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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1973)
Page 2 Portland/Observer Thursday, December 6, 1973 WE SEE THE WORLD THROUGH BLACK EYES ALFRED L HENDERSON E d ito r/P u b lish e r EDITORIAL FOCUS No danger to profits President N ix o n 's u n a nn ou nce d p la n fo r gas ra tio n in g w ill p rotect the rich and hurt the poor. A lth o u g h it is b e in g d e n ie d , m any a d m in is tra tio n fig u re s fa v o r ra tio n in g o f gas so th a t every person can g e t a little b it, but a llo w in g those w h o have m on ey to buy e xtra gas at a hig h cost. W hat kind of e q u a lity is this? President N ixo n also plans to b rin g 250 o il industry m agnates in to g o ve rn m e n t to h e lp solve the fu e l crisis. W e can im a g in e w h a t k in d o f so lu tio n these m en w o u ld b ring ! The p re sid e n t is e x h ib itin g ind ecision and lack o f le a d e rs h ip in this crisis. The A m e rican p e o p le have no assurance that he w ill com e up w ith a p la n d esign ed to p rotect the citizens. W hat w e can be sure o f is he w ill do n o th in g to slow the rising p ro fit-m a k in g o f th e o il industry. M any p e o p le a re convinced that the o il sortage Is co n trive d -- th a t it was d e ve lo p e d to raise the price o f g a so lin e a nd fu e l o il, to insure co n tin u e d tax loo ph ole s, to o b ta in the Alaska p ip e lin e , and to confuse and e lim in a te attem pts io m ake th e in dustry co nfo rm to "c le a n a ir " standards The pre sid e nt's lack o f action enhances those suspicions. If th e re is a real crisis, he should take b o ld a nd im m e d ia te action. If, h o w e ve r, th e re is no crisis, he can sit back and w a it fo r the o il industry to d e cid e w h e n to b e g in d e liv e ry a g a in . Unneccessary spending W h e the r or not the b irth co ntrol survey b e in g conducted in P ortland is a m a licio u s a tte m p t at Black g en ocide or w h e th e r it is an in n o ce n t a t te m p t to assess the a v a ila b ility o f brith co ntrol m ethods to those w h o desire them is not kn ow n. The questions are ra c ia ly slanted, w h ich sh ou ld not be necessary to test a ttitudes to w a rd b irth control. But, w h a te ve r the purpose, w e b e lie v e that it is a waste o f m oney. If the g o v e rn m e n t w ants to kn ow w h e th e r its fe d e ra lly fu n d e d fa m ily p la n n in g clinics are rea chin g the p e o p le w h o w a n t th a t service, it w o u ld be a sim ple m atter to ask the e xis tin g social service agencies to m ake a b rie f survey a lo n g w ith th e ir other duties. It w o u ld be a sim p le m a tte r fo r a casew orker to ask his clie n t if she w a n te d b irth control services, if she knew h ow Io o b ta in th em , and if necessary, to fjssit her to o b ta in th e m . It m ig ht not be a scie n tific survey, but it w o u ld do the job. Evaluations o f services is o b v io u s ly necessary, but fe d e ra l p rogram s tend to spend as m uch m oney on e vo lu tio n and co nsu ltatio n as th e y d o on d e liv e ry o f services. The vast a m ounts o f m o n e y spent o ve r a p e rio d o f seven years co u ld better have been used to d e v e lo p safe m ethods o f b irth co n tro l fo r those w ho w a n t and need them . Action two-way street The d irectors o f m an y o f the a ge ncies o f the State o f O reg on h ave c o m m itte d them selves and th e ir a gencies to th e e m p lo y m e n t o f m in o rity persons. Som e o f these d ire cto rs say they have been o pe n to the h irin g o f m in o ritie s in the past, but that no m in o rity persons a p p ly fo r positions w ith th e ir agencies. M in o rity w o rkers, h o w e v e r, say they do not kn ow w h a t p o sitio n s a re ope n or h o w to app ly. The state c iv il se rvice system looks lik e a w a ll to ke ep them out, ra th e r th an a m eth od to g et them in. N o w that the a ge ncy heads have le a rn e d the m e a n in g o f a ffirm a tiv e a c tio n , g a in e d n ew insight into h irin g procedures, a nd say they are ready, m in o rity p e o p le m ust m ake the e ffo rt to m eet them h a lf w a y ! The w a y to g e t a state |ob is to a p p ly fo r it - f ill o u t the form s, ta ke the tests if necessary, and go th ro u g h the in te rv ie w . This takes tim e and the results m ig h t not be im m e d ia te . U sually the best tim e to a p p ly fo r a state jo b is not w h e n you need to go to w o rk the n e x t day, but w he n you fe e l it is tim e to m ake a ch a n g e or ta ke a step u pw ard. If m in o rity p e o p le a p p ly fo r position s and are d e n ie d , or if th ey a re confused a b o u t w h e re to go, th e y can contact H a ro ld W illia m s , EEOC C o o rd in a to r fo r the State Personnel D epartm ent, or the P ortland O bserver. State agencies o ffe r a ll types o f e m p lo y m e n t -- c le ric a l, m e ch a n ica l a nd construction, d riv in g , ja n i to ria l, te ch n ica l, a nd m a n y o the r types th a t one u s u a lly d o e sn 't th in k a b o u t w h e n he considers the W e lfa re or H ealth or Education d e p artm en ts. It is w o rth an occassional trip to the c iv il service o ffic e at 1400 S.W. 5th to see w h a t is a v a ila b le O n ly by an honest and c o n tin u e d e ffo rt to o b ta in state e m p lo y m e n t w ill w e e ver be a b le to d e te r m in e w h e th e r the co m m itm e n ts m ade are rea l — w h e th e r a ffirm a tiv e action in O regon w ill e ver be m o re th an just a p ie ce o f paper. 1 Abortion discussed Dear Editor: Thank you for printing Don Fuller's letter. "Birth Control Study F oretells Genocide", in the November 29 edition of the Portland “. . . incontrovertible e v i dence that they (Blacks) are being eliminated against their wishes." This is from an article titled "Abortion, Pov erty, and Black Genocide: Gifts to the Poor?", which appears in a book called Abortion and Social Justice, Subscriptions: $5 25 per year in the Tri County area. S6.U0 per year outside Portland. Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon The Portland Observer's official position is expressed only in it's Publisher's Column iWe So«- The World Through Black Eves). Any other material throughout the pa|ier is the opinion of the individual writer or submitter and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer. MEMBER svi Oregon Newspaper Publishers ■ ll's g « Association memi * r IE written by Erma Clardy Cra ven. What are the facts? At Belleveue Hospital, a large metropolitan hospital whose patients are mostly Brack, 2.3 babies are aborted for every live birth. Right here in Portland, Emanuel Hos pital has had many days when more babies have been killed in abortion than the ones that are allowed to live. Bellevue Hospital is in New York City. Portland has been a little slow in gearing up its abortion and genocide program for Blarks and poor whites. Ms. Craven questions the basic assumption of the abor tion pushers, that birth pre vention will free Blacks from the chains of poverty: "P overty prevents man from realizing humanity to M EMBER Auocialion - Founded 1U 5 by Bayard Kuatin There is increasing evi dence that Black Studies courses, once promoted as the solution to the psycho logical and educational prob lems of Negro students, are becoming obsolete in the few short years of their exis tence. Courses on Black cul ture and Black history, which filled university classrooms several years ago, now at tract a handful of students. The more frivolous offerings have succumbed altogether, victims of their innate ir revelance. At Howard 1 niversity. for example, 3b students are majoring in Afro American studies; two years ago over 1,600 students signed up for courses in the department. Predominately white George Washington University saw enrollment in a Black history course dwindle from 167 stu dents in 1969. the first year it was offered, to a mere 24 students this fall. The impulse of many is to explain this phenomenon in terms of rising student apathy a dc politicization that has infected campus life in the aftermath of riots and building takeover*. There may he some merit to this argument; certainly it helps explain the lack of interest of white students. But it does not answer the question of why Black stu dents, w ho are entering col lege in increasingly large numbers, reject Black Studies for traditional curriculum. To understand why this is taking place, it is first neces sary to recognize the over riding implications of Black Studies. To those who initially demanded, at times violently, that universities institute autonomous depart ments of Afro American his torv and culture their actions appeared as a genuinely re volutionary gesture which would accelerate the process of racial pride and racial solidarity. And yet, in reality, they w ere laying the groundwork for educational vehicles that, far from in stilling racial* pride, have perpetuated the myth of racial inferiority. The philosophy which underlies Black Studies, as well as Black English and quotas, is that without special treatment Black people can t make it in the real world. And this is simply nonsens«-. In spelling out his objec tions to racial quotas, Thomas Sowell suggests the magni tude of the psychological damage that results from the translation of these myths into social and educational policy. “What all the argu ments for quotas are saying,” declares Sow ell, "is that Black people just don't have it. and that they will have to be given something in order to have something." He adds that the commitment and abilities of competent Black people "will be completely undermined as Blacks be come synonymous in the minds of Black and white alike with incompetence, and Black achievement be com es synonym ous with charity of payoffs." There are. of course, quite pragmatic reasons why Black Studies courses are shunned. Eor once the student leaves the sheltered atmosphere of the campus, he discovers these courses have little value. Those who see educa tion as a means through which they can obtain the skills to enable them to serve the cause of racial advance ment look to medicine, law or science. And those who have a genuine scholarly in terest in the role of Black people in America realize that they must study Negro history, not in isolation, but as part of American history. I want to make it clear that while I believe Black Studies to be without real educational merit. I recog mze that the demands which led to their establishment were a legitimate reaction to the racism of the educational system. The contribution of Negroes to our history and culture was neglected or dis torted; the racial stereotypes which had such devastating psychological effects on Black and white alike were rein forced. It is also true that gifted Negro scholars, teachers of th«- highest abilities, were passed over by the most prestigious universities until the clamor for Black Studies. Insofar as Black S tu dies forced the educational estab lishment to recognize their talents, it performed a ser vice. Those of us who raised o b je c tio n s ab out Black Studies land were very often denounced as "Uncle Toms" because of it) did so for one reason: we did not want to see another generation of mis educated Blacks. The easiest thing in the world is for colleges to create a separate set of courses for LETTERS TO THE EDITOR O bserver. Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company. 2201 North Killingsworth, Portland, Oregon 97217. Mailing address: P.O. Box 3137. Portland. Oregon 9720b Telephone: 283-2486. The decline of Black Studies One thing the early Greeks didn’t have a word for was Africa, which they con sidered a part of Asia. Black students, while ig noring the very real prob lems createil b> ghetto pov erty and inferior schools. The challenge is to provide compensatory programs that can help students overcome their deficiences, rather than pretend they don't exist. The institution of education did not escape the racism which pervaded American society for 3(M) years. The reforms which followed in the wake of the civil rights movement represent impor tant. and often quite success ful, efforts to achieve the equality of opportunity. The enrollment of Black students has increased dramatically, and Black scholars are now offereii the positions which for years were denied them. But the reform impulse has been impeded by succumbing to the cult of the "new", by the acceptance of instant solutions, and by taking the popular, but easy way out. Black students, by their repudiation of Black Studies courses, are already ills covering this. It is time that the universities learned this lesson as well. the fullest degree. Abortion only knocks him down an other step." There is another book by Betty Sarvis and Hyman Northwest Film Study Center Rodman. The Abortion Con 617 N.W. Culpepper Terrace troversy, which has much Portland, Oregon 97210 more details and background. You won't find it on the Gentlemen: shelves of the North Portland County Library. The white We see in Ted Mahar's folks would like to keep column on page 34 of the Black people from finding out November 29. 1973 edition of about what's happening. the Oregonian that you plan In many states in the to show D.W. Griffith's "The South, illiterate mothers have Birth of a Nation" on Dec signed forms (with an X) ember 9th. without knowing that those We hope you point out to papers would be used to your members that not all sterilize all female children, Americans felt this was a as young as 12 years old. good picture, no matter how In a few years, we may technically advanced for its have state laws which re times. quire abortions or steriliza The Portland Branch of tion for women without the National Association for fathers for their children. the Advancement of Colored The social welfare agency is People was formed almost already doing what it can to fifty years ago in 1914. This "starve" poor people into 1915 film was the focus of abortions. Many poor wo one of the Branch's earliest men with jobs are forced to activities when it vigorously get abortions because they protested its showing here. know that their white em Thomas Dixon, who wrote ployers would use pregnancy "The Clansman", from which as an excuse to fire them. "The Birth of a Nation" was Regardless of "laws", abor taken, was known for his ion is social injustice. violently anti Negro writings. "The Clansman" as a play, and “The Birth of a Nation" Jaunita Marie Blondell as a film, made heroes of the Cherokee Indian Ku Klux Kian and villains of the Negro lawmakers of the Reconstruction South. The movie was responsible for renewed waves of lynchings and gave impetus to the re vival of the KKK Millions saw the picture and who knows but what its "mes sage" has helped perpetuate Black stereotypes to this day. It would be tragic if today's young viewers be lieved they were looking at history. "The Birth of a Nation” was hailed for its technical excellence and made fame for its Director. However, if your members will view the picture from the [mint of view of social history, they should know that it probably caused more protest from civil libertarians than any other vehicle because of its rank, crude racism. If we had progressed far enough in our country, and if our children had been ex posed to factual history about the role of Blarks, to b«- able to laugh at this picture as a quaint relic of our racist past, then we wouldn't have to remind your members that not everyone hailed “The Birth of a Nation" (in Mr. Mahar's words) as “the first great American film". As noted above, we feel it especially necessary for young film buffs to know the social history of this picture. Most modern textbooks on the Negro document "The Birth of a Nation" as a blow to Negro progress. We might mention, for example, William Ijoren Katz's “Eye w itness: The N egro in American History": Thomas F. G o ssett’s "Race; The History of an Idea in Ameri ca”; and John Hope Frank tin’s "From Slavery to Free dom”. Sincerely yours, Ellis Casson, President, NAACP, Portland Branch Charles Crews, owner of Chuck's St. Johns Cyclery. ill donate a bicycle to a nerdy child (his Christmas. Anyone who knows a child who nerds a bicycle or tri cycle and who would not otherwise receive one, is askrd to send the child's name and address, his par rnt's or guardian's name, and a short desrription o( whv should be Ih r recipirnt Churk's St Johns Cyclery the l'orlland Observer December 15th. ■In • Sell 50 subscriptions, earn $50.00. Sell 100 subscrip tions, earn $100.00. Sell 500 subscriptions, earn $500.00 and air fare to Iais Vegas, San Francisco or la»» An geles. Sell 1000 subscrip tions, earn $1000. (Ml and air fare to Huwau. Similar bonus plans ran be arranged for rlub'. organiza tions, .horche», « s<» 141 groups. 4'nW I 2496 for more information C a ll 2 8 3 -2 4 8 6 T h e r e ’s A lo re W h e re This C a m e F ro m Not Everyone Subscribes To The Portland Observer bat then, not e v e ry o n e eomes in oat ol the ra in , eith er. H o w A b o u t You? $5.25 RATES: in Tri-County Area and Armed Services $6.00 O ther Areas of the US P O R TLA N D OBSERVER P.O. Box 3137 Portland, Oregon 97208 Nam e A ddress, State City t he to or by The selection will be madr bv M r. Crrw s; A I,. Ilrn d er son, publishrr o( the Ob server; and Itov J Harris of Hrothrrhood Production». Earn m o n e y in y o u r s p are tim e "Birth of the Nation” I Editor's note: This is a letter written to the North west Film Study Center by Mr. Ellis (asson. President of the N A A C P.l Bicycle Donated Zip
