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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 1978)
Pace 6 Portland Observer Thursday. October 19. 1978 The Metcalf legacy: A personal rememberance by Rep. John Conyers public service, starting as director o f Chicago's Department o f Civil Rights, and later as a leading figure on the City Council. In 1969 he became the council's president pro tetapore, and a year later won the Cook County Democratic Party's nomination for, and election to, Congress. Inescapably, in every public figure's life the question arises: what did he or she stand for? What did he or she leave behind? It would have been entirely appropriate and adequate if Ralph Metcalfe's legacy revolved solely around his athletic accomplishments and community service. To an extent, o f course, it docs. But to the millions whom he represented, he will be remembered and revered for something more than even his physical courage. He w ill be remembered most for his political courage, following in a great tradition o f struggle in behalf o f equality and justice set a half-century earlier in Chicago by Debs and Darrow. During the early 1970s the City o f Chicago was overrun by police brutality. No one in the highest reaches o f the political establishment addressed the issue. There was uniform and unanimous silence at City Hall. A t first, Ralph Metcalfe sought to bring the issue before the leadership. As a reasonable man, his first course o f action was an attempt to solve the police problem from Ralph Metcalfe was a good and honorable man who served the citizens o f Chicago and the nation with distinction, eighteen years as a Chicago Committeeman and Aider- man and eight years as Member of Congress from Illinois' First District. He leaves behind him a legacy o f supreme courage, both physical and political, which millions o f citizens w ill never forget. Ralph had two careers which rein forced and strengthened one another. In the first part o f his adult life he won fame as a great athlete, a national intercollegiate champion in sprinting during the early 1930s, a silver and bronze medal winnet at the 1932 World Olympics in Los Angeles, and at the Berlin Olympics in 1936 a gold medal winner in the 400-meter relay and silver medal winner in the 100-meter, finishing second to the legendary Jesse Owens. Following upon his military service in World War II, he devoted himself to the advancement o f Black Americans and to the education and physical development o f youth. To this end he created the Ralph H. Metcalfe Youth Foundation, which has supported over the years numerous athletic, educational and cultural programs. He was a source o f inspiration to millions o f young people. Ralph devoted his second career to within. He could not, however, elicit a response. As more and more citizens became victimized by police behavior, Ralph concluded he could no longer work effectively within the leadership and the party. His in tegrity demanded that he speak out as forcefully as he could on the issue that most affected the citizens whom he represented. The political establishment, that once favored him, turned against him in full fury. For a long time Ralph Metcalfe stood alone against the most power ful political machine in the nation. Every attempt was made to silence him, but he persevered in his convic tion and his courage. He won re- election in the subsequent years, but he had paid a considerable price. His health suffered. Life-long friend ships were disrupted. He was made the object o f constant attack. Never theless. he went on to serve in Congress with great dedication and effectiveness. He was a leader in the Fields o f consumer protection and health care. Against great odds, Ralph had summoned up the same courage that earlier had won him the admiration o f the world for his athletic achievements. In the end, Ralph stood his ground, a moderate and reasonable man up against an immoderate and unreasonable political system. His stand in Chicago was his finest hour, for which he w ill always be remembered. Jr A Orlando Ramon Colbert celebrates his fourth birthday at Farrels He is the son of Carolyn and Al Williams. Task Force proposes State Bank The 'Interim Task Force on Housing Costs' wrapped up its find ings on ways to reduce the cost o f housing. Unanimously approved was the recommendation: “ That the 60th Legislative Assem bly (the 1979 Legislature) further study the creation o f a 'state home loan bank', including the in vestigation o f the experience o f similar types of financial institutions in other states.” State Representative Wally Priest ley, D-Portland, pushed support for the state bank idea said, " I t would operate much the same as loans now made by the State Depart ment o f Veterans Affairs which now make home loans at 5.9% but would be available to all home buyers in Oregon rather than just to veterans. W ith 10% home loans now being made by private banks this 4% plus savings would amount to over $100* savings per month to home buyers and offer the chance at home pur chase to families now having their loans denied. Only the State of North Dakota has such a bank and it has served the people well since it was established in 1919.” Priestley said he would like to organize a ‘ citizens’ army' to support this proposal at the legislative session beginning in January. “ W e'll need an army o f faithful citizen believers to chase the 'money changers' from the Capitol Building.” Priestley credited State Represen tative George Starr, D-Portland #17, with this positive solution to rising costs of home ownership and the 'Commander-in-Chief in an expect ed fight with private banking in terests. Buy a Certificate of Deposit at American State Bank and W e ll Give You This Color TV: • With a loan balance o f $30,000 a 4»?o interest savings equals $1,200 per year or SI00 per month. 19" Magnavox solid state color TV Sooth Africa! fish (Continued from Page 1 Column 6) words o f the runaway, white editor, Donald Woods, ‘ ‘The fact is, whether it's Krugerrands (gold coins) or share, every dollar invested in South Africa provides tax revenues to the (South African) government, which buys planes, tanks guns; and it is only through force that the (South African) government can repress the Black m ajority.” (Oregon Times. July 1978.) More and more Blacks in America are aware o f the race war raging in South Africa today. The impact o f “ Roots” and daily reports o f Black people being slaughtered by whites, have been heavy on the minds of the descendents of enslaved African people. Now, these Afro-Americans are willing to act against “ the Brotherhood” o f in ternational racist thugs, by at least educating their Black communities. Boycotting and picketing Safeway is continuing in Seattle, but when Portlanders asked a threatened Safeway management to remove the produce, on October 3rd, it was reportedly o ff the shelves o f all Port land stores within twenty-four hours. A1 Neish, public relations assistant for Safeway Inc. in Portland, stated on Wednesday, October 4th, that 355 cartons of the frozen fish (priced at $1.36 each) were removed. Neish said he didn’ t know how much o f the food was sold, but added that the fish was o f “ . . . poor quality, because it comes from warm waters and that’s just not good fish.” Neish indicated that “ Fairest Cape” whiting was used to complete an or der for a Safeway brand product not in stock. The demand, however, is for: 1. The removal o f the products of South Africa from the shelves of Safeways across the nation. 2. A public apology through the media it uses to advertise, and; 3. Encouragement o f all U.S. businesses to stop their economic support o f South Africa and end their racist, underworld “ Brotherhood“ , according to the Seattle spokesman, Omari Tahir Locally, these demands are fully supported and urged by us,” in the words o f Fungai Kumbula, student at Portland State Univer sity. More questions remain, however, for the Safeway corporation to an swer: 1. I f the objections o f Black patrons in Seattle were known, why didn't Portland’ s management act first and remove that product volun tarily? 2. How widespread is this “ sub stitution” o f inferior food in our communities? Why? 3. How much death (profits) have white supremacists in South Africa made from uninformed Americans o f good conscience? 4. Can the New York distributor (“ Specialty Seafoods L td .” ) of South African fish be found guilty o f a human rights violation for pushing other death food? 5. How long has this been going on? “ More research is needed on this carefully managed economic support o f ruthlessly brutal and racist government. Because South Africa is condemned by every civilized nation o f the world, continued U.S. economic support through American corporate investments and sale o f diamonds, gold, and, yes, FISH, is a continuation o f white supremacist practices. The Black people get pen nies a day for the millions they provide the white racists from gold mines stolen from African people. We are asking for the help o f people who seek social justice to act now, to monitor this one identifiable affront to Black people everywhere,” said Kumbula. “ We need to know more about the Safeway corporate struc ture, monitor the products sold by Safeway and other corporations, and we must be prepared to boycott or shift our buying habits, to slap the face o f arrogant white supremacy that strangles our people on bad food here and maintains slave labor in Africa A fter ‘ Roots’ there is no excuse.” It seems that the South African war is going to come home to America also. (17' color set also available) Buy a certificate of Deposit at American State Bank and receive a brand new Magnavox color set as your prepaid interest It s like gettino Instant Interest Pertetf lor any room, these 100% solid state Magnavox color sets are built of durable high-impact plastic with a beautiful walnut grain finish. 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