Mrs Fra n ces Schoen-Newspaper Room
U n iv e r s it y o f Oregon L ib r a r y
Lugene, Oregon 97403
Discrimination found
PORTLAND
Black wins Fred Meyer complaint
OBSERVER
V o lu m e 8 N o . 30 T h u rad u y, J u ly » . 1 8 7 8 j1 0 c p *tc o p y ___________________
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Dana E. Hayes, who worked for
Fred Meyer, Inc. as a 16-year-old
youth, has been ewarded $4,000 for
“ h u m ilia tio n , rid icu le , and em-
barassment s u ffe re d ," by the
Oregon Bureau of Labor.
Investigating Hayes' complaint of
racial discrimination, the Bureau of
Labor found that Fred Meyer, Inc.
failed to maintain a “ racially neutral
environment” as required by Oregon
law and thereby fostered the “ racial
abuse and harassment directed
against Hayes by two supervisory
personnel.” The company was also
ordered to pay $388.00 in back pay,
to post the order for 120 days and to
provide every employee with a copy
o f the order.
Complimenting Hayes for having
the courage to File a discrimination
com plaint at the age o f sixteen,
Labor Commissioner Bill Stevenson
said, "T h a t a young person should
encounter such a racially hostile en
vironment in his initial venture into
the world o f work is outrageous.
Those individuals who Dana Hayes
looked to for leadership and guidance
became his tormentors. In circum
stances such as these an award for
hum iliation and mental distress is
not only appropriate, but fu lly
within the intent o f Oregon law.”
The case goes back to 1972 when
Hayes worked for Fred Meyer as a
"stockboy” for two short periods.
After being tormented the first time
he was reinstated through his union
representative.
Terminated again, he filed a civil
rights com plaint charging “ con
tinued racial harassment and
abuse.” When Fred Meyer, Inc.
refused to concilliate the case, a
hearing was held.
Findings by the Bureau o f Labor
include: W hile employed at the
D ivision Street store, Hayes was
treated differently from the white
stockboys, and his supervisor, Mr.
Fetters “ acted with the intent to
discriminate against the complainant
because of his race and color.” Fet
ters several times asked Hayes if he
was a member of the Black Panthers,
and asked why he (a Black) lived in a
suburban neighborhood and attend
ed a suburban high school.
Another supervisor, M r. Bonk,
asked if he liked Cadillacs with white
sidewall tires and upholstery; in the
presence o f other employees and
customers told Hayes "Black Sam
bo” jokes and asked if he liked Sam
bo’s food preferences and if he was
lazy like Sambo; compared paint
color to Hayes’ skin color and asked
i f colors excited him. M r. Bonk
walked in an exaggerated manner
and called Hayes “ Shaft” , Moham
mad” and “ Uncle Tom” . Bonk also
commented on Hayes hair several
times and tried to touch it.
On one occasion, Bonk entered a
room where a white woman, married
to a Black man was and asked,
"H ow do you kill a nigger?” (accord
ing to Hayes’ testimony) or “ How
do you beat a nigger?” (according to
Mrs. Butler’s testimony).
The Labor Bureau found that Fet
ters was aware o f the treatment given
Hayes by Bonk and observed some
o f the incidents. The findings state,
“ I find that virtually every contact
that the complainant had with Mr.
Bonk, one o f his supervisors,
amounted to an exposure to M r.
Bonk’s pointless racial inquiries, or
racial "h u m o r” and that the distress,
humiliation and embarassment this
exposure caused complainant ad
versely affected his work p e rfo r
mance.”
During the period M r. West, the
assistant variety manager, became
aware o f the harassment and ad
vised Bonk to stop but took no steps
to stop him and did not report to his
supervisors.
Hayes was then terminated by the
manager, M r. Bowman, who said
fifty percent o f his decision was
based on the evaluation o f the other
three supervisors.
Hayes was reinstated through his
union and transferred to another
store where he stayed about a month
before being terminated and return
ing to school.
Oakland school* seek academic excellence
Portland Observer staff members, Al Williams, Debbie
Mishler, and Helen Hendrix, discuss awards received this
week from the Oregon Newspaper Publisher's Association
end the Greater Northeast Police Precinct Council for
community service.
Observer wins service awards
Good things come in twos. The
Observer won two awards this week
— for Community Leadership and
Journalism Excellence.
The Observer took third place in
the Oregon Newspaper Publisher’ s
A ssociations' Better Newspaper
awards in the Community Leader
ship category based on reporting o f
the Newman Plan/School desegre
gation issue. The judges said,
"H ere is an example o f a newspaper
uniting a community toward a d if
fic u lt goal, and winning a large
measure o f success. A special feature
o f excellence is that the newspaper is
best serving its readership com
munity, those who depend on the
paper for information and opinions .
, . and leadership."
Taking firs t place in the large
weekly category (over 2,700 c ir
culation) was the Beaverton Valley
Times for its successful e ffort to
raise community funds for twelve
railroad crossing protection drives.
W illam ette Week won second
place for its investigation o f OLCC;
the Springfield News also placed
third fo r initiating a successful bond
drive for a Senior Citizen Center.
Winners fo r daily papers were:
Oregon C ity Enterprise C ourier,
Eugene Register Guard, and Salem
Statesman/Journal. Small weekly
winners were: Monmouth Polk Sun,
Creswell C hronical and Heppner
Gazeth-Times. Judges were members
o f the Nebraska Press Association.
The Observer was honored fo r
“ Journalism Excellence" by the
Greater Northeast Police Precinct
C ouncil fo r service to the com
munity, reporting on matters o f con
cern to the Precinct Council and
reporting on the Outsider/Brothers
Free motorcycle club conflict. The
Precinct Council, made up o f com
munity members and representatives
o f neighborhood associations, ad
vises the Police Bureau and serves as
an advocate for the community.
Also receiving an award from the
Precinct Council was Nick Barnett,
executive
d ire c to r
of
the
M e tro p o lita n H um an R elations
Commission.
The awards were presented by
Council president Bob Phillips.
Alumni honor Grey Panther leader
Ruth Haefner was honored by the
U niversity o f Iow a w ith the
"Distinguished Alumni Achievement
Award.” Ms. Haefner was a 1918
graduate, with a degree in home
economics.
Ms. Haefner has been co-convener
o f the Oregon Gray Panthers since
1973 and constantly attends meetings
and workshops to discuss the
problems o f the aged.
Ms. Haefner joined the NAACP,
Portland Branch in 1938 and became
a Life Member in 1958. For many
years she was at nearly every com
m unity meeting displaying books
and distributing literature on Civil
Rights and related subjects.
She is currently a member o f the
Western Gerontology Society, the
League o f Women Voters, the
American Association o f University
Women, and the Women’ s Inter
national League fo r Peace and
Freedom.
Speaking to the alumni luncheon
when she received the award, Ms.
Haefner said:
" I have had the most creative and
jo yfu l life since I have been 80 years
old. I was the average senior citizen,
participating in the programs o f the
community, such as the League o f
Women Voters, the Am erican
Association o f University Women,
the National Association for the Ad
vancement o f Colored People, and
the Social Action Program o f Church
Women United and purposefully
avoiding all Senior Citizen Groups.
"F o u r years ago next December,
Maggie Kuhn visited Portland and 1
became a Gray Panther. Nothing is
as stimulating as the Gray Panthers.
It taps sources o f energy we did not
know existed and develops latent
talents. It seems to create energy. It
even overcomes the horror stories of
the nursing homes. The opportunity
for reform, the curbing o f the usurp
ed authority o f the Bureaucrats,
housing, transportatio n, medical
F ig h tin g to keep its program
together after the Proposition 13 tax
cuts, Ruth Love, superintendent o f
the O akland Public Schools, is
determined that teaching staff w ill
not be cut. " I have had to lay o ff 45
administrators and eliminate suppor
tive programs, but we w ill not cut the
teaching staff,” Ms. Love told the
Observer.
Visiting Portland for the NAACP
Convention she said teachers are the
most im p o rta n t com ponent o f
education. " I am not discounting the
influence o f the home and the en
vironm ent; the home and school
must work together, but most impor
tant is the teacher.” A fter ten years
o f declining achievement scores,
Oakland has reversed the trend and
this years’ scores showed a decided
improvement.
Although many Black educators
fear that competencies w ill be used to
force out Black students, Ms. Love
has fo und competencies useful.
"Competencies, to be valuable, must
be directly related to teaching. Our
compentency standards measure the
teacher as well as the student. I f a
teacher is not doing the job I know
The B o lea/H u m b o ld t N eig h
borhood Clean-up w ill be held
Seturdey, July 22nd. Refuse cen
be taken to Unthank Park, Boise
School, Albertson's, More 4 Less
and Jefferson High School be
tween 8:00 a.m . and 6:00 p.m. for
free pick-up.
A “ N eighborhood Enhance
ment Party" will be held at Un
thank Perk at 4:00 p.m. with bands,
refreshments and Commissioner
Chartee Jordan.
A real community effort, the
public Is urged to participate.
it, and I hold the building principal
responsible.”
As fo r the current trend o f
blaming lack o f learning on "learn
ing disabilities” Ms. Love believes
nearly a ll children w ill learn i f
properly taught. A very small per
centage of children have emotional
or physical problems severe enough
to keep them from learning and most
classroom teachers could not even
recognize
true
“ learning
disabilities.” We cannot allow the
child who fo r some reason isn’ t
taught to be labeled with "learning
disability” as an excuse not to devise
better teaching methods,” she ex
plained.
Oakland has several alternative
schools, which are enjoying great
success. One school centers its
educational program around the arts;
another, uses a “ contract be
tween teacher, student and parent.
Ms. Love is interested in bringing
business into closer contact w ith
schools — perhaps having a business
“ adopt” a school or provide special
programs.
Oakland has strong citizen par
ticipation in programs, each school
having an advisory council to plan
for that school. The School Board
has several advisory committees, in
cluding a budget committee. These
committees are involved in designing
programs, writing the budget, and
taking real responsibilities. Ms. Love
feels that bringing citizens into the
planning process provides com
munity support for the schools.
A lth o u g h many policies are
presented to the Board by the
Superintendent, "T he Board is no
rubber stamp. They are extremely ac
tive and represent a diversity o f
opinion. They ordinarily w ill make
changes in policies before they
finally are passed." Ms. Love ap
preciates the differences o f opinion
on the Board, which she believes
makes a stronger district once a
decision can be reached, as well as
pro vid in g a broad spectrum o f
educational philosophies.
W ith an 83 percent m in o rity
enrollment, Oakland schools have no
desegregation program and this has
never been an issue. “ This is
something I would like to begin to
study this year, since I believe in in
tegrated education.” W ith only 17
percent white, the plan will call for
ingenuity to desegregate without un
do hardship on the white students —
reverse o f most desegregation plans.
One extra bonus the Oakland
students have had is a Black Mayor.
Mayor Lionel Wilson visits the students
regularly, as do other Black elected
o fficia ls. “ It really helps Black
children to see the Mayor o f their
city _ who is Black — and to know
that there can be some benefits to
academic achievement. Black role
models are extremely important to
our children.”
Federal funds
threatened
The Portland Public Schools have
been found in non-compliance with
regulations governing teaching o f
children whose language is other
than English. The Office o f C ivil
Rights found that the district has not
id e n tifie d a ll children needing
bilingual educationa and that course
offerings are not adequate.
Failure to make necessary correc
tions w ould threaten $45,000 in
federal Title V II funds. Last year the
district was also threatened with loss
of tunds when it was found in non-
compliance
because
of
discrimination against Black stud
ents in discipline.
Brazil host* 1978 Afro-American festival
Ma. Ruth Haefner shows award from her alms mater, the University of Iowa,
given for distinguished achievement.
services, flexible retirem ent, and
adequate income. The anticipation
o f the success o f these projects brings
us great joy. I like the word JOY. We
should have more o f it. The
association o f many like-minded
people — on the same wave length —
is a great experience.
“ M y life has been enriched
because o f the opportunity I have
had fro m my aslociations w ith
people o f many cultures. I have
gained many staunch friendships
from my life membership in the
National Association for the Advance
ment o f Colored People.”
The idea o f a new world festival is
not new. Many noble attempts have
been made and the periodic Carifesta
is now well-established. W hile
working as a member o f the U.S.
Z onal C om m ittee fo r FESTAC ,
Professor Richard Long o f Atlanta
University conceived o f the idea o f
h o lding
frequent
B i-N a tio n a l
Festivals which w ould bring the
boundless c re a tiv ity o f A fro -
Americans into direct contact with
the achievements o f their brethren in
the various sectors o f the western
hemisphere.
Hence, the F irst New W o rld
Festival o f the African Diaspora is
now scheduled to take place in
B ra zil. W ith the aid o f a
distinguished advisory committee
and utilizing its own experience and
resources, the Center for African
and African-Am erican Studies —
which has had ten years o f
program m ing experience — w ill
select and present in Brazil outstand
ing
individua ls
and
groups
representative o f the c u ltu ra l
achievement o f Black Am erica.
Counterpart Afro-Brazilian groups
and individuals w ill be featured as an
integral part o f the festival.
The occasion o f the festival w ill
make it possible for many persons to
visit Brazil economically and under
excellent conditions. In addition to
attending the festival a ctivitie s,
visitors w ill have the glorious oppor
tunity to come to know the Legen
dary City — Salvador da Bahia —
with its deep African accents as well
as the fabled Rio de Janeiro, one o f
the w o rld ’ s most b rillia n t and
beautiful cities.
A ccording to R ichard Long,
African Diaspora Forum: “ The pur
pose o f the Forum is to permit fru it
ful academic and cultural contact
between Am erican scholars and
professionals and their Brazilian
counterparts, as well as to provide an
opportunity for Americans to under
take professionally useful activities
during the Festival.” While each sec
tion o f the Forum w ill determine its
own program, activities w ill nor
mally include lectures, visits, and in
terviews.
A variety o f topics w ill be treated
by B razilian and U.S. experts.
Topics include: A fro -A m e ric a n
origins; Afro-Am erican and A fro -
Brazilian art, literature, and music;
folk traditions, theatre, and history.
Lecturers include: Maya Angelou,
Romare
Bearden,
M argaret
Burroughs, Ben F. Carruthers, John
Henrik Clark, Eugenia Collier, Hoyt
Fuller, Johnson Hubert, Helen A.
Johnson, J. Fletcher R obinson,
Eleanor Taylor, James Turner, and
Wendell Whalum, Ivan Dixon, and
the p rogram ’ s co o rd in a to r, D r.
Richard Long.
The Festival w ill open officially in
Salvado da Bahia on August 7th and
continue for five days. On Saturday,
August 12th, transfers to Rio de
Janeiro w ill be made. The Festival
w ill resume on August 13th, and con
tinue to August 17th.
Plans are under way locally to
arrange a special tour for fifteen per
sons to attend the Festival. For fu r
ther inform ation, call O.B. H ill,
Portland Coordinator at 221-0537.
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