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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 1978)
Page 2 Portland Obaervar Thursday. August 31, 1978 School Board challenged W e see the world The Athletic Syndrome: A Black Z»v H erb L. through Black eyes Racism revealed "No one speaks for Blacks" is a statement that has been used to attempt to diminish the effects of the white selected "Black leader." It is an at tempt to say — “ that person whom you have chosen as our 'leader' doesn't speak for all of us." "No one speaks for Blacks" now is being used to negate the efforts of any Black interest group. No matter what the concerns, the attempt will be made to negate the effect by questioning the right of the group to speak for all Blacks. A recent Oregon Journal article on the School Board's process of selecting a new member questioned the legitimacy of the "Committee for Responsive Leadership" by advising the reader that no one speaks for Blacks. The racist im plications of this statement might be overlooked in the rhetoric of the article, but they nevertheless are there. The Committee for Responsive Leadership has never implied that it speaks for all Black people. The committee is a broadly based group that is deeply concerned about the education of children. It has chosen to speak to two major defects on the School Board's selection process — the shot-gun procedure which made the selec tion process closed to the public, and the pre selection of a preferred candidate. Having the constitutional right to and the moral need to organize and protest injustice, the inter-racial committee has made its concerns known to the School Board and the public. Contrary to the statement in a related Journal article, Darreli Millner is not the "candidate of a Black group." Dr. Millner is his own man capable of making his own decisions. Because he is a per son with the special qualities needed on the School Board, and because he is available and responsive to the public, the Committee for Responsive Leadership endorsed his candidacy. It is strange that when the Portland Association of Teachers or a labor union endorses a candidate for office, the candidate does not Block vs White history repeats from the Atlanta Inquirer Just when we were beginning to think the South's most notorious hate group had faded in to oblivion, there come reports of Ku Klux Kian (KKK) activity in several U.S. cities. And just when we were beginning to think Black people and white people were finally learning to live together peacefully, there come reports of demonstrations and counter-demonstrations in volving racial issues. Ironically, Representative David Scott, speaking at the Elks' national convention here this week, used as his theme the idea that "Black people and white people need each other more now than ever before." The young legislator pointed out the many instances in history when Blacks and whites united in a common cause, and told the audience, "Only together, Black and white, can we make it, have we made it, and will we make it in the future." The message by Representative Scott was as timely as the "racial uprisings" are untimely. Not that these uprisings are just beginning. The recent Black demonstrations, for example, ac- tualy started in Tupelo, Mississippi last February suddenly become their candidate. Only when the organization is Black does it become an unimpor tant "fringe group" that does not need to be heard. Only when he is Black is a candidate labeled for being supported by a citizen group. The negative publicity and the complete lack of concern exhibited by the white press point out the real need to have a strong and independent person placed on the School Board — one who can see beyond the racism and deal with the serious educational problems of the District. Proposal no good It's time to take another approach to the discussion o f the problems in volved in the competitive athletic system. It’s time to take a look at the athletic syndrome from a Black per spective. In the Black community, athletic ability is highly valued. It is a bench mark o f the individual and, often, the ticket that gets one into a right relationship with his peers. The silky smooth athlete is respected for his co n tro l and cleverness in com petition. He is respected, also, for his economic potential. It has been the case for many years that a Black in dividual could make his mark on the world through athletics, when the doors were tig h tly shut in most everything else. The School Board is again considering a But there are destructive aspects of "minority business enterprise" policy. The only the athletic syndrome which are problem is that in this policy the definition of cultivated in the minds o f many minority business enterprise is any business young Black children. In spite o f the grand benefits which come to some, I whose management is fifty percent minority or cannot help but focus my thoughts whose skilled workers and craftsmen are ap on the destructive elements which proximately six percent minority. This definition plague many. was not acceptable a year ago and is not accept Parents, teachers and students are able now. In the words of School District Attor encouraged to place athletic ability in ney Mark McClanahan it speaks to employees, high priority. The entire community not to ownership. Perhaps some Board members actively demands the entertainment need to return to school and learn w hat o f athletic events. Against the racist stereotypes that characterize Blacks "business enterprise" means. as intellectually inferior, many in the The basic difference in this plan and the one of community and in education tend to fered last year is that this year it is proposed by encourage and cultivate the physical School Board member Gladys McCoy. The last abilities of the Black student all the one was offered by Dr. Howard Kleiner and staff. more — as if other areas of concen The Board has only two real options: 1) change the definition of Minority Business Enterprise to that used by the federal government, the State of Oregon, and others — fifty percent or more E arlier this m onth, a United minority o w n ersh ip ; or, 2, reject the entire Nations "transition’ ’ team arrived at policy and require contractors to adhere to the Windhoek Airport, to the cheers o f U.S. Labor Bureau requirements for employment some 10,000 demonstrators. The team is to take a "lo o k, see” tour of in construction. Unless the Board can adopt a real Minority the disputed territory in preparation for elections to be held within the Business Enterprise program — one dealing with next few weeks to end sixty years of businesses owned by minorities — it had better illegal South A frican occupation. put it off for another year when perhaps a new The demonstration included sup Board can do the job. There is no use going porters o f such diverse groups as SWAPO (Southwest African Peoples through with this farce. — o f opportunity in every sphere o f American life, the Black child must be prepared to the greatest extent possible. Black athletes must be as thnrough ly challenged in the classroom and the tutorial session as they are on the practice field. Parents and teachers must fight their way up stream against the strong currents of the athletic establishment. When there is a conflict between academics and athletics, the school ad m in istra tio n and the com m unity should support the teacher’ s judgement, in spite o f the irate reac tions of some parents or the disgrunt- ed frustration of some fans. When the athlete is not willing to put forth the effort to master the skills and gain the knowledge he will need in the w orld o f affa irs, he should not be allowed to play. Where there is the slightest h in t that teachers are having d iffic u lty m otivating the Black athlete, he should be benched. He should not play in the big game until he has completed his grammar. He should not practice his dribble until he has practiced his mathematics. Then we can say the Black athlete has been educated in the truest sense. He has a keen awareness o f the beauty and form o f the body. But, equally im portant, he has a keen awareness o f the beauty o f the human mind — as well as the skill a and i t u t confidence m i i i u c i i t c t u to use 1 it. I. UN considers sending troops to Namibia when Blacks began demanding the firing of two white policemen accused of beating a Black prisoner. The officers had been fined, were sub sequently demoted, and eventually resigned, but Blacks, led by an organization called the United League of Mississippi, a civil rights group, started boycotting downtown business last March. Un fortunately, that was only the beginning. A fter the Blacks started weekly protest demonstrations, the Kian countered with regular meetings and cross burnings; and the two groups eventually became involved in confrontations which led to numerous arrests. The whole scene sounds like something out of the past, but as recently as this month, the Ku Klux Kian and the White Citizens Committee, complete with Con federate flags, were very much in evidence in places like Okolona, Mississippi; in Decatur, Alabama; and in Oxnard, California. Sadly, while Representative Scott is pointing up the need for Black people and white people to unite in order to achieve mutual goals and to benefit the total community, there are heavy traces of discontentment and hatred around the country, two factors that historically have been stumbling blocks on the road to justice, peace and progress for all. PORTLAND OBSERVER Published every Thursday by Exit Publishing Company, 2201 North Killtngsworlh, Portland. Oregon »7217. Mailing address: P.O Box 3137, Portland. Oregon »7208 Telephone 283 2486 Subscriptions: $7.50 per year in the Tri-County area, $8.00 per year outside Portland. Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon The Portland Observer's official position is expressed only in its Publisher s column (W e See The World Through Black Eyes) Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion o f the individual writer or submitter and does not necessarily reflect the opinion ol the Portland Observer. National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc New York MiAABtR Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Cawthorne tration would likely prove unproduc tive. One finds educators and parents who are willing to foster the Black student's athletic skills, while paying less attention to the child's learning o f communication skills, science or history. The Black athletes gain the poorest education o f any student in the educational system. They are pam pered and allowed to slide through. Some o f their teachers appear to be most involved in their athletic ability; they are least involved in their growth as intelligent, unique human beings. The narrow preparation o f the Black athlete is shameful, because the world the Black individual must face is a cruel world that aims at forcing him in to a posture o f nothingness and non-achievement. In today’s society, the Black in dividual is still "the last hired and the firs t fir e d .’ ’ Unem ploym ent among Blacks is twice the national average. The median income o f whites is 36 percent higher than that o f Blacks. Only 16 percent o f the na tio n 's Black popula tion make between $10,000 and $15,000 per year, while 28 percent o f the white population falls into this category. On the other end o f the scale, however, 20 percent o f the Black population make less than $3,000 per year, compared to only eight percent o f the white population. in order to be in a position to demand equality and take advantage » w — ___________________ Organization), the moderate Turn- halle Democratic Alliance and even pro-South African whites. Namibia, a semi desert area, larger than C a lifo rn ia but w ith a population o f less than a million, ninty percent of whom are Black, has had a long and torturous history. During the notorious Partition o f Africa, it had the misfortune, along with Tanzania, to be colonized by the Germans. A fte r Germ any’ s defeat in World War 1, the League of Nations, forerunner o f the United N ations, took over control o f Namibia. Somebody in the League o f Nations had the bright idea to hand Namibia over to South A frica to administer as a trust territory of the League o f Nations. Shortly after this, the League disbanded, to be replaced by the United Nations, without resolving the question of Namibia. In 1966, the UN voted to rescind South A fr ic a ’ s mandate over Namibia and demanded that the te rrito ry be granted self deter mination. South Africa ignored the vote and has continued to administer the territory illegally. Even World Court decisions could not dislodge South Africa because they were not 1st Place Community Service ONPA 1S73 1st Place Best Ad Results ONPA 1973 Sth Place Best Editorial NNPA 1973 Honorable Mention Herrick Editorial Award NNA 1973 2nd Placa Best Editorial 3rd Place Community Leadership ONPA 1976 3rd Place Community Leadership ONPA 1978 by N. Funyai Kumbuta backed by m ilitary muscle. The UN has continued to negotiate w ith both South A fric a and SWAPG, who by now had initiated a low-level guerilla campaign. The vic tories o f the M PLA in Angola and FREELIMO in Mozambique in 1975 and the mounting successes o f the liberation movements in Zimbabwe gave a lot of impetus a lot o f heart to SWAPO to continue and escalate it’s campaign and over the past few years, there have been some notable successes. An independent Angola laso supplied badly needed bases. Apparently, on July 27th, the UN negotiating team made up o f the U.S., Britain, France, Canada and West Germany managed to persuade South A fric a to accept i t ’ s plan which would lead to Namibia’s first popularly elected government by the end of this year. At the same time, also, the'Front line states comprising Angola, Zam bia, Tanzania, M ozam bique and Botswana managed to prevail on Sam Nujoma, President o f SWAPO. to accept the UN plan. This plan calls for a 5,000 man UN peace — keeping force to be stationed in Namibia to supervise elections in which all Namibians woufd be eligible to participate. Since South Africa is to maintain a force o f some 1,500 men during this time too, the UN force would also be ex pected to keep the South Africans and SWAPO guerillas apart. After a government has been elected, both UN forces and South African troops would be withdrawn. A problem had arisen as to where the South African troops would be located. South Africa wanted them stationed close to the sensitive SdííOl To the Editor: ALFRED L HENDERSON Editor/Publisher Perspective I am a long-term subscriber to the Portland Observer and I would like to offer a personal comment on a topic of obvious concern to the Black community these days. I refer to the controversy over the appointment o f a successor to Ms. McCoy on the School Board. To a bystander like myself, but a friend and professional colleague o f Evie Crowell, it seems that you might be overlooking a fine candidate in your discontent with a departing incum bent. O f all my friends, Evie comes forth as one o f the most actively con- $7.50 cerned citizens, and both tireless and courageous in pursuit o f worthy goals. I’ ve watched her stick by her ethical principles with remarkable tenacity under fire, and contrary to your editorial view, I think the mem bers o f the School Board would find her a very strong voice in their midst. She is deeply committed to the Port land Black community, and in the controversy over the candidates I hope her capacity for hard, com petent and effective work in your behalf will not be underestimated. Sincerely, Ruth Buckman Personnel Officer — Retired Multnomah County Library in Tri —C o u n ty A re a Angola border but SWAPO said: " N o W a y!" Apparently, they will now be stationed in southern Namibia, rather than in the north. Another problem that has not been solved though is the question of Walvis Bay, Namibia’s only deep sea harbor, and through which virtually all her trade passes. South Africa wants to slice Walvis Bay away from Namibia and retain it as part of South Africa. The idea is that, by controlling Walvis Bay, South Africa would have the new, independent Namibia by the neck. To this, o f course, SWAPO says “ N O !" and the UN seems to have compromised by accepting a South A fric a n proposal that the Walvis Bay issue be set aside until after the elections. Then the new government o f Namibia and South A frica alone would negotiate the future o f the Bay. SWAPO has objected, correctly arguing that Walvis Bay not only is an integral part of Numibia, but to let it go now would be to give it up forever because there is no way that South A frica would ever agree to give up such a powerful bargaining tool. As o f now, the Bay issue is still unresolved but all participants arc going ahead w ith the voter registration drive for the proposed elections. W ill it work? W ill we have an in dependent, Black m ajority govern ment in Namibia by December 31st? A breakthrough in Namibia is seen as a hopeful sign for a negotiated, peaceful settlement both in Zimbab we and in South Africa itself. The best answer to the above questions, as always in these issues, seems to be: "W e ’ ll sec.” Again, all the whole sub-continent hangs in suspended animation. To the Editor: I was pleased to see that the com munity is supporting a candidate for the School Board vacancy we can be proud of. D arrell M illn e r has achieved in a few years what many don’t do in a lifetime. M illn e r has a doctorate, is an educator — something the School Board badly needs. He is knowledgeable about the Black community as well as the broader Black community. He is respected by the older community people as well as by his peers. We badly need a Black male model for young people to emulate. $8.00 O th e r N am e PORTLAND OBSERVER A d d ress Portland. OR. 97208 City Associ*/»on - Founded IMS _