Page 2
P o i l l and/O bserver Thursday December 28. 1972
The
Editor’s
Desk
As I See It
"HE WHO LABORS
OILIGEN TLY NEED NEVER
DESPAIR, EO P ALL THINGS
ARE ACCOMPLISHED BY
D/L/GENCE AND LABOR”
Dr. Brown keeps busy
By Lenwood G. Davis
ALFRED LEB HENDERSON
WE SEE THE WORLD
THROUGH BLACK EYES.
In October, 1972, the O bserver began its third year serving
the Portland community. The Observer, a weekly newspaper,
of general circulation has chronicaled the struggle, the dis­
appointment in defeat, and the joys in victory; but never
failing to remind the Black community that victory w ill be
won through our own resources, and never letting the white
m ajority community rest on its grudgingly relinquished token­
ism s.
W ith the Black population in the Portland area equaling the
seventh largest city In Oregon, the time has come when each
Black household, should share in the needs of community
communications.
Those Whites that wish to be informed should read and
become subscribers to the Observer because we see the
world through Black eyes.
We know not what the future holds fo r us but in die vanguard
of our struggle fo r Black discovery, Black renaissance and
Black survival the Observer w ill he there, supporting and
applauding the good and continuing to challenge the e v il.
L et us face the new challenge of today as a united community
with a strong Black press. A community without an honest,
m ilitant sometimes even strident paper is a hapless com­
munity, threatened from all sides: from within by unscrupulous
Blacks, from without by insensitive members of the m ajority
community.
The Black Press in Am erica is on the threshold of a new
day. There are 215 Black newspapers In the United States,
w ill. a combined circulation exceeding 3,000,000. T h e ir pub­
lishers, The National Newspapers Publishers Association, are
now in the process of establishing a national w ire service to
unite the Black Voice in A m erica.
It is important to rem em ber that even though Black people
have an average Income less than that of the white m ajority,
they have a purchasing power estimated at $45 billion a year
with a median fam ily Income of $6,520. As consumers and
customers. Black people have the power to make o r break
a product in the m arket place; they buy what they want and
more of it if they like it. They are a power to be reckoned
with.
The Observer, geared to special readership and a specific
m arket, is rapidly reaching new heights as it rides the crest
cf the social revolution it w ill help to initiate. No other medium
so fully identifies with the Black community, reflecting th eir
day-to-day lifestyle, articulating their problems, opinions
and desires and ■‘ turning them on.“
The O bserver becomes the firs t Black owned publication to
m eet requlrments of ONPA (Oregon Newspaper Publishers
Association) We are ONPA's newest member. We are proud
of our success and we salute you, our advertisers, readers
and friends fo r your support.
It is with pride that we report to you that we are one of
only two Black papers on the West Coast that are able to
publish a complete paper on our own prem isses. Most Black
papers farm th eir typesetting and printing out to white printers.
The Observer staff does all the work on our property.
We are an Ecpal Opportunity Em ployer , . . we are not as
larg e as some dailies, nor are we the oldest Black paper In the
Northwest tu t we do thank you fo r your support . . . "W e are
the only paper In the whole wide world that really cares about
people.*'
MUST WORK TOGETHERFDR FULL
AND EQUAL EMPLOYMENT.
Th« Northwest’s Best Weekly
A Black Owned Publication
Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company
2201 N . Killingsworth, Portland, Oregon 97217
M ailing address:
P.O. Box 3137
Portland, Oregon 97208
Subscriptions - $5.25 per year •• Tri-County area by mail
6,00 per year - Elsewhere by mail
Telephone: 283-2486
Application to m ail at second-class postage rates is pending
at Portland. Oregon.
p
MEMBER
Oregon
Newspaper
Publishers
Association
MEMBER
IN P A
M W A pen
Association - Founded 1885
ALFRED LEE HENDERSON. Publiaher/Edltor
The Observer’s official position is expressed only in its
Publisher's Column (The Observation Post) and the Editor's
Desk. Any other material throughout the paper is tlw opinion
of the individual w rite r or submitter and does not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the Observer.
Any erroneous reflection upon the character , standing or
reputation of person, firm or corporation, which may appear
m tie Portland Observer will be cheerfully corrected upon
being brought to the attention of the Editor,
Let's put it together for Seventy Three
With Ron Hendren
A YOUNG VIEW OF WASHINGTON
EXIT: FREE ENTERPRISE -ENTER: SOCIALISM
W ASHINGTON-G ordon W. Rule, a
“ cost-cutter” with the U.S. Navy, is a rare
phenomenon among the ranks of govern­
ment employees: he is a man who calls
the shots as he sees them.
Last week Rule sharply criticized the
President’s choice of Roy L. Ash as
director of the Office of Management and
Budget, a post some have called second
only to the Presidency in power.
But first, a little background. Rule's
job in the Navy Matenel Command is to
make certain that contracts between the
government and private mdustires (for
the production and purchase of helicop­
ters, ships and the like) are on the up and
up. Since it has become common practice
for industires to break their agreements
and come back for more money, his job
has grown increasingly difficult.
A case in point Is Litton Industries,
which presently has more than a half
billion dollars in disputed claims pending
agains: the Navy. The dispute arose out
of a contract the Navy signed with Litton
to build rune helicopter assault ships at a
cost of $133 million each. It wasn’t long
before that price tag nearly doubled to its
present $237 million for each of the
ships. And then Litton had the gall to ask
the Navy to raise the per-ship price to
$294 million, advising the government at
the same time that deliveries on the
vessels woulj run anywhere from two to
nearly three years behind.
Well, even the government can swallow
only so much, and that did it. The Navy
balked, and now builder and buyer are at
a stand-off. Rule says the government was
“sold a bill of goods” and there are
reports that the Navy is looking into a
“serious possibility of fraudulent misrep­
resentation” on the part of Litton.
Rule told the subcommittee he
doubted he would be testifying again
because the Navy probably wouldn’t
authorize it. But he made clear his view
that the government lacks “ the guts to
tell the taxpayer free enterpnse is out and
socialism is in” when it comes to defense
contracts. He fully expects the admin­
istration will produce legislation next
year to bail out Litton and other ship­
building industries which have defense
contracts.
But what does this have to do with
Roy L. Ash, the President's new director
of the Office of Management and Budget,
the man whose responsibility it will be to
oversee the expenditure of every tax
dollar9 Well, it happens that Roy L. Ash,
until his appointment by the President,
was the chief executive of Litton Indus­
tries. Ash, whose appointment does not
require Senate confirmation, has already
said he intends to have a say in Navy
spending decisions.
Said Rule, “ i frankly think we’ve
added a new dimension (to the military-
industrial complex) . . . it's almost a
military-industnaEexecutive department
complex.”
Recalling former President Dwight D.
Eisenhower’s warning against such an
arrangement. Rule said the former com­
ma nder-in-thief must be “ twitching in his
grave”.
Americans will have the opportunity
to judge for themselves when Ash takes
over the budget office formally next
month.
Syndicated by
WASHINGTON W EEKLY, Inc.
All rights reserved.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
of warning those who might
be planning an expo in the
future, that it must be much,
much more that just a state­
wide talent show, but It must
be a sincere attempt to fur­
ther the knowledge of the Black
community to its assets and
Its good qualities. And if they
should make some money in
the process, right onll
Rosemary Allen
We are parents of some of
the children who benefit from
the Albina Headstart program
and we’ re scared. As of De­
cember 31, 1972 our children
w ill no longer have a program
if we do not find another
Suitable location.
This program is not only
essential to us as working
parents, many of us single
parents. It Is as Important
because of the quality of care
our
children are getting.
There la money, highly quali­
fied staff, equipment, energy,
Inthualasm and most Impor­
tant there are 109 children
at the Albina Child Develop-
Lenwood Davis
Inetltuas fo r Urban A ffairs and
Research, a program which he
is helping develop. "W ith in the
Institute 1 have responsibility
for all educational prgoram s.
This Includes The Upward
Bound Program , U niversity
Without
W alls,
University
Y ea r In Action and An Urban
Studies M asters P ro g ram . I
w ill also tw developing a
C rim in al Justice Educational
Program fo r How ard." Said
B rown.
In closing the interview D r .
Brown said that although he
find his work at Howard to
be both Interesting and chal­
lenging, he is looking forward
to getting back to Portland.
To Be Equal
By Vernon E . Jordan J r .
The federal government's
C hristm as
present to the
states w ill he about $5 billion
in revenue aha ring funds -
the firs t installm ent of a pro­
gram that w ill pump about
$30 billion into state and lo­
cal governments over the next
five years.
Money is power, and this
new
federal
"s h a re
the
w ealth" program represents
a significant shift In power
from
Washington to state
capitals and local city halla.
Unlike tlie other federal pro­
gram s, which mandate strict
controls on every d o lla r spent,
revenue sharing funds come
with very few strings attached.
State and local governments
have wide latitude in the ex­
penditure of this money.
T IM E PASSED?
Proponents of the revenue
sharing plan claimed that this
was an Idea whose time had
come. Recent news reports
Indicate that It Is an Idea
whose time may have passed.
Revenue sharing waa con­
ceived at a time when federal
tax collections were climbing
while local resources seemed
about to d ry up. The Vietnam
w ar and higher federal spend­
ing, coupled with Increased
state U x revenues have re ve r­
sed that situation.
Now, It is the federal gov­
ernm ent that Is desperately
trying to keep the I Id on spend­
ing, while many state and lo­
cal governments are report­
ing fat surpluses.
Some
communities
say
they'll use the new federal
revenue sharing money to cut
taxes, something tlw plan's
authors didn’ t have In mind.
HURTIN G BAD
Of course, that’ s just the
general, overall p icture.M any
cities, expeclally largerones,
are hurting bad.
Newark Is in a tight finan­
cial spoc D etro it announced
It is closing its schools for
lack of hinds, and others are
also cutting back on Im por­
tant public services.
Revenue sharing won't be of
much help to such cities be­
cause the amounts the’ll re ­
ceive won’ t be nearly enough.
Since Cong re as authorized tlie
revenue sharing program for
five years. It ought to take a
long, hard look at Its effects
and make necessary changes
before the program becomes
permanent.
Another aspect that bears
watching Is how local govern­
ments use tlw new money.
Past experience has shown
that federal programs are
more effective and more free
from
discrim ination
than
most local effo rts.
Local governments have of­
ten been plagued Ixy scandals,
and tlw experience of blacks
and other m inorities with
many state and local officials
has been one of discrim ina­
tion.
And many local govern­
ments have acutally been lesa
anxious to do something about
poverty and social conditions
In th eir town than have those
No color in language
The Observer welcomes the
opinions and comments of its
readers.
A ll letters must
include the w rite rs name and
address.
Albina parents scared
E d ito r
ja il with no program to seg­
regate them from older In­
mates.
Additionally, D r . Brown Is
assisting an Ad Hoc Com m it­
tee to explore the conditions
of females who are incarcer­
ated. "T h is is also a real
serious problem that ileaerves
careful analysis," said D r-
Brawn.
He la also developing an
executive development pro­
gram for 200 employees of
the D .C . Department of Cor­
rections. D r . Brawn said that
based upon inform al Ion gener­
ated by the National Advisory
Commission on C rim in al Jus­
tice Standards and Goals (he
Is Chairm an ot The Educa­
tion, Training and Manpower
Development Advisory Task
Force of that Commission),
correctional training has tra­
ditionally teen doiw In Isola­
tion and thereby tend to |w rp-
etuate the Maintenance of the
existing system ."H ow ardU n­
iversity has a lot to offer not
only tie D .C . Department of
Corrections, but also the en­
tire C rim in al Juetlce System.
This Is particularly true since
Blacks are overly represen­
ted ae clients of the system s,"
said D r . Brown.
D r . Brown said that these
activities are In addition to
his duties as Associate D i­
rector of the newly formed
much-maligned
Washington
agencies.
So the real problem is: how
w ill tfw money he spent. If
state and local officials re­
spond to the flow of federal
dollars by expanding Im p or­
tant social programs and by
Improving schools, housing,
health and w elfare systems,
then revenue sharir^ w ill he a
historic act.
At the moment, there isn’t
much reason for optim ism .
But pest experience need not
he fUDira reality and It is up
to local leadership, voluntary
social agencies, and commit­
ted citizens to put pressure
on the state house and city
hall to Insure that new funds
are used profw rly.
It Is also up to the T reasu ry
f)e p tM which adm inisters tfw
revenue sharing program to
keep close tabs on how the
money la spent.
The Treasury I >ept. has tfw
power to cut off all hinds from
governments thatdon’ tcomply
with the law. W hile It has the
power
do this for violations
of the law's a n tl-d lsc rlm ln a -
tlon program, its Interim reg­
ulations don’ t go that fa r.
The success or failure of
revenue sharing may depend
on how tough the T rea su ry la
w illing to get.
T his Is an experimental
program Involving billions of
dollars and tlw burden Is on
tlw T reasury, state, and lo­
cal officials to prove that
revenue sharing Is le tte r than
d ire c t federal action to build
housing, feed t i e hungry and
heal the sick.
Anofher Point of View
Black Expo A Mess
D e a r M r . Henderson:
The firs t Black Expo ever
to hit the Northwest exposed
not only Black talent and Black
business endeavors, but also
an attempt by some of Its
originators to exploit Black
people. The admission price
of $4.50, $1.50 fo r the Expo
and $3XC fo r the Soul Bowl
would even be a high price to
pay to see Aretha Franklin.
Lack of organization Insulted
not only those who paid to see
it, but the entertainers who
came to participate in it.
The idea of a Black Expo,
to expose the community to
its own Black talent, busi­
nesses, etc. is te rrific and
badly needed. However an un­
organized, poorly put together
program
directed towards
making a bundle of money, we
can do without. There are
many, many bad points that
can he pointed out about the
expo, but there were also
some good things that hap­
pened there. The best were
the booths that were attrac­
tively set up by each of the
Black businesses that partici­
pated in the expo. These bus­
inesses strived to show their
best and should he commended
fo r doing such.
Perhaps this Black Expo
w ill serve the good purpose
D r . Lee P . Brown, who is
on leave from Portland State
U niversity and spending a year
at Howard U niversity In Wash­
ington, [ ) £ „ has quickly be­
come actively Involved in
community service In tie Na­
tion’ s capltol.
In a recent interview with
D r . Brown, he stated that
one of his firs t activities was
to assist In organizing an
interdisciplinary team of pro­
fessors at Howard to make an
investigation of the conditions
in the D .C . ja il. The investi­
gation steins from the recent
disorders in the ja il where
inmates took several correc­
tional officers, including the
D ire c to r of Corrections, as
hostages. According to D r .
Brown, " A number of demands
were made by the inmates
designed to correct the con­
ditions In the jail and inter­
esting enough the correctional
officers themselves voiced
some of the same g riev­
ances."
The investigation, said D r .
Brown, '•w ill be designed to
help ja il officials alleviate the
problems that gave rise to the
d is o rd e r. Also, we are very
much concerned about the wel­
fare of the inmates which are
over 95 percent B lack."
D r , Brown said that he was
appalled to learn that 17 year
olds w ere placed in the D .C .
ment C enter at this tim e.
But we have no building.
O ur efforts in the past few
weeks to find a building have
lieen augmented by the com­
m unity’ s answers to our plea.
And we are thankful. But be­
cause of the difficulties In
licensing guidelines, space
needs and financial details
most suggestions have mot
worked out. So we still need
you and urge you to please
share any Ideas with us. The
center at 58 N .E . N o rris -
288-6921 o r a parent, phone
In tie evenings - 287-2117.
Knowing people care has
helped us keep our determ ina­
tion and optimism . We thank
you.
M o lly Warn
A news item came to our
attention recently In which a
professor at the University
of Texas was quoted as say­
ing that the attempt to require
black children to learn tlw
m iddle-class white language
In order to achieve upward
m obility Is a repugnant and
dead movement.
English professor Jam esH .
Siedd was quoted fu rth er as
saying: “ The concept known
as bkllalectlcallsm Is both
im m oral and Impossible, that
It seta up white prejudice as
an Immovable obstacle to
black advancement and re­
quires black children to re­
make themselves in a white
image If they want to move
themselves upward."
Another Texas professor, In
the department of curriculum
and
Instruction, added to
Sledd’ « remarks by saying,
"B la cks in English classes
w ill not learn to w rite In
standard style because they
w ill not he w riting to w h ltes."
The Sentinel must strongly
disagrees with both profes­
sors. T here Is no color bar­
r ie r In language. It le most
Important
and
cannot he
LOS ANGELES SENTINAL
stressed too strongly that boys
There are about 333 m il­
and g irls must study and
lion English speakers In the
m aster English - both spoken
w orld, less than half the num­
and written - aa tlw p revail­
ber of Chinese speakers In
ing language of th eir country. C hina. Yet in the last year
It ’ s not a question of race;
there has Iwen a tremendous
no one Is required to Imitate
increase In the Interest of the
whites, nor Is one required Chinese people to learn Eng­
to Imitate anyone. I t ’ s a sim­
lis h . Chinese radio stations
ple m atter of being able to broadcast th rlce-d atly Eng­
communicate Intelligently and lish phases to he used with
adequately. If a person la the radio lessons. M illions
going to grow and succeed in of
Chinese are hurriedly
life , he o r she must study cram ming tlw study of Eng­
language, It ’ a necessary to lish into their already busy,
get through school, to get a burdened lives.
job, to keep a job, to read
Obviously, If It’ s Important
and keep abreast of events to the Chinese that they study
concerning one’s life , even to English, It should be that much
communicate
with
one’ s more Important that A m e ri­
frien d s.
cana study and m aster the
A person should m aster language. Blacks should not he
whatever language prevails In misled by the Idiotic theries
whatever country he lives. If of people like tlw Texas pro­
you’ re going to live In M exi­ fesso rs, Blacks should be re ­
co, learn Spanish. In France, minded that some of the great­
learn Franch. In Italy, Italian. est w riters In Am erican lit ­
Germ any, German. Russia, eratu re have lean black, w rit­
Russian.
ing English.
Just because language may
Not every black person can
he a difficult subject fo r a be expected to become a w rit­
student, It Is Im m oral and e r , hut It would be selling
te rrib ly wrong fo r anyone - black boys and g irls short
Including the two Texas pro­ not to emphasize to them the
fessors - to advise srudenta Importance of studying and
not to study English.
learning English w ell.
I