Newspaper Page Text
NEWS-REVIEW, May 27, 1971 -
THE NEWS-REVIEW
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
930 Gwinnett Street - Augusta, Georgia
Mallory K. Millender Editor and Publisher
Mailing Address: Box 953 Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4555
Application to mail at Second Class postage rates is pending at
Augusta, Ga. 30901
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Payable in Advance
One Year in Richmond County $2.50 tax incl.
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ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT
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Display Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday
Office Hours - 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon, thru. Fri.
URBAN
LEAGUE
REPORT
As a community service the News-Review will print the entire
text of the report and recommendations of the National Urban
League concerning the causes of the events of May 11, 1970.
It should be made perfectly clear that the text of this
report has not been edited or otherwise altered in anyway. Since
the report is too lengthy to be printed in one issue, we will print
it in a weekly series. We urge you to read it and carefully consider
the information found therein so that we may begin to work
seriously toward meaningful progress in race relations and human
dignity.
COMMUNICATIONS
Introduction and Background
Written or verbal symbols are the means by which men seek to
understand each other and express themselves. Today the mass
communications media are the most expedient means for
transmission of ideas. Minority groups have been ignored for the
most part, except when related to negative aspects. The media
have also failed to surface and educate the public to the causes of
the urban crisis in our cities. The media have tended to present
urban unrest as an isolated event without asking what is, in many
instances, the legitimacy of the grievances behind this unrest.
As aptly stated in the Merner Commission Report, “...they
(mass media)have not communicated to whites a feeling for the
difficulties and frustrations of being black in the United States.
Nor have the media shown an understanding or appreciation of a
sense of black culture, thought or history.”)* 1)
' It iq a well-documented fact that the poor,, exploited and
minorities have an insignficant place in the media. In order to
understand the plight of the poor and exploited, good
communication is necessary. New approaches to communication
are necessary in order to generate understanding among people
and to help reduce the destructive polarization threatening the
foundation of our communities.
Black people and other racial minorities have a common
history because of a common relation with the white world. This
history has generated a rich culture with its own aspirations and
values. These elements can be interpreted best by persons who
have experiences them.
(*1) See report of National Advisory Commission on Civil
Disorders.
Realizing that the mass media are charged with representing
and portraying all segments of society, one would expect to find
staffing patterns, news coverage, programs, etc., to be reflective
of the racial composition of the community. However, such
expectations are not realized in Augusta.
The AUGUSTA CHRONICLE and the AUGUSTA HERALD
are the two major newspapers in the city with circulations of
49,000 and 22,000, respectively. There are 275 full-time and 50
part-time employees on these two newspapers. The team was
unable to ascertain the number of black employees.
Neither paper has a special black news section. However, both
allegedly print news on a nondiscriminatory basis. Our Audit
shows little evidence that steps have been taken to increase the
coverage of the black community since the May 11th crisis.
Mr. Louis Harris, Vice President and Editor of the AUGUSTA
CHRONICLE, stated that they did not have a working
relationship with the black press; however, he periodically reads
the black newspapers.
Mr. Roy V. Harris, a self-professed segregationist and the
owner of THE AUGUSTA COURIER,(*2) gave this assessment of
the situation thusly:
“Because of the riot, now those white who are willing to listen
are not going to listen any more. The rioting has done more to
hurt the race relations in this community than any other act.
There is now an even wider gap in communications. The racial
tension will not be relieved until the colored people apologize to
the whites for the riot, and then the communications barrier will
be relieved, though strained. The people who rioted were not the
hungry and the poor of the city, but were students from Paine,
the NAACP, OEO people, and the like.”
There are two locally published black weekly newspapers.
The Mirror and the AUGUSTA FREE PRESS, in circulation. The
Mirror has been in operation for two years and has a circulation
of 19,000. The MIRROR receives advertisements from a few
white downtown stores. The MIRROR also reports a cooperative
relationship between the local television stations, newspapers, and
itself. There are six persons on the staff of the MIRROR, all of
whom are black. The paper is issue-oriented and does investigative
news reporting.
Mr. Charles Harris, Editor of THE MIRROR, stated in response
to the question, “What are the major problems of the city?”
“It takes quality people in political offices to be able to
understand the problems of people, both black and white. Some
blacks are starting to regret their past actions, particularly in
reference to the burning and looting of the local neighborhood
stores, because these were the ones which carried monthly
accounts and now a source of credit is gone. Outside agitators
were the ones responsible for the looting. The racial climate is
very tense and is blocking effective communication. A Human
Relations Commission would definitely help race relations within
the community.” (*3)
THE AUGUSTA FREE PRESS has been in operation for three
months with a reported circulation of approximately 8,000. (*4)
The reading public is approximately 80 per cent black and 20_per
Page 2
LETTER to the EDITOR
Dear Sir:
This letter is being written
on the day of the unification
referendum, before the
outcome is known. Whether
the charter passes or is
defeated, we wish to state our
deep regret that an attack on
personalities in our community
was injected into the
pre-referendum campaign.
The full page advertisement
in the May 24th Chronicle and
Herald represented, in our
judgment, an appeal to voters
that should have been
discharged long ago. We do not
accept the idea that one side
must adopt the tactics of
another side in order to win.
We have worked hard on the
charter and its passage and we
feel that it should stand or fall
on its own merits in today’s
election. We also maintain that
the voters of Richmond
County can separate truths and
untruths on their own.
Today’s outcome will be
cent white. According to Mr. William Fennoy, Circulation
Manager Manager and Reporter, the paper is sold in both black
and white communities. Also, according to Mr. Fennoy:
“There has been neither progress nor regression in race
relations and communications. There have been a lot of incidents
caused by the police department that will precipitate a
confrontation between the races. Whites should organize whites
and not attempt to organize the black community. They should
educate whites to the life styles of the black man. If they (whites)
knew the problems of the bla.k man. If they (whites) knew the
problems of the black community, they would be more
sympathetic and take a more positive stand on what is happening
in the black community.” (*5)
In interviews with several radio station officials, each was
asked, “What are the overriding problems of the city?” Mr. Mai
Cook of WRDW, a “soul” station, stated that the three most
pressing problems are: (1) lack of adequate housing; (2) lack of
effective communication between blacks and “downtown;” (3)
the need for more jobs. He stated that this survey was taken
primarily from the black community, since the station is
black-oriented. WRDW has 16 employees, 11 of whom are black.
Mr. Charles Andrews, General Manager of WAUG, who defined
his station as “middle of the road,” stated that the three most
pressing problems are as follows: (1) trains which run through
and block traffic; (2) lack of recreational facilities; and (3)
housing. WAUG has only one black employee -a receptionist.
Bill Lenz, of WBBQ, a “rock and roll” station, cited eleven
problems which emerged as a result of a survey they conducted.
The problems are as follows: (1) trains which block downtown
traffic and emergency vehicles; (2) lack of communication and
racial harmony; (3) river and air pollution; (4) housing; (5)
revitalization of the downtown area; (6) recreational facilities; (7)
solid waste disposal; (8) low cost transportation; (9) city-county
government reorginization; (10) better
and broadening of the tax base. WBBQ has one black employee -
a maid.
Station WATV (Channel 26) shows little evidence of doing
anything of relevance to the black community in the area of
programming. This lack of activity may be due to the fact that
ownership of the station is changing hands. WATV has a total of
11 employees, of which three are black. The three blacks are in
the following positions: 1 film director; 1 photographer-artist;
and 1 janitor.
Stations WRDW-TV shows evidence of attempting to portray
problems and issues that confront the black community. A year
ago a delegation from the black community petitioned for a
one-hour prime time program. Emanating from this request was a
series entitled, “The Black Experience.” The topics covered were:
The Ghetto; The Free Hot Breakfast Program; The Medical
College of Georgia; Unemployment and Underemployment; OEO;
Black Capitalism; Public Housing; Law and Order; and Volunteers
in Services to America (VISTA). Each program highlighted the
problems and what was being done in each area and utilized local
talent in the direction and production of the program. The
finished film was reviewed and approved by the petitioning
groups prior to showing. Also, WRDW-TV had a series called, “In
Concert,” for about 9 months. This series was a showcase for
local talent-and the majority of participants were black.
When questioned about news on activities in the black
community, Mr. Walter McCroba, Vice President and General
Manager, stated that WRDW-TV has a news director, assistant
news director and two cameramen. Consequently, news coverage
was limited by their small staff. However, in spite of this
limitation, WRDW-TV did report news on the black community
when they were able. McCroba added, however, that their
reporting could only be considered unbiased within the limits and
contex of their understanding of the black community. (*6)
Station WRDW-TV (NBC-CBS, Channel 12) has 50 employees
and the only two black employees are janitors. It is reported
however, that this station formerly had two blacks in upper level
jobs. Both reportedly left for more lucrative positions elsewhere.
Station WJBF (ABC, Channel 6) has a Sunday morning
program called, “Parade of Quartets”, which is black-oriented.
“Parade of Quartets” is followed by a program at 11:30 a.m.
called “Opportunities Unlimited.” The latter feature is a job
opportunity program produced in cooperation with the
Employment Service. According to the Employment Service, the
program is successful. A special documentary program, “It’s This
Way.” is produced on an average of once a month and attempts
to deal with a variety of issues.
Mr. John Radeck, General Manager, stated that after the riot a
group of blacks demanded an all-black program, to which he is
opposed. In addition, he indicated that the black community is
pursuing a black announcer which he plans to hire, although no
specific date was given. Mr. Radeck felt that the lines of
communication are opening to some extent, but that both
communities are, for the most part, waiting and looking at each
other. (*7)
Station WJBF has 51 employees, of which 7 are black. These 7
employees hold the following positions: 3 cameramen; 1 clerical
staff person; 1 sales department representative; 1 landscape
architect; and 1 janitor (part-time).
There have been some general efforts made to increase
communication and understanding between the races, but there
are some wide gaps which exist. The Simulcast idea is a first and
also a step toward providing the community with a useful service.
The Simulcast was decided upon by representatives of Augusta’s
news media. The Simulcast was a one-hour prime time program,
one from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Monday, May 25,
concerning race relations and what can be done to remedy them.
Some unfavorable responses were received by participating
stations. The major complaint was that the Simulcast program
pre-empted regularly scheduled programs. Plans have been
analyzed for months and years
to come. Whether the ad lost
votes for the charter or picked
up votes is not as important as
the damage that has been done
in human relations. If on
Wednesday we find ourselves
looking ahead to a new
government, we must do
everything we can as one
people to make this a
government of all the people,
no matter which side of the
argument we took. If, on the
other hand, we find ourselves
with the same two local
governments, we must work
together in a salvage effort on
the immediate crises of finance
and structure. Meanwhile,
those who supported
unification but opposed this
charter should set into motion
the steps toward another
referendum.
Unification remains a goal
which we must accomplish.
Sincerely
Mrs. Maurice Steinberg
Mrs. Frank Anderson
"GOING J
PLACES” F
Philip Waring
OLIN NEWSOME TOP SOCIAL WORKER ON WEST COAST
Down through the past 21 years “Going Places” has attempted
to keep Augusta readers informed of some of the activities and
progress of former residents. Last week while attending the 98th
meeting of the National Conference of Social Welfare in Dallas I
had a most pleasant reunion with Olin E. Newsome. Member of a
pioneer Augusta family and trained at nationally famous Atlanta
University School of Social Work, Olin has compiled an
outstanding record for himself in the field of social work in the
Los Angeles area.
He organized, and is now executive director of a new agency,
“Brotherhood Crusade”. This body is designed to raise badly
needed funds to aid the many civil rights and betterment groups
within the huge and poverty striken Black Community of that
area. Olin sends his best regards to friends in Augusta. He will also
serve on our Augusta-Aiken National Reunion project slated for
Sunday, July 18th in Newark, N.J.
BLACK LEADERS NOW PLANNING TOGETHER
Almost everywhere one looks and reads about Black leaders
and people in all kinds of groups and institutions - business (IBM,
General Motors), white university community, labor unions,
professional organizations, etc. -- are getting together. They are
getting together to bring about more equal treatment and
opportunities for the Brother coupled with ways and means to
bring about meaningful change while working within the
American system.
We must develop our ability to describe to white people how
we have not been treated fairly over the past several hundred
years. One instrument is the current National Urban League
survey of conditions in Augusta. J. Harvey Kerns and his
associates are trained social scientists who have examined many
different American communities under the banner of the
National Urban League. We must not be afraid to describe our
version of Black Power which includes self respect, pride in how
we have helped to build America and our current thrust for
economic and political advancement. And these kinds of strides
are usually not accomplished in city-county mergers.
ABOUT PEOPLE AND EVENTS AROUND THE NATION
I had a pleasant chat with Vice Mayor Maynard Jackson at the
Yale University Forum recently as he addressed the New Haven
Urban League annual dinner. He was elated with the leadership
being given by Commissioner Edward Mclntyre his Morehouse
schoolmate... My personal sympathy to the family of the late Mr.
Louis Bohler, Sr. He was a real Christian Gentleman who gave
unselfish leadership to the civic life of Augusta.... And he was a
pioneer in opening up the U.S. Postal System to Negroes in
Georgia t 00.... Last March 16 at Whitney Young’s funeral 1 had a
pleasant talk with Dr. Daniel Collins, my schoolmate at Paine
College and now chairman of its Trustee Board. Dan was elated
with the selection of Dr. Lucius Pitts as the new President.... He is
also on the National Urban League (NUL) National “Search
Committee” for a sucessor to Whitney M. Young. This committee
is inviting any person in the nation to send their ideas,
nominations, etc. as this will be a public, national search. Readers
of the NEWS-REVIEW who are interested should write: Mr.
Louis Martin, Search Committee Chairman, NUL, 55 E. 22nd
Street, New York City, 10022 If my current plans hold firm I
will visit with relatives and friends in the Atlanta-Augusta area
over the forthcoming Memorial Day holidays.
gi.ij | i ill Hi i m
fl Wtm i iIRhJ I hi' i
LAST VISIT OF WHITNEY YOUNG IN CONN.
Photo shows a recent visit of Whitney M. Young, Jr., recently
deceased Executive of the National Urban League, to the annual
dinner of the Urban League of SW Fairfield County at Stamford,
Conn.
Shown seated (L to R) John 0. Henville-Shannon, local League
president and Mr. Young. Standing (L to R) J. Philip Waring, who
organized the League program and its first Executive, following
him is a group of recent high school graduates, black and white,
who received from Mr. Young Urban League Service Awards. At
far right is James A. Linen, President of the National Urban
League and also Chairman of TIME, Inc., publishers of Time, Life
and Fortune magazines.
developed to continue the Simulcast program. Future
presentations will te taped rather than aired simultaneously.
Future presentations will be rotated, also, among all cooperating
radio and television stations.
Interviews with selected decision makers in the communication
industry are indicative of what needs to be done to improve
communication between blacks and whites in the Augusta
community. As one decision maker observed, “I was a liberal
before the riots, but no white person can be liberal now.” This
model response reflects the polarization between blacks and
whites.
In summary, the communications media in Augusta do not
adequately present the problems and issues of the black
community. News reporting appears to be geared toward
presentation rather than investigation. There is a great need for
continuing education concerning race relations through the media
in Augusta. V
None of the media have an overall employment pattern that
reflects the racial composition of the Augusta community. The
employment patterns indicate that white citizens control the
media and thereby control the output of the media. This type of
employment pattern also serves to block substantive
programming of the black community.
A ***
• :
(PRUDENT ISOLATIONISM OF PEOPLE’S REBELLION)
America is confused and down right worried about its young
not the fuzzy-head communist oriented, but the bona fide upper
and middle class youngsters. The Army and Navy, once the haven
for adventurous white American young man-hood, have turned
sour on the entire military-industrial establishment.
Involuntary conscription is getting harder and harder to pass in
the Congress. Our whole foreign affairs program is being
challenged, especially where it meddles, or sides with one people
against another, such as the civil wars in Vietnam and Pakistan.
Some psychologists are calling this dilemma “Prudent
Isolationism”. It was expected by American leaders, that the
people would support an emotionless geo-political war as they
always had patriotic wars. President Kennedy and Johnson
believed that because the English had conducted limited military
ventures, and was tolerated, they could follow this line of action.
The nation’s founders tried to prevent the executive from
becoming over zealous in needless expansion forays. James
Madison as a very young man of military age made this pertinent
statement, speaking before a General Convention of Delegates at
Philadelphia “In time of actual war, great discretionary powers
are usually given the executive. Constant apprehension of war has
the tendency to render the head too large for the body. A
standing military force with an overgrown executive will not long
be a safe companiontoliberty.Themeansof defense against foreign
danger have always been the instruments of tyranny at home.”
Mr. Madison’s philosophy is a relevant sophistication, that
certainly can be applied today as well as in his day.
Senator Mansfield, is one of the most influential isolationists of
our time, he complained in a recent speech about “divergencies,
digressions, dodges and delays.” The good Senator continued his
pithy discourse to halt presidents in their mad dash to make
America a global police. The fundamental difficulty said the
Senator, “is that the President’s and Congress’ function in our
government has grown immense. The great national-security
departments continue to generate pressures upon Presidents and
Congress for policies abroad, in time, begin running counter to
the constitutional goals of securing the blessings of liberty at
home.” Senator Mansfield is rapidly emerging as a statesman
rather than the run of the mill politician.
Concern over the stale-mate in Vietnam is stirring
extra-constitutional action in many state legislatures, not in
dovish states alone. The state of Georgia dispatched a resolution
to Congress, stating that the war in Vietnam is affecting every
citizen of Georgia; and the President should set a certain date for
getting out.
The war-like stance of the super-powers is causing ordinary
citizens to get involved in belligerent controversy between
national security bureaucrats of other people’s and our own.
People are resenting the State’s power over their lives, especially
young men of military age, and their families.
This prudent isolationism is a certain kind, beamed only at
governments, the military, including Secretaries of Defense, and
war. No one is complaining about people of other countries, as
seen by the zestful foreign relationships, as demonstrated itself in
our table tennis team for the Chinese.
(THIS IS MY SINCERE TESTIMONY CONCERNING
UNIFICATION)
When this edition is out the terrible tug-of-war will be over.
The voters will have spoken. Now I can reveal my true feelings.
Os all people, I understood best the true feelings of the Black
Community. They have worked very hard to acquire their
political stance, and are understandably reluctant to relinquish it.
I personally supported unification because at some time, soon,
I hope, we must all begin to live like matured citizens living in the
multi-racial society. Maybe I am too optimistic, but I still believe
that Blacks and Whites of Richmond County can learn to trust
each other, on a live-and-let-live basis.
Gov. Jimmy Carter
To The People
Os Georgia
ATLANTA (PRN) - As I
stood in factory shift lines and
shopping centers and talked to
people at feeder-pig sales and
Lions Club meetings over the
past few years, it became clear
to me that Georgia people
wanted to have a bigger voice
in what their government was
doing. Things have gotten to
.HE
J
-
'IHk
the point that
many Geor
gians have lost]
faith in theirj
government.!
The saddest
part of it all is
that many of
the things
people sayl
about government are true.
Too often, it is almost
impossible for the voice of the
people to be heard.
We are trying to change
that, and with your help I
think we will succeed. Os
course, re-organization will
help by making government
simpler and easier for me,
your legislators and you to
understand. It seems to me
though, that people need a
way to let government
officials know what they want
Georgia to work toward - what
we should be planning to do
over the next four years. I do
not think a small group of
privileged people can do this
for us, and I do not think a
few bureaucrats stuck away in
a state office building
somewhere can do it either.
We are beginning a program
known as Goals for Georgia.
Walking
WITH
DIGNITY
•t
Al IRBY
You may know something
about it already. The sole
purpose of this program is to
allow Georgia people to head
our state in the direction it
should be going.
Beginning June 15th, there
will be local meetings in every
area of the state. Your local
Area Planning and
Development Commission will
be coordinating these
meetings, but this is your
program - not theirs. With
your help and active
participation we can move
Georgia toward the things
Georgia people want. I want
to personally ask you to take
advantap° of this opportunity.
Announcements on the time
and place of these meetings
will be forthcoming in your
local papers and over local
radio and TV stations.
There will also be state-wide
meetings, one on each of the
main areas of state
government operations. For
those people who cannot find
the time to attend any of
these meetings, we will be
conducting a state-wide poll
on a random sample basis.
The results of all these
meetings and questions will be
published in a book next
spring. That book will contain
what Georgia people are
saying, not necessarily what I
or any other public official
wants to hear.
Goals for Georgia is one
way to return Georgia’s
government to the people. I
plan to work hard to make it a
success. I need your help.