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The Augusta News-Review October 25, 1980 • (Augusta (USPS 887 820) D s’w ( » lUender Special Assistant to the Publisher £ aU D - Walker Director of Special Projects Frank Bowman News-Editor Ms. F <^ ie Flon ° ' n '• Editor Rev. R.E. Donaldson Advertising Manager Ms. Marye M. James ’ ‘ ‘Sales Representative Harvey Harrison • • ’ ’ *'' Administrative Assistant Mrs. Rhonda Brown Administrative Assistant Mrs. Mary Gordon Church Coordinator Mrs. Geneva Y, / ’'' Aiken County Correspondent Mrs. Fannie. J^ nso McDuffie County Correspondent Mrs. Clara West Sports Editor David Dupree ..• •* ; Editor Mrs. Been Buchanan Columnist Roosevelt Green ‘ • .Columnist Al Irby Columnist Mrs. Marian Waring•••••• .Columnist FhUI , D 'y?™ B / ■ ..... Editorial Cartoonist, Columnist Grady Abrams photographer Mailing Address Box 953 (USPS 887 820) Augusta, Ga. Phone (404) 722-4555 Second Class Postage Paid Augusta, Ga. 30903 Jj IHII AMALSAMATID Published Weekly kZZXi publishers, inc. ■ mnossM UW-4* MiWtMMTAtteU •NON VQM •CMCMK Taking a stand We wish to congratulate the Rev. Clyde Hill, members of his church and residents of the Wrightsboro Road community, for going before City Council and successfully blocking the issuance of a liquor license for a store near Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. As the Rev. Hill so eloquently told Council, “Our people must learn that our hope is not in a ! -Jsk sit ■> R K \ For several years 1 have had the good fortune of working in an area of work which allows me to gain some insight into the problems of the disadvantaged whites, as they relate to black people. Their place on the ladder of affluence is only a couple of rungs above the disadvantaged black. In fact, whites represent three-quarters of the nation’s families listed as living in poverty, and among the urban poor two-thirds are white. The inflation and taxes brought on by the Vietnam war bear as unfairly on them as they do on us. Many whites who work with me see their spendable income shrinking and their hopes fading. In misplaced anger they usually turn against us. Hearing of black demands and of governmental programs for black advancement and racial equality, they get the impression that we are being favored at their expense. They even suspect that we blacks are being used as tools of the establishment to keep them down. Instead of seeing us as fellow victims, they attack us. It is politically imperative that we break through the barriers of distrust that exist between us and the disadvantaged white. We must be led by the knowledge that there is more to unite us than to divide us. Both the black and white Letters to the Editor Urges newspaper to keep functioning Dear Editor: My letter, is essentially one of thanks, prompted primarily in response to “Blacks victims of Van Winkle malady” in your October 18th issue. My sincere thanks to Agbara and Kana for a highly perceptive and superbly written article. (Almost mental plagiarism, for the words may well have been stolen from the mind of any person who examines the evidence.) I will not mention the essence of the article to assure that the curious will look back to page 4 of that issue, or those who may have simply glanced may decide to look again. 1 will add, however, that persons with the sensitivity and concern evident in their writing, should also recognize their responsibility of assuring that this small newspaper reaches as many needy souls as possible. bottle.” It is encouraging to see our people assume responsibility for the quality of life in our commimity. Alcohol and drugs have for too long intoxicated and destroyed our people and our families. It is most significant that this community took a stand. If our community is to be saved, we will have to save it. Think about it Poor whites suffer nearly like blacks By Grady Abrams disadvantaged are victims of a system whose income distribution is so inequitable as to be almost unbelievable. In 1910 the lowest tenth of the population received 3.4 percent of the nation’s income; today it gets 1 percent. If the disadvantaged whites are to ever reach their goal of a livable life in this country, if they are ever to escape the poverty that grinds them down, too, they must ally with the blacks who are victimized, too. No matter if they suffer less than we because their skin is not black. They still are oppressed, and together we must make common cause against governmental laws that pamper the rich and impoverish the poor. But there is the danger that hate between the black and white disadvantaged will prey on these two communities and will further divide those who should be natural allies. The economic disadvantaged white today is displaying a new militancy-largely negative and defensive and largely directed against us. However, blacks should recognize that this new militancy is brought on by economic conditions. And every chance we get we should join hands together, both the black and white disadvantaged to make the system equitable and workable for all of us. Think about it. On a budget so modest I dare not estimate, it contends, FOR US. against those with millions to spare, who would rather that we were eradicated from this earth, housed behind locks, or reduced to animalistic servitude. With little effort, it molds their thinking, and over the years it has influenced ours-for we see ourselves not as we are, but through the eyes of the white- dominated media. Our responsibility, then, is to assure that our black press functions, and that we all subscribe to our life sustaining communications system. I would like to mention Rev. Bobby Truitt’s recent letter as worthy of being read again. Mr. Abrams, while not as fluid as some others, is yet quite poignant and timely. The Rev. Green while different, also adds significant breadth to our newspaper, with philosophies worthy of in-depth analysis. Finally, to you, and your functional Page 4 I MB BX Ack 11 7 O'. W Du RiAr 6- *pirb AA/ Vd a it/cal Mb MW D/ro IF stiek&th MU «■ fx*cr rif»e:N»r |r p,6A '' T y IM Bvr W i 9 Not FeASdTTXVMB 9<Srauely November 4 has been called a “National Political Shopping Day,” with the store being open from early Tuesday morning until early evening. Black people must come out and vote. They must shop not merely for a president, but also for their own civic interests. November 4 will set the nation’s political course for much of the 1980 s. It is most important that we vote here in the CSRA. There must be expanded interest in our political status. There are still twelve good days including two weekends to mount a “Get Out The Vote” campaign. There are over 100 black churches. Their ministers, officers and members constitute a solid base. In this sector and others named later in this column, a simple plan to carry one or two loads of individuals or families to voting places can be organized. There are some 13 Greek-letter units, two large Masonic organizations, along with their auxiliaries, coupled with the Voters Leagues and civic groups such as the Women’s Civic Club, Links, National Council of University Women and others. Several neighborhood associations such as the Bethlehem Area, Laney-Walker Association, the Sand Hills and Hyde Park groups can easily go into the local neighborhoods. The SCLC, Ad Hoc Committee, the Committee for Community Betterment and others have great potential. Then the NAACP has been in this field for many years. There’s no excuse for people not coming out and exercising their civic duties and responsibilities. An old Alpha adage states: “A Voteless People, Is A Hopeless People”. During the 1976 national campaign the black vote helped carry Richmond County for Jimmy Carter. (I was here on vacation to help with the Black Bicentennial project which saluted the Augusta J.E. Carter Family and the late Congressman Robert Smalls). Will there be active participation and voting in the November 4 election? Are the issues understood? Agrees with editorial Dear Editor: Scores of highly respected and Augusta-loving citizens fully agree with the News-Review’s timely editorial critizing the Chronicle Herald program to get rid of Human Relations Commission Executive Charles Walker. We should be thankful that during the staff, inclusive of Mr. Waring and Ms. Flono: Whatever your motivations, 1 trust that you will continue with our help, for the job you do is critical to our survival Paul Walker P.O. Box 2808 Going Places Political shopping set for election day By Philip Waring CONGRATUALTIONS Congratualtions to Mrs. Margret J. Weston on the gound breaking of the one million dollar health center named for her at Clearwater, S.C. After a hard campaign overcoming many barriers the federal Farmers Home Association, the former HEW, and others have now allocated funds to make it a reality. There will be over 17,000 needy people coming into the public health center for medical and dental services. Hers is an excellent “case history” in public health community organization and service. This column will highlight more information on this hard fought but successful health betterment story later. And let’s hope it will gamer the national publicity rightly deserve. SUPPORT OUR MINI THEATRE One of the most valuable cultural institutions is the Augusta Mini-Theatre. Its November 1 dramatic program, “Ceremonies In Dark Old Men”, will ehlp kick off the 1980-81 season. Tyronne Butler, staff, advisory board and associates deserve our cooperation and support. CHIT CHAT Our condolences to the family of the late Rev. Willie Russell, publisher of the Albany Times. He was a colorful and active leader in Georgia Black Press activities. Our own Mrs. Mary Gordon received her early newspaper training and experience at his Albany Times... Augustans were proud to note the photo of Ms. Karen Brown (brilliant daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Allen Brown) on the front page of the August edition of the Crisis magazine with the Dance Theatre of Harlem...lt was good to see Fannie Flono’s story on Governor Andrew Brimmer’s appearance in Augusta being featured nationally by the Sengstacke publications. past decade or so The New South - education, government, communications, etc. - has been busy moving towards bring about equality of treatment and better understanding among all the people of our Region. This has not happened with our Chronicle-Herald, and it stands out like a sore thumb! Local Southern daily newspapers are now read and distributed throughout our Region. Its impossible to hide what the communications media is doing or not doing to furthering racial understanding, equality and justice for women, balcks and the disadvantaged. Unfortunately, again, the Chronicle-Herald stands up like a sore thumb. An example: When many forces throughout the South and the nation were hailing Georgia on the Walking with dignity Chicago, with the third largest public school system in the United States, has won at least one more year’s delay in its 20-year battle against parental, state, and federal pressure for desegregation. Under an agreement worked out with the United States Justice Department, the Chicago Board of Education has until next March to come up with an acceptable desegregation plan to be implemented for the 1981-82 school year. The agreement, described as a “landmark” by some and a “sellout” by others, comes: *Two % years after a State of Illinois report concluded that Chicago has “the most highly segregated public school of any large metropolitan area in the country.’. * Eighteen months after a United States Department of Health Education, and Welfare study found that Chicago has “intentionally created and maintained a racially discriminatory dual school system.” * Eleven months after HEW turned the Chicago case over to the Justice Department for prosecution. Advocates of the preliminary desegregation agreement, announced Sept. 24, point out that it won unanimous support from Chicago’s new school board. For the first time this board has a black president and its three white members are outnumbered by five blacks and three Hispanics. Yet critics are angered that the agreement lays down no quotas for racial balance in schools in Chicago, and accepts that a number of schools will remain all-black. INBALANCE, ONLY ABOUT 10% The NAACP, which helped initiate the Justice Department action, accuses the federal authorities of watering down earlier desegregation demands. The agreement states, in part, that “this will provide for the establishment of the greatest practicable number of stably desegregated schools, considering all the circumstances in Chicago.” According to school board spokesmen, a key limiting factor on any desegregation plan is the overall racial balance in the city’s public schools. Last year 60.7 percent of the passage of its Fair Employment Practice Law (in state government), our two local daily papers fought it with a passion! This does not make for progress Or better understanding in Augusta. While our nation, and in large measure the South, has established program services to bring about change and human betterment - women’s rights, fair practices in housing, jobs, education, CETA and other programs ■ the record will show that the Chronicle-Herald has opposed all of them. Admitted, a paper has a right to its own opinion’s. But few of them show one sidedness and lack of balance in not even occasionally giving the opposite side of a question. So many Augnstans are embarrassed. Many Old Time Augustans state that in past decades the Chronicle exhibited a Chicago dragging feet on desegregation By Al Irby 480,000 public school students in Chicago were black; 20 percent were white, and 17.2 percent were Hispanic. This year, whites are expected to drop to 18.5 percent of enrollment citywide. The result, say officials here, is that there simply are not enough whites to go around. Accordingly, the new agreement calls on the city to provide special educational programs to upgrade standards for schools that cannot be integrated. SEPARATE BUT EQUAL’ The school board view is that the agreement is a breakthrough because, unlike earlier voluntary desegregation agreements forced on the city by legal action, this one is being closely monitored by a United States District Court-as was the case in Boston’s widely publicized desegregation program. Thus, although the guidelines appear to some to allow a return to “separate but equal” status, at least there is provision for federal oversight and enforcement. School board officials also point out that it would have been wrong to come up with “some instantaneous, overnight solution which would have ruled out community input.” PLAN THAT IS VIABLE Under the new agreement, the U.S. Department of Education is providing a $422,000 grant that will pay for a full-time planning staff, outside consultants, and a program to encourage community participation in drawing up the final desegregation plan for Chicago over the next six months. Another safeguard built into the agreement is that mandatory measures can include redrawing school attendance zones, reorganizing grade structures of schools, pairing and clustering of schools, and busing of students. “Allocation of any new federal funds will be closely monitored by the Justice Department to ensure that they are going to use all resources in the most effective way to end segregation. fairer and more responsible editorial position. Let’s hope that these examples will be copied. There is agreement that their positions on race relations by the daily papers could not possibly hold currency. May we congratualte the News-Review for its courage in going into the heart of the Charles Walker matter. Let’s all strive for more progress, fairness and growth of Augusta! DESPITE DISAPPROVAL BY THE U N.» GREAT RELIGIOUS AND HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES AROUND THE WORLD, THE CHRONICLE-HERALD HAS BEEN A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF RACISM AND APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA! James M. Gaulden 1217 Augusta Ave.