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THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AT CERTAIN
INTERVALS GOES THROUGH THE POLEMICS OF FAKE
OUTRAGE AT THE NATION’S EVER-GROWING CRIME
RATE. WHENEVER THIS CIRCUS COMES UP, NATURALLY
THE MUCH KICKED ABOUT “GUN CONTROL’’ EMERGES.
SINCE WE ARE THE MOST CRIMINAL PRONED NATION IN
THE WORLD, IT FIGURES THE “BIG DOGS” PUT UP THE
MORE VOCIFEROUS HOWL TO KEEP THEIR SHOOTING
IRONS. THE MOTHER COUNTRY (ENGLAND) COULD
TEACH US SOMETHING ABOUT TRUE “GUN
CONTROL”, IF WE WERE REALLY SERIOUS.
In Britian it’s harder for anyone to obtain a eun both titled and
commoner, than in any other country in Europe because of this
there prevails a climate of general decorum. No doubt there
would be more violence in Great Britain, if Sir. Robert Peel
hadn’t stipulated that the London police force he established in
1829 be unarmed. The London policeman has subsequently
maintained a friendly relationship with the public that's
unmatched in most of the Western world. Not only is the
policeman unarmed, but his 15 in. nightstick is normally tucked
out of sight down his right trouser-leg and rarely brandished, even
when angry demonstrations threaten to boil into riots. Handcuffs
are also seldom carried, since courts have awarded damages for
unnecessary use of them.
The seemingly ingrained courtesy of British police is largely
reciprocated by the public and has been an essential ingredient,
according to many officials, in forestalling violence and preventing
the rise of an armed populace. The English are versed in the basic
law of physic&--“action is equal to reaction. Had the police Deen
established at a time, when everybody packed a rod, the police
themselves would have been armed, also.
ENGLISH TENACITY AND HONOR BOUND
REVEALED-England nowadays doesn’t rely solely on
long-established tradition for maintaining a gunless society.
Firearms laws are stringent by our loose standards, and the
penalties for violations are stiff. A violator can be imprisoned for
three years simply for a rifle without a certificate, and terms of
10 to 14 years are meted out regularly to those carrying real or
even imitation guns during a crime.
LOOKING FOR STIFFER LAWS-Baroness Wotten of
Abinger, a criminologist is leading a campaign in the House of
Lords for stiffer laws, the crusading lady says that 23 people were
fatally injured by shotguns last year (official statistics haven’t
been relased yet) and that the police have been too lax in issuing
Letters To The Editor
Dear Editor:
(Below is a letter a recently
written to Mr. Ed Rowland,
vice-president of Kwickie Food
THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW
Mallory K. MillenderEditor-Publisher
Frank Bowman Advertising Manager
Robert Lee Moore Managing Editor
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Xx AMALGAMATKO di 1R IjL
PUBLISHER*, INC. IkIbII WIM
Walking With Dignity
by Al Irby
Gun Control
Stores after certain events.)
Dear Mr. Rowland:
Last week I went to work
certificates. Although firearms are a relatively minor problem in
England by American standards, authorities aren’t complacent.
Police officials observe that 57 policemen on duty were killed
from 1900 to 1965, when the death penalty was abolished, and
only 10 in just the following eight years. C.H. Rolph, a writer and
policeman for 25 years, wants all firearms withdrawn from the
civilian population and more stringent controls by authorities to
curtail illegal imports of weapons. He says that “far too many
German Lugers and other foreign weapons arrive in Britain and
that the Ulster situation is proof of the laxity of border checks.”
Mr. Rolph believes that the police themselves in England resist
being armed because both they and the public are long familiar
with the present situation and feel comfortable in it. This veteran
lawman most surely could not recommend this gunlessness to
America. It would be suicidal sending policemen upon the streets
of American cities. You can’t disarm the policemen, until you
disarm the public, body and mind. It’s obvious that an unarmed
policeman can’t exchange shots with robbers, a fact that lessens
the danger of innocent bystanders. Nor does he shoot fellow
policemen by mistake or kill fleeing offenders like pickpockets,
whose crimes aren’t otherwise punishable by death. Those are the
main acts, that make Blacks in America prone to riot. Many white
policemen shoot to kill Black youths, usually for some crime,
thus causing a racial confrontation. There are, of course,
numerous reasons for the overall gentler quality of life in
England. For one thing, the nation lacks the rough frontier, and
Southern racial hatred of America. For another, it has far fewer
of the social and ethnic tensions that mark American life. But the
absence of guns also clearly plays a great, and foremost role, and
one of the most important facts is that, just as the populace is
unarmed, so is the policeman.
Sociologists and police officials believe that, just as violence
can beget violence, the sight of the British policemen proceeding
unhurriedly and unarmed through the roughest neighborhoods
has, over the decades, helped mold the calm and even passive
character of the people. Because until just a few years ago the
death penalty was extracted for killing an unarmed policeman,
even criminals made a point of being unarmed. Britian has had its
only political assassination in 1812, that was over 160 years ago.
The occasion was the slaving of Sir. Spencer Perceval, who was at
that time Prime Minister.. The murderer was a bankrupt named
John Bellingham, he was convicted and hanged a week after the
shooting; yet the creep that killed U.S.Senator Robert Kennedy is
seeking parole, and chances are he’ll get it.
for your Kwickie Store, No.
38, at Golden Camp Road,
Augusta, Ga. 1 got the job, not
that I particularly needed the
money, but just so I would
have something to do. I had a
similar job for some years at
the local VA Hospital where
my retired army husband
works. I am a highly qualified
cashier and have a reputation
for rarely making a mistake.
On July 6th. I was told that
the register was $13.00 short
and 1 told both the assistant
manager and the manager that
“someone was taking
advantage of a new situation".
(That is, that I was a new
employe.)
in ail my years at the VA
Hospital, my register was
always in order, so 1 was not
concerned about his
investigation. Since I felt,
however, that I was under
suspicion-presumably because
I am Black-I urged him and
the manager to get to the
bottom of the matter. As far as
I know, no investigation was
made. Several days later I was
let go and he hired his
brother-in-law.
It is true that the assistant
The Spirit Os ’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 distantland:
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
1 engineered the underground railroad to pave my freedom's way,
I built your country’s institutions without you giving me pay.
1 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 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.
1 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 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!
Amini Nyerere
manager is far from bright and
I also suspect that he felt
threatened by my competence
and by my integrity.
Apparently there has been
considerable pilfering by
children, and on the first
occasion that this occurred in
my presence, I caught four
Black children and ran them
off rather forcibly. (On
another occasion, I was there
when die manager caught a
white boy, and other than the
mildest talk, which also
indicated to me that the boy
had been caught before,
nothing was done.) The
assistant manager should have
concluded from this that 1 had
the interests of the store at
heart and had the ability' to
defend them with courage.
I was not surprised at the
action of the assistant manager
but was surprised that he was
backed up by the manager.
Why was the culprit not
found? How could someone be
fired without cause other than
suspicion? Was it part of a
frame because both the
assistant manager and manager
felt threatened? Could the
store stand an audit? Is the
assistant manager a racist since
he habitually refers to Black
women as “girls”?
1 liave talked to the manager
at length. He have no adequate
explanation for his actions. I
pointed out that this kind of
behavior was unwise for
management when more than
half his customers in the store.
I told him, however, that I was
no longer interested in the
position except to take it up
with his superiors. All this fell
on deaf ears until this morning
I went in the store to do
some shopping. The manager
seemed very anxious and
hoped that I wouldn’t take any
action. His behavior puzzled
me until I saw a friend who
asked me if I had read the
paper. I hadn’t. He laughted
when 1 told him about the
manager’s change of attitude ...
and showed me this morning’s
paper. A clerk had been shot at
a Kwickie Store by a Black
hold-up man.
I am writing you at this time
primarily in behalf of the
interests of other Black
employees who may not be in
the position to mount the type
of protest that should be made.
Since the interests of your
concern are in profits and since
these will depend in
considerable part on
wholesome relations with the
Black community, you and I
have a common interest in the
conditions 1 am bringing to
your attention.
I think that if you ifiake an
adequate investigation, you
will decide that it will be to the
interests of all parties to deal
with Blacks on the same basis
that you deal with whites.
1 will be looking forward to
your early response.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Earl Anderson
3008 Arcadia Ct.
Questions South
Africa Expropriation
Dear Editor:
Those who disapprove of the
mixing of politics and religion
will seethe over the South
African government’s
expropriation of the Federal
Theological Seminary in Alice,
South Africa - the center where
Anglican, Methodist, United
Congregational, and
Presbyterian Churches train
men and women for the
Christian ministry. Each has its
own denominational college,
but shares the resources of
faculty and library on land
given by Chief Tyhali in 1855.
The school with its related
colleges was built in 1963 at a
cost of SLS million to serve
African, “coloured”
(mix-blooded), and Indian
students from all the churches
named above.
The South African
government's claim is that it
needs the property for the
expansion of the University of
Fort Hare, which already
occupies more than 2,700 acres
and could be expanded in
other directions which would
not affect the Seminary. The
suspicion is strong that had not
some of the members of those
Black Christian churches
sought human rights, either (a)
the University of Fort Hare
would not need to expand, or
(b) it could be expanded in
another direction.
There are many who
consider this but the latest in a
series of acts taken to punsiii
the Black Christian Churches
of that country, and they are
writing to the South African
Ambassador in Washington,
D.C., and to the American
Secretary of State to protest
this injustice.
The least any of us can do is
to pray for our brothers and
sisters in those churches who
are forced to undergo
harassment. Others may wish
to do more.
Faithfully,
Father David C. Streett
Augusta
Challenges
Paper
Dear Editor:
It goes without saying that
you have assumed the tedious
task and responsibility of
“speaking the truth to the
people” boldly and with mucii
strength.
It is because of your untiring
efforts that the Augusta Black
community has been the
recipient of the much needed
news and information which
you have so willingly provided.
You have courageously
taken the call for educating the
community on events and
situations which it should be
aware of.
Very often, it is found that
progress and success produces
the aspirations for bigger and
better ways of doing the things
which are necessary, however,
it is evident that your staff
with much success, has
retained autonomy and
dedication and has continued
to be a spokesman for the
people.
I am sure that no one can
witness the long hours of hard
work, frustrating meetings and
the endless task of obtaining
enough sponsorship to survive.
A word is also in order for
the quality of your production.
The Augusta News-Review has
been one of the forces in
Augusta to deal with the
omnipotent forces of overt and
covert racism. I encourage you
to continue to accept nothing
less than excellence in the way
of your news items, pictures
and your focus.
Finally, I challenge you to
positively enhance the Black
community and provide it with
the necessary call for unity. It
should be your goal to arm
your reader with the weapon
of truth, to the needs of Black
people and to accentuate the
cultural beauty of the Black
race.
SPEAK THE TRUTH TO
THE PEOPLE!!!
Randy Gunter
13 20 Cherry Ave.
The Augusta News-Review July 31. 19«5,
Speaking
Out
by Roosevelt Green
1 have just attended the thirteenth meeting of World Baptist
Alliance in Stockholm. Sweden. The Alliance meets every five
years and the next convening in 1980 will probably be in Canada
or the United States. From nine to eleven thousand Baptists from
all over the World assembled here this ye? r
There were many Black Baptists here from various parts of the
United States. One of the keynote speakers. Rev. Dr Thomas A
Kilgore, is the Black minister who delivered a dynamic and soul
stirring message to the delegates or messengers as Baptist call their
Church representatives. He is pastor of the Second Baptist Church
in Los Angeles. Calif, and is quite well known as a gifted
preacher.
The Rev. Dr. Kilgore delivered the most relevant message I
heard during the entire sessions. He strongly urged Baptists, in
essence, to be concerned about both the soul and body of men
and women in this world. His message was entitled ‘Fellowship
Beyond Frontiers’’ and another key point was his urging so-called
“under-developed” and “developed” nations to exchange
missionaries.
This last point struck a key note with me since Southern
Baptist are well known for sending missionaries to Black Africa
but not permitting Blacks in Amerikkka to worship in their lily
white churches. I think a good starting point would be for Blacks
in Africa and the United States to send missionaries to the White
Southern Baptist denominational churches to preach about
fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of all men as well as
white economic and political oppression of Third World people.
Incidentally, it is wiser to call Blacks members of the First
World since civilization had its start in Africa.
The Baptist Alliance seemed to have placed too much attention
on Bible study and individual salvation while giving little
attention to the social problems that plague the world. None of
the predominantly white Protestant, or nor. Proles rint Christian
denominations in Amerikka fare any better than the Baptists.
White Christians seem to be more interested in their individual
salvation, peace of mind. Heaven and Bible study in their stain
glass social clubs they call churches. This is indeed quilt sad and
tragic.
A listing of some of the countries being represented in this
Alliance is quite revealing when you consider the following brief
listing:
Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada. Chile, Cuba.
Both Germanies. Ghana. Hungary, India, Kenya, Russia. South
Africa, Romania, United Kingdom, the United States. Liberia
Israel, Sweden, and Togo. In summary, one hundred and ten
nations and twenty-eight dependencies were represented A
crowd or organization like that certainly needs to focus on more
than “Bible study” - whatever they call by that name.
The experience of meeting with so many different nations
being represented in one place was quite inspiring and
informative. One must remember that just having that kind of
group to assemble peacefully in this strife and war torn world is
truly remarkable.
I left this assembly which met for one week w ith hope that
maybe one day this large religious body and others can come
together and practice what they preach. Is that too much to ask
HARAMBEE!!!!'!!!
TO BE
EQUAL
BY VERNON E. JORDAN, JR
MINORITY BUSINESSES NEED AID
One of the unsung victims of the current economic Depression
is the minority businessman. Under the best of circumstances
he’s got the cards stacked against him, and in hard times he's
struggling just to survive.
A recent Census report suggests that though in nority
enterprises are but a small part of the private sector, they
comprise about 400,000 businesses doing over SI6 billion worth
of business each year.
Impressive as such totals may be, the typical establish!* nt is
small and struggling. Only abouta fifth employ workers other
than the owners and about two-thirds are in retail trade or
services, traditionally the most marginal of business enterprises.
Last year’s tight money market, inflation, and the energy
shortage hit Black business harder than it did majority-owned
firms. The massive economic slow-down since then has continued
to slide. The Black business failure rate has been estimated at
close to 20 percent, and that includes a few of the larger firms,
too.
Just as Black building trades contractors managed to gain a
small foothold in the traditionally segregated construction
industry, the boom was lowered on housing and contraction,
mainly because of federal policies that slowed home-buildiig to a
crawl. This means many Black businessmen who were last on the
bandwagon when the economy was booming are now the first to
get bumped off it.
Black business operates under a triple handicap. First, minority
businessmen have to face discrimination, overt or s übtle.
everyday. Second, a minority business is often strapped for cash
and needs access to laons to survive. Finally, the historic barriers
faced by minorities mean a smaller pool of mangerial talent and
expertise available to run businesses in a difficult economic
climate.
All of this argues for an expanded effort to tide ni nority
businesses over the current siup in the economy If the private
enterprise system is going to work, it should work for all. A two
percent minority share of the total businesses in America is a
disgrace to a system that prides itself on its supposed equal
opportunity.
Given the national goal of assisting minority business and the
need for direct aid now, it is unfortunate that an effort appears
under way to axe the sole federal agency designed to provide
assistance to minority entrepreneurs, the Office of Minority
Business Enterprise.
OMBE has come under attack by a House Committee report
charging it with failure and suggesting that it can t succeed at all
And there are rumors about the ultimate fate of the one
governmental program Black and other minority businessmen
look to as designed specifically to help them.
OMBE and Commerce Department spokesmen have criticized
the House report severely for its shortcomings and its
assumptions of minority business incompetence. Whatever its
faults, and its supporters never claimed it was perfect. OMEE has
never been responsible for the kinds of cost overruns and
bureaucratic inefficiences so typical of other government
agencies.
Established in 1969, it wasn't until 1972 that it go the funds to
start its job and OMBE has done an impressive amount of good
since them. It has encouraged subcontracting to minority-owned
firms, directly assisted a third of them, and provided technical
assistance and other help that saved many businesses that might
otherwise have gone under.
Like any agency, public or private, it should not be imn une
from criticism, but such criticism should be constructive and
aimed at helping it do its job better. As an agency geared to
minority need, it is a highly visible target for those who would
like to see it fail, but if OMBE and other attempts at bringing
Blacks and other minorities into the mainstream of our economi
life fail, then everybody will be hurt too
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