Portland observer., June 01, 1978, Page 2, Image 2

Page 2 Portland Observer Thursday. June 1. 1978
We see the world
through Block eyes
I middle school for Albina
W e a g re e w ith the Jefferson R eo rg a nizatio n
C o m m itte e 's re co m m e n d a tio n that O ckle y G reen
b eco m e a m id d le school fo r th e Je ffe rso n a tte n d ­
a nce area.
The assessm ent o f a re a S u p e rin te n d e n t W ill
Fletcher th a t a fte r Black a nd w h ite students a tte n d
m id d le school to ge th er th e y w ill w a n t to re m a in
to g e th e r th ro u g h hig h school is correct. Even m ore
im p o rta n t, w h ite parents w ill fin d th a t g o in g to
school w ith Black students is not so bad. The escape
o f w h ite students from Jefferson should decrease
W e a re concerned, h o w e ve r, a b o u t the students in
the Jefferson area w h o still w ill not have a school o f
th e ir o w n . The u pp er grade students o f W o o d la w n
a re a w h o liv e in the Jefferson area o f that district,
are g o in g to James John and to Roosevelt. They w ill
not go to O ckley G reen. Students liv in g in the Boise
district th a t is in Jefferson w ill not have th e o p tio n to
go to O ckle y G reen, but w ill go to Je ffe rso n. U pper
g ra de students in King secion o f Je ffe rso n are now
bussed out a nd cannot go to O ckley G reen.
H u m b o ld t causes yet a n o th e r p ro b le m . A ll o f the
ch ild re n a re bussed out a t the th ird g ra d e leve l.
These ch ild re n w ill co n tin u e to be dispersed
th ro u g h o u t th e ir school careers.
W e b e lie v e the answ er is a m id d le school in the
A lb in a a re a that w o u ld serve these ch ild re n as w e ll
as th e upper g ra de students o f King, Sabin a nd Boise.
The district has d e te rm in e d that a m id d le school w ill
not be p la ce d in A lb in a because it w o u ld be a ll
Black That this is not necessarily true has been
p roved by the n um ber o f w h ite pre-school c h ild re n
v o lu n ta rily a tte n d in g King a nd H um bo ldt.
OK ! who ' s G o m
TO START THE
A m id d le school - p la c e d at Eliot, fo r e x a m p le —
co uld d ra w w h ite students fro m a ll those are as th a t
have tu rn e d d o w n m id d le schools. There a re parents
in B e au m on t a n d the southw est schools w h o w a n t
m id d le schools a nd h ave none. This n e w m id d le
school — w ith a n e w n a m e and a n e w im a g e -- c o u ld
d ra w fro m th ro u g h o u t the city.
The School Board needs to ta ke a h ard lo o k a t a
p ro gram fo r the o rp h a n s o f A lb in a w h o d o n 't seem to
fit a n y w h e re . W e w e re to ld th a t m id d le schools on
the p e rip h e ry o f A lb in a w o u ld be the a n sw e r, b ut
these c h ild re n a re b a rre d fro m those schools. N o w
the d is tric t needs to d e sig n a school fo r th e m .
The y e a r of a Black queen?
Is this the y e a r fo r a Black Rose Q u een? W e 'v e
been a s k in g th a t q u e s tio n fo r years a nd th e a n sw e r
has bee n " n o " .
AAany o f th e y o u n g la d ie s in past years h ave had
the b e a u ty, g ra ce a n d ta le n t to be Q een b u t th ey
w e re n o t se le cte d so le y because o f race.
W hat b e tte r ye a r to crow n the firs t Black Rose
Q ueen th a n the ye a r th a t the NAACP N a tio n a l
C o n v e n tio n com es to Portland.
A ll o ver the South Blacks a re b e in g chosen as
c o lle g e Q ueens a nd n o w w e h a v e a Black Miss
U niverse. It's a b o u t tim e fo r a ffirm a tiv e a c tio n in th e
Rose Festival. C om e on P ortland, le t's catch up w ith
th e w o rld .
LISTEN
I C A N 'T , WE HAVE
T o o MANY BLACKS
IN MY GOUH1RY
/
WAR IN AFRICA ?
J LET'S
A ll start it
A N b BLAM E
EACH OTHER ?
/
McCoy’s task is to rogaia confidence
by Herb (
As with the rest of the Gladys McCoy
campaign, the fundraiser at the First
National Bank Tower was well organised.
The food wsa excellent. The people
mingied and talked and were friendly.
The candidate, Mn. McCoy, a long-time
member of the Portland Board of Educa­
tion. was warm and confident. With a
strong handshake, she spoke personally
to each supporter: "I appreciate your
being here.” 1 went to Ms. McCoy’s
fundraiser and. quite honestly. I was
impressed.
Why would I go to demonstrate my
support of one whom I have criticised
harshly both in public and in private? The
answer can only be framed with words of
mixed emotion. I went because I wanted
very much to accept Ms. McCoy as a
candidate for the County Commission,
while seeking some way to minimize my
unfavorable impression of her record as a
member of the Board of Education. When
1 left the champaign session that evening,
I wanted very much to write glowing
words about Ms. McCoy's campaign.
Those words never reached my paper.
The delitnma is clear: Ms. McCoy's
record on the Board of Education is
dismal; yet she can win the race for the
County Commission. The pressures of
school supervision are one thing; the
demands of county policy-making quite
another. Should her dismal performance
as a member of the Board of Education
disqualify her as one worthy of the Black
community's active support?
The answers vary. Some can in no way
lift a finger to assist Ms. McCoy. Others
waiver. They want to help, but are
frosen in indecision by the negative
image of a politician who refused to carry
the aspirations and concerns of Portland
Black community to the school admini
st rat ion. Still others are indifferent, as
they are always, no matter whose reek
ing what. Then there are the pragma
tists.
They dislike the record, they
recognize the shortcomings. But the
pragmatic ones say, “Ms. McCoy is our
best chance of getting a Black represents
tive on the County Commission. No
matter her record on the School Board.
we must help her in this race. She will
not be the same. The position demands
are different, the time commitment is
different, the pressures from the commu­
nity are different.”
When 1 went to Ms. McCoy's fundrais
a
w
t
h
o
r
n
e
er prior to the primary election, I suppose
my leaning was toward the pragmatic
side of the issue. As I tried to flush from
my mind good words of endorsement, the
realization hit home: To write good words
and glowing terms is difficult, since it is
by judging the past that one makes
predictions for the future.
McCoy’s
record precluded my ability to make
predictions shout commitment, and com­
munity leadership, and responsiveness.
The realization made one thing quite
clear.
The support of many in the Black
community depends on Ms. McCoy. If
she is misunderstood, if we do not truly
appreciate the depth of her conct rn. then
it is incumbant on her to talk with us
and explain her program. If we have
misread the record, she will have to come
forward to set us straight. It is a difficult
task. She must regain the confidence of
our community. It would be a political
disaster for Ms. McCoy or any one around
her to dismiss her standing in the Black
community.
It is essential that it tie improved. With
her political know how and several
months campaigning ahead. I believe it
can be done.
Through the eyes o f Mr. W .
by Harold C. Williams
Many things are changing in the
Portland area that will have great impact
on the Black Community.
It is important that we as Blacks stop
re-inventing the wheel and take note
from the old soldiers who have gone
before us.
There are many people who have paid
their dues on the front lines to survive in
the State of Oregon. They seldom get
credit for their efforts. The reasonable
amount of comfort that we have in
Portland today is due to the blood, sweat
and tears that these people gave on our
behalf.
Soldiers like Chalmers Jones who is a
trailblazer in state government, has
opened doors when there were no doors.
He made pathways when there was no
path. Few give him credit for the dues he
has paid.
Senator Bill McCoy, a trailblazer in
politics, is in the most vicious arena
that one can be in and he is given very
little credit for his ability to endure the
hardship and pain that has been cast upon
him. He has paid his dues in more ways
than one can imagine. The same goes for
his wife, Gladys McCoy, who is soon to be
Multnomah County Commissioner. She
has given up a lot of blood and a lot of
tears to get where she is today. We. as
Black people, should start giving our own
credit for the sacrifices they have made
on our behalf.
The Plummer family has been strongly
involved in politics long before most
Blacks in Oregon realized the importance
of politics. It is important that we give
this family its due recognition.
The Reynolds family has a strong
impact in education and medicine and
have been a positive image for all people
to pattern after. They too have not been
given their just due.
Belton Hamilton has been a guiding
light in the legal field and has been a
symbol of intellect for many years. He
has been an inspiration to many young
Blacks desiring to achieve greatness.
Leon Broadous Sr., a business man,
church leader, a man who has fed and
clothed many who have come to Portland
who were down on their luck, has not
asked for pay and sometimes has not
even received a thank you. He paid his
dues many times over where it counts
and where it's most needed. He has
helped those who were not able to help
themselves, he has given dignity to those
who have yet to learn its true meaning.
Mrs. Clara M. Peoples, a lady who fed
the poor, who gave totally of herself, to
her community and to the people has
received very little in return. She has
truly paid her dues. She has spoken up
for those who didn't know how to speak
and opened doors for those who didn't
know how to knock.
The people I've mentioned are just a
few of the many, many people who have
paid their dues and gotten very little
thanks of appreciation. There are names
that I could use that would fill many,
many pages, that have given of them
selves for the benefit of many Blacks
today and by no means am I trying to
overlook their efforts. 1 want to make a
point, those of my age and younger, must
not forget the bridge that got us over. It
is time that we sat down and had counsel
with those that have been before us. To
all the old soldiers that paid their dues, I
truly thank you for the freedom of
opportunity you've given me.
|
JLetiM to tko 8ÁÍ01
A tim e comes w hen silence is betrayal
To the Editor;
A IA E E T IN 6 OF
THE MINOS
1978
Study compares citizen views of neighborhoods
(Continued from page 1 col. 3)
yards) and rats; Sabin has more sewer
problems. Maplewood has more flooding
and drainage problems.
Publir Safety; Boise suffers more from
crime with 42 per cent of the citizens
being victims of reported crimes. Maple
wood's reported crimes are of a more
serious nature. Half the residents of
Sabin feel they have a serious crime
problem compared to 45 per cent of the
Boise residents and 25 per cent of the
Sabin and 82 per cent in Maplewood.
Boise has more fires than the other
neighborhoods but Sabin has more house
fires.
Housing; Sixty per cent of the resi­
dents of Boise consider their houses
rundown. 33 per cent in Sabin and 24 per
cent in Mapiewood. Boise has more
vacant lots and houses and consider them
a problem.
Sense of Community Maplewood per­
ceives and exhibits a stronger sense of
community than Sabin or Boise.
Streets: Many Maplewood streets are
unpaved and there are few sidewalks.
Boise and Sabin residents complain about
bad streets and sidewalks. Sabin streets
are dirtier and more littered than Boise's
but Boise citizens perceive them as a
more serious problem.
Boise streets are the most hazardous
with 1.5 per cent of the residents
involved in traffic accidents. Boise has
more traffic through its boundaries.
Dogs: Sabin has the worst animal
control problem.
Yards: Boise has the most problems
with condition of yards: litter, excessive
storage in yards, abandoned and dilapi­
dated buildings, tall grass and weeds.
Parks: Boise residents are closest to
their park (Unthank) but do not use it out
of fear that it has unsafe equipment.
Sabin residents are farthest from a park
and use it least.
Noise: Boise is noiser than the other
neighborhoods.
Refuse: Boise residents say that their
neighborhood is dirtier and that the dirt
is more pervasive; Sabin complains about
litter.
Abandoned autos: This problem is
worst in Boise.
Parking: Maplewood residents own
more vehicles but generally do not park
in the street. Boise has the highest
percentage of street parking. Parking is
not perceived as a problem.
(Next Week: How livable is Boise?,
Portland Observer
Published every Thursday by Exie Pubbshing Company, 2201
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Community Service
ONPA 1973
5th Place
Best Editorial
NNPA 1973
The Portland Observer's official position irexpressed only in
its Publisher's column (We See The World- Through Black
Eyes,. Any other material throughout the paper is thq/ipinion
of the individual writer or submitter and does not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer
Honorable Mention
Herrick Editorial Award
NNA 1973
National Advertising Repreeentative
I Publishers. Inc.
New York
MEM« r i i
Oregon
Newspaper
Publisher*
Association
W an t* latter*
To the Editor;
1st Place
Best Ad Results
ONPA 1973
Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon
ALFRED I.. HENDERSON
Editor/Publisher
I
1st Place
“A time comes when silence is be
trayal." Will your daughter, sister or
mother be the next rape victim?
To understand why Judge Clifford B.
Olsen discharged the sex abuse charge
against the Caucasian Kirby Boeckel
after a jury found him guilty of abusing a
sixteen year old Black girl, one has to
look at the political implication for the
maintenance of power in a system based
on racial determinism.
American society has generally de­
creed the Black woman invisible. Placing
such behavior in a political and historical
perspective, the slave master knew that
as female this slave woman could be
particularly vulnerable in her sexual
existence. Although he would not pet her
and deck her out in frills, the caucasoid
slave master could endeavor to reestab
lish her femaleness by reducing her to the
level of her biological being. Aspiring
with his sexual assaults, to reestablish
her as a female animal, he would be
striving to destroy her proclivities to­
ward resistance.
The case was just another reminder of
the amoralism inherent in a system of
racial determinism.
At one time in America, the rape of
Black women was as “common as whistl
ing Dixie in the South," also equally as
common wjas the lynching of Black wo­
men.
We are constantly told that ours is a
government of laws, not a government of
men. This is a half-truth. Laws are but a
2nd Place
Best Editorial
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1975
I am presently confined in the peniten
tiary and without contact from the
"outside" world. Since I have no one to
correspond with, in reaching out for new
possible friends. I do not seek pity, but
only your sincerest friendship and under
standing.
To possess a few while I am in
confinement here would surely allow a
ray of sunshine to penetrate my other­
wise dark and lonely situation.
Hopefully someone out there will care
enough to hear my appeal, and write to
me as soon as possible. I will answer all
letters regardless to color, religion, or
sex, and will answer with complete
sincerity.
MEMBER
M hivpAp Efí
Your Truly,
Anothony L. Hartson
148 196 S.O.C.F.
P.0. Box 45699
Lucasville, Ohio 45699
reflection of the thoughts and desires of
those who write and interpret them.
However, the United States Supreme
Court as an institution historically has
not served an especially beneficial role in
the lives of Blacks. The Court, like all
other major institutions in America, has
reflected much of the over-all racism of
the society at large.
When Blacks look closely at American
jurisprudence on questions of race, they
find that little progress, if any, haa been
made after generations of litigation.
Their rights nearly always turn on mixed
questions of law and fact. There is
absolutely no justification for placing the
right of Blacks to justice and equality on
the resolution of a question of fact. To do
so is to indulge in the fiction that America
is a non-racist suciety and that caucasoid
Americans are capable of functioning in a
non-racist manner.
I've sent copies of the Portland Obser­
ver to friends around thia country. There
are few people that understand the way
conflict is controlled and channeled
through the legal system, so that there is
in reality no real change, only a change in
form, not in essence.
I believe, before one can begin to
change the legal system one must change
the social and economic system. Criminal
justice, again, is an instrument of a
capitalist, racist society. It feeds upon
oppressed people. One man goes to jail
and the other goes free for the same
crime depending on who the judge or jury
is. The system of criminal justice is a
validating system. It validates arbitrary
and inconsistent decisions.
Anyone with a love for social justice,
could very easy identify with that sixteen
year old Black girl.
Caucasoid lawyers have an obligation
to represent Black clients to the utmost
of their ability because this is a euucaxoid
system and it's their responsibility to see
that the system works well. This is not a
Black man's system at all. It's not a Black
lawyers responsibility to see that the
system works well. His responsibility is
to defend against the worst consequences
of this system.
Yes. the case did prove that a jury in
Oregon may find a Caucasian man guilty
of an offense against a Black woman. It
also proved a Caucasian man can us«- the
law to his own caprice. Kirby Boeckel
was not prosecuted for committing oral
sodomy
Respectfully,
Dr. Jamil Cherovee
Field Director for (CORE,
Volunteers
Needed NOW!
The American Red Cross
Oregon Trail C hapter
Instructors tor Educational Classes.
Drivers, Tutors. Hospital Volunteers.
l.PN.'s, li.N.'s, Blood Program Aides,
Clerical Workers, Telephoners,
Leadership Volunteers
Various locations, flexib le
hoursil!
For further information
Call 243-5277
I
In Washington County. 648-2622*
In Yamhill County, 472-6612
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in T r i—C o u n ty A r e a
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O th e r