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
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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.
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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
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NNPA 1973
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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
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