Page 8 Portland/observer Thursday, May 25, 1972
As I See It
Portland’s Black Middle Class:
A Disappointment!
MUST WORK TOGETHER FUR FULL
ANO EQUAL EMPLOYMENT.
PART 111
P o rtlam l/ob server Thursday May 25, 1972
by L en w o o d D a v is
The N orthw est's Best W eekly
A Block O w ned Publication
Over the past several weeks
I am still reading, w rlting amt
I heve literally cast ruled
studying about Black history
Portland's Black M iddleclass
and culture. Just beejuse an
with a can opener and, to my
individual lakes a course or
Published eve ry Thuisday by E vie P ublishing Company,
dismay, many of them didn’ t
two, or a two weeks summer
N . killingsworth, Portland, Oiegon 97217
even know that they had been
seminar on Black history at
Subscription $5.25 per year in Tri-C ounty area by m ail, c u t-
cut. In this w riter's opinion,
Portland
State
University
side the Tri-County area - jb.UC per year by matt.
it is a sad state of affairs
taught by D r. Helen G. Ed
Phone 283-248ft.
when anyone can w rite about
monds, does not make him or
M ailing address - P. O . Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208.»
any group of people and thev
her an authority on Black
A LFR ED LEE HENDERSON, Publishei/E ditm
take It lying down. There
history I It takes many years
Verna L . Hendei son
A fre e press: The g u a rd ia n o f a D e m o c ra c y
Len w o o d D a vis
fore, one can only conclude
of reading io become an ex
Asst. Publisher/business manager
pert.
Even
though
Portland
that
ney
did
not
believe
that
Helen Hendrix
IN P A
Community College; D r. W il
the things | said applied to
State University has more
Personnel and Production Manager
liam Jenkins, Dean - School
them or they Just do not care.
Black professors than ALL
Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing a: rep-
of Education, Portland State
(tie other colleges ami univer
I believe the latter. However,
utation of person, firm oi corporation, which may appeal in ihe
University; D r. Ceoige Guy,
I w ill continue to state my
sities combined there still are
Portland observer w ill be cheerfully corrected upon bring
Professor of Education, Port
very few bona fide experts
opinion
about
Portland’
s
so-
George McGovern
Stephen kafoury
Don C lark
brought to the attention of the E ditor.
land state University; Lois
called Black Middle class with
on Black history and culture.
Wayne Morse
keith Burns
Neil Goldschmidt
Sayles, librarian, Roosevelt
Being Black alone Is no c r i
(he hope that one day they
Betty Browne
Harl Haas
E llis Casson
High School; Ellen Law, act
terion for being an authority
w ill see themselves for what
John Toran
Mercedes Deiz
Measure ft 1
ing Principal, Jefferson High
they really are.
on Black people. Black skin
B ill McCoy
Aaron Brown, J r .
Measure ft 2
alone does not teach you about School; llellolse H ill, M ary
There Is one group of people
Henderson, D jk . Johnson,Ed
Ra Nahesl, N efertari, Pauklu,
In this so-called middle class
that Is wor se off than the
Tenkatneniu, Sonnl A ll, Askla gar M itchell of Portland Pub
lic Schools.
Also, Martha
Mohammed,
Ghana,
M all,
Black m inisters. Black phy
Sonhghay, Hausa, Zulu,Olano, Jordan, su|«rv|sor of Early
sicians, Black dentists. Black
Child Education amt Ben Tal
Peter Salem, Prince Hall,
public administrators. Black
ley, School of Education, P ort
Poinpey, Deborah Cannett.
businessman. Black Judges
land State University. What
Toussaint L ’Ouverture, Ben
and Black C ivil Rights leaders
tliese and others do not under
and that is the Black educa
jamin Banneker, Paul Cuffe,
Ron Hendran
stand is that tlie main rea
tors. Historically Black edu
Jan E . M atzeltger, E lijah Mc
IN WASHINGTON
son for (hem letng in those
cators have teen considered
Coy,
Granville T . Woods,
ALFRED LEE HENDERSON
positions is because they are
part of the Middle class. Now
Charles R, Drew, Denmark
By mining the harbors of
such questionable w ill, so
BLACK (at least in skin color
more
than
anytime
In
history
Vesey, Gabriel Prosser, Chi
fight, norenthusiasticallywith
North Vietnam and striking at
ation). For these so-called
much so that their recent de
they can practice what they
co
Rel,
L
u
u
Gama,
etc.
their
various
leaderswhom
we
rail and other transportation
Middle class people to believe
feats came as no real sur
preach by gening involved in
have
supported
over
the
long
Most
of
the
Black
educators
facilities within that country.
that they have acquired i le ir
prise. How we could have ex
social movements. They no
course of this struggle. Min
are NOT concerned with what
President Nixon has clearly
poaltion because of their own
pected the South Vietnamese to
longer can sit in the class
ing
or
no,
that
hasn’tchanged.
is
happening
to
the
Black
com
Once again the voters of Oregon have cast th eir ballots and enlarged the Indochina conflict
initiative la groasly asinine
do alone what they have been
rooms and theorize and phil
The President also resur
munity. They s re conce rned,
in what he and his advisors
to say the lean and apparently
unable to do with the help of
once again we w ill have white city and county governments.
osophize
about
what
Is
occur
rected the dom no theory in
however, with projecting their
readily admit is a risky fash
tliey are suite ring from ce ro
With his nomination to House D istrict #15, B ill McCoy could
500,000 American troops and a
ring m society. They no long
his
May
8
address.
If
he
really
own
little
self-image
these
ion. In so doing, he has be
become the firs t black in the Oregon Legislature if he wins
ll reside. The Black educators
virtu ally endless pipeline of
e r can say, “ do not do what
still sees a monolIthlc com
Black educators have to first
come the second American
are really ami truly misedu-
equipment, supplies and sup
again in November, o ther black candidates have gone ..¡own to
I
do,
but
do
what
I
say
to
do."
munist movement which is
acknowledge that they are not
defeat.
The strongest wins were those of Judges Brown and President to stake his re -
catml amt desperately need to
port remains a m ystery, equal
Their students expect them to
posing a serious threat tc all
experts on Black people ami
election hopes on the outcome
D eiz, both form erly appointed to judgeships.
only to that of why we got in
be REEDUCA TED Immedi
set
examples
by
actually
par
of
Asia.
Western
Europe
and
are still learning about the
of his w ar policies.
volved in an Asian land w ar in
ately if not sooner!
ticipating
in
the
social
the Middle East, then surely
history
and
culture
of
Black
There
is
no
question
in
any
The voters of Oregon a re not ready to judge a candidate on his
the firs t place.
In conclusion I would like
process.
his trips to Peking and Mos
people, and that In the near
body’ s mind that this latest
qualities, his ideals, his potential as a public servant. The vot
But there we are, and still
to say (hat I am not unmindful
There are a number of edu
cow are, as some of his critics
future
they
hope
to
become
step-up
poses
a
confrontation
ers of Oregon are still concerned with race and co lor. We must
we are told that the only way
that some of die Black so-
cators In Portland who have
charged, little more than
proficient in it. Next, they
of potentially serious dimen
reiterate our position that the only way black people w ill obtain
out is deeper in. Thus the
called
Middle class, as well
just
recently
become
“
Black”
drinking
and
eating
with
the
must become socially in
sions with the Soviet Union and
positions in the law making and regulatory agencies in Oregon
quest continues for a genera
as the N .A .A .C .P ., the I i ban
since it has become profitable.
enemy.
volved.
They
could
start
by
China.
A
t
the
same
tim
e,
there
is through appointment.
tion of peace, an eminently
League, die Black Panther
Many educators have become
How the mining ensures the
Joining the Oregon BlackCau-
is real doubt tn the minds of
Since the voters have failed, it is mandatory that the elected
worthy goal but a phrase as
Party,
die Albina M inisterial
"Instant“
authorities
on
Black
safety
of
American
troops
in
cus.
As of this date, only
some expens within the De
officials - the M ayor and city commissioners, the county com
elusive In its meaning as in its
history and culture, even
Alliance, and others have been
Vietnam, including prisoners
D
r.
Lee
P.
Brown
am)
my
fense
Department
and
else
missioners, the Governor - use the power of their offices and
attainment. A ll wars were
fighting racism for many,
though they have never taken
of war in the North, is also
self have t<een active inem-
where about the m ilita ry ef
demonstrate the leadership expected of them by appointing
fought in the name of peace.
many
years ami they should
a
course
in
Black
history.
cloudy.
Not
only
arealternate
bers.
The following have
fectiveness of closing the har
blacks and other minorities to policy making and law making po
I t ’ s just that different sides in
he commended for it. The
When asked about their coui se
supply
routes
and
means
ap
occasslonally
attended
meet
bors.
Most
admit
that
at
best
sitions.
different times had varying
of study, they usually evade ings: D r . Clarence Porter, question is not what they did
parently available to the ene
it may buy tim e, a commodity
The results of this election bring up once again the fact that
ideas about the conditions that
the issue by surmising that
last year or five or ten or
my, what la more immediately
D r. Robert Hughley, and Alen-
of which the North V letnamese
the black community was gerrymandered into four legislative
made peace acceptable.
twenty year ago, twat what are
their credentials are that they
significant is that they have
ca
Boozer.
Conspicuously
have
proven
to
possess
agreat
areas, making impossible the unified effort of the community to
As fo r honor, that too has
they doing NOW in 1972. t hat
" liv e the Black experience
stockpiled enough munitions to
deal.
absent have teen the noted
elect a black representative to to the legislature. The State
many meanings.
Certainly
Is (lie Issue' The Black so-
everyday.” Can’t twenty-five
ca rry on the present offensive
Black
"expert”
and
“
author
At
any
rate
and
in
spite
of
of Oregon has denied to its black citizens the protection guaran
there can be no denying that we
(25) million Black people make
called Middle class must re
fo r at least three weeks and the
ity ", W illiam McClendon, Di
the
seeming
failure
of
h
is
teed by the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution,
have given South Vietnam ten
that same clalm7
alize that no Black man Is
war itself for perhaps two to
rector of Black Studies, Reed
Vietnamization program, the
which prevents the states from denying equal protection to all
years of our time, 50,000 of
FREE until All Black men a re
Most of these "In s tan t"ex
three months. So hisdeclslve
College; Julius Stokes, In
President
has
determined
to
citizens. TheStateofOregonendorsed the policies of white real
our men forever gone, and a
FREEI
perts have graduated from
step, as the President called
structor In history, Portland
pursue this fight to what in his
staggering percentage of our
estate organizations which isolated black citizens into a small
universities
In
Oregon
over
it.
is
not
immediately
de
judgement is an honorable
area of the city; the State of Oregon has not used its powers to
national
treasure. Indeed,
the past three, four, five or
cisive in terms of protecting
conclusion, both in the inter
enforce laws designed to prevent the restriction of jobs to
during the course of this con
ten years. A close examina
American
lives, the only
ests
of
protecting
remaining
blacks; the State of Oregon has stood by while black children
flict we have spent more than
tion of A L L the colleges and
grounds on which Congress
Americans troops and South
have been isolated from their white counterparts in segregated
$12,000 each for every man.
universities tnoregon reveals
has authorized him to act in
Vietnamese
and
in
quest
of
schools. Now the State of Oregon has drawn the district lines
woman and child in that coun
that Portland State University
V letnam.
what he calls a generation of
to divide the black community into fourdistricts and to integrate
try, enough even in these in
is the ONLY slate Institution
2 8 7 -2 8 8 7
Nothing more than war re
peace.
the few black voters in each into an overwhelming white elec
flated times for the best of
that has a Black Studies Cen
moves the decision-m aking
Certainly
it
is
fa
ir
to
note
From
torate, and there, to deprive us of representation. In every
college educations fo r each of
te r. Several private colleges
process in a free country fu r
that the Vietnamese have al
case the State of Oregon has used its powers to enfranchise
the company that gave you
them. Yet after such sacrifice
have Black Studies Centers on
ther from the people. And dur
ready fought the war longer
whites and to disenfranchise blacks.
we are told that honor still is
paper
but
not
In
fact.
How
ing three administrations and
than the generation of peace
at stake.
If the state wants to integrate us, let it begin by redrawing
can two teachers make up a
the longest conflict in our na
which the President seeks. In
Fin ally, there is the idea of
the school district lines to allow black children to attend the
department?
After all two
tion’ s history, the people's
deed, Am erican troops have
best schools. Let it enforce the law to perm it integration in
defeat, which is not to say that
professors can only humanly
role in that process has been
themselves been engaged in
there are any winners in war,
employment and in housing. The State of Oregon is willing to
teach so many courses. Port
continually eroded. We can
Indochina for nearly half a
but rather to recognize that
integrate us in a way that w ill deprive us, but is not willing to
land State University’ s Black
hope that it w ill not be forever
generation. And we are ap
integrate in those areas that will help us.
some lose more than others.
Studies Center has only been
so, but until Vietnam is re
parently no nearer success
And the key to the outcome on
We now call upon the new M ayor of Portland and the Gover
In existence for three years
solved that erosion is not like
now than at the beginning.
that score has always been the
nor of Oregon. Show us your real commitment to the democrat
and It was only this year that
ly to stop.
But perhaps what hurts
degree of South Vietnamese
ic ideals of self government, your real concern for government
Clarence B erry became the
most, even for the President’ s
determination. Theyhavegiv—
for all the people. Use the powers of your office to accomplish
firs t person to graduate with
supporters, is that the people
en us clue after clue that their
what the democratic process has failed to do.
a Black Studies certificate,
for whom we have fought are of
hearts were not fully in this
th ere fo re, where did all of
these Black "exp erts” get
The Observer's official position is expressed only in its Pub
their training? These " e x
lisher’ s Column (The Observation Post) and the Editor*sDesk.
perts" are doing the very
Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion of the in
same things that whites have
dividual w rite r or submitter and does not necessarily reflect
been doing for 300 years. Run
the opinion of the Observer.
ning games on Black people,
th ese "exp erts" are doing
(Continued from page I)
Black Caucus strongly con
more harm than good to the
a sense of black unity.
demns poverty In the midst of
Black cause because they are
The Agenda addressed it
affluence. We see the state of
exploiting It. These "instan t"
self to eight areas of black
medical care In this country
EXPERTS ARE ACADEM I
O rd e r s to go C a ll 2 8 2 - 6 3 6 3
concern: (l)P o liticalE m p o w
as a disgrace. Wewanta sys
CALLY AND IN T E L L E C T U
erment; (2) Economic Empow
tem of public education where
ALLY DISHONESTI
erment; (3) Human Develop
our children can grow and de
I took my firs t course in
C a fe O p e n 5 :3 0 p m
E xcept M o n d a y
ment; (4) International Policy
velop. We do not see advanced
Black history in 1958, when
D r . Lee Brown.chalrmanof
and black people; (5) Commu
education as heingfortheelite
there were only about 10 col
the C ity-C ou n ty Comprehen
Ha hit
nications: (6) Rural Develop
only. We want decent housing sive Personnel Review C iti
Fly Boy S p e c ia l
leges In the United states
ment; (7) Environmental p ro
the
Man
for all of our people. We de
teaching Black history.
I
zens’ Advisory Committee,
tection; and (8) Self-D eterm i
mand
the
eradication
of
heroin
have
studied
Black
history
for
for
$3
million.
announced that the next public
6 W in g s A Fries $ 1.40
nation for the D istrict of Co
from our community.
seventeen (17) years and have
committee meeting w ill he
Right where
lumbia.
Fin ally, we see the nation's held May 25 at 7:30 in the Cas
written several articles and
We see the Implementation
it hurts.
inability to deal withdomestlc cade Center of Portland Com
books on Black history. In
of the Black Agenda as being
problems as being closely re
cluding my m aster’ s thesis.
munity College, 705 N. K ll-
In the diamonds.
a m atter of prim ary p riority.
lated to the illegal war now be llngsworth, Portland.
1 have studied In Africa at
The Oregon Black Caucus,
ing waged abroad.
the University of Ghana and
The subject of the meeting
along with sim ilar organiza
In closing, we a re reminded w ill be an examination of the
travelled In several African
tions in each of the 50 states,
of the words of the Honorable problems faced by citizens
countries. I have done num
as well as several National
Richard Hatcher, C o-C hair seeking employment with the
erous book reviews on Black
Black organizations w ill work
man of the Gary Convention: city and county. Opinions are
history as well as been a Black
toward implementation of the
“ The sixties were an exciting solicited from those people
studies consultant for several
Agenda.
decade, loa<led with ferment,
And baby, that% cold.
colleges
and universities In
who
have
had
particular
prob
F o r your subscription, send to:
Sim ilarly, the Gary Conven
fre e d o m
rides, s it-in s , lems In trying to get Jobs in
North
Carolina,
as
well
as
In
Portland Observer
tion approved the creation of a
MURO OOlDWYk MAYIR Prwants COOt BRI ( IL Slerrinq THAI MUS RASH Al»
$ 5 .0 0 for
marches. It was all there - C ivil Service.Comments from
Oregon.
Yet. I still do not
P.O . Box 3137
National B l a c k Assembly
JUDY PACf JIM WATWHS I MC(M N Kll PATRICX And RAYMOkO ST JACOKS At Mew
from the strains of "W e Shall fo rm e r civil servants w ill
consider
myself
an
expert!
Portland, Oregon 97208
5 2 issuses
composed of representatives
Mutx. SOI OMOk B1RM Screenplay by BARRY POl IACX Produced by Gl kf CORMAN
Overcome,” sung warmly with also be Invited.
from each of the 50 state a and
Directed by BARRY POtlACX MUROCOIOR
mom
arms
linked
-
to
the
penetr
at
The public meetings which
Meme
representatives from the Na
ing cries of black power, with are being held monthly by the
tional Black Organizations.
fists raised.
Committee play a vital role In
Address —
1 he National Black Assembly
"W e burled some wonder
the study now underway ofC Iv-
w ill be a permanent structure
ful brothers and sisters who 11 Service and personnel sys
C i t y ----------
designed to press the issues
strode like giants across the tems In Portland and Multno
addressed
in the B la c k
decade, sweeping away Injus
Pictures - Monday 5:00 pm
mah County.
Stew fc Z ip —
Agenda.
tice before them."
¡S ta rrin g
In C olor
A ll Individuals having ex
Many of the Issues addres
During the ’ 70s we shall perienced
Stories
- Tuesday noon
difficulties with
Apt. U— y —— Tel-----
sed tn the Black Agenda ere
continue to work toward the al
county or city in applying for
Issues relevant to Oregon.
leviation of all injustices.
Advertising - Tuesday SjOO pm
C ivil Service Jobs a re urged to
F o r e x a m p l e , the Oregon
Thank you.
Weeknights - open 7:15
Sundays - open 2:45
attend.
We endorsed you voted
The
Editor’s
Desk
Vietnam: Is the way out
deeper in?
Blacks rejected again
Alameda Theater
3000 NE Alberta
MGM,
__
-WH
Black Agenda
Bost B. Quo In Town
Advisory
committee
sets meet
Food & Drinks
GENEVA’S
4228 N. W illiam s
] Q
Deadline
Plus
The Organization
Sidney Poirier