Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 1978)
Page 6 Portland Observer Thursday, July 13, 1978 Convention discussions relevant to local action The banner headline o f the Mon day, July 10th Oregonian broadcast the American Nazi Party March in Chicago's Marquette Park. A few pages later, a photo o f a mounted K larsm an, dressed in a tailored cerem onial nightsheet, paraded across the top o f an article about the Tupelo, Mississippi chapter of the racist organization “ monitoring*' a march by Black demonstrators in that city. Analysis Ironically, the papers of the week before were replete with coverage of the NAACP 69th Annual National C onvention held here July 3rd through July 7th. This paradox brings to m ind queries as to the im pact the organization’s conference w ill have on Black and white organizations, and, particularly the NAACP Port land Branch. It is no secret tnat the local branch has, fo r the most part, been so smothered in p o litic a l m othballs that, p rio r to pre-convention publicity, many persons had either never heard o f it or had forgotten that the oldest chapter west o f the Mississippi (1914) even existed. Those who know may be hard pressed to think o f it as anything more than a social club for political want-to-bes and has-beens, neither o f who really is . . . active, that is. However, real or imagined, this is a sad state o f affairs considering that in times past even less than a decade ago, the Portland branch o f the NAACP was well in tunc with the civil rights movement, combating racism on whatever front it dared to raise its ugly head; a valiant crusader challenging red-necked dragons spewing the fires o f inequality and race-hate. Indeed, many still remain from the “ glory’ ’ years. . . too many to be ef fective some o f the younger officials and members may think. But power-plans, schisms board- ered by divisions o f age, lack of leadership, or any other reason is not a justifiable excuse for inactivity. I f there is a time for the local branch to re-ascend to the forefront as the vanguard o f civil rights, that time is NOW, in the wake o f the National Convention. Billed as a “ working” convention, the confab schedule included a num ber o f workshops — sixteen to be exact — aimed at issues the organization deemed to be in the forefront o f m inority concern; em ploym ent, education, housing, the media, among others, including FORMERLY DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY O f MULTNOMAH COUNTY ANNOUNCES THE OPENING O f HIS OFFICE The workshops provided a forum wherein delegates and interested par ticipants could focus direction in addressing issues in their respective locales. Indeed, branch represen tatives were challenged, in the words o f EEOC C hairperson Eleanor Holmes Norton, " t o choose your weapons’ ’ in the struggle for equality on the local front. Many o f the issues discussed at the convention have particular relevance to N AAC P Oregon branches: the impending presence of the Whittcn- burg (Jarvis/Gann) Property Tax Lim itation initiative on the Novem ber general election b a llo t; d is p ro p o rtio n a te ly high Black unemployment; the possible impact o f the Supreme C o u rt’ s Bakke decision on state educational in stitutions and the educational status o f Black youth in general, among others. Unfortunately, attendance figures for local Blacks were low and those for whites, who might have benefit- ted from the experience as well, were microscopic. Poor Black attendance, however, dictates more o f what has to be done than what hasn’ t. Alyce Marcus, City of Portland Affirm ative Action Officer, got the Feb« AJreetege » f thit W e a r Y o u r D t n lu r n W hen You A w a k e ! Come in before 10 a.m . and Wo Will Try lo Deliver your Denture» by 4 p.m . Samo Day Save T im a away from Your Job Bare Em barraaom ant . . . ★ • > • iiM w e e (« ■ |M lt • r B ank le U r a l W ith NO INTEREST OR CARRYING CHARGE W-------------- Deatal Insurance Accepted e F o r m s A v a ila b le a t o u r O ffic e for the General Practice of Lew Dr. Killian of Alabama rises to protest resolution favoring redevelopment of cities. Dr. Killian fears Black business will be pushed out of the better business areas M ODERN DENTURE Technique FREE Estimates regular at 4:(X) 8th and U nion JA SPER L. A M B E R S That Tee SERVICE There will be an NAACP meeting to be held Sunday p.m. at Bethel AM F Church, Jarret. Sponsored by the Ushers. 'Announcem ent OiBEXRAID i K t a a n k L IN MOST C A S IS / depend on programs developed by the branch leadership through which the energy of youth and experience of age can be channeled. “ You can’ t tell what the effect w ill be right now,” said C.A White, a 3(J-ycar member of the NAACP and veteran o f many national conventions, " i t ’ s going to take some time . . . but something's in planning." As Hicks noted previously, many people are watching, and waiting to see if the convention was merely a rom antic interlude. Tom orrow s headlines will tell. struggle, once current leaders come to the ultimate realization o f man’ s mortality. The A fro -A ca d e m ic C u ltu ra l Technological and Scientific Olym pics program addressing the issue on the national level. “ We need in the future increasingly not only to call on your strong arms and strong hacks but your strong minds as w e ll.” Emphasized Georgia Legislator Julian Bond in his speech to the convention youth delegation. By no means, however, should the emphasis on youth imply unwarrant ed blanket displacement o f the “ old guard” who, despite a bit of “ snow on the roof, still have a fire in the furnace." For without the knowledge and experience o f history can the present exist, or the future hope to become. The residual effects o f the conven tion on Blacks in Oregon and the local branch o f the N AAC P w ill the controversial energy concern. These workshops featured panelists, each recognized as an expert in one o f the represented fields, who were to present the facts o f each issue and interpretations as to the impact o f these issues would have on Black America. by Gregory Gudger A p p o in t m e n t N e e d e d CartMa • FUlinp« Sodium Pentothd FOR SLEEP DURING E x tr a c tio n s <t F illin g s ★ Registered Anesthetist in Attendance 1525 N f WEIDLER PORTLAND OREGON 47232 TELEPHONE (501)288-8141 Alabama delegates cast their votes. what happens. “ A lot o f people are ready to get involved with some sort o f positive program,” Hicks explained. “ That suggests to me that there are lot o f people out there with skills but need to be informed . . . and directly by the agency," he said, adding, “ This is where our task lies.” Representatives o f the local chap ter and national office agree that more young people need to be brought into the fold, to carry on the chance to take some o f her staff to hear EEOC Chairperson Norton “ to get that push, that drive you need to stay in and fig h t,” adding. “ We Blacks still have to spend most of our time fighting racism.” Convention attendance figures for Blacks don't clearly reflect the in terest generated by the convention. For some, earning the daily bread took precedence but, according to vice president Lucious H icks, "M a n y people are waiting to see NEW ENERGY-SAVING WASHER portant priorities for the NAACP; the completion o f the struggle for e q uality at home and the spearheading o f a new American morality abroad.” $30LESS GREYHOUND RACING IS FUN... YO U C A N B E T O N IT ! TO N IG H T AT than any other Large-tub M aytag! EXTEA-LARGE CAPACITY Deoondobie hea*y duty comtrut bon AH fabric cycle wWcbom So ergy-towing o pe ra tion quod coof softener »»eel Long life cabinet ditponter Fabric Tough poly pump Underwater lint filter basket ASK FOR SMITH'S FKICl M sytsf WASHERS tram Maytag DRYERS tram «318- *238 ~ Luxurious Dining on 4th floor Club Skyview Air Conditioned Buffet Dining on 3rd floor Fairview Terrace Post time 7 30 p m Monday thru Saturday For information and reservations ___________ call 665 2191 Sorry no Sunday racing and no children _______________ under 12 At Fairview Park NE 223rd and Halsey St east out Freeway Bantield ____________ (I 80N) M ULTNOM AH KENNELCLUB (Stock N o 14-001. not thown) r (Stock N o 15-001, not »hown) , M erle« WRINCER WASNIRS le Sleek _ M A Y TA G ■ a a a a M w *w F i MAYTAG Big Load Dryers Power M odule ' Dishwashers;? mor» capocHy • T « ' “ ’ " ''- low-temp. H i m i w i I - W diving . M u lli-iy d * »Mietetti roentv M»«nx e Efficient drum »we • Unique air-ride drying »y*t«m SHOP Ooetei Repairs COME TODAY IEN O W S MVTWM RIPAUS • In M e t t C e tet M 0U> OWN SINT Al IAM M ATM T w e g iv e y o u m o r e agi 1 te 3 M e e n FOR B R AN DS you k « « - VARIETIES you lik e SIXES wont Phone — 227-2427 a Dt-KewM • • • • • • ' i I R 4 1 1 i . l . M il w a u k ie S S th A la « « S a m « i4 e 1 3 3 n d A N . l O b «an N L am b a rrf a t O ra e la y R a le ig h M ill« b la « a 1 0 3 rid • * 1 I • oat <>»•*• 4 wt'H) Self cteonmg porcelain enamel wo»h Sale Priced! FAST LtertM« Ml MAYTAG Woods advocates pressure (Continued from page 1 Column 6, York and Washington are given large budgets to represent South Africa as a stable, anti-communist, western ally that only needs “ time” to solve its “ complex problems.” Time? The present Nationalist government has been in power since 1948 and during that time, apartheid has grown worse, not better. In that same thirty years, it has enacted over 300 statutes for the sole purpose o f dividing the people according to race instead o f uniting the people into one nation. “ Every anti-B lack measure in South Africa is an insult to every Black man in the world. “ And it calls fo r the condem nation o f every white man in the world because it is done in the name o f white interests. “ As I see it, the only legitimate peaceful American reaction to apar theid should be severe economic and d ip lo m a tic pressure through divestitute, cessation o f loan. And next time the U.N. Security Council considers m andatory sanctions against South Africa, let it not be the action o f Jefferson, Lincoln and M artin Luther King that protects apartheid with a veto." in closing. Woods said that unless the Vorster government is severely pressured into negotiating with Black leaders instead o f jailing, murdering and banning them, there w ill be a ghastly racial war within a few years and this would definitely affect race relations the world over. The U.S., as leader of the ‘ Free W orld’ should take the lead in heading o ff this potential disaster. “ So there, as I see it, are two im 3 Great Values! • • e • • I A t* J J rU » tb 3 3 rd Lab» R«ag S R » .I M am ao n A N . l . N an<a<k A t I . I N * * «4e n A W a tt U m t lt i a O «»« . >r* t« •«’ •*- 3 MITHS h o m e fu r n is h in g s EASY TERRS 30m and S.E. Division 234-9351 Shop 9 to 9 Tuesday thru Friday Saturday 9 to 6 (Closed Sunday and Monday)
