I
Page 2
Portland Observer
Thursday, June 8, 1978
We see the world
through Black eyes
Get out of Africa
The U nited States is becom ing m ore actively
involved in the civil w ar in Zaire, o m ove that is both
unwise and unjustified.
It is easy to use the ratio n a liza tio n that the Cubans
and the Soviet Union are assisting or encouraging
the rebels w ho are attem pting to regain Shaba
province. But to understand the co n flict w e must
look back and see the CIA invo lve m e n t not only in
the form ation of Zaire from the B elgian Congo, but
in Zaire's involvem ent in A ngola's w ar of liberation.
W hen the Belgians left the Congo, Zaire was set
up as a puppet governm ent still under the econom i
cal control o f the Europeans. It also fo rm e d a
convenient base o f operations fo r the CIA in its
involvem ents in A frica.
During A n gola's w ar of
liberation, the CIA used Zaire as a staging area fo r
U.S. provided supplies and fo r troops w h o fought
against the Neto forces w ho first attem pted to gain
freedom from Belgian control and then to set up a
governm ent — fo r tw o reasons.
First the U.S.
governm ent still has great pa ra n o ia about socialism
or com m unism and sees the efforts o f Africans to be
free o f tyranny as Soviet intrusion.
Second, there are m any m in e ra l resources that
are needed by this country and by Europe and the
U.S. cannot b e lie v e that an A frican nation that is free
— that is not com pletely do m in a te d econom ically
and p o litic a lly by Europe or the U.S. — w o u ld deal
fa irly and e ffe c tiv e ly in the w o rld market.
Perhaps it is best that the U.S. is becom ing m ore
openly in volved in the A frican c iv il war. CIA activity
con be hidden but w hen Am ericans begin to d ie in
A frica the president and the p e ople w ill see our long
involvem ent in the internal a ffa irs o f A frican
natives fo r w h a t it is — a racist e ffo rt to d om inate the
continent o f A frica in our ow n econom ic interests —
and w ith d ra w before another im m oral and ille g a l
w ar tears this nation apart.
new gover nm ent. O nly recently it was revealed that
the m illions o f dollars given to M obuto by the CIA to
pass on to South A frican and m ercenary troops w ere
stolen by him and used for his personal gain.
If there is evidence o f Soviet involvem ent, w e
must ask if U.S. actions on b e h a lf o f the colonial
powers and o f A frican's that w ere w illin g to be
controlled has a lienate d the A frican liberators and
caused them to turn to the Soviet U nion fo r help.
In this endeavor the U.S. joined w ith South A frica
and the Peoples Republic o f China.
Direct U.S.
involvem ent in this internal struggle brought in the
Cubans on b e h a lf of Neto, w ho fin a lly w on and now
is the leader o f Angola.
According to U.S. news reports it is N eto, w ith
possible assistance from Cuba and the Soviet Union,
w ho is sending troops into Zaire (the nation that
assisted his opponents) to liberate Shaba Province
from Z airian control.
N ow the Am erican governm ent still finds itself
supporting Z airian leader M obuto Sese Seko w ho
came to po w e r fo llo w in g the m urder o f Patrice
Lamumba.
M obuto has been a notoriously e vil
leader, practicing terror against his p o litic a l opposi
tion as w e ll as using the nation's m ineral resources
to fatten his ow n pockets w h ile the people suffer in
poverty.
Yei the U.S. continues to support M obuto. The
European troops sent to Zaire in response to the
highly publicized m urder o f European residents o f
Zaire w ere really there to protect the M obuto
before you sign
The p e o p le o f C a lifo rn ia have o v e rw h e lm in g ly
passed the Jarvis-G ann b ill w hich restricts the
property tax, cutting the funds a v a ila b le to local
governm ents by about 60 percent — or 87 percent o f
budgets other than p o lice and fire services.
This restriction w ill devastate local governm ents
but those most e ffe cte d w ill be those w ho need city
and county service - the poor, the e ld e rly, school
children, youth, etc.
The m assive lay-offs w ill
include large num bers of m inorities w ho lack
seniority.
Since m any services such as education, e m e r
gency health care, sanitary services are required and
their absence can lead only to havoc — the only
answer w ill be to e ve n tu a lly fin d fu n d in g fo r these
and other services through other taxes -- incom e and
sales taxes.
Then, instead o f the corporations w ith large
landholdings — u tilitie s, tim b e r interests, a g rib u si
ness, etc. — the tax burden w ill lie dire ctly on the
back o f the lo w and m id d le incom e w orker.
C urrently a p e titio n that w o u ld place a sim ilar
measure on the O regon b a llo t is being c irc u la te d ..
Think beyond your ow n property tax b ill be fo re you
sign that p e titio n )
i don ' t trust you H
I S t i l l remember "
ANGOLA 11
L E T BYGONES BE BYGONES
RE, HAVE A / < s ^ D R lH K 0 H
E PAL 11
I T 'L L BE
YOU PEOPLE H 4V £A «=-
SEEN HERE. F O R / ^ t y ^
Y ears too '/
V a T in
IFFEREWT
On Africa: We mast stand together
I believe thia, that if we migrated bark
to Africa ru ltu ra lh . pkiloaophirally and
psychologically, while remaining here
physically, the spiritual bond that would
develop between us and Africa through
this cultural, philosophical and psyrhohr
gical migration, so-called migration,
would enhance our position here, because
we would have our contacts with them
I can remember when the American
educational system had ingrained deeply
into my thought the idea that Africa was
a terrible place, full of wild and vicious
human animals, cannibals, and savages. I
learned, as a young child, and in the most
subtle of ways, that the Motherland from
which my ancestors came was primitive
in the worse sense of the word.
Blit that was back in those days. The
thinking is different today.
Thanks to Malcolm X and others, the
image today of Africa is not one of shame,
but of pride and hope and strength. And
from the imprisonment of self-hatred.
Black people have emerged.
W e are
proud of ourselves and of Africa. W e have
learned her achievements.
We have
studied her wealth. And we know our
roots.
Today, perhaps more than at any other
time in American history, the darker race
in this land must maintain an uncompro
mising interest in Africa. The battle
ground of the next century is on her soil.
The American Black man is automatically
thrust into the forefront of that battle;
and it is leadership we should welcome.
Otherwise, w hite Americans will de
fine the struggle in Africa for us. They
have no hesitation in doing so. One need
only read, almost daily, the narrow mind
ed editorials in the Oregonian. One need
only taxe note of President Carter's near
hysterical pronouncements on Africa:
after centuries of colonialism, robbery
and plunder
now the President of the
United States worries about the future of
Africa!
In the struggle for Africa. Black Am eri
ca must stand together as one voice.
W .E.B. DuBois noted that, if Western
influence brought any advantage of A fri
can society, it was the advantage of
modern education.
The meaning of
modern education as it might be applied
to Africa can be best understood by Black
Americans.
We have lived with a
Western shell and an African soul. We
can help the African learn the benefits of
modern technology, while the African
teaches us the century-old tradition of
living in harmony with our brothers and
sisters.
Here and now, we can act positively to
support Africa in the long journey out of
exploitation and imperialistic influence.
Like the powerful influence of the Jewish
community on Israli affairs, the Black
community in America can provide much
to assist in the transformation of Africa.
African History. Insist that children in
school learn their African history; and
where schools are not capable of teaching
it, look for other ways for them to learn
it. I t is sad to hear Black Americans say,
"M y child is American. I want him to do
well in the American system; I don’t want
to teach him about Africa, I want to
teach him about America." Our history
has shown our remarkable ability to do
both. Insist on it.
African Liberation.
True, we are
struggling for better jobs, better hous
ing, better education, better health, and
better opportunity here. But that should
not make us uninterested in joining
forces to express our support, and devolg
our energies to the liberation of Africa
The reluctance to do so is an attitude
held over from the divisive slave system
and its divisive aftermath.
African
liberation is spelled the same as the
liberation of black Americans.
Seli-Developaieut. Every chance you
get, buy a book or a map or a sculpture
from Africa. Take time to attend lectures
on African issues. There a’ e frequent
discussions held from time to time
throughout the city. I f none fit your
schedule, coordinate your civic club or
social group or church organization and
schedule your own session. Take your
children to movies, plays, and dances
which depict the African spirit and
culture.
Letters and Ixxbbying
Remember
when Charles Jordan introduced a resolu
tion discouraging the sale of the notorious
South African Krugerrand? Remember
the reaction (or shall I say. overreaction)
in the local press? During the entire
controversy, few Black people took time
to send letters to the paper or to M r.
Jordan. W e can have a direct influence
on who thinks what in this society, if we
will exert pressure through our letters,
through our discussions, and through our
personal contacts.
Again the words of Malcolm X: “And
this is what I mean by a migration or
going back to Africa - going back in the
sense that we reach out to them and they
reach out to us. Our mutual understand
ing and our mutual effort toward a
mutual objective will bring mutual bene
fits to the African as well as to the
A fro American."
Through the Eyes o f Mr. W.
W hat is the reason for the small
population of Blacks in the State of
Oregon?
Calvin Henry gave his views as to the
reasons he thought the population of
Blacks was small in a position paper in
April, 1973.
In search for better understanding of
Black history in the State of Oregon, I
think it is important that Calvin Henry's
views be stated again for 1978 - for your
information.
Historically, Oregon has been a state
that has had a low population with
respect to ethnic minority groups, be
cause it was legal to keep the population
low.
This dates back to the early
statehood of Oregon, whereby Oregon
Constitution limited the number of Blacks
in Oregon. "No free Negro or mulatto,
not residing in this state at the time of
the adoption of this constitution, shall
come, reside, or be within this State, or
hold any real estate, or make any
contracts, or maintain any suit therein;
and the Legislative Assembly shall pro
vide by penal laws, for the removal, by
public officers, of all such Negroes, and
mulattoes, and for their effectual exclu
sion from the State, and for the punish
ment of persons who shall bring them
into the State, or employ, or harbor
them .” Although this was repealed by
the people November 2, 1926, a legal
footing had been thoroughly ingrained
in the white people of Oregon to accept
economic and political discrimination
against Black people. Sundown laws and
city codes which barred Blacks from
living within the corporate lim it became
quite prevalent, some even exist today.
W ithin our area of concern, it's apparent
that many businesses or industries failed
to hire Blacks based upon these legal
deprivations of the past.
The influx of Blacks into Oregon during
W orld W ar I I was limited to Portland
where they were able to find work. Not
being successful in finding employment
and suitable accommodations in other
parts of Oregon, that Blacks remained
lived in Portland, leaving sprinkles or
pockets of Blacks elsewhere. I t is true
here in the W illam ette Valley that there
are very few Blacks and other minorities
but conditions of the past have made this
so. Reviewing the 1970 U.S. Census, we
can see how true this has been and still is.
ZAIRE!
h -S K -t
Portland O bserver
Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company. 2201
North Killingsworth. Portland. Oregon 97217 Mailing address:
P .0. Box 3137, Portland. Oregon 97208 Telephone: 283 2486.
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ONPA 1973
Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon
The Portland Observer s official position irexpressed only in
its Publisher's column (We See The W orld 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 H EN DERSO N
Editor/Publisher
Nattooal Advertising Re.ireseaUtive
Amalgamated Pubbshers Inc
New York
1
Oregon
Newspaper
Publishers
Association
1
I
Honorable Mention
Herrick Editorial Award
N N A 1973
In reading your non-endorsement of
my candidacy for the U.S. Senate I was
reminded of Ibsen's p la y /“The Enemy of
the People.” The main character was a
public health physician who devoted his
life to improving the quality of life for his
fellow men and women. He was highly
honored in his community until he com
m itted the unforgivable sin. He discover
ed and publicized the fact that the local
health springs, the principal industry of
his town, were polluted by a mill up
stream. For this service he was ostra
cized and declared to be "the enemy of
the people.”
Since childhood I have believed in and
espoused equal rights and equal opportu
nity for all, without respect to race, color,
creed, sex or national origin. I sat at the
knee of my grandmother and father
and heard proudly the stories of my great
grandfathers, Cook and Giles serving in
the Union A rm y which freed the slaves. I
remember spirited discussions on the
subject in high school and college in
which I defended equal rights. I prac
ticed my beliefs in my personal life.
In the legislature, while one or two civil
rights measures had been passed, before
my election in 1956, most of Oregon's civil
rights legislation was passed after my
election and with my strong support. As a
result of thin activity I was labeled as an
ultra liberal or radical.
Since that tim e I have supported
legislation to allow the eighteen year old
vote, E R A , and legislation to prohibit
discrimination based upon age. 1 do now
and I always have opposed discrimination
against the poor and the unfortunate. I
support equal opportunity for all regard
less of a person's race, color, creed, sex,
parents or national origin.
So where does that leave us? I support
affirm ative action as it affects individuals
who have been unfairly discriminated
against. If a person has been denied
employment, promotion, schooling or bu
siness opportunities because of his or her
sex, age or inherited physical characteris
tics then I believe that wrong should be
immediately and effectively remedied by
all available means.
On the other hand I believe it is wrong
to favor a person because of race, color,
sex, age, creed or national origin, ever if
that person in a 65 year old, Black Jewish
woman from Mexico. I t is wrong to favor
the admission of a Black woman to
medical school while denying admission
to a more qualified white man and just as
wrong as it would be to prefer a white
man over a more qualified Black woman.
While some religious sects adhere to
the doctrine of original sin, in America we
rejected the doctrine that "the sins of our
fathers should be visited upon their
children.”
The “taint of blood” was
sp ecifically re je c te d in th e U .S .
Constitution.
No person should be
favored because of the physical or sexual
category he or she was born to, even
though in years gone by, persons of that
category may have been disfavored be
cause of being members of that category.
Such discrimination is wrong both logical
ly and morally. The fact that I am a white
protestant male anglo saxon does not
mean that any of my ancestors had
anything to do with the degradation of
Blacks, women or Indians in the past.
Even if I had such ancestors, to punish
me for their sins would be both un-Chris
tian and immoral.
I believe that programs described as
"Affirm ative Action" programs which
favor persons of one category over
another are wrong - even if the one
favored is a member of a minority. To
believe otherwise is a contradiction to
both our democratic heritage and our
equalitarian ideals.
So, like the physician in Ibsen’s play, I
am criticized because I refuse to favor a
group or an individual because of race.
So, is discrimination O.K. if it favors
Blacks and Indians but immoral if it
favors whites and non-Indians? Lets stop
discrimination based upon accidents of
birth. One's success or failure should be
the result of one's individual qualities. If
one is disfavored because of economic
circumstances, lets help all who are
similarly circumstanced, regardless of
birth category.
W e should have one
nation with one standard for freedom and
opportunity.
Sincerity,
Vern Caok
State Senator
O b s e rv e r
Box 3137
97208