This column originally appeared in The Atlanta Voice on April 2, 1977. Here are the thoughts of Publisher Emeritus, J. Lowell Ware:
On the fifth of April, 1977 I plan to cast two votes. One for the 5th District Congressional seat and one fro the 34th House district for the state of Georgia. Every person registered to vote in either race and is worth his salt should do the same. You don’t have to for the same candidates I vote for. I wish you would however and I am sure that they feel the same way too.
Now after all the sound and fury there has emerged a candidate that Blacks and Whites alike can support. He is John Lewis. He has proven that he can run the maze. In a field of eleven candidates, he has beat them all but one. On April 5, he will face a showdown with him He can win. He has strength among Blacks and Whites. He is a good candidate. He will make a good Congressman, but he must be elected.
For the past four years, Andrew Young represented the 5th Congressional District. Immediately after his re-election this year he answered the President’s call to be Ambassador to the U.N. This is why we are voting on April 5th. We liked Andy because he took the kind of position that spoke to our needs as Black people, poor people and social concerned people. This was good for us and good for the country. This is the kind of representation that this country cannot afford to lose.
We are fortunate that John Lewis, who Time Magazine called a living saint, decided to run. He thinks much like Andy on issues that is our utmost concern, and well he should. They were both prominent in the struggle in the ’60s, for human rights. They both walked side by side with Dr. King. They suffered when he suffered yet his light was so bright that it all but dimmed their own own. A few of us still remember that John Lewis was knocked unconscious during the march on Selma, Ala. He has paid his dues but he is not through and the debt has not been settled. We are still miles from home. John Lewis may not take us there but this much we know already, he knows the way. This is half of the problem and half of the solution. There are those who claim they have the solution when they do not know in fact the problem. There are those who claim they know the answers when they have not really framed the right questions.
John Lewis knows what the problems are. He was born apart of the problem. Now he is part of the problem and the solution. Most of his life has been spent in these areas. He worked in the movement until the character and nature of the struggle changed and now for over a decade he has directed the registration and education of voters over the Southeastern region. He is good at this. His record speaks for itself. When he talks about unemployment, Welfare, inflation, racism, poverty, and the total denigration of some human beings, he speaks from experience. He speaks from the heart. He speaks for all of us, whether we admit it or not.
Now none of us can deny the foregoing. They are historical facts to be documented now
and forever. The final question then is can he effectively work for the solution? I think he can. He has the desire. He has the Courage. He has the wisdom. He Needs The Votes. You and I can supply these.
On April 5, I plan to cast two votes in the runoff. For the 34th House District for the state of Georgia, I will vote for Jesse Williams. For the 5th Congressional District I will cast my vote for John Lewis. I think they are good choices. I recommend Them!
