Page 2 Portland Observer Thursday. July 13. 1978
We see the world
through Black eyes
Convention successes, failures call for action
The NAACP came to town last week and left
again without really addressing some of the
serious issues facing Black Americans. Although
there were rousing speeches, workshops with a
variety of expertise, and hard working commit
tees — the main work of the Convention, that of
setting policy for the organization, did not hap
pen.
In a late afternoon session, the last day of the
Convention, the remaining delegates voted to
refer the resolutions to the National Board.
Although resolutions had been offered by Branch
es and State Conventions, only a few were con
sidered by the body.
The energy policy, which has consumed much
interest over the last six months, was brought to
the floor by demand of delegates from New York
and California, but failed to receive open and
frank discussion. The resolution committee had
failed to accept tw o resolutions aimed at
changing the energy policy and would not accept
an amendment to add a rejection of deregulization
of natural gas to the policy. Thus the policy was
not changed but was not endorsed either. As one
resolution committee member said, "Let's leave
that to the board."
Other important business was left undone in
cluded a resolution calling tor withdrawal of
American corporate investment and of U.S. of
ficial presence in South Africa.
Among the resolutions passed were:
• Urged that the NAACP act to ensure that the
educational experience of Black children be of
such nature that they can compete favorably and
on all tests from elementary to graduate school.
• Oppose movement of medical care facilities
away from urban areas.
• Support redevelopment and revitalization of
central cities.
• Resolve to monitor media treatment and law
enforcement treatment of Black officials and
leaders and mobilize legal defense funds.
• Initiate strengthening of NAACP legal force
to insure affirmative action and fight allegations
of "reverse discrimination."
• That the NAACP serve notice that it will
support all leaders who are under personal attack
and that, both locally and nationally our branches
national office will not tolerate invidious attacks
on any responsible and productive Black leader
ship.
Too much was left undone. This great
historical organization — so much needed in this
time of racial crisis — has once again allowed the
power and the decision making responsibility
that belongs to the people to be vested in the
Board. That Board will not meet until Septem
ber, and in the meantime the great issues of the
world will not wait.
But back to the Branch. The NAACP allows its
Branches much flexibility in its program to deal
with local issues. The neglect of the national
convention to finish its business cannot be con
strued as an excuse for apathy on the local scene.
Rather, the accomplishments of some other
Branches should serve as an inspiration.
The next fe w weeks should bring a
reorganization and rebuilding of the Branch, and
most of all a mending of strained relationships
that occurred during the hectic efforts to host the
Convention.
The energy and enthusiasm that was so
frequently displayed in the weeks leading up to
the Convention can now be used to further
justice and equality in Oregon. But it must be
tapped quickly — enthusiasm soon turns to
apathy if it is not used.
I
MR AMBASSADOR ( S . AFRICA}
I
S E E YOU
TOO HAVE
ASSURE ÏO U T H IS C ITY
YOUR blacks
HAS H O IM T E N T iO H O F
UNDER
,
COHTROL!
6 R E A M H G T I E S W ITH
YOUR H A T to H 11
A Question of Challenge
by H erb L. Cawthorne
To The Portland N A A C P
Prior to its arrival, the N A A C P 1
C o n v e n tio n
sparked
exciting
thoughts o f a renewed thrust in the
Portland Black com m unity. P ort
land, many thought, would never
be the same.
The local chapter o f the N A A C P
would be transformed — from the
puzzlement o f those on the left and
the laughing stock of those on the
right. Many thought the local unit of
A m e ric a 's forem ost c iv il rights
organization would explode wide
open w ith a new id e n tity , new
program s, new members, and a
positive new influence on our com
munity. This was the expectation.
Now that the convention has gone,
leaving us enriched with a powerful
firs t-h a n d perspective o f Black
wealth and potential, it is time for a
sober assessment. W ill the coming of
the National N A A C P Convention
create a renewed thrust in the local
chapter and toward what direction?
It must first be acknowledged that
we have graciously entertained. Like
a fam ily, which has its differences,
but nevertheless put on its best
c lo th in g , covered its house w ith
sweet smells, and locked hands in
harmony — we graciously put on the
airs o f a unified existence to impress
the outside visitors for the moment.
O f this we should be proud. But we
cannot rest.
As soon as the friends have packed
th e ir bags and gone, before the
smiles o f h o s p ita lity have faded
away, we must be quick to assess our
situation. W ith a inspired spirit, the
d iffic u lt questions must now be
asked.
W ill we quickly fall back into the
doldrums o f living together or will
we rise unrelentingly to lift every
voice and sing, “ T il V ic to ry Is
W on?”
W ill we slide q u ic k ly , uncon-
tro la b ly , in to the dissension, the
pretention, the lipservice, the stifling
co ntentm en t, and the refusal to
cooperate and sacrifice that marked
our home before the convention?
W ill we treat ourselves as graciously
as we have treated our guests?
T o adequately address the hopeful
questions raised by the inspirational
presence o f the 69th annual N A A C P
Convention, we have to pause briefly
and look at the past. Pride — that's
the way the history o f our local
N A A C P is spelled. It took strides for
freedom e a rly , w alkin g in areas
where others fear to tread. It has
been the only organization consistent
ly willing to challenge a segregated
school system. It fought for fair
public accommodations. It m ain
tained a viligent watch on housing
discrimination. Looking way back,
few can argue with the achievements
o f the local branch o f the N A A C P .
Against this praiseworthy history,
however, it is discouraging to note
that the performance o f the chapter
here in recent times cannot be
praised in such glowing terms.
M a n y in d iv id u a ls w ith in the
o rganization and w ith o ut pinned
their hopes on the expectation that a
renewed m om entum would come
from the convention. In its June 29th
issue, the editors o f the Portland Ob
server w rote, “ W hen all the ex
citement is over and the dust clears
away, we would hope that the Port
land Branch would begin to address
some o f the serious problems found
by the Black community in Oregon.”
This is the challenge. And in order
to meet it, to make certain that the
momentum o f an inspiring conven
tion carries forward into a renewed
spirit o f the struggle fo r change,
progressive "forces w ith in the
organization will have to come to the
forefront o f the battle.
The progressive forces — those
who will fight to keep the spirit of
the convention alive — are crucial
because there are many in the local
organization who reflect the "let me
belong to something, anything, at
titude.” They stifle the organization
because they really don’t want to
work. Being rather warm in their
middle income Americanism, they
want merely to belong, to have a
name on a register, a card in their
pocket, and a line on a resume. They
render a p o te n tia lly p o w e rfu l
organization mere mush; it lacks
spirit and seems afraid o f a good
fight for its own future. Those who
demand more, who know that this is
a chance never to be gotten again,
cannot let the opportunity slip away.
The local N A A C P can have a pur
poseful program, a thrust, a dynamic
personality. This is a charge to the
entire community, not simply a few
hired advocates. The N A A C P is a
voice for everyone. And we all must
share in the burden.
The question still echos: W ill the
local chapter o f the N A A C P , and
this growing Black community, sieze
the spirit o f the 69th annual conven
tion and charge forward with new
programs and a new positive influence
on Black a ffa irs in this city and
state?
Through the Eyes of Mr. W.
by H aro ld Williams
The 69th annual N A A C P National
Convention was a great success for
the people o f Portland and the State
o f Oregon. For once in a positive
sense Blacks were shown in a respect
ful manner by the media. It also
gave Oregon an opportunity to sec
many Blacks from all over the coun
try with many diverse backgrounds
and the highest o f professional stan
dards. It was also an opportunity for
Black children to see, to know and to
hear role models that they could pat
tern themselves after in the future.
B enjam in H o o k s , head o f the
N A A C P gave positive and new light
to the hopes o f a struggling people
with his leadership, that can truly be
a re b irth o f the e ffo rts o f the
N A A C P toward the enemy o f in
justice. bigotry, hatred and unem
ployment.
It was a heart warming week to be
in the company of so many beautiful
Black people sharing ideas, hopes
and dreams, taking a moment to
teach and to counsel where they saw
the void o f uncertainty. It was nice to
hear the lau g h ter o f so m any
beautiful Black voices; it was enough
to ignite the hopes o f the universe.
The 69th annual N A A C P Conven
tion is over, but it has left its mark,
one that will be lasting for many
years to come. Now it is up to us, the
brothers and sisters o f Portland to
unite and pull together to keep the
flame burning and to make the hopes
and dreams that were highlighted last
week become a reality.
JLcUMt to
Burden falls on Black children
T o the Editor:
HUMAN
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The article o f 6 /2 2 /7 8 by Claudia
Fisher on the S a b in , A la m e d a ,
B eaum ont vote was a most in
teresting patchwork o f good ideas;
good recommendations; well con
structed sentences and outlines;
cliches; condescending civics lessons;
fuzzy logic; blanket stereotyping;
and jumped conclusions.
By the aforem entioned charac
teristics and implications the article
manages to lay at Sabin, Alameda,
and Beaumont's doorstep just about
all the past Area Advisory Com m it
tee and Individual School Advisory
C o m m itte e s ’ problem s real or
imaged since 1970.
T he A re a I I I C o m m u n ity A d
visory C o m m itte e ’ s a p p ro v a l o f
Beaumont as a Middle school in spite
o f a seventy percent Beaum ont
c o m m u n ity vote in opp o sitio n
prompted Ms. Fisher’s article and
the concern and recommendations
for change for the School District's
citizen participation structure. Well
and good! Most of the points are
good ones which I would support
(the jumped conclusion that three
areas are the only way to go and the
rigid, exclusionary effect electing all
individual school advisory commit
tees, would be the only issues o f the
nine I would question.)
H o w e v e r, those are not the
policies at this tim e and even
amongst her nine points I see no
recommendation for a complete vote
o f the community on every, or any
issue. One has to ask why all the
“ heat” regarding just Beaumont. I f
all other areas and issues are decided
by the ongoing policies and draw
relatively little comment or demand
for a community vote then one has to
wonder why?. The rules are different
apparently. W here was the com
munity vote for: the beginning of
administrative transfer program for
Black students; the recruiting o f
Black children to transfer out o f the
school district; the summarily trans
ferred Black teachers two years ago
fro m
p re d o m in a n tly
Black
schools; the creation o f Fernwood as
a middle school; the creation o f the
Early Childhood Centers; etc., etc.,
etc.
I am not necessarily saying that all
these decisions were bad ones . . . I
am saying that if school advisory,
area advisory and school district
recommendations were accepted for
the above listed decisions why is it
when one comes to an all-w hite
neighborhood and considers change,
the rules suddenly change.
It seems Ms. Fisher either w it
tingly or unwittingly subscribes to
the sometimes stated School Board
belief that Black children must do all
the m o vin g and to pressure or
recommend change or movement of
white children is impossible and un
thinkable.
It will be interesting to see how the
Sabin, Alameda, Beaumont plan is
resolved.
Betty Walker
(Editor's Note: To comment on
deficiencies in the current system o f
citizens' participation does not imply
that past decisions reached by the
same system
were eq u itab le.
Beaumont was used as an example o f
the school district ignoring the will o f
the people. The lack o f citizen in
volvement in past decisions — in
cluding those tra n s fe rrin g Black
children — should not mean that a
more ju s t system should not be in
stituted now.)
American State Bank
2737 N.E. Union
282-2216
The Royal Esquire Club
which donated its facilities to the
NAACP National Convention
announces that its club rooms
at 1708 N .E . Alberta are
available for your parties and meetings.