Portland observer., April 26, 1973, Page 2, Image 2

Pag* 2
Portland/oboarrer
Thursday. A pril 26, 1973
Th«
editor’s
Desk
Black business operates in vacuum
ALFRED LEE HENDERSON
WE SEE THE WORLD
THROUGH BLACK EYES,
County fails,too
A short tim e a g o th e OBSERVER re p o rte d the State
o f O re g o n 's Black e m p lo y m e n t a t .85 p e r cent, or
158 Blacks o u t o f 18,375 state c iv il service
p o sitio n s.
M u ltn o m a h C ou nty, w h ic h is th e h o m e o f the vast
m a jo rity o f O re g o n 's Black citizens, can boast o f a
s lig h tly h ig h e r p e rc e n ta g e -
less th an 7 p ercent.
H o w e v e r, if o n e takes a g o o d lo o k a t these
p o sitio n s, th e d e p a rtm e n ts th ey in v o lv e , a nd the
sa la ry ranges — th e p ic tu re is n ot as g o o d as it
in itia lly appears.
The fo llo w in g d e p a rtm e n ts h ire
no Blacks,
a cco rd in g to th e latest a v a ila b le co u n ty e m p lo y ­
m e n t statistics: B oard o f C ou nty C om m issio ne rs (12
e m p lo y e e s ); C ou nty A u d ito rs o ffic e (7 ); C iv il
S ervice C om m issio n (9 ); M e tro p o lita n Y o uth C o m ­
m ission (2 ); D istrict A tto rn e y 's o ffic e (6 8 ); P la nn ing
C om m issio n (3 0 ); Tax S u pe rvisio n a n d C on se rva ­
tio n (3 ); A d m in is tra tiv e Services (6 ); Exposition
C en te r (8 ); Purchasing (1 1 ); V eterans Assistance
(9 ); A c c o u n tin g (2 1 ); A d m in is tra tio n — Asses-
m e n t a n d T axa tion (4 ); Tax C o lle c tio n (40 );
P ro pe rty M a n a g e m e n t (5 ); P robate C ourt (1 1 );
C irc u it C ourt (6 3 ); Dog C o n tro l (1 1 ); a n d Records
a n d E lections (32).
D ep a rtm e n ts h a v in g Blacks in c le ric a l a n d ja n i­
to ria l p o sitio n s o n ly a re : C ou rtho use m a in te n a n c e ,
w ith 6 o u t o f 39; M o to r Pools, w ith o n e g a ra g e
a tte n d e n t; J u d ic ia l A d m in is tra tio n , w ith tw o clerks
(o u t o f 89 e m p lo y e e s );
The larg e st n u m b e r o f Black e m p lo y e e s are
fo u n d in th e D e p a rtm e n t o f M e d ic a l Services a nd
a t th e C ou nty H o sp ita l. O ut o f 363 e m p lo y e e s o f
th e D e p a rtm e n t o f M e d ic a l Services, 38 are
Black -
8 p ro fe ssio n a ls a n d 30 n o n -p ro fe s ­
sion als. O f these p ro fessio na ls, se veral a re nurses
assig ne d to th e A lb in a M u lti-S e rv ic e C enter. A t the
C ou nty H o sp ita l, 91 o u t o f 476 e m p lo y e e s a re
Black. O f these, 6 e arn o ve r 600 a m on th. T w enty
a re LPN's a n d 25 a re nurses aid es.
O thers a re
cooks, d ish w a sh e rs, fo o d se rvice h elpe rs, la u n d ry
w o rke rs, ja n ito rs, d o m e stic w o rke rs, etc.
O f th e 174 Black co u n ty e m p lo y e e s , 19 a re in the
650-770 sa la ry ra n g e ; 4 a re 750 to 900 salary
ra n g e ; a n d 8 a re 850 to 1150 sa la ry ra n g e (fo u r o f
these a re u n d e r co n tra ct to th e M e tro p o lita n A re a
4-C C o u n c il, w h ic h re q u ire s M o d e l C ities reside n ts).
The o th e r 155 h a v e sa la rie s ra n g in g fro m 650 d o w n
to 348.
O n e o f th e d e p a rtm e n ts th a t w ill serve as an
e x a m p le is th e J u v e n ile C ou rt a n d h o m e , w h ic h
has re s p o n s ib ility fo r n e g le c te d , a bu sed a n d
d e liq u e n t c h ild re n , as w e ll as c e rta in custody
q uestions. The J u v e n ile co u rt has 14 a d m in is tra to rs
a nd supe rviso rs -
o ne is Black, a n d he is as­
sig n e d to the M o d e l C ities o ffic e
The J u v e n ile
C ourt has 59 co un selors -
n o n e a re Black.
The
J u v e n ile C ou rt has 54 C h ild G ro u p W orkers w h o
su pe rvise c h ild re n in d e te n tio n -
3 a re Black.
This co u n ty d e p a rtm e n t, w h ic h has such im p o rta n t
in flu e n c e a n d c o n tro l o ve r Black c h ild re n a nd
fa m ilie s , has n ot seen th e n e e d to e m p lo y Blacks
in p o sitio n s w h e re th e y can w o rk d ire c tly w ith
fa m ilie s a n d c h ild re n . The C ou rt does e m p lo y 5
Black clerks a n d ja n ito rs, a to ta l 9 Black e m p lo y e e s
o f 169.
M u ltn o m a h C ou nty, lik e the State o f O re g o n , has
an a ffirm a tiv e a c tio n a g re e m e n t. H o w e v e r, it does
n ot seem to be o p e ra tin g o n b e h a lf o f Black
p e o p le .
It is, lik e so m a n y others, just a n o th e r
p ie ce o f p ap er.
The Black b usinessm an has n e v e r b e e n d ire c tly
lin k e d to the e c o n o m ic s o lu tio n s o f the g hetto.
W ith fe w e x c e p tio n s in the p ast 100 years, the
Black b usinessm an has o p e ra te d in the v a c u u m o f
w h a t is c a lle d business d is c a rd '; th a t is, business
th a t w as n o t w a n te d b y the w h ite o r g e n e ra l
in d u s tria l c o m m u n ity .
The Black b usinessm an has h a d the p a tie n c e ,
the fo re s ig h t a n d th e e c o n o m ic astuteness to take
this p ha se o f o u r e con om y, th a t w h ic h is d e e m e d
u n p ro fita b le , a n d b u ild c o rp o ra tio n s w ith re sp e ct­
a b le p ro fits — insu ra n ce co m p a n ie s, u nd erta kers
a n d a fe w cosm e tic co m p a n ie s. But the tra g e d y is
th a t it sto p p e d th e r e ."
This is th e s ta te m e n t o f W Leonard Evans, Jr.,
g e n e ra l c h a irm a n o f the N a tio n a l C o m m itte e fo r
the State o f th e Black Econom y a nd p re s id e n t o f
Tuesday P u b lica tio n s, Inc.
This sta te m e n t is true in e v e r / p a rt o f the
co un try. O n e w ill fin d m ost Black businesses in
P ortland to be those th a t serve Black p e o p le -
e s p e c ia lly in those are as w h e re w h ite businesses
a re not p a rtic u la rly in te re s te d because th e y re q u ire
close p e rso n a l c o n ta ct w ith Black p e o p le or sp ecial
k n o w le d g e a b o u t Blacks. These businesses in c lu d e
b e a u ty a n d b a rb e r shops, m o rtu a rie s , etc.
Those businesses in the m o re sta nd ard business
fie ld s th a t are o p e n to Blacks a re th e sm all
resta ura nts a n d ta ve rn s a n d co rn e r g ro ce ry stores,
fe w o f w h ic h h ave th e resources or the custom ers
be v e ry lu c ra tiv e .
Som e o f the se rvice sta tion c h a in s have a llo w e d
fran chise s to service stations in A lb in a to Blacks.
These a re
u s u a lly
that
Yomoho piano« and organ« represent the finest
quality and integrity of workmanship available
anywhere
an e n v iro n m e n t w h e re business a n d e con om ics a re
a n a tu ra l p a rt o f his life
The Black c o n s id e rin g a
business ca re e r m ust start fro m scratch — g a in a
c o m p le te n e w o rie n ta tio n .
This b rin g s us to th e re s p o n s ib ility o f th e e s ta ­
b lis h e d w h ite -o w n e d business to the s tru g g lin g
Black business.
There a re m a n y th in g s th e w h ite businessm an can
d o a t no cost to h im .
He can ta ke th e Black
business se rio u s ly a n d p urcha se its goods a n d ser­
vices.
He can h ire Blacks in p o s itio n s th a t w ill
p ro v id e the o p p o rtu n ity to le a rn m a n a g e m e n t. He
can c o n s id e r Black students w h e n he hires his
su m m e r or p a rt tim e h e lp , ra th e r th an th in k o n ly o f
the c h ild re n o f his frie n d s a n d e m p lo y e e s
He can
d e m a n d th a t th e p u b lic schools p ro v id e co u n s e lin g
a n d e d u c a tio n that w ill e n a b le Black students to
ta ke business o rie n te d courses.
Since m ost Black businesses, e v e n those w ith
business loans, a re sta rted w ith in s u ffic ie n t c a p ita l
a n d so c a n n o t g et th ro u g h the first d iffic u lt years
he can suggest to his b a n k , his fin a n c ia l in s titu tio n
a n d his g o v e rn m e n t th a t re a lis tic loans be m a d e to
Black businesses.
W h ite business does h a v e a re s p o n s ib ility to
Black business.
The sam e re s p o n s ib ility th a t a ll
m e m b e rs o f a D em ocra cy h a v e fo r each o th e r
It
has an a d d itio n a l re s p o n s ib ility , to e ra d ic a te the
results o f the ye ars o f o p p re ssio n it has fo rc e d on
the Black c o m m u n ity .
And, while the present inventory lasts, you can
purchase any o* these eatroordinarily fine
instruments at a price greatly below the anticipated
new price bated on the dollar devaluation.
Won't you let us demonstrate these superb
instruments for your consideration today?
4 21 IN .I. SANDY • 212 0911
til 9 PM • SUNDAY 12 A
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor:
r e p o r te r s , p h o to g ra p h e rs ,
etc.
This reader is also
aware of the fart that your
new spaper I 'SDAI.LV does
not make promises that it
does not keep.
I suppose everyone can
offer conjecture on why we
have not heard that much
about Vancouver news in the
Observer.
However, only
the publisher ran give us the
FACTS. The- publisher should
share with his readers the
reasons behind this lark of
news from Vancouver.
On December 7. 1972. the
Observer stated that be
ginning in January 1973, it
would feature a news and
events sec-linn from Van
couver, Washington.
As of
dale, we readers of the
O bserver have not seen this
news and events seel inn. 1
am sure that many persons
would like to know why we
have not seen this section.
I am well aw are of the
many hurdles confronting the
O bserver, su c h as being
under staffed, no full time la-nwood G. Davis
D is p e n s e rs
o f F ashio n E y e w e a r
Dr. L. W e s le y A p la n a lp
O p to m e tris t
It Takes
Both Halves...
6 3 0 S.W . B ro a d w a y
B. Telephone equipment
■ is only half of a total
■A» communications system.
It takes more. That*s why
we provide no-extra­
charge training programs,
Communications Con­
sultants at your service
whenever you need them.
We pay property tax on
your business telephone
equipment and guarantee
it for as long as you
need it.
YfMJ want
2 2 6 -6 6 8 8
J a n tz e n B each
E-Z-Winner Contest
S o ft a n d
R e g u la r
co n tact lenses
Associate Optometrists:
• $5.25 per year in the T ri County area.
• $6.00 per year elsewhere.
III
Mil
ÍN M A
A
is n r .it lln n . -
Association
families are not eligible to participate.
This w e e k ’s fantastic
prize
4950 N. E. Union
Portland s Own House of Styles
[Enter today!
Winners every week!
PORTEA n TT o R SERVER
*’.< i. Box 3137 Portland, Oregon 97208
A ddress .
Enter my name In the EZ Winner Contest:
NAME......................
Founded 1885
Any errcncous reflection upon the character, standing or
reputation of person, firm or corporation, which may appear m
X u H,T",H.Ob8en,er W‘" ** Ch* rtU1,y c o r r e c ^ u S i
brought to the attention of the Editor.
6.
Entries from states where contest are prohibited by I
law are void
Em,doves „1 the IN1RTI.ANI) ORSEKV EK and their |
N am e
MEMBER
\LPER
15.
to win each succeeding week.
Winners of the weekly contests w ill be eligible for a |
grand prize drawing at the end of the rontest.
Leon’s Man’s Shop
ALFRED L . HENDERSON
MEMBER
I
There is no lim it to the number ol times you may
enter. A ll entries of the previous weeks are eligible j
$25. gift certificate
Please a rra n g e fo h ave the OBSERVER m a ile d to m y
h om e.
'
Oregon
Newspaper
Publishers
Association
3.
BRIGGS, HATTEN, M ILLER & STENGER
THE PORTLAND OBSERVER
P.O Box 3137
P o rtlan d, O re g o n 97208
editor / publisher
1 I »rawing, w ill be held each Friday, with the exception I
of the Friday id the first week id the contest;
H
Ml «-nines for the week must be received by the
Observer no D i... than 5 p m „„ th(. Thursday of the
week of the drawing
1
2 8 3 -3 1 9 5
totalI (xmununications...
Call On Us.
§ > Pacific Northwest Bell
Unequaled
in all
the world
Cotcad* Munc Center hot available »be entire
line ol Yamaha pianat and argent - eulwtively
m the Portland area
Binyon Optical
Subscriptions $5.25 per year - Tri-County area. $6.00 per year
- Outside Portland.
Telephone, 283-2486.
The observer's official position is expressed only In its
Publisher’ s Column (The Observation Post) and the Editor's
A ? ° th? r
throughout the paper is the opinion
of the individual w rite r or submitter and does not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the Observer.
o ld e r stations
p ro g ra m , or a case o f p o p fo a c h ild re n 's C hristm as
p arty. These th ing s a re m e a n in g le s s w h e n c o m ­
p a re d to th e m o n e y th a t is ta k e n o u t o f A lb in a by
these co m p a n ie s .
So Blacks h a v e tra d itio n a lly b e e n a llo w e d o n ly
in businesses n ot c o n s id e re d d e s ira b le b y w h ite s
There is in c re a s in g o p p o rtu n ity fo r "B la c k c a p i­
ta lis m , b u t the p ro b le m s a re n e a rly in s u rm o u n t­
a b le .
First th e re a re h ig h insu ra n ce rates in
A lb in a . Blacks m ust a lso c o n te n d w ith d iffic u ltie s in
b u y in g g oods at a fa ir p rice , o v e rc h a rg in g and
re fu s a l o f cre d it, a re stricte d m a rk e t fo r goods, and
lack o f s u ffic ie n t c a p ita l.
A ll th e results o f the
Publlsted every Thursday by Exle Publishing Company. 2201
N . Killingsworth, Portland, Oregon 97217. »Oiling address,
P .O . Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208
Application to mall at second class postage rates Is pending
at Portland, Oregon.
s m a ll a n d
c a n n o t c o m p e te in a h ig h ly c o m p e titiv e business.
M a n y o f th e Black m a n a g e rs c o m p la in that th e y do
n ot re c e iv e w h a t is p ro m is e d a n d w h a t is p ro v id e d
w h ite m a n a g e rs — a d v e rtis in g rebates, tra in in g ,
a n d o th e r services.
You w ill see Black o w n e d co rn er g ro ce rie s
c o m p e tin g w ith la rg e chains. S eldom w ill you fin d
a Black m a n a g e r in these ch ains, even in A lb in a
stores. A n d it w o u ld be u n h e a rd o f to even d re a m
a b o u t fin d in g a Black m a n a g e r in a n o th e r p a rt o f
P o rtla n d !
So w h ite c o rp o ra tio n s h ave a c o rn e r on a ll o f the
business e n te rp rise s th a t can r e a lly m a ke m on ey.
A n d w h a t a re these m a |o r c o rp o ra tio n s th a t are
d o in g business in th e Black c o m m u n ity c o n trib u tin g
to that c o m m u n ity ?
W h a t a re th e superm arkets,
the o il c o m p a n ie s, th e m a n u fa c tu re rs , a nd the
d e p a rtm e n t stores re tu rn in g to th e Black com
m u n ity? If is n ot e n o u g h to g iv e a fe w p a p e r cups
to a b re a k fa s t p ro g ra m , co okies to a church d in n e r,
5 d o lla rs w o rth o f m e rc h a n d is e fo r a c h ild care
w h ite b usine ssm an 's in a b ility to ta k e Black b u s i­
ness se riou sly.
Even if th ese facts w e re not true, Blacks do not
h a v e the a d v a n ta g e o f a business c u ltu re
Y oung
Black c h ild re n d o n ot h a v e successful Black
b usinessm en to e m u la te .
Black students a re not
co u n s e le d in to the business pro fessio ns
Even
those w h o d o choose to g o in to business h a v e a
c u ltu ra l d is a d v a n ta g e .
The w h ite y o u th o fte n
w o rks in his fa th e r's or a n o th e r re la tiv e 's business
fro m the tim e he is 14 or 15 years o ld , a nd a lw a y s
kn o w s th a t he w ill be in v o lv e d in som e typ e o f
business p ursuit. As a s m a ll c h ild he g ro w s up in
g
City
Apt. (if any).
State & Z ip
T e le p h o n e
ADDRESS.....................................
C IT Y ..............................
PHONE.......