Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

News-Review August 12, 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 inch 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. KNOW YOUR BLACK HISTORY by Larry Thompson The Black race has given to the world some of the greatest military geniuses. One of these Black men was Abram Hannibal, born in 1697. Hannibal was the grandfather of Russia’s poet Pushkin. Abram Hannibal was born in Africa, where he was caught by slave catchers and sold as a slave on a Constantinople market to a Russian nobleman. When he was eight years old, he was given to the Tsar Peter the Great of Russia, who grew very fond of him. The Tsar had Hannibal baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church and educated. Later while in Paris with the Tsar he studied military engineering. While in France, Hannibal became a favorite of the Duke ot Orleans and joined the French Army ; he remained in France for seven years. When Hannibal did return to his adopted land, Russia, it was to fill the capacity of Engineer Lieutenant under the Tsar. After the Tsar died, Queen Catherine and Peter II came to power and exiled Hannibal to Siberia. Like all other men, Hannibal detested the treatment of being cast out of society; so he tried to escape but was recaptured. In 1741 he was freed by Elizabeth of Russia, pardoned, reinstated to high rank in the army, and given new responsibilities and duties. In the boundary dispute between Russia and Sweden, it was Abram Hannibal who was commissioned to represent Russia in settling the issue. As engineer, he was appointed a member of the staff to inspect Russia’s Army fortifications and the construction of Logoda Canal, and was appointed commandant of the city of Reval, which is now Tallinn. The role of Abram Hannibal, in the history of Russia is very significant; Hannibal was indeed a great Black man. Another great Black military figure was Oliver Cromwell, an American soldier. Cromwell, born in 1753, was a patriot of the American Revolutionary War. He served valiantly under Washington, participating in the Battle of Trenton and accompanying him across the Delaware River on Christmas night of 1776. On this particular occasion they attacked the British forces who were celebrating Christmas and thinking that the Americans were also. Cromwell saw action at the Battle of Trenton and Princeton in 1776-77, Brandywine in 1777, Monmouth in 1778, and Yorktown in 1781. He lived to be one hundred years old, and often could be heard boasting of witnessing the surrender of the British General Cornwallis at Yorktown, and having the last of the casualties of the Revolution. Oliver Cromwell had been born in Columbus, Burlington County, New Jersey, probably born a free man. He first enlisted in the Second New Jersey Regiment under Colonel Israel Shreeve and was one of the long term soldiers, serving six years and nine months, much longer than many of the whites. In recognition of the valuable, honorable military service he received a pension of $96 a year. After an honorable discharge from the army he settled on a farm in New Jersey with his family of six children. Henri Christophe, a Black man born in 1767, should be remembered for his endeavors and achievements. He had his first lesson in war during the American Revolution. Afterwards he returned to Haiti to become the confidante, then the sucessor of Toussaint L’Ouverture. In 1779, Christophe served as a sergeant in the legion of mulattoes and free Blacks at the siege of Savannah, Georgia, in 1779. In what has been frequently known as the most brilliant feat of the day, this Black legion contained the British attack and allowed their comrades to carry out an orderly withdrawal. Although Christophe was wounded in the siege of Savannah, his gains were far more important; for when he returned to Haiti, it was with new concepts of freedom and independence. He joined in the Haitian Revolution under L’Ouverture and rapidly reached the rank of general.. After the first stages of the -“-"sasExsMassswß S 3 RE^^KSE&a ■.».y^tK'^Mc- *..*■;& >s4?? Fjdßk ■ ■ K&' 'Lj’ fe«sw wa Filkins =:ej AMERICA'S AFRICAN OBIT In the midst of their national sorrow the people of Liberia were hurt, bewil dered and angered at the accounts of the life and death of their President, William V. S. Tubman, which appeared in two American newsmagazines just as the funeral services were being held in Monrovia. One traditionally "smart aleck” maga zine beat the "Big Daddy” theme to death. The other sandwiched into its account a reference to the unidentified children allegedly sired by the dead President Both stories were In unutteraoly bad taste. More than this, they were insult ing, not only to the Liberians, but to black people everywhere in the world. At a time when most civilized peoples write only good items that can be set down at a mourning hour, leaving the more speculative estimations of political ac tivity and of personal behavior (if dealt with at all) to gossip sheets, these two magazines exhibited their posteriors. * * * The Big Daddy bit in all serious new. accounts is resented by thoughtful blatk people and it is especially resented in stories having to do with the death of a head of state. Such a use is more suited Page 2 to musical comedy skits. It is down grading to Negroes who occupy posi tions of influence and power in govern ment. It says to its readership, a good sec tion of which is white, that black peo ple, no matter what their titles or po sitions in government, no matter what control they have suc-essfully .exer cised in behalf of the profits of gigantic white corporations or of the balances of political power that bolster hegem ony and power alike, ar -1 only “Big Daddies,” not hea-’s b s.e 1 that mat- ter in world politics. Such accounts, written by contemptuous men and passed by equally contemptuous edi tors, poke fun at Negroes in govern ment In their hour of grief the Liberians did not deserve this blow. They had a right to dignity at the last rites of a leader whose death was taken as a personal loss by the humblest citizen of the black republic in West Africa. In contrast to the picture given by the American - magazines, President Tubman was mourned by Liberians of every station. He was the President Walking WITH htmL DIGNITY IjSnh BY 1. Al IRBY (THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS ONLY ONE PART OF THE CONSTITUTION) There is much fun poked at the nine senior gentlemen that compose our Supreme Court; Comedy men from one end of the country to the other make these distinguished jurists a national laughing stock. This facetious travesty does not attest to the wisdom and inate dedication that is incorporated in the character of these nine pithy gentlemen of the United States’ High Court that holds our vast nation together. Inspite of their human fragility, they are the soul and heart of this nation. Their stabilizing qualities were never brought to bear so vividly, as in the verdict that was handed down in favor of the New York Times and the Washington Post. The 6 to 3 decision embodied a warning to both the plamtitr and the defendant. It really said, don’t push too hard Mr. President, and muted the crescendo of “Freedom of the press, and rights to free speech stereotype.” It took the pressure off the over-worked First Amendment; neither parties received a clear-cut mandate. The Times and Post may in the short reach have won a major victory over the present administration, but it was a narrow victory, and in the long run may turn out to be only a legal maneuver. It would have been far better for the two papers to have protected their press freedom outside of the courts. It was a historic confrontation between the constitutional right of a free press and the constitutional power of the President of the United States. He is duty- bound as the nation’s Chief Executive and Commander-in-chief of its armed forces to protect and preserve the national security. History has proven when such rights and powers crash head-on, press freedoms are almost certain to lose, in the long run, even at the High Court level. Os course the Supreme Court lifted the verdict of the lower court in the newspapers’ favor. The High Court stated that the constitution assumes a heavy presumption against prior censorship of the press, and that the government failed to carry its heavy burden .of proving that the secret documents would endanger national security, to justify overriding the First Amendment. The decision was a mere three paragraphs and beside it was what is known in legal circles as “per curiam”; which is an opinion unsigned by any member of the court, simply announcing the result. It was a rare decision totally unlike normal Supreme Court rulings that explain how and why the result was reached. The application of that particular result was buttressed with force and reason. This type of verdict has philosophic and moral stature. The most celebrated of such decision was the 1954 school desegregation case, that was signed by all nine justices, but great moral weight is attached even when only a majority of five sign or concur. It should be noted that the court’s opinion said nothing about the value of a free press or an informed public in a democratic society. It said nothing about constitutional limits on presidential power or about the historic clash between rights and power. The end product will not be very useful as a precedent in future head-on collisions with the presidency. The individual opinions of revolution were over, he was made governor ot Cape Francois and the surrounding area. After Touissaint L’Ouverture’s capture and removal from France, Ard Dessalines made himself Governor of Haiti for life Christophe was next in line for the role of leadership. As it turned out, because of Dessalines tyrannic rule, he was assassinated in 1806, leaving Henri Christophe the new ruler of Haiti. A lot of chaos developed on the island due to the leadership of Petion who was elected President of the Republic of Haiti, Christophe knew he had to create a monarchy. The Republic was a government of mulattoes, under the rule of a mulatto, but his monarchy was to be a dominion of pure Blacks, sustained by hereditary nobility who would support the throne and restore order among the subjects. Being a relatively uneducated man, King Christophe hired educated mulattoes as secretaries to read several hours a day to him. By doing this he gained an extensive and accurate knowledge of history. King Christophe’s rule was resented by many because of his pressuring for production and his relentless system of punishment for those who did not work to make Haiti the, “Pearl of the Antilles.” In 1820 Henri Christophe suffered a stroke and was carried to his citadel where he shot himself. His son, Prince Victorie, was assassinated, ending the royal line. who took time to consider their per sonal problems. He listened to their troubles about family and farm and business. He used his power to raise their per capita income, to build better schools and a university. He Improved health, facilities and care. He built better roads and better housing. He sought to attract industry and jobs. In one year he boosted exports by 15 per cent. He worked at the difficult task of eliminating inequalities between Amer ico-Liberians and Liberians. Liberians felt that he understood and loved them, that he was helping them up the ladder of life. This is a tribute enjoyed by few national leaders. * * * The African continent, whether white and black Americans wedded to their Western notions realize it or not, is emerging as one whose people are al ready wiping away the "cakewalk” image and whose statesmen are far from the Big Daddy characterization. President Tubman helped the United States in Africa at a time when it needed help. It will surely need help in the future, for while other world powers are making hay in Africa, U. S. publi cations are making minstrel jokes. The Nigerian anger over our role in their civil war still simmers. Flip news writers, forgetting the smelly financial and moral scandals of white American officeholders, now choose a Liberian state funeral at which to throw their mud. The Victorian era and its subject peo ples theory is over and it is Ipng past time for a requiem over all non believers. "GOING PLACES” fT r Philip Waring MjrfpFj COLUMNIST TO VISIT GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND FLORIDA While combining Urban League business in Atlanta, conferences with Editor Mallory Millender in Augusta, we will visit friends and relatives in Augusta, Columbia and Jacksonville during the middle of August. NUL and Mr. Nixon In its 61st annual conference and one of its most stirring, the National Urban League took a sharp, but realistic view of the social objectives of the Nixon Administration. The League’s newly elected Executive Director, Vernon E. Jordan, gave an impressive ac counting of his estimate of the governmental program in action and of its possible impact on the needs of the poor and minority groups. As the President prepares for his historic journey to China. Jordan said, “We of the Urban League movement ask him to make a spiritual pilgrimage to black America.” That, Jordan observed, would dem onstrate Mr. Nixon’s concern with the hungry chil dren of the urban ghettos and the rural farmlands as he is demonstrating his concern with the strategies of world politics. Stagnant domestic problems with their alarming economic and social consequences are not receiving the priorities they rightfully deserve. And where they are brought within the focus of official attention, the six justices; in this specific case, don’t mean much toward a constitutional doctrine; but later opportunity may not be far off to write into constitutional law that will be spelled out plainly that newspapers, editors and reporters and even their publishers will be thrown into jail for publishing whatever the State Department labels defense secrets. So it seems clearly obvious even to a non-descript layman like me that the recent victory achieved by the Times and Post has become something less than a total victory. The High Court does not relish cases that take it into the sacred domain of the Presidency. The split decision has what the high court in other times and cases have called a chilling effect on the First Amendment. The Warren Court may have given the newspapers a false feeling of license in freeing the press from libel damages. That court spoke eloquently about the First Amendment and democracy. Saying the press must be free to investigate and report. The Times and Post case was an almost unexplored area in constitutional law, and better it had remained so. Because freedom from libel and obscenity censorship rules are wholly different from freedom to print government secrets that the President says will endanger national security. The press may not have seen a parallel in the case when they said they were “sole trusteeship of their journalistic scoop:” but Chief Justice Burger ■ WMy AUGUSTA’S PIONEER I I Ww ALI BLACK programmed! I™ 1 " RADIO STATION I BMpS THERE’S LOTS OF TALK GOING AROUND ABOUT COOKIES WITH BLACK OUTSIDES AND WHITE INSIDES...AND RADIO STATIONS DOING GREAT THINGS FOR YOU... MS let us give you a few facts - wthb radi ° has JHNL TAKEN MONEY OUT OF THE WHITE BUSINESSES AND I THROUGH ITS BLACK PERSONEL RETURNED OVER llghgr MF $250,000.00 INTO the black community, whtb THROUGH IT’S HAPPY CLUB AND BUCK BUCKET SiLJMEI CONTESTS has DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $4,000.00 II THROUGHOUT THE BLACK COMMUNITY. WTHB HAS JUST CARRIED A BUS LOAD OF YOUR CHILDREN TO ATLANTA B WlrT FOR A “B RAVES ” baseball game. WTHB radio has ACTUALLY DONE THESE THINGS. WE DON’T TRY TO FOOL YOU - WHAT HAS ANY OTHER RADI ° STATION DONE FOR S|||K|KA YOU EXCEPT TALK? NOW IF YOU ADD IT ALL UP...YOU LmST WILL SEE THAT IT COMES TO LOTS OF DOLLARS AND NO non-sense. I MONDAY THRU FRIDAY - LISTEN TO ALL THESE FAVORITES PLAYING ALL THE HITS .... I I ALLYN LEE - SUNNY SOUL - MISS SOUL - HOWARD WADE LETTERS™™ Dear Mr. Editor: I thought I’d speak to my brothers and sisters about the religious hustlers. Thousands of dollars are drained out of the ghetto community each year by these so-called spiritual healers. I just want to pull their coat tail to the game these people are playing, and point out that by the mere fact they Page 4 remedy is inadequate, rigorously regimented and too often unavailable. What is aggravating almost to a point of hysteria is the hocus pocus manner of treat ment given the social ills. The now-you-see-it and now you-don’t sheU game trick in which the Administration 4s currently engaged, gives rise to disturbing ambig uities as to official purposes and plans. The Administration efforts in welfare reform, revenue sharing, housing and health do not go deep enough into the well of the afflictions which torment the poor and the blacks. Mr. Jordan had good reason for pointing to the suspicion of the black people of a plan that would provide large sums of money to towns and suburbs that exclude them. “Government’s refusal,” he said, “to act against the implicit discriminatory effects of economic and zoning barriers delivers a cruel, crushing blow to all who need decent housing and to all who believe in an open society.” < Study of black families J The fear shared by many race militants that birth control programs are aimed at the elimination of blacks from the population, seems to have no founda tion in fact. A study of black families has found that a majority of those in the reproductive age range reject the idea. The study was conducted in 159 black households in a medium-sized city in New England by researchers at the University of Massachusetts, and reported in a publication of the Popular Reference Bureau. The Bureau noted that government population policy has resulted in birth control activities being confined large ly to bringing to the poor the same ability to control family size the rest of society has. Inevitably, the Bureau said, “that has meant that official birth control centers have been concentrated in poor communities, a disproportionate share of which are black?’ This concentration has led to the con clusion that family planning programs are aimed at black “genocide.” In one phase of the study, individuals were asked to respond to the statement, “All forms of birth con trol are designed to eliminate blacks.” Fourteen per cent agreed; 84 percent disagreed. However, the suspicion stiill exists among many that there is a concerted effort by the federal govern ment or some population centers to reduce the fertility of black mothers, especially the poor whose offsprings create a potential threat to the density of the white population. patronize these people shows they do not believe in God - the God they are supposed to have so much faith in. On Sunday mornings I would lie and amuse myself to the so-called men of God who played the con game very much like the con man on the block. Ironically, many parents keep their children off the block to keep them from associating with men of bad character; yet, on Sunday SEE Letter To The Editor