Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

The Augusta News-Review - September 6, 1973 'IB ■Walking I I W i ■ Dignity by Al Irby I jßKEifli MAYBE PRESIDENT NIXON IS NOT AS REACTIONARY AS THE EASTERN LIBERAL ESTABLISHMENT AND THE MAJORITY OF BLACKS ATTEMPT TO LABEL HIM. HE REFUTED HIS ULTRA RIGHT-WING ASSOCIATES AND ESTABLISHED A WORKING DETENTE WITH COMMUNIST CHINA AND RUSSIA. THEN UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE, HE RETAINED MANY/LIBERAL HARVARD MEN ON HIS STAFF, INCLUDING THE FAMED DR. KISSINGER, RICHARDSON, AND THE FLAMBOYANT ARCHIBALD COX, THE BRUSH-CUT HARVARD PROFESSOR OF LAW, THE MAN CHOSEN TO INVESTIGATE HIM. ALSO THE PRESIDENT APPOINTED WARREN BURGER AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT. CHIEF JUSTICE BURGER IS A SOLID MODERATE WITH WELL KNOWN EGALITARIAN TENDENCY. Mr. Nixon totally made patsies out of the South in regard to school busing and desegregation; while he was talking anti-busing like mad, his Justice Department was pressing for desegregation in the Upper-South and the North. The most disappointing aspect, for those who thought the President’s appointments to the High Court would turn the court completely around on all social and educational litigations are disappointed. The big anticipated swing to the right failed to materialize. Justice Rehnquist is the only “hard-nose” reactionary on the bench. It’s entirely plausible to reason that the liberals and the enemies of Mr. Nixon should be thankful, and work to save the President from those horrible incorrigible; right-wingers that are hiding in the shadowry archives of “Reactionary Republicanism”. The Nixon court hasn’t abolished Civil Rights, as some people darkly predicted when conservative Warren Burger was named Chief Justice in 1969. Women have gained ground in fighting sex discrimination; so have Blacks, in desegregating schools. The President did not remake the court in his image by appointing Mr. Burger and the three other conservative Justices. Since January 1972, when the last two Nixon appointees took their seats, the High Court has struck down the death penalty with which the President concurred, and upheld a limited right to abortion, which he opposed. It has sharply restricted the adminstration’s vigorous use of electronic bugging in domestic security cases. The High Court recently handed down decisions that probably killed the President’s legislature plan for aiding Church-related schools. Has the Supreme Court demonstrated any far-out thrust to the right as many liberals and Blacks prophesized it would? STRIM-DOWN INTERPRETATIONS-Of course the present court is different from the court headed by Earl Warren, which was a pioneering liberal panel. This court is more restrained to reading the Constitution, as President Nixon wanted. But it hasn’t overruled many of the Warren Courts landmark decisions, surely its narrower interpretations have hindered the many social edicts expansion in such areas as rights of criminal suspects, legislative reapportionment and equal rights for the so-called poor. Sanford Kadish, professor of law at the University of California, had this to say about the Burger Court: “There hasn’t been a revolution, but a change of Constitution emphasis. The Burger court is slowing the Warren Court’s decisions from spreading, rather than killing them by the roots.” While there’s not a clean-cut liberal majority with its fuzzy social innovations for broad new legal advances, as in the Warren era, neither is there a clear-cut voting block that’s prepared to sweep the old precedents completely away. Another legal observer gives his evaluation about the so-called Nixon Court. Dr. Paul Bender of the University of Pennsylvania law school said: “It’s a holding action on the part of the present court.” He believes that the current Supreme Court, “is going to be the source of important new principles in American life about fairness, equality and justice, most legal minds consider these areas as cutting smoke.” IDEOLOGICAL DiFFERENCES-One of the reasons that hold this Burger Court in check is the fact that it is divided rather evenly along liberal and conservative lines. There are three hold-overs from the Warren regime, justices William Brennan, and Thurgood Marshall. The other two hold-overs, Justices Byron White and Potter Stewart are labeled moderates, and most of the time provide swing votes in important cases. The four conservatives are Chief Justice Burger and Justices Lewis F. Powell, Harry Blackmun and William Rehnquist. Os course Burger and Powell are definitely not segregationists, and they vote in favor of most desegregation decisions. In the case upholding the right to abortion, maybe the court’s most liberal decision, Justices Blackmun, Powell, Stewart and Chief Justice Burger voted with the liberals in the 7 to 2 decision. At times the conservatives and liberals scramble their votes, and its hard to distinguish who is who. That happened in the Pittsburgh Press, sex designated employment ads; this case made the Women Liberation movement very happy. The court held five to four that most of the newspaper’s help-wanted ads violated a Pittsburgh city ordinance barring sex discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. It saw no violation in striking down the ads of the First Amendment’s free-press protections. On the majority side were the two conservatives Justice Blackmun and Chief Burger, the third liberal, Justice Douglas, and the Justice Stewart. That says Yale University Law Professor Louis Pollack, “is a damn fascinating division.” Os the conservatives, Justice Powell is the least predictable. He is inclined to vote conservatively, but his written opinions usually reflect a comprehensive effort to balance the competing agruments. National constitutional scholars give him high marks for his legal analysis. He is the chief swing man between the liberals and conservatives on the High Court. Most times Justice Powell sounds nothing like a Nixon appointee. In any event, maybe Mr. Nixon might not wish to increase his headaches with Congress by appointing any radically conservative Justices. THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Mallory K. MHkndarEditor and Publisher Mailing Addreas: Box 963 Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4656 Second Class Postage Paid Augusta, Ga. 30901 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payable in Advance One Year in Richmond County $6.00 tax incl. 6 Months • • $2.60 tax incl. Ohe Year elsewheres6.oo tax incl. advertising department Classified Advertising Deadline 12 noon on Tuesday I Display Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday News Items Printed Free Page 4 .-I Speaking | From 1 at Athens I ss. i •:¥: W: Roosevelt Grtsa, Jr. iMMMMMHMMMni The past Labor Day weekend was the cause for many reflections on may part. I will share some of them with you for whatever it is worth. It is nearly always a pause that refreshes..,, one’s mind in many instances. It was significant in many respects for Black Augusta City Council Woman Ms. Carrie J. Mays to serve as the acting Mayor of Augusta for a day. She was the first woman and known Black person to serve in that capacity. This incident should point out clearly to Black and other Augustans that there is no reason why Ms. Mays or some other Black should not aspire for one or more full terms as Mayor. I offer my complete support to the current effort by prominent Black civic and other leaders and citizens who feel it very necessary to rename Augusta’s Gwinnett Street to Laney/Walker Boulevard. This action to honor two of Augusta’s most prominent deceased leaders is way past due. Ms. Lucy C. Laney and the Rev. Dr. Charles C. Walker contributed greatly to the Augusta of the past and present. News-Review columnist Philip Waring and others are to be commended for spearheading this timely effort. It would be a sign of needed progress if Black and white Augustans rally behind this effort to insure it success. We will miss Black Augustan Charles C. Allen, his wife Carolyn and family who have now moved to Macon, Georgia. Brother Allen is the new Director of the Youth Development Center in Macon making him the first Black to hold such a position in Georgia under the State Department of Human Resources. He is a professional social worker who is a graduate of the Atlanta University School of Social Work and our own Paine College in Augusta. Best wishes to Brother Allen and his family in their new home town. A belated congratulations is due another Black graduate of the Atlanta University social work school in the person of Quinten S. Gresham. Brother Gresham is the State Director of Group Homes under the Department of Human Resources also. He is the first Black in that position and he is a graduate of Talledega College in Talledega, Alabama. His wife, Emma, is a public school teacher in Richmond County. Both Charles Allen and Quinten Gresham are members of the Academy of Certified Social Workers of the National Association of Social Workers as well as members of the National Association of Social Workers as well as members of the National Association of Black Social Workers. It is always an informative pleasure to watch James Earl Jones and the Black Omnibus television program on a local Augusta television station. This is a weekly program well worth watching by both Black and white Augustans to gain greater knowledge of the Black Experience. Both local television stations in Augusta have offered sound informative approaches to the “Experience”. Hopefully, even more will be forthcoming in the future. Augustans should offer more support to the local semi-pro football team named the Augusta Eagles for the team is really growing and has a very good record this season as well as past seasons. Black Augustans James Brinson and Calvin Holland are among the Black stars on he team. Brother Holland is a teacher at the Augusta Youth Development Center where Brother Brinson has a position in the recreation department headed by Black Augustan Hawthorne I. Lee. Brother Brinson is currently working on a Master’s degree from the University of Georgia. Local athletic or sports programs such as the Augusta Eagles offer much to football fans and others who support a progressive Augusta. My vacation was made more enjoyable by the opportunity to preach at the Belle-Terrace United Presbyterian Church in Augusta. The Minister of that Church is the Rev. Mr. Edward Miller who is doing a fine job at that beautiful new church as well as in the Augusta Community. My attendance at the Morehouse School of Religion of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta helped me to appreciate the ecumenical movement among Christians and other faiths in this country. The United Presbyterians have led other denominations in the concern for solving social problems in this country. Belle Terrace is a progressive church that has now expanded its community services to include a Nursery and Kindergarten program which is the kind of program all churches should operate. It is always helpful for members of different religious faiths to explore how others worship God so that narrow minded religious dogmatism can be advoided. It was idstrubing to learn that a local White peditrician in Augusta still has “White and Colored” waiting rooms. If this situation does not change by next week, a protest will be filed with the Augusta N.A.A.C.P. and his name will be printed in this column. This is a social blight upon the many fine Black and white physicians in Augusta who do not practice waiting room segregation. It must be expensive to provide separate medical equipment and medicine for various ethnic or so-called racial groups. However, Augusta is a tremendous medical community with a lot of potential for sound and progressive medical care for all citizens. Augustans can be proud of its medical complex and especiallythe Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic. Blacks should avail themselves of the sickle cell clinic servies to an even greater degree. I will write more about this service in a later column. It is gratifying to learn that University Hospital and H.E.W. are coming to terms so that a new comprehensive mental health center program can be developed in Augusta. This is a greatly needed service that can enrich the lives of all Augustans. Blacks are buying new cars in greater numbers than ever before in Augusta. I hope they will buy from new car dealers with Blacks salesmen and maybe one day this city will have Blacks with new car dealerships. The Clarke Hill Dam affords this central Savannah River Area with many recreational opportunities. I noticed that some of the more choice areas are now owned by White Churches in Augusta meaning Blacks have less areas to enjoy. An interesting study would be one that reveals how much racial discrimination exists in the selling of water-front lots to Blacks in the Clarke Hill areas. Good fishing, boating, and water skiing abounds in this area which includes some fine state parks. Another rambling thought is the slowly advancing fight against alcohol and drug abuse. Alcoholism is a greater problem than the abuse of hard drugs and it affects many individuals and families in Geoigia. However, Georgia is making sound progress in the treatment of people with drinking problems. They need treatment and should not be thrown in jails only to add a high arrest record to a problem that is an illness and not a crime. Persons with drinking problems can be treated at the Georgia Regional Hospital in Augusta and the Alcohol and Drug abuse Clinic in Athens. Athenians can also use the Comprehensive Mental Health Clinic at Athens General Hospital. Law Enforcement officials are not necessarily the best people to teach citizens about drug abuse and treatment. I have seen policemen spread misinformation about drug abuse which only hardened the resistance of Youth to what they, the policemen, i had to present. Only those policemen who have had special I training should engage in drug information programs. It is ’ probably better to have teams consisting of policemen and health professionals work together on this problem. For example, some policemen in a certain city spread the tie that the use of marihuana always leads to the usage of hard drugs ■ with Philip Waring ■HHkIkV LANEY/WALKER BLVD. PROPOSAL WELL RECEIVED Featured on the front page of the News-Review and highlighted on radio station WBBQ, television WRDW-12 and in both the Chronicle and Herald, there has been wide acceptance in Augusta of the proposal to rename Gwinnett Street “LANEY/WALKER BLVD.” honoring Miss Lucy Laney and Dr. C.T. Walker, pioneer Augusta Black education and religious leaders. As examples, State Rep. Richard Dent who is one of the key leaders in this project, said he had received many phone calls from both Black and White citizens who voiced strong approval of the proposal. L.B. Wallace, the real estate executive and national chairman of the Haines Institute Alumni Assn., indicated that many persons and groups promised active support. Remember this is a PROPOSAL, a concept, and a citizens committee (which should have membership from those who live and work on Gwinnet St.) must be formed, more discussion held, planning formulated, etc. before getting this idea under way. More civic and legislative leaders should be involved now during its planning stage which follows its introduction. Another proposal being widely discussed is to rename Central Ave. “Button Gwinnett Ave.”. This street is now being upgraded and this would be timely in keeping with the thrust for the forth coming Bicentennial in 1976. But we must have LANEY/WALKER BLVD. such as herion and others. The teenagers who heard that nonsense simply laughed nad shrugged off policemen in general as being generally ignorant about the problem. Athens and Augusta are still in need of good jazz programs. Local radio disc jockeys either do not know the difference between jazz and rock and root or rhythm and blues or simply do not care on wya or the other. The recent so-called jazz festival in Atlanta was not really a jazz festival since other musical categories dominated the event. An interesting new jazz album recently released is on entitled Soul Box by Grover Washington, Jr. I understand Cannon Ball Adderley will be visiting a local Augusta Night Club in the near future. Maybe one day Blacks and non-Blacks will learn to appreciate something more than the screaming and jumping hyenas and banshees of rock and roll. A brief look at Athens is now in order it seems. Best wishes to Ray Ware of Athens who has jusst retired as Assistant Director of Citizens Participation of the Athens Model Cities Program. We wish Brother Ware well after having sewed Ably with hte fine model cities and other community programs and activities. Ray and I were charter members of one of the first desegregated Breakfast Optimist Clubs in the South in Athens. Athens has recently initiated a Youth Service Bureau which is sponsored by the Family Counseling Agency of that community. The Youth Service Bureau is a Comprehensive delinquency prevention program that encompasses the total Athens community. This is a good diversion of juveniles from eh criminal career ladder that is needed by all urban communities. Finally, I have been reassured by the recent progress of both the Athens and Augusta Communities in a limited sense. There is always hope for tomorrow if sensible Blacks and Whites can come together to earnestly and honestly plan for the future. However, this is by no means time for patting ourselves on the backs since our journey is similar to the one from the earth to the moon at the speed of a turtle with worn out track shoes. Some great things are in store for us in the future and the present if we can sober up from the intoxicating fumes of hate and prejudice. 1 just cannot close without lamenting the fact that the practice of naming hurricanes after women should be stopped immediately. It is not difficult to think about a number of men, especially some politicians, who deserve the questionable “honor”. Do you, tike myself, have some good suggestions for naming male hurricanes Harambee!!! The Adventures “CHICKENMAN” mMF" )2l The Greatest Crime Fighter The World Has Ever Known Heard Exclusively On I: SUBSCRIBE I TODAY > THE NEWS-REVIEW | PAiaxm I AUGUTTA, <2OR(3A 30N3 j Num ■*** AOOVOTB MBMMHMMa MMaBBMBUUBMMOUMMBO RJ. aty Be On* year (In county! ISA) On* year (out of county) S&OO TOBE Veran"E.Jotdm,Jr. t CENSUS UNDERCOUNT MEANS LOST DOLLARS You might be one of the 5.3 million people the U.S. Census Bureau admits it did not count in the 1970 Census. If so, that means that your neighborhood loses federal aid apportioned on a per-capita basis, including revenue sharing money, and shares less than it ought to in other federal and state programs. Over five million people not counted may not seem much on a national basis in a total population of over 200 million, but is impact on localities, espcially on hard-pressed cities and towns with substantial minority populations, is important. The builk of the “missing persons” are minorities; almost eight percent are black, as against less than a two percent undercount of whites. Spanish-speaking people were probably undercounted more than any other group, since the Census forms were in English only. How much have key cities lost because of the undercount? It’s hard to say exactly but a good estimate, based on the Census Bureau’s own figures of the undercount, indicates that New York State lost about $15.1 million in revenue sharing funds alone, while California lost almost as much. Major cities lost large amounts that could be used to help relieve the crushing problems they face. New York City lost about $6.7 million; Chicago, $2.5 million; Washington D.C., $1.5 million, and other cities similar amounts depending on their size and their minority populations. What ought to be done to rectify a mistake the Census Bureau admits occurred? After all, the census is no academic head-counting exercise; it is the basis not only for allocation of federal and state funds, but also for political representation and the drawing of political districts at all levels of government. The Census Bureau itself wants another census in 1975, instead of waiting until 1980 as mandated by the Constitution. There is a lot to be said for cutting the census interval from en o five years in our highly mobile nation. There is an agricultural census every five years counting every farm animal and tractor in rural America. If we can count chickens every five years why not people? But Congress refused a mid-decade Census so we must deal with these figures for the next ten years. I have already suggested an across-the-board increase in official population figures to account for the estimated undercount, but such suggestions have met with a defeatist response that simply says that the national figures can’t be adjusted on a local basis. Now the National Urban League’s Research Department has come up with a formula it says can be applied to correct the undercount. The researchers went to the Census Bureau’s own estimated national undercounts of different sub-groups of the population and devised a system of adjusting local figures. They make clear that this is an interim device to be used in the current emergency. Eventually, population researchers and the Bureau may come up with a fool-proof method of compensating for national undercounts, but until then, it makes sense to put the League’s method to immediate use in all population-based formulas on federal and state aid. After all, this wouldn’t be the first time the government used nation-wide figures to deal with localities. The famous poverty index, for example, applies a national definition of poverty regardless of the significant cost of living variations in different regions. The national poverty index is used as a national standard for allocating funds to localities; so too, the suggested revisions in population figures would be used as a standard for disbursement of funds until the next census. KAJFKLJAKLFJA USUALLY, WHEN ONE PICTURES WELFARE ONE THINKS OF POVERTY-STRICKEN, NEEDY PEOPLE. MANY OF THEM FROM MINORITY RACES, PRESIDENT NIKON HIMSELF WHO WAS OFTEN CRITICIZED FOR WHAT HE CHARACTERIZES AS WELFARE CHISLERS, HAS ALSO SEEN THE RECIPIENT OF A FORM OF WELFARE. THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID TO IMPROVE THE KEY SISCAYNEANDSAN CLEMENTE NIKON RESIDENCES WAS $1,203X74. niCHHAN CHROHICLB KEY J I J | i ill ii> WOW 1 I i-fe" ——i j/ r | /' / SAKCtfMENTE