Page 2
Portland Observer
Thursday. March 2. 1978
We see the world
through Black eyes
Success equals service plus cooperation
by Herb Cewtherwe
Voice of the people are heard
C itizens a te seeing th a t th e ir u n ite d o c tio n can
m a ke a d iffe re n c e .
M o n d a y n ig h t Dr. Robert
B lanchard w ith d re w the "W o o d la w n M u b i-C u b u ro l
C e n te r" p la n fro m co n sid e ra tio n by th e Sctiool
Board, sa yin g the p la n needs fu rth e r re fin e m e n t. This
was a d ire c t resu lt o f o p p o sitio n to th e p la n by
citizens - The C o a litio n fo r School In te g ra tio n , th e
C o m m itte e fo r Equal Education fo r A ll C h ild re n ,
C oncerned Block Parents a n d others. The fo ct th a t
the a d m in is tra tio n a nd som e b o a rd m e m b e rs fo rm e d
a cceptance o f the p io n w as d e m o n stra te d by Ms.
G lodys M cC oy's le tte r to th e O b se rve r last w e e k
d e fe n d in g th e p la n a nd re q u e stin g o u r e nd o rse m e n t.
Dr B la nch ard d id not say th e p la n w as w ith d ra w n
because o f co m m u n ity o p p o s itio n — b u t th a t is w h a i
happened
Lost w e e k o n e -h u n d re d a n g ry citizen s m et w ith
C om m issioner M ild re d S chw ab a n d d e m a n d e d that
'Tomi
the d a n g e ro u s p lo y e q u ip m e n t fro m L^pthank Pork be
re m o v e d C itizens h ave c o m p lo m e d a b o u t this
p la y g ro u n d fo r years, b ut it stayed A little g irl w as
k ille d by a fa llin g s w in g lost fa ll, but it stayed.
But w h e n citizens m od e th e ir d e m a n d in a u n ite d ,
o rg a n iz e d w a y — it took o n ly tw o days fo r the
d e m o litio n to b e g in . In less th on a w e e k C o m m is
sioner Schw ab h od o c q u ire d fu n d s fo r d e m o litio n
fro m th e C ity C ou ncil.
The jo b is not fin is h e d since the M ayo r a n d some
com m issioners th in k U ntha nk Park should g o w ith o u t
a p la y g ro u n d a n d c o m p e te w ith o th e r parks fo r fu n d s
— b u t c o m m u n ity pressure can ta ke care o f th a t
p ro b le m , too.
The School District, th e city and others h o v e ta lk e d
a b o u t citizens in v o lv e m e n t fo r a lo n g tim e b u t h a v e
d o n e little to fa c ilita te th e process. N o w th e y h o v e
little choice
U mu
Landowner Threat
fro m The A tla n ta In q u ire r
W h ile w h ite fa rm e rs across th e n a tio n have been
h a v in g "tra c to r p a ro d e s ," Block p e o p le have fa ile d
to re a liz e th a t the state o f Block ia n d o w n e rs h ip is
pre sen tly in a crisis state. W e o re lo sin g an a v e ra g e
o f 6,000 ocres o f la n d per w e e k, v a lu e d conserva
tiv e ly a t n e a rly tw o m illio n d o lla rs, $100 m illio n
a n n u a lly . A t th is pace, if th e cu rre n t rate o f loss
continues u n a b a te d , Blocks w ill be v irtu a lly landless
by 1990.
The reason fo r such s ta rtlin g statistics con be la id at
the fe e t o f o u r p e rp e tu a l e n e m y — d is c rim in a tio n .
H ow is it p ossible th a t Black la n d o w n e rs h ip stood a t
tw e lv e m illio n ocres in 1950 a n d b y 1969 d ro p p e d to
5.5 m illio n acres, a loss in excess o f f ifty percen t? It is
n ot d ue to Blacks v o lu n ta rily re lin q u is h in g th e ir land.
Block p e o p le h ave b ee n a n d a re th e victim s o f
system atic p o litic a l, le g is la tiv e a n d ju d ic ia ry m e
thods d e sig n e d to rid Block p e o p le o f th e ir land.
H isto rica lly, Black fa rm e r/la n d o w n e rs have hod to
sell th e ir la n d in the fo ce o f m o u n tin g fin a n c ia l a n d
le g a l pressures They have had to rid th e m se lve s o f
a c c u m u la te d d e b t; b ee n v ic tim iz e d by u nscrupulous
attorneys, rea ltors a n d lan d sp ecu la to rs; a n d h ove
re c e iv e d separate a n d u n e q u a l tre a tm e n t at the
hands o f the South's court system in the la n d tax,
p a rtitio n sale and fo re c lo s u re process Since n in e ty
p ercen t o f a ll B lo c k -o w n e d fa rm la n d is in on e le v e n
state re g io n o f the South, th e tra d itio n a l southern
w h ite m e n ta lity once a g a in m ust be d e a lt w ith fo r
Block e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t.
W h a t does a ll this m ean? It m eans th a t Black
p e o p le , w h e th e r u rb an or ru ra l, m ust b e g in to
address the p ro b le m o f d e c lin in g Block la n d
o w n e rs h ip . Since th e rate o f loss is so sto gg erm g, a
d e la y in s te m m in g th is process c o u ld sp ell e c o n o m ic
su icide a n d resu lt in th e c re a tio n o f a roce o f p e o p le
lea sing th e ir h o m e la n d . W ith fa rm in g re p re s e n tin g
one o f th e fe w o ccup atio ns in w h ic h a Black person
can be an in d e p e n d e n t businessperson, each n e w
parcel o f lan d snatched fro m Black p e o p le brings
w ith it a little o f o u r hearts, souls, p rid e , d ig n ity , a nd
m ost im p o rta n t, the sw ea t o f o u r ancestors w h o
to ile d a g a in st g re a t odds to o b ta in th e lan d.
S o rr^ Sort!
X m getting in , one
or a r o lh e r ...
an A Aon‘f caU m e
S on \ 11
OkAr eructa oÇ
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u n io n i W e ckmi"
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Portland Observer
Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, 2201
North Kilhngsworth Portland. Oregon 97217. Mailing address:
P .0 Box 3137. Portland. Oregon 97208. Telephone 283 2486
Subscriptions: $7.50 per year in the Tri-County area. $8.00 per
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Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon
The P o r tla n d O b s e rv e r • official position is expressed only in
its Publisher's column (W e See The World Through Black
Eyes l. 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 HEN D ER SO N
Editor Publisher
National Advertising Re.weoewtative
I Pahhshers. Inc
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( n w a i t y Leadership
O N PA 1975
When you walk into Henry Scott's
office, you immediately hear confidence
talking And when you looa at the record
of Coast Janitorial Service. Inc., of which
Scott is president, you immediately roa
bar that Henry Scott's talk is not cheap.
I j a t year. Coast Janitorial Service
reached the two million mark in gross
sales and an all tune high of more than
200 employees. Promoted as a complete
building maintenance service - from
window washing to carpet cleaning, from
floor polishing to general building upkeep
- Coast Janitorial stands out as the
largest Black business enterprise in the
state of Oregon.
Almost tw enty-three years ago, it was
Scott's dream to build a company that
made service its product and family
cooperation its formula for success. And
that is exactly what he did.
"W hen you go out to talk to another
buiness." says the 52 year old president,
“the only thing you have to sell is labor
and service. You have to sell yourself,
then you have to sell your company
You have to let them know what your
company has done, what its doing now.
and how many people in the community
depend on it for their livelihood. When
you can prove that your company can do
the very best yob possible, then they are
willing to listen.*
When Henry Scott realized many years
ago that it pays more to work for oneself,
he also understood that the road would be
a rough one. The sue of the task did not
make him shirk.
He and his wife.
Bernice, worked day and night in the
early days to deliver the service that
would later make them famous
The
attitude he had then still serves today:
“Once you can establish that you are the
best, then you're going to get more of the
work than your competition Eventually,
the word will get out. This is our most
effective advertisement - the work we
do." said Scott, who is one of several
brothers and sisters who came to Port
land in 1944 from Louisiana.
In the jam lonal business, service must
be backed by knowledge. President Scott
emphasizes this over and over again to
his co-workers.
“You have to know
everything in the business. For example,
there are all kinds of carpels, and you
have to know how to take rare of the
fabric in them. It's expensive and hard to
replace You need more than a broom
and a dust pan in this business."
The special formula for Coast Janitorial
Service, located at 714 N .E . Alberta, is
a family spine of cooperation. Several
members of the family and their children
contribute to the success of the firm. But
it does not stop there
As Manuel Scott, vice president in
charge of sales, told me. “We really don’t
have any superstars. I don’t like super
stars.
The key to this company is
togetherness. I t ’s unity. Everybody is
important."
W ith a determined look
which emphasizes how much he believes
in what he is saying. Manuel Scott conn
nues. “I don’t care if you're a maintenance
engineer or a salesman: 1 don’t care if
you re a foreman or a windowwasher -
everyone is important.
If one person
doesn't do the job right, it causes
problems for everyone."
Having seen the company's sales ex
ceed the two million mark and continue to
grow, Manuel Scott is very clear as to
what the formula for success has been
He says strongly. "This is a family
working together. W hether the name is
Scott or Smith or Johnson, we still think
of everyone as a member of the family, all
working together in unity to build a
successful business.
When a young
person comes into the company, we try to
get him into the swing of things. W e try
to get him feeling a part of the family.
And we intend to reward success." The
company hopes young businessmen and
women will consider a career with their
company.
Manuel Scott, the oldest of the clan,
will tell you point blank what it takes,
“You have to have desire. You've got to
want to do something
It takes hard
work, dedication and motivation to get
something done.
This is what many
vouag people seem to forget. They want
everything too fast, before they sacrifice,
before they pay the pnee. It just doesn’t
work that way."
Coast Janitorial Service. Inc., is a
sparkling example of persistence, co
operation. commitment, drive and future
oriented thinking. If one takes a kook at
the philosophy behind it. the reasons for
its success become obvious.
And there’s little doubt in Henry-
Scott's mind that the future with Coast
Janitorial Service will be enriching (in
I o tko E â Ü m
Explains legislative record
To the Editor:
In response to M r. Sampson s letter
regarding Representative Priestley a re
cord. indeed M r Sampson did check the
numbers further than I did. though I
deny seeking to distort his record. But.
let’s check Representative Priestley ’s re
cord even further because numbers are
misieiding
Of the bills for which Pnestley was sole
sponsor that did not become law eight
were related to criminal procedure and
penal reform. Ia there any way these
bills could have passed’’ Who would have
benefitted’’
Should Representative
Priestley be blamed for their failure or
praised for having the courage to intro
duce these controversial measures?
There were some successes One bill
that Representative Priestley was a
principal sponsor of, HB2929. which was
signed into law creates a “tax credit of at
most $500 for personal income and
corporate exiae taxes for increases in
number of new. qualified full-time em
ployees over minimum level of growth
Creates a formula for determining
amount of credit.
Defines qualified
employee to include persons receiving
unemployment, public assistance. train
ing and rehabilitation programs or Cor
rections Division training." Who bene
fit«?
Of the bills Representative Priestley
was a principal sponsor for that did not
become law. one was HB2350 creating a
State Bank. Who would have benefitted.
the wealthy or the poor? Ia there any
way it could have passed? Shouldn't it,
nevertheless, have been introduced and
considered’’ Whom should we thank?
Another of the bills that did not
become law for which Representative
Priestley was a principal sponsor (at the
request of the Consumer Power League,
the Oregon State Grange, and the Org
gon W a s h in g to n
F a rm e rs
U n ion ).
HB2887, related to people's utility dis
tncts. created new provisions and amend
ed laws. Who would have benefitted?
HB3229 for which Representative
Priestley was a principal sponsor, and
which did not become law. related to the
Initiative and Referendum and created
new provisions. (This relates to increas
ing the power of citizens to pu7:cipate in
and gain more control over decision mak
ing.) Who would benefit?
I am more concerned with what a
legislator supports than what the House,
Senate and jo v ern o r in their collective
"wisdom” determine is, or ia not. worthy
of becoming law. For instance, if one
checks with Common Cause he or she will
find that Representative Priestley voted
“right" on ail the bills of concern to them
last session.
Many legislators by percentage of h ill«
passed look good. Often these are legisia
tors who introduce and support only
non-controversial bills. They are not
reformers, but may go far. Represents
five Pnestley will support a bill on
principle and will introduce bills too
controversial to pass that session. His
numbers record suffers accordingly.
Recently, at Concordia Community
Association Planning Study meetings
when neighborhood problems were dis
cussed, the planning consultants suggest
ed as one crime prevention measure,
putting locks on doors Representative
Pnestley. sitting among mostly middle
income white and Black constituents,
suggested adding "redistributing wealth"
as a crime prevention measure.
Was
there opposition? Yes. from some whites
and Blacks. Did it get diicusaed? Yes.
Did it get included in the community's
plan? Yes. in modified form The idea
that became acceptable was that of
achieving "equity in income." Though
obviously thia would involve "redistribut
ing wealth" thia phrase as yet is seen as
too radical to be acceptable? Who would
benefit if this occurred? Whom should we
thank for proposing it:
What if all
neighborhood associations in this country
had a W ally Pnestley'.’ What if legisia
tures had more Representative Priest
leys'? Did Priestley stand to gain or lose
by proposing this idea? W hat would most
politicians have done?
Should politicians and others be en
couraged to consider this and similar
ideas? Do politicians usually seek out
information about such ideas? Do their
usual associates and those with whom
they aspire to associate present such
idea«?
terms of one's pocketbook) and reward
ing (in terms of one's sense of cootribu
lio n ). "In the next ten years." he says, as
he leans back in his chair, "we're going to
be at least ten times belter than we are
today."
In the comfort of his office in the
warmly decorated space on N .E. Alberta.
Scott notes. “W e’re learning more every
day, and our people are getting more
excited about this thing all the time. It's
wonderful. I feel like in ten years we’re
going to be one of the best companies in
the d ty of Portland."
There is such intense meaning in the
voice of the chief executive that one
cannot help but think that he knows
exactly what he’s talking about. But. in
case there is some doubt, all one ha» to do
is look at the record.
Through
the eyes
o f Mr. W . . .
by Harold C. Wilhams
M Y SON “T W O "
Your world began with your
mother and I. You are
from the two of us. So comes
your name. Two.
Your world has two parts
The one we built with hope
and prayer.
So that you and other
children can live.
The second part of your
world you must build
on a foundation af love, hope and peace With
that, my son Two. maybe
there will be a chance
for number Three.
stands taken io the community. One's
social, political and ethical philosophy and
the strength of one's character are tested
and forged by fighting the political
battles.
Representative Priestley has
done so and has remained faithful to the
interests of the powerless.
Representative Priestley describes po
liticians as always looking up to the next
rung of the power and status ladder.
There are politicians though, like Priest
ley. who get a grip on the first rung on
the ladder and then look down instead of
up and decide to keep their feet stuck
firmly in the mud with the rest of us.
They will not become powerful legislators
if one defines ’‘powerful" in the sense of
achieving recognition from those on high
er ladder rungs. In fact those above will
do their utmost to push such a legislator
off the ladder altogether. Who should
fight to keep Representative Priestley's
grip on the ladder firm?
Finally, M r. Sampson appears to make
the rather pompous assumption that if I
do not know the candidate he supports I
must not spend my time in meaningful
pursuits
Though it is none of his
business where I spend my time let me
assure him that I too am a doer at good
deeds and am active in several commu
nity organizations where one will not
meet the candidate he supports
Sincerely,
Claudia Fisher
Record vs potential
To the Editor:
Hooray for Gary Sampson who took
time to research Wally Priestley's inef
fective legislative record as contrasted
with Evie Crowell's potential. If only
more of us would take time to do our
homework the quality of our elected
officials could be much improved.
Is it more costly in a legislature or
elsewhere to introduce such ideas, or is it
more costly to our society in the long run
not to introduce and support such ideas
Priestley. He is here between elections
and learns about the problems of Black
people by joining in their struggles,
even if they fail to pass now? Whom
should we thank and support for his
courage and perseverance? How many
politicians should we oust or prevent
from gaining office who do not support
such measures?
I doubt if there is a state or looal office
holder in Portland who spends more time,
energy, thought and heart in the Black
community than does Representative
When I refer to "community track
record’ I do not mean the number of
(certainly) worthwhile service organtza
tiona that one is active in or maintains
membership in, or the number of meet
ings one attends. I am interested in the
office seeker's political, issue oriented
I
Mary IXiwney
1740 N .E . Irving
Portland. Oregon 97232
Let Africans choose
To the Editor:
Once more, another self styled South
African white liberal has come up with a
few theories on how to solve the South
African crisis. A» usual, he claims to
have the best interests of the Africans at
heart and that he knows what they want.
It's so sad that even in this day and age,
1978, just twenty two years shy of
Century 21. the South African whites still
think they know what's beat for the
Africans. To all these "philanthropists,"
we say "Thanks, but no thanks."
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