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The AUgusta News-Review - November#, 1973, ■Walking ijflk ||| I Wrth |K|s 11 i If I ■ Dignity ■ by Al Irby k; MOST AMERICANS DO NOT KNOW OFF HAND WHAT IS THE 16th AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. IT IS TERSE AND SHORT AND IT TOUCHES EVERY AMERICAN FROM PAUPER TO BILLIONAIRE. IT CONSISTS OF A SINGLE SENTENCE. “THE CONGRESS SHALL HAVE POWER TO LAY AND COLLECT TAXES ON INCOME, FROM WHATEVER SOURCE DERIVED WITHOUT APPORTIONMENT AMONG THE SEVERAL STATES, AND WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CENSUS OR ENUMERATION.” After 60 years, the income tax-law provokes more headaches and debates than any other part of a federal law. Americans are still grumbling as to whether this law is a socialistic take-over, or the most humanistic and just tax ever concieved. The history of this controversial tax-law is very interesting. In 1913 income taxes were nothing new; many countries had imposed the same type of law, from time to time in the past. During the Revolutionary War, a few of the colonies collected taxes based on personal incomes. The federal government had also imposed such a tax for a short duration. In 1862 an income tax was enacted by the North to finance the Civil War. It was a withholding type at the source. This tax plus other wartime levies, were so productive that by 1866, the federal revenues were more than $350 million dollars. When the Civil War ended, the government had so much surplus money, it didn't know what to do with it. REVENUE-SHARING NOT NEW-After General Lee surrendered at Appomattox, the Federal Government started to give money back to the states, but not to use as they saw fit. The money could only be used on federal projects. Thereafter the Treasury returned to the old custom of depending only on import duties and excise taxes on whisky and cigars. There was a brief interruption of this method in 1894, when Southern and Western Congressmen begin complaining about the tariff, that was unfair to their sections. Congress reimposed the income tax to compensate for their losses in revenues. This tax began to squeeze Northern and rich Eastern States, but they were unable to block the tax in Congress. Then Eastern capitalists carried their greivances to the Supreme Court which ruled that the tax was unconstitutional. The High Court held that the founding fathers gave Congress tl e power to levy indirect taxes such as import duties and excise L es on goods. There should be no capitation, or other direct, hall be laid unless in proportion to the census. In layman’s lan uage, the people of the State of New York should not have to pay more direct tax to the Federal Government than the people of South Carolina, except on the ratio of nonulation. According to all the controversy that had been raging over personal taxes up to this time; it was becoming obvious that a tax based on personal income would not produce results proportionate to state populations. If there were to be an income tax, the Constitution would have to be amended. Two Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft urged such an amendment. After a year or so of verbal hassling Congress drafted an amendment and submitted it to the states in 1909. About four years later Wyoming became the 37th state to ratify this far-reaching amendment. This cleared the constitutional road for the income concept, there was still some work ahead, a big battle loomed in the halls of Congress. CORDELL HULL OF TENNESSEE QUARTER-BACKED fHE NEW TAX LAW-Congressman Cordell Hull,who later in life became a “Big Wheel in President Roosevelt’s New Deal”, wrote the new income-tax bill, and led a large faction that favored a flat rate of 1%. Future Vice-president John Nance Gamer of Texas violently opposed Congressman Hull’s version and demanded a graduated rate together with large exemptions. Champ Clark of ,ouri, a close buddy of J. Nance Gamer assured the House “the wit of man has never derived a fairer or juster tax” than whose rates are based on the ability to pay. is noteworthy to observe that these old populists raders that blue-printed the modern “income tax law” ecame cog wheels in Roosevelt’s broad social legislature, social security and a score of others. A great number of its put up a terrific fight against the law; because they d that the proposed law with its low rates was the proverbial nose under the tent, that once a tax on incomes was !, rates would escalate out of control, how right they were! n< tor William E. Borah, a strong patriotic American could < conceive of an exorbiant rate pushed upon the American >ple, as a good deal of the opponents hinted. The Idaho iaker was outraged by such loose anxieties, and made this sent: “it is incredible to think, that the rate might cm tally climb to 20%. “Who,” he asked, “could impose such iStic, confiscatory rates? Only Congress, and how could ess, the representatives of the American people, be so g in fairness, justice and patriotism." opposition, however, was so strong that advocates of the asure resorted to the familiar tactic of hanging on a law with •üble chances to a piece of “must" legislation-in this instance, e tariff act. The income tax became law are a rider to the tariff act on October 3, 1913, but it was retroactive to March 1, 60 years ago. January and February incomes were exempt because p to that time it was unconstitutional. The rate was a flat 1% up to $20,000. Incomes above that level were subject to a surtax of up to ssoo,oooper year. Easterners' fears were justified; they nad contended along that they would be forced to pay the bulk of lis new income measure. It turned out that a third of the □tai collection for the first year was paid by Easterners. The proponents of this new tax were in a dizzy, they did not know if they were on safe ground or not. President Woodrow Wilson was exempted from the tax during his term of office; because Congress wanted to avoid a constitutional conflict with the President for the same reason, federal judges, state and local employees also were exempted, but United States Senators had to nay. At first this law provided for withholding at the source of es on income from certain bonds, mortgages and other types ; investments, but not from salaries and w. ges. Eventually all of this was changed, with taxes withheld from wages but not from dividends and interest. There have not been many changes of deductions since 1913. The deductions were, interest and taxes paid, uninsured casualty i< sses, unreimbursed business expenses, bad debts and depreciation of income-producing property. The camel has gotten his entire body under the tent. From less than 35 million in 1913 to 95 billion in 1972. ALLEN UNIVERSITY SEEKS LOST ALUMNI “We Need You” Name Address Year Please send mail to; Allen Univ., 1530 Harden SL, Columbia, SC 29204 Page 4 I[gOING yr-1 I PLACES I ■L with Philip Waring ■ URBAN LEAGUE HONORS JAMES LINEN Next week the National Urban League(NUL) will honor James A. Linen at its Equal Opportunity Day dinner slated for the New York Hilton Hotel. Mr. Linen recently retired after five distinquished years as national. President of the NUL Trustee Board. As you probably know he is Chairman of the Executive Committee for Time, Inc. (Time, Life, Fortune & Sports Illustrated). This honor is both timely and well deserved because Jim has been one of the League’s greatest and most effective presidents. His tenure was during periods of great racial crisis and change for the nation and the NUL Movement. Great expectations came about among Blacks as result of the Civil Rights Struggle of the Sixities. Jim Linen identified with this struggle. He was president when we went about a change of our agency focus via the “New Thrust” programs of ghetto involvement, social action and system change . And he also gave splendid leadership when we challenged the United Fund to increase allocations to the 100 local League affiliates who were the only agencies of this kind giving comprehensive social work and race relations services tothe disadvantaged clients of the United Funds. LINEN EMBODIES URBAN LEAGUE INTERRACIAL TEAMWORK CREDO Mr. Linen had the awesome job of holding the Urban League Ship on course in March of 1971 when Whitney Young, Jr. met his death in Africa. 1 shall always remember how President Linen called together key representatives of the NUL Movement from around the nation to meet with him and the Trustee Board in the Time-Life Building at Rockfeller City just prior to Whitney’s funeral. (Which was really the only “state” funeral in our 63-year agency history.) He then did an excellent job of choosing a Search Committee, headed by Louis Martin, NUL Vice President and editor of the Chicago Defender, which eventually selected our own Georgia Boy, Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. Jim Linen was most generous in sharing his vast contacts with American big business, industry, communications and government. As Maynard Jackson pointed out so well during his 1970 Sixtieth Anniversary address: “The Urban League Movement has reached a peak among American betterment agencies.” And Jim Linen must be rightly credited with much of this accomplishment. URGED WHITE PEOPLE TO SPEAK OUT Mr. Linen was forthright on the need for white people to verbalize their responsibilities on helping to solve the racial and urban crisis. In his public speeches he often said: “We have met the enemy and they are us”. To show you the full measure of the man, let’s look at what happened at the 1969 Washington NUL Conference; Several thousand persons were in attendance when a group of anti-white racial remarks were shouted at Jim Linen. Both he and Whitney retained their “cool”, evaluating the dynamics of this situation has saved the day for Urban League Interracial Teamwork. This was an acid test which he passed with flying colors. LINEN AIDED LOCAL URBAN LEAGUE As you know 1 helped organize the League program in the Stamford, Conn, area in 1969 and headed it for four years until illness and (high blood pressure) medical advice advised that 1 retire from this executive position last summer. During this four year period, however, Mr. Linen, though national President of NUL, was most helpful to our local program operations, visiting us on several occasions. Last summer, despite his own hospital illness, he wrote me a most thoughtful and cordial letter on my illness. This letter also helped me make up my mind on a career matter with the League in Connecticut. “HOW’S VERNON JORDAN MAKING OUT?” Last summer when visiting my hometown, Augusta, Ga., several of Vernon’s Omega buddies and former Georgia NAACP associates such as City Councilman B.T. Dent, Dr. Ike Washington, Commissioner Ed Mclntyre, his Howard University Law School classmate, Attorney Jack Ruffin, and others asked me: “Phil, how is Vernon making out in this new job?” This was a good question because so many of us old timers have been both amazed and elated on how this tall young Georgian with his “young head on old shoulders” has taken our NUL Movement Ship on such a steady and upward course since his richly deserved appointment. NUL internal structure has been strenghened, program services enriched and expanded, and new affiliates formed. (We hope soon for Augusta, Clarence Coleman and J. Harvey Kerns!). While the NUL Movement is naturally a recipient of Federal programs and grants paid by American taxpayers, all of us are most proud of Vernon as he has forthrightly lashed out at the Nixon Administration's inhuman cutbacks on human services and civil rights projects. (And this criticism from Vernon came many long months before Watergate). Just as the late Whitney Young had lots of Kentucky colonels and “Blue Grass residents” coming to support him at the annual NUL Conference, I am, as a native Georgian, proud to see so many Peach Tree state folk coming up from Georgia backing Vernon. It is good to note that so many of his relatives and close friends attend these conferences. So the center of “down home” support has shifted from Kentucky to Georgia. NUL EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS LEGACY PRAISED Prior to last year’s NUL Conference 1 made two requests: (1) That I be allowed to edit a first-of-its kind Journal of the NUL Executive Directors Council and (2) that our Eastern Executives sponsor a breakfast honoring 76-year old Dr. Lester B. Granger retired NUL Executive. Both projects were successful. Copies of the Journal have been shared with the Paine College and Wallace Libraries. The most eventful event of the entire conference, however, was how Vernon expressed himself to Dr. Granger and the breakfast audience (which incidentally include Paine College Dr. L. Pitts) on how delighted he was to follow in the great Urban League legacy of Executives such as Dr. George E. Holmes, Eugene K. Jones, Lester Granger, and the late Whitney Young. So in answer to the question - “Vernon and the NUL Movement are doing quite well”. THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Mallory K. Millendar Editor and Publisher Mailing Addres: Box 963 Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4656 Second Class Postage Paid Augusta, Ga. 30901 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payable in Advance One Year in Richmond Countyss.oo tax incl. 6 Months $2.50 tax incl. Ohe Year elsewheres6.oo tax incl. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Classified Advertising Deadline 12 noon on Tuesday Display Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday News Items Printed Free .vaswwwwwwto ( MK| Speaking p Out J Roosevelt Green, Jr. j f What does it mean to be Black in this country today? It means one must have a lot of physical and psychological strength in order to survive in a sane manner. It means enduring daily the ordeal of white institutionalized racism with accompanying discrimination. Black is invariable defined in a negative manner. The English language is strongly racist and sexist to the core. Negative usage of the word Black includes such languaging as a Black out, Black comedy, Black ball, and Black sheep. Blacks and whites grow up using such terms until they learn better. To be “Black then is to deal with the problem of the “rightness of whiteness” and yet develop a comfortably sense of Black identity. The typical white child grows up believing this is a white world and any color differences are viewed as negative dviations from whiteness. Whites are always seen holding the keys of power while Blacks remain powerless. The typical Black child grows up with definitions of a negative self-image that may even result in self hatred because he or she is not white. Skin bleachers and hair straightners used ot be in vogue for Blacks desiring the powerful and more desirable white skin and features. Thank God this has changed to the extent most Blacks are now proud to be “Black” and beautiful. White institutionalized racism may be defined in terms of the socialization of whites into the “rightness of whiteness” by a process which begins almost at birth. We find basic institutions in this and all human societies are the family, economics, education, political, and religion. To say that something is “institutionalized” is to say that it is a frozen part of the social system or structure. All fine institutions in this country are permeated with the notion of white superiority and Black j inferiority. White racism occurs on both a conscious and unconscious basis with most whites. A critical but brief review of all fine institutions in this country gives ample examples of white racism. Most of our literature and communications media cite the ideal family as being middle class and white. On does not have to guess that this practice is damaging to Black and other ethnic family groups. The economic institutions in this country is basically run and influenced by five hundred white families. Sixty of those families control and own the bulk of wealth in this paradise of “free irfterprise for the poor and socialism for the rich”. Black capitalism is a myth unless it is just like white capitalism meaning ownership of large corporations. There are probably more white millionaires in Thomasville, Georgia than there are in America - Further, this means that Blacks and the majority of whites are ecnomically powerless. In summary, this institution is controlled and owned by a powerful white ruling class in this country. The educational institution is also owned and controlled by whites with Blacks having little if any decision making power. Textbooks are written largely by and for whites while overtly and covertly illustrating the rightness of whiteness. For example, there is still very little attention being given to “true” Black history rather than the “safe history” with hero worship of safe Blacks and uncle Toms. There is an increasing degree of school desegregation with practically no school “integration”. This is true if one defines integration as being the coming together of co-equals. The political institution is also owned and controlled by the rich and super-rich. The major political positions are largely dominated by whites who are either insensitive to or have little if , any regard for Blacks. It must be remembered that any mayor whether he is Black or white must dance to the music of the white power structure if he or she is to govern successfully. There are no “Black” governors and only one Negro United States or Plantations Senator. The effect of seeing only whites holding key political positions is damaging to the growing Black or white child. They only truly “Black” politican this country has known in modern times is the late Adam Clayton Powell. There is virtually no Black politican today who can afford to dance only to Black music. Religion as an institution is also defined in white terms in this country. However, the only institution that Blacks truly control is the Black church. God is invariably or nearly always defined as being white. Christianity is viewed by white Americans as being organized and controlled by themselves with Blacks being regarded as heathens. The fact that there are so-called Black and white churches indicates the failure of the Christian church to rise above color and culture. It has been said that white Christians are captive of their color while Black Christians are captive of their culture. Christianity was taught to Blacks as a means of social control. However, Blacks used it to deal with continuing slavery and oppression. I hope I have said enough about institutional racism to demonstrate what it means to be Black in this country. Institutionalized racism is effective not only by intent but by blindly accepting the rightness of whiteness in a superior manner resulting in discrimination. Blacks and whites have to be sensitized to racism and its implications. The white child in an all white school is “culturally deprived” and disadvantaged” in a multi-ethnic society. America is an undeveloped country in terms of the devastating impact of racism To be Black is to develop an economy of anger and frustration coupled with a deep sense of powerlessness. To be Black is to be committed to the liberation of the Third World by any means necessary. To be Black means that one becomes aware of how white bigots hide behind the American flag professing patriotism behind an America for whites only belief. To be Black means that one is no long a “Negro” but a Black person spelled with a capital “B”. It does not matter what whites call us but what we call ourselves. Just because a cat has kittens in an oven one does not call them biscuits. America is the oven that could not destroy the asbestos soul of the Black man and woman. To be Black means that one must study this white society as Dick Gregory suggests so that one will not be declined by white tricks and games. To be Black means that one must accept all other Balcks regardless of economic status. To be Black means that one has love for self and to refuse to be defined by whites. To be Black means that one develops the courage to speak out even though whites and some Blacks will view your refusal to be a safe Negro as hatred for whites. Hate is not a characteristic of a true Black person. To be Black means that one engages in Black self help political and economic programs. It means not depending on whites to do for us what we can do for ourselves. To be a Black human means that one is free to interact with white humans who can accept you as a co-equal. There are some whites who can operate on this basis but they are few and far between. I am sure my Black readers can also define for themselves what it means to be Black. I am equally sure that most whites would prefer to deal with “safe” Negroes rather than with Blacks who define themselves. White racism is a sickness into death for whites as well as Blacks. Ours is truly a multi-racial or multi-ethnic society wherein no ethnic group is superior. There is something dreadfully wrong and evil about any white person who only has his or her skin TO BE EQUAL /fMfJ BY VERNON E. JORDAN, JR. £/ L V *' W ** ¥ *THE brink When Secretary of State Henry Kissinger called a news , conference to explain why the armed forces had been placed on alert, he wound up having to insist that the country was faced with a real international crisis, and that it wasn’t just a White House ploy to take the heat off its political difficulties. , Now that is an extraordinary situation! I can’t ever remember a time that so many people simply assumed their leaders were playing a dangerous international game because of political reasons at home. It’s the kind of thing we expect in corrupt little dictatorships, not in a stable democracy. Yet, as Dr. Kissinger stated, such questions are symbolic of the deep mistrust and suspicion that envelop the public’s view of governmental leaders and institutions. No nation can long survive such doubt. Whether the answer lies in impeachment, as some suggest; in Congressional activism, or in an Administration house-cleaning to restore confidence, it is clear that this terrible situation has to be resolved -- and soon. The creeping paralysis at the heart of government came after a long, unrelieved succession of scandals, cover-ups, resignations, and illegal and unconstitutional acts High officials are under criminal indictment and the Vice President was forced out of office and convicted of a felon. Then, just as some confidence was being restored in the integrity of the investigative process, along came the tapes controversy , with the possibility that the President would be held in contempt of court; the firing of the special prosecutor and the deputy Attorney-General, and the principled resignation of Elliot Richardson, the Attorney General. At that, the dam burst. The public demanded impeachment. Lawyer’s associations, deans of prominent law schools, the AFL-CIO, the UAW and members of Congress joined the call. Surrender of the tapes hasn’t muted the situation; Congress is , investigating i whether it should impeach a President. < The results is that the government stands impotent, its ability to govern in question. And there is a lack of confidence in governmental institutions and in the political process that is frightening to behold. Let no one suppose that Black people are transported with joy by the crisis that have enveloped an Administration universally considered opposed to our interests. Rather, our cause is made even more difficult by the crisis gripping the government. The reforms we seek and the goals we are fighting for depend in large part upon governmental stability, public faith in the governing process, and in the integrity of the courts and the governing institutions. Weaken these, and you weaken the prospects for change. That the integrity of the government has been weakened was apparent to Black citizens long before the current crisis, and even before Watergate. It became obvious in the not-so-distant days ot “benign neglect” and the attempt to use the legitimate aspirations of Black people for equality as a wedge to split the country and frighten white people into rolling back the gains made in recent years. The ultimate fate of the proposals for impeachment depend on public opinion and on the Congress. Meanwhile, we are threatened with governmental paralysis and a period ot lurching from one eonstitutional crisis to the next. However it is resolved, it should be recognized that this nation cannot long endure if men are placed above laws, if group is pitted against group, and if the ruling concerns are of grasping power instead of building trust and fostering progressive reforms in our system. LETTERS TO EDITOR QUESTIONS LAW CHIEF Dear Editor: It seems as if there was ever a need for an environmental protection agency in Richmond County the time is most presently urgently needed now. The smog has become so prevalent that unless the inhabitants of this county take drastic action, we will find ourselves reduced to pawns, surrounded by Kings, Queens and Bishops. The recent and present discussions on a joint law enforcement center and duel between the chief and sheriff are all smog-choking the reasoning of the people of Richmond County. The real issue is not the chief law official. Rather, it’s one of equity. The politicians of this community were such poor salesmen during the campaign to sell consolidation two years ago, they find it consolidation-suicide to bring forth the real issues today. So, they put smog in your eyes. Top law enforcement official Huh! A few days ago I viewed a TV commentary about a “policeman”. It was stated that we should be appreciative of the police officer because he is one and all things in case of emergency. He’s a doctor, a psychiatrist, a sociologist, a minister, a father, a mother, and etc, What a Shame! How Cruel! How can we as rational thinking people expect so much of a person who is so inadequately trained and paid. Instead of polluting the air color to gain status and fictional superiority. I hope this discussion or persentation will serve to encourage reflection and introspection by both Blacks and whites. I have just barely scratched the surface in viewing what it means to be Black in this country. It is fortunate that there are whites who can accept true “Blackness” and support it with commitment and 4 understanding. It is necessary to close by saying that no foot shuffling, head scratching, knee knocking, rolling eyes, teeth showing, smiling Negro deserves the honor of being called “Black”. The psychological chains like the physical ones must be broken if true liberation is to be achieved. HARAMBEE!! with who is going to be the top law enforcement official, I think we should concentrate our attention on the quality of all the personnel in the two departments. I would feel more secure to know that our two departments are staffed with sociologists, to handle social problems; psychiatrists and psychologists, to handle mental problems; ministers, to handle moral problems and etc. Thus, letting the policeman become a specialist - protection and apprehension. And we don’t need consolidation to achieve that end. Let us not be fooled into believing that law enforcement is the only issue. It’s just smog. The real issue is EQUITY. The real question, “Can Big Government Assure Equity?” The real answer, “NO!” Grady Abrams 1216 10th Street APPRECIATES COVERAGE Dear Editor: Our sincere thanks for all the assistance you gave Zeta Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in making FASHIONETTA 73 a success. It could be that your coverage of our event gave it that extra push that meant success. In any case, it would be difficult to overrate the support you gave us. Please be sure that we deeply appreciate it, and hope that someday we will have the chance to be of service to you. Sincerely, Hettie F. Copeland Vice-President Betty Marshall Corresponding Secretary