RALEIGH, N.C.,
THURSDAY,
OCTOBER 24,1991
VOL. 50, NO. 96
Semi-Weekl
DEDICATED TO THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRisf
INGLE COPY nr
IN RALEIGH
ELSEWHERE 30«
Unlicensed Radio Station
Operator Resists FCC Ruling
See Page 22
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Gears
Up For 44th Annual Blue Revue
Pages 11-13
U.S. Census Finds Successful
Blacks Deserting Inner City
LOS ANGELES, Calif.
(AP)—Successful blacks are moving
out of inner-city neighborhoods to
middle-class suburbs, leaving behind
an underclass that clashes with Asian
and Hispanic newcomers, a report
released last week said.
The United Way of Greater Los
Angeles joined with the Black
Partnership Development Council to
gather statistics on what they
perceived as a decline in the
“socioeconomic status... of African
American residents.”
The report used data from a wide
variety of sources including the U.S.
Census, the Los Angeles Unified
School District, the county health
department and various academic
studies.
The picture that emerged was that
Los Angeles blacks missed out on the
prosperity of the 1980s and are
sinking deeper into poverty because
of poor education, health care and
lack of job opportunities.
The report charted black
migration patterns and employment
in Los Angeles County. As blacks
moved to the San Gabriel Valley, the
Antelope Valley, Mount Baldy and
northern Los Angeles County, other
ethnic groups moved into Watts and
other areas.
“What’s happening to these
communities is that jobs have been
disappearing faster than the people,”
said Barbara Solomon, dean of
graduate studies at the University of
Southern California. “They are left
without a way to earn a living.”
The report is meant to be used by
political leaders to plan programs
and services for the Los Angeles
black community.
Some conclusions of the report
were:
•The school dropout rate for
minorities is 50 percent higher tha
for whites.
•A third to a quarter of blacks in
Los Angeles spend most of their
income on housing.
•Blacks in Las Angeles are three
(SeeCENSUS.P. 2)
City Bank Robberies Soar
One Suspect
In Custody
From CAROLINIAN Staff Reports
A lone suspect was apprehended
shortly after 9:45 a.m. Wednesday
following the robbery of Mechanics
and Farmers Bank branch on Rock
Quarry Road.
According to reports, the suspect
told the teller and others that he was
armed, but no gun was seen during
the crime. The robber allegedly
stuffed the money in his sock and fled
on foot. He was later apprehended by
the police. No one was hurt during the
robbery.
Police would not reveal the
suspect’s name, address or
description early Wednesday.
Stanley Greene, senior vice president
of Mechanics and Farmers Bank in
Raleigh, said this was the first time
the bank had been robbed in the area.
The bank has a main office on
Hargett Street and a branch on Rock
Quarry Road near Southgate
Shopping Center.
Also recently, two people were
arrested when a special unit stormed
a North Raleigh apartment in search
of two suspects who had robbed a
bank less than three hours earlier.
Police said a man and a woman held
up the United Federal Savings Bank
at 4020 Wake Forest Road. It was
Raleigh’s 35th bank robbery of the
year.
During the holdup, neither suspect
said anything, but the woman handed
a note to the teller that announced an
armed robbery and demanded
money, said Raleigh Police Capt.
R.C. Friese. The teller placed an
undisclosed amount of money in a
bag and handed it to the woman.
Witnesses watched the robbers drive
away in a white Datsun and wrote
(See BANK ROBBED, P. 2)
NEWS BRIEFS
KMB BLVD. PLAN
The Raleigh City Council
recently approved a
comprehensive plan amendment
which would guide development
in the area of Martin Luther
King, Jr. Boulevard betweea
Wilmington and Holmes streets.
The plan Includes
recommendations on land use,
housing, neighborhood
stabilisation, appearance, and
the effects of the new
thoroughfare on existing
neighborhoods. The sob-area
plan provides, through dtisen
Input, a concept and guidelines
for future development along the
Martin Luther King, Jr. corridor
and for adjoining neighborhoods.
PARIONfi 8ARA6E
Miller Building Corp.. Raleigh,
has been awarded a IS million
contrnct to huild the new
Cabarrus Street Parking Garage
In downtown Raleigh for the
Raleigh Parking Deck
Association. The architect on the
project is NBBJ of RTF. The
S3S,see-square-foot Parking
GarUge will have MS spaces and
will Include seven floors above
ground and three below. The
major tenants are CP6L and the
(See NEWS BRIEFS, P.J)
1Mechanics & Farmers Bank
BANK ROBBERY—Mechanics and Fanners Bank, branch
location an Rack Quarry Rd. near Sauthgata Shopping
Canter, was rsbbed Wednesday morning. One suspect was
apprehended on foot by tin Raleigh Ponce Department.
This makes the 37th robbery af local banks this year.
(Phste by James Mes)
First Union Indicator Finds
Unemployment In Triangle Up
Unemployment in the Triangle
dropped in August to 3.6 percent, the
lowest level in the state, while total
employment increased one percent
over the same month last year—the
first such increase in 14 months.
Wake County also showed an
increase in single-family home starts
and is one of only two major counties
in the state to report an increase in
car sales. These were among the
findings of the First Union
Perspectives briefing on the Triangle
economy released Tuesday.
“It’s encouraging to see job growth
begin here again after 13 months of
watching our total employment
shrink from the same month in the
previous year,” said Jim Fain, First
Union’s Raleigh area executive.
“And our level of unemployment
illustrates the relative strength of the
Triangle economy as the nation
struggles to recover from recession.”
Breaking a downward trend that
began in July IBM, estimated total
employment for the Triangle rose one
percent in August to 416,200.
Unemployment dropped to 3.6
percent in July and August after
peaking at 4.1 percent in May and
June. Hut’s up from 2.2 percent in
August IBM.
Single-family home starts in Wake
County were up 4.8 percent through
July to 2,218. Durham County,
however, permitted 17.2 percent
fewer homes through July, while in
Orange County the year-to-date
decline is 12.4 percent. Together, the
three counties in July permitted 3,032
homes—less than half the number
permitted six years ago.
“Housing has been on a slide since
1888,” Fain said. “1M1 may be the
bottom of the slide, and now we
appear to have a balance between
production and demand."
Orange County bucked the trend of
weak multifamily activity in the
Triangle, permitting 54 Units through
July—a 285.7 percent increase over
last year. The 328 units permitted
through July for the Triangle overall
compared to 1.188 a year earlier.
“We may end the year with the
lowest level of apartment
construction in at least seven or eight
years,” Fain said. “However,
vacancy has declined enough that
we’U likely start seeing, rent
increases . and new apartment
construction—especially now that
Job growth is stimulating demand
again."
Nonresidentiai construction in
Wake County through July totaled
$79.2 million, a 46.4 percent decline
from last year and the lowest level in
at least six years. In Durham County,
however, thb July year-to-date total
of $71.4 million was up 11.1 percent,
and Orange County's total of $5.4
million was a 248.3 percent increase
over a weak 1990.
Auto sales in Wake Codnty through
September were up 1.6 percent over
last year to 20,392. “The Increase is
probably due largely to an unusual
jate-sujmmer boost from rental cars
registered^ for Raleigh Durham
International Airport," Fain said.
“Still, we Are Starting to see some
strength in the new-car market.
Wake County has registered two
quarterly gains this year, compared
to 1990, when sales declined every
quarter."
The only other major county in the
state reporting a year-to-date gain
was Cumberland, where returning
Ft. Bragg troops boosted spring car
sales. Sales elsewhere in the Triangle
were more reflective of the national
trend, with Orunge County reporting
a 12 2 percent decline through
September, while Durham reported a
5.2 percent decline.
St. Aug’s Student Cited By Prexy
In Youth Of Year Competition
BY ALMIC M. I’KKKI.KS
('MlrHwIliiK WrUrr
Carl Douglas, a resident of
Washington, D.C., and a student at St.
Augustine's College, recently
returned from the White House,
where he was honored by President
George Bush. He was one of five
national finalists in the Boys and
Girls Clubs of America compete ' <n.
Since 1905, Carl has been a resident
of Boys and Girls Club <a Greeter
Washington's 9th Stret t and Lanier
Street homes in the District of
Columbia. He war tiamed a finalist in
the Boys an'l Girls Clubs of
America’s national “Youth of the
Year" competition.
The Yuath of the Year program
recognises exceptional young people
for service to their clubs and
communities. Carl competed
suecessftilly at all levels, v ‘ -
The honorees met with President
Bush and key leaden in September,
whensnatioriat panel of judges chose
the top youth of the year. C*rl won a
$1 .sou acholrship and was named first
runner-up.
One of to (’afrit/ Foundation
Scholars recognized through Carl T.
Kowan'a Projecl Excellence.
Douglas chose St. Augustine's
College, where he is a freshman
majoring in political science. His goal
is to attend law school after college.
A 1991 graduate of Cardoza High
School. Carl served as president of
the Student Government, played on
the baseball and tennis teams, served
as a trained mediator, and helped
other students work out their disputes
peacefully. He credited his success to
the support given him by counselors
at the Lanier Street Boys Club. He
was an honor-roll student at Cardoza
and was an inspiration to other youth.
Oh Sept. tt. he reported to the
White House and was presented a
gold pinand certificate by President
Bush. Other activities planned
included Congressional Breakfast in
the Rayburn HOpse Office Building,
appointment! with congressmen, a
meeting with District of Columbia
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton,
dinner and radio interviews.
Carl is a student in the Special
Services Program at St. Augustine's,
and is a resident of Gould Hall. He has
already been offered three
internship at the White House on
Capitol Hill. As he stated. "I have a
choice.”
Rev. High Blasts *Token
Black Syndrome' At Meet
(AP) — Blacks such as Clarence
Thomas have sold their birthright for
political power, said the minister who
delivered the opening speech at the
state NAACP convention.
“Thomas seems to have forgotten
that he was helped,” said the Rev.
Percy High, who spoke at the opening
of the 3-day convention in Durham.
“Some of them have become so
disillusioned that they have divorced
their black wives, married white
women and moved into white
neighborhoods. I call it TBS. Token
black syndrome.”
The NAACP opposed Thomas'
nomination to the U. S. Supreme
Court primarily because of his
opposition to affirmation action.
Thomas was confirmed to the
nation’s highest court by a 52-48 vote
in the U. S. Senate.
His confirmation came after the
nation spent a weekend riveted,
watching and listening to charges of
sexual harassment made by a former
employee in the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, which
Thomas once headed.
“The would-be kings have sold
their birthrights to be called
conservatives,” High said last
Thursday.
“They have discovered that it is
popular to be called conservative and
they see this as their chance to
become king,” he said. “The NAACP
is the watchdog. We are going to
continue to counter the kooks, who
have their degrees from Harvard and
REV. PERCY HIGH
Yale, declaring themselves uppity
blacks.”
High spoke at the 48th annual
convention of the state branch of the
National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People.
About 80 people attended the first
day of the convention which
continued through Saturday. More
then 500 delegates participated.
High’s speech drew a rousing round
of applause from the audience.
“I enjoyed his speech. It was
moving, very relevant and something
(See REV. HIGH. P.2)
Dr. Mae C. Jemison
To Speak At WSSU
WINSTQN-SALEM-Dr. Mae C.
Jemison, a NASA astronaut with the
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in
Houston, will be the guest speaker at
Winston-Salem State University’s
99th Founder's'Day observance,
which begins at 9:45 a.m. Friday,
Nov. l, in the Kenneth R. Williams
Auditorium.
The public is invited and admission
is free.
1)K. MAE C. JEMISON
A physician, Dr. Jemison was
selected as an astronaut candidate by
the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration in June 1967. After a
yearlong training and evaluation
program, she was qualified as a
mission specialist on Space Shuttle
flight crews. She is now assigned as a
mission specialist on STS-47,
Spacelab-J, a cooperative venture
between the United States and Japan
that is scheduled for launch in August
1992.
The 35-year-old native of Decatur,
Ala., Dr. Jemison grew up in
(See ASTRONAUT, P. 2)
Garner Road
TM* Recruits
Black Achievers
The Garner Road YMCA is actively
recruiting adult black achievers for
its 1991-92 Black Achievers Program,
which focuses on educational and
career development for minority
youth.
A corporate breakfast recognizing
supporters of the Black Achievers
Program was recently hosted by
Black Achievers 1991-92 Corporate
Campaign Chairman and IBM
Research Triangle Park site general
manager William R. Kress. The
breakfast, held at the North Raleigh
Hilton, was attended by
representatives and supporters from
45 companies in Wake County and
Research Triangle Park.
In talking about the Black
Achievers Program, Kress said,
"This program offers guidance and
inspiration by reaching out into the
community and putting positive role
models in touch with youth and
parents."
"The Black Achievers can serve as
examples of what our youth can
accomplish if they try. Exposure to
these positive role models can point
out the paths to achievement and will
help ensure that youths in our
community have every possible
opportunity to reach their
educational and career potential.”
Jim Griffin, Black Achievers
Steering Committee chairman and
program manager, WRAL-TV 5,
added, "The benefits for businesses
that get involved with the Black
Achievers Program are significant.
Foremost is the opportunity to assist
in developing young minds and help
young people establish, strong
educational and career goals which
will give them the opportunity to
contribute to our communities and
our quality of life.”
Companies already committed to
the Black Achievers Program include
IBM, CPAL. Kaiser Permanente, the
News and Observer, Northern
Telecom, Greater Raleigh Chamber
of Commerce, American Airlines,
(See ACHIEVERS. P.2)