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The Augusta News-Review - August 2, 1973 i ffl With 17 |!| Dignity , jwZdM M Pp MANY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES HAVE EMBODIED THE INSTITUTION OF MATRIMONY INTO THEIR SACRAMENTS. IT BASICALLY WAS A HEBREW ORAL TESTIMONY OF THE MISHNAH, PUBLISHED IN EUROPE IN THE 12TH CENTURY “BOOK OF WOMEN”. IT ALSO WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE FOURTH VOLUME OF THE CODE COMPILED BY MAIMONIDES, WITH THE HELP OF A GROUP OF LEADING RABBIS. In ancient times, a woman became betrothed by man, and it could be out side of a religious climate. Often the man would use money, if he did not posess an estate, as a token of betrothal. If he used money, it could not be less than a “peritah in coin or its equivalent. He would then say to his prospective bride: “Behold thou art betrothed unto me” or “Behold thou art espoused unto me”, or “Behold thou art become a wife unto me by virtue of this gift-” He would make this presentation to his lady before witinesses. Today its the minister that pronounces a man and woman, man and wife. It was not always that way; in ancient times, the man made that important pronoucement. When a man married a woman, whether virgin or non-virgin, whether adult or minor, a daughter of Israel, proselyte, or an emancipated indigent bonds woman, he pledged for his wife ten significant demands, and in turn expected four urgently requested of her. Os the man’s ten pledges, only three would fall under strict religious mandate. A few of the very important ten are: the wife’s raiments, and her conjugal rights, that spells out the mode of feminine sexuality that is suited for her, also her complete maintenance. The wife’s scriptural rights most of them are statutory. They were as follows: to treat her tenderly, if she fell ill, to ransom her if she was captured, to bury her if she died. To let her male children, sired by her husband inherit her “ketubbah”. The next laws pertaining to the wife would be violently opposed by most present-day women. Namely the husband was entitled to the wife’s earnings, also to anything that came into her possession. If a man said to his wife, “I do not wish to have your family come to my house”, his wish would be honored. The members of the wife’s family would have visiting priviledges in case of illness or a delivery. For no man could be compelled to allow others to enter his premises. Also in some special cases, the wife’s wishes may be honored under certain circumstances. The conjugal rights mentioned in the Torah are obligated upon each man according to his physical powers and his occupation. This is to care for over-worked and physical misfits. For men who are healthy and live in comfort, with pleasurable surroundings without having to work hard, that would sap up their strength, the conjugal schedule would be for every night. But for laborers, masons, and the like, their conjugal duties would be reduced to twice a week. These stipulations are layed down by the Torah. For ass drivers conjugal duty was reduced to once a week, camel drivers once in thirty days. A man could marry several women, even a hundred of them, either at the same time or one after another, and his wife could not hinder him therein, provided that he is able to supply each one of them with food, raiment and conjugal satisfaction. He may not however,compel them to reside in the same courtyard, but must let each one reside by herself. THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME. THE RELATION BETWEEN MAN AND WIFE DIFFER IN DIFFERENT TIMES AND COUNTRIES, BUT ALWAYS THERE IS A TINY THREAD OF COMMON SIMILARITY. RUSSIAN STYLE—The Institution of Matrimony changes as years go by in custom and place. Russian women were bound by Czarist law, before the revolution. The wife owed her husband unlimited obedience. But the 1925 Revolution under Leon Trotsky gave Russian women considerable reforms, that almost equaled that of women in the United States today. The most solid way to judge advancement for women is by practical applications. When the mother and child’s position shows material success by standards of cultural achievements in a wide social range. The Russian Proletariat is no different than its American counterpart. Customs in all societies concentrate on the oppression of women, delegating them exclusively to housewives, mothers and farm-hands. Although theoretically, they are supposed to be equal. Such is the diabocial universal custom to the family slavery of women. The hardships and hopelessness of the Russian peasant woman would be expected, but even the middleclass women are just a bit better today, compared with the serfdom of yester-year. No holidays, no bold action of relief, because they are not allowed to fight for their rights without inhibitions. The woman’s revolution in the United States has only recently begun to reach down to the nondescript women in the offices and factories. To improve the position of women, world-wide it is possible only when all the conditions of family and domestic existence are radically changed. The crux of the entire question of humane treatment for woman-kind is the awakeness to the fact that woman is totally human, and not the tool of man. Because this realizaiton is the essence, a living point where the decisive threads of moral and ral cultural values meet. Womanhood is all of these things and more, love, respect, and an innate desire for justic and fairness. The final analysis will not be Russia’s nuclear-fusion stock piles, nor its mighty submarine fleet, but its attitude toward its women, and children, that will establish it as a mature nation in the community of moral societies. AMERICAN STYLE—Is wide-spread sexual promiscuity in our times destroying the state of matrimony ? The United States has the highest divorce-rate in the world. This divisive condition caUs for urgency to the traditional attempt to regulate the relationship between men and wofiien. The double standard that is prevalent may discourage marriages, totally in the future. In America, we rush into matrimony with much less knowledge, that we use in purchasing our automobiles. According to the latest report from th» National Center for Health Statistics in the Department of Health Education and Welfare, 500 out of 1000 marriages made in this country last year are headed to wind up in bitterness and divorce. With our towering divorce rate, now the highest in the world, one is tempted to ask, what are we doing to marriage? . Are we letting people in too easy? Should we make it more difficult to acquire a marriage license? Maybe this country should force potential marriage partners go into an extensive exploration together and put in writing their motive for marrying, as well as what are their intended committments. In America, it seems that the majority of the young people simply want to sleep together a few nights, uninhibited. Page 4 I OKM Speaking | I Hffl From , Athens | c# Roosevelt Green, Jr. wi s•s Capsule comments about a number of issues this week may very well be in order. So much is happening that Blacks and others should stay aware of and sensitive to in these days of non- “wine and roses”. It is hard or difficult not to be somewhat depressed about the oppressed and plain mad about the sad state of public affairs. Mayor Howard Lee, the first Black mayor of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, visited Athens and the University of Georgia School of Social Work last week. Mayor Lee, who is also a professional social worker, addressed himself to issues facing social workers and citizens in general in a very meaningful way. He pointed out the need for social workers to get involved in politics and dealing more .with systems or institutional change rather than focusing primarily on the victims of the systems or social institutions. I readily agreed with Mayor Lee for I too feel that social workers have historically done a great deal to help people to adjust to the maladjustment of our society. It was also very helpful to see a social worker serving very effectively as a politician who is greatly concerned about the social service needs of Black and white citizens. As a professional social owrker, I am always glad to see Black and other social workers move away from clinical practice to work within the' system for significant change within the so-called establishment. I will present some specific points of Mayor Lee’s several presetations next week since I want to move on to other matters this week. The sterilization of two little Black girls in Alabama by local family planning zealots was not really a shock to me. Many local welfare departments across this country, along with some federal projects, foster Black oppression and genocide under the guise of family planning and birth control. It has been mentioned before in this column that coercive family population control is conducted by white racists in a very evil and inhuman manner. Blacks must begin to examine the practices of family planning agencies in their local communities. We do need family planning agencies and services but they must not be forced upon us by racist anti-welfare whites. It would be extremely helpful if Black civil rights leaders would stop fighting among themselves and begin to deal with issues like Black genocide, political and economic advancement. The recent resignation from the presidency of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference by the Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy and his parting shot at Mrs. Coretta King and middle-class Blacks was most unfortunate in many ways. First, I agree with Black syndicated newspaper columnists Carl Rowan that Rev. Abernathy should not have succeeded the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Reverends Andrew Young or Jessie Jackson should have succeeded Rev. King. Most Blacks would agree to this statement if they are asked to be honest about the matter. Secondly, it is nearly always negative or bad for Black leaders to fight openly and in the public spotlight because white racists delight in keeping us divided and ineffective. AU of the major civil rights organizations need to move beyond protest to political and economic programs. We must move beyond total dependency on whites for advancement and progress. This country is now in an ugly mood that is characterized by the oppression develop strategies for Black survival that wiU exchange a clenched fist for an open hand to all Black brothers and sisters. HopefuUy, this will get done in the future. There is a tremendous need for Blacks in this country to begin to take advantage of the many opportunities now available as never before. Black parents must urge their children to stay in school as long as possible. They must also urge their children to learn all they can in schools while teaching them at home as weU. It is sad to see so many Black youngsters drop out of school only to end up in the so-caUed poverty cycle. The typical public school cannot reaUy educate Black youth since the kind of education for survival needed by Blacks is not taught in public schools. Black churches and organizations must begin to teach Blacks survival strategies and techniques. Black history, politics, and economics coupled with securing and assuring a comfortable sense of Black identity can only be taught to Blacks by Blacks. No white person can adequately teach Black history to Blacks and a number of Blacks cannot teach the subject either because of oreo cookie hangups. Public schools in his country are generally designed to produce “parrots” rather than thinkers. Creativity is stifled by the time one gets to the end of the first grade. Honor students are usually the ones who can “play the game” the best. I have known many so-called average or “C” students perform very well or even much better than many “honor” students upon leaving school. Books such as “Teaching As A Subversive Activity” by Neil Postman and Charles Weingarten document what I am saying quite well. As a matter of fact, pulic and private school education for both Blacks an; whites need radical changes and restructuring. The Empty Stocking Funds lovers ought to find out how the people they gave that “one good dinner” to during last Christmas are doing. The daily portraits of the poor that the newspapers who sponsored that fund furnished to gain contributions need updating. The poor and less fortunate who deserved help or assistance at Christmas time could sure use some help today and all through the year. White people are generally very ignorant of the Black Experience. It is for this reason, among others, that they think Blacks like myself who resent and oppose their prejudices are anti-white. They usually know nothing about Black history or literature and think that Blacks ought to always smile and be “happy go-lucky” in their presence. To hate and fight racism and THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Mallory K. Millender Editor and Publisher Mailing Address: Box 953 Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4555 Second Class Postage Paid Augusta, Ga. 30901 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payable in Advance , One Year in Richmond County $5.00 tax incl. 6 Months $2.50 tax incl. One Year elsewhere $6.00 tax incl. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Classified Advertising Deadline 12 noon on Tuesday Display Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday News Items Printed Free ;| to be 1 EQUAL 4 •r */ ► Vernn" E. Jordan, Jr. Jy b FOR A FULL EMPLOYMENT POLICY (II) With ten million people unemployed or under-employed, with another ten million working full-time all year long for less than . 55,000, and with large sub-groups of the population - minorities, teenagers, veterans, and women -- bearing the burdens of a malfunctioning economy, it is clear that some drastic action is needed. At the National Urban League’s Annual Conference last week I called for a Full Employment Policy that would insure a job for every person who wanted one. Every definition of “full employment” winds up accepting rates that rrean two, three, or four million people out of work. Real full employment means everyone holds a job, earns a decent salary, and has his place in an abundent economy. There is no reason why we should be satisfied with less; there is no reason why we should accept definitions of full employment that leave people out of work. Many of the proposals that have been made to help cut unemployment have been tried and failed, or have shown their potential but weren’t carried far enough. Others are dangerously unacceptable. In the “tried and failed” category we can put voluntary hiring by private industry. This works best in good times, but when recession comes, newly-hired workers are back on the streets. Many industries too, can't create jobs for workers who don't have the education and skills they require, and they are not encouraged to embark on really wide-scale training because of market conditions and lack of subsidies and other incentives. The Public Employment Program was a step in the right direction. It put 100,000 people to work in local government with federal funds, and it should be sharply expanded. Instead, the 1 Administration wants to end the program. Most dangerous is the proposal that teenage unemployment can be cut by means of a wage differential -- paying younger workers below the minimum wage. I’m against this because it hasn’t been proven that such a step would actually lead to more jobs for teenagers, and it raises the possibility that employers will fire the father to hire the son. Worst of all, it would punch another hole in the already inadequate coverage of minimum wage laws. And who is to say that the next step won’t be proposals for lower wage rates for black workers since their unemployment rates too, are high. It seems to me that a rational national Full Employment Policy would include several elements. One would be realistic, performance-oriented job standards and tests. We should do away with present testsand educational standards that aren’t job-related and which serve mainly to exclude people from jobs they could handle. Another step would be for federal stimulation of private and non-profit sector job-creation through subsidies and training programs broader than the ones we now have. Such a program could be part of a national economic development program of planned growth and subsidized construction of housing, parks and sewers that will broaden private companies’ demand for workers. Finally, but perhaps first, there should be a massive federal job-creation program in he public sector. Some years back a Presidential Commission found that public needs in cities and small communities all over the country were so great that some five million people could be put to work in public service jobs. For many people, this country is going through a terrible Depression. For all of us, the quality of life is declining because public services are fewer and less well-run than they used to be. These two problems could be solved by putting people back to work in decent jobs doing things that need to be done at decent salaries. A Full Employment Policy can also depolarize a country that’s been tom apart by racially divisive issues and suspicions. It is something that affects whites and blacks equally. It is something we desperately need. SICKLE CELL ANEMIA TEST SICKLE CELL CENTER SCREENING CLINIC OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. SATURDAYS 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. 1526 GWINNETT STREET PHONE 724-0104 REGISTERED NURSE ON DUTY NO CHARGE - - - NO WAITING oppression is not necessarily to be considered as being nothing but hatred for whites. Any sensible Black person who accepts his or her Black identity and understands the dimensions of racism and discrimination cannot help but be angry, Nearly every Black person has his doctorate degree for studying the white man. It is no v time for the white man to get his doctorate studying the real Black man rather than the one imagined to exist. There are two good books in paperback form that should be read by thoughtful people. The first is “No More Lies” by Dick Gregory who uses a surgeon’s knife to analyze the history of America minus the usual myths and propaganda. The second book is entitled “A Time To Speak and A Time To Act” by Julian Bond. Georgia State Representative Bond gives a lot of sound political wisdom about the oppression of Blacks and the poor with suggestions about how to deal with that oppression. Both books are well worth reading and delightful to read. They can be found at most worthwhile bookstores in Augusta and Athens as well as elsewhere. I hope to also discuss the “Fund For Renewal” of the American Baptist Concention in next week’s column. The Rev. Charles S. Hamilton of Augusta is the director of the eleven million dollars program designed to aid minority groups in this country. It is always encouraging to see a church organization take the teachings of Christ about poor in a serious manner. Fellow columnist Al Irby wrote an excellent article two weeks ago on the language of white racism. A belated but sincere congratulations to Brother Philip Waring, another fellow columnist, who has resigned his National Urban League post after a highly successful career as a professional social worker. It is about time for the general public to learn that social workers render excellent service beyond the area of local public welfare agencies. Augusta , < greatly needs the leadership and service of men like Brother Waring. I also wish that Augusta and Athens had branches of the National Urban League in the two communities. Finally, I appreciate the comments and criticisms friends and enemies make about this column. It is encouraging to me and I shall ‘ strive to always improve and present frank and honest opinions. * ’ j, the encouragement from the tremendous contributions of the .iardworking editor and publisher of the News-Review makes it a rewarding experience to be “Speaking From Athens”. Harambee!! 11 GOING I 1 PLACES I PH LIP WARING W SUCCESSFUL URBAN LEAGUE CORFERENCE LARGEST IN HISTORY Washington, D.C. Hilton Hotel - Dr. Lucius Pitts and Dr. Daniel Collins were seated with me and my wife, along with 2,200 others, as the 63rd annual National Urban League Conference opened with a keynote speech by Vernon E. Jordon, Jr., our nationLs leader. Almost every state, community service agency, business firm, governmental agency, educational institution, etc. were represented at this historic event. I am using N.M. Eugjish’s excellent news summary from the Washington Afro-American to share with our NEWS-REVIEW readers. As I talked with many of my friends here who are associated with large American business firms, many of them said “I met your associate, Mallory Millender of the Augusta NEWS-REVIEW at the Publishers meeting, etc. “This made me very happy because thanks to Mai’s thrust, Augusta has representation at the National Publishers meetings. Now back to the summary on the recent NUL conference: NUL CONFERENCE SETS PRECEDENCE FOR FUTURE “Providing economic security for black Americans and setting the stage for the black movement in America for the next five years” were the only order of precedence for the 6500 delegates attending the 63rd annual conference of the National Urban League. From the Keynote address by Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., executive director of the National Urban League, on Sunday night to the closing moments Wednesday evening, the conference “set out to dramatize the failure of the first Reconstruction and to say that a » second Reconstruction is needed to insure equal participation for blacks in all aspects of American life.” Sterling Tucker, executive director, Washington Urban League, said that the “National Urban League conference turned its energy to findingjobs.” “Economic security for blacks is the next battle hat we have to win,” said Tucker, “and simply put that means jobs.” With such national issues as revenue sharing, health, education, housing and politics, the conference successfully laid down its goals and went on to create strategies for the achievement of those goals. Speaking and elaborating on the problem issues were such national leaders as Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Governor Linwood Holton of Virginia; Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan and Yvonne Braithwaite Burke and many other noted and distinguished leaders of American society. Commenting on the results of the conference, Sterling Tucker said that the conference opposes a federal revenue opposes a federal revenue sharing program because “it would put the fate of black people in the hands of insensitive local officials who historically have held black people as second class citizens. “We (speaking of the Urban League) look to the national government to provide economic needs, health needs, and housing needs for black Americans that local authorities have totally disregarded,” continued Tucker. Tucker said that the conference set the stage for the black movement in the next five years and that although battleshave been won in civil rights legislation, that the “League is moving in an area of higher education for Wacks and to now solidify these gains through full and equal employment for all Hack Americans.” With the more than 6500 delegates returning to some 101 Urban League affiliates across the nation, Urban League officials feel certain that the goals set forth at the 63rd annual National Urban League conference will, in fact, become a reality in the League’s future. Highlights of the 63rd conference included a discussion on “Black Women in Politics”, which dated six of the nations leading black women politicians against several distinguished journalists; a discussion on the black family in white America; an exhibition by national corporationsand ajob skills bank. In sum, the 63rd annual conference of the National Urban League was accorded by League officials as being one of the most influential in the history of the organization. PATTERS TO EDITOR Dear Editor: I have just read with deep feeling the news article reflecting the life of my mother, The Rev. (Mrs.) Essie M. Mclntyre, and I wish to express my deep appreciation for this thoughful act on the part of you and your staff. As a son, I try to do everything to make my K SUBSCRIBE ft TODAY & THE NEWS-RE VIEW ■ 1 P.O. BOX 953 AUGUSTA. GKBOA 30953 5* Nmw ■ i ■— ■J Atom . K City B 4 One yoer (In county) 36.00 One ynr (out of county) mother happy because she sincerely deserves all the happiness this world can afford. I am sure that this article in your July 12 issue added to her happiness. My sincere thanks for this beautiful comment to a true child of God. Sincerely yours, Edward M. Mclntyre