Page 2 Portland Observer Thursday November 30. 1978
We see the world
through Black eyes
The issue is racism
The C o m m u n ity C o a litio n fo r S ch o o l In
tegration has presented comprehensive recom
mendations for change in the Portland School
D istrict's policies to w a rd Black and m in o rity
s tu d e n ts . These in clu d e d e s e g re g a tio n ,
e d u c a tio n , te a ch e r tra in in g , d is c ip lin e , a d
ministration, etc.
Implicit in the findings and recommendations
— though not stated — is the fact that the cause
of segregation and all its resulting evils is racism.
The cause is not the housing — education —
employment cycle; fo r those also are the results
of racism.
The only way the School Board can deal w ith
these recom m endations in an in te llig e n t and
enlightened manner, and to honestly attem pt to
deal with all of their ramifications, is to accept the
premise that the decisions that have brought them
to this point in history have been made because
of racism.
It is an accepted fact that the history of this
nation has endow ed Am erican citizens w ith
racism that is an im portant part of our culture and
institutions. It is a true, but lesser known fact, that
throughout Oregon's history this institutional
racism has been carefully nourished.
The sch o o ls in P o rtla n d d id n o t becom e
segregated through chance. The real estate in
dustry — w ith the support of government and the
corporate decision makers — confined Portland's
Black population in to a designated area. The
School Boards — w ho are responsible for deter
mining school attendance boundaries — drew
those boundaries in a manner that put Black
children in one school and w h ite children in
another. Tw o schools (Eliot and Humboldt) were
built in the Black com m unity — over the protest
of Black people — and were segregated when
they opened. One of those, Humboldt, was built
after the 1954 Supreme Court Decision.
Black people have not remained silent, but
over a period of at least thirty years have con
s iste n tly p o in te d o u t the in e q u itie s — fir s t
segregation and the poor quality of education in
Albina schools, then the inequities and indignities
□f the "M odel Schools" program, the failure of
the "S c h o o ls fo r th e S e v e n tie s " plan to
desegregate the lower elementary grades, etc.
The Black C oalition b ro u g h t suit against the
School District in 1970 claiming discrimination in
discipline — a problem that continues today. In
th e la te 60 s and early 70's s tu d e n ts w e re
strug gling to have Black cu ltu re and h istory
taught in the high schools — a feat that still has
not beon accomplished and is all but forgotten.
School Board members have come and gone.
Superintendents and administrators have come
and go n e . Y e t th e D is tric ts ' basic ra c is t
demeanor tow ard the Black student remains in
tact.
The current School Board and Superintendent
must forget their own egos and cease their defen
sive stance. If they don 't w ant to shoulder the
blame fo r the Districts' past and current racism
they can blame it on history. But if they are to
deal w ith the serious problems that face this city
they w ill have to accept the facts and go from
there.
There is n o th in g radical in the C o a litio n 's
recommendations. School pairing is the oldest
and one o f th e m ost co m m o n p ra c tic e s in
desegregation. It has proven to be successful. But
research has found that the most vital ingredient
in a successful school desegregation/integration
program is a com m itted School Board.
NAACP election: Hicks
(Continued form page l col. 6)
they have activities to get involved
in, they have a sense o f accomplish
ment because they have various tasks
to achieve. Otherwise we find our
selves in a situation where we have
over 2,000 members on paper and far
less than ten percent in fu n ctio n .
This is undesirable and I think it can
he turned around.
Observer: W het should be the
role of the NAACP In Portland?
Namibia.
Several weeks back, the aforemen
tioned Western powers had wrench
ed an agreement from South Africa
that she would allow the holding o f
elections in Namibia and relinquish
control by the end o f this year. In
September, John Vorster the then
prime m inister, resigned and was
replaced by the more reactionary
Pieter Botha One o f the first things
Botha did was to reject the whole
idea ot UN supervised elections in
Namibia claiming that the UN was
biased in fa vor o f SW 'A PO , the
movement that has been fighting a
guerrilla campaign against South
A fric a n troops in N am ibia since
1966
We sh ou ld advocate fo r the
elderly. We forget too much -- they
are often put aside. Too often they
are treated as people who are unable
to do anything and not interested in
doing anything, and I d o n 't think
this is the case. We should assist
them in seeking to have a livelihood
and i f they are physically disabled,
we should assist them to m aintian
their houses.
Observer: What experiences in
the NAACP or elsewhere do you
foal demonstrate your ability to
provida the leadership to addrsaa
theseissues?
Hicks: In terms o f the role the
N A A C P should piay, I think the first
role it must always maintain is being
an effective voice o f the people that
issues?
Hicks: Iv've been involved
it represents. Being an effective voice
in the Oregon State System o f Higher
o f the people n a tu ra lly includes
Education since 1969 as a special ser
representing a ll people. N ot ju s t
vices program director. I ’ ve gotten
young, not just old. Not just Black,
countless numbers o f students into
not just white — all people because
college; 1 developed curriculum that
that’s what the N A A C P stands for.
speaks to the need o f employment
W'e should be a voice in at least the
preparation, skills development, job
areas that our standing committees
skills, etc. I ’ ve developed programs
address. Those areas inclu de
that attempt to offer m inorities an
veteran’s affairs, education, church,
o p p o rtu n ity to prepare themselves
youth w ork, housing, employment,
fo r
p o s itio n s
that
are
not
labor and industry. Any person, and
tr
a
d
itio
n
a
lly
career
areas
fo r
especially any m em ber o f the
minorities
,
such
as
engineering.
Also
N A A C P , should feel privileged to
I have held two Black youth leader
call on us and express their concerns
ship
conferences.
in any o f these areas and others. W t
In
addition I have worked with
sh o u ld be able to be responsive
students
as a student and as a teacher
enough to citizens to develop w ith all
so I feel lik e I have a close
deliberate speed an ad hoc committee
relationship with students that have
o r special task fo rce to lo o k at
d
iffic u lty in attending school and
special issues th a t arise, but we
deciding what school has to offer
should prim arily be able to plan and
them. In this area I have developed
direct action in the areas o f those
some
effective skills.
standing committees.
P olitica lly speaking I've been in
T hat’ s why I think it is im portant
the Oregon Assembly for Black A f
fo r each standing committee to at
fa irs , the N A A C P and o the r
least have some in itia l direction. I
movements
that articulate the needs
think we w ill get more progress in a
o f Blacks in Oregon.
The small group of Southwest area residents shorter period o f tim e I also feel
M y experience as an administrator
who so eloquently opposed the idea of busing that we should allow those com m it
gives
me excellent o ra n iz a tio n a l
tee to have some room to develop
w h ite and Black ch ild re n to achieve school
skills. M y a b ility to communicate
their own agenda, but we should at
w ith
people
of
d iv e rs ifie d
dese gregation at the S chool Board m eeting least provide them w ith an in itia l
backgrounds has indicated to me an
M onday have a great idea. They claim th a t fram ework.
ability to be persuasive. I am an in
Roles o f the N A A C P , I believe,
housing is the culprit and therefore the answer to
tense person and an a n a ly tic a l
include reviewing and analyzing a f
the problem is integrated housing.
thinker.
firm ative action programs and prac
This could be an accomplished fact — and not
In terms o f leadership, I have
tices. Based on this analysis, initiate
in fifty years either. Just let those tw enty people a report to our membership. I f the
provided what I th in k is notable
leadership, first as a newly appointed
and several thousand of their friends and neigh fin d in g s , s tro n g ly s u p p o rt th a t
member o f the N A A C P board in
bors in S o u th w e s t P o rtlan d exchange th e ir there’ s been ill w ill o f any sort in any
1975 and second as Chairman o f the
homes w ith Black residents of Albina: Then we agency we sh o u ld exercise o u r
Education Committee and as Vice
powers to investigate that possibility.
would have tw o fully integrated communities!
President. 1 have represented our
We should use every power in our
The Observer will gladly provide the service of realm to bring about legal action
Branch at three o f the last four area
conferences. N ot o n ly was I
m atching families who are ready to move. Let's against that company, agency or en
designated as o fficial representative
gol
tity.
but I also was required to give a
I th ink one role should indicate
status
report for the Branch. So in
leadership development, particularly
being
required
to do these things I ’ ve
as it relates to young people. We
gotten a feel for the characteristics o f
m ust rem em ber th a t o u r young
the Brunch. I have a very good
people are our future. It is im portant
by N. Fungai Kumbula
handle on our financial situation,
fo r them to have models in positive,
our membership situation and our
neutral and negative. It is im portant
program situation.
fo r them to decifer fo r themselves
I participated very vigorously in
which way they want to go in life and
So, B o th a decided th a t South
has to rig the elections in order for
the N ational C onvention. F irst, I
its im portant for us to provide op
him to win.
A frica n troops and not UN peace
was the initia tor o f the task force
portunities and equal access for them
keeping forces would supervise the
The whole scenario is now shaping
that
organized the wine sip fo r M r.
to become whatever they want to
elections slated fo r December 4th
up into another Rhodesia. I f South
H oo ks last A u g u st. It was that
become.
through 8th. The Western powers,
A frica goes ahead with this internal
process that led to the eventual
The N A A C P should double i f not
the U .S ., B rita in , France, West
settlement, SW'APO would have no
existence o f the Convention Plan
triple its activities in youth leader
G erm any and Canada have been
option but to escalate the war, like
ning C o m m itte e o f w hich I was
ship. We should sponsor leadership
leaning on South A frica to cancel the
the P a trio tic F ro n t is doing in
designated Branch Liaison because
conferences fo r o u r young and
elections which the UN has already
Rhodesia. The Western negotiators
the president d id n't have the time to
various age ranges. Then should ad
branded “ n u ll and v o id .” South
have been pressuring the Botha
put into that committee.
dress such topics as community par
Observer: W hat are some of
A frica claims that they should hold
regime to abandon this plan and so
I have formed valuable relation
tic ip a tio n , leadership, education,
the issues you think the NAACP
these elections now, and then hold
avoid the Rhodesian tragedy. They
ships with members o f the national
Black values, the N A A C P itse lf,
should address in Portland.
another round o f elections later on
have threatened that the UN would
office and with the area officers.
career opportunities from the l980’s
Hicks: I have discussed many o f
which the UN forces can oversee.
impose economic sanctions against
I sec myself as having been fo r
and whatever the young people think
the issues, but a no the r is legal
The thing, o f course, is that South
South A frica unless she allows the
tunate enough to encounter different
is im portant for them.
redress. Legal redress is an area in
A frica is so afraid that if free and
h o ld in g o f elections under UN
experiences and to have translated
Another role the N A A C P should
which we have been weak. 1 think
fa ir e lections are held, SW A P O
supervision. But, would they carry
those experiences into action and
play is int he field o f housing. I feel,
that we sould develop a resource
out the threat? In previous years, it
would win. I f she had been so con
skills. Now w ithin me is the desire to
and I have gained input from various
bank o f lawyers who are w illing to
cerned a b o u t A n g o la , you can
has been these same countries that
put those experiences and skills into
people, that housing conditions in
work with us to persue our goal to
imagine the consternation they feel
have vetoed repeated T hird W orld
implementation. I cannot in all good
Portland are unfair. N A A C P should
rig h t the wrongs against various
at the thought o f having a strong.
resolutions aimed at imposing these
conscience, as vice president, sit
in ve stiga te these feelings and
members o f th>s society. I think that
very sanctions.
Black, M arxist government fo r a
back and maintain my comfortable
allegations. We should develop a
these lawyers should be w illin g to
neighbor. SW APO has already in
South A frica too, knows that such
position
and allow this Branch to be
housing in sp e ctio n team w hich
flf
conduct legal education seminars -
dicated that none o f its people w ill
a threat is most likely a b lu ff and in
without sound, effective leadership.
would be a team o f volunteers who
for example in citizens' rights or con
contest the elections under the
dications are she w ill call the b lu ff.
I think that would be an omission o f
have housing skills, either in con
tracts. They would refer people to
present set-up. That leaves the pro-
What then? Supposedly, at this very
my challenge and my charge as
s tru c tio n o r d iffe re n t levels o f
ageancies that have been set up to in
South A fric a and South A fric a n
m om en t, n e g o tia tio n s aimed at
received in o u r 1976 in s ta lla tio n
housing d eve lo pm e nt. These in
vestigate certain legal concerns. The
financed D T A (Dem ocratic Turn-
securing some form o f a compromise
program. Consequently I ’ m running
d ivid ua ls w ould respond to com
area o f being able to address political
halle A llia n ce ) as the most likely
are taking place. They w ill probably
for the office o f president.
plaints and reports o f unsafe housing
concerns needs to be addressed also.
winner. I f the D TA wins, the present
come up w ith h a lf a solution and
status quo can be maintained under
hope life goes on as usual. This,
the guise o f a fre e ly elected
however, is a forlo rn hope because
l i t Place
Namibian government.
now the opponents o f apartheid are
Community Service
ONPA 1973
Better yet for South A frica, Dirk
in a stronger position to fight for the
Mudge, the white leader o f the DTA
imposition o f sanctions. In a way,
1st Place
has already voiced his opposition to
the UN has squeezed itself into a
Best Ad Results
the later elections to be supervised by
corner and w ill have to take some
ONPA 1973
the UN. I t ’ s easy to see why — in
form o f action. Sanctions against
Published every Thursday by Exie Publishing Company, 2201 North
Killmgsworlh, Portland, Oregon 97217. Mailing address: I ’ .O. Box
free and fair elections, — he would
South A lr ic a w ou ld also a ffe ct
6th Place
3137, Portland. Oregon 97208 Telephone: 283-2486.
not stand a chance. So South Africa
Beat Editorial
Rhodesia. Stay tuned.
Move now!
UN showdown over Namibia?
1 here has been a battle royal going
on between South A frica on the one
hand and the Western Powers on the
other. The battle is over elections
scheduled to be held in Namibia start
ing next week. South A frica , which
has administered Namibia the end o f
W o rld W ar I has prom ised to
re lin q u ish c o n tro l as soon as
Namibians elect their own govern
ment.
South A frica had originally been
given a mandate by the now defunct
League o f Nations to run Namibia as
a trust te rrito ry . The League o f
Nations folded and was superseded
by ihe United Nations. In 1966, the
I N revoked South A fric a ’ s mandate
and ordered that Namibia be granted
velt government but, up till now,
South A frica has refused to give up
co n d itio n s. They w ould enter the
dwelling, check the conditions and
submit to the Branch its recommen
dations. Its recommendations could
include a note being sent to the lan-
lord, a renters strike i f conditions are
that drastic, or anything the housing
com m ittee feels w ould be an ap
propriate action to take to make sure
the people we represent have equal
hou sin g c o n d itio n s and o p p o r
tunities.
We should adopt that attitude in
a ll our com m ittees — education,
housing, career, and others. N A A C P
should address not just young people
in high school but young people in
elementary school. It seems feasible
that we could collect donations to set
up a children’ s reading library where
we w ould have books w ritte n by
various authors, probably m inority
people but not necessarily. One thing
these books would have in common
is that they would portray m inority
people in positive roles. This library
could be located in our branch o f
fice, open at regular hours, and be
available to parents and kids who
want to learn about themselves and
their heritage and culture. It seems
like a natural service that we should
offer.
Another role that we should play is
intervening w ith C ity and C ounty
o ffic ia ls in s itu a tio n where there
have been planned resources for the
c ity fo r v a rio u s a c tiv itie s —
econom ic, housing developm ent,
jo b development, etc. The N A A C P
has a role to play to make sure that
this community is not overlooked in
negotiations on the first level, not the
second level. The N A A C P should
take a role in any fu rth e r
negotiations regarding the la y o ff o f
P u b lic Service Em ployees. The
N A A C P should also take a role in
the C om m unity C oalition in its ef
forts to insure quality education for
all kids. The N A A C P should take a
role to insure that all o f our veterans
receive and are aware o f the benefits
a v a ila b le to them . We should
become more involved in the training
and p re p a ra tio n o f young em
ployees.
Some o th e r roles relate to
economic development. By that I
mean the N A A C P should be strong
econom ically. We should not rely
upon a m em bership earnings to
operate the office. We should have
reguarly scheduled campaign drives
to insure that our treasury is substan
tial and has the resources to enact
programs. I f I am elected president I
w ill move to set up a special task fo r
ce to inve stiga te p o s s ib ilitie s o f
receiving donations. It is im portant
that the N A A C P take advantage o f
the many resources in the city o f Por-
land.
The N A A C P should become the
educator and the consciousness o f
the C ity o f Portland. We can be as
much as an ally as a foe and it is not
our desire to be either one in par
ticular. But it is our desire to ar
ticulate the needs o f our membership
where ever that leads us.
PORTLAND OBSERVER
NNPA 1973
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PORTLAND OBSERVER
Editor/Publisher
Second Class Pottage Paid at Portland. Oregon
Honorable M ention
Herrick Editorial Award
NNA 1973
The Portland Ohservtr's official position is expressed only in it*.
Publisher's column (We See The World Through Black Lyes) Any
other material throughout the paper is the opinion of the individual
writer or submitter and docs noi necessarily reflect the opinion o f the
Portland Observer
2nd Place
Best Editorial
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1976
National Advertising Representative
Amalgamated Publishers. Inc
New York
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1978
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