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The News-Review - November 18, 1971
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(BLACKS NEED TO LEARN BASIC RUDIMENTS OF
POLITICS, MADE MANY TACTICAL ERRORS IN 1971)
AUGUSTA-(N-R NNB) Black political strategy took a terrible
drubbing in the 1971 battle of the ballots. The final outcome
proved many things. One and foremost is the fact that blacks
cannot win when they tend to isolate or monopolize. Only when
they function as a coalition can they make any appreciable
advancement. Secondly, rank and file blacks will not obey or
follow blindly any self-appointed “Savior”.
Whether one likes it or not, the average black is aspiring toward
middle-class values. They vote for hard-nose law and order
proponents, for no one suffers from lawlessness more than they.
They will not build up Black Leaders who think only of their
own self aggrandizment. Another axiom that is being reestablished
politically is, that there is no place for violent militancy.
Let us explore some of the mistakes that were made by black
politicians seeking office in the November elections. Cleveland’s
Mayor Carl Stokes should have known better than try to name his
hand-picked candidate as his successor. His political blundering
gave his city the first Republican Mayor in 30 years. Twenty-five
per cent of the black votes were split between the regular
Democratic and Republican candidates. This proved to be a
cardinal mistake on the part of the man who was considered a
King-Pin in the so-called National “Black Caucus”.
The Mayoral Democratic candidate, Frank L. Rizzo of
Philadelphia, who dubbed himself the toughest cop in America
rode to victory on “law and order”. A quarter of the v otes in
largely black wards stayed with Rizzo and the Democratic Party.
Charles Evers, the Black Mayor of Fayette Mississippi, failed
utterly in his bid to get a large turn-out of black voters to the
polls. Large numbers of black voters supported white candidates
and the regular Democratic Party.
(ITS ALMOST CERTAIN SINCE THE MASSACRE OF THE
TOP LIBERALS IN THE SIXTIES; BLACKS MUST DEVELOP
THEIR OWN CULTURAL DEMOCRACY.)
Black Americans are in a critical position, almost similar to
1878. The pendulum is swinging toward the right and
arch-conservatism. There is only one alternative, and that is for
middle-class blacks to stop moving to the suburbs; and give their
talents and knowhow in cleansing and salvaging a salacious
condition, that has engulfed the black community.
Many Black Playwrights are carrying the sorid and ugly side of
the black community to the nation’s leading theaters. Vulgarity is
commonly tabbed as the official language of the district; when
truthfully there are millions of upright and honorable citizens
who will not think of stooping to worldly licentiousness.
It remains for the Black intellectual to create his own
philosophy of “love” for his own. In the most progressive culture
it is not the politicians or the “rights” leaders who set the life
styles or creates new ideas. That role rightfully belongs to the
prepared Black Intellectuals, if they fail to do it, it will not be
done in the best interest of black people.
(PAINE'S PRESIDENT CARRIED HIS MESSAGE OF BLACK
EXPLOITATION TO LIBERAL RELIGION)
Dr. L.H. Pitts raised his plea for America to hear his timely
lament, at the local Unitarian Congregation. He asked our nation,
that has forced Black People into unbearable conditions in all
areas of life. “What have we done wrong? You labeled us simply
as pieces of property. We cared for your children, prepared your
meals; tilled your fields, that made you the wealthiest nation on
earth.”
The cultured educator pointed out that inspite of our blind
loyalty, America accuses black people of being lazy and immoral.
Devoid of family ties, when they force our males to be
promiscuous breeders, and were not allowed to establish any kind
of marital union. Dr. Pitts offered hope, if other groups would
emulate Unitarians in dispensing humanitarian compassion for
minority concern.
Paine’s fine ensemble ended the inspired program with a
stirring rendition of soulful hope: “Every time I feel the spirit, I
will pray.”
THE NEWS-REVIEW
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candidates better qualified.
Solution: political education; better contact between black
candidates and voters.
OLDER BLACKS are living in the PAST & HOLD THE
MOVEMENT BACK.
Solution; younger blacks must unite, persuade their eiders that
this is a new day.
(The power of the youth vote has yet to be tested, and white
youngsters may not always stay faithful to their recent concern
for black rights. However, black youth in many college
communities should prove a vital force in political affairs. This
must be qualified by the observation that black youth themselves
are often indifferent, self-interested, and suffer from all the
divisions that hamper adults. Also, the general public has been
driven into a hostile and negative mood by many of the excesses
of college-age militants and thus we have no guarantee that
youthful campaign workers would show enough common sense
and judgment to help rather than hurt. However, throughout
America in general politicians seem to believe the youth vote is
important and must not be ignored. Senator McCarthy proved in
Vermont and elsewhere that when young workers learn the basics
of campaigning they can win people instead of just antagonizing
them.)
BLACK LEADERS THEMSELVES CONFUSE & DIVIDE
THE PEOPLE BY THEIR own failure to agree, their jealousy of
each other, their refusal to agree on a single candidate and a clear
set of issues.
Solution: black leaders should back ONE candidate and work
for his election instead of pulling against each other.
(Some white politicians have escaped this all too human
problem by deliberately selecting some non-political person to
represent them all. A man who is drafted for the race always has a
chance to avoid the resentments generated by the ambitious
volunteer.
In every community there are men of established reputation
and integrity who are widely respected and whose modesty and
life-style do not excite extreme jealousy or hatred. Black
politicians might do well to consider such possibilities, to begin
thinking in terms of organizational loyalty and unity as a must,
and to seriously consider working as a team for the rewards of
political power rather than as individuals. The front four in a pro
football lineup do not win much individual glory, true, but when
they do their job well they have the reward of being on the
winning side.
BLACK VOTERS RESENT AN EDUCATED CANDIDATE
and feel he is putting on airs and trying to be better than he
actually is.
(This is another universal factor in politics and has nothing to
do with race. Jimmy Carter ran for governor of Georgia as a.
peanut-farmer in shirtsleeves and rarely mentioned his doctor’s
degree in physics. His opponents would doubtless have been
happy to brand him a high-hat, an egghead, a snob, etc. but he
made this attack impossible by going out night and day meeting
ordinary folk on the sidewalk and talking in a folksy,
down-to-earth manner. We need men in politics, but if they are
wise they will not remind the average voter of their superior
attainments. The genuinely smart politician puts his Ph.D. ideas
in RFD language and he often must win the voter the same way
an intelligent woman wins her man-by acting dumb.)
BLACKS ARE PROUD AND JEALOUS; when they see
another black succeed they want to pull him down because it
hurts them to see him reach the goal they wanted so badly.
Solution: “We as blacks should forget our pride just enough to
help one another out; one man cannot do it alone; he needs
others to encourage him and give him confidence because he
knows his race is behind him 100%!
THE INDIVIDUAL BLACK VOTER FEELS HIS ONE VOTE
MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.
Solution: Black leaders should make clear to people why every
vote counts, and should stress the need of pulling together.
BLACKS HAVE BEEN BRAINWASHED INTO BELIEVING
THE BLACK MAN IS NOT CAPABLE OF HANDLING A HIGH
OFFICE.
Solution: Talks by leaders to show the need of unity, to
demonstrate by their presence and ability what blacks can do.
(We now have a number of major US cities in which black
mayors are in office; we have successful blacks in high and
difficult jobs all over the country; perhaps blacks need to be
made more aware of men like Stokes, Hatcher, Brooke, Marshall,
etc. through little thumb-nail biographies that prove “It Can be
Done! Let’s Do it Here!”
SUCCESSFUL MIDDLE & UPPER CLASS BLACKS do not
know what the great majority of people want or need; they
frequently let themselves be used by the white power-structure to
maintain things as they are.
(No solution offered. We suggest again that the self-interest of
the persons in question cannot be ignored. The middle class must
somehow be made to see that it’s own future and that of its
children can be improved by the improvement of the total black
community. Again, self-interest must never be the only appeal,
but it must never be ignored.)
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’268 BROAD ST
'lettersto EDITOR I
Dear Editor:
I thought and think it would
be wise on my part to cite the
value of black news and
communication media in local
towns in this country. One has
only to live for a short while in
a racist town like Athens,
Georgia, to arrive at the point
where he appreciates strongly
the roles of newspapers like
yours and black radio stations
like WRDW. White owned and
operated communications
media are just what the term
implies - white. Every
community should have access
to black oriented radio stations
and newspapers.
The earger white community
newspapers address themselves
to the white communicy ina
very racist manner. A token
number of blacks employed on
their staffs does not insure
adequate coverage of news in
black communities. Usually the
white press views black
militants and black power very
negatively because they and it
(black power) is quite
threatening to their racist
practices and beliefs. Articles
and series would be conducted
on problems in the black
communities because it is
popular and sters white
superiority. The basic
conclusion that black problems
are really white problems
because the problem of blacks
come as a result of white
racism is never reached or
considered.
The black press has
historically played a
meaningful role in the black
experience. Self pride and good
black identity are products of
such forces as the black church
and the black press. James
Brown should be highly
regarded for his recognition of
this problem and his
contributions rendered in this
problematic area. Only black
controlled and operated media
can serve the best interests of
black people. Augustans should
be proud of Mr. ’Brown, his
radio station, and other
activities designed to help
black people. So many of us
blacks become whiter than
white people when we get a
little money. We should
support those efforts of blacks
in any area that will be helpful
to all of us as well as some of
us. We must present a united
front to the white man and
disagree basically in private
with other blacks.
It is very hard to get many
of us blacks to become
“dehonkified” and
“blackenized” because our
“security” is tied too much to
white “good will”. We must
become REAL black men and
women who are seekers after
truth rather than
compromising “boys” and
“girls”. We must realize the
necessity of standing on our
own feet and engaging in more
self help locally and nationally.
Finally, I say “Right On” to
radio station WRDW and the
News-Review as you perform
your vital and needed roles in
the black community. May the
black commuinty rise up and
support you even more as you
move on as lights in a racist
darkened world and
community.
Roosevelt Green, Jr.
Editor
Your recent editorial
concerning the proposed
changing of Gwinnett Street to
James Brown Boulevard was
interesting and well written,
but, did not answer your own
question: “What has James
Brown done to have a street
named after him?”
True, he has risen from rags
to riches, he is black and
proud, he does not deny being
from Augusta. But, do these
facts entitle him to a street
named in his honor? All of Mr.
Brown’s accomplishments seem
to have been for Mr. Brown.
Would you kindly list some of
his civic accomplishments.
Rumor is that his charitable
contributions for Black causes
are so minuscule that they are
I I I
© 19H
a closely guarded secret.
Renaming a street in
Augusta after a Black person is
a good idea, but our values
seemed warped when we can’t
find a person who has
contributed or is making a real
contribution to his fellow man.
Why not Martin Luther King
Boulevard? Thurgood Marshall
Avenue? Lucy C. Laney
Boulevard,? John M. Tutt
Street? Jessie Owens Road?
Why must we pick an
egotistical entertainer who
happened to be born in
Augusta?
I repeat your question: What
has James Brown done for the
Black in Augusta? Is his main
contribution making money
for James Brown and
screaming that he is Black and
Proud and a Greedy Man?
C.S.
Name withheld upon request
Editor’s Note: The letter below
was written to the editor of the
Augusta Chronicle with a
carbon copy sent to the
News-Review.
Editor, The Chronicle:
Your editorial Nov. 11 in
reference to Julian Bond and
Andrew Young truly shows a
racist attitude. (Editor’s note:
The comment was directed at
their litigation opposing
runoff elections for
congressmen, to assure
majority decisions.)
You constantly referred to
quality education, quality
leadership and voting for a man
based on said qualities. You
further stated the blacks need
not vote for a bloc. This is a
paradox.
In the recent City Council
election in Augusta, you
refused to endorse Frank
Delley, an architect engineer,
for the Fourth ward seat.
Further, you refused to
endorse Mallory Millender in
this Third Ward political effort.
Certainly, people can see the
inconsistences in your views. A
look at both the above
candidates clearly shows that
they had the highest
qualifications from any
perspective. They happen to be
black, and you do not want
too many qualified blacks in
leadership.
When are you going to
contribute to the good of all
people? When are you going to
be consistent in your views?
To further my claim: your
paper presented an artic'e on
Tracy Luckey Co. in Harlem,
Ga. Three ladies were shown -
one white and two blacks. You
referred to the white worker as
“Mrs.” and refused to give the
two black ladies their proper
titles. Why?
Blacks need to vote bloc.
For as long as your paper and
others who share your
philosophy will not support
qualified blacks, we have no
other choice.
By the way, I don’t expect
you to print this article. If you
do, it will be a surprise. You
welcome Praise for yourself
and not constructive criticism.
Arthur D. Sims, Pastor
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Verno" E. Jordan, Jr.
EQUALITY IN THE SCHOOLS
The newly-politicized and largely “phony” issue of busing
dominates most discussion of equal educational opportunities,
but a California court recently ruled on the way we pay for our
schools that could be far more important in the long run.
Parents in Los Angeles noted that there are big differences in
school district budgets. The Baldwin Park district, for example,
spent only $577 per pupil. Most of its money comes from a fairly
high property tax rate of $5.48 per SIOO of assessed valuation.
Nearby Beverly Hills however, had a much lower tax rate - $2.38
per SIOO. But since it was a far richer community, the yield was
large enough for it to spend $1,232 per pupil.
This, the parents contended, results in an unconstitutional
inequality in educational opportunities. The California State
Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the system of financing schools
through property taxes is unconstitutional. Others agree too, and
there are moves in several states, including Michigan, Minnesota,
and New York, to replace the inequities of the local property tax
with a broader state-wide method of financing school needs. This
could bring about a long-overdue revolution in equalizing
educational opportunities. The California experience can be
duplicated in every state in the nation.
Cities, with their shrinking tax base, can raise fewer dollars in
taxes for essential services like the schools, than can the more
affluent suburbs. But even in suburban areas, there is a great
disparity. Residential communities can only tax homeowners, but
the town just across the road may have a factory or a shopping
center that swells its tax roles.
High tax rates result in taxpayer revolts that vote down school
budgets and bond issues. In the first half of this year, more than
half of all school bond issues put to a vote lost.
The use of the property tax to finance schools also encourages
racial segregation It leads to a mad scramble by suburban towns
to land an office or factory that will increase the tax base, while
at the same time discouraging towns from loosening zoning
restrictions that would allow apartments and low-income housing
for people to work in the new offices and plants. The reason:
such changes mean more kids, which means higher school costs.
Since the property tax as a means of paying school bills is near
the point of exhaustion, and since little new state and federal
money is forthcoming, school districts across the country are in a
belt-tightening squeeze that’s hurting the education of our
children. Teachers are being laid off, guidance counselling
eliminated, and teacher-pupil ratios are on the rise.
And the evil root of this is the outmoded, unequal property
tax. As the California court said, the local property tax makes the
“quality of a child’s education a function of the wealth of his
parents and neighbors.” It pointed out that children in one
district get a bigger slice of the educational dollar simply because
they’re lucky enough to live in a town that has a broader tax
base. “Affluent districts can have their cake and eat it too,” the
court ruled. “They can provide a high quality education for their
children while paying lower taxes. Poor districts, by contrast,
have no cake at all.”
The children who suffer from this are black children and all
lower and middle-income families. The slowly dying property tax
should be given its final shove into oblivion, and replaced with a
state-wide property tax that redistributes money equally to all
schools, and with sharply increased general school support by
both states and the federal government.
The shouting about busing may obscure the fact that
equalizing educational expenditures is the big civil rights issue on
the educational front.
$$ WANTED $$
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