Newspaper Page Text
,1 The Augusta News-Review - October 7. 1976 -
Walking With Dignity
By AL IRBY
"I Have A Dream” By Dr. Martin Luther King
"Colored Girls” By All Black People
Two Black plays that have made Broadway this season, have
the critics raving. Some of the critics rather than praising the
• entire two superb dramas intact, tend to dissect the plays and
praise in parts. They are calling them the “Black Experience in
two approaches, to depict the feelings and experiences of Black
people.” “For Colored Girls/When the Rainbow Is Enuf” is one
which offers the private, inner vision of a young Black girl. The
other attempts to bring to life that of Dr. Martin Luther King
using those famous words of the Civil Rights leader, “I Have A
Dream”, as the caption. “I Have A Dream” stars that popular
matinee idol Billy Dee Williams. This historical sago of the
tribulation of Black folks in America begins in Montgomery, Ala.,
and goes through the well known episodes in Dr. King’s life;
boycotts, the march in Selma, periods in jail, calls from President
Kennedy, the speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Nobel Peace Prize,
and finally, that ill-fated day at the motel in Memphis when Dr.
King was cowardly shot.
The King drama leans strongly to a historical documentary.
Since so many un-truths and half-truths made up by that old devil
and racial hater that headed the FBI, much of Dr. King's private
life was not dramatized. Mr. Williams and Ms. Judyann Elders,
who plays Mrs. King, narrate all the events. Mr. Williams stands at
a bank of microphones to deliver Dr. King’s sermons and
speeches. Just as there is no attempt at dramatization, there is
little attempt to get inside of Dr. King’s life to examine the
complexities of the great man’s personality. He is treated more as
a “Holy Bibical” figure rather than a mere man. Director Robert
Greenwald, sensing the lack of drama in the play, has interspersed
spoken passages with soulful gospel singing. The music gives the
audience a spiritual lift, but what has the most impact are two
factors, one of which is not truely consistent with the goals of the
production.
DOES BILLY DEE WILLIAMS HAVE TOO MUCH CHRISMA
FOR THIS PLAY?
At the Atlanta preview, there were many times when the
audience seemed more interested in admiring handsome Billy Dee
Williams as a dashing matinee idol than in hearing what he had to
say. When he got dressed in his cutaway for the Nobel ceremony,
for instance, there was loud audible “Oha” and “Ahs” comming
from the women. When he kissed his wife before leaving on a
dangerous mission, the audience responded to the kiss, but not
the good-bye. In fairness to Mr. Williams it must be said that he
delivered Dr. King’s words sincerely and with professional
expertise, especially the never-to-be-forgotten letter of Dr. King
TO BE EQUAL
By Vernon E. Jordon Jr.
The Ripped-Off Society
It seems that every passing day brings new scandals about
bribery, tax evasion, pay-offs and misuse of power in high places.
The alarm about “crime in the streets,” is now joined by dismay
over “crime in the suites.”
In a society that appears at times to be saturated with
wholesale exploitation of the law’s loopholes, it’s no surprise that
some scandals have hit governmental programs in the social arena.
A Senate investigation reveals that some doctors and Medicaid
clients have ripped-off the Medicaid program of hundreds of
millions of dollars through fraud or unnecessary medical services.
Before that the nursing home scandals revealed that operators
were bilking public funds of millions. Recently, a man was
indicted for allegedly stealing $ 1 million that customers paid for
food stamps bought at his check cashing company. Meanwhile,
the government is sitting on thousands of homes it took over
because of the operations of real estate interests in a subsidized
housing program.
This sort of thing isn’t too unusual in vast spending programs
like the defense program, where over-runs and contract add-ons
invariably make new weapons twice as expensive as they’re
supposed to be when Congress agrees to them.
No one proposes the answer to abuses in that system be the
dismantlement of the centralized defense procurement procedure.
But the revelations about rip-offs in social spending have led to
new calls for decentralizing, for having the federal government
turn over its responsibilities to states and cities, and for massive
cuts in the programs themselves.
But what such critics overlook is that they’re proposing to
punish the victims of shady operators and incompetent
administrators. They're forgetting that while they’ve been
screaming about “welfare chiselers" the various welfare programs
were being ripped-off not by the poor, but by the middle and
upper class people.
The scandals in Medicaid, food stamps and other programs
were caused by the “respectable” elements in our society, and the
real victims, along with the public treasury, and the poor
Letters to the Editor
Davis Seeks
Irby’s Resignation
Dear Editor.
Mr. Irby, YOU’VE GOT TO
BE JOKING!
Let me say at first, I am not
a fan of Charles Walker, did
not know the late Jerry
Demmons, and only know
Officer Staulcup by reputation,
and as to that reputation, I
would not believe Officer
Staulcup under oath.
The problem, as perceived
by me is the Grand Jury in
Richmond County, and
throughout the other counties
in Georgia. That body is made
up of an effete corp of
impudent snobs, with apologies
to an Angnew named Spiro.
I come to the support of Mr.
Walker because you have given
him a “hand job” if I have ever
seen one. Mr. Walker’s attack
was fully justified, as I see it,
based upon the First
Amendment, and further
required because of the
conflict in the testimony and
in the facts.
Why should Mr. Walker
reconcile with Officer
Staulcup? In this case, he, that
is to say, Mr. Walker is honored
bv the enemy he has made, and
if Officer Staulcup desires to
be an enemy of mine, I say
there is plenty of room at the
long forming line at the rear.
What is required in this case
is your resignation from the
staff of the News-Review, and
it is so called for in this letter.
As to Mr. Walker, he deserves a
pat on the back, and I gladly
do so. Your editorial reminds
me that this is still a sick
society, and your point of view
is, in my opinion, the product
of “educated” Uncle Tom.
Prentiss Ivory Davis
P.O. Box 2405
Augusta, GA.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Why are you so concerned
with an organization that is
indubitably
quasi-establishment; when you
were so insensitive to the
welfare of the aged and poor.
The county hoodwinked you
so-called “Bourgeoisie” into
Page 4
from the “Birmingham Jail.”
It was indeed startling to realize how much has happened in
such a short time in Civil Rights, and it was arresting to hear again
Dr. King’s words; those bibical cadences calling people to action,
reminding them of the good in them, and in every speech
advocating non-violence-a term that has seemed in recent years
to pass from our vocabularies. ”1 HAVE A DREAM” affects us
not so much because of any artistic achievement but because of
the memories it brings back to the hearts of Black people.
“FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED
SUICIDE/WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF”
The other play is about Black People also. It opened last week
at the “Booth Theater” after successful runs in a workshop and at
the Public Theater off-Broadway. On the face of it this play
would seem to be as undramatic as the play about Dr. King, but
where that play outside its subject, “Colored Giris,” captures the
inner feelings of young Black women today and goes beyond that
to achieve its own kind of universality. “Colored Giris” consists
of a series of poems by a young Black writer, Ntozake Shange,
recited or performed by a group of seven talented Black actresses,
sometimes as a scene from a play, sometimes as a straight
recitation or sililoquy. The women are dressed alike in dance
outfits with long skirts, each in a different color-like the
rainbow. On a bare stage with only a large red rose suspended
against a background of black curtains, the seven young women,
one of whom is Ms. Shange herself, take turns presenting the
poems. On both counts the presentations and the poems
themselves-it is a remarkable, inspiring evening.
In most of her work Ms. Shange adopts the persona of a person
who suffers the three-fold anguish of being young. Black and a
woman; and she articulates this anguish with wit and insight. Like
so many young people today, the woman she creates is uncertain
of who she is or where she belongs. She is not complete, but a
song of “half notes scattered without rhythm, without a tune.”
As for being Black, in her words, “being Black and being sorry for
ones self is redundant in this modem world.” As a woman she
suffers from confusion and a lack of self-esteem. She offers her
love to men who take advantage of her, returning brutality,
indifference, or useless apologies for her love. Feeling bereft, she
explains, “Somebody almost run off wit alia my stuff.” For Ms.
Shange and those who helped her put “Colored Girls” together,
including director Oz Scott and choreographer Paula Modd, the
evening is a signal achievement. It may not be what one ordinarily
expects in the theater, but like the “Rainbow” of the title, it is
enough.
themselves, whom the programs are supposed to help.
Shifting control from Washington won’t end scandals; it will
just make them more widespread. Most people forget that many
social programs gravitated toward Washington in the first place
because local power interests abused the poor, the weak and the
powerless.
Part of the reason the current scandals have taken place is
because of decentralized authority. Medicaid, for example, is a
state program. The answer to its abuses is not in doing away with
the program, which will hurt poor people, or in increasing state
and local authority, which is where it’s gone wrong in the first
place, but in strengthening federal controls and expanding
legislative and administrative oversight.
Food stamp scandals invariably involve vendors who get into
the act only because of absurd regulations that make people buy
stamps. Cashing out stamps in a reformed income maintenance
system, or distributing them without consumer pay-in regulations
would lower administrative costs and end the rip-offs.
Overlooked in the whole process is the damage done by fraud
and scandal to the supposed beneficiaries of the programs
involved. Because a few doctors got rich quick in Medicaid frauds,
poor people are now threathened with losing Medicaid, a system
that helped bring health services to those unable to afford quality
care. Because real estate speculators made fortunes in housing
subsidy programs the federal government put through a
moratorium on the program, cutting poor people off from
homeownership prospects.
It’s all pretty sorid - poor people stand to lose programs
supposed to help them because well-off people subvert those
programs to line their own pockets. In cheating and chiseling - as
in everything else -- poor people are victimized.
The answer is consumer participation in programs, tighter
federal controls and oversight mechanisms, and clearer lines of
responsibility. Social programs need to be made more effective
and immune from white-collar rip-off artists who prey on the
poor.
voting for a four cent sales-tax
by being promised a mythical
property tax reduction, passing
the burden as usual upon the
underprivileged.
Urges Citizens
To Vote
Dear Editor:
The prediction that millions
of qualified voters will not go
to the polls November 2nd
gives me, as a veteran of 35
years getting people to register
and vote, as director of voter
education for NAACP 17 years
gives me deep concern. The
reasons given are completely
senseless.
Despite the corruption in
government, November 2nd is
no time to stay from the polls
because “the best way in the
world for the evil forces to
take over is for enough of the
good voters to do nothing.”
To say that there is nothing
to vote for is absurd because
when there is nothing to vote
FOR there is always something
to vote AGAINST. The only
way to vote against something
is to vote for the lesser of the
evil.
Apathy is not the basic
■
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JIMi
reason for these people not
going to the polls, Rather a
lack of ability to equate their
bread and butter with the
ballot
At one time I would say we
are affected by politics from
the craddle to the grave but
now since abortion is widely
condoned, I say we are
effected by politics from
conception to the resurrection
because there possibly is
somebody who might not get
here.
We must make the
disenchanted citizens realize
that every hour of the day
some politicians are thinking or
planning something new that
will effect to some degree the
lives of the American people.
It must be remembered that
these politicians are elected
and that politicians do not act,
rather react to the stimuli
applied by their constituents.
Os all periods in the history
of the American Government
this is not the time to stay
away from the polls November
2nd.
Every well thinking citizen,
every civic, social, professional,
religious, political and labor
organization should address
itself toward getting out the
vote come November 2nd.
The outcome of the
November 2nd election will
effect yet unborn generations
Blacks’ Destiny In Own Hands...
* BLACKS'RETICENCE TO SEIZE THE INITIATIVE TO ORGANIZE THEIR
COMMUNITIES" SAID DOUGLAS G. GLASGOW, DEAN OF HOWARD
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, ISA MAJOR FACTOR AND
AN IMPORTANT FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO OUR COMMUNITIES"
UNDEVELOPED STATUS" il'fY
LAWYERS
ARTISTS
TEACHERS \
MINISTERS WWHF
WORKERS I-
COMMUNITY
SOCIALWORKERS Z MBoP
FRATERNAL GROUPS WfO /
FINANCE LjMK
COMPUTER SCIENCE
INSTITUTION ADMINISTRATION q
ENGINEERING f / feA
PLANNING
ARCHITECTURE
BLACK PRESS SSI
MlgSk .VET
Blacks who
helped build Augusta
By Phil Waring
"The Life And Times Os Carrie Mays”
The election of Mrs. Carrie Mays as a member of the Augusta
City Council in 1970 ushered in a new era for Black women in
politics in the Southeast. And this trend still moves on today!
Bom in Lincoln County, Ga., she has compiled an outstanding
record of service since arrival in Augusta 28 years ago. This record
is replete with “firsts”. As example, she has served briefly as
acting mayor of Augusta, first woman and Black to do so in
history.
FIRST BLACK SECRETARY
OF GA. DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Her hard work with the Democratic party earned for her
appointment as Secretary of the Georgia State Democratic
organization, still another first. Mrs. Mays has used this to expand
her contacts and get further information about government and
political organization which has been used locally in Augusta to
good advantage.
An activits of the same style as Congresswoman Shirley
Chisholm, Mrs. Mays has won wide local and state-wide acclaim
on her practice of speaking out. This is on situations which she
deems unfair, unethical or illegal.
SPEAKS OUT FOR JUSTICE AND EFFICIENCY
Mrs. Mays made headlines in the Atlanta Constitution and
other media when she called for an investigation on the handling
of illegal activities. She has long worked to improve the criminal
justice system, especially of prisoners in the stockade. She has
worked for better racial and sex representation on local boards
and commissions. She actively seeks better housing, streets and
recreation.
WORKS FOR BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE IN AUGUSTA
A member of the Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Mays works to
Mostly About Women
By Marian J. Waring
What Women Are Saying About
Employment/Unemployment
“Women’s lib gave me the impetus to get out and start looking
and getting back into the big world” --
A WOMAN, age 49, went to work to pay for the rising costs of
sending her two daughters to college—
A wife of a high school coach went to work in a university
library “not for the money but for me”—
Another WOMAN reentered the job market after 14 years
because of a divorce; her comment was: “1 had to unless I didn't
want to eat”—
The majority of conversations with WOMEN who have
returned to work indicate that many of them are enjoying new
experiences and have found broader horizons and opportunities
for better or worse. VOTE
SXV Wednesday,
Birmingham, Ala. Oct 13th
■e{ i X-:-:-x-X i X i X-x-x-x-x-x > x-x-x , x , : , : i :-x ; : ; : ;
THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW
Mallory K. MillenderEditor-Publisher
X Frank Bowman General & Advertising Manager
Stan RainesManaging Editor & Circulation Manager
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Michael Carr Chief Photographer ;>
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Mailing Address: Box 953, Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4555 X
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expand and enrich business and industry throughout Richmond
County. She said: “Augusta and the CSRA has wonderful
potential but some of the past mistakes must be corrected.”
RECIPIENTS OF MANY HONORS AND AWARDS
Recipient of many awards and citations, Mrs. Mays was
co-chairpereon (with Commissioner Mclntyre as chairman) of the
successful “Build It Back” fund raising campaign. Thanks to this
project and others a handsome new building has been constructed
at Paine College.
NAMED CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
Mrs. Mays has been selected as “Citizen of the Year” by the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the Lincoln League. She has been
honored by the Paine College Board of Trustees for her fund
raising leadership, also by the News-Review and O.LC.
She has also been honored by the 0.1. C. and S.C.L.C. Mrs.
Mays helped expand the work of the YWCA through board
membership on the city-wide organization and as chairperson of
the former Phyliss Wheatley Branch.
A member and officer of historic Trinity CME Church (for 23
years), she is frequently called upon to speak in Georgia and
South Carolina at religious, civic and political gatherings. She is a
charter member of the Ga. State Black Elected Officials.
Recognization and appreciation by the people of Augusta was
accorded her when she received the largest number of city-wide
votes on her council re-election in 1973.
She is listed in “Who’s Who In Politics In The Southeast” and
“Who’s Who Among Women In America” and is a member of the
state and national Funeral Directors Association.
Mrs. Mays and her son, William Mays, 111 (a licensed mortician)
operate to 50-year old W.H. Mays Funeral Home.
than they had had at home—
One WOMAN, age 33, admitted that a job saved her marriage:
“I went to work to see if I could earn a high enough wage to get a
divorce and support my boys, but the job saved my marriage. My
husband treats me like a different person; we have found mutual
interests and have become good friends again”—
WHAT EXPERTS ARE SAYING ABOUT EMPLOYED
WOMEN: The number of American WOMEN who work outside
their homes has been rising since 1947
During the last two years, and especially in 1976, WOMEN
have entered the job market at an extraordinary pace—
A well known economist calls the flood of WOMEN into the
work force the single most outstanding phenomena of our
country; he continues: WOMEN, men and children, and the
cumulative consequences will only be revealed in the 31st and
22nd centuries”—
WHAT STATISTICS REVEAL: During the last five months
there has been a net increase of more than 1.1 million WOMEN
over 16 who have taken jobs or begun seeking work, swelling the
nation’s total female work force to 38.8 million—
During the last 24 months, the number of WOMEN in the work
force has increased by 2.8 million, accounting for two-thirds of
the increase in the last 12 months—
WOMEN, who comprised 33 percent of the national labor
force in 1960, and 38.1 percent in 1970, now account for 40.7
percent, a proportion that was not expected to be reached until
1985 by forecasters as recently as three years ago—
Almost 48 percent of American WOMEN over 16 years of age
now work or want a job, a figure that has risen a full percentage
point since last spring and compares with 43.2 percent in 1970.
Some economists say it is possible that half of American WOMEN
over 16 will be in the work force within two or three years—
Labor experts and newly working WOMEN both believe that
the beginning of the expanding female work force started in the
60’s with the economic liberation of young wives, which was
aided by effective birth control methods and spurred by
inflation-
Other significant factors were: a rising divorce rate.... and
increasing number of female college graduates wanting careers....
the psychological climate induced by publicity over the
WOMEN’S movement that makes it more socially acceptable for
young mothers to work, encourages more older WOMEN to work,
and has reduced housewives self-esteem.... also, Federal laws that
have increased hiring opportunities for WOMEN and counseling
centers that help prepare WOMEN for jobs.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE WOMEN IN THE NATION'S
WORK FORCE? They are: young single WOMEN looking for
their first j0b.... newly divorced WOMEN with little or no income
from their former husbands.... WOMEN whose husbands earn less
than SIO,OOO a year and a second salary is often needed for
survival.... wives of middle-income husbands whose paychecks
permit the family in an inflationary period to maintain it’jl
standard of living (about SIO,OOO - 45,000 annually).... WOMEf Jg
from higher income families whose desire is for broader horizc
rather than money. W 1