AIDS
(Continued from page 1)
to their wivee as well as themselves.
“U starts off in Third World pover
ty. Men have sex with other men for
money,” said Dr. Laureano Vega,
director of the South Florida AIDS
Project. “They did not consider
themselves gay because it was not
something they did for pleasure.
They’re into heavy denial.
. “If they are the penetrator, they’re
not the ones receiving infected
semen,” he said. “They tend to think
there’s a lower risk for contracting
the disease. That’s not the case.”
AIDS brochures are being
translated into Spanish, but there are
subtle dialect differences among
Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans
and South Americans. Some sexual
acts have no translation in Spanish,
such as “fisting,” a variation of anal
Intercourse. That weakens the warn
ing.
In addition, “Everything has to be
less explicit,” Vega said. “You have
to sterilize the message. We cannot
approach these issues as openly as we
can in the Anglo community.”
Religious conservatism in the black
community and its associated
homophobia have forced many gay
black men to hide their sexual identi
ty, making it difficult to reach them,
educators say.
“There is a percentage that iden
tify as black first, gay second,” said
San Francisco AIDS educator Ernest
Andrews. “They don’t go to gay bars
and they don’t read gay newspapers.
Their sexuality is very private.”
Religious beliefs have proved a pro
vound obstacle to AIDS education in
very basic ways. With the Roman
Catholic Church opposing condom
use, it is difficult to persuade
Hispanics to use them.
“We’re asking them to almost walk
away from their culture,” said Sunny
Rumsey, AIDS educator for the New
York City Health Department. “How
do they stay religious and still protect
themselves from the virus?”
The church's position has made
that impossible, minority social
workers say.
“We have to cut out this moral
judgment. It’s not a moral issue. It’s
not a religious issue. It’s a health
issue,” said Ruth Rodriguez of the
Hispanic AIDS Forum in New York.
“The shame of it is, people are in
fected and die in the meantime.”
FAMILY
(Continued from page 1)
University of Nebraska program
which focuses on six family
strengths of commitment,
wellness, communication, ap
preciation, spending time
together, and the ability to deal
with stress.
People from all walks of life
have been trained as family
strengthening advocates. These
groups include teachers,
ministers, social workers, high
school students, and military per
sonnel. These advocates, in turn,
work with othes in their com
munities to strengthen families.
“One of the goals of this seminar
is to challenge people to do
something positive in their
families,” Ms. Monroe said.
The seminars are designed to
offer solutions to the problems
that plague many families such
a* teen pregnancies, high school
dropouts, underachieving
students, drug and alcohol abuse,
divorce and separation, and a
lack of church involvement.
Family members must take
responsibility in solving these
problems, Ms. Monroe says.
“Government can only do so
much,” she said. “But it is the
responsibility of each individual
in a family to instill hope in
himself and each other In order to
know that his situation will im
prove,”
Many of these issues will also
be addressed at a coming Gover
nor’s Commission on the Family
Conference to be held Sept. 1S-1«
at the Radisson Hotel In High
Point. The theme of the con
ference is “North Carolina’s
Families: A Focus on the
Future.” The conference, which
is open to the public, will host
ihany sessions including topics
such as child care and job train
ing. Ms. Monroe will host a panel
of civic and church leaders who
will discuss the role of the school,
the church and the home in
strengthening minority families.
If anyone is interested ip atten
ding the conference, call Victoria
Grieeo, the executive director of
the Governor’s Commission for
the Family, at 73MZM.
Training sessions on building
on the strengths of the family are
mnnities in the state as well.
8ome of the dates and locatieos of
with the North Carolina Public
School Social Workers; and Nov.
• at the meeting of the North
Carolina School Counselors In
Raleigh.
(Continued hem ease 1)
fleer Gary Smith,” the report says.
Reiin said the report contains inac
curacies that could have been avoid
ed had he been interviewed. He said
he would resist any attempt to
remove him, though under state law
only the governor can remove a
district attorney.
“It’s very disappointing to think
that someone will draw conclusions
that are totally incorrect and totally
false without making the effort to
educate themselves about what hap
pened,” he said.
The commission, made up of
ministers, educators, business people
and neighborhood activists, has been
meeting in secret since June. It said
in its report that it represents “op
pressed people.”
The report does not name people
they interview, including five
“witnesses” they said were at the
scene of the shooting. Smith and two
officers were in the room where the
shots were fired and are the only
witnesses, police have said. Smith
also was the only person who could
see Green in the crawlspace, accor
ding to police.
The report also charged that the
grand jury’s and police department's
investigations were tainted by
racism, and that racism is pervasive
in Rochester.
Commission members requested
but were not allowed to see grand
jury minutes or internal police
department reports. They did not in
terview city and county officials or
police officers on the scene.
Paul Bringwell, city public safety
commissioner, dismissed the com
mission's charges of racism, saying
the report reflected the “frustration,
of now knowing.” He also dismissed
the idea of a police department run by
an elected citizens’ commission, say
ing it would “unhandcuff the police,
giving them more power.”
JESSE JACKSON
(Continued from page 1)
or may not make it to the White
Hosue, but our children will. And they
must.”
“The struggle to make America
stronger, to make America better
continues. We’re so close to where
we’re going and so far from where we
started.”
Jackson did not mention
Democratic nominee Michael
Dukakis by name, but he made
several references to the recently
concluded campaign.
“Politics is not a one-round fight,”
he said. “It’s not an even fight. But
you can’t have a glass jaw."
PLAN
(Continued from page 1)
ventures, work closely, with local in
dustrial groups, commercial entities
and the Chamber of Commerce in
stimulating the local economy, iden
tify needs of minority businesses, en
courage the use of more effective
community organization techniques,
formulate public and private in
vestments and stabilizing businesses
with expansion potential, and gather,
analyze and disseminate economic
and business data to the minority
community.
Parks revealed recently that M.L.
Banner, an official with the U.S.
Department of Commerce and a
former director of the Reid Street
Recreation Center, is being con
sidered for director of ENCCMED.
"We want to grab him, he has a lot
of expertise,” Parks said.
Banner has noted that hq has given
ENCCMED many hours of help and
has a continuing interest in the
organization.
“Even if the salary wasn’t there
and I was in Wilson, I’d still give
something back to Wilson. I have an
affinity [for Wilson]. I’ve been in that
community annually for the last
25 years,” Banner said.
He said that he is currently eligible
for retirement from his federal post,
but has not yet set a retirement date.
The presentation to the Wilson City
Council noted nearly (5.56 million in
federal funds the city has received
over the past 10 years. The ENCCM
ED directors stated that monies
targeted for poor black residents
weid to white landlords instead.
“AH I’m saying is the city has
received (5.5 million and the pro
blems are still the same,” one
Mack-McLean
Reunion Held
In Raleigh
The Mack-McLeen reunion was
held at the home of Me. Laura
McLean of 441 Fowler St., Raleigh, on
Sunday, July SI. Approximately 100
relative* and friend* attended from
Red Serine*. Ramaeur, Durham,
Lumberton, Maxton, Raleigh, New
Jersey and Florida. Everyone en
joyed good food and good fellowship.
TEAMMO UP-WMam Pretty,
Raleigh, SHer City, and Sanford, presents a check for $3,000 ts Isaac Howard •
Hm n. C. Slack i Mdershlp Caucus.
Teenagers Foresee Black
Pexy Within Five Years
In a youth poll of man thin 11,000
WlfsOi A jiLaaI a4|m J 4 M 4bMA am4
nun BCixioi inniwivii two oui o» UhOQ
teenagers said they were likely to see
a black president in the next five
years.
The Burger King Corp. and
Scholastic, Inc., sponsored "Teen At
titude Survey” enlisted die political
views and personal goals of high
school students mlding in all
demographic regions of the country,
including dtlse, suburbs, small towns
and rural areas.
The study, conducted In conjunc
tion with Update ""p11" was
drawn from a cross-section of
American teenagers from various
ethnic groups, including blacks,
whites, Hispaqics, American Indians
and Asians.
Among Macks and Hispanlcs, 66.S
percent of those students polled over
whelmingly agreed that it was "very
likely” or “somewhat likely” that a
Mack American could become presi
dent during their lifetime. Too-line
finding* tallying the view* of all
students show that 48 percent believe
a black American is electable.
While recent media coverage of the
presidential nomination has un
doubtedly had an impact on
American teenagers, the majority of
aU students polled (62.9 percent) did
not feel a Hispanic American would
garner the same broad-based sup
port
However, among 623 Hispanic
students who participated in the
survey, more than half (51.2 percent)
wer confident that a Hispanic could
be In the White House by 1992, lending
credence to the assumption that
ethnic heritage can be a factor in the
electoral process. In contrast, 67.3
percent of the 1,274 black students
polled responded negatively to a
Hispanic president, and 71.2 percent
of white students felt the same way.
Among all students polled, only 29.8
percent believed a Hispanic could be
elected during their lifetime.
Nearly 60 percent of all students
believed a female would serve as
president, while they had leu con
fidence in seeing a handicapped or
Jewish individual in the Oval Office.
The survey found that 57.9 percent
of all students polled would not com
mit to either the Republican or
Democratic parties when they
register to vote. However, study
results show that 25.6 percent of Mack
students and 16.9 percent of|
Hispanic students would “very
likely” register as Democrats, com
pared to 12 percent of white students.
And 8.3 percent of students polled
would “very likely” register as
Republicans, compared to 12.2 per
cent for Hispanics and 18.7 percent
for whiten
social issues of particular concern
to minority groups, such as food for
the hungry and shelter for the poor,
were on the minds of all teenagers,
regardless of ethnic origin. More than
half the students (55.1 percent)
believed they could personally help
alleviate these national problems,
and 52.3 percent felt they could help
reduce the crime rate as well.
On the subject of improving public
education, the majority of black and
Hispanic students polled (45.2 per
cent) felt this issue should be of
primary concern for the next presi
dent. Only one-third of those white
students surveyed (33.6 percent) felt
strongly about this subject.
When asked if they would go to war
to protect the freedom of U.S. citizens
if they were president, students
responded positively, on the average.
However, ’67.9 percent of white
students responded yes, compared to
49.3 percent of black students and 57.8
percent of Hispanic students who
answered the four-page question
naire in April.
Minority students were on par with
the national averages regarding
knowledge of current events (54.4
percent), community service (46 per
cent), sports participation (37.3 per
cent) and the amount of effort they
put forward in school (57 percent).
While a high school diploma, their
future and education were top priori
ty issues in the minds of teenagers,
health matters also rated high. In
fact, the survey found that 43 percent
of black teenagers were very con
cerned about the AIDS crisis.
. Hispanics also felt strongly (37.4 per
cent), while only 29 percent of whites•'
were as deeply concerned about
AIDS.
Demonstrators For Bravoley Jotted
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)-One day in
jail hasn’t silenced the ever-active
tongue of New York City civil rights
activist A1 Sharpton.
He and 11 others, including folk
singer Pete Seeger, were found guilty
of disorderly conduct during a racial
ly charge protest over the alleged
rape of Tawana Brawley.
Before his conviction, Sharpton
said the April 4 demonstrator! were
“on trial like murderers."
“We will have our supporters hare
with a demonstration unlike anything
they’ve ever seen,” he promised of
what would happen if he wore con
victed by Albany County Potke Court
Judge Thomas Keegan.
Nonetheless, Keegan sentenced U
of the 14 protesters to IS days at the
Albany County Jail for blocking traf
fic in downtown Albqny. They were to
begin serving their sentences im
mediately. Two other h«ImiIm)I«
were acquitted after the three-day,
non-jury trial.
That was last Friday afternoon.
On Saturday night, all 13 of the
demonstrators were released from
the suburban Albany jail, each on
$100 bond pending appeal, after New
York State Supreme Court Judge
Paul Cheeseman met with their at
torneys and Albany County District
Attorney Sol Greenberg.
Lawyers Alton Maddox, Jr., C. Ver
non Mason and Sharpton have been
acting as advisers for Ms. Brawley,
the black Wappingers Falls teenager
who claims she was abducted and
sexually assaulted by six white men
last November.
)
They hav* advised the Brawley
family not to cooperate with an in
vestigation beaded by atate Attorney
General Hobart Abrams, the apodal
prpaatutnr appointed by Gov. Mario
Cuomo.. .
relieved ga he
i the Jail.
"I wanted to expreoe my unity with
__ "I
happy to hive done ao.”
As Sbarptoo strolled
the iron bets Saturday night, the New
York City midatar tome of hie «up
portora nickname ‘The Rev.,” called
out to guard! and inmatee, “I'll be
back, hut 1 might ha lata for bnakot
ballt~—— ”
Ha aald ha apent the day playing a
little *>■■»«»»»■»« immUm to cont
plainta from fellow in*
mates—complaints ha had
' - • • Itai
"I thiiik my attorneya acored a vic
tory today beceuaa they wore able to
appeal to a aobor Judge," Sbarptoo
aald Saturday, referring to
to cell the ralaaae a victory.
“In a case that r
to a criminal
i aurprised at
i “to put everybody away im
“It cauaod aotna hardehipe," Mad
dox said, adding that two of dm
woman in the group had left their
young children at home unsupervis
ed. '‘There was no gap betweeA con
viction and sentence.”
Sharpton later described Keegan as
“jl drunk” who made a hasty deci
sion on the lives of 14 people “because
he couldn't wait to get to the bar.
THiNK
SAFETY
J
W1LL1AMSTON WHISTLINGS
BY JOYCE GRAY
WILLIAMSTON—The Hassel
Gospel Singers have an engagemen
on Oct. 2 at West Martin School.
There will be a surprise master ol
ceremonies at the pre-anniversary
celebration of the Spiritual Aires or
Saturday, Aug. 27. The host church is
Chapel Hill Baptist Church on Hwy
125. Time is 7:30 p.m.
Getting set for their annual Family
Day is Mount Eprew Baptist Church,
Roper, on Sunday, Aug. 28. Invita
tions have been extended to friends
within Washington County and all
surrounding surrounding counties
and service begins at 11 a.m.
Speaker for the St. James Mis
sionary Baptist Church Women’s Day
program is Ms. Donna Bazemore,
community organizer, Center for
Women’s Economic Alternatives,
Ahoskie.
The program will start at 11 a m.
Sunday, Aug. 14, and the church is
located between Williamston and
Jamesville on Hwy. 64. The public is
invited to attend.
Happy birthday to Robert L.
Barnes.
Very anxious to visit grandmother
in Charlotte is Michael Duggins,
Route 1, Williamston. Seems he got
busy during the summer out of school
session and with some extra school
activity in mind for next term, he is
now hoping to put aside at leats three
days with grandmother, Ms. Flowe.
Arriving safely in the United States
last week to enjoy some cooler
temperatures was Ms. Sylvia Egal
and children of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
First on the agenda is rest—then
comes the debate on where to visit
and whom.
For the second time in its five-year
history the Martin County NAACP
Youth Council failed to have a
quorum at the August date set. Usual
ly the officers had searched the calen
dar very carefully for other planned
family affairs, church programs, etc.
There were not that many known
plans at the time the date was set.
It should have been taken into con
sideration by both parent and youth
the importance of having something
organized and operated under your
own leadership. Motivation begins at
home and at an early stage in the
child’s life.
The youth council is a training pro
gram in leadership, respectability,
recordkeeping, data compiling, fun
draising and commitment to justice
for all. In other words, truly commit
ted to the release of unduly suffering
from denial of civil rights.
Maybe some parents or older
adults are unaware of what their civil
rights are and, therefore, cannot ex
plain that subject in their homes. If
so, they, too, should not be too asham
ed to ask questions, watch certain
television programs or attend some
workshops.
One thousand dollars richer
because he made the effort to stop
smoking as requested by a complete
stranger is David Duggins, Utica,
N.Y., and a native of Williamston.
Duggins really thought it a joke when
approached by this lady, who took of
fense to his pipe smoking and merely
stated to her, “I don’t even think I
could do it right away, but will try.”
He said his desire for the pipe began
to wean off with no problem
Friends reminded him that the lady
had not been making small chat or a
joke. When he told them he had lost
his taste for smoking, they supplied
him with the information on how to
get in contact with the donor.
The August meeting of the First
Congregational District Black
Leadership Caucus will be a tour of
the business site in Gates County.
Traditionally, the meeting is held the
second Saturday of each month,
rotating throughout the 21 counties
and starting at 1 p.m.
Duplin County Branch is preparing
for their annual Freedom Fund ban
quet on Sept. 28. Invitations are being
extended to various branches’
memberships. For more details, call
Reddick E. Wilkins at 1-293-4225.
Sympathy is again expressed to the
Manning, Rodgers and Duggins fami
ly in the loss of two loved ones last
week.
When drinking and driving mix, ac
cidents are subject to happen. On
Sunday, July 31, between 9:30 and 10
a.m., such an accident occurred just
below No. 90 Station on Hwy. 64 East
involving a car and a truck.
On the list of sick and shut-ins:
Paul Griffin, Mr. and Mrs. Alton C.
Roberts, John H. Lyons, James
Ramsey, Jesse Bell, Ms. Armaza C.
Roberson, Willie C. Bunch, William
Wallace, Ms. Aria L. Moore, and
Isaac B. Cordon.
Columbus Brown, co-owner of D&L
Furniture Co., was injured in a truck
tractor/ trailer accident recently and
was confined to bed.
Also injured in an automobile acci
dent during the month of July while
driving alone was Ms. Joe H. Gainor.
Ms. Gainor lost control of her car
while driving alone one morning.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Scott
(Washington, D.C.), Booker T. Lloyd,
recovering from surgery; Booker T.
Lanier moving about carefully; Ms.
Virginia Hunter and Ms. Mariah
Walston round out the list.
Not feeling well last week was Ms.
Alberta L. Smith, and Ms. Lonnie
Smallwood was limited in her
movements due to knee problems.
At home recuperating after
surgery is Ms. Iris James.
Doing nicely last week was Noah S.
Nicholson, Robersonville.
Ms. Julia Beach is scheduled for
surgery.
Removing herself from the big-city
hustle and bustle lifestyle for a few
days to enjoy some time with
relatives in Williamston is Ms.
Ametia Griffin, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Accompanying Ms. Griffin were a
friend and a granddaughter, Eboni,
one of her two grandchildren. It was
the first trip for both Eboni and the
friend to town.
Some technical difficulty kept
“Blessing Boulevard” off the airways
for U4 hours on Sunday, July 31. At
least one attempted telephone call
was made trying to inform Rev.
Robert L. Hudson, Sr. that he was not
bang heard.
Visiting her sister, Ms. James E.
Rodgers, end other close relatives in
Williams ton last weekend wen Ms.
Terry Duggins Medlin, her husband
Ronnie and their daughters, Tasha
and Tawanna, from the state of
Delaware.
Stopping by to check on a relative
and friend while on his way to another
town last Sunday afternoon was Rev.
Melon Roscoe, Windsor.
Reported having kept on a very
tight, busy schedule so far this sum
mer is Adam Harris, West Church
Street Adam, a young college stu
dent can return to class this fall with
experience in traveling and working.
One of his work experiences was with
one of the local morticians.
The North Carolina State Depart
ment of Transportation represen
tatives began calling on landowners
last week to negotiate relocation of
some and settlement of others along
Hwy. 64 East which is to become a
four-lane in the near future.
It was Just about five years ago,
late 1985, that surveyors were work
ing constantly, then a decision to just
widen die road was made, with com
pletion in 1185.
A four-lane highway is supposed to
help the economy and lower ac
cidents. Northeastern North Carolina
appears to be in need of many im
provements to attract growth and
benefits for its taxpayers.
Reports that the Glory Lights
Singers had a very good time and suc
cessful program observing their 34th
anniversary have come to us. They
are extending a hearty “thank you”
to all of their supporters.
Seemingly very pleased after a trip
last month is Ms. Ctara R. Owens,
West Church Street, Williamstan. She
was delighted tc see some parts of
Mexico before returning home.
Some folks have expressed concern
over the fact that their car insurance
rated were increased even though
they had not had an accident in the
immediate past
Thoughts are that those innocent
drivers have to keep the insurance
companies fromgoing broke while the
drivers involved in accidents collect
on their policies.