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The Augusta News-Review - August 16, 1973 -
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“NOT THAT I SPEAK IN RESPECT OF WANT; FOR I HAVE
LEARNED, IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM, THEREWITH TO
BE CONTENT.” PHIL. 4.11. MODERN CHRISTIANS IN OUR
AFFLUENT SOCIETY, WOULD THINK ST. PAUL WAS OUT
OF HIS JERUSALEM MIND TO MAKE SUCH A
UNSALUBRIOUS STATEMENT’
“THE DEATH OF A SALESMAN”, a feature on CBS-TV a
few weeks ago, gives corrobation to the premise of this thesis. It
points out how our technological affluence can serve gp well, also
it can become a disservive, and bring out the seamy side of our
humanity. Affluence mostly begets frustrations in highly
industrialized societies. As the per capital income goes upward, so
do the many frustrations, because of the capriciousness of
economics.
Norman Thomas, the American Socialist, pointed out in the
1930 s with his abstract statistics, how well off we would be under
a planned economy. But the nation’s economy today far
surpasses the great man’s fondest dream, inspite of the
Republican’s blundering. Nevertheless the majority of the
populace is unhappy, some say we were better off with less
affluence. Many economists ask the question why? why is this so?
The most plausible answer is, that we humans are insatiable
greedy, the more we get, the more we want. Progress only
sharpens our appetites for still more. Sociologists explain this
phenomenon as “relative deprivation”. We see this vividly in all of
our ethnic groups. Reasonable affluence is not enough, each one,
want it all. For almost 200 years all of the under-priviledged
groups were passive and making few demands.
The blacks were far the most sensitive, even in salvery, they
were restless. But the non-white Spanish-speaking and the
American Indians didnot begin to stir, until the blacks had
reached the highest social plateau in history of their long and
bitter struggle. Maybe becuase of the forced enslavement of
blacks gave them added momentum.
Os course the Indians and Spanish-speaking non-whites were
always low on the socio-economic scale, they were never slaves in
America. Social Theorists point out some of the cuases why a
growing affluent society becomes frustrated and think they are
threatened, when groups at the bottom begin to push upward.
TECHNICOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS - create more, but it also
causes delusiveness. It makes some things cheap, and others
expensive. The degree of satisfaction that technological methods
offer will ultimately depend on the kinds of things, not how
much, but what type of things are desired. We can easily see those
things and services which technology has made cheaper. Radios,
airplane rides, refrigerators, telephones, and many others tangible
items have been made cheaper by technology or mass production.
There is also much anti-technology in our midst, especially among
the young, who have never lived without these conveniences.
Obviously these technicological advancements are appreciated
more by people who had to do without them. That is why the
working population is the last always to join up with organized
protest. That why its so easy to think of the workers as
reactionary. The campus unrest was largely spear-headed by
youths of affluence, they had experienced all of the technological
conveniences, therefore the things they desired were out of their
reach.
DECEPTION - Affluence and modern-day success are
decieving if you thought you had it made when you reached the
10,000 per year take home pay on your job, but learn otherwise.
You still could not afford trips to Europe, nor another car. It was
real funny but it still took all of those 10,000 marbles to make
ends meet. If you thought that, cocktail parties, and a sleep-in
maid were in your grasp; you soon found out that though these
things were once in the SIO,OOO range, it is now out of the
question.
It is almost certain, that technological innovation increases
one’s desires and wants for a higher standard of life. But it is also
true, that technological new-fangled methods will put one in an
unpredicted position. Any images of “high living”one has formed
in his lean years may be largely unattainable. Modern
conveniences do not necessarily provide you with what you
wanted, it offers one what it can, on a like it or lump it basis.
If you are poor, all of the glitter of Affluence charms you. If
you have begun to rise above the poverty mire, you will have
visions of a smooth life, free of dire want. As you rise upward on
the economic “Totem Pole”, you begin to dream of the goo d
life, based on the traditional middle-class values. Then it dawns
upon you, that your advancement in income somehow doesn’t
translate into affluence as you always dreamed it would.
THE PERIL OF GREED - The real facts in our rat race, that
we call successful living in America are that human values are
inevitably shaped by our greedy desires, whereas the values
offered by industrial technology are molded by rapid
productional possibilities. The real fault cannot be put on human
beings nor technology.
The fact remains, humanity cannot satisfy all of its wants, nor
can technology transform all humanity into an “Affluent
Utopia”. But there is enough leeway in this incompatible union
to forever sharpen the desires, and to bring on gnawing
fustrations.
Life for those, that have arrived, or thought they had arrived
come up perplexed, because of the marginal benefits are out of
their reach, financially. Twenty-five or 30 years ago, it took a
relatively small amount of money to make a person feel
prosperous. Today it takes substanially more money to make
people feel well off.
The reason for this condition is because the persons at the top
must reckon with affluent laborers, blacks and other lowly ethnic
groups that are steadly pusing upward. The same thing holds true
in other areas of American life. Many Americans thought they
could own two cars, and every one of his children were sure of
attending college, when they had reached the upper economic
level. But they found that the very things they thought were
theirs were still beyond their means. The ever rising affluence of
their fellow-citizens had sent these luxuries hikeing in price.
This queer condition is an American phenomenon in the
present-day society. You may be rich and don t know it, and f
you are, your hustle is nothing like being over.
VOTE
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Gloria Steinheim and the Women’s Liberation Movement came
to AthaLens about two weeks ago. Ms. Steinheim visited Athens
as the Keynote speaker for a Women’s Lib Conference at the
University Georgia. The three day conference was sponsored
by the University of Chapter of the American Association of
University Women. It was an excellent conference attended by
well over a thousand women. This meeting was probably the first
of its kind in the South.
I had the pleasure of attending this Conference as a member of
a five man panel presenting the Men’s point of view of the
movement. The sessions were very educational to me for it
strengthened my commitment to equality for women as well as
minority groups. I will give a detailed point of view of this
movement next week. Suffice it to say now that we live in a very
racist and sexist society. All men should support this movement.
One cannot help but respect such outstanding women as Gloria
Steinheim, Germaine Greer, Joan Baez, Jane Fonda, Coretta
Scott King, Shirley Chisholm, Ethel Kennedy, and Mrs. Carrie J.
Mays of Augusta. We men would be in very bad shape if women
stayed in the background and depended upon us for sound
leadership in this sick society.
It was during Mayor Howard Lee’s recent visit to the
University of Georgia School of Social Work that his forward
thinking on typical community problems was shared with many
persons. Mayor Lee cited the new human resources department
he has established in Chapel Hill, North Carolina as a model for
other communities. Many Communities are establishing such
departments to coordinate all of their social services to local
citizens. Athens has already developed such a program and the
same is needed in Augusta and other communities.
Mayor Lee also talked about how he is including the young and
especially College Students in his administration’s service to his
Cahpel Hill Community. This is in direct contrast to Athens and
other College towns that view students as a necessary evil rather
than as full fledged citizens. Politicians should reach out to
college students rather than continuing to alienate them. College
students certainly cannot do any worse as political office holders
than many of our Watergate mentality politicians.
Mayor Lee, as the first Black Mayor of Chapel Hill, is doing an
excellent job of providing quality leadership on a local, state, and
national level. He is also a good model for professional social
workers whom he represents well in many respects. He is one
social worker who is helping to bring about significant change
within the system or “establishment”.
The forced sterilization of welfare recepients seems to stay in
the news lately. A question could be raised to supporters of such
genocidal inhumanity as to whether College Students and rich
farmers who are also on welfare should be included in this evil
practice. The rich farmers who get paid for not planting crops are
also on welfare. College Students who receive grants while not
working are also on welfare. Should these two groups be sterlized
as well as low income welfare recepients?
The sad truth is that when the supporters of forced sterlization
give their racist spiel they are only talking about sterlizing Blacks.
Forced sterlization is the latest “trick” of racist Whites who want
to legally destroy the Black population of this country since
captial punishment is no longer handy. This practice of sterlizing
low income mothers is one more example of how unchristian and
ungodly this country is at this point in time.
“Running season” is in full bloom in Augusta with Whites
hastily making their exit from previously all white
neighborhoods. A Black family is so powerful that it can move
into an all white neighborhood and in short order “for sale” signs
pop up like grass on a lawn. Whites can run from Blacks but they
sure cannot hide. The moment Summer comes and it gets warm,
many Whites in Augusta’s transitional neighborhoods start
running for “White” territory. This is strange conduct for law and
order lovers with the American flags in their front yeards and on
the moving vans. Some Whites are refusing to run and that is
always encouraging to observers like myself.
It is a pity and tragedy that many Whites will not live next
door to their Black b rothers and sisters. Blacks have shed much
blood in all of this country’s wars but are still not acceptable as
neighbors to the majority of white Amerikkans. One could almost
weep like the Biblical prophet Jeremiah when assessing the
negative racial climate in this country.
The recent death of the Naitonal Welfare Rights Organization
(NWRO) President Dr George Wiley leaves another vacuum in the
Black liberation struggle. Dr. Wiley was the organizer of the
NWRO and his contributions will be greatly missed by welfare
recepients and the rest of us. We mourn his untimely death and
extend our sympathy to his family.
Henry “Hammering Hank” Aaron now has to be provided
police protection at baseball games since he is about to overtake
the home run record of Babe Ruth. The hateful White fans of the
Babe do not want a Black man to gain a better home run record
than their White idol. It is also interesting to watch how the
White stars on the Atlanta Braves teams are cheered when they
make a contribution over aginst how Hammerin’ Hank is cheered.
If one should count Hank’s minor league days he has already
surpassed the home run record of the Babe. Let us hope he lives
to over take the Babe’s record in the major league without a
violent tragedy.
One can just imagine how much money this Black superstar
would be making if he had been White. He would be making all
kinds of television commercials endorsing everything from hats
and shoes to underwear. There are many Whites who do
appreciate his efforts and they are quite vocal about their
support. Even those who do not like this great athlete still have to
give him at least grudging respect.
The Rev. Charles S. Hamilton, pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist
Church of Augusta, is the Local Projects Director of the Fund for
Renewal of the American Baptist Convention. The entire program
is an eleven million dollars endeavor that seeks to give support to
the education and community development of Blacks and other
minorities. The local projects department that the Rev. Hamilton
heads is about a two and one half to three million dollar venture.
The fund for Renewal is a joint project of the American Baptist
Convention and the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
It is indeed encouraging to see Black and White Christians
working together in much needed areas. I have always been
greatly impressed with the work of the American Baptist
Convention. The Progressive National Baptist Convention is a
predominately Black Convention that is one of the largest Black
Protestant groups in the Country. The Rev. Hamilton is to be
commended for his role with the Fund for Renewal and we
congratulate him for this excellent contribution. The Fund seeks
the support of the Black and White Christians of all
denominations in this sorely needed endeavor.
Finally, Dr. John B. Turner, former Dean of the Case Western
Reserve University School of Social Work of Cleveland, Ohio has
now joined the faculty of the University of Georgia School of
Social Work. Dr. Turner is a well known Black social work
educator of a national and international reputation. We welcome
this senior Black faculty member to Athens and we are quite
hopeful of availing ourselves to him to to share his vast
knowledge and expertise with us. The University is quite
fortunate in securing his services for a man of his stature will be
an inspiration to Black and White Georgians who are considering
the much needed profession of Social Work.
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PHILIP WARING ■ I <
WELL DONE C.O. HOLLIS!
It was good to note in the NEWS-REVIEW and the national
Black Press about the recent election of C.O. Hollis as president
of the National Insurance Association! A top flight insurance
executive, devoted churchman, family man and civic leader, his
selection by peers to this national post bring great credit to
Augusta and Pilgrim Life. Congratulations!
TRIBUTE TO GEORGE WILEY
As this column is being written (4 p.m. Sunday) some ten cities
around the nation are holding memorial services for Dr. George
Wiley, brilliant civil rights leader and former staff director of the
National Welfare Rights Organization who fell from his boat into
Chesapeake Bay last Wednesday. George, who held a PhD in
organic chemistry was a professor at Syracuse University in the
early sixities, left his teaching position to help the poor. Many
Black social workers will recall his successful social action push
which helped people on welfare to organize themselves, lead them
on picket lines before government offices to get better treatment,
and finally the group won a victory in the U.S. Supreme Court on
the so-called “man-in-the-house” rule. (Black families often saw
the father “leaving the home” so his family could get welfare and
food which he often could not provide because he could not get
work becuase of race). At its high level the National Welfare
Rights Organization had 200,000 members inßoochaptersaround
the nation.
NEW MESSAGE TO BLACK MIDDLE-CLASS ABOUT WELFARE
NEEDS
I knew George Wiley. One of the major accomplishments was
educating middle-class income Blacks as to why members of the
race, often the victim of poor education, discrimination in
employment, etc. should accept welfare benefits which was due
them as citizens and tax payers. George pointed out that this was
a subsidy in human benefit just as the Federal government aided
farmers, the airlines, railroads, oil companies, etc. Many Black
Greek-letter and professional groups finally got George’s message
and shucked off the brain washing of the daily white press who
played up a handful of welfare cheaters who do not compare to
the millions of Americans who often need some type of public
assistance.
' LETTERS TO EDITOR |
WANTS CHECKS ON HOME
UPKEEP
Dear Editor:
I am a resident of Barton
Village. In recent months
several vacant homes in this
community have become
neighborhood eyesores through
dereliction or through
defacement.
Not only is this a problem in
Barton Village but also in
many predominately black
housing developments where
existing laws are either
inadequate or not strictly
enforced. Conditions in these
neighborhoods show negligence
in terms of keeping houses
painted, keeping lawns cut,
burning of trash, and disposal
ot garbage, and rubbish.
Consequently land devaluation
is high and home owners suffer
Value . . . for only
$249 ’s
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INCLUDES: SPACIOUS DOUBLE DRESSER, FRAMED MIRROR,
FULL SIZE DECOR PANEL BED AND ROOMIE 5 DRAWER CHEST . . .
an economic loss.
I am hoping that an office
can be set up in the city and
county governments whereby
each district will have a person
in charge of making regular
monthly surveys checking on
the upkeep of private property
in old as well as new housing
developments.
Recently during a trip to
Buffalo, New York I saw the
results of an effective as well as
efficient plan for keeping
housing developments clean.
Neighborhood block clubs
were formed and the president
of each block club was
responsible for enforcing
property laws of this nature.
It is my sincere hope that
some action will be taken on
the part of concerned citizens,
councilmen and commissioners
that will aid in improving and
TO B E
| EQUAL Iffgy
—/ tS/S 7 >
Vernn" E. Jordan, Jr. J/ F
DEFINING CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
The idea of “corporate responsibility” is a relatively new one
and while a good number of executives accept the need for their
corporations to become active in tackling some of the problems
facing the society, others are reluctant to do so.
I wish these reluctant corporate chieftains and their apologists
had been present to hear Coy Eklund’s address to the National
Urban League Annual Conference in Washington last month.
Eklund, President of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, laid
it on the line with one of the best definitions of corporate
responsibility I’ve ever heard. And his defense of the concept
could not have come at a better time, since all too many business
leaders and others are weary from their brief experiment in social
involvement in the 19605.
Those who self-righteously proclaim that their company is in
business to make profits ought to have heard Mr. Eklund declare
that “the business of business is not only profits: it is people too.
Fortunately business does not have to choose between profits and
people.... There is considerable greater likelihood of better social
conduct in a company enjoying first-rate financial results;
conversely, there is considerably greater likelihood for first-rate
financial results in a business attending to its social conduct.”
Mr. Eklund took the long-term view all responsible business
leaders must take: “To survive long-term”, he said, “the
corporation has a selfish interest in the preservation and
well-being of the total society in which it operates. You can’t d> j
business - you can’t make Profits - in a crumbling, disintegrating,
poverty-pocked social environment...
“Indeed, we are coming to understand that social forces, no
less than market forces oerate to determine corporate success and 3
longevity. Just as the intelligent person must give though to what*
makes for a more fulfilling existence for himself, so must the 8
corporation to concerned with whatever makes for a better
environment in which to survive or prosper. Call it enlightened
self-interest. Don’t call it generosity or altruism.”
He made a very telling point new to the whole debate over the
corporate role - the fact that: “The corporation is the creation of
the people. And created by them, it is intended to ulfill the
certain purposes of the people and to perform in ways beneficial
to them....
“From inception the corporation has always carried an implied
social responsibility. It is not a new burden lately added to the
chief executive’s duties, nor is it an optional accessory to be
discriminately adopted or rejected. It is inherent in the corporate
charter. It was there in the beginning.”
And he called on the business community for immediate action
“To strengthen their corporate resolve to lift the burden of
poverty, ot clearn up the physical environment, to erase bigtry
and racial prejudice, and to provide full equality of opportunity
for all Americans.”
That’s quite an agenda, but it si one that the corporate
community, as Mr. Ekland made so very clear, has a direct
responsibility to achieve. As he rightly pointed out, this
responsibility is necessary to “the fulfillment of promises
inherent in the corporate charter,” as well as to the continued
viability of corporate America.
I think every Corporation and businessman in the country
ougth to ponder Mr. Ekland’s words and his thesis, and begin to
act on them. Business should be going beyond the most
elementary acts - assisting local communities, increasing job
opportunities, contributing in far larger amounts to social action
programs and agencies - but also should be fighting on behalf of
important social goals like welfare reform, federal social legislation,
and a full employment policy.
I am good deal more hopeful that this situation will come
about after listening to Coy Eklund’s thoughtful remarks, for
they indicate that at least some of the most important business
leaders in the nation are not about to sink into the quicksand of a
policy of corporate “benign neglect”.
beautifying our housing
developments in Augusta and
Richmond County.
Very truly yours,
Wilson George Butler
2414 Madrid Drive