classroom teachers. Then the recom
mendation was ratified by the
180-member Wake ACT Represen
tative Assembly.
Ms. Liles said that Wske PACE on
ly makes early endorsements in
unusual situations when Incumbents
(See VERNON MALONE. P. 2)
Mr. Howell is
Remarkable
BY UR. ALBERTS. JABS
*»- --*-«»•--«» . yf-l,
- OMnMHMK ifnirr
Eugene Howell is the grand old
man of the Shaw Univeristy campus.
He has walked this earth for 17 years
and he is still active and alive in Ms
walking, talking, and demeanor. On
these cold winter mornings Howell
will dutifully come to work as he has
for 02 years.
He has seen a lot of water go over
the dam and in hie fourscore years he
is a walking repository of stories,
perspectives, and reminiscences
about Shaw University. Howell is a
gentleman of the first rank and for
many of the students and profesaars
could easily pass for a distinguished
professor enuritm.
Howell will proudly point out that
all seven of his children have gone on
to higher education, of whom three
(See MR HOWELL, P.»
allow the governor to be on the pro
gram out of respect for the office of
governor, not the individual holding
it.” He pointed out that the governor
had ehanged his mind about appear
feature outstanding groups and com
munity leaders. Among those who
wilf be participating will be Bro.
James Thomas, well-known gospel
personality and gospel announcer on
, They are trying to do this so they do not have to
recognise or respect Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth*
—fl state employee.
.
ing at “the last moment,” and added,
“If the governor can defend his posi
tion on the King holi lay, and can do
an admirable job, he should be com
mended. Personally, I don’t think he
can."
Atthe noon observance, Martin will
bring greetings from the governor’s
office and Lt. Gov. Jordan will bring
greetings from the state of North
Caridina.
The evening celebration will
WLLE radio; Raleigh Mayor Avery
Upchurch; the Hope of Freedom
Choir, First Cosmopolitan All Male
Choir, Capitol City Five, and the
Mighty Golden Bells.
King Week 1988 began nationally
Jan. 8 and runs through Jan. 18 with
special programs and celebrations in
Atlanta, other major U.S. cities and
around the world, marking the 59th
birthday anniversary and third na
tional holiday in honor of Dr. King.
In announcing the national cele
brations, Coretta Scott King, presi
dent and chief executive officer of the
King Center for Nonviolent Social
Change, said, “Both the symbolic
tapping of the Liberty Bell and the
ringing of the Independence Bell in
Philadelphia Jan. 18 will initiate a
ringing of replica liberty bells and
other bells across the land and in
other parts of the world. This will be a
unique tribute to Dr. King and a call
for his holiday to be a universal day of
peace without war or acts of
violence.”
The national theme for King Week
’88 is “Living the Dream: Let
Freedom Ring.”
The third national holiday, Jan. 18,
begins with a wreath-laying
ceremony at Dr. King’s crypt, follow
ed by the traditional ecumenical ser
(See FEDERAL, P. 2)
ng Celebration Reawakens
Iream” For Many Citizens
During the first paid state holiday
to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., on
Monday, Jan. 18, some state
employees will be working and this
angers many black state workers.
Tnese state workers who are repor
ting for work are voluntarily repor
ting 1o make up time lo6t due to the
snow and ice.
After a hard-fought battle, the 1987
General Assembly approved a paid
holiday honoring King on the third
Monday in January.
But this year’s observance falls 11
days after a winter storm hit North
Carolina and shut down much of state
government.
State personnel officials said that
most of the 19,225 state workers in
Wake County who are subject to the
State Personnel Act, as well as many
of their counterparts statewide, miss
ed some work on Jan. 7 and all of Jan.
8. V .
The Office of State Personnel last
week distributed a memo to agency
heads reminding them that rank-and
file workers must make up lost time.
The letter—dated Monday and writ
ten by Richard V. Lee, state person
nel director—didn’t specifically men
tion the King holiday, but said that
lost time could be made up on
h,fio»: James G. Martin had opposed
tlpe King holiday because other in
%Mgtls bad not beta honored by
srtHmarholidays.
Tim R. Pittman, a spokesman for
Martin, said the personnel office
memo was dot an attempt by the ad
ministration to encourage state
employees to work Monday.
But state workers who called The
CAROLINIAN about the issue said it
was a "cheap shot.” One worker, who
requested anonymity said, “They are
trying to do this so they do not have to
recognize or respect Martin Luther
King, Jr.’s birthday. She added that
many black workers in state govern
ment will opt to make up the time
later in the year or on Saturday. She
said, “A lot of white workers will
work on Monday. I feel the policy is
made up for their benefit, the
whites’.”
Personnel officials said that state
workers who are subject to the federa
Fair Labor Standards Act—generally
■those below mid-level positions—can
not work more than 40 hours a week
without being paid overtime. They
said the King holiday offered an op
portunity to make up lost time
because it created a four-day work
week, allowing workers to make up a
lost diay without overtime.
While nobody could say how many
rank-and-file state employees would
turn up for work Monday, some of
ficials said the number could be
sizeable. Several administrators said
they had received a number of re
quests from employees wanting to
work.
According to Gwen A. Canady,
chief deputy of the office, the state
auditor’s office probably will have at
least 2S employees working Monday.
Officials at the state personnel of
fice, the N.C. Department ol
Transportation and the N.C. Depart
ment of Natural Resources and Com
munity Development said they ex
pected to have a number oi
employees working Monday.
According to the letter sent to state
workers, “Time can,be made up on
non-workdays, weekends or holidays
However, time worked on a holiday
must be voluntary on the part of the
employee. The Holiday Premium
Pay Policy does not apply when the
employee volunteers to work on a
holiday.” It also adds, “Time can be
made up before or after normal work
hours or by using no more than 3(
minutes of the lunch hour. There is nc
time limit on an employee’s oppor
tunity to make up time.”
The North Carolina Genera!
Assembly Legislative Services Of
fice, with Margaret Webb, in an of
ficial statement said the Legislature
honors King.
“In one of the first acts of the 1967
General Assembly, the North
Carolina legislature honored the
memory of civil rights activist Mar
tin Luther King, Jr., by making the
IHHi
JAMES MARTIN
NC Governor
third Monday in January a paid holi
day tor state employees. Jan. 19,1988
martak'tbr first such celebration of
the King holiday.
“Hie 198S General Assembly had
put Rev. King’s birthday, Jan. 15, on
a list of legal public holidays. Legal
public holidays are ones observed by
the stae but not necessarily given as
time off with pay to state employees.
Congress then made the third Mon
day in January a holiday for federal
employees. The 1987 law brought
North Carolina into line with federal
policy.
(See CELEBRATION, P. 2)
Bastion Of Racism
Forsyth Marchers Return
Kr*«l (AROI.INIAN Malt Rtporta
Aim Sun IMapalchn
On Jnn. j 18, the Rev. Hoeea
William*, civil rights veteran and
field general of the late Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., and organiser and
leader of thefamed January 1887 For
syth County; march, returned to this
town renowned for its predominantly
white population.
In a letter from the Forsyth County,
Ga. Brotherhood and Sisterhood
Movement Against Fear and Intimi
dation, it was stated, "We..., in honor
of the late Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s 1817 birthday, encourage every
American to Join ue in appropriately
observing Dr. King’s birthday this
January.
"And In heaping with Dr. King's
movement philosophy—‘Ain't Going
to Let Nobody Turn Ua Around,’
Saturday, Jan. 16, we will return to
Forsyth County, known as America’s
bastion of racism—to complete the
1907 aborted Brotherhood March
Against Fear and Intimidation.”
According to the statement, “One
year ago in appropriately observing
Dr. King’s birthday we attempted
this nonviolent brotherhood march,
but it was broken up when we were so
brutally attacked by hate-filled racist
terrorists of Forsyte County, thereby
establishing without a shadow of
doubt that Forsyth County is
America’s haven of racial bigotry."
It went on to say, "Therefore, even
though we are returning to Forsyth to
complete that unfinished brotherhood
march against fear and Intimidation
in keeping Dr. King's true legacy
alive, we will launch a nonviolent
campaign to redeem the soul of our
■later* and brothers in Forsyth Coun
ty, thereby ridding Forsyth County of
its South African apartheid-like
government. This la a must, even
though we realise the life-threatening
dangers in ridding Forsyth of its 75
yeraa of racial terrorism. But to
allow It to stand unchallenged 20
years after Or. King gave his life to
rid America of racism la a betrayal of
Dr. King’s true legacy and allows his
‘dream’ to become a nightmare.”
Cash Michaels of WLLE said last
year’s march showed “that if the
powers that be felt that violence was
everything in terms of intimidating
freedom-loving people, our
20,000-plus march through Forsyth
(See FORSYTH. P *>