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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 Frank Bowman . Ti. G.nera! Sr Advertising Manage, Mike Carr ph °W he ' Mary Gordon Circulation We cannot be responsible for unsolicited photos, manuscripts and other materials. Mailing Address Box 953 - Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4555 __ Second Class Postage Paid Augusta, Ga. 30903 a wig By Zjk AM ALSAMATEO L ’ 11 Li—ln publisher*, inc. 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 mt!'t I—i 1 —i 1 Rzzl I i 1 ? ! /1 M|||l|||M ©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.