New York Amsterdam News — 1983-04-13

10 • N. Y. AMSTERDAM NEWS, Sat, April 13, 1983 The Constitution and The Dogs NEW YORK Amsterdam Nellis •-! C. B. POWELL President & Editor P. M. H. Savory, Secy-Treas. - J. L. Hicks, Executive Editoi W. B. Beat, Comptroller; K. A. Walt. Advertlatnc Director; E M Jackson, Circulation Director; J. H. Walker, City Editor; J. W. Wade, Classified Adver ! Usuis Manager, D. Sheppard. Brooklyn Manager Published weekly by the Powell-Savory Corporation at 2340 Eighth Ave., N. Y. Telephone Academy 2-7800. Brooklyn , office, 1251 Bedford Avenue Telephone ULster 7-2500. ---------------------------------------------- ---------, _ Mail lubecrlpOoa rates: 1 y«z r 17 00 — ( moa , M A Editorials For The Record The Washington Post is generally regarded as one of the most responsible and one of the most authoritative newspapers in the nation. This is particularly true concern, ng news emanating from the nation’s capita! Thus, we note with more than passing interest the editorial treatment which the Post gave to the receht speech of Congressman Adam Clayton Powell which caused such a controversy in the field of race relations. Congressman Powell made his original state­ ments before the Capital Press Club m Washington. Many newspapers quoted him as calling for a boycott of the NAACP. Others quoted hin as saying he wanted white people thrown out of all Negro organi­ zations and still others had him joining the Black Muslim Movement. None of these statements were true. All of them added to irresponsible reporting. Here is what the responsible Washington Post had to say about the matter. We quote from a Post editorial dated, March 30: “The statements by Rep. Adam Clayton Powell and Dick Gregory the other night to the Capital Press Club compel a revealing and disturbing conclusion. The white man has only a faint notion of what acti­ vates the Negro in his drive toward an equal place in the American democracy. Speaking to a predomi­ nantly Negro audience, the Negro Congressman, and the Negro comedian afforded some rare insight into the attitudes of their race. “As befits a politician, Representative Powell focused on the white power structure. His message in brief was that Negroes will not get what they want through their major organizations until they slough off dependence on whites, even friendly “liberal” whites, and capture control for themselves. This is what Mr. Powell has concluded after 30 years of public life. His vision of the Negro future and the tactics he would employ to attain it often smack of the very failing in the white community which he assails. But if one is to judge solely by the response from his audience, his emphasis on prideful self- reliance struck a powerfully resonating chord. “Mr. Gregory took a different tack addressing himself not to the mehanics of progress but in the Negro psychology. With deft penetration, he probed the burden of shame and self-hate which many Negroes carry, evoking gushes of liberating laughter at each touch of a sensitive nerve. “Unlike Mr. Powell, Mr. Gregory showed no signs of vindictiveness or of what must he called Negro racism. But his message, too, was self- reliance ajid pride. “It can perhaps be said that Representative Powell represents the defiance of his people and Mr. Gregory, the common humanity. Both attest to the profound determination of Negroes for an improve­ ment in their lot. If the white community of Wash­ ington, of the country as a whole’ does not take note of the impulses which these men voice, only sickness and tragedy lie ahead”. Urban Renewal Mayor Wagner’s statement, this week, that the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn has been selected for “area services” and that an urban renewal scheme is to be instituted there very rapidly, brought praise from some sections. Other sections of the Brooklyn community were not so enthusiastic, for various reasons. Some felt that the Mayor’s scheme for middle income and low rent projects in the area from Nostrand to Sumner Avenuds was just a drop in the huge bucket of problems in Stuyford. Others saw the bulldozing of the area just an­ other round of throwing poor people out into the streets with no provision for their housing while the projects are going up. The Bedford-Stuyvesant area needs any help it can get This is our attitude about the matter. While we agree that the current effort may be just a drop in the bucket, we are glad to see some effort being made to implement some of the vital schemes neces­ sary for this area — housing, garbage collection, employment, training /or youths. We would also like to see some of our merchants take an interest in the community where they make all their money. Additional Letters to Editor On Page 46 and 47. Taxation Down To The Wire By R J. MEADDOUGH To the grumblers and whiners, to the proscrati- nators and busybodies, to the rich and poor and anjry and defranchised: this is it! If you had a gross income of $600 or more 5x1 must file a federal tax return. Technically, ne return must be in the hands of the District Direcor by April 15, 1963, but the general in- terpretation has been that the return j must be post-rtfarked by that date, and the Internal Revenue Service has never made an issue of this point. The most difficult part of pre­ paring a tax return is getting all the facts together, for there are two types of facts: internal and external, and you have to have both to do the job. The internal facts are the easiest Meaddou* to get, bevduse they’re lying around the huse somewhere. These are the cancelled checks, the interest statements, the medical bills, the W-2 foms, and all the other pieces of paper that affect ;our return. This supporting information should be attached to your copy of the tax return and hel< for a period of three years. The IRS cannot assess additional taxes fof any taxable year prior to three years before the oirrent taxable year. After the three years the record may be destroyed. The external facts require more study, /or they concern information on the ways and means of filling out your tax return. By this time you shculd have gotten a lot of information on the subject, most of which is repetitious and a lot of which may be irrelevant. The tax books refer to capital gains and deprecia­ tion, which, while of value to the dentist,the business­ man, or the smug income groups, are if little value to the wage-earner. The wage-earnff frequently employs a tax advisor because: a—te wants to unload the whole mess because it frightens him, or b—he concludes that, if the govemmsnt can be cheated, such work must be done by a piofessional. Not Responsible Another curious factor is the feeling that if a tax advisor “estimates” (cheats) in his behalf he is somehow not responsible. Keep in mind that the taxpayer is always and only responsbile for the information given in his tax return. Naturally, the tax advisors are very much aware of these factors and they charge their clients accordingly. I know one man who pays $35 :o have his tax return done when the fair market *alue of any tax return for income under $25,000, £t best, should be about $15. Another source of information is the magazine article which gives tax advice, but such artices are usually too slick, too general, and too weak. Your best sources of information are: 1. IRS — Taxpayers Service Branch - call WA 4-3000. Incidentally, call BE 3-940 for tax information on your state tax retun. 2. One or more of the tax books, to be usd as a cross-reference, and for expanded covejge on particular tax issues. 3. “Your Federal Income Tax,” a fort cent publication of the Internal Revenue £rvice, available at IRS offices and at mdt post offices. This publication answers 909.' of any questions that a taxpayer may hav* With these three information sources, with a sound system of keeping records, and \4h your innate commor. sense, you can probably d<?the tax return yourself. People In Action The Solid Wall Cracks By DR MARTIN LUTHER KING. JR. Sharp social change is painful and at times painfully slow. This has been apparent at Albany, Georgia, scene of the largest “jail- ins” of the nonviolent movement. Recently, the City Commission repealed the entire section of the city code that carried segregation ordin­ ances. Desipte the fact that this was only an obvious ma* neuver to preserve the segregated sys­ tem through some sophisticated tech­ nique other than by law, it is of critical significance to those who have been working for more than a year to “democratize” this now- famous southwest Georgia city. DR. KING The repeal of the city”s segrega­ tion laws indicates clearly that the city fathers are realistically fac­ ing the legal death of segregation. The forces of segregation in Al­ bany have compromised their in­ flexible position once again. The first compromise came when they chose to close all pub- licy supported facilities, e.ig., library, playgrounds, swimming pools, etc., rather than run the risk of repeated attacks by the Al­ bany Movement if allowed to re­ main open. This second compromise is of more critical import because it evidences that the city is not wont to battle in the legal arena because the outcome, with all of its costliness, is a foregone con­ clusion. Even the delay-available through Tflegal skirmish seems not to warrant their time and ef­ fort. In the wake of the legal retreat of Albany, the public library has been opened on a 30-day “trial basis” — integrated. Of course there are no chairs and the re­ ference rooms are not in use, but vertical integration has been the prelude to full integration in li­ brary facilities in a dozen cities around the South. To be sure, neither of these relat­ ed events can be measured as full victory, but neither do they smack of defeat for those who have championed justice, self-respect and human dignity. It does, in fact, represent a par­ tial victory, for it vindicates the direction in which the W. G. Anderson-led forces always mov­ ed - full participation as American citizens in every quarter of Al­ bany community life. The cracks that appear now will be joined by others in the days that are ahead. The repeal of the segregation ordinances and the vertical integration at the public library are only portehts of that which is to come. Many prophets of doom have written Albany off as an indefi- nite stalemate. We have protested all along, that despite tangible gains that were difficult to mea­ sure, the most important thing that had been accomplished by the end of the summer was the sensitizing of the Negro commu­ nity to the injustices and immora­ lity of the system of segregation. It has been said that is is impos­ sible to ride a man’s back unless it is bent. If nothing else, the Ne­ gro in Albany has straightened his back. We say now as we have said earlier, Albany will never be the same again. You have not heard the last of that southwest Georgia city. Pulse Of New York’s Public The Amsterdam News welcomes letters on either side of any subject. It is preferred, that letters not exceed 250 words and the? must (m signed. Names will be withheld on request. No letters can be returned. AU must be addressed to the tditor. Who Are They? Sir: Your March 2.7 issue of the New York Amsterdam News stated in a headline story that “Negroes Blast Governor Rocke­ feller.” At no place in this ar­ ticle was there the name of one of the Negroes who publicly ex­ pressed bitterness over the Gov­ ernor’s denying the appointment of Negroes to posltons of au­ thority in his administration. served for the position. One wonders if that out­ standing West Indian hater, who is now an Advisor to the Gov­ ernor preferred an outsider get­ ting the job. One wonders just when Fowler, Chairman of the State Commission on Human Rights, will begin an investiga­ tion of the State Labor Depart­ ment and State Division of Hous­ ing. Maybe we’U find out if he is one of the Negroes who blasted the governor. This should be obvious to you and every registered Democrat, that not one Negro political lead­ er in the Republican Party would speak out strongly, and prompt­ ly on any problems affecting the destiny of his own people. These Republican leaders are usually Uncle Toms who have no moral standing, or carry any weight In their community, in fact they are usually the type of Negroes ad­ mired most by the Whit$ Re­ publican bosses. A Reader, NYC Weep Not Sir: It is interesting to learn that the Protestant Council is sitting on a survey .which dis­ closed that 53 percent of the top jobs in the NYC Municipal ser­ vice are held by Jewish people. It occurs to me that Protes­ tants have no cause to weep over this. Among major religions, the Protestant in America, greatly, outnumbers any other sect. Jews, are Jews, however, whether they be Orthodpx or Reformed insofar as politics Is concerned. Sir, what type of men, or group of political leaders could have sat idly by, and applaud Rocke­ feller and Albany for denying Negroes positions of dignity and authority In both the State De­ partment of Labor and the State Division of Housing and Commu­ nity Renewal? There is only one “true" Catho­ lic Church as you know. Many of the top jobholders who are Negro are also Catholic, for good reason. They could never depend What group of leaders would for support on fellow white Pro­ blast Governor Rockefeller, and instants. beg the newspapers not to use our Among Protestants, It is your names. I thought that leaders guess as to how many denomina- were men who stood in the fore- tions there are, but a Negro of front and battle for their con- fjCe broker is a Negro first to stituents. I didn't know that our Protestants of light hue. It was Republican Leaders were men j neither the Jew nor Catholic who who threw stones and then hid brought slavery to this country and established the immoral cli­ behind the skirts of a dedicated mate of bigotry that poisoned news editor. Sir. the reason Albany or the Jewish and Catholic immigrants Governor did wot appoint a Negro to thia country, Protestants can to the position on the State Un­ claim that shameful honor. e employment Insurance Appeal It is not to the credit of the Board should be obvious to all Council to cast a Jaundied eye at these jobs which are the spoils concerned. The Harlem leaders of politics. It simply behooves could not agree on one person them to get out in the street for the job, and then for some and work alongside their neigh­ reasons known only to them­ bors for good government and may selves they started to inject that the best men be appointed. What anti - West Indian propaganda when the name of one was pre- is more, if any of that 53 per cent refers to jobs in the Civil Qn fhg Ball Service, then it behooves Protes-' tants, to study as hard as the Jew and pass high on Civil ser­ vice tests. One more thing. A few years ago, when one of the ablest men ever to sit on the bench in NYC was denied reappointment, where were the Protestant organizations in that fight for a black Protes­ tant? Most of the howling was done by Jews. I refer to Hon. Hubert Delaney. The time and effort and money spent for that survey could well have been given to such an org­ anization as the Protestant Board of Guardians. It would have done much more good. * M. Harris, NYC Can't See It Dear Sir: The Urban league of Greater New York deplores any form of racial or religious discrimination in employment. We therefore commend the Amsterdam News for its crusad­ ing spirit which in the words of your publisher places “the spot­ light on anything that might ob­ struct the progress of the Negro.” Yet, we cannot see that the cause of fair employment was served In anyway by the news article with the headline, “Secret- Study Says Jews Control City's ..... Top - pppparinK 9>h Sir: In 1958, I complained bit­ terly about the treatment of Ne­ groes at a military installation in the south. Out of the dozen of letters written to Congress­ men and civil rights organiza­ tions, only one man answered my letter promptly, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell. Adam fol­ lowed up his reply with swift action, he sent the inspector from Washington to our base twice in succession after receiving our complaints. I could have been anybody any where in the United States com plaining about injustice. Only Rep. Powell rose to the occasion, the rest did not. Now, when the stakes are high, we should sup­ port Congressman Powell. I’m for Powell. Name withheld at request Secret Survey Sir: After reading your head­ line article o! March 9, entitled “Secret Study Says Jews Con­ trol City’s Top Jobs,” one gets the impression that (1) the Jews arc grabbing the top Jobs away from Protestants, and <2) this grabbing may be in the form of an unspoken or spoken conspi­ racy motivated by religious or ethnic antagonism. It is then pointed out that “about 85 per cent of the city’s Protestants are Negroes," and .. "»“Z~ Innocent victims of this religious or ethnic strife. , ably more to civilization than their numbers would indicate, I believe the reason for this is principally because of the Tal­ mudic tradition of scholarliness. The statistics might suggest, on the other hand, the Negroes have not had this ethnic and re- ligiou tradition and have not been offered by the white Amer­ ican of all religious persuasions equal educational opportunities. Could we have a study on the proportion of the city’s top jobs held by white Protestants as compared to the percentage of white Protestants in the city? Then, perhaps, we will get the feeling that the Negroes, be they Protestant, Catholic, Moslem, or Jewish, are not offered equal ed­ ucational opportunities and, sec­ ondarily, are not offered equal vocational opportunities due to the white Americans’ prejudice and conspiracy. “While the city population of Protestants and Jewish people is about the same, persons of Jewish religion held some 53.4 per cent ot the top city jobs, as compared to only 8.7 per cent held by persons of the Protes­ tant faith.” Stuart Hochman Eastoih- Pennsylvania Anti-Survey Sir: We were shocked at the anti-CathoIic, anti-Semitic article you carried on your front page last week, from an “alleged” report. v Dark Page Sir: Your so-ca d expose (too explosive to pu$sh), claim­ ing fifty three per lent of top positions in this c ’ are con­ trolled by Jews, a crude, blatant, obvious pile of anti­ semitism and shoul(|^rovide fer­ tile ground for thefrowth and spread of religious latred and bigotry everywhere. Why your newspAr, a rep­ resentative of a permuted min­ ority should add a<her dark page to the endless Dlumes of distortions and lies a(ut people of the Jewish faithjlefies all reason The history of the <wish peo­ ple since the beginnif of civrl-r Ization is written in (od drop­ ping from the hand, of sub­ humans posing as reBous zea­ lots, in terror, violenejnd geno­ cide, with only a file pride and an awe inspiring (termina­ tion to live, enablinevhem to survive. Yet. they have no,deigned to ask for favors, splal eon- .-MAT--;ion or preferenjl treat­ ment as compensation for the cruelties inflicted agdtt them. Instead they have susfuted hard work, an insatiable prlve for education and untolj ambition to reach the top in ofessions, arts, business and >litics Your theory that iclal and religious considerati s should be the sole determini s for city positions is in line 1 h that of purists of Hitlerean rtgin and totally disregards fitls and ab ility. in the Amsterdam News. Rather, it ia In our opinion, the type of journalism that creates needless tensions among religious and ra­ cial groups at a time when all should be united in the struggle to achieve equal opportunities. If you wish, I would be most willing to join with you and other groups in a further discussion of the matter. We defy you to name thia re­ port. It seems strange to us that you are the only publication which has found this “alleged" report. Assuming the accuracy of the statistics. I am sure that, al­ though your article did not say so, we would agree that there would be nothing morally wrong with these statistics of and by themselves as long as six times as many qualified Jewish people such a rick purpose, offered their services to the We are sending your newspa city as did similarly qualified per to the proper authorities for Negro people, I authentication of your “alleged A. My friends and r ong time If you are trying to create proponents of Negro uses, are bias within your own readership shocked, disillusions and dis­ against other minorities, thia ar- mayed at the repor erroneous tide should be most useful for as it is. It will not|o unchal lenged George linenow Lenox Roa Brooklyn, h if. Yours sincerely, Edward S. Lewis Executive Director Let us not forget that at least I report. up to recent times, Jews have! I historically contributed consider-1 P S. B. Winfield has been published New York, N. Y (tend me the same Votir side o^his issue ex- ease frtety. Untitled Document file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/hello.html2/18/2007 11:01:03 AMThomas M. Tryniski 309 South 4th Street Fulton New York 13069 www.fultonhistory.com