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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 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payable in Advance One Year in Richmond County $2.50 tax incl. One Year elsewhere $3.00 tax incl. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Classified Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday 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.