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Augusta N»wmßeview - July 10, J 975 -
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IT IS THE BLACK LAWYERS THAT BY THEIR TRAINING
CAN READILY PERCEIVE THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT
CONDITIONS FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA. THE
BLACK MIDDLE-CLASS. IN ttW FASHIONABLE
SPLIT-LEVEL HOMES, SLEEK MOTOR CARS AND PADDED
BANK ACCOUNTS, IS THE SEGMENT OF THE RACE THAT
IS MOSTLY DECEIVED BY APPARENT AFFLUENT
SUPERFLUITY OF THESE DAYS. THE PREVALENT SONG
OF THE ELUSIVE SIREN, THAT SO MANY BLACKS HUM
TODAY, TO THE TUNE OF “WE HAVE IT MADE”, IS
EXACTLY WHAT ATTORNEY C.B. KING WAS TELLING THE
EMORY UNIVERSITY LAW AUDIENCE.
The Western Reserve University graduate, speaking before the
Southern Regional Conference of Law Students and Civil Rights
Research Council, spoke from the subject, “The New South, a
Myth.” Attorney King thrilled the racially mixed audience with
these words: “The South has failed deliberately or otherwise to
conscionably to create, interpret and administer laws consonant
with the meaning of the Constitution of the United States.” Ehe
bearded councilor of law continued: “My experiences have made
me to know that the overriding majority of white attorneys who
practice law in the South allow themselves to rationalize away
indifference to a system which espouses the superiority of
whitness and the inferiority of blackness.”
Mr. King spoke the truth, because in truth, there is no
difference between the judiciary professes of 1963 and those of
today. King said: “He sees judges who make determinations based
upon the racial implications of the attorneys who represent the
cause or implications of the cause before the courts to be resolved
based upon race.” Attorney King is an articulate lawyer, who is
co-chairperson of the National Conference of Black Lawyers. He
comes from a courageous Black family in South Georgia which has
contributed very much to Black advancement. The Albany, Ga.
native noted that the Warren Court is made to look almost like it
was a mistake now with the likes of a Burger Court. Addressing
himself to the conference theme question as to whether the
South is “new”, he said “My own view on that is ‘no’ - the South
is far from being new.” In any real sense it is fiction. Attorney
King directed this statement to the Blacks in the Emory
University audience,: “to those of you who are Black, it is very
important that you maintian a very high level of consciousness of
who you are, because it seems to me that one of the great
tragedies that a Black youngster in the field of law can ever
experience is to forget who he is.”
What Attorney King was telling these young law students is
certainly basicly true; the majority of white people do not have
the interests of Black people at heart. In the conclusion of his
address to the Emory group the Albany gentleman of the law
aroused his listeners with this pithy statement: “I request that
you momentarily reflect with me on the Constitution of the
United States and its Preamble. Upon reflection I think we
"GOING PLACES”
By Philip Waring
Vernon Jordan Invites Augustans
To Urban League Conference
Several weeks ago when he was in St. Louis to speak at our
local Urban League dinner, Vernon Jordan and I talked about
Augusta and Georgia. He sent warm regards to his many friends in
Augusta and extended a cordial invitation to all interested parties
to attend the forthcoming National Urban League Conference
slated for July 27-30, Atlanta, Ga., with the Marriott and Hyatt
Regency Hotels serving as co-headquarters.
Mr. Jordan, my national boss, pointed out that its theme
would be “Jobs, Dollars and Race”. Each year our annual
meeting draws over seven thousand people from all over the
nation. It is the nation’s foremost forum on race relations. The
Urban League, founded in 1910, is a community service
organization committed to securing equal results of life chances
for Black citizens and other minorities in all areas of American
life. It is non-profit, non-partisan, and interracial in its leadership
and staff.
It has 104 local affiliates in the largest urban areas of America,
a national headquarter? in New York, a Washington bureau and
four regional offices on the West coast, (Los Angeles), Central
(Chicago), Eastern (New York City) and the oldest and one of the
most active in Atlanta, Ga.
AUGUSTANS SHOULD ATTEND THE URBAN LEAGUE
CONFERENCE The July forum offers an excellent opportunity
for hundreds of Augustans to drive up to Atlanta. They may stay
the full four days or spend one day and drive back on the
splendid four lane 1-20 expressway in less than three hours.
My Augusta friends should come and see over two hundred
exhibits sponsored by some of the largest commercial firms,
universities, social agencies and governmental units.
The most favored kick off will be the Jordan keynote
address on the “state of race relations in the nation” at 8 pan.,
Sunday, July 27. You may hear experts speak at plenary sessions
on the vital issues of unemployment, politics, education, income
maintenance, national health insurance, and consumer advocacy.
Augustans may attend luncheons where speakers from the
federal government, business and labor will talk on issues and
problems concerning the nation’s current economic crisis.
You may participate in workshop sessions so that your voice
will be heard as we develop plans for attacking these problems.
POLITICAL LEADERS TO BE QUIZZED
Our 1973 Washington conference featured a topflight group of
female lawmakers - Congresswoman Burke, Collins, Jordan and
Chisholm, Maryland State Senator Verda Welcome and
THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW
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Page 4
Walking With Dignity
by A] Irby
Black Lawyers Know Condition
of Black Community
recognize readily two considerations patently inherited in our
Constitution, its beautiful rhetoric and depth of thought. I
submit that these documents demand recognition as among the
world’s greatest dreams by all mankind. However this rhetoric of
which Ive spoken, this profundity of thought upon which I’ve
invited reflection is for naught.”
WE BLACKS CALL ONE ANOTHER BROTHER AND SISTER,
BUT OUR ACTION TOWARD EACH OTHER IS THAT OF
RAW ENMITY, AND THIS STORY THAT HAPPENED IN
BOSTON PROVES THIS ACCUSATION BEYOND A SHADOW
OF DOUBT.
A
Black sister gave birth to a baby in the street of Boston recently,
as a crowd of 50 Blacks watched, offering no assistance and
finding comedy in this most sacred ordeal. The nation recently
had become aware that many white South Bostonians were
inhumanly brutal, because of the cowardly attacks upon Black
youngsters on school buses last year. But now in light of this
infamouse insensitivity by over a half hundred grinning Blacks
while a Black woman suffers excruciating pains in childbirth, it is
certain that there is too many hard-hearted Blacks in the Bean
City also. How inhumane can humans become? The seven-pound
baby girl bom in a trash pile, at last report , she was in good
condition.
ALWAYS THE ANGELS OF MERCY - The Salvation Army’s
Hut nearby where Ms. Patricia Cozart delivered came to her
assistance. According to witnesses a Salvation Army’s lassie
helped to deliver the tiny baby girl. Ms. Cozart, 30, is a native of
Florida, is the mother of seven other children, and according to
Dr. Reeves of Boston’s St. Margaret’s Hospital there were no
complications in the birth. The Salvation Army lassie told a group
of Black newsmen that a white man rushed into the Hut asking
for help. He said a woman looked like she was having a baby in
the street, she rushed out to aid the woman at once. What this old
world needs most is what the popular song said, LOVE MORE
LOVE.
(RUFFIAN THE FILLY VS FOOLISH
PLEASURE* THE 3 YEAR OLD)
THE HOLY FATHER AND THE UNITED NATIONS have
decreed 1975 as Woman’s Year, therefore its fitting that
“Ruffian” the fastest filly in the world will meet “Foolish
Pleasure”, the winner of the Kentucky Derby in a match race on
July 6th. If you would ask me; I will put my money on the lady
everytime. P.S. - The lady hurt herself, and the entire nation is
sadden.
BULLETIN! BULLETIN! THE SWIFT-FOOTED LADY IS
DEAD. SHE HAD TO BE PUT TO DEATH, THE SPORTING
WORLD IS STUNNED.
Philadelphia, Pa. City Councilwoman Ethel Allen, M.D. - who
thrilled over 1500 persons. Dr. Lucious Pitts happened to be my
guest at this event.
Last year in San Francisco we had a panel of seven Black
mayors including Mississippi and North Carolina which brought
out the facts of life about political realities of 1974.
This year in Atlanta a special group of the leading political
figures of the South will be questioned by a panel of journalists
with television, radio and press drama in the picture.
This year I want our elected delegation from Augusta - State
Rep. Richard Dent, School Board members Dr. Justine
Washington and Rev. N.T. Young, Richmond County
Councilwoman Carrie Mays (who is also secretary of the Georgia
Democratic Party), Dr. Ike Washington and C. Butler - to join
with me in this important evening session.
Other notables expected include: U.S. Senator Ed Brooks, Dr.
Wilbur Cohen of University of Michigan, Gov. Busbee, Senator
Bond, Mayor Jackson coupled with many of the top appointed
and elected national, state and local leaders of the nation. I want
our fellow Augusta political and civic leaders there rubbing
shoulders. *Tis only a short drive up from Augusta and this is the
only opportunity of attending a nearby NUL conference so
easily.
LEADING EDUCATORS TO BE PRESENT
I hope that President Scott, Dr. Richardson, Asst. Supt. Dave
Mack, James Dunn, many of our fine principals and teachers will
be present. NUL has an active Department of Education which
works on all kinds of programs and problems.
SEVERAL REASONS WHY AUGUSTANS SHOULD BE PRESENT
First, if one is in public life, be he Black or white, attendance
should be fruitful in many ways. Many public and private
agencies and institutions send their staff members each year.
Secondly, as Vernon brings our conference to Atlanta, all
Georgians should be proud of what our native son has achieved in
public affairs with the League, Negro College Fund and must
important, the man responsible for hundreds of thousands of
Blacks going onto the vote rolls. (I recall when we went to
Louisville in 1963 it appears that all of Kentucky came out to
honor Whitney Young, then head of NUL. And I feel sure that
our fellow Georgians will turn out to say hello to Vernon and to
participate in the largest race relations forum in the nation.)
JORDAN UNDERGIRDED AUGUSTA CIVIL RIGHTS THRUST
And lastly, Augusta owes a debt to Vernon. Some 15 years ago
when he was the wide-ranging Georgia NAACP Field Director he
often came into our hometown during periods of extreme crisis.
His own leadership and courage was out there on the line helping
the local Augusta Civil Rights Movement come through with
change which opened many doors. Much of the quality of open
doors in Augusta today stems from the Augusta and Georgia
NAACP civil rights thrust of the late fifties and early sixties. And
lest we forget, it was our Southern Regional NUL office which
completed the most intensive audit of race relations in Augusta.
From this came our present valuable Human Relations
Commission.
So let’s come up to Atlanta. I am fowarding some additional
material to the Wallace Branch Library. And also to Joe Jones,
our Labor Affairs Director, Urban League office, upper Greene
St.
BLACK POWER
is in the voting box this year.
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HOW ELSE CAN BLACKS UNDO THE DAMAGE OF HISTORY?
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vrac " JUNE 8'75
TO BE EQUAL
BY VERNON E. JORDAN, JR.
New Crime Code A Danger
Revision and reform of federal criminal laws is long overdue,
but the proposed new federal criminal code represents a major
threat to civil liberties.
A federal commission, back in 1971, proposed pulling together
the vast body of federal criminal laws into one criminal code that
would reform and relax many existing statutes.
But from that promising beginning has come a suggested
criminal code that Congress will deal with this summer. Under the
pretense of reform and revision it contains provisions that reflect
strongly hawkish law and order views at the expense of precious
constitutional guarantees.
Although the Supreme Court has ruled the death sentence
unconstitutional as it is applied by the courts and is now
considering whether to ban it entirely as a
constitutionally-prohibited “cruel and unusual punishment”, the
suggested new code would restore the death penalty.
While the original commission recommended relaxing many
laws, the code lengthens prison sentences for some crimes. This,
at a time when many people are questioning whether longer
prison terms have any effect on the crime rate, and when prison
terms in this country are already much longer than those
elsewhere.
In the wake of Watergate scandal that demonstrated the
dangers inherent in federal police powers, the code would
actually extend authority for bugging and wiretapping. It also
contains provisions that would have made it impossible to
prosecute some of the officials convicted of Watergate-related
crimes.
Proposed restrictions on activities that interfere with
government functions could be used to prevent picketing,
sitdowns, and other peaceful protests guaranteed by the
Constitution.
Freedom of the press would be damaged by instituting, for the
first time in American history, a sort of official secrets act, that
would penalize reporters and publishers for printing classified
■ ■
Black Business
Fighting For Survival
According to a recent study prepared for
the Department of Commerce’s Office of
Minority Business Enterprise, an estimated
four out of every ten Black businesses op
erating in 1972 have gone out of business,
which represents a forty per cent (40%)
failure rate. The major blame for this fail
ure rate among Black businesses should not
be cast upon the businesses themselves, but
rather upon the community structure in
which they operate.
A business cannot survive without a
healthy economic environment that is,
an environment w ith an adequate supply of
capital for the purchase of goods and ser
vices. the investment in business enterprises
and the expansion of manpower and plant
capacity. A minority business is not differ
ent. It. too. needs a healthy economic atmos
phere. Unfortunately, the Black community
does not currently provide such an environ
ment.
Traditionally. Black-owned businesses
have concentrated in the Black community
and have been forced to limit their enter
prises to the areas of retail trade and se
lected services. Such businesses were pri
marily small-scale, and actually thrived on
the racial segregation which characterized
our communities. Black businesses satisfied
the commercial needs of the Black com
munity and. in turn, got their share of the
. .DOWN
TO
BUSINESS
DR. BERKELEY G. BURRELL
President, National Business League
total Black income. But in so doing, Black
business captured control of only a small
fraction of the nation’s total business activ
ity.
Retail trade and selected services have de
clined in recent years, and the increase in
integration has intiuduccd an element of
competition for which Black businesses have
had little experience. These businesses can
no longer depend upon the monopoly of the
Black market as a means of survival. They
must now compete with white businesses
that have the money and managerial ex
pertise to threaten their very survival.
But there are other, more important rea
sons, why Black businesses must enlarge
their market base. As a group, Blacks rep
resent only 13 per cent of the total popula
tion in this country. And in 1970, we col
lectively accounted for a meager 6.5 per
cent of the total money income. This means
that a business sector that concentrates sole
ly on the Black market is effectively ignor
ing more than 93 per cent of the total dol
lar income in America. With such a limited
financial market, a business entity must re
main small in order to make a profit, since
it can ill-afford to build up inventories
larger than their marketability.
Further, our current problems of infla
tion and recession place tremendous pres
sures on the small, unstable income areas.
As a result, the Black market is seriously
depleted. High unemployment, poor housing
conditions and inadequate training and ex
perience in the labor field combine to dis
integrate their already decaying financial
information. Had this been law a few years ago, the Pentagon
Papers would never have seen the light of day. Some press
spokesman claim the proposed law is so broad that they’d only be
able to publish official versions of defense and diplomatic news.
Other provisions aren’t bad at all, such as allowing appeals of
overly lenthy sentences and providing compensation for victims
of violent crimes. And most of it is innocuous enough - simple
codification of existing laws.
But the whole package is a Pandora’s Box. It doesn’t do what it
claims to be doing - streamlining the criminal code - and it
contains many provisions that would seriously endanger civil
liberties.
It is possible that many people will be stampeded into
supporting this new program because of the need to “do
something about the rising crime rate. But the crime rate isn’t
rising because the present laws need to be toughened; it’s rising
because the Depression has widened the gap between the affluent
and the poor, while depriving many people of the opportunity to
earn an honest piece of bread.
The crime rate is on the upswing in cities with the highest
unemployment, it’s moderate in those few places where
employment is still high. A full employment policy is still the
best anti-crime measure around, but it seems to lack the sex
appeal of going all out for “law and order” rhetoric.
Gun control is another way to cut crime, but many of the same
people who are so anxious to restrict civil liberties in the name of
fighting crime, refuse to back sensible restrictions on personal use
of handguns.
It’s a mistake to stuff a sensible codification of the existing
criminal law with all sorts of provisions that trample on the
constitution without making our streets safer.
It is ironic that while the country celebrates its 200th
anniversary and lauds its freedoms, it prepares to destroy many of
those freedoms under the guise of a discredited “tew and order”
pose that represents bad law and insures disorder.
n
base.
Since the majority of Black-owned busi
nesses are sole proprietorships one man
operations the source of capital needed
to sustain these firms usually come from
the owners personal savings. Unlike big bus
iness. Black firms tend to avoid the corpo
rate structure which provides far greater op
portunities for generating equity capital
money that does not have to be repaid
than does the one-man structure. To be
sure, the primary source of capital for the
Black sole-owner is loans, either from banks
or other lenders. Borrowing from financial
institutions is a form of debt capital because
the money must not only be repaid, but re
paid with interest as well.
With a limited profit margin, small size,
and a restrictive Black market, these firms
are not the most attractive to lending insti
tutions. The urban hubs in which they oper
ate where crime, poverty and lack of
education pervades further limits their
ability to attract capital.
It is clear that the Black community, in its
present condition, cannot generate the eco
nomic support that our businesses need to
survive; particularly in these troubled times.
If this state is to change, the President and
the Congress must make a new and ex
panded commitment to revitalize our urban
centers for the good of the nation and for
the survival of those businesses located
there. Black business must now join the
larger struggle for total community econom
ic development which only means getting
down to the buginegg of survival.