Melvin B. Miller
Editor & Publisher

A Bush decision

Last month, President George W. Bush ended his five-year boycott of the NAACP. Every president since Warren G. Harding (1921-1923) had addressed the NAACP’s national convention until Bush demurred, allegedly because of hostile remarks made by Julian Bond, the NAACP board chairman. Bush described his relationship with the organization as “basically non-existent.”

However, Bush reconsidered his position and delivered a speech to the NAACP on July 20 in which he offered reconciliation between African Americans and Republicans. Political analysts believe that the change of heart resulted from Bush’s falling popularity in the polls and the very real prospect that his party will lose congressional seats in November.

An unexpected consequence of the event is that, judging from telephone calls to talk radio shows, some black radicals have denounced the NAACP for extending an invitation to Bush. With the renewal of certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act underway at that time, African Americans should have been reminded of the importance of the power of the presidency in securing racial equality. It is absolutely appropriate for the NAACP to continue to maintain access to the White House.

The nature of the present campaign for racial equality will be very different from the fight for civil rights. Confrontation and civil disobedience were the strategies then. What was needed was a change in the laws to make racial discrimination illegal. While violations of those laws still need to be prosecuted, today’s battlefront is the development of black political power and wealth.

Success today requires individual discipline and achievement and a willingness to form strong families and communities. African Americans must be able to compete. Not everyone on the playing field will be supportive and affable, but there must be a determination to succeed nonetheless.

Even the militants should understand that it was a political victory for the NAACP that Bush, after five years of recalcitrance, found it necessary to capitulate and address the convention. Blacks must learn to understand the rules of the new game.

Avoid poor choices

As the old saying goes, “It’s awfully expensive to be poor.” A recent report published by the Brookings Institution has established the truth of that maxim. The study found that, “In general, lower income families tend to pay more for the exact same consumer products than families with higher incomes.”

The list of necessities that are more costly includes check cashing, short-term loans, car prices, car loans, car insurance, home loans, home insurance, furniture, appliances, electronics and groceries. According to the study, low-income consumers — those with an income of less than $30,000 per year — are the ones most affected by the price differences.

Regardless of their level of income, con- sumers should consider it a point of pride to shop around and get the best prices for every transaction. Even banks that charge service fees are less expensive than check cashing operations. Rent-to-own operations are unreasonably costly. Do the math. Grocery stores like Shaw’s and Stop & Shop are accessible by the MBTA if you do not have a car.

Other costs like car and home insurance will require political action to control. Low-income consumers must understand that it is a struggle to make ends meet. Economic predators will always be busy trying to separate you from an unreasonable portion of your hard earned paycheck. It is your duty to hold the predators at bay. Unfortunately, that’s the name of the game and it has always been so.