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Charles Wright Elected National President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Asks President Carter To Implement Humphrey-Hawkins Bill [[image]] [[caption]] Belnavis, Ballard, Searies, Powell and Hanna [[image]] [[caption]] Janice Kissner, and Zeta sister [[image]] [[caption]] Doar and Daley The Reverend Buster Soaries said there was no reason why a young man under 25 years old should not head a 65 year old organization. "Leadership in Black organizations belongs to the young and they should make every effort to prepare themselves for the awesome responsibility which comes with leadership." They day of "Jive" is over, the Reverend said. Congressman Parren Mitchell recalled the turbulent 1960's which won progress for Blacks in the 1970's but which are now being eroded by a growing conservatism and the so-called "benign neglect" policies of the administration which has failed to implement the Humphrey-Hawkins bill that guaranteed total employment. Congressman Mitchell warned of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan and the insidious approaches of conservatism and right wingism which forced attacks on affirmative action programs which results in the Bakke case, the Webber case and other cases now pending in the courts challenging Blacks' progress in works and educational opportunities. Dr. Mabel McClean, President of Barber-Scotia College, warned Sigma men to be wary of the frivolities of the times. Dr. McClean said that there was no substitute for a thorough basic education. "There is no substitute for learning English and using the English language as a means of communication with the outside world. This business of Black English as a means of communication, then Black youth," Dr. McClean said, "better learn to become bilingual so that they may be understood as they pursue the basic necessities of life." Deeply concerned over the rising conservatism and turn to the right which has allowed a policy of "benign neglect" to inhibit advances and employment and education; and greatly alarmed over the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan and other forms of attack on civil rights and worried over the fact that unemployment among Black youth has not decreased, Delegates passed several resolutions which asked the National body to convey to President Carter and their duty elected political leaders their concerns in regard to human, civil, social and political welfare. The Delegates asked President Carter to implement and strengthen the Humphrey-Hawkins bill by executive order; to pursue the congress to pass a full National Health Program; to instruct Government agencies and all bodies concerned to help Black colleges and institutions which are now "endangered"; to solicit the Congress of the United States to pass legislation which would make January 15th, Martin Luther King's birthday, a National holiday; to support all programs throughout the world which deal with the care of children, senior citizens and the underprivileged. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. will hold its 66th Anniversary Conclave in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in July 1981. "In building bridges to the 1980's," James Joseph, the Under-Secretary of Interior exhorted Sigma men not to overlook careers and jobs which 358
