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News-Review - September 9,1971, 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. Divide And Rule Part 2 An even more serious problem is unwilling ness to admit black workers, many of whom have been certified by state licensing boards as fully-qualified journeymen, directly into union membership and union controlled jobs. On this issue the craft unions refuse to budge. The EEOC reported that black mem bership in the building trade unions actually declined in 1969. /‘About three-fourths of all the skilled construction workers in the United States... do not have to be prepared or primed or tutored,” says NAACP’s Herbert Hill. “They learn by doing. It is only blacks and members of other minority groups who must climb the slow apprenticeship ladder.” Nearly everyone agrees that the most potent instrument for achieving integration in the construction industry is forcing con tractors to live up to anti-discrimination guidelines that are written into every federal contract. Federal contracts are a privilege, not a right, and the government could devise ways to insure that public money is not put into the hands of unions that practice restrictive and racist membership policies. The difficulty lies in achieving compliance. In 1969 the Nixon Administration devised its Philadelphia Plan to reform the six construction trades characterized by the poorest records of minority employment. The plan covers all federal and federally assisted projects of a half million dollars or more in the five-county Philadelphia area. Since February, contractors have also been required to demonstrate compliance with minority hiring goals on their privately financed projects as well. This provision is designed to eliminate so-called “motorcycle compliance,” by which contractors were moving black workers from private projects to federal projects when government in spectors came to check. To be considered for a federal contract, a contractor must include in his bid the percentage of nonwhite craftsmen he hopes to employ in his trade. His bid is not considered unless his employment goals meet federal standards for Philadelphia. The standards will allow contractors to gra .ually increase minority participation over a period of five years, with the ultimate goal of 19 per cent minority participation in the con struction crafts in Philadelphia, which has a minority population of 30 per cent. John Wilks, who heads the Office of Federal Contract Compliance, contends that Philadelphia is well on its way toward meeting its goal, since nearly 15 per cent of on-site workers in the six affected trades are now minorities. He concedes that the Philadelphia Plan has been less successful in making union members out of these workers but argues that union membership, too, will come in time “All blacks ind Puerto Ricans who are members ot the affected unions are now working,” Wilks told P.I.C. News. “We have forced equity in that system. As for non union craftsmen, after they have been on the job for a specified length of time, they are entitled to enter a local. It’s a civil rights ALL CARS CARRY 24 MONTH WARRANTY. CAN BE BOUGHT FOR NOTHING DOWN. LEE BAGWELL MOTORS, INC. 1424 GORDON HIGHWAY NtXT TO HYDE PARK PHONE 722-4917 Page 2 violation if they don’t. I think the unions will want these guys as members, since they are now in the labor pool. Some black craftsmen told me they are not interested in union membership, but that may be just rationalization.” In Junie 1970 the Labor Department issued a plan to increase black constriction workers in the Washington, D.C. metropoli tan area. The Washington Flan is modeled after the Philadelphia Plan, excet«t that Wasliington is expected to reach a mi ximum of 25 per cent non-white in the prions by 1974. The Labor Department estii* tes that this goal can be reached by fillif lone of every two openings in the craft um. ns with a minority worker. OFCC officials say that the such s of the Philadelphia Plan is “representative” for Washington as well, where 71 psr cent of residents are black, and the unemployment rate for blacks is twice that so« whites. However, critics of the two plans > question whether the federal agencies din tly re sponsible for compliance have es ttively monitored construction work in c two cities. The OFCC sets up the m< toring system but depends on the co; acting agencies to do the actual site review • The OFCC has only 31 profess' Ms to coordinate compliance efforts. O »-seeing the Philadelphia and Washington I as is a compliance officer in Philadclphi; with a thrcc-man staff and several otherii sponsi bilities. Contractors can rest secure 'hat the construction project will be over a id their money in the bank before they project inspector gets around to checking their minority employment. The Wasliington Area Construction In dustry Task Force, representing a snectrum of community organizations and civil rights groups, recently accused the NUon Ad ministration of failing to enforce the Wash ington Plan. The task force pointedlout that federal contractors had failed to Keep re cords and file reports on equal employment despite requirements to do so. An advisory committee to oversee the plan had only once, with notice to community representa tives—who were greatly outnumbered by union and industry representatives—only hours beforehand. . LOOK! What’s New In Hair Styling y .• Mr. Leon Austin’s Barber Shop r LETTERS TO EDITOR I Dear Mr. Millender: 1 want to thank you for providing an opportunity to become familiar with your paper as a result of the copies that you distributed at the Race Relations Conference at Augusta College The paper contained many informative articles and ouen covered viewpoints not generally available. Enclosed you will find my check in the amount of $3.00 to cover a one year subscription. I gather that the paper is a relatively new venture and 1 extend every wish for success and will be looking forward to the future editions. Very truly yours, John H. Hellweg, Jr. 107 Glenn Place Aiken, South Carolina 29801 WANTED NEWS BOYS WANTED! 100 Jiews Boys Good Pay CALL News—Review Office 930 Gwinnett St. 722-4555 And Manicuring 1715 Gwinnett St (fat man's corner) Mr. Leon Austin David Cheatham John Adams $$ WANTED $$ LADIES TO BE TRAINED IN IBM KEYPUNCH. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, WE TRAIN. ONLY SINCERE NEED APPLY Call 724-0249 CTI Grady's > 1/ ii 'k UPHOLSTERY SHOP yyr' i/Jy 914 FENWICK ST. SS PHONE 724-6717 SPECIALIZING IN HOME & AUTO REPAIRS: FURNITURE, AUTO SEATS, BOAT TOPS - AUTO TOPS OF ALL KINDS - DOOR, GLASS, HEATERS & SPEAKERS - ALSO AUTO CLEANING: POLISHING. GRADY EVANS, Mgr. FRANK EVANS, Asst. Mgr. Walking WITH DIGNITY BY Al IRBY (BLACK AMERICA SHOULD POOL ITS FISCAL MUSCLE) A young Black economist from the University of California speaking before the National Urban League annual convention, expounded more common sense than is usually heard in these days, when everyone is trying to excel in shedding crocodile tears about the poor. I think it was Jesus that said “the poor will be with us always.” Then another fact, the state of poverty is relative. Some people with an inflated sociological pathology have orientated a segment of young Blacks, that the only road to glory is to show a fake interest in the poor. Well Dr. Richard F. America is the name of the tall handsome economist, that electrified the Urban Leaguers. Mr. America told the convention, that young Blacks should put a moratorium on all of the nonsense about “BLACK POWER, and Black is beautiful a>d deal with the cold facts that real power is economic power, money power.” Continuing he said: “The Black community can no longer permit itself to be financially at the total mercy of government or established foundations and contributers.” He charged: “For political, cultural and economic reasons, we must increasingly fund our own advancement.” The time has come for blacks to make a down payment on their own freedom. The soft-spoken pedagogue insisted: “Our interests, are in direct conflict with that of white interests; it is unrealistic to expect white or white-dominated institutions to underwrite all black activities.” Mr. America envisaged a national fund with a semblance to the National Jewish United Appeal. It was spelled out with pithy perspicuity. “60% of the roughly eight million black families in the United States have annual incomes below four thousand dollars. Consequently the remainder, about three million households, would be the likely respondents to a systematic, sophisticated fund raising campaign, although appeals to the poor also very well be advisable and desirable for reasons of building unity.” The brilliant young economist made this studious observation: “If you believe, as I do, that out of three million middle and upper income Black families and individuals, 50 per cent of them would respond by donating S2O (not a burdensome contribution), you can see the potential of S3O million a year from such a campaign.” He told how this fund could grow to the point that it would earn enough interests on conservative investments that it could, after five years, permit the disbursement of $9 million out of interest alone. Mr. America believes that if the Urban, SCLC, and the NAACP, and other major Black national organizations got together in a joint Black Appeal, a Black United Fund would be practical. It certainly is an idea worth consideration by all Black People. It is a big problem, but for a resolute effort, the task of coordination could be solved. The past decade, events have brought many Blacks to the realization that if we are serious about the development of our communities and institutions we will, of necessity,have to develop some form of central treasuries. Columnist Louis Martin of the The Pittsburgh Courier, had this to say of Dr- America’s plan: “This is not black separatism, it is black self-reliance. Before there can be any true coalition, there must be something to coalesce with. We live in a pluralistic society in which each group makes its contributions to its own and, to the commonwealth. The Black United Fund concept of Mr. America would provide blacks with the kinds of financial resources that are provided Jews by the United Jewish Appeal. While charity does not end at home, it certainly begins there. The central fact in this young economist’s thesis is that there is enough wealth in Black America that can be mobilized to free many of our organizations from almost total dependence on white handouts, which will mean white surveillance and white control.” If Dr. John W. Gardner can develop the current “Common Cause” to a national position of prominence in such a short time, Blacks can also build an organization for financial salvation. The Congressional Black Caucus has already begun to raise a freedom fund, but with the big three civil rights group, Mr. America’s plan could become an early realty. i Hun Park EastffiEg - -j _ j ~ tfrjn-’jfi-f- KjaffiF Jel. BS JRF 3H £A*Total Electric Central Air *Carpet <P > * ‘Appliances • 2 Bedrooms e l!/2 Baths Per Month EAST BOUNDARY IPs a whole new ball game! You get MORE apartment for LESS money. Rental Dept. Mr - R'9*by. Resident Mgr. 722-5571 724.1616 __ “THE STRENGTHS OF BLACK FAMILIES” By Dr. Robert B. Hill Associate Director of Research NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE Most discussions of black families tend to focus on supposed indicators of instability and weakness. With some exceptions most social scientists continue to portray black families as iisorganized, pathological and disintegrating. This preoccupation with pathology in most research on black families has obscured some fruitful avenues of investigation. Examining the strengths of black families can contribute at least as much towards understanding and ameliorating some social problems as examining their weaknesses. If, as most scholars agree, there is a need to strengthen black families, then a first-order priority should be the indentification of presently existing strengthsand resources. A new National Urban League report identifies and analyzes five strengths of black families: adaptability of family roles, strong kinship bonds, strong work orientation, strong religious orientation and strong achievement orientation. These five characteristics have been functional for the survival, advancement and stability of black families. Some of the major findings from this report are as follows: (1) Contrary to the widespread belief in a “matriarchy” among blacks, our findings reveal that most black families, whether low-income or not, are characterized by an “Equalitarian” pattern in which neither spouse dominates, but share decision-making and the performance of expected tasks. (2) National earnings data do not support the popular conception that wives’ earnings in most low-income black families are often greater than the husbands’. Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate that in 85 percent of the black families with incomes under $3,000, the husband’s earnings surpassed the wife’s. Thus, contrary to the stereotypes of black men as “weak,” “irresponsible,” and “peripheral,” the husband is the main provider in the overwhelming majority of black families, whether low-income or not (3) Most black babies born out-of-wedlock are kept by parent and relatives, while most white babies born out-of-wedlock are given away. In 1969, about 90 percent of black babies born out-of-wedlock, compared to only 7 percent of the white babies born out-of-wedlock, were kept by the parent and kin in existing families. On the other hand, 67 percent of the out-of-wedlock white babies, but only 7 percent of the out-of-wedlock black babies, were formally adopted or replaced. (4) Contrary to the belief that dependency is characteristic of most families headed by women, recent Census Bureau data indicate that two-thirds of the women heading black families work - most of them full-time. (5) Our study found that most assertions about widespread desertion in black families are not based on actual desertion rates. In fact, recent HEW data reveal that not even the majority of AFDC families can be characterized as “deserted”: only one-fifth of the black families receiving AFDC in 1969 were so described. (6) The high achievement orientation of low-income black families is related in the large numbers of college students from these families that attend college. For example, three-fourths of the blacks enrolled in college in 1970 came from homes which the family heads had no college education. Thus the overwhelming majority of black college students do not come from so-called “middle-class” homes with college-educated parents. fe SUBSCRIBE I TODAY ft THE ft NEWS-REVIEW SUBCRIBER ■ | ADDRESS —— MU CITY One year (in county) $2.50 fcr*' One year (out of county) . . . .$3.00 5 years (in County) $ 12.50 |KE 5 years (out of county)... $15.00 -l