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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1976)
B*ge 2 Portland Observer Thursday, April 1, 1976 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: Dear Editor: Dear Editor: The Black Press; The agenda of the future Each y e a r a t th is tim e w e pause to pay trib u te to th e tra d itio n o f R ussw urm a n d C ornish a nd a ll the jo u rn a lis t sta lw a rts th a t fo llo w e d . N o o n e can d e n y th e c ritic a l ro le th e Black Press o f A m e ric a has h ad in th e sh a p in g o f so cial c h a n g e in this co u n try . Long b e fo re th e tu rb u le n t Sixties w h e n m a n y th in k th e re v o lu tio n started, th e Black p io n e e rs o f jo u rn a lis m w e re b la z in g tra ils w ith little m o re th a n a paste p o t, k n u b b y p e n c ils a n d just p la in ra w co u ra g e . It w a s in th is tra d itio n th a t th e rea l soul o f the Black Press w as b o rn . C o n c e iv e d in the w o m b o f a d ve rsity, n u rtu re d in th e stress o f o v e rt b ig o try th a t d o g g e d footsteps, it re a c h e d a k in d o f m a tu rity in th e m a in stre e ts o f the a s p h a lt ju n g le s w e c a ll u rb a n A m e ric a . The B lack Press, in its re le n tle ss crusade fo r fre e d o m , has n e ve r fa ile d to a n s w e r the c la rio n c a ll o f th e n ee ds o f the n a tio n . S o m etim es v o lu n ta rily a n d too o fte n in ch ains. Black m en a n d w o m e n h a v e le ft th e ir in d e lib le m a rk u p o n the acres upo n acres o f the co u n try. As the Black Press v ig o ro u s ly p ro te ste d p o ll taxes a n d lyn ch in g s, flo g g in g s a n d b u rn in g s , its re a d e rs h ip w a s d is tin g u is h in g its e lf-p a y in g th e su p re m e sa crifice . They w e re in th e b o a t w h e n W a sh in g to n crossed the D e la w a re ; w as p re se n t a n d a ffix e d a s ig n a tu re to the C o n s titu tio n a n d w e stood on the b lo o d y d ecks a t Pearl H a rb o r pre 'in g o u r m e ttle a nd o u r w o rth . T h ro u g h o u t th is tim e , F re e d o m ’s Jo u rn a l, th e N o rth Star a n d those th a t fo llo w e d w e re a tte m p tin g to te ll A m e ric a the e rro r o f its w ays. N o t o n ly that, b u t th e y spoke lo u d a n d c le a rly o f the in e q u itie s o f a system th a t ke p t a su b sta n tia l n u m b e r o f its p e o p le e n s la v e d a nd h a lf-fre e . D espite its su stain ed a rtic u la tio n , th e w h o le o f A m e ric a chose n o t to h ea r. The Black Press has a lw a y s re c o g n iz e d the u rg e n t n e e d fo r its re a d e rs h ip to p a rtic ip a te a n d share in the vast resources o f this co u n try. This com es w ith the fu ll k n o w le d g e th a t Black sw e a t, s u ffe rin g a n d sa crifice a re in te rw o v e n in th e so il upon w h ic h A m e ric a g ro w s its g ra in a n d raises th e steel to w e rs o f its u rb a n centers. It com es w ith th e fu ll k n o w le d g e th a t Black hands a n d m in ds cre a te d m uch o f w K a f w e e n ]b y “ fo d a y . W e c h a rte re d the streets o f the D istrict o f C o lu m b ia . W e h e lp e d M cC o rm ick co nstruct th e re a p e r a n a w e d isc o v e re d th e m e d ic in a l virtu e s o f b lo o d p la sm a . W e p u t th e c h im e in th e s trik in g clo ck a n d shed o u r b lo o d in e v e ry w a r w h ic h h istory records. Is it a n y reason to d e b a te a ra tio n a le fo r Blacks to say, a n d w ith o u t e q u iv o c a tio n , "T h is la n d is M Y la n d ? " But g iv e n a ll this, w h a t lie s a h e a d ? T h ro u g h o u t th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e Black m an in A m e ric a , th e s tru g g le has c e n te re d its e lf on m a n y fro n ts : e d u c a tio n , p u b lic a c c o m o d a tio n , fa ir e m p lo y m e n t, v o tin g , etc. But a c o n c e n tra te d search fa ils to sh o w a p ro g ra m m e d e ffo rt to b rin g the A m e ric a n Black m a n in to the e c o n o m ic m a in s tre a m th a t m arks th e c o rn e rsto n e o f th e A m e ric a n system . O u r b ro th e rs a n d sisters w a n d e r a im le s s ly a nd fu tilit y in g re a t a re as o f p o v e rty , not by c h o ic e , b ut by circu m stan ces. The F ederal G o v e rn m e n t a t b oth th e e x e c u tiv e a n d le g is la tiv e leve ls, has g iv e n scant a tte n tio n to tF« B lack p oo r. Such c o n d itio n s , cry o ut fo r re m e d y . This is th e k in d o f crusade to w h ic h w e m ust address ourselve s. There m ust be th e k in d o f c o m m itm e n t o f (R o be rt S.) A b b o tt's c a ll to le a v e the south a n d (R o be rt I.) V a n n 's re le n tle s s crusade a g a in s t th e p o ll tax. These n e w g o a ls m a y n o t m o ve the e m o tio n s as the m o re o v e rt, acts o f th e past, but th e o b je c tiv e s a re c le a rly as im p o rta n t. W ith th e e v e r s h rin k in g w o rld a ro u n d us, the Black Press m ust insist th a t its g o v e rn m e n t g iv e the p ro p e r resp ect to th e e m e rg in g c o u n trie s o f A fric a . It is in c o n c e iv a b le th a t a S e creta ry o f State w o u ld serve u n d e r o n e a n d a h a lf Presidents, g a in the re p u ta tio n fo r e x te n s iv e tra v e ls a n d n e v e r set fo o t on the c o n tin e n t o f A fric a . The A m e ric a n Black m a n m ust rea ch o u t a n d e s ta b lis h his r ig h tfu l bonds w ith his A fric a n b ro th e r, n e ith e r e x p e c tin g h im to a d o p t o u r c u ltu re or o u r fin d in g it necessary to re la te to h im , e x c e p t by a sing len ess o f p u rp o s e a nd h is to ric a l p e rs p e c tiv e . The p a ltry sum o f the a d v e rtis in g d o lla r th a t fin d s its w a y in to the Black Press a n n u a lly is a tra v e s ty on the e c o n o m ic in te llig e n c e o f the m a rk e tin g e xpe rts. O n ly a m y o p tic v ie w o f the $69.9 b illio n e a rn e d by Black p e o p le , c o u ld cause the syste m a tic b y-p assin g o f this tre m e n d o u s b u y in g p o w e r. The Black Press, th ro u g h w h a te v e r m eans, m ust a g g re s s iv e ly pursue th a t d o lla r, as m uch to s ta b iliz e th e e c o n o m ic g ro w th o f th is c o u n try as to p a rtic ip a te in a system to w h ic h you b e lo n g . Black A m e ric a n s can p rosper as o th e r A m e ric a n s , o n ly w h e n tru e p a rity is spread a m o n g th e to ta lity o f the A m e ric a n p e o p le . This w ill n o t co m e as a g ift or th ro u g h p a te rn a lis tic acts or p ro g ra m s. It w ill be a c h ie v e d w h e n a ll m en share a n d share a lik e in the g oo dn ess o f th is c o u n try. That sto ry m ust be to ld , o v e r a n d o v e r a g a in . This m ust be th e a g e n d a fo r to m o rro w . This letter is in regard to the recent announcement of the reassignment of Dexter Henderson to the Albina Human Resources Center as Assistant Manager. M r. Henderson has recently been su spended from the Corvallis Center after a great deal of controversy and adverse publicity concerning his ability to manage the Corvallis Center. I question the wisdom of this decision since it implies a double standard concerning qualifications and standards for the Human Resource Centers with the Albina Center coming out second best. Sincerely. W illiam Rose If Dexter Henderson, former Manager of the Corvallis Human Resouces Center, had been Black and goofed in Albina, he would not be reassigned to Corvallis. What happened to Leon Harris. Black former Manager of Albina. In the most liveable city in the country, he had to seek employment in another state. Why could he not have been reassigned in the state system. W ith the vacancy. M r. Dick Davis could send for him and assign him to that Center. The Corvallis community has spoken loud and clear and the state responded to their wishes. Now we wonder will the wishes of Albina be met or will their voices be a tinkling cymbal or sounding Dear Editor: brass. Garbage is garbage no m atter from where it comes. We do not want garbage from Washington D.C., Salem or Corval lis. We are the taxpayers and this is our community. SB 951 should be recon sidered now, 1 think. Maybe further study should be given before we give Mr. Davis more power. Dr. George Wallace Maize. Pastor First A M E Zion Church Stanley Cage Dear Editor: I am appalled that Dexter Henderson is being reassigned to the Albina Human Resources Center. I am even more appalled that Mrs. Hazel Hays, Manager of the Albina Human Resources Center would accept this. W hat makes Mr. Davis and Mrs. Hays think the Albina community will accept Corvallis' cast off. Dear Editor: P o rtla n d O b s e rv e r 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. Subscriptions: $7.50 per year in the Tri-County area, $8.00 per year outside Portland. Second Class Postage Paid at Portland, Oregon ALFRED L. HENDERSON Editor/Publisher The Portland Observer’s official position is expressed only in its Publisher’s column I W e See The World Through Black Eyes). 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. n I Honorable Mention Herrick Editorial Award N N A 1973 2nd Place Best Editorial 3rd Place Community Leadership O N PA 1975 Dexter Henderson returning to Albina. Somebody must be kidding, The Albina Human Resources Center is not a reha bilitation renter for unsuccessful mana gers from Corvallis or anywhere else. W illie Jenkins Spencer Barrett Name Address C ity Bobbie Nunn, Vice Chairman AHRC Advisory Hoard Dear Editor: Dear Editor: I could not believe it when I heard that Dexter Henderson, the recently dismi»*- ed Manager of the Corvalli« Center, was being reassigned to the Albina Human Resources Center. M r. Henderson's failure to perform in Corvallis adequately insures that he cannot possibly serve in any positive manner in Albina. Again we find Albina being used as a Goodwill box. (M rs.) Alberta Polk Vc, th e un derp inn ed, wlnh to p r o te a t the .appointm ent o f > i t e r Hendem o n ea A a n ia ta n t Henagar o f the A lb in a S e rv ice C e n te r. Vc f e e l h l» p e r t r w o r d an Manager o f the M u ltt-C e r v ie e C en ter In C o r r e ll la nnd pre vio u a e ip e r ie n r e e A a a le te n t Heneger h e re , ra k e t h ia appointm ent t - t , M e to aont p e rffcn n e l. “J # ÁJ. Dear Editor: Dexter Henderson coming back to Albina. Not so. We will not have him. W e want the State of Oregon and the world to know that Albina is not a garbage dump. ¿ /A 5x -,—3 / Mae Richie This community is tired of decisions being imposed upon them by the bureau cracy. Clay Myers, Secretary of State, chopped up the community and left it politically powerless. Now we find the decision has been made to send a Corvallis reject to the Albina Human Resources Center. This is unacceptable to this community. W e will not accept a reject from anywhere. <■ - f r - t ' - * ” < -rXX /• Sincerely, Preston Richie Dear Editor: I am a white female and I work in the Albina community. I was dismayed when Clay Myers, Secretary of State, chopped up the community in four sections, leaving this community politically po werless. I was even more dismayed when I read that Dexter Henderson, former Manager of the Corvallis Human Re sources Center, is being reassigned to the Albina Human Resources Center. This is after his failure in Corvallis. I am looking forward to the day when all people can be treated with dignity. ì “ c Alice Talbot N e W A l PER Baker acquitted Aatocialion - Founded 1885 SUBSCRIBE NOW $7.50 It was shocking to read the recent news regarding the decision to assign M r. Dexter Henderson as Assistant Manager of the Albina Human Resources Center. Inasmuch as Mr. Henderson was demoted and suspended as manager of the Corval lis Human Resources Center. I oppose the exploitation of the Albina community, the AHRC director, staff and clients it serves. Reverend John Jackson. President Albina Ministerial Alliance (Continued fro1“ p. 1 col. 6, Tri-C ounty a re a Dear Editor: t tiili/ 5th Place Best Editorial N N P A 1973 MEMBER MEMBER Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association 1st Place Best Ad Results O N P A 1973 Doris Simpson The previous Corvallis Human Re sources Center Manager is returning to the Albina Human Resources Center as Assistant Manager after failure in Cor vallis as Manager. Tell me, M r. Editor, in the absence of the Albina Human Resources Center Manager would he not again be Manager. If so, it sounds like the same old game is being run on Albina. Dear Editor: 1st Place Community Service O N P A 1973 I fail to see the logic of sending an employee who has failed in his job as Director of the Corvallis Human Re sources Center bark to another Center as Assistant Director. In this rase, the Albina Human Re sources Center is the loser. W hy should the people of Albina be blessed with second rate help. Or is it the “Siberia" of the Human Resources Departm ent and considered ’’punishm ent to fit the crime?" o th er a rea s $8.00 M a :l to: P ortland O b se rve r P.O. Box 3137 P ortland, O re g o n 97208 parently investigated Baker's report of bribery in about November, contacted Nelson and friends, and were told about the alleged robbery. Nelson, his wife and his friends related a confused and conflicting story in court. Baker, who was represented by Attorney Richard Helzer, took the stand to give his account of the events that took place. His testimony was corroberated by several witnesses, including John Minus, a prac ticum stu d e n t, who said he heard Baker report the expected bribe and that he kept records of the events until December, when he destroyed his re cords since no investigation seemed to be occuring. Also testifying for Baker were Judge Richard Jones, who was Baker's last sentencing judge, and Judge Pat Dooley, both of whom related Baker's good reputation among the judges. Judge Jones has often said that he considers Baker to be "rehabilitated”. Upon hearing the jury's verdict of not gudty, Baker expressed the opinion that the state will attem pt to find another charge against him. “The county or state will try to bring another charge against me to discredit my Civil Rights suits against them. They will try anything to get rid of me. "The jury took me as an individual, not as merely a Black ex felon, but I have to thank Judges Jones and Dooley for that. This trial does not prove justice can be had by a Black ex felon because I had people to testify as to my character and honesty that most Blacks off the street would not have. I t took two white judges to convince the jury. “I will have no chance to get a job in Multnomah County or the State of Ore gon. There is still no opportunity for a Black man to work in corrections or criminology when he has a background like mine. I have spoken out on the injustices and I intend to keep on speaking out. I intend to insist on my civil rights. "There are a lot of unanswered ques tions in this rase. Why wasn't it investi gated at the time? Why, if there was a question of my honesty, did I receive a favorable evaluation and a grade of A for my work with the county? No, they just cannot let a Black ex felon be rehabili tated." Baker intends to continue his suit against the county and the state. He applied for several correction positions through C E T A V I funding and was denied employment because he is on parole. Baker explains that the stated purpose of the corrections division is rehabilita tion and that if he is a product of that rehabilitation effort, the division is rtega ting its own effort by refusing him a job merely because he is on parole. J
