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The Augusta News-Review - June 19, 1975
BLACKS THAT WERE UNDER LATIN TASKMASTERS WERE
TREATED BETTER THAN AMERICAN SLAVES
This column will explore the Blacks in Brazilian History,
because they suffered from nineteenth century “bemgned
neglect” similar to their North American kinsmen.
Blacks numerically dominated most of the population of
Brazil. Despite the great number of Africans and their
descendents in Brazil, there is still no history or account of then
contributions to the country they gave so much to.
Just like in the United States, the major historians of Brazil,
native and foreign, have all been white. They consulted only
white sources, therefore these bias white historians have projected
only the white point of view. When the historians have shown any
interest at all in the Blacks’ role in the evolution i of Brazil, it has
been exclusively on the degrading institution of slavery. T.ie
Blacks that have been a major component of Brazil’s population
were left completely out of the nation’s history.
Porto Alegre, a leading woman historian made a profound
reference to this utterly racial ommission in her novel
“Middlemarch” by writing that: The growing good of the world is
partly dependent upon non-historic acts; that things are not so
bad with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to
the number who faithfully lived hidden lives, and rest in unvisited
tombs.” This dedicated woman should be told that the unnamed
also deserve a place in Brazil’s history. It was not only the
partician class, princes, and prelates of the Church or the
politicians who built Brazil, it was also the anonymous
bandeirantes who explored, labored, and opened up vast tracts ot
the interior, the tireless missionaries who infused European
Church-centered civilization into this vast virgin paradise, and
last, but not least the forgotten Black slaves upon whose skill and
muscle the development of Brazil so strongly depended.
Heroes at times fade into forgetfulness, but just the same they
serve broad trends in their times. Most often white historians have
slighted and ignored people of color in presenting then
achievements in the written records. No groups have been more
forgotten than the Brazilian and American Black masses.
The Catholic Church has remained the bastion of culture for
Brazilian Blacks -- Social scientists point to the Black’s influence
on Roman Catholicism, the fundamental matrix of Iberian
civilization as a basic racial contribution. The Blacks enlivened
church-going with native festivals, street dances, and folk plays.
Africans developed a synchronized Afro-Brazilian religion. This
Christian-Adjutant religion combines the beliefs found in the
religions brought from Africa with the High Christianity imported
into the New World by the tribal ruling class.
TOBE EQUAL
BY VERNON E. JORDAN, JR.
Cities In Trouble
Although Administration officials have been quoted as saying
“the urban crisis is over,” America’s cities are in trouble and the
situation is getting worse.
National attention has been paid to New York City’s fiscal
crisis, a cliff-hanger in which it seemed a toss-up whether the city
would default on its bonds or lack the cash to meet its payroll.
Cuts in municipal services are expected, some of them sharply
reducing police and fire protection, while others would cut back
school services and keep up to 20.000 young people from
entering the city’s colleges.
Other cities too, are feeling the pinch, and if they haven’t yet
reached New York’s level of crisis, they may in the not too
distant future. Services are being cut, employees laid off, and
maintenance postponed. The future looks grim for many.
Why? Why now?
The answer lies in part with the nationwide Depression that’s
thrown people out of work and reduced tax revenues. We had a
similar situation in the Depression of the 19305, when economic
decline was responsible for the fiscal troubles of big cities.
There are other, contributory, reasons that vary from city to
city, but that’s the big one and if the cities are to be pulled out of
the mess they’re in it will take national solutions and an end to
the Depression. And that, in turn, will take the kind of leadership
that’s lacking on both sides of the aisle. The President recently
vetoed a bill that would create another 900,000 jobs and the
Democrats, although they have a large majority, could not muster
the votes to override.
One of the most troubling aspects of the current urban ciris is
the relative lack of national concern about it. Rathern than face
up to the basic issues many people take refuge in half-truths and
myths.
It’s true that in some cities, there has been a combination of
fiscal mismanagement, costly union contracts and long-standing
budget-balancing tricks that have now come home to roost. But
these would be manageable if the national economy were in high
Letters To
The Editor
Dear Editor:
The Augusta Chronicle has
publicized the fact that our
sheriff has assigned several
investigators to check on our
THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW
Mallory K. Millender Editor-Publisher
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Page 4
Walking With Dignity
by Al Irby
Blacks In Brazilian History
elected county commissioners
in the matter of spending
county funds.
The questions that come to
mind is (1) Really, should the
sheriff use these men for this
purpose, when there seems to
be NO QUESTION that this is
NOT one of the duties of his
office?
(2) The sheriff has said that
he is short of men and could
The Africans also contributed significantly to the creation of a
Brazilian cuisine by introducing new stables into the diet, such as
red peppers, black beans, cola nuts, yams and palm oil.
The Portuguese language spoken in South America differs from
that heard in Lisbon. The Blacks soften the pronunciation and
simplied verb forms, infusing many African words into the
vocabulary. Such words as bengala, bunda, cachaca, mocambo,
moleque, quilombo, sama, and senzala serve as examples.
Africa has given Brazil much of its distinctive music, both
classic and popular. Francisco Mignone, Jose Siqueira, Camargo
Guarnieri and Heitor Villa-Lobos are but a few top rated classical
composers of this century who have turned to African themes for
inspiration. The snappy samba tunes coming from every radio set
testify to the African craze in popular music. A vast assortment
of African musical instruments such as the drum, reco-reco,
marimba, marimbau, and tambourine, to mention only a few,
have migrated from “Mother Africa” to put some zest into
Brazilian music. The Brazilian Blacks have enriched their new
homeland with theirr vivid imagination and memory of proverbs,
folklore, riddles, and cute myths from their former homeland far,
far away.
There is much to be defined in the historical role of the Blacks
in Brazil. A lot of research remains to be done before the
complete story will be known; but safe conclusions can be made
such as the conquest, settlement and development of Brazil being
a joint Afro-European enterprise. Neither race could have
accomplished the tast of building this great nation alone.
Brazilian Blacks were about the only ones skilled in such
occupations as woodworking, weaving, bakketry and
iron-working, at the beginning of the nineteenth century. They
brought to Brazil their long experience in gold washing and cattle
herding which were extremely important for the development of
the economy. Blacks put to use the many skills which they
already had mastered in Africa and quickly learned new ones
from the Europeans.
Because of the tolerance of the Latin culture Europeans and
Amerindians and Blacks mixed extensively. Miscegenation began
early and still continues. Sociologists and historians say that the
interior of Brazil is a perfect melting pot for white, Black and
Indians. There the Africans mostly fuse their blood with the
Europeans, but here of late Blacks and Indians are mating. As one
move inland from the coast the distinct races disappear. Blacks
made up the ranks of the artisan and mechanic classes just as they
had along the coast. In short, it was the Blacks who introduced
the essential services and skill required to maintain settlements in
the backlands. Brazilian Blacks are treated more as equal, than
Blacks in America.
gear and if large cities could tap the potential tax revenue of
suburban commuters who use city services and don’t pay their
fair share of the city taxes.
Even more disturbing is the attempt to blame urban fiscal
problems on society’s victims. Just say that the cities are in fiscal
trouble and a chorus of voices start screaming “Welfare is the
reason.”
Well, it’s not. Most welfare costs are picked up by state and
federal governments and even then, some cities are forced to dig
up local money for what is a national problem. In New York
City, for example, the city pays over a billion dollars a year on
welfare costs that should be federalized because poverty is a
national problem caused by the failure of the economy to
generate jobs for all.
Often welfare and Blacks are tied together om a myth that says
Black migrate from the south to collect welfare checks in the
north. A recent New York Times story reflects this myth when it
says Blacks “left the farm for New York, attracted in part by its
relatively high relief payments.”
This is the sort of vicious life that has been exploded by study
after study that shows the growth of Black urban populations is
largely internal, with about a third of the rise-due to migration,
and the migrants are younger, better educated, and move to the
city because of better jobs and higher salaries there.
Perpetuating racist myths, even in the pages of prestigious
journals, won’t solve urban problems. What is required is a shift in
the traditional American distrust of the city, a state of mind that
had its origins when we were a rural nation, and that persists in
the many statements attributed to Congressmen opposed to
financial aid to New York. There is a mind-set that says cities are
no good and are predominately Black so let them sink. This brand
of racism forgets that if the cities sink the country will drown.
The solution to city financing problems won’t be found in
closing schools or firehouses, it will be found in determined
national policies to create jobs and get the economy operating in
high gear again.
not provide proper protection
for urban Richmond County
except for the fact that many
of his men work and answer
calls while off duty. Why then
does he get involved in this
matter?
(3) The sheriff and his
deputies refuse to get involved
(take action) in removing cars
from public roads or private
property when left unattended.
Make no attempt to enforce
anti-litter laws, laws covering
overweight and over-length
trucks on secondardary roads.
Our new Lights in Bad Weather
laws, and others. Shopping
centers, parking lots apparently
are not within the sheriffs
jurisdiction, even to the extent
of having lights SHOT out by
vandels.
Why is this matter of
spending county funds so
much of interest ot the sheriff
at this time?
(4) With all the controversy
over who is to pay the lawyers
and settlements in other cases
involving the sheriff, Mr. Scott
Jackson, RCPOA, the tax
assessors, Mr. Piper and others,
I question the sheriff getting us
stuck with the expense of
another “legal battle’” as the
result of his efforts that can
lead to “no good”.
as
We can recall the sheriff and
his handling of the “Sunday
Closing Law”. Many hours
were spent by everybody
including the news reporters,
which could have been put to
better use. Nobody benefited
but the lawyers. NOTHING
WAS SETTLED.
1 am sure our sheriff has a
full time job enforcing laws
that have been handed down to
help us keep this a civilized
society and if he will do that
job most lawyers can make an
honest living by menas other
than defending our public
officials at the taxpayers’
expense.
I think our sheriff owes us
taxpayers a little more
consideration. A little harmony
between he and the County
Commission would be a good
starting point.
Geo. B. Cunningham Jr.
2706 Milledgeville Rd.
Augusta, Ga. 30904
Finds Hope In
'Save Our
Library’ Campaign
Dear Editor:
(After listening to a productive
RETURNING TO BUILD
A BETTER BLACK
COMMUNITY .
' 1 0 -•
V'X A A *
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itl£t M
K B min 1 ~
Blacks’Destiny In Own Hands
" Black Leaders” Continued From Page 1
viewed in racial terms.
3. To some, the election of Blacks to public office
symbolizes the virtues of reform or the strong
qualifications of the victors. In others, it stimulates fear
and antagonism. For different reasons, both groups
often harbor exaggerated expectations about what Black
officials can accomplish singlehandedly. Such
expectations not only set the stage for disappointment,
but they blind some citizens to the fact that Black
officials also do the best they can with what they have
to work with. This is an unfair burden. Blacks are
neither better nor worse at walking on water than their
white counterparts.
4. All newly elected officials may occasionally make
honest, but not really serious, mistakes, or become
innocent victims of political and economic time bombs
left by malevolent predcessors to explode in their faces.
Since many Blacks today are relatively new to elected
office, they are particularly vulnerable. But one would
think that their vulnerability - which stems from
decades of racism and discrimination - would elicit
commitments of support rather than the kind of
righteous indignation, invidious comparison, and racist
flak we read and hear so much of today.
Mohammadanism
In what is perceived as a major shift in policy, the Nation of
Islam, the so-called Black Muslims, has announced that whites
will be allowed to join the traditionally all Black religious
organization.
The official announcement was made in Chicago at the first
public appearance by the Hon. Wallace D. Muhammad, the new
spiritual leader of die Chicago based sect. He was reported to
have stated that if whites could mature, so could Blacks, and that
if whites respected Blacks, so could Blacks respect whites.
This policy indicates the evolution of the Nation of Islam from
a defensive position in American society to one of greater
comfort and increased sophistication. During its entire existence
it has had to answer charges of racism and fanaticism. From some
quarters and inauthentic Mohammadanism from others.
The broadening of its philosophical and policy base, whereas it
may not gain many white converts, - and is probably not directly
intended to, frees it from certain basic restrictions that had held
back its ability to take on universal appeal. No doubt a lot of
would be critics have been neutralized by this move.
book review on Tuesday, June
10 at Wallace Branch)
The Augusta Black
community has been the recent
stage of a shining ray of hope
expressed through the “Save
Our Library” campaign.
(Wallace Branch Library) For
many of us who can attest to
the never-ending attempts by
white people to control our
libes this issue should come as
no surprise. However, for many
os us this situation signals a
first in terms of direct
confrontation with the
all-inclusive tenacles of
power-conscious people.
From my observations the
central issue behind the
campaign is the control and
direction of the library and the
question of who shall
determine its course. While this
campaign sets a precedence for
Augusta Black people in terms
of struggle for determination,
it can be linked to the
historical quest of Black people
in whatever context to gain
and maintain control over their
own lives.
Traditionally, white people
have considered themselves
specialists on what Black
people want and need.
However, this plantation
mentality can not be tolerated
any longer by Black people. By
the mere fact that a campaign
was started suggests that there
is much more in store for the
coming days.
It has been shown nationally
and internationally that Black
people can and will
successfully implement
cultural, social and educational
programs directed at those in
need of such. Witness the
Nation of Islam and various
other conscious-minded
groups.
In the final analysis the
destiny of Wallace Branch
should be entrusted in the
hands of proud Black men and
women who understand the
need to prepare for tomorrow,
today. If we are to support and
develop ourselves we must deal
with the “I’m a individual”
syndrome and realize our
inherent commonalities.
I conclusion it is significant
to note that those who fail to
take care of their own destinies
admit that they are mental
midgets and not worthy of
self-determination.
Work for the people today.
Do it now!
Randy Gunter
1320 Cherry Ave.
5. Black officials have only rarely been able to come
to office with the same mostly white institutional
support that their predecessors enjoyed from gropus
such as the chamber of commerce, business associations,
educational, civic, religious, and fraternal organizations,
and even the country club set One should never
discount the power of this “invisible government” to
determine whether a public official succeeds or fails.
6. There is a growing belief that in all of the above
areas, the media tend to make matters worse rather than
better. This is because of the sometimes cavalier and
sometimes sensational way they treat these problems
and because of their own failure, or refasal, to
comprehend the fact that Blacks, like whites, strive to
govern effectively. But unlike many whites their
consciences drive them to assure that the “little people”
Blacks, the poor don’t get left out of the big
picture. In other enthnic communities, the media don’t
find this hard to understand. In any case, we do see
headlines trumpeting the misfortunes of Black officials.
We seldom see successes detailed in the same bold way.
And this is most unfortunate since it tends to inflame
nerves that are already raw over the election of “the
first Black ...”
This list of suspicions could go on. The point is that
even in the absence of documented evidence there is a
concern which poses serious questions for the nation:
Will we tolerate the use or abuse of the law to
discriminate, to deny political rights or to force poor
performance in office? Are Blacks to be judged by codes
of conduct and standards of performance which are
different from those used to rate whites? If all public
officials are expected to be as pure as Caesar’s wife, are
Blacks expected to be even purer? Could this be the
beginning of a second post-Reconstruction period, jn
which Blacks once again will be hounded from
office? In the face of this crisis is the media helpless or
hopeless?
I don’t know the answers. Perhaps research is needed.
But one thing is clear. This concern underscores Blacks’
determination to protect their constitutional rights,
including the right to vote and the right to hold public
office.
Things You
Should Know
xoimG...
■ ORN IN MAYSLICK, KY.MARCH
1864, HE STUDIED AND TAUGHT SCHOOL
\l u j ' /
IN RIPLEY OHIO / IN 1884 HE WAS THE NINTH
’ ‘ I NEGRO EVER TO BE ADMITTED TO WEST POINT/
I’ UPON GRADUATING HE BECAME A 2md LT. IN
THE 10th CAVALRY UNIT, LATER BECAME A MAJOR IN THE SPANISH
AMERICAN WAR/ HE DIED IN NIGERIA IN 1922 /