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Vol. XXVI, No. 1 by Veronica Peggy Green On the evening of September 29, 1982, the Spelman College Student Government Associa tion presented, “A Night With Julian Bond,” in Sister's Chapel. Mr. Bond addressed the issue of Political Awareness. Mr. Bond began by extending a warm welcome to the students entering the Atlanta University Center schools for the first time. He then spoke of the political problems facing “the people.” Julian Bond very distinctly referred to President Reagon as an “amiable incompetent.” Remembering the fear that Black people felt during the civil rights era is exemplary of the fear we are facing today. “Reagonomics is an unproved theory that makes the depression resemble a pic nic,” said Mr. Bond. Some “80 percent of young people in Gary, Indiana, and Youngstown, Ohio, are unemployed,” stated Mr. Bond, and “10 percent of the toal labor force" is out of work. “Fifty - seven cents of every dollar that goes to the government is being spent in the war department.” He spoke of the present ad ministration as one that “op poses abortion but believes in the death penalty.” In November of 1980, Julian Bond said, the voters of the U.S. began a process defined as the “nullification of the needy.” The REAGON ADMINISTRATION IS “marching the U.S. backward into the 18th century. They believe that nuclear war is a viable option. This same ad ministration is altering the relationship between America and Africa, and their favorite allies are clients and tyrants. There is a redistribution of income from bottom to top, as they head toward the dismal distant past, toward white skin privilege, and white male dominance." An “assault is on Civil Rights," said Julian Bond referring to the present behavior of the Reagon administration. “The poor are being further hearded into poverty. One third of all the families in this country will be harmed by this. The president’s Sodum Atlanta, Georgia November 17, 1982 The Struggle Of Blacks In America Julian Bond Speaks policies are anti - family and anti - Black.” Julian Bond also spoke of the enourmous amount of money being spent in the military. “The F18 cost overrruns were $6.7 million dollars. The same amount cut from aid to families and children. The price of one apache helicopter has gone up $6 million dollars in one year.” He said that spending in the military department “borders on criminal.” “Over the period of a lifetime, there have been changes in the economy. In 1978, the top 100 U.S. companies controlled more of assets than in 1940. In 1970, corporations raised prices when demand dropped,” Jullian Bond pointed out. In reference to the tax relief, Mr. Bond said that the only people feeling any sort of relief were those individuals who’s income was over $100,000. These people received an “extra $2,000 tax break.” Tax breaks can also be noted for “oil companies, factories who’s products are dangerous to the public and have caused 500 deaths. OCEA inspections are down, and estate taxes are a repeat.” Institutions known as “Christian Academies are very simply, segregated schools who are receiving a tax break from the government. These schools will admit no students with Black skin. Julian Bond very plainly called it “sur vival of the riches.” “The solution lies within our own hands,” proclaimed Julian Bond. “There are 26 million Black people in the U.S.” The problem solving method centers around capital. “Last year Blacks in the U.S. spent $15 million dollars on barbeque sauce, $33 million dollars on lard, $60 million dollars on bleach, $79 million dollars on chewing gum, $80 million dollars on seasoning and salt, $100 million dollars on paper towels, $132 million dollars on rice, $271 million dollars on potato chips, and $260 million dollars on wine and champagne.” It wall adds up to economic strength. “The power of the ballot box remains an undeveloped resource,” Bond reminded us. “In the last presidential election only 61 percent of Black people were registered to vote. Only one - half of that 61 percent actually voted. Young Black people between the ages of 18 - 25 have the worst voting record of political participation, not only in the U.S., but of any people in any democratic system on this Earth. No where in this country do Blacks and Whites cast equal percentages voting. Julian Bond stated that while working with Klan Watch, an organization that observes the activities of the Ku Klux Klan, it was discovered that the reason why Klansman wear pointed white hats on their heads is to “make, up for other physical imperfections on their bodies. In 1980 and 1981, KKK membership inci eased as membership in the NAACP declined.” “To the accommodation of apairtheid, we must say no. To the accommodation of racial inequality, fiie air and water, planners of a nuclear holocaust, we must say no,” demanded Julian Bond. We apologize for the delay in the release of the first issue of THE SPOTLIGHT.