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The Augusta News-Review - July 17, 1975 -
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THIS COLUMN WAS SO THRILLED AT THE PERSPICUOUS
THESIS OF ARTHUR ASHE’S SMASHING VICTORY AT
WIMBLEDON. IT WAS WRITTEN BY A TALENTED BLACK
WOMAN, MS. MARY JO HAYWOOD OF CAMILLA, GA. REG.
MURPHY, EDITOR OF THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION
USED IT FOR HIS LAST SATURDAY’S EDITORIAL.
“SATURDAYS ARE FOR REMEMBERING. Now for all of
the underdogs of the land, for all of the good and dedicated; for
all of those who have grasped at glory for years only to have
fallen short in the semifinals of life; for girls and boys everywhere
who have dreams that are being restrained by a social barrier, for
all of the Kipling fans who have longed to see that someone who
can treat victory and defeat alike and walk with kings and keep
the common touch and keep his head when his opponent was
losing his, for all of the bachlorettes who are tired of today’s
cocky, brassy, ill-mannered selfish bachelors.... Saturdays will
now be for remembering Wimbledon ’75 and the man who won
it.”
“There are those of us who will remember Arthur Ashe’s
victory over Jimmy Connors for the torture it caused us last
Saturday. When at last Arthur stood alone at the net and dropped
that final volley over-we had survived a massacre. Our nails were
all gone. We were drenched in sweat. Our voices were hoarse from
shouts of ‘fault’ or “ace’ or duce. Our heads were still sore where
we clutched our hair so tightly. We clenched our fists so tightly at
the moment of victory that the print of our nails are still in the
plains of our hands. We let out a shout so loud that the neighbors
came running and we danced a jig so fantistic that the Scottish
would have envied it. Saturdays will be for remembering that
sweet agony. But beyond the agony we shall remember the
ecstasy and the lesson of Wimbledon ’75. Underdogs are made by
odd-makers who judge previous records and try to predict future
winners. When reminded of the odds against him when asked who
gave him a chance, Arthur replied that he did. He can put his
defeats behind him and muster faith for the battle at hand.
Arthur Ashe had a talent not associated with his people. He
played a game which necessitated a court not open to his people.
His dream could have died and rotted in the dust of the Virginias.
But someone saw his talent and pushed it-just as someone pushed
' GOING PLACES”
By Philip Waring
Vernon Jordan Invites Augustans
To Urban League Conference
BIG URBAN LEAGUE CONF. SLATED FOR ATLANTA
The forthcoming 65th annual National Urban League
Conference slated for Atlanta on July 27-30 promises to be, as
usual, the largest and most fruitful forum on race relations in
America, stated Vernon Jordan, Executive Director. Its theme
will be “Jobs, Dollars and Race.”
Mr. Jordan has asked that I convey his special invitation to
Augustans to drive up and participate. A distinguished group of
speakers from the public and private sectors, white and Black,
Southern and non-Southem, will be present.
Augustans should drive up at noon on Sunday and stay to hear
Mr. Jordan’s keynote- address at the public meeting at 8 p.m.
U.S. Senator Edward Brooks will open the Monday session with
“The Political System: Its Responsiveness to Minority Needs”
while Honorable Wm. T. Coleman, Secretary of Transportation,
will speak at the Monday noon luncheon.
Other speakers during the conference will include: Dr. John V.
Porter, Michigan Supt. of Public Instruction; Reginald A. Jones,
Chairman of the Board at General Electric Corporation; Leonard
Woodcook, President of the United Auto Workers Union; Senator
George McGovern, Lowell Perry, the newly appointed Chairman,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Mrs. Eleanor
Holmes Norton, New York Commission on Human Rights.
The tenth anniversary of the passage of the U.S. Voting Rights
Act will also be celebrated. On Tuesday evening a “first-of-its
kind” forum will be held involving top flight white and Black
national, state and local elected officials. This panel will include:
Georgia Governor, George Busbee; U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers of
Arkansas; Congressman Andrew Young of Atlanta; Congressman
Harold Ford of Memphis; Mayor Jay Cooper, Pritchard, Ala., and
Councilwoman Jessie Mae Rattley of Newport News, Va.
The program will be on national television and radio and the
panel will be questioned by a group of the nation’s top reporters.
May I extend a personal invitation to my fellow Augustans,
community leaders and elected officials, to drive up to be part of
this history-making race and political forum. We especially urge
for attendance: State Rep. Richard Dent; Richmond County
Commission Chairman Ed Mclntyre; Board of Education
members Dr. Justine Washington and Rev. N.T. Young and City
Councilpersons Mays, Dent, Washington and Butler. Headquarters
are in the Marriott and Hyatt Regency Hotels. This conference
has information and assistance for leaders in all fields of
endeavor. So please drive on up! (And I know Vernon wants to
see Jack Ruffin, his Howard U. classmate.)
SALUTE TO JIMMY CARTER
Jimmy Carter 111 deserves a well placed salute for his forthright
leadership in setting the record straight on those unfair and
untimely charges brought by the tax-payers group against
Commissioner Ed Mclntyre. We need to do more speaking out in
support of each other. Well done Jimmy! And he will give major
leadership in getting a much needed Augusta-CSRA Black
Heritage Commission and Culture Center organized. Let’s give
Jimmy and his group full support.
THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW
Mallory K. Millender Editor—Publisher
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Page 4
Walking With Dignity
by Al Irby
Saturdays Are For Remembering
Arthur Ashe And Wimbledon
Cassius Clay (Muhammed Ali) to glory in ’64. And though it must
have been heart-rending to leave home to follow a dream, to
Missouri he went. Paraphrase Elvis, ‘Follow that dream where
that dream may lead you’, -for Ashe it led to Forest Hills, the
Davis Cup, South Africa, France, Dallas, Wimbledon. And he can
go home now. He can play at home now. Remember, he, in all of
his near misses, never offered excuses. He would, in defeat, say he
had his chances and he blew them. In victory he would say that
his form was right or his cycle was right. Never arrogant, never
kicking an opponent when down (and there were many who
would have gladly kicked Connors). Among all the kings, dukes
and duchesses at the all-England Club he was not awed. To walk
among kings and never forget the common folk who guided you
there is something worth remembering. His conduct toward the
Connors situation probably won for him an admiration society
equal to his fan club. A cool head among hot
ones-remember... Somewhere in the land of Superfly athletes
always flexing their muscles, cohorting with a diferent dame each
week, it is refreshing to know that there is an old-fashioned guy.
On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we
shall be forced to remember a starving world, the mumbling of
wars in the Far East, and bombs exploding in the Holy City, a
system of government that would spend S2O to collect $1; that
on each of our phones there might be a tap and that computers
are ruining our lives; our credit, and reputations; our largest city is
going broke; the jobless lines are still long, the Indians (rightfully)
still have not forgotten being stuck off on a few barren acres; the
Braves are skidding; ‘grass’ is still growing; the price of gas has
gone up again; a few men with pens still decide what we see and
tell us what to see. But on Saturday when we remember ‘Good’,
we will remember Wimbledon and Arthur Ashe and a hero worth
idolizing.”
(JOINED A SELECTED ELITE)
Ruffian, the ill-fated filly (GIRL HORSE) boosted the age-old
adage, that the bom-great dies young. Jesus Christ, Dr. Martin
Luther King-John and Robert Kennedy, now the greatest female
horse ever lived-Ruffian, truely the Princess of the turf.
ADDIE SCOTT POWELL OUTSTANDING IN CULTURAL
AFFAIRS
It is good to note that Mrs. Addie Scott Powell has returned to
Augusta! Before returning, she achieved a distinguished record in
civic affairs and as a professional librarian with the New York
City Public Library System. Mrs. Powell has been an active
member of the American Library Association and most
especially, the Black Library Caucus. A graduate of the Atlanta
University School of Library Science, she also holds a second
master from lowa State University in English.
A new Augusta-CSRA Black Heritage Commission-Culture
Center is now in process of being organized. Mrs. Powell has
consented to serve as its curator. In a history-making move she
has graciously donated a house up on Gwinett Street near Lucy
C. Laney School to house and headquarter it. Again, let’s get
behind Jimmy Carter, chairman; Addie Powell, curator, and their
associates in this endeavor.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN RICHARD!
When I was home during late spring one of the most pleasant
invitations received was from Ed Mclntyre to attend Richard
Dent’s 70th birthday party down on the Elliott Place adjacent to
the Savannah River. Again history was made when many of the
state’s top civic and political leaders of both races came out to
pay tribute to one of Augusta’s most useful public officials who
serves with dignity and devotion!
BICENTENNIAL AND THE AUGUSTA BLACK COMMUNITY
I am personally dated with two meaningful programs which
will move forward the interests of our Black Community. The
first: (1) BLACK WHO HELPED BUILD AUGUSTA, (BWHBA),
which is already operating during the 1974-76 era in the Augusta
NEWS-REVIEW. It has already won a special award and promises
to win several kudos. While this writer suggested the idea, it is
being actually written by various individuals and groups in the
community. It is the only Black cultural-betterment project of its
kind moving down the tracks and will be of special value during
the Bicentennial Observances.
The second: (2) program is now being organized,
Augusta-CSRA Black Heritage Commission and Cultural Center.
It will be housed in its own building (donated by Mrs. Addie S.
Powell) and will have various kinds of programs. It will probably
feature various artifacts, memorabilia and historical records about
Blacks “Who Helped Budd Augusta”. There is a rich heritage and
people will be urged to go into their trunks, scrapbooks, church
records, etc. Mrs. Powell is well trained professionally with wide
experience in this field and will be able to give directions on the
Commission’s programs. Actually, BWHBA and the new Black
Heritage Commission can assist and supplement each other. I
believe these efforts can win national recognition for Augusta,
bring valuable information to whites and Blacks, and can
eventually be placed in our Chamber of Commerce records as a
place to visit. There’s a long journey and much hard work ahead,
however. A good chairman, a devoted committee, a highly trained
curator to staff it coupled with a building to house it already
spells “success ahead.” ‘Going Places” is happy for its part in
helping to suggest the Heritage Center.
Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor:
I receive your paper each
week here in Philadelphia and
it is something that I look
forward to.
In words alone I cannot tell
you how much a paper such as
yours means to Black people in
this time of need. There are so
many things that our people
have been made ignorant of;
but with your help and the
power of the press Black
people are no longer unaware
of their rights and benefits.
Black people contributed
more than their share in
making this country what it is
today. And as you so often
stated in your paper “We want
our share!”
As a former North
Augustan, I am very much
aware of conditions in the
downtown Broad Street area.
Those stores survive on Black
business; so Black people
should go to all lengths to
make their boycott a success.
Let white America know that
we are not content and we will
no longer be oppressed.
I hope that you are able to
continue your fine work
forever and that your paper has
the support of the entire Black
community, for you have mine
even though I am a thousand
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TOBE EQUAL
BY VERNON E. JORDAN, JR.
Blacks And The Armed Forces
The all-volunteer army has come in for a lot of attention lately,
with President Ford and the top brass assuring all and sundry that
it is a first rate fighting force and critics complaining about a
number of issues.
One of those complaints is interesting indeed. It is that
disproportionate numbers of Blacks are entering the army,
attracted by its higher pay scale and by the lack of employment
opportunities in civilian life.
Dire warnings have been sounded about this development, and
suggestions to correct this have ranged from imposing a racial
quota to offering inducements to attract middle class white
enlistments.
Are there “too many Blacks” in the army?
Defining “too many” is a job in itself. A little over 20 percent
of the Army’s personnel is Black, and by the end of last year
Black enlistments were running at the rate of about 20 percent of
all enlistments. Black enlistments in the Navy are about 13
percent of the total, more in fine with the Black share of the
young adult population.
Higher Black enlistments are readily understandable. With
civilian job opportunities closed, many young people feel the
armed forces offer promising careers. For many, the Depression
and the lack of educational opportunities make the armed forces
a convenient vehicle for learning new skills and improving their
options.
It is interesting that while American servicemen were fighting
and dying in Vietnam there was little concern about the
disproportionate numbers of Blacks in front-line combat units
and on the casualty lists.
But now, as the Depression has closed off job opportunities for
white youth too, there is suddenly a great hue and cry about the
need to lower the Black ratio in the armed forces. One reason
might be that army service is now seen as desirable, and cutting
back on Black enlistments make more room for white youngsters.
So now we’re hearing about the advisability of improving racial
quotas on army enlistments. That’s some turnabout. People who
fought affirmative action programs that tried to increase the
Former Gov. Carter Could Be Hard To Beat
Former Gov. Jimmy Carter of Georgia could very well be our
next U.S. President. After winning a landslide victory with one of
the largest popular votes in his state’s history, Carter declared in
his inaugural address, “I say to you quite frankly that the time
for racial discrimination is over. Our people have already made
this major and difficult decision. No poor, rural, weak or Black
person should ever again have to bear the additional burden of
being deprived of an opportunity for an education, a job or
simple justice.” While Carter was governor he kept this promise.
“If Carter catches on with the grassroots people he’ll win,” said
one friend. “The grassroots like him. Black people who meet him,
like him. He has that certain way ... that you can trust. He’s not
the usual cut of politicians that you see ... especially not what
you expect from a southerner anyway” ... he said.
“He’s not the usual cut of politician that you see. Carter is
certainly not the usual ... Carter is a political leader who believes
in God, people programs, and the principles on which this nation
was founded. He is a man of unquestioned integrity ... in these
days and times a person with these attributes seeking public
office can not be considered usual.” If Carter is allowed an
opportunity to communicate he’ll catch on and be a real
contender for the highest office in the land.
miles away.
Willie J. Cook
Dear Editor:
The Spirit of ’76
America the Rapist,
The land of the free?
The Spirit of ’76 ain’t for
me!
My hands were chained, my
manhood defined,
My families destroyed, my
Blackness denied!
A slave amongst a distant
land:
Betrayed and belittled by
your so called Rights, and
Liberties,
Was whip, lash, and lynching
the freedom for me?
My mind pierced by white
thorns,
Still suffering from the
invisible bars of captivity.
I heard Black voices
screaming to be free
I witnessed Black lips
touching cups of poison to set
their unborn free,
I engineered the
underground railroad to pave
my freedom’s way,
I built your country's
institutions without you giving
me pay,
I was forced and subjected
to your cruelties,
Is freedom truly your way?
The red, white, and blue,
Does not represent me!
It praises the song of my
anguish, the slavemasters!!!!
My face is not white, my
eyes are not blue, my red
numbers of Blacks in professions in which there was only two or
three percent Black participation, are suddenly all for quotas that
would restrict Black opportunities in the armed forces. Where
were they when the army was a haven for southern whites, whose
enlistment was disproportionatly large?
They can’t have it both ways. They can’t mislabel affirmative
actions as a quota system when it tries to open previously closed
opportunities for Blacks, and then turn around and complain that
there are too many Blacks in the services.
One valid concern is the preponderance of Blacks in combat
units and the relative dearth of Black officers and as specialists in
high technology jobs whose skills could be transferred to civilian
life.
Once you go beyond initial enlistments, though, this picture
begins to change. Three out of four Black re-enlistments are in
skilled and technical areas, a trend that ought to be further
encouraged by increasing opportunities for initial enlistees after
they fulfill a period of combat-unit service.
I’m not worried at all by the supposed over-representation of
Blacks among enlistees. Black people have every right to enter
whatever field they wish and a statistical over-representation in
one field is more than overbalanced by the persistent
under-representation in just about every other field of value in
our economy.
I am encouraged though, about Black under-representation in
the officer ranks. The only danger in the armed forces’ having
large Black minorities lies in a white officer-Black trooper
situation in which the defense forces of the country stimulate a
plantation setting that can only lead to explosive incidents. The
services have to do a lot more to encourage development of Black
officers and to eliminate ongoing practices, including elements of
the military justice system, that discriminate against Blacks.
Criticisms of the armed forces should be based on real issues,
not on false racial concerns. Black people have fought and died in
America’s every war and are now entitled to full representation in
a peacetime army.
by Bob Waymer
Politics does not necessiarily reward the righteous. If Carter is
to win he’s got to work. He’s got to beat George Wallace to the
punch in the south, he’s got to raise money in 20 states, and he’s
got to appeal to the many minorities as well as the large majority.
He’s got to fight off challenges within the democratic party while
trying to hold on to a winning structure for after the convention
and finally, he’s got to get some more name recognition going for
him among the common folks in the large cities.
As for getting Black votes, Carter is moving in the right
direction. He has had Black Congressman Andrew Young’s
support from the very beginning and recently he has hired on his
staff, Bryce Smith, a member of the Association of Black
Foundation Executives, who is former southern director of The
Youth Project. Smith, a native of Greensboro, N.C., can help
Carter tremendously among his political friends throughout the
south, northeast, and far west.
Frankly speaking, Carter can win if he works at it. He can win
because I don’t believe any one is going to out work him in this
campaign. Carter is a veteran campainer ... and he likes to
campaign. Carter views this campaign as his greatest personal test
... and he is looking forward to the contest. Jimmy Carter could
be our next U.S. President.
blood was shed because of
you!
I cannot be a patriot to a
country that enslaves me.
Is not the wretched of the
earth the shadow of your
sunset?
Plastic people with false
images, deadly dreams,
culturally raped by the
oppressors being.
I am the powerless victim of
your disease!
You are the vampire of the
West, the life of the living
dead,
You bathe in my blood,
feast at my death,
The Spirit of ’76 did not set
me free!
I have not robbed,
murdered, or flooded the
left
watergates,
I am the victim of such
greed and hate,
I have not made the poor
poorer, so the rich could
become richer
What Spirit of ’76 is there
for me?
My homeland, remember, is
where you stole me,
My choice has never been
given to me,
Is that what you call being
free?
The Spirit of ’76 is not for
me!
Free the land,
A mini Nyerere
1320 Cherry Ave.
Augusta, Ga
