Page 2
Portland Observer
Thursday. December 8, 1977
s
Political change demands cooperation
We see the world
through Black eyes
Governor shows courage
G overnor Bob Straub is to be co m p lim e n te d for
tw o recent appointm ents.
Straub's a pp ointm e nt o f Ron W id en er to the Board
of Examiners of N ursing Hom e A dm inistrators w hich
was opposed by m em bers o f the State Senate.
M em bers o f boards are to be nam ed by the G overnor
w ith the Senate's a p p ro va l, but in this case the
Senate re a c te d the n o m in a tio n .
A p p a re n tly the
nursing hom e industry ob,ected to W idener, w ho is
co-chairm an o f the Grey Panthers and has been an
outspoken cham pion o f im p rove d nursing hom e
conditions.
For too long the industries that are supposed to be
regulated have co n tro lle d the boards that are
supposed to control them — both n a tio n a lly and
locally. This comes a bo ut th rough lo b b y in g fo r or
against p o litic a l a pp ointm e nts or by s h u fflin g p e r
sonnel b etw een the industries a nd the boards.
The G overnor has d isp laye d g re at courage in
d e fyin g both the nursing hom e industry a nd Senator
Jason Boe and his fo llo w e rs.
A nother im p orta nt recent a p p o in tm e n t was that o f
Florice W a lker to the Tri-M et Board. Mrs. W a lker is
the first Black to be a p p o in te d to the seven m em ber
board. Tri-M et has the resp on sibility o f p la n n in g and
m a in ta in in g pub lic mass transportation fo r the
tri-county area and as such is responsible fo r large
budget and staff.
Mrs. W alker is in a position to m ake decisions that
w ill have a trem endous im pact on the econom ic and
social life o f the com m unity. This is beyond the
scope of appointm ents usually re le g a te d to Blacks —
the social services, e ducation, m edical areas G over
nor Straub a pp aren tly realizes that Blacks can
fu nctio n in the technical, econom ic and industrial
areas also.
This a p p o in tm e n t should open new
doors.
Indians under fire
W ar against the p roperty rights o f Indians is on. A
short tim e ago a fe d e ra l fudge ordered the Corp of
Engineers to abandon plans fo r a dam that w o u ld
flo o d treaty fish in g grounds u ntil the treaty could be
changed by Congress.
In another action — n o ’ d ire ctly related -- a
Congressman from the State o f W ashington in tro
duced leg isla tion to do a w a y w ith the special status
of Indians — m ake them just p la in "A m e ric a n s ". This
m eans negate the treaties and e lim in a te the Indians
econom ic rights.
A ll the Indians got w he n th e ir land was taken and
th e ir w a y o f life destroyed was some econom ic rights
— a little m oney fo r some, h un tin g a nd fish in g rights
fo r others, and reservations for a fe w . N ow even
those crum bs are too m uch as g o v e rn m e n t and
industry look on th e ir lan d a n d th e ir lim ite d control
o f fis h in g resources w ith greed.
faotllM 'J(Mt 0^ UiM
Open government
from Publisher's A u x illia ry
The fe d e ra l Sunshine la w took e ffe c t in M arch.
G e n e ra lly, the la w specifies that, w ith fe w excep
tions, g o v e rn m e n t agencies must open th e ir m ee t
ings to the p ub lic.
There is e vid e n ce to suggest, h ow eve r, that m any
of the n ea rly fifty agencies co vered by the law are
e ith e r skirtin g its re g u la tio n s or ig n o rin g them
o u trigh t.
Earlier this year a C om m on Cause study fo u n d that
39 percent o f the m eetings h e ld by the g ove rn m e n t
agencies covered by the la w w e re closed to the
p u b lic ; o n ly 37 percen t o f the m eetings w e re fu lly
open.
A m ore recent study conducted by Library o f
Congress researchers a t the request o f Senator
Lawton C hiles (D-Fla.), show s that o f m ore than 1,000
m eetings h eld by 32 a gencies since the la w took
effe ct, 527 w e re closed, e ith e r e n tire ly or p a rtia lly , to
the p u b lic. A d d itio n a lly , fo r o n ly 193 o f the secret
m eetings d id the agencies m eet a re q u ire m e n t that
sp ecific reasons be p u b lic ly cited if a closed session
is held. Tw enty re g u la to ry a gencies ig n o re d the
req u ire m e n t.
M a n y o f the agencies w h ic h fe a r p u b lic inspection
argue that th e ir m ee ting s a re closed because th eir
m em bers must discuss sensitive n a tio n a l security or
econom ic m atters. O ne such a ge ncy is the Federal
Reserve Board, w h ic h h e ld a secret m e e tin g in A p ril
to discuss h o w its o ffic e fu rn is h in g s should be
designed.
G o v e rn m e n t a ge n cie s charged w ith conducting
the p u b lic 's business are a bu sin g the Sunshine law .
Senator C hiles has s u r.m o n e d o ffic ia ls o f some
agencies to te stify or- th e m atter
For the p u b lic 's sake — a nd fo r the sake o f open
g o v e rn m e n t — Senator C hiles should d em a n d and
re ce ive assurances th a t fu rth e r abuses o f the la w w ill
not occur. A t th e sam e tim e , he should c o n tin u e his
e ffo rts a t p o lic in g age ncies to m ake sure they liv e up
to the le tte r o f the law .
wing
WAKE UP
P ortland O b server
Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company. 2201
North Killingsworth, Portland. Oregon 97217 Mailing address:
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The Portland Obeervera 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 Portland Observer.
A L F R E D L . HENDERSON
Editor/Publisher
National Advertising Re,*resentative
Amalgamated Publishers. Inr.
New Y ork
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1st Place
Community Service
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1st Place
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5th Place
Best Editorial
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Honorable Mention
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2nd Place
Best Editorial
3rd Place
Community Leadership
O NPA 1975
by Herb Cawthorne
lake the indoctrinated slave with the
Sambo Complex, some in the Black
community find it easier to carelessly
blame and redirule their own people,
rather than looking for ways to assist in
the struggle to improve our condition.
The strength of Black people is overlook
ed.
For some the image of a strong, unified
Black community is nonexistent. “What is
white is likely more right." they might
whisper to themselves, if they were
alone, thinking no one else could hear.
For members of their own race to win
respect and confidence, they would have
to accomplish miracles.
While this
attitude serves to keep us apart, the real
achievements of Black people in this
community go unnoticed.
More Black people need to be involved
in the betterment of our community. Yet
there are many who, like Sambo, have a
docile and irresponsible dependence on
white images. These images provide no
less than a mild sense of self-hatred.
When turned inward, they eat away at
the progress Blacks need to make in this
community.
Instead of combining efforts, we often
find ourselves needlessly throwing blows.
Rather than harnessing ourselves into
committees and organizations demanding
improvement, some seem more compel!
ed to take out frustrations on those
Blacks who have managed to secure
positions of influence around town. This
serves to insure that the burdens for our
destiny, as with a child, remain in the
hands of others.
Admittedly, growing up in the after
math of cruel American slavery ought to
be enough to render every Black person
accountable for service to the Afro
American community. It takes a lot of
self-denial to escape such an obligation.
Those who manage to do so should be
reminded as forcefully as possible.
Beyond that, however, we must re
member that a Black face in state
government does not represent change in
state government; a Black fare on televi
sion does not mean that our criticism of
the media has been satisfied. We should
hold each accountable for a competent
representation of Black people on the job,
but, if we want substantive political
change, more of us will have to bund
together to attack the deeply rooted
prejudices and discrimination in this city.
In other words, we need to help each
other. The leadership is coming forward.
The Portland Black community is strong
er today than ever before, and we need to
strengthen its influence.
The developments over just the last
year or so have been promising:
Charles Jordan. City Commissioner for
Public Safety, has been increasingly
eager to advocate for causes helpful to
the Black community.
He has been
outspoken on neighborhood desegrega
tion. He took a stand for community
action programs during the PMSC crisis;
he asked for a delay in implementing the
Newman Plan in the public schools; and
the Metropolitan Human Relations Com
mission has his total support. M r. Jordan
is helpful to young people trying to
organize for change. W ith our support,
his base can be strengthened, and his
political fortunes enhanced.
Nick Barnett, Executive Director, Me
tro lolitan Human Relations Commission,
has charged that organization with a new
spirit of activity. M HRC recently asked
the city council to denounce the Kruger
rand. South Africa's symbol of Black
exploitation. In addition, it has been
deeply involved in research into housing
discrimination. M HRC was the catalyst
for the Community Coalition for School
Integration. The Human Relations C«m
mission very often represents the in
terests of the Portland Black community.
It needs support.
C h aro lette W illia m s . Chairperson,
Black Justice Committee, has worked
hard and long to revive that organization.
Slowly, it will take the form of a group of
people capable of forcing local institutions
to answer our most difficult questions.
From what I can see. she plans for the
organization to be independent and chai
lenging. It takes time, and it lakes
people. There is plenty of room to help.
The Community Coalition lor School
Integration, chaired by Harry Ward, is
one of the most significant developments
of late. The Black community refused to
place its need for change in the hands of
others.
In a broad based effort, the
Portland Public School's desegregation
program is being reviewed. Over $40,000
dollars has been raised, committees or
ganized. and by June a report will be
forwarded to the Board of Education
which will assist them in the integration
process. We can lie proud of the work
done on our behalf by the Coalition.
Brenda Green, Associate Superinlen
dent, Salem Public Schools, may be
entertaining plans to seek a position on
the Portland Board of Education. If she
does, our support should be waiting in the
wings.
No community gains political
influence without work. And working for
Brenda Green ought to be a pleasure.
Carol Williams Bryant,
Director.
Neighborhood Options in Child Care and
a member of the Metropolitan Human
Relations Commission, has chosen to run
for the Oregon House of Representatives.
She takes on an incumbant. D r. Howard
Cherry, and it will be a tough race.
People from our community can assist
her in many ways
canvassing, writing
letters, doing office work, publicity, and
fund raising. Ms. Bryant plans a recep
tion for Friday, December 17th. Watch
for details on the place.
I cite these few examples to illustrate
that if we will look for the best in
ourselves, we will find more than we
expect. Hlack people have come far, and
the future requires our continued strug
gle. We don't need Super Negroes, and
miracles will not be forthcoming. The last
vestiges of the Sambo Complex
which
forces us to see the bad in ourselves at
the expense of recognizing the good
ought to be replaced by a commitment to
improve those areas in which we are
weak, and to advance those in which we
are already strong.
Civil Rights Law: Toward effective enforcement
by Re,». Barbara Jordan
Title V I of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
prohibits people and organizations which
receive federal money from using the
money to discriminate. The Act prohibits
discrimination on account of race, color or
national origin. The Act also contains
provisions for its enforcement.
After
viewing the record. I am forced to
conclude that Title V I enforcement has
been characterized by affirmative ne
gleet.
Fact from the record; In the past five
years of Title V I enforcement, all Title V I
agencies throughout the federal govern
ment have commenced nine administra
tiv e fund term in a tio n proceedings
against recipients exclusive of those
against local school districts.
Fact from the record; In thirteen years
of enforcement five cases have been
referred to the Attorney General for
litigation.
Fact from the record: Federal agencies
spent $37 million for civil rights enforce
ment and investigations in fiscal 1973.
Twenty-seven million dollars were spent
in fiscal 1977. That is a reduction of
nearly thirty percent.
Fact from the record: Between 1971
1976, the Civil Rights Commission con
tinually found that the government's civil
rights enforcement effort was "Beset
with problems that were directly attn
butable to. and exacerbated by, the ab
sence of leadership from policy making
officials."
To remedy these deficiencies, I have
introduced legislation which mandates
that there be enforcement.
The bill
would apply to all federal agencies which
provide financial assistance the same
stringent civil right enforcement proce
dures the Congress enacted for the Office
of Revenue Sharing and the Law Enforce
ment Assistance Administration. The
Bill has three main parts:
First, coverage. The Bill expands the
basis of prohibited activities to include
sex, aged and handicap discrimination.
Second, coordination. The Bill assigns to
the executive office of the President the
power to coordinate the activities of Title
VI agencies.
This part of the Bill
implements policy recommended by the
United States Commission on Civil
Rights.
Third, procedure.
The Bill applies
many of the mandatory procedures of the
Jordan Amendments to all Title VI
agencies. Those procedures would re
quire that when one of four things
happens, notification must issue from the
federal government to the recipient of
federal funds. Notification would tell the
recipient it is not in compliance with Title
VI.
Those four things are: 1) A finding of
discrimination by a slate or federal court;
2) A finding of discriminating by a state
or federal agency after a hearing; 3) A
determination by a federal agency after
an investigation that there is reasonable
cause to believe one of its own grantees
has discriminated; and 4) A referral
through the executive office of the
President of a reasonable cause deter
mination from one federal agency to
another.
If one of the four triggers occurs,
notification must issue.
There is no
discretion. After notification, the reci
pient would have 30 days to sign a
compliance agreement. Failure to sign a
compliance agreement within 30 days
would mean that further payment of
federal money for the program or activity
found to have been discriminatory would
be suspended temporarily. There is no
discretion.
Unless compliance is achieved within
60 days after suspension, further pay
ment of federal money would be termi
nated There is no discretion. However,
the Bill does provide that termination can
be delayed pending the outcome of an
administrative hearing or judicial appeal.
The Bill also mandates federal agencies
to suspend payments to a recipient within
45 days after the Attorney General files a
civil action alleging discrimination. There
is no discretion.
However, the court
could grant relief and order that the
money not be suspended pending the
outcome of the litigation. There is a
similar provision in the law now and we
know it works.
This Bill sets up a procedure for simple,
firm and effective enforcement of Title
VI. It may fie a radical proposal to some.
It is only radical because our past
enforcement efforts have not been sim
pie, firm and effective. They could hav«
been The current law does not prevent
it.
In fact, most of the mandator)
procedures in the Bill could be institute«
today without changing the law. So thi:
is not a radical Bill.
The goal of current law and the goal o
this Bill is compliance. We do not seek 1»
cut off payment of federal funds. W'»
prefer that the funds be used as intended
Suspension and termination are las
steps. But, we have to be willing to.us«
the last steps before the first step-
become meaningful.
There are criminal penalties in th<
statues for embezzling federal funds. Wi
have thousands of auditors, backed up b)
the FBI if n«*ed be. to catch embezzlers
but if someone uses federal money t<
embezzle someone's civil rights, there art
no criminal penalties; no civil penalties
and we continue to pay the money.
We should not be allowed to rompro
mise commitment to the people's civil
rights.
Ignoring the rights of some
undermines the rights of all.
If the
administration of the law fails to protect
the rights of all, it is Congress' tluly to
rewrite the law. It is not the Executive's
duty to deride through neglect whose
rights shall be protected and whose
rights shall lie ignored.
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