Bush's pullout disappointing EORGE BUSH was not a terribly satisfactory contender for the Republican presidential nomination. But Bush fought a long, hard cam- paign against Ronald Reagan,.and it is disappoin- ting to see him concede the GOP race to his most unsatisfactory opponent. Entering the race at a definite disadvantage, Bush gained momentum after his startling victory in the Iowa caucuses last February. But that state wasn't enough to carry him in New Hampshire and although he had sporadic wins in six primaries, in- cluding Michigan just last week, he did not have enough delegates to pose a serious threat to Reagan. Bush tried to appeal to moderates as well as con- servatives, but he sounded too much like a younger version of Ronald Reagan to give Republican voters a real choice in the primary race. Bush, however, had neither Reagan's name-recognition nor his winning personality. Bush's concession to Reagan and his pledge of support for Reagan's battle-against President Car- ter means the Republicans will be able to present a strong, united front against the Democrats in November. Bush's withdrawal will give the party a chance to rest, raise money, and plan strategy for the war with Carter that officially begins after the July convention in Detroit. The democrats will have no such luck.Chances for a united Democratic party seem pretty slim. Many Democrats will probably refuse to vote for Carter and either support Anderson or stay home next November. Blacks, a vital component in Carter's election in 1976, may decide to boycott the election all together. Bush's withdrawal could mean a boost for Reagan's campaign. And anything that adds the least bit to Reagan's chances of becoming our next president is both tragic and frightening. S^ 6 -aua 1 H ap ws t eeo r9te A BLACK YOUTH runs from a burning car during last week's Miami riot. The riot was the most devastating in American history and was the most significant sign of racial dissatisfaction since the late 1960's. Roots of Miami racia rebellion still liUnger Miami burns. On Sunday and By Manning Marable people-was strikingly different. Monday night, May 18 and 19, the The Concerned Black streets belonged to the poor had a black population who wan- Organization for Juatice, an all- people of Liberty City, Miami's ted to hear some promises for black collective of community major bladk ghetto. On virtually reform," black community ac- activists and organizers, issued a every corner cars and trucks had tivist Francena Thomas said. militant counter-agenda, listing a been turned over or were set The white establishment is series of demands. Included aflame. Hundreds of burglar "losing those of uaewho believe in within the ist was the rein- alarma were ringing thia aystem. We've begun to aee atitution of the Bill of Righta for aimultaneously along Northwest that the promise for racial justice black Miamians-the right to Fifty-Fourth Street, the ghetto's and nonviolent reform is a lie." free assembly and speech, the central business district. Huge Black youth typified the level of right to bear arms; the end of all factory warehouses in the nearby activism. Youngsters under the curfew restrictions, and Brownsville community were age of eighteen engaged in sniper economic self determination for torched. Grocery and clothing fire with police and National black working people within their atores were gutted after the mer- Guardsmen, and often won auch own communities. chandiae had disappeared. confrontations. "Twenty two The McDuffie verdict was not Miami police refused to answer caliber guns going up against M- the cause, but merely the fatal calls for assistance in many area. 16s," reflected Thomas. "That's spark, that ignited the fires in Only when 2,500 additional a direct indication of the level of Miami's black community. In- National Guardsmen were added despe;ration that people feel." fluential black leaders like Garth to the 1,100 who arrived on Sun- As the rebellion gradually sub- Reeves, Sr., editor/publisher of day was some element of order sided, Mayor Maurice A. Ferre the Miami Times, had warned restored. asked several national black repeatedly that the violence Police encouraged, and in some leaders, including Andrew would be the inevitable outcome instances, initiated the racist Young, NAACP head Benjamin of the historic patters of racial counter-attack. Several black Hooks, PUSH's Jesse Jackson, and economic injustice in men were shot under what can Cong. G.T. Leland (Mickey) and Southern Florida. Only two only be described as suspicious John Conyers to "cool off" the weeks before the rebellion, the circumstances. In one incident, black community rage. On late Times editorialized that "the police shot a 23 year old black Tuesday afternoon, Hooks called blueprint for a summer of discon- man who supposedly charged a meeting of moderate black tent in this community is being them with a small knife. Blacks community leaders and en- carefully and meticulously arrested for looting were often couraged them to counsel patien- drawn by the public officials and segregated from white prisoners. ce. Hooks proposed a cooperative power structure of Dade County. Looting suspects who returned to effort between white cor- The season's sun will add heat to their parked automobiles at one porations and black labor to con- the frustrations of the idle department store after being struct a coalition similar to one young. Neither the mayor nor released discovered that white fashioned by Detroit Mayor the business leaders of Miami police had smashed their win- Coleman Young in the early listened to Reeves-much to the dshields, destroyed their engines 1970's. "we got the top white city's loss. and had spray-painted all cars leaders and the top black leaders The rebellion has subsided with the word "Looter." A few to work together to create jobs temporarily, but the root causes black community activists even and find the money to rebuild and of the racial crisis continue. charged that some National most of all work together," he in- Francena Thomas states that the Guardsman were illegally sisted. Black former Miami bloody uprising taught many providing guns to white property- Commissioner Althalie Range Miami blacks that "justice for owners. contacted Ray Goode, Greater whites is different than justice for Significantly, the numbers of Miami Chamber of Commerce us. Nothing that's not profitable blacks participating in the head, Frank Borman, President survives in American society. rebellion cut across a broader of Eastern Airlines, and Miami This is why," she concluded, we class division than during the Herald President Alvah Chap- have ghettoes. And this is why the 1968 uprising. People who stood man to "assist us in seeking Miami "slave rebellion" is sim- along the sidelines condemning assistance from others within ply a bitter prologue to the the violence twelve years ago, private enterprise" to restore greater urban fires that are yet to such as black school teachers, economic order. come. principals and other The message from the black Manning Marabte is a professor of professionals, were sometimes workers and unemployed in the political economy and history at Cor- found among the looters. on Sun- heart of Liberty City-dubbed nell University's Africaiia Studies day andI Moniday. "In 1968, .you. . ."grn .City."y its. llagk young Center.