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The Augusta Mews-Review - September 23, 1976
Walking With Dignity
By AL IRBY
''Action Equal To Reaction”
Is the turning of Black Africa toward the Arabs, away from
Israel, forcing the Jewish nation to find its friends, wherever it
can, even among the reactionary? All of you that are studious are
cognizance of that well known axiom of Physics, “action is equal
to reaction”. If the nations of the “Third World” would attempt
to isolate Israel, this may force it to act in desperation. Blacks in
America were outraged by John Vorster of South Africa visiting
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Reports are circulating around world
capitals, that two missile boats are being built in Israel for
delivery to South Africa This gossip has stirred wide-spread
controversy and criticism around the world. Knowledgeable
quarters tell of discreet protests from the United States while
stressing that no formal objections have been registered officially
by the Ford administration. Although acting Foreign Ministry
spokesman Binyamin Avi-Leah insists he has heard of no
rumblings from Washington, other sources say the United State’s
dissatisfaction is clear. The sources expect more American
criticism of the links between Israel’s state-owned Military
Industry and South Africa.
Israel is said to have been advised that the missile-boat deal
could block U.S. efforts to prevent adoption at the coming
nonaligned Summit Conference in Sri Lanka of a resolution
calling for Israel’s expulsion from the United Nations. This new
Israel-South African “Love Feast”, symbolized by the recent visit
of South African Prime Minister John Vorster and by the
proposed trip to Pretoria by Israeli Commerce and Industry
Minister Haim Bar-Lev, is seen as a potential cause of friction
with liberal U.S. Jews as well as American Blacks. Political circles
in Jerusalem do not deny that the strengthening of economic ties
between Israel and South Africa has complicated Israel’s effort to
reestablish its contacts with “Third World” nations and Black
Africa. However, these observers say there is “a good deal of
hypocrisy” abroad on this issue.
Some commentators suspect that American displeasure stems
more from fear that United States Secretary of State Henry A.
Kissinger new African policy may be disrupted, than from a
desire to prevent South Africa from obtaining new missile boats.
America’s hypocrisy on foreign affairs stands out like a sore
thumb at times, because its so inconsistent. That’s why the
Israelis can point out that France, Britain, and other countries
TO BE EQUAL
By Vernon E. Jordon Jr.
Kissinger’s African Negotiations
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s delicate negotiations with
South Africa may help decide the future of Southern Africa -
whether it reverts to majority rule peacefully, or is plunged into
prolonged and bitter warfare.
Secretary Kissinger has eloquently castigated South Africa’s
apartheid system for the moral abomination it is, but he’ll have to
go beyond words to demonstrate that his current round of
negotiations are free of the ulterior motive of preserving minority
white rule there.
As of this writing, Dr. Kissinger is trying to get South Africa’s
Prime Minister Vorster’s aid in pressuring the minority white
government of Rhodesia to grant majority rule, and to bring
about majority rule in Namibia, currently illegally controlled by
South Africa.
Why should Vorster agree? There’s only one reason. By
agreeing to throw Rhodesia’s white government out, and to allow
Namibia to become independent, he hopes to relieve the
international pressure on South Africa.
He may think he’s holding a strong hand but he’s not and
Secretary' Kissinger should not fall for that kind of deal. There’s
no way Rhodesia can hold out against protracted guerrilla
warfare, and the entire international community will stand fast
for Namibian independence no matter what South Africa does.
Vorster is faced with a tough situation. He’s got Black
governments in bordering countries that used to be ruled by
Portugal. He's trying to distance himself from a white Rhodesia
that can't possibly hold out. He’s resigned to Namibia becoming
independent in a year or so. He faces the possibility of extended
guerrilla warfare on his borders. And his own government is
facing serious Black resistance.
So why throw him a lifeline? America’s role should not be to
save minority white rule in South Africa. It should be to convince
Vorster he's got to make changes in his doomed apartheid system
and that no matter what happens, even if South Africa is invaded,
we won’t lift a finger to help him.
The Kissenger visit to South Africa gives the Vorster regime a
big boost, and the Secretary should demand that, as the price of
Guest Columnist
A SOCIETY DIVIDED
AGAINST ITSELF...
HAS ANYTHING REALLY CHANGED?
By Dr. Carolyn Bennett,
Assistant Professor of Education
At Paine College
This writer returned to this community and to the South after
nearly a score of years with great hopes and expectations that
there would have evolved a “New South:" not so much in terms
of an industrial "New South" replacing theagarian “Old South”,
but a New South which would reflect a significant change in
individual beliefs, attitudes, dispositions, feelings and thoughts
about people and fundamental principles of democracy and
justice and tolerance upon which this country was built, and by
which it would sustain itself.
This writer expected and hoped to find a New South that was
committed anew to common goals for the “common good". This
writer expected to find an integrating and integrated spirit
reflected in human action. Such a spirt of integratedness is
something quite different from desegregation. Desegregation, as
it is currently understood and emotionally reacted to, reflects a
mandate of the courts. But it is not so much the law that gives us
a problem; it is the tendency of the people to want to hold on the
the false doctrine of “separate but equal.” It is the tendency of
the people to thwart integration at all costs, to avoid changes in
attitude, belief, disposition which an integrated spirit requires,
and which distinguishes the concept of integration from mere
desegregation.
The Augusta community seems not to have yet acquired this
irit of integratedness; the personal commitment is not here. The
old fears which were nurtured and perpetuated during the Civil
War Era are still with us. They still divide us, and hamper
significant social progress: South against North, race against race,
“insider” against “outsider”.
Some of us who call ourselves “Educators” believed, as our
Page 4
have sold and received military hardware to South Africa and that
this has not resulted in their being blacklisted by the “Third
World”. Why should Israel, in which the African states broke
relations to please their Arab friends, be the only country that
sacrifices its interests when the rest of the world practices cynical
realpoltik in white and Black Africa?” asked an Israeli Foreign
Ministry specialist in African affairs. Foreign Ministry aides here
hope that anti-Israel resolutions can be neutralized in the
international arena, but the Israeli public is becoming less and less
sensitive to these diplomatic rebukes.
The popular daily paper, “The Maariv” predicts there will be a
new drive to condemn Israel at the nonaligned summit, but it
expects a major effort to suppress any blame being cast on the
Arab states and the Palestine Liberation Organization for the
bloodshed in Lebanon. The newspaper foresees a careful
tightrope walk by the nonaligned leaders to avert consideration of
the latest conflict between Egypt and Libya, between Suda and
Libya, between Egypt and Syria, between Morocco and Algeria,
between Ethiopia and Somalia, and over the Eritrean Liberation
Front’s activities in Ethipioa. The conference also is expected to
dodge intra-African disputes south of the Sahara. Maybe Israel
will be able to soften South Africa’s stance on racial matters. It is
heard around capitals friendly toward Israel and South Africa,
talk to the effect, that the South African government is
considering constitutional changes to give different racial groups
in the nation better political representation. At least the changes
would involve making considerable adaptations in the present
British-style parliamentary government. A committee of experts
is to be appointed to investigate how this could be done in such a
way as to “promote stable political and economic development”.
Part of the immediate plan is to institute a liaison between the
present white parliament and the elected representatives of the
Colored (mixed race) and Indian population groups through a
combined Cabinet Council. It will consist of white Cabinet
ministers and representatives of the Colored and Indian
Representative Councils, two bodies set up to provide political
expression for the Colored and Indian groups. Bantu or Blacks are
watching this development because neither of these Councils
include South African Blacks and they are the ones dying to
promote change.
his visit, South Africa’s rulers release Black political and union
leaders and journalists now imprisoned. And he definitely should
not leave South Africa without conducting extensive talks with
Blacks there, and he should visit the Black township of Soweto if
only to demonstrate America’s concern with the plight of South
Africa’s Blacks.
In his negotiations, Dr. Kissinger ought to be consulting closely
with Black African leaders and should enter into no agreement
with South Africa that does not have their concurrence.
Dr. Kissinger should be commended for the political risks he's
taking in trying to turn America’s African policy around. His tilt
to Black Africa and to majority rule has led to strong attacks
from right wingers still mourning the end of colonial rule.
To get a new, sounder African policy through, he’s turning to
Black Americans for support. This is a startling reversal of past
practice. Before, nobody cared what Blacks thought about
foreign policy - our job was to die in foreign wars, not to be
consulted about framing policies that led to those wars.
But before Black people jump onto the bandwagon, they’ll
want some assurances that they’re not being taken for a ride.
They’ll need guarantees that America’s African policy is
genuinely based on friendship toward the emerging Black nations,
is designed to assist them to economic self-sufficiency, is geared
to achieving majority rule in Southern Africa, and is aimed at
ultimate undermining of apartheid.
Blacks aren’t going to like such proposals as having their tax
dollars go to Rhodesian whites in compensation for losing control
of a government they never had a right to run in the first place.
Why wave money at exploiters when it should be used to help the
exploited?
And Black support for foreign policy initiatives is directly
dependent on how fast the State Department opens its ranks to
Black personnel. This most elitist of our federal institutions needs
to hire many more Blacks at all levels - and fast - if it expects
Black support for a policy we haven’t been allowed to help
formulate.
educational history and philosophy told us, that out of the
institition of education comes enlightenment; out of the
institution of education comes leaders of a just and tolerant
society; out of the institution of education comes a capacity and
disposition for mutual, honest, rational sharing of ideas, thoughts,
feelings which transcend background, bias, prejudice, and
distorted perceptions. Some of us believed and still do believe
that the institution of education can represent and reflect a
model of democracy at its best.
The education community of Augusta, however, seems to
reflect other models which, in effect, defy an ideal democratic
model In many areas of the educational community, we find
isolationism and ethnocentricism reminiscent of the false doctrine
of separate but equal; again. South against North, race against
race, “insider” against “outsider” syndrome.
As educators and as various kinds of representatives, or agents,
of an educational community in the broadest sense, what should
be our course of action? How can we help to ensure that the
ideals of a just and democratic society are fulfilled? W'e can begin
this task, and continue the work of other great teachers and
leaders in this respect, by clearly and courageously asserting our
commitment to sound ethical, social, and rational principles
revealed through our actions. W'e can commit ourselves and
actively facfliate in children and youth the development of
principled thought and action; the development of more than
basic skills (e.g.. reading, writing, calculating); the development of
basic principles associated with social justice, ethical and
interpersonal interaction and communication, and principles of
participatory democracy at its best.
This writer, social observer, educator, senses that we have not
come very far in a score of years; and what is more disconcerting,
we have not come as far as we could have done since the time of
Lincoln, over a century ago. It seems appropriate, therefore, that
as the final comment of die present article, we might reflect on a
couple of Lincoln’s observations and admonitions. In a time of
overt strife and conflict, unlike our sometimes covert,
unarticulated, dissonance, Lincoln said: “A house divided" (we
might refer to it in our present situation as a society or a
community divided), “against itself cannot stand . At another
time Lincoln intimated a means by which we might, even today,
begin to develop in ourselves what the present writer has called an
integrated spirit which commits itself to the “common good". In
this respect Lincoln has been quoted as having said: “Let us
discard all this quibbling about this man and the other man, this
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"GOING PLACES” ByPhilWaring
Wherein Maynard Jackson
Stole The National Television Spotlight
Last week ABC’s “Good Morning America” national television
show featured several mayors of large cities there to comment on
crime... Suave Mayor Maynard Jackson “stole the spotlight”
because he: (1) Did his homework, (2) Is an excellent speaker,
and (3) Had a marvelous story to tell of Atlanta’s significant
crime cutback under able Black Commissioner Reggie Eaves...
Mayor Jackson’s success (despite daily confrontations from the
press, business and trade union communities) in bringing about
“joint venture” in the building of the half billion dollars
expansion of the Atlanta International Airport garnered this
column's nomination last year for a well deserved Spingam
Award
MAYNARD FOR THE SPINGARM AWARD IN 1976
Atlantans themselves, should move forward on this suggestion
because the media, business and labor sectors have approved
“joint venture”. It will make possible utilization and employment
of numerous Black professionals and craftsmen. (After all Atlanta
is over fifty per cent Black)... He banked his entire political career
on “joint venture” and won!
Maynard Jackson and Ed Mclntyre are two extremely valuable
Georgia human resources!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROY WILKINS!
Last week some two thousand people gathered in New York to
wish Elderstatesman Roy Wilkins “Happy Birthday”... Roy has
done a grand job in bringing about positive change which has
been of great benefit to America...
Congratulations to Gloster Current on his appointment as
Administrator for the NAACP... 1 handed the presidency of the
West Virginia State College NAACP chapter over to him in 1940
and he moved on to make it a model... Later, as the full-time
Executive Secretary of the Detroit NAACP branch he continued
to make history... As Director of Branches and Field Operations
in New York, Gloster Current is recognized as one of the
outstanding planners and administrators in the Civil Rights
Movement!
Good Luck, Gloster and I hope that the association raises the
Mississippi legal funds...
CONGRATULATIONS PAINE COLLEGE
The front page feature and photo in the News-Review brought
welcomed news as Paine College received a foundation challenge
grant to expand its fund raising and alumni participation...
President Scott has steered the Good Ship Paine College onward
as it faces its Centennial...
Story-behind-the-story, however, is about Dr. Daniel Collins,
trustee chairman. As the first Black Trustee head, he has given
superior leadership and service during this period of change... In
1974 at the San Francisco NUL Convention I was albe to convey
some few words of appreciation to his wife on behalf of Augusta.
It's no little deal to frequently shuttle from San Francisco to the
East Coast...
CHANGE 12 STREET TO DR. M.L. KING JR. DRIVE
You'll note a speed up during the autumn of the proposal to
race and that race. Let us discard all these things, and unite as one
people throughout this land, until we shall once more stand up
declaring that all men are created equal.” A Society divided
against itself cannot stand. We have the capacity to change those
things which need to be and must be changed. We begin by
making changes in our individual selves.
THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW ¥
Mallory K. MillenderEditor-Publisher
Frank Bowman General & Advertising Manager
Stan RainesManaging Editor & Circulation Manager
Audrey FrazierEditor-At-Large
:¥ Al Irby News Editor jj:
Michael Carr Chief Photographer $
Mary Gordonßookkeeper
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wX’X'X-XCXX'X-X-X-XWftWAX-SXWXWRWXWIWIWftWSSIWSSSj®
ask the Augusta City Council to change the name of 12th Street
to “Dr. M.L. King Jr. Drive"... Let’s get behind it with ideas and
suggestions... and action...
VICTORY FOR BLACKS AND WOMEN IN CHICAGO
The U.S. Court of Appeals at Chicago has upheld District
Court Prentice Marshall's findings that Chicago and its Police
Department are guilty of deliberate race and sex bias... A strict
hiring schedule (like Augusta’s) has been imposed... SIOO million
dollars in Federal funds have been withheld...
BRAVO CHARLES WALKER
Bravo to Charles Walker and the leadership he’s giving as
president of the Greater Augusta Frontiers Club... This group of
business and professional men constantly work for overall
community betterment and are part of a 40-year old national
group... Keep on Yokefellows...
Shall We Change 12th Street To
"Dr. M.L. King Jr. Drive”?
Do you favor asking the Augusta City Council to change
12th Street to “Dr. M.L. King Jr. Drive”? Kindly indicate your
opinion by inserting an “X”.
YES I favor it.
NO I oppose it.
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