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The Augusta News-Review (USPS 887 820) - July 14,1979
)*hS Wann? nder " VicePrelident for Research and Development
P-nfnwXr Special Assistant to the Publisher
Frank Bowman ' iiiiii iii i i iActing Advertising Manager
Sales Representative
NfrT Kathleen Coilins Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Mary Gordon Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Geneva Y. Gibson • ■ • • • -Church Coordinator
Ms Barbara Gordon Burke County Correspondent
Mra Clara West McDuffie County Correspondent
rvTunTL Sports Editor
Mrs" teen Buchanan ii i i f i WFashion 4 Beauty. Editor
Mrs. Marian Waring • •• • • • -Column lsl
Michael Carr Chief Pho ographer
Sterling Wimberly Photographer
Roscoe Williams Photographer
We cannot be responsible for unsolicited photos, manuscripts and other materials.
Mailing Address
Box 953 - Augusta, Ga. - Phone 722-4555
S»oond Class Postage Paid Augusta Ga. 30903 11
XX amkimamaw*
JL— X PUBUMOMt INC.
The blackside of Washington
Does, indeed, history repeat itself? Just
at the time we blacks needed Frederick
Douglass most -a century ago when
federal troops were withdrawn from the
South and nightriders and the Ku Klux
Klan were taking over - we were divided
against him because he had taken a white
wife.
Now at a time when we need the
NAACP most, we find it divided and
engaged in a bitter internecine war in
large part because Walter White back in
1950 divorced his black wife of 27 years
and married Poppy Cannon, a white
magazine editor.
For 40 years, there has been little more
relation between the NAACP and the
NAACP Legal Defense Fund than there is
between lightning and a lightning bug,
but it has been one of the best kept
secrets ever.
Although the NAACP and the NAACP
Legal Defense Fund had been divided
into a loose confederation since 1939
with Walter White heading the parent
organization and Thurgood Marshall
leading the LDF, there was no real
division in spirit until Walter married
Poppy-
Then all hell broke loose. In 1952
Thurgood moved his LDF into separate
office quarters. Walter, who had devoted
his whole life to the NAACP, sought to
heal the breach by taking a year’s leave
and joining a world tour tv forum.
But when he returned, things were no
better. Actually, they were worse. Roy
Wilkins, his assistant, demanded a larger
share in the management of the NAACP
and the interlocking directorate of the
NAACP and the NAACP Legal Defense
Fund was dissolved. Before the year was
out Walter had died, perhaps of a broken
heart.
Ten years later, Thurgood became
Solicitor General of the United States,
headed towards the High Court in 1967.
The NAACP struggled in its division to
maintain its leadership position, but
Martin Luther King’s SCLC, Whitney
Letters to the editor
Liked stories on Haines Institute
Dear Editor:
Please allow me to congratulate your
paper for a task well done in your
coverage of the Haines Alumni
Association recently.
Unfortunately, due to illness in my
family, I was unable to attend the various
events. However, I had close relatives and
many close friends who did attend, and
they are still talking about the glorious
time enjoyed by all.
I particularly enjoyed the writing of
Mr. Waring and Mr. Horatio Lamar
concerning the reunion, and I am more
than sure, just as I was, many, many
Appreciates festival coverage
Dear Editor:
Some 50,000 volunteers, spectators,
and participants were a part of this year’s
Augusta Black Festival. And on behalf of
all of us here at the Augusta Arts and
Cultural Association, I would like to
thank you and the News-Review for your
very important role in helping to make
our festival successful through the
coverage you gave this event.
I’m sure that our partnership in
projecting the black experience will make
our people prouder and make all people
Divide and conquer
the NAACP
By Sherman Briscoe. NNPA
Young’s Urban League, Philip Randolph’s
Institute, James Farmer’s CORE,
Stokeley Carmichael and James
Meredith’s SNCC were firmly in the
saddle.
Last year Bakke knocked us to our
knees, Weber tried for the death blow,
but failed, and now Jack Greensberg
insists of continuing to pull the rug out
from under Ben Hooks by collecting
some funds intended for the NAACP, not
the NAACP-LDF.
Finally, the NAACP has voted to deny
the Legal Defense Fund the use of the
initials NAACP, and a legal battle is on.
However, while the two are fighting,
racial discrimination is running rampant
in employment, housing, education, and
in the electoral process.
A BLACK VICTORY
The quiet, firm voice of Congressman
Parren J. Mitchell has prevailed again. A
few days before President Carter took off
for Japan, Mitchell called the White
House and told the President that he and
the Caucus, as well as civil rights
organizations were opposed to Marshall
Smith as interim acting Commissioner of
Education. Carter agreed to withdraw his
name.
They opposed him because of his part
in Christopher Jencks’ 1972 book;
“Inequality” which concluded that equal
educational opportunities would do very
little to make adults more equal.
Assistant Secretary of HEW Mary F.
Berry has been named acting
Commissioner for 30 days. By then,
Education may be a separate
Cabinet-level department.
DIGGS AND TALMADGE
The guessing here is that the House
Ethics Committee will not act on Diggs’
case until the counterpart committee in
the Senate acts on Herman, but at the
moment it doesn’t look good for either of
them.
Hainites cherished the fond memories
recalled by these two persons, as well as
many others.
I would also like to say I think it is a
great idea for the churches to assist in
creating more circulation for your paper,
as I know the Blacks of Augusta and the
surrounding territory are indeed
fortunate to have a paper with quality
such as the Augusta News-Review for our
very own, and I sincerely hope your
circulation will double many times over.
A.E. Magruder
2420 Mt. Auburn Ave.
more aware of the contributions we have
made and continue to make in furthering
the cultural development of the greatest
country in the world.
You have my personal thanks for the
extra effort you and the News-Review
family put forth to insure coverage of our
major festival activities.
Edward M. Mclntyre
General Chairman & Organizer
Augusta Arts & Cultural Assoc.
Page 4
The current church-minister and
News-Review circulation advancement
campaign is in keeping with a long and
solid tradition. Both in Augusta and
around our nation, the Black Church and
Black Press are two main cornerstones in
our community.
The Black Church had its start
immediately following the War of
Independence in 1781. One thinks of the
great AME Church Movement. And
locally of such Baptist institutions as
Bryant in Savannah and Springfield in
Augusta.
Both the preacher and the editor have
worked closely and cooperatively down
through the history of this nation. First
in the fight to abolish slavery, to win the
Civil War, away out of the
Reconstruction era with its bloody
lynchings and disenfranchisements, and
through the disappointment of Plessy vs.
Ferguson in 1898 giving rise to a
segregated society. The church and press
locked arms through the Great Northern
Migrations and the Great Depression
when church finances slowed down
Christian spirit and courage remained
high. Days of glory were during World
Wars I and 11. The church urged
patriotism and the press plugged victory
against the enemy abroad but
achievement of first class citizenship and
equality at home.
HISTORIC AUGUSTA COOPERATION
Our Augusta hometown has been
fortunate in having the close church-press
cooperation. Black History buffs will
point to the Augusta Sentinel edited by
Dr. C.T. Walker and Rev. Silas X. Floyd.
The Georgia Baptist newspaper (official
organ of the Negro Baptists of Georgia)
reached national fame under the
editorship of Rev. William J. White (often
called Augusta’s W.E.B. Dußois). Both of
these papers operated for many years.
Well known is the saga on the threats to
lynch Rev. White. He continued to
publish until his death in 1915.
ROLE OF WEEKLY REVIEW
In the modern era we find the Augusta
Weekly Review founded by Baptist
clergyman MJ. Whitaker. Despite many
handicaps he moved the paper forward
from 1947 until he sold it to Attorney
John Watkins during the mid-19605.
Augusta owes a debt of gratitude to Rev.
Whitaker. 1116 record also shows that the
paper won three national awards for
excellence during this period.
Dear Editor:
I’m a 27-year-old black man. I was
incarcerated for a crime I never
committed, and have been in prison 10
years going on 11. When I first came to
prison I was only 17. And since my long
stay has been so incummunicado I have
lost contact with the outside worid. My
time has been very much humdrum for
me as well as desolate. I’d appreciate very
much if some real concerned people
&|(S Z)IL c\mßa
1979 BIASK CesoOCceS INC
SUPPLY AND THE MAN
irxAJr
Wants ‘outside world 9 contact
Going places
Black church and
press cornerstones
By Phil Waring
Since its 1971 birth the News-Review
has developed into a solid all around news
organ. There has been close working
together with our churches. Here’s where
you’ll find a church schedule, news
stories about church activities and
ministers and more. During the past year
our Mrs. Geneva Yancy Gibson, daughter
of one of our greatest clergymen, has given
the paper an added push and expansion.
From time to time Dr. C.S. Hamilton has
written scholarly articles.
CHURCH FEATURES
One is proud to read and exhibit the
News-Review any place to any one. It
goes weekly to the Library of Congress,
the White House, Congressional Black
Caucus and the Spingarn-Moorland Black
Press Archives at Howard University. This
means that news of your happenings will
be permanently enshrined for future
historical use.
Columbia University School of
Journalism graduate students have used
the paper for intern experience. The
Southeastern Black Press Institue at the
University of North Carolina has just
funded use of a summer journalism intern
program at the News-Review. An official
of NNPA has previously praised the
paper’s thrust to spur the research and
writing of Black History. It is concerned
about the plight of poor people and civil
rights.
The feature colurms by Vernon Jordan
of the National Urban League, Dr.
Benjamin Hooks, head of the NAACP;
Sherman Briscoe of the National
Newspapers Publishers Association; and
others make our readers the “best
informed about race relations” in the
entire CSRA.
SUBSCRIPTION PROJECT
The paper has always maintained a
“Letters to the Editor” column. In
addition to the aforementioned news
features, columns, etc., this section makes
possible for the public to express itself. In
these days when many segments of the
media constantly kicks blacks and the
poor in the teeth, there should be more
use of this free and open opinion section.
As church members get behind the
expanded church-ministers and
News-Review subscription campaign, it
will mean greater expansion and greater
black weekly news services for all. And
the churches will also benefit from the
project. Let’s all pitch in and help.
would please write me. 1 don’t get any
mail on a regular basis and receiving some
letters from someone would keep me
strong. I will send a picture of myself to
anyone who would enjoy corresponding
with me.
Harry James Snow D 2179
Macon Correctional Center C-l
P.O. Box 5022
Macon, Georgia 31208
Walking with dignity
&
I|gi
Zambia’s crisis erodes Zimbabwe
sanctions. A major hole will be blown in
the Western policy of sanctions against
Zimbabwe and it will be done by their
next door neighbor, Zambia. Signs are
growing that Zimbia’s President Kaunda,
who last October was forced to reopen
his southern rail route through Zimbabwe
Rhodesia to import essential goods and
export Zambian copper, soon will have to
ask Prime Minister Muzorewa to reopen
the road links as well. The Zambian
economy reportedly is in a very serious
state and must import upwards of
200,000 tons of maize (com to y’all) via
the southern rail route in the next few
months if a food crisis in Zambia is to be
avoided.
CHRISTIAN COMPASSION?
At present, only about 4,000 tons of
traffic is crossing the Victoria Falls bridge
from the south each day. The main
reason for the holdup is that it apparently
is taking the Zambians about sixty days
to turn round rail wagons and send them
back south instead of the six days that it
should take. Bishop Muzorewa, the new
Rhodesian black leader, is being advised
by at least some of his advisers to adopt a
hard line with President Kaunda and
demand a “quid pro quo” in the form of
a withdrawal of support by Zambia from
the Patriotic Front guerrilla forces based
in Zambia and loyal to Joshua Nkomo.
WILL BE PRAGMATIC
The Methodist Bishop is expected to
tell Zambia’s President Kaunda that
Zimbabwe Rhodesia can hardly be
expected to feed Zambia while guerrillas
based inside Zambia launch attacks
against his country; and even attack the
railways bringing vitally needed supplies
to Zambia. Zimbabwe officials believe
that the econonic and food situation in
Zambia is deterioriating so rapidly that
the Zambian President soon will be
Tobe equal
■ Health debate
heats up
emon E. Jordan ■■■■!■
All the cards are now on the table in
the national debate over what kind of
federal health program we’ll have. The
press has, as usual, personalized the
health debate as being a Kennedy vs.
Carter struggle for leadership.
But this issue is too important to
become a political football. The nation is
spending enormous amounts for a health
care system that is not a system at all.
It doesn’t serve all people equally, and
it is not responsive to the health needs of
the nation.
For over seventy years, there has been
serious thought given to establishing a
national health system. Now we appear to
be entering the decisive stage in which the
nature of that new system will be
decided.
The President’s plan represents a step
forward, but we need more than a step. It
proposes a new federal insurance system,
called Healthcare, that would provide
insurance against catastrophic medical
costs, improving coverage for low income
families and the aged, help local hospital
systems, provide preventive care for
mothers and infants and expand current
health coverage of working people.
Whatever the short term benefits of
such a plan, it would prevent
establishments of a unified, manageable
and cost-effective national health
program. It would create a split-level
health care system, with one level for
most Americans, and a second, inferior
level for the poor, the near-poor, and the
aged.
Those groups would be enrolled in
Healthcare. They’d be treated by doctors
who agree to charge only fees the
government would reimburse. The result
would be similar to the experience of
today’s medicaid program. Most doctors
refuse to see medicaid patients, while
those who do include many who see
federal payments as a profitable reward
for assembly-line health treatment.
In New York City, this has resulted in
poor people forced onto public hospital
emergency and clinic facilities,
overloading them. The forced closing of
inner city hospitals then leaves the poor
with no place to go for treatment.
Deadline Wednesdays
Zambia’s
crisis hurting
By Al Irby
forced to make a pragmatic choice
between continued support for Nkomo
and his guerrillas and food for his killers.
Political experts in Salisbury believe that
President Carter knows that not much
time remains for the economic sanctions
weapon to be used against Rhodesia
effectively. They point out that even if
the United States Congress does support
Mr. Carter’s stance, the British Parliament
is most unlikely to do the same in the
long span.
DEFEATED LABOR PARTY
It is felt to be inconceivable for Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher to ask the
British House of Commons next
November to reimpose econonic
sanctions, which will lapse automatically
every November. Analysts, in both
Europe and the United States, are saying
that President Carter is using the
sanctions weapon while it still exists to
try to exert last-minute pressure on
Bishop Muzorewa to renege on parts of
the 1979 Constitution and make changes
to it. Many Europeans stress that the
American government has failed to
specify precisely what it expects Bishop
Muzorewa to do. In other words, says one
official, there is a great possibility that if
he was to make concessionary changes in
line with the Carter administration’s
criticism, he still would have no guarantee
at all that Mr. Carter would then regard
these changes as sufficient. Officials say
this underlines the likelihood that the
United States President is more
concerned with Nigeria’s oil and his home
political fences than with the rights and
wrongs of the Zimbabwean Constitution.
Bishop Muzorewa’s political path is by no
means paved with roses. The little Bishop
has indicated that some redistribution of
land to black farmers is a top priority.
Dennis Norman, president of the National i j
Farmer’s Union, has urged the Prime
Minister to move quickly with plans to
open state-owned land to black people to
prevent a “land grab.”
Freezing this two-class health system
into permanence is no reform. The
Administration plan will result in
improved access to health care for today’s
neglected poor, but it won’t improve the
quality of the care they get and it will be
a barrier to developing a unitary health
system that provides equal treatment for
the poor.
Another barrier to developing such a
system is insuring against catastrophic
illness costs. Once middle class Americans
have such insurance, political pressure for
far-reaching changes in the health care
system will vanish. At that, the
Administration’s catastrophic insurance
won’t go into effect until a family has
spent $2,500 on health care - far too
high for the average working family.
So while there’s plenty to approve in
the Administration plan it just doesn’t go
far enough to warrant support. The
alternative, popularly labelled the
Kennedy Plan, faces an uphill fight. But it
also suggests the kindof health system the
nation should have.
Its basic principles are that, unlike the
present system, there should be a national
health program that is progressively
financed, universal in coverage, and
capable of controlling costs. There would
be no separate program for the poor -
everyone would be enrolled in the same
system.
The details of that plan also leave
something to be desired, but it would
take us much closer to the day when the
human right to health care is not
determined by the size of a person’s
paycheck.
Neglected by the press is the most
far-reaching health plan of all, embodied
in Congressman Dellum’s National Health
Service Act. That would assure total
health care services to all, and it remains
the standards against which both the
Kennedy and Carter proposals must be
measured.
National health insurance is an idea
whose time has come. The big question, is
whether we’ll have a version that creates
an equitable system for all,or whether
we’ll have a two-tier health system that
leaves the poor at a disadvantage.