The Carolinian
RALEIGH. N.C.,
THURSDAY,
MAY 9.1991
VOL. 50, NO. 48
MC.'s Semi-Weekly
DEDICATED TO THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST
,*r
SINGLE COPY
IN RALEIGH ' . .
ELSEWHERE 30$
.
Local OrganUationa Take Part
Frew CAROLINIAN 8Uff R«p«rte
For the first time in recent
memory, several Raleigh and Wake
County organizations will come
together to discuss issues of mutual
concern.
The Community Unity Forum will
be held Sunday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m.
at Davie Street Presbyterian Church
in Raleigh. Dr. Benjamin F. Chads,
Jr,, executive director of the national
Commission for Racial Justice,
United Church of Christ, will deliver
the unity keynote speech.
Dr. Chavis, who was just in the
state last week to deliver the eulogy
for the late dvil rights leader. Judge
Floyd B. McKissick, Sr., stated in an
interview with The CAROLINIAN, “I
eagerly accepted this invitation tc
come to Raleigh to speak in the spirit
of African-American unity. Raleigl
has long been a bedrock of political
activity and noted for its social anc
civic organizations who do gooc
work. It’s refreshing to see then
come together to exchangi
dialogue."
The Rev. Leon White of Wak<
Forest will be the presiding office!
for the forum. Bruce E. Lightner
Raleigh civic worker, wai
instrumental in planning the event
Lightner stated, “For a long timi
there has been a consensus that we
need to share our concerns and
aspirations. This unity forum is
hoped to be the starting point for
organizations and area citizens to
exchange in constructive and
mutually beneficial dialogue.”
Although any issue of public
concern will be discussed during the
forum, the central issue will be the
proposed creation of a Citizen’s
i Police Review Board. According to
organizers, new and vital information
regarding how other communities
i across the nation are dealing with
review boards will be revealed,
f Participating in the program will
be Rev. Mahan Siler, pastor, PuJJen
Memorial Baptist Church; Rev.
James Brown, pastor, Davie Street
Presbyterian Church;, Ms. Ann
Thompson, episcopal Peace
Fellowship; Ms. Theresa Baraham
Peebles, president, Concerned
Citizens for Education Equity; Ms.
Margaret Rose Murray, president,
Business Building Society of Wake;
the Hon. Ralph Campbell, Jr.,
Raleigh mayor pro-tem; Frank
Roberts, host, WLLE “Let’s Talk,”
Gordon Dillahunt, Black Workers for
Justice; Ms.Sonia Barnes, president,
Raleigh-Wake Citizen’s Association;
Ms. Mary E. Perry, president,
Wendell-Wake NAACP; Rev. David
A. Dolby, president, Raleigh
Ministerial Alliance; Dr. Gus
Witherspoon, Pan-Hellenic Council;
Rev. H.B. Pickett, Jr., president,
Raleigh-Apex NAACP; James F.
White, president, South Central Wake
NAACP; Hon. Dan Blue, speaker,
N.C. House of Representatives; and
Ms. Dora Dillahunt and Nizam
Thompson of the Raleigh Youth
Brigade. Cash Michaels of WLLE
radio will moderate the forum.
Rev. White stated, “This. unity,
forum will not cater to any one
(See REV. BEN CHAVIS, P. 2)
rrogram Aids
Move From Child
To Adulthood
BY MARIE FAUBERT
Special IP The CAROLINIAN
Every stage of human development
from conception to adulthood has its
own particular set of tasks in order
for the person to move from an
,earlier stage to a later stage of
human development. One of the most
important tasks for the adolescent is
to begin to answer the
questions:“Who Am I?” “From
where have I come?” and “Where do
I want to go?”
For African-American adolescents
the launching of the answering of
these questions can be problematic.
Although the family, church and com
munity facilitate the adolescent’s
grappling with the answers to these
basic human questions, often the
school struggles to assist African
American students in their inquiry.
The institutional culture of the school
la usually that of the dominant
cutture. Frequently, the African
American adolescent does not have
the right mix of challenge and sup
port there to begin the task of
discovering answers to these basic
human questions.
Dr. Don C. Locke, bead of the
Counselor Education Department of
North Carolina State University, and
Fuquay-Varina and Wake Forest
Rolesville high schools are working
together to assist African-Anerican
students to reflect on these questions
constructively. Phyllis McLeod,
counselor at Fuquay-Varina High
School; Myra Smith, counselor at
Wake Forest-Rolesville High School;
and Alfred Bryant and Marie
Faubert, graduate assistants in the
Counselor Education Department at
NCSU, are acting with Dr. Locke to
develop the project called Getting on
the Right Track, which is funded by
BellSouth Foundation. j
The purpose of the Getting on the
(See RIGHT TRACK, P.2)
NEWS BRIEFS
WALNUT TERRACE
UNPROVED
the
Hie Housing Authority of
City of Raleigh awarded a
tract to JAM Landscaping of
Raleigh for the storm drainage
repairs and Improvements at
Walant Terrace Apartments. The
contract was for t4S,M0. The
Is part of a grant of |i.i
from the V.S. Depart
of Housing and Urban
Develspment for exterior and In
terior renovations at Walnut Ter
raco Apartments. The work will
consist Of installing French
drains under the building's eaves
at MO apartments, cleaning ex
isting storm drain lloes from the
buildings to the street, and clean
ing and/or repairing existing
storm drain Unas.
District Rap. David
a congressional cam
federal laws governing
,_il campaigns. "Campaign
finance reform Is far too impor
tant an Issne to got bogged down
In partisan politics.’' ho said.
“This Is the year to write a law
that will encourage grassroots
participation in poUtlcs and
restore confidence in the integri
ty and openness of our electoral
system."
(See NEWS BRIEFS. P»
Local Educators Find
Enhances
Black Child’s
Self-Concept
BY DAVID SAWYER
guff Writer
One of the most important
investments in society has always
been the education of children for the
future. In today's world, more than
ever, education plays a most vital
role. It is this combination of the
investment between children and
education that the African-American
society must depend to continue to
Counseling and draining Sessions
(ACTS) during the 1990-91 awards
reception focused on that vital role.
The Wake County PTA Council
Academic Counseling and Training
Sessions held its reception on May 3
at Cary Senior High School, following
the theme as well as group motto,
“Do Your Best.”
The Mistress of Ceremonies for the
program was Phyllis McLeod with
special music by Joi Mickens,
Michelle Roberts, and Cori
The
lutiful selection, "Underneath
was also performed by
Jones and soloist Amber
land Maria Marbet.
ick Young, Lenwood Long,
Pittman, Chris Steadman,
ley, Kim Newsome, Deidre
and Lamont Christmas,
Ring the seven ACTS groups
1 the greetings,
youth speakers were
introduced by Russell McCauley and
Aaron McLeod and included to
messages worthy of standing
ovations from Ayodele Carroo and
Rachelle Holmes.
The guest speaker for the event was
the Honorable Angela Roberts, the
first black female judge in
Richmond, Va., who discussed
leaders of the future and the direction
of ACTS, described as “doing the
right thing to build a foundation for
(See ACT PROGRAM, P. 10)
Commlmsion On Black Malms To
Combat ills Of Unemployment, Crime
BY LARRY A. STILL
NNPA N»w» Servk*
A national commission of political,
business, educational and civic
leaders established “to seek perma
nent solutions to the problems of
young black males...” has pledged to
' take Immediate action at a con
ference scheduled May 23-24 In
Washington, D.C.
Speaking at the opening board
meeting of the 21st Century Commis
sion on African-American Males,
honorary co-chairman, Virginia Gov.
L. Douglas Wilder, outlined proposals
for bipartisan public and private
cooperation after the co-chair, Sen.
Terry Sanford (D-N.C.), emphasized
that the annual cost of maintaining
black inmates is $15,000 per prisoner
compared to $8,700 per capita income
for black workers. “That disparity is
a national embarrassment,” said
Sainford.
“The disproportionately high level
of black male unemployment is
related to almost every other burden
of the black male. We need to look at
unemployment in a fresh way in
order to generate positive change,"
Sanford told the new commission. “I
J want to see Jail rates go down and job
rates go up."
The commission, Gov. Wilder said,
should focus on economics, workforce
preparation, education, health care
and social problems, beginning with
the coming conference on "Exploding
Myths, Analysing Strategies, An
Agenda for African-American
Males.” Panelists will include federal
and state policymakers, as well as
noted scholars, civic leaders and
representatives of various organiza
tions making recommendations in 12
workshop sessions.
Partfcip&ats at the recent Capitol
Hill board meeting included working
co-chairmen Arthur Fletcher, chair
of the U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights, and John E. Jacob, National
Urbn League president; Sen. Richard
Shelby (D-Ala ); Baltimore Mayor
Kurt Schmoke; James Joseph, presi
dent, National Council of Founda
tions; Dr. Spencer Holland, Morgan
State University; LeBaron Taylor
vice president Sony Music Entertain
went, Inc.; Rep. Major Owem
(D-N.Y.) and Sen Don Rizglt
(D-Mlch.), chairman of the Senati
Banking, Housing and Urban Affain
Committee which held a hearing 01
tne DiacK maie crisis.
Dr. Douglas GlascoW,! a commis
sion scholar, and Glegg Watson,
Xerox Corp. executive, were iden
tified as coordinators of research for
the conference recommendations to
be distributed to foundations, cor
Dorations, elected officials, com
munity agencies and general
organizations.
“If we and all American citizens
commit ourselves to addressing the
plight of today’s black males the
black male of tomorrow will be com
mitted to his education, to his family
and to his career... rather duo to »
correctional facility or au early
grave,” Wilder told the session. But,
working co-chairmen Fletcher and
Jacob bluntly told commission
members at the public session that
they will seek direct action to correct
past mistakes -instead of merely
ceremonial hearings, and con
ferences.
flepeating his constant recommen
dation for a multibillion-doUar Urban
Marshall Plan to revitalize
deteriorating inner-city areas, Jacot
later said the NUL will outline
(See BLACK MALES. P.l)
Mother); Mrs. MM Ms Flagg (1989 Mother); and Ms. Kandra
Johnson (Mathars March Chairman). Tlw Mothers March is
an aspect at the Freedom Fund etferts. It is held locally
prior to the statewide competition. TMs year the statewide
Mothers Match was hold at the Raleigh Civic Center.
The final census figures are out and
municipalities nationwide are
assessing the impact of the results on
their fiscal well being and for
African-Americans a bleak future in
public employment is in the picture,
unless the bureau adjusts figures for
the undercount.
An editorial in the Daytona Times
said “they have found a scapegoat in
the most recent census to carry out
what they have always been more
than eager to do, i.e. reduce the
number of Black and low-income
workers on hand.”
The National Association lor me
Advancement of Colored People has
called on the bureau to adjust its 1990
census figures, in light of the
bureau’s “post-enumeration
survey,” which revealed that roughly
two million African-Americans were
undercounted.
“We believe a little lesson in simple
economics is quite in order at this
time. When unemployment
increases, the purchasing power of
residents decreases and a recession
follows like night follows day,” the
Daytona Times stated.
"Tne HiacK community ieeis
victimized by the incessant injury
inflicted on it by public officials by
way of arbitrary termination of
employment, refusal to invest
tangibly in the community and the
attitude of “fiddling while Rome
burned,” like Rome’s Emperor Nero.
Benjamin Hooks, executive
director of the NAACP in urging the
bureau to adjust the figures said the
undercount of blacks is
disproportionate when compared to
other groups.
"The NAACP is especially
concerned with the undercounting of
all persons in the United StateR. We
deplore all attempts to exclude
accurate census figures for African
Americans. We are calling on the
Bureau of Census to adjust its figures
to more accurately reflect the
composition of every group in this
country. The Bureau’s recent survey
of the 1990 census revealed that some
six million persons were
undercounted, Hooks said.
“The undercount of blacks is
di«oroportionate when compared to
other groups. It tne government, with
full knowledge of the inaccuracy,
fails to adjust its figures, Macks will
be harmed in every sphere of life.
“The census is one of th<
fundamental instruments fot
allocating power in this country. II
determines the apportionment oi
representatives, the allocation o
electoral college votes in presidents
elections, and the distribution amonf
states and localities of billions oi
dollars in federal funds for housing
education, transportation
environmental protection, and othei
services
“It is, therefore, evident tha
failure to adjust the existing figure
will impair the quality of life fo
blacks throughout this country.
“Prom the outset, the NAACP ha
been urging the Bureau not lust t
(See CENSUS UNDERCOUNT. P. * 1
REV. BENJAMIN CHAVIS
Leaders To
Stregthen
African Ties
BY WILLIAM HEED
Special To Ite CAROLINIAN
It is time for people of color to
carry our own so that more of our
color can carry on now and into the
future. If my brother is in trouble, so
am I and it is up to me to help him
while I help myself. As the world
becomes more of a “global village"
and we reach across the waters to
help our kith and kin in Urn
Motherland, shouldn’t we be more
informed and intelligent in our
actions to help the people of color in
Africa?
Recently more than 500 African
American civil rights, business and
political leaders went back to Africa
to hold a three-day conference aimed
at strengthening ties between
America and the African continent
Billed as the “first-ever African^
American/African Summit,’’ the
assembly in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
was designed to help build a more
powerful lobby for African interests
among policy and decision-makers in
the United States. The summit’s
organizer, civil rights leader Rev.
Leon Sullivan, accused America and
the West of ignoring the problems of
Africa and called on black Americans
and Africans to re-cement ties of race
and heritage and to assume greater
responsibility for Africa’s
development.
Sullivan, author of the Sullivan
Principles for fair employment
guidelines for U.S. companies in
South Africa, believes that more of us
can carry on if we develop better
ways to carry our own. But he knows
that American ignorance about
Africa hinders our ties and hampers
our outreach toward African
development efforts. Unlike the white
community’s linkages to Eastern
Europe, people of color know little
Raleigh has long been
a bedrock of political
activity and noted for
it’s social and civic '
organizations who do
good work. I ?
refreshing to see them •
come together to
exchange dialogue.
This unity forum will
not cater to any
organization or in
dividual.
about actual conditions, leaders or
wishes of the people of color in Africa.
The average black American’s
knowledge and contacts into Africa
doesn’t extend much beyond the
apartheid issue in South Africa. And
in this case our knowledge and
actions prompts an illustration by
using the story about the man
fighting the bear. If in our naivete
what we’ve done to help in South
Africa is similar to the assistance we
would give the man fighting the bear,
he would say, “Help the bear.’’ Few
of us know that there are more than
40 countries in Africa, and it is
evident that most African-Americans
' don’t know that black South Africans
have the highest per-capita annual
t incomes on the continent,
i As we assume “greater
• responsibility for Africa’s
development,” and “build a more
s powerful lobby" for African interests
9
(See AFRICAN SUMMIT, P. a>