The Show Is On The Road
Chicago Bulls’ star Michael Jordan Puts
Show On The Road With Richest
Commercial Deal Ever.
Page 8
Genius, Jazz and Soul
Legendary Pianist-Singer Ray Charles
Celebrates 50 Years of Making Music In The
Industry.
Page 9
into wejEjIV
In his lifetime, the great
Dujce Ellington composed
over 900 works. In his
composition Black, Brown
and Beige, Ellington wanted
to celebrate the history of
black culture. It was
performed in 1943, as a tribute
(See THIS WEEK, P. 7)
RALEIGH, N.C.,
VOL. 50, NO. 83
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10,1991
• N.C.'s Semi-Weekly
DEDICATED TO THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST
SINGLE COPY AF
IN RALEIGH 4.30
ELSEWHERE 300
Winning To Win
Wilmington Attorney Eyes Governorship
Marcus Williams is used to beating
the odds.
He wasn’t expected to win student
body president at Lumbers n High
School, UNC-Chapel Hill or his law
school, the University of Minnesota.
But he did.
Now Williams is hoping his winning
streak will continue as he makes his
bid for governor of North Carolina.
Williams, 37, will make his official
announcement in early October, ac
cording to the Charlotte Post.
“I will commence a formal cam
paign in January, once I actually
file,” Williams told the newspaper in
an interview. “At that point in time, I
will resign from my job."
Williams is currently director of
Legal Services of the Lower Cape
Fear, a non-profit, federally funded
program that gives assistance to the
poor. He has held that position for
four years.
“I’m running primarily to win and
because I believe there is a sense of
urgency in our communities and the
near state of anarchy in our com
munities, the devaluing of life and
high unemployment,” he said. “I feel
we need to inspire people by example
and show them the individual can
make a difference.”
“I expect to have some symbolism
embodied in our victory as an under
dog,” Williams said. "First, our cam
paign will be one of substance, sym
bolism and respect. As pertaining to
substance, I must necessarily ar
ticulate those issues relevant to the
day-to-day life of the working people
of North Carolina. Obviously I will be
comprehensive in my scope of the
issues and compelling in my presen
tation.
“With respect to symbolism, I want
to stimulate and restore faith in the
individual effort,’’ he said.
Williams said he thinks race will
not be a factor in his bid for election,
even though it was a big factor in the
state’s last senatorial race.
“I think they have milked that tac
tic to its maximum extent at this
point,” he said.
“I will address such issues as affir
mative action, but that is not really
the pertinent concern. The pertinent
(See CANDIDATE, P. 2)
te.
Battle Lines Drawn
As Blacks Gear-Up
For Thomas Hearings
BY GWEN MCKINNEY
NNPA Newt Service
WASHINGTON, D.C.—What do N.C. Sen. Jesse Helms and
former Klansman David Duke have in common? They’re part of a
long list of foes of civil rights who are on record supporting the
nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.
But white right-wing supporters have assumed a back seat as the
controversy over the conservative nominee simmers to the boiling
point in the African-American community.
The battle lines are being drawn as both sides gear up for the
Senate nomination hearings scheduled to begin Sept. 10.
“Give the brother a chance,” insist Thomas hackers.
“Actions speak louder than words,” is the refrain.
Thomas supporters cite an admirable story of the native Pin
point. Ga. child who achieved serial and economic.status despite a
background of poverty. He rose to his current position on the federal
appeals court after serving as chair of the Equal Employment Op
portunity Commission during both of President Reagan’s terms.
But Thomas opponents call attention to a career that appears
devoted to the Reagan-Bush conservative agenda which many say
has overturned three decades of civil rights progress.
Ironically, opponents maintain, Thomas’ record on affirmative
action and civil rights represents the antithesis of the legacy laid by
retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall, the lone African-American on
the Supreme Court and an ardent champion of equal rights.
“As much as we would like to see an African-American succeed
Justice Marshall, the issue is deeper than color,” insists Elaine
Jones, deputy director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education
Fund, part of the coalition of civil rights, religious, legal and
women’s organisations opposed to the nomination.
“If we were to support Thomos simply because he is black, we
would be giving him the benefit of the doubt, but he has a
demonstrated record opposing important civil rights principles.”
The Bush administration is expected to launch a major offensive
utilising black Republicans to build “unity” around the Thomas
nomination. Other Republican supporters like Jesse Helms, renown
ed for launching one of the most racist re-election campaigns in re
cent history, has taken a relatively low-key role. Former Klansman
and Louisiana state representative David Duke has publicly given
Thomas his endorsement.
The opening of the Senate confirmation hearings will coincide with
the Congressional Black Caucus annual weekend here. The CBC was
one of the first African-American organisations to reject Thomas for
failing to meet the standards of a nominee to cari*y on the Marshall
legacy.
Nostalgic, Gala Reunion
Richmond May Resign
SBI Probing
NCCU Grants,
Management
Tyronza R. Richmond, chancellor
at North Carolina Central University
in Durham is expected to resign the
post this week under increasing
pressure from problems which range
from intense SBI probe of financial
mismanageftferit to erltteistn erf tMf -
taking a stricter stance revolving
around public administration
professor Clarence P. Brown.
Dr. Richmond, 51, has been
pressured to resign by UNC system
officials in General Administration
while under scrutiny for financial
mismanagement and questions about
accountability resulting from media
reports that the university broke
promises to award nearly $1 million
in academic and athletic
scholarships.
And a former athletics director
faces allegations for receiving
financial kickbacks.
SBI agents have been on the
campus for the past two weeks and
auditors plan to arrive this week in a
continuing investigation of the
school’s spending practices.
In addition to questions about the
serious flaws in the school’s financial
operations, a scandal revolves
around professor Dr. Brown, a
Durham City Council member who
double-billed the city and university
for travel expenses.
Brown has also been accused in
(See MAY RESIGN, P.2)
FUTURE PLANS-North Carolina Central University
Chancellor Tyronza R. Richmond is expected to resign post
under increasing pressure from mounting troubles and an
intense SBI probe for financial mismanagement. In photo:
from left, NCCU Provost M.L. Bumim, Chancellor T.R.
Richmond, and Dean Walter Brown of the NCCU School of
Education are seen discussing plans for the year during the
1991 Faculty Institute recently. Brown has been appointed
by the UNC Board ot Governors from interim deanship to
permanent post of dean. Burmin may become interim
chancellor.
Upward Bound Students Receiving
Career Boost In Math And Science
Chosen by the Regional Math
Centers at the University of Ten
nessee in Knoxville and Claflin Col
lege in Orangeburg, S.C., 12 high
BY JOHN THOMPSON MOORE, JR.
CMMtatki( Writer
On Saturday, Aug. 31, approx
imately 300 alumni, family members
and friends attended a gala affair at
the Radisson Hotel for the purpose of
commemorating the hundreds of
athletes who had participated in foot
ball from 1923-53 at Washington High
School.
They came from California, New
York, New Jersey, and Maryland to
socialise and fraternise with their
iormer classmates, laimues ohu
friends.
Imagine seeing those African
Americans of yesteryear spending
|2S per person plus the costa of living
in Raleigh for two or three days. Also,
many of the alumni brought their
spouses and full-grown children with
them. Isn’t this surprising? One must
remember that 39 years ago, African
Americans could not formally dance
in the main ballroom, eat or live in
any of Raleigh’s white-owned hotels.
Anger tiages uver i\ew
“Spike Lee Joint” Deal
Concern over the upcoming Spike
Lee-Warner Brothers movie on the
life of Malcolm X has sparked a con
troversy between longtime black ac
tivista in New York and the popular
filmmaker.
The activists charged none of Lee’s
previous films portray black
militants or Muslims positively and
say they refuse to let black “middle
class Negroes” misrepresent or cash
in on the legacy of Malcolm X.
“We first of all don't believe
Warner Brothers would put up $40
million to make black people pick up
a figure for our people to emulate,”
said Harlem activist Elombe Brath.
Brath fears the movie will focus too
much on Malcolm X’s life as a hustler
and pimp “Detroit Red" for
crouover appeal Instead of em
phasizing his reform.
The activists don’t want Malcolm X
portrayed as a more outspoken ver
sion of Dr. Martin Luther King and
wonder how Lee will portray
Malcolm X’s defection from the Hon.
Elijah Muhammad.
“These are very important aspects
of our history and cannot be made in
to caricatures,” said author Amiri
Baraka. "The life of Malcolm X is not
another ‘Spike Lee Joint.’ Will it [the
movie] contribute to the liberation
struggle or will it cause more confu
sion for white people?” asked Brath.
(See SPIKE LEE. P 2)
So, what a change. The only black
hotel, then, was the Arcade Hotel on
East Hargett Street near where
Hamlin Drug Store now stands.
The keynote speaker was alumnus
J.D. Lewis of Raleigh, who is a
graduate also from Morehouse Col
lege in Atlanta, Ga. and an active
member of the Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity. This fraternity stands for
“Manhood, Scholarship,
Perseverance and Uplift." Coinciden
tally, the motto of this George
Washington High School is
“Character, Courtesy and Culture."
In his address, Lewis spoke of the
devotion, the loyalty and persistence
of those "Mighty Little Blues" and
which aided them to defeat their
arch-rivals in the state.
One must remember that during
the ’30s and ’40s they were E.E. Smith
of Fayetteville, Dillard of Goldsboro,
Hillside of Durham, Henderson In
stitute of Henderson, Mary Potter of
Oxford, Darden High of Wilson,
Booker T. Washington of Rocky
Mount, Smithfield High from
Smithfield plus Stephens Lee from
Asheville for the state championship.
Those rivals envied Washington
Highu because they were from the
“capital city."
Lewis brought his audience to their
feet when he made a roll call of
famous players such as James “Fuz
zy” Willims, Howard “Haggard”
Smith, William Hall, John Massen
ourg, raui ramei, uwicntc i.
Lightner, Melvin “Red” McClain,
Henry Hall, Clarence E. Lightner,
Arthur "Squirrel” McSquire and
others. Afterward, some members of
the audience yelled out some names
that he had omitted.
In his final remarks, Lewis gave
homage to the late football coach
Charlie “Mack” Williams; line coach
Merriman Hill and others who had
helped the “Little Blues” to win
many victories and championships
during the 1930s and 1940s. The au
dience gave him a standing ovation.
Other activities at the affair Includ
ed several musical selections, the
welcome address by alumnus Otis
Curtis; presentation of some cer
tificates to athletes by alumna
Docenia Hammond; necrology and
the lighting of candles for the
departed ones; and observations on
the present condition of the
Washington physical plant of today
by former City Councilman, Mayor
and N.C. Senator Clarence E.
Lightner of the class of 1938. Lightner
said, “Dear old Washington High
still stands tall on that green hill on
Fayetteville Street beaming in the
blue sky.”
This writer brought some of the
yearbooks (The Echo) to this affair
so that the children and grand
children could observe the pictorial
(See WASHINGTON HIGH, P 2)
school students trom tne upward
Bound Program at North Carolina
State University sharpened their
skills and enhanced their outlook in
pursuing math and science careers at
a six-week residential experience.
Math and Science Centers were
created and established by the U.S.
Department of Education to target
currently enrolled Upward Bound
students in the nation. The Claflin and
Tennessee programs are two of eight
centers in the Southeast who provide
intensified math, science, research,
and career experiences for UB
siuaenis.
“Our students are having oppor
tunities and participating in levels of
study that are parallel to college
students,” states Ms. Cynthia J. Har
ris, director of the NCSU UB pro
gram. “Each student receives one-to
one research mentoring from a col
lege professor, which is unique for
high school students.”
According to Ms. Cecilia Johnson,
the NCSU UB Academic Coordinator,
qualified students have the chance to
(See UPWARD BOUND, P. 2)
Inside Africa
BY WALTER C. CARRINGTON
Throughout the 20th century black
Americans have fought for racial
dignity on two fronts. While the major
battle was at home against segrega
tion and discrimination, a campaign
was also waged on behalf of Africa,
an ancestral homeland struggling to
break the chains of colonial domina
tion.
One man more than any other sym
bolized the two-pronged
struggle—W E B. DuBois, an early
member of the NAACP and the main
promulgator of the doctrine of Pan
Africanism. When he proclaimed in
1900 that ‘“The problem of the 20th
century is the problem of the color
line,” he defined a barrier that
limited black aspirations in Africa as
much as in America. DuBois’ urging
of a cooperative Pan-African effort to
erase that line was the opening salvo
of a century of struggle. Black
Americans would explore many,
often divergent, paths leading toward
reconciliation wun uieir Atncan
heritage. Some would attempt to in
fluence U.S. foreign policy toward
Africa, many would reclaim their
African cultural roots, while others
would would seek to separate
themselves from white America
either by emigrating back to Africa
or by creating "African" enclaves
within the borders of the United
States.
The progenitor of the policy of us
ing black American pressure to lobby
for the decolonization of Africa was
W.E.B. DuBois. A distinguished
scholar and activist, he was the first
black to receive a Ph.D. from Har
vard. His long and productive life
began in America at the dawn of
Reconstruction and ended in Ghana,
94 years later, on the very eve of the
1963 March on Washington.
At the end of World War I, DuBois
sought to turn Germany’s loss into
(See INSIDE AFRICA, P. 2)