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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 1970)
OREGON DAILY merald Vol. LXXII, No. 32 University of Oregon, Eugene, Wednesday, October 21,1970 ‘New scholarship’ needed, Hare declares By PEARL BAKKEN Of the Emerald American schools need a “new scholarship” because education today, including most ethnic studies programs, is not relevant. That was the message of Nathan Hare, editor of Black Scholar and former chairman of the Black Studies Depart ment, San Francisco State, one of three speakers addressing over 200 persons Tuesday night in McArthur Court. Racism in education “You can look at all your education and see the racism there,” he said. Echoing his thoughts about the need for educational change were Dennis Banks, chairman of the American Indian Movement, and Ed Benton, associate director of the movement. The three speeches were part of the ASUO’s symposium on racism scheduled this week at the University. Hare said some schools have tried to bring change with Black and ethnic studies programs, but have “corrupted” those programs. “Instead of Black studies they have Negro studies programs with courses in race relations.” The classes fail because there has been no change in ideology or methodology, contended Hare. The key to successful programs is “to alter the ideology of the course—to change the values of society. You can’t put Black studies under the same old values,” he said. Historical approach Hare suggested two possible ap proaches for an ethnic studies program: •Use the historical approach, presenting past contributions of non-white people to various fields and including the present day contributions, “so nomwhites can feel a sense of involvement.” •Use the “yardstick of relevance— instead of talking about things that don’t relate to our needs, bring in things that are more relevant, like math and science.” Hare said a major mistake with many of today’s ethnic studies programs is that they emphasize only culture, art, religion and painting. “We need to move into some technology. We need some skills to overcome the oppressors of our society,” he said. Racist history Racism exists in all aspects of education, said Hare. For example, “in history they teach the Blacks and other oppressed peoples to honor Patrick Henry who said ‘Give me liberty or give me death.’ But if one of us says that they give us death.” Blacks will be the “catalysts” for the new kind of scholarship, said Hare, because “their minds are not poisoned to racism.” Pointing out that racism is only part of a complex group of problems, Hare said that racism can’t be solved until “revolutionary fundamental changes in society bring a new politics, economics, scholarship, family, morality—a whole new society.” “We need a new morality because the religion of the oppressor is unable to make men decent human beings. New politics “We need a new politics, where majority rule is not just a myth as it is today. “These things have to be changed if the oppressed races of the entire world are ever going to be free,” Hare said. Also attacking the education, Banks said the educational system in the United States is a “national tragedy.” Today’s schools are “systematically eliminating Indian students from higher education,” said Banks “The way it is set up now it is preventing minority people from expressing their opinions from standing up and from having the right of self determination ” Continued on page 3 Nathan Hare Ed Benton Dennis Banks ‘Why can’t we be Americans?’ Panel talks of racism, war By CLAY EALS Of the Emerald Four people giving individual speeches comprised a panel discussion Tuesday afternoon: “Racism and War” in the EMU Ballroom. Following an hour-long showing of the film “No Vietnamese Ever Called Me Nigger,” the discussion was made up of: •Francisco Rodriguez, Chicano Student Union. • Rick Jackson, Indian Student Union. • David Aquilar, Valley Migrant Housing Project. • Ray Eaglin, Black Community. • Alycia Simmons, moderator. Sponsored by the ASUO, the panel discussion was part of this week’s “Symposium on Racism: Black, Brown & Red.” Rodriguez began by saying, “Why can’t we be Americans in America?” More and more minorities are being inducted into the service, Rodriguez said, “but when we come back, we see our fathers and mothers living like animals. We aren’t Americans.” Minorities called foreigners Rodriguez added, “They call me a foreigner. Minorities are always foreigners. They don’t have a place in this society.” Minorities cannot get an education, he went on, because “people can’t relate to you.” Talking of the Chicanos, Rodriguez continued, “We’re militants. We never were before, but now we are a little bit. We can play the White man’s game.” And, referring to the war in general, Rodriguez said, “Chicanos are dying for the White man’s war.” Jackson began his talk by saying he didn’t want to “talk too much about the Vietnam war because of unpleasant memories.” Shoudn’t be in Vietnam A veteran himself, Jackson said when he was in Vietnam, “I saw only about 25 of us...my kind (Native Americans). I don’t think we (Native Americans) should be there.” Jackson continued, “Militancy and determination is bringing the Native Americans together.” Concluding, Jackson said, “Without a People’s Army we have nothing.” Aquilar said at the beginning of his talk that, “One thing that makes me mad is the real poison. The upper middle class people who have got it made, who are planning their next year’s vacation to get a suntan.” He deplored the use of such ad vertising devices on television as the Frito Bandito and said he didn’t like it that in grade schools in America he was forced to Today’s symposium schedule 10:00 a.m.—Films: “Los Siete de las Raza” “No Vietnamese Ever Called Me Nigger” 1:00 p.m.—Panel Discussions: “Racism and Political Power” Participants: Kent Ford, Portland Black Panther Party John Trudell, Alcatraz Indians Frank Martinez, Valley Migrant League Charles Evers, Mayor Fayette, Miss. Gloria Gonzalez, Chicano Student Union Moderator: Art Jenkins 4:00 p.m.—Black Messengers, 50c 7:30 p.m.—Addresses: Charles Evers Frank Martinez KZEL (96.1 FM) will broadcast the tape “Panther Lawyers Speak” Wednesday and Thursday nights. Charles Garry and Carelton Goodlet will talk on the Black domestic colony and the war in Vietnam. Also to be broadcast will be “Interview with Huey Newton.” eat bread sandwK' ?s when he wanted to eat tacos. Surprise coming Addressing himself to the “middle classed and middle aged,” Aquilar said, “They’ve got a surprise coming.” Aquilar added, “The only thing I know is that society is sick. If something doesn’t happen, we’re going to run out of patience.” Eaglin told the audience of about 150 people that he didn’t believe in Manifest Destiny (“all of that about moving from east to the west was a racist lie.”) as part of a heritage of America which “is all a lie.” Talking about people moving to action, Eaglin continued, “I almost feel like I’m stupid sitting up here talking.” There is a market Eaglin said of the Vietnam war, “There is a market and the government has to have something to put their ‘Made in USA’ on and war is something ‘Made in USA’.” He added, “What can you do with Richard Nixon? He’s the kind of guy that wouldn’t let you cheat off him in high school.” Eaglin said he wasn’t talking of reform, or writing letters to congressmen, but saying, “The only thing there is left to evaluate at this late date is a choice of weapons.” He qualified his statement by saying that letters to congressmen or picketing could be weapons as well as violent means. “The whole world is waiting for you to get it together in your community,” Eaglin added. Eaglin then defined racism: “A psychological and a real trait...you aren’t born with it. It’s attitudinal and behavioral—institutionalized and per sonalized. I even think this whole program is racist.” Eaglin then said he thought there “should be somebody yellow and somebody White on the panel.” Closing his remarks, Eaglin said, “We’re out to rectify a dying system— bring it to its death.” Miss Simmons, the moderator, then told the audience, “We are all in jeopar dy.’’ She added, “some of us are in double jeopardy,” referring to women.
