«age 2 Portland Obaerver Thursday, December IS. 1977
We see the world
through Black eyes
Is City/School Commission a diversion?
The P ortland School District a n d the M a y o r o f
P ortland have proposed th e c re a tio n o f a (B lue
R ibb on ) C ity-Schools C om m ission to c o o rd in a te
p la n n in g e ffo rts o f the C ity o f P ortland a nd the
P ortland Public Schools
O b vio u sly jo in t p la n n in g is e ssen tial. In the past,
proposals m ad e by the school d is tric t fo r school
closures -- a n d rum ors o f p e n d in g closures -- have
bee n d e trim e n ta l to the n e ig h b o rh o o d s the C ity was
a tte m p tin g to u pg ra de The Kerns-B uckm an-W ash-
in g to n co ntrove rsy is a g oo d e x a m p le
M a y o r G o ld sch m id t has fo r se veral years ta lk e d
a b o u t b etter city-schools c o o rd in a tio n as b e in g
essential to city p la n n in g .
W e have e ve ry reason to b e lie v e th a t had the city
bee n in v o lv e d in the d ecision m a k in g fo r the A lb in a
-- e sp e c ia lly th ro u g h M o d e l C ities, n e ig h b o rh o o d
associations, a n d the City P la n n in g C om m ission — w e
w o u ld not have a series o f e le m e n ta ry schools w ith
no u pp er g rades a nd no m id d le schools.
We
w e lc o m e the C ity in to the school p la n n in g process.
But a lo t o f questions nee d to be asked a b o u t
e sta b lish in g an in d e p e n d e n t C om m ission. To w h o m
w o u ld this C om m ission be resp on sible? A cc o rd in g to
the School D istrict pro po sal it is a d viso ry to the
School Board a n d the C ity but is resp o n sib le to no
one.
Since it is m e re ly a dviso ry, h o w m uch strength
w o u ld its proposals have? A n y p ro p o sa l w o u ld have
to be a ccep ted by the b od y in v o lv e d — e ith e r the
School D istrict or the City. W o u ld the o th e r h ave veto
p o w e r? The pro po sal says n o th in g to this fe a tu re .
W h a t w o u ld h a p p e n to e x is tin g c o m m u n ity p a rtic i
p a tio n ? The C ity has m ad e g re a t strides in in c lu d in g
citizens in its d ecision m a k in g process. N e ig h b o r
hood associations, citize n B udget Task Forces and
o the r a d visory groups have a lot to say a b o u t city
p la n n in g .
The School D istrict also has ta ke n som e steps
to w a rd citize n p a rtic ip a tio n .
Each school has an
a dvisory co m m itte e a p p o in te d by the p rin c ip a l and
each o f the th re e a d m in is tra tiv e areas has an
a d viso ry c o m m itte e a p p o in te d by the School Board.
C u rre n tly suggestions re g a rd in g re o rg a n iz a tio n o f
schools can com e up fro m th e b o tto m , a nd a ccordin g
to D istrict p o lic y co m m u n ity a p p ro v a l is to be
o b ta in e d b e fo re m id d le schools a re e sta b lish e d .
O ne o f the duties o f th e n ew C om m ission w o u ld
be to establish p lans fo r o ne h ig h school a re a that
w o u ld in c lu d e co m p re h e n sive p ro g ra m re o rg a n iz a
tio n , p la n t re n o va tio n s a nd stre n g th e n in g ties w ith
o utside e d u c a tio n a l and social service program s.
H ow w o u ld e xistin g school a n d a re a a dvisory
c o m m itte e s f it in to this p icture?
O f c ru c ia l interest to o u r c o m m u n ity is the w o rk o f
the C o m m u n ity C o a litio n fo r School In te g ra tio n . Il
m ig h t w e ll be th a t w h e n this c itiz e n c o m m itte e
m akes its re c o m m e n d a tio n s to th e school d is tric t in
June th a t th e y w ill in c lu d e school re o rg a n iz a tio n ,
re p la c in g u p p e r g ra d e schools in A lb in a , cross-bus
ing, etc. W ill the e x is te n c e o f th e n e w C om m issio n
be an excuse not to c o n s id e r th e C o a litio n 's
suggestions fa v o ra b ly fo r fo u r m ore years?
It w o u ld be p re tty h a rd fo r a C ity-S chools
C om m ission to lo o k in to school closures a n d
re o rg a n iz a tio n w ith o u t c o n s id e rin g d e s e g re g a tio n
w o u ld n 't it? W ill th is C om m issio n ta ke o v e r this
re s p o n s ib ility ?
C ity a n d school p la n n in g is essential. But w e
b e lie v e it c o u ld be b e tte r a c c o m p lis h e d th ro u g h
c o o rd in a tio n o f the C ity P la n n in g C om m ission s ta ff
a nd the School D istrict s ta ff. This m ig h t necessitate
a d d in g som e s ta ff m e m b e rs -- but w e h o p e n ot
$350,000 w o rth .
This p ro po sal has not b e e n
e x a m in e d b y the B oard o f Education or th e C ity
C ouncil.
W e re c o m m e n d th a t th ey c o n s id e r it
c a re fu lly .
Stop the Krugerrand
P ortlan d's C ity A tto rn e y has g iv e n his o p in io n th a t
a C ity C o u n cil re s o lu tio n b a n n in g the sale o f th e
South A fric a n K ru g e rra n d w o u ld be an ille g a l
in te rfe re n c e w ith fre e tra d e .
The C ity C o u n cil w ill soon co nside r w h e th e r to
d isco ura ge p urchase o f the K ru ge rran d, w h ic h
p ro vid e s fin a n c ia l s u p p o rt fo r th e South A fric a n
g o v e rn m e n t.
Across the co u n try pressure has bee n p u t on ban ks
and p riv a te e n te rp ris e to e n c o u ra g e them to d ro p the
sale.
O ne o f th e m ost re c e n t successes is th e
decision o f the M ilw a u k e e B ank (W iscon sin), th e last
bank in the C ity th a t sells th e K ru g e rra n d to d ro p th e
coin fro m its o ffe rin g s .
Give some Cheer
As C hristm as d ra w s n ea r it is a tim e to re m e m b e r
those w h o a re less fo rtu n a te th an w e. . There are
m an y fin e o rg a n iz a tio n s th a t p ro v id e fo o d , c lo th in g
and g ifts to those in n ee d — a nd th ey a ll n e e d
c o n trib u tio n s .
There are m a n y o the rs w h o w ill not h ave a ve ry
h ap py C hristm as — persons in hospitals, m e n ta l
institutio ns, a n d prisons — m a n y o f w h o m h a v e no
one to visit.
There are m a n y w a ys to e x te n d a little frie n d s h ip
on C hristm as — a p h o n e c a ll, a visit, a letter, a g ift, a
c o n trib u tio n .
wing
WAKE UP
Black in perspective
by Herb Cawthorne
And one Black person said to another,
"Whei'e could you get an idea like that?
Are you sure you grew up in the Black
community? You don't sound Black to
me; you seem like you belong somewhere
else. That idea could not have come from
a Black person.”
Undaunted, the other might reply, "1
have the courage to think what I want to
think, knowing that my Blackness is not
to be made by the formulation of one
single idea. Say what you will. But my
Blackness is like a beautiful varnish,
soaked deeply into the structure of my
existence. I do not prove my Blackness
by manipulating my thoughts so you will
think I am Black. 1 am Black because I
was horn Black. Now. that's settled. So
tell me what you think about my idea."
Probably you have never heard this
dialogue quite in this manner, but I bet
you've heard something similar to it. It is
one more instance of the tendency among
Blacks today to narrowly categorize
other Blacks according to some artificial
understanding of "Blackness.”
Certain ideas are more Black than
others. Therefore, individuals who have
these ideas are more Black than those
who do not. Certain styles are more
Black than others. Those who put on the
style in the "Blackest" manner are more
Black than those who do not. In this
light. Blackness can be the very quality
which serves to separate people of
African blood, when it actually is what
shovld bring us together.
Blackness is a heritage and a spirit. We
cannot escape it. nor can we manipulate
it's outward characteristics to suit our
own temporary purposes. Blackness is
the foundation from which we all must
draw, in varying degrees.
It is the
accumulation of the struggles of a people
to be free.
Blackness is a shade of color in the skin,
but more: It is a history of achievement
and sacrifice. The Black experience ties
us all to a heritage of discrimination and
mistreatment. Because of the common
experience. Black heritage pulls us to
gether in the common bonds of struggle,
of achievement, of humiliation, of broken
dreams, of progress all in the spirit of
knowing that we have hurt together,
advanced together, and become more
together.
Who has the right to dismiss the
heritage of Blackness simply because
they fail to appreciate a certain idea from
another Black man or woman? The
wonderful spirit of the African exper
ience in America can never be denied.
What people would have done so well
with so little?
Ideas, symbols, and
thoughts can be rejected; Blackness
cannot.
The shield of the Black community is
refuge for all. Behind the shield lies the
drive and motivation from which every
member of the community can draw. The
shield of the common heritage of the
Black community involves a collective
movement into the future, a ground
breaking thrust forward. It belongs to
everyone. It is impossible, though often
tried, to "put someone out of the race,"
because their ideas conflict with some
other Black person's “Blacker than thou"
attitude.
Certain ideas are Blacker than others!
Certain people are Blacker than others!
The dangers in this phony kind of
thinking are demonstrated in light of the
vicious actions of the FBI against the life
of Fred Hampton, the murdered former
leader of the Illinois Black Panther Party.
Fred Hampton was killed in a raid at
night. He was killed, in cold blood, by the
agents of the FBI And they had inside
help. One of Hampton's closest associates
was an operative for the FBI. This
informant is now thought to have been
responsible for drugging Hampton on the
night of the raid. The infiltrator was one
of the trusted insiders in the Illinois Black
Panther Party.
Yes, he had all the right outward
symbols and actions. He was no doubt
Blacker than Black. But this twisted
Black infiltrator, whose language and
actions were "right on." was actually a
filthy blemish on the souls of Black folk.
He had falsely gained the confidence of
those in the Illinois Black Panther Party;
he displayed the symbols that were
"most" Black at that time. Deep down, he
was rotten. It was a dangerous way to
measure the value of an individual's
commitment. For Fred Hampton, it was
fatal.
If we must categorize one another, let
it be in the largest of human terms. "I am
human, therefore, anything that concerns
humankind is of interest to me." With
this attitude, the many facets of the Black
experience can be developed - the reli
gious, educational, political, artistic, spi
ritual, moral, legal, and historical. Black
people are so much more than the narrow
pronouncements of one who seeks a
temporary advantage by claiming to be
the Blackest among us. We are many
things, and when we expand our respect
for that magnifirent diversity among us.
it will be easier to encourage our children
to take the risk, and follow the star that
guides them.
tß tkß £diÍM -----------------------------------
Says h o sp ital 'tre a tm e n t’ not conclusive to h e a lth
To the Editor:
I don't know what your prejudices or
misconceptions are about "mental hospi
tals" or mental patients or why we are
locked up in the "Glorified Prison." I can
tell you this however, ninety percent of
the people have badly distorted views of
the “Oregon Hotel.”
I'd like to introduce you to the “Great
Oregon Hotel" at 2600 Genter Street N.E.
in Salem.
On December 11, 1977, at 3:00 a.m. in
the early hours of a Sunday morning, I
took severely sick. It was something I
ate. The diet here at State Hospital
consists of: sugar, starch, pork, and oil.
Can you see why I would get sick? Before
my arrest I was a vegetarian. It is
impossible to be a vegetarian at State
Hospital. I vomited and had the runs
something fierce. I lost nine pounds
during the night. 1 went from 167 to 158
pounds, which shows the severity of my
condition. I have never been in more pain
in my thirty years. Only about six or
seven times in my life have I heen in as
much pain. My pain was basically in my
stomach.
I called the guards from my 8 x 12 foot
cell. They were only 50 feet away, they
heard me. They ignored me. I called
them about 20 times very loud. They just
ignored me. Finally I picked up a trash
can and battered on the bars and walls
with it. Finally a guard came. He did not
even ask me what the problem was - he
just ordered me to shut up. 1 interjected
that I was sick. He said, "I told you to
shut up. One more outburst out of you
and you will go into restraints. There
is nothing I can do for your illness.
Now this is supposed to be a Hospital?
On the streets I would have gotten Pepto
Bismo or Alka Seltzer. I could have
gotten buttermilk or yogurt or an apple.
They would not give me anything at all
for my misery except a threat of violence
if I didn't shut up. Later in the morning
as the day shift appeared, I reported the
incident to the nurse in charge. They just
shrugged their shoulders. At 9:30 a.m.
after the worst of it was over, 1 did get a
medication called compozine. At 1:00
p.m. they gave me two aspirins.
Dr. W. Weisser, my doctor, was on the
ward that Sunday, but did not consider
my misery as important enough to stop
by to talk to me ubout it.
The story you have just read is true in
detail. It is by no means an unusual story.
It is an everyday occurence here. You can
check out this story and many other
atrocities for yourself.
If you are a lawyer, a concerned citizen,
and especially if you are a legislator, I feel
your moral conscience should cause you
to contact me.
Robert Robertson
2600 Center St. N.E. 84
Salem. OR. 97310
Likes Spencer
To the Editor:
Herb Cawthorne's article on Ruth
Spencer was a long overdue tribute to a
lady who has fought hard and well for the
cause of integration here in Portland. I
regret that many minority members who
have benefited from her strenuous efforts
in the behalf fail to recognize their debt to
her.
I speak with some knowledge of Ruth's
history us she has been a contributing
member to our organization for a number
of years and has l»een of personal
assistance to me in formulating policy and
programs in regard to the desegregation
issue.
Sincerely,
Caroline Miller
President,
Portland Federation of Teachers
Color symbols identify Tri-Mot routes
Beaver (Brown)
Unimplokjm£n+ am ohj Black youths Is almost
P o rtlan d O b s e rv e r
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i»s Publisher's column (We See The World Through Black
Eyes). Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion
of the individual writer or submitter and does not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer.
A L F R E D L HEN D ER SO N
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Amalgamated Publishers. Inc.
New York
I st Place
Community Service
ONPA 1973
1st Place
Rest Ad Results
ONPA 1973
5th Place
Best Editorial
NNPA 1973
Southeast (Oregon City and Milwaukie),
Southwest (Lake Oswego and West Linn)
Leaf (Green)
Honorable Mention
Herrick Editorial Award
NNA 1973
2nd Place
Best Editorial
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( ommunity Leadership
ONPA 1975
MATKXMu
MEMBER
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Publishers
Association
MEMBER
Anocithon ■ founded 1M 6
Southwest, Beaverton, Forest Grove and
Hillsboro Deer (Orange)
Northeast, East County
Snowflake (Blue)
Southwest Rose (Yellow)
Service Area Symbols
A total of seven symbols will be used by
Tri-Met to designate geographic areas of
the three counties and identify bus stops on
the Portland Mall beginning Dec. 11
Tri Met has divided bus routes into seven
service areas by symbols Riders can
look for symbols identifying passenger
shelters on the Portland Mall indicating where
their buses stop Colored symbols provide
at-a-glance' information for riders seeking
a particular destination