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James Joseph, Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (see story on page 32). For many delegates, Monday began at 7:30 AM with the Leadership Breakfast for top chapter and state/district officials. At this forum, General President Williams briefed those present on matters pending before the convention and urged them to take actions based on a national perspective. During the discussion, the General President reminded the "local leaders" that they are in unique positions to make things happen in Alpha. The Equitable Employment Opportunities Luncheon was again superb — under the leadership of Brother Charles Lewis. One of America's giant business firms, Xerox Corporation, was the recipient of Alpha's 1980 Equitable Opportunity Award. It was presented on the basis of demonstrated achievements in community service, EEO, and affirmative action. In accepting the award, Xerox Vice President Douglas Reid stressed his firm's commitment to minority progress. These efforts include the sponsorship of television specials on Blacks and special partnership efforts with Alpha, primarily the AlphaXerox Jobs Awareness program and monumental support (especially in computer services) to the Million Dollar Fund Drive. This luncheon was also the scene of the presentation of the Alpha Award of Honor to Maryland Congressman Parren J. Mitchell. This award is the highest given to a nonmember and was presented primarily because of Mitchell's successful efforts to enact the 10% minority business set-aside legislation which the Supreme Court recently upheld as constitutional. Mitchell addressed the convention at the Business Encouragement Seminar immediately following the
ABOVE: Alpha's 1980 Equitable Opportunity Award is present to Xerox Vice President Douglas Reid (second from right) by General President Williams. Flanking them are, at left, Brother Larry Charles (also a Xerox employee) and Brother Charles Lewis, chairman of the Fraternity's EEO Committee. LEFT: Businessman Thaddeus Garrett, right, joins the General President in congratulating Congressman Parren Mitchell on his award.
MITCHELL ON EMPOWERMENT Congressman Parren Mitchell said his message to the Black community is "economic empowerment." "All of us are tired of Black people being consumers and not producers. All of us must understand that we have got to build an economic base." Mitchell contended that minority and small businesses should not feel threatened by the country's shift to the right — but he urged Black leaders to address this movement. "The destruction of any programs for
human survival is in progress," he noted, adding that in such a mood Blacks are treated "not with indifference, but with steadied, callous contempt." The Congressman outlined the legislative fight to protect small businesses, "There has been strong opposition to these laws but we will overcome this opposition," he declared. "Each government agency has an office (to ensure enforcement of laws), and small disadvantaged businesses will get at least 10 percent of
the affected government contracts, totalling $96 billion annually. He added that a monitoring system was in place to detect noncomplying companies and fraudulent "front companies."
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The Sphinx / Fall 1980