Newspapers / The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.) / April 20, 1989, edition 1 / Page 13
Part of The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
On The Hill VI NNPA News Editor COPS MUST GO AFTER WHITE COLLAR DRUG BOSSES WASHINGTON, D.C.-Not long ago I was idly (how else?) watching television and on screen popped a movie called “HIT.” It starred Richard Pryor and a lean Billy Dee Williams. The movie was made in 1973,16 years ago, but apart from Bil ly Dee’s and Richard’s medium Afros, plus the fact Billy Dee has add ed a few pounds in the ensuing years, it could have been made last month. Billy Dee turns in an astonishing performance as a grimly determined avenger, crafty, unrelenting, resourcefully violent, a cerebral cop whose performance was all the more gripping because he played it in such a gritty, laid-back way. There is an interracial romance (Billy Dee makes love to a white dope-addicted prostitute; this must have been somewhat eyebrow-raising in those days, for all of Billy Dee’s cleancut recctitude and the woman’s tainted virtue. And the camera moves moodi ly through the film as if in a real-life crime documentary). It’s the kind of movie I like—violent action, tough scripting and good guys winning in the end. I wondered how I could have missed it the first, second or even 10th time around. The movie’s theme was simple: the quest of a bereaved father who, although a law enforcement officer, opted to break the law for the greater good—in order to stamp out the top dope kingpins and thus avenge his 13-year-old daughter’s drug-induced death. Tne operative words here are * top dope kingpins." Billy Dee dragoons his daughter's spastic young lover in to Angering the black dude who sold them the fatal doipe. Billy then pro ceeds to go up side the dope pusher's head with maniacally methodical vigor. In fact, he has this chap in the back seat of an auto and is busting him up with his fists in such a singlehanded way that the dope pusher, who has visions of the Grim Reaper, cries out, “Don't kill me. I am just [a little man] on the street. If you kill me another will take my place.” The bloodied wretch blubbers that Billy Dee should be going after the real culprits—the men in plush law and. banking offices downtown. But, of course! This creepis in reality a victim. His name, as they say in the Bible, is Legion because be is many. The urban centers that festoon our nation are awash with them. They are the jobless, the macho, the desperate. They are ripe for action—criminal action. Kill one and 10,000 spring up in nis place. Is there a direct correlation between the murderously high (40-60 percent) Unemployment among young black males in our Altering ghettoes and the high rate of crime? You bet! It suddenly made sense to Billy Dee, who pause<f in the midst of his absorbing preoccupation and thus, the movie begins to heat up and shifts to a sensible level. Billy Dee’s “top dope kings" happen to be French businessmen/racketeers somehow protected by members of Billy Dee’s fraternity, the police. But that doesn’t deter Billy Dee despite his boss’s ad monition. He cannily assembles a team of misfits, including the pro stitute, and proceeds to do the im possible-tracking and wiping out a powerfully entrenched French drug mafia. It makes one think: Why can’t the D.C. officials or other big-city brass find the local dealers and summarily dispose of them like Billy Dee did? Of course, silly, Billy Dee’s is a fantasy world, but no more so than real life drug operations and the violence that springs from them—all of which are wracking our urban centers, piling up young black male bodies, playing havoc with decent citizens’ way of life and civilized law and order. The street-level drug traffic has a black or Hispanic face. But you better believe that the face of the drug overlords is predominantly white. And perhaps this is part of the pro blem. It’s easy to bust these un protected street cockroaches; but tougher to tear away the veil of respectability and police protection payoff and fumigate the white-collar lice. D.C. Police Chief Maurice Turner has publicly admitted he can’t do much to stop the drug traffic or the killings. On the Hill, Mayor Marion Barry told Congress he needs hun dreds more police, more prison space and millions of dollars to really engage the war. He was embarrassed when a congressman pointed out that a crack house was operating a few hundred yards from the Catholic school the solon’s son attends, and he immediately dispatched a “surveillance” team to the spot. What gets me lathered is that almost anybody in a drug-plagued neighborhood knows who the drug pushers are—everybody, that is, but the police. Black Muslim neighborhood protectors once charg ed that some police were part of that traffic. Honest police ask for citizen help and have to be led by the hand to the wrongdoers. Sure, citizens must help identify honest police. They can't do it by themselves. But, dam mit, why can’t they see what is operating right under their noses? Perhaps police are weary of the charade of arresting these nobodies only to see them sprung immediately and back in business on the streets. Additionally, I am frosted when so much media energy, and indeed, police attention, is directed at the simple-minded, strutting little gold chain-wearing black “donkeys” who are peddling the crap on the streets. Why don’t the authorities direct some attention at the entrenched sources of the drug traffic—the fat-cat lawyers, bankers, insurance tycoons, the white-collar crooks who sit in plush K Street, Weall Street and LaSalle Street offices, raking in the real big bucks—men who are responsible for keeping alive the flourishing trade that is devastating 1 our communities? In the movie, Billy Dee started otu beating the crap out of one of the street vermin who peddle the stuff, until the nearly comatose “donkey” managed to attract his attention with cries pointing to the real operators downtown. It also turned on Billy Dee’s being honest and intelligent enough to recognize the truth when he heard it, even from the mouth of such a low form of animal life. Whereupon Billy Dee organized a small team and literally wiped out the fat-cat bastards who are the real culprits. Until the real-life Billy Dee Williams’ cops (let that also read the FBI, Dope Czar William Bennett’s minions, and other federal and local gendarmes who say they are serious about fighting this drug war) get the lead out and start busting the fat fan nies of the white-collar drug overlords, I don’t see how the average citizen can have much faith in what they say. Add this scary corollary: Harass ed, uptight citizens, fed to the teeth with hoodlums pushing them around in their own communities, sick to death of having federal and local of ficials blow smoke at them, organiz ing vigilantes, a la Billy Dee Williams, and taking the law into their own hands. Believe me, you hear more and more of this kind of talk these days. And it’s not movie fantasy! Focus On Youth Is Now A New NAACP Objective BY ALLIE M. PEEBLES Contributing Writer The Raleigh-Apex Branch of the National Association for the Ad vancement of Colored People met on Sunday, April 9, at 4 p.m. at Martin Street Baptist Church. Rev. H.B. Pickett, Jr. presided over the business session, which was opened with devotion. The membership report, Freedom Fund banquet report, and the life membership report of $1,200 were given to the secretary in order to expedite mat ters. The highlight of the meeting was a youth forum, coordinated by Ms. Angela Grimes, first vice president. Assisting Ms. Grimes were Ms. Sara!' Dawis of Apex and Ms. Kimberly Baldwin. The youth panel was made up of high school students from the Wake County School System. Cash Micahels served as moderator, and he recognized the youth in the au dience who responded. The panelists discussed such topics as the attendance policy in the Wake County School*, the abortion issue, the student-parent relationship, the role of the church, and careers. The focus on youth is one of the new objectives of the Raleigh-Apex Branch, and all efforts are being made to organize a strong youth chapter in the Raleigh-Apex areas. Ms. Betty Gilbert will serve as one of the advisors. Youth programs and ac tivities are ongoing on the state and national levels of the NAACP. The youth forum will be aired over radio station WAUG-AM 750 on Satur day, April 22, at 10 a.m. Youth par ticipants represented First Baptist Church, Oberlin Baptist Church, Martin Street Baptist Church, First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, St. Paul AME Church, Wake Chapel Baptist, St. Mary’s AME, and First Entertainment, Dancing Sedates Hold Celebration BY MABLK S. PATTERSON Special To The CAKOI.INIAN The weekend of April 7 was one to remember for the 13 members of the Sedates Civic and Social Club. They celebrated their anniversary at the Downtown Holiday Inn on Hills borough Street. On Friday night after check-in, the club members relaxed in their 18th floor hospitality suite, entertaining the guests of some of the club members. Tljey played games of their choice, some winning prizes while others chatted, watched televi sion or listened to music. Hors d oeuvres prepared by the social committee were followed by fun into the wee hours of the morning, „1T« mull* cnri&i riira-From left to right, McAlister, Alice Collins, Delia McDowell, Kathleen Ray. jysSiSSBurt ,"d L”" H“ Mayola Winston and Francis Yarborough; standing. Pearl pictured. Elizabeth Jones. Garner Road YCMA Planning 44th Annual Board Meeting On April 21 The Garner Road YMCA Board of Directors will observe its 44th annual meeting on April 21. The annual meeting serves as a reporting timei for the Y organization to the public, concerning its financial status for the year. Dr. Wiley M. Davis, vice chairman of the Y Board <}f Directors, will preside over the annual meeting. Musical selections will be provided by the St. Augustine’s College Con cert Choir, Dr. Sevoalyn V. Smith, director. Welcome will be given by Dr. J. Mills Holloway, Sr., vice presi dent of financial affairs. The occasion will be stated by Y Board member v W.W. Hurdle, followed by greetings by Jacob B. Allen, III, board chair- A man; Norman E. Day, chief ex ecutive officer; and the Hon. Ralph ^ Campbell, Jr., city councilman. In vocation and blessing will be offered J by Rev. C.E. Willie, III, Y board e member. v Board member Lawrence B. v Bradley will introduce the keynote speaker, Dr. George C. Debnam, Jr. ( Awards will go to the following: I CONGRESSIONAL PRIDE-An historic event took place recently when members ! of the newly formed Parliamentary black Caucus invited delegates from the . Congressional Black Caucus to take part in discussions and festivities in London. • On hand to celebrate the groups’ common goals at a CBS Records, Inc., sponsored evening were the evenf s featured artist, pianist Ramsey Lewis, Congressional Black Caucus representative Amelia Parker, and Congressman Ronald V. Dellums (D-CA). ] Dr. Harris To Address Educators' Conference CHICAGO, 111.—Dr. J. Jerome Har ris, superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools, was the keynote speaker at the 1989 National Educators’ Con ference luncheon on April 19. The con ference, sponsored by the Chicago Public Schools, Department of Equal Educational Opportunity Programs, was titled “In Pursuit of Equity: Reform, Refocus, Renewal” at the Hyatt Regency Chicago Hotel through April 21. Dr. Harris, formerly of Raleigh, is best known for his accomplishments in increasing the academic perfor mance of students in New York City Community School District 13. Under his leadership, Community School District 13 became the only decen tralized school district in New York City with a predominantly minority student population where more than 60 percent of the students performed at or above grade level on standardiz ed reading and mathematics tests. He is one of the founders of the New York Association of Black Educators and has received numerous honors for advocacy, initiative and action in advancing the excellence of minority educators and students throughout New York City’s Public School System. Born and educated in Raleigh, Dr. Harris received his bachelor of science degree from Shaw Universi ty. He was awarded a master of science degree in education from Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala. and received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Claremont Graduate School. Dr. Harris has served on the California State Education Depart ment’s Task Force investigating school violence and has served as an adjunct professor at Union College, City College and New York Universi ty The National Educators’ Con ference will offer workshops, panel discussions and keynote addresses on an extensive range of content areas. It is open to teachers, administrators, school board members and parents. For additional information, contact Mary E. Broomfield at (312) 890-7790. DR. J. JEROME HARRIS Religious Service Award—Rev. Dr. .B. Lewis. Personal Achievement ward—Wallace 0. Green. Human Service Award—Dr. eorge C. Debnam. Meritorious Service Award—Dr. J. Sansom, Jr., board member neritus. Political Award—William L. rindley. Minority Business Award—James ulley’s Back Hoe Service. Community Service Award—Ms. largaret Pollard. Education Award—Johnnie L. 'armer. Youth Servicde Award—Woody ’happell Outstanding Family—Mr. Lion and Irs. Dorothy Smith. Corporate Citizen twards—Carolina Power and Light !o. and First Federal Savings and ■oan. Outstanding Organization—Ral igh Alumnae Chapter of Delta igma Theta Sorority. Volunteer Service Award—James (evis. Chairman's Award—Jacob B. lien, III. Special Awards Presentation—St. .ugustine’s College WAUG. Membership Report—John “Top” (See YM MEET. P.18) Dourt Awards t206K To White ’rof For Bias BY COLLIE J. NICHOLSON NNPA News Service HOUSTON, Texas—A federal court ury awarded a former white >usiness professor $206,795 in lamages in a racial bias suit against lexas Southern University. The jury in U.S. Magistrate George (alt's court awarded Dr. Roy A. Pen lychick, 72, $156,795 for five years in ost wages, $25,000 in punitive lamages for racial discrimination ind $25,000 in punitive damages for etaliating against him for his estimony in another case. Earlier, Pennychick testified in ederal court that another business trofessor was paid less than black trofessors because he was white. TSU counsel Renee smith said the tate will appeal the decision. According to court documents, *ennychick was forced into retire nent at age 65, on June 30,1982, one lay before a federal court law went nto effect raising the mandatory (See BIAS SUIT, P. 18) when members decided it was time to retire to their rooms on the 10th floor. Saturday, April 8, began with Hreakfast, after which a meeting was railed by the president, Mable Scarver Patterson. Unfinished jusiness was discussed, queen money -eported and all final details com peted for the anniversary dance. After the meeting, the members were free to spend time lounging, en joying each other’s company, while tome went home to check on family, thopped or occupied themselves itherwise. At 5 p.m., the Sedates and some of heir guests met and enjoyed dining it the hotel’s restaurant, ‘‘Top of the itound.” The Sedates retired to their rooms it 7 p.m. to prepare for the dance, they wore black semiformal attire with wrist corsages of mini-white car lations, tipped in black and tied with Pack ribbon. Official greeters were Annie Buf faloe, social chairperson, and Mayola Winston, secretary. Patricia Burt ind Francis Yarborough, along with >ther members of the club, acted as Hostesses. From 9 p.m. to 1 a m., the Sedates and their guests enjoyed dancing to the disco of Zell Lucas. They also par took of the buffet provided by the Hotel. Ms. Buffaloe was spokesperson for the short program presented by the Pub. Zell Lucas introduced the club members and Mable Patterson welcomed the guests. Mayola Winston announced Miss Sedates 1989, a first, and Zell Lucas crowned Her and presented her with a bouquet of red sweetheart rosebuds and Haby’s breath. This writer was crowned queen, Having raised $300, with Catherine Boykin as first runner-up and Mayola Winston as second runner-up. After the Sedates took the floor for their dance, they retired to the lobby for photographs by Chris Hinton. Ann and Roy Griffin, owners and operators of Flowers and Interiors by Rubell, prepared the corsages, the queen’s banner and her bouquet. Members of the club are Catherine Boykin, Annie Buffaloe, Patricia Burt, Alice Collins, Elizabeth Jones, Pearl McAllister, Delia McDowell, Betty McKenzie, Mable Patterson, Kathleen Ray, Laura Williams, Mayola Winston, and Francis Yar borough. University To Observe First Abele Awards DURHAM—When Duke Universi ty’s Black Graduate and Professional Student Association holds its first Julian Abele Awards and Recognition Banquet on Friday, April 21, outstan ding black graduate and professional students, faculty and staff will be honored. Tribute will also be paid to Julian Abele, a person whose little-known contributions helped make the university’s campus among the na tion’s most picturesque. A newly commissioned portrait of Abele, the architect who designed parts of Duke’s East and West cam puses in the late 1920s and early 1930s, will be unveiled during the banquet to be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Searle Center. Abele’s son and daughter, Julian Abele and Nadia Abele Jones, and his grandson, Gregory A. Reed, as well as Duke President H. Keith H. Brodie will be on hand for the unveiling of the portrait by local artist William Pin ckney. The painting will be hung in the Allen Building, where it will be the first portrait of a black person in the university’s administration building. Other highlights of the dinner will be the announcement of the first Julian Abele Scholarship award win ner and the presentation of the first Julian Abele Award for outstanding contributions by a black faculty member or university administrator. Nominations for this award were sub mitted by members of the BGPSA and the Black Student Alliance. Special awards will also be made during the event to black faculty (See UNVEILED, P. 18) Ill Our Expirta KMp Your Car In Tap Shapat V: S BRAKE REPAIR DRUMS & ROTORS TURNED TUNE UPS BATTERIES TIRES COMPUTER BALANCED OFFICIAL •jkJ Licensed Inspection V7 Station! Credit Cards Honored TEXACO - EXXON - MASTERCARD - VISA AMERICAN EXPRESS-OISCPVERY Ifl tVICKNTIR "5m Ms /dr Compare Cm Can!" seat. TfHttl
The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 20, 1989, edition 1
13
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75