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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1973)
1 Page 2 Portland/Observer Thursday. December 20. 1973 The energy crisis and the ghetto by Vernon E. Jordan WE SEE THE WORLD h___ • THROUGH BLACK EYES ALFRED L. HENDERSON E d ito r/P u b lish e r EDITORIAL FOCUS Roasts attack Blacks in the name of poor O ne o f th e fe w re m a in in g Black directors in the N orth w e st — C le v e la n d G ilcre ase , Executive D irector o f the P ortland M e tro p o lita n S teering C o m m itte e - is the subject o f a viciou s personal a tta ck. The N ix o n A d m in is tra tio n has don e a ll it can to e lim in a te Black directors, but a ll attacks do n ot com e fro m the co n se rva tive R epublicans. S om etim es the m ost e ffe c tiv e atta ck comes from th e so -ca lle d supporters o f the p e o p le Racists o f th e w orst sort have a tta cke d this Black m an in th e n a m e o f th e poor — but the leaders o f the atta ck a re not o f the le g itim a te poor, but are the victim s o f se lf-im p o se d p ove rty. They a re the d isg ru n tle d fo rm e r e m p lo ye e s a n d a fe w u nh ap py current e m p lo y e e s o f the PMSC C h ild D e v e lo p m e n t C enter, a lo n g w ith others w h o w o u ld use th e ir fic titio u s or le g itim a te gripes to fu rth e r th e ir o w n cause. They have in v o lv e d the parents o f the ch ild re n th e y a re supposed to serve. These e m p lo ye e s have not fo llo w e d the g rie v ance p rocedures ope n to th em under fe d e ra l g u id e lin e s a n d h ave m ade no person al a p p e a l to G ilcrease. They d o not seem co nce rn ed w ith fin d in g answ ers to th e ir p ro b le m s or those o f th e ir agency. Instead, th e y h ave lau nch ed a p ersonal attack on G ilcrease a nd a re a tte m p tin g to use the racial issue to tu rn th e Black co m m u n ity a g a in st h im and his a gency. G ilcre ase is a m an w h o is respected fo r his p h ilo so p h y a n d his a d m in is tra tiv e a b ility . His p ro gram has bee n fo u n d a b o ve rep ro a ch by n um erou s fisca l a n d so cial e va lu a to rs The Black c o m m u n ity w ill not a ffo w a fe w rab b le -ro u se rs and th e ir m is-le d fo llo w e rs to destroy this m an. Buy wisely A n o th e r C hristm as season is a lm ost o ve r and a g a in th e h a rd -e a rn e d m on ey o f Black p e o p le has bee n spent in businesses w hose o w ners and m an ag ers care n o th in g a b o u t a nd c o n trib u te n o th in g to th e Black co m m u n ity. W hen a p p ro a c h e d by the a d ve rtisin g sta ff o f the O bserver, som e o f these co m p an ies d em onstrate no interest in Black tra d e . Some g o to g re at ends to a v o id th e q ue stion . The a d ve rtis in g d ire cto r at Lippm ans h id e s a n d w o n 't a nsw er the phone. Rhodes h ave said th e y d o n 't w a n t Black trade. M e ie r a nd Franks just a re n 't intereste d -- they g et Black tra d e w ith o u t co n trib u tio n s to the c o m m un ity. C ohn Brothers say som e tim e s they d o n 't have Black custom ers -- o th e r tim es th e y say th ey have to o m a n y Black custom ers. The m an ag er o f C laren ce W a lke r F low ers on K illin g s- w o rth said he just d o e sn 't care if p e o p le fro m the co m m u n ity co m e to his shop or not. T ra d e w e ll refuses e ven the m in im a l co n trib u tio n s to c o m m u n ity projects. W e m ig h t try a N e w Y ear's R esolution -- and spend our m o n e y in th e c o m m u n ity a nd in stores w h o so licit o u r tra d e a nd co n trib u te to th e c o m m un ity. ' " '' W « » « » • • « » « The U.S. House o f R epresentatives vo ted to e lim in a te a ll b using fo r th e purpose o f d e se g re g a tio n — e v e n those busing p ro gram s u nd er court o rd e r — in the n a m e o f e n e rg y co nse rva tion. The e n e rg y crisis is n o w b e in g used to d e p riv e Black c h ild re n o f th e ir c o n s titu tio n a l rig h t to an o p p o rtu n ity fo r a q u a lity e d u ca tio n . W e a lre a d y k n o w th a t th e poor su ffe r m ost fro m shortages a nd ris in g prices. W e k n o w th a t m in o rity u n e m p lo y m e n t is ris in g w h ile w h ite u n e m p lo y m e n t fa lls or is static. The jobless rate fo r Blacks rose fro m 8.3 p e rce n t in O cto b er to 9.1 percen t in N o ve m b e r, w h ile th e w h ite u n e m p lo y m e n t rate re m a in e d at 4.2 p e rcen t. W e e xpect th a t in tim es o f e c o n o m ic crisis, m in o ritie s w ill h a v e to go w ith o u t a d e q u a te fo o d a nd shelter, b ut n o w o u r c h ild re n a re to be d e p riv e d o f th e ir rig hts, also. The U nite d States can h a rd ly be respected as a w o rld le a d e r w h e n th e p ro fit-m a k in g e ffo rts o f the o il m o n o p o ly a re used as an excuse to d e n y Black c h ild re n o f th e ir rig h t to som eday p a rtic ip a te in the structure o f the A m e ric a n society. PMSC challenged (Continued from pg. 1, col. 4) charges that the children who were in the bus were not taken to the doctor. Mrs. Boynton said she had given that responsibility to the Social Worker, Jean De- Masters, and did not know until later that Mrs. De- Masters had neglected her duty. The union representatives charged that the Master- Teacher had taken a parent's petition calling for the re in statem ent of Mrs. De- Masters from an aide. Mrs. Boynton said the unsigned petition was found fastened to a wall and was brought for her to see. The union charges that the center is unclean. The last City-County Public Health Department check recorded Reasons G reetings and W ishes Even if the Arab states stop trying to blackmail us into abandoning our long standing com m itment to Israel, there will still be a serious oil shortage. The energy crisis appears to be here to stay. It is something that started years ago when world demand increased and prices rose sharply, and it will probably go on until new energy sources are found. The President has already called for a great national effort to attain self sufficiency in energy supplies by the end of the decade, pros ing once again that Americans have almost unlimited capa city to set and follow through on national goals that don't directly tackle the human problems of living together decently. In the 1960's, the national goal was to put a man on the moon. In the 70's it will be to increase energy supplies. When will we decide to make the eradication of poverty and the revitalization of our cities a great national goal in the 1990's? Meanwhile, the energy crisis continues and it has important implications for Black people and |>oor peo ple. As the government moves to conserve energy, its policy must be based firmly on two important principles. First, the burden of the shortages should be borne by all. with the heaviest burden on the people who can most afford it. It’s no great sacrifice to limit the use of gas eating cars or for middle class homes to reduce thermostats to 68 degrees. But Black people and working people was on November 30th and found the renter in good order. Mike Zaharakis, union or ganizer. said he would fur nish the Observer with a list of 150 specific allegations against Mrs. Boynton, but this list never materialized. He also agreed to bring evi dence of the union's strength among the center workers since he claims 60 percent membership. Mrs. Boynton said she had never been in formed which staff members had requested union repre sentation or the total num ber, which seemed to change from day to day. Several staff members had told her they were no longer in terested in the union because they disapproved of its tac tics. Zaharakis said harassment of staff has increased since the union became involved, but refused to define the harassment or give examples. He said the unions only con cern is to organize the staff so they will have union rep resentation to protect them from undeserved harassment and firing. He said the union struggle will be “militant, non-violent and effective". Mrs. Overton said she had contacted 27 parents at ran dom and that only two had complaints about the center or the director. She said an independent evaluation of conditions at the center is A d vertisers Subscriptions: $3.25 per year in the Tri County area. $6 00 per year outside Portland. and MtMBta meeilkri 9ÌI MEMBER PER Gitoci a, ion - Founded 1995 a short description ol why should be the recipient Chuck's St. Johns Cyrlery the Portland Observer December 22nd. Charles Crews, owner ol Chuck's St, Johns Cyelery. will donate a bicycle to a needy child this Christmas. Anyone who knows a child who needs a bicycle or tri cycle and who would not otherwise receive one, is asked to send the child's name and address, his par ent's or guardian's name, and To The I Portland Observer b a t tb e a , e v e ry o n e eom es In o a t o f tb e r a in , e it h e r . H ow A b o u t Y ou ? $5.25 R A TE S : in Tri-County Area and Armed Service$ $6.00 O ther Areas of the US P O R I L A N D O BSERVER P.O. Box 3137 Portland. Oregon 97208 Nam e A ddre$$, State __ L City ------- Zip Earn m oney in your spare tim e Sell 50 subscriptions, earn $50.00. Sell 100 suhscrip tions, earn $100.00. Sell 500 subscription*, earn $500.00 and air far«1 to tuts Vega*, San Francisco or I xm An gele*. Sell 1000 subscrip tions, earn $1000.00 and air fare to Hawaii. Subscribers Similar bonus plans ran be arranged for clubs, organiza tions, churches, or social groups. Call 283 2486 for more information. Dear Sir, way peace and good fo rtv n e I would like to express my continued admiration and high regard to you and your staff or your courageous and forthright articles in opposi tion to racial oppression and economic exploitation of many Black people in Portland (the lily of white roses). It appears at this writing (Christmas season, 1973) that the Portland Observer will continue to sustain the tradi tion initiated by John Russ warm, editor of Freedom's Journal in 1827, when he wrote: “If we are to be free . . . we must voice our anger and hopes against those whom would re-enslave us , . John Russwarm's news paper is considered by Black historians as the “first sig nificant publication devoted to Black liberation.” I think you will perpetuate that tradition. Seasons Greetings, James H. Rogers, Assistant Professor, Black Studies, PSU Coll 2 8 3 -2 4 8 6 There's Alore W h e re This Com e f r o m he to or by The selertion will be made by Mr. Crews; A.I.. Ilender son. publisher ol the Ob Server; and Roy J. Harris ol Brotherhood Productions. Subscribes being made but that the IWW was not willing to wait until the evaluation is com pleted before picketing the center and continuing their accusations. Al I.ucas said he had found some problem of communication and divi sion among the staff and par ents but that he did note the situation was as serious as it has been presented. He also questioned the participation of a staff member in the press conference on agency property and during his working hours without the consent of the director. PMSC board chairman John Rice will call a special board meeting within the next few days to consider the recent evaluation of the center. The National I^bor Rela tions Board has made a pre liminary finding that the IWW has no jurisdiction to represent center employees. An election of the employees to determine union repre sentation has not been held. The PMSC Child Develop ment Center is funded by the U.S. Department of Health. Education and Welfare and is administered by PMSC. It is a full day, head start pro gram for children of low income parents who are em ployed or in school. The program has two satélites one at Iris Court and one in Southeast Portland. Bicycle Donated Not Everyone LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association sharp rise in unemployment, even w ithout an energy crisis. This country's goal has to be that of full employ ment a job for everyone willing and able to work. We've had enough experience with “jawboning" to know that voluntary compliance is nonexistent. Regulations on energy use ought to be formulated now before it is too late to insure that there is rational use of scarce energy and that employment won't suffer And I'd like to see some kind of watchdog committee set up to insure that the energy crisis doesn't become everybody's excuse for plac ing more burdens on poor |H-ople and for evading social goals and responsibilities. Already, at least one southern achool district has asked that court ordered school busing directives be set aside to conserve fuel. All sorts of similar energy saving patriots will lie coming out of the woodwork now, saying it is their duty to cut heat to tenants to 55 degrees or to stop the school buses or close factories. Minorities and working people need assurances that the energy crisis is not going to become another excuse to put more pressure on their necks. Finally, in addition to pushing the search for alter native energy supplies, ra tional national policy demands pushing socially desirable goals are needed. For example, one reason why the energy crisis is upon us is the fantastic road building program of the past two decades, a program that created suburbia and down graded cities. A commit ment to mass transit systems and to reviving city renters would go a long way toward conserving fuel while im proving the quality of Ameri can life. to our Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, 2201 North Killingsworth. Portland. Oregon 97217. Mailing address: P.O. Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208. Telephone: 283 2486. The Portland Observer's official position is expressed only in it's Publisher's Column lW e See The World Through Black Eves). Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion of the individual w riter or submitter and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer. whose jobs are dependent on auto transportation shouldn't be hit with the same driving limitations and gas taxes as Sunday pleasure drivers. And Black people shouldn't be victimized by gougers using the energy crisis as an excuse. Every winter many hundreds of thousands of Black people in urban ghettos freeze because their land lords don't prov id« enough heat for them. The 68 degree home heating target never existed. While it tries to cut back on energy use, the governm ent shouldn't foster flu epidemics in the ghettos housing codes should be enforced and gougers made to pay dearly. The second principle is that energy allocations should not hamper industrial users in a way that throws people out of work. While it may only be a scare tactic, talk is current that some factories will have to be shut down and their workers laid off. Most experts predict a
