4
Page 2
Portland Observer
irsday, June 17, 1976
Displaced Homemakers
We see the world
by Yvonne Brathwaite Burke
through Black eyes
Press promotes racism
A re ce n t survey o f e ig h te e n m a jo r n ew spapers
has p ro v e n once a g a in w h a t Black p e o p le have
in h e re n tly k n o w n — th a t the w h ite press co n tin u e s to
pra ctice racism a g a in st th e Black C o m m u n ity in th re e
m a jo r areas — e m p lo y m e n t, n ew s re p o rtin g , a n d
re p o rtin g o f c o m m u n ity attitu de s.
In his b oo k, The Black Press, U.S.A., R.E. W o ls e le y
w ro te : “ As Roi O ttle y has e x p la in e d , the w h ite press
a n d new s services e a rn e d the suspicion o f Black
citizen s in th e firs t h a lf o f this ce n tu ry because th ey
co u ld n ot be trusted to te ll the tru th a b o u t Blacks.
These w h ite a ge ncies w e re accused o f fa v o rin g
w h ite s a g a in st B ^ c k s , i.e. ta ilo rin g the new s to fit the
p u b lic a tio n s ' p re ju d ic e s or a t least those o f th e ir
o w n e rs ."
W o lse le y co nclud es in his 1971 b o o k, "c o m p la in ts
a b o u t the w h ite press tre a tm e n t o f Blacks' new s
to d a y, h o w e v e r, are no less num erou s, p erha ps
m o re se le ctive because th e y sin g le o ut regions, a n d
m e re ly d iffe r in n a tu re fro m those e a rlie r y e a rs ."
The C on gre ssio na l Black Caucus said in a re ce n t
p o sitio n p a p e r: "T h e mass m e d ia has fa ile d m is e r
a b ly to a d e q u a te ly a n d a c c u ra te ly p o rtra y Black
p e o p le a n d Black p erspectives. The m e d ia a nd its
a llie s a lso h ave fa ile d to a llo w e q u a l access to
in fo rm a tio n necessary fo r fu ll p a rtic ip a tio n in a
d e m o cra tic s o c ie ty ."
It is p ossible to rea d th e d a ily press a nd n ot be
a w a re th a t th e re a re Black p e o p le in P ortland,
O reg on . In a d d itio n to the " b la c k o u t" a g a in st som e
Black in d iv id u a ls , a n d th e n e g a tiv e re p o rtin g a b o u t
others, th e re is a g e n u in e absence o f n ew s o f Black
p e o p le , o rg a n iz a tio n s a n d events. W e s till fin d m a jo r
new s events tu cke d a w a y b e h in d the classifie ds or
u nd er th e o b itu a rie s.
A n o th e r aspect o f this racism is th e fa ilu re to re p o rt
on the cu rre n t th o u g h t a n d p h ilo s o p h y in the Black
C o m m u n ity. There is no o u tle t in th e w h ite press fo r
a ttitu d e s a n d p oints o f v ie w — o n ly the m ost
in fla m a to ry w o rd s are g iv e n expression a nd o n ly in
tim es o f c o n flic t. The id e a o f e d u c a tio n , re lig io n ,
p o litics, econom ics, etc. o f th in k in g Black p e o p le a re
n ot g iv e n th e crkdb tta » o f th a t o f th e ir- w h ite
counterparts.
In the a re a o f e m p lo y m e n t, a n a tio n a l survey
show s the n e w sp a p e r in d u stry to be o n e o f the w orst
-- e s p e c ia lly in th e p ro fe ssio n a l a n d a d m in is tra tiv e
ranks. Blacks fa re no b e tte r in P ortland.
W e ca ll on o u r w h ite b ro th e r n ew spa pe rs in
O reg on to e nd this a ttitu d e o f ostracism a nd racism .
W e b e lie v e y o u r w h ite readers, as w e ll as Black,
have the d esire a n d the rig h t to re a d th e new s a b o u t
Black p e o p le a nd Black c u ltu re in O re g o n . You h ave
a h u n d re d years o f racism to o ve rco m e , but a little
e ffo rt w o u ld go a lo n g w a y.
The w h ite d a ily press has lo n g bee n th e strongest
in flu e n c e on O re g o n 's citizens. H o w g o o d it w o u ld
be if, in the B ic e n te n n ia l ye ar, this in flu e n c e w e re
used to b rin g a b o u t an e nd to the racism w e have'
e x p e rie n c e d fo r so long.
Investigate unfair,
¡„ „ ¡^
In re ce n t w ee ks w e have h e a rd a c la m o r c o m in g
o ut o f the D istrict A tto rn e y 's o ffic e a n d fro m o the r
p u b lic o ffic ia ls d e m a n d in g m o re jails. O u r ja ils are
fille d a nd o v e rflo w in g .
B efore the ta xp a ye rs g e t stuck fo r b ig g e r and
better ja ils w e n e e d to ta ke a lo o k at w h o is in our
jails. M a n y o f the m en a n d w o m e n lo cke d b e h in d
bars do n ot b e lo n g th e re a n d c o u ld be o u t s u p p o rtin g
them selves a n d th e ir fa m ile s .
A g o o d e x a m p le is a Black m an w h o is c u rre n tly
se rving a o ne ye a r sentence at Rocky Butte w ith no
o p p o rtu n ity fo r p a ro le , w o rk release, or g o o d tim e
The m an 's p ro b le m b eg an tw o years a g o w h e n his
w ife ch a rg e d h im w ith assault. They w e re se parated
a t the tim e b ut by the tim e he w e n t to tria l th e y w e re
back to g e th e r. On th e a d v ic e o f counsel he p le a d e d
g u ilty e x p e c tin g a lig h t sentence. He w as sentenced
to fo u rte e n days in ja il so he a p p e a le d . He w e n t
b e fo re Judge B eatty a n d w as se nte nce d to fiv e years
p ro b a tio n - on a m is d e m e a n o r a n d a dom estic
p ro b le m a t that.
The fo llo w in g D ecem ber, d u rin g th e process o f
d ivo rce , his w ife c o m p la in e d to th e |u dg e a b o u t her
husband's b e h a v io r. A re v o c a tio n h e a rin g w as held
a nd he w as sent to a p sychiatrist w h o p ro n o u n c e d
h im sound. On the a d v ic e o f the p sychiatrist a n d the
p ro b a tio n o ffic e r he w as re le a s e d — b ut had served
several w ee ks in ja il.
In Ja n u a ry he p a rk e d his car a n d le ft it. He says it
w as stolen. The p o lic e and the car w e re in v o lv e d in
a h ig h speed chase. The d riv e r w as not c a u g h t b ut a
w a rra n t w as p u t o u t fo r o u r p riso n e r. In A p ril he
s u rren de red a n d h ad a n o th e r re v o c a tio n h e a rin g .
M o re d om estic c o m p la in ts had bee n re c e iv e d by the
Judge, so he had a n o th e r re v o c a tio n h e a rin g . His
w ife d id n ot a p p e a r a t court a n d sent a n ote saying
she d id n ot th in k he sh o u ld go to ja il.
F a ilin g to h ave v e rific a tio n o f the d om estic
charges, Judge B eatty used th e a lle g e d tra ffic
o ffe n s e to send h im to ja il, a lth o u g h this m a tte r hod
not co m e to tria l so th e re w as no p ro o f o f g u ilt.
He w as sentenced to one ye ar a t Rocky Butte w ith
no p o s s ib ility o f p a r o le ,1 d o w o r k release? no tim e
served a n d no g o o d tim e o ff.
He re m a in s in ja il. For th e past n in e years he has
w o rk e d a n d s u p p o rte d a fa m ily . He is e m p lo y e d and
the c o m p a n y a g re e d io h o ld his jo b fo r a re a so n a b le
tim e.
W hy sh o u ld this m a n sit in ja il. M ost d om estic
co urt jud ge s a n d e v e n social w o rk e rs a n d c o u n s e l
lors h ave le a rn e d to d is tin g u is h fa m ily p ro b le m s fo r
c rim in a l o ffenses. Even p o lic e o ffic e rs d o not lig h tly
in v o lv e th em selve s in fa m ily p ro ble m s.
B e fo re w e g o o u t a n d b u ild b ig g e r a n d b e tte r ja ils
w e had b e tte r c le a n o ut the ones w e have. A lth o u g h
the ju d g e s ' d e c is io n is fin a l, it is n o t a lw a y s rig h t. We
suggest a re v ie w c o m m itte e th a t c o u ld loo k into
harsh sentences a n d c o n c illia te th e m a tte r w ith o u t
the e n o rm o u s costs a n d tim e in v o lv e d in the a p p e a l
process.
Letter to the Editor
and could be productive citizens if con
cerned parents would only take the time
to see that they get the proper skills in
school and actively seek career opportu
nities for all our youth.
Many of us are sitting by and watching
the women do what the Blacks started
and are willing to just sit by and grumble
To the Editor:
Sometimes a little concern on behalf of
those persons who are so dedicated and
citizen minded would help our community
if they would be concerned and do some
thing about the young thieves who are
shopping in F red M e y e r. Penney's,
Wards, and Safeway Stores. A few who
think they are justified in stealing from
these stores because of the high prices, if
they would use their intelligence and
simply stop buying from these stores and
go some place else where the prices are
lower. Many of these same thieves would
about the situation at home. The Black
male is not liberated and never will be
liberated until he can take his rightful
place at the head of the family and as a
productive citizen. These things we can
not do until all of us who have children
will go to the schools and places of em
ployment on behalf of all our youth and
see that they are properly equipped with
the tools needed for survival. We can
work harmoniously with the women and
share equally in the opportunities pro
vided. if we are all equally prepared
educationally.
The challenge is to all you responsible
adults and citizens who would like to live
in a safe and comfortable neighborhood.
If you see a thief, report him /her because
that same thief may be the one who will
rip you off next.
W alter F. Morris, Jr.
P o rtla n d O b s e rv e r
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A L F R E D L. H E N D E R S O N
Editor/Publisher
The Portland Observer’s official position is expressed only in
its Publisher's column (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.
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Suddenly she is alone. Thoae years are
gone when her day was locked in to
kindergarten. L ittle League, l*TA carni
vals, company parties, music lessons and
dental appointments. Her children have
lives of their own. She and her husband
are separated , som etim es by divorce,
sometimes by death.
She must work to support herself.
How? She has never worked outside her
home. She is a "displaced homemaker."
Women in her category have the highest
unemployment rate of any sector of the
work force.
She is ineligible for Social Security
benefits because she is too young, or she
may never qualify for benefits because
she has been divorced from the family
wage earner. She is ineligible for federal
welfare assistance because she is not
physically disabled and has no children
under eighteen years of age. She does not
qualify for unemployment insurance be
cause she has been engaged in unpaid
labor in the home.
She has lost her rights as a beneficiary
under an employer's pension and health
plans through her divorce or widowhood.
Private health insurance is often unavail
able because of her sex and age and, if
available, is limited in coverage and pro
hibitive in cost.
M o re and more women are finding
themselves displaced homemakers. The
changing status of the family has left
older women unprotected.
The divorce rate has nearly doubled
over the last decade and a half. In 1960.
there were 35 divorces per 1.000. and by
1974 this figure increased to 63 per 1,000.
One fourth of the divorces filed are after
fifteen years of marraige. The trend is
toward no-fault dissolution of marriage
and spousal support for limited periods, if
at ail.
There has been an increase of 46 per
cent in the number of households headed
by women in the last decade. In 1973, one
in every eight families was headed by a
woman. Forty percent of poor families
had a woman at its head.
Hays
(Continued from p. 1 col. 3,
and l*abor committee, the announced
purpose of which his subcommittee was
created.
"But Mr. Hays wound up his work by
investigating and making public in the
press only the alleged abuses of Repre
sentative Adam Clayton Powell," said the
ministers.
Ten years prior to that Hays had been
battering Powell and in June 1957 went
after him on the House floor in what was
termed a "vicious attack” while Powell
was in the hospital suffering from a heart
attack. This time he was carrying on
"sniping" that began the previous year,
1956, when Powell derided to announce
support of Dwight David Eisenhower for
President, a Republican.
Hays had wanted the Democrats to
deny Powell his House committee chair
manships, but had not taken such a
strong position on Mississippi Democrat
John B. Williams who had backed a
state's rig h ls p re s id e n tia l candidate.
During this particularly bitter attack.
Hays had recited a lot of information from
the files of the House Un American
Activities Committee of which he was a
member.
Powell spent more than 25 years in
political life. He was first selected to the
New York City Council in 1941 and, in
1943, he won the endorsement of Demo
crats, Republicans and the American
la b o r Party for the Congressional nomi
nation.
The 1967 House denial of Powell's seat
came in the same year that Thurgood
Marshall became a U.S. Supreme Court
Justice and in the same month that Julian
Bond was seated in the Georgia House
after having been denied his seat over
statements on Vietnam.
Powell, who urged Blacks to pursue
excellence, once said during the height of
the popularity of “Black Power" slogans:
"Black power is not anti white. Black
power includes everybody who wishes to
work together, vote together and wor
ship together."
1st Place
Community Service
O NPA 1973
Honorable Mention
Herrick Editorial Award
N N À 1973
2nd Place
Best Editorial
3rd Place
Community Leadership
O N PA 1975
B
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generate more than the tax revenue to
sustain it.
Of added importance, however, is the
dividend coming from the well being of
persons leading productive lives who
might otherwise fall into the dishearten
ing social problems that plague those who
suffer from loneliness, inactivity or a di
minished sense of self esteem. The time
is past due for a full program aimed at
helping the displaced homemaker.
$2.50 of your new subscription to
The Portland Observer will go to the
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O N PA 1973
5th Place
Best Editorial
N N P A 1973
To alleviate this problem, legislation
has been introduced in Congress for the
establishement of multipurpose service
programs to offer training, counseling
and services for displaced homemakers.
The programs would be administered by
the Department of Health, Education and
Welfare
These programs include job counseling,
job tra in in g and placem ent services,
health education and counseling, financial
management services, legal referral and
counseling services, educational referral
and counseling services and outreach and
information services to already existing
federal programs.
The bill also calls for a one year study
and report to Congress on the feasibility
of and appropriate procedures for includ
ing displaced homemakers under unem
ployment compensation programs. While
homemakers make an invaluable contri
bution to the welfare and economic sta
bility of this country, there is no unem
plo ym en t insurance for a hom em aker
who is "laid off."
It is important to recognize the wisdom
of a displaced hom em akers program .
Persons in this category ran provide a
stable and efficient addition to the work
force.
We need to see they get the help they
need to help themselves. Wages paid to
persons able to enter the job market
through the efforts of the program will
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