Newspaper Page Text
News—Review, July 15, 1971
THE NEWS-REVIEW
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
930 Gwinnett Street - Augusta, Georgia
Mallory K. Millender Editor and Publisher
Mailins Address: Box 953 Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4555
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LETTER to the EDITOR
Dear Sir:
The recent sheriffs election
was a very good example of
“White Power” and “White
Unity”. The white people in
this community stuck together,
supporting their white
candidates, and they deserve to
be congratulated. They proved
that the only way a race can
survive and be victorious, it
must be strongly united.
This election should have
taught us that as long as a race
of people refuses to support
each other, it will never be
victorious. Hopefully, all Black
people learned this lesson.
People learn from each other,
and I am hoping that Black
people learned the necessity of
unity from the white people
who campaigned and voted in
this election.
It is not a very easy task for
me to write this letter; because
I am a black woman, and it
shames and hurts me to think
of the way the white people
stuck together, and how we
split up. I, at one time,
believed that we were learning
to trust and love each other,
but after I witnessed what
happened in the recent sheriffs
election, I began to wonder if
we were not retrogressing,
instead of progressing.
1 turned on my radio, and I
heard a deep, handsome voice,
which I identified as the voice
of a well-known and respected
black “leader”, Rev. A. Sims.
But to my utmost surprise this
black “leader” was not
speaking out for a black man.
No, he was supporting
Widener. This made me sick. I
felt that if Rev. Sims was going
to publicly support any
candidate, it should have been
Cross, or Johnson.
Admittedly, I was
disappointed when I learned
that there were two black men
running for sheriff, because I
felt, like many other black
voters, that we would have had
a better chance of winning
with just one candidate
running for sheriff. However, I
also knew that there were four
white candidates, and that the
white votes would be split four
ways, while ours (black votes)
would be split just two ways, if
we stuck together. (I did not,
at any time, feel that any
“money” was involved in the
fact that there were two black
candidates. Perhaps this is due
to my youth, and very
innocent mind.) Therefore, I
was sure that we could still
win, or make a darn good
showing. I was also so sure that
if there was a run off, one of
our black candidates would
have been involved. However,
all of this depended on our
sticking together.
We did not stick together,
and we did not win, and nor
did we make a good showing.
However, we did show the
white people of Richmond
County something. We showed
them that “White Power” is
not threatened in this area. In
fact, we showed them that
“White Power” is not only
upheld by white people, but by
Black people as well. We
showed the white people in
this area that we were satisfied
with the present situation in
Augusta. And most important,
we showed them that we are
not united, but very much
divided, and easily persuaded
by money.
I am deeply hurt, as you can
no doubt tell by reading the
above paragraphs, and I have
every right to be hurt. On
election day, I saw my people
wearing red & white Tebow
Hats, some were urging people
to vote for Anderson, and still
others were crying Widener. I
approached several people and
asked them to tell me
Page 2
something about the man
whom they were supporting.
Not to my surprise, all they
could do was to repeat some
slogans that I had heard
“Brother” Sims, “Brother”
Mclntyre, or “Sister” Mays say
on the radio Wow!!!
I heard one of our black
“leaders” say that he felt that
something funny was going on
because there were two black
men running for sheriff,
implying, no doubt, that one,
or both of the black candidates
were paid to split the black
votes. 1 feel that it was his
responsibility to find out if this
were in fact true, and to see
that his people knew the
“truth”. If he found out that
one of the candidates was
being paid, he should have
supported the other one;
however, if he found that both
of them were crooked, he
should have let the Black
people (not the white
people-unity) know, and then
he should have encouraged a
truly dedicated black man to
seek the office of sheriff.
Instead of trying to support
the best black candidate, he
supported Widener, who he
claimed would help us to “over
come.” What was wrong with
this? 1 will briefly state two
things:
1. It is rumored that this
same black “leader” is being
given “under the table” mone\
by his “good” white folk
whom he so often speaks of.
Now, if this rumor about him
is not true, he should be the
first to doubt the rumor that
the black candidates were paid
to split the black votes. For, he
should know that not all
rumors are true.
2. Widener cannot, and still
will not help us to over come.
My dear brothers and sisters, if
we are to over come, we will
have to over come by
ourselves! And the only way
we can do this is to learn from
the white people in this area
(and all over the world) how to
stick together, and to trust
each other.
Black people, we are going
to have to learn how to stick
together. Right now, all of the
white people are laughing at
our inability to stick by each
other. They are laughing at the
way we got out in the streets
on election day to support
their white candidates. We did
look rather funny and stupid --
very stupid. It is necessary for
us to stop listening to so called
black leaders like Rev. Sims,
and other people who
supported white candidates.
We have very poor black
leadership. We are in desperate
need of a Malcolm X, a Stokley
Carmichael, or a Kwame
Nkrumah. We need some truly
dedicated leaders, who will not
be bought off with money. We
need a black leader who will
not get on the radio and down
his people, and tell them to
support a white man, because
we “can’t win”. We need
someone who will encourage us
to get out and support each
other. We need someone who
will preach unity among our
people, and not disunity.
Our so called black leaders
denied us the right to elect a
black sheriff. They even denied
us the right to be in a run off.
This is what I call very poor
leadership. Our black people,
or leaders were so mixed up
until they could not decide on
one white candidate to
support. Just as one newsman
stated, the reason that the
votes turned out they way they
did was due to the “inability of
the black leaders to decide on
which candidate to support.”
And because of their disunity,
some people will have to go
back to the polls in three
B--;. to the
People of
GEORGIA
ATLANTA (PRN) I was
happy to be able to join other
southern governors in
testifying before the senate
sub-committee on rural
development last week. Both
Senator Talmadge and Senator
Gambrell have demonstrated a
sincere interest in obtaining
recognition of the need for
comprehensive programs for
rural development.
Some of our national
leaders are just beginning to
realize what most of us have
known for a long time. The
problems of our cities which
receive so much attention and
are certainly real are
outgrowths of long ignored
problems in our rural areas.
I would like to quote some
paragraphs from my testimony
that I think will be of
particular interest to you:
It is my firm belief that if
we are to ameliorate our urban
crisis and deal with related
rural problems, we must
address ourselves to problems
related specifically to people.
All rural areas, and
particularly those in the south,
have paid a terrible price for
past inabilities (or perhaps
unwillingness) to provide the
economic and social structure
which would allow our people
to choose freely where they
want to live and what they
want to do.
It is an inescapable fact that
there is no more pervasive nor
damaging form of
discrimination than that
practice against the residents
of rural America, both black
and white, in the rural south
in particular.
The basic problem of rural
Georgia is the lack of a viable
and expanding economic base
to support those people who
want to live there. With the
mechanization of agriculture
and the shift from “labor
intensive to capital intensive
fanning” a tremendous
number of small farmers have
been forced to leave the land,
by factors which they were
powerless to influence.
Those who have been able
to remain on the farm have
seen increased productivity
and efficiency rewarded by
decreasing profits and a totally
inequitable share of our
national income. As a farmer
myself, I cannot be satisfied
with an economic system
which deals so unjustly with
such a large segment of the
population.
Our small towns have been
largely by-passed by the
tremendous gains in our
national economic products
during the past decade. We do
not need to see the federal
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.
HEALTH
Summary
The health service facilities of Augusta are numerous enough to
provide adequate health care for its residents; however, there is a
glaring lack of health services being received. Many of the clinics
and available services are only open during working or school
hours. This does not seem to indicate that the services are
attempting to reach the residents who are in most need of health
services.
There is also a glaring lack of black board and staff
participation. Agencies and clinics cannot respond adequately to
the needs of the black community without black participation.
weeks to decide between
Tebow and Anderson. Our so
called black leaders saw to it
that the next sheriff of
Richmond County would be a
“lawman” and “white”. I hope
that they are satisfied. I hope
they also realize how ridiculous
government, your
well-meaning laws, drive
wedges between our people.
As governor of Georgia, I am
responsible for the
development and
implemention of coordinated
programs to meet the needs of
our people. Recent proposals
to establish unilateral alliances
between federal agencies and a
few selected communities,
excluding the state
government, are of great
concern to me. One revenue
sharing proposal (made by
Senator Muskee, I believe)
would provide grants only to
cities with populations
exceeding 50,000. We need
carefully planned programs to
bind us together, not to
separate us.
As a port of beginning this
legislation should include the
following components:
1. Include state government
as an active participant in
coordinating and directing
federally assisted programs
which affect the rural (and
urban) areas.
2. Provide financial
incentives for planning and
development on an area-wide
basis. Most of the crucial
problems facing rural areas
(economic revitalization,
transportation, pollution
control, and development of
human resources) cannot be
dealt with on a county by
county basis. Rather, they
must be solved using an
area-wide approach with
strong support and guidance
from the state. This means the
development of a strong
area-wide planning and
development process.
3. Provide the fiscal
resources to implement the
planned developmental
facilities and services.
Increased public investment in
basic community needs
coupled with a decentraliza
tion of industry and
manpower training program
would serve to revitalize our
rural areas.
4. Develop and implement a
national Urban Rural Balance
Growth Policy. We must begin
to plan our development if we
are to avoid the wasteful
sprawl and severe personal
dislocation which have
heretofore characterized our
growth. Along this line, we
should have a National
Regional Development
Program, patterned after the
lessons we have learned from
the Appalachian and coastal
plains regional experience.
5. Continue and intensify
efforts to provide agriculture
with a fair share of the
nation’s economic prosperity.
and stupid they now look, and
1 hope they realize that they
have brought shame to the
black community. For, we are
all being laughed at.
Cecelia Butler
Agnes Street
Walking
WITH
DIGNITY
BY
Al IRBY
(A FEDERAL COMMISSION FOR POPULATION CONTROL IS
A MUST TO HALT THE INFLUX OF NEW BABIES)
Quietly but frantically Government Officials are working on
our ever expanding population. Little does the man on the street
realize that our very way of life is being challenged by a mere
epoch of a rising birth-rate. There is a striking evidence of what
run-away population growth has already done to many
under-developed countries. India, Egypt and Haiti are in dire
trouble because of their growing birth rate.
President Nixon has asked Congress to establish a commission
on population growth and the American future. A temporary
panel is already at work with a permanent Federal population
agency due in 1972. This panel has made its first report; here are
a few of its findings -- “Every day in the United States an average
of 10,000 babies are born, and only about 5,000 persons die
daily; then about 1,000 people enter the country.
The total sum of babies and immigrants entering add up to
6,000 per day or an increase of 2,000,000 additional persons to
the population yearly. Despite the declining U.S. birth rate, our
growth will actually continue for several years, made possible by
the terrific momentum of past years before American women
became birth-control conscious. In 1975 there will be almost
6,000 more American women of prime child bearing age - ranging
in years from 20 to 19 - than there were in 1970.
This is a delicate job for the Federal Government, because the
problem is not acute today. We must also keep in mind that no
other crisis must be handled 30 years before it occurs. Even 20
years before would certainly be too late. Birth rate now in the
U.S. is not in the danger zone; if it was, little could be done
toremiedy it.
Top Demographers and birth-rate scholars emphatically agree
that the country needs some kind of birth control policy, and it is
very essential, at once. Here are some of the reasons why. The
present U.S. population of 207,000,000 will reach 266,000,000
by the year 2,000.
American families will probably average at least two children
apiece, until then. If they average three, the population would
climb to 321,000,000 or 114,000,000 more than now. Food is
not the prime factor to our immense population expansion; there
are numerous other real pressing problems.
A private group called Zero Population Growth, Inc. had this
to say - “We are in favor of family planning and we believe
abortions should be accessible to all. We think there should be a
change in those social institutions that now presure couples into
having children. You know what they say about couples that
don’t have any children: It’s said they’re selfish. That idea should
be turned around. It’s the couples who have a lot of children who
are selfish.” It’s really hard for a rational person to argue with
that premise.
Overpopulation is also unique in its effects on practically every
aspect of human existence. These concerns range from religious
barriers to secular values, from individual freedom to the general
welfare of all, from recreation facilities and school rooms to
highways, hospital care & to job opportunities. And beyond all,
this is the question, how many people can a democratic nation
justifiably support before the principles of self-government
becomes untenable? Maybe our present racial problems are
laboring under this malady.
A Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C., blocked a vast housing
development proposed by the nation’s largest home builders.
Officials decided that costs of sewers, water and new schools
would exceed the new tax income. The experts say: “that
Americans should consider one other fundamental truism about
growth - growth per se is good.” Already that idea is changing,
with many states making it known that new residents are not
necessarily welcome.
America should tighten its present immigration laws, and
completely cut off the hordes of Cuban hustlers, who are only
looking for an easy life at the American tax-payers expense.
Population control truly touches basic human feelings, involving
religion, individual rights & politics. In the end politics will
probably pose more difficulties than the President’s commission.
Also, the delivery of health care services cannot provide optimum
care without blacks being employed as functionaries of that
system. There is a definite need for increased outreach services to
persons who are unable to comfortably travel to receive medical
services.
There is an apparent lack of volunteer work with the health
agencies. There are many areas of service which clubs, groups,
organizations and other bodies could provide in upgrading the
quality of life in Augusta and Richmond County. Car pools could
be provided, baby sitting service while parents seek medical care,
home nursing courses could be taught, and so on.
Probably the most grossly inadequate services lie in the field of
mental health. There is an extreme shortage of facilities available
to low-income residents for health care in this area. If the
comprehensive medical center is completed this should relieve the
need to some degree, but the community’s attitude seems to be
apathetic toward this major health problem.
Recommendations
1. More black persons should be hired at all levels of
participation in all health agencies.
2. More members of the black community should be included
on the Board of Directors of all public and private agencies.
3. More medical services to low income residents should be
offered at night since operation during working hours excludes
and/or penalizes many potential participants.
4. Mobile units in certain areas, should be utilized, especially
where service is given in multi-county areas, to insure adequate
medical services are available for all.
5. Steps should be taken to see that clinics primarily for
children and youth are open for more than one day per week and
are not open during school or working hours.
6. Food buying cooperatives should be developed in
low-income black neighborhoods so that more and better quality
food is available.
7. Additional paraprofessionals should be hired and trained
especially for outreach work in the community. These outreach
workers are particularly needed by public agencies which have
huge caseloads.
8. Decentralized mental health and preventive medical
services should be made immediately available to low-income
families in Augusta.
9. The Client contact and administrative personnel of all
health agencies should be offered an opportunity for in-service
training on how to effectively deliver services to black
communities. The expectation is that such an in-service program
of instruction will be a requirement of all employees.
*■
I gL
"GOING
PLACES”
Philip Waring
BLACKS WHO BUILT AUGUSTA
‘Blacks Who Helped To Build Augusta” will be the title of
a two-part series in this column slated for later this summer in the
NEWS-REVIEW.
Ideas for this historic project came during my recent visit to
Augusta with excellent input from State Rep. Richard Dent,
Ernest Shanks, and two of my long-time friends and schoolmates
L.B. Wallace and Horatio LaMarr. Some additional information
also came from Mrs. Laura F. Harper, former Trustee of Paine
College, Dr. James E. Carter, Jr., past President of the National
Dental Association and other civic leaders. My two articles will be
informal and cover several different fields roughly during the first
twenty-five years of this century.
NEED HISTORY ON LUCY C. LANEY
In my travels around the nation, speaking to various groups,
attending conferences, etc., I often hear many fine things about
the late and great Mrs. Mary M. Bethune. Good! Story behind the
story, however, is the fact that Mrs. Bethune (and others who
moved forward to greatness) was trained right at Haines Institute
by our own beloved Miss Lucy C. Laney.
We need some type of historical publication (it need not be an
expensive hard back) on “The Life And Times of Lucy C.
Laney”. Here is a wonderfully rich story with great strength and
legend about “The Mother of the Children of the People” who
organized Haines, developed it into one of the nation’s finest
secondary schools, and educated thousands of black boys and
girls who in turn moved on into worthwhile service to their city,
state and nation.
Young blacks are looking very hard to find their roots so as to
build pride on the accomplishments of their forefathers. If we are
not very careful we are going to lose the opportunity of recording
and publishing a historical tract on Miss Laney. This would be
indeed a racial catastrophe!
CHALLENGE TO WRITE A HISTORY ABOUT MISS LANEY
I know six individuals -- five wonderful ladies and one
gentleman - all of whom were trained by Miss Laney, served
under her and could produce this historical tract. Who are they?
At the risk of being most presumptuous with six dear friends (I’ve
never discussed this matter with them) I would, nevertheless, like
to ask them to meet this great challenge. With integration upon us
this makes a history on Miss Laney of even greater importance.
Now who are these persons? Miss Louise Laney, niece of Miss
Laney, social worker and educator; Mrs. Josephine Allen
Richardson, Registrar at Paine College; Mrs. Marjorie Butler
Carter, Mrs. Viola Harris Evans and Horatio LaMarr, all of whom
served under Miss Laney, and Mrs. Rosa C. Tutt, wife of beloved
Coach John Tutt, and herself also a former teacher at Haines
Institute. And there are several others who could join this team or
give close support.
Fortunately, there is still lots of material around and people
yet alive on the many achievements of Miss Laney and Haines
Institute. This could be assembled and drafting started. Money
should be no major problem in" its production. A non-profit
foundation or an existing institution could be used as sponsor. I’d
be happy to pledge now one hundred dollars toward the
publication of a history about Miss Laney, What about it Negro
Augusta?
PLAUDITS TO HAROLD SIMS
Whitney Young’s tragic death in Africa on March 11 thrusted
sudden and grave responsibilities upon his deputy director,
Harold Sims. While this talented and able Memphis-born young
man may have picked up a few gray hairs, he has done a
creditable job and the Urban League has held to steady course.
One wise move was to bring in M. Leo Bohanon, who has 40
years outstanding experience in American social work, as a special
administrative consultant. Bohanon’s assignment will furnish
some of the needed “cement between the senior and young
staffers at NUL national headquarters”. This is most important.
LEAGUE HAS COMPLEX STRUCTURE
The Urban League Movement - nationally and locally - is unlike
any other American human betterment agency. It is both social
work and civil rights. This multi-function community service
agency has varied and many complex facets relating to its
policy-making structure, ability to shift program services to meet
changing needs, coupled with ongoing relationships between NUL
and its 98 local affiliates. Also its relationships with business,
labor, government, the foundation community and United Funds,
social Welfare other civil rights groups and many other sectors,
groups and individuals. We have always been interracial. Urban
League’s thrust and concerns must be in keeping with the major
needs of the black community. NUL will observe its 61
anniversary of continous service to the American Community on
July 24-18 in Detroit. In order to accomplish its mission the
Urban League needs dedicated men and women of all ethnic
groups, different kinds of training and experience, etc.
SALUTE TO JOE ALLEN AT NUL CONF.
On July 28 the Eastern Regional Committee of the Urban
League’s Executive Director’s Council will sponsor at Cobo Hall
in Detroit a breakfast “Salute To Joe Allen On His 30 Years Os
NUL Service”. This gentleman, termed by the late Whitney
Young as the Urban League’s “Man For All Seasons”, has been
chief executive of local Leagues in Baltimore, Pittsburgh and New
York City before moving on to his present spot as Director of
NUL’s Eastern Regional Headquarters. He has wonwide acclaim
as a top administrator, organizer and diplomat and is clearly
numbered among the hundreds of men and women who have over
the years helped to build the Urban League Movement. There has
been over the years concern among the local executives and other
staffers that little recognition had been given to individuals who
also helped to build the agency.
Summary SOCIAL WELFARE
The social welfare system in Augusta which was constructed
for the purpose of serving the people shows glaring inadequaces.
Many of these inadequacies are shared by other systems
particularly, health, local government, communications, etc. The
composition of boards and staffs reflect that few persons who
receive services are actually involved in the overall planning and
See Urban League Page 4
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