Newspapers / The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.) / April 16, 1991, edition 1 / Page 2
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ticipating local or otate agencies are fuQ partners in the new program. “Most violent crimes are local and state enforcement responsibilities. We want to give all possible help from the federal government to target the most deadly offenders and to make certain that, as Attorney General Thornburgh said, they do 'hard time in federal prisons.’ The government also believes widespread prosecu tions—and certainty of prison terms—will have a major deterrent effect” Here are some ways Trigger lock will focus on local, state and federal offenders: eOne federal law permits prosecu tion of all felons or interstate fugitives possessing a firearm. Penalty: up to 10 yean in prison. e Another allows prosecution of armed career criminals—felons or in terstate fugitives with feree previous violent felony convictions—or serious drug offenses who are in possession of a gun. Penalty: Mandatory IS yean in prison, no early release. •A third permits prosecution of persons who use or carry a gun in a federal crime of violence or drug traf ficking. Penalty: a five-year term ad ded to fee term for underlying of fense, no early release; a second of fense carries a mandatory 30-year term. Trigger lock also will look carefully at fee possibility of federal prosecu tions for firearms violations of state ««id local convicted offenders who receive sentences far lighter than the gravity of their crimes. Paul Lyon, special agent in charge of fee Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Charlotte, said, “ATP ful ly supports fee ‘Operation Trig gerlock' initiative. Since the creation of the law dealing wife armed nar cotics dealers approximately two years ago, ATP has pursued these in dividuals vigorously and will con tinue to do so. This district is one of fee top producers in developing cases against drug traffickers who are us ing firearms.” INSIDE AFRICA (Continued from page l) only through a careful use of non military technical, educational and economic assistance, Johns says. To initiate such a doctrine, Johns says the administration should: •Warn every autocratic African government that their share of U.S. aid will be cut or eliminated if they fail to undertake significant political and economic reforms. Despite more than H billion in annual U.S. aid, 1« of the world’s SO poorest nations are in Africa. “The problem is not merely economic poverty, but a poverty of basic human rights,” Johns says. Unless American security interests are threatened, Washington must curtail aid to these nations, he says. •Ornate a Radio Free Africa. Africans must be exposed to democratic ideas and values to build momentum for political reform, Johns says. Radio Free Europe, for example, by presenting independent news, helped ignite democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe. A similar program in Africa could begin by being broadcast in five languages for about $30 million. •Redirect at least 15 percent of U.S. economic aid to Africa into democracy-building programs. The National Endowment for Democracy, for example, spent <750,000 on such initiatives in 10 African countries last year. But there are 45 non democratic nations on the continent that potentially could benefit from NED grants. Doubling its African budget to about $1.5 million would allow the NED to help support a free press, human rights and elections monitoring groups, and democratic educational organisations. “Pressure is building on the African continent for quick political change,” Johns says. Seventeen of Africa’s 45 noiKlemoeratlc govern ments now are moving toward multi party democracy, and 14 others may soon follow. A democratic Africa can serve U.S. interests by expanding markets for U.S. goods and products, and by reducing the U.S. foreign aid commit ment, Johns says. Further, ho says, the Increased stability of democratic asthmait lass likely that they will threaten U S. strategic interests, such as waterways, natural resources, or potentially valuable tnwlpi wiufaih “A liberation doctrine in Africa can help tip the political balance toward freedom,” Johns says. “This, in turn, will advance Washington’s interests In bringing the African states into toe growing community of democratic, tree-market nations." RIGHTS CHALLENGE (Continued town pace I) --a l- as— »■---a ONN VHQ oHUlHit It was vetoed, however, hjr Presi deat Cash, whe said he believed the eM rights MB weald lead te tastas. The president's rate •esstaraed hgMteUj. Seute (unity law to where it m before 1M when the 8upreme Court toned derisions —-M-g It wen difficult fer victims ef diocriminatioa to get into court and prove dtorimination. President Bush has wrongly characterised the legislation as a “quotas” bill. In fact, the bill states that nothing “shall be con strued to require or encourage an employer to adopt hiring or pro motion quotas." The president’s use of the word “quotas” has divided voters along racial lines. What he has done is akin to what he did with Willie Horton in his campaign for the presidency. The Bush cam paign used Willie Horton to scare white voters away from Michael Dukakis’ candidacy. President Busk is now using the word “quotas” to discourage support of the Civil Rights Act of 1M1. He is waving a red herring to defeat civil rights legislation. There is neither a sentence nor a paragraph in H.R. 1 that calls tor quotas. This legislation is not a quotas bill. To say otherwise is to tamper with the truth. There are some critics who say the Civil Righto Act ef 1M1 wiU be a boon for lawyers. If employers want to stay out of court, the best way to avoid litigation is to not discriminate in hiring. With the growing increase of minorities and women in the workplace, H.R. 1 emerges as one ef the meet important pieces of employment legislation to be considered by Congress and the president In many years. Passage ef the bill would send a vital message to our nation’s employers: employment discrimination will not be tolerated in American society. Please encourage your representative and senator to support H.R. I. Write and call them. Let them know you believe it is critical that they show leadership. Let them know that you want them to vote for passage of H.R. 1. the Civil Righto Act of INI. OPPORTUNITIES (Continued from page 1) magazine, The Downside of Downsizing the Military. The planned reduction will cut a total of 500,000 personnel from all branches of the service by mid decade. While the reservists who served in the Gulf can be expected to return to waiting civilian Jobs, Shane points to two groups in particular that will suffer the greatest dislocations as a result of the downsizing: those forced out by the reduction and young people wishing to pursue a military career that may no longer be open to them. Since blacks currently comprise 20 percent of the military and face substantial civilian unemployment rates, they may suffer most from thse cutbacks. Soane predicts mat a suDstantiai exodus” from the uniformed services is about to flood the civilian labor market where unemployment is at 6.8 percent, its highest level in four years. He reports that thousands of service personnel were held past their normal discharge or retirement dates under so-called "stop loss" provisions imposed during the Persian Gulf War. In the Army alone, 82,000 personnel — 9,000 of them black • are in this category. For blacks, writes Shane, the civilian labor force is “decidedly less friendly to them than to others.” This contrasts with the military, which he describes as “the closest thing we have to a true meritocracy.” He writes, “No where else has black leadership been accepted as fully or black accomplishment more greatly rewarded.” Shane notes that reenlistment rates for blacks stands at 62 percent, higher than for any other group. EDUCATION CUTS (Continued from page 1) restructuring the eight regional education centers into five Technical Assistance Centers. This move will save the state at least (500,000. In previous years, the employees of the Department of Public Instruction spent much of their time regulating and monitoring local school systems. This method of operation, according to the superintendent, resulted in an over-regulated, paper-driven system. With die introduction of Senate Bill 2, the School Improvement and Ac countability Act, the emphasis in education today is on flexibility while still maintaining accountability. State officials are reviewing many of the rules and regulations required in the past to see if there is still a need for this monitoring. To ensure that his staff is in tune with local systems, Etheridge hired several former local school officials to provide the instructional, research and personnel leadership in DPI. He also named a former local This former superintendent, Dr. Roger Jackson, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of DPI and for much oftha staff reorganisation. ~ During MM, a total of 101 positions mhSng’STwT1 staff* by*appra imateiy 10 percent. In 1M0,11 more pflfitWw were abolished the operating budget for the agency was reduced. North Carolina is not the only state involved in restructuring the educa tion bureaucracy. Virginia, Kentucky and other states have also cut staff and restructured. Etheridge said his restructuring of North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction is continuing. “Certainly, I’m pleased that we have saved the state money by cut ting the size of the state agency. The reorganization of the regional centers into Technical Assistance Centers also will result in savings. We must continue to look for ways to make bet ter use of the state’s dollars spent on education.” Wake Cty. UNCF Set Fashion Show For April 28th The Raleigh-Wake Chapter of the United Negro College Fund will pre sent “Styles of Elegance,” a fashion show highlighting spring and sum mer fashions, Sunday, April 28, at the Crabtree Marriott. The event will kick off at 4:30 p.m. with live jazz by the Reggie Jeffreys Group, followed by the fashion show at S p.m. and a reception at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased from Shaw University and St. Augustine’s Col lege for $10. All proceeds benefit the United Negro College Fund scholar ship program. Fashion show hosts are Miriam Thomas, WTVD-TV 11 anchor, and Chris Conners, K 97.5 Afternoon Traf fic Jam announcer (WQOK). In addi tion, several guest model athletes from the Washington Redskins and the Canadian League will perform in the show. “We are very excited about this fashion show because it not only pulls together various businesses and in dividuals for a common cause of rais ing scholarship money,” said Ken neth C. Wilkins, Raleigh-Wake UNCF chairman, “but it also is an event which showcases the unique clothing styles available in the Triangle.” Fashion show sponsors and par ticipants include Crabtree Valley Mall, VIP Formalwear, Glamour Shots, Stein Mart, Harrington's Hair Salon, More Nails by Katherine Stewart, Hinton Photography, the Reggie Jeffreys Group and Tyree’s Salon and Nails. For tickets call Shaw University at 546-8260 or St. Augustine’s College at 828-4451. Over The Counter Drugs Save Cash For Consumers BY AMERICAN HEALTH FOR AP Contrary to traditional wisdom, though non-prescription, over-the counter (OTC) drugs ultimately save consumers money, they may actually cost more than their prescription only versions. Prescription and non-prescription prices for Gyne-Lotrimin, a cream for treating vaginal yeast infections were compared in a limited price survey recently conducted by American Health for an article in its current issue on what happens when prescription drugs go OTC. The drug received approval to switch to OTC last December, but some outlets still sold the prescription version. The average prescription price in 10 New York City pharmacies was 8 percent cheaper than the same-size, same strength OTC version ($18.63 vs. $20.21). During the past IS years, the Food and Drug Administration has allowed more than 45 prescription ingredients to be marketed without a prescription. Though surveys on others might well find a price edge for the OTC version, the biggest cost savings from switches come through a less direct route. Because drug switches account for most of the new products that can be sold without a prescription they offer consumers more options for self medication — and fewer trips to the doctor’s office. Rather than spend time and money ($38 on average) for a visit to the doctor to get a prescription, consumers can simply buy the drug at a pharmacy or supermarket. In this era of increasing self-care, those savings can be considerable. Shaw Students At Honors Meet Four students from snaw universi ty attended the Slst annual Conven tion of Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Socie ty which was held in Columbia, S.C. on March 20-2$. Members of Alpha Omicron Chapter of the Honor Society who at tended the convention were Sharon Hardy (president), Jamal Norwood, Evelyn Gama and Janice Signal. The students participated in various forums and served on several committees: Evelyn Gama, the Necrology Committee; Sharon Har dy, the Evaluation Committee; Jemal Norwood, the Adult Commit tee; and Janice Signal, the Nomina tion Committee. The students In Alpha Omicron Chapter have a minimum grade-point average of 3.S0. WlLLIAMSTON WHISTLINGS BY JOYCE GRAY WILLIAMSTON—First allow me to apologise to the Robert Crowe family whom I expressed sympathy to in my March issue. One of Crowe’s customers phoned me to Inform me that be had passed, based on hearsay. I of course, in the past had related to this individual my concern about fac tual information. That individual, however, did not bother to later in form me when found that the death report was not true. When a faithful reader called con cerning this error, I called several times before catching the individual at home. And had already checked with a mortician by that time. There have been times within the past seven years in which I wrote nothing because I could not trust the source or get intelligent information. Mr. Crowe was admitted to the hospital and I’m toM he is still very sick at this writing. Martin County Democrats elected a complete new slate of officers at their county convention last Saturday. Taking the leadership role is attorney Jim Batchelor of WilUamston, one of the youngest to serve as chairman within the past 17 years. He started out as a Young Democrat. Vice chairs are: Ms. Julia Mann ing, Ms. Janice M. Bennett, Mike Bryant. Secretary is Ms. Jackie Brown. Treasurer is Ms. Mary Lynn Wynne. Both the secretary, Ms. Edith Leathers, and Ms. Faye Lilley, treasurer, were given a round of ap plause for excellent minutes and a good treasurer’s report. Enlightening the attendees with valuable insights of what condition the revenue in the state currently is was Rep. Eugene Rogers. Citing some of the budget cutting and the functions of those in the House of Representatives and Senate were highlighted also by Rep. Rogers, who also complimented the House speaker, Daniel Blue. There were several questions which had to be referred to Rep. Rogers at the dose of the business session. The members were asked to volunteer to serve at the May 18 district convention as registrars and several other capacities. The conven tion opens at 10:30 a.m. at Martin County Auditorium, Williamston. Those who have never attended one of the conventions may do so as a learn ing process. Happy birthday greetings to Richard Rease, Ms. Lenora E. Lee, Ms. Annie H. Martin, N.W. Slade, Ms. Flo Sthreshley, Charlie Wilder, Ms. Rosa B. Williams, Ms. Cleeveroa Davis and Ms. Novella Bonds. Friends of Harvey Gantt are reminded to keep working as faithful ly now as when be was a candidate for the Senate. In fact, all Democrats are invited by the South Roanoke Association to attend a social on April 27 at Mort Hurst’s home, Hwy. 125, Williamston, from 4-7 p.m. In town (or a week was Cleaves Murphy, Connecticut, visiting his grandmother, Ms. Zenner Midgett. Ms. Ruby James was in Jamesville for the Herring Festival and a visit with her mother-in-law, Ms. Shirley J. Cordon. Also in for a visit was Larry James, son of Bis. Shirley J. Cordon. Ms. Autumn M. Johnson, Charlotte youth, spent several days in the Millneck section with grandmother, Bis. Blanetta C. Moore. Busy trying to boost funds for the C.C. Keyes community Center was Ramon J. Rhinehart, national presi dent, while he was in town. He is mar ried to the former Bis. Doris Smith. The couple lives in Maryland. Ms. Mildred H. Hopkins, St. Albans, N.Y. resident and another one of Keyes’ offspring, was on the site, too. And she recognized me from the back as I sat delving all of the family connections to the tree with a second cousin, Columbus Cross, to George W. Joyner. Not many of the younger senior adults know their family history, I’ve found in the Will’s Siding area. Joyner’s responses were so interesting and Cross’s questions were as simultaneous as mine that I failed to say very much to Bis. Hopkins, my seventh-grade classmate (and the neatness in that class) before so meone had drawn her out of sight. I did tease T.K. Woolard about his salesmanship upon my arrival at the site. On the sick and shut-in list: Bfr.and Bln. James Blariner, Mr. and Bin. George T. Hyman, Bis. Grace P. Smith wick. Bis. Betty S. Lanier, Bis. Rachel H. Lyons, Bis. Zara Chance, Alton Bell, Jesse Bell, Robert Lee Barnes, Bis. Blarie Biggs, Bis. Blattie H. Parry, Bis. Rmde West, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones, Joe Biggs, Samuel Lee, Sam Brown, Bis. Daisy H. Biggs, Frederick Bennett, David B. Feggins, Bis. Annaza C. Roberson, Bis. Lizzie Bethea suffered a broken lag, Ms. Christine Council, Ms. Rosa Best, Ms. Annabel Best, Bis. Mammie Keyes .and Ms. Mattie H. Perry. Bb. Clariae W. Jones, Roper, has returned to her home. Also, her sister, Bis. Tyrees W. Keyes. Rudolph Wilkins is housebound. Bis. Puallne Brown, Washington County Hospital, and Bis. Esther Roberts, the nursing home in Plymouth. The First Congressional District Black Leadership Caucus will have a regular meeting on Saturday, April 2^ at the Maury Cfcapel Freewill Baptist Church, Maury. Time is noon to 3 p.m. The public is invited to at tend. Greene County’s new contact person is Larry Donnell Miller. The ehairman bf the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, James F. Richardson, has requested that friends reserve June 14 and IS to at tend the sixth annual Legislative Black Caucus weekend conference which will be held at the North Raleigh Hilton, Raleigh. For additional information, please contact any member of the caucus. Loyaan Egal, high school senior of Hollis, N.Y., was in the Tar Heel State during the Easter week break visiting some colleges and univer sities. Among them were North Carolina Central, Duke and A&T State University. He stated that he was greatly impressed with the lat ter. Public hearings were conducted throughout the state on redistricting. Martin County’s meeting was con ducted on Thursday, April 4, in the Governmental Center. Twelve speakers signed the sheet being passed to list requests. However, all of them were in agree ment that the lines should not be cut into any more sections. Among those speaking were residents of the following counties: Pitt, Bertie, Gates, Pamlico, Chowan, Martin, Duplin. Yielding to others in some cases. James H. Sears, Gates county Citizen Improvement League, wants no division. Ms. Sheila Johnson, Duplin County, stated that she was speaking only for herself. Several Washington County representatives were in attendance, among them Commissioner C.R. Stokes of Roper. James Taylor, Chowan, a new commissioner, has found himself very busy in that posi tion. Noah Bell of Route 1 was ordained to be a deacon at Goddard Hill Church last Sunday afternoon. Ms. Ella Mae Conray of Tarboro was in town last Sunday visiting ail ing Robert Lee Barnes. Everyone under the age of 40 should have watched “Separate But • Equal" via Channel 12 on Sunday, April 7, and Monday, April 8. For those in the struggle for rights now, I ask, how much have we lost, where are we now jti regards to gains, self respect or teaching our youth? There is still a need for workers in Martin County. Now is a golden op portunity for the county to have a magistrate of color. Some recom mendations have been made, in fact as soon as the news was official that one in office for a number of years had expired after a lengthy illness. No news to date on a replacement. When one visits the Governmental Center when court is in session, Most of the accused are of color, most of the spectators are of color, moat of the parking space is used by folk of color and nearly one-half of the total county population is of color. So is there no one at least within the whole county qualified to serve in that Job? 1 Chicago Connection Helps Townsend Develop Movie NEW YORK (AP) — Robert Townsend is a member of the Chicago Connection, which is neither a rap group nor an experimental theater, but now he and two close friends have referred to themselves for more than 20 years. That they’ve stayed in touch despite arguments, geographical distance and the inevitable changes over such a long time was never more appreciated by Townsend than after finishing his latest movie, The Five Heartbeats. The film tells the bittersweet story of a 5-man vocal group that’s been together since 1965, emerging intact after drugs, feuds and a romantic triangle nearly pushed them apart forever. And the Chicago Connection is listed in the credits. Townsend didn’t directly base the film on his own life, but the mysteries of friendship did inspire him when he began writing the project by asking the musical question, “Why do singing groups break up?” "Just look at the Temptations, or the Beatles, You say, ‘Why?’ The music is great, but then you learn there’s all this turmoil going on,” said Townsend, who also starred in and directed the movie. “As a member of the audience I felt cheated because I never got any advance warning, so I just explored some of those reasons. You start with five guys, basing some of it on friends that I know, and figure out how five different personalities work together.” Townsend initially was just a fan, hoping to poke fun at the music business the way he took on the film industry in his debut movie, The Hollywood Shuffle, released in 1967. But research taught him the history of soul music is often unsettling and heartbreaking. For kids it might have meant trying to dance like the Temptations or sing like the Supremes, but for the artists the joy of making music was often destroyed by racism, ripoffs and bitter feuds. “It was really sad,” Townsend said in an interview. “I’m naive, you know. I’m thinking everybody must be fair, but I had no idea. “Two sets of accounting books. Payola. Warehouses where the owner of the record company would have other copies being made by different labels and selling them underneath the table. Records when they say your face can't be on it because your face is offensive, when they put a white person on instead.” He shoke his head in disbelief. As a child, Townsend didn't want to be a singer or an actor. He longed instead to play basketbatt, hanging out on the same Chicago playground where future stars Isiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre worked on their game. But he was, admittedly, not much competition for his more talented peers. Townsend’s most valuable contribution, as far as everyone was concerned, was on the bench, where he offered a few moves even Thomas and Aguirre must have envied. “They called me ‘TV Guide.’ They would say, ‘What happened on Walter Brennan last night?’ and I would say (in Brennan’s voice), ‘Well, he came in the house and took off his hat.’ And they would say, ‘Wow, man, tell us about Marlon Brando.’ And I would say (imitating Brando in The Godfather), ‘You come to my house.’ I could just do it,” Townsend said. , He joined the Experimental Black Actors Guild in Chicago at age *16 and soon left for Manhattan, studying acting with Stella Adler and working with the Negro Ensemble Company. Townsend’s sense of humor was tested quickly. While looking for work in New York, he acquired a few experiences that inspired The Hollywood Shuffle, which spoofed his difficulties in getting parts that weren’t racial stereotypes. "I would meet with casting people,” he recalled, “and they would tell me (in pompous accent,) ‘We want you to be blacker! Can you be blacker? Walk like a pimp, Robert, Watch me, Watch me! Hold it Robert, Jive with me. Jive with me, Robert! Be blacker. You’re not black enough! Next person please. Hollywood Shuffle, financed by Townsend’s own credit cards, was a hit and prompted Eddie Murphy to allow Townsend to direct the comedian’s concert film Raw. Townsend also co-starred with Denzel Washington in the 1669 movie The Mighty Quinn and has put together a number of HBO comedy specials. He says no tour is planned even though he enjoyed working with the other Heartbeat, played by Michael Wright, Leon, Harry J. Lennix and Tico Wells. The actors lip-sync in the movie, the actual singing is performed by various sessions artists. But Townsend did get close to a real singing group, the Dells, who served as consultants for the film. The Dells, whose hits include Stay In my Corner, and Oh What A Night are from Chicago, too, and have been around almost 40years. Not only did they help with his musical education, providing stories both funny and bleak, but the Dells also talked about maintaining ties, the problems of staying together even when your friend U standing right next to you. “At first, they were wary,” Townsend recalled. “But after we hung out 3 months they began to say, ‘Yeah, we fight, we fight while we're singing. We’ll be on stage singing Oh what a night, and someone will be whispering, ‘don’t step on my foot again,’ or ‘you make me sick, too.’ “But they have a love for each other, they’ve known each other since high school, grammar school. Nobody could break that bond.”
The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.)
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April 16, 1991, edition 1
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