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Paine player eyed Ex-Augusta Sixßlj '• names by professional ballerina looks to comp hittaker baseball scouts to acting career el Miss America students Page 6 Page 1 p a ge 1 11 Page 3 VOLUME 14 NUMBER 18 NAACP wants federal probe of Burke death W Sk****" *SI HIBhM U •BBEJWBKIka \ “J C * %x SJII»1r ! • j&s a a — - ®taiV3« •WRI: * ™ /fHMBb w W ■ I *x> B ■’ r fib.- ■ ■-*—fetof- I 1 U- W ’'reWr Ok JwB&X Sf Wkl. JI W-> »■ ih^W-wW'lrii'ir t . GARDNER FUNERAL—Mrs. Ruby Gardner views son Larry’s body as police guard against possible violence Saturday staff photos by oiando Hamlett Ballerina Karen Brown looks forward to career as actress CLEARWATER, S.C.-Karen Brown has gotten to know many of the World’s top performers and found that they have a common touch. After graduating from Aquinas High School in Augusta in 1973, she went to New York and joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She has been with the Company for 11 years, and only two other members have been with the company longer. On two occasions the group has done command performances for the Queen of England. Karen is especially proud of that because the queen decides who she wants to perform for her. When the group held its world premiere in July at the London Coliseum, Princess Margaret and the Russian dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov attended. At the end or mat performance the Dance Theatre of Harlem was given a seven-minute ovation, the longest ovation since the Bolshoi Ballet performed there. After one of their performances Michael Jackson came back stage. “He was more than his usual speechlessness. It was his first ballet, but he was visiblv im pressed,” she said. On another occasion, Mick Jagger was introduced to the group. He wanted to “hang out,” and went night clubbing with the group. Karen has also met Sir Lawrence Olivier, Howard Rollins, Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, Lena Horne Leoniyne Price, Marian Aiwci 3VII, Cicely Tyson, Geoffrey Holder cTIk Augusta Neuw-lteuttui and Josephine Baker. And what she learned was how ordinary they are. “When I used to see them on TV, I never considered that they went to the laundry or had to try to find something to eat. True stars are as unpretentious as your best friend. They are such sensitive people. That’s what make them great artists their spiritual qualities.” Members of the Dance Theatre of Harlem are also recognized as great artists, and for that reason they were invited to dance during the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in Los Angeles. “Being on that fieio i couia see how the athletes feel so exuberant. We marched out there before 110,000 people. It was the most 'xhiiiarating performance Fve ever done,” she said. But life for the group is not always fun and games. Most days they work through the morning giving lecture-demonstrations to young people. “Some children have never been in a theatre before. It is a morale booster for Black children to see a Black com pany doing so well.” Most often there is a full dress rehearsal in the afternoon. And the performances in the evening last up to three hours. The travel is relentless. Although she lives in New York City, she has spent only 21 days there since January, and never more than two or three days in succession. In the meantime she has been to the Bahamas, Miami, West Palm Beach, The Dominican See Ballerina, Page 5 ■* ' A 'W * " li / ■ gs DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM—Karen Brown and Keith Saunders in The Four Temperaments. September 1,1984 Less than 75 percent Advertising WAYNESBORO—The NAACP will ask the U. S. Justice Depar tment and the U. S. Attorney General’s Office to investigate the August 17 death of Larry Donnell Gardner which touched off two nights of rock throwing, burning and looting in Waynesboro. Earl Shinholster, regional direc tor of the NAACP, said the NAACP wants an investigation in to the possible violation of Gar dner’s civil rights while in the custody of the Burke County Sheriff Department. “We would be most interested in the full autopsy report, especially Dr.(Joseph)Burton’s report which indicated that there may be some questionable details surrounding the death. “The whole case is questionable to us. The warrants were issued in May, and law enforcement of ficials had seen him on numerous occasions since then. Why was it on that day that they arrested him? “We want the whole thing pur sued legally and prodecually. Gardner was buried Saturday af ternoon as State Troopers and GBI officers equipped with riot gear stood in clusters of three and four on virtually every corner. In his eulogy, Donald Mit chell—who as a student at Boggs Academy played football against Gardner—paid tribute to the Waynesboro quarterback. Noting that Gardner’s deatn brought national attention to Waynesboro, Mitchell said, “From now on when a Black man is taken into custody, he will be treated with care and consideration until due process of law can be rendered. “You deserve the game ball, because you continued to play even after the final whistle had blown.” Six Blacks to vie for Miss America The largest number of Black candidates in the history of the pageant will be vying for the Miss America title Sept. 15. The show will be telecast on NBC at 10 p.m., EDT. Here’s a look at the six Black candidates: Maryline Blackburn, Miss Alaska, was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Her father is a career soldier and she lived in 10 different states while her dad was in the service. A graduate of Evergreen State College, Maryline has studied piano for 13 years and has more than a nodding acquaintance with dance, voice, clarinet and drum lessons over the years. She will be singing in the Miss America Pageant and has performed with Chuck Berry, Chris Calloway and Sister Sledge. Maryline hopes to become a buyer for a department store after studying with a couture house in France. Desiree Keating is the firsb Miss District of Columbia in 20 See Miss America, Page 2 30C