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The Augusta News-Review - April 6,1978 - Page 4
“We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us.
Too long has the public been deceived by misrepresentations in things
which concern us dearly, though in the estimation of some mere trifles; for
though there are many in society who exercise toward us benevolent
feelings; still (with sorrow we confess it) there are others who make it their
business to enlarge upon the least trifle, which tends to the discredit of
many person of colour; and pronounce anthemas and denounce our whole
body for the misconduct of the guilty one.”
- Freedom’s Journal, 1827 --
Mallory K. Millender ; Editor-Publisher
1 PhilinWarina Vice President for Research & Development
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B MATtOWAL AOVUSTIStMQ MFMSCNTATIVU
• NEW TOM • CHICAGO
F orgetting Dr. King
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was
killed 10 years ago Tuesday. There
were a few ceremonies around the
country where the faithful honored
his memory. But too many of us
simply forgot.
That is tragic. Each time we eat
in a predominantly wiiite
restaurant, we should remember Dr.
King. Each time we sleep in a hotel
or motel that is not Black owned,
we should remember Dr. King.
Each time we take a drink of water
from a public fountain in the
Southland that isn’t marked "white”
or “colored”, we should remember
Dr. King.
Each time we exercise our right
to vote, buy a house in an
integrated neighborhood, or send
our children to a non-segregated
school or do any of the hundreds of
things we now do without thinking
Walking with dignity
Andrew Y oung
“walks with dignity”
■ By Al Irby 11
Preventing the collapse'of negotiations
in Southern Africa is the purpose of the
current visit to the area by United States
United Nations Ambassador Andrew
Young. His stops so far have been in
Tanzania and Zambia. Continued
negotiations and perpetuation of two
years of intensive Western diplomacy
touching white-Black racial issues, appear
the best hopes for keeping the Soviets
and Cubans away from direct
involvement in Rhodesia and Namibia
(South West Africa).
In his efforts, American Ambassador
Andy Young is dependent primarily on
support from the frontline states most.
They have firmly rejected the so-called
internal settlement between white
Rhodesian Prime Minister lan Smith and
three Black leaders based inside the
country. What is interesting is that two
important frontline presidents, Julius
Nyerere of Tanzania and Samora Machel
of Mozambique, • are not unfavorably
disposed toward Bishop Abel Muzorewa,
the most important of the three Black
leaders who have made the agreement
with Mr. Smith.
In fact, those two presidents might like
to entice the good Bishop away from the
internal settlement. In Tanzania March
23. President Nyerere told the press that
he had warned the bishop not to sign the
internal settlement. He added Bishop
Muzorewa said that he received the
message too late and that if he had
received it earlier he would not have
signed. The bishop, who appears to have
the biggest popular following inside
Rhodesia, originally said he would
consider a new Western proposal for a
conference of all involved parties,
presumably meaning with the externally
based leaders as well. His indication that
he would consider such a conference was
made in New York, but when he returned
to Rhodesia he changed to a flat no.
This, plus the fact that the bishop
agreed to the internal settlement with Mr.
Smith without fighting harder than he did
for Black rights has led some informants
to question the bishop’s control over his
own political organization, the United
African National Council. Dissension
within the organizations of the two main
external Black leaders, Joshua Nkomo
and Robert Mugabe of the Patriotic
Front, is also being watched closely.
Factional fighting reportedly has been
going on in Mr. Nkomo’s guerrilla forces
about it, we should remember Dr.
King.
For before he came on the scene
some 20 years ago, we couldn’t
forget any of these things, or we
risked getting killed.
It is indeed tragic that we can
forget so quickly one who gave us
so much.
Even more tragic is the fact that
many Blacks feel that the struggle is
over.
We have been lulled to sleep by
the benign sounding racist rhetoric
that tells us that anybody who
wants to get ahead can. And that
Blacks have all the rights that
anyone else has. The implication is
that if we are not successful now,
it’s our own fault
The struggle is not over. The lull
that some of us have fallen victim
to just may be the calm before the
storm.
based in Zambia, and there are
suggestions that the military leaders in
Mozambique may be getting disenchanted
with Mr. Mugabe.
Rational analysts believe that by no
stretch of the imagination can the
internal settlement mean that majoirity
rule actually will have come to Rhodesia
by the year’s end, as planned. Under the
agreement, the whites will retain working
control for ten more years, and as long as
Mr. Smith remains in a position of power,
no settlement will be credible to the
outside world or to many of the Blacks.
The entire Rhodesian situation is
grotesque in stature; because the so-called
frontline states carry too much weight
about the internal affairs in Rhodesia.
YOUNG’S TRIP IS TWO-PRONGED
The issue of Namibia, on the western
side of the continent, has been described
by Mr. Young as not very far from
solution. The South Africans, who
continue to rule the country in
contravention of United Nations
resolutions of the South-West Africa
People’s Organization (SWAPO), THE
BLACK LIBERATION MOVEMENT.
South Africa reportedly had hoped
SWAPO would be less inclined to
negotiate than it has proved. The subdued
tone of Ambassador Young’s trip
meanwhile indicates it is part of a long
and complex negotiating process. The
Young presence in the frontline states,
with their known outlook, is in itself a
form of pressure on white ruling in
Southern Africa.
ANIMOSITY MAY
DEFEAT SETTLEMENT
The United Nations Security Council
has passed a resolution declaring any
internal settlement of the present
Rhodesian question made under the
auspices of the Salisbury government to
be illegal and unacceptable. The United
States, Canada, Britian, France, and West
Germany, which tried without success to
obtain support for a compromise text,
abstained on the March 14 vote. The 10
other members voted for the resolution,
proposed by third world nations on the
council. In Salisbury, three Black
nationalist parties which signed a
Rhodesian majority rule agreement with
the government of Prime Minister lan
Smith dismissed the UN resolution as
illegal and unacceptable.
If EDUCATION
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©1970 BLACK KAEDIA INC.
4A.
HOSTAGES
Our new day begun
K I Racism.
IT **** gs |
A ew York style
..... ■ 11 By Benjamin Hooks ■
The well orchestrated attacks upon
affirmative action programs took a new
twist in New York recently when a local
school board in a predominently white
middle class area rejected federal funds
that would have provided part-time and
summer jobs for about 50 disadvantaged
youngsters bussed in from neighboring
communities.
In voting five to four against the funds.
Community School Board 26 claimed
that the jobs program “bypassed”
middle-income children. The board said it
wanted “a broader participation of
youths” than that which was prescribed
for eligibility.
The school board next joined seven
other decentralized units in refusing to
submit ethnic data required for the city
to benefit from the Emergency School
Assistance Act program.
Faced with the possible loss of S2OO
million in federal funds, School
Chancellor Irving Anker suspended the
board. He appointed a trustee to collect
the data and apply for the jobs funds
under the Youth Employment
Demonstration Act.
The refusal by the local board to apply
for the $40,000 needed for the program
was denounced by the central Board of
Education President Stephen R. Aiello as
a “totally misguided act of
irresponsibility which can be viewed as
being racist in nature.”
The NAACP, which has for several
years been fighting in court to
desegregate a number ot New York City
school districts, also moved immediately
into action, filing a petition with the
school chancellor asking him to supersede
the board.
tel f
The promise of economic justice for all
Americans was a wonderful goal set by
the government in the midst of the great
depression. The pursuit of that goal
however, has been beset by numerous
stumbling blocks and an evergrowing
insensitivity on the part of the ‘haves’ to
sympathize with the plight of the ‘have
nots.’ The cornerstone of the plan to
achieve economic parity was the
enactment of the Minimum Wage Law or
more properly called, the Fair Labor
Standards Act.
Almost 40 years ago when legislation
was passed mandating a minimum wage
of 25 cents per hour it was hailed as a
milestone in the annals of social
legislation. It represented a desire on the
part of a nation to provide decent
standards for its citizens and an attempt
to fairly distribute the wealth.
However, the rising cost of living in the
succeeding years and the stubborn
resistance to modest increases in the
minimum wage have left the dream
unfulfilled. The law has eliminated the
horrendous exploitation of child labor
and the abuses of the 100 hour work
week without overtime pay. But it has
failed to provide every worker with a
sufficient income to live a well-rounded
and healthful life.
On the ethnic census, we are also
supporting the Board of Education and
the Department of Health, Eduation and
Welfare in the U.S. District Court, where
the order is being challenged. Tire
NAACP joined the Coalition of
Concerned Black Educators in initiating
the protest that led to the hfew York
School Board - HEW agreement.
The issues involved in the School
District 26 case are crucial. They
represent another aspect of the stepped
up campaign by northern whites to
reverse civil rights gains that so many
dedicated Americans struggled, and died
for.
Unquestionably, many affirmative
action opponents would bitterly deny
that they are racists or have any intent to
discriminate. But the end result of their
opposition is discrimination - as surely as
the interposition and nullification
strategies that southern die-hard
segregationists used to make civil rights
laws ineffective.
Ostensibly, District 26 opposes the
ethnic census because it is “devisive and
leads to racial quotas.” But what is the
alternative, if not the continued
segregation of Black school children and
teachers.
Even more troubling is the opposition
to the jobs program. Throughout Queens,
as well as other metropolitan areas,
youth unemployment is at record high
levels - as much as 50 percent in some
cities.
But, as we so well know, it is not the
intent of t v bs program or the ethnic
census that matters; it is the skin color of
the target population.
Congressional Black Caucus
Reports to the People
Striving for
economic justice
By Rep. William L. Clay ■ ———-
A combination of forces more
interested in profits than people have
advanced all kinds of incredibly
unsubstantiated arguments to hinder a
justifiable increase in wages. They state
that increased minimum wages put poor
people out of work.
Just the opposite is true. They state
that high wages force businesses to move
to low wage states. Simply untrue. They
state that teen-agers will never be hired
and propose a lesser rate for them.
The fact is that this country claims a
person should be judged on his individual
worth. If a teen-ager performs a job
essentially the same as that of an adult he
or she should be paid the same. What is
the slogan of equal pay for equal work all
about?
If we ever permitted ourselves to set up
special categories of workers based on
certain economic factors such as high
unemployment in groups, where would it
stop. Would we then say that because the
rate of unemployment for Blacks, the
middle-aged and women is so high that
out of concern for these groups we
should pay them less for the same jobs?
What the public should demand is that
the minimum wage be increased to the
level where millions of our people can live
in decency - no poverty.
Going places
■K Where was
the media?
I By Philip Waring "■»
Hooray and thanks to our Augusta
Black Festival and its splendid parade last
Saturday! Not only were there top local
governmental officials present, but also
educational, civic and business groups
marched and received warm applause
from the thousands of youth and families
who lined the sidewalks for miles.
We are happy to note the presence of
groups from Thomson and Waynesboro as
well as from across the river in South
Carolina. The excellent array of
recreational, cultural and historic events
spell progress for ail Augusta! We are
happy to see the growth and viability of
the Augusta Black Festival Movement. A
vote of appreciation to founder Ed
Mclntyre,Director Maxine Lanham and her
winning ways, Assistant Chairperson
Addie Powell and the entire board of
directors, advisers and friends who are
making the entire program possible.
The big question, however, raised by so
many people in the churches and in
gatherings over the weekend was: “Where
was the media?" And this very successful
event involved thousands of spectators
who lined the streets for hours as well as
hundreds of individuals, groups and
institutions who marched and
participated so very well. Let’s support
this month-long program!
SALUTE TO RICHARD DENT
Orchids to State Rep. Richard Dent,
who served as Grand Marshall for the
parade. As he tossed off waves and
greetings to his many friends up and
down Laney-Walker Blvd., it appeared
that “Everybody Loved Uncle Richard”...
And while we are on it, let’s look at
the recent passage of the Georgia State
Fair Employment Act... Our state is the
very first in the 11 states of the Old
Confederacy to come up with such a law
which spells equal opportunity and
fairness... I was up in Atlanta last month
to observe what was happening and cover
other events for the News-Review... Both
GABEO and the State Legislative Black
Caucus had to engage in a tremendous lot
of planning, horse trading and negotiation
with scores' of Represenratives, Senators
and the Governor to successfully get this
To be equal ———
nThe middle
class revolt
—————— ll By Vernon E. Jordan Jr.
The media are full of 1978’s first trend
-- the so-called “middle class revolt.” The
middle class, defined so broadly as to
include almost everyone who’s not either
dirt-poor or fabulously wealthy, is
supposed to be angry.
What about? It seems, according to the
pundits, that the middle class is angry
about high taxes, about supposed
advantages given to minorities, about the
high costs of welfare, and about rising
inflation.
How justified is this anger - if it
actually exists? The answer has to be that
the anger is unjustified. It’s also not new.
It’s a reflection of the same old stories we
used to get when Nixon was appealing to
the “silent majority,” which translates
into the white middle class and in 1970 s
terminology, the “middle class revolt.”
Anger is distinctly unjustified because
the American middle class is the most
favored in the world. The beef about
taxes, for example, would get laughs in
other industrial nations where high taxes
support large-scale public services and aid
to the poor. In America, by comparison,
taxes are relatively low and the middle
class is the prime beneficiary.
Their taxes have bought quite a bit for
the middle class - subsidized home
mortgages, subsidized suburban roads,
subsidized college education, and even
subsidized jobs, since many are employed
in jobs that exist only because of
government activities.
The charges that the middle class’ tax
burden swells an already overlarge federal
establishment is false. The federal share
of the gross national product is only
about 22 percent, more or less where it
has been for years and years.
And middle class taxpayers have access
to tax exemptions and - deductions not
available to low income people. Interest
payments, capital gains, and other key
elements of family budgets and income
statements are either charged against
taxes due or taxed at lower rates than
earned income. If all the loopholes were
closed, tax rates could be lower for
everyone. The fact that loopholes persist
is an indication that the affluent find
them more useful than otherwise.
There’s also supposed to be “anger” at
the breaks minorities are considered to be
legislation through.... It was not easy,
however.... And our own Representative
Richard Dent was in the middle of it,
using all of his contacts, rich experience
and diplomatic skills in helping his peers
guide this bill, so bitterly opposed by
some segements of the media, to a
successful end... Let’s admit, also, there is
lots of basic fairness within many of our
state legislators... But often it requires
skill and political timing in getting things
done....
OUTSTANDING LEGISLATOR
When in Atlanta I also met Richard’s
buddy, Rep. Al Thompson, the
outstanding attorney and civic leader who
has represented Columbus, Ga. in the
state Assembly so well since the early
19605. He was right in there with Richard
and other members of the Black Caucus
in getting the FEPC bill through... I
understand he’ll be over for the Master’s.
All of us should also say “Thank you, Al
Thompson”... because he too has been an
outstanding legislator and civic leader.
BRAVO TO ANDY YOUNG
When I learned that Andy Young was
to be featured on the “Today” television
show, I phoned some 17 relatives and
friends... And 1 am sure we got good,
factual information about the African
situation... So often the media fails to
convey all of his statements accurately...
And while we are on it, many groups
such as the NAACP, Urban League,
Operation Push, Council of Black
Churchmen, Black Press, SCLC, National
Council of Negro Women and other
keystone groups, have not gone along
with the “internal settlement” in
Rhodesia... There’s wide difference of
opinion.
MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK MEN
Back in the 1950 s 1 featured a survey
on the aformentioned (and also the same
for women). It went over great. My plans
are to repeat as this is the 30th
anniversary of “Going Places.”
getting. What breaks? Here’s another
prenicious myth, enshrined by the phrase
“reverse discrimination.”
Where’s the reverse discrimination
when the dollar gap in earnings between
white and Black families is wider than it
was a decade ago and is still growing?
Where’s the reverse discrimination where
Blacks still lag in college entrance, when
Black unemployment rates are more than
double those for whites, and when Blacks
with higher educational attainments than
whites have higher jobless rates?
Those so-called breaks for Minorities
don’t exist - there is no category in
which Blacks and other minorities even
begin to approach the access to
opportunities enjoyed by the white
middle class.
The middle class revolt is also supposed
to be enraged about welfare. How to
explain anger at the minimal welfare
benefits allotted to the victims of this
economy, benefits barely enough to
ensure survival at less than minimal living'
standards. Part of it could be due to good
old-fashioned racism - the belief that
welfare is for Blacks and Hispanics. But
the majority of welfare recipients are
white!
Anger about inflation is also off-base.
Figures show rising incomes for the white
middle class, enough to keep pace with
inflation and even to outstrip it. The bulk
of inflation is concentrated in four areas
- food, energy, health and housing. While
these take up the bulk of a poor family’s
budget, they play a smaller role in the
budgets of middle income families.
Here again, the poor suffer more. How
much of the supposed middle class anger
is simple greed - the desire to have more
and get more at the other person’s
expense. If the middle class is being
pinched, it’s those at the lower end of the
scale who bear most of the burden -
working people with moderate incomes
who are included in that broad category
of “middle class.”
And when they are pinched, low
income and poor people are being badly
squeezed. So if any anger is justified it
should be because of the continued
degradation of the poor and the low
income citizens, and not because of any
threats to the privileged.