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James Brown undaunted by lien, plans film career Page 1 barren a. cahdler library PAINE COLLEGE AUGUSTA. GEORGIA JUN. 26'1900 VoL 10 No. 6 Augustans provide food, clothing and shelter for jobless Haitians WE J mL L I y *jJ w s ■#* Jft *4lk Wk/WiJ® LEAVING AUGUSTA - 20 Haitians left Augusta for Miami Monday after their work plans in Johnston, S.C. fell through and there was no work lor them here. Their transportation was furnished by the Miami Community Action Agency. James Brown planning new career in films Singer James Brown said Sunday that he’s considering purchasing an FM radio station in Barnwell, S.C., and that he will star in another movie to be released in about 45 days. Brown made the comments in the face of a series of financial setbacks that include the loss of his radio station and reports that he owes $2.3 million to the Internal Revenue Service for back taxes. Asked to comment on reports that his rags-to-riches career is again headed for rags, Brown said, “You have to make your own analysis of that. A man is as poor as his friends. If he does not have friends, he is poor. If he has friends, he’s rich.” Residents less than pleased with Wheeler Road mini-park By Fannie Flono Another of Augusta’s mini-parks was in the spotlight last week. This one, called the Big Oak Park at the intersection of Boy Scout and Wheeler Roads, was dedicated by city and county officials. The $250,000 parks is shrubbery-Lined and has swings, sand boxes and other recreational equipment for small children. Area residents are not completely satisfied with the facility which was built without their input. There are no water fountains Deadline Wednesdays, please Aitnitaia Nrnts-ißfwjPU' Newspaper articles released last week reported that the Internal Revenue Service has filed liens against Brown’s 20-acre estate in Beach Island. Asked how he plans to pay the money, Brown said, “I don’t know that I owe it yet. That is just an assessment. “It won’t be that much. There is no fraud, no evasion, just a matter of things being documented, it’s an assessment.” In April, Brown lost his radio station here when it was sold at public auction after he defaulted on payments. He also lost his station in Baltimore. But if there are people concerned about his financial plight, James Brown appears in the area and older youths who gather there every day and night said there were no facilities like a basketball court or a tennis court for them. Officials have said there was not enough money for those facilities. The park, constructed by Bennett-Thomas Associates, architects and landscape architects, was built with federal community bloc, grant funds. Earlier this year, residents of another area rejected the mini-park the city constructed for them. That park, located in the Bethlehem Community, was Big Oak Park unsatisfactory to area residents Page 1 not to be one of them. “People can’t imagine I’ve taken show business over. I’m going into films, he said. The movie, “Blue Brothers,” in which he has a starring role, opened in Augusta Friday. Playing the role of the powerful minister of Triple Rock Baptist Church, Brown sings and dances “The Old Landmark,” backed by James Cleveland’s southern California Community Choir with whom Brown recorded an album in his early gospel days. Brown, who was baptized in October, was administered communion in his home by his pastor, the Rev. Aaron Bush Jr., and by his traveling spiritual adviser, the Rev. Al said to cost $40,000 and was nothing more than a cleared off lot. Those residents were also concerned that the densely populated area where the park was squeezed in among homes would become hazardous with criminals and drug abusers taking refuge there. Residents near the Big Oak Park have the same concern noting that drunks already gather there at night. The area once housed a nightclub and liquor store. Officials said the residents should call the police whenever they see drunks or others misusing the park. By Mallory K. Millender When I came into the office Monday morning, the secretary had an urgent message: “Thomas Burts -- director of Augusta’s HOPE -- has 20 Haitians in his office. He can’t speak French. And they speak no English. He needs your help.” When I arrived at the HOPE office the Haitians were gathered in the small yard that doubles as a parking lot. 1 greeted them in French and addressed them as “brothers.” They immediately wanted to know if I lived in Augusta. And how long 1 had lived here. I was surprised to learn that they thought that I was Haitian. Two black ministers -- Rev. David Brown and Rev. James Wright -- discovered the Haitians walking toward Augusta last Tuesday after I ■- " e ’-SB HBliP 3 ■rqt ' * f JN I- Jbt' HOLY COMMUNION - Singer James Brown takes communion under gazebo outside his home in Beech Island, S.C. Brown’s pastors, the Rev. Aaron Bush Jr. performs the communion service. The Rev. Al Sharpton, the singer’s traveling spiritual adviser, assists. Sharpton of New York City, prior to the News-Review inter view. Universal Pictures, the makers of “Blues Brothers,” will sponsor Brown in a number of concerts across the nation this summer. There is the feeling, according to the Rev. Sharpton, that 1980 will be a “long hot summer.” And L SUMMER JOBS - The News-Review last week hired 40 youths who will work during the summer selling subscriptions to the paper. They will receive $3.50 for each yearly subscription they sell. Staffer Paul D. Walker (right) leads sales orientation. Courts rule against at-large voting for 3rd time in 2 weeks Page 1 June 28,1980 having left a Johnston, S.C. migrant camp. Their working papers indicated they had been processed in Miami. The men said they wanted to return there. Jacques (not his real name), who served as spokesman for the group, asked as many questions as he answered: “When are we going to Miami? Where will we live? Will we have work there? How soon? Can we go back to Haiti when our visas expire July 21? Can we go back after a year?” Burts said the men would have work in Miami and could return to Haiti. Only three of the men expressed an interest in remaining permanently in the United States. When asked if they would like to remain in the U.S., Jacques said, “Only if pur families would wish to come and if they would be the hope is that Brown’s concerts will help to “cool off’ young blacks. The concerts will show how people like James Brown made it without throwing rocks, he said, adding that “nobody has Brown’s credibility among grassroots people.” Brown said his latest film, Less Than 75% Advertising allowed to come.” He said the Haitians feel no resentment toward the American government for allowing large numbers of Cubans to come into the country but very few Haitians. “The Cubans,” he said, “are allowed into the country because they are willing to come without their families. We will not come without our families.” The men came to this country, legally, looking for work. They obtained temporary working permits in Florida, which allowed them to leave the state after the picking season. Jacques said that a man named Bahaman Telsen brought them by truck from Miami to Jacksonville where See “HAITIANS” Page 3 “James Brown is Feeling Good,” will be released in about 45 days. The movie features him in a live concert at New York’s Studio 54, and meeting with young people in different communities. Brown summed up: “If I were broke today, I’d be a millionaire tomorrow 15 times over.” ‘most important’ civil rights bill Page 3 ***** ’ I « rill lfnb\ I J ■ Kwßf ’ r —Jl AUGUSTA’S HOPE Director Thomas Burts bids farewell to Haitians at Trailwavs bus terminal. 3rd time in 2 weeks Courts rule against at-large voting For the third time in two weeks, a federal judge has redistricted a rural Georgia county to allow blacks a chance to win election to public office-- this time in a case involving the Seminole County Board of Commissioners. U.S. District Judge J. Robert Elliott of Columbus ordered last week that the commission seals be redistricted to eliminate racially lopsided districts and that the qualifying period for the Seminole commission election be extended two weeks to allow black candidates to enter political races if they wish. The reapportionment was effective immediately. Elliott’s action followed a suit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union in May against the Seminole commission on behalf of four black residents of Donalsonville, the county seat. U.S. District Judge Wilbur D. Owens Jr. of Macon ordered the Early County Board of Augustan is SGA president and trustee at Smith College Serena Maria Williams of Augusta was recently elected president of the Student Government Association for the 1980-81 academic year at Smith College, Northampton, Mass. In this capacity, Miss Williams will also serve on the Board of Trustees of Smith College for a two year term. Serena is a senior at Smith College, majoring in Economics. She serves as secretary of the Smith College senate, A Gold Key Guide, and a member of the Minority Admissions Committee. She also sings with The Smith College Gospel Choir and is a member of the Black Students’ Alliance. She is also senior co-drector of the Bridge Program, a two week Commissioners to switch from at-large voting to district voting for four seats on the commission. A similar directive was handed down in Calhoun County. Early and Calhoun counties had changed from district to at-large voting in recent years - a move which thwarted blacks seeking election. The three decisions are closely aligned with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on minority discrimination in voting. The court held on April 22 that plaintiffs must prove deliberate discrimination to win a change in voting districts unless a governmental body has changed voting patterns without the approval of the U.S. Department of Justice under the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. In the Seminole County case. Judge Elliott agreed with ACLU attorneys that deliberate discrimination existed under the present districting setup. Sts Serena M. Williams orientation program for incoming minority students. In 1979, Serena was selected as one of thirty Leadership Fellows by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She participated in the Sorority’s first Leadership Fellows Training Program for undergraduate sorors held in Spencer, Ind. She is currently serving a summer internship with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. Serena is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tracy E. Williams Jr. . 25'