Newspaper Page Text
H-T-Honuiwtsl
Vol. 1
N.T. Young
BOARD OF ED HOSTILE
TO UNITARY SYSTEM
The Reverend N.T. Young
has been conspicuous for his
opposition to many of the
recent decisions made by the
Richmond County Board of
Education. Young, Pastor of
Thankful Baptist Church, is
one of two Blacks serving on
the sixteen man Board.
Question: What is your
reaction to the proposed
desegregation plan for
Richmond County Schools
submitted to U.S. District
Court Judge Lawrence by the
Rhode Island experts?
Answer: I favor the idea of
schools being integrated to the
extent that we have quality
education for both whites and
blacks. I realize the difficulties
involved. But I also realize that
Blacks have dealt with
difficulties over the years. The
greatest of these difficulties
being that the inadequate
educational training they
received would not allow them
to be strong competition where
whites are concerned. Whites
are given better facilities with
which to work. This
(integration) will help
eliminate this matter of
inequities in our academic
programs.
Question: What is your
feeling concerning the fact that
Laney and Josey would lose
their status as high schools
under the proposed plans?
Answer: I would like, if
possible, to have a senior high
school among the schools that
were formerly all black. I feel
that it is important that we
have an accredited school
Ga. Districts
Due Challenge
State Sen. Leroy Johnson of
Atlanta has protested Georgia’s
new redistricting plan because
of “individous discrimination”
against blacks.
“We are going to have to
take it to court as soon as the
governor signs it into law,” he
said.
The General Assembly had
been trying for a week to
reapportion the state’s 10
Congressional districts. When
the plan was finally approved,
Gov. Jimmy Carter said he
would sign the measure
probably this week.
Johnson objected to the
bottom of the sth District in
Fulton County (Atlanta) being
chopped off and added to the
6th District, a rural area to the
south of Atlanta, which he said
was done to Gerrymander
blacks from one district to
another.
Atlanta now has a 51 per
cent black population and
Johnson said the sth District
had been 40 per cent black.
Under the new plan it would
be only 37 per cent, he added.
Fletcher Thompson, a white
republican, currently holds the
sth District seat.
Johnson said his fellow
legislators were fearful that if
the sth District had not been
remapped State Rep. Julian
Bond might be elected to
Congress.
“Let me assure you Julian
Bond is not interested in
running for Congress,”
* Johnson said in a final
argument before the State
Senate. “He would rather
occupy the resident at 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue (The
White House).”
■Nrwfi-SUwm
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
graduating students on the
secondary level. But I am
disturbed about a school that
would turn out a senior who
would not be a senior when
compared with other students.
If we lose our schools to give
our students a better
education, in reality we will
have lost a tradition but gained
a better education. If Josey
and/or Laney could be
continued as graduating high
schools, I would be pleased.
If it can’t be arranged that
we have two black senior high
schools and two white (senior
high schools), in all fairness
there ought to be one black
senior high school continued.
If both black (senior high)
schools are discontinued I
would consider this to be more
against black pride.
If one black and one white
high school is discontinued
that would at least be equality
in this time of transition.
Question: Attorney John
Ruffin has asked that Judge
Lawrence hold the Richmond
PAINE PROF. ARRESTED
Ellis H. Rece, an associate
professor of religion at Paine
College was arrested by special
agents Monday and charged
with falsifying exemptions on
the W-4 form filed with the
Internal Revenue Service.
Rece claimed 53
dependents. He said the
number was symbolic
representing the people of each
of the fifty states of the United
States and the people of Laos,
Cambodia and Viet Nam. Rece,
who as clergyman was exempt
Crowning Os
Miss Laney
Lucy Laney High School
held its coronation ceremonies
Monday morning. The theme
for the coronation was
“Subscribing to Blackness”.
The prelude, “Gala Matare”, in
African tongue and drum beat
extolled the joyous event, the
crowning of a new princess.
The princess-elect was the
beautiful Miss Brenda
Thompkins. Her regal escorts
were clad in dashikis and
another African garb.
African music permeated the
entire life-like pageantry, giving
an eerie jungle background
recreating retrospective links in
the heritage of “Mother
Africa.” The entrance of the
princess brought raves of
jubilant cheers throughout the
packed auditorium. She was
conveyed on a couch by six
strong black stalwarts to the
stage where the High Priest
placed the corona garland on
her afro-coiffed head.
The Lucy Laney Coronation
is also a significant example of
the new black mentality, pride
and search for identity.
(See photographs page 4)
930 Gwinnett St.
County Board of Education in
receivership and appoint a new
Board. Ruffin said he did not
believe that the present Board
of Education would effectively
implement integration since it
has fought so hard to avoid it.
Do you agree?
Answer: When it comes to
the Board, the Board did not
give itself fully to the
structuring of an integration
plan. I’m doubtful that the
Board would give of itself to
enforce a plan submitted by
someone else. I am doubtful
about that. I might state along
with that I wish the Board
would face up to its
responsibility as a Board and
do what it has been requested
to do.
Question: Superintendent
Roy Rollins has stated that he
is not in favor of integration.
Do you feel that most of the
Board members share that
view?
Answer: Sure I do. As a
member of the Board, I have
discovered that they are hostile
toward the idea of a unified
school system which would
require full integration. I
believe this to be the thinking
of most Board members on the
idea of a unified system. They
try to cover up their hostility
by saying we already have a
unitary system. The court
order is indicative of the fact
that we don’t have a unitary
system. Furthermore, the
Board would lend itself to the
idea of blacks going to white
from military draft, said that as
a tax payer he was forced to
support the war against his
will. “These people were in
fact my dependents.
In March the thirty-four
year-old professor submitted a
letter to the Internal Revenue
Service wherein he stated, “I
have come to realize that the
combined effect of the
Employee’s Exemption
Certificate (form W-4), and my
government’s criminal actions
in Southeast Asia is to make
me not only an accomplice in
large-scale killing, but an
accomplice whose contribution
is voluntarily self-assessed. I
can no longer accept this
situation quietly.
My current W-4 form is
inaccurate. My fiscal
responsibility is not restricted
to my household. I am
financing this moral outrage
which is developing calouses on
the conciences of the citizens
of our fifty states. I am paying
Dr. Pitts
To Speak At
Ist Mt. Moriah
First Mt. Moriah Baptist
Church will observe its annual
Men’s Day Program Sunday,
October 24 at 11:00 a.m. The
speaker for the occasion will be
Dr. L.H. Pitts, President of
Paine College. Dr. Pitts is the
first black president in the
history of Paine College,
beginning in 1971. Dr. Pitts is
an alumnus of Paine, and
served as President of Miles
College in Birmingham,
Alabama for several years.
There will be other
outstanding participants on the
program. The public is invited
to attend. Rev. Arthur D. Sims
is Pastor of Ist Mt. Moriah.
schools, but not whites to
black schools.
Question: Would you
interpret this as an admission
of the inferiority of black
schools.
Answer: I see this as a
two-fold problem. (1) racism
(2) the difference in the
educational programs between
the white and black schools.
No. They just don’t like blacks.
Question: Have the kids
who are already in integrated
schools faced serious
problems?
Answer: In some instances.
It may not be true throughout
but it is partly true; for
example a black boy at
Tubman Junior High was
subjected to a Ku Klux Klan
textbook. This boy was
humiliated and embarrassed
having this book showing
blacks flogged by whites. When
he stated that he resented it, he
was sent home. This was a
white teacher in charge of that
classroom.
Question: Was this a
non-standard textbook?
Answer: Sure. It was a
K.K.K. book. The instructor
admitted it was there but did
not admit how it got there. But
the teacher’s reaction was to
send the boy home because of
his resentment of it.
Question: The local
chapters of the NAACP and
SCLC have called for Rollins’
resignation. Is there any reason
to believe that this demand will
be met?
for the destruction of the three
countries whose citizens my
brothers are killing. All of
these people are dependent
upon me, and I am failing
them. Accordingly, I have
Rev. Sims
I’m Not Dead Yet.
BY
REVEREND ARTHUR D. SIMS
Many people express
surprise at my style of
preaching. Many people are
shocked by the things I say ...
The things I do. Some are
concerned out of real
commitment. To others, it is a
deliberate attempt to rob our
people, young and old, from
hearing the gospel preached to
its fullest.
Permit me to say that I love
“The Church”. I come from a
strong line of Baptist preachers
in Northeast Georgia.
Unfortunately, most people
feel that the church is a
building where people go to
worship once a week at 11:00
a.m. That really hurts. To the
contrary, the church lives in
the hearts of men who are
committed to the teachings of
Jesus Christ. The church is
Teacher Victim
Os $2,000
Burgulary
George Roberts, of 1319
Fifteenth Street, reported to
Augusta Police the loss of more
than $2,000 worth in a
burgulary of his apartment.
Roberts who is a speechand
drama instructor at Paine
College said that among the
items lost were several suits,
jewelry and a television set.
Augusta Ga Phone 722-4555
Answer: No. I don’t think
the Superintendent would
resign and I don’t think the
Board would go against him.
As long as he can get nine votes
out of sixteen, his position is
secure. I don’t think the Board
would vote against him nor
would he resign.
Question: Do you think
that the present method of
selecting the superintendent of
schools is a good one?
Answer: The Charter that
the Board is presently
operating under has been used
since August 23, 1872.
This Act gives the Board the
power to become what it calls
a “body politic corporate in
law.” Among its duties, the
Board appoints the
superintendent.
The Charter needs updating
and revising. It’s a hundred
years old. We’re operating
under a Constitution that is a
hundred years old!
I think that the Constitution
needs revising. The
superintendent should be held
subject to the people. His
position is financed by the
people. Not just nine people.
The superintendent ought to
be responsible to the total
population of the County. But
the only way to get it changed
is to go through the General
Assembly of the State of
Georgia.
adjusted my W-4 to a figure
which represents, if only
symbolically, this wider
responsibility.
As I have in the past, I ask
you to end your part in
where love is - apage .. God’s
love which has no limitations.
The building is simply a
dedicated place where we go to
worship and fellowship.
I have heard it said by one
of my bewildered brothers that
he would like to hear some
preaching on my broadcast. I
am happy that this brother
listens - there is no force to
make him .. Maybe he can not
help himself. Perhaps this
brother would prefer to listen
to “Brother Ike”, the prayer
cloth preacher. Then he can
purchase his blessing. However,
if he or anyone else will listen
to me, “I’m going to tell it like
it is”. The gospel is as a
penicilin - it cures. The Gospel
is the work of God proclaimed
to people relative to their
problems and frustrations with
a devine intent of personal
commitment and persuasion. It
is proclaimed to a
contemporary issue. Therefore,
I will preach and I will be
heard.
I love that passage of
scripture which states: Go into
all the world and preach the
Gospel...”. The world is mighty
big. This world includes
politics, dope, hunger,
nakedness, hate, jealously -
You name it and the Gospel
SEE REV. SIMS
Page 3
| Editorial I
BLACK AND PROUD
What has James Brown done
to have a street named after
him? Who’s he? What’s he
done? These are questions that
come up in every conversation
surrounding the controversy of
the proposed changing of
Gwinnett Street to James
Brown Boulevard.
It is ironical that Brown has
a street named for him in
Oakland and Indianapolis and a
school named for him in
Detroit, but when such an
honor is proposed in his own
home town, the questions
begin. “Who’s he to have a
street named after him? What’s
he done?”
Ask almost any black man in
America where James Brown is
from and he will tell you,
“Augusta, Georgia.” There is
no doubt in his mind because
Brown has left no doubt in
anyone’s mind. He is from
Augusta and he is proud of it.
He was proud of it when it was
unpopular to be from
anywhere in Georgia or in the
South for that matter.
James Brown is also black.
And once again, he must pay
the price for his blackness. It is
not enough to go from rags to
riches. It is not enough that he
is number one in his field and
has been number one for the
last ten years. It is not enough
that he is Augusta’s most
famous citizen. It is not
enough that he put his prison
record behind him and went on
to excel to the point his
records stay in the top ten
internationally. When you’re
black, it’s not enough to be a
super nigger. For even blacks
supporting this brutal war.”
Rece described his claiming
53 dependents as “an
expression of protest, a
religious expression.”
If convicted Rece may face a
maximum penalty of 1 year in
jail and a SSOO fine. A date for
a hearing has not been set. He
was released on his own
recognizance.
Asked what he expected the
outcome of his trial to be Rece
said, “I don’t have any idea. I
would hope that the whole
thing would provide an
opportunity for people to stop
and think about their
involvement in the war as tax
payers and as citizens.”
Mrs. Perry
Women’s Day
Speaker
Union Baptist Church has
chosen Mrs. Mabel W. Perry as
the Women’s Day speaker for
Sunday, October 24, at 11:00
am.
Mrs. Perry is a native
Augustan. Received her early
educational training from the
public schools of Richmond
County and the A.B. Degree
from Paine College. She has
done further study in in-service
classes and workshops.
She is actively affiliated with
many religious, professional
and civic organizations. She is
an ardent member of Trinity
C.M.E. Church. Presently, she
is a Fourth Grade Teacher at
the Telfair Street Elementary
School.
Mrs. Perry is married to J.W.
Perry and is the mother of two
lovely daughters - Waltina and
Wynneen.
The public is invited to share
this hour with the women of
Union.
October 21, 1971 No. 31
Atlanta 11th In Negro Population
Atlanta ranked 11th among
cities in the nation and third in
the South in Negro population
in 1970, according to a report
released by the U.S. Labor
Department’s Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
With 255,000 Negro
residents (or 51.3 per cent of
the total population), Atlanta
was exceeded by New Orleans,
which ranked 10th with
267,000 Negroes, and
eight-ranked Houston with
317,000.
Southeastern cities
accounted for 11 of the 30
cities and unincorporated areas
with the highest percentage of
Negroes with Augusta and
Savannah ranking 17th and
& SUBSCRIBE
I TODAY
ft* THE
Eb NEWS-REVIEW
SUBCRIBER
■m
ADDRESS
WSJ, CITY—-————————— —
HkTj One year (in county ) $2.50
' One year (out of county) .. . .$3.00
■HJ 5 years (in County) 412.50
■ 5 years (out of county). . $15.00
will question the qualifications
of another black in away that
they wouldn’t dare question a
white man.
Who was Telfair? Who was
Twiggs? Who was Reynolds?
What did Fenwick do? Who
was Greene? Who was Ellis? All
of these men have prominent
streets named after them and
few people know or care what
they have done to deserve the
honor.
But Gwinnett was one of the
signers of the Declaration of
Independence.
So what! The Declaration of
Independence was a
monumental document, but it
did nothing to declare the
independence of black people.
Although Thomas Jefferson
wrote the Declaration of
Independence, he owned slaves
when he wrote it and he had
slaves when he died. So when
he spoke of “Liberty and
Justice for all,” he obviously
did not include blacks,
although , some six of his
children had a black mother.
We should share in the rich
heritage of this country, for we
helped to make it what it is.
But we should never forget
that America has never
counted its black children. She
has not only taught us that we
don’t count, but she has also
taught us to puli down any
black who tries to stand up and
be counted.
Although it is sad, it is not
really surprising when we hear
the questions; “Who’s James
Brown? What’s he done to have
a street named after him?
26th respectively.
Although the greatest
number of Negroes lived in
New York City (1,667,000),
they accounted for only 21 per
cent of the city’s population.
In Washington, D.C.. which
ranked fifth in the number of
Negro residents with 538,000,
blacks accounted for 71 per
cent of the population.
Other Southern cities and
their rank among the top 30
include: Memphis (243,000
and 13th). Dallas (210.000
and 14th), Birmingham
(126,000 and 17th),
Jacksonville (118,000 and
20th), Richmond (105,000 and
24th), and Nashville-Davidson
(88,000 and 30th).