Memphis World Memphis World Publishing Co. 1969-10-04 J. A. Beauchamp The Thought Exchange For many months this writer has been tremendously interested in the problems the problems from the leaderlessness of the Negro race in this country. He has gone so far as to mention by name a few of the Negroes who show signs of emerging as full fledged leaders but nobody seemed to get my message. He further suggested that the Negro newspapers take a united stand, and lead in the absence of personal leaders but the Negro newspapers are all too busy for the most part in headlining Negro crime, stemming from our deplorable ghettoes and conditions thereof. So long as the Negro newspaper is the only medium that can reach the ghetto Negro, if the Negro newspaper would take hold of the task with courage and determination; there are evidences that the leadership void could be filled effectively. A fact that stands out in bold relief is that whites are no longer going to take a bold stand for Negro leadership, as they did when the Negroes were emancipated. One of the most amazing sagas of the Negro's rise from slavery hinges about the fact that with the establishment of education for Negroes, the white founders of our current Negro colleges gave the required leadership when Negroes needed it sorely. But today the white man is playing hands off as if to say, that after a hundred years Negroes should supply their own leaders so long as our schools are turning out. Negroes with every degree of training and if the Negro has the leadership mind, his opportunity is limitedless. Unfortunately the educated Negro is inclined to imitate too closely his white contemporaries and indulge in what Thornstien Veblen called "conspicious consumption. It has come about that we have the white man's tastes but not the white man's economic background. Negroes are taking to golf when croquet and horse-shoe pitching are more in consonance with the Negro's economic status. Negroes are rushing for Cadillacs when fords and chevrolets are more geared to their economic under-pinning. In other words we as Negroes have champagne tastes with coca-cola pocket-books. Just how we are ever to keep step with the white man is a deeply ponderable question. The writer 20 years ago bought a Packard automobile when he should have been purchasing a T-model, Ford. Seeing my mistake I have tried to atone by driving my Packard for 20 years. I made a mistake in buying but not in changing, models every year or two for I had no more business with a Packard than monkey has for a copy of Emily Post on etiquette. Seeing the Negro adrift in this 20th Century world without definite leadership, the white man is trying to get the Negro to launch in business. The Saturday Review has come out strong fro Negro business as the next step in Negro advance. But I can see serious stumbling blocks in the way of emerging Negro business. Negroes by the thousands are swarming our streets bent on stealing and robbing and raping and rioting and just how Negro business is to survive this generation of young Negroes poses a hard question. aundries are being forced to close because Negro help steal them out of business. The shopping center in Delaware had to go out of business because the young Negroes stole them out of business. It is going to be exceedingly difficult to root Negro business where the slogan is "burn baby, burn" and the burning most invariably takes place in Negro sections where young Negro business is supposed to take a hold. There is a great army of young Negroes who have resolv ed to steal, rob, rape and riot but not work. When they get through praying on young Negro business it is greatly to be feared that but little will be left. But our so-called lead ers are not addressing themselves to this situation but are following the safe fruitless line by repeating that all that is white is wrong, and all that is Negro is right. This line is far from reality for there is something right with the white man and something wrong with the Negro and unless some Negroes have courage to say so, the race is lost. Before we get over with our triblations we are going to tell it as it is. How can Negroes ever make the grade unless somebody tells them the truth about themselves. Negro leadership is lamentable and more lamentable the plight of the leaderless race. The middle class Negroes are busy keeping up with the white Joneses. THE NEGRO'S LAMENTABLE LEADERSHIP For many months this writer has been tremendously interested in the problems the problems from the leaderlessness of the Negro race in this country. He has gone so far as to mention by name a few of the Negroes who show signs of emerging as full fledged leaders but nobody seemed to get my message. He further suggested that the Negro newspapers take a united stand, and lead in the absence of personal leaders but the Negro newspapers are all too busy for the most part in headlining Negro crime, stemming from our deplorable ghettoes and conditions thereof. So long as the Negro newspaper is the only medium that can reach the ghetto Negro, if the Negro newspaper would take hold of the task with courage and determination; there are evidences that the leadership void could be filled effectively. A fact that stands out in bold relief is that whites are no longer going to take a bold stand for Negro leadership, as they did when the Negroes were emancipated. One of the most amazing sagas of the Negro's rise from slavery hinges about the fact that with the establishment of education for Negroes, the white founders of our current Negro colleges gave the required leadership when Negroes needed it sorely. But today the white man is playing hands off as if to say, that after a hundred years Negroes should supply their own leaders so long as our schools are turning out. Negroes with every degree of training and if the Negro has the leadership mind, his opportunity is limitedless. Unfortunately the educated Negro is inclined to imitate too closely his white contemporaries and indulge in what Thornstien Veblen called "conspicious consumption. It has come about that we have the white man's tastes but not the white man's economic background. Negroes are taking to golf when croquet and horse-shoe pitching are more in consonance with the Negro's economic status. Negroes are rushing for Cadillacs when fords and chevrolets are more geared to their economic under-pinning. In other words we as Negroes have champagne tastes with coca-cola pocket-books. Just how we are ever to keep step with the white man is a deeply ponderable question. The writer 20 years ago bought a Packard automobile when he should have been purchasing a T-model, Ford. Seeing my mistake I have tried to atone by driving my Packard for 20 years. I made a mistake in buying but not in changing, models every year or two for I had no more business with a Packard than monkey has for a copy of Emily Post on etiquette. Seeing the Negro adrift in this 20th Century world without definite leadership, the white man is trying to get the Negro to launch in business. The Saturday Review has come out strong fro Negro business as the next step in Negro advance. But I can see serious stumbling blocks in the way of emerging Negro business. Negroes by the thousands are swarming our streets bent on stealing and robbing and raping and rioting and just how Negro business is to survive this generation of young Negroes poses a hard question. aundries are being forced to close because Negro help steal them out of business. The shopping center in Delaware had to go out of business because the young Negroes stole them out of business. It is going to be exceedingly difficult to root Negro business where the slogan is "burn baby, burn" and the burning most invariably takes place in Negro sections where young Negro business is supposed to take a hold. There is a great army of young Negroes who have resolv ed to steal, rob, rape and riot but not work. When they get through praying on young Negro business it is greatly to be feared that but little will be left. But our so-called lead ers are not addressing themselves to this situation but are following the safe fruitless line by repeating that all that is white is wrong, and all that is Negro is right. This line is far from reality for there is something right with the white man and something wrong with the Negro and unless some Negroes have courage to say so, the race is lost. Before we get over with our triblations we are going to tell it as it is. How can Negroes ever make the grade unless somebody tells them the truth about themselves. Negro leadership is lamentable and more lamentable the plight of the leaderless race. The middle class Negroes are busy keeping up with the white Joneses. HAMILTON HIGH HAPPENINGS This is the dawning of the age of the Hamilton Wildcats and here to hip you to the mini skirts and J. B. suits, the happenings and the haps situated from Boss Castalia Heights to Sad Dixie Heights are Rita "Runabout" Rambo and Vivian Myers. You see a crowd of cool dolls and daddy cools and right away you can tell they're Hamiltonians because if the Hamiltonian isn't dressed in bright yellow, orange and purple; he'll be wearing that same personality (unless he's the shy pussycat-type Hamiltonian who hides his glimmer under a deceptive manner) Wildcats certainly fitting this description are: SAMUEL, SMITH VAN Patterson, Cornell Watkins, Carl Young, Sharron Jones. Robert - Pierce, Cheryl Rayne James Little, Shepperson Wilburn, Ot's Franklin. Carolyn, Todd, Yvonne Satterfield. Belinda McGowan, and Carloyn Lumpkin. Whoosh! What was that! If it resembled a grossed lightning ball, it was doubtess a Hamiltonian doing his or her thing on the dance floor. Members of this jet set showing their steps are: Jackie Pratcher, Vivian Thomas, Janice. Hill, Ricky Jones, Lois Newby. Michael Bernard, zan Burten. Larry Walton, James Fisher, Barbara Moore, Ann Greene, Linda Hopson Gertrude, Nethers, Pamela Brown, Samuel Gardner and Jerry Williams. Hamilton has a boy for every girl and a woman for every man. Two of a kind strolling around our campus, hand in hand are Tony Tate and Denise Batts, Stanley Gates and Wendolyn Corley, Tthel Jones and Phillip Jeltt, Barbara Moore and Micheal Bernard, Eric. Horton and Janice Hill, David Lee, and Xzalhia Couch, Connie Wikerso nand Maurice Bernette. For those of you who are lonely and blue, the top couples of the week would like to dedicate to you: "I've got mine. You get yours." Taking this advice should be: Irma Joe Black, Pat Taber, Garret Boyce, Carnella Flowers, Yvonne Satterfield, Pamela Brown, Barbara Stafford, Alexander Burton, Larry Yancey and Robert; Howard plus Mitchellease Anderson. You are watching a Wildcat doing what comes natural if you attended Hamilton's tangle with Manasas at Crump Stadium. Hamilton sho nuff gave the Tigers a hard way, even if the score was split down the middle 14-14. Hamilton's Mighty Wildcats won the first half 14.0 and Mananasas took the second half by the same score. On the field picking em up and putting down were: Jerome Barber, Johnny Brown, Reginald Ingram, Larry Charles, Dyanne. Robinson Ray Loggins, Maurice Charles, James Cartwright, Paul Tate and our main-man Phillip Jett who raced 90 yards for Hamilton's first TD of the game. Melvin Parson, Clarence Mallet, Marcellus and Maurice Freemen, Ray Gun, Charles Miller and Willie Shields who are outstanding players of Hamilton's Jr. High football team journeyed to play host to Porter last week. Porter, I'm sorry to say, took the game with a score of 6 to 0. Right behind them "Keeping the faith" were: Jackie Freeman, Dianne James, Dorothy Moss, Gina Johnson Sandra Tucker, Debra Davis, and Rosalind Evans; all members of the Jr. High Pep Squad under the direction of Mrs. Mize. Among many of the clubs that held initiation during the past few weeks are: The Y-Teens, the Noblemen, the El Demones, The Debs, The Waterford Theatrical Guild, and The Les Dames Charmants. Until next week, this is Vivian "Soul child" Myers and Rita "Run about" Rambo picking up news and putting it down from Hamiltoon High School in Memphis Town. Sgt. Stevens Wins Distinction With Air Force Band Sergeant Calvin Stevens Sr. son of Mr. and Mrs. Emory L. Stevens Sr., of 4057 Burns Court, Inkster, Mich., has been recognized for helping the 581st Air Force Band earn the U.S. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The 581st, the Band of the Air Force Reserve and musical ambassadors of more than 400,000 Air Force Reservists; was cited for its outstanding program during 1968 in which it supported military units in every state of the nation. Headquarters at Robins AFB, Ga., the band played nearly 500 engagements and traveled more than 100,000 miles, making it the most active of all Air Force field bands. Sergeant Stevens, who playes the percussion, will wear the distinctive service ribbon as a permanent decoration. The sergeant is a graduate of Inkster High School. His wife, Eleanor is the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. L. Jones of 1524 Stokes Ave., S. w. Atlanta, Ga. Washington Butler On NACD Board At the recent meeting of the National Association for Community Development. (NACD) Washington, Butler, Jr., executive director of the war on Poverty Committee of Memphis and Shelby County; was elected to board membership on the NAACD. Mr. Butler also was elected to the board of directors of the Southertern Association of Community Action Agencies. It is expected that his board members will place Memphis in position to attract greater funds from numerous sources. BRASS TACKS The most determining factor in any political election — under a democratic form of government — is the voter. He, and he alone, determines the voter as the determining factor in the outcome of an election. The computer has attempted to determine before the election who will win. The electronic voter — admittedly — can determine far in advance the winner in a lopsided race. But not even the electronic monster can determine, with any certain accuracy who will win a tight race like the one being carried on by Atlanta Mayoral CandiVice Mayor Sam Massell and State Rep -City Alderman Rodney Cook. The mechanical monster, computer, though very smart, is static — and voters are highly dynamic. For example, some voters who favor the candidacy of Cook today could go to the polls on Oct. 7 and vote for Sam Massell. The machine cannot sense this change as it take place. It can record it only after the change has been made. The computer did not foretell of the encounter between cook and Dr. Horace T. Tate, the only Negro candidate in the mayoral race, concerning the reported flagrant changes of "police brutality" in At lanta. Nor did the electronic monster give us prior knowledge of the heated exchange between Massel and Cook concerning the "hippie" haunts. Enough said about the mayoral candidates. My original subject was not mayoral candidates, but the importance of the individual voter. I am deeply disturbed by the apathy of some registered voters who do not bother to vote — as well as those citizens who are eligible to become registered voters, but do not have enough interest in the welfare of the community to be come registered voters. Such people trample the privilege and the power of the ballot under boots of responsibility. Georgia laws make it very easy to be an active registered voter, Let us look at other states in the United States and foreign countries. In the U.S., the generally accepted qualifications for voting are U.S. citizenship, certain residency requirements and the stipulation that voters be 21 years old. In Georgia it is 18. Thus it is interesting to look at the voting requirements in other countries. In Switzerland and Honduras you must be a male to vote. In Southern Rhodesia all voters must have adequate knowledge of English and the ability to fill in the claim for enrollment as a voter. In addition, one must occupy property valued at 500 pounds for the three months prior to registration, or own a registered mining location, or have an income of not less than 240 pounds a years. Your financial situation also plays a role in qualifying in Tanganyika, Trinidad, Tobago and other countries where constitutions prohibit bankrupt people from voting. Until 1961 Denmark disenfranchised citizens who were receiving public assistance. In Great Britain members of the House of Lords have no vote and in Kuwait members of the armed forces and the police department have no vote. In Russia, the state registers the voter automatically. If the voter casts his vote for the party candidate he is a loyal citizen if not he is an enemy of the regime. The secret ballot, as enjoyed by the people of the U.S., is a right and a privilege that carrier a heavy responsibility. A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY The most determining factor in any political election — under a democratic form of government — is the voter. He, and he alone, determines the voter as the determining factor in the outcome of an election. The computer has attempted to determine before the election who will win. The electronic voter — admittedly — can determine far in advance the winner in a lopsided race. But not even the electronic monster can determine, with any certain accuracy who will win a tight race like the one being carried on by Atlanta Mayoral CandiVice Mayor Sam Massell and State Rep -City Alderman Rodney Cook. The mechanical monster, computer, though very smart, is static — and voters are highly dynamic. For example, some voters who favor the candidacy of Cook today could go to the polls on Oct. 7 and vote for Sam Massell. The machine cannot sense this change as it take place. It can record it only after the change has been made. The computer did not foretell of the encounter between cook and Dr. Horace T. Tate, the only Negro candidate in the mayoral race, concerning the reported flagrant changes of "police brutality" in At lanta. Nor did the electronic monster give us prior knowledge of the heated exchange between Massel and Cook concerning the "hippie" haunts. Enough said about the mayoral candidates. My original subject was not mayoral candidates, but the importance of the individual voter. I am deeply disturbed by the apathy of some registered voters who do not bother to vote — as well as those citizens who are eligible to become registered voters, but do not have enough interest in the welfare of the community to be come registered voters. Such people trample the privilege and the power of the ballot under boots of responsibility. Georgia laws make it very easy to be an active registered voter, Let us look at other states in the United States and foreign countries. In the U.S., the generally accepted qualifications for voting are U.S. citizenship, certain residency requirements and the stipulation that voters be 21 years old. In Georgia it is 18. Thus it is interesting to look at the voting requirements in other countries. In Switzerland and Honduras you must be a male to vote. In Southern Rhodesia all voters must have adequate knowledge of English and the ability to fill in the claim for enrollment as a voter. In addition, one must occupy property valued at 500 pounds for the three months prior to registration, or own a registered mining location, or have an income of not less than 240 pounds a years. Your financial situation also plays a role in qualifying in Tanganyika, Trinidad, Tobago and other countries where constitutions prohibit bankrupt people from voting. Until 1961 Denmark disenfranchised citizens who were receiving public assistance. In Great Britain members of the House of Lords have no vote and in Kuwait members of the armed forces and the police department have no vote. In Russia, the state registers the voter automatically. If the voter casts his vote for the party candidate he is a loyal citizen if not he is an enemy of the regime. The secret ballot, as enjoyed by the people of the U.S., is a right and a privilege that carrier a heavy responsibility. I am an American. Do not fold, spindle, or mutilate. Being an American is comfortable. After all, we do have more than any other country in the world. But sometimes we get too comfortable. We take our leisure and our prosperity and our freedoms for granted. Sometimes we have to be reminded that it wasn't easy for us to get where we are. That the freedoms we enjoy weren't handed to us on a platter. Of course, the great majority of Americans have great pride in their country. Millions of them show their pride by buying U.S. Savings Bonds. Through regular purchases where they work or bank, they've helped preserve our freedoms by investing in their country. At the same time, they've been storing up quite a nest egg for themselves. U.S. Savings Bonds pay a guaranteed return. And your investment is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America. Also, the interest on Series E Savings Bonds isn't subject to state or local income taxes. You can defer federal taxes on E Bond interest until you redeem the Bond. If your Bonds art lost, or stolen, destroyed, we simply replace them Without cost. They're safe. They're easy. They're automatic. And they're also a reminder. A reminder that we all have to work hard to keep what we have. Investing in your country will do just that. Think about U.S. Savings Bonds. It's a way to keep our country from getting folded, spindled or mutilated. If they're lost, stolen, or, destroyed We replace 'em. The U. S. Government does not pay for this it is presented as a public service in ration with The Department of this Treasury and The Advertising C GEORGE LEE WAS THERE — Elks Grand Exalted Ruler Hobson Reynolds (second from left), and Grand Commissioner of Education George W. Lee (right) of Memphis, join Eugene McCullars of Coca-Cola USA in presenting I siah white with the second annual Elks — Coca-Cola USA scholarship. White, a resident of South Bend, Indiana, visited the recent Elks Convention as a guest of Coca-Cola USA, a Division of The Coca-Cola company. He plans to study engineering at Drexel Institute and is one of sixteen Black students enrolling in colleges this fall on scholarships provided by Coco-Cola USA.