‘The world-famous trio, the Supremes, was given four hours to get out of South Africa by govern- ment officials after they _ denounced the racist apartheid regime of Balthazar Vorster..

The Supremes had chosen to tour South Africa despite a large-scale campaign waged against such a tour by entertainers, legislators, activists and their own fans.

The Supremes had to learn the hard way that the racist Vorster regime is not ready to make any concessions on its minority rule, even if it involved world-famous entertainers.

The news of the Supremes’ ac- tion was largely ignored by the North American press, but SOUL, a Black entertainment publication revealed in its latest issue that the group had voiced its anti-apartheid

~ views to a reporter of the Durban

Daily News while on tour. ,

The Supremes, in the Durban interview, declared they had been

- deceived about the arrangements for the tour and declared that they

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were insulted after having been declared, ‘‘honorary white.”

The treatment of Black Africans under apartheid was_ also denounced by the Supremes.

On being declared ‘‘honorary white,” Cindy Birdsong told the reporter, “I am allowed to do things here that people who are born and live here can’t do. I feel it is an insult that Icanstay in a hotel that a Black African is not allowed in,”’

The interview was immediately picked up by a number of South African newspapers. When the Supremes returned to Capetown they were served notice by the government officials that they had four hours to get out of the country.

Ms. Payne told SOUL, ‘‘We were glad to leave South Africa. Physically it’s a beautiful country, but it’s run by a bunch of bigots.”

She declared that the conditions of Blacks in South Africa are worse than anything she had witnessed in the U.S.

At a private party hosted by

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Supremes decry apartheid

Supremes’ soprano Scherrie Payne which was attended by SOUL editor Ken Jones, Cindy Birdsong, elaborating on the group’s Durban interview, said, ‘‘We were fooled in the arrangements for coming over here (to South Africa) in the first place.”

The group said they had been promised integrated audiences throughout the tour, but only two of their 24 concert dates were given “racial permits” which allows Blacks to attend.

Ms. Payne, however, noted that even though two .“‘racial permits”’ were obtained, the concerts were not advertised among Black Africans and they themselves took to the streets to hand out free tickets.

The Supremes brought back films, which Jones asserted were “taken surreptitiously from Africa’’ showing living conditions of Black Africans.

Spokespersons of the African liberation movement feel that the Supremes’ denunciation of apartheid on its own soil was a direct result of pressure that had been put on them prior to their departure. :

As early as June, the Daily World carried an open letter to the Supremes urging them not to tour South Africa, and launched a letter-writing campaign. Sub- sequently, the American Com- mittee on Africa’ called on en- tertainers, writers and legislators to join the campaign.

Frederick O’Neal, president of Actors Equity Association wrote the Supremes saying “‘that his association adopted a resolution years ago against members per-

forming in South Africa as long as |

the current racial policies exist.”

An October 22 editorial in the New York-based Amsterdam News declared that while they concede the right of artists to perform for any audiences they choose, “nonetheless, such is the gravity of the situation in South Africa that we believe the Supremes — and Berry Gordy, Motown head — should take time to explain to Black America just why _ they

_ choose to honor with their presence

the world’s’ most outspoken practitioners of Black genocide.”

According to reports in a number of entertainment periodicals, a major reason why these appeals fall on the deaf ears of performers is that promotion managers for the apartheid regime promise in- tegrated -audiences.

The concession of ‘‘integrated’’ audiences is used as bait to lure artists to South Africa in the belief that they are making a_ con- tribution toward the betterment of Blacks.

Most entertainers who go there despite warnings, do not bother to oppose the principle of apartheid while in South Africa.. The Supremes, who learned through bitter experience not only saw the light but were courageous enough to denounce apartheid on the spot.

For this, the Supremes should be

“commended and their experience

must serve as a lesson to future entertainers flirting with the South African concert circuit. At last, I can play the Supremes’ albums again. Amadeo Richardson Daily World

Seasou's Grecings : Warm Wishes For 1976

and friends

Vancouver East

¥ To all our comrades ¥ Ma Club CPC ;

The Sunken in rehearsal; left to right, Cindy Birdsong, sary Wilson

and Scherrie Payne.

By MIKE GIDORA

Has NHL learned lesson?”

When the two teams from the premier division of the Soviet Union’s hockey league begin their eight game jaunt into NHL arenas next week, it will be different.This time the myth of NHL invincibility has been laid to rest. ©

That bubble burst three years ago when the Soviet National team trounced the best the NHL had to offer 7-2 on the evening of Sep- tember 2, 1972 in the opening game of the first Team Canada-Soviet series.

If you remember, that first

series was supposed to be a romp

for the Canadians. The ‘‘dean’’ of Canada’s hockey writers, - Red Fisher of the Montreal Star, had written just before the opening game, ‘‘I don’t think Team Canada will lose a game.’’ Foster Hewitt

had said ‘‘Canada’s two goals a

game better. It looks like 8-0 Canada.”’ : Others, including Jacques

‘Plante, Dick Beddoes of the Globe

and Mail, Jerry Eskenazi of the New York Times, and Fran Rosa of the Boston Globe, called it eight

_ games straight for the Canadians.

That series is history. Team Canada, or more properly put Team NHL, emerged with a resounding victory of four wins, three losses, and one game tied. They dominated the series so thoroughly that they were out- scored 32-31 by a Soviet team that was, in Dick Beddoes words, ‘‘in decay.”

But what did that first series prove? It proved the contention of a number of writers. that professional sport does not necessarily mean excellence.

Excellence means more than simply scoring more goals that than the other team. It means conducting yourselves ina manner which will win respect for -your ability to score the goals.

But Team Canada did not do that. They were typified by J.P. Parise menacing a referee with his

stick, or Bobby Clarke cutting

down the Soviet star Valery Kharmalov with a_ two-handed chop across the ankle on the _in- structions of Canadian coach Harry Sinden.

Or they were represented by the accusations that their hotel rooms were ‘‘bugged’’, that they were being followed, and all other sorts of cold war-inspired nonsense.

But Alan Eagleson (Uncle Al the Player’s Pal) said it all for Team Canada when he assaulted a Soviet policeman and then paraded across the middle of the ice with

‘skating and shooting and spending ~

and clear that we were.

his forefinger held aloft in what John Robertson of the Montreal Star called ‘‘the Team Ugly ~ Canada salute.” q

That was the first series, andthe second one, two years later, erased a few of thebadmarks left by those ~ antics, primarily because of coach Billy Harris’ contention that hockey is, after all, a game which | is played to be enjoyed. But the _ accusations and complaints were — still there.

What about the upcoming series What will the reaction of the Philadelphia Flyers, a team which — lives and dies on violence and — intimidation, be to a goal by ~ Alexander Maltsev? Will coach — Fred Shero lean over and whisper ~ the magic words “‘Sic ’em’’ into Dave Schultz’s ear? i

Let’s hope not. There is nothing to be won or lost in these eight — games between the Moscow Wings, _ and Central Red Army team and ~ the eight NHL teams. There is no trophy for the series, there’s no — reputations to be won or lost, and all participants in the series have ~ proven beyond a doubt that they — are among the best in the world in the game of hockey.

For myself, I have a nagging suspicion that violence and _ in- timidation will be part of the eight games played, if only for the simple reason that the National Hockey League has allowed the game of hockey to degenerate to a point where. violence and salesmanship are the cornerstones on which the league is built. i

Hopefully, though, I’m over — reacting. Maybe we’llsee the NHL. go through an_ instant — rehabilitation and play the game _ the way it was meant to be played, which means honing up on their _

alittle less time working out in the boxing ring.

Maybe they’ il learn that there is a little more to sports than simply — winning . . . no matter what the cost in terms of stature.

If we do “see an NHL rehabilitation, this upcoming series promises to be one of the most entertainig and exciting — number of games played in some — time. At the very least, it — guarantees to be an improvement — over the style of play we’ve been — force fed by the NHL and WHA in the two years since the last Team Canada-Soviet matchup.

As observers, all we can do is” wait. and see. And if we are disappointed, let it be known loud