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The Augusta News-Review - November 11, 1978 -
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Mallory K. MUlender • • Editor-Publisher
J. Philip Waring Vice President for Research and Development
Paul D Walker Special Assistant to the Publisher
Robert L. Darby Advertising Manager
Mrs. Brenda Hamilton Administrative Assistant
Mary Gordon Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Geneva Y. Gibson • Church Coordinator
Ms. Barbara Gordonßurke County Correspondent
Mrs. Clara WestMcDuffie County Correspondent
Columnist
. r y ‘ ‘ . Columnist
Marian Waring
Michael Can Chief Photographer
Roscoe Williams Photographer
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
AMAuuautn
PUBUSNUM, INCV
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Laney- Walker revitalization
nixes ghetto concept
We wish to congratulate the
organizers of the Laney-Walker
Boulevard neighborhood
revitalization project The spirit of
the project makes the bold and
significant statement that there is
no corollary between living in the
inner city and living in the ghetto.
The inner city by definition is a
desirable place to live if for no
a/ v J
You’ve read mueh in the News-Review
and Going Places about getting the
Laney-Walker Neighborhood
Revitalization Committee organized. A
most successful organizing meeting was
held last Tuesday.
William Brown was chosen chairman,
James Starks, vice chairman; Philip
Waring, secretary; Isiah Johnson, assistant
secretary; and William T. Johnson,
treasurer. Members of the organizing
committee included: Dr. C.S. Hamilton,
Dennis W. Wilds, Lowell O’Grady, Frank
T. Delley, L.B. Wallace, lI.V. LaMar, Miss
Louise Laney, Walter Cheetham, Rita F.
Edwards, Ms. Lula Bush, Elder Grant,
Mary White, Mildred Willingham and
Howard L. Chester.
Additional persons included: President
Julius Scott, Commissioner Edward
Mclntyre, Charles Grant, Henry Brigham,
Booker Mears, James E. Carter 111,
Matthew I a mar, Alfred Bryant, Alvin
Southward and Harvey Johnson.
It was pointed out that as Augusta
moves forward many recent new
development plans have been announced.
These would include the Downtown
Historic Project, The Save The Mojeska
Theatre Campaign coupled with ongoing
neighborhood improvement pro>' The
Laney-Walker project, how would
involve the physical upgi ding of
economic, social and historical areas
when 1 most Blacks lived, worked and
attended schools and churches.
The group was informed of the existing
plans drafted by the Augusta-Richmond
County Planning Commission in
conjunction with a smaller group of
residents, including William Brown, last
December. This new civic group protends
great hope for the future.
Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
Nov. 21 at the Music Hall at Lucy Laney
High School. Those living, working or
having interest in the Laney-Walker
Neighborhood are invited to attend this
7:30 p.m. meeting.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
The Augusta Ad Hoc Citizens
Blackfolk
In American civilization
That “old aim reaper” death has
struck again in tne Black community, and
has plucked away one of its vanguard,
Ralph H. Metcalfe, Congressman from
Illinois. On Tuesday, October 10, 1978,
Congressman Metcalfe died of an
apparent heart attack.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1910, he
earned educational degrees at Marquette
University and the University of Southern
California. He first gained prominence as
a track star and shined in the 1936
Olympic Games. From 1936 to 1942, he
served as an Instructor at Xavier
University in New Orleans, offering
courses in physical education and
political science. From New Orleans, he
journeyed to Chicago and began his rise
in the active political ranks. From 1955
to 1971, he served as a Chicago
other reason than its proximity to
downtown. What the Laney-Walker
revitalization is saying is that “we
will not only have the advantage of
being close to downtown, we will
also maintain a neighborhood that
is beautiful, safe, and conducive to
a high quality of life.”
The News-Review applauds the
effort and pledge our support.
Going places
Neighborhood
group organized
By Phil Waring
Committee sponsored a “Meet and
Question The Candidates” public forum
on October 30. Thirteen candidates for
the local school board, Richmond County
Commission and state legislature were
present. A panel from the Ad Hoc
Committee: Charles Grant, Jimmy Carter
111, Harvey Johnson, Mai Millender, and
Attorney John Ruffin presented
questions. (While this writer served as
organizing chairperson for the event and
did not provide prepared questions for
the panel, their solid inquiries were top
notch indeed.) They touched on equal
opportunity, affirmative action, various
other aspects of race relations coupled
with the proposed constitutional
amendment for self-government in
Washington, D.C.
GAP IN RACIAL AWARENESS
While the candidates came promptly,
expressed interest in being there and were
most cordial to everyone, the Ad Hoc
panel felt that so many of their questions
went unanswered. In a summary
statement by Lester Stokes of the
NAACP, he stated, “You have talked to
great length but only addressed
yourselves to three questions.”
During the current campaign in
October some nine different major public
forums were held but the only one in the
Black community was one sponsored by
the Ad Hoc Committee. There was
conclusion by many members that the’
forum was useful in many ways. It
pointed up very clearly the vast
difference in perception and attitudes
between Blacks and whites. And it also
showed the great shortfall between the
hopes, aspirations and expectations of
Black Americans and their white
brothers. A playback of the tapes would
surely confirm this. It also shows the
need to maintain some type of Black
caucus or coalition in active operation.
There are some 139 operating through
tfie nation.
Alderman. Then in 1971, upon the death
of Congressman William L’ Dawson,
Ralph Metcalfe was elected to succeed
Dawson in the United States House of
Representatives.
In 1972, Metcalfe began his split with
the Chicago “machine” of May or Richard
Daley. A part of the problem involved
Daley’s requesting Metcalfe to support
the nomination of a Daley crony who was
said to have been involved in the 1969
shooting death and possible cover-up of
Black Panther leader Fred Hampton.
There was also the issue of police
brutality in the Black South Side Chicago
community. In spite of the odds against
him, Metcalfe not only survived but
proved he was the strongest politician on
the South Side.
A member of the American Legion, the
Page 2
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GHETTO MERCHANT
Walking with dignity
aia t Angola-Zaire
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accor d
- By Al Irby u < J
—————— <
Zaire’s President Mobutu Sese Seko is
meeting with Dr. Agostinho Neto of
Angola concerning Cuban troops in his
country. Regular talks between these two
Black African leaders have been going on
for some time in Kinshasa, Zaire. These
gettogethers by these important African
neighbors are to lay the groundwork for
the withdrawal of a large part of Cuba’s
25,000 combat troops in Angola. These
friendly meetings between General
Mobutu and Dr. Neto reflect a growing
reapproachment for the two Black
countries.
WOOING ANGOLA FROM RUSSIA?
This friendlier stance, coupled with
improved prospects fro a peaceful
settlement in Namibia (South West
Africa), also could reduce Angolan
dependence on the Soviet Union and lead
to the development of diplomatic aid and
trade links with Western countries.
Relations between the two countries have
been poor since the Cuban-backed
nationalist movement, the MPLA, gained
power in Angola at the end of 1975.
Relations hit a new low last year when
rebel Zairian forces operating from bases
in Angola captured the Zairian mining
town of Kolwezi. President Mobutu, who
had to call on French and Belgian troops
to rout the rebels, accused the Angolans
of encouraging the raid and threatened
increased support for Angolan dissident
groups based in Zaire.
GENERAL MOBUTU RESPONSIVE
However, Western countries concerned
about the region’s stability persuaded
General Mobutu to moderate his stance.
In August he met three times with Dr.
Neto and agreed on the reopening on the
Benguela Railway, which links Zaire’s
copper producing Shaba Province with
the Atlantic port of Lobito, and on the
repatriation of thousands of refugees
living in both countries. Also agreed was
that in return for Angola disarming
Zaire’s exiled rebels in that country.
President Mobutu would end his
support for the three dissident Angolan
groups based in Kinshasa. The activities,
of these three groups -- the Front for the
Liberation of Angola (FNLA); the Union
for the Total Independence of Angola
(UNITA); and the Front for the
Liberation of Cabinda (FLEC) -- have
been a major reason for the continued
presence of large numbers of Cuban
troops in Angola.
In addition to training the
government’s growing army the Cubans
nave played a major role in military
Urban League, the NAACP, the Elks,
Alpha Phi Alpha, and a host of other
organizations, Congressman Metcalfe will
not only be missed by his wife and son,
but also by the South Side of Chicago, by
Black Americans everywhere, and by all
ees-TAueAKT
CHAfN HU THE WCRIP eeEClAlll£s
IM seeviH6 ASCOT
4 CP them A VEAja!
operations against UNITA forces.
Without the Cubans it is unlikely that the
government could hold the major towns
in southern Angola.
CUBANS INVOLVED
Cuban troops also have played an
important military rule in the enclave of
Cabinda which produces the bulk of
Angola’s oil, the country’s main source of
wealth. Analysts here argue that if the
new agreement between Angola and Zaire
sticks, Dr. Neto’s enemies will at least
have their activities severely curtailed.
With the dissident groups less active, the
argument goes, Cubans troops could be
withdrawn without risk to the launda
government.
The one flaw in the argument is that
although nominally headquartered in
Kinshasa, UNITA’s most important ally is
the South African administration in
Namibia. Supplies and logistical support
have been freely given to UNIT A by
South African forces guarding Namibia s
northern border against incursion by the
South West Africa People’s Organization
(SWAPO). However, the acceptance by
South Africa and SWAPO of Western
settlement plans for the territory could
deprive UNITA of its valuable ally and
rear bases in northern Namibia.
SWAPO LOOKS REAL STRONG
S WAPO, supported in its struggle by
the Angolans, seems to stand a fair
chance of winning the. proposed
UN-supervised election in Namibia. The
chance of outflanking UNITA by having a
friendly government in Namibia is one of
the major reasons why President Neto
worked to secure SWAPO’s acceptance of
the Western settlement proposals. Once
the threat from the dissident groups is
removed, the Angolan Government seems
likely to remain as dependent as it has
been on either the Cubans or the
Russians.
President Neto already has shown signs
of wanting to become more nonaligned
by holding talks with American and
European community officials and by
beginning to mend fences with Angola s
former colonial power, Portugal. He
undoubtedly has been prompted to make
these moves by the poor state of the
economy and the apparent unwillingness
of tiie Soviets to provide the massive aid
necessary to reconstruct the country
from its civil war ashes. A combination of
peace and of Western technology and
money would enable Dr. Neto to get
started. But first he needs peace - and
President Mobutu holds the key to this.
decent human beings.
Ralph Metcalfe, you ran your race
winning glory, honor and respect. Now,
take your reward of rest from what, so
often, seems like a mission impossible.
ARMY ■SERVES.
MM*4K7M complete MEALS, a
VEAE A MASTER MEMO OF
4©o PIFFZeekIT ITEMS-/
Our new day begun
r W The NAACP
W needs funds
A-A
WKSjiMMIRr MRIBBy Benjamin Hooks ,
When a group of Port Gibson, Miss.,
merchants won a massive $1.25 million
judgment against the NAACP just over
two years ago, Americans rallied to save
the civil rigtits organization from certain
bankruptcy. Within a few months,
NAACP branches, Black churches,
fraternal and social organizations
provided the bulk of $1.6 million that
was needed under Mississippi law to post
a cash bond agiinst the judgment
Although a federal district court
reduced the bonding requirements
considerably before the year’s end, we
still had to set aside more than $1 million
in certificates of deposits to cover the
judgment in case the NAACP loses the
case on appeal.
While staving off these and other
attacks, the NAACP was continuing its
regular civil rights programs. Indeed, the
obstacles to equality and the economic
well-being for every Black person are
often greater than in previous years.
Black Americans have certainly won
numerous victories since the sixties.
But the harsh reality is that opposition
to progress has become more entrenched
and elusive in many areas. Black people
now have laws to protect their rights to
vitc, to live anywhere they wish, to travel
in the front of the bus and stay at any
hotel in America. These rights arc all
guaranteed by law. Not assured, however,
has been their ability to pay for the
enjoyment of many of these rights.
Nevertheless, attacks on affirmative
action and school desegregation have
been more extensive and intense. More
Blacks are now out of work than ever
before in the nation’s history. The
resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan is well
documented. The national mood is
excessively conservative and certainly not
supportive of programs for the poor and
oppressed.
To develop the required strategies for
this new phase of the struggle, the
NAACP has had to expand its dimension
To be equal
&
In its waning hours, the 95th Congress
passed the Humphrey-Hawkins Bill.
Barely a week later, President Carter
announced his anti-inflation program.
The two are linked by the prevailing
myth that you can’t fight inflation
without unemployment.
The original Humphrey-Hawkins Bill
would have guaranteed full employ nent,
with the government as an employer of
last resort. That was whittled down to a
four percent unemployment goal by
1983.
But the measure is vitally important to
working people. It mandates measures by
the President to comply with the goal or
to face the politically difficult task of
explaining why the goal would not be
fulfilled. So the Bill is an important step
on the road to full employment.
But the Congress heaped negative
amendments onto the Bill, which its
supporters had to swallow to get
Humphrey-Hawkins passed.
One such amendment sets a national
goal of reducing inflation to three percent
by 1983 and zero percent by 1988.
Another mandates that the federal share
of the economy be lowered.
It is clear that either of these
amendments will be used as an excuse for
not meeting the employment goals.
Unless the Administration acts forcefully
to implement the employment section of
the Bill, and unless the next Congress
authorizes the programs and appropriates
the monej to reduce joblessness, the Bill
will be reduced to a symbol.
So it’s not enough just to get some
version of Humphrey-Hawkins passed. Its
supporters managed the impossible - to
get an historic full employment Bill
through one of the worst Congresses in
modem times.
Now comes the tougher battle to
implement the Bill’s goal and get people
back to work. And that may not happen
unless the link between inflation and
unemployment is broken. Most people
still think thy two are related, that you
can’t have low inflation and high
employment That’s not true -- we’ve had
runaway inflation along with intolerable
TAKE A DRIVE THIS WEEKEND.
Get paid to do something different one weekend a month.
Call your local Army Reserve center for details. It’s listed in the
white pages of the phone book under “U.S. Government?
THE ARMY RESERVE.
PART OF WHAT YOU EARN IS PRIDE.
and programs. We now have, in addition
to education, labor, housing and voter
registration programs, departments for
church work and communications. A
department of economic development
will soon be established. Also, our present
staff has been actively developing and
conducting programs on Africa.
We have not only had to hire new
people, but also to rent more office
space. Still, as every Black man, woman
and child knows, our programs are hardly
enough to meet the task. The NAACP,
however, is blessed with a dedicated staff
which routinely contribures hundreds of
man hours beyond their salaried
requirements. The staff provides the
indispensable support to our volunteer
workes in 1,700 branches around the
nation.
This work and expansion have been
costly. As a result of the overwhelming
support we received during the Mississippi
crisis, the NAACP was able to end 1977
in the Black, the first in about 15 years.
As Roy Wilkins, Walter White, James
Weldon Johnson and all the other
NAACP leaders knew, civil rights is a
hand-to-mouth endeavor. We have never
had enough money to conduct the
struggle the way it should be done.
Mississippi, however, taught us that
Black Americans will support their
organization when its survival is at strike.
This is again the challenge we now face.
At the end of August, the NAACP was
$300,000 in the red. Our other arm, the
NAACP Special Contributions Fund, had
a deficit of $380,000, for a combined
total of $680,000. In short, the NAACP
is in a serious financial crisis. ,
We are therefore appealing to evvy
American who supports our goals to
make a prompt financial contribution to
the NAACP. They might send their
contributions to 1790 Broadway, New
York, N.Y. 10019, or take out a NAACP
membership with your local branch.
Inflation
and jobs
By Vernon E. Jordan
unemployment -- but convincing people
will la: hard.
In that context, it is important that the
President’s anti-inflation program be
made to succeed. If it works and a lid is
placed on inflation, then there’s a better
chance to get jobs programs we need.
The President s program hasn’t aroused
much optimism though. Many people
don’t think it will be effective. But it may
be thw last chance to avoid the wage and
price controls few people want
One plus for the plan is that it exempts
low-income workers from the wage
guidelines. Other elements seek to protect
low-income people, too, but the
Administration may have missed a chance
to take a step that would be the single
most effective way of cutting inflation s
impact on the poor.
That step would be to offer to
compensate states that reduce or
eliminate the sales tax. This is the most
regressive tax of all, eating up a
proportionately larger share of the
budgets of modem income families.
Cutting the sales tax would have the
immediate effect of reducing
out-of-pocket consumer costs, thus
bringing the inflation rate down.
Another weapon in the fight against
inflation would be to come down hard on
price rises for essentials like food,
housing, health and energy. Those items
make up the bulk of spending by poor,
low and moderate income households.
Bringing down inflation rates is
important, but not as important as
reducing inflation in the goods and
services that affect most people. Price
rises in luxury items can be tolerated, but
rises in the cost of essentials are
devastating to the people least able to
cope.
It is important to get a handle on
inflation. And it is even more important
to have everyone who is able to work on
a decent job. The two goals are not
mutually exclusive. People who work and
get paid can better deal with rising prices.
And prices won’t go up so fast if more
people are producing and working.