Pige 2 Portland Observer Thursday.
» . 1977
Competency in language vital
Wi? see the world
by Herb Cawtberne
through Black eyes
Out the window? Out
One day last week. Malcolm Cross, director of the
Civil Rights Division of tfie state Bureau of Labor,
climbed out the window of his office rather than
accept a subpoena to appear in the U.S. District
Court. Cross' testimony was wanted on a race
discrimination case filed against the Civil Rights
Division by Walter P. Williams, a former employee.
When attorney Roosevelt Robinson appeared at
the Civil Rights Division offices to serve the
subpoena. Cross' secretary spoke to him, then told
Robinson he would not be free for thirty minutes.
When Robinson returned, he found that Cross had
climbed out the second story window, dropped to the
ground ond left.
Robinson also attempted to serve Labor Commis
sioner Bill Stevenson and his assistant Dale Ward.
After speaking to Stevenson, the secretary told
Robinson that they were in a conference and could
not be disturbed long enough to receive the
subpoenas.
This is a serious dereliction of duty for men whose
jobs it is to enforce the law and protect the rights of
minorities.
The entire affair became a big joke at the State
Office Building, but it is no ,oking matter.
How con the director of the Civil Rights Division
command the respect of his staff or of those he must
investigate? Why should a guilty employee respond
to a subpoena sent by an agency that shows no
respect for the judiciary process?
The fact that the court had depositions from these
men or that they wanted to be free to attend a
conference in San Francisco is of no consequence. Is
their comfort or convenience to be placed above a
man's judicial rights?
Bill Stevenson was elected with the support of the
Black community ond with the pledge that he would
improve the functioning of the Civil Rights Division.
The time has come for him to deliver.
We believe Malcolm Cross' behavior in avoiding a
federal court subpoena is grounds for dismissal.
Oregon Affirmative Action
in ACTION!!!!
l<anguafce may be thought of as the
reconstruction oif the world with words.
It is vital lor human beings are inspired,
manipulated, broadened, moved to ac
tion. and consoled by the thoughts gen
erated by language How we look at tbs
world may be in large part a matter of
how we use language.
Language and the ability to communi
cate are very closely related. I f any
community of people intends to get
things done for itself in this world, it
must cultivate the widest use of all
communicative forms available to it.
I realiw many consider this sort of
discussion to be esoteric, high brow, and
less important than more obvious politi
cal concerns. But consider this: only
through unproved communication can an
oppressed people control the thoughts
aiid images which affect their lives.
Indeed, communication is central to
unity, coordination of direct action, and
critical analysis of our leaders.
Without the ability to develop strong
communicative abilities in every child,
the Black community will never truly
heed Franz Fanon’s important advise,
“...for ourselves and for humanity, com
rades, we must turn over a new leaf, we
must work out new concepts, and try to
set afoot a new man.”
Communication is the key to changing
how we think and to dedicating ourselves
to the efforts to “set afoot a new man -
Especially is learning the standard
forms of English critical to the progress
of each Black child. Not only should our
children be encouraged and prodded to
learn to analyze its elements and struc
The purpose of the coalition is to
identify common concerns of the com
munity in connection with desegregation
and to insure the kind of equal educa
tianal opportunities that will maximize
each child's potential.
To enable the
coalition to realistically make recommen
dations to the Portland Public School
Board, the coalition plans to study and
analyze the desegregation policy and
practices from 1965 through 1977.
The coalition recognizes that a project
of such a scope will require the resources
and experience of a variety of people,
therefore a broad spectrum of community
encouraged for this participation. There
is a need for coalition membership to cut
across all racial, economic, neighborhood
and organizational lines.
"Neglect nothing that can
increase y o u r s t a t u r e .* *
Stendhal
Grabbling: Next target of ’iavestigators’ ?
million athletic complex - including a
32.000-seat stadium and 10.000-seat As
sembly Building - was within their grasp
During the campaign before his re-elec
tion Governor Edwards showed up at a
Grambling game.
Throughout that
swing, he seemed to be a real-life Santa
Claus, pulling a stadium out of his bag at
one stop, a coliseum at the next. etc.
But Grambling’s bid for an athletic
complex was thrown for a loss when
somebody found out that the entire
college budget was $5.3 million in a r
rears.
lik e the first Moses. Eddie Robinson
may have to view the Promised Land
Portland O bserver
Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company. 2201
North Kiliingsworth. Portland, Oregon 97217 . Mailing address:
P .0 . Box 3137. Portland. Oregon 97208. Telephone: 283 2486.
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f
The Portland Observer’s official position is expressed only in
its Publisher's column (We 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 Porthu*
A L F R E D L. H EN D ER SO N
Editor/Publisher
1st n ace
ty Servite
ONPA 1973
from the other side of Jordan - if he sees
it at aU.
The special sesa»c of the legislature
may come up with something this month.
But because of white backlash reaction to
the deficit, earmarking money for Gram
bling probably isn’t politically smart at
this time.
Still, Robinson accentuates the poai
tive.
“The name of my game is competing,"
he says. “I'm gonna compete.”
Instead of complaining about the facili
ties Grambling doesn't have. Robinson
shows prospects of a global schedule. He
also shows them a well-travelled road to
professional football. Robinson knows
where these kids are coming from,
because he has been there when things
were a lot worse. He shows them what
they want to see: a way out.
1st Place
last Ad Resulta
ONPA 1973
5th Place
Best Editorial
N N PA 1973
Herrick Editorial Award
N N A 1973
In light of this, the coalition would like
to extend an invitation for active partici
pation and involvement to all the people
of the Portland Community.
Any organization or individual who
wishes to have an official vote in the
coalition must do so by writing a letter of
commitment hy October 15, 1977, to the
Coalition Chairman. Harry Ward, e/o
Metropolitan Human Relations Commis
sion, 430 S.W. Morrison - Room 312,
Portland, 97204. If you are interested in
serving on a committee, call H arry Ward
at 224-1870. AU meetings of the coalition
will be open to the entire community and
all who attend will be allowed to voice
opinions and/or become actively in
volved.
In the initial stages the coaliton has
formed the following committees:
committee's functions «rill be: al coordi
nate the work of the main body, b) review
the work of the other committees, e)
carry out other duties set forth by the
coalition.
available technical assistance and other
resources necessary to fulfill the tasks of
the coalition.
hy a l
bowl.
When the other state schools were
integrated six or seven years ago. a few
prophets of gloom predicted it would be
the end of the line for Grambling. The
Black talent figured to be split up a dozen
ways, and Grambiing still isn't able to
recruit the best white athletes.
Racial prejudice isn't the only reason.
When prospects visit Grambling what do
the coaches show them? The ld year-old
stadium that holds 18,000 spectators?
The 25 year-old gymnasium with a caps
d ty of 4,000? The three tennis courts?
A couple of years ago, Robinson and
other Grambling officials thought a J7.3
“there is no reason to assume that a child
cannot learn several dialects of English,
$7.50
I
Publishers
Association
31
toe, which will develop a process to
insure maximum community involve
ment.
4) Research Com m ittee, to develop
specific areas on which subcommittees
will focus, such as Early Childhood
Centers, Middle Schools, Administrative
Transfers. Magnet Programs. Multi cul
tursl Preparation. Jefferson School Popu
lation, and others.
The coalition is convinced that the
nature of such a project is far reaching in
terms of power to effect change; we also
recognise that such a project will require
much dedication and time commitment
from the participants. We hope that all
interested organizations and individuals
will affirm their interest by sending a
letter of commitment by the October 15th
deadline and assume an active role in this
vital community effort.
The next coalition meetings will be
Thursday. October 6th, 7 : » p.m., at the
King Neighborhood Facility. 4815 N.E.
7th.
Sincerely,
Harry C. Ward,
Chairman
(Continued from page 1 column 6)
he should do what his attorney advised.
He also implied that if he were to plead
not guilty by reason of insanity, that be
would return to O.8.P. but would stay
from six to nine months, that thia was the
usual stay of those in similar circum
stances. Also he was told that patients
progress from maximum security to
minimal security where be would have a
degree of freedom.
Robertson said his attorney advised
him to plead not guilty by reason of
insanity, telling him that he waa sure to
he convicted and would go to prison for
twenty years. The insanity plea would
only put him in O.S.P. for a while. He said
Ady never advised him that he could not
appeal this plea and he did not under
stand that he would have no trial. He
thought he would waive only the right to
a jury, but would be tried by the judge
and would have an opportunity to state
that he was not guilty due to self-defense.
“I never said I waa guilty. I always said it
was self-defense. Whether 1 was crazy or
not had nothing to do with that. I t waa
still self-defense.”
Robertson said he was under such
pressure at Rocky Butte that he was
unable to make a sound decision. Fol
lowing his return from Oregon State
Hospital, he had been continued on
injections of stellazine which made him
restless and unable to sleep.
Thia,
together with being confined alone in a
small cell with nothing to read or occupy
his time, made him willing to do anything
to get out of Rocky Butte. Also his trial
had been postponed and extending his
confinement in Rocky Butte.
Robertson's former attorney. Clem
mens Ady, testified that he had not
explained to Robertson that he could not
appeal after the insanity plea. D r. Cloyd
testified that he did not have access to
Robertson’s file and did not remember
the details of the interview with him, so
could say nothing definate. but he did
admit under questioning that he might
have said something to imply on early
release from Oregon State Hospital fol
lowing an insanity plea.
Robertson testified that he was imme
diately sent to Oregon State Hospital and
has been held for 13 months in maximum
security. Robertson believes that he is
being held because of his unorthodox
religious beliefs and because he will not
admit to guilt or insanity. “If I would say
I ’m crazy they would let me out when I
am cured,' he told the Observer, “But I
refuse to do that. I was somewhat known
in Portland because of passing out litera
ture and I am being confined to a mental
hospital as a political prisoner ”
in Tri-County Aroa
$ 8 .0 0
z >
t
- .
New York
Oregon
Newspaper
He had only his street English, his
instinctive language. It was not refined;
it was basically limited to the purposes of
the hustler life he had known. But when
he tried to w rite Mr. Muhammad, he
became so frustrated that he went to a
dictionary, and studied it from A to Z.
Only then could he feel comfortable
writing and speaking his ideas. Still, he
went further. He studied logic to sharpen
his thinking. He read and read and read.
Undoubtedly. Black children should
learn to use their language in every way.
And we as parents and relatives must
insist that school teachers adhere com
pletely to this demand. In addition, each
one of us will have to do our part.
A strong knowledge of language will
help our children follow the star that
guides them. As Malcolm X pointed out.
“It is always better to form the habit of
learning how to see things for yourself,
listen to things for yourself, and think for
yourself; then you are in a position to
judge for yourself."
For Black children to he in a position to
think and judge for themselves, they
must learn to use the language in the
most flexible manner possible.
OSH 'roMrood’
N ati— I Advertiamg Representative
M tM M *
and where it is appropriate to use them,
without weakening his selfconfidence,
self identity and racial pride."
.As a matter of fact, the failure to learn
the standard written and spoken English
■nay be mare damaging to the individual's
self-concept, identity and pride.
Remember how Malcolm X felt when
he tried to write his feelings to Elijah
Muhammad, the leader of the religion he
intended to adopt? His efforts while still
in prison allowed him “to set afoot a new
Often, jM vt,
Many diverse groups, organizations
and individuals have launched a compre
hensive. broad-based community coal)
tion to study Portland School District's
desegregation policy and programs.
ntinued from page 1 column 6)
pie. I ’m trying to do what 1 believe in.
I ’ve got my feelings, and it really
ts me..."
t is also distracting, to say the least.
11 want is some freedom and peace of
id." Robinson adds.
iobodv investigated Grambling when
Tigers were playing on a stretch of
coin Parish sand more suitable for
lels. But now that they are playing
ere the sun never shines (if you know
i football field that has a roof over it.
chances are good that it s on the
ers’ schedule' and challenging big
e schools for bluechip prospects,
y r e practically living in a goldfish
tura, but they shouk1 also he instructed
on how to use the standard forms of
English to better themselves, their peo
pie, and the world in which they live.
1 must agree that the initial discussion
of the place of Black English was neces
aary and worthwhile. It highlighted some
of the racist and very negative aasocia
tions white teachers attached to those
who spofce differently. The controversy
has forced many teachers to kook at their
attitudes. Some have come to appreciate
the inherent beauty in the Black dialects.
This has been well and good.
But the momentum ha* gone too far. I
have taught many Black students from
the Portland Public Schools. Too many of
these students have had an inability to
effectively use their language. They have
not been well versed in the coherent and
expressive use of the only language they
know. And. given the struggles against
racism and discrimination which face
them, this Is tragic.
Many of our young are caught in the
middle. For the moat part, they do not
understand the inner workings of the
Black dialect, which they speak primarily
by instinct. Yet. many of them do not uaa
the standard forma with maximum com
potency either.
In the whirlwind of
confusion of the place of Black English,
the Black child has been the loser.
There are thorn who feel that school
can destroy the identity and selfhood of
the child by demanding the achievement
of U»arning certain grammatical and
structural forms of English. However, as
Joan C. Baratz indicates in Teaching
City
Zip
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