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,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 ■ -,£/ rt 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 X Audrey Frazier Editor x :•! Al Irby News Editor $ Michael Carr Chief Photographer ;> X Mary Gordonßookkeeper ¥ Mailing Address: Box 953, Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4555 X :•! Second Class Postage Paid Augusta, Ga. 30903 v SUBSCRIPTION RATES :< Payable in Advance X One year in Richmond CountyS7.oo tax incl. $ :•! 6 Monthss3.so tax incl. X One year out of County SB.OO tax incl. X $ ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT S: X Classified & Display Advertising Deadline •I; 12 Noon on Tuesday X News Deadline Monday 5:30 (printed free) ;!• y\ AMALGAMATED JI jflljL •£ PUBLISHERS. INC. :•< X • NEW VO«M •CHICAGO X' 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